Customer Reviews
Fun
I really didn't expect to like this book since Freyja was not very likeable in previous books. Plus authors often don't present the story of the sisters in a family series too well. Don't know why that is. However, we are dealing with Mary Balogh here, so.......
Even though it took me awhile to warm up to Freyja, I loved Joshua right of the bat. Their arguments were great although I feel there was too much fist throwing by Free. Once, to prove she was a Bewcastle, would have been plenty. Well, the one toward the end of the book was satisfying. But beating up on the hero more than once was too much.
All in all, I enjoyed the book a lot. Now, I want to read the stories of the other 3 Bewcastles. Even though Wulfric reminds me a lot of Jo Beverly's Rothgar, I'm sure he'll be my favorite. I love a good brooding, emignatic hero.
I did like the fact that the three "Slightly...." books were published one month after another. At no loss of quality. Ms. Balogh is truly at the top of her field.
A great way to end
We last saw Lady Freyja Bedwyn in Ms. Balogh's captivating gem A Summer To Remember and she is now the central protagonist in the conclusive episode to the Slightly series. A haughty and spirited character, Freyja is seen retreating to Bath to avoid the christening of the son of ex-flame Viscount Ravensburg who spurned her for icy maiden Lauren Edgeworth. A brief sojourn turns into an adventure as she meets Joseph Moore, Marquess of Hallsmere in her inn bedroom as he hides in the cupboard to escape a bunch of wedding schemers. A misunderstanding ensues when Freyja chances upon Joseph with a screaming lady on his way to visit his grandmother at Pulteney Street. She denounces him as a libertine in front of the ton at the Pump Room.
You would never expect this two to turn up allies in a scheme to thwart a marriage-foisting ploy concocted by Joseph's aunt. They recklessly engage themselves to each other and Freyja's protective brother Bewcastle arrives to prevent further mischief. Freyja and Joseph feel growing attachments as understanding develops; Freyja's insecurity with love after her devastating rejection and Joseph's hidden secret in shouldering his cousin's disgrace.
Slightly Scandalous wraps up the Bedwyn series beautifully and is a renewed testament to Balogh's ease and fluidity in her character sculpting. The sparks fly between the oddball couple. It brims with emotions as Joseph takes responsibility of his mentally-challenged cousin Prudence and makes us laud when they outsmart Joseph's aunt. This Regency Series is consistently entertaining and this ending is no exception - even when it is slightly inferior to her masterpiece A Summer To Remember.
Slightly scandalous but ever so romantic
Lady Freyja Bedwyn is staying in an inn on her way to Bath when Joshua Moore, Marquess of Hallmere bursts into her room and hides in the wardrobe. He gives an unwanted kiss and in return she gives him a punch on the nose. Later they meet by chance in in a park in Bath and Lady Freyja gives Joshua another punch on the nose thinking that he is about to compromise an innocent girl in the park. Further meetings take place in Bath and after clearing up their misunderstanding Freyja agrees to pose as Joshua's fiancee to thwart plans by his aunt to get Joshua to married to his cousin. As time goes by their betrothal becomes more and more real as do their feelings for each other.
This book was a wonderful regency romp. The hero is a mischievous rogue with a heart of gold and the heroine is a headstrong lady with a punch that packs. Freyja is not a typical beauty but Joshua sees her as his beautiful untamed lady anyway. It was great to see the two antagonists fall in love with each other and realise that their betrothal is more than a fake one. A very good read indeed and I can't wait to read the other books in the series.
Lealing
