Someone to Hold

Camille is so prickly - and even though I could understand it, I didn't much like her to begin with. But her journey of self discovery reveals parts of her that even she doesn't know are there. The romance aspect is lovely, but the blossoming of character is what gives this novel its heart.

Ms. Balogh has pulled off a miracle--not only did she have me feeling empathy for Camille, but by the book's end I actually liked her! (She was pretty prickly, to put it nicely, in book 1--Someone to Love and even in the early parts of this one I had a hard time not rolling my eyes at her...)

What helped early on was seeing her take over her half-sister's (her emphasis) job as teacher at the orphanage and trying so hard and being so sure that she was failing at it. (She wasn't; she was brilliant, but boy can I sympathize with that "I don't have a clue what I'm doing; what if I scar these kids for life?" feeling that she had.) At the beginning I was in total sympathy with Joel, who saw Camille as an unfeeling drill sergeant who was trying show more to usurp her half-sister's former position--watching her with her pupils, though, that began to change for both of us. I loved watching both of them come to respect and like each other as the story progressed; their transition from two people who wanted nothing to do with each other to friends to lovers was nicely paced and believable.

And that ending...it tugged on my heartstrings big time! I cannot wait for the rest of the Westcotts to get their stories!

Rating: 4 1/2 stars / A

I voluntarily reviewed an Advance Reader Copy of this book. show less

Joel was a sweetheart in the previous book and Camille the worst bitch. I had my doubts about this pairing, I thought that Joel deserved better!

Little did I know…

I loved Camille’s character growth, I didn’t understand her motives from the beginning but as the story developed it all started making sense. She was trying to find her own path and accept who she was after finding out the difficult truth about her family. And she succeeded. Towards the end I admired her and was rooting for her.

Joel on the other hand turned out to be a dick and guess what, Camille deserved better! I didn’t mind that he had had a crush on Anna because who wouldn’t and also that was before he met Camille. But that effin mistress! That was so show more unnecessary and lasted way too long show less

This was amazing and what a journey for Camille. I haven’t been reading this series in order so started with the later ones and knew Camille was happy, but when I finally read the first book she seemed pretty irredeemable. I loved reading about her new life and really figuring herself out. Joel had quite a journey too, and I truly adored their HEA. Mary Balogh is going on my faves list right now.

For some reason, this one was a little harder to get into than the first book in the series. I like the characters, I like the story arc, it just took a while to get into. Also, for all that Camille is celebrating her freedom as a single, independent woman, I feel like her casual willingness to go to Joel's rooms is a pretty scandalous choice for the time period.

Well, I'm a little concerned. I quite enjoyed the Bedwyn Saga, and then the Simply Quartet a bit less, but still overall quite good. And now I'm two books into this series and haven't really enjoyed either one very much. Usually writers improve as they go and we have a book history together and I like each later series more than the ones before. But this is going in reverse! I hope this is just a two book trend, or at least that it's specific to this particular series and I'll love the next one. I really hate to lose any author I enjoy!
I tend to like side characters decently when they're introduced, but then appreciate them more when they later star in their own book, but, though I suppose I do like the heroine more in this book (only show more because she was absolutely horrid in the first one!), I actually had liked the hero more in his side role as friend in the first book than I did here. During their first time together I sat aghast thinking 'do you care *nothing* for her??' I don't expect to see a 'slam-bam-thank you ma'm' from the hero in a **romance**! lol. And maybe end your two year hookup relationship *before* casually deflowering someone new? Just a thought! And as with the first book, the entire romance seemed sort of wishy-washy. It's fine if they have to grow on each other a bit of course, but surely by 3/4 in they should at least admit their feelings to themselves! Not be questioning 'do I have feelings for this person?? Should I do anything about it? Maybe at least mention something about my feelings to the other person? Meh!'. And, like the first book, all events were super convenient! The very first time they mentioned he had no idea of his parentage I knew he would inherit a fortune. What are the chances that the only two adult orphans we know in the series each inherit huge fortunes you ask? Gee! That's a good question! Just don't think about it! And, like a dolt he tosses the offer of the fortune back in their face of course 'he has his dignity!' (ignore the fact that he's lived off their dime from birth to adulthood, as well as being put through art school, all without batting an eye.), but, don't worry, he won't suffer any consequences for that action or anything! It'll be forced on him even against his will. Magically good fortune finds them at every turn, no character growth required! Nothing really keeps these two from having a relationship, no great hurdle to challenge their true feelings and ultimately overcome. They pretty much just drag their feet through hundreds of pages. =/ One small good thing- I did like that they adopt! show less

Lady Camille Wescott has an upheaval in her life. Turns out her father had a first wife and a daughter from that marriage that means she and her siblings have been disinherited. Struggling to make sense of a world that has turned upside-down, she takes a job teaching at the orphanage where her half-sister was raised, partly as an attempt to understand the life that sister lived and partly to be independent.
A volunteer teacher at the school who was raised there and an upcoming portrait painter, Joel Cunningham dislikes the new teacher on sight. He was best friends with her half-sister, and it doesn't help that Camille is stiff-necked and hostile to the people in her new world.
Unlike many other reviewers, I liked Camille. I could show more understand some of her hauteur and standoffishness as well as her pride and embarrassment of her lowered station. Perhaps it's because I didn't read the first book in the series where she first makes an appearance (I can't believe I missed a Balogh release), but I liked that she was a different kind of heroine, and Joel is certainly a different kind of hero. He makes an embarrassing amount of gaffes though I thought they were also very realistic. It contrasts nicely with the bland engagement Camille had with a Viscount before her downfall.
Though this is a stand-alone book, my one complaint is that it seemed to cover the storyline of the previous book pretty thoroughly. I'm not sure I'll go back to read that one though the hero is intriguing. I am, however, really looking forward to the next book in the series. show less