Gwen’s review of At Last Comes Love (Huxtable Quintet, Book 3) by Mary Balogh
Historical romance released by Dell 28 Apr 09

I’m not some gushy little fangirl who swoons at every word written by an author.  When I review I am not afraid to give authors I normally love a not-so-good or even bad grade if the work isn’t up to snuff.  So color me surprised when, once again, Mary Balogh blew me away with yet another stellar effort.  At Last Comes Love was such a perfect romance to me that I am definitely going to have to read it again.  And that’s saying something – I seldom re-read books. 

If you, like me, haven’t read the other books in the series, have no fear.  ALCL stands fine on its own.  Though I am definitely going to make sure they’re in my TBR for some future lovely romance-reading time all to myself.  These first four books are all coming out back to back between February – May 2009 and I couldn’t be happier.

The book opens with a heroine that we are familiar with from the earlier two books in the series, Margaret Huxtable. She’s the eldest of the Huxtable siblings and, since her late teens and as a result of a promise to her dying father, she has raised her younger siblings almost single-handedly.  No small task and one which she loved, but one which left no time for her personal life, beyond a brief secret engagement 12 years earlier with a faithless cavalry officer.  All of this culminated in her being 30-years old and single – an almost unheard of event in Regency England among the ton.

Margaret had very nearly resigned herself to being the spinster elder sister, but her natural stubbornness revolted against that notion.  She martials her internal fortitude and resources and sets out to get hitched.  Her first foray along this plan is a ball where she hopes to accept a perennial marriage offer from an old friend.   At this ball, she discovers her old friend is already engaged, then she runs into her faithless former fiancée, and, to save face, fakes an engagement to our willing hero, Duncan, Earl of Sheringford. Margaret’s nice orderly world is shattered in a matter of minutes.

The hero is a unique character.  To all who listen to gossip, he’s a rogue, a scalawag, and a bounder.  Five years earlier he left his bride at the altar, ran away with her sister-in-law, and they both lived in sin until the SIL died four-months before the novel’s events. He’s looked askance at even by friends and family. He’s even at risk of losing his childhood home – the place he’s hoped to raise his young son – if he doesn’t marry by his curmudgeonly grandfather’s 80th birthday, only a few short weeks hence.  Duncan is in a pickle when he attends the fateful ball, when his predicament seems to have a resolution at hand.

The description of all these events, the dialogue, and the emotional turmoil felt by both the hero and heroine is a delight to read. Both Duncan and Margaret are older, wiser, and respect themselves far too much to lie to themselves, let alone each other.  What a relief to read characters who are honest and open.  I’m really quite tired of romance plots where The Big Misunderstanding is the single force keeping the lovers apart.  I’m one of those readers who yell, “Just TALK to each other already!” while throwing the book at the wall. I never had the urge to do that once with this book.

ALCL tells the story of two people who managed to overcome what society thinks of them, developing a deep bond, and surmounting some huge hurdles along the way.  This is my favorite kind of romance – the one that tells us how a relationship actually works between to very believable characters.  No bells or whistles – no tricks.  Just a straightforward romance.

I loved this book and highly recommend it to anyone who is looking for a romance that just makes you want to go “Awwww!” at the end.  Frankly I smiled throughout and had tears on several occasions.  It’s a wonderful story.

Grade: A+

Read more about this series by following its tag.

Summary:
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Step into a world of scandal, intrigue, and enthralling passion as New York Times bestselling author Mary Balogh sweeps us into the lives of an extraordinary family: the Huxtables. Margaret, the eldest, embarks on the most risqué adventure of her life and agrees to marry the most notorious man in London….
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Only desperation could bring Duncan Pennethorne, the infamous Earl of Sheringford, back home after the spectacular scandal that had shocked even the jaded ton. Forced to wed in fifteen days or be cut off without a penny, Duncan chooses the one woman in London in frantic need of a husband. A lie to an old flame forces Margaret Huxtable to accept the irresistible stranger’s offer. But once she discovers who he really is, it’s too late-she’s already betrothed to the wickedly sensual rakehell. Quickly she issues an ultimatum: If Duncan wants her, he must woo her. And as passion slowly ignites, two people marrying for all the wrong reasons are discovering the joys of seduction-and awaiting the exquisite pleasure of what comes after….
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Read an excerpt here.

Other books in the series (these are mass market paperback releases except for the last book, Seducing An Angel) (aren’t these covers lovely?):

and Book 5, Constantine’s story – no title yet