Review: 4.5 star read
Rating: 4 out of 5
Date: 03 4, 2013
Ah, my love/hate relationship with Eric Courtland continues in The Arrangement. This fourth installment in Cat Grant's Courtland Chronicles series begins with Eric's wife, Ally, discovering his affair with his on again/off again lover Nick Thompson. Eric's solution for the three of them is a committed ménage relationship. Nick and Ally agree, but their relationship is soon challenged by jealousy, Eric's political career, blackmail and a health crisis.Here is a quick recap of the history between Eric, Ally and Nick. Nick briefly dated Ally in college and they remained friends after their relationship fizzled out. Nick and Eric are college roommates turned lovers. Eric's political aspirations led him to end his relationship with Nick. Ally and Eric married in book three, Complications, and Eric resumed his relationship with Nick. Throughout all of the books in the series, Eric is the one in control of the relationships and his ambitions pretty much dictate the path that everyone follows.I continue to be conflicted about Eric and his feelings for Ally and Nick. His needs and goals trump everyone elses' desires and he remains incredibly self-absorbed. Their relationship is strained by the limitations placed on it by Eric's career and Nick and Ally are on the periphery of Eric's life for much of The Arrangement. Eric and Ally's involvement with Nick must be kept secret and I hated how often Nick was shunted aside. With Eric mainly focused on his career, Nick and Ally become quite close and while I often wondered if Eric truly loved either of them, I never questioned the love Nick and Ally have for one another and Eric.The Arrangement spans a few years and their relationship is an emotional rollercoaster that is full of ups and downs. The dynamics between Ally, Nick and Eric are quite fascinating and the fleeting glimpses of Eric's feelings for Nick and Ally are compelling. The many unexpected twists and turns keep the reader fully engaged in the story. I am eagerly awaiting the release of Triad the final installment of Cat Grant's extraordinary Courtland Chronicles series.I received a complimentary copy for review.