The Scale by Mika Jolie is the first book in The Martha’s Way series. It tells the story of Minka, a beautiful young woman, who struggled with body image issues and as a result failed to accept herself. This led to her being unable to accept that when persons looked at her they saw a beautiful and sexy woman and not a fat and ugly person.
Minka in her own warped mind distanced herself from her twin sister and her parents because of the insecurities. To make matters worse, she believed her sister took away the man she loved because she was the better-looking twin. It didn’t help to know her sister was marrying said guy and she Minka would be the Maid of Honour. Not an ideal situation for Minka, not even the fact she would spend two weeks at Martha’s Vineyard could shake her despair. Then she meets the drop dead gorgeous and sexy best man, Jason, who she agreed to have two weeks of exclusivity with after one night of mind-blowing sex. Will two weeks be sufficient and will Minka allow her insecurities to impede her from finding love?
I loved this story. It shows how insecurities can prevent one from finding true happiness. Minka allowed her insecurities to dictate her life. Despite the interest Jason had in her and the great way he treated her; she couldn’t accept that a guy who could have any beautiful woman he wanted would want to be with her. She hid her insecurities well, but Jason saw through them.
As someone who struggled with weight in the past, I related to the reason for her insecurities and understood why she would feel that way, bur she disappointed me by her refusal to rise above it and instead allow it to rule her life.
Jason oozed sex appeal. Handsome, hardworking, and intelligent. He had no interest in a committed relationship, but that changed when he got involved with Minka. He had his share of issues, which made it easy for him to recognise Minka’s hang-ups. Despite this, he never gave upon her. He wanted the best for her.
The Scale delivered a captivating, poignant, sweet and romantic story. I found myself deeply invested in the story and the characters. It highlighted the importance of loving ourselves as that is the only way we be able to love others and appreciate the love they offer. Well-paced, the story featured great secondary characters, some of whom have their own stories.
Conclusion/Recommendation
The Scale turned out to be an enjoyable read, and I recommend it to fans of inter-racial contemporary romance.