First appearances deceive in the newest charming and heartwarming Regency romance in the Westcott series from beloved New York Times bestselling author Mary Balogh.Abigail Westcott’s dreams for her future were lost when her father died and she discovered her parents were not legally married. But now, six years later, she enjoys the independence a life without expectation provides a wealthy single … provides a wealthy single woman. Indeed, she’s grown confident enough to scold the careless servant chopping wood outside without his shirt on in the proximity of ladies.
But the man is not a servant. He is Gilbert Bennington, the lieutenant colonel and superior officer who has escorted her wounded brother, Harry, home from the wars with Napoleon. Gil has come to help his friend and junior officer recover, and he doesn’t take lightly to being condescended to–secretly because of his own humble beginnings.
If at first Gil and Abigail seem to embody what the other most despises, each will soon discover how wrong first impressions can be. For behind the appearances of the once-grand lady and the once-humble man are two people who share an understanding of what true honor means, and how only with it can one find love.
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I love everything she writes, but the dog in this one just melted my heart.
OMGoodness – I cannot believe I’m giving this author 3-stars. It is a pleasant enough story, well written, etc. but bland. I have not read any of the other books in this series, but I understand they have all been great – and I do intend to read the earlier books because I’m sure I’ll like them. Many – if not all – of the characters from the earlier books make appearances in this story.
Lieutenant Colonel Gilbert (Gil) Bennington is not a gentleman by birth or breeding. He is the illegitimate son of the village washerwoman. He joined the Army at the age of fifteen by lying to the recruiting sergeant and hasn’t been back home since. Why would he go there – his mother is dead and everyone in the village treated him abominably. Since he left, he’s become a hero several times over, gained a fortune, married, became a father and a widower. Yet, he still feels like that bastard boy who was always looked down upon.
Gil is now locked in a battle with his former in-laws for the custody of his small daughter, Katy. I absolutely LOVED how much Gil loved Katy and that he’d go to any lengths to get her back from his powerful in-laws. With all of that turmoil in his life, he still took the time to escort his friend, Major Harry Westcott, home from the continent because Harry had been gravely wounded. Gil will escort Harry to his home and remain with him until he recovers to the point that he doesn’t need Gil anymore. What Gil hasn’t counted on was having Harry’s entire family descend on them. Solitary, aloof, self-contained Gil is surrounded by ‘them’ – aristocrats – Harry’s family.
Abigail (Abby) Westcott used to be a Lady, but that ended six years ago when it was discovered that her father had married her mother bigamously. Abby isn’t sorry that it happened because – well – actually it sort of set her free. Free to be who and what she wants to be. She doesn’t have to be on the marriage mart and marry some titled gentleman just because that is what is expected of Ladies. She can marry – or not – just because it is what she wants. I really liked Abby – she is a warm and caring young woman who has finally come to know herself.
Frankly, I didn’t buy the love story. It just all seemed like a staid business transaction between two people who had come to like and respect each other, but nothing more. I told my friend, just after I had read the ‘consummation’ scene, that I had just read the absolute dullest love scene that there ever was. It would have been much better for it to have been left ‘clean’ so you could at least use your imagination. I did think that they could grow to love each other, but all I saw in the book was affection.
I can recommend this book if you enjoy a slower paced, steady, step-by-step read with a lovely HEA.
I voluntarily read and reviewed an Advanced Reader Copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
Abigail Westcott loses what she considers her birthright when it is discovered after her father’s death that his first wife was dying from consumption, but not dead, when he married Abigail’s mother for her vast dowry. Abigail, her sister Camille, and her brother Harry, at the time thought to be the next Earl of Riverdale, are suddenly bastard children in the eyes of society, and are no longer treated as members of the ton. Her sister finds her place and marries an artist of some renown (Someone to Hold) after being rejected by her aristocratic fiancé. Her mother has married a Marquess (Someone to Care) and is back in the bosom of society. Her brother has just returned home from a lengthy convalescence in France after the Napoleonic Wars and is recuperating at their childhood home in the country. Abigail and much of her extended family go to Hinsford Manor and Abigail chooses to stay with her brother after her family leaves, uninterested in the spring season of social events where her family is intent on relaunching her into society as simply Miss Abigail Westcott.
Lieutenant Colonel Gilbert Bennington, longtime friend of Harry’s, has escorted him home with the intention of staying with him until he is fully recovered. He is desperate to be back in England, not only for Harry’s sake but also because his deceased wife gave up care of their young daughter to her parents while he served in France and the grandparents are determined to keep the child. Gil has never hidden the fact that he is the bastard child of a village washer woman, who at fourteen left home to be a foot soldier, and earned his promotions through bravery, but who would never be considered a gentleman. He has launched a legal action to recover his daughter and is advised to sell out of the military and take a wife.
Gil and Abigail do not take to each other at first, he finds Abigail to be a snob and she finds him morose and rough. But they are thrown together at Hinsford helping Harry recover, and find they are comfortable with each other. And attracted to each other as well. It was incredibly satisfying to watch Gil and Abigail fall in love slowly, with great attention to duty and honor. Abigail finally finds her place in the world, something she has been searching for for six years. Gil’s quest for his daughter had me reaching for my tissues time and again.
It was also wonderful to visit with the Westcotts, Anna, Abigail’s half-sister, and her husband the Duke of Netherby (Someone to Love) and cousin Alexander, the Earl of Riverdale, and his wife Wren (Someone to Wed), and all the other family members. What a great series and a fabulous complicated family!
Mary Balogh never disappoints. Another wonderful book in this series.
As reviewed at Roses Are Blue: https://wp.me/p3QRh4-VZ
Lieutenant Colonel Gilbert Bennington has escorted his wounded friend, Harry, home to the country where he can fully recover and regain his strength after suffering severe injuries. Much to his dismay, he learns that throngs of Harry’s family will soon be arriving, all anxious to see that their beloved relative is truly well. Harry’s sister, Abigail Westcott, arrives, and has a memorable encounter with Gil, which causes them to immediately get off on the wrong foot and take an instant dislike to each other. Gil’s intentions were to stay with Harry for an extended period, helping him back from invalid status without coddling him, and he looks forward to the Westcott family’s departure, not knowing that Abby has also made plans to stay when the rest of her family leaves.
The Westcott family finally packs up and departs, leaving a shocked Gil and Abby facing each other, realizing that they’re going to have to endure each other’s company. Since they both have Harry’s best interests at heart, they treat each other politely, while trying to avoid each other’s company. Still, there are bound to be times when they have to be around the other, and they come to a kind of truce, as well as an understanding and respect for each other.
There are certain kinds of heroes that I really appreciate, and Gil is one of them. He’s a bit unpolished, though his career as an officer has led him to know how to perform the social niceties. His demeanor appears unsmiling, even forbidding, but he uses that persona to keep people from getting too close, and learning about his “gutter rat” origins. He was born to poverty, his mother being the daughter of a blacksmith, and his father, a member of the nobility, who never married her. His father did finance his becoming an officer, and he married a general’s daughter. His now deceased wife soon discovered that her marrying Gil was a mistake, and after she gave birth to their daughter, Katy, she left the child with her parents and went off to live a life of parties and fun. Now that Gil is back from the war, he has found that his in-laws refuse to relinquish custody of his daughter to him. His heart’s desire is to take his daughter to his home, Rose Cottage, and to create a loving family, something he’s never known.
Abby was raised to be an earl’s daughter, and just before her debut, it was scandalously discovered that her father was a bigamist, and she is, in fact, illegitimate. Rather than try to worm her way back into society, Abby has decided to travel her own path. She won’t marry a fortune hunter, or someone who would help her socially. She’s not exactly sure what she’s seeking, but if she doesn’t find it, she’s content to remain unmarried.
As Harry recovers, and his two guests become more comfortable with each other, Harry makes the outrageous suggestion that Gil should marry in order to present a more stable home life to the judge who will decide who gains legal custody of Katy. And he suggests that Abby is a likely candidate! Though surprised and, at first, reluctant, Gil and Abby are not averse to the suggestion. Even though they were initially hostile to each other, they felt an underlying attraction. They discuss the option of marriage, and come to agree to proceed. Though this is a convenient marriage, they immediately share a warm and compatible physical relationship, while Abby has an uncanny knack of seeing the honorable and wounded man beneath Gil’s rough exterior.
SOMEONE TO HONOR is a beautifully written, character driven romance which brings two wounded souls together. Abby immediately makes the custody battle for Katy her own battle, too, and before long the whole extended Westcott family lends their support to the newest member of the family. I love Gil and Abby, and it was so sweet when they realized that they had found genuine love. There are many characters in the Westcott family, and if you haven’t read previous books in this series, you may feel a little at sea, though the relationships are explained here. I think it’s a testament to Mary Balogh’s excellent writing that I remember each and every character from previous books, as well as their stories. I adore this book and wholeheartedly recommend SOMEONE TO HONOR, as well as the WESTCOTT series, especially for readers who enjoy character driven, emotional romance, and wonderful family love.
I have read all the Westcott books and loved them all. This one, however, is a bit different! It explores how people from completely different backgrounds can actually find love in Regency England. They are confronted with some big challenges and survive and thrive despite some considerable odds.
I loved it because as in all her books, love really does conquer all!
3.5 stars, rounded up.
Lt Col. Gilbert “Gil” Bennington returns to England with Harry Westcott. Harry barely survived Waterloo and now almost 2 years later, he is still weak and ill – he asks Gil to stay with him in England until he recovers, Gil agrees and then wishes he hadn’t when Harry’s family shows up. Gil is not a fan of the nobility and has his own reasons for returning to England. The primary reason is to regain custody of his young daughter, who is currently living with his late wife’s parents.
Abigail Westcott is excited to see her brother Harry when the family arrives at their childhood home. She hopes to convince Harry into letting her stay with him after everyone else returns to London. She has no desire to participate in the season and has basically given up on the idea of marriage, as she has never met a man who inspired any desire in her. But all that changes when she meets Gil – and mistakes him for a servant. A half dressed, large, very masculine servant…
After their initial disastrous meeting, they form a truce of sorts and then an unlikely friendship, Gil finds himself telling her thinks he has never told anyone and she finds herself attracted to him in a way that she has never experienced before. When Harry suggests they marry to help Gil regain custody of his daughter, she surprises everyone, including herself, by agreeing.
This book was gentle read, there is really no action, intrigue or drama. There is absolutely nothing at all keeping Abby and Gil from being together and it is impossible for me to tell you when they “fell in love”. But despite that, I did like the story and felt like it was a nice, if somewhat placid, uncomplicated, addition to the series.
*I am voluntarily leaving a review for an eARC that was provided to my by NetGalley and the Publisher.*
Mary Balogh has the ability to create relationships between characters that’s based on desirable traits and understanding between the hero and heroine, not just sexual desire. So her stories have the strength to strongly pull on my heart strings. Someone to Honor did this again. This is another well written historical romance in the Westcott series. Don’t forget to have your tissue ready for a happy-tears HEA!
I received an advanced readers copy from a giveaway in exchange for my honest and voluntary opinion of this book.
I very much enjoyed the audiobook format. Abigail Westcott is 24 years old and considered “on the shelf”, as circumstances of a coming out did not go as planned when she found out six years ago upon her father’s death that her parent’s marriage was bigamous, thereby causing her to lose her title and inheritance. Quietly feeling out her independence and figuring out her identity, Abigail feels annoyance and awareness of the friend of her wounded soldier brother, Harry. Lieutenant Colonel Gilbert Bennington has outer scars showing his bravery in battle, but his inner scars are hidden behind a gruff granite of a man who is not a conversationalist. He is currently battling his deceased wife’s parents who won’t give him back custody of his two-year-old daughter. Harry’s impulsive suggestion that his sister and friend marry to help Gilbert’s case in retrieving his daughter stirs Abigail and Gilbert to consider the ludicrous suggestion. Would Abigail be content marrying a man she could honor and respect, but did not love—a man who was conscious of and bothered by his low social status? Would being a wife and mother give her the purpose she sought in life? Gilbert dreaded the results of the upcoming court case, as he did not want to lose his daughter and end up married again for nothing…
I love Mary’s books & really like this series (can’t wait for Harry’s story). They definitely should be read in order, as the characters appear throughout all the books.
Want to read all of her books.
Two stars for my simply not connecting to the story.
Dreary with a boring and at times unpleasant hero and boring heroine.
Much better in the series.
At last! A woman in a historical romance who doesn’t disdain knitting, crocheting, embroidery. In fact, she needs supplies and buys “a year’s worth” for all the projects she wants to do.
If I could, I would score this book higher.
Another family-centric, sweet Westcott romance…
I will ever get tired of returning to the Westcott family’s world where family, love and all the drama live! With it all unfolding under regency rules and formality, the author never fails to reveal the warmth and emotions that percolate under all the restrictions. Abby, caught in the middle of a huge scandal along with her family, has done her best to distance herself from the hurt and sorrow. Still conflicted, she can’t help be draw to Gil, who is struggling with family issues of his own…
Unique has each character, their romance offers challenges and heart-hitting problems hard not to get lost in, and that’s exactly what I did. From Gil’s upbringing, which still haunts him today, to Abby’s need to be more than a woman needing to make a good marriage, came together in a rocky relationship start to one that ended so perfectly…
Gentle, sweet and irresistible, witty and smart dialogue, along with the sweetest of puppies and kiddoes, made this another winner in the series.
*Reviewed for 1-Click Addict Support Group
**Thank you to NetGalley
Love the whole Westcott series
Finding home.
Six years ago, Abigail Wescott’s world was upended. Thanks to her family, she’s been given time and opportunity to accept the new reality.
Gil Bennington grew up poor and illegitimate. After gaining the rank of Sargent on his own merit, his father purchased his commission — his only contact with the man. Rising to the rank of Lieutenant Colonel during the wars, he stayed aware of his origins.
Once again Ms. Balogh takes us inside the large, complicated Westcott family. Life’s not all balls and parties as family members rally around one of their own in pursuit of justice.
Abigail gives Gil the space to be himself, understanding how his upbringing has affected his approach to the world. But she doesn’t give up – a woman of tenacity.
I just love the Westcotts. There isn’t a rotter in the whole family – immediate, extended or spouses (except Humphery). Ms. Balogh expertly tells the story of each character while bringing the reader up to date on the lives of the rest of the family. Three cheers and a smile!
I’ve been looking forward to Abby’s story and I was not disappointed! First, I was glad for the time jump, since the rest of the books happened over the course of a couple years and it was nice to move some of the characters along. Second, the family history was again kept to an okay minimum, so I was able to enjoy the characters.
So beautiful
What a beautiful story. I just can’t get enough of this series and the amazing characters.