Question about the Bedwyn Saga by Mary Balogh

mirole · Joined: 06 Aug 2010 Posts: 257 Location: Toronto, Ontario

I have read most of the books from the series ( Slightly Married, Slightly Scandalous and Slightly Tempted) which I enjoyed (the last one the least).

I am very much interested in the Duke of Bewcastle's story but there was no reference whatsoever to his personal life in Slightly Tempted. The last I heard from the previous books was he was in a relationship with a mistress.

Do I need to read through the next book just for the sake of bits and pieces of his story or can I safely proceed to Slightly Dangerous?

PatW · Joined: 22 Mar 2007 Posts: 618 Location: Central Maryland

If you are only interested in his personal life, by all means skip to Slightly Dangerous.

Slightly Sinful, Alleyne's book has a great vignette of Wulfric at the end but it isn't necessary to read it first IMO.
_________________
When in doubt, read.

mirole · Joined: 06 Aug 2010 Posts: 257 Location: Toronto, Ontario

Thank you, PatW.

LFL · Joined: 05 May 2007 Posts: 630

I agree with Pat, Slightly Sinful is IMO the weakest in the series and you won't miss much on the Wulfric front if you skip it. The most important Wulfric moments in the earlier books IMO are in Slightly Married, when he comes to Aidan and Eve's aid, and in Slightly Tempted, when Morgan observes him in a vulnerable moment. If you've read those, I think you're good to go on to Slightly Dangerous.
_________________
I also post elsewhere as Janine or Janine Ballard

mirole · Joined: 06 Aug 2010 Posts: 257 Location: Toronto, Ontario

Thank you too, LFL.

Yes, I remember these moments from the previous books.

I just did not want to miss if the death of his long-time mistress was mentioned in Slightly Sinful.

LFL · Joined: 05 May 2007 Posts: 630

I don't remember anything like that. I think they just part company, and it's referenced in Slightly Dangerous.

How did you like the Bedwyn books you read?
_________________
I also post elsewhere as Janine or Janine Ballard

PatW · Joined: 22 Mar 2007 Posts: 618 Location: Central Maryland

Elizabeth Rolls · Joined: 26 Mar 2007 Posts: 1027 Location: Australia

His mistress does die and, I think from memory, that he is actually with her right to the end. Copy is boxed up until building works complete. It is referenced towards the start of SD.

Vulnerable moment in Alleyne's book is directly related to moment in Morgan's book that someone has already mentioned.

Elizabeth

mirole · Joined: 06 Aug 2010 Posts: 257 Location: Toronto, Ontario

Thank you, everyone. I am now convinced that I can skip one book and proceed to SD.

LFL: I love Mary Balogh. She’s one of my go-to authors when I get frustrated after reading some awful, week or so-so romances (others are Linda Howard, Sandra Brown and Georgette Heyer).
I still have a lot of books that I have not read by each of these authors.

On the whole I loved the books in the Slightly series and the prequel – The Summer to Remember. I love the family and characters, descriptions of life in town and on the estates.

Of the three books I’ve read so far, I liked Freja’s book the most, then Aidan’s but Morgan’s not so much. What I did not like was that in my mind it was a bit unfocused, as if MB did not quite know what to write about and how to develop their story. Also Gervase for me was a bit too reminiscent of Josh, Freja’s husband. Same laughing eyes, lazy smile. So it was a bit repetitive for me. H’s behaviour in the middle of the book was inconsistent with his character I thought.

Still, reading Mary Balogh is a great pleasure for me and I’ll continue reading her books.