Book Review: The Harder They Fall by Doreen Owens Malek

Rating:

Marriage of Convenience

Helene Danforth loved two men, (two brothers really) – Martin made her feel safe and secure while his half brother Chris made her heart pitter patter. Martin was a great guy and could never see anything bad about Helene or his brother. Chris loves and respects his older brother so much, worships him in fact. And Helene, she was too honorable to be anything but proper.

But fate had other plans. Martin dies from a car accident and Helene pregnant with his child. Chris would not have Martin’s child be born a bastard. He was one and he knew how hard it was, he told Helene. So, he would marry her to give the child a name.

But, it was not a marriage of convenience because there were sparks between the two of them from day one.

***MY TAKE ON THE STORY***
The story has the makings of a tearjerker, but it never got there. All three characters tugged at your heartstrings but since they were never developed fully, the all out empathy for any of them never came. That’s why I’m giving this four stars and not five. I had to take away a star because I really wanted a good cry because all three characters are tragic.

Not surprisingly, the tragic nature of the protagonists is the reason why I did not give the book three stars (which is really my original rating). The star was because the plotline is unusual in the sense that all three protagonists are tragic. It’s hard to pull a happily-ever-after with three sad people. But the author did. I just wished that she was able to develop them more so that it would be a real tearjerker and the feeling of release would come after everyone tugged at your heartstrings.

This book is Rated M for Mature due to sexual content

the harder they fall