Sold to the Highest Bidder

I'm torn between 3 and 4 stars for this. This wasn't what I was expecting. I was expecting a quick, fun, mindless sexy read. It wasn't anything like that. It was a roller coaster of emotion. Half the time, I was annoyed with the characters, the other half, their story broke my heart. This was frustrating to read, but at the same time worth the struggle.

This is the story of a couple who married young and separated soon after. Years later, the wife returns to try to get in person the divorce she's been asking for for 12 years by mail. The husband had his own reasons for refusing. When these two finally meet face to face again, the sparks are still there, but they both have a ton of baggage. Like I said, it was an emotional roller coaster show more with these two. Too much was left unsaid for too long and there really didn't seem to be much hope. And old habits die hard. It's so hard for them to be open with each other. So many times I wondered what was the point, but they stuck with it. And despite the ups and downs, I could be happy for them in the end. show less

Full review posted at Reader's Edyn on 01/29/20

Ella has made a life for herself. A good career in place and the possibility of a promotion in another state, she decides it has been long enough and time to get some closure. She’s back in town to get the scoop on a story she has been assigned as well as finally close that door left cracked open so she can finally move on. Kill two birds with one stone as it were. She hasn’t really dated over the years and certainly never gotten intimate, feeling as if she would be betraying her marriage vows regardless of the circumstances. Devin ignores her divorce papers every time she sends them, so she’s coming to personally complete the job this time. One way or another, she will go back home a show more free woman. A woman ready to live her life with the past left firmly where it belongs – in the past. What harm can spending a mere 48 hours with Devin cause?

Devin was just bought for $2K – by his wife. He doesn’t know what she’s up to, but he can be certain she’s got divorce papers tucked away somewhere that she’ll be hand delivering herself. Since he’s disregarded them at every previous attempt, he figures she’s here to complete the task herself. Exactly what he wanted. She owes him at least that much after running out on him despite the plans and promises they made to each other. Now he’s got 48 hours to convince her how good they were together. The last thing he wants is to end their marriage. Even if it does end, he is resolved to ensuring a final goodbye. The sparks are just as intense as they were all those years ago, and he’s not above seducing her into capitulating. Their goodbye changes everything. However, they each have secrets to reveal and until the truth is revealed, a future hovers just slightly out of grasp for them both and will continue to do so.

An entertaining read for sure, Devin and Ella were a joy getting to know. They each have their own idea of what needs to happen before they even have a chance of getting back together and despite the overwhelming attraction, they remain firm in their convictions. Ms. Alward, I have noticed, has a gift in preserving the essence of what makes each character who they are, even in the face of circumstances that could tear those traits apart. Ella is a reporter and could have found out everything she needed to about Devin and the secrets he is guarding, but she never researched him in the years they were apart, deciding it would only hurt worse to know. Devin remains unconvinced that she doesn’t know everything about him, but before too long he realizes she isn’t playing a game and truly is unaware of his current circumstances. Surprised, he comes clean about a portion of his life, but not all. Living with assumptions as her guide, neither attains what they are after within that 48 hours.

Although I was annoyed with each finding it impossible to just rip the bandage and purge their souls of all the misunderstandings that ruined their marriage initially, I did appreciate the story being carried beyond the initial 48 hours. More time was essential to crack those walls carefully erected to protect their fragile hearts from further agony. After so many years of being separated and not really knowing the truth as each one deciphered it, they each need something particular to occur. I loved that despite their crazy passionate connection, they didn’t toss caution to the wind and abandon their own necessary requirements. A few secondary characters helped beef this novella up a bit, but that’s all they were. No deep connection with them, just a bit of fluff to enhance this love story. This novella focuses firmly on Devin and Ella and while I tend to like more to a book, it worked well in this case. Probably the worst part of this book is all the wasted time Ella and Devin spent apart. Alas, it allows them time to grow into the people they needed to become so that they could move forward without any “what if” potentially rearing its ugly head later. A perfect story of love lost and regained; these 174 pages will fly by in no time. Take an afternoon and enjoy a few hours with Ella and Devin. Another great read from Ms. Alward!

Kindle version purchased for my own personal library. show less

I kept thinking I knew where this story was going and each time Ms. Alward surprised me with an unexpected plot twist. The HEA was more believable than saccharin.

Ella and Devin were married twelve years ago and she’s now trying to move on. However Devin never signed the divorce papers. When he takes part in a charity auction, she sees her opportunity to get everything finalized. He has other plans.

This was a good, quick read. At first, I was put off by its similarities to the movie Sweet Home Alabama. However, the story picked up and had some twists and turns I didn't foresee. The chemistry between Devin and Ella is believable and the plot was interesting.

Ella & Devin got married at a young age. Ella couldn't take it and wanted out of Colorado and make something bigger for herself. She couldn't see them making it big in the world. Ella has been asking or a divorce and even sent papers a few times, but Devin never signs them. Ella comes back to town to get the papers signed after 12 years of trying and bids on Devin who is in an auction. She hopes with being with him for 48 hours he will sign the papers. Devin hopes with the 48 hours he can change her mind.

Ella grew on me a bit after I got into the story for a while I could not like her. She was self absorbe and uncaring. It was nice to see her fall on her face so to speak a few times and learn what Devin had been up to. They might just show more work things out. show less

The beginning and ending were excellent. It tended to drag a lot in the middle though.

Ella seemed to bring so much more baggage then just the husband she married and let go. Devin withheld information but he seemed to do it more out of concern for her and to find out if she cared for him or his the changes in his own life. I had a hard time really like Ella. She was more than a bit self-adsorbed. Even her boss new more about her past life and husband than she did. She seems to redeem herself at the end but not enough to bump up my rating of the story.