Mary Balogh once again touches hearts and emotions in her romance, Remember Me. Touching, emotional, and layered, Remember Me is Mary Balogh at her best.

Man, I LOVE this author but this book really felt flat to me. The stakes were too thin, the romance was hard to root for, and I hated the machinations of the love interest’s family. And I think the root of the drama was a misunderstanding—no real conflict.

"Can Lady Philippa Ware forgive the man who once shattered all her youthful dreams? Discover the passionate and heartwarming new novel on the redemptive power of love from New York Times bestselling author Mary Balogh.

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 grew dim, then were fully shattered when she overheard the dashing, handsome Marquess of Roath viciously insult her upon learning of her father's identity. Only years later does Philippa find the courage to go to London at last to meet the ton. She is an instant success and enjoys a close friendship with the granddaughter of a duke. Only one man can spoil everything for her, but surely he will not be in London this year.

The Duke of Wilby is nearing death and has tasked his grandson and heir, Lucas Arden, Marquess of Roath, with marrying and producing a son before it is too late. Lucas, who usually shuns London, goes there early in the Season in the hope of finding an eligible bride before his grandparents come and find one for him. He is instantly attracted to his sister's new friend, until that young lady asks a simple question: "Remember me?" And suddenly he does remember her, as well as the reason why the daughter of the Earl of Stratton is the one woman he can never marry - even if his heart tells him she is the only woman he wants.

Unfortunately for Philippa and Lucas, the autocratic duke and his duchess have other ideas and believe them to be perfect for each other. They will simply not take no for an answer. Telling Philippa the full truth is the hardest thing Lucas has ever faced, and the discovery of it will change them both before they discover the healing power of love."

Oh, what is the full truth?

Remember Me felt to me like the shell of a quintessential Mary Balogh novel. The precise language and deep descriptions were there, as were a hero and heroine with complicated pasts and deep family relationships. What was missing, however, was the passion. The narrative unfolded behind a veil of passive voice, which never seemed to flower into action. As a fan of Mary Balogh, I enjoyed the comfort of her tropes but was sad to see no spark between the lovers.

Remember Me is the second book in the Ravenswood series and is about Lady Philippa Ware, sister to Devlin, (the Earl of Stratton from book one) and Lucas, the Marquess of Roath. I enjoyed this story and I definitely think it helped to read book one first to be introduced to Phillipa’s family, even though book two could stand alone.

Philippa is excited to be in London for her first season. She had planned to come years earlier but her father was caught in a scandal and a nasty comment she overheard from Lucas kept her away. Lucas’s grandfather, the Duke of Wilby, is not well and asks Lucas to go to London to find a bride and produce an heir to protect their title and home. His grandparents raised him after his parents died so even though he avoids London he complies and soon he is meeting prospective brides. He is at a dinner when one of them asks, ‘Remember me?’ It takes him a few minutes but he remembers the terrible comment he made, several years ago when he was visiting a friend and they were watching a Maypole dance, not knowing she overheard.

One thing I liked is that Lucas goes to see Philippa and explains what happened so it wasn’t dragged out. I couldn’t wait to find out why Lucas, normally so kind, would make such a terrible comment. Phillipa is beautiful and Lucas is attracted to her and with the help of his grandfather tries to figure out how to woo her over. As they attend events, there are a lot of characters, both her family and his, along with friends and I couldn’t keep track of them all. The author did include a family tree for Philippa which I appreciated. I was surprised to see Morgan Bedwin from Slightly Tempted appear at a ball as a potential bride for Lucas, and I think this must have taken place before Morgan met Gervace. Luckily Lucas and Morgan are not interested in each other.

I also liked hearing about his grandparents story as it was shared to Lucas and I enjoyed the descriptions of balls, dinners, and dresses. I rounded up to 4 stars. Thank you to the author, NetGalley and Berkley for an advanced copy of this book.

If you're a fan of regency romances that take their time to build, Remember Me by Mary Balogh is a must-read. The tension between the hero and heroine, Lucas and Philippa, is palpable from the very beginning, and their slow and steady courtship is sure to make your heart flutter.

The slow burn romance between Philippa and Lucas is perhaps one of the most satisfying aspects of this novel. While some may criticize the pacing, I found it to be more realistic and gave me ample time to get to know the hero and heroine.

What I loved most about this book is how Balogh creates characters that feel real and complex. The dynamics between Lucas and Philippa's families are just as engaging as the central romance, and the level of detail Balogh includes in her descriptions of buildings and grounds is impressive.

That being said, some readers may find the pacing slow and the use of certain tropes outdated. But even if you're not a fan of slow-burn romances or the miscommunication trope, I still recommend giving this book a chance.

Despite being a closed-door regency romance with the miscommunication trope, the story still manages to be engaging and captivating. Balogh's signature style of lengthy dialogues, descriptions, and complex family dynamics are all present in Remember Me, creating a rich and immersive world.

Mary Balogh's storytelling skills are undeniable, and she knows how to keep readers engaged until the very end. So if you're looking for a book that will transport you to another time and place and leave you feeling satisfied, Remember Me is the perfect choice.

My full review will be posted online and the links will be provided closer to the publication date.

It is hard to top Mary Balogh‘s beautiful artistry in developing complex and believable characters and love stories. Philippa and Lucas’ story interested me from book #1 – Remember Love – when Philippa told her brother, the Earl of Stratton, that Lucas had called her “soiled goods”. However, to be honest I was not convinced that Lucas would make a repeat appearance in a future novel but as a minor antagonist. So I was pleasantly surprised when chapter one began from Lucas’ perspective and thus began a great slow burn romance between the two protagonists.

It is probably one of the most slow burn romances in Mary Balogh’s catalogue of romances. There is perhaps one kiss prior to the bride and groom saying “I do” and the bride is a virgin prior to her marriage bed, unlike most of Mary’s heroines. While some reviewers have been critical about the pacing of the story, I believed it was more realistic and gave me more time to get to know the hero and heroine.

Full review at https://www.thejoyousliving.com/remember-me/
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Overall this was just a lackluster story. There was a lot of repetition and not much going on. When the main character Pippa has more chemistry with the love interests grandfather then she does with him, you know you are in trouble!

This is a closed-door regency romance with the miscommunication trope. I’ve been venturing into more regency era romance lately and was excited to read this one! However, this book is long and drawn out, and did not match my preferred pacing style at all. I felt it was overly descriptive and repetitive, which can work but came across as unnecessary and slowed the story down.

I think that if you enjoyed the first book in this series, then you will really enjoy this one, but it did not work for me sadly.

I will not be sharing feedback outside of netgalley for this one. I do want to thank the publisher and netgalley for giving me this e-arc in exchange for an honest review

Remember Me is what I’ve grown to expect from Mary Balogh. Lengthy dialogues and monologues. Lengthy descriptions of buildings and grounds. Large family dynamics with distinct characterizations and complex relationships.

Remember Me is the story of Lucas Arden, heir to the Duke of Wilby and Philippa Ware, eldest daughter of the Earl of Stratton

From the last book, Remember Love, we know Luc called Pippa “soiled goods.” Luc’s secret and the reason he called Pippa “soiled goods” was juicy but I think Balogh could have come up with something better than “soiled goods”. I just didn’t fit.

Also their “courtship” was unusual to say the least. The pressure and manipulation from his grandfather was over the top and this book became just as much about the elderly duke and duchess as Luc and Pippa.
Even with the machinations of his grandfather, maybe this marriage was what Luc and Pippa wanted all along. There was a moment of attraction at first sight when they encountered each other at the May Day celebration years ago, but that is tenuous at best.

ALL THIS BEING SAID, I still get lost in Mary Balogh’s books. I get lost in her stories and the families she creates. Remember Me wasn’t my favorite but I couldn’t put it down.

Thank you NetGalley and Berkley for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

The book seemed a bit all over the place, but it did have an overarching theme which tied in to "Remember Me" quite a bit. Though what I did like about this book was there is a line where Philippa does say "Remember me?" which worked great in the story.

Philippa had met and was infatuated with Lucas when she was just about to start her Season. He says something rude about her (which he doesn't really think she heard) and it causes her to be so upset that she ends up not having her season due to lack of confidence in herself (and a couple of family deaths). Four years later she has a season, and runs into Lucas again. Philippa had only told her brother Devlin about what happened.

Meanwhile Lucas' grandfather has determined that he will marry this season and give him an heir before hte dies.

Philippa meets the Duke / grandfather and he decides that she is the one to marry Lucas. He pressures her and Lucas into marriage and neither really fight against him, but he also doesn't know their back story., I found that part really frustrating, when it seemed Philippa was being manipulated into marrying Lucas by his family and hers.

Philippa does get to have a true Season, and the mystery of why Lucas said that is revealed, so they are back to being friendly but the grandfather still pressures her. Ultimately due to his poor health she does get pressured to marry Lucas, but by that time the grandfather likes her and has given her an out, if she wishes to take it.

Basically the story was about secrets, affairs, marriage and lasting love. The story of Lucas and Philippa was the true story but it almost paralleled on some level the marriage of the Duke and Duchess and his wish to see his grandson married and with an heir before he dies.

I do think the relationship between Lucas and Philippa could have been a lot more romantic (they only kiss once before they get married, and they take *forever* to tell each other they are in love, and it seems to come out of nowhere) and it was a very slow burn, but on some level it is secondary to the Duke/grandfather's will to see his grandson settled before he dies. Maybe that indicates that Mary Balogh didn't flesh the story out that well, and it was frustrating in the first half, but ultimately I enjoyed the book. I'd give it a 3.5 stars, since I didn't *love* it but the ending moved it up about a half star. It's more character than plot driven, and I enjoyed the characters so I'll keep reading the series. I hope Jenny gets her HEA someday too :)

I received an advanced copy and am giving an honest review.

This book was weird in that I really liked and was rooting for the main couple and found some of their barriers believable, but I also often just sort of wanted to shout at them? The initial transgression that causes these two to be an unlikely match is believable but not much about the later fallout and resolution worked for me. There are things to like about this book , especially the charming/rascally elderly Duke and Duchess with machinations for their grandson’s love life, and good sibling relationships on both sides. But the author sort of got caught up in updating us and naming *every* family member and location and that just got to be a lot.

This book felt like a breath of fresh air, after some of the stories I’ve read lately. Actual mature characters who felt both modern and yet historically accurate? Aristocratic families who genuinely love one another and act like any loving family, while still being aristocratic? A couple in their late 70s, whose long-time marriage is as sweet, tender, and touching as the romance of the hero and heroine of the book, and not simply treated as a backdrop? These kinds of things are what make Ms. Balogh’s novels such a joy to read.

Characters are always Ms. Balogh’s strength, and that is certainly the case here. Our hero is a decent man who made a truly horrible casual comment, which hurt our heroine deeply years before, although he’d never intended for her to hear it. After finally gaining the courage to grow beyond that hurt, she comes to London, and, of course, meets the hero right away. But where so many other books would have had the characters not discuss it, leaving the “grand reveal” for the climax of the story, where it drives a wedge between them that they then overcome all too quickly (and leaving the readers wondering why no one in these stories actually talks to one another), in Remember Me, our heroine confronts him about it at their very first meeting with those very words: “Remember me?” And to his credit, once reminded of it, our hero takes responsibility for his horrible mistake, giving an explanation for his behavior but himself noting that explanations in no way excuse it, and offering the apology he owes her, knowing that she has no reason to accept it. His attempts to stay out of her way afterwards, and avoid giving her painful reminders of that day are an entirely mature response, but are quickly frustrated by his ducal grandparents, aptly called “benevolent tyrants”, who believe the two are perfectly matched in terms of social status and personality, and have no qualms about using their considerable authority to push the younger couple together. When our hero and heroine do come together, however, it’s a conscious decision they make for themselves, to put aside the past and build a future. It gives their relationship a firm foundation, and one feels like it will grow to be as solid and strong as that of his grandparents. A truly beautifully written story of healing and love.

As a side note, I always appreciate the way Ms. Balogh includes characters who suffer from various disabilities, physical or mental, in this book one who appears to be a polio survivor. She is a determined and fully realized character living her own life, not kept hidden away from society, and while her family is concerned about her, as any loving family is concerned about one another, they’re not overly solicitous of her, and accommodating her physical disabilities has long since become a part of their daily life. While this book is about the Ware family, I hope we get to see her again. And given Ms. Balogh’s frequent callbacks to other books and characters—so nice to see the Bedwyns referenced!—I think we will.

Mary Balough’s newest novel, Remember Me, follows Lady Philippa Ware and the Marquess of Roth Lucas Arden. Years before Lady Philippa heard Lucas mutter a negative comment directed towards her and her family, so when she postponed her coming out season, she was astonished to find that when she finally entered London, it is none other than Lucas who she meets so quickly.
In typical Balough fashion, the novel is strewn with lighthearted dialog that attempts to capture today’s values in the setting of Regency Era London. Her main leads do not like each other much in the beginning, and Balough does well in holding that out longer than expected. The novel also pulls in the problems of side characters such as The Marquess of Roth’s ailing grandfather and disabled cousin, Jenny. Although, it does feel that this couple ended up married a bit too easily and that there could have been opportunity for a bit more tension throughout the story, Remember Me remains a fun read put out by one of the top Regency Era romance writers!

I wasn't sure if I was going to like this book since the 1st in the series was a total let-down. I was s o wrong! I loved Pippa and Lucas. Ok, so the premise with the whole misunderstanding is kind of unbelievable but I didn't care. Both MC's tried so hard to stay away from one another but their families had other ideas and just kept throwing them together. They had to speak and learn about each other. I figured out early on why Lucas didn't like the family and it was so sad.

I can't wait to read about the rest of the Stratton siblings.

Remember Me is the second book in Mary Balogh's Ravenswood' series. Lady Phillippa Ware, one of the main characters, has shunned society after her brother denounces her father's wayward behavior very publicly. She chooses this course after overhearing a young man of high social standing make a scathing insult about her when he learns who her father is. Her brother returns after her father's death, reunites the family and works to reestablish their place in society. Phillippa regains the confidence to finally have her successful debut in Society. When she meets the young man again, she decides to stand her ground. Eventually they are paired, the reason for his comment is revealed. She forgives him and agrees to marry him. The characters and setting are well done. But the pace of the story is rather slow—it feels as though the author is inserting the reader into society as it was at that time. Overall, it was a good read and recommended.

This lackluster second book in Balogh's Ravenswood series can be skipped by all but the most fervent fans

The perfect regency-era romance for readers who love a story that develops slowly (and is not at all steamy). Phillipa finds herself falling in love with Lucas, who is the grandson of a duke. Lucas' grandfather, the duke, has decided that Lucas must marry and produce an heir immediately, and he's decided that Phillipa is the bride for him. The problem: several years ago Phillipa overheard Lucas insult her family, and that insult changed the course of her life. Can these two (who we all know are perfect for each other) rise above past hurts and find happiness together? Mary Balogh is so good at this type of story and she does not disappoint here!

I seriously loved this book so much. I have not read this series before now and I also have never read this author before but I loved Philipa and I adored Lucas as well. They both share a painful past and a family secret and that created many issues for them and with each other.

They both meet in London where they are to find a spouse and its both of their first season. Luc falls hard for Philipa but she hates him for something he once said that she overheard and he had no idea of the words and the damage it created in her mind and world. I loved that Phil is so honest and right away tells Luc how they know each other and what he said.

While in London, Phil becomes best friends with Luc's sister and the two families become close. But the secret and why Luc said what he did stands between these two. I don't want to say anymore because I don't want to spoil the big moments. I loved this story so much and I don't read a lot of historicals but I highly recommend this story. It was a wonderful hate to love, family secrets romance and I loved it every second of it.

Remember Me is the second book in a series about the Ware siblings, who had their lives rocked by scandal.

I was really looking forward to this one but it pains me to say this is my least favorite Mary Balogh book.

This book dragged. And not only that but the romance...was non existent.

There was no build up, no interactions that showed them falling in love. Instead we were stuck hearing about everyone else in attendance at parties, every other relative and everything about them and how they wanted our couple to get married instead of our couple.ACTUALLY WANTING TO GET MARRIED.

And then the plot twist in the epilogue. SMH. Just no.

It was maddening. Mainly because this is the author of my beloved Bedawyn series and the Slightly series and the Westcott series. It stumps me really how we got here.

Will I read the next one? Of course, I'm hooked and I really am interested in this family. I really want to see Stephanie's story.
But this one, I won't read again.

Thank you to NetGalley for the ARC. All opinions are my own.