Dancing with Clara

Author:

Mary Balogh

Published:

Signet, February 1994 ; 222 pages

Related titles by this author:

Courting Julia, Tempting Harriet

Subgenre:

Regency romance

Setting:

England -- Bath, London, Kent, 1810s

Main characters:

Frederick Sullivan and Clara Danford

Sexual explicitness:

Fairly explicit, for a Regency

Keywords:

Intrigue ; arranged marriages, cousins, debt, health and medicine, infidelity, physical handicaps

Reader rating:

Reader comments:

I felt that although Mary Balogh excels in her books, she failed in this particular one. I find it very hard to believe that the hero, Freddie, would fall in love so tenderly and lovingly with a woman, Clara, who has no special beauty and is even crippled. Freddie was mentioned in previous books, such as Courting Julia, the one I have read, and he's not one to fall easily in love, I can tell you that. He likes tricks and guards his heart against any invasion. Now, suddenly, out of the blue, he falls in love with a nobody. That I find very hard to believe and understand. I really really detested this book. The characters were so insipid and sallow. Clara was, ugghhh, the worst heroine I've ever encountered. I was very disappointed (J.R., 4-21-98) balogh consistently writes characters that are interesting and toouching. (G.G., 2-3-98) Lovely and sentimental book, well worth the read. (S.D., 5-18-97) This rating proves that these comments cannot be trusted. The hero and heroine were likable because each demonstrated a touching vulnerability. However, I could not countenance the supporting cast. Julia was cold, calculating, vindictive, and cruel. I read the book in which she was the primary heroine. I DESPISED her in that one. I do not find reading about petty people who go off half-cocked and make others question potentially great life choices. This book was not entertaining. Why is this more highly rated that the Amanda Quick books? Which do impart great stories in which the hero and heroine are strong people who know their counterparts well enough to trust them. Why is this rated the same as "The Bride"? This book was atrocious. If you get enough of hearing about meddlsome, busybody, people who delight in cruelty in your ordinary life, you do not need to read this book! (M.T., 5-16-97) This book was not worth the price of admission. The major problem was not with the hero and heroine. I liked Clara and loved the flawed Freddie. The major problem was the self-righteous supporting cast, namely Julia and her husband. This book had some good points, but I found myself frustrated by her use of the secondary characters. If one wants an excellent MB book, look for A CERTAIN MAGIC. It was tons better than this one. (S.T., 4-30-97) Addendum to my earlier comment posted 1/4/97: I would like to correct my remark about Balogh having "no sense of humor to speak of." Since I wrote it, I have been delighted by the opening wit of her recent Regency THE TEMPORARY BRIDE and amused by the situational humor in FAMOUS HEROINE and THE PLUMED BONNET. Since in the past I very much enjoyed most of Balogh's book in spite what I felt was an absence of witty repartee or humor, I'm now happy to report that I am simply enjoying them EVEN MORE! (E.P., 4-27-97) I love to read a book by Mary Balogh, they are always good. How does she do it? I mean, keep coming up with quality Regencies as her readers expect. So many authors can't maintain the same level of quality but Balogh does. (M.F., 4-6-97) DANCING WITH CLARA is a wonderful example of how to maintain tension between a couple even though they consumate their marriage early in the book. I enjoyed Balogh's pragmatic Clara, who knows what she wants, knows how to get it and is willing to live with her decisions. Freddie was a scoundrel and if he had been written by any other less capable writer, would have run the risk of being disliked by readers, but Balogh shows a worthiness to his character and we, the readers, are won over. I didn't want to like him, but I did (kinda like Clara). I enjoy Balogh's writing very much. (K.G., 2-3-97) Balogh consistently makes me rethink my views on love, relationships and marriage. In _Dancing_ she presents Clara, a woman who cannot walk and is thus considered unmarriageable. Clara decides to accept an offer of marriage from a fortune-hunter, a man she knows doesn't love her because she wants marriage and children. Balogh presesents a journey for both Clara and her husband in the rewards of the search for difficult truths among which compromise. desire and love develop much different meanings than Clara originally had. A learning experience as with even the lightest of Balogh books. --By the way, if you consider this a "keeper" (I do), Severn House publishing has this in hardback! (S.B., 1-26-97) Balogh has a distinctive questioning tone that sometimes grates on my nerves and no sense of humor to speak of, be she can be very romantic and touching, as she is here. She also pushes the boundaries of Regencies with her sexual content, although there's nothing sleazy here. (E.P., 1-4-97)

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