Review: The Escape

Mary Balogh is on my automatic-buy list and for good reason. She’s unfailingly fantastic. The Escape, her latest historical romance, is yet another amazing book from this great author.

The Escape is the story of Samantha and Benjamin. Samantha is a widow in mourning who is living with an oppressive in-law. Ben is a former Major who still has trouble walking because of injuries he suffered during the Napoleonic Wars. Samantha’s in-laws give her an ultimatum she cannot live with and, in stead of bowing to their demands, she sets off to Wales. Ben goes with her as an escort.

Like all of Ms. Balogh’s stories, this one doesn’t rush. We get to see Samantha find her voice and discover her love for Ben. She sets off to Wales to find her independence and a new life and does so but it doesn’t come over night. They travel together and get to know each other and, doing so, discover their own independence, her from her past, he from his injuries.

I cried with this book, a definite good sign, and by the end, I truly believed the hero and heroine were in love. From the descriptions of the countryside, to the love story between Samantha and Ben, this one will have a special place in my keeper shelf. It’s a fantastic read for any occasion and a beautiful love story like only Mary Balogh can create.

 

Note: click on cover to go to site.

Meredith Duran

Amazing author. She writes historical romance and she does it with class. I love her books because they’re not just your typical historical romance. They always have something extra; either they take place overseas or there’s an unusual twist to the characters, something’s different. And they’re sweet but not sugary–if that makes any sense.

She’s only written a few books–she’s not like Mary Balogh who’s written hundreds–but they all manage to stand out and her characters are not to be missed. And the love story is heart-wrenchingly good. Sigh.

On the plus side, she also has a book coming out soon: Fool me Twice. Comes out the 25th of March. Here’s a little blurb:

“All Olivia wants is the chance to make a home for herself. When she realizes that the infamous Duke of Marwick might hold the key to her freedom, she boldly disguises herself as the newest and bravest in a long line of the temperamental duke’s housekeepers. Little does she know that the wickedly handsome Alastair de Grey has very different plans for her. . . .”

“Alastair de Grey has suffered a betrayal so deep that he will use whatever means necessary to destroy his enemies — even his brazen and beautiful housekeeper. But his vengeful plan fails to account for his single weakness: an irresistible and growing passion for the enigmatic Olivia…”

Here’s the cover (click on it to find her website).

Book review (NOT Romance!)

Okay, this is completely new for me….but I read a book that was not romance. I read Crow Lake by Mary Lawson and, wow, was it ever amazing. I loved it.

Crow Lake is the story of a family, well the story of the children of that family and how they cope with tragedy. While it’s not a tear jerker, it’s both gripping and interesting. It certainly caught my attention from the start. It’s not romance, it’s the story of a real-to-life family. Their personalities are honest and complete with everything from quirks to flaws. I felt like I’d known them for years.

I don’t usually do non-romance. But this one was wonderful. Well-written without dragging or using symbolism that I didn’t get, interesting without bordering on the ridiculous and filled with excellent dialogue. It was most definitely a page-turner because I really, really wanted to know what was going to happen…and that kept me, well, turning the pages.

I highly recommend it.

 

P.S. I also read Lover Unbound by J.R.Ward and that was simply delicious and also romance. 🙂