Thirty-something Anne Blythe is living the American dream.
With a close circle of friends, a supportive family, and the
impending sale of her first novel, Anne is truly lucky. Yet
despite all of her successes, something is missing in her
life... the right man. Regrettably, she keeps falling for
the wrong kind of guy. On the verge of her latest break-up,
she is beginning to doubt if she'll ever find Mr. Right.
Things go from bad to worse for Anne when her best friend
Sarah announces her engagement. Of course she is happy for
her dear friend; however, it just makes Anne feel even more
upset about her situation or lack thereof. As luck would
have it, on her way home one day she happens to find a
business card on the street bearing her name, Blythe and
Company. Thinking it's a dating service, she makes an
appointment in hopes of finding her match.
As is typical in Anne's not so ordinary life, Blythe and
Company is not a dating service. Rather, this posh company
is a provider of arranged marriages. With a steep fee and a
barrage of interview questions, the company promises to find
her the perfect man. Thinking she has exhausted all of her
options, Anne decides to take a chance and signs up for
their services. A few months later, she is on a plane to
Mexico to meet her future husband.
ARRANGED is the second novel by Canadian writer Catherine
McKenzie. Like her debut release Spin, her latest
endeavor is just as captivating. What I like best about her
writing is the raw vulnerability she exposes in each of her
characters. Her choice of topics is off the beaten path
making her books fresh and addictive. Rather than stick to
the typical romance formula, she dares to shake things up a
bit and delivers an unforgettable story worth every last
cent.
Anne Blythe has a great life: a good job, close friends, and
a potential book deal for her first novel. When it comes to
finding someone to share her life with, however, she just
can't seem to get it right. When her latest relationship
implodes, and her best friend announces she's engaged, Anne
impulsively calls what she thinks is a dating service—only
to discover that it's actually an exclusive, and pricey,
arranged marriage service. Anne initially rejects the idea,
but the more she learns about the service, the more she
thinks: Why not? After all, arranged marriages are the norm
for millions of women around the world; maybe it could work
for her.
A few months later, Anne is traveling to a Mexican resort,
where, over the course of a weekend, she meets and then
marries Jack. And initially, everything seems to be working
out. . . .