Lord Carew's Bride by Mary Balogh is a historical romance novel that tells the tender love story of Samantha Newman and Hartley Wade. Samantha, after a betrayal in her past, is wary of falling in love but finds herself drawn to Hartley, a charming and kind neighbor with a hidden identity. The plot unfolds slowly, focusing on the development of their friendship and eventual romance, with alternating viewpoints providing insight into their characters. Balogh's writing style emphasizes the emotional depth of the characters and their journey towards love, creating a sweet and realistic love story set in the Regency era.

Characters:

The characters are well-developed, with Samantha as a cautious romantic and Hartley as a kind, vulnerable hero who desires genuine love.

Writing/Prose:

The writing style is gentle and character-focused, effectively portraying emotional depth and avoiding typical romantic cliches.

Plot/Storyline:

The story features a developing friendship between Samantha and Hartley that evolves into love, overcoming past traumas and misunderstandings.

Setting:

Set in the English countryside during the Regency era, the setting complements the gentle and romantic narrative.

Pacing:

The pacing is deliberate, allowing for deep character exploration and organic development of relationships.

"Oh, do come with us, Sam," the Countess of Thornhill said. "I know it is only a short walk to the lake, but the setting is lovely and the daffodils are in bloom. And surely it is better to have compa...

Notes:

The story revolves around Samantha, who has sworn off love after a past betrayal.

Samantha meets Hartley Wade while walking in the countryside, unaware he is the Marquess of Carew.

Hartley, who has a physical disability, pretends to be a groundskeeper to avoid being judged by women for his title and wealth.

Their relationship begins as a friendship built on easy conversation and shared moments.

The book explores themes of love, friendship, and overcoming insecurities.

Lord Kersey, a villain from Samantha's past, complicates the couple's budding romance.

The story avoids typical misunderstandings, focusing instead on character development and emotional growth.

This book is part of a series, with connections to other characters from previous stories.

Heartrending moments illustrate both characters' vulnerabilities and desires for acceptance and love.

The romance is described as tender rather than steamy, emphasizing emotional connection.

Sensitive Topics/Content Warnings

There are themes of past emotional trauma and insecurities due to previous relationships.

Has Romance?

The romance is a central theme, featuring deep emotional connections and romantic development.

implied steam level

From The Publisher:

Samantha Newman is getting older, but though she is beautiful and courted by a large number of gentlemen, she is restless and unhappy. While she is staying in the country with her friends Jennifer and Gabriel, she takes a walk alone and wanders onto the property of the reclusive Marquess of Carew. She meets him far from the house and mistakes him for a landscape designer. He is an ordinary-looking man and is half crippled. He is also friendly and unassuming, and Samantha soon relaxes into a warm friendship with him. It is only much later, back in London, when she is again threatened by the man who broke her heart years ago during her come-out Season, that Samantha discovers who her friend really is. And this time she is tempted to settle for the contentment of friendship in order to escape the pain of love. more

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Lord Carew's Bride

Mary Balogh

Book 4 in the series:Stapleton-Downes