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Merissa (12627 KP) created a post

Jul 25, 2023  
"A regency romance laced with adventure, an arranged marriage, a love triangle, and more!"

Tour & #Giveaway: Gamble of Hearts by Virginia Barlow - #Historical, #Romance,

https://archaeolibrarian.wixsite.com/website/post/gambleofheartsbyvirginiabarlow
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Kate (355 KP) rated The Moonlit Cage in Books

Jan 30, 2019  
The Moonlit Cage
The Moonlit Cage
Linda Holeman | 2006 | Fiction & Poetry
9
7.5 (2 Ratings)
Book Rating
Read it a few years ago and it has always stuck with me, found it recently at the back of a bookshelf and reading it again. About a young girl growing up in the remote areas of Afghanistan, being forced into an arranged marriage and then finding her way in the world. Not too soppy or romantic but realistic would suggest that everyone read it.
  
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Ross (3284 KP) rated Captain Marvel, Volume 2: Stay Fly in Books

Jul 31, 2019  
Captain Marvel, Volume 2: Stay Fly
Captain Marvel, Volume 2: Stay Fly
Kelly Sue DeConnick | 2015 | Comics & Graphic Novels
7
7.8 (5 Ratings)
Book Rating
Decent but not for me
I get that I am not the target market for this incarnation of Captain Marvel. This collection is split roughly in three. The story surrounding Chewie, with Rocket, was good, funny and well written. The second story, trying to save a rock star from an arranged marriage, was tedious drivel (similar to volume 1's Phantom Menace trade negotiations rubbish), and the third was slightly more what I would have expected from Marvel, a villain's attempt to take over New York.
A good collection for a character that some might really love, but definitely not my cup of tea.
  
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Lyndsey Gollogly (2893 KP) rated Daughter of Summer ( Immortals 1) in Books

Apr 12, 2023  
DO
Daughter of Summer ( Immortals 1)
Victoria A. Williams | 2023
7
7.0 (1 Ratings)
Book Rating
44 of 235
Kindle
Daughter of Summer ( Immortals 1)
By Victoria A. Williams
⭐⭐⭐

Volatile secret powers. An arranged marriage. An Immortal Prince.

For the first time in over a century, Immortal Prince, Dagen, is to take a mortal wife. Both feared and revered across the world, Dagen leaves his home of snow and twilight to retrieve her. But in order to ensure his intended, Eira of Vasaros, does not fear him, he deceives her, pretending to be an emissary.

In a world of rising tensions, Eira knows an arranged marriage will provide a welcome alliance. She willingly accepts her duty but that doesn’t stop her from fearing her future.

Eira is hiding a secret power that she doesn't understand and struggles to control. She is afraid of the emissary who has come to retrieve her, yet finding an attraction that could cause untold turmoil. The closer she gets to him, the stronger her powers become. In a world still distrusting of magic, Eira is desperate to protect herself and does the only thing she can – has the knowledge of her powers bound by a Secret Keeper.

Journey through a world of colourful magical characters, Fae influences, a fearsome warrior race and secret powers.

I quite enjoyed it. It was a fun quick easy read. The only thing holding it back from a 4star was it being very predictable. The characters are likeable the story is interesting and it’s well paced.
  
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Debbiereadsbook (1398 KP) rated The Captain and the Theatrical in Books

Sep 3, 2019  
The Captain and the Theatrical
The Captain and the Theatrical
Catherine Curzon | 2019 | Contemporary, LGBTQ+, Romance
7
7.0 (1 Ratings)
Book Rating
very enjoyable read
I was gifted my copy of this book, that I write a review was not required.

Ambrose Pendleton is a hero and returns home from war to his father’s meddling into his love life. Or lack thereof. Pen now faces an arranged marriage his father has brokered as part of a business deal. To get out of this marriage, Pen needs a fiancée, and who better than his long-time friend and actor, Orsini, who has a leading lady who might just fit the bill. But Pen has long held feelings for Orsini, feelings a man should not have for another. Then Orsini surprises him and throws his own feelings at Pen. Now they just need to get rid of the dreadful arranged marriage and they can be together.

For the most part, I did enjoy this. It was a little bit different and different is always good in my book, but something didn’t quite work for me, and I cannot figure out what. And I hate that I can’t!

Pen and Orsini are old friends, and Pen has crushed on Orsini for a long time. He did not know that feeling was the same for Orsini, though. With Orsini pretending to be Pen’s new bride, the pair get close, far closer than they should. I loved how it really was a bit of a slow burn for these two. It’s not overly explicit, but it doesn’t need to be for these two.

Both Pen and Orsini have a say, and I didn’t think that was going to be the case for a while, so I am glad they both were given a voice.

There was a little twist, with the missing jewels, that I did not see coming, and I thought Pen’s mother might have given the game away a time or two. I think she had them sussed, I really do!

An enjoyable way to spend and lazy Sunday evening.

3.5 stars (rounded up to four the Amazon and Goodreads)

**same worded review will appear elsewhere**
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Merissa (12627 KP) rated Unlike Any Other by Ed Londergan in Books

May 18, 2022 (Updated Jun 19, 2023)  
Unlike Any Other by Ed Londergan
Unlike Any Other by Ed Londergan
Ed Londergan | 2022 | Fiction & Poetry
8
8.0 (1 Ratings)
Book Rating
UNLIKE ANY OTHER is the story of Bathsheba Spooner, the first woman to be executed in the new United States of America. You find out, through her eyes, what it was like to live a life of privilege, to be passed on in an arranged marriage, to have all her hopes and dreams dashed, to a point where murder is the only way out.

Bathsheba was brought up to speak her mind, to be strong-spirited. She had dreams of marrying a wealthy man from Boston and joining Society. So when she finds out her father has arranged a marriage to a local merchant, she's not happy but eventually agrees to it. Her marriage isn't a happy one, with Joshua frequenting the local taverns more than he does his home. That doesn't stop him from his conjugal rights though. When a young man, half of Bathsheba's age, stays at their home to recover from an illness, she feels the stirrings of desire she hasn't felt for a long time.

This was a well-written piece of history that I thoroughly enjoyed. I found out more about what it was like for the people of America at that time, as well as the Boston Tea Party! Bathsheba's options were so limited at a time when a woman's rights were close to zero. I do wonder why she didn't contact her brother but, at a time when the war was dividing families, I guess I'm not 100% surprised.

I would have liked to have heard a little from Ezra Ross but maybe there isn't enough written from his account to tell his story.

A historical fiction based on a true story that I have no hesitation in recommending.

** same worded review will appear elsewhere **

* A copy of this book was provided to me with no requirements for a review. I voluntarily read this book, and the comments here are my honest opinion. *

Merissa
Archaeolibrarian - I Dig Good Books!
May 12, 2022
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Hazel (1853 KP) rated Arranged in Books

Dec 14, 2018  
A
Arranged
Catherine McKenzie | 2015
8
8.0 (1 Ratings)
Book Rating
<i>I received this book for free through Goodreads First Reads.

Arranged</i> is a contemporary, chick-lit by Catherine McKenzie about love and marriage. Anne Blythe, a thirty three year old <i>Anne of Green Gables</i> look alike, has been unlucky in love. After breaking up with her most recent boyfriend she despairs that she will remain alone for the rest of her life. But that very day she finds a business card titled “Blythe & Company Arrangements Made”. Intrigued by the surname and assuming it is a dating company she books herself an appointment.

Anne soon discovers that <i>Blythe & Company</i> is actually an arranged marriage service, however she decides to go along with it and ends up in Mexico marrying a man named Jack who she has only just met. Now comes the hard part – living together, coming up with a plausible story to tell her friends and family and dealing with their mixed reaction. But just as Anne begins to feel she may have got her happy ever after she learns something about Jack that could ruin everything.

This story is a brilliant concept that makes the reader want to keep on reading. All the main characters are likable, particularly Anne, which ensures the reader will not get bored of the storyline. For over three quarters of the novel McKenzie writes as though everything is going to turn out ok, leaving the reader feeling sure that something must go wrong somewhere along the line, yet also wishing that it will not.

Admittedly, chick-lit is not my first choice of genre to read and many of these books are nothing special. However this concept was really interesting and I enjoyed the novel. I would definitely recommend it to lots of female readers particularly the hopeless romantics.
  
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Carma (21 KP) rated Royally Arranged (Bad Boy Royals #3) in Books

Jun 17, 2019  
Royally Arranged (Bad Boy Royals #3)
Royally Arranged (Bad Boy Royals #3)
Nora Flite | 2018
6
6.0 (1 Ratings)
Book Rating
Royally Arranged is the 3rd book in the Bad Boy Royals series. Although I’ve enjoyed other Nora Flite books, this one left me a little disappointed. For that reason I can only give 3 ¼ stars.

Nova Valentine was basically a pawn in her own family. They used her when they needed her and she was expected to do whatever they wished of her. Meeting Hawthorne Badd gave her an unexpected dose of freedom.

Thorne Badd was a self made man, helping his father in the business was just expected of him. He couldn’t have been more surprised to find his father was a Prince in his old life. After the King dies, the country needs a new leader and turn to Thorne as heir apparent.

Nova and Thorne embark on an arranged marriage to benefit both families and save the country of Torino, or so it seems.

This book flip flopped a lot for me and I actually thought it was a flashback scenario for a while until I got further in and realized it was just a case of mistaken identity. I didn’t really enjoy any of the Valentine characters including Nova. She was just too spineless for me to even consider. Thorne and his father were my favorite characters from the book but even they couldn’t help me enjoy it more.

I doubt I will pass by another Nora Flite book in the future but this definitely wasn’t my cup of tea. I received a copy without expectation for review, any and all opinions expressed are my own.
  
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Louise (64 KP) rated When Dimple Met Rishi in Books

Jul 2, 2018  
When Dimple Met Rishi
When Dimple Met Rishi
Sandhya Menon | 2017 | Fiction & Poetry, Young Adult (YA)
8
7.4 (18 Ratings)
Book Rating
*I received a copy of this book from Netgalley and the publisher in exchange for an honest review*

I do love myself a good YA contemporary, and this delivered. ‘When Dimple met Rishi’ has everything that you could want in a coming of age novel, it was diverse, there was romance, families, friendships and the difficulties of growing up.

I couldn’t believe this was Sandhya Menon’s debut novel as the characters felt so real and the writing was amazing.

Dimple Shah is 17 and looking forward to the prospect of college, she has enrolled for a course for computer programming and has so many ideas buzzing around her brain. Her mother has always wanted Dimple to get married and find the IIH (Ideal Indian Husband) than become a student. Dimple also wants to attend a summer camp where she can show off her programming skills and start making a name for herself, the course costs $1000 and is shocked when her parents allow her to go but what she doesn’t know is that they have other plans.

Rishi Patel wants to follow in his parents footsteps with his own arranged marriage. He too is to go to the same Summer camp where he is to meet his future bride, however when they come face to face he realises that Dimple’s parents have failed to mention the arrangement to her. Her future of computer programming seems to be slipping from her grasp at lightening speed.

This book was great it is told in dual perspective and the chapters are just the right length. The writing is easy to read and with the dual narrative you don’t get bored.

Going in to this book I had very little knowledge of Indian culture and arranged marriages as it’s not something that I have read about. This is a positive light on arranged marriages rather than the awful experiences that you hear about. I felt the impact that their culture had on these individuals to carry on with the traditions as expected of them.

I loved the characters Dimple and Rishi,they were different yet so right for each other. Dimple was head strong, determined to make a future out of something she loved and living her life as she wanted rather than expectations. She found her mother over-bearing at times as she was forceful in her suggestions. I loved that Dimple was a nerd, nowadays it’s cool to be one and be different from others and I see that now that I am older but not necessarily when I was a teenager.

Rishi was adorable, he was funny,nerdy and also really talented. He wanted to please his parents by doing what they thought best in his school work but when it came to LOVE, Rishi wanted to follow his culture, have an arranged marriage and children. This was firmly his decision and he such passion when he talked about his culture and the times he visited India.

There were a couple of reasons that I didn’t rate this book a 5 stars and they were; I didn’t really like Ashish’s storyline. The plot was a little predictable, it had great feels in the middle but then it fizzled out as I was getting frustrated with Dimples stubbornness.

This book was great it’s a perfect summer/beach read, I loved the characters, the feels that I got from Menon’s writing and the fulfillment of learning something new. I hope this isn’t the last we see from her as she can only continue to get better.

I rated this 4 out of 5 stars
  
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Eilidh G Clark (177 KP) rated (Un)arranged Marriage in Books

Jul 2, 2019  
(Un)arranged Marriage
(Un)arranged Marriage
Bali Rai | 2001 | Contemporary, Fiction & Poetry
8
8.0 (1 Ratings)
Book Rating
Humour, language (0 more)
Too easy to read (0 more)
This is a funny book
Contains spoilers, click to show
This is the first book I've read for pleasure since I completed my 3rd year at university. This is the type of book I enjoy and I wasn't disappointed.
The story is written in first person from the point of view of a young English Indian boy. It begins on his wedding day and his nervousness and anger at being forced into an arranged marriage. The author then writes the book in retrospect, and takes the reader back three years. The story explores the difficulty of the protagonist who struggles to adhere to his family's traditional views and religion. He endures years of beatings from his alcoholic father and emotional blackmail from his mother. He is beaten and ridiculed by his older brothers and his intimate narration allows the reader to discover his feelings of 'otherness'amongst his family whilst he attempts to live a normal life as an ordinary English boy. The author explores racism, poverty, domestic violence, neglect and love through the use of bildungsroman which concludes with the protagonist choosing his own path in life. It is by no means a happy ending, but it demonstrates determination and an understanding of a culture that the character is unable to comprehend.
Interesting and easy novel to read.