Review: The Mistletoe Promise by Richard Paul Evans

The Mistletoe Promise by Richard Paul Evans, AF, 2014, Hardcover, 251p, My Rating=5
Source: library

Elise Dutton dreads the arrival of another holiday season. Three years earlier, her husband cheated on her with her best friend, resulting in a bitter divorce that left her alone, broken, and distrustful.
Then, one November day, a stranger approaches Elise in the mall food court. Though she recognizes the man from her building, Elise has never formally met him. Tired of spending the holidays alone, the man offers her a proposition. For the next eight weeks—until the evening of December 24—he suggests that they pretend to be a couple. He draws up a contract with four rules:
1. No deep, probing personal questions
2. No drama
3. No telling anyone the truth about the relationship
4. The contract is void on Christmas Day
The lonely Elise surprises herself by agreeing to the idea. As the charade progresses, the safety of her fake relationship begins to mend her badly broken heart. But just as she begins to find joy again, her long-held secret threatens to unravel the emerging relationship. But she might not be the only one with secrets.

Tragedy, struggle, hope, forgiveness, and love ...ingredients that can be found in most of Mr. Evans's romance books. For me, it doesn't get old and works each time! This one was particularly heartrending and with an eye opening perspective that it invoked quite a bit of empathy from me. Truly, this author has a gift with words in relating tender messages of humanity's stretch in dealing with life's difficult circumstances.

I suspect that one reason many take to Mr. Evans's books is because the fictional characters can very well be me or you. Since his fictional characters always find light at the end of the tunnel, therefore, so shall we. It's an inspiring and comforting report.

An excellent sweep you off your feet romance even to the most seemingly unbefitting individuals.