Wren Heyden has spent twenty years as a recluse, hiding from the world because of a birthmark on her face. With her loving aunt and uncle dead, she is lonely and wants to marry. The first two men on her list are impossible. But the third, the new Earl of Riverdale just might do, despite being much too handsome for her taste.

Alexander Westcott never wanted to become an earl. Now he is saddled with a badly managed estate, with no money to bring it to rights. He needs a wealthy wife--is Wren the one? Or is she too strange after being isolated for so long? His wife would need to enter the wider world; Wren may not have the courage to do that.

A tender romance, but also a tale of a damaged woman finding herself and beginning to come to terms with her horrible beginnings. Recommended.

A very sweet book by Mary Balogh, third in the Westcott series. I loved the premise that series was based on, and also that there are a lot of characters who potentially will have their own stories told.

I like how Balogh writes about people with troubled pasts, who are not perfect, but find strength and eventually are awarded their Happily Ever After.

A lovely little Regency romance, to be published in November, that I downed whole in one evening. It's by one of the better-known authors in the field, Mary Balogh. The unique plot point here is that the heroine, Wren, has a large purple birthmark on one side of her face that she considers disfiguring, and she's been a hermit for many years, always wearing a veil in public. Notwithstanding that, she's also an intelligent, accomplished businesswoman who's taken over her uncle's glassworks business.

Now her aunt and uncle (her beloved adoptive parents, who took her in after a distressing childhood that Wren refuses to discuss with anyone) have passed away. Wren is lonely, almost 30, and very rich, and so she comes up with the idea of essentially bribing some nice, respectful man to marry her, treat her well and give her babies and sex (not, however, in that order :D), and put up with her isolated ways.

Enter Alex, who's unexpectedly inherited a title and needs lots more money to whip the accompanying estate into shape. He's young and handsome, and he's not sure why he should even consider Wren's offer to him. There are lots of other rich heiresses around, and with his title and looks he shouldn't have any trouble finding a wife. She's clearly a very damaged soul, which is far more distressing to Alex than the mark on her face. But Alex is also a kind and thoughtful man. Perhaps something might be worked out? They decide to get to know each other slowly, with lots of bumps in the road along the way.

It's a heartwarming story, if a little facile, especially in the last half. Alex is a paragon, and a man who feels bound by his duties to the people working on his estate. He very much wants to make life better for them, and is willing to set aside his own desires in order to achieve that. Wren is a more memorable character, trying to muster the courage to do things -- meet new people, go out in public, kiss a man -- that she's never done before.

Lots of references and characters from the prior books in this Westcott series. It was a little distracting for me since I haven't read those books, but if you've read them you should be pleased to catch up with those characters.

Holy CRAP. Guys, I cried.

The first two Westcott stories were good, but not Balogh great. The plot of this series, however, is compelling enough that I was looking forward to this next installment. But wow. She really spins a good one here.

Rich, independent Wren Heyden decides to do what wealthy, titled gentlemen of the time do often: buy herself a husband. She has a conspicuous birthmark that covers half her face, and has convinced her that she would never find a husband on her own personal merits. (Especially as she lives the life of a recluse.) Enter Alexander Westcott, a titled but cash poor gentleman who is her top choice. Alexander is initially turned off by her coldness, and is insightful enough to identify the truckload of issues she's carting around. Despite this he is fascinated. And what follows is such an intelligent, sweet, abrasive, painful, raw love story that truly had me clutching my ereader at the end in relief. Even if you're not a sold Balogh fan, if you like complicated period romances with prickly, nuanced characters, give this one a try. Seriously. I cried tears.

*I received a review copy from the publisher/author via NetGalley in exchange for my honest review.*

I was given a free copy on NetGalley in return for a fair review. I requested this book, because I've read several by Mary Balogh and enjoy her style of writing. This new book did not disappoint. Wealthy heiress Wren struggles to step out of a life of seclusion and mourning and bravely face the damaging secrets of her past. She desperately wants love and a family but fears she will never have it. Alexander needs a rich wife to help him save the crumbling estate he has inherited but doesn't want to sacrifice his own need for love. Can they find love and happiness together? Alexander and Wren are down-to-earth, likable characters and their love story tender and sweet.

<a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/34318337-someone-to-wed" style="float: left; padding-right: 20px"><img border="0" alt="Someone to Wed (Westcott #3)" src="https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1487214763m/34318337.jpg" /></a><a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/34318337-someone-to-wed">Someone to Wed</a> by <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/9759.Mary_Balogh">Mary Balogh</a><br/>
My rating: <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/2092606066">4 of 5 stars</a><br /><br />
I was given a free copy on NetGalley in return for a fair review. I requested this book, because I've read several by Mary Balogh and enjoy her style of writing. This new book did not disappoint. Wealthy heiress Wren struggles to step out of a life of seclusion and mourning and bravely face the damaging secrets of her past. She desperately wants love and a family but fears she will never have it. Alexander needs a rich wife to help him save the crumbling estate he has inherited but doesn't want to sacrifice his own need for love. Can they find love and happiness together? Alexander and Wren are down-to-earth, likable characters and their love story tender and sweet.