Dark Angel/Lord Carew's Bride [Mass Market Paperback]

Both of these stories are re-issues although I have not read them before myself.
The first book Dark Angel centres on Jennifer Winwood who is travelling to London with her cousin Samantha Newman for their joint come-out. Jennifer has been betrothed to Lionel Lord Kersey for five years, they have only met a few times over this period but she is very much in love with him, or as she thinks of him her blond angel. Gabriel Fisher Earl of Thornhill is newly arrived back in town after being abroad for some time he was implicated in a scandal involving his young stepmother, a charge of which he is innocent. The real culprit has managed to escape notice,Gabriel would like to have his revenge on the real villain, but how to do it. Then he discovers that his enemy is betrothed maybe he can do some damage there, Miss Jennifer Winwood is about to become a pawn in his game.
In the second we meet Miss Samantha Newman from the first book,time has moved on and it is six years later from her debut, she is now twenty four and still unwed. After what happened in the past she has decided that she will never fall in love again. While visiting friends and family in the country, she enjoys walking alone, while out on one of her excursions she wanders onto another estate owned by the Marquess of Carew where she meets Hartley Wade landscape gardener. They become friends straight away the fact that he has a limp and a deformed hand does not affect Samantha's feelings towards him at all. What she does not know is that Hartley is the Marquess of Carew. When Samantha has to return to town Hartley decides to follow, determined to see her again and tell her his true identity.
I enjoyed both stories very much they are well written and easy to get into. If I have a criticism it is the male characters are better developed, especially Lord Kersey who was deliciously wicked. The same could not be said of the two female leads from both books who seemed inherently insipid. And dare I say at times irritating. But overall both stories are very good.

the stories were grt really enjoyed the first more than the second, lord carews bride, but both of the stories were original and very much Balogh's style, I'm glad they have reprinted her earlier works, wish they would hurry up and re-issue more of the her other earlier works as they are really expensive and hard to get!!! worth reading these two stories for sure.

Dark Angel

Miss Jennifer Winwood has 'loved' her intended, Viscount Lionel Kersey, for 5 years since the age of 15 when she first set eyes upon him. Who could resist his light blonde hair and blue eyes. She thinks of him as an angel. She has hardly spent any time with him, and he has not shown any romantic sentiment towards her. He proposes, but it is not the romantic gesture she had envisaged. She awaits the official announcement, where she believes she will have the fairytale ending. In the meantime, she and her 18 year old cousin, Miss Samantha Newman, are out in the park, when they are greeted by two gentlemen who they don't know. They are Gabriel Fisher, the Earl of Thornhill, and Sir Albert Boyle. Albert has eyes for Samantha, with her bright blue eyes and short blonde curls, whilst Gabriel is attracted to Jennifer's long dark red hair and dark eyes, envisaging himself in a compromising position with her. Jennifer thinks Gabriel looks like the devil, with his height, dark hair and dark eyes. Her family and Kersey are keen to keep Jennifer away from Gabriel. They tell her he had a baby with his stepmother and left them in Switzerland. She believes them, which reiterates her belief that he is the 'devil.' But Gabriel and his friends know this isn't true and it is in fact Kersey who isn't the angel he seems. Determined to make him pay for wronging his stepmother, he decides to try to lure Jennifer away from Kersey, thus breaking his heart. He knows he will damage her reputation, but all he thinks about is the revenge. Kersey sees Gabriel spend alot of time with Jennifer, and begins to have secret meetings with her cousin, Samantha, insinuating he no longer wants Jennifer. When Samantha does not act, a letter arrives at a ball, where everyone except Gabriel is present. Kersey's father, the Earl of Rushford, reads the letter aloud, stating it's a love letter from Gabriel to Jennifer. Jennifer is embarrassed, as she knows she hasn't slept with Gabriel, but the engagement is officially ended. Heartbroken, she returns home, only to be beaten by her family. Gabriel learns from his friend, Sir Albert Boyle about the letter, and tells his friend he didn't write it, nor has he slept with her. The question arises, who wrote the letter? Knowing he has to save her from embarrassment, he goes to her home and proposes marriage. Jennifer and Gabriel are married, but she is still embarrassed and yearns for Kersey. But Jennifer soon learns the truth about her ex fiance, and Gabriel isn't the devil he seems.

Overall, this story is excellent. Well recommended.

Lord Carew's Bride

Six years on, Samantha is visiting Jennifer in her new home with husband Gabriel and their two children, Michael and Mary. Suitors are still being thrown on her, but she favours none of them. Off for a walk by herself, she stumbles onto neighbouring private property, on Carew's land. She finds a gardener called Hartley Wade working on the land. He is only slightly taller than she, with non descript brown hair and blue/grey eyes. He is not handsome, nor is he ugly. He has a limp, and his right hand is bent inwards, concealed under a glove. They begin chatting and she learns the owner, Lord Carew, is away from home. They develop a friendship and finds herself spending more and more time with him during her stay. Little does she know that he is actually Lord Carew and he has instantly fallen in love with her but doesn't tell her his real name. She returns to London and attends a ball, only to learn Kersey is back from his public disgrace and seeks her out. She is still upset as she believed he wanted her but didn't. He now insinuates he wants her, but she is reluctant to fall for him again. During a dance with him, Carew arrives at the ball, and is dismayed to see Samantha with Kersey, his cousin and enemy. He goes to leave, but Samantha finds him and is happy to see her 'gardener' friend. He arrives the next day, and proposes to her. She accepts but then he confesses he isn't the gardener and he is in fact Lord Carew. A little dismayed, but she is happy. Kersey learns of her impending wedding, and taunts her, stating she will be married to a cripple. Kersey also taunts his cousin, Hartley, and we learn the reason behind his twisted hand and limp. After they marry, Hartley learns of her 'past' with Kersey, and is upset, unable to believe she loved Kersey. He tells her to work out her feelings. In the end, she does. Hartley vows to avenge his wronged wife and also to get revenge for leaving him a cripple at the age of 6.

Overall, this story is very good, but a little rushed and so not as good as Dark Angel.