I did enjoy it book so easy to read characters seem so real i like them i was there with them story pull me into it from the first few pages which I like enjoyed it all

This is the second book I have read by Rosie Clarke (The first being A Wedding at Mulberry Lane which I loved) and although I enjoyed this one I found it a bit of a slow burner.

This is set in the 1920s and the main character is Annabel whose Mother wants her to find herself a rich Husband. Annabel does find a rich Husband, but he is also a monster, one who she needs to run away from.

I found the characters well described and loved the twist at the end in regards to Richard’s behaviour. I also found myself holding my breath in parts, which to me is an indication that I am absorbed in the book.

I felt Rosie set the scene well and could easily imagine living during this period.

I would recommend this book because it is worth getting through the slow start as it’s a really good read.

Spousal abuse is not a modern evil.

Annabel Tarleton is expected to marry money to save the fortune of her family, but she falls in love with an ordinary man. To help her family she agrees to stop seeing the love of her life. At a ball, she is put in an awkward position by charming Richard Fortescue. She agrees to marry him to save her reputation and her family.

Not long after their marriage, she realises she is married to a bully and rapist. It becomes imperative she must hide from this cruel man and save her own life and that of her unborn baby.

This was a good book with a touch of chick lit but also the horrible and all too familiar case of spousal abuse, which is still so pertinent today. Who can a woman talk and go to when she is in such a situation?

One of my only criticisms is that, with a little persuasion, Annabel told just about everyone about the abuse. Surely, in the 1920s when this book is set, that sort of trouble was very much brushed under the carpet and not discussed?

Overall a very good book which has you reading just one chapter. I enjoyed the book and will read more by Ms Clarke

Chester

Breakaway Reviewers received a copy of the book to review.

Review: A lovely historical saga set in the 1920s. An era known for its glitz and glamour. I enjoy a good historical book I can get lost in and for me who was born in the late 80s I love going back in time and this was beautiful written and did just that.

The Runaway Wife by Rosie Clarke takes readers back in time to just before Christmas in 1929. Annabel Tarleton’s family lost most of their money in the recent stock market crash thanks to investments made by her deceased father. Annabel is expected by her mother to marry a well-to-do gentleman and take her place in society like her mother and generations of women before her. At a dance, Annabel encounters Richard Hansen. Richard is handsome, mysterious and has a bad boy reputation which attracts Annabel. Richard, though, states he is not the marrying type. Annabel gets an invitation to spend time at Kendlebury Hall with her friend, Georgie Barrington. While there Annabel meets Paul Keifer (a printer) and they spend time together. Paul soon proposes to Annabel, but she knows her domineering and critical mother will not approve of the match. She turns him down and returns home. Annabel encounters Richard again at a dance where Annabel has indulged in too much champagne and she finds herself in a compromising position. After a quick engagement, Annabel finds herself married to Richard. She soon discovers why people warned her away from him. One night after Richard is particularly cruel, Annabel escapes and hopes that he will not find her (and follow through on his threats). Will Annabel ever be free of Richard?

The Runaway Wife took me back in time to the late 1920s in England. I found The Runaway Wife to contains good writing and nicely developed characters. I like that were a variety of characters from the different classes (not everyone was Annabel’s social class). Annabel is a woman who has been controlled by her mother her whole life. She would like to pursue job opportunities, but her mother is pressuring her to marry (and take her place in society). We get to follow Annabel as she gets married and finds that she has traded her controlling mother for a domineering, abuse husband. It did take me a couple of chapters to get into the story, but then I was hooked. I wanted to find out what would happen to Annabel. There are a couple of slow spots (every book has them), but overall the pace is steady (picks up pace later in the book). I found the story to be realistic (gritty). The violence that Annabel suffers is described as well as other cruel acts performed by Richard. Rosie Clarke captured the era with her descriptions of the locale, the language used by the characters, hairstyles (women cutting off their long hair) and the clothing (hemlines were on the rise). She portrays the changing roles of women, the nightlife (drinking and dancing at nightclubs), the rich finding themselves without money (thanks to the stock market crash), life as a politician’s wife and the big estates in trouble. One of the lessons in The Runaway Wife is about choices. Every choice we make takes us down a path. It is important that we learn from our mistakes, so we can make better decisions in the future. I found the ending to be satisfying. I like it when I find myself smiling when I finish a story. Find yourself back in time and experiencing a wide range of emotions in Rosie Clarke’s The Runaway Wife.

The Runaway Wife by Rosie Clarke attracted my attention because of the setting and time period. I enjoy historical fiction and the theme of marriage in books. The story is set in the 1920s. Readers are introduced to Annabel, a young single woman of what is was then known as ‘marriageable age’. Annabel’s mother is keen to have her get married soon and is specific to the fact that she needs a wealthy suitor. Richard seems to possess this attribute and is also described as being quite attractive. However, it soon becomes apparent that he wasn’t all that he seemed at first.

As I already mentioned, the time period really interested me. I like reading about life as it was in the past. In this book, gender inequality was a predominant theme. Sex before marriage was treated quite differently between men and women. It seemed that women had to remain chaste if they wished to get married in future but men didn’t have to meet this requirement. Women with children outside wedlock were treated as outcasts. The different portrayals of women and men were sad though eye-opening.

Apart from the gender inequities, there were also themes of marriage and in particular abuse. Annabel is a likeable character and I kept turning the pages because of her. I was curious to know whether she would get out of the abusive marriage and how she would do it especially given the kind of society she was in.

Though I do enjoy a good historical fiction, this one wasn’t for me. Romance as portrayed in the book didn’t interest me much and I ended up skimming through a few sections. Love triangles are also a pet-peeve of mine and so that didn’t help my connection to the story. However, the writing of this book is great so I think readers who don’t mind romance in their historical fiction will love The Runaway Wife by Rosie Clarke.

I love a good saga, as well as being rather fond of a ‘period’ read, and this one ticks all the boxes – and then some!

Set in the period between the two world wars, this is a tale which acknowledges the changes in Britain, and how difficult life was for young women whose mama’s were set in their ways and refused to move with the times. Far more important than happiness was what ‘society’ thought and woe betide any offspring who didn’t bow down to their parents’ wishes! The story centres around Annabel, a young lady who would love nothing more than to ignore the shackles of expectation and follow her own path, but years of being raised by a dominant mother who demands conformity puts immense pressure on her.

Annabel’s life doesn’t pan out the way she would have expected, and we are privy to what happens behind closed doors as well as what the rest the rest of the world sees. Finding herself trapped in an unhappy marriage but free from her mother’s influence, she begins to find her courage. What follows is a gritty, if realistic, read which I enjoyed very much. With sadness and happiness spread over the pages, this is one book I really didn’t want to lay aside.

The Runaway Wife is an exceptionally well written novel, true to the period with a wide variety of characters from all walks of life and encompassing all the ups and downs of daily life as well as looking at the wider picture. I am a confirmed fan of this author, loving her writing and finding this truly enjoyable, and definitely one I would recommend to lovers of a good saga set in the twenties.

A really satisfying historical read based in the 1930,s
Escaping from a dominant mother Annabelle falls for the charismatic Richard Hanson who on the surface seems to have it all money and a sort after position in society as he stands for parliament.
Richard however tells her that he is not the marrying kind.
Annabelle goes to stay with friends where she meets Paul who immediately falls in love with her but he is not from her class and most definitely would not be acceptable to her mother.
On her return home at a social event Richard seduces Annabelle rapes her and blackmails her into marrying him.
Once married Richards dark violent side comes out and Annabelle soon realises what a disaster her marriage is and what her true feelings are for Paul.
Convinced that Paul is hiding some dark secrets and has only married her for her social position it soon becomes evident how dangerous Richard is and Annabelle decides her only option is to disappear especially as she is now pregnant but who is the father Richard or Paul.
This book grips you from the very first page a little predictable but I thoroughly enjoyed it.

Emotionally challenging historical read. Can't help reacting to Annabel's situations. Her family had money as she grew up, then lost it. Naive to men and with pressure from her mom and her own misgivings, she quickly married wealthy Richard. In social settings, Richard treats Annabel as a trophy wife, kind and caring. Behind closed doors he transforms into an angry abuser... Liked the realistic depiction of women's treatment in this period; shows how much progress has been made. 3 1/2 stars. 
Voluntarily read ARC, through Netgalley and publisher, for honest review

Remember as you read this historical novel that Annabelle is an abused wife in the 1920s, when women did not have a lot of options- if they had any at all. It doesn't matter if one is at the top or the bottom of the socioeconomic scale. Richard is a truly rotten spouse. My quibble with this is the romance with Paul, who is an interesting character in his own right but it did seem a tad contrived. That didn't stop me, of course, from reading straight through this. Thanks to Netgalley for the ARC. This is for fans of period fiction.

The Runaway Wife is a dark coming of age story set in 1920's England. Annabelle has had a small existence under her mothers thumb, constantly pushed to marry and marry well. When she meets the handsome and wealthy Richard Fortescue at a ball, her life changes. Annabelle is pushed into a quick marriage, discovering that Richard is not what he seems. She experiences abuse at the hands of her new husband and is exposed to the seedy underbelly of London in the 1920's.

Meanwhile, her unsuitable former flame Paul is waiting in the wings. A working class man with a good heart, Annabelle has fallen for him. But how can she be free of her violent, dangerous husband? This book paints a vivid picture of England during this time period and explores the opposing pulls on those of the upper classes as social morays and gender roles were in flux.

The pacing of the novel was a little off for me. The story was slow to start and we get some unnecessary chapters- particularly frustrating when the title of the book makes it clear that there is supposed to be conflict! However, once things finally started happening it was a fast-paced read that kept me engaged through most of it. There are a lot of great side characters that add charm and dimension to the world and I grew to really like Annabelle and feel for her. On the other hand, I do have some complaints.

****SPOILER WARNING****

First of all, this story falls into a trope that is a pet peeve of mine- villifying a spouse in order to make infidelity seem like an acceptable or even positive choice. Now, don't get me wrong. Annabelle is in an incredibly destructive, abusive relationship and she SHOULD absolutely leave her husband. However, that doesn't make it okay for her to engage in a physical relationship with Paul while she is still married. It drives me crazy when books use this tactic to justify character choices in that way.

I also did think that Annabelle was a bit too naive in the later part of the book. Early on it made sense, but after all she has been through, it seems unlikely for her to brush things off as easily as she seems to. I'm referring to instances such as suddenly deciding Richard is no longer a threat, agreeing to a police interview without a lawyer against advice, and assuming the best when Paul is arrested. By that point in the book it was a little irritating and seemed out of character.

Overall, I enjoyed the book and thought it was a fairly well-written historical novel, but definitely had some specific complaints. I was sent a copy of this book by the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

Thank you to Netgalley, the author and the Publisher, Aria for this copy given in exchange for an honest review. Also thank you to Melanie from Aria for organising the Blog Tour!

Based in 1920’s London at the time of the Great Depression, we meet Annabel Tarleton. Her family are finding it difficult financially and are forced to make some difficult decisions to retain their country estate. Annabel’s brother, Ben is expected to marry a woman he doesn’t want to, purely for money. Annabel is also being forced into the same situation by marrying into money. Swept off her feet by the dashing Richard Fortescue, Annabel thinks that everything will be ok. Once married though, she realises that she is married to a brutal and aggressive man who often beats her. Annabel has no choice but to flee to save herself and the life of her unborn baby. But can she flee far enough away from him.

I haven’t read a lot of books based in this era – the hedonistic lifestyle of the roaring 20’s, especially based in London is the era chosen for some great books. The lifestyle began on a tide of hope following the end of World War One, but there were still people struggling financially and this is what was happening to Annabel’s family. Being made to force your children into marriages for money I assume in those times wasn’t unusual. Poor Annabel was really given the short straw when she was made to marry Richard Fortescue. Dashing and handsome in public turned into cruel and brutal behind closed doors. I know today we would say to leave him but I imagine it wasn’t that easy in those days, if not impossible.

Not only a sad story of what we now know to be domestic violence (obviously not called that then) but also a story of bravery for Annabel for finally having the courage to leave and fight against the decisions she had no say over. A historical story of love, marriage and obsession, based in a time which I knew little of. Would definitely recommend!

“The Runaway Wife” by Rosie Clarke is a story set in 1920’s London amidst the angst of The Great Depression. Annabelle Tarleton’s family desperately needs money to keep their estate soluble. The Tarleton matriarch is an unfeeling, selfish woman more enamored by her status in the gentry than in the happiness of her children. Annabelle’s brother Ben is expected to marry a bitchy woman for her money. Annabelle is being coerced into marrying an up and coming Member of Parliament…with lots of money. Hetty, their younger sister, is determined to escape her mother’s tyrannical moods and find her own way.

Annabelle finds her love, but she knows that her mother will not see that he is good enough for her and sends him away. She then marries the pompous ass with the money and is sorry from the first day of their marriage. Richard is a brutal man who loves to hurt women. After one too many beatings, Annabelle flees, and must hide herself because of his obsession with her. She knows that he will kill her eventually.

Given the story line of this novel, I kept reading to see if all would be well with Annabelle and her loved ones. I must say that I think the story plodded along in too many places. The main character was so indecisive in the face of fear of her husband, that I felt irritated with her. In fact, I was irritated with many of the characters and their seemingly helplessness in the control of their own lives. If you want a possibly true depiction of what life among the upper crust in London was during the depressive years, then you might like this book. Though I do enjoy novels giving glimpses of the past, this one was not my favorite.

I downloaded a Kindle copy of this novel from NetGalley.com in return for my honest review.