The Stranger I Married Book

4 ½ Stars! Sooo good!

"Theirs was a union made for all the wrong reasons, but in the end it was one that could not have been more right."

When I started reading this I somewhat thrown by the beginning of the book, even thought of putting it aside for a while. BUT I heard Kathleen in my head telling what a great read this was, plus I loved Sylvia Day's book, Bared To You, so I forged ahead. I was pleasantly surprised at the turn this book took, and thoroughly enjoyed the development and strength in the relationship that ensued between Pel, and Gray. What was a scandalous and inappropriate, although arranged and agreed upon marriage, turned into a beautiful emotional love story!!

Gray is a scoundrel, has 2 mistresses, and absolutely no shame for his incorrigible ways. Pel was married to a man very similar to Gray in personality, now widowed, she is only looking for companionship, but the men she takes up with are looking for more. So Gray proposes her an option, marry him and she is rid of any more suitors, and for him, no more debutantes chasing him, his mistresses won't expect more than he already giving them and his despicable mother will have no reason to hound him to get married. It's a marriage of convenience, no sex and it works for both of them until Gray receives tragic news, he leaves and is gone for 4 years. I had some trouble with this and didn't care for Gray at all, not one bit! He returns a changed man and is determined to set things right with Pel. Gray wants to win the heart of the woman he married, he doesn't just want a piece of her…he wants it all.

As Pel and Gray go on this journey to discover each other and a love that could be, I found myself admiring her and falling head over heels for him. He is persistent, humorous, caring, and insatiable! One yummy scrumptious dish of a man! Oh, Gray's intolerable mother tries to derail them, but they build on the faith and the friendship they have for each other, and don't fall victim to her despicable attempts to separate them. That's what I loved most about this book, they came to hurdle and they jumped over it…together!! As much as Pel fought it in the beginning she becomes as determined as he is to make this work. Even her old flame, Lord Hargreaves, John, who was recruited to tear them apart, sees that Gray and Pel are more than a marriage of convenience, and re-thinks his part in all of it. I hope that someday Sylvia Day will write a book for him, he is more than deserving to have a love of his own.

As the level of intimacy between Pel and Gray increases, so does their love for each other and they become Gerard and Isabel…from beginning to end…it was just beautiful!

There is also a lovely secondary romance that involves Isabel's brother Rhys, and the darling Abby. It added another layer of emotion and sweetness to the story. They had some unexpected heated exchanges of a sexual nature and YOWZA, it was quite the bonus for the readers.

My one complaint is that I wish we were given more information on where Gray went and exactly what he was doing in the four years he was gone. What we got was vague at best.

The dialogue is fantastic; the writing is superb, the sexual intimacy between Gray and Pel is sensual, passionate, smokin' hot and real! Almost too real!! It's set me on FIRE!! Lot's seat squirming, panting…maybe even a moan or two…okay lots of moaning, and the misting fan got a good workout!! I need new batteries!

I bow down to you Kathleen you know what you speak of, I agree, it was a fabulous read! I LOVED IT!!I know, I know, you told me so and btw…Seven Years to Sin…I'm on it friend!!