Someone to Care is part of a series by Mary Balogh. I recommend thee be read in order but they work as stand alones.

3.75 stars
So far I have greatly enjoyed the Westcott series and I think the starting premise for all these characters was a very interesting one—after an earl dies, it's discovered that he was a bigamist and his countess is actually not a countess, and his daughters are illegitimate. The series follows characters that are impacted by this in a variety of ways, including the new earl, his daughters, and in this book, his (second) wife, Viola.

This was a very quiet book in some ways and it really focuses on the two main characters, Viola and Marcel. They had met many years ago socially and had a brief flirtation, and cross paths again, with Marcel now unexpectedly a Marquess and Viola a shamed society outcast. Viola is coming from the christening of her first grandchild and is on her way home, but decides to make an impulsive decision to instead spend some time with Marcel, and eventually go to a cottage he has and enter a brief affair.

I really felt for Viola and I thought that her depiction was very well done. I felt regret and bitterness on her behalf, for having had so much of her life wasted on her husband, but she takes great joy in her daughters and considers them her saving grace. She feels smothered by her family, as much as she appreciates their love and caring for her, and although what she does is totally out of character, I found it very believable given the circumstances and what she's going through at the time.

Marcel was not very likable for quite awhile. He reminded me a bit of Bedwyn, but not likable. He has the quizzing glasses, he rarely smiles, he comes off as cold and uncaring, etc. There is no softness to him to relieve all of this though—or not much, at least. And although this develops, I found the shift a bit hard to believe. I especially had difficulty with his neglect of his children, and pawning them off on other relatives. This is also something that he ends up addressing and wanting to change, which was very nice to see and ends up resulting in some very sweet scenes, but still ... he's SUCH an uncaring asshole at the beginning!

A recommended read, though I preferred Books 2 (!) and 3. There are a lot of overlapping characters to deal with, so for that reason alone it might make more sense to read the books in order.

*This review is of an ARC provided by NetGalley and the publisher in exchange for an honest review. Some changes and/or edits may be made to the final published version.

Once again Mary Balogh has contrived a horrible situation with unbelievable ramifications in Someone to Care. Viola, a well-bred noblewoman who lived scrupulously morally suddenly found herself not a widow, but the survivor of a bigamous relationship. Viola is a wonderful character. For the first time in her life, Viola steps outside Victorian morality mandates with a duke who has been a rake all his life. The family repercussions are delightful. Mary Balogh always provides clever romances and Someone to Care is one of her best.

So much detail!! So many people!! So many wishy-washy main characters!!

But it's still a good story. Viola used to be a duchess, until it was discovered that her marriage was illegitimate, making her two daughters and son also not be accepted by the ton. However, the mighty Westcott family refuses to shun them all; after all it wasn't their fault that the duke -- a Westcott -- was a first-class cad. After being with her family in Bath for a party, Viola runs away, using a hired carriage that of course breaks down in a small town. Marcel and his brother Andre also happen to have stopped at the same inn. Turns out, Marcel and Viola were attracted to each other 14 years ago, when she was married and he was a new widower. She'd told him to get lost then, and he did, but now she's seemingly had a change of heart. They run away together to one of his his properties, not telling anyone, and have a gay old time for two weeks before the families find them. He tells them they're getting married, she says no way, his daughter wants to have a party for his birthday, he breaks up with her there... and on and on.

I've read these a bit out of order but am still confused who goes with who. It's enjoyable just confusing!

This was such a lovely book. I can’t get enough of this family. I wish the mother stood up for herself more but overall I’m glad she found love. I can’t wait to read who's next for love.

When Viola learned that her marriage was false and her children were really illegitimate, she withdrew from society. Now she must see if she can take her own life in her hands. ARC from NetGalley.

I started this book several times, meaning, I cracked it open, read it, put it down, picked it up again, put it down…you get the picture. Mary Balogh is an extremely EXTREMELY talented author, so I’m not sure if it was my mood or her.

Case and point, I waited another week until I finally cracked it open again.

It’s a beautiful story.

It is.

I think my biggest issue was the detail, I know, I know. Some people love detail. I’m the type of person where I just want dialogue and actions, but in books like this, books that are masterpieces one needs to set the scene, the story, the details. You can’t rush perfection and Mary Balogh knows this better than most authors, as is obviously the case with this book.

I love that our characters are older, it reminds me of Eloisa James and her male characters who were in their forties, there’s something so attractive about that I think to readers, it’s not just young people sowing their wild oats; its people with life left, who want to live and love and have romance in their futures.

Violet as a main character made me happy, mainly because she decided that after twenty years of unhappiness she was going to take what she wanted, despite what society thinks. I think it must also be pointed out that society didn’t care as much anymore because of ruined reputations (and fortunes lost) but I loved that she still went for what she wanted, which was, quite obviously, the one that semi got away.

There is a very intense push pull between our main characters. A love hate that may annoy readers but I truly think it just makes us that much more needy for the moment when they do finally get together.

Marcel was a strong character, and I love that the flames are still alive between the two of them, an that the children are the ones that help them see the light with their stubbornness.

I do feel like yet again at your halfway point you get a lot of description that really isn’t necessary, I’m not sure if the author does this so that the final admission is that much more powerful, but you’ve been warned, you’re going to have to work for that HEA.

All in all it was a lovely story that I would recommend to anyone who wants a second chance romance set in Historical times with a older characters!

I'm very grateful to have been given the opportunity by the publisher and NetGalley to read this as an ARC. Otherwise, no doubt, I'd have quite a wait to get my eager little hands on it.

Firstly, the positive: kudos to Ms. Balogh for writing that unicorn of romances: the story of two older individuals, both of whom are tentatively reaching for a second chance at love. Both of these characters had grown or nearly grown children; they were both what the modern reader would consider "early middle-aged" but at that time were well into middle-age (indeed, Viola is a grandmother at what, 42?). This is not a frequent occurrence in Romancelandia, by any means, and I was very pleased to see it. I'm actually rounding up my 2 1/2 star review to a GoodReads 3, because of it.

Buuuuuuuuut.... I'm so sad to say, this was Not Great. SO much of the book was monologue-ing, of the internal variety especially. I get that both of these characters were very internalized but that does not exactly make for engaging reading. The dialogue between Viola and Marcel seemed stilted, but that was nothing to the stiff interchanges between them and their various relatives. (Also, as a sidebar, there are TOO MANY RELATIVES, wow. I had a hard time keeping everyone straight, which is usually not that difficult for me.) Also, much of the plot rested on a few egregious cases of miscommunication and misinterpretation. Not my favorite plot point. The main couple were still at outs at, say, 85%? 90%? I looked at my Kindle app thinking, uh, am I missing a chapter or six? Because it's 92% and they're still not together. I never supposed it was a romance without a HEA - those aren't really Ms. Balogh's style - so I was a bit confused. The ending was too neat, too easy, too unconsidered considering the major issues between the two MCs.

I was left feeling, well, let down. Mary Balogh is a wonderful writer whom I know can do better, which is probably why I was so disappointed. I think what most disappointed me was this beautiful idea of a later-life romance (so rare in historical romance) was just... deflated without ever having a real chance to shine.

I love the Wescott series! I haven't read them all and had no problems following although I do wish I had read them all in order because I think it would have added to my enjoyment.

The characters her are a bit old which I adored and was a nice change of pace. Viola is such a gem. My heart ached for her past and I was so glad she had the opportunity to find love again.

Mary's writing can be a little slow but I honestly don't mind because I love the characters so much, I never got bored. Can't wait for the next book!

I love all of Mary Balogh's books. Any of them, including this one, are like a breath of fresh hair blowing across the tropes of Recency romances. I've never been disappointed by any of her books.

Mary Balogh is one of the few authors who always meets my expectations. The fourth novel in the Wescott regency historical romance series, SOMEONE TO CARE by Mary Balogh, meets those expectations and exceeds them in several ways.

I love Mary Balogh’s characters. They make me laugh. Their idiosyncrasies are so realistic and fun. Starting this novel at a small-town festival, where neither of these characters would normally visit, gives such a lightness and frivolity to their time together. It’s really entertaining. I was so happy to be back in this world so eloquently created.

Having said that, as an avid historical romance fan, the Regency era is my least favorite period to read. I’ve become extremely picky about how many Regencies I accept to review and rarely buy them as a comfort read. Mary Balogh is always a comfort read and I beg to review every book she writes. I just know that no matter how difficult her characters are to love because of their initial faults, I will love their resolution. Even the petty ways of the Ton that often annoy me end up amusing me in a Balogh creation.

Marcel Lamarr, the Marquess of Dorchester, initially comes across as a great bore, which are usually my favorite types of Balogh characters. His quizzing glass raises in a haughty manner within the first paragraph, immediately proving he’s going to be a pistol. I couldn’t wait to discover which woman was going to mess with his heart and calm his boorish tendencies.

Marcel’s brother, Andre, is a nice compliment to Marcel’s demeanor. Andre is full of humor and mischief, much to Marcel’s annoyance. The oldest brother at 40 years, Marcel has a reputation that elicits fear. He may be popular with the ladies, but the broken hearts left behind might scare a woman hoping for a bright future.

To further my dislike for Marcel, he left his twin babies with his wife’s sister and husband to care for after his wife’s death. Oh, he provided for them well financially, but he only visited them shortly twice a year. At eighteen years old, these twins who love him anyway are almost adults, ready to spread their wings.

Even though Marcel is currently traveling home due to an unfortunate incident with another man’s wife, the reader gets a glimpse of who he really is as the story progresses. That other man’s wife may have made a mountain out of a molehill. Then there are all those relatives currently living off Marcel’s good nature at one of his homes, several of them uninvited moochers.

Yet again, the cad is someone I started rooting for before the end of the first chapter.

When Viola, the former Countess of Riverdale, ends up at the same inn as Marcel and his brother, Marcel can’t believe his luck. This is one of the few women who refused his overtures early in his life. Viola is no less attractive, maybe even more so, to Marcel now. Those who have been following this series will recognize her as the reclusive Miss Kingsley, who was married to the bigamous Earl of Riverdale, and lost everything upon his death with the discovery of his true heir.

These two are adorable together. I’m in love with the setting of their destination. They made me laugh and smile hugely as they got to know one another. Scandalous and lovely sweet. I’m sure the Marquess of Dorchester would be appalled if anyone said how cute they are together.

I loved this book. There are so many tender moments. I especially enjoyed the last few chapters and the end. There are some wonderful quotable snippets in there I’d love to reveal, but I really want you to discover them for yourself. I think those who love an older couple who have experienced life beyond comprehension will adore their journey.

Although this book could easily be read on its own without reading the prior books, you will appreciate Viola’s happily-ever-after even more if you follow her journey from beginning to end. Start with SOMEONE TO LOVE, where you’ll discover Viola’s most horrifying moment. Find out what happens to some of her relatives in SOMEONE TO HOLD and SOMEONE TO WED. I believe you’ll understand her progression and lack of caring about what others think of her by the time you get to SOMEONE TO CARE. I didn’t agree with all their choices, and they sometimes made me mad, but I absolutely love this couple’s happy-ever-after.

In the end, my recommended read status for this novel is in reflection of the engaging settings and characters. I was entertained from the first page to the last. This book is not filled with action, but the interaction with the characters is told at a pace I love. Mary Balogh has a talent I must applaud for her ability to replicate human nature articulately.

A recommended read!

Review by Dorine, courtesy of Romance Junkies.

I truly enjoyed reading this book. It was well written with characters that appealed to me. The storyline was interesting and had a strong message that touched my heart.

Stevie‘s review of Someone to Care (Westcott Novels, Book 4) by Mary Balogh
Historical Romance published by Berkley 01 May 18

When the Earl of Riverdale was posthumously discovered to have been a bigamist, the effects on his family were devastating. While at least some of his children have been able to accept their new, lowered status, his widow, who was never truly his wife, is still struggling two years later. Viola Kingsley feels that she has always been defined by other people’s expectations of her various roles: daughter, wife, mother – and now she gains far less enjoyment from the one option still open to her, that of mother, than she ever did before the family received the shocking news of the Earl’s previous marriage. Two days into a family gathering, ostensibly to celebrate the christening of Viola’s grandson, the pressure to appear happy with her lot becomes too much and Viola flees for home in a hired carriage, only to find herself stranded in a remote inn with a man she told to go away some fifteen years earlier.


Marcel Lamarr, who once tried to woo Viola – when she believed herself to be a married woman – is now the Marquess of Dorchester, no less the notorious rake than he was a decade and a half earlier. His and Viola’s paths have not crossed since that time, and she is unaware of his new, titled status. When the pair find themselves forced to stay in the same inn during harvest celebrations, they decide to partake of the village’s meagre entertainments and forget about their respective family burdens. Marc had been travelling with his brother to visit the son and daughter he has rarely seen since their mother’s untimely death when they were still babies, leaving to be brought up by his austere sister-in-law and her equally dour husband, surrounded by a large collection of hangers-on, all related to either Marc’s deceased wife or to the previous Marquess. Not a destination he’s looking forward to reaching.

Having sent his brother away after spotting Viola, Marc discovers that simple country pursuits with an attractive woman by his side are every bit as enjoyable as anything London has to offer. After spending the night together, the pair, believing that their families will be too busy to miss either of them for a while at least, determine to run away together to a small property Marc owns in Devon, although he has rarely visited it. Their families, however, do miss them; just as Viola and Marc’s time together seems to be reaching its natural conclusion, two parties – one from each family – descend upon their quiet hideaway. Marc’s attempts to make the situation look more respectable than it is backfire, and suddenly both families are planning a wedding neither bride nor groom is certain that either of them wants.

I liked this book a lot, Viola’s story especially. Marc felt a little too angsty at times, at least when he was blaming himself for his wife’s death, and the misunderstandings between them following their discovery by the families in Devon was a little too drawn out before they finally sorted things out by actually talking to each other. Having said all that, I hope we see a lot more of the Westcotts and get to spend time with these two again in subsequent stories.

Grade: B

After loving the first three books in the Westcott series, I wasn't as excited for this because of the heroine. I realize this is terrible to admit, but I didn't want to read about the mom. Give me all the young people falling in love! Thankfully, I have to eat my words – and my expectations – because this was a fun read. The heroine decides to run away with a rake from her past for a week or two of fun. But, of course, it becomes so much more. I liked the second-chance romance and the new secondary characters. If the couple had communicated better (or had just a bit less baggage), I might have loved it. But I'm still pleased that I So Enjoyed It.

As always, Mary Balogh has given a new twist to an old story, allowing love to grow between an “older” couple.

I have mixed feelings about this book. I think of the four Wescott novels this one was not my favorite. I struggled reading it. I pick it up and put it down a lot. Over all I liked it but I had some quibbbles.

Viola is in a place she never imagined she's be. The past two years have turned her life upside down and she just wants a break. For everything to go away for a little while. So she runs away and behaves impulsively. This impulsiveness was actually my favorite part of the book. She was happy, Marcel made her happy and I liked her as a character. But after they got caught, Viola was just unbearable. She was guilty and all knotted up inside and I could hardly stand her.

I liked Marcel. He is a complicated character driven by guilt and indifference. It made him unlikable, especially with what he kept telling himself about how he didn't need people or care about anything. But as the book went on and he struggled with what he wanted over what he felt he deserved, I found myself liking him. I also found myself looking forward to his parts and buzzing through the depressing Viola part as fast as possible.

I have more mixed feelings about the vast cast of characters. I felt a bit smothered by all the Wescotts, rather like Viola. One or two of them at a time is okay but all of them together is so overwhelming, especially trying to keep them all right. The ones that have had their own books or will are I am happy to see again, but all the excessive in-laws drive me crazy. That said, I really really liked Marcel's family. Partly I think because they were new, but the twins were awesome. I hope that we get too see more of them, particularity in Hannah's book.

Someone to Care is another wonderful addition to Mary Balogh's reportoire. The latest entry in her newest series, The Westcotts, Someone To Care follows the former Countess of Riverdale's journey to love, following her learning of an incredible betrayal from her late husband. Viola has every right to want to disappear from life, and every right to strive for freedom from responsibility, and that is exactly what she convinces herself to do when she flees without word to her family, from a party. On her flight she runs into an old acquaintance, and former temptation, Marcel Lamarr, who is also escaping from responsibilities, though for him that is rather a habit. The unfolding of their relationship is fraught with familial obligations and meddling. The highest appeal of this story is that the two main characters are more mature than typical heroes in historical romances, and therefore deal with burdens and concerns that are not usually explored in these types of romance novels, giving it a novelty within the genre. Combined with Balogh's skill at weaving complex characters together with gentle plot lines, this is another winner.

Absolutely delightful! I do think it helps if you're already of a "certain age" when reading this. I didn't find it slow at all even in the beginning but I think that's because Balogh is realistic about what mature love looks like. When you have a lot to lose, you go slower on the declarations of love. This series keeps getting better and better!

Enchanting!

Screaming from loneliness the Countess of Riverdale, Viola Kingsley runs, well really by happenstance falls into the arms of a former 'never happened adventure' in the person of the well practiced rake, the Marquess of Dorchester, Marcel Lamarr , in this funny/serious autumn romance. An invigorating plot where two souls who decide on a spur of the moment romantic adventure embark on more than they bargained for.
At last the story of the wife who found herself trapped in a bigamous relationship and lost all. The emotional toll and how she's not managing behind that oh so proper facade rings so true.
And then there's the family who see her, but don't really see her--their shock and horror about her disappearance and the disapproval of who she disappears with.
I really just wanted them to leave Viola alone to work out her own destiny. And that's why she ran, because she was alone despite having all these people who cared about her.
As for her and Marcel ... Well!

A NetGalley ARC

When Viola, Countess of Riverdale is propositioned by the somewhat scandalous Marcel Lamarr at her own house part, she very properly says no. Now, fourteen years later, she is the scandalous one having discovered that her marriage was bigamous and her children all illegitimate. Unknown to Viola, Marcel is now the Marquess of Dorchester. When they meet in a rustic inn, Marcel renews his pursuit of Viola and she agrees. Both of them remember their first meeting with the knowledge that there was something between them but Viola couldn’t give in because of her position.
Viola and Marcel are both escaping from family burdens. In Viola’s case she is having difficulty handling the care and concern of her one time family. Her life has been turned upside down and their well-meaning inclusion of her into many family events feels almost like smothering. Marcel is avoiding going home to his teenage twin children even though he knows it is time he got involved in their lives after years of letting others raise them. This romantic idyll is an opportunity for both parties to enjoy the moment and put the future off for a while longer.
I loved the relationship between Viola and Marcel, she being new to the whole fling concept and he being a practiced seducer. As in all Ms. Balogh’s work, the feelings come along slowly with the two people involved convincing themselves they are just living in the present with no emotional entanglements. Unsurprisingly, the real world intrudes upon them and then the story gets a bit more complicated. While there is obviously affection between the two, they are both wary of trusting their hearts to another person having been burned before.
The social mores at the time are also a big part of their concerns about being together. In a society that would let a woman and her children starve and be homeless through no fault of their own, wouldn’t hesitate to condemn any relationship between two “tainted” people. Fortunately for us there is a HEA because of strong family bonds and support, children who won’t let their parents act the fool and a couple finally ready to see what is really in their hearts.
A great addition to a wonderful series!