Helpful Score: 6
I agree completely with Regina's review. Nothing too exciting here, and I didn't care all that much for the hero. He was too caught up in his own issues and seemed to find the heroine's problems an annoyance until way late in the story. I liked the heroine, once she stopped doing her doormat impersonation. It's not bad, and I would never think of skipping anything that Mary Balogh writes, but I found the previous book, "The Arrangement" more compelling. This one does have a bonus short story included, "The Suitor" which was rather cute.
Helpful Score: 5
Another enjoyable yet somewhat unexciting romance. So now I get it; this series is focused more on rebuilding damaged spirits and bodies, valuing friendships, and learning acceptance of one's current circumstance. Along the way, these heroes find someone to love and be loved for who they now are despite their disabilities and experiences. Ben and Samantha's love story is slow-building and altogether real. Sweet and poignant but nothing to make you clutch your heart over. 3 stars.
Helpful Score: 3
I liked this one very much. The characters seemed real. The plot with her family was a little thin except that families sometimes do lose touch even today.
Helpful Score: 2
I really enjoyed this story and slower moving romance. These two hurt and broken souls needed more time than the average to adjust to new circumstances and see if they were a good fit. I actually thought it was a realistic portrayal of how these two would need time to know and understand themselves before committing to another. loved her plot development with many
surprises in later part of book. It was good to see Ben's interactions with his Survivor group of friends and be reminded of them all as there was a big gap for me in reading this one over a year after the first two in series. I am looking forward to the rest of the series.
surprises in later part of book. It was good to see Ben's interactions with his Survivor group of friends and be reminded of them all as there was a big gap for me in reading this one over a year after the first two in series. I am looking forward to the rest of the series.
Helpful Score: 1
This is the third book in The Survivor's Club series. Sir Benedict Harper was severely wounded in the Napoleonic Wars and he's trying to heal and get his life back. He meets widow Samantha McKay who's another wounded soul. Their story was slow moving and didn't engage me like the two previous books did. Although I enjoyed it, I think her "Slightly" series is much better.
It is important to read these books in order; they build on each other. Sir Benedict Harper had his legs crushed during the Peninsula War and has spent the last 6 years trying to get used to the idea that his life was eternally changed.
Samantha McKay has spent the last few years caring for her husband who was also wounded in the Napoleonic Wars. She is a very recent widow but is constrained from taking back her life by her sister-in-law and her intolerant father-in-law. When hemmed in by her in-laws, Samantha plots to escape to western Wales, to a small cottage she has inherited. Because Ben is a gentleman, he insists on traveling with her.
This is a very slow moving story; this series has settled down to talking about the survivor's club, and each member meeting his/her life partner while trying to find his/her place in a changed world.
Survivor's Club
1. The Proposal (2012)
2. The Arrangement (2013)
** 3. The Escape (2014)
4. Only Enchanting (2014)
5. Only a Promise (2015)
6. Only a Kiss (2015)
7. Only Beloved (2016)
Samantha McKay has spent the last few years caring for her husband who was also wounded in the Napoleonic Wars. She is a very recent widow but is constrained from taking back her life by her sister-in-law and her intolerant father-in-law. When hemmed in by her in-laws, Samantha plots to escape to western Wales, to a small cottage she has inherited. Because Ben is a gentleman, he insists on traveling with her.
This is a very slow moving story; this series has settled down to talking about the survivor's club, and each member meeting his/her life partner while trying to find his/her place in a changed world.
Survivor's Club
1. The Proposal (2012)
2. The Arrangement (2013)
** 3. The Escape (2014)
4. Only Enchanting (2014)
5. Only a Promise (2015)
6. Only a Kiss (2015)
7. Only Beloved (2016)
Mary Balogh at her best! can't wait for the next in this series!
I love all of Mary Balogh's writing. This series is no different.
