REVIEW: Arranged by Catherine McKenzie

Arranged by Catherine McKenzie: From the second I read the synopsis, I was chomping at the bit to read this book. It’s not a new release, but I only saw it recently, and I had to put in my two cents.

Anne Blythe is a bit of a misfit. She keeps falling for the same type of guy, and unfortunately, they’re all duds. The worst part about it is that she’s given up several years to the last one only to find out he’s cheating on her. An age-old story, but she was quite tired of it.

She was smart enough to have her escape planned out. Anne secured a new place to live before she confronted Stuart – but that doesn’t lessen the pain of another failed relationship. When she arrives at her new apartment to spend her first night in a long time as a single woman, she finds a business card for what she thinks is a dating service. The fact that it shared her last name seemed like serendipity – even though she doesn’t decide to call them right away.

Her life is just a series of small disappointments that lead her to give the Blythe & Co. a shot, and she finds out that it’s not a dating service at all. They arrange marriages – and they’re not only exclusive and choosy, they’re very expensive. The ninety-five percent success rate nudges her to move forward, and as she gets each step further, the better the arranged marriage route sounds.

Serendipity being what it is, her book is finally sold to a publisher, just in time for the advance to pay the Blythe Agency. It surely can’t hurt, and they’ve said it could take six months or more to find her perfect match. When Anne gets the call just two weeks later, she can’t believe what she’s hearing. Not only have they found her a husband, he’s one of the best matches they’ve ever had.

Soon she finds herself being whisked away to Mexico where the agency sets up each couple, marries them, and asks that they tell their family and friends about a whirlwind romance. That’s easy enough, especially when Anne meets Jack and feels like her story isn’t far from the truth.

The couple starts a life together, but it doesn’t take long before some truths come out that expose secrets that Jack’s been hiding. Can Anne survive another relationship failure? Especially now that she realizes Jack would’ve been her perfect man?
This wasn’t a typical romance novel. It was definitely romantic, with a bit of a twist. Almost on the verge of being a mystery.
Anne’s life was never in peril, so nothing to worry about on that score. I felt a twist every time she had a setback, and when Jack’s real story is revealed, it’s just heartbreaking. All the characters were fully fleshed-out, including Anne’s friends – Sarah and William, and her family.

You may need to allow Anne to grow on you. I liked her early on, but I could see how she might look shallow and a little meek. Great read if you enjoy romantic fiction.

Book Info:

Published May 15th 2012 by William Morrow Paperbacks

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, it seems to be working out-until Anne learns that Jack, and the company that arranged their marriage, are not what they seem at all.