The Escape
Ratings2
Average rating4
15
Ratings2
Average rating4
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 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, honourable soldier. But dare she offer her bruised heart as well as her body?
(from the back cover)
Reviews with the most likes.
I've been turned off by contemporary romances lately. The books I've been reading seem to be more about the sex and less about the relationship between the couple, and I'm most definitely more interested in the latter. Sometimes I find myself just skipping these steamy scenes out of boredom. Yes, boredom!
Mary Balogh writes that kind of romance novel, the kind where you'll be fed a meaty tale of how a man and a woman develop as individuals and a loving couple. It's also a romance that is devoid of the dramatic hijinks of other historical romances. You will not find brigands, undercover Dukes, kidnappings or blackmail in this book. (Not that I dislike them, mind! I adore the crazy hijinks in some of these historical romances.)
Instead, the drama is mostly about Benedict and Samantha overcoming their difficulties. For Benedict, it is a grievous injury that crippled him, for Samantha, years of verbal and emotional abuse from her husband and in laws. It was really delightful to see them support one another and become whole.
Under less capable hands, this COULD be boring. It isn't easy to weave a fascinating tale WITHOUT the thriller-like elements, but Balogh does it so well. You are genuinely interested to see Benedict and Samantha get together as they're complex and well-formed characters.
Highly recommended.
