Title: Arranged
Author: Catherine McKenzie
Genre: Fiction
About: (Book flap synopsis) 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.
My thoughts: If the synopsis appeals to you at all, find the book and read it! At first, although it sounded entertaining, I thought it also sounded too far-fetched but once I got into the story I loved every minute I spent with Anne, Jack and the rest of the characters.
What I liked most is the point that relationships based on friendship and compatibility have a better chance of working out than lust first, maybe love later or (as statistics show) probably divorce.
The author wrote in the first person which took me a few pages to get used to and then it was like listening to my best friend tell me this extraordinary story. I had a hard time putting it down each night.
Recommend? Yes, I enjoyed Arranged very much and look forward to reading more from Catherine McKenzie.
Source: PK from aisle b sent it to me. Thank you, PK!!
Bookfan 
I definitely agree with you about the friendship and compatability theory. Going with a different angle arranged marriages go on so many theories so very different from the concept of love and romance and they also do seem to work!
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I always do like a book that makes me want to read more by said author 🙂
A book like sounds like if a best friend was telling you it, now that sounds interesting
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Sounds sort of neat. I’m not a big proponent of dating services but they totally work for some and often make pretty good reading material. ;O)
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It sounds as though this is a book that you sort of get drawn into…
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Terrific review. I’m glad this one is so good. I’ve had it on my list.
2 Kids and Tired Books
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Far-fetched works for me, especially in a summer read. This sounds like a really entertaining books.
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This sounds like an excellent book! I will have to remember this one!
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I’ve got this book right beside me on my table. I really need to get to it. I started it and I’m enjoying it. I’m just really behind right now. Have you read Spin by her? It’s really good as well.
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Thanks for the great review! Catherine McKenzie
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I used to love reading the arranged marriage plots in romance novels. It always intrigued me – the idea of near-strangers marrying. Of course, in a romance novel I always knew things would turn out okay. This book sounds like there is some mystery to the story as well as the ending. It may not be happily-ever-after. Good review with no spoilers.
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I like the concept behind this one and knowing you enjoyed it so, I have no doubts that I will too!!!
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Oh my gosh this sounds EXACTLY like the type of book I would love. I will need to get this for some summer reading!
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Oooh, glad to hear it’s as good as I hoped!
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Now I’m very curious about what that business really is. I know someone who is an arranged marriage and they’re very happy.
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I absolutely loved this book but most of all it was the tell tale reference to my favorite Canadian red head Anne of Green Gables. Anne in Arranged has a wacky mother who loved the Green Gable series so much she named her daughter after the heroine of this series.
I had so much fun with this one and now I have to find SPIN next. I’ll let you know how that one turns out.
PS Very happy that you loved it too 🙂
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Oh, I think this book sounds like fun! If I know going in that a premise is difficult to believe, I usually can just put that aside and enjoy the book for what it is. I’ll definitely pick this one up.
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