Believe it or not, this is my first Mary Balogh read! I've been reading historical romance since I was a teenager, so that's a pretty shocking thing to admit. As one of the more established authors in the genre with a large fan base, I was very excited to finally read one of her novels. The synopsis intrigued me quite a bit as there were several themes that I like to read. Second chance, mysteriously forbidden love, and love-to-hate-to-love. The hero unintentionally caused the heroine emotional distress and suffering in the past, and he has to overcome his hurtful behavior before they can be together. Moreover, even if she were to forgive him, he is hiding a monumental secret that he feels unable to reveal to her. It's because of this secret that he decides they could never join their two families in marriage, despite his growing feelings for her. The conflicts are multi-layered and well-developed and are all woven together in a seamless way. For these reasons, Remember Me was a worthwhile and decent read.

One thing I really enjoyed about this book was the fact that there was no fortune hunting on either side. Maybe it's the fact that a series I recently read was based entirely around that theme, or maybe I've just read it too many times in general, but the absence of it was really refreshing. The protagonists were on common ground financially as well as socially. From the outside looking in, these two seemed to be made to pair together. In addition, Philippa's mother Clarissa is very close friends with Lucas' Aunt Catherine. It would be a dream come true for them to have their families connected.

Lucas' ornery grandfather, the Duke of Stratton has given his emphatic stamp of approval after seeing the two of them together, and that is surely an impossible feat to achieve with him. So it almost seems as if it's a foregone conclusion that Lucas and Philippa will become engaged this season in London. They seem to have a friendly rapport, and even lock eyes across the room on a frequent basis. In everyone's mind, it's only a matter of time before they end up together. What they don't know is that Philippa is putting on a brave face in front of everyone every time she encounters the man whose words once cut her deep to her core. Lucas is ashamed and uncomfortable around her because he shoulders the burden of that terrible, destructive secret. It becomes a dance of sorts, as everyone around them tries nudging them a step closer, and they skittishly back two steps away.

Another unique feature of the plot was the ages of the main characters looking to get married. By Regency period standards, At 22 years old, Philippa is verging on the label of "spinster" by society's standards. She's looking for a husband later than usual because she was too emotionally wounded to enter the marriage mart. Lucas is wife hunting at the age of 26, which is quite early for a man of that time. His grandfather's failing health is a great cause for concern. Both of his grandparents are getting on in age and want to be assured that he is happily married and working on another "spare" heir to pass the title to. If Lucas were to suffer an untimely death like his parents, the estate would pass on to a distant relative whom nobody is particularly fond of. I appreciated this departure from the norm in your average historical romance.

Some cons about the plot were:

•lots of secondary characters taking up page time in book
There was her mother, sister, four brothers, a sister-in-law, his grandparents and aunt, cousins, uncle...etc. I normally like family-centric stories, but their involvement took away from the main couple a bit.

•3rd person POV
My personal preference is to read 1st person POV. Third tends to generally take me outside of the story and make it difficult for me to fully immerse in the story. This is just my own preference, and will not be an issue for many others.

•slow paced
The book dragged for portions where I felt that not enough action was happening to propel the story forward.

•lack of chemistry between characters
As much as I was rooting for the two of them to get together and respected both characters individually flaws and all, I didn't feel any passion or angst in their forbidden love/harmful secret conflict that dragged through most of the book. With themes like these, there was potential to feel some powerful butterflies and thrills, but I was left feeling a little cold. I think Philippa and Lucas resisted each other for a long time, denying themselves the indulgence of even thinking of each other romantically. So when they finally agreed to get engaged, the romance felt stiff, forced, and rushed. Don't get me wrong, they were sweet and caring with one another, but it was like watching two strangers politely navigate their new marriage.

Overall, I appreciated all of the unique aspects of the story, but the romance fell a bit flat in the end while the pace as a whole dragged for longer than I would have liked. I can definitely see why this author has a large fan base, and perhaps I chose the wrong book to introduce myself to her work. I didn't love this one, but there were enough positives that I would like to read another in the future to see if I can mesh with her writing style and a different couple.

Thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for the complimentary ARC. All opinions provided are my own.

The fact that I am a new-ish Mary Balogh fan hasn’t stopped me from collecting her books like it’s going out of style 🫣. Remember Me is my third book by the author & once again, I’m reminded of how much I enjoy the character-driven romances MB writes & how thoughtful & measured they are.

As the book opens Marquess Lucas is tasked by his grandfather the Duke to marry, marry well, & marry soon for the sake of their family line.

He agrees & travels to the London season where a beautiful woman catches his eye. Unfortunately, that woman is also the person who overheard him insulting her at a party years previous.

This story has so many of the things I’ve come to associate with MB—a sedateness with passion roiling underneath, a lot of emotion & consideration of feelings.

& while I enjoyed those things here, the angsty bits dragged on a bit too long for me. I also found some of the language used in the book to describe disability & virginity to be outdated &/or even offensive.

This one wasn’t my favorite Mary Balogh I’ve read—& it seems somewhat lacking at moments in its sensitivity & progressiveness—but I plan on continuing my Mary Balogh journey because of glowing recs for past series.

3.5 ⭐️. Out 06/20.

Please read a list of additional CWs from a trusted reviewer.

ID: Jess’s white hand holds the ebook in front of a slate-colored brick wall with a blue & yellow butterfly painted on it.

Philippa, elder daughter of the Earl of Stratton, grew up eagerly anticipating a glittering debut and a brilliant marriage. Then her brother caught their father out in a clandestine affair and denounced him publicly. The whole family was disgraced, and Philippa's hopes were dashed. Now years later Philippa finds the courage to go to London. Lucas Arden, heir to the elderly Duke of Wilby, has been tasked with marrying and producing an heir before it is too late as his grandfather is ailing. He is instantly drawn to his sister's new friend, until Pippa asks a simple question: 'Remember me?' And suddenly he does remember her. Unfortunately for Philippa and Lucas, their families have other ideas and believe them to be a perfect match.
The second Ware sibling to have their story, it can easily be read on its own but, of course, other family members make appearances. There are quite a few secondary characters & it took me some time to sort everyone out, maybe a family of the Arden family would have helped, the Ware family tree certainly did. I do love the author’s books & whilst it wasn’t my favourite it was still a very god read & I needed hankies for the final couple of chapters. I loved both Luc & Pippa who whilst attracted to each other events from four years ago had scuppered their relationship until a determined Grandfather eventually got his way. There wasn’t any mystery although Luc did have a secret, it was just a delightful romance of enemies to lovers, learning to forgive & to trust
My review is for a special copy I voluntarily read

REMEMBER ME by Mary Balogh is book Two in the Ravenswood Series. This is the story of Lucas Arden, Marquess of Roath and Philippa Ware “Pippa". Pippa was to make her debut in her first London Season but she overheard something by the Marquess of Roath that hurt her. But, now in her present day her brother Devlin who is now the Earl of Stratton has convince the 22 year old Pippa that its time to move past the hurt and from the death of their father. Pippa ends up making a friend of Jenny who turns out to be Lucas's sister. Enjoyed this book and I highly recommend Ms. Balogh's writing.

This was a fun romance. I liked the matchmaking grandparents and how they wouldn’t give up even when their grandson and the object of his affection didn’t want to be set up. I thought the story was well told and the description of the time was well done. I liked how the romance was very slow and took time before they realized that they loved each other. I enjoyed the characters and felt compassion for them. I liked how once they were honest with each other things started to work out.

I received a complimentary book from publishers, publicists, and or authors.  A review was not required and all opinions and ideas expressed are my own.

When she was eighteen, Lady Philippa "Pippa" Ware was getting ready to come out. She had just found out that her father was a bit of a disappointment and, when she overheard the Marquess of Roath make an uncouth comment about her. This led her to believe that all of London was talking about her family.
Four years later, she is finally ready to head out into the world. She immediately makes a friend in Jenny, the granddaughter of the Duke of Wilby. Unfortunately, Jenny's brother is none other than Lucas, the odious marquess. He is being forced into town because his grandfather is in ill health and wants to ensure that Lucas has an heir.
Lucas and Pippa are able to clear up old misunderstandings but they also both agree that, though they seem to rub along well together, there should be no offer of marriage. Too bad everyone else in their life disagrees.
I wish we had seen more of the two of them together but it was, as always with Balogh, a gentle, lovely book.

Four stars
This book comes out June 20, 2023
Follows Remember Love
ARC kindly provided by Berkley Publishing Group and NetGalley
Opinions are my own

Lady Phillipa Ware is just about to make long awaited first season in London there has been things that have kept her at home but it is now time, after her talk with her brother Devlin, now the Earl of Stratton and spoken about one thing that did really hurt Pippa, it is now time to put the past behind her and look to the future.

Pippa makes friends easily and one of them is the granddaughter of a Duke, Jenny they become fast friends but sadly she is the brother of the man who hurt her all those years ago with his unthinking comment, she doesn’t want anything to do with The Marquess of Roath, Lucas and he is reluctant to tell her why he made that comment, will they be able to be in the same room?

Soon The Duke of Wilby arrives in London pushing his grandson to marry and give him an heir before it is too late, his first meeting with the beautiful Lady Phillipa Ware sets him on a course to have her as his granddaughter-in-law, Lucas decides that telling Pippa the truth is probably for the best, will it change things with The Duke pushing Pippa the way her does.

Mary Balogh has such a way with her characters in the Regency times, I did thoroughly enjoy this book and getting to now Pippa and Luas, and the Duke and Duchess, nothing was going to stand in his way of have an heir to carry the line, of course there are many characters that add to the story catching up with members of the family from the first book and I do look forward to more. I do recommend this ones if you love a good regency romance.

My thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for my digital copy to read and review.

4.5 stars, rounded up.

Lady Philippa “Pippa” Ware, the eldest daughter of the late Earl of Stratton and sister of the current earl, is preparing for her first season at the grand old age of twenty-two. She was set to make her debut at eighteen, but she decided not to go at the last minute, after overhearing Lord Roath, a handsome guest of a neighbor, learn she was the daughter of the Earl of Stratton, refused to dance with her and called her “soiled goods”. Pippa believed that it was all related to the scandal surrounding her father a few years earlier and was convinced everyone in London thought the same as Lord Roath. Her father’s death further delayed her debut which was followed by the death of her grandmother. When her brother Devlin, finally returns to take up his position as Earl, Philippa shares why she hasn’t had a season with him and he convinces her to go. It becomes clear that her fears were unfounded, she is accepted and even considered the catch of the season, she is also making friends, one who is especially dear is Lady Jennifer “Jenny” Arden, the granddaughter of the Duke of Wilby, who is unable to walk thanks to a childhood illness. Everything seems perfect until HE, Lucas Arden, Marquess of Roath, shows up and turns out to be Jenny’s brother and the duke’s heir, and he doesn’t seem to remember her or his insults. Once she sets him straight, he is mortified that she overheard his careless word, he apologizes and assures her that he was angry at her father, yet refuses to say why. Unwilling to forgive him, she vows to stay away from him. Too bad the Duke has decided that Philippa is the perfect wife for Lucas!

Lucas Arden, Marquess of Roath, hates London, and at twenty-six is in no rush to marry, but when his grandfather’s health begins to decline, he is told that he must find a bride and produce an heir as soon as possible. With no good reason to refuse, he agrees to participate in the season and find a wife. As luck would have it, he arrives at the family townhouse to find a tea party underway and his sister in conversation with one of the most beautiful women he has ever seen. Thinking that his search is over before it began, he gains an introduction to Lady Philippa Ware, but it isn’t until they are left alone that he learns who she is – the very last woman he should want to marry. And so begins a battle of wills, inconvenient attraction, and the promise of either HEA or heartbreak.

After being a tad bit disappointed by the previous book, I didn’t have high hopes for this book and almost passed on requesting a review copy – Thank goodness I decided to give it a go! This book was classic Mary Balogh and even had a cameo with Lady Morgan Bedwyn. It is a slow-burn romance between two people who have a good reason to stay apart but still find themselves drawn together. The book has secrets, cameos from former characters, a Duke used to getting his way, friendships, a bit of heartache, mild love scenes, a sweet ending, and an epilogue that brought me to tears. For me, the story moved a bit too slowly and was a solid four-star read until I read the epilogue - OMG - have your tissues ready! This is the second book in the series, but it could easily be read as a standalone title without any problem. I am happy to recommend this book and am already looking forward to the next installment.

*I am voluntarily leaving a review for an eARC that I requested and was provided to me by the publisher. All opinions in this review are my own.*

Remember Me is a captivating enemies-to-lovers romance that boasts a cast of lovely characters, a solidly crafted romance, and intriguing family dynamics.

Balogh's masterful storytelling weaves a tale of two individuals who start off on opposite ends of the spectrum, but find themselves drawn to each other despite their initial animosity. The characters are well-developed and their interactions are both believable and heartwarming.

The romance itself is expertly crafted, with just the right amount of tension and passion to keep readers engaged. Balogh's attention to detail and ability to create a vivid setting make the story come alive, transporting readers to a different time and place.

Remember Me by Mary Balogh is the 2nd book in her Ravenswood series. I have been a big fan of Balogh and her wonderful Historical romances, especially the epic Westcott series. Remember Me focuses on Lady Philippa Ware, sister to Devlin (previous book hero), now the Earl of Stratton; and Lucas Arden, the Marquess of Roath and heir to the Duke of Wilby.

Philippa, being the eldest daughter, looked forward to her debut, but after her father’s scandal, as well as hearing a nasty insult from the handsome Marquess of Roath (Lucas), she decided she would not go to London. A few years later, she finds the courage to attend the ball and meet the ton; and becomes an instant success, with many suitors enamored by her. Philippa also develops a close friendship with Jenny, the granddaughter of the Duke of Wilby; determined to avoid the Marquess, as she has never forgotten his insult.

At dinner, with members of the Wilby and Dare family, she ends up sitting next to Lucas, and decides to whisper ‘Remember me’. Looking at Philippa, Lucas tries to remember her; but then realizes a terrible comment he made a few years ago to a friend, and did not know she overheard the insult. Lucas apologizes to Philippa, realizing those hurtful words he uttered then, was not the man he is today; however, she goes out of her way to not spend any time with him. Lucas will visit Philippa at her home, to make amends, and he explains where that nasty comment came from; she learns the truths about the scandal.

Pippa and Luc found it hard to stay away from one another, especially with his grandfather pressuring him that Philippa was the right woman for him; with his grandfather helping him find a way to woo her. Luc finds himself fully attracted to Pippa, and they end up attending many events, with both families and friends. Pippa finds herself becoming very close to Jenny, and the entire Wilby family; especially the autocratic duke and duchess; who are determined that she is the perfect wife for Lucas.

It was wonderful to see them find their way to a possible love; when the Duke falls sick, Philippa agrees to accept the marriage proposal to Lucas. I really loved them together, especially after Lucas explained what happened four years ago.

Remember Me was another great addition to this new series, so very well written by Mary Balogh. I did love both Philippa and Lucas, rooting hard for them to find a way to be together. I loved the both the Ware family members, especially Stephanie, Pippa, Ben, Nicolas and Owen, as well as the many members of the Wilby family. Remember Me was a wonderful and emotional story. If you enjoy historical romances, you can never go wrong reading anything my Mary Balogh.

Lady Philippa Ware, daughter of the late Earl of Stratton, has finally made it to her first London season “marriage mart” hosted by the ton. Some years before, when she was of the usual age to go, Philippa’s father was caught in their country estate in a terrible scandal. Philippa’s older brother discovered the Earl in a compromising position with his mistress exposing him and the family to a major disgrace. As the years passed each time Philippa thought she would be able to make her debut, more distressing things happened including a terrible insult she overheard by a young Marquess of Roath, Lucas Arden. When Philippa makes friends with a very important duke’s family, she is appalled to find that none other than Lucas is her new best friend’s brother.
The Duke of Wilby is a rascally old man who has been told by a doctor that his health is very precarious so he is determined that his heir, Lucas, will marry one of this season’s eligible ladies. When Lucas meets Philippa, he is very attracted until she reminds him where the first saw each other and what devastating comment he made about Philippa and her family. They each agree that any kind of relationship between them is impossible; however, since they will inevitably be thrown together, they must maintain a civil demeanor.
The Duke and Duchess decide Philippa is the perfect wife for their grandson; they set about crafting several situations where Lucas and Phillipa are forced together to their mutual consternation. Once it becomes clear that Lucas must reveal the reason to Philippa that he was so heartlessly cruel six years before, their situation becomes ever more fraught with emotion. This story not surprisingly is a very slow burn romance as they must overcome quite a bit of sorrowful feelings on both sides. A fair amount of the book is taken up with the large families who belong to Lucas and Philippa and their myriad of activities as well as the ins and outs of life for the ton in Regency England. This story is the second one in the Ravenswood series, but can be read as a standalone.

I look forward to a new Mary Balogh book all year. No one writes like her in historical romance today and falling into one of her books feels like a respite from the world.

I adored Pippa and Luc's story, but I equally enjoyed the story of all the side characters in the family, particularly Jenny and the Duke and Duchess.

This book felt like a family saga in the best way and the romance was very slow to develop but I enjoyed that it did that so much.

With the damage Luc's hurtful words did to Pippa of course it would take time for the two of them to actually get to love.

This book was so carefully done, and full of subtleties and nuance in every single character.

I adored the whole thing and can't wait for the next installment.

I received an ARC for review.

I will admit I’m not a huge fan of Mary Balogh, but decided to give this a chance. It was just alright for me. I wish I felt more invested in the characters.

When I got this book I could not wait to open it and start reading, I was not disappointed. I really enjoyed these characters. I love the family dynamics that Balogh always has in her books. You don't just get invested in the main characters, but the entire family. Philippa and Lucas Were both characters you can root for and want to see have a happy ending. We also get a wonderful side story for the Duke and Duchess, Lucas's grandparents. I took one star off this review only because I felt like Philippa was just a little too stubborn with holding onto the past hurt from Lucas, and I thought Lucas was in his head just a little too much with thinking about the guilt he felt over how much he must have hurt Philippa. It was still a great book, I just wish they both moved past that sooner. I can't wait for the next book in the series to come out. I am never disappointed with a book Mary Balogh writes, she is my go to author for Historical Romance.

Mary Balogh does it again with the latest instalment in her Ravenswood series, Remember Me. The book gives us angst, gives us several love stories worth crying over, and tells multiple family stories while managing to balance out its narrative. It’s not my favorite Balogh ever, but it’s still a good book.

Lady Philippa – Pippa - Ware is the eldest child of Earl of Stratton, and unfortunately her marital prospects are nigh on to nill thanks to a family scandal. Her brother chose to expose their father’s extramarital affair in public, and this has shrouded the entire family in scandal. It takes Pippa years to agree to have a season, but when she gets to London, she soon finds herself in the sights of an impossible man.

Lucas Arden, Marquess of Roath, is under the gun in a different way. His grandfather, The Duke of Wilby, believes he’s dying and he wants his bachelor heir to get to marrying and popping out kids ASAP. He thinks Pippa would be perfect for Lucas, but Lucas and Pippa are at odds because she heard him make a cruel remark about her virtue. She approaches him at a ball and asks him if he remembers her. He does, and he knows very well why he said what he said and why he cannot marry her. Cue matchmaking relatives trying to prove to Lucas and Pippa that their love is worth fighting for.

Remember Me benefits from an incredibly charming cast. I genuinely liked Lucas and Pippa and their sprawling families and their quirks. Their courtship worked for me, as did the stirrings of lust and warmth in their marriage. Pippa, in particular, is worth caring about, stuck battling her poor reputation and lucky enough to basically be instantly adopted by the Arden clan.

The last quarter of the book feels rushed and a little too saccharine, yet in the midst of that overt sweetness there are wonderful moments that I couldn’t discount.

But this doesn’t make it to an A-level read because of the intense way the meddling, particularly by the Duke and his wife, plays out. If you don’t like meddling, matchmaking relatives you’re going to hate this book; it’s not a trope I’m terribly fond of, but here it starts out well – until it becomes ridiculous, as if the Duke of Wilby would marry Lucas and Pippa to each other by hook or by crook. The thing is that he had excellent chemistry with Pippa himself, so it ends up reading like something of a quadrangle in an unintentional way.

Yet everything and everyone else in the book – Lucas’ beloved cousin, Jenny, the wonderful relationship between Lucas and his siblings and Pippa and hers, the careful portrayal of the error – make this well worth reading. Remember Me is not Balogh at her absolute best, but even her B grade reads are works of art.

Thank you to Net Galley for the advanced copy of this book. As always a Mary Balogh book does not disappoint! This is a great story of misunderstanding and redemption for the main characters. It proves that attraction can override first poorly made impressions. I liked that this story did not just finish with a wedding that it carried on the story to the necessary conclusion. Many different side plots go on within this story and it is very much tied in to the first book in the series. You cheered for the main characters but quite frankly my favourite characters were the Duke and Duchess (grandmama and grandpapa). They were so entertaining and enjoyable. Looking forward to seeing who book three is about within the Ware Family.

I am loving this Ravenswood series for the slow burn romances and character development while trying not to be too disappointed with the sex scenes. Are any of these ladies having orgasms or is it just the men? It's hard to tell. These scenes in Balogh novels always seem to disappoint me in some way - too rushed, too awkward, not organic in the moment. There always just something "off" about how it goes down.

The family interactions in "Remember Me" are great. Pippa's enemies-to-lovers romance with Lucas, the Marquess of Roath was a compulsive read and then when you expect the explosive passion, it fizzles. I will still stick with the rest of the series because Balogh has made me care about Ben, Nick, and Stephanie finding happily ever-afters. I hope to learn more about Owen in future books too.

The stars of this book are Luc's meddling grandparents, The Duke & Duchess of Roath. You get a bonus love story between the coolest septuagenarians ever. I also hope to see Luc's sister, Jenny, get her own book/novella and hot hubby to love. What a cool chick she was!

I loved the first book that intrad by Mary, this book just failed to keep me interested. It was quite boring with the first fifty or so pages. I might try again at a later time to really give it another go.

Pippa’s conflict!

The fallout from Devlin Ware accosting his father publicly at the village Grand Fete was his sister Lady Phillipa Ware, elder daughter of the late Earl of Stratton, being stunned when she heard herself being referred to as spoiled goods by Lucas Arden, the Marquess of Roath. That rejection decided Pippa about not making her presentation and come out for four years. Other things stood in the way as well, but this was the deciding factor. Pippa could not stand the thought of being given the cut direct by other members of the ton.
Luc’s grandfather, the Duke of Wilby, wants him to marry. It seems the Duke has set his sights on Pippa, whom Luc knows wants nothing to do with him. He’s agonising over his immature response of the past, but might there also be something else going on?
I was somewhat dismayed by the beginning of the novel, it seemed somewhat flat, but by the end I loved it. I also grew to adore Luc’s grandparents the Duke and Duchess of Wilby.
Let me just say the ending had the tears flowing!

A Berkley Group ARC via NetGalley.
Many thanks to the author and publisher.
(Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.)

Remember Me was a lovely, easily read, and wholly enjoyable novel by one of my all-time favorite authors. I fell quickly into the story of Lucas and Phillipa and was invested to the final page of their romance. Indeed, when it was done, I was both happy with the happily ever after and sad that it was over, even if I perhaps wished for something a little more from it.

Honestly, I am not even sure I can quite pinpoint what I felt was missing here. Remember Me was a slow burn, filled with secrets and remorse and miscommunication, but it was also very much a family story, which I love. And having recently read some of Mary Balogh’s more Gothic, very early offerings, I found comfort in this second book of the Ravenswood series. It had warmth, characters who were likable and familiar and who obviously cared deeply about their loved ones, and a small but memorable cameo.

It also had an interesting premise that was fun if precariously dependent on the deep feelings of the protagonists. The “remember me?” moment alluded to in the blurb was well-executed, and as a sucker for second chances, it was also the opening salvo for redemption, forgiveness, and, ultimately, love.

So, perhaps not Balogh’s best-ever offering, but certainly one well worth reading, and maybe even re-reading when the next book in the series is nearing release and one invariably finds that they need a refresher.