The Huxtable Series by Mary Balogh

About a year and an half ago I got the urge to read romance novels again. I was pregnant and feeling sicker than a dog. I really didn't want to anything except lay around and rest. However, I just didn't feel like watching TV. So, I started to read romance novels again. I was out and about with my friend Beth. I told her I need a romance novel to read. As it happen to be we were at Walmart and came across some books. They looked good. So, I bought a couple of them. The two books I bought were First Comes Marriage and Seducing an Angel.

I get home I start off reading Seducing an Angel, not knowing that it was the fourth book in a series. Just to let you know I'm notorious for starting in a middle of series and not knowing it. Anyways I get to the end and see an epilogue, and I try to figure this all out. Come to find its a series and I have book one, so I start reading book one and fell in love with this family who grew up at vicarage to come and find out there brother is the new Earl of Merton due to the fact that there cousin was born two days before his parents were married which made ineligible to take the title when his brother dies on his birthday. So you read the journey of a life changing experience for these families.

First Comes Marriage is the first book in the series. I love this book and think its because I see a lot of the main character in me, Vanessa Huxtable. She is the second child in the family and is describe as plain compared to her brother and sisters. However, she manages to marry Elliot Wallace, Viscount Lyngate (heir to the Duke of Moreland) who happens to be her brother's guardian. They both have issues to workout and you feel for her during the story. Eventually it all works out. It is a great start to a great series.

The Next book Then Comes Seduction. This book focus on the Katherine Huxtable, and she is the third child of the family. She finds herself in a compromising situation with Jasper Finley, Baron Montford. She goes into seclusion for three years and re-emerge to find out that her brother is friends with Montford. Eventually, the scandal becomes release and they are force to marry. Jasper has a serious betting problem which cause problems in their relationship. They manage to have every to out fine, but watching it unfolds is so much fun. A fantastic story as you read more into the Huxtable family.

At Last Comes Love, this story I always have a hard time remember to story line. Don't get me wrong it is a good story, I just hadn't form an attachment to Meg like I have with the other family members. However, when I start talking about the series I remember more and more what happen in this book. This book focuses more on Margaret Huxtable (Meg) the eldest child in the family. She tries to run away from her former love who just came back from the continent a widow when she runs into Duncan Pennethorne, Earl of Sheringford (heir of Marquess of Claverbrook) also known as Sherry. Who happens to be a walking scandal from an incident in the past. Of course they end up together and the past makes there way into there lives. They form a bond and love that is amazing even with the scandal.

Seducing an Angel, my favorite story. Final Huxtable and baby of the family Stephen Huxtable, Earl of Merton just turn 25 and not ready to settle down until he meets Cassandra Belmont, Lady Paget. She is a scandal, because everyone believes she killed her husband. Cassandra wants to takes Stephen as a lover, which doesn't work out so well. He helps her try to get her back on her feet. In the process starts to fall in love with her. However, her past baggage causes her to have trust issues. I love Stephen and his good heart in his story.

In the end they all find happy lives and marriages. Then you have Constantine Huxtable who is the "bastard" in the eyes of the law who can't inherit the earldom. Of course, everyone would like him to have a happy end too, right.

The fifth book just happens to give that closer you all, A Secret Affair. You learn more about Constantine Huxtable and there is more to him than meets the eye. The one who finds this out is Hannah Reid, The Duchess of Dunbarton who takes on Constantine as a lover. LOVE this book too. They both have secrets that make them the perfect for each other.

In the end you find the closer you want with this series and you enjoy ever moment with them as you watch them grow into the people you want them to be. This series is filled that heart warming romance sometimes you just need with a moving story line. Would I read this series again, absolutely and I have. Some of the books I have read two or three times.