Simply Unforgettable

The Simply Quartet, Book 1

By: Mary Balogh

Narrated by: Rosalyn Landor

Length: 11 hrs and 22 mins

Publisher's summary

They meet in a ferocious snowstorm. She is a young teacher with a secret past. He is the cool, black-caped stranger who unexpectedly comes to her rescue. Between these two unlikely strangers, desire is instantaneous...and utterly impossible to resist.

Stranded together in a rustic country inn, Lucius Marshall, who is the Viscount Sinclair, and Frances Allard share a night of glorious, unforgettable passion. But Frances knows her place, and it is far from the privileged world of the sensual aristocrat. Due to begin her teaching position at Miss Martin's School in Bath, Frances must try to forget that one extraordinary night - and the man who touched her with such exquisite tenderness and abandon.

But Frances cannot hide forever. And when fate once again throws them together, Lucius refuses to take no for an answer. If Frances will not be his wife, he will make her his mistress. So begins an odyssey fraught with intrigue, one that defies propriety and shocks the straitlaced ton. For Lucius's passionate, single-minded pursuit is about to force Frances to give up all her secrets - except one - to win the heart of the man she already loves.

Contains mature themes.

©2005 Mary Balogh (P)2016 Tantor

Unlikeable heroine

This story was just ok for me. I wasn’t able to relate to the heroine. She just kept rejecting our hero and when her “secret” was finally revealed it was anti climatic. I just wanted the hero to give up and look for someone that appreciates him. I never truly felt good with this story, it was more frustrating than anything. The narration was amazing as Ms. Landor always delivers impecable work with her voice and adding emotions to the story. I’m pretty sure she’s the reason I was able to finish the story.

a litte drawn out

This is one of my favorite authors, and I absolutely love this narrator. She can make any book worth listening to. I did like the story, just didn't love the heroine as much as the hero. She kind of got on my nerves after a while. For all the lead up to why she couldn't go back to London, the reason was kind of lame I thought. Did enjoy many of the secondary characters. Anyway, I want to listen to the series and I hope the others are a little better.

A memorable heroine!

The love story of Frances and Lucius begins in an unusual way, and in fact I have never read (or listened to) a romance novel beginning with such an entertaining meeting followed by an eventful few days in a run-down abandoned inn. The heroine, Frances, develops over the course of the novel, and she is an unusually interesting character with many talents and not a few flaws. Our hero is somewhat less interesting (the classic aristocratic male accustomed to getting his own way) but his dogged devotion is pretty admirable. I liked the supporting characters quite a bit, especially Lucius' younger sister Amy, and Frances' doting great-aunts. The narration is just perfection.

Good story but I hoped... spoiler

I hoped that the Earl would just leave her snooty behind flat and pregnant. Lol. I usually like the heroines but Francis got on my last nerve being pissed because the Earl wanted to marry her. Girl, please.

Drawn out

This wasn’t my favorite book by the author. The story was very drawn out and I never fully understood the heroine’s argumentation for rejecting the hero again and again. After so much build up I expected more of her “scandalous” past.
The narrator is amazing as always!

Lively romance with an aggravating heroine.

Francis Allard is a head strong know-it-all school teacher that refuses to see hope and a wonderful future in what would otherwise be categorized as an unlikely romance when it is all but handed to her.

Started off really well then.......

This story was going so well then went downhill. I started losing interest after the second proposal. I kept thinking 'what ?? He proposed she said no how many times???? Her secret was annoying me and she was annoying me. The only reason I finished this was because it was so well narrated.

Lovely story with annoying female lead

I love Mary Balogh her stories. This is a new series for me to start. I loved it. The female lead was very annoying and even though I understood her I still hated the problems she created for herself by being dishonest with the man she loved.

story Line to Drawn Out

The story line was so drawn out. This book was really only about five chapters in new content. The other content was so repetitive, that it was a shame.

Dragged on and on

This story could & should have been told in half the time. It was painfully drawn out to the point of being excruciating!

He wants his cake and eat it.

He wants her, so purposely seduces her, then has a temper tantrum because she is not overwhelmed and walks away.
She turns down his offer to become his mistress, and returns to her life.
His ego can't deal with, so looks for reasons to find fault in her. Acussing her of cowardice, being a lier, running away from her passions and not knowing her own mind (since it doesn't agree with his). All to get her to admit that he is a "man no woman can resist". He explains that he is impulsive, doesn't think things through, but goes with the flow. He acknowledges his future wife is lined up, he is not yet engaged. So is still free to pursue others, a theme of this author.
He continues to manipulate her to get her into the pattern he feels appropriate and what he wants. His life is what counts, he is the important one, he always gets what he wants.
Her excuse to tolerating this behaviour and subject herself to continual pain is that she loves him. She is continually questioning why she allowes him to manipulate her. He forces her to face what she has run away from. Finally he blames fate, then offers marriage and she agrees.
Quite irritating to listen to, so kept fast forwarding.

Excellent

Wonderful story line and naration could not have been better. Would higher recurmend this story.

narrator

Excellent narrator. Fantasticly formulating different characters. Always easy to follow and is reading in a way that it is also for people who have English as foreign language it is understandable. Interesting story that kept attention and was difficult not to listen all night until it finished.

Well thought out

I was drawn to all the main characters, and couldn't stop listening! Rosalyn Landor never disappoints!

Misses the mark

Normally love Mary Balogh but this one lacked her usual flair. The male protagonist was deeply unlikeable and didn't really undergo enough character development to justify the heroine settling for him. Not even the mellifluous narration of Rosalyn Landor could save this book. if you've not read Mary Balogh before I don't recommend starting this one, she's written lots of great books just sadly this isn't one of them.

Love it!

Mary Balogh does it again. Such rich characters and unusual plot. Can’t wait to start the next book.

Fantastic. I loved the suspense of the story, even though I guessed the end.

I love listening to any book that Rosalyn Landor is the narrator. Looking forward to my next story.

Not my cuppa tea

Struggled to see this book to the end. Can’t make my mind up if was the narrator or author who put me off. Just very repetitive