Love has designs of its own....To all of London society, Lord and Lady Tremaine had the ideal arrangement: a marriage based on civility, courteousness, and freedom--by all accounts, a perfect marriage. The reason? For the last ten years, husband and wife have resided on separate continents. But once upon a time, things were quite different for the Tremaines....When Gigi Rowland first laid eyes on Camden Saybrook, the attraction was immediate and overwhelming. But what began in a spark of passion ended in betrayal the morning after their wedding--and now Gigi wants to be free to marry again. When Camden returns from America with an outrageous demand in exchange for her freedom, Gigi's decision will have consequences she never imagined, as secrets are exposed, desire is rekindled--and one of London's most admired couples must either fall in love all over again...or let each other go forever.From the Paperback edition.
This is a hard review to write. I liked a lot about the book. It had snappy dialogue. The characters were witty and smart. I loved the way Thomas showed us what was happening in the present but would take us back to the past to show us how everything developed. I love flashbacks and this book did it beautifully. Also there is a lovely secondary romance revolving around Gigi's mother. It's great to see her finally realize her dream.
I know what my issue was with the book. I also know that it is a personal issue. I always feel guilty for even the slightest offense. My memory will not let me forget it and at times it is unbelievably overwhelming. I try my hardest to just "let it go" but it seems like it always resurfaces. I know logically that the offense (great or small) has been dealt with and is in the past but I can't forgive myself. No matter how hard I try.
Having confessed all of this, my biggest issue with Private Arrangements is the way the hero and heroine treat each other. My stomach rolled every time there was a conflict and while this is the idea, I couldn't get past it. They are so hateful and mean that it was too hard for me to believe that in the end they truly had moved on. As a reader I couldn't get past the terrible things they had said and done to each other. It was difficult to believe in their happily-ever-after.
