First Comes Marriage

Another author that I've given up buying her books... If I'm going to buy a book I want to know that I'll be dazzled and entertained and simply fall in love with the story. And with the author's last series, it left me cold...completely not what I expect of Mary Balogh. But I cannot resist reading her books, just in case that one of them will give me a glimpse of the earlier Mary Balogh.

Here's the blurb for First Comes Marriage, the first book of the Huxtable series:

Against the scandal and seduction of Regency England, New York Times bestselling author Mary Balogh introduces an extraordinary family—the fiery, sensual Huxtables. Vanessa is the second daughter, proud and daring, a young widow who has her own reason for pursuing the most eligible bachelor in London. One that has nothing to do with love. Or does it?

The arrival of Elliott Wallace, the irresistibly eligible Viscount Lyngate, has thrown the country village of Throckbridge into a tizzy. Desperate to rescue her eldest sister from a loveless union, Vanessa Huxtable Dew offers herself instead. In need of a wife, Elliott takes the audacious widow up on her unconventional proposal while he pursues an urgent mission of his own. But a strange thing happens on the way to the wedding night. Two strangers with absolutely nothing in common can’t keep their hands off each other. Now, as intrigue swirls around a past secret—one with a stunning connection to the Huxtables—Elliott and Vanessa are uncovering the glorious pleasures of the marriage bed…and discovering that when it comes to wedded bliss, love can’t be far behind.

Deep breath...Argh! I thought maybe, just maybe this one would be one to break the mold.

I read the prologue, and I honestly thought that Con was the hero...usually that's what a prologue is for to give you some background information on the story or the characters. But although Con is part of the story he doesn't have a major role. Of course, because he isn't the hero...it just took me awhile to get that info into my head. I wonder if I was the only one?

Back to the "real" hero: I did not like him! Nor did I like Vanessa! OMG I just wanted to throw the book out the window. Elliot was an ass with a capital A, and Vanessa's issue with not being a beauty really got on my nerves. What saved the book for me were the secondary characters. Sad isn't, it?

First Comes Marriage by Mary Balogh (2/5) Historical Romance; Published: Dell (2/2009); Series: # 1, Huxtable Family; 2009 100 + Reading Challenge (44); 2009 Support Your Local Library (38); 2009 Pub Challenge (13);