Simply Unforgettable

Written by Mary Balogh

Narrated by Rosalyn Landor

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.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Tantor Media, Inc
• Release date: Jun 7, 2016
• ISBN: 9781515976653

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 Simply Unforgettable

[mariahsidhe · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

I can't help but love the way Mary Balogh writes. Her words draw me in and hold on tight. They're full of fire and wit - and in this case a heavy dose of fate. In any case these two brought together by the snowstorm act like fire and ice, sparking and spitting mad when they clash together - the fire all-consuming in its wake, steam forms in luscious swirls of quarreling and self delusionment but ultimately forming the one thing no person can live without. Air. Be it warm and humid it all turned out amazingly well in the end. And I have to say that while Frances' problems are rather alarming, the one she decides in the end being the worst possible is rather overstated and I feel bad she ever thought what she does about it. I know in their society it was frowned upon but the fact remains that many of the ton are in the same boat she's riding in - so what was the need of being so worked up over it?

[wealhtheowwylfing · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

After her father's death Frances Allard found a position in a girls' school and has been teaching there every since. When her carriage is overturned by a fashionable gentleman and a snowstorm forces them into a deserted inn together, her contented, peaceful life is upended as well. They fall in love, but Lucius seems changeable Frances does not want to give up her career for a man who will probably forget about her within the year. Chance throws them together again, however, and this time Lucius fights harder (and smarter) to convince Frances that marrying him would be safe and even wonderful.

This book puts effort into showing the characters' personalities and goals, and actually shows them fall in love. Too, there are real impediments to their match that can't just be swept away by love, but instead must be worked through. I quite liked it!

[Kayla Wingfield · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

Heroine is really tedious at times and annoying in that she does not open her GROWN mouth and simply tell the male lead what happened and why she cannot go back to London and why she cannot marry him. Like, why do you have so many secrets? I still overall enjoyed the story.

[NandiniGupta · Rating: 1 out of 5 stars]

Audiobook missing many chapters jumps around - really bad quality

[curlupandread · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

Frances Allard and Lucius Marshall meet during a snowstorm. She is a teacher with a secret past. He is the cool stranger who comes to her rescue. This book starts out kind of slow but then it picks up. Frances Allard was a great Heroine, with exuberance and strong determination. As for Lucius Marshall, I thought he was a little overbearing at times. Overall this was a pretty good read.

[jorgeousjotts · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

I quite enjoyed it. There were several instances where the hero threatened to throttle the heroine which I could have done without!... but over all it was a fun one.

[spinsterrevival · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Loved this, and I really enjoyed their story of falling in love then the many happenings to actually be together. I look forward to seeing Frances and Lucius again to get more of a glimpse at their HEA, and as usual I’m always so grateful to have so many more Balogh’s to read.

[tjsjohanna_1 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

Frances has achieved a measure of hard-won independence, but an impulsive decision has put her in the orbit of a man who can't seem to let her go. In the tradition of many romance novels, it is the relentlessness of Lucius that frees Frances from the secrets she has. It's a curious message - more independence through following her heart in love.

[mom2lnb · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Simply Unforgettable is the first book in Mary Balogh's Simply Quartet, which follows four teachers at Miss Martin's School for Girls in Bath. I didn't realize until I'd already started reading it that this series is essentially a spin-off of her Bedwyn Family Saga, which I probably should have read first. I didn't have any trouble following Simply Unforgettable, but I have a strong feeling that Miss Martin herself was likely introduced in the Bedwyn books and there may have been some other common characters as well of which I'm unaware. According to Mary Balogh's website, the heroes of the remaining three Simply books were all introduced in the Bedwyn Prequels, so I'll definitely go back and read those first before continuing on with the Simply Quartet. As I mentioned though, Simply Unforgettable stood quite well on its own, and there was no indication that the hero or heroine had been previously introduced.The first teacher in this series to find her HEA is Frances. She had an Italian mother and emigrated to England with her French aristocrat father, following her mother's death, when she was only a babe. Frances is an extremely talented singer and works at the school, teaching music and French. After spending her Christmas break with her two elderly great-aunts, she's returning to the school in their carriage when a nasty snowstorm hits. After being passed by another carriage that in her estimation is driving rather recklessly, her own carriage slides off the road. She is rescued by none other than the passenger of the other carriage, to whom she promptly gives a piece of her mind. Needing to get in out of the snow and with nowhere else to take shelter, they end up at a country inn all by themselves and thus begins an epic love affair. Once she gets past her initial ire at her savior, Frances finds herself irresistibly attracted to him and very much enjoys the time she spends with him at the cozy little inn, which includes an unforgettable night of passion. In her mind, due to scandalous complications from her past, there can never be anything more between them, especially after she finds out he's an aristocrat and not the mere gentleman she took him for at first. Lucius offered to take Frances with him to London but with no real plan as to what she would be to him. At this point, I admired Frances for respecting herself enough to not become Lucius' mistress, even though I don't know if I could have done the same with the feelings between them being so intense. She also didn't handle the situation quite as graciously as she probably could have, leaving poor Lucius a tad demoralized, but I understood that she wanted to leave no question in his mind that those few days were all they could ever share. As things progressed though, and fate brought them back together, making Lucius press his suit more determinedly, I have to admit that Frances' stubbornness became just a little frustrating. When she turned down his first marriage proposal, I understood that it was because she felt it was made in an impulsive moment and that he wasn't truly in love with her, but as he kept coming back time and time again, I couldn't help wondering what could be so bad in her past that she wouldn't even entertain the mere notion of a deeper relationship with him. However, I can't deny that the constant back and forth and will-they-or-won't-they vibe definitely kept me on the edge of my seat wondering how they were ever going to work things out. I'll also admit that when the truth finally came out, Frances' misgivings did make perfect sense, so I was able to forgive her frustrating behavior. It was also abundantly clear that she loved Lucius, and at least in part, was doing it to protect him (as well as her aunts) from potential scandal.Lucius is a prince among men. He's been living the carefree life of a bachelor, with no immediate plans to settle down anytime soon, but that all changed for him over his Christmas holiday. He found out his grandfather's heart is failing, and with him being the heir to the earldom, he made his grandfather a promise to marry before he passes away. After spending those couple of magical days with Frances at the inn, he wants more than anything to continue their time together. Lucius could be so cute and funny. It was hilarious when he got miffed that Frances called their romantic interlude and love-making "pleasant." After that put-down and her subsequent refusal to see him again, he thinks he can brush her off as just another conquest, but for the next few months, he simply can't seem to forget her. When fate conspires to bring them back together, he takes the ball and runs with it. I absolutely adored Lucius for his persistence and determination to win Frances no matter what he had to do. Once he realizes she's the one he wants, he absolutely won't take no for an answer. Of course, she turns him down repeatedly with her mouth, but her body language always tells him something different, which makes him resolved to get to the bottom of her reservations. I also loved that when Lucius realizes the great talent Frances has, he's hell-bent on giving her the singing career she deserves, even if it doesn't lead to rekindling their romance. I just can't give Lucius enough props for keeping his eyes on the prize and never giving up in the face of seemingly impossible odds.I also have to give the author props for making me completely buy into this couple's love for one another. Lucius and Frances basically have a case of love at (almost) first sight. This usually isn't one of my favorite romance tropes, because most authors fail to make me feel that connection and to fully understand why they love one another in such a short time span. Not so here. Lucius and Frances begin by sharing some utterly witty bantering, which amused me greatly. I also enjoyed how joyous and playful they were – almost like children – when they really let themselves go and feel the moment, simply basking in each other's companionship. Their attraction is readily apparent, but goes beyond the physical. It's entirely possible their relationship might have continued without interruption if Lucius had been a mere gentleman instead of a titled aristocrat. I love how they both pine for each other throughout their three month separation, even though they both stubbornly try to deny it. At this point, their obstinacy was quite amusing, because it's so completely apparent how perfect they are for one another. They're simply trying too hard to deny it, a definite case of methinks they doth protest too much. Even when Frances became a bit too stubborn about it, I could still tell that some part of her wanted to give in, but because of the past she felt she couldn't. When Lucius kept coming back over and over and finally decimated her every qualm, Frances just couldn't say no anymore, and it was a wonderful moment that left me with a sigh of happiness.Simply Unforgettable has a great supporting cast as well. Lucius' family are all wonderful and supportive of him, even though he's kind of been avoiding them for a while. His grandfather and his youngest sister, Amy, were my particular favorites, because his grandfather was wise and understanding, while Amy's enthusiasm was infectious. Portia, the woman Lucius has known since childhood and is considering as his bride, proves exactly why being “perfect” is not a desirable trait. Then there are the other three teachers from the school who are also Frances' best friends. Claudia (aka Miss Martin) is a kind woman, but one who comports herself in a very proper manner that makes me eager for her to find a hero who will ruffle her feathers a bit. Susanna, the youngest of the group, was one of the charity girls who was previously a student but stayed on after graduating to teach. She dreams of marrying a duke, so I'll be looking forward to seeing if she realizes that dream. Last but not least is Anne, who as the mother of a young son who lives with her at the school, seems to have some intriguing secrets of her own that need to be uncovered, and I can't wait to see what they are. She's the heroine of the next book of the series, Simply Love. Simply Unforgettable is a very aptly titled book. Not only were Lucius and Frances simply unforgettable to one another, but their story is one I won't soon be forgetting either. It was a little more lighthearted than the previous two books I read by Mary Balogh, but certainly no less appealing. Ms. Balogh really has a way with expressing emotion that makes the reader connect with her characters and understand what they're thinking and feeling. Simply Unforgettable struck the perfect balance between touching and funny. I loved every minute I spent reading it and was always excited to get back to it when I had to lay it aside. It has earned this incredibly talented writer a spot on my favorite authors list, and I can't wait to read more of her books in the future.

[mschweer432 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

I hadn't ever read Mary Balogh before. This book was in the clearance section of a local used book store. So I figured, for $1, why not try it out?? It was good! I enjoyed the story line. The characters were fun and I could really feel the tension between Frances and Lucius. When I read historical romances, I have to ignore some of the issues that I find unbelievable. This book was no exception. Unvelievable scenarios aside, this was a very good book!

[camxso_1 · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

I often read paranormal romance, but this weekend I thought I would try something a little different. I am most delighted to say that I throughly enjoyed Mary Balogh's masterpiece and intend on reading the rest of her books in this series. Nothing says love like a man, Lucious Marshall, saying that her love, Frances Allard, is Simply Unforgettable. And it will be a very long time before I forget what a wonderful love story was told. 5 stars.

[wyvernfriend · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

Quite a lot of fun this is a story of a teacher with a past and a vicount who are thrown together and find themselves very attracted but the problem is their status in life. He's not willing to give her up and she's not willing to be a mistress!She's a teacher and a fine singer. There were some moments though where I had to wonder about the historical accuracy of some of the attitudes and that broke the reading spell for me.Pretty predictable but I enjoyed the ride. Almost a 4* read for me but not quite.

[lrobe190 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

En route to Bath, England, to teach at Miss Martin's School for Girls, Frances Allard seeks refuge from a snowstorm at a nearby inn and finds unexpected passion with Lucius Marshall, unaware that Lucius is the heir to the Earl of Edgecombe.This is the first installment in a series featuring teachers at Miss Martin's School for Girls. Mary Balogh is one of the best authors in the Regency genre and this is a case in point.

[anniik_1 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

This is the first in the new "Simply" Quartet, and it is a good beginning. While this book is not quite as good as others that Balogh has written, it is nonetheless charming. Frances is trying to forget her past - something she eventually finds to be impossible - and it is through the love and support of Luicus that she is finally able to move on. There is good chemistry between Lucius and Frances, and, as in all of Balogh's books, you truly empathize with the hero and heroine. There is just something that this book is lacking to bring it up to the quality of some of her other books, but I can't quite put my finger on it. Still a good book!

[la_librarian · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

This is the beginning of a new series by Balogh. She had great success with her "Slightly" series but this one just didn't do it for me. The reason is that everything is repeated so much. Yes, we know he's unfogettable but do you have to repeat that four hundred times. The main problem with this book is that I listened to it on audio. When I read this type of book I speed read. Listening to it makes you hear every word, everytime and although the story was cute and the characters lovable I just would cringe everytime something was repeated over and over again.Going to try the next installment but by reading it.