Six years ago, Abigail Westcott's life fell apart when she and her sibling discovered that her father had been married before; in fact, he was still married when he married their mother and they are all illegitimate. Abigail's sister Camille is now happily married, her brother Harry is in the army, and her family is really anxious that Abigail should make a good match. But Abigail wants to be married for herself rather than in spite of who she is. She's not sure what that will mean but she knows that finding someone from among the ton is not what she wants.
Gilbert Bennington has been married before. He is a lieutenant colonel and Harry's superior officer. Traveling back to England with Harry, Gil is bemused to find himself swept up into the Westcott family. His introduction? When he is trying to calm himself by chopping wood shirtless. Abigail reprimands him, not realizing that he is not a servant.
The two don't get to spend a lot of time together but a lot of it is spent in divulging secrets. Both are bastards but Gil keeps saying that they are different because Abby was raised to be a lady but he was not. I'm not entirely sure that I believe the HEA but Balogh's gentle story somehow conveys that they may be able to get past the obstacles ahead, including getting Gil's daughter back from her grandparents. I also wish we had seen more of that. Maybe if Matilda and Gil's father get together in a subsequent book, we'll see more of them.

Four stars
This book comes out July 2
ARC kindly provided by Kensington and NetGalley
Opinions are my own

Balogh's latest Westcott novel takes two wounded souls, putting them together in an effort to overcome their pasts. While I enjoyed the novel, I felt that the relationship was a bit underdeveloped and sometimes sacrificed to moving the plot along.

Mary Balogh's Wescott series is a dependable four star series and the trend continues with Someone to Honor. There are other historical authors I enjoy more but Mary has a great way of writing her heroines to be independent and truly likable which continues to bring me back for more.

Abigail has been present in other books as the 'disgraced' daughter of a peer who found out she was illegitimate. Now though she is wealthy, she has no title and no marriage prospects which is she content with as she'd like nothing more to move to the country and live a quiet life. When her brother returns home from the war in much need of quiet recovery, she plans to stay with him and leave the city of London behind.

But with her brother comes an unwelcome intruder, Gil, who plans to stay by Harry's side until he is independent once again. Abigail mistakes her brother's good friend for a servant but quickly realizes her mistake. Gil feels out of place with the Wescott family and is ready to see them leave. Unfortunately, he is unaware that Abigail planned to remain behind and they are soon thrown together more than either of them would like. I will say that the burgeoning friendship between these two was beautiful to read about and I think their relationship was one of the sweetest I've read in awhile.

Gil is hiding a lot of secrets which make it hard for him to open his heart but when he does, it's pretty swoon worthy. Like the others in this series, the heat factor is almost a non-issue. There is some tension but no detailed sex scenes. Some of the beginning is a little long winded but overall, the story flowed well and kept my attention. I'm definitely ready to see what comes next!

Balogh's books are always excellent, but this one comes closest to a "clean read." There isn't much of a plot-just two characters who are very introverted trying to figure things out. Gentle & relaxing.

While the Westcotts are a remarkable family, what is even more remarkable is Mary Balogh’s ability to make each member of the family unique, memorable, interesting and loved – both in the context of the story and in the heart of her reader. This series continues to amaze with the depth of its character development. Each story is able to stand alone but also succeeds in becoming the next pearl in the literary necklace strung together to adorn a family, its values and its growth. Specifically, this story speaks to the emotional responsibilities of fatherhood and the importance of autonomy for a young woman raised in a society that does not value it in its girls. Highest praise for a story well told, which will keep its reader thinking about the issues tackled in the guise of "light reading" Keep them coming, please, Ms. Balogh!

Someone to Honor by Mary Balogh is the 6th book in her wonderful Westcott series. I love this series, even though I do not read a lot of historical romances, but this is very well written by Balogh, with wonderful characters that she has created in the Westcott family.

I have waited awhile for Abigail Westcott’s story, as she is the youngest sister of the family that lost all of their inheritance, when they discovered their father was legally married to someone else. Abby is a wonderful heroine, who was sweet, outgoing and loyal to her family; as well as accepting her situation at losing her inheritance. After seeing her sister change her life and marry, she decides to accept the offer from Anna (step sister who inherited everything), giving her 1/3 of the inheritance, since Camille (Abby’s sister) had done the same when she married. The family, which incudes Abby, Camille, Harry and their mother have come to love Anna, which took them a few years to move on and welcome themselves back into the huge Westcott family. When Harry returns home from the war, after suffering serious injuries, Abby decides to go back to their original home (Hinsford) to live; even though Harry has brought with him a friend from the war days.

Gil Bennington, was Harry superior officer and friend, who decides to help Harry recover and together they arrive at his home (which Anna gave back to him). Gil does not know how long he will stay, since he has things at his own home he needs to address. Seems that when Gil took some time off after his wife died to check on his new born daughter, he was blocked from seeing her by his wife parents. Gil had hired lawyers to fight for his right, while he was away fighting for his country.

Abby and Gil start off on the wrong foot, and do not get along; with both displeased that the other is also staying to help Harry. Abby is determined to build a life for herself and help Harry, with no pressure from her family to marry. Gil is desperate to find a way to get his daughter back. In a short period, they get past their initial reaction to one another, and become friends, especially in helping Harry. It is Harry to pushes them together, to help each other. With a court case on the horizon, and the need to prove he is a good fit for his daughter, Gil will propose to Abby.

This is a slow build romance, that becomes even more after they marry. It was fun to watch them both slowly fall in love. I loved how Abby faced her family after marrying Gil, and not telling them. It was a great as this wonderful Westcott family comes together to help Gil, despite his determination to keep his distance from Abby’s family (which is easier said than done lol ). I do love this family, and enjoyed how Balogh gave us such a great happy ending; and I also loved Beautiful, Gil’s dog. I will note that for at least half way through the book, I thought Abby deserved better than the bitter Gil, but all ends well.

Someone to Honor was a great read. As always, it is wonderful to see all the Westcott’s again.
I can’t say enough about Mary Balogh’s writing, as the Westcott series is a ‘do not miss’. If you enjoy regency romance with great couples and secondary characters, you should be reading this one. Someone to Honor is another fabulous fun heartwarming story in this fantastic series.

Mary Balogh writes introverts better than anybody I’ve read. Abigail and Gil have rich interior lives and recognize kindred spirits in one another, even long before they acknowledge their mutual attraction. There’s a plot here, with high stakes for Gil in particular, but the story is really about learning to trust enough to let someone into your inner world.

As the Westcott brood continues to grow, it’s a joy to check back in on them from time to time. I am looking forward to seeing what the next book brings!

I received this book for free from Netgalley. That did not influence my review.

The Westcotts are back in Someone to Honor! I’ve been compulsively following Mary Balogh’s Someone to... series, watching all the members of the convoluted Westcott family (legitimate and illegitimate) fall in love and marry in Regency England.

Abigail Westcott is the younger daughter of the deceased Earl of Riverdale. When he died six years earlier, the world learned his secret: the earl was still married to his first wife when the wedding to Abigail’s mother took place. He had a daughter, Anna. His will left everything to her except the title and entailed property.

At a stroke, Abigail, her siblings, and her mother were rendered penniless. Her mother’s marriage was invalid. Abigail and her siblings were illegitimate. The scandalized ton shut them out. But that was Anna’s story (see Someone to Love.) Now it’s Abigail’s turn.

Abigail was born to take her place in society and never gave much thought to alternatives. The catastrophe following her father’s death not only showed the depth of her family’s love and unconditional support for each other, it also frees Abigail to discover who she is. She doesn’t have to define herself by society’s expectations any longer.

Lieutenant Colonel Gil Bennington is also illegitimate. He’s the son of a blacksmith’s daughter and a man he doesn’t know and doesn’t wish to know (a viscount, of course.) He grew up in extreme poverty but made his own way in the military. Unfortunately, he married the wrong woman. They had a daughter. His wife abandoned them while he was away at war. Then she died. The grandparents took the child and refuse to return her. Gil has engaged a lawyer but is terrified he won’t win.

Gil was in France with Abigail’s brother, Harry. (Harry would have been the new earl, but when disinherited, he went into the army.) He was wounded and has been trapped in France, withering away rather than recovering, for two years. Gil escorts him home, where Harry’s family descends, ecstatic to have him back.

Abigail comes to visit and decides to stay rather than accompany her family to London and another season, which she has been dreading.

Phew. So that’s the set-up.

Abigail and Gil meet cute. They immediately take a dislike to one another. But, when the family departs, they both stay on to help Harry and to lick their own wounds. Before long, their initial impressions change. When Abigail and Harry learn of Gil’s dilemma, Harry suggests they marry. It would help Gil’s case immensely to have a wife (and the backing of their cousin, the powerful Duke of Neverby). But Gil has been burned before and doesn’t want to wed again. And Abigail worries Gil’s lowly background will prove a stumbling block to gaining her family’s acceptance. Plus, is this really a reason to marry?

With her usual aplomb, Mary Balogh draws the reader along as the protagonists work through their conflicting emotions and face the trials before them. Once again, the carefully crafted storyline (with some familiar-feeling plotting and a comfortably predictable outcome) is enlivened by wonderful characters who pull at the heartstrings. Balogh’s characters are what keep drawing me back. I eagerly await what’s in store for the next of the Westcotts.

Another satisfying book from Mary Balogh’s Westcott series.

I always look forward to revisiting the wonderful Westcotts as they continue to grow as a family.

The relationship between Abigail Westcott and Lieutenant Colonel Gil Bennington is the focus of Someone to Honor. Gil being a comrade of Abby’s brother Harry who Gil is escorting back to England after Harry was severely wounded in battle.

Abby and Gil are complex characters. Abby is unsure of her role in society as the trajectory of her life was severely altered because of choices made by her late father. She longs for closeness and physical intimacy. She wants her own home as well. Yet she knows that in 1800’s England, she can only get these by marrying. She wants to escape the “ton” and forge a new identity for herself. Gil is a troubled man of illegitimate birth born into extreme poverty. He has lost the custody of his young daughter from a turbulent prior marriage.
Abby and Gil decide to marry. The book is about their journey to get Gil’s daughter back, for Abby to find her place in the world and for Gil to move beyond his self-loathing and fulfill his lifelong dreams of family, home and love.

Thank you NetGalley and Berkley Publishing Group for the ARC

An aside. During the court proceedings, the judge has a sarcastic wit that brings levity to the courtroom. I found myself laughing despite the seriousness of the topic.

As always, Mary Balogh’s distinctive style marks “Someone to Honor.” She develops relevant themes and complex characters in what is often a frivolous genre. The main characters work to embrace childhood traumas and disappointments while facing the scorn of others with their pride and self esteem intact. This novel, like Balogh’s others is a testament to the resilience of the human spirit.

I love the Westcott series! This is another solid entry by Mary Balogh. It was interesting to see Abigail's story progress. Plus I always love it when Harry drops in with one of his many war-time injuries. I can't wait for his book.

The only drawback I find with this book is the intricate and large family tree that is hard to keep straight - not essential for enjoying the book, but a temptation nonetheless. Thoroughly likeable and relatable characters, good pacing and a satisfying read.

Yet another wonderful story by Ms. Balogh, featuring characters who don't fit the traditional romance novel conventions. Although I didn't feel that this was the strongest entry in her Westcott series, I found Abigail's take on the revelation which upended her family's life in the first book to be an interesting one and perfectly believable. Whereas her sister had reacted with anger followed by grim determination, Abby's reaction is acceptance, making for fewer passionate emotional moments, but more deep and quiet ones. The romantic plot, centered around the child custody issue, was very current, but didn’t feel anachronistic, and the resolution of that issue was perfect. The romance itself felt a little vague and tentative, as opposed to a full-fledged firm joining of two hearts, but I could see the seeds of a strong love growing, which is just as beautiful in its own way. Additionally, I’m truly enjoying the fleshing out of Matilda as a real character. I look forward to the seeds of her story laid in this one to blossom in the future.

Balogh rarely disappoints, and she hasn’t started disappointing with this one. Someone to Honor is the much anticipated story of Abagail Westcott’s journey Towards love. I enjoyed seeing these two lonely hearts find each other. The one negative that sort of sticks in my craw, and this is pretty standard for Balogh, is that even though EVERY couple ends up with someone society would typically seem inappropriate for them (in station, looks, manner, connections, wealth, whatever it is), and yet, when the next couple starts to do the same thing, the previous books couples tend to take it badly, advise against the match, get upset, etc. that gets a bit old, though naturally everyone eventually gets on board and decides to be supportive. But other than that minor pet peeve, Someone to Honor provides a very satisfying romance.

While this isn't Mary Balogh's absolute best work, she is undoubtedly a master romance writer -- the fact that she has managed to make a story about a huge, complicated family like the Westcotts not feel overwhelming or confusing is incredibly impressive, and series fans will be satisfied to see Abigail get her happily ever after at long last.

Another wonderful addition to this great series. However, this one had less focus on romance and more on family. Will Harry's story be next?