Slightly Sinful [Mass Market Paperback]

Criticizing a favorite author's work is always difficult. Tragically, I think the Bedwyn family is running out of steam! The family saga is down to the crucial last book (A June 2004 release date -- Wulfric's story) and I am afraid! If SLIGHTLY SINFUL is any indication - I should be terrified!

SLIGHTLY SINFUL is Alleyne's story. Lord Alleyne Bedwyn is the fourth and last son in the Bedwyn clan. Stationed at the British embassy in Brussels, Alleyne is shot when returning from the front lines and left to die in a Belgium forest. Rachel York comes upon his naked body; Alleyne's next stop -- a Brussel brothel -- minus his memory.

Of course, Alleyne and Rachel are the main love interest; regrettably, their relationship lacks substance. Significantly missing is the romance, the lust, the sensuality between the two. In fact, the entire book just doesn't have enough interesting content. Tediously, I read to the end hoping to enjoy the Bedwyn family and their reaction when Alleyne returned to them. Letdown notice -- the family ONLY appears briefly in the waning pages. What a shame! The energy from the vivacious family would have given much life to this lackluster story.

Is there a highlight? The ladies of the brothel and a crusty sergeant are delightful people. Yet, is their participation enough to recommend this book? Sadly, no.

I am disappointed! Mary Balogh is one of my all-time favorites. Presently, I am tracking down her Signet Regency Romance books. These little treasures are wonderful stories; unfortunately, SLIGHTLY SINFUL is a poor imitation.

Grace Atkinson, Ontario - Canada.

"Slightly Sinful" continues the story of the Bedwyn family, first introduced to us in "A Summer To Remember" and now with their own "slightly" series.

"Slightly Sinful" follows Lord Alleyne Bedwyn, youngest brother of the Duke of Bewcastle, as he approaches the Battle of Waterloo as a courier for a diplomat. Injured when carrying a letter away from the Duke of Wellington he falls from his horse and loses consciousness.

He awakes not knowing who he is - and finds himself in a brothel. He was rescued by Rachel York, a young lady who happens to be staying in the brothel with her former governess, now a prostitute, and her three co-workers. The five ladies are all bound together by a shared disaster - a clergyman they trusted to carry their money back to England has absconded with it. This clergyman was also engaged to Rachel but they now know he was only interested in her inheritance. The ladies decided to go and loot some of the bodies after the Battle of Waterloo and this is where Rachel found Alleyne, his body already stripped as he was thought dead. She brought him back to the brothel as the only place to take care of him, with the help of a one-eyed sergeant, and waited for him to wake up.

The descriptions of the battle are excellent, as is the way that Alleyne deals with his loss of memory. His romance with Rachel is gently portrayed - in fact it's something that arrives very gently over time. Of course both of them are very attractive (as usual in this kind of book) but Mary Balogh seems to be trying to say that shared experiences of fear and rescue are what originally bind them together.

They return to England and Alleyne agrees to masquerade as Rachel's husband so that she can get her jewels from her aloof uncle - they will come to her on her twenty fifth birthday or when she is married. She arrives at her uncle's house with Alleyne, the four prostitutes pretending to be maids or companions and the Sergeant. But her memory of her uncle isn't true to reality and she has to start reconsidering his dealings with her in the past and viewing them in a new way.

In some ways this book is a little cold and gentle - there's not too much action after the initial Waterloo battle, most of the scenes are between Rachel and Alleyne and I liked that, and the lovers themselves aren't as warm and passionate as some of the other books in the series. In a way I liked that about this book - it felt more real, particularly the description of Alleyne's emotions. He's afraid in the battle and once he realises who he is, he is afraid to go back to his family. This rang true and I liked it.

Overall I think this was a well-written book but it wasn't the sort of novel that stays in your mind and that you want to read over and over again.

Lord Alleyne Bedwyn (Brother of Wulfic, Duke of Bewcastle) is in the diplomatic service, and takes a message to the Duke of Wellington at Waterloo. Unfortunately, he is hit by a bullet and ends up coming to in a Brussels brothel without a stitch of clothing to his name, nor a memory of who he is, or what he was doing at the battle.

His rescuer was Rachel York, who ends up at the Brothel after being swindled out of the little money she had by a Clergyman.

She could inherit some family jewels, but in order to do that she needs to marry, so a plan is hatched to pretend to be married to Alleyne (aka Sir Jonathan Smith). Upon their return to England their charade draws them both into danger, scandal and a blossoming relationship that is really slightly sinful.

A 4.5 star rating for this delightful read, I just loved it and have it ear-marked it for a "must have" for my Kindle.