Review of Marked (The Boys of Bishop Mountain #1) by Rachael Brownell: A Jumble of Tropes with Mixed Results
Dear Readers,
When I stumbled across Marked by Rachael Brownell, the promise of a steamy billionaire romance mixed with military action and a dash of second chance love caught my eye. As someone who enjoys a good trope-filled romance now and then, I thought I was in for a treat. But as I delved deeper into Jess and Mark’s chaotic story, I quickly realized that the book may have packed too many clichés into its pages for my taste.
At the heart of the narrative is Jess, who has been infatuated with her brother’s best friend, Mark, since childhood. Their relationship is typified by Mark’s bullying behavior, masking a potential romantic connection that blossoms after a fleeting kiss before Mark ships off for military duty. Fast forward eight years, and their reunion is less about rekindling romance and more about Mark’s questionable proposition of a weeks-long arrangement that’s difficult to justify—as if love could be simply bartered. Jess’s independence shines through her, but her interactions with Mark felt muddled by a narrative that swings wildly between emotional confession and cringeworthy tropes.
The love story itself, when it comes down to it, feels more like a series of miscommunications than a heartfelt rekindling. I found myself wishing the characters could simply have a candid conversation instead of wallowing in their misunderstandings. Mark, now a billionaire and a military man, oscillates between the ideal romantic hero and someone who lingers on the edge of emotional immaturity—traits he often takes out on Jess, which leads to significant frustration as a reader. One poignant quote from Jess, “I’m still a red-headed mountain girl struggling to make my way in the world while he is the billionaire-in-the-making Marcus Evan Donovan," captures her internal struggle beautifully, yet the narrative doesn’t delve deep enough into what this disparity means for her.
The pacing of Marked felt disjointed, with the bulk of the plot occurring in rushed segments, leaving mere pages for character development and chemistry-building moments. Their moments together felt overshadowed by an awkward push-and-pull dynamic rooted more in obligation than genuine affection. I found it hard to root for them, especially as Jess’s self-worth appeared tied to her ability to bear children—a concerning theme that I wished had been explored more thoughtfully.
Despite the story’s hiccups, there were a few engaging elements, particularly when Jess stood up to her brothers about selling their deceased parents’ land. Her fiery spirit is commendable, but it sometimes clashed with Mark’s wishy-washy demeanor. The plot holes—like Mark being blissfully unaware of how a small town works, or the odd dialogue surrounding grilled cheese sandwiches—were hard to overlook and detracted from what could’ve been a solid story.
In conclusion, Marked will resonate with readers who enjoy multiple tropes and are willing to overlook some messy writing and character inconsistencies. It may find comfort among fans of billionaire romances, but I found it ultimately lacked the emotional weight I crave in a story. This book is a rollercoaster, albeit one that crashes more than it soars. Perhaps some readers will find it similarly entertaining in a "so bad it’s good" sense. As for me, I’ll be looking to the horizon for a more polished romance next time.
Happy reading!
— [Your Name] at Rather Bookish
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