The Decoy Bride is ultimately about Bree Davies and Aaron (please just call him) Cross and Bree’s “job” as a body double/bride to be, planning a wedding, to throw paparazzi off the scent of the “real” bride. MAJOR oversimplification, truly, but know that the author writes a MUCH more interesting story.
When I first started reading, I thought Bree and Cross were so very different. Turns out, these two characters knocked me for a loop with just how alike they are. They are both passionate about their work – or are they? – they are both great at what they do – but are they really? – and their road to the end of their story and relationship has many twists and turns. Both Bree and Cross have backgrounds that they still need to deal with and both of the stories will make you crazy and break your heart.
I really liked when Bree came into her own (you will not get spoilers from me; Ms. Shane does a MUCH better job of telling the story than I ever could) and held her ground against the world, including Cross. She spent a lot of the book hating how she had to act in order to deflect the press’s attention but she never really said ‘wait a minute!’ Sorry to be cryptic however the book, at least for Bree’s character, really comes full circle, IMHO. Some of the revelations, at the end of the story, surprised me, but it really fits and made her a great character.
I liked this book, it is a standalone, but characters from previous stories show up and I enjoyed knowing who they were. All in all, a good read for me.