Reviewed for THC ReviewsSimply Unforgettable is the first book in Mary Balogh's Simply Quartet, which follows four teachers at Miss Martin's School for Girls in Bath. I didn't realize until I'd already started reading it that this series is essentially a spin-off of her Bedwyn Family Saga, which I probably should have read first. I didn't have any trouble following Simply Unforgettable, but I have a strong feeling that Miss Martin herself was likely introduced in the Bedwyn books and there may have been some other common characters as well of which I'm unaware. According to Mary Balogh's website, the heroes of the remaining three Simply books were all introduced in the Bedwyn Prequels, so I'll definitely go back and read those first before continuing on with the Simply Quartet. As I mentioned though, Simply Unforgettable stood quite well on its own, and there was no indication that the hero or heroine had been previously introduced.The first teacher in this series to find her HEA is Frances. She had an Italian mother and emigrated to England with her French aristocrat father, following her mother's death, when she was only a babe. Frances is an extremely talented singer and works at the school, teaching music and French. After spending her Christmas break with her two elderly great-aunts, she's returning to the school in their carriage when a nasty snowstorm hits. After being passed by another carriage that in her estimation is driving rather recklessly, her own carriage slides off the road. She is rescued by none other than the passenger of the other carriage, to whom she promptly gives a piece of her mind. Needing to get in out of the snow and with nowhere else to take shelter, they end up at a country inn all by themselves and thus begins an epic love affair. Once she gets past her initial ire at her savior, Frances finds herself irresistibly attracted to him and very much enjoys the time she spends with him at the cozy little inn, which includes an unforgettable night of passion. In her mind, due to scandalous complications from her past, there can never be anything more between them, especially after she finds out he's an aristocrat and not the mere gentleman she took him for at first. Lucius offered to take Frances with him to London but with no real plan as to what she would be to him. At this point, I admired Frances for respecting herself enough to not become Lucius' mistress, even though I don't know if I could have done the same with the feelings between them being so intense. She also didn't handle the situation quite as graciously as she probably could have, leaving poor Lucius a tad demoralized, but I understood that she wanted to leave no question in his mind that those few days were all they could ever share. As things progressed though, and fate brought them back together, making Lucius press his suit more determinedly, I have to admit that Frances' stubbornness became just a little frustrating. When she turned down his first marriage proposal, I understood that it was because she felt it was made in an impulsive moment and that he wasn't truly in love with her, but as he kept coming back time and time again, I couldn't help wondering what could be so bad in her past that she wouldn't even entertain the mere notion of a deeper relationship with him. However, I can't deny that the constant back and forth and will-they-or-won't-they vibe definitely kept me on the edge of my seat wondering how they were ever going to work things out. I'll also admit that when the truth finally came out, Frances' misgivings did make perfect sense, so I was able to forgive her frustrating behavior. It was also abundantly clear that she loved Lucius, and at least in part, was doing it to protect him (as well as her aunts) from potential scandal.Lucius is a prince among men. He's been living the carefree life of a bachelor, with no immediate plans to settle down anytime soon, but that all changed for him over his Christmas holiday. He found out his grandfather's heart is failing, and with him being the heir to the earldom, he made his grandfather a promise to marry before he passes away. After spending those couple of magical days with Frances at the inn, he wants more than anything to continue their time together. Lucius could be so cute and funny. It was hilarious when he got miffed that Frances called their romantic interlude and love-making "pleasant." After that put-down and her subsequent refusal to see him again, he thinks he can brush her off as just another conquest, but for the next few months, he simply can't seem to forget her. When fate conspires to bring them back together, he takes the ball and runs with it. I absolutely adored Lucius for his persistence and determination to win Frances no matter what he had to do. Once he realizes she's the one he wants, he absolutely won't take no for an answer. Of course, she turns him down repeatedly with her mouth, but her body language always tells him something different, which makes him resolved to get to the bottom of her reservations. I also loved that when Lucius realizes the great talent Frances has, he's hell-bent on giving her the singing career she deserves, even if it doesn't lead to rekindling their romance. I just can't give Lucius enough props for keeping his eyes on the prize and never giving up in the face of seemingly impossible odds.I also have to give the author props for making me completely buy into this couple's love for one another. Lucius and Frances basically have a case of love at (almost) first sight. This usually isn't one of my favorite romance tropes, because most authors fail to make me feel that connection and to fully understand why they love one another in such a short time span. Not so here. Lucius and Frances begin by sharing some utterly witty bantering, which amused me greatly. I also enjoyed how joyous and playful they were – almost like children – when they really let themselves go and feel the moment, simply basking in each other's companionship. Their attraction is readily apparent, but goes beyond the physical. It's entirely possible their relationship might have continued without interruption if Lucius had been a mere gentleman instead of a titled aristocrat. I love how they both pine for each other throughout their three month separation, even though they both stubbornly try to deny it. At this point, their obstinacy was quite amusing, because it's so completely apparent how perfect they are for one another. They're simply trying too hard to deny it, a definite case of methinks they doth protest too much. Even when Frances became a bit too stubborn about it, I could still tell that some part of her wanted to give in, but because of the past she felt she couldn't. When Lucius kept coming back over and over and finally decimated her every qualm, Frances just couldn't say no anymore, and it was a wonderful moment that left me with a sigh of happiness.Simply Unforgettable has a great supporting cast as well. Lucius' family are all wonderful and supportive of him, even though he's kind of been avoiding them for a while. His grandfather and his youngest sister, Amy, were my particular favorites, because his grandfather was wise and understanding, while Amy's enthusiasm was infectious. Portia, the woman Lucius has known since childhood and is considering as his bride, proves exactly why being “perfect” is not a desirable trait. Then there are the other three teachers from the school who are also Frances' best friends. Claudia (aka Miss Martin) is a kind woman, but one who comports herself in a very proper manner that makes me eager for her to find a hero who will ruffle her feathers a bit. Susanna, the youngest of the group, was one of the charity girls who was previously a student but stayed on after graduating to teach. She dreams of marrying a duke, so I'll be looking forward to seeing if she realizes that dream. Last but not least is Anne, who as the mother of a young son who lives with her at the school, seems to have some intriguing secrets of her own that need to be uncovered, and I can't wait to see what they are. She's the heroine of the next book of the series, Simply Love. Simply Unforgettable is a very aptly titled book. Not only were Lucius and Frances simply unforgettable to one another, but their story is one I won't soon be forgetting either. It was a little more lighthearted than the previous two books I read by Mary Balogh, but certainly no less appealing. Ms. Balogh really has a way with expressing emotion that makes the reader connect with her characters and understand what they're thinking and feeling. Simply Unforgettable struck the perfect balance between touching and funny. I loved every minute I spent reading it and was always excited to get back to it when I had to lay it aside. It has earned this incredibly talented writer a spot on my favorite authors list, and I can't wait to read more of her books in the future.
Pardon the pun, but this book was "simply forgettable" for me [2.5 stars:]The first in Mary Balogh's Simply Quartet, SIMPLY UNFORGETTABLE was unfortunately not so for me. I am a huge Mary Balogh fan, but this is my least favorite book of hers and I actually had to stop myself from skimming parts at the end (which is just unheard of for me). Meanwhile, I have continued on to the second book of the Quartet, Simply Love, and found that book highly enjoyable - I recommend just skipping to that one.The middle section of this book was actually quite enjoyable; it was in the beginning (read my comments below) and in the end (which is supposed to be the best part!) that things fell apart for me. The section that takes place in Bath is fun to read and the interactions between Frances and Lucius are enjoyable, but once things move forward after that ... the book lost me and by the end, I was so sick of the back and forth that like I said above, I had to stop myself from just skipping to the end and finishing it already.PROBLEM WITH THE PREMISE:This is a matter of personal preference, but I don't usually like the "one night of passion with a stranger" premises in historical romances. I don't read many contemporary romances, but I don't mind them in that genre. However, when you're dealing with a historical romance, it just doesn't really fit with the times unless the woman is "loose," which of course the heroine never is. When the author writes a heroine who is supposedly prim and proper (Frances is such a heroine), it's very hard to have that type of character engage in one night of passion with some mystery man and maintain a sense of continuity or cohesiveness with how she's supposed to be the rest of the time.SIMILAR BOOKS:If you like books where the hero and heroine have one night of passion as strangers and later fall in love, check out the following:~ Slightly Wicked (Bedwyn Family, Book 2) by Mary Balogh~ The Secret Pearl by Mary Balogh - a spin on the "one night of passion"~ Her Highness, My Wife (Effington Family, Book 5) by Victoria Alexander - premise isn't exactly the same, but similar enough~ Let It Be Love (Effington Family, Book 11) by Victoria Alexander~ It Happened One Night, anthology - I haven't read it, but I think it is similarBOTTOM LINE:Balogh is a wonderful author, but from this book you wouldn't perhaps know it. Skip it and read one of her other books: you can skip to Simply Love, which is second in the Simply Quartet; read The Secret Pearl, a great stand-alone; or settle in to enjoy the wonderful Bedwyn series, starting with A Summer to Remember (Bedwyn prequel) and Slightly Married (Bedwyn Book 1).
What do You think about Simply Unforgettable (2006)?
SYNOPSIS: Lucius, Viscount Sinclair rescues Frances Allard during a snowstorm when her carriage overturns. The two find shelter in an inn that has been closed for the Christmas Holiday. Over the next few days, while cooking together, talking about literature, having snowball fights and building snowmen, the two realize they are very attracted to each other and consummate their relationship.Parting ways once the snow clears, Frances returns to her job in Bath as a school teacher while Lucius returns to London to propose to the woman everyone expects him to marry.But contrived circumstances reunite the pair where Lucius discovers that Frances is a world class singer. Determined to rescue her from her boring dreary life as a teacher, Lucius encourages her singing.What follows is a series of chapters with Lucius pursuing and Frances retreating because there is some big secret in her past. REVIEW: The only thing that saves this book from being a dreary bore is the fact that Mary Balogh is a talented writer. For the most part though, this is a by-the-numbers-plot with a by-the-numbers romance. It was pleasant enough but when the big secret from the past is finally revealed it is rather a let-down.Oh yeah, it is rather glaring that this is a contemporary novel disguised as a regency. It has a very "modern" feel that seems out of place.
—Tina
I've been struggling to write this review for days, collecting my thoughts and, I confess, trying to find a reason to raise my 3-star rating. Sadly, I found none. :( 3 stars isn't bad in my rating scale, but I'm not used to giving Ms. Balogh less than 4 stars. I love her writing and the romantic feel she always evokes in me when I read her books, but alas, I'm disappointed to say that she missed the mark in this one.Simply Unforgettable is the first installment in the Simply series, a quartet of books about three schoolteachers and the headmistress of Miss Martin’s School for Girls in Bath. They're all introduced in this first book and their different personalities are aptly drawn by Ms. Balogh, as usual. Schoolteacher Frances Allard was the chosen one to kick off the series and this is her story.After spending Christmas with her great-aunts in Somersetshire, Frances is on her journey back to Bath when a not-so-unexpected snowstorm makes her carriage overturn. Help comes in the form of Lucius Marshall, Viscount Sinclair, who's on his journey home to Hampshire after spending the holiday with his family in, guess where, Somersetshire. Considering their vastly different social status, Frances and Lucius have never met before - and things would have remained that way if fate hadn't intervened, stranding both in the middle of nowhere during a snowstorm. Even though Frances blames Lucius for her carriage accident, she has no option but to accept his offer to join him in his carriage so they can find shelter in some obscure country inn down the road.Luckily, they find an inn right before the snowstorm gets worse. As they're forced to spend the next few days together, stranded in the inn, the initial animosity they felt for each other turns into a sizzling sexual attraction that neither can deny. But once the snowstorm is over, the road is clear and Lucius takes Frances to Bath and drops her at Miss Martin’s School for Girls' doorstep, they part ways. They have to - after all, any relationship between them is clearly impossible.Well, fate doesn't think so and throw them back together again a few months later. That's when Lucius realizes he isn't over Frances and decides to pursue her, only to be rejected with no explanation. That happens more than once, to his increasing frustration. He guesses that something in her past prevents her from accepting his love, but she refuses to reveal her big secret. The truth will have to come out sooner or later, though. What will happen then? Is Frances' secret so damning that any chance of happiness will forever be denied to her?What can I say? I loved the beginning of this book and I was sure I was going to be an exception to the many so-so reviews/ratings I'd seen. Ms. Balogh's depiction of Lucius and Frances' days at the inn was perfect and I couldn't help smiling and sighing as they grew fonder of each other. Even though they went from "enemies" to lovers in a very short period of time, I had no problem understanding why Frances did it. Needless to say, there was never a question regarding why Lucius did it. He's a man. Nuff said, LOL.Unfortunately, the story started to drag after they left the inn and resumed their normal lives. Separately, Lucius and Frances were too bland, and there was nothing particularly riveting in their lives to fill the pages while I waited for their reunion. That's when this book lost the first star. No wonder I cheered when they got together again - not together together, but in the same space and time.At first, Lucius' determination to win Frances was a nice novelty. How often do we see the hero mooning over the heroine? It's usually the other way around, so it was fun to see Lucius' relentless pursuit for a change. However, Frances' continuing refusal began to grate on my nerves and I prayed her big secret was worth all the frustration Lucius and I were suffering. Alas, my prayers went unanswered - and this book lost the second star. Here's my favorite quote from the book, straight from Lucius' lips:"Good Lord, Frances. Is this the terrible past you have been keeping from me? What an idiot you are."Truer words have never been spoken. Obviously, Lucius forgave Frances for her stubbornness and they lived HEA. This is Romancelandia, after all. In RL, I wanted to shake Frances and call her ugly names. Then, I remembered the great beginning of the book and managed to calm myself down. :)All things considered, this was an OK read. Ms. Balogh's writing was good as usual, transporting me to Regency England right from the first paragraphs. But I can't help feeling disappointed, because the beginning hinted at a 5-star read and I ended up with "just" 3 stars. Oh well... I'm still a huge fan of Ms. Balogh and I'll definitely keep reading this series and tracking down her backlist.
—Dina
3.5 stars rounded up to 4, because that's how rounding works. I loved the first half of the book - meeting on a snowy road, hate-at-first-sight, then cozying up in a closed-down inn for a couple of days of domesticity and romance. Heart-wrenching goodbyes. Things left unsaid. Balogh is an awesome storyteller.Second half of the book - Francis is a broken record - "no, no, no" to every marriage proposal by Lucius, who really should have given up by the 5th or 6th attempt. Good thing he didn't thou
—Netanella
