When he calls on her to apologize for nearly running her down with his horse on their first meeting, Samantha discovers that Ben is a veteran of the same war that left her husband bitter and injured. That is, until one day when she runs into a rude gentleman who is staying with his sister in the neighborhood.

Without a family of her own to turn to, Samantha doesn’t see a way out of her situation.

After years of nursing her her sick husband through his war wounds (and crippling self-pity), she is now a widow under the iron thumb of her puritanical in-laws. He can’t go back to the life he always wanted – the Army – so he has to figure out what else there is for him. Ben is realizing that he doesn’t have much left in his life except for his injury. He’s never going to walk again without crutches, and that is that. After many long months struggling to regain as much use of his legs as will be possible, Ben’s physical recovery from his war wounds is about as complete as it will ever be. The group is concerned about one of their number, Sir Benedict Harper. The Escape begins by introducing us to the “Survivor’s club,” a group of veterans who formed strong friendships while recovering together after the Napoleonic wars. I’ve always thought I would love romance novels if I could find the right romance novels, and Mary Balogh proved me right. Read it: if you like historical fiction and character-driven romance novels with interesting plots, strong female characters, and good writing. Other elements: slightly illicit romance, war veterans, widows, narrowly-avoided scandal, Wales.

The Escape by Mary Balogh