Men Write Romances Too
I was a bit skeptical about reading a romance novel by a male author.
I didn't even realize there were men out there who tackled this genre. I never stumbled across one when browsing through romance titles.
When I delved into The Mistletoe Promise on my Kindle, I could immediately hear the male voice in the writing. I wasn't sure if I could adjust. Initially, the more clipped and less flowery language wasn't reconciling with my expectations.
The book is written in the first person, which is also less common, and told from the female lead's perspective, making it even more challenging for a male author to effectively communicate what the female psyche holds.
I'm glad I took a chance on this one, and you will too, if you love romance stories, Christmas, and Hallmark!
The Mistletoe Promise Plot
Elise Dutton works at a travel agency in the same mall complex where Nicholas Derr's law office is located, where he is a partner. After watching her dine alone each day in the food court, as he does, Nicholas approaches Elise and makes her a proposition. He suggests they develop a contract (the promise) for eight weeks of the holiday season where they pretend to be an item in order to weather all their social obligations.
The contract Nicholas creates contains these rules:
- No deep, probing personal questions
- No drama
- No telling anyone the truth about the relationship
- Contract expires on Christmas Day
In addition, Nicholas sends daily gifts to Elise's office, pays all their meals and expenses, and takes her out at least one evening per week.
Such pampering reminds me of Richard Gere's character in Pretty Woman who makes a similar proposition to Julie Roberts, only Elise is no prostitute!
Elise is divorced and scarred from having her husband cheat on her with her best friend. She also holds a dark secret that makes her feel unlovable.
The problem with the contract is that it has an expiration date, and Elise falls in love.
Hard to Believe?
I almost stopped reading this book after the first few chapters because it all sounded too unrealistic and unbelievable.
Think about it--if someone approached you at the mall and offered to be your significant other for the holidays, wouldn't you call security?
A woman's first thought would be a man as handsome, wealthy, and successful as Nicholas must have serious mental issues if he needs to go to such extremes to get a date. After all, one would think he could choose from a long line of women anxiously vying for his attention.
Even if you accept the premise the couple is hooking up only to navigate seasonal parties, why would Nicholas send Elise so many expensive gifts every day? It doesn't make sense to invest so much money into something that won't last.
Since I'm practically O.C.D. when it comes to finishing what I've started, I felt compelled to keep reading. I'm glad I did.
Typically, the author sets the scene to make a story believable in the beginning. Richard Paul Evans does it in reverse. The closer you get to the end, the more back story you receive. By the conclusion, the reader sees the full picture, making the story much easier to swallow. The light dawns.
A Story About Forgiveness
The reader will learn Elise's secret is very dark and that Nicholas has one of his own. In a feel-good holiday romance, these secrets are heavy and make the reader uncomfortable. Some might have a hard time wrestling with the revelations.
Regardless, don't we all have pasts? Maybe the worst thing you've ever done is receive a traffic ticket, but others might not get off the hook so easily. In real life, people struggle with a Pandora's box of baggage.
This story is about forgiving yourself and forgiving others rather than carrying the crushing burden of guilt your whole life. There is power in forgiveness. We all need to experience it to find hope.
The Mistletoe Promise Is a Hallmark Movie
Due to its darker themes, Hallmark based a movie on the book, but with so many modifications, the viewer would hardly recognize it.
In the 2016 release, the contract that unites Elise and Nicholas as a pretend couple for the holidays is practically the only nexus it shares with the novel.
Other Novels By Richard Paul Evans Are Hallmark Movies
Richard Paul Evans is a masterful Christmas romance story teller, which is why two more of his books have been adapted for Hallmark. Have you seen them?
- The Mistletoe Secret is a 2019 release starring Kellie Pickler whose character, Aria, runs the Mistletoe Diner where she meets and falls in love with a ghost writer for a travel website.
In the original story by Evans, Aria is a blogger who shares her thoughts online, thinking no one is reading, but Alex Barlett uses the clues she leaves to track her to the Midway, Utah, diner where she works as a waitress.
- The Mistletoe Inn is a 2017 release starring Hallmark regular, Alicia Witt, who plays an aspiring writer attending a retreat to hear a top romance novelist speak, who also happens to be the same stranger she meets and with whom she falls in love.
Although the movie deviates from Evans's novel, it follows more closely than the other two based on his romances.
If you haven't already, try one of Richard Paul Evans's holiday romances--you'll be glad you did!
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| Image: richardpaulevans.com |
#RichardPaulEvans #MistletoePromise
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