Reader reviews

• carlyrose

  (5/5)

  My first Balogh, and it won't be my last. A sweet story with a twist, and good character development for a novella.
• sammii507

  (4/5)

  Description from dust flap
  From New York Times bestselling author Mary Balogh comes a classical historical tale that sizzles with romance and unforgettable drama. Reginald Mason is wealthy, reined, and by all accounts, a gentleman. However, he is not a gentleman by birth, a factor that pains him and his father, Bernard Mason, within the Regency society that upholds station over all else. That is, until an opportunity for social advancement arises, namely, Lady Annabelle Ashton. Daughter of the Earl of Havercroft, a neighbor and enemy of the Mason family. Annabelle finds herself disgraced by a scandal, one that has left her branded as damaged goods. Besmirched by shame, the earl is only too happy to marry Annabelle off to anyone willing to have her.
  
  Though Bernard wishes to use Annabell to propel his family up the social ladder, his son does not wish to marry her, preferring instead to live the wild, single life he is accustomed to. With this, Bernard serves his son an ultimatum: marry Annabelle, or make do without family funds. Having no choice, Reginald consents, and enters into a hostile engagement in which the prospective bride and groom are openly antagonistic, each one resenting the other for their current state of affairs while their respective fathers revel in their suffering.
  
  So begins an intoxicating tale rife with dark secrets, deception, and the trials of love - a story in which very little is as it seems.
  
  My Comments
  This book was really cute! It was very short, so we didn't get the character development we usually do in Mary Balogh's books, but nonetheless, I really enjoyed it - especially the twist we discover at the end. I'm not sure I've ever read a romance novel with a twist at the end before. Very fun read.
• ameise1

  (4/5)

  This was an easy and fast-paced reading. The story is set in the wonderful world of Regency England. It's a love story which explains that there are no barrier when true love has to succeed. What I liked most was the fact that the woman was so inventive.
• ladywesley

  (4/5)

  This is an enchanting little novella about a young couple forced into marriage by their parents. Or are they? It rather reminds me of an O. Henry story.
• azacia

  (5/5)

  What a clever story! I loved the originality of the plot and the cleverness of the main characters. I love how this story jumps between the present time and the past. I can't say too much without giving something away, but this book was an absolute delight and one that as soon as I finished it, I wanted to jump back to the beginning and begin again! This is a shorter book, but has excellently developed characters and a story line that will leave the reader reflecting back on it for a long time. This was an absolutely delightful read and I highly highly recommend this book!
• momuv4boyz

  (3/5)

  A very classic romance. A great rainy day love story to read by the fire.
• audacity_1

  (5/5)

  A charming, quick romance that spans decades and holds more than a few secrets. Read it, if you're a fan of Balogh's style - or just well-written and endearing historical romance novels. You won't regret it!
• stephaniechase_1

  (4/5)

  Slight, but utterly, utterly charming.
• hest88

  (5/5)

  A charming trifle of a book, that reminds me why she was one of my auto-buys prior to some of her recent clunkers.
• quiltinfun06

  (3/5)

  This is a delightful, summer afternoon love story to read. They secretly become friends as children while their father's hate each other. It appears they they are destined to forever be apart or does it?Lovely, fun book :)
• jaitai16

  (5/5)

  I always love Mary Balogh. I feel like some readers are a little hard on her. Of course the twist at the end was no huge surprise. It's a romance novel. They all are based on cliches. Thats why we read them. I thought the book was delightful and that is not a word I use ever. It did what all well written romance novels do. When I closed it I said awww and sighed like a little girl. I really enjoyed it and can not wait for her next book to come out.
• twehking

  (4/5)

  Nice twist but predictable halfway through the book.
• anniik_1

  (4/5)

  Description from dust flap
  From New York Times bestselling author Mary Balogh comes a classical historical tale that sizzles with romance and unforgettable drama. Reginald Mason is wealthy, reined, and by all accounts, a gentleman. However, he is not a gentleman by birth, a factor that pains him and his father, Bernard Mason, within the Regency society that upholds station over all else. That is, until an opportunity for social advancement arises, namely, Lady Annabelle Ashton. Daughter of the Earl of Havercroft, a neighbor and enemy of the Mason family. Annabelle finds herself disgraced by a scandal, one that has left her branded as damaged goods. Besmirched by shame, the earl is only too happy to marry Annabelle off to anyone willing to have her.
  
  Though Bernard wishes to use Annabell to propel his family up the social ladder, his son does not wish to marry her, preferring instead to live the wild, single life he is accustomed to. With this, Bernard serves his son an ultimatum: marry Annabelle, or make do without family funds. Having no choice, Reginald consents, and enters into a hostile engagement in which the prospective bride and groom are openly antagonistic, each one resenting the other for their current state of affairs while their respective fathers revel in their suffering.
  
  So begins an intoxicating tale rife with dark secrets, deception, and the trials of love - a story in which very little is as it seems.
  
  My Comments
  This book was really cute! It was very short, so we didn't get the character development we usually do in Mary Balogh's books, but nonetheless, I really enjoyed it - especially the twist we discover at the end. I'm not sure I've ever read a romance novel with a twist at the end before. Very fun read.
• readinggeek451

  (4/5)

  A light, fun Regency romance with a clever twist at the end.
• xorscape

  (5/5)

  I really enjoyed this story. The best part of course is the twist to it, but it is filled with likeable characters. Our heroine is indeed full of pluck. Our hero is smart and handsome. And, as it should, love prevails. I especially liked the mothers-in-law who truly loved their children and wanted the best for them. (The basic story is recounted elsewhere, but in short, she elopes with the coachman but is found quickly. He has been overspending. His father says our hero must marry the fallen peeress or be cut off without a groat. Her father says she must marry the rich man's son or work as a chambermaid. They agree to marry.) Mary Balogh is one of the best regency writers and I liked this offering a lot. This is a fairly short book, but printed in hardback (I assume so the publishers could charge more money). It is more short story in feel than full novel, but well worth the read. The only other disappointing thing for me is that the characters aren't as fleshed out as I would like (again, making it feel more short story). I guess the problem is expectations of a book, but delivery of a novella/short story, mitigated by the strength of the story. Bottom line: Read this book.
• katharineclifton

  (5/5)

  A delightful romance. A super fast read (polished it off in just a few hours). An ending with a twist you can see coming a mile off but are not disappointed when it arrives. I don't know what it was that made me love this book so much. The author's tone? The cadence of the story? Whatever the case, love it I did. Fun. Light. Wistful. Delightful.
• janientrelac

  (3/5)

  It's an oddly disappointing book. As some other reveiwers have said a light, quick read, less than an hour, The idea, the plot , the twist in the tale could have been written so much better, it had possibilities. It should have been a short story, just leave out the flashbacks or a more complex work. Reggie as point of view charactor was good and different from most romances, a good deal could have been done with his knowledge that Annabelle was the one taking most of the risks.
• delmas_coulee

  (3/5)

  I found this book well written and entertaining.I did not find the ending to be a big suprise though. Overall a nice light read.
• jmalcom

  (5/5)

  Mary Balogh is a master of the genre! Every word of this novella is sweet and entertaining!
• UchennaEzeh

  (4/5)

  Totally unexpected. The perfect ruse. A lovely and sweet end ?
• Alex

  (5/5)

  This was a delightful short read with no angst.
  
  Reginald is the son of a coal baron whose neighbour is Annabel, the daughter of an earl and never the twain will meet. The fathers have loathed each other for 30 years.
  
  Well ... that is until Annabel has a failed elopement; and to save face and ruination the earl agrees to an arranged marriage.
  
  I loved all the characters and I enjoyed reading about how they met and ultimately, how the two houses have to come together.
  
  Sometimes a little to no angst and steam can be a good thing, especially if it's a good yarn!
  
  The narration by Anne Flosnik is good too!
  
  #elopement
  #arrangedmarriage
  #classdisparity
  #marybalogh
  #childhoodsweethearts
  #anneflosnik
• sheila

  (5/5)

  Charming story of love triumphing over adversity. Very appealing hero and heroine.
• A Chapple

  (4/5)

  Intriguing love story. All is not as it seems between Reggie and Anna.
• Benita Dilley

  (5/5)

  A rare, stand alone, period romance by NYT best selling author Mary Balogh. Just as delightful as the many books in her Bedwyn and Survivor series, but without the huge time commitment. ??
• veronica needa

  (4/5)

  Enjoyed the story and characters but did not enjoy so much the reading of it. Seemed laboured.
• Sylvie Leduc

  (5/5)

  This was just sweet and lovely - I enjoyed it very much
• vhartpowers

  (3/5)

  Fast read that was fun and light after the last book I trudged through.
  
  There is a twist that is easy to figure out, but the banter between the two main characters is fun and makes it worthwhile. I could have done without the porn. A skilled author can insinuate what transpired without the smutty details.
• preeti

  (5/5)

  It is a perfect novella by Mary Balogh....and a great narration by Anna Flosnik.
• Jo Boyd

  (4/5)

  Such an excellent story, well woven together between past and present. Balogh”s work is 5 star even though I worked out what was happening fairly quickly. The narrator was a chore and I did not like her reading at all. I persevered as I loved the story so much
• mullgirl

  (4/5)

  Mostly I liked it. It was sort of too fast of a read not to. Literally, I spent 2 hours and 10 minutes from start to finish on this puppy last night. And it kept me wanting to turn the pages. It’s not complex or sophisticated, but it was charming. Although I’m a little surprised to discover that Mary Balogh is a historical romance writer–I’m uncertain if she’s in the bodice ripper category–although there were a few things just in this book that made me think her other books might not be so tame. ;)
  
  Set in regency England, A Matter of Class follows a gentleman’s daughter with a failed elopment, and resulting in scandal upon her already cash-stretched daddy, the Earl. So it’s no surprise the balding rich marquess with halitosis spurns the beauty as damaged goods. The neighboring estate has a layabout son who is trying mightily to spend the family fortune on gambling and other vices. What are two sets of disappointed parents to do? Why get them married off to each other, of course.
  
  The story has some lovely flashbacks, and actually has enough oomph to it to give you a decent picture of the characters themselves. Generally, you like everyone you are supposed to like, sympathize with everyone whose gone and done silly things, and dislike the few you are supposed to dislike. I can’t tell you more, or I’d ruin a couple of the delightful twists.
  
  This would be great plane-ride reading or beachfront fare for the summer. Enjoy.