Mary Balogh never fails to impress me; there is something about her writing that appeals to me as a reader. The sense of emotion that Balogh infuses her story with is exactly why I like reading and why I'm a fan of character-driven stories, and no one does that better than Balogh. In a typical Balogh romance, there's not a whole lot of external conflict; instead it comes directly from the characters themselves. In Someone to Wed the same is true. Yes, there are some external issues, but a lot of what complicates Wren and Alex's relationship is issues that they have to deal with. In the case of this novel, it's Wren that has to deal with personal issues that make her a difficult woman, and I like that so much. There's something so honest about Wren's emotional journey in Someone to Wed, and seeing her overcome her own hurdles is lovely. This isn't a style that appeals to all. It's a quieter story, but its the kind of story that I expect from Balogh.

Someone to Wed is the third in Balgoh's Westcott series and to date, it's been my favourite. I had a mixed reaction to the first and skipped the second. But the third, well, it had me at "marriage of convenience". This trope is one that Balogh uses often, and I really liked the spin on it in Someone to Wed. Alex needed to marry since her inadvertently inherited an Earldom with little funds. Wren is an heiress and decides that she will buy herself a husband, convinced that this is the only way she will have one due to the birthmark on her face, as was reinforced by her mother in early childhood. The romance between these two didn't start off on the most positive of note, but again, I love how Balogh transformed a prickly relationship into one that was filled with a depth of emotion.

Fans of Balogh will not be disappointed with Someone to Wed. If you like prickly heroines, you'll adore Wren and her slow but sure transformation into a confident young woman. Ah, character development at its finest.

Miss Wren Heyden has never been seen outside her home without her veil. After the death of her beloved Aunt and Uncle who rescued her at 10 years old from a cruel mother who kept her locked in a room so no one would see her deformity. Now she is all alone after their deaths. She has no friends, just her faithful maid. The inheritance that her Uncle left her is a glass factory that continues to thrive under her leadership. She is lonely and wants a family, so she comes up with an idea to interview men in the area who are financially strapped and who would agree to her terms for marriage. Which will be that he would get access to her fortune and she would have his respect and children. The one condition that she will never show her face outside of their house. The first two candidates are unacceptable and she is beginning to think that she would be better off alone.

The Earl of Riverdale is a Gentleman who has unexpectedly inherited an Earldom and with it an estate that is a crumbling money pit. Alex had just finished bringing his home back from the brink due to his Father's mismanagement and now he has to turn his attention to his new inheritance that he did not even want. If you read the first book in The Wescott Series you have met Alex, if not, this book is an amazing novel that will stand on its own. When Alex receives an invitation for tea from a neighbor, he accepts thinking that there will be other people from the area that he would like to get to know, since he will be spending all his time at his new estate. When he arrives he is shown into a parlor occupied by a lone female hidden in the shadows of the room.

Wren comes out of the shadows for the first time letting someone see her face after Alex insists if he is going to entertain her offer. What he sees is a tall lady who holds herself rigid and a purple birthmark that covers one whole side of her face.

If you have read my reviews you know that I only give an outline into the plot, no spoilers. Wih that said, my favorite Mary Balogh book has always been "Slightly Dangerous", I have an autographed copy. It is now my second favorite. Wren is the bravest woman Historical Romance lady that I have come across in a long time. What she has to overcome will make you cry and cheer. The way Mary lets us witness the struggle she goes through is a totally humbling experience. Alex is honorable and he sees the pain and suffering that Wren has gone through her whole life. The respect he gives her helps her reclaim her life and finally come out of the shadows. Do not miss this one. I always feel that I can do anything I set my mind too after reading one of Mary's books.

Received a complimentary copy for an honest review.

The love received by your family is the most important love there is.

Wren Heyden is a wealthy, strong and smart businesswomen who has everything she could ever want, except her own family. She wants a husband and children of her own, to feel the fulfillment that can only come from close human companionship.

Alexander Westcott becomes the new Earl of Riverdale and with it inherits an estate and land that is falling apart. He needs to find a rich wife who can help him restore his new home and help take care of those who depend on him.

Alexander accepts an invitation from Wren, thinking he is just meeting his new neighbor. He had no idea that he was a potential suitor for Miss Heyden.

Upon meeting Lord Riverdale, Miss Heyden found that even the strongest and most independent of women could be intimidated by a good-looking man.

She had not wanted a handsome man or even a particularly young man. She had hoped for someone older, more ordinary, perhaps balding or acquiring a bit of a paunch, pleasant-looking but basically…well, ordinary. With decent teeth and at least something of a personality. She was further alarmed when he smiled. If it was possible to look more handsome than handsome, he was looking it. He had perfect teeth, and his eyes crinkled attractively at the corners when he smiled. And his eyes were very blue. Oh, this was wretched. Who was number four on her list?

As soon as Alexander was made aware of his purpose, he felt offended. He could not believe this woman. After further thought though, if the roles were reversed, it would not have been such an outrageous idea. He pushed past his feelings and tried to understand why she would make such a proposal.

“Do you value yourself so little that you believe only your money gives you any worth at all?” She was taking the question seriously, he could see. She was thinking about it. “Yes,” she said. It was the moment which he really ought to have taken his leave. It was a devastating answer, and it had not even been given in haste. He could not possibly take on such brokenness, even if she had all the riches in the world to offer. It was not only sex she wanted. It was human warmth in the form of a sexual relationship. She wanted far more than she seemed to realize. She wanted love and, heaven help her, she thought it could be bought.

Someone to Wed is book three in the Westcott series by Mary Balogh. It was a well-paced, sweet love story. As with most Historical Romances, the immediate and extended families played a part. The secondary characters were not overwhelming and injected humor and depth to the story of familial love. It was a pleasure diving into the world of Alexander and Wren and as always, Mary Balogh does a wonderful job of getting me sucked in with every word she writes.

Someone to Wed is the third book in Mary Balogh’s series following the fortunes of the Westcott family as its members struggle to put their lives back together after the revelation of a long-buried family secret impacts all of them in many different ways. The author once again proves herself to be incredibly skilled at examining the detail and minutiae of relationships – both romantic and familial – and in her ability to make her characters’ dilemmas and insecurities feel understandable and realistic. These aren’t ‘flashy’ books; the focus is very much on the characters and how they adjust to the fact that the lives they had imagined for themselves are suddenly taken away – and how they come to understand that perhaps the very thing they have regarded as a disaster might just have changed their lives for the better.

When, after his death, it was discovered that Humphrey Westcott, the Earl of Riverdale had married his countess while he was already married to someone else, the consequences were far reaching. His ‘wife’ retired from society to reside with her brother and took to using her maiden name again, and their three children – two daughters and a son – were declared illegitimate, meaning that the supposed heir, Harry, a happy-go-lucky young man in his early twenties, could no longer inherit the earldom. That honour now falls to Alexander Westcott, the late earl’s nephew, although it’s an honour Alexander could have done without.

When we first met Alex in Someone to Love, he had spent the better part of the last five years working on making good his family finances and setting his Kent estate, Riddings Park, to rights. A young man who takes his responsibilities very seriously, Alex was at long last looking forward to settling into the life of a country gentleman and had expressed his intention of looking about him for a wife, hoping to find a woman with whom he could happily share his life. But his dreams of love and a quiet life of obscurity were shattered when he became the Earl of Riverdale. He has inherited the entailed properties that come with the title without being left even the smallest amount of the money necessary to run them, meaning that Alex is now faced with the prospect of marrying for money rather than for love as he’d hoped.

When he receives an invitation to tea from his reclusive neighbour, Miss Wren Heyden, Alex is surprised on arrival to discover that he is the only guest, and even more surprised when Miss Heyden suggests that they are both in a position to offer the other something they want. She is a shrewd, intelligent and very wealthy businesswoman who successfully runs the glassworks she inherited from her uncle, but owing to the birthmark that covers half her face, she considers herself disfigured and has lived the life of a hermit. But she doesn’t want to spend the rest of her life alone; she wants marriage and a family (and she’s not too coy about her desire to experience sexual passion) and decides to – in effect – buy herself a husband. Alex is stunned (and not a little put out) by the offer, but he can’t deny that marrying Miss Heyden would solve his financial problems and enable him to put right everything that needs putting right at Brambledean Court. Yet even so, he knows she isn’t his only option. In spite of his lack of fortune, he’s very eligible – he’s young, titled and attractive – and there are enough wealthy cits looking to land a title for their daughters that he wouldn’t have any trouble finding a bride among them. And while Wren’s birthmark doesn’t really worry him, he senses she’s broken somehow, that her “defensive, slightly mocking manner” and her “surface coldness” and self-imposed isolation are the result of emotional issues that go far beyond her face – and he isn’t sure he wants to deal with them.

After a few meetings, Wren and Alex agree that they will not suit and part ways. Alex returns to London and his family, and gets down to the serious business of bride-hunting while Wren goes to Staffordshire to visit her glassworks. Yet as Wren immerses herself in work and Alex sets about courting a suitable young lady, both find their thoughts straying to the other, and when, to Alex’s astonishment, Wren appears unexpectedly in London, he realises he’s happy to see her and had missed her. It’s a new beginning for them both. Alex has come to terms with the fact that Wren is clearly hiding the truth about her childhood, but feels fairly sure that, given time, she will confide in him, while Wren comes to understand that, should she actually become the Countess of Riverdale, her life as a recluse must end. She realises the foolishness of her hopes to marry and continue to live in obscurity and, with the help and support of Alex and his family, all of whom treat her with warmth and respect, begins to come out of her shell and to live her life – which is by no means easy for her. All her life she has hidden her face and her secrets, and it takes a huge amount of courage and determination to set aside years of conditioning and to deal with her fears of being seen in public as well as to believe that people can see past the mark on her face. Throughout it all, Alex encourages and supports her with a growing sense of pride, even pulling her back occasionally when he senses she’s pushing herself too hard.

Both central characters are extremely likeable and easy to relate to. There’s a danger that Alex – intuitive, responsible, gorgeous and charming – could come across as too good to be true, but there’s an honesty and depth to him that counteracts that, making him seem more human. For instance, while his admission that he is put off by Wren’s emotional baggage might make him seem somewhat selfish, I applauded him for both his insight and his truthfulness. And he gets extra Brownie Points for the way he owns up to being offended that a woman would propose a match based on monetary consideration, while it would have been perfectly acceptable had the boot been on the other foot and actually takes the time to think things through. Wren is perhaps more difficult to warm to, but that’s intentional; she is self-assured and independent when it comes to business, but her insecurities and lack of social interaction make her seem aloof and prickly, although as soon as the reader begins to understand the reasons for her awkwardness, it’s easy to sympathise with her and to cheer her on as she decides to take back her life with both hands.

As I said at the beginning, this is not a ‘flashy’ book, meaning there are no convoluted plot-twists or melodramatic developments. Someone to Wed is a leisurely-paced, beautifully developed, character driven romance of the sort at which Mary Balogh excels, and I have no qualms about giving it a wholehearted recommendation.

Grade: A- (Desert Isle Keeper)

I did not love this book as much as I loved the second book in the series, but I did enjoy the characters and the story. Balogh's writing is amazing, as always. I really enjoy the Westcott family and can't wait until Abigail finds her HEA because she deserves one. Also, Lizzie needs an HEA because I feel so awful for her.

As for the actual story of this one, our heroine has a birthmark on the left side of her face and sets out to buy herself a husband by inviting three men to her home, one at a time. Our hero, Alexander, is the third and he's handsome so he makes her uncomfortable. Alex needs her money so he's tempted, but he's honorable so he won't marry her just for her money. The two of them attempt to form some kind of a relationship, but Wren has walls up that are virtually impossible to get past. I liked both of the characters fine, though Wren is probably a more unlikeable character than the heroines we often get. I don't mind unlikeable heroines though and by the end, I think Wren is extremely admirable and courageous. I also liked Alex and Wren's very slow burn relationship.

I think the thing I have an issue with was the tragic backstory that Wren has and how that was handled. I just felt like it got short shrift and wasn't really wrapped up at all. Regardless, I'm very thankful that Netgalley and the publisher gave me the opportunity to read this in advance of the release date and I'm excited to pick up my finished copy to put next to the first two books in the series. Also, how excited are you for book four?!

This was a sweet romance. I've read three of Balogh's books before, and I'm still not sure if I'm a fan. What drew me to this one was the fact that the heroine has a purple birthmark on her face. This isn't mentioned in the synopsis, and I probably wouldn't have picked the book up if I hadn't learned of this from reading a friend's review.

I really enjoyed Wren as a character. Her growth and insecurities were well-described and realistic. A lot of the story was dull for me however, and that's probably my own fault for not reading the previous two books in the series and acquainting myself with all the characters. The Westcott family played a huge part in this book, and there were SO many of them it was difficult to keep track. A lot of the story was them conversing, and I wish there had been slightly more drama.

I did get chills at one point from Balogh's writing, which also happened when I read Slightly Dangerous. It was a pleasantly surprising moment, and because of it I may read more of her works in the future.

Mary Balogh is one of those authors that you pick up and read without even knowing what the book is about. She is the queen or regency romances and once again her book "Someone to Wed" did not disappoint. I loved the complexity of the heroine and how her past had controlled her life. She was Balogh's normal strong female character which is always a joy to read. I really like Alexander's character as well. It is nice to have a strong male character as well but someone with compassion and empathy while at the same time using sincerity and strength to control many difficult situations. As much as I have enjoyed all of Mary Balogh's books, this one really appealed to me a great deal.

ARC received from netgalley

i quite enjoyed this one! i really liked wren, and of course alex. i liked him a lot from the previous 2 books and couldn't wait for his story. i also feel like i am finally getting the westcott family under control in my head - oh who am i kididng, i still barely know who is who.

this book was enjoyable, i liked watching both characters grow. it was kind of like a reverse beauty and the beast. i do wish that wren's mother had gotten what she deserved though, goodness she was absolutely awful wasn't she.

the only thing i don't like about this series, and perhaps i only noticed it because i read them back to back, is the repetition of certain words or phrases, especially during the sex scenes.

this series is cute and i do recommend it. i don't particularly care to read the next one but i really hope elizabeth gets a book soon!

I received an egalley of Someone to Wed in exchange for sharing my opinions.

Disclaimer: This is the first in the Westcott series (and of Mary Balogh's books) that I have read. That said, I did not particularly enjoy Someone to Wed, despite the fact that I like to indulge in a smutty romance every now and then. What I dislike about it, mainly, is that it is written in third person. All the other romances I've read have been in first person with the narration switching between the male and female protagonist every other chapter (give or take). With the third person narration, the emotional commitment is lacking. It is like being a fly on the wall and observing Wren and Alex falling in love rather than knowing what is going on in their minds, what their thoughts, their fears, their overwhelming rushes of emotion are. As such, Someone to Wed comes across as quite clinical instead of sweeping me up in the romance, the inescapable thoughts of love.

Additionally, this "fly on the wall" aspect did not help me empathize with Wren. I felt for her being bullied --and quite horrendously as we are led to believe for the majority of the book-- as a child. But, after awhile, I grew tired of her timidity. And this is coming from a shy introvert who suffers from social anxiety. I just wanted her to "buck up" and get on with it.

I've heard great things about Mary Balogh, which is why I requested this egalley, but I was sorely disappointed.

Mary Balogh’s books grab and hold you in their grasp from beginning to end. This story is no different and the author envelops you in the period and characters so intensely that you have difficulty dealing with life apart from it. Fiercely independent, reclusive, extremely wealthy Wren is looking to take what she perceives as the next venture in her life, marriage, by approaching it like a business deal. Her third choice, Alex, isn’t thrilled to be picked though he desperately needs the funds. From there the reader then begins the journey of Wren and Alex.

Full review to be published online in early November.

SOMEONE TO WED is the third book in Mary Balogh's "Westcott" series. I have not read the first two books in the series; which I will rectify before publishing my review. I did not, however, have any difficulty picking up enough back-story to follow the book.

SOMEONE TO WED is an engaging story. Wren Hedley is a wealthy young woman who want to get married. She meets Alex, Earl of Riverdale, who needs a wealthy young woman to marry in order to save the impoverished estate he inherited . Seems like a perfect match, except that Wren is basically a sheltered recluse, and Alex wants to have a wife who can step into the role of the Countess of Riverdale. He also wishes for a wife with whom he can possibly have a happy marriage.

As they get to know each other, Alex realizes that Wren needs to learn to be part of a big family before she can be part of society. Wren has bitter memories of her early life that need to be overcome before she can accept all the affection that the the Wescotts and Alex, in particular, can provide.

SOMEONE TO WED is an interesting twist on the marriage of convenience theme. It was fun to learn more about the family and how they are continuing to deal with the aftermath of a life changing scandal. As always, this is a well written and fascinating Mary Balogh Regency.

This hits on several levels. Wren Heyden has a picture of herself based on how she was treated as a child. That is not who she is but it is a struggle to change her internal picture. Alexander Westcott, the new Earl of Riverdale, has inherited a title, a run down estate and no money. He thinks that he must make a marriage based on the money he needs not love. Turns out love sneaks up when least expected. Both Wren and Alexander are on a journey to find what both want and need. I loved Wren and how she kept saying have courage as she faces each new situation. Alex has always been an interesting character in the series and it is great to see how he handles finding a wife and how he supports Wren. Both learn and then support the other. A very nice addition to the series.

I received a free copy of the book in return for an honest review.

Alexander Westcott unexpectedly inherited an earldom and a struggling estate last year but not the fortune to go with it, making him an excellent candidate for Wren Hayden's husband search. She plans to snare a husband with her fortune in order to overcome the impediment of a marred face and hermit lifestyle. Wren fails to take into account his social responsibilities and large close-knit family, however, and quickly changes her mind. Sparks of interest, though, are not so easily extinguished....

I really liked that the heroine was slightly older (about 30) and had a big purple birthmark on her face instead of being 20 and conventionally beautiful. (OK, so other than the birthmark she was beautiful, but still.) Wren probably should have struggled a bit more in overcoming 20 years of hiding her face behind a veil after 10 years of being locked in her room--had a few more setbacks, perhaps--which really makes my rating more like 3.5 stars, but I so enjoy the Westcott family, I'm rounding up.

I also liked that despite her fear of showing her face to the world and not being taught to read until she was 10, Wren was a savvy, successful businesswoman. Additionally, her blunt, brave honesty saved herself and others from so much anxiety and heartache. I hate when characters avoid saying things because the truth is hard or they fear the answer and think silence or a polite lie will be easier, and then they end up causing MORE pain due to uncertainty, confusion, misconceptions, etc. I hate when this happens in real life, too.

I liked that the romance grew a bit more slowly, although the final scene's dialogue sort of tries to make you think otherwise to a degree. (I didn't buy it, and it was better the other way anyhow.) Alexander and Wren grew to respect each other, which I appreciated.

For readers' advisors: character and setting doorways are primary (Regency England during the Napoleonic wars). There are a couple of sex scenes but not terribly explicit. Occasionally a mild swear word. No violence.

I received a free ARC from NetGalley and the publisher in exchange for my honest review.

Absolutely amazing story of a young woman whose life had been as a recluse. How she slowly blooms and ultimately becomes master is a fascinating tale, told with a sure hand of a master of the Regency genre.

This book is sure to please Mary Balogh fans and fans of the historical romance genre in general. This book gives us Alexander Wescott's romance with the mysterious Wren Heyden. Wren longs for a husband and family, and Alexander needs money badly. Despite Wren's unconventional proposal and her deep seated insecurities and fears, the two find their happily ever after.

I scored an ARC of Balogh's Someone to Wed and really enjoyed it. Alex was the hero I was waiting for from the first book and he didn't disappoint. Wren was an unusual heroine but I think Balogh did a very good job--as she always does--of getting inside the mind of someone who has been profoundly hurt emotionally. The supporting cast was lively and I was touched by how welcoming they were to Wren. Looking forward to more stories of this family.

I’m a little early with this review, but this was the book that was calling my name. So I decided to listen to that little voice and just read it now anyway. And I’m so very glad I did.

Someone to Wed is the third book in Balogh’s historical romance Westcott series, and just like the first two books, Someone to Love and Someone to Hold, it is an absolute treat from beginning to end.

The stories are all tied together, loosely enough that you don’t HAVE to read them in order, but I think it adds a bit more depth if you do. In the beginning, Humphrey Westcott, Earl of Riverdale, was an ass. Just how big an ass was only revealed after his death, when it was discovered that his countess wasn’t really his countess, his heir wasn’t really his heir, and that his only legitimate child had been raised in an orphanage with no knowledge of her heritage whatsoever.

He left a big, huge, stinking mess. But he didn’t have to deal with any of it, because he was dead. This is probably a good thing, as most of the participants in the drama he left behind, and many readers, would cheerfully wring his neck if it wasn’t already six feet under.

Each story in this series deals with the human fallout from the late Humphrey’s assholishness. This time around it’s his cousin Alexander Westcott turn. Alex, as now the next legitimate male heir, has become the very unwilling Earl of Riverdale.

While one might think that anyone would love to inherit a title, this is definitely not true in Alex’s case. Because Alex has inherited the title and the quite frankly failing entailed estates, but none of the money that should go with them. Alex has inherited a title and a money pit. Money that he does not have.

Just plain Alexander Westcott had just managed to restore his own inherited patrimony to profitability after decades of neglect on his late father’s part and years of hard work on his own. Becoming the Earl of Riverdale means that he has the same work to do all over again, with the same resources he had before spread over much, much larger (and more seriously neglected) lands.

Plain Alexander Westcott could have afforded to marry for love. The new Earl of Riverdale must marry money. And that’s where Wren Heyden comes in. Wren has inherited a fortune and a very successful glassworks from her late and much beloved uncle. Nearing 30, her year of mourning for her uncle’s (and aunt’s) deaths over with, she wants to marry.

But Wren believes that her fortune is all she has to recommend her. Why? Because Wren has a large port-wine stain, in other words a big purple birthmark, covering much of the left side of her face. Long ago, someone convinced her that she was so ugly that no one could ever possibly love her – or even manage to look at her without running screaming from the room. Years of her aunt and uncle’s unstinting love and unwavering support never managed to convince her otherwise.

Wren attempts to buy Alex’s hand in marriage. He needs a rich wife, and she needs a man who will give her children. She begins by believing that she can maintain her life as a hermit, while giving Alex the money he needs to restore Riverdale.

While Alex feels that marrying for love is a now a dream out of his reach, he is still offended by the crassness at the base of Wren’s proposal. He does not want to be bought. But he recognizes the injustices of his feelings – after all, he was planning to present himself in the marriage mart with the hope of contracting just such an alliance.

Even more, Alex wonders if they will suit. He may not be able to marry for love, but mutual respect and eventual affection are surely not out of reach.

But can there be anything else between two people after such an inauspicious beginning? Can there be anything at all?

Escape Rating A: I swallowed this book in a day. Someone to Wed is marvelous because it throws so many of the standard historical romance tropes over within its first pages.

Of course, the thing that makes Someone to Wed so different is that Wren is the mover and shaker of the story. In the beginning, she acts, and Alex is the one who reacts – not always terribly well. What makes it work is the way that he thinks about his reactions, and reminds himself just how unfair so many of them are.

What makes the romance work is the way that both Wren and Alex bend over the course of the story. As unexpected as her proposal is, and as much as all of Alex’s instincts urge him to reject it and her, he does his best to be fair. She is both right and reasonable in her actions – he’s just not used to seeing a woman exhibit that much cold-blooded logic.

That Alex discovers that he actually enjoys talking with a woman who is his intellectual equal and is not afraid to show it – or who is completely incapable of hiding it – comes as a revelation.

Another thing that made this story work for this reader is the way that Wren’s birthmark was handled. It, and her mother’s reaction to it, scarred her, seemingly for life, much more than the birthmark itself does. She feels ugly and unlovable because that’s how she was made to feel as a child – not because either of those things are true. Her journey towards acceptance of herself is marvelously hard won.

Alex’ reaction to her birthmark reminds me of a quote from science fiction writer Robert Heinlein’s Notebooks of Lazarus Long, “A man does not insist on physical beauty in a woman who builds up his morale. After a while he realizes that she is beautiful–he just hadn’t noticed it at first.” While there is definitely some sexism in there, the point is still valid. Think of it as a more pleasant version of the old saw about beauty being skin deep, but ugly going clean through to the bone. Beauty is as beauty does. And beauty shines from within.

Wren is beautiful. And it takes Alex much less time to realize that fact than it does Wren herself. But when she finally does, it’s even more beautiful than their romance.

The title of this book is very clear, both Alexander and Wren need someone to wed. When all of a sudden, the children of the earl of were declared illegitimate given that he was a bigamist, his nephew Alexander became the heir of his title and all of the properties that came with it, but not his money. His neighbor Wren was born with a birthmark that covers almost half of her face so she lived recluded in her home with her uncle and aunt, who had adopted her at the age of ten, and who on their demise left her all of their money and their glassware emporium. Wren is incredibly wealthy but she’s scared of the world, Alexander is almost penniless but has a lot of responsibilities since he became an earl. They need each other, and that’s why she’s proposed marriage to him although they don’t really need each other. Alexander wants to say yes but he doesn’t want to marry just because of the money, he doesn’t want her to buy him… and before marrying her he’s willing to unveil one by one all of the mysteries that Wren has built around herself.

There are many reasons why I loved this novel, being my first Mary Balogh. I could say that I found in Wren a very complex character, because it’s true, she is complex and she sort of imagines complications that aren’t really there. I could say that I loved that Alex felt unworthy of everything he had inherited and that he learns to overcome those feelings thanks to his family. I could say that I loved that amazing, funny, crazy and spontaneous family, so ready to support each other and willing to fight as one against all odds (including Wren, because they loved her the minute they met her). I could say that I loved Alex’s mother and sister… and all of those reasons are perfect to explain my passion for this novel. But they wouldn’t be enough. The most important reason why I loved this novel is the fact that both Alex and Wren, almost from the first time they meet, they support, encourage and most importantly reassure each other. Both of them are self conscious, prejudiced but about themselves, and they both see past the other’s prejudices, they help each other overcome them because they’re in their heads. Especially for Wren, who is traumatized by the way she was treated in her first ten years of life.

Apart from what I loved about the plot and the characters, there is something more that Balogh offers in this novel. First, it is a wonderful study of the human character, especially a broken person’s personality and the superficiality of an era when beauty, money and titles made the future of a person. And second it offers an insightful analysis of the topic of marriage in the Regency era; this story is the means for Mary Balogh to cover marriage as a business agreement. What the marriage mart entailed back in the day when a man or a woman in possession of a title married a tradesman or a rich heiress because both wanted what the other had. But Balogh isn’t judgmental, it was what it was and that’s how she depicts it. She explains the facts and reasons for women and men to look for specific suitors and clarifies that in most cases there was love, but love wasn’t a goal in itself, it was more a luxury or a question of luck.

read Mary Balogh books for her enthrallingly flawed characters. Not flawed in the one-dimensional sense so often found in romance books. We've all come across a brooding hero. Mary Balogh takes her characters to another level. Each of them is the very definition of a beautiful mess - blindingly lovely in their doubts, insecurities, kindnesses, and follies. She writes characters more human than the average human - spellbinding in their completeness.

"There was nothing definably icy in her demeanor. It was just...other. He has still not thought of the word for which his mind sought - if there was such a word."

That said - I couldn't stand Wren for the first third of this book. And I was convinced Alexander was a special kind of stupid for the first two thirds. I literally remember thinking at one point as I read "she's dropped the ball here. I cannot possibly be convinced to even slightly like these two." Is the falling even sweeter when I have a greater distance to go?

"He probably would not have found any such love anyway. But there lingered even now a yearning for something different from what he could expect, some...passion. It was not to be, however. Life had other plans for him."

Eventually, I found Wren fascinating for her "male" traits. A business-woman. A shut-in. Incredibly direct. Athletic. And rich. Enter Alexander - gorgeous and in need of money. It starts as a strange agreement - and leaves them both uncomfortable and worried. And this was the wonderful part. The lack of "romance" made everything that much more romantic. There was no Insta-love, but what developed was so much more meaningful.

"'But I will not marry you for your money alone, Miss Heyden. If you truly believe that you have no more to offer than that, and if you truly believe that I have nothing but marriage to offer in exchange for your money, then say it now and we will put an end to this.'"

You should take this journey with Wren and Alexander. Her from hermit to swan. Him from oblivious to ardent. This was a joyful ride with a prickly heroine and her reluctant hero.

Someone to Wed by Mary Balogh is the 3rd book in her wonderful Regency Westcott series. I enjoyed the first two books in this series, and Someone to Wed is as equal or even better. I like some regency or historical romances on occasion, but I will not miss a book from the Westcott series. Mary Balogh amazes me how she gives us wonderful romances with unlikely couples, and we totally fall in love with them, as well as the fantastic family group.

In Someone to Wed, Alexander Westcott is our hero, whom we met in the earlier books. Alex is the Earl of Riverdale, which he inherited from the deceased Earl, whose children would have been heirs, but because he was a bigamist, Alexander becomes the legitimate heir. Alex loves his own estate, and is not thrilled to now have to take over the Riverdale estate that is in ruins, since he cannot afford the big repair expenses. To better understand all of this, I suggest you read my reviews of the first book or better yet, go buy book 1 & 2. You will not regret it.

Wren Heyden, our heroine, is a modern woman, who excels in her business holdings and is very wealthy. Wren, who has a purple birthmark on almost half of her face, has been a recluse for twenty years. With her aunt and uncle now deceased, Wren wants to find someone to wed, to have children and some semblance of a life, and plans on buying a husband. Enter Alex, who as the Earl of Riverdale was called to visit the unknown Ms. Heyden. He is shocked when he meets Wren, who wears a veil to cover her face, and hears her proposal. When she explains that she is considering him to become her husband, and will help him with the expenses to restore Riverdale. Alex becomes insulted, but he asks her to remove the veil, and sees her birthmark. Alex is not disturbed by it, much to Wren’s surprise, but he leaves and says if she is serious, he will invite her to a tea he will have for neighbors. Can she find the courage to attend?

Alexander finds himself a bit curious about Wren, and sees under her surface about her past hardships, lack of confidence and her fears that made her a recluse. Wren is very independent and tends to be cold and unsocial, as she has never experienced dealings with people other than in business . When Alex tries to get her to open up more, and meet his family, he is surprised when she accepts, but her fears will force her to turn him away. But Alex has a wonderful mother and sister, who make friends with Wren, and she becomes comfortable with them, allowing her to learn more about Alex.

What follows is a slow build romance that will at first be friendship, and slowly they will both find love. What I really loved about this story was watching Wren begin to change and see those she has come to know not paying attention to her blemish. She begins to open up and have fun, and Alex slowly helps her build her confidence removing her veil completely and attend events. I also loved this family that we have met over these three books, which was so insurmountable in changing Wren, as well as healing the family ties that had been broken by previous Earl of Riverdale’s death.

The romance between Alex and Wren was wonderful to watch, with so many emotions, both sad and sweet. I can’t say enough about Mary Balogh’s writing, as the Westcott series is a ‘do not miss’. If you enjoy a pure romance, even if you don’t like historical/regency, you should be reading this one. Someone to Wed is a wonderful heartwarming story, great characters, and a fantastic couple.