Only Enchanting by Mary Balogh – a Review

Only Enchanting
Survivors’ Club series – Book #4
by Mary Balogh
Release Date: October 28, 2014

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Description:
The Survivors’ Club: Six men and one woman, all wounded in the Napoleonic Wars, their friendship forged during their recovery at Penderris Hall in Cornwall. Now, in the fourth novel of the Survivors’ Club series, Flavian, Viscount Ponsonby, has left this refuge to find his own salvation—in the love of a most unsuspecting woman…

Flavian, Viscount Ponsonby, was devastated by his fiancée’s desertion after his return home. Now the woman who broke his heart is back—and everyone is eager to revive their engagement. Except Flavian, who, in a panic, runs straight into the arms of a most sensible yet enchanting young woman.

Agnes Keeping has never been in love—and never wishes to be. But then she meets the charismatic Flavian, and suddenly Agnes falls so foolishly and so deeply that she agrees to his impetuous proposal of marriage.

When Agnes discovers that the proposal is only to avenge his former love, she’s determined to flee. But Flavian has no intention of letting his new bride go, especially now that he too has fallen so passionately and so unexpectedly in love.

Review:
Only Enchanting by Mary Balogh is the 4^th book in her Survivors’ Club series. I have not read this series, but Balogh does a good job giving us details along the way of this friendship of survivors that drives the story. Only Enchanting is a historical romance that takes place in England. This book belongs to Flavian Arnott, Viscount Ponsonby, one of the 7 survivors, and Agnes Keeping, our heroine.

Agnes is a widow, who lives with her sister. She is best friends with Sophia, who is the wife of Viscount Darleigh, one of the 7 survivors. The Survivors club meet annually and this year due to the birth of their child, the club comes to the Darleigh mansion for their two week vacation. It is here that Agnes will meet Flavian, whom she finds strange, yet very attractive. Agnes, has led mostly a sheltered life, with a marriage that was considered safe and somewhat dull. She does not believe in true romance, nor passion. This is about to change, once Flavian begins to show interest in her.

Flavian also has his own issues. Before he miraculously recovered from his war injuries, his then fiancée left him for his best friend. Flavian, who has trouble maintaining his temper, also does not believe in love. Slowly, the two of them find themselves feeling safe with each other, and in a fast time the attraction grows. Flavian feels safe, not to mention attracted to Agnes. When he finds out his ex-fiancée, whose husband is now dead, is returning to his town; he asks Agnes to marry him, and a flustered Agnes says no…at first, wondering why, since they do not know each other that long. When he is persistent, she finally agrees, as she knows she has fallen in love with him.

What follows is a nice story, of two people, who have never known true love, as they embark on a journey that will take them to London and their home in Ponsonby, while they must face Flavian’s shocked family; the ex-fiancee, who is determined to win him back at any cost; and the scandal that threatens their marriage. Will love prevail for Flavian and Agnes? I did like Flavian and Agnes. I thought the story had a lot of detail that sort of slowed things down early on. But they were a charming couple, and Agnes becomes a very strong heroine. If you like Historical romances, I suggest you read Only Enchanting.

Reviewed by Barb

Copy provided by Publisher