The Proposal (The Survivors' Club, #1) in Around the World in 80 Books

Apr 23, 2012 Juliana Philippa added it · review of another edition

Shelves: romance-historical, 2015-jul-reads, 0-need-to-shelve, 0-reviewed, published-21st-century, published-2010s, 0-unrated, romance, 0-to-reread, published-2012

Not going to rate the book, because frankly I don't remember most of it.

I will say that I started the book on February 22, 2014 ... three days later I wrote the following GR status update: "I'm on page 312 of 384 of The Proposal: I love Balogh and this book has 2 wonderful leading characters, however ... I don't know. There's something missing. It's a little ... bland? Boring? ::sigh:: :-|" ... and then basically forgot completely about the book until I randomly picked it up yesterday and then r ...more

5 likes · Like · see review

Nov 04, 2012 Nadine in NY Jones rated it really liked it

Shelves: era-regency, romance, historical-romance, napoleonic-wars-and-spies

I adored this book. 3.5 stars rounded up to 4. It didn't elicit strong emotions, it didn't keep me up late at night, but it did delight me, like a tall glass of homemade iced tea on a perfect late spring day.

The romance between Hugo (son of a merchant, war hero, newly titled Lord Trentham) and Gwen (the widowed Lady Muir) felt real and natural and all grown-up. I did get a little tired of Hugo doubting himself and telling her he was going to stop courting her, but SHE got tired of it, too, so t I adored this book. 3.5 stars rounded up to 4. It didn't elicit strong emotions, it didn't keep me up late at night, but it did delight me, like a tall glass of homemade iced tea on a perfect late spring day.

The romance between Hugo (son of a merchant, war hero, newly titled Lord Trentham) and Gwen (the widowed Lady Muir) felt real and natural and all grown-up. I did get a little tired of Hugo doubting himself and telling her he was going to stop courting her, but SHE got tired of it, too, so that worked for me. One of the things I liked MOST was that both of the protagonists were adults who didn't need to be "taught" anything, and really didn't need anything from each other at all, other than love and companionship. They were together because they chose to be together. Nice. That's my favorite kind of romance.

I really enjoy Ms Balogh's writing. There are plenty of clever little observations, such as

He resented her being here, she thought. Well, she had tried very hard not to be. She resented being resented.

and

Besides, how could one apologize for kissing a woman twice? Once might be explained away as an impulsive accident. Twice suggested definite intent or a serious lack of control.

and there are sweet romantic moments such as this scene of Hugo standing in the ocean waves holding Gwen:

She had never really liked the water. But they seemed to be in a vast and shimmering liquid world, which was sheer beauty and no threat at all. She felt perfectly safe in the warm, strong arms of a man who would not drop her—who would never drop her. She had called him Hugo, she realized. Oh, dear, had he noticed? “Gwendoline,” he said as he stopped spinning. He had noticed. Her eyes met his, just inches from her own. But she could not bear the intensity she saw there. She dipped her head to rest against his neck again and closed her eyes. Would she remember the poignant wonder of this moment for all the rest of her life?

and lots of philosophical observations, such as

All people, he thought with a sigh as he left the room, had their own demons to be fought—or not fought. Perhaps that was what life was all about. Perhaps life was a test to see how well we deal with our own particular demons, and how much sympathy we show others as they tread their own particular path through life.

...more

2 likes · Like · see review

Aug 26, 2012 Anna rated it it was amazing

Shelves: favorite-author, regency-romance

I love the characters in Mary Balogh's stories, and how we get to revisit them in other stories. I'm so glad Gwen and Hugo persevered. just love all around :) ...more

1 like · Like · see review