Shandi Sturgill

The Stolen Marriage tells the story of Tess DeMello. Tess is a young nursing student living in Baltimore and engaged to her childhood sweetheart, Vincent. However, after a trip to Washington, D.C. with her best friend, Gena, Tess’s life is turned upside down. She finds herself transplanted to Hickory, North Carolina as polio begins to sweep the town.

Tess is a really interesting protagonist. A highlight of the novel was watching her come out of her guilt and insecurity to rediscover her drive and assertiveness. Henry was also an intriguing character to read about. The mystery surrounding his activities and choices drives a good portion of the plot, and comes to a satisfying conclusion.

The Stolen Marriage is paced well. It is 371 pages long, but it doesn’t lag. I think that this is due to the fact that Chamberlain is able to keep so many important details under wraps until the final act of the book. I was really pleased that Henry’s secret was revealed in a believable, natural way.

If I had a complaint about this book it is that Tess and Henry grow closer, but we see very little of this stage of their relationship. This is due to the fact that it comes so late in their story. I would have liked to see how their dynamic shifts as they realize they have endured similar struggles, and that they can trust each other.

This book is full of mystery. You won’t quite know who, or what, to trust until you read the last page. This mystery and interesting characters make this an entertaining and quick read.