The Ideal Wife

This is one of my favorites by Mary Balogh. It is "Cinderella"-ish in its fairy-tale plot and happy ending, but if you love that kind of stuff, you'll love this book.

She is Abigail Gardiner, the companion to Mrs. Gill. Mrs. Gill has a cit of a husband with roving hands, especially when it comes to the young governess in hishouse, Abigail's friend. After telling off Mr. Gill, Mrs. Gill turns off Abigail with only a week to find another position.

Desperate, she screws up her courage and goes to see the Earl of Severn, her very distantly related cousin, for a letter of recommendation so that she can find another place of employment. Determined to still her talkative tongue, blunt speech and managing ways, she succeeds so well that the Earl is convinced that she is the plain, quiet brown mouse she appears to be.

The Earl is besieged by managing females--namely his mother and sisters--who are descending upon him in a week in order to encourage him to formally betroth himself to another sweet, very beautiful, equally managing girl.

In a fit of pique he declares he'd rather marry a plain mouse who will NOT manage his life rather than submit to his persuasive mother. Being faced with his impulsive wish in Abigail's visit, he also impulsively decides to marry her...and two days later finds his wife is not what she seemed.

He, however, has never laughed so much in all his thirty years of his life, and is amused and falling in love with his unconventional, warm and friendly and EXTREMELY talkative new wife.

But Abigail is beset by doubts an terrible fears. She never seems to be able to get up the courage to tell him all about her past and scandalous family...until it comes back into her new life to rear its ugly head and destroy her new-found happiness...

This is a quick read and a delightful story. Abigail is entirely endearing in her talkativeness and kind heart. The Earl is the epitomy of a perfect husband--kind, patient, amused and willing to admit when he is wrong, but still slightly confused on the ways of women. Their story is satisfying and sweet.

Players in this book are also featured in other of Mary Balogh's books, namely one of the Earl of Severn's friends, who features in his own book, "A Precious Jewel."

I came across the hardcover edition of this title while doing an online catalog search at my local library. I am a huge Mary Balogh fan--although it's very difficult getting a hold of her older books. I've faithfully read my way through the entire Slightly and Simply series (yes, including A Summer to Remember). I totally loved The Secret Pearl; I even bought a collector's copy of the 1st edition original Signet paperback. When I read the Ideal Wife, I had high expectations. I was very disappointed, and even wondered if it was truly written by the same author.

I admit, though, that this is the very first Signet Regency I've read. Maybe the plots of these shorter stories are supposed to be less intense, less heart-wrenching. In The Ideal Wife, the hero is looking for a "nice, quiet & demure" (or plain/dull/very ordinary) wife just to escape his family's marriage plans for him. Enter the heroine, Abby, a very distant relation, if at all, to ask for assistance in seeking employment, and just like that, he proposes. To a virtual stranger.

I could not find anything to like about Abby. She seems like a shallow gold-digger, who accepts a stranger's proposal just to escape destitution and supposedly to help out her family (she wants custody of her 2 younger stepsisters and also wants to pay off the family debts). Her extremely talkative nature seems forced and unnatural--a bit like Christine from Slightly Dangerous. I totally missed the reason why Miles fell inlove with her, and vice versa. There was zero chemistry between them, sexual or otherwise. Where was the initial, intense connection that is almost a trademark of Mary Balogh stories?

The secondary characters were no help either. A scheming stepmother, a proud and independent brother (Boris) who falls for Abby's best friend, even the hero's lovesick best buddy (Sir Gerald)...the whole lot of them were quite unimpressive. When Abby learned of the real reason Miles married her, she pouted and sulked and acted cold towards him in bed and out, then cut her hair the next day. And what about her own deep dark secret? I don't think it made me like her any better. It was a struggle having to finish the entire book. I'm glad I didn't go out and buy a ridiculously overpriced copy.

I'd rather search out the author's other books...I'm confident I will find more worthwhile titles. She is still one of my all-time favorite...I know romance authors cannot possibly come out with winners all the time!

Mary Balogh is a prolific writer whose most recent series, the "Slightly" series, are very popular. However, some of her older books are a treasure - if you can find them - and this is one of them.

Strangely, the flyleaf for the hardback edition of this book had the heading "The Ideal Wife" and then gave blurb about a different book, Balogh's "The Secret Pearl", so the story of this book was entirely unknown to me when starting it.

The Earl of Severn has to get married (a common theme in Balogh's books) and there is a very beautiful woman who his family think will do admirably. In fact, everyone thinks this woman would make him the ideal wife - but he can't face it. He says, jokingly, to a friend that he wants to marry a quiet, dull, plain woman who will bear him an heir and live retired at his country estate. He comes home to find an indigent relative waiting for him in his house with a request that he write her a letter of recommendation so that she can find a job. He offers her a job - the position of wife - as she is the solution to his problems. Two days later they are married.

As the book progresses the Earl discovers that his wife isn't exactly the person he thought she was. She isn't quiet (she's talkative, friendly, impulsive) and she isn't the type to live retired - she seems to be managing his life. However he also finds he rather likes this. But Abigail finds that some of her deep dark secrets are slipping out, some of the embarrassing skeletons in her family closets are turning up at dances and demanding blackmail money... can she manage to pay them off without her husband knowing and wanting to divorce her.

Despite the sometimes serious subject matter of this book it's light, an easy read and there is a very sweet romance. The hero is rather marvellous and Abigail is endearing in her clumsy attempts to sort her own life out. It's a book to read and enjoy.

UPDATED REVIEW FOLLOW RE-ISSUE IN 2008

"The Ideal Wife" was first published in 1991 and the new edition, published in 2008, is very welcome as this is an enjoyable romance with an appealing hero. The story is paired with "A Precious Jewel", another wonderfully touching tale, although they can both be read on their own. In this story we follow Miles Ripley, Lord Severn, as he attempts to avoid a bride chosen for him by his mother. This is a common theme in Mary Balogh's books but in this one, rather than having a 'fake' engagement as in "A Summer To Remember" or "Slightly Scandalous", Severn decides to actually marry someone else. He knows he has to get married and thinks that a quiet, mousy wife would be ideal - he can get her with child and then deposit her at his country seat without too much bother. When a distant relative arrives at his door asking for a reference for a job he instead offers her a job - as his wife.

Abigail Gardiner isn't exactly what she seems, however. She prepared for her meeting with the Earl of Severn, who she presumed was a doddery old man, by trying to look nondescript and by behaving demurely and quietly. Once they are married she finds it impossible to hold back her natural liveliness, talkativeness and impetuosity. Abby is worried that Severn will be disappointed in her - she knows he must have reasons for marrying her but when she discovers them, and when she fears that secrets from her past might cause him to dislike her, she fears that he will find her too much trouble. Can they come to understand each other? Can Abby sort out her brother's happiness as well as her own? Can she really be success as a Countess?

Mary Balogh is one of the outstanding writers of Regencies today and this book is very successful. There is perhaps less character depth than in some of her more recent works, the Earl of Severn was about perfect as a hero (which is rather unrealistic!), and I was occasionally irritated by Abby's obtuseness and propensity to lie to get out of trouble rather than trusting Miles, but it was good to read a 'rags to riches' story and Abby's warmhearted and generous nature was charmingly written. There are some scenes shared with "A Precious Jewel" and it is interesting to read Miles's take on the events taking place between Sir Gerald Stapleton and Prissy, with Sir Gerald coming across as rather less simpleminded in this book than in his own.

Those who love Mary Balogh's books and who have been unable to find a copy of this previously will be pleased that it has been re-released and will not be disappointed. Unlike many Regency authors whose older books have been republished, Mary Balogh's stories still read well and don't seem outdated. This is an excellent read and stands out among many similar books in this genre.

Originally published for Curled Up With A Good Book © Helen Hancox 2008