Someone to Cherish by Mary Balogh – a Review

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Description:
When Harry Westcott lost the title Earl of Riverdale after the discovery of his father’s bigamy, he shipped off to fight in the Napoleonic Wars, where he was near-fatally wounded. After a harrowing recovery, the once cheery, light-hearted boy has become a reclusive, somber man. Though Harry insists he enjoys the solitude, he does wonder sometimes if he is lonely.

Lydia Tavernor, recently widowed, dreams of taking a lover. Her marriage to Reverend Isaiah Tavernor was one of service and obedience, and she has secretly enjoyed her freedom since his death. She doesn’t want to shackle herself to another man in marriage, but sometimes, she wonders if she is lonely.

Both are unwilling to face the truth until they find themselves alone together one night, and Lydia surprises even herself with a simple question: “Are you ever lonely?” Harry’s answer leads them down a path neither could ever have imagined…

Review:

Someone to Cherish by Mary Balogh is the 8^th book in her wonderful Westcott series. I have read every single book in this series, and each time I have loved it.  I loved Someone to Cherish, as Balogh once again give us a fantastic wonderful romance.  Just when you think she can’t do better than the previous books (and they are all great), I become enthralled once again, unable to put the book down.  Make no mistake, I absolutely love this series, love the Westcotts and Balogh’s fantastic writing

Someone to Cherish revolves around Harry Westcott, our hero, as we have waited a long long time for his story.  Harry resides in the mansion he lived when his family was still there, though he still refuses to allow his half-sister, Anna (she inherited the entire fortune – read the first book) to give him the ownership of the mansion.  Harry has been through a lot in his young life (going on 30), losing his earlship when his father died & the terrible bigamy situation that the entire family lost their home, titles and money.   He also suffered serious injuries during the war, but now he is content staying at a family estate. Though he is still somewhat of a loner, he has friends in town, and does make appearances, as everyone likes him. 

Lydia Tavernor, our heroine, is widowed (she was married to Reverend Tavernor), and is content living in a quaint cottage, with her small dog, Snowball; with no servants, doing everything herself.  Lydia is very independent, determined to never marry, and enjoy her peaceful life.  She has friends and is also well liked in town.  During a town event, Harry will offer to walk Lydia home, and to his surprise, he never really knew anything about her, only that her late husband seemed to overshadow her. As he walks her to her door, getting a kick out of Snowball growling, he says goodnight, and Lydia to her own surprise impulsively asks him ‘are you ever lonely’. When he gets home, Harry starts thinking if Lydia was propositioning him, and at the next event, he walks her home again.  He makes an effort to kiss her gently, and she does respond, but Lydia tries to back off saying she was wrong, but they could be friends. He totally understands her predicament, but after a bit staying away, he finds himself thinking about her.  They will both succumb to their feelings, with a one-night stand, which both found satisfying.  But again, Lydia pulls away, as she wants no commitments, and later Harry will realize that her relationship with the Reverend was not as expected.

What follows is a wonderful slow build romance between Harry and Lydia, with the entire Westcott family forcing themselves on Harry to celebrate his birthday, as well as try to find him a wife. To his and their dismay, a scandal is brewing, because a young boy and his mother put Lydia in a bad situation, having been kissed by Harry. Of course, the fabulous Westcott family works wonders with the town to alleviate the scandalous situation.  It is always wonderful to see the Westcott family again, and how they all stick together.   Over the years, we have gotten used to the Westcott clan to protect their own, as well push themselves into each other’s’ lives.

Someone to Cherish was a wonderful story, bringing together an unlikely emotionally damaged couple to find love and happiness, with both knowing that they each needed to find someone to cherish.  Again, I can’t say enough about Mary Balogh’s writing, as the Westcott series is a ‘do not miss’.  If you enjoy regency romance with great couples and secondary characters, you should be reading this one.  Someone to Cherish was another fabulous fun heartwarming story, possibly the best one yet.  

Reviewed by Barb

Copy provided by Publisher