Review: The Marriage Betrayal

Title: The Marriage Betrayal
Author: Lynne Graham
Genre: Romance
Rating: R
Publisher: Harlequin Presents
Publication Date: July 26, 2011
Source: NetGalley
My Rating: 2**

[Goodreads | Amazon]

Synopsis
Careless passion, pregnancy surprise…

Sander Volakis goes his own way. He’s forged his reputation in business, rather than relying on the family fortune, and indulges his darkly passionate, wild streak – he has no intention of marrying… He doesn’t do country weekends, either. Pitching up at Westgrave Manor is a favour to his father and a bore…until he sees Tally Spencer, so pretty and voluptuous that he can’t resist her. Sander’s looking forward to casually seducing her…little knowing that one night with the innocent Tally could end his playboy existence… THE VOLAKIS VOW A marriage made of secrets…

Sander Volakis has no intention of marrying - until he sees Tally Spencer. He can't resist her . . . little knowing that one night with the innocent Tally could end his playboy existence...

My Thoughts

It has been a very long time since I read a straight up romance book.  After reading this one, I remember why I stopped.  The story is a familiar one.  Tally is self-reliant and from a broken home.  As a result she is looking for love, but holding out for the one.  Sander is a spoiled playboy who is not used to hearing the word no.  Sander likes the thrill of the challenge that Tally brings and wants to sleep with her, but doesn’t want to have a relationship.  Tally puts up half-hearted attempts to resist while still maintaining her secret identity.  Of course said resistance lasts all of a day under the overwhelming onslaught of Sander’s advances that come while he is trying to dodge his deceased brother’s fiancée.  This all happens in a 48-hour period.

Once back home in the real world, Tally tries to stay away from Sander but of course she is unable to resist.  Relationship, if you could call it that, continues and of course she ends up pregnant.  Include the stereotypical “you are trying to trap me and it’s your fault you are pregnant” argument and a blackmail plot that really wasn’t much of a plot but more an ultimatium and you pretty much have the whole story.  The love scenes were nothing spectacular and in all honesty, I found myself skipping over them entirely.  The main characters are both very annoying.  Tally manages to come across as having no backbone at all despite all of her posturing and Sander the playboy is so laughable it’s not even funny.

While the story idea sounds good in and of itself, the execution of it leaves a lot to be desired.  It is a relatively short book at 192 pages and is actually part one of a two part series.  Even though I really didn’t enjoy this book, I am going to read the second one.  It will be interesting to see if after reading the second one if I will like the first one better.

Disclosure: This review was done after reading an uncorrected ARC copy courtesy of NetGalley and Harlequin Presents. My priority is to you, and I honour that commitment by being honest! I don’t do reviews for payment, nor do I guarantee favourable reviews for any book/galley/ARC sent to me for review. I promise to stay truthful with you and all opinions represented here are my own. If you are uncertain what this all means, I urge you to read my Review Policy for further clarification. You can also contact me at contact@nicoleabouttown.com.