SIMPLY LOVE


Mary Balogh (2006). Simply Love.


This is the 2nd of Balogh's romance novels in the "simply" series of 4 books set in early 19th century England during the Regency era. The main story line centers around the relationship between Anne Jewell, a single mother and teacher in an all girls school, and Sydnam Butler, 2nd son of the Earl of Redford, who is scarred from being tortured on one one side of his body during the Nepolianic wars and is currently a steward of an estate in Wales owned by the Duke of Bewcastle. 

Both Jewell and Butler have their demons to face. Anne has an inner demon from the trauma of rape that resulted in her only son and Sydnam has the outer demon of his disfigurement that repells most people...these demons complicate their relationship but they form a friendship that slowly evolves into one romantic interlude resulting in pregnancy which brings them back together and eventually leads to a hasty marriage which culminates in a surprise celebration of all their friends and loved ones.

The real meaning of things deep down is always beautiful because it is simply love. We all carry inner and outer scars/demons that color our relationships, and even so, there is still the possibility of healing, grace, and simply love.


Practice: look beyond the outward appearance people in your life (especially if there are any scars, disfigurements, disabilities, imperfections, age marks...) and intuit the inner light and love that shines in everyone (although the light and love may be cloaked and need some coaxing to remove the cloak and let the light and love shine).



 

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