A Writer's Review of “Made to Last" by Melissa Tagg

{My Review}

I was super excited to have the chance to read and review Made to Last by Melissa Tagg. Because I'm part of the same ACFW "author-world" as Melissa, I knew right away when she announced the news of her first book contract. And I have to admit, I was a little jealous. I also knew she'd only signed on with a literary agent a few months before that. But I really cannot compare her apples to my oranges. She writes contemporary romance with a fun and spunky voice--while I write historical romantic suspense with a much more serious-sounding voice. It's not like anyone would ever be looking at her proposal next to mine trying to figure out which one to pursue. Like I said, apples and oranges.

Well, onto what I actually thought of the book.

It was great. The characters, the setting, the plot, the trajectory of twists and turns throughout the book that kept bringing the characters together and apart... and the words. Melissa, much like the reporter hero she created, "knows how to use her alphabets". And even though the hero was under the assumption that the heroine was married before he ever met her, it didn't bother me as much as I supposed it would that he couldn't help falling for her despite the fact... or rather, the lie. It was the fact that I knew she wasn't actually married that kept me reading. There HAD to be a way through this crazy maze of seemingly never-ending complications to see Matthew Knox and Miranda Woodruff attain their happy ending together!

This book was written with perfect execution and was a complete joy to read. :)

I received a paperback copy of this book from the Bethany House Review Program in exchange for writing and sharing an honest book review.

You can click HERE to watch the book trailer.

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{About the Book}

Miranda Woodruff, star of the homebuilding show "From the Ground Up," will do anything to keep the job she loves. Due to a painful broken engagement and a faith she's mostly forgotten, she's let her entire identity become wrapped up in the Miranda everyone sees onscreen. So when she receives news that the network might cancel her program, she must do the very thing she fears most: let the spotlight shine on her closely guarded personal life. The only problem? She's been living a lie--letting viewers believe she's married--and now she's called upon to play wife to a sweet, if a bit goofy, pretend husband to boost ratings.

Desperate to help his family and prove he's not a total failure, reporter Matthew Knox is looking for a breakout story. When he's offered the opportunity to do an online serial feature on Miranda Woodruff, he jumps at the chance, even if celebrity reporting isn't really his thing. But as soon as he meets Miranda, he knows she's keeping secrets.

When Miranda's former fiance suddenly appears on the scene again, she doubts her life could get more complicated. Juggling three guys, an on-the-rocks television show, and the potential exposure of her deception is way more than she bargained for. Can the woman who makes things look so good onscreen admit it's time to tell the truth about who she is? And if she does, will the life Miranda's built come crashing down just as she's finally found a love to last?

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{About the Melissa Tagg}

Melissa Tagg is a former reporter turned author who loves all things funny and romancey. Her debut novel, a romantic comedy titled Made to Last, releases from Bethany House in September 2013, with a follow-up slated for summer 2014. In addition to her nonprofit day job, she is also the marketing/events coordinator for My Book Therapy, a craft and coaching community for writers founded by award-winning author Susan May Warren.

During her reporting days, Melissa interviewed presidential candidates and llama farmers, rode a hot air balloon and flew a plane, and once found herself face to face with a buffalo. But today she gets her kicks by letting her characters have their own fun. She's passionate about humor, grace and happy endings.

To learn more about Melissa and her upcoming books, you can visit her blog HERE.