Guest Review: The Betrothal or How I Saved Alan Edwards from 40 Years of Hell – Richard Raley

The Betrothal or How I Saved Alan Edwards From 40 Years of Hell
Series:
Release Date:  April 23, 2011
Publisher:  Richard Raley
Source:  Provided by Author
Buy the book at: Amazon

Phineas Farraday is a college drop-out turned struggling genre writer. One night, he’s huddled over his keyboard when he receives a phone call from his best friend Alan Edwards. Alan has spent the last two years doing missionary work in Chile and only just got back to the States. He’s got some great news for Phin. Alan’s getting married…in a week…to a girl he’s never met. You’ll be the Best Man, won’t you, buddy?
Phin agrees, but is unsure how this whole betrothal happened. Something smells fishy and he plans to get to the bottom of it, even if it means breaking up the wedding, breaking the heart of the only girl he’s liked in years, or the bride breaking one of his bones.

Alan Edwards is a good pious Mormon who’s spent the last two years as a missionary in Chile.  Upon his return he immediately calls his best friend Phin, struggling author and the main character of this novel.  Alan has some surprising news, he’s going to get married, in a week, to a woman he’s never met.  Being a good friend and somewhat of a curmudgeon, Phin vows to talk some sense into Alan and break up the wedding.  He travels to Utah to join the week long wedding preparation and event.  After meeting Alan’s bride to be, Emily, he is doubly sure Alan is making the wrong choice.  She’s beautiful yes, but controlling and spiteful.  A convoluted story ensues in order to save Alan from Emily, who’s family hopes to capitalize on his pious nature and a point system trust fund set up by their wealthy patriarch Groo-pa.  There is also a love interest for Phin, Emily’s cousin Sam, who’s as snarky as he is.

This book is at times clever, witty and funny.  However, there are a couple of literary devices the author employs that I found unnecessary.  The use of footnotes is distracting but luckily seems to abate as the book goes on.  The author also talks directly to the reader, something that could create a bond between writer and reader, or do just the opposite.  50% of the time I appreciate it, the other 50%, not so much.  One of these literary devices would probably have been enough to give the novel a little originality but both were too much for me.  Unfortunately the novel also suffers from poor grammar and spelling.

There are definite moments of humor and genuine sweetness in the love story between Phin and Sam.  The large cast of characters were well developed and overall it was entertaining and a decent light read.  If you can overlook those misspellings, it will probably make you laugh out loud a few times.