The Escape: Survivor's Club, Book 3

By: Mary Balogh

Narrated by: Rosalyn Landor

Length: 11 hrs and 52 mins

Publisher's summary

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.

©2014 Mary Balogh (P)2014 Recorded Books

It surpassed my expectations!

Several times I found myself laughing, delighted at the conversations. Clever banter and very delightful acting.

Loving this series

Each book gets better. This one had such an interesting plot. I liked all the characters and the story kept me listening to find out what happens next. Love scenes were tastefully done. It was nice that the H and h finally got the happiness they both have always wanted with added family a place to call your own and a job to feel good about your worth. Narration was top notch!

Surviving the Survivors’ Club

The first novel in this series I found delightful. In fact, it has become one of my favorite books. #2 and #3 (which is this one) have been a disappointment. The stories have had strong, well developed characters. Unfortunately, both stories are a little too long for my taste. The plot of #3 is very interesting and deals with one of the members of the Club who has been extremely hurt in the war with Napoleon. He is physically challenged, scarred and what would be called today as PTSD. Will he ever have a semblance of a regular life. She gets married too young to another soldier who comes back from the same war with injuries that keep him bedridden. He doesn’t even try to get another life; he just stays in bed and wishes he was dead until he is and she is now a widow. The two meet and the story goes on endlessly as they try to come to terms with the vagaries of life. It’s just takes them longer than most. I still liked to book. It’s just not as good as #1 in the series - The Proposal.

Quite enjoyable

This book took me to some new places that I’d not seen in awhile. Refreshing

Romance with difference, but slightly out of order

Mary Balogh takes on romance with a handicap. Our hero of "The Escape" isn't physically perfect, but that's what makes him special. Also, everyone needs to find their place in the world, and that's the journey our hero and heroine travel. The novella "The Suitor" is a bit predictable, but fills in the fate of characters from the series "The Survivor's Club". Unfortunately, the novella is out of order, because it should come after the first book "The Proposal".
The performance is excellent, and the narrator brings out the emotions of the characters.

Reading and listening

I love both. I’m reading this series but also listening too it. Both are captivating

Love this series!

Great story. Steamy sex and romance. I would definitely read more books from Mary Balogh! One of my favs!

Simply - FABULOUS

Surviving the Napoleonic Wars, Sir Benedict Harper for the last six years has struggled mightily to heal both body and soul. Benedict retained his legs despite the doctors never expecting him to walk again, but he has struggled and in pain and perseverance has managed to surprise everyone. After the yearly reunion of the Survivor’s Club the men and woman have left to return to their lives. Benedict choose to visit his sister who was recuperating in the country, never realizing that in doing so, he would meet a beautiful woman who would give him purpose.

Samantha McKay has dutifully cared years for her ailing husband, another mishap from the wars, until his lingering death. For months she has been bound to her house by the oppressive presence of her prudish and spinster sister-in-law whose outlandish ideas of proper mourning are suffocating Samantha.

Meeting Benedict who made a horrendous first impression actually turned out to be very fortuitous for Samantha, once he apologized and introduced his sister, Samantha’s neighbor to help bring some sunshine into Samantha’s closed off world. While both Samantha and Benedict gave each other the benefit of doubt to one another, they formed an easy alliance and when Samantha was ordered to return to her miserable in-laws, she remembered a property that was left to her in the wilds of Scotland.

What follows is the memorable journey Samantha and Benjamin took to her new home, and a journey of discovery for both Ben and Samantha as only Mary Balogh could have depicted with the most sensual and exquisitely sumptuous writing that offered an almost surreal quality to it. Couple that with the amazing performance by esteemed narrator, Rosalyn Landor and you will find yourself totally suspended in time as the story unfolds in a most exquisite way.

THE ESCAPE is totally worth the credit and the time to listen to this wonderful tale.

Marilyn Rondeau

Typical Mary Balogh ~ And that's a good thing!

Where does The Escape rank among all the audiobooks you’ve listened to so far?

The Escape was a good listen. It's not in my top 10, but it is worth the credit if you're a Mary Balogh fan.

What was one of the most memorable moments of The Escape?

The most memorable moment was when Sir Benedict realized how much freedom he found in the water.

What does Rosalyn Landor bring to the story that you wouldn’t experience if you just read the book?

Rosalyn Landor brings each character to life so it is easy to follow even if you have distractions around you.

Was there a moment in the book that particularly moved you?

I was moved by Sir Benedict's realization that he was still able to find new freedom in the water.

Any additional comments?

This wasn't the best Mary Balogh book I ever listened to. However, it was a nice, solid story that did not disappoint.

Another wonderful story.

I’m a huge fan of Mary Balogh stories and Series. Rosalyn Landor had spoiled me for any other narrations.