Source: Goodreads
Gwendolyn, Lady Muir, has been through a lot. Her husband is dead, her old friend’s husband has just died, and she has discovered halfway through her visit that her friend is the reigning queen of whining. Yet it is a simple walk that proves to be her worst decision. A sprained ankle and a handsome stranger later, she finds herself a guest at Penderris Hall in the midst of what seems to be a reunion that she is clearly intruding upon.
Hugo, Lord Trentham, is one of seven members of The Survivors’ Club: a group of six men and one woman who have seen and experienced the worst a war can offer and have only found comfort in each other. Each year, the seven members meet to relax and catch up on each others’ lives and recoveries. Hugo is hoping to have a few weeks of quiet at Penderris before he starts searching for a wife, but after Gwen intrudes on his solitude and he is forced to her rescue, he begins to see things differently. His only problem now is convincing Gwen they want the same thing before she leaves forever.
I have been a fan of Mary Balogh’s work ever since I discovered the Simply and the Slightly series in 2011, and the Survivor’s Club is no different. Brilliant characters and twisting storylines keep the reader’s attention until the very last page, and in some cases long after. The Proposal is the first book in the Survivor’s Club Series, four of which I hope to be reviewing this month. The seventh and final book comes out in May 2016, so I will probably review the last three sometime next year.
I really enjoyed Hugo and Gwen’s story. Mary Balogh’s characters are always quite complex, and the reader often learns their pasts as they reveal them to others throughout the story. This book had me hooked from the first chapter, and there was never a dull moment. As with most romances, there are steamy scenes, but they are not overpowering to the storyline nor the characters, and indeed they are handled quite well. I would recommend this book (and the series) to anyone who enjoys a good storyline and well-built characters in their romances. I would HIGHLY recommend it to anyone who enjoys Balogh’s other works.
HHC Rating: 4.5 Stars
Other Reviews in this Series & By This Author: The Bedwyns/ “Slightlys”:: Book 0.5 – One Night for Love Book 0.75 – A Summer To Remember Book 1 – Slightly Married Book 2 – Slightly Wicked Book 3 – Slightly Scandalous Book 4 – Slightly Tempted Book 5 – Slightly Sinful Book 6 – Slightly Dangerous Book 6.5 – Once Upon A Dream The “Simplys”:: Book 1 – Simply Unforgettable Book 2 – Simply Love Book 3 – Simply Magic Book 4 – Simply Perfect The Huxtables:: Book 1 – First Comes Love Book 2 – Then Comes Seduction Book 3 – At Last Comes Love Book 4 – Seducing And Angel Book 5 – A Secret Affair The Survivors’ Club:: Book 1 – The Proposal *(This Review)* Book 1.5 – The Suitor Book 2 – The Arrangement Book 3 – The Escape Book 4 – Only Enchanting Book 5 – Only A Promise Book 6 – Only A Kiss Book 7 – Only Beloved The Westcotts:: Book 1 – Someone to Love Book 2 – Someone To Hold Book 3 – Someone to Wed Book 4 – Someone to Care Book 5 – Someone to Trust Book 6 – Someone to Honor Book 7 – Someone to Remember Book 8 – Someone to Romance (2020) Book 9 – TK – Harry