November 26, 2012

Review: Hale Maree by Misty Provencher



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.


2 comments:

  1. Thank you, 4AM! If you would've stayed up one more hour, I would've called you and talked about it!!!

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  2. Great review. I am really looking forward to reading this.

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