About the Book

Book: Dual Power of Convenience
Author: Chautona Havig
Narrator: Christa DelSorbo
Genre: Christian Contemporary Romance
Release Date: March 4, 2021

All they wanted was a happily-never-after.

When Richard Danforth inherits the family estate on Merriweather Island, he doesn’t have time to deal with it – especially not from halfway across the globe. He’s too busy working to become the world’s newest billionaire and avoiding the women who would detract him from his goals.

Enter Lyla Santana. Fresh out of Oxford University with a degree in antiques and a relationship that nearly killed her to leave, she’s eager for the isolation and treasure trove that is Danforth Hall. Lyla also is determined to avoid men at all costs. Forever.

It was supposed to be a match made on paper. With him halfway across the globe, they’d never have to see each other again.

So, what’s Richard doing on Merriweather just weeks after the wedding? And how will his arrival test Lyla’s faith, not to mention stretch their so-called relationship?

In a twist on billionaire romance and marriage of convenience, this Merriweather book kicks off a new series featuring five islands, six authors, and a boatload of happily-ever-afters.

The Independence Island Series: Beach reads aren’t just for summer anymore.

Click here to get your copy!

My Thoughts

This book is part of a series written by multiple authors but I don't think they will follow each other. The setting made this book a perfect beach read as it is on the coast of Georgia.
I will admit that I was a bit confused at the beginning of the story as it started with a character named Mallory who owns a mobile bookstore. At first I thought the story was going to be about her as most stories begin with one of the main characters but this one did not. After a little bit of research I found out that Mallory is part of Chautona Havig's prequel to this story Christmas on Breaker's Point, which if you want to know more about her I recommend reading that first.
Our main characters are actually Lyla and Richard. This story is definitely one of my favorite tropes which is marriage of convenience. Lyla comes to the island to manage and catalog the belongings of Richard Danforth's estate which he just inherited. Lyla has sad past when it comes to relationships and doesn't trust men easily. She makes sure she keeps her relationships with males strictly professional and although she is not super successful she tries to keep Richard at arms length. Richard is in Azadi and wants to focus on becoming a successful businessman. Through their conversations he proposes a business agreement to get married and be married on paper only, which worked great until things go sour in Azadi and he has to return home. Home being Merriweather Island. This is when things start getting super tricky as both him and Lyla realize without letting each other know that they are falling for each other.
There are some things I really loved about this book. I love the friendship that Mallory and Lyla have. Mallory is almost like the mama bear of the friendship guiding and advising Lyla on what she should do regarding Richard. The banter between Lyla and Richard is sweet and comical. Mallory not only helps Lyla see what she is missing out on, but also helps Richard out when he needs a voice of reason. Mallory is definitely a key character and I hope we see her in the future and she gets her own happy ending story!
The spiritual elements are there but not in an overpowering way. It is a story of redemption and letting go of fears especially for Lyla. It's the perfect read for any day especially if you are heading to the beach!
Overall I enjoyed this book. I had read this when it first came out but it's my first time to have listened to it. This was my second book that I have listened to and was narrated by Christa Del Sorbo and she does a great job! She truly does make the book come alive.

My Rating: 3 Stars
Audio: 4 Stars/ Love listening to her narrate a story.

I received a copy of this book through Celebrate Lit. I was not required to post a positive review. All views expressed are only my honest opinion.

About the Author & Narrator

Chautona Havig

Author of the bestselling Aggie and Past Forward series, Chautona Havig lives in an oxymoron, escapes into imaginary worlds that look startlingly similar to ours and writes the stories that emerge. An irrepressible optimist, Chautona sees everything through a kaleidoscope of It’s a Wonderful Life sprinkled with fairy tales. Find her at chautona.com and say howdy—if you can remember how to spell her name.

Christa DelSorbo

“The voice of a friend.”

Christa has a great sense of humor and extensive experience with accents, particularly those of the Southern United States and Great Britain. Her most recent credits include: local live musical theatre actress and choreographer, regional radio commercial voice actress, and speaker for national business