Book Review #netgalley #rememberlove #marybalogh #berkleyromance
Mary analogy is the queen of a family romance epic and in Remember Love she introduces us to her new family saga. Balogh had the lyrical skill to slowly build a romance that is full of care and heart. If you love a slow burn romance that is peoples by many interesting characters, Balogh is always a fantastic option. Her prose reads a bit like an Austen or Brontë. It holds a depth of feeling and history that give a gravity to her characters and the situations they find themselves in. Through care and patience Balogh builds tension and chemistry that feels really to the work and her characters.
This is a second chance, unrequited romance between Devlin and Gwyneth. When they were 22 years old they both finally found the courage to confess their love for the other but then are torn apart by a family secret on Devlin’s side. Now 6 years, a war, a father’s death and a title inheritance later, Devlin is back and ready to take control of his family.
Mary Balogh takes her time in building up the past and relationships before time jumping to the main plot points of the novel. When reading a Balogh you should expect a slow build with low heat but full of emotion that will grip your heart and make you not only just fall in love with the hero and heroine but also with all the secondary characters. Balogh is definitely on track to create a large and interesting series that can build upon the relationships and characters introduced in this novel. Devlin and Gwyneth are both well rounded, understandable while being frustrating on their journey to their happily ever after. I love that Balogh is not afraid to take her time building the world and relationships with in that world. I love that her characters feel like really people with real problems and I love that Balogh can create a dynamic between Devlin and Gwyneth that makes them the perfect partner for the other.
If you love to read about a time where things felt slower paced but the family and friend dynamics feel timeless, Balogh is always a perfect choice. Her novels are like a comforting and warm hug and this is a new start to a new epic that I am excited to watch explore and grow.
Thank you to Berkeley Romance and NetGalley for an eARC, all thoughts and opinions are my own.