Book Review: Arranged

Arranged

About the Book:

Every single one of Anne Blythe's relationships has ended in disaster, so when fate leads her to the doorstep of a highly secretive arranged-marriage agency, she decides to take a chance

Anne Blythe has a great life: a good job, good friends, and a potential book deal for her first novel. When it comes to finding someone to share it with, however, she just can't seem to get it right.

After yet another relationship ends, Anne comes across a business card for what she thinks is a dating service, and she pockets it just in case. When her best friend, Sarah, announces she's engaged, Anne can't help feeling envious. On an impulse, she decides to give the service a try because maybe she could use a little assistance in finding the right man. But Anne soon discovers the company isn't a dating service; it's an exclusive, and pricey, arranged marriage service. She initially rejects the idea, but the more she thinks about it-and the company's success rate-the more it appeals to her. After all, arranged marriages are the norm for millions of women around the world, so why wouldn't it work for her?

A few months later, Anne is travelling to a Mexican resort, where in one short weekend she will meet and marry Jack. And against all odds, everything seems to be working out....

My Comments:

Romance novels are great when you want a predictable read with a happy ending.  The pattern is pretty set--boy meets girl, attraction, problem, resolution...and you know the resolution, if it brings tears to your eyes, will bring tears of joy, not sorrow.  In some ways, this is a romance, but in other ways, it is not.  I won't tell you what the problem is, or the resolution--except that it isn't  a guaranteed happily ever after.  I will tell you that it can make you stop and think about your own relationships--not only dating relationships but also marital ones, and to some extent even close friendship.

When preparing for and entering into an arranged marriage, Anne is forced to look at her past relationships and what they had in common, and why they failed.  The set up of the arranged marriage made her re-think her priorities and consider other parts of the relationship than the heady "in love" feeling.  I can't say that I think arranged marriages are the way to go, but I think a lot of people would be a lot happier if they worked on the relationship they are in rather than looking for a new one.

Anne does end up in bed with her husband, but it is after the wedding and we don't get to watch.

I can't say I particularly liked Anne.  Sometimes I felt sorry for her; at others I thought she was clueless or worried too much about dumb stuff.  Her guy comes off as the lovable rogue, but I understand the feelings she had about him at the end of the book.

I'd like to thank the publisher for making a review copy available via edelweiss.  Grade:  B+

About the Author:

Catherine McKenzie was born and raised in Montreal, Canada. A graduate of McGill University and McGill Law School, Catherine practices law in Montreal. Her novels SPIN and ARRANGED are International Bestsellers. They, along with her third novel, FORGOTTEN, will all be published in the US by William Morrow in 2012. SPIN has also been published in French (Ivresse) and German (Sternhagelverliebt), and ARRANGED will be published in French in June, 2012.  Her website can be found at http://catherinemckenzie.com/

Other Books by McKenzie:

The Last Real Cowboy: My Review

The Last Real Cowboy 

 and

The Rancher's Runaway Princess:

About the Book:

From the moment he turned up late to her charity's meeting, placating everyone with a tip of his Stetson and a lazy smile, Angela Beck knew that Sam Diamond was going to be Trouble with a capital T.

Angela is the prickliest woman Sam's ever met—let alone had to work with! He'd love to still her sharp tongue with a kiss, but first he has to get close enough to awaken the complex woman beneath the deliberately cool exterior. And that's something only a real cowboy can do.…

My Comments:

I started using Amazon's blurbs to tell about books because they usually give a good summary, so all I have to do is add an opinion.  Honestly I don't think much of the blurb above, but I did really enjoy The Last Real  Cowboy.  Angela has been the victim of abuse and is now in the process of opening what she hopes will be the first of a large number of homes for abused women.  Sam is the heir apparent to a large successful ranch.  His mother was a major patron of Angela's foundation, giving both time and money but when her husband becomes ill, she turns her attention to him, and  passes Angela and her project to her son.  Angela would rather be able to everything herself; she is determined not to get in the position of needing anyone, and yet, she ends up needing Sam and he delivers.  

I liked the way Donna Alward managed to work information about abuse and abusers into her plot and the way she showed why some women seem to not want to get away.  Angela and Sam were great characters who had a lot of sizzle between them, yet they never make it to bed in this book.  

The second story is The Rancher's Runaway Princess  and while it was a quick amusing read, it just struck me as far-fetched and neither main character really caught my interest.  It was about a young woman who recently discovered she was a princess and a Canadian rancher.  Both are afraid of revealing themselves to the other.  Both love horses.  Both learn that love is worth it....

Overall, I'll give the volume a B-.  I'd like to thank the publisher for making a review copy available via NetGalley.  

Amazon Freebie Review: Healing Hearts

Healing Hearts

About the Book:
Bounced from one foster home to another, Sarah Churchill learned early that love is conditional and nothing is free. Not even the homeless dog she accidentally runs over.

Veterinarian Grant Morrison is a sucker for strays, both the four-legged kind and the two-legged kind. So when a blonde walks into his office with an injured dog, he does the only thing he knows how to do and stitches up the dog for free.

But Sarah has her pride. Determined never to be a charity case again, she won't accept the service and insists on working at the clinic to pay for the bill.

Can one man and one big, furry dog break down the wall of hurt and distrust and show Sarah the true meaning of happiness and unconditional love?

My Comments:

As Amazon freebies go, this one was pretty good.  Grant is a healer, and Sarah needs healing.  She's been hurt so often that she is afraid to let people in, afraid to need anyone.  The dog brought them together and since it is a romance, you know how it ends.  The price is now back to $2.99 but if you are looking for a quick, sweet, clean read, I don't think you'd consider that to be wasted money.  Grade:  B-

Sunday Snippets--A Catholic Carnival

I'd like to welcome everyone to Sunday Snippets--A Catholic Carnival. We are a group of Catholic bloggers who gather weekly to share our best posts with each other. To particpate, go to your blog and create an entry titled Sunday Snippets--A Catholic Carnival. In it, highlight one or more of your posts from the past week that you believe would be of interest to Catholic bloggers---whether they are posts reflecting on spiritual matters or posts about antics of Catholic kids, or anything in between. Come back here and enter the URL of that post below. Finally, go visit other participants, and leave comments!

If you want a weekly reminder to post, join our yahoogroup. I'm glad to have everyone here, and just want to remind you that posts linked below should contain a link back here.

Only one book review this week--Trauma Plan is a Christian romance.  

My baby makes eight tomorrow and today was a very special day for her. I bought her one of those wreaths with veils attached like all the girls were wearing, but she doesn't like stuff in her hair and insisted on wearing my First Communion veil--until we got there at which time she decided she didn't want to wear anything. I convinced her to wear the veil for the photos and entrance procession but when she got up to lead the hand motions for the Alleluia and to actually receive Communion, the veil was in the pew.

Such an angel

I like this one

Grandpa came!

Posing by the garden