Always Remember: Ben's Story by Mary Balogh
Tracy's rating: 4 of 5 stars
Series: Ravenswood, #3
Release Date: January 16, 2024
Ben Ellis is the illegitimate son of the late Earl of Stratton and his mistress, but when his mother died, the Earl brought Ben to Ravenswood and raised him with his other children. Ben was accepted into the family and even called the Earl's Countess mother, but despite the love they gave him, he never felt like he quite fit in. So when he returned from the peninsular Wars, widowed and with a young daughter, he decided not to live at Ravenswood Hall and bought his own home, Penallen. And now he has finished renovating his home, he has decided that it is time to find a wife. He has three perfectly acceptable ladies in mind, all of whom would suit him and would be a good stepmother to his young daughter Joy, but for some reason, his usual decisiveness has eluded him and he just can't seem to decide which woman to pursue. Adding to this dilemma is the letter he receives from a man he has never met which offers some unexpected news that will require Ben to decide whether he wants to learn more, or if he should just ignore it. Bothered by his sudden inability to make a decision, he decides to put off these decisions until he returns from the fete at Ravenswood. This will be the first fete since that awful day eight years ago when he learned that his father, the late Earl of Stratton was not the man Ben always believed him to be, causing Ben to leave Ravenswood with his brother Devlin, and not return for six long years. Once at Ravenswood, he once again feels out of place and out of sorts, but a chance encounter with Lady Jennifer gives him a purpose, and soon the two form an unlikely friendship, one that quickly escalates to something more…and something impossible.
Lady Jennifer Arden, the sister of Lucas, the Duke of Wilby, is at Ravenswood for the fete too. Though they are in mourning, Lucas' wife, Philippa, is part of the Ware family, giving them leave to attend the gathering. Jennifer is delighted to be at Ravenswood and to spend time with the Ware family, but seeing everyone with their families is a stark reminder to her of what she will never have. Jennifer was left crippled by a childhood fever and is confined to a wheelchair, but that doesn't stop her from trying to walk, and with the aid of crutches, she is somewhat successful. It is during one of these attempts that she meets Ben, well they have seen each other before, but they have never interacted, due mainly to their uncomfortable awareness of each other's perceived deficiencies, his illegitimacy and her physical limitations. They both feel awkward, but they share a meaningful conversation that leads Ben to try and help her move beyond her current limitations, she in turn offers him suggestions on how to handle his letter. Their friendship is frowned upon by their friends and families, but they can't seem to let it go and when feelings grow deeper, it seems likely that hearts will be left broken. But even the threat of a broken heart isn't enough to keep them apart or from wishing things could be different.
As usual, Mary Balogh delivers a well-written story of imperfect people finding their perfect someone. This book is what my mother calls a "gentle read", meaning it isn't overly dramatic, it isn't filled with angst, it is not overly passionate yet is it not devoid of these elements, they just don't overwhelm you. This story is a sort of opposites attract / class difference / best friend's brother, all rolled into one touching love story. It is a sweet romance filled with wonderful characters, revelations, warm love scenes, lots of secondary characters, loving family members, acceptance, cute children, a bit of humor, a dash of heartache, and finally a HEA that didn't seem possible until it was. I liked this story and would happily recommend it to my fellow HR readers, but in all honestly, I did feel that at times Ben and Jennifer's romance got overshadowed by all the other things/characters in the book – there are A LOT of characters in this book and a lot going on, most of which is not related to their romance, causing the story to seemingly wander off the road to HEA. This is the third book in the series, but it could easily be read as a standalone title. I finished the book delighted for Ben, Jennifer, and Joy and looking forward to the next installment.
4 stars
*I am voluntarily leaving a review for an eARC that I requested and was provided to me by the publisher. All opinions in this review are my own.*
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