Customer Reviews

Slightly Scandalous

5 star:		(22)
4 star:		(9)
3 star:		(5)
2 star:		(3)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

this book is in a series that follows the love lives of these siblings in (victorian?) england. it's ok. all of the siblings appear in all of the books, but the focus is on one of the siblings at a time. this book was about the rebellious tomboy freyja. this series is read because of a desire for emotional involvement more than anything else, because the sex scenes are pretty platonic, and the author relies on stereotype to get the reader familiar with the characters. an ok read.

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

this was the first book i read of the Slightly series and i liked it enough to pick up and read the rest. i liked the plot of the story even if it was a bit interesting. Freyja however was a hard character for me to decide if i liked or not. up until she and Joshua begin to have feelings for each other i liked her enough as a person. she was different than your ordinary heroine and the change was nice. i thought they made a very loveable pair of friends and how they met just added to their friendship. but after they have feelings for each other i began to like the book a little less as it continued. Freyja was just too haughty and difficult to be a lover. as another reviewer mentioned i too couldn't really see how anyone could love Freyja.

Joshua on the other hand was what held my interest. he was such a loveable character, someone i would want as a friend. he was always teasing Freyja and calling her "sweetheart" which i thought added to his fun character. some of my favorite parts of this book were his reactions to when Freyja would punch him. even though it was hard to see the two as lovers i though Balogh did a very good job making it work and making the book enjoyable.

some patterns i have noticed since reading more of her books are that the characters don't confess their love for each other until within the last few chapters, so a warning that it does take a while. the love scene are always short and brief too.

i'm looking forward to reading Alleyne's and Wolf's stories and despite the reviews for them i think that all of our hopes for them, Wolf's especially, have been kept very hight and it would seem understandable if it turns out they don't meet with our hight hopes. if it does turn out that they aren't everything we hoped for i do wish that they will be statisfying at least.

I really disliked her in A Summer to Remember. In the next two books, she improved somewhat, but here, in her own story, she blossoms. One reason is that we finally get to see some vulnerability in her; the other favorable factor is her marvelously sarcastic sense of humor. When Josh arrives in Bath, Freyja makes a scene that results in a fake betrothal-- one that her brother, the Duke, insists be maintained for a time.

Josh is intrigued by this little hoyden and is one of the few who can put her in her place. She naturally resents that, but even worse is his seeming inability to take anything seriously. He's always winking at her, calling her "sweetheart," and making kissing gestures, all the sorts of things he knows will infuriate her. But he is far too frivilous to be taken seriously...or so she thinks.

The story deals little with the Bedwyn family, although Wulfric appears just enough to make you long for his story. The book focuses more on Josh's family and to good result--we need to see Freyja away from her usual surroundings. When Josh goes to meet his fiance's family, he fits right in. The stranger thing is how close Freyja becomes to his family.

It's different (as the series goes) and it works. A Summer to Remember is still my favorite (and worth far more than 5 stars), but I liked this one a great deal.

I really don't know how so many people have rated this book so highly. To me Freyja is totally unlikeable. She is too proud, too unyielding, too haughty, too full of herself, too selfish and too hard, none of which are qualities that I admire. Freyja didn't have a soft or feminine fiber in her body. I frankly can't understand how could Joshua (or anyone for that matter) fall in love with her, since she seems to be forever punching him in the face and mistreating him. She seemed to be angry with the world for no good reason. OK, she was once rejected by someone she thought she loved in "A Summer to Remember", but even then it was originally her fault, and she acted despicably when she didn't get her way. She is just a spoiled brat who thinks she can do as she pleases and look down on everybody simply because of her powerful family. Ach!

The hero-Joshua- was the reason I gave this book at least 2 stars. He is a very pleasant character. Cheerful, kind, sensible, intelligent, but also firm when he had to be. I liked Joshua very much since despite his cheerful and carefree manner he conceals hurts and a less thant happy chilhood, but he hasn't allowed this to turn him bitter and resentful. He is a very possitive character and the only thing that makes this book bearable.

I think this is my least favorite of the Bedwyn series so far. I quite liked Morgan, but after reading her book, she is only "slightly" better than Freyja. I just hope Mary Balogh does better with Alleyne and Wulfric's stories, although I don't really expect much from this series anymore, after all, I disliked Freyja since the beginning and my opinion of her didn't improve after reading her story.

Alleyne is quite different, I think he is the only Bedwyn I have always liked, so maybe his story will be my favorite of the series. Wulfric needs a serious thawing to get me to like him even a little.

Lady Freyja Bedwyn is not the usual Regency romance haute ton beauty. In fact she is not a beautiful woman at all, although many would call her handsome, with her prominent nose, dark brows, olive complexion, and mass of fair unruly hair. Her high spirits, independence and competitive ways are anything but ladylike. She was raised with her four older brothers, Wulfric, Duke of Bewcastle, Aiden, Rannulf, Alleyne and younger sister Morgan, and matched her male siblings in all their sporting activities. She was definitely not one to sit still and play the fragile female.

The story opens with Lady Freyja visiting friends in Bath. She has escaped the christening of her ex-fiance's son back home and is depressed by old memories of a time when they were betrothed. She hides her vulnerability behind a veneer of icy pride. In an outrageous encounter on her journey to Bath she meets Joshua Moore, Marquess of Hallsmere, when he barges into her bedroom at a local inn and begs her to hide him. The two meet again in Bath under extremely funny circumstances. This brash, adventurous young man is fleeing his aunt's matchmaking schemes and is much taken by the strongwilled Freyja. There is obvious chemistry between them. In a spontaneous moment the two decide to fake a betrothal - he to get away from his aunt's matrimonial plans, she to prove to the world that she need not remain a spinster. Obviously fate intervenes and the couple is unable to announce their break-up within the week as they originally planned.

This is the last book in the Bedwyn family trilogy. "Slightly Scandalous," as with the first book "Slightly Married," makes for a light and pleasant romantic read. The plot is not very original, although it is much more complex than the storyline in book one. I did like Josh as a hero. He appears quite cavalier at first, but then the depth of his character becomes obvious. I also enjoyed the scenes with their families at their different estates - Freyja's at Lindsey Hall and Josh's in Cornwall. The other characters are charming if predictable. Ms. Balogh writes in her usual warm, emotional style which enhances the somewhat over-used plot. I enjoyed reading "Slightly Scandalous" and do recommend it as long as potential buyers/readers realize that this is not Ms. Balogh's best effort.
JANA

I would have liked the book more, if the whole plot about the Bedwyns had been more original.
It seems to me that the author is trying to imitate Jo Beverley's Mallorens (I prefered the Mallorens a whole lot better than the Bedwyns!) Look at the similiarities in the two series: four brothers and two sisters, including an intimidating eldest brother( Rothgar in the Mallorens case and Wulf in the Bedwyns case). Even their names are similar. Rothgar's actual name is Beowulf and Wulf's is actually Wulfric. My, what a coincidence!
I'm quite disappointed in mary balogh this time round. The Bedwyns will never take the place of the Mallorens.

The first book I ever read by Mary Balogh, Was * A summer to remember* in which you meet the Bedwyn family, in which I met Freyja ...and thought she was mean, most unromantic girl in romance fiction. Then this book took all those thoughts... and shoved them out the door...Freyja is written where you see her soul... and understand her tomboyish ways. Only a great writer can change the way you see someone and make her loveable. This book brought a couple of tears, and I never cry in romance books. (At least not often) You fall in love with her energetic... and want to do everything better then a man (You go girl). She is so funny and Joshua is dream come true (pant pant)
I recommend it highly...I salute you Mary Balogh!

Oho ... who would think that the "slightly" series could get even better? Well it just has!

Honestly, this is the first (sorely waited) story for a side character, Freyja first appeared in 'a summer to remember', that has actually exceeded my expectations and had exactly the kind of exciting, interesting story I have believed the portrayed character, Freyja, would have (or rather demand)!!

Freyja Bedwyn and Joshua Moore (Marquess of Hallmere) are two thoroughly interesting characters who embark on numerous adventures together and end up falsely bethrothed along the way ..... the question for Freyja is does she want a real bethrothal with "the man"?? I won't ruin all the wonderfully witty things that occur in this story, but let you delve into the depths of this excellent book yourself.

If you love "fresh" story-lines, conversations that make you laugh out loud, and characters that are honest to themselves with their own feelings (and not simpering idiots) .... then this is definitely a book you will love! Freyja is the most entertaining, unique "leading lady" that I have EVER read about in a romance novel ........ she is simply fabulous!

This is definitely worth your trouble .... buy it/borrow it, do whatever needs to be done to get your hands on it and read to your hearts content ...... you will not be disappointed!!!!!!!!!!! .... you have my guarantee ... good reading, Kristina

You have the opportunity to read more indepth reviews, mine will be succinct. Freyja is a difficult heroine but I think could have been made more likeable if those glimpses of humor were fleshed out more. Joshua was a likeable rogue with a quick wit. Freya's character needed to loosen up. The storyline got tiresome and it was a chore to finish the book. I understand pride but Freyja's became mulish. I would have given 2 stars but I liked Josh's character. He had many layers without being brooding and sullen