Someone to Care by Mary Balogh

June 11, 2018
There is Life After Twenty

http://www.marybalogh.com/
One of the many reasons I'm such a big fan of Mary Balogh is that she explores themes which aren’t always the trendsetter of the day, then turn them into something delightfully refreshing.  As far as I’m concerned, Mary Balogh is the queen of writing intense feelings. Someone to Care not only has a couple in which the female lead is older, but both the main characters are older than 20, nay older than 30 – one of them is in their 40s! It was appealing not to have to read about a young woman just out of puberty.

Mary Balogh has also tackled characters which are not necessarily likeable. Both of them have a distinct edge. Sometimes Ms. Balogh succeeds with these edges and sometimes she doesn’t. In this case, I believe she has succeeded in treating us to a delightful story with a fascinating couple. I really enjoyed watching this couple maneuver through the obstacles presented to them as they marched to their well-deserved HEA.

If you are following Ms. Balogh’s latest series, you will recall Viola Kingsley, Countess of Riverdale isn’t really the countess. It seems her husband was actually married to someone else when he married her. So, not only did her world come crumbling down around her feet, her children became illegitimate. In this book MS Balogh’s breaks away from the younger characters and focuses on forty-two year old Viola.

Viola is not taking her new standing in society very well. Even though her entire family and her husband-not-husband's family have surrounded her with love and support, she has rejected them. She has hidden away from her loved ones in the country and now calls herself Viola Kingsley. It is at a joyful family gathering; a christening for her grandchild that panic-doom-boo-hoo sets in. She abruptly flees from her family. When she stops at an inn, she notices someone from her past, Marcel Lamarr, Marquess of Dorchester.

Marcel has rather a rakish reputation, and it’s a well-deserved reputation. He remembers Viola. When he was young, he tried to seduce Viola – she said no. He moved on, he married, became a father, then a widower, but he has never forgotten Viola. So, when he spots her at the same inn, an idea takes form. He has some family duties he is avoiding. He suggests to Viola that they just shuck it all and make a mad dash to his cottage, far, far, away from family, and the weight which is pressing down on both of them. Much to his surprise, she takes him up on it. And, soon Viola and Marcel are on a road trip, where they are free to indulge in their lustful feelings. Along the way they become friends, lovers, confidants, and uncover angst-filled pasts. Here’s the thinking on their plan: what do they have to lose? They’re adults, they don’t have to answer to anyone. Who cares what they do? They can be irresponsible it they want to be, can’t they? Well the answer to that my little Petunia’s is no, they can’t be irresponsible.

While Marcel and Viola are traveling around, going to fairs, enjoying life and each other’s company both of their families are barreling down the roads after them. This chase allows us to visit with some of the characters from the previous books. And, that was fine. The chase scenes with the other characters did not overwhelm the telling of Marcel and Viola’s story.

There is a scene in this story which might disturb some readers – spoiler. Marcel mentions numerous times in the book that he killed his first wife. Well, as we all know in Romanceland that doesn’t always mean anything. However, in this case he did. It was an accident. While some may consider him abusive, I didn't. There isn’t any mention anywhere in the entire book which would indicate he was a violent man. What he did was strike out while trying to save his child and his wife lost her balance. I believe he acted as any human would have acted while defending his child. And, there would have been plenty of angst and guilt he would have felt to be the cause of someones death. But is was an accident. When I read this story I saw no signs of abusive behavior, nor anything which would make him less of a hero. I just saw a man consumed with alllllll kinds of pain caused by a disaster beyond his control.

Overall, I do recommend this story. I loved the characters and was thrilled that at last we had some mature people to read about. Thank you Ms. Balogh.

Time/Place: Regency England
Sensuality:Warm/Hot