Search - One Night for Love (Bedwyn Family, Bk 1)

Bestselling author Balogh (The Last Waltz) bursts the bounds of genre in this emotionally complex Regency. Enchanting and lovely Lily Doyle, a sergeant's daughter, is hurriedly married to Neville Wyatt, Major Lord Newbury, in Portugal, after her father is killed in a military skirmish: if she's captured by the French, her status as an officer's wife will protect her. Another battle ensues, and Neville, who's wounded, wakes up believing that Lily has been killed. More than a year later, back in England, a very much alive Lily interrupts Neville's second wedding. Aside from one jilted bride, all's as it's meant to be. But whatever seemed right and good in Portugal is suddenly terribly wrong in England. Lily's no lady: illiterate and rough around the edges, she's hardly the proper material for an earl's wife. Love may not conquer all. A passionate novel with mature, compelling characters who struggle for self-knowledge and for the survival of their loves, this is one of Balogh's best.

This book really is the beginning of the "Slightly" Series about the Bedwyn family, because they become known in "A Summer to Remember," which is the sequel to *this* book. "One Night for Love" is a terrific book, not at all what you'd expect from the rather silly title, which actually *does* have quite a bit of significance once you get deep into the story. Terrific characters, brilliantly written, as always by Mary Balogh.

One reckless man . . . One passionate woman.


Enter the world of Mary Balogh--the glittering ballrooms and vast country estates of Regency-era England, where romance, with all its mystery, magic, and surprises, comes vibrantly alive.

It was a perfect morning in May . . .

Neville Wyatt, Earl of Kilbourne, awaited his bride at the altar--when a ragged beggar woman raced down the aisle instead. The cream of the ton saw him stare, shocked, then declare that this was his wife! One night of passion was all he remembered as he beheld Lily, the woman he'd wed, loved, and lost on the battlefield in Portugal. Now he said he'd honor his commitment to her--regardless of the gulf that lay between them.

Then Lily spoke her mind . . .

She said she wanted only to start a new life--wanted only a husband who truly loved her. She had to leave him to learn how to meet his world on her terms. So Lily agreed to earn her keep as his aunt's companion and study the genteel arts. Soon she was the toast of the ton, every inch a countess fit for the earl, who vowed to prove to his remarkable wife that what he felt for her was far more than desire, that what he wanted from her was much more than . . . One Night for Love.

Very sweet (I enjoyed both reading and re-reading it), but I fail to see how this is the first of the Bedwyn Family series...they are at best tangential here.

A touching Regency Era story of a couple from very different stations in life brought together and torn apart during wartime. After 18 months apart they are suddenly reunited but must struggle to overcome their obvious differences.

Balogh writes convincing characters with...character. They seem to have personalities of their own and realistic strengths and weaknesses. Balogh includes subtleties in personality and situation that gives richness to the genre.

This story was nice in that the characters had realistic worries about each other, and yet they didn't doubt each other very much. Not laden with misunderstandings, the characters simply had apparently insurmountable obstacles in the way of their relationship.

The resolution was obvious pretty early on, but satisfying nonetheless.

Balogh also includes a number of sensual scenes but I'm not a fan of her style in this area. The penetration = orgasm love scene just seems unrealistic to me. I am also tired of characters who are barren.

Story B+
Sensuality - PG13

I loved this book! It's not my favorite of hers, but the characters are complex and fun to explore. I would definitely reccomend this book to others.