not the best of Mary Balogh
342908
This story is very predictable and not very engaging. Also the heroine is not a very sympathetic character, I felt like slapping her more than once.
Try one of the more recent work of Balogh.
2964062
This book is more of a travelogue than a novel. I read about half and then gave up. I've enjoyed all but this and the last of the Mary Russell mysteries. I was hoping for better.
3302756
Maeve Binchy books are typically a delightful reading experience.  I can't say that about this one.  It was a downer.  Very disappointing.  If this had been my 1st Maeve Binchy book, it would have also been my last.
3296436
I liked it because I can relate to being the middle child, and not considered as clever and worthy of interest.  I didn't like the continual references to Mary's common book of quotes. It makes her sound like she didn't have an independent thought or word that would be taken serious....when actually she made many astute observations.  I would like to have read more about her experiences in Australia.
3752539
First of all, let me say I'm a rabid fan of Mary Balogh and have read dozens of her books, both current and out of prints as well.  Until now, I have enjoyed each and every book of hers.  This however, was such a weak book with an insipid heroine and unpleasant hero who both failed to live up to the expectations set.  Ms. Balogh knows how to find chemistry between opposites (Slightly Dangerous) but these two are the kind of couple you'd avoid at a cocktail party; total bores.

The heroine is referred to ad nauseum, as plain and unattractive.  We are also told again and again that she brings light and laughter wherever she goes, which isn't evident in this story.  Her interactions with her family show no brevity.  She is full of her own sexual prowess and assures the Viscount of her ability to please him sexually, but it's such an awkward and incongruent scene that's it jarred me right out of the book and I thought to go back thru the story to see what I'd missed about her character.

This book was almost unpleasant. It was a bore from a writer who usually writes page-turners for me.

A word about the narrator; her reading was pedantic and halting.  Except for the intimate scenes when she becomes breathless and panting. Eeeww.  Conversations were stilted as she read them and her choices for the voices of the characters was odd and often annoying. I would love to see what a reader like Barbara Rosenblat would do with Ms. Balogh's books.
636465
I was warned it was a bit of off track story for Mary Russell and it was.  Characters good and parts I learned as always but the feel of this one did not satisfy.
4716373
Not at par with Balogh's most other books that are 4 or 5 stars. The plot is fun but I cannot say the same about the heroine unfortunately. We don't expect her to be a genious after all but she's upright "stupid". It's not like the "naive but sharp" sort of girl that one might find sweet and likely to get the hero fall in love. She is simply unaware of herself, her surroundings, she has a failure in understanding the moods and motives of people around her. She has good intentions and a kind heart and that's all. Jane Austen's Emma was misguided too but she improved with time and experience. Daisy, however, stays just the same throughout the whole book and the hero while disgusted with her at the beginning falls for her in an ambiguous process. Unless you have read all Balogh novels and are not moving on to the next author, you can read this. Otherwise you can just skip. It does not do Ms Balogh the credit that she deserves imho.
4448812
I enjoyed this but have read much better books.  It was quite light reading.  I may try other books by Ms Hart.
610604
I've read most of the Mary O'Reilly books and have enjoyed them.  This book did not live up to the others.  Disappointed.
1420006
Mariah Ellison is interesting company. likeable enough, I suppose but set in her ways. This elderly lady goes visiting to celebrate the Christmas holiday, and to get to the bottom of decades-old murder. Naturally, after 20 years, the case is as cold as an English winter. And, since the story takes place in Victorian times, she doesn't have the benefit of today's forensics. She does, however, have a younger and more experienced sleuth to rely on, a man who is as invested in the case as she is. (<<<<There! Told with no spoilers!)

So why didn't I love it? It has a wannabe quality to it, as though Ms. Perry was trying to emulate Agatha Christie and Miss Marple. She falls a little short, and so I was disappointed.
6433
Three point five stars.

The Queens Mary is a historical novel about the life of Mary Queen of Scots told from the point of view of one of her close companions. Mary Seton was one of four Marys who served the queen, first as a childhood companion and later as a lady-in-waiting.

The girls joined Queen Mary just before she was sent to France by her mother. The four Marys spent time in a convent while Queen Mary was brought up in the royal nursery. Later they re-joined the queen at court.

Seton outlived Queen Mary by a quarter of a century, ending her days back in France. This story is told from several different points in her life, often using flashbacks from her memory.

The idea of using a minor figure to work a new spin on a well-documented historical figure is always an unusual and colourful idea. In this book, the author uses a range of styles to tell the story, interspersing them with known facts. However, I felt, at times, that the reader was asked to accept details that a serving lady may not have had access to, or known about at the time. Using Setons memories as triggers for particular events worked well, but sometimes the to-ing and fro-ing left me confused about which time zone we were in. The other aspect that worked less well was that the author chose a modern language style for much of the dialogue, adding gossip and asides to show Setons point of view, which seemed out of context and unconvincing alongside the era of the story.

Overall an interesting take on a famous queen, let down by the incongruous dialogue; this made it a 'just okay' read, for me.
2991578
The story is charming and entertaining as one would expect of a Binchy novel; however, it is not  one of Maeve's better books.  The novels tells the story of Chicky Starr from her emigration and return to Ireland, as she renovates her new inn, through the opening week of her inn in the small town of Stoneybridge  on the west coast of Ireland where Chicky grew-up. In her typical style, Ms. Binchy develops the individual personalities in the novel giving both the staff members and the guests equal significance in character development. The novel provides in depth stories about the people and the lovely scenery of Ireland.  It is a good read. However, there is no connect; usually in a Maeve Binchy novel there is some kind of final solution that provides a link between the characters or events in the story.  The disappointment in this novel is that it simple ends -- fini!.  There is no final connection.

I would recommend this book to anyone who is satisfied with a simple collection of interesting vignettes.
1002119
I preordered this book for my Kindle because I have always enjoyed Binchy's books but this just didn't live up to her others.  I'm giving it three stars because I know it's her last and I'm truly sorry we no longer can look forward to more.  I honestly wouldn't recommend it.  Sorry.
990215
This wasn't Mary Kay Andrews best by any stretch. Beach Town along with Deep Dish could have been tabled.  Beach Town characters: some were developed some weren't developed so well. It did tend to be boring  after a relatively slow start. My daughter is reading it and when she has finished we will compare notes.
4849651
Fourth in the series.  I didn't like it as well as I liked the other three.  The development of the love story was not as believable.  Still, i am rating it a 4; and I can't wait for the fifth.  It is already pre-ordered.  As for the seventh, clues in this one lead me to think Mary Balogh already has the heroine for George's story identified. Sure hope I am interpreting Balogh's clues correctly.
1034170
This is not a good place to start if you've never read Mary Balogh. Her earlier works are so much better than this drivel and far-fetched plot. Not worth the time or money. Seriously seems like someone kidnapped Balogh, hid her away, and then wrote this and put her name on it.
3215416
I recently discovered Susan Mallery and this was the first of a few of her books that I have purchased. I must say, I was quite disappointed with this book as from the reviews I read of her other books, I expected a whole lot more.

I found the characters lacking depth and the story line was very loosely held together. Therefore, I rated this book a three. Just hoping that the other books I have bought are better than this one!