An Unwitting Alliance

Anneka R. Walker

Cassandra Vail has but one objective at the Kellens’ ball: she must secure a proposal from her eminently suitable suitor. Instead, she finds her best-laid plans thwarted by another man―the handsome and thoroughly vexing Mr. Harwood. Thanks to his meddling, Cassandra is faced with an unthinkable consequence: her parents take matters into their own hands and betroth her to a complete stranger.

Tom Harwood meant only to deter a debutante from pursuing his friend. He wasn’t supposed to be entranced by her. He certainly wasn’t supposed to flirt with her. And he especially wasn’t supposed to engage the wrong woman entirely. To make matters worse, he’s offended Cassandra and before he has the opportunity to make amends, he finds himself the latest unwitting victim of the meddlesome Matchmaking Mamas. His parents have signed a contract for his hand in marriage, and it seems his mysterious betrothed is as opposed to the union as he is.

When the reluctant couple finally meets, they are shocked to realize they are not strangers after all. Can one miserable beginning be overcome, or has their future ended before it even begins?

My Review: 8/10

I really enjoyed this story. Anneka Walker has become one to watch (with anticipation!) for me. I enjoyed the humor, the family dynamics, and the characters.

But I did have a few snags:
I didn't enjoy the constant bemoaning of their arranged marriage - "a forced union could never be a positive one." What utter nonsense. Once their feelings changed, I was especially impatient with the constant insistence that Cassie needed to be released from something she -wanted- just so she could -choose- it herself. In my opinion it was immature and arbitrary. Aaaaand the attitude felt out of place - a lot of marriages were arranged in the early 1800s. If you happened to get one that was everything you could have hoped for and more, I'd think you'd have been praising God for your good fortune.

Toward the end the story felt dragged on - unnecessary hurt feelings, misunderstandings, trying to give each other what they wanted but it sends the wrong message, ugh.

And I personally, am not crazy about the tight knit group of friends / family that descends like a swarm of locusts on the latest couple at the end of the book. It's a formula that Sarah Eden has employed a lot and Kristi Hunter did as well and I'm just not into it. Maybe because I never had it? I don't know but it rubs me the wrong way every time.

Anyway, don't let my criticisms deter you. They were only regarding the last 5-10% of the book - the rest was great! I'd recommend it, read it again, and will eagerly be anticipating more by this author.