Collect Someone To Romance (Westcott, #7) Developed By Mary Balogh Visible In Softcover

I find I enjoy this series in a comfortable kind of way, after the next book which should be Harry's I think Mary Balogh needs to move on to something new.
It's getting to the point where it all kind of feels the same and I am seriously struggling to remember who all of these characters are and why I care about them.
The cast is huge, unwieldy, and frankly unnecessary, It's particularly a problem because of the author's penchant to begin so many names with the letter A: Avery, Anna, Abby, Alexander.
. . Archer. Even if I wanted to keep consulting the huge family chart at the beginning of the book, what's the point if I don't get the spark of excitement from truly remembering their books

Anyway, this is Jessica Archer's story.
She is best friends with one of the Westcotts who lost their legitimacy from the events of the first book.
She is rich and noble and unmarried despite heryears of age, having chosen to eschew marriage early on when her BFF Abby had no prospects.
Now that Abby is married, Jessica is ready to settle down, Fortunately, she is beautiful and sister of a duke, so every man wants her,

Including Gabriel, a secret long lost earl who has spent the pastyears in America, He is about to be declared dead, and would be happy to give up his title, but the guy who is inheriting in his place is a tool and is mistreating the tenants and his aunt.
So Gabriel is back to marry and reclaim his inheritance,

When he first sees Jessica, he thinks she is a spoiled snot, He doesn't like her, but he, . . wants her anyway He decides he has to have her, basically for no discernible reason and tells her so.
She demands to be romanced, He sends her a single rose every day and that somehow suffices, She accepts his suit as he works to clear his name from some bogus charges against him and reclaim his birthright.


It was okay. Balogh uses a lot of exposition in her writing and I found myself skimming to get to the action.
The connection between the hero and heroine was kind of weak, and I think it was more the formula of Balogh's storytelling pulled me through to the end more than any specific thing I liked about it.


I also didn't really understand the setup for the climax, What was Gabriel really going to do to the villain if he wasn't going to duel him I felt like it was just a setup for the deus ex machina that gave us "justice.
"

Eh. I know there's a lot of complaining here, but it wasn't bad, It just wasn't a big hit for me, Your mileage may vary.

ARC provided by Berkley Mystery and romance! Astar plus read!

Ahh Mary Balogh! You've done it to me again! With a turn of a few pages some of my

'just read' recently historical romances have completely faded into the background by comparison.
This was so a five plus star read, I was completely enthralled with this fabulous story with its reluctant return of a lost heir, a reigning beauty contemplating marriage, and the confusion of a dark past.

Brimming with anticipation, romance, roses and humor this was a masterful entry into the numerous stories of the Westcott menagerie.

Lady Jessica Archer's story, the sister of the Duke of Netherby, is a page turner,
And just like that I fell in love with Avery Netherby all over again, The man is so finely tuned, so droll, so deadly and so much more, I adore him.
And the family! The way it gathers together and protects its own is priceless, even if sometimes more than a tad interfering.

Jessica had turned her back on marriage after the ton's treatment of her cousin Abigail, content to hold court, but never be involved with anyone gentleman.
This year Jessica's decided to take the plunge, The rather dazzling Mr. Rochford, heir to the earldom of Lyndale is a likely contender,
Gabriel Thorne has returned to England from Boston looking to decide on whether he'll move to claim an inheritance he doesn't want.
And then he meets Jessica,

A Berkley Group ARC via NetGalley
LOVED,

Joint review with Janine for Dear Author,

sitelink com/bookreviews/o This is seventh in a series and you can probably pick up most of the needed context in situ.
That said, the Westcott family that is at the center of the series is rather widely spread and has a lot of moving parts.
I think it's probably best to build up a tolerance and the earlier books are less crowded and help give you the framework to hang everything on for subsequent stories.
So I highly recommend reading in order,

I doubt I've had a series I've rated so highly before, Seriously, this is nearly a record with only one fulllength book and the shorter one coming in at under five.
Jessica has been interesting from the beginning as we see her plans for a shared comeout with her best friend and cousin yanked out from under them all in one go.
And you can see how that trauma has shaped her as she came in and out of focus in the stories leading up to this one.
She has had an odd survivor's guilt so she hasn't taken relationships seriously and is nowand having to reevaluate a little now that Abigail has found her happiness in the last book.
She's independent, has great family support, knows her mind, and is very capable in her world, so who would make an adequate match for her

I'm so glad to say that Gabriel does quite well.
He, too, knows his mind and place and is perfectly capable of ordering his world to suit him.
He's been yanked from his path by a threat to someone he cares about, though, so he's a little out of his element and looking for support.
And Jessica would work perfectly in that capacity, so he decides very quickly that he will marry her.
And tells her so, to his credit and consternation,

What follows is them getting to know one another as two strong personalities work out who they are, who they want to be, and who they want to be with.
I loved the growth arc for both characters and I really loved seeing them learn to know and trust each other.


I worried that the plot would devolve into melodrama, but needn't have as Balogh had it well inhand.
It drives just enough of the action and has just enough complexity to draw on the strengths of the Westcott tribe to slay dragons.
I still love the clan and their willingness to be there for each other, even when that means staying away while others handle a piece or two of the puzzle.
And I really love that Balogh is willing to show the things that don't work and the schemes that are wrongheaded even though hatched out of love and caring.
Also, I love more than a little how well they wrapped up Gabriel's troubles in the end and how both main characters handled the hard parts.
Plus, because Jessica is the lead, we see a lot of her brother, Avery, and that's always a win in my book.


So this is another five star showing and I can't wait for the next, It's finally Harry's turn and I can't wait to get to know him better,

A note about Steamy: There are two explicit sex scenes putting this, barely, in the middle of my steam tolerance.
I really liked how well they worked, frankly, and how well we saw Jessica's personality imprinted there with all her curiosity and attention and trust.
Mary Balogh treats us to the lives and romances of the Westcotts and family in this newest installment with Lady Jessica Archer as our heroine.
It isnt necessary to read the previous books in the series, Jessicas situation and past is mostly explained, but it wont have the same impact as youd have reading the books in order.


Jessica hasnt selected a husband, As the sister of the Duke of Netherby and with wealth of her own she hasnt lacked opportunity, but guilt at her best friends tragic set down held her back.
But now that her best friend has a husband and baby to love, Jessica cant help but feel a little resentful that shes now alone.
She cant help longing to have the happiness Abigail so clearly has, The new season is about to begin in London and Jessica decides shes going to find a husband and marry.
Gabriel Thorne sets her hackles up with his assumptions, but his presence lights her up every time,

Gabriel Thorne is back in England after years away to claim his title, but it wont be easy.
His uncle is a piece of work, and the reason he left thirteen years ago, He needs a wife at his side to help manage the difficulties ahead, Lady Jessica Archer fits the bill perfectly, born and bred to manage a household and navigate the societal complexities that come with being and Earl, and shes beautiful.
Hes not sure he even likes her, though, Jessica seems cold and arrogant, typical titled lady, Still, it seems no other woman will do for him,

I loved the push and pull between them they clashed, and sparks flew! They had chemistry! One of my favorite things about this series is how the Westcott family really comes through for anyone theyve deemed their own, and it was no different this time, and it made my heart swell! Ive loved the Westcott series from the beginning.
Mary Balogh writes complex, relatable characters, and I felt for both Jessica and Gabriel and was invested in their HEA!

A copy was kindly provided by Berkley in exchange for an honest review.
.