Someone to Cherish

Written by Mary Balogh

Narrated by Rosalyn Landor

Is love worth the loss of one's freedom and independence? This is what Mrs. Tavernor must decide in the new novel in the Westcott series from New York Times bestselling author Mary Balogh.

When Harry Westcott lost the title Earl of Riverdale after the discovery of his father's bigamy, he shipped off to fight in the Napoleonic Wars, where he was near-fatally wounded. After a harrowing recovery, the once cheery, light-hearted boy has become a reclusive, somber man. Though Harry insists he enjoys the solitude, he does wonder sometimes if he is lonely.

Lydia Tavernor, recently widowed, dreams of taking a lover. Her marriage to Reverend Isaiah Tavernor was one of service and obedience, and she has secretly enjoyed her freedom since his death. She doesn't want to shackle herself to another man in marriage, but sometimes, she wonders if she is lonely.

Both are unwilling to face the truth until they find themselves alone together one night, and Lydia surprises even herself with a simple question: "Are you ever lonely?" Harry's answer leads them down a path neither could ever have imagined...

• Language: English
• Publisher: Recorded Books, Inc.
• Release date: Jun 29, 2021
• ISBN: 9781980006770

Mary Balogh

New York Times bestselling, multi-award-winning author Mary Balogh grew up in Wales, land of sea and mountains, song and legend. She brought music and a vivid imagination with her when she came to Canada to teach. There she began a second career as a writer of books that always end happily and always celebrate the power of love.

Reviews for Someone to Cherish

[jennybeast · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

I'm a big fan of the Westcotts, so I'm glad to hear Harry's story, at last. Hard to tell from this book whether this will be the last in the series, or if we will hear from some of the other adult characters who have married in to the larger Westcott clan. I admit there were moments when I was having a hard time keeping track of everyone, but it was also nice to see them all back in one place. One thing I found hard to believe -- Lydia living without even a housemaid to wash up in the kitchen, for one, as that would have been de rigeur for her class and income level at the time; also cooking/cleaning/laundry by oneself was hard graft without running water. Not that she couldn't do it, but that there was an awful lot of noodling about in the kitchen making ginger biscuits and playing with the dog in the garden... who cares, anyway, the romance was good, the Westcotts are great fun, the characters continue to delight.

advanced readers copy provided by edelweiss

[gpangel_1 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

Someone to Cherish by Mary Balogh is a 2021 Berkley publication. This eighth installment in the Wescott series is centered around Harry, the man who lost his title, his inheritance and social standing all in one felled swoop when it came to light, after his father’s death, that he and his sisters were born illegitimately. From there, he nearly lost his life in the Napoleonic Wars.Now, nearing the age of thirty, he finds himself living a very secluded, but contented life. Lately, though, he has become a bit restless,. Though he would flatly deny that his eminent birthday has him thinking about finding a woman to spend his life with. Lydia Tavernor, recently widowed, has discovered a new lease on life. Once married to a reverend, she was expected to live a life of service. Now, she has found a refreshing feeling of independence, and has no plans to ever marry again. Instead, she dreams of having a lover, and Harry Wescott has crossed her mind as a possible prospect…Another lovely story from Mary Balogh! Harry’s story comes late in the series, but it was definitely worth waiting for. Though I must say, that while Harry is one of the main characters the series is based around, it is Lydia’s story that takes center stage here. Harry has endured much in the past, but at this point it seems he is more amenable to looking for a wife than he led on, so his role is more of a supportive one here, while Lydia struggles with social appearances, her forceful brothers, and her developing feelings for Harry. Overall, the story moved just a tiny bit too slowly at times, but of course, as always, Mary Balogh brings together two wonderful, well- deserving characters who find ‘someone to cherish’, to trust, and to love…I enjoyed the reminiscences in the final chapters and felt this was most likely the series’ swan song… but I am happy to see that there is at least one more installment to enjoy! Yay! 4 stars

[spinsterrevival · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

It took me a bit to get into this, but it was likely my own life stuff rather than the book itself. I loved the whole concept of trust here and how Lydia dealt with it. When the love really hit Harry and Lydia, it worked perfectly. Also was great to see all the other couples and the massively growing Westcott clan gathering.

[phyllis2779 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

Enjoyable installment in the "Someone to..." series. Two mature people, both lonely come together for a night and find something more than they hoped for. I almost always like Balogh's books and this one is very sweet without being saccharine. Both characters are damage in different ways and have found a means to heal themselves but that was not enough. They also need to find someone to love them.

[eyes92c · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

Village opinions and romance!Major Harry Westcott was once the Earl of Riverdale until he and his family fell apart when they discovered their father had in fact married their mother bigamously. That left Harry and his sisters as illegitimate offspring. Imagine the shock and distress. Harry was no longer the Earl, no longer able to support his mother and sisters. Their place in society was gone. The life they knew was in tatters. Stripped of title, lands and funds this was the Great Disaster. Previous novels in the series give us the background to events up to now.Harry, anguished and lost, joined the army, off to the Peninsula to fight Bonaparte. Thanks to Avery Archer the Duke of Netherby—his guardian, and his half sister Anna’s husband, he didn’t end up taking the king’s shilling. Avery purchased a commission for him with the same regiment he’d signed up for.After fighting his way across the continent, Harry was badly wounded at Waterloo. He eventually came back to England, a wreck suffering from the memories of all he’d seen and endured. He now lives on one of Anna’s properties and his former childhood home—Hinsford Manor in Hampshire.Within the village of Hinsford lives a widow, Lydia Tavernor, wife and ‘helpmeet’ of the former dedicated and charismatic vicar. A young woman who throughout her time has been overwhelmed by the men in her life. Lydia shocked her brothers and father by refusing to move home with them. Instead she bought a small house in the village at the end of Harry’s driveway. The two meet at a local dinner. The innocent action of Harry escorting the seemingly bland Lydia home leads to a situation!Lydia is rather a fascinating woman hiding who she really is in plain sight. Still waters run deep!Meanwhile the Westcott women have decided that Harry needs a wife and are planning to bring him to London to celebrate his thirtieth birthday and introduce him to potential partners. And if Harry doesn’t come to London they have a Plan B.Harry’s mother just wants him to find someone he can ‘cherish.’A gentle story that takes two people with secrets and ghosts and gives them another chance, albeit it in a rather unusual way.A Berkley Group ARC via NetGalley

[n.w.moors-1 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

I'm not sure if this is the end of the Wescott series (there are a few more outlying family members), but it's the end of the nuclear family with Harry's story. Harry was the heir who was dispossessed of title, wealth, and made illegitimate when news of his father's bigamy was disclosed. He enlisted and fought against the French, culminating in the battle of Waterloo. Since then he's been contentedly recuperating at the small estate where he grew up. Also in the village is Lydia, the widow of the last vicar, who was a meek mouse of a woman during her husband's lifetime. Now she decides to dream a little, and Harry is the object of her dreams.It's a typical Balogh story, filled with slow-burning romance and lots of family. It takes Harry and Lydia a while to acknowledge their attraction which I really like. No jumping into lust and insta-love for these two. Lydia is feisty, but it's something she had to grow into. And Harry finally grows up, realizing with his heart as well as his brain that the Great Disaster wasn't Anna or Alex's fault. It's a very enjoyable read, though it helps to read the rest of the series first in order to keep track of various family members.