Escape / Mary Balogh / 394 p. Dec. 5 Gold Rings

In Mary Balogh's third book in her Survivor's Club series, Sir Benedict Harper finds a sympathetic friend in Samantha McKay.  Ben has struggled heroically from horrific war wounds that have left him barely able to walk a few feet.  He is drawn to a beautiful widow who has survived her own hell.  When her oppressive in-laws come to force her back under their "protection", she escapes to distant Wales where she has inherited a bit of property.  Sir Benedict, a gentleman to the bone, insists on accompanying her on a journey where they each find healing in sharing their personal hell.  Ben is coming to accept that he will not ever dance.  He still needs to come to grips with finding a replacement for his life's work--soldiering was his dream job.  Samantha desires finding a place to be free.  There is a depth to these characters and to the secondary characters.  The dialogue is a delight to read.  There is a twist in the usual romance plot.  This is just a wonderful read.  It can be read independently of the series.