Title: Hale Maree
Author: Misty Provencher
Source: ebook from author for review
goodreads...
GENRE: ADULT CONTEMPORARY ROMANCE
Please be advised that this book is NOT
suitable for Young Adult readers due to language and explicit sexual
situations.
Hale Simmons dreams of climbing out of her
impoverished life, going to college, and getting herself a titanium crash
helmet, so she can eventually bust through the Plexiglas ceiling of her crappy
life. But for now, she’s just a 18-year-old girl with a flimsy hope, barely
getting by with her alcoholic father, Jerry.
But for Hale, ‘crappy’ suddenly takes a
nosedive, when Jerry becomes the sole witness to a horrible accident. It is an
event which means to effect everyone, especially Hale, who wasn’t even involved.
While the depth of the accident has just
begun to unfold, Otto Maree, a prominent business man and old family friend,
stands to lose everything because of it. Otto is desperate for Hale’s father to
stay quiet about what occurred the night the two men met for a drink. Out of
mutual moments of desperation, the two fathers forge a deal. Jerry is desperate
to gain financial stability for both himself and Hale, and Otto Maree is more
than willing to pay to keep his secret just that.
But deals like this need to be made of the
strongest vows and bound with the most faithful of loyalties. Otto proposes a
marriage between Hale and his playboy-son, Oscar, in order to assure that the
secret remains ‘in the family’. The mystery surrounding the accident continues
to grow and Hale struggles against her own mysterious feelings that begin to
develop for Oscar, who turns out to less of a playboy, but just as fiercely
loyal and dedicated as his father.
As the pressure around her continues to
escalate, Hale realizes that she’s got to decide if this arranged marriage is
really just a big mistake or an amazing twist of fate that has been waiting
around for this particular accident to happen.
My take...
Who the heck arranges marriages in the US
anymore? I mean, really...it's 2012. But Provencher took something so farfetched
and made it into a book. The whole idea was gutsy...but so brilliant and believable.
I literally devoured this book within 5 hrs. I stayed up almost until 3am to
see what would happen and to finish this awesome book. Then I was left wide
awake replaying it in my mind. Those crazy characters wouldn’t shut up so I
could go get some sleep.
I think readers will get a kick out of the
storyline. I know what you are thinking…who can make someone marry someone else
these days? But Provencher really made you believe that this marriage was going
happen…that it had to happen. The way the story plays out…readers will be
intrigued and a little weak in the knees. The romance is swoon-worthy and there
was enough in the story to have me grinning the entire time. ‘Cause this gal
loves some romance.
Convincing Hale that Oscar really is a good
guy is no easy feat. But seeing it unfold and watching Hale cave is priceless.
Musty (inside joke), I loved this story and everything about it. You had me
addicted from the very start…and not once did I put it down until I was done.
Great story and I recommend it to anyone who loves romance with a side of
suspense. Read it and let me know what you think.
Thank you, 4AM! If you would've stayed up one more hour, I would've called you and talked about it!!!
ReplyDeleteGreat review. I am really looking forward to reading this.
ReplyDelete