At her friend’s urging Anne Jewell and her son David set off for a fun filled month of fun, Anne doesn’t feel at home or comfortable around the family of peers her and her son are staying with, but she feels a calm as she sees the vast sea, until one night she sees a man of great beauty and pain standing on one of the many cliffs, Anne can’t get the man out of her head and later her heart when she finally meets and befriends Sydnam Butler Sydnam is the steward of seaside manor, war scarred veteran, while he enjoys the peace of the land and sea, he still wishes for more, he finds a kindred spirt in Anne and as a deep passion blooms between the two, they find through one another the wounds on the outside and on the soul are truly and finally healed through one another’s love........ I am truly at a lost for words on the poetic beauty that is Simply Love, this story touched my heart and soul deeply, that I was moved to tears of the unfolding romance between Syd and Anne. Anne Jewell, is a teacher at Ms.Martin’s Girl’s School. As an unwed mother, she’s been looked down upon, many of times, but with the help from the headmistress and her friends and her inner strength to protect her son David, Anne has made a home for herself at the school, and is content with her lot in life, when a long time friend Joshua Moore asks her and her son to join him and his family at the remote Bedwyns estate for a month of fun, Anne is leery, but seeing the hope in her sons eyes, agrees to go and keep out of the way from the Bedwyns peer while staying there, one a nightly walk Anne comes across a man whose face on one side is of great beauty and on the other a horrible scarred beast, scared Anne runs away, but kicks herself for running away from a man, whose no fault of his own, came to be so scarred, turning around Anne goes back to apologize, only to see he’s vanished. Anne’s mind keeps going back to the scarred man, and when she comes face to face with him again does she find out he’s the steward for The Duke of Bedwyns estate; Sydnam Butler. Anne aks his forgiveness for running away, which surprises Syd. Quickly the two start anew, and strike up a deep friendship as the days past, they bare their deep wounds not only on the outside but on the inside but as deep passion and love blooms between them that will lead to even deeper scares being uncovered and healed. Sydnam Butler is a war scarred veteran, after being torture leaving half his face scarred, his eye missing along with his right arm, Sydnam didn’t want pity, so he did everything in his power to overcome his disability, working as a steward has brought him a sense of peace, away from his famil whom wanted to wrap him up in cotton and protect him from the world, and away from the eyes of pity and fear. Syd wasn’t to thrilled to meet up with Anne again after he ran away from him, but is surprised when she comes up to beg his pardon from running away from him that night, that night that burns her image into his mind and weaving into his dreams. After each meeting with Anne he feels a deeper draw, one whose deep scars are hidden deep within her soul, scars he can understand. As they share their feelings, a attraction that leads to a afternoon of lovemaking changes their lives forever, as love blooms between them and takes away the darkness that has haunted the lives of Syd and Anne. Mary Balogh writing is at her fineness with Simply Love, her poetic storytelling weave a deep romance of two tortured and scarred souls without even going into a graphic detail but hitting you just as hard. There was many secondary characters that appeared in earlier books of MB, but instead of giving you a headache, the story moves along smoothly with everyone trying to play matchmaker between Anne and Syd, which was really cute to see the fierce Bedwyns trying to set a romance up. It was great to see the lives of many of the characters and what their doing now, but MB makes it where it doesn’t take away from the story but adds a charm to this already deeply moving story. You first meet Syd in a Summer to Remember as he tries to fight the binds his loving family placed on him. Syd didn’t want pity, he wanted to be praised for going out there and doing his duty. Syd’s scars may mostly be on the outside, there’s still deep scars upon his soul, facing not being able to be whole, in a world where things are down with two hands, two eyes, two feet. Syd is able to do pretty much anything anyone else can do, from riding a horse, to writing. He lost of his hand and eye has caused him to look at the world through different eyes, but because of his lost, he still yearns for his old life, his ability to paint lost to him along with arm. With Syd, we don’t know we have it until it’s gone, he still held himself back from trying to paint because he was scared things wouldn’t be the same, and while it’s true, he always was able to see more of the world from his one eye then he did of his romantic younger self, he was able to mature, and finally accept himself now and move on. As he was able to overcome his past and face his future, he was able to help Anne with her own scars and healing. Syd was one of the most beautiful characters I’ve ever read about, it had nothing to do with the outside and everything to do with what was on the inside. He was kind and gentle and love just as greatly and deeply. When he finally shed tears and let go of his past and losing his skill to draw, I felt the tears fall down my own face. Syd was even more amazing when he was able to re-learn and re-teach himself to draw and even being able to teach Anne son David to paint. Syd is one of those amazing people who hope or blessed you maybe able to meet in real life, one whose able to teach those around them to see the world through different eyes. Anne was and is a survivor, she started off a governess to a bright child, but this child’s older brother started to interfere with her in bad ways, trying to find a way to get this man away from her student, she sadly finds herself being forced upon and raped leaving her with her son David. This man later dies, but leaves Anne with child and unwed, her family blames her for her own rape leaving her alone in the world, not wanting to accept the kindness of the Moore family, David’s father’s family. When she’s offered a place at Ms.Martin she sees this a wonderful chance for her son and her to start fresh. Anne never faced the tragedy of her rape, and the feelings toward her family whom all but left her in the cold. But Anne just doesn’t cry and blame the world, she keeps going, she keep living if not for herself, but her son whom she loves. Anne sees in Syd someone whom understand deeply her scars, and even when she brakes and facing her own demons, Syd is there to help her along as she has helped him. It’s not an easy road, but a road that must be traveled for Anne in order for her to truly heal. With Syd by herself, she’s able to face her family, but her own self as she fears intimacy, but through love and understanding, Anne feels she’s able recover herself, a stronger self even when she faces for bitterness and hurt toward her family. Anne is strong because she’s able to give something to her family many of us, don’t to those whom have hurt us: forgiveness. Anne is able to be set free being able to forgive, and that’s through the love of her son and the love of Syd. Without love, there wouldn’t be forgiveness and that’s what makes love a true gift.Overall: Simply..Beautiful, a story that makes you believe in romance and above all love.
Beautiful story that takes your breath away and makes you ache at the same time. Balogh's weaving of words is almost poetic. Anne and Sydnam could not have been more perfect for each other. "It must be wonderful to have someone to draw one's smiles." "Anne," he said, "I cannot paint again. I cannot. Yet I cannot live without painting."Those final words were wrenched unwillingly from him and horrified him. After that he could not stop the sobs that tore at his chest and embarrassed him horribly. He turned to stumble away, but two arms came about him and held him tightly even when he would have broken away from them."No," Anne said, "it is all right. It is all right, my love. It is all right."Not once before now had he wept. "What if those words had been spoken of him, Sydnam Butler, instead of David? ...my heart yearns for him." "They stood side by side listening intently.But after a while it seemed to Anne that it was her heartbeat she heard.Or his.And she was terribly aware that she was alive. Not just living and breathing, but...alive. She reached up her hand then and cupped it about the right side of his face. He closed his eye and leaned into her hand. He had not realized just how much he craved someone's touch--a gentle touch after all the violence. It felt almost as if healing flowed through her hand, as if after she had lifted it away his flesh would be whole again. "You were there waiting," he said, "even before all this happened to me, your own experiences preparing you to come to my rescue. And even before all this happened to me I was being prepared to come to yours. Tell me I am right. Tell me we can help each other." This was my first try at Mary Balogh and I was thoroughly enchanted. There were a few things that slowed it down for me personally in the last 80 pages or so and it became a little too repetitive but the heart of the characters and story were quite enjoyable. I thought her attention to detail to the scenaries and thought process and breaking down of visual images from a painter's POV was wonderfully handled and spot on. The smells of the paint, mixing of colors and artists eye to picking up details etc. Superb! As a painter myself I devoured those scenes and made my heart ache even more for the quiet introverted artist hero. If anything this just made me itch to pick up a brush so thank you Mary Balogh for that! :D
What do You think about Simply Love (2007)?
Beautiful Story of Two SurvivorsSIMPLY LOVE is the second book in the Simply Quartet. It is the story of Anne Jewel. Readers of Balogh will know Anne from SLIGHTLY SCANDALOUS. Anne was raped while a governess and bore an illegitimate son as a result. She teaches at the all girls school that features in the series. While vacationing with the Bedwyns in Wales, she meets Sydnam Butler. Sydnam was introduced in A SUMMER TO REMEMBER. He is the younger brother of Kit,the hero in that book. Syd was tortured and disfigured in the war. He lost an arm and an eye, but has learned to adapt to almost everything although h has lost his ability to paint. The two meet and these wounded souls find refuge in one another.Loved, loved this book. These two souls slowly learn to find beauty and happiness with one another. They have to deal with their pasts, but for each, the past is something that will never go away. I really like how Balogh shows the strength of these two souls. They have both healed enough from their past enough to have created lives for themselves. However, together they move to a higher level of happiness. This is a theme in many of Balogh's books, the difference between contentment and joy. This book was especially satisfying because there were special appearances by the Bedwyns. I recommend this book. While it may be read alone, it is certainly better to read at least the books mentioned above first.
—Sheila Melo
I stumbled onto this older title thanks to a Goodreads shout-out from fellow romance reviewer Penny, who put this hero as the same category as JR Ward’s Zsadist and Sherrilyn Kenyon’s Zarek. She may as well as rubbed pheromones all over the book. I love the idea of a broken hero saved by the love of a good woman and Zsadist and Zarek are two of my all-time favorites, so I was reading the book less than five minutes after reading her review.Anne Jewell is the single mother of an illegitimate son. The boy, David, was the product of rape… his father, long dead. But Anne was still ruined by his birth. Her family disowned her. Fortunately, she was able to make her way, thanks in part to financial assistance from Joshua, a relative of David’s father. She also has an income, working at a school for girls. David is her life, so when Joshua invites the two of them on a month-long vacation with his family, she accepts for the good of her son.Sydnam Butler is the steward at the seaside manor. He is terribly scarred from war. He is missing both an eye and arm. Children –and even some adults– look at him with fear and revulsion. He has made a life for himself, despite his disabilities, but feels a relationship with a woman is not something he will ever have. His initial meeting with Anne is rocky, but slowly the two of them develop a friendship –a kinship– underlined by their mutual understanding of loss and adversity. Of course, that eventually grows into more.I liked the story, but I didn’t love it the way I loved my favorite tortured hero stories. That’s largely due to Anne’s reticence to develop a relationship with Syndam. I understand why, of course. But it was hard to have her put him at arms length. It was hard to see her inability to embrace the relationship once it has been established. The hallmark of good tortured heroes is in their fear that they are unworthy of the heroine’s love. Here, Anne gives Syndam more reasons to doubt himself. Her history with rape makes her fears natural, so please don’t think I blame her. But it prevented me from loving their romance.I did really like Syndam. Most men would have given up after what he endured. But he built an entirely new life for himself. And his spirit and goodness remained intact. How he treated Anne made it easy to believe how she could look past his deformities. I loved his insecurities and his strength. I loved how hard he tried to win David and how he wanted Anne to make peace with her past.I did, however, hate Anne’s sniveling family, and how that element of the story played out. Otherwise, I found myself pretty satisfied with how it all unfolded. It just had a few rough patches along the way.Rating: B/B-
—Jen (Red Hot Books)
Such a sweet, lovely romance where the heartbreaking pasts of the hero and heroine build a foundation for their revelatory romance.The only minor drawback for me was David, the heroine's nine-year-old son, who spoke with wisdom and syntax that felt a bit older than his age.Forget Alpha males who demand satisfaction and drag the heroine off only somewhat against her will, this book is my idea of a great romance: two people who give each other the trust, respect, and courage needed to face their past pain and learn to accept, even rejoice, in their current circumstances from which the make the courageous choice to try again. (So, I'm a sap. The Princess Bride includes this at the center of the story, and it defines nearly all the character motivation in the movie.)Sometimes these stories can be hyperbolic melodramas, which can be emotionally engrossing to the point of obsession for a reader. (NO! Don't say that! You don't mean it! He/she just misunderstood!!) Simply Love kept this to a refreshing minimum - which I think is harder for a writer to achieve, allowing the tenderness to quietly build and bring an emotional resonance to the core of the story.
—Kim
