4.5 stars. I really loved the characters in this book, they just touched my heart. I so wanted them to be happy, and continued to think about them even after I finished reading the book. I'll be keeping it as a comfort read.
I have yet to read a Mary Balogh book that was bad, but this one is top notch. It's the second book in her "Survivor's Club" series, about a group of people (6 men and a woman) who suffered and were injured, in one way or another, during the wars, and band together for friendship and assistance. The first book, "The Proposal" was good, but "The Arrangement" is better and more original.
I'm not spoiling anything because the synopsis already reveals that Vincent, the hero, was blinded in battle. Sophia, the heroine, has lost her parents and she is penniless, and not particularly attractive, so she is ignored or treated like a nonentity by the relatives who have taken her in. In steps the hero, who gets to be the rescuer in a Cinderella type story; and I love Cinderella stories! Then in another sense, she is able to rescue him from his family, who are loving and well meaning but over protective.
What I also love about the book is that the two of them are honest and straightforward with each other, no miscommunications, and even before they fall in love, they like and respect each other. It takes a while before the heroine is able to gain back some self esteem and think of herself as a worthwhile and deserving person. The hero is very sensitive and understanding; what a refreshing change after reading so many stories about rakes! For her part, the heroine is sweet and loyal and determined to help Vincent gain back his independence in spite of his loss of sight. Although, I must say, since he has had years to adjust, he has more or less accepted and learned to live with his handicap, with the help his loyal friend and valet, and the other members of the Survivor's Club. I enjoyed seeing them as secondary characters and I think some of them will be challenging to find an HEA for, but I am counting on Mary Balogh to do it!
I have yet to read a Mary Balogh book that was bad, but this one is top notch. It's the second book in her "Survivor's Club" series, about a group of people (6 men and a woman) who suffered and were injured, in one way or another, during the wars, and band together for friendship and assistance. The first book, "The Proposal" was good, but "The Arrangement" is better and more original.
I'm not spoiling anything because the synopsis already reveals that Vincent, the hero, was blinded in battle. Sophia, the heroine, has lost her parents and she is penniless, and not particularly attractive, so she is ignored or treated like a nonentity by the relatives who have taken her in. In steps the hero, who gets to be the rescuer in a Cinderella type story; and I love Cinderella stories! Then in another sense, she is able to rescue him from his family, who are loving and well meaning but over protective.
What I also love about the book is that the two of them are honest and straightforward with each other, no miscommunications, and even before they fall in love, they like and respect each other. It takes a while before the heroine is able to gain back some self esteem and think of herself as a worthwhile and deserving person. The hero is very sensitive and understanding; what a refreshing change after reading so many stories about rakes! For her part, the heroine is sweet and loyal and determined to help Vincent gain back his independence in spite of his loss of sight. Although, I must say, since he has had years to adjust, he has more or less accepted and learned to live with his handicap, with the help his loyal friend and valet, and the other members of the Survivor's Club. I enjoyed seeing them as secondary characters and I think some of them will be challenging to find an HEA for, but I am counting on Mary Balogh to do it!
