The Arrangement (Survivors' Club)

by Mary Balogh

NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER

A mesmerizing story of passionate awakening and redemption, Mary Balogh’s new novel unites a war hero consigned to darkness with a remarkable woman who finds her own salvation by showing him the light of love.
 
Desperate to escape his mother’s matchmaking, Vincent Hunt, Viscount Darleigh, flees to a remote country village. But even there, another marital trap is sprung. So when Miss Sophia Fry’s intervention on his behalf finds her unceremoniously booted from her guardian’s home, Vincent is compelled to act. He may have been blinded in battle, but he can see a solution to both their problems: marriage.
 
At first, quiet, unassuming Sophia rejects Vincent’s proposal. But when such a gloriously handsome man persuades her that he needs a wife of his own choosing as much as she needs protection from destitution, she agrees. Her alternative is too dreadful to contemplate. But how can an all-consuming fire burn from such a cold arrangement? As friendship and camaraderie lead to sweet seduction and sensual pleasure, dare they believe a bargain born of desperation might lead them both to a love destined to be?

Praise for The Arrangement
 
“Balogh understands not only the era, with all its nuances, but [also] knows her characters so thoroughly that readers are swept into her stories. There’s a natural reserve—a calmness and quiet in her prose—that allows the tenderness of the romance to tug at the reader’s heart. This is a beautifully rendered marriage-of-convenience love story that will win a place on keeper shelves.”—RT Book Reviews (4-1/2 stars)
 
“This sexy, touching book revisits the marriage-of-convenience plot, joining two heroic, conflicted characters who are navigating their own versions of darkness and delivering them to the redemptive power of love. Regency best-seller Balogh once again takes a standard romance trope and imbues it with heart, emotional intelligence and flawless authenticity.”—Kirkus Reviews (starred review)
 
“This touching, totally enthralling story overflows with subtle humor, brilliant dialog, breathtaking sensuality, and supporting characters you want to know better.”—Library Journal (starred review)
 
“Balogh can always be depended on to deliver a beautifully written Regency romance with appealing, unusual characters, and the second in her new Survivors’ Club series (after The Proposal) is no exception. . . . Future series installments promise more compellingly tormented heroes.”—Publishers Weekly
 
“[A] poignant and thoughtful romance.”—Booklist
 
“A compassionate love story with a unique hero and heroine . . . The dialogue is snappy, and the climax . . . is exciting and helps bring about the blissful ending. . . . The Arrangement [is] a must read.”—Fresh Fiction

• ISBN10: 0345535871
• ISBN13: 9780345535870
• Publish Date: 27 August 2013 (first published 1 January 2013)
• Publish Status: Active
• Publish Country: US
• Publisher: Random House USA Inc
• Imprint: Dell Publishing Co Inc.,U.S.
• Format: Paperback (US Mass Market)
• Pages: 400
• Language: English
• URL: https://penguinrandomhouse.com/books/isbn/9780345535870

Reviews

[stacey_is_sassy]

A sweet love story.

I'm getting a lot of use with my new Romance Package on Audible. Books that I had always planned to read but never got around to are where I'm getting the best use. The variety is good and if they keep up with this level of quality, I will definitely keep using it.

The Arrangement was a sweet love story about two people looking at creating a new path in their life. Our heroine has always been the little mouse sitting in the corner unnoticed. She has been neglected by her loved ones and carries the burden of her father's sins. Sophia is a good girl and deserves a lot better than what she gets. Luckily, there's someone very special who notices her. He may not see her but he knows she's there.

Vincent Hunt is escaping his life. He knows that his family want the best for him but unfortunately, their idea of the best for him does not agree with his. Drastic action must be taken. In the dead of night, he will escape his over-protective family and hopefully find a new path where being blind isn't the end of the world.

The Arrangement is very sweet. The angst levels are mild, the characters are genuinely nice and the baddies are just mean instead of evil. I enjoyed it for what it was and accepted that it wasn't going to be a heart-pumping, action-packed adventure.

Of course, the narration was AMAZING!! Seriously, Rosalyn Landor is fantastic and I can't recommend her high enough, especially when it comes to historical romance.

I will definitely be looking for more Mary Balogh stories in my future.