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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A good add to this series
This book has a slow start but it picked up by chapter 3.
I felt that Abby, Harry’s sister, was waiting to be swept off her feet; but Gil made a subtle announcement.
He needed a wife to get his daughter back, but I feel that he fell in love with Abby, along the way.
I liked that the underdog won in the end. Harry’s character is more fully developed and will be getting his own story soon.
Another page turner from this author, I can’t get enough of her books. I wait patiently for the next chapters!
The beginning of Someone to Honor is all about that crucial first impression we have on others and others have on us. More, it is about how very wrong those first impressions can prove to be, as Abigail Westcott and Lieutenant Colonel Gil Bennington discover.
The story also brings home the truth that sometimes, perhaps oftentimes, the strongest and most lasting loves don’t begin with the lightning strike of instant attraction. Yet, even in that reality, Ms. Balogh’s innate sense of romance comes through, bright and shining.
The heart of the story and, I suspect, the naming of the book comes from the strong sense of honor at the core of both the hero and heroine. A sense of honor that ultimately calls forth an honorable action and reaction in the face of heartbreaking and dishonorable adversity.
That is as much of the plot as you’ll get from me but the book gets five stars!
Enjoyable book in a very good series
Love the series
Not my favorite in this series, which makes it still so very good. Balogh’s characterization is amazing.
Other than the first book, this is my favorite. The story of Abigail Westcott, the illegitimate daughter of the deceased Earl of Riverdale, along with her older sister and brother, because his first wife was living when he married their mother – a marriage that lasted for 23 years. For 6 years Abby was restless not fitting in with Ton Society or any other one. Trying to discover who she is and what she wants, she moves to their childhood home with her brother Harry, who is recovering from wounds at Waterloo. He is accompanied by his friend and fellow officer, Lieut. Colonel Gil Bennington. Gil is finally home and determined to get custody of his 3 year old daughter who was taken (while he was at war) by his now deceased wife to her parents so she can enjoy herself. That resulted in her death and now Gil wants his daughter back. The first meeting with Abby resulted in mutual dislike. But the whole Westcott family descends on Harry to reassure themselves of his continued improvement after 2 years in the war. After they all leave in a week or so, just the 3 of them are left. Gil, the illegitimate son of a Viscount, was raised alone by his mother until he joined the army at 14. Used to keeping all emotions bottled up it isn’t easy for him to open up to anyone. But Abby realizes his loneliness, similar to her, and slowly there builds friendship and trust. An offhand comment of Harry’s along with advice from Gil’s attorney has both of them thinking of a possible future and a way to reclaim his daughter. The WHOLE Westcott claim comes to the rescue -their love and devotion and determination to stand united is inspiring and enviable – the way family love is supposed to be. It seems adversity is never an obstacle to them and their plan, once again, produces an abundant harvest. Nothing comes easy that is worthwhile. It is a very interesting and heartwarming story of the greatest gift in every form – love!
I have enjoyed Mary Balogh for years. Her novels are a step above your regular Regency stories though I like those too. This story has her usual complications and the usual emotional undercurrents which I believe is something that puts her that one step above/
I’ve read the previous books in Mary Balogh’s Westcott series and am delighted to say Someone to Honor is another delightful read.
First at all, I apologize because English is not my first language. Once that said, I was gifted with an ARC of this book, so I will give you my honest opinion. I love historical romance, I loved Gil and Abby. I felt so touched by their romance. I even quoted Mary Balogh in a homework about human rights 🙂
Mary Balogh is one of my main go-to Regency Romance authors. I love the Westcott family series!
Mary Balogh’s books are always enjoyable.
Part of what I love about Mary Balogh is how she weaves character development across a series. Abigail Westcott started as a young lady from a good family but with nothing notable about her, until her world was upended when she learned she and her siblings were illegitimate. She’s grown now, but still very much in her own way a stock character–Regency lady. Not a pirate, or a spy, or a smuggler, but a nice lady who enjoys knitting and embroidery.
Gil Bennington is a hero struggling with his own sense of self because he too is not only illegitimate, but also not a gentleman. He became a Lt. Col. in the British Army mostly rising through the ranks (his early commissions were purchased and that’s a plot point) but he’s never forgotten he doesn’t belong in society.
How these two come together makes for a gentle story about people being good and doing the right thing, one of my favorite romance tropes.
But what I really loved about this book was Lady Matilda, Abigail’s aunt. In the beginning of the Westcott series Matilda was a stock secondary character, the aging maiden aunt who lives with her elderly mother and fusses over her far too much. Pretty much a soggy, wet blanket of a woman. But then in the last couple books we had glimpses that she may have more depth, and in this book Matilda plays a small, but crucial role of her own initiative and the next story is hers.
This is one of the things I love most about Balogh. My favorite series may be the “Slightly” (Bedwyn) saga and when people ask me about it I always say, “Watch little Becky.” Her interactions with Wulfric across the series helps to set up his own story in a manner that leaves me breathless with admiration for Balogh’s writing skills.
While Someone to Honor won’t stand as one of my favorite of Balogh’s books, it’s well worth studying by any author seeking to improve herself and write characters who stand out across a series.