THE ESCAPE is Book three in Mary Balogh's Survivors/
Club
series. I was able to enjoy this story without being
confused, in spite of having never read the previous books
in this series. Mary Balogh gives enough background
information, in the opening chapters, for a reader new to
the series to understand the characters and the
circumstances of their lives. I loved reading THE ESCAPE,
and it is exactly the type of book that has made me a Mary
Balogh fan over the years.
Sir Benedict Harper and Samantha McKay have an inauspicious
first meeting with a near collision. It's a little
reminiscent of the classic first meeting between Jane Eyre
and Mr. Rochester. There's a horse and a dog involved and
some cursing. Little do they know that meeting each other
will not only turn out turn out to be one of the best
things to happen in their lives, but their budding
friendship will prove to be a catalyst for both of them.
Their lives were both touched by the Napoleonic Wars. He
became crippled and has difficulty walking for long periods
of time, and her husband was severely injured and suffered
for a number of years before finally dying some months ago.
I like that, as with many other books by Mary Balogh, the
hero and heroine become friends and cultivate a
relationship before any sexual intimacy happens. That being
said, having built up a strong connection between Ben and
Samantha, the romantic and passionate moments have a
greater intensity for me.
I love the whole idea of Ben and Samantha making their
escape together, making a secret journey to Wales and
making it somewhat of an adventure with an uncertain
outcome. Even though Ben goes along primarily to assist a
lady in a difficult situation, I like that they very often
treat each other as equals and acknowledge that they both
long for freedom and some bit of happiness and fulfillment.
I appreciate that in most of the Mary Balogh books I've
read, including THE ESCAPE, happiness is not some happily-
ever-after perfection, but rather a state of mind usually
brought on after attaining self-awareness and a sense of
purpose.
I enjoyed the secondary story involving Samantha's maternal
family and everything she discovers when she finally gets
to Wales. There is no filler in THE ESCAPE. The beginning,
middle, and end kept my interest and makes for a fun
reading experience. The supporting characters are just as
great as the hero and heroine. I adored Samantha's faithful
dog, Tramp.
THE ESCAPE is full of excitement, adventure, and enchanting
romance. The main characters are so well-developed, and
Mary Balogh does such a wonderful job giving the reader a
window into their thoughts, that by the end of the book you
feel as though you know them intimately. I can't wait for
the next book in this excellent series!
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.
© 2003-2024 off-the-edge.net
all rights reserved Privacy Policy