"I'll be your date to the wedding."
Yup! That's how it all started. That phrase marks the beginning of the enemies turned friends turned lovers relationship that Catalina Mártin and Aaron Blackford shares with each other.
The Spanish Love Deception by Elena Armas is marked with humourous plots, dramatic twists, intriguing characters with scorching chemistry and hair pulling suspense about the backstories of the characters. The storytelling is amusing and alluring and is filled with a hefty dose of witty remarks.
The Story has been told from Lina's Point of View (first person POV) who also happens to be the Main Character of the story. She is of Spanish descent who often finds herself in amusing predicaments. She is strong headed, independent and a determinant woman who does not let anybody look down upon her. She is a vibrant and humourous characters, who tries to conceal her pain with her witty response and poor jokes. On the other hand, there is Aaron Blackford who doesn't always see eye to eye with Lina or her humour, but nonetheless have feelings for her that he never lets on. He is a surly man who radiates 'only-business' like demeanour, who doesn't miss any opportunity of telling Lina- 'to be on time because it isn't cute anymore'. His face always sports a serious expression and a fierce frown but his stunning looks, swoon worthy body, topped with his expressive ocean-colour eyes and his beautiful smiles that seems to be reserved only for Lina, allures her and makes her feel things, she thought she had no business feeling. Although, both characters butt heads on every possible occassions, they end up falling for each other in the most ironic way possible.
The story revolves around Lina and how she ends up weaving a web of lies in an attempt to prove her family that she's not broken anymore. The Wedding of Lina's sister which is all the way in Spain, serves, as a crucial event around which the whole story materialize. In order to save face Lina concocts a lie that soon turns into a self brought catastrophe. She ends up taking help from someone, she'd never in her wildest dreams could have thought of. Aaron works in the same office as Lina, although, he has fell head over heels in love with Lina, he behaves as if he doesn't want any kind of relationship- profesional or personal, with her. Lina oblivious of the truth and hurt by Aaron's behaviour, tries to conceal it behind hatred. So when Aaron out of nowhere strikes a deal with Lina, taken aback by Aaron's offer and confused by his intentions, Lina defiantly declines his offer. On Aaron's never ending insistence of helping her and being left with no option, scared of drowing in her own ocean of lies, in the end, she reluctantly accepts the deal. Aaron has all the intention to stay true to his end of the deal but Lina's bubbling emotions towards Aaron, makes her question her every decision and leaves her perplexed. Aaron always knowing what is on Lina's mind and paying attention to every little detail when it comes to Lina, him going out of his way to make her believe- they are in this together, doesn't help with the question that starts taking root in Lina's mind. Lina not ready to accept the woobly feelings that makes her stomach flutter tries to hide behind spiteful remarks and pushes Aaron's button in every step of the way. From organizing an open day for their company to an awfully awkward dance together in the charity event to the three days spent, pretending to be madly in love for the dreaded wedding, the 'love deception' turns into reality. Aaron, at last admits his true feelings and the fog of confusion finally lifts off, urging Lina to put a name on her feelings. With the help of Aaron's constant support, she faces the truth and fights her fears. In the end, the deception brings Osito and Polito closer and Lina finds the missing piece of herself that she didn't even know was missing. Lina gets her own real office lovestory, something that she always wanted but never dared to voice it.
The novel is all about finding oneself, restoring trust and finding love in the most unexpected way. Through Lina's character, Elena teaches us standing up for ourselves and what we believe is right. Elena also touches the issue of society overlooking the talent and hardwork of women and undermining all their achievments and bringing it all down to them being only good enough in looking pretty. This novel does not only offers a good story but it also shows the depth of human emotions and how a person can feel small at the face of adversity but can still bounce back stronger. Armas, very beautifully, points out that the most painful lessons gives way to a beautiful chapter in life and how, miraculously, a web of choking lies can lead to salvation.
Thankyou!
Comments
Post a Comment