The Escape by Mary Balogh

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.

REVIEW:
This is a wonderful straight historical romance. No mystery or thriller elements here, just a quietly moving, character driven novel. I was especially drawn to the honest look at the painful aftermath of war, both for the soldiers and the families they left behind. Benedict is a strong and determined hero, one who struggled to rebuild himself after horrible war-time injuries. He is a member of the Survivors' Club, a group of wounded soldiers home from the Napoleonic Wars, working hard to reclaim some semblance of a normal life despite their physical and mental wounds.

Samantha is the recently widowed heroine of this story, struggling to come to terms with her rapidly changing life. After years of nursing her injured husband, she is finally looking forward to a bit of freedom only to discover her controlling father-in-law has other plans for his wayward family. She is looking for a home, and a sense of peace after too many years of coping with the aftermath of war.

Watching these two heal and come together to carve out a new life makes for an excellent read, one that I think will appeal to any reader. This backstory calls to mind the sacrifices made by soldiers and their family through out history, and adds a sober element to this compelling read. This book is the third in the Survivors' Club series and works perfectly as a stand-alone- though after reading it, I'll certainly be on the lookout for the first two.