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Showing posts with label Survivor's Club. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Survivor's Club. Show all posts

Wednesday, January 7, 2015

Book Review: Only Enchanting, A Survivors' Club Novel by Mary Balogh

I loved the conflicted characters in this enchanting historical romance!
Only Enchanting, A Survivors' Club Novel
by Mary Balogh
  • File Size: 1932 KB
  • Print Length: 394 pages
  • Page Numbers Source ISBN: 0451469666
  • Publisher: Signet (October 28, 2014)
  • Sold by: Penguin Group (USA) LLC
  • ASIN: B00JJXUZMM
Genre: Historical Romance
My Rating: 4.75 of 5.0


Book Description
Publication Date: October 28, 2014
The Survivors' Club: Six men and one woman, all wounded in the Napoleonic Wars, their friendship forged during their recovery at Penderris Hall in Cornwall. Now, in the fourth novel of the Survivors' Club series, Flavian, Viscount Ponsonby, has left this refuge to find his own salvation—in the love of a most unsuspecting woman.…

Flavian, Viscount Ponsonby, was devastated by his fiancĂ©e’s desertion after his return home. Now the woman who broke his heart is back—and everyone is eager to revive their engagement. Except Flavian, who, in a panic, runs straight into the arms of a most sensible yet enchanting young woman.

Agnes Keeping has never been in love—and never wishes to be. But then she meets the charismatic Flavian, and suddenly Agnes falls so foolishly and so deeply that she agrees to his impetuous proposal of marriage.

When Agnes discovers that the proposal is only to avenge his former love, she’s determined to flee. But Flavian has no intention of letting his new bride go, especially now that he too has fallen so passionately and so unexpectedly in love.


Review:
Agnes was content with her first marriage which was a practical arrangement with an older neighbor. Now she is content as a widow living in the country with her unmarried, older sister. She attends a dance at the home of her friend and is delighted to dance, not once but twice, with the gorgeous, charismatic, and rather enigmatic Viscount Ponsonby. Agnes is completely smitten but accepts that she will never see him again. Flavian returns to the community six months later and, to Agnes’ consternation, he not only flirts with her but proposes to her. She is confused and afraid to risk the passion she fears may be involved in their relationship.

Flavian is one of the Survivor’s Club. His head wounds left him with memory lapses and rages. He had to relearn even how to speak and he still stutters a bit. That doesn’t stop the ladies from flocking after him. Yet he struggles with memories of his childhood sweetheart, Velma, who broke their engagement when he was injured and married his good friend instead. His friend has died and Flavian's mother, sister and others are clearly planning on bringing him back together with Velma. Instead, Flavian finds Agnes to be ‘enchanting”, sensible and "safe"...promising a place of peace amid his tumultuous mind.

Agnes accepts Flavian’s rather sudden and not so romantic proposal. They are married quickly with their Survivor’s Club friends as witnesses. But they will still have to face the daunting task of meeting their parents and introducing Agnes to the ton.  Rumors threaten some scandal which makes it even more difficult for the pair to reluctantly share their secrets, learn to trust and accept their own growing feelings.

I always enjoy the warm characters that Mary Balogh creates. There is a charming range of natural emotions from fear and sorrow, to joy...and of course, love. The conflict in the human drama is appropriate to the time period and setting and allows for an engaging romance that grows from only enchanting to something much richer. The writing flows beautifully for a lovely reading experience. I highly recommend this series to readers who love historical romance. Ms. Balogh is a favorite author for me and a ‘must read’ author in this genre.

I received this title from the publisher through NetGalley. This will qualify for my NetGalley Challenge, TBR Double Dare and Alphabet Soup Challenge.

Wednesday, May 28, 2014

Book Review: The Escape (Survivor's Club) by Mary Balogh

This is a delightful historical romance with wonderful characters.

  • Print Length: 416 pages
  • Publisher: Dell (July 1, 2014)
  • Sold by: Random House LLC
  • ASIN: B00HP3POEC
Genre: Historical Romance
My Rating: 4.75 of 5.0


Book Description
Publication Date: July 1, 2014
In this poignant novel of longing and salvation, a hopeful widow and a resilient war hero discover the promise of love’s magic and new beginnings.
After surviving the Napoleonic Wars, Sir Benedict Harper is struggling to move on, his body and spirit in need of a healing touch. Never does Ben imagine that hope will come in the form of a beautiful woman who has seen her own share of suffering. After the lingering death of her husband, Samantha McKay is at the mercy of her oppressive in-laws—until she plots an escape to distant Wales to claim a house she has inherited. Being a gentleman, Ben insists that he escort her on the fateful journey.
Ben wants Samantha as much as she wants him, but he is cautious. What can a wounded soul offer any woman? Samantha is ready to go where fate takes her, to leave behind polite society and even propriety in her desire for this handsome, honorable soldier. But dare she offer her bruised heart as well as her body? The answers to both their questions may be found in an unlikely place: in each other’s arms.


Review:
Samantha is a young widow who has spent most of her marriage nursing her injured, unfaithful husband. She feels suffocated by her in-laws and their strict propriety. She longs for freedom, or even just a walk in the meadow to get fresh air.

Sir Benedict Harper was a career officer, a respected major in the Napoleonic Wars, until he almost lost his legs. The doctors said he would never walk again. Ben has struggled through rehabilitation with the help and encouragement of six other friends, all members of the Survivor’s Club.

Ben is out riding when he almost jumps on a young woman dressed in severe black with an ugly hound dog. He learns from his sister that the mourning lady is Samantha. Ben and Samantha begin a slow friendship which is encouraged by Ben’s sister but shocking to Samantha’s sister-in-law, Matilda. Matilda storms home and a few days later servants of the Earl, Samantha’s father-in-law, arrive to announce they will take Samantha back to live with the Earl in his strict household. Samantha is faced with returning to a dismal life, caged by her in-laws, or traveling alone to claim the small, perhaps dilapidated, cottage in Wales which she has inherited from her mother’s estranged aunt.

Ben insists on escorting Samantha on the trip to Wales and their friendship and companionship grows. They are reluctant to part ways when they arrive. But Samantha has inherited more than she expected and Ben needs to find a new meaning for his life since he can no longer be an officer.

Ms. Balogh has the wonderful ability to draw me into the lives of her characters and to weave a totally believable love story. These are wonderful, warm characters of strength and integrity. I loved the gentle growth of their attraction. I also enjoyed the independent philosophies that spurred them to seek more from life. The story is rich in detail and sweet, emotional moments of sorrow and joy. I found this story charming and delightful.

If you like historical romance and haven’t read Ms. Balogh you are missing a real treat. I recommend this story and highly recommend this author.

I received this title from the publisher through NetGalley.

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