The Marriage Pact

A Novel

De: Michelle Richmond

Narrado por: Tom Taylorson

Newlyweds Alice and Jake are a picture-perfect couple. Alice, once a singer in a well-known rock band, is now a successful lawyer. Jake is a partner in an up-and-coming psychology practice. Their life together holds endless possibilities. After receiving an enticing wedding gift from one of Alice's prominent clients, they decide to join an exclusive and mysterious group known only as the Pact.

The goal of the Pact seems simple: to keep marriages happy and intact. And most of its rules make sense: Always answer the phone when your spouse calls. Exchange thoughtful gifts monthly. Plan a trip together once per quarter. Never mention the Pact to anyone. Alice and Jake are initially seduced by the glamorous parties, the sense of community, their widening social circle of like-minded couples. And then one of them breaks the rules. The young lovers are about to discover that for adherents to the Pact, membership, like marriage, is for life. And the Pact will go to any lengths to enforce that rule. For Jake and Alice, the marriage of their dreams is about to become their worst nightmare.

©2017 Michelle Richmond (P)2017 Blackstone Audio, Inc.

Wow!! Not a self-help book...must read

I was hooked..I couldn't stop listening.
some great take aways (pact gifts!) What a scary concept...eeek!

Exciting, riveting, a page turner

A fast-moving thriller, a gripping and intriguing read that I could not put down. Gripping and thought-provoking, I continued enthralled with dread. What was the retribution The Pact has in store for our newlyweds, Alice and Jake? It is a daringly original novel about the best and worst of love with well-developed characters. Alice is a successful lawyer. Jake is a partner in an up-and-coming teen psychology practice and a marriage counselor.

Never make a polite invitation to people with the expectation that it will not be accepted. Alice’s invitation to Finnegan, a wealth client, is accepted changes Jake’s and her live forever. After receiving an enticing wedding gift from Finnegan, they decide to join an exclusive and mysterious group known only as The Pact.

The goal of The Pact seems simple: to keep marriages happy and intact. Most of its rules make sense. Always answer the phone when your spouse calls. Exchange thoughtful gifts monthly. Plan a trip together once per quarter… Secondly, never talk about The Pact. To motivate compliance to the rules, there are various consequences with vary degrees of severity.

Alice and Jake are initially seduced by the glamorous quarterly parties, the sense of “friends”, and their widening social circle of like-minded couples. In speaking to a fellow Pact member, Alice describes her average work day. She inadvertently breaks a rule; working to many late nights, therefore, putting work before marriage. A Pace member identifies her as a possible problem. The consequences are innocuous, just wear a bracelet and have a few sessions with a Pact counselor. It does change the trajectory of Alice’s work schedule and Jack is much happier. Yet, for the couple, it does cause a small fear and doubt about The Pact.

When life interferes, and another unavoidable circumstance occurs with Alice’s work schedule, she is straight jacketed and taken to The Pact’s prison. Jack searches for answers online and arrange clandestine meetings tries to find answers. What he discovers, you cannot ever leave The Pact, nor does anyone get divorce a partner.

The Pact’s members are powerful, and the reach of the organization is worldwide. Jack feverishly tries to find a way out and to keep Alice and him safe. Jack and Alice are “punished” a few times for transgressions. Alice more times than Jack. When Jack is framed, Alice become incensed at his unwillingness to prove his devotion to their marriage, by accepting his punishment. I became extremely annoyed. All that Jake does is to try to change the indoctrinated members minds through reasonable conversation. the lack of action to pursue alternate means to get out.

After someone takes your wife out of the house, and physically intimidates you, I would have gotten a gun, hired someone, done something, instead of traveling the world for a conversation. In addition, you do not let someone in your home, knowing there is the possibility they mean you harm.

The members acceptance of the physical and mental punishment was an indication that their marriage was important enough for members to endure the re-education There is also the factor, the members were professionals and would not even think of to respond with violence. There was the dichotomy in what The Pact advocated and Jake’s counseling method for married couples.

I finished the book and was exhausted. I felt the ending was anticlimactic.
A fast-moving thriller, a gripping and intriguing read that I could not put down. Gripping and thought-provoking, I continued enthralled with dread. What was the retribution The Pact has in store for our newlyweds, Alice and Jake? It is a daringly original novel about the best and worst of love with well-developed characters. Alice is a successful lawyer. Jake is a partner in an up-and-coming teen psychology practice and a marriage counselor

Never make a polite invitation to people with the expectation that it will not be accepted. Alice’s invitation to Finnegan, a wealth client, is accepted changes Jake’s and her live forever. After receiving an enticing wedding gift from Finnegan, they decide to join an exclusive and mysterious group known only as The Pact.

The goal of The Pact seems simple: to keep marriages happy and intact. Most of its rules make sense. Always answer the phone when your spouse calls. Exchange thoughtful gifts monthly. Plan a trip together once per quarter… Secondly, never talk about The Pact. To motivate compliance to the rules, there are various consequences with vary degrees of severity.

Alice and Jake are initially seduced by the glamorous quarterly parties, the sense of “friends”, and their widening social circle of like-minded couples. In speaking to a fellow Pact member, Alice describes her average work day. She inadvertently breaks a rule; working to many late nights, therefore, putting work before marriage. A Pace member identifies her as a possible problem. The consequences are innocuous, just wear a bracelet and have a few sessions with a Pact counselor. It does change the trajectory of Alice’s work schedule and Jack is much happier. Yet, for the couple, it does cause a small fear and doubt about The Pact.

When life interferes, and another unavoidable circumstance occurs with Alice’s work schedule, she is straight jacketed and taken to The Pact’s prison. Jack searches for answers online and arrange clandestine meetings tries to find answers. What he discovers, you cannot ever leave The Pact, nor does anyone get divorce a partner.

The Pact’s members are powerful, and the reach of the organization is worldwide. Jack feverishly tries to find a way out and to keep Alice and him safe. Jack and Alice are “punished” a few times for transgressions. Alice more times than Jack. When Jack is framed, Alice become incensed at his unwillingness to prove his devotion to their marriage, by accepting his punishment. It was not until the last minute that Alice discovered he was framed. All that Jake does is to try to change the indoctrinated members minds through reasonable conversation.

After someone takes your wife out of the house, and physically intimidates you, I would have gotten a gun, hired someone, done something, instead of traveling the world for a conversation. In addition, you do not let someone in your home, knowing there is the possibility they mean you harm.

The members acceptance of the physical and mental punishment was an indication that their marriage was important enough for members to endure the re-education There is also the factor, the members were professionals and would not even think of to respond with violence. There was the dichotomy in what The Pact advocated and Jake’s counseling method for married couples.

Could you feel committed in your marriage knowing someone had an affair? My trust would be destroyed. I could forgive you, but I would never trust or stay in that relationship. Or how can there be harmony when one is member punished more than another? Would there be a resentment? Would one person turn on the other? How could harmony and love in a relationship build in an atmosphere like that?

Give me a gift or holiday as a surprise. Not because it is prescribed by The Pact. These types of actions are do not seem genuine. I finished the book and was exhausted. I felt the ending was anticlimactic.

Riveting

A very unique story line and very interesting construct to consider. Story story kept me intrigued and I found it hard to stop listening to. Will definitely look for more by this author.

This book is chillingly suspenseful!

I loved this book. it is unique, and very well performed. The characters are interesting and the plot is mysterious and intriguing. it melt my attention throughout. The voice actor was outstanding!

very unexpected

wasn't at all what I expected hit it was worth the listen. would have liked a different ending though