The Arrangement

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

• Language: English
• Publisher: Random House Publishing Group
• Release date: Aug 27, 2013
• ISBN: 9780345535887

Mary Balogh

New York Times bestselling, multi-award-winning author Mary Balogh grew up in Wales, land of sea and mountains, song and legend. She brought music and a vivid imagination with her when she came to Canada to teach. There she began a second career as a writer of books that always end happily and always celebrate the power of love.

Reviews for The Arrangement

[addictofromance · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

This is the second book in the fun Survivors’ club, and I just love seeing friendships in romance both men and female friendships are so fascanating and endearing to witness. Mary Balogh is an author is so rich in her historical detail and I feel like everytime I read her, I feel like I have jumped right back in time and is one of the best to read for regency romance. And as a plus for this book, the audio format is narrated by Rosalyn Landor and I love listening to her with historical romance especially if its featured among the countries in the UK.In this book we have a story where we get to one of my favorites of the Survivors’ Club. Viscount Rayleigh, is one of the survivor’s of the war who suffered a physical blow more than the others. He ended up losing his sight and has had to learn to live his life without his sight. He has his personal valet, who is a great friend to him that is his partner in crime of sorts. But he needs his freedom and space from the women in his family who are suffocating him with their protectiveness and determination to get him married. After meeting the woman they want for him, he packs his bags and runs away from the women in his family and to find some peace and quiet in his father’s home where he grew up, out in the country where he can find some solitude. But what he doesn’t plan on is being surrounded by the towns people or being manipulated by a certain family who are determined to have him marry their daughter even if that means tricking him into being the responsible man. But then he meets a young woman who he talks with and he is intrigued. But when she saves him from disaster with the machinations of her family, he offers her marriage when she is thrown out of home because of her protecting him. But he knows he needs to marry, and that they have become friends of sort and he has high hopes for a practical arrangement. But he doesn’t plan on falling in love with his bride and not wanting their practical arrangement to end.The Arrangement is such a well written and richly detailed historical romance that I quickly became entrenched in. Now I was really excited for the hero of the story. We saw him in book one and I admired him SO much. He hasn’t let his blindness get him down at all. I love how positive he is about life, he has a confidence that is sexy and I admired his strength in facing his future in the manner that he does. He is probably one of the most upbeat and happier of the Surivors Club and I was endeared with his attitiude towards life. The heroine, Sophia, is one I really loved seeing come out of her shell. Now she hasn’t been treated right by hardly any member of her family. And her current situation is pretty horrible. She is referred to as the “mouse” and treated more like a servant than as a part of the family. Her parents are dead and has had to rely on her extended family for support. But she wants more out of her life than the drudgery she has come into. At first she doesn’t want to accept the arrangement with Vincent, she fears taking advantage of his kindness but she also could have her dreams if she marries him and not having to worry about being on the street. As they build on their friendship, and learn the value of their marriage, they also start to feel more than just friendship and sex, there is an emotional intimacy that develops that is consumming and one that neither of them want to give up on.I adored seeing these two making a go of this marriage that at first is all about practicality, but they have a great fondness for each other. I adore marriages of convenience, and Mary Balogh always does them so very well. In this book we see how wonderful these two get along, and how wonderful they are for each other. Both of them are there for each other in such a beautiful way, and really builds on the romance. The dynamics of their relationship kept me totally into this story and I loved every moment of it. Sophia is always working on ways to make Vincent’s life easier and so that he can experience things in life that he misses out on from being blind. And Vincent is working on helping Sophia build back her self confidence and her talents for her artwork and writing children stories.Overall I found the Arrangement, to be a wonderful romance that won my heart and took my breath away with his vitality, vibrancy and authenticity of the historical setting….a true gem!!

[gogglemiss · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

Must read more in this Survivors series. Really enjoyable.

[jorgeousjotts · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

Too much of the strife in this story was entirely unnecessary for my taste. Balogh tried to build a case to justify it, but really the characters were just foolish not to have a 20 second conversation that would relieve them both of undue anxiety and emotional turmoil. I could tolerate it up to a point and still be enjoying the rest of the happenings, but it became a bit ridiculous at a certain point and started to drag the story down a bit. The characters and plot beyond that were decent though.

[spinsterrevival · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

This was amazingly sweet, and Sophie and Vincent were made for each other. She helped him become independent and not trapped by his blindness, and he helped bring her out of her shell and showed her her worth.

[bookscookslooks · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

This is a typical romance in many ways and not so typical in others. We have the rich, newly minted viscount trying to avoid his marriage pushing family and the destitute by good hearted young woman who we all know is just perfect for him. But instead of making them hate each other at first sight our hero is blind! He can't see our heroine so he can't hate her at first sight, in fact he seems to form a liking for her at first hear.How different.She is also, from all descriptions, not a beauty! All of these deviations from the norm made this a really enjoyable novel and a truly delightful escape from my normal reading material. The characters were very well developed and given the genre, quite believable. I enjoyed the story and loved the ending. What more can you say for a romance novel? These two were certainly a couple to root for.

[thewestwing-864351 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

A very sweet story with an interesting blind hero. Will probably read more in this Survivor series.

[ellesnz · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Vincent, Viscount Darleigh, was blinded in battle during the Napoleonic Wars. He is much loved and well looked after, but...smothered. His mother and sisters treat him like an invalid - a well loved invalid, but an invalid nonetheless. When they find a bride to look after him, he runs.

Sophia is nobody, just a quiet mouse of a girl. Nobody expects much of anything from her, but she can't bear to watch Vincent lured into compromising her vicious, superficial cousin. What will happen when Sophia dares to intervene?

I especially liked the emotion. I cried. It was so well told, and so well scripted that I couldn't help but be swept away.

I loved that the author never tried to suggest that Vincent's sight would come back. I loved that the author never pretended the heroine was actually a beauty all along.

[mariahsidhe · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

This book was pretty amazing, the romance between Vincent and Sophia was slow in coming but fairly sprung off the pages towards the end. The uncertainty between the two and the arrangement that brought them together as a couple was extraordinary. Sophia is a strong woman, but she's been beaten down by life, first with a gambling father and an uncertain future, then with her aunt Mary - who could have cared less that she was around, and with her aunt in Barton Coombs - who cared even less than aunt Mary. She finds Vincent, or more like Vincent stumbles upon her good graces and saves her from a life of living on the street. Together with their humor and good nature they barrel through life and take its punches with bravado and cunning.

[azurestrawberry · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

"He felt the blood drain from his head, leaving it cold and clammy. He felt the breath cold in his nostrils and so thin that there seemed not enough of it to inhale. He felt all the terror of the unending darkness, of the sure knowledge that if he closed his eyes, as he did now, and opened them again, as he did not, he would still be blind. Always and forever."

"He would live his life. He would live it to the full. He would make something of it and of himself. He would not give in to either depression or hopelessness."

[reneebooks · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

I've been a fan of Mary Balogh since the 80's when I started reading her traditional regencies. This is the second book in the Survivor's Club series. And again Balogh did not disappoint. Her writing is so solid that I find myself engrossed from the first page. This book tells the story of Vincent Hunt who was blinded in his first battle of the war. Vincent unexpectedly finds himself inheriting a title, money and an estate while he was healing from his injuries. His mother and sisters with the best of intentions took over running the estate and Vincent is finding it difficult to regain control of his life and his estate. And dealing with his disablility has not been easy. His female relations are putting pressure on him to marry and when they invite a young woman and her family for a visit hoping he'll make a proposal, he rebels and runs away to the house he grew up in. I liked the way Balogh portrayed Vincent's blindness. His frustrations, his need for independence, his panic attacks - very realistic.Sophia Fry lives nearby Vincent's family home. She is your typical poor relation who is treated very badly and eventualy thrown out. Vincent proposes a marriage of convenience. Sophia is a great well written character too and I loved how she helped Vincent figure out what he can do in spite of his blindness. Sophia expects that when he feels more independent and self sufficient that he will no longer need her. But along the way they have fallen in love. Good story. I look forward to the next book in the series.

[thereadingrebel · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

Vincent Hunt is blind and being smothered by his mom and sisters. They want him to get married and he runs away rather then marry who they chose for him. He runs to his old home and sense he has become titled the rich family of the neighborhood wants him to marry their daughter and are not above tricking him into doing it. When Sophia who is the cousin of the girl they want him to marry and the poor relation saves him and gets kicked out by her family. Vincent and Sophia make an arrangement and get married. But will they fall in love and see that they are perfect for each other.I loved Vincent when I meet him in The Proposal(book 1 in the series). I love him even more in his own story. You learn how he was blinded in battle and more about him. I loved his personality in the first book and my read on him was right. He is so sweet and kind. He loves music. Vincent has panic attacks and his telling of how it was when he was first blind and at that time deaf was heartbreaking. I can understand how all him and his friends are so bonded together from their experiences. I learned about what it is like to be blind from this book and all the challenges that come with it. I also realized that you take so much for granted when you can see.I love the heroine Sophia. She reminds me a bit of Fanny Price from Mansfield Park. She is small,has low-self esteem,and her family don't treat her well. Her aunts and uncle and cousins are worthless and I can't stand them. Sophia has a rich inner-life and her own thoughts are her best companions(to quote what Jane Austen said of Fanny Price. I thought it fit Sophia so well)until she meets Vincent. She loves to draw and make up stories.Mary Balogh always writes such real characters broken pieces and all. She has such depth to all her characters. Vincent and Sophia's love is of the quiet kind and not a roller coaster of passion like most romance novels. It is not a romantic book and that is what is missing for me. I am a hopeless romantic and wish that Vincent and Sophia's story was such. If you are looking for a romantic story then I can't recommend this book. If you are looking for a book about two broken people finding friendship,freedom,and then love this book is for you.Heat Level:Warm(sex scenes not graphic)and some language

[wyvernfriend · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

Now the "Arrangement" was a bit forced in an otherwise quite moving story of a romance between a cinderella type character and a blind man. Miss Sophia Fry is a great character, told that she was boyish and ugly by her first crush, she is described as a mouse by all and sundry, dressed in hand-me-downs by relatives who regard her as a terrible imposition rather than an asset. She vents her frustration in sketches.Vincent Hunt, Lord Darnleigh is blind, blinded by an accident on the Napoleonic battlefield he needs a wife, but his family have wrapped him in too many layers of care and he cares not for someone who will cope with his issues, instead wanting something more. When accident puts Sophia in his path he realises that they both can win from their situations, as they learn more about each other, this becomes less of an arrangement and more of a romance.I loved this, the two characters really appealed to me, I liked how he had issues with his blindness, panic attacks occasionally, because it made it more realistic, more real to me. I felt sorry for him without letting him away with too much and wanted them both to succeed. I loved how she thought outside of the box to give him as much as she could so he could have something resembling normal. She kept finding freedoms that made him more bound to her, in good ways.I liked this one, look forward to reading more.

[nancynova · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

Got me hooked on Mary Balogh again. This is from the Survivor's club series - a group of 6 men + 1 woman in regency England, who served in the Napoleonic War and suffered an injury.Vincent was blinded in his first battle. He unexpectedly comes into a title and wealth. His mother and sisters move in with him, determined to marry him off to the first woman who will have him. But he will have none of it. While at his country estate, during a social event, Sophia's manipulating cousins try to compromise him with their daughter, but Sophia rescues him - and the cousins respond by throwing her out of the house. What's Vincent to do? He likes her voice, so he convinces her to marry him - and it turns out that she's the perfect wife for him. She doesn't coddle him for his blindness, but instead finds ways for him to be independent.

[sarah_gruwell · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

My second book in the series to read, it’s also the second book of the Survivor’s Club series overall. It’s got a bit of a different tone than book three that I enjoyed, and the characters stood out in a different light.I liked that this book had a gentler feel to it than the previous volume I read. Not to say that the fact of Vincent’s blindness and Sophie’s dire financial straits aren’t heavy and presented with the requisite seriousness and drama. Yet, I think that there’s a lighter, gentler romantic air to this one. That was a nice change of pace.I think a lot of that lighter feel can be chalked up to the characters themselves. Vincent has an attitude that I could only dream of having in a similar situation. He takes his blindness in stride and gets on with his life with a minimum of fuss or drama. There are occasional moments where panic attacks occur, but he meets the challenge in his life with strength of will I can only admire.Sophie also shined. Life throws a hell of a curve ball her way; if not for Vincent, she would have been in a very drastic situation. Past emotional trauma also makes for a damaged soul. Yet, her heart is big enough to take in Vincent with all his problems as well as her own. I liked that she didn’t dwell on her hardship-filled life; she got past it quick and looked at the positive that occurred when fate wove her life’s path with Vincent’s.There were occasional forays into eye-rolling clichés. The whole showdown in the dark thing, I felt, was really unnecessary. Yet, unlike book 3, I didn’t feel that they weighed down this book. The sweet, sweet romance and the characterizations for our leads more than make up for any clichés that might have occurred.I adored this installment for the Survivor’s Club. The romance was tender, and our lead characters strong despite the trauma. Even the odd cliché didn’t detract from my enjoyment; I still was enthralled by this tender romance. Highly recommended for lovers of this genre.

[dolphari · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

Vincent, blinded in the war, has spent the years since recovering and letting the women in his family run his life. He flees their marriage machinations, returning to the village where he grew up before he inherited the title of viscount. A scheming family tries to arrange for their daughter to be in a compromising position with him, but their destitute cousin, Sophia, foils their plans. When they throw her out, Vincent convinces her to marry him, as she has no other prospects. Over the first few months of marriage, they fall in love. She helps him gain independence, and he helps her reconcile with her relatives.

[beckymmoe_1 · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

While it's true that this read lacked any major conflict and drama, the characters themselves were just so earnest, sweet, and well-intentioned that I just had to love them--and the book by extension--anyway.The Arrangement was a satisfying read all around. I loved the idea of a blind hero--and the differences between how his family treated him and his blindness (We must protect him! We must do everything for this poor, helpless boy!) and the way Sophie and Vincent's fellow members of the "Survivor's Club" treated him was very telling. I especially enjoyed all of the ways Sophie came up with to help her new husband deal with his handicap and become more self-sufficient--it's exactly what the overly coddled hero of the first few chapters needed.Really, the only drama in this book--beyond Sophie's Cinderella-like existence in the beginning--came from the minds of the hero and heroine themselves. They definitely could have solved their "problem" much earlier with an honest conversation, but at the same time I completely understand why they didn't--neither was willing to risk what they had together without a little more encouragement from the other. In a nutshell: if you're looking for a big, dramatic read--you're not going to find it here. If, on the other hand, a sweet and gentle story about two characters who are perfect for each other gradually discovering that fact is what you're after...then look no further than Mary Balogh's The Arrangement.

[nancyluebke · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

I absolutely loved this historical romance. It was a fast moving story and kept me guessing at what would happen next. I've given this a 5* out of 5*. I look forward to reading more of her work. flag

[twylyghtbay · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Enjoyed the book and was surprised because it is a very entertaining historical romance. I read more paranormal, military, history and preschool books now. The Arrangement was filled with action, family, challenges and of course happily ever after. I will read the other books in this series.

[4leschats · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

The 2nd book of the Survivor's series focuses on Vincent Hunt, Lord Darleigh. His blindness leaves him at the mercy of his mother and sisters. So, when they conspire to find him a new wife, he runs away with his valet and friend Martin. After spending a couple weeks in the Lake District, Vincent decides to go to his childhood home without realizing that his mother would have already anticipated this move and have the entire city on alert. So, far from the relaxing time he anticipated, he finds himself the center of attention.After a thwarting a scheme to entrap Vincent in marriage, Sophie is thrown out of her relatives home. Realizing that he has caused difficulty but that they are compatible and want many of the same things, Vincent proposes that they marry with the intention of living separate lives once she produces an heir.After a quick wedding in London with several of the other Survivors including the recently wed Hugo, the two settle into their lives and slowly come to realize that their dream is to be together.While this work is a standard genre fiction, Balogh creates strong characters with deep emotional connections that gently unfold while avoiding many of the anachronistic elements in many current historical romances.

[karla9brandenburg · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Afraid of a boring life, Vincent Hunt took a military commission, which promptly rendered him sightless in his first battle. Now, as the heir to a rambling estate, his mother and sisters are smothering him with solicitousness, to the point of trying to shackle him with a wife who "doesn't mind" that he can't see. What else can he do? He runs away with his valet to his humble beginnings.Sophia has led a difficult life. Born into the gentry, she has had to endure a reprobate father, a runaway mother, and upon losing both of them, she has been handed off to uncaring aunts who, each in their turn, turned her into a silent mouse left to sit in the corner to observe, rather than partake in life. But when her snooty aunt and uncle take it upon themselves to secure a wealthy, titled bachelor for her cousin, Sophia rescues Vincent from being led astray by her scheming relatives, and is thrown out for her trouble.Well aware of his predicament, Vincent is grateful for the rescue, and then horrified by the results of Sophia's kind assistance. What is an impulsive man to do? He can't leave her to wallow in squalor on the streets of London after her service. So he marries her instead.The story is brilliantly crafted. Like most marriages in that time period, the bride and groom hardly know each other, and yet there is a sympathy between them. They each want to be their own person, Vincent to regain his life and not use his blindness as a crutch, and Sophia to emerge from her silent corner to finally live her life.Ms. Balogh's novels are often a study in redemption. Her characters in this novel are well crafted, with both flaws and virtues. The creativity of the heroine neatly matches the desires of the hero, and the conflict that separates them is believable and not overdone. Her handicapped hero is likable and appealing, and there is no better foil for him than the once unattractive Cinderella-like character of Sophia. This novel is a keeper for my shelves, one that I will read many more times in the years to come

[ladywesley · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

3.5 stars rounded up because, well it's Mary Balogh!

This is a lovely romance, and Mary Balogh does a masterful job conveying the reality of everyday life for a blind man in the early 19th century. It's also a great marriage-of-convenience story between two people who really don't want to get married to anyone. I enjoyed once again seeing the members of the Survivor's Club.

My only criticism is that I never really bought into the idea that these two people would part according to the terms of their 'arrangement.' Thus, there was no great drama in the story for me.

[brokenteepee · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

This is a typical romance in many ways and not so typical in others. We have the rich, newly minted viscount trying to avoid his marriage pushing family and the destitute by good hearted young woman who we all know is just perfect for him. But instead of making them hate each other at first sight our hero is blind! He can't see our heroine so he can't hate her at first sight, in fact he seems to form a liking for her at first hear.How different.She is also, from all descriptions, not a beauty! All of these deviations from the norm made this a really enjoyable novel and a truly delightful escape from my normal reading material. The characters were very well developed and given the genre, quite believable. I enjoyed the story and loved the ending. What more can you say for a romance novel? These two were certainly a couple to root for.

[cyderry · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

Having a title and being wealthy overcomes even his blindness for Vincent Hunt , Lord Darleigh. Eager mamas work at manipulating it so that Vincent is forced to choose one of their daughters but when a wallflower saves him from a compromising position, Vincent feels obligated to rescue Sophia Fry when she is thrown out on the streets. Needing a wife to get an heir, and liking Sophia, Vincent decides that Sophia will fill the bill. This book had an unusual story with a positive outlook at life. I kept waiting for the expected miracle cure, but the book showed that love was the miracle.

[janet126 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

A wonderful, traditionally Balogh-like Regency story of two lonely souls who find the way to each other's hearts against all odds, The Arrangement concerns a spur of the moment yet extremely practical match between Sophia Fry and Vincent, Viscount Darleigh. With endearing empathy and spunk, Sophie proves herself to be the perfect mate for the surprisingly down-to-earth aristocratic hero Vincent, who is doing his best to cope with the blindness incurred while fighting Napoleon. Well-drawn characters, believable conflicts and a tender romance result in a swoon-worthy read. Review copy provided by the publisher via Edelweiss.

[bettysunflower · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Vincent Hunt, Viscount Darleigh was blinded at the age of 17, during his first hour of combat in the war. He spent the first several years recuperating with friends of his, all members of 'The Survivors Club'. Once he was able to leave he went home where his mother and sisters proceeded to smother him with love. They were trying so hard to set him up with a wife that they invited a woman and her parents to his home knowing that the visit would end with a betrothal. When Vincent realized this he had his friend/valet quietly pack a bag for him and get the carriage and horses ready. Then he ran away from home! It was during this time that he met Sophia. Sophia was a small rather unremarkable young woman who was living with her aunt, uncle, and cousin. They treated her worse than they would treat their servants. They gave her no consideration whatsoever than to feed her and give her the cousin's cast off clothes. She had extremely low self esteem and really didn't expect anyone to treat her with any respect. One night the aunt, uncle, and cousin were setting a trap to snare Vincent into a marriage that would greatly benefit them when Sophia realized the trap was set to be sprung and she intervened and saved Vincent. Vincent learned the next morning that Sophia had been thrown out of her home during the night and was at the church hoping to find work or money to travel to another town. Vincent went to her aid and ended up proposing to her. This is a wonderful love story, well written, with lovable main characters and a great story line. I thoroughly enjoyed the book and Vincent and Sophia's story. I look forward to reading more of 'The Survivors Club' books.

[dlinglis · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

I received an Advanced Reader's Edition through Goodreads. After being a little disappointed with The Proposal (the first book of The Survivors' Club series) I was still looking forward to reading The Arrangement. I liked Vincent in The Proposal and was not disappointed with his character in this book. The story follows Vincent Hunt, now Viscount Darleigh as he runs away from his well meaning mother and sisters who feel it is time he found a wife. When he returns to his childhood home seeking some peace and solitude he faces yet another marriage trap. Quiet Sophia intervenes to prevent her cousin from compromising Vincent and forcing a marriage proposal. In doing so she is turned out of her aunt and uncle's house in the middle of the night, leaving her with no where to go and no means to support herself. Vincent, although blinded in the war, is able to see the real Sophia, not the outward vision everyone else sees. He convinces her to marry him, solving both their problems.Overall I really enjoyed this book and I really liked these two characters. I had no problem feeling the connection between them. Their friendship and support of each other grows through the book. They work well together and are like two pieces of a puzzle destined to be together.

[conkie_1 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

Probably foolish to admit this, but I finished this book over 2 weeks ago, while on vacation. Since then, I have "written" various reviews in my head, but none on paper (or on my LT account!). Now I am forcing myself to write this review - after all, that is what I volunteered to do - and dreading it. Why such reluctance? Because my number one rule in review writing is to keep as much of the plot a secret as possible; I allude to events without naming them. After all, it's the way I have gathered information about movies, shows, and books for years. Basically, I'm asking for someone's emotional impression. After seeking that same reviewer's opinion over the years and later comparing to my own, a sense of trust develops. If 'so-and-so" likes this, I'll probably like this. If he/she hates it, I'll love it. Yes, it works in negative, also. Funny how the comparisons of opinions remain relatively constant. So now I must 'bite the bullet.' Here goes.Mary Balogh's newest series intrigued me from the first of hearing of it. A wealthy aristocrat who lost his son in the Napoleonic wars, gathers a group of broken-spirited individuals together at his country estate, where each works towards recovery, both in body and spirit. The two novels I've read to this point, are written after the individuals have mended enough to return to their pre-war lives. Each year, all that are able to, return to reminisce and further their healing for a period of time.This particular story (the 2nd full installment of the series), follows a young man who had been blinded six years earlier, in the very first battle he fought. During the ensuing six years, he unexpectedly inherits the family Viscount title. For all the upheaval experienced thus far, what he wishes to escape from most, is the smothering love that his family believes he needs and deserves. Hence, he flees in the night from them. The heroine of this story is a penniless young woman, living in her aunt's home, as neither a beloved niece, nor a paid companion to her debutante cousin. The heroine was raised to be a lady, though destitute and motherless for most of her childhood, resulting in developing no employable skills. In a sense, her story is of someone to whom everyone around is blind of her existence. She is referred to as "the mouse," and is ignored by all, nobility and servants. The story picks up where her spoiled cousin is looking at 'rich husband' prospects to satisfy the insufferable aunt and uncle.The weaving together of these two characters lives, polar opposites in their life perspectives, yet similar in their needs, is what Mary Balogh is known for. She masterfully pieces together believable scenarios, out of disparate facts. How these two characters first learn of each other, then meet each other, and quickly become a couple is unique and bittersweet. Thinking back, both characters already have developed a strong sense of their inner beings, albeit yet to be uncovered, which lends itself to the plot by minimizing a struggle between them, focusing instead on outward forces causing havoc for the couple. A very enjoyable book!

[caittilynn · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

This was a very sweet story of love that develops from friendship. Sophie is called "the Mouse" by her family and is all but forgotten. Vincent is a survivor of the Napoleonic Wars who was blinded during service. He is also a viscount which makes him a prime catch on the marriage market. When he flees his female family members who are only too happy to help to the altar, he finds himself in a compromising position. When Sophie is punished for helping him escape, he comes up with a brilliant plan to marry and their friendship gradually grows into something more as Vincent helps Sophie grow her esteem and Sophie helps Vincent expand his freedom to fully experience life.This book is the second in the Survivor's Club, but you don't need to have read the first book in order to enjoy this one. I have not yet read the first, but will definitely do so after reading this one.

[gpangel_1 · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

My rating: 3 of 5 starsThe Arrangement is the second book in the Survivors Club series. This book is published by Random House and is scheduled for a September 2013 release. I would like to thank the Librarything early review program for the this ARC paperback copy. This is the story of Vincent, a member of the survivors club. Vincent was blinded by canon fire during the war. Since that time, his mother and sisters have hovered over him until he has felt like he was suffocating. His mother has decided that it's time for Vincent to marry. She and his sisters have set about arranging meetings with young ladies to entice Vincent into marriage. Vincent, however, does not wish to marry just yet. When he does get married, he wants it to be on his terms. So, Vincent literally leaves in the middle of the night, fleeing his overprotective family and entrapment into marriage. Once Vincent arrives at Barton Coombs, he finds that he has been seen and is drawn into attending a social event. When he finds himself nearly trapped into a compromising position, he is saved by a young lady named Sophie. He is very grateful for Sophie's interfering. Then Vincent learns that Sophie's aunt has unceremoniously tossed Sophie out of her home. Feeling responsible, Vincent finds Sophie and offers her a deal.Sophie was orphaned, then sent to live with first one relative, then another. Her aunt has made it clear, Sophie is a burden. So, Sophie has learned to disappear into the background, hardly being noticed. This has earned her the nickname of "The Mouse". When Vincent finds Sophie abandoned with nowhere to go and no money, Sophie listens to Vincent's plan. What was his plan? He and Sophie get married. They live together as husband and wife in every way for a year. At that time, Sophie can have the small dream of a cottage of her own and an independent life, and Vincent can marry on his own terms, provide an heir, and get his family off his back. After a year, he can live his own life as he choses. Sophie sees no reason to turn down Vincent's offer. Once Vincent and Sophie begin to spend time together, they find they actually like each other. Sophie thinks of ways to make Vincent's life more independent, so he can enjoy activities again that his blindness has prevented. Once Vincent learns the reason for Sophie's self deprecating, and low self esteem, he feels an intense need to defend his wife. I was so exited about the next Survivor's club installment, and even more exited when I found out we were going to explore Vincent's story. For some reason though, this one just didn't catch fire for me. I liked Vincent and could understand that he needed to be his own man. His mother and sisters were just too much feminine influence. They all thought they were doing the right thing, but they were smothering him. Sophie turned out to be just want Vincent needed. But, the romance between the two was flat. The two seemed more like friends with benefits for most of the book. I could see where love was slowly growing between them, but it lacked passion. I guess it just felt like it was love, but they weren't in love. Vincent's need to avenge Sophie for the cruelty she suffered, could have been felt by a brother or close friend. I just didn't feel it with this one. I liked it well enough, but I was hoping for more with Vincent's story. Overall this one gets a C+.

[mgray16 · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

I received an ARC of this book which is the second in Mary Balogh's Survivor's Series. I enjoyed the first book in the series but this one to me was just ok. To me the whole story wasn't memorable, not that every book has to blow me away but I finished it a little less than a week ago and I am struggling to remember the characters and overall story line. There are parts that are well done such as when the heroine manages to stop being a "mouse" and take on some semblance of a personality. Other than that there wasn't any huge and dramatic event (kidnapping, duel, enemy, etc) that the couple had to overcome to make it to the happy ever after. The hero is blind but it is made clear from the beginning that this isn't a huge hurdle due to his determination. Overall it was an easy enough read, if not memorable or very exciting.