≫ [PDF] Only a Promise Survivor Club Mary Balogh 9780451469670 Books

Only a Promise Survivor Club Mary Balogh 9780451469670 Books

Download As PDF : Only a Promise Survivor Club Mary Balogh 9780451469670 Books

Only a Promise Survivor Club Mary Balogh 9780451469670 Books

Sometimes the worst scars are those that cannot be seen. Such is the case of the crippling guilt that Ralph Stockwood feels over the death of his three best friends during the Napoleonic wars. I won't provide the details of the specific reasons for his guilt, but it was not unreasonable. His foil is Chloe, a woman who carries the burden of uncertainly and and unreasonable censure. Needless to say, they are equally matched in their respective miseries.

I must mention my one criticism and that is the premise that brought them together as husband and wife. I felt like it was a substantial stretch but, while it may have raised my eyebrow it did not ruin my enjoyment of the story. On the plus side, most of the other members of the Survivors' Club make appearances and I always enjoy their interactions. I also enjoyed the secondary characters specific to this story: Ralph Stockwood's grandfather and grandmother; Chloe's father, brother and sister although some way less so for Lucy.

Be advised: there is s substantial amount of sex between Ralph and Chloe. It seems to be the only way that they can connect in about the first 75% of the novel.

Bottom line: This is a strong, very readable story about one of the quieter, lesser known members of the Survivors' Club. I recommend it.


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Only a Promise Survivor Club Mary Balogh 9780451469670 Books Reviews

Balogh's fifth entry in her Survivor's Club series will please romance readers who like thoughtful complex characters who grow to love one another through the course of the narrative. The late regency period couple face some ordinary (death, jealousy, family tensions) and extraordinary (War, PTSD) challenges that lead them (instead of opposing them) along the path to HEA. Both Ralph and Chloe are adult complex people who move steadily from two individuals to one loving couple.

As a long time fan of Balogh, I am amazed at how she often uses the same plot device in several of her books (Haircuts in both THE IDEAL WIFE and ONLY A PROMISE as an example) and reworks the narrative from a fresh angle. In fact, there are many similarities between the two books. However, I might not have noted them without the haircut. THE IDEAL WIFE is light hearted and ONLY A PROMISE is heavy drama but Balogh fans will note that the couples marry immediately after meeting each other, the hero has a widowed mother and several sisters, the heroine has the same scandal in her family, and more. Balogh changes the scene and sometimes the outcome of her plot devices to make the stories very different. In doing so, she demonstrates how the same events in different people's lives have a uniqueness or perspective all their own based on the personalities of the individuals.
I love Mary Balogh. Her books are the only romance books I buy automatically without ever reading a review or the synopsis and I am rarely (occasionally but rarely) disappointed. Anyone who is familiar with my reviews knows I am extremely stingy with five stars. Once again Balogh has taken the injuries suffered by one of the survivors and written a wonderful book not only about him finding love, but finding forgiveness and learning to forgive himself. While Ralph is physically scarred the real issue he struggles with is survivors guilt. He watched three of his closest friends literally blown apart before his eyes, can't forgive himself and is convinced no one else can forgive him either. Chloe has her own tragedies to deal with, all the results of the actions of others, but she pays the price. Chloe, desperate to avoid the fate of a maiden aunt or spinster companion for the rest of her life, proposes an emotionally sterile marriage to Ralph who is locked out of his emotions. Ralph, while respectful and gentlemanly can be reduced to insult and nastiness and always ends up apologizing. Chloe oversteps her bounds from time to time as well. They are not perfect people and they are not going to be perfect people but none of Balogh's characters are completely good or bad. Chloe and Ralph understand the other's issues and fears far better than they understand their own and they ultimately rescue each other. By rescue we are not talking about some dastardly villainous plot - there is none. Balogh is so good at creating complex and emotional characters and stories that she does not need the melodramatic and artificial device of Gothic intrigue or over the top conspiracies much less kidnappings, victimized heroines or traumatized children and puppies. Balogh's couples do not experience love at first sight though they are very physical. This is a lovely, quiet, story of the development of the emotional bonds of a marriage that neither expected over the course of time. There are some editing issues but they are few, minor and do not detract from the experience of the story.
Sometimes the worst scars are those that cannot be seen. Such is the case of the crippling guilt that Ralph Stockwood feels over the death of his three best friends during the Napoleonic wars. I won't provide the details of the specific reasons for his guilt, but it was not unreasonable. His foil is Chloe, a woman who carries the burden of uncertainly and and unreasonable censure. Needless to say, they are equally matched in their respective miseries.

I must mention my one criticism and that is the premise that brought them together as husband and wife. I felt like it was a substantial stretch but, while it may have raised my eyebrow it did not ruin my enjoyment of the story. On the plus side, most of the other members of the Survivors' Club make appearances and I always enjoy their interactions. I also enjoyed the secondary characters specific to this story Ralph Stockwood's grandfather and grandmother; Chloe's father, brother and sister although some way less so for Lucy.

Be advised there is s substantial amount of sex between Ralph and Chloe. It seems to be the only way that they can connect in about the first 75% of the novel.

Bottom line This is a strong, very readable story about one of the quieter, lesser known members of the Survivors' Club. I recommend it.