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A Morning Like This
David and Abby Treasure seem to have everything together: a perfect marriage, a perfect son, and a perfect life. But one simple phone call turns their world upside down. Years ago, David had an affair outside of his marriage, and though he never knew it, the affair produced a daughter. Now his former lover calls with heartbreaking news: his daughter is dying of leukemia. Her only hope for survival is a bone marrow transplant-from David or his son.
Can David and Abby set aside their betrayal and anger to save a little girl's life? If they can make it through, they may find that their love for one another and their faith in God can be redeemed . . . and grow stronger than ever before.
Can David and Abby set aside their betrayal and anger to save a little girl's life? If they can make it through, they may find that their love for one another and their faith in God can be redeemed . . . and grow stronger than ever before.
336 pages, Mass Market Paperback
First published January 1, 2002
25 people are currently reading
184 people want to read
About the author
Deborah Bedford
32 books36 followersaka Debbi Bedford
Deborah Bedford was born on 1958 in Texas, USA and earned her degree in journalism and marketing from Texas A&M University. Immediately after graduation, she accepted editorship of Evergreen Today, a weekly newspaper based in the small mountain town of Evergreen, Colorado. While serving as editor there, she worked 70 or 80 hours each week, writing stories and cut-lines, sports and features, chasing fire trucks and checking police reports, taking pictures, editing, laying out pages, opaquing the negatives, stacking papers into vending machines and taking out the quarters.
It was long before she began to dream of returning to her first love, fiction writing. For her birthday in the summer of 1984, her husband, Jack, bought her a copy of the 1984 Writers' Market, and she began to meticulously send letters to every publisher listed in the book. Rejection letters flowed back by the handfuls. She has a large folder where, for posterity's sake, she has kept these to this day. She has also kept the letter from Harlequin Books she received, which invited her to submit a complete manuscript but warned her that Harlequin did not want books about cowboys, airline pilots, guest ranches or Texans. Deborah laughs now when she tells the story. Her manuscript was the story of "a woman who marries an airline pilot in Texas. Then, when he dies in a plane crash, she runs away to a guest ranch and falls in love with a cowboy." When she showed her husband, Jack, the letter, he said, "Honey, you've managed to write a manuscript that has everything in it they don't want." Harlequin bought the manuscript five short weeks after she submitted it. At that time, her editor told her, "This book isn't a romance, but we're going to publish it, anyway."
When Debbi Bedford's first book, Touch the Sky, was released by the Harlequin Superromance line, its sales topped every Harlequin record for a first-time author. It earned rave reviews and a Romantic Times Reviewer's Choice award. During the next seven years, she published six more books for the Harlequin Superromance series and a historical novel, Blessing, before signing a contract with HarperCollins Publishers. This paved the way for her to move on to write mass-market mainstream women's fiction, where her work garnered numerous awards and appeared on the USA TODAY bestseller list. The word she uses to describe her career is "beguiling." Whenever she wrote words about Jesus or God in her stories, those spiritual overtones were never touched, edited or omitted. But, along with those words, she admits that she was writing steamy scenes. "I wanted all the reward that the world would give me," she says. "I wanted all the fame, and all the status. But I realized that I was giving away lentils in the Lord's battlefield. That's when I became convicted. The time had come for a change."
What surprises Deborah the most, she says, is the freedom she now finds in writing for her Heavenly Father. "It feels like gloriously falling forward and wondrously coming home, all at the same time," she says. The Story Jar (March 2001) written with Angela Elwell Hunt and Robin Lee Hatcher and including pieces from Left Behind author Jerry B. Jenkins, Francine Rivers, Debbie Macomber and Lori Copeland, marked Deborah Bedford's writing debut for the inspirational market. It held a spot on the CBA Bestseller list for three consecutive months. While still shopping for the right publisher for her novel-length fiction, she had the opportunity to stand up at the Jackson Hole Writers' Conference, read an excerpt from The Story Jar, and explain to conference attendees about the call she felt to leave mass-market fiction and follow the Lord. In the audience that evening was Jamie Raab, publisher of Warner Books. The rest, as everyone says, felt like stars moving into place.
When You Believe w
Deborah Bedford was born on 1958 in Texas, USA and earned her degree in journalism and marketing from Texas A&M University. Immediately after graduation, she accepted editorship of Evergreen Today, a weekly newspaper based in the small mountain town of Evergreen, Colorado. While serving as editor there, she worked 70 or 80 hours each week, writing stories and cut-lines, sports and features, chasing fire trucks and checking police reports, taking pictures, editing, laying out pages, opaquing the negatives, stacking papers into vending machines and taking out the quarters.
It was long before she began to dream of returning to her first love, fiction writing. For her birthday in the summer of 1984, her husband, Jack, bought her a copy of the 1984 Writers' Market, and she began to meticulously send letters to every publisher listed in the book. Rejection letters flowed back by the handfuls. She has a large folder where, for posterity's sake, she has kept these to this day. She has also kept the letter from Harlequin Books she received, which invited her to submit a complete manuscript but warned her that Harlequin did not want books about cowboys, airline pilots, guest ranches or Texans. Deborah laughs now when she tells the story. Her manuscript was the story of "a woman who marries an airline pilot in Texas. Then, when he dies in a plane crash, she runs away to a guest ranch and falls in love with a cowboy." When she showed her husband, Jack, the letter, he said, "Honey, you've managed to write a manuscript that has everything in it they don't want." Harlequin bought the manuscript five short weeks after she submitted it. At that time, her editor told her, "This book isn't a romance, but we're going to publish it, anyway."
When Debbi Bedford's first book, Touch the Sky, was released by the Harlequin Superromance line, its sales topped every Harlequin record for a first-time author. It earned rave reviews and a Romantic Times Reviewer's Choice award. During the next seven years, she published six more books for the Harlequin Superromance series and a historical novel, Blessing, before signing a contract with HarperCollins Publishers. This paved the way for her to move on to write mass-market mainstream women's fiction, where her work garnered numerous awards and appeared on the USA TODAY bestseller list. The word she uses to describe her career is "beguiling." Whenever she wrote words about Jesus or God in her stories, those spiritual overtones were never touched, edited or omitted. But, along with those words, she admits that she was writing steamy scenes. "I wanted all the reward that the world would give me," she says. "I wanted all the fame, and all the status. But I realized that I was giving away lentils in the Lord's battlefield. That's when I became convicted. The time had come for a change."
What surprises Deborah the most, she says, is the freedom she now finds in writing for her Heavenly Father. "It feels like gloriously falling forward and wondrously coming home, all at the same time," she says. The Story Jar (March 2001) written with Angela Elwell Hunt and Robin Lee Hatcher and including pieces from Left Behind author Jerry B. Jenkins, Francine Rivers, Debbie Macomber and Lori Copeland, marked Deborah Bedford's writing debut for the inspirational market. It held a spot on the CBA Bestseller list for three consecutive months. While still shopping for the right publisher for her novel-length fiction, she had the opportunity to stand up at the Jackson Hole Writers' Conference, read an excerpt from The Story Jar, and explain to conference attendees about the call she felt to leave mass-market fiction and follow the Lord. In the audience that evening was Jamie Raab, publisher of Warner Books. The rest, as everyone says, felt like stars moving into place.
When You Believe w
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 47 reviews
November 4, 2024
Honestly, I don't mind cheating books at all - I've loved many in fact. With that being said, I think I'm experienced enough with the trope to say this was the dumbest book ever. I'm supposed to believe the LORD is so great that you became BFF's with your husbands mistress?
Not only would I have slapped the mistress across the river, but the husband too who kept getting mad at his wife for being pissed about the affair. ARE YOU JOKING? LINE THEM UP. AT ONCE.
For real, though. Fuck this book.
Not only would I have slapped the mistress across the river, but the husband too who kept getting mad at his wife for being pissed about the affair. ARE YOU JOKING? LINE THEM UP. AT ONCE.
For real, though. Fuck this book.
September 6, 2021
dear dear writer., with all do respect., after i read this novel, not once but twice!, i still dont like it.
why? it's not about the plot, or the cheating genre, i wouldnt even touch this book, if i hate the cheating plot, i might simply avoiding it. My problem w/this book and what i dislike, is about David's character and how exactly does you, dear writer, wants to potrayed the relationship between abby and david?
you left me stoned-cold-freaking confused about their marriage life, about how david's saw his wife and how much abby is meaning in his life as a man and as a husband. In the first 2 chapters, You, dear writer easily leading my thought about how david DOES loving his wife, abby, and how he really seems blessed having abby and mostly his adorable-out of the world son, Bradaen, who he would even give his life for him.
But !!.. as the story unfold and moved forward, i lost it. i lost it and cant find the solid foundation in david-abby's marriage, i even believe that david, after all these 9 years living w/abby, he never or not really love his wife. who his been deeply inlove, is his son, Braden. Your way to makes the story goes through David's action, david's inner thought, david guilt, david's reason and all, dear writer, as if it was Braden the one that made david seems to "work hard" to lived in what he called a perfect family life and what's makes abby has meaningful reason in his perfect "marriage life".
but Mind you, the way you, dear writer, create david's charcter through his action, it's hard to believe and convinced any sane reader that David love abby alone as just abby and not for Braden. his action and mind didnt speak that way, and never did.
in this book, dear writer, what you skip and only told as a "flash of memory" from david's-abby's past was not strong enough to believed that David marry Abby bcoz he fall in love w/her. why? again, dear writer, you made me confused on several unconvincing scenes. Let's unfold what i mean one by one, shall we?
here we go ---SPOILER ALERT---
first, the reason that trigger david's action to cheating, sleeping and even impregnant his young fling, Susan roche, aside from, well, david is a scum bag and a dick! was, he doubted about his choice to become a married man, he said that he married abby too fast, when his other friends was having fun, camping, hit the road, and rolling here and there, he in the meantime has to become a husband. even worse, he said, that when aby was pregnant,that makes his bitterness-get me back my freedom- even bitter and he's just not ready to faced this. thus, makes him having an affair w/the college young girl whose having her vacation WHEN HIS WIFE WAS 8MONTHS PREGNANT!!! that's all that we, reader knw, this from my pov, it makes him not loving abby that much in the first placed. was he forced to marry abby? so he was bitter that his freedon was steal from his life? and how long does his affair going on? coz even the day when abby was giving birth, his fling, susan, called him. asking him what's the baby sexed, and she's crying (why she's even crying? was she sad? was she saw this as a slap in the faced that, her lover was having a real baby in the flesh?? was she saw this as the end of their affair?? whyy???). and david said that it was when his affair was going along in the middle of their period. and that means, when abby flashed back to see Braden fist photo album when he was just ... maybe 3-5 months (i lose tract of time, as i hardly figured out the time that the writer wants to lead us), David is still "cold" towards abby, thus means, his affair was still going on even AFTER Braden was born! what a perfect scumbag of a husband. soo sweet...
and what's makes him stop the affair? does he finally come to realise? and what's makes him realise? coz it's hard to see the reason behind it except from his christian view. he have to stop it, bcoz his value as a christian and for Braden. not bcoz he loves abby.bcoz LOVING ABBY WASNT/NEVER ON HIS "IM SO SORRY I MESSED UP GOD forgive me"-list.
secnd, When it's finally come the time he need to told abby that he was having an affair 9years ago and now having a daughter, and abby took it hard, coz she never ever imagined that he can do that, DAVID was being bitter and even HATE ON ABBY! yes! ladiesn n gentlemen, HE HATE ON HIS WIFE FOR BEING HURTFUL AND DISLIKE AND ANGRY AT HIM!, He even HATE HER AS THE REASON to making HIS SON'S life uncomfortable, bcoz his son saw his mom being cold and got that angry look to his dad!! HE EVEN LIGHLY SAYING, THAT, AS A CONSOLIDATION, TO MAKE IT GOOD FOR ABBY, HE SAID, HIS AFFAIR IS VERRRRRYYY DISCREEETTT... NO ONE KNWS!HE SAID THAT! instead of grovel and kneeling down, he just HATE ON ABBY! he even consider to END THINGS W/ABBY COZ THAT'S WHAT ITS BEST!! you see how he easily thought to end things w/his wife? no way a husband that loves his wife would even consider this the moment everything fall apart bcoz of what he did!!! i hate him for disrespect his wife like this
here. leeme quote his wrecking mind's thought
It was Abby who was doing this, and no one else. Abby on the phone with her friends. Abby who had refused to discuss the situation with civility and who flung his broken marriage vows into his face like stinging cold water. Abby who accused him of making the world fall apart for Braden, when she was the one who heaped kindling on the pain.
Sure, he had had an affair with another woman once. Sure, he had fathered another child. But Abby was the one who held his offense against him like a fur trapper with live bait, goading a coyote forward. Abby was the one who brandished full-time bitterness against him like a punishing sword.
Lord, I don’t want any part of this. We’re so broken that maybe it would be best if we just ended it and went our own separate ways. Maybe it would be best if we hurt our son once now so he could start healing and he wouldn’t have to be hurt anymore.
Maybe
you read that??? he put the blame on abby! that bitch! how dare she makes things goes worse like this?? she's a sinner! she should have been strike w/thunder!! what a bitch. i need to shoot him... asap
third, when abby asked him, DOES HE never going to tell abby about his affair if his daughter doesnt need that bone's test from breden, You know what he said?? he said, "NO! I WOULD NEVER TOLD YOU", and hold your breath, dear reader, coz when abby ask, was it bcoz/for Braden? he said "YES!!!" FOR GOD-FREAKING SAKE!!! he didnt even tell that he never told abby bcoz he was afraid he lose her, or that he was afraid that she never forgive them and leaving him, or that he was simply wants to protect abby from the shamed mistake that he made. HE DIDT SAID ANY OF THAT!!!! so, how come i can see that his and abby marriage is solid? David seems to still being married abby JSUT BECOZ BREDEN! HE DOESNT WANT TO MAKE HIS SON'S LIFE MISSERABLE AND TASTE THE UNBROKEN MARRIAGE SITUATION. he simply never Love abby, his wife. and that makes me sick!!! why? bcoz, again, in some chapter he said he love abby. BUT THAT'S ONLY 1 TIME FROM ALL THE CHAPTERS IN THIS BOOK THAT HE EVER SAID HE LOVE HIS WIFE! NOT EVEN WHEN HE TRY TO ASK FORGIVENESS FROM HER, if you reader expect the simply and supposed to be lines like "IM SORRY I DID THIS TO YOU, FORGIVE ME, I LOVE YOU", you can throw this book away, coz you never ever got this kind of lines. ever.
all in all, i dont see enough reason of why the hell david-abby have to be reconsile, aside from 1 big elephant pink-winky reason : "bcoz their kids". but guess what??? i dont see it's enough! loving your wife should came first or equal as you dont want to lose or break your children world. IF you only compromised your marriage just bcoz your children, there's only bitterness in it, why? coz his wife even though she genuinely love david, but david seems to NOT LOVE her, and that, disrespect and demean his wife's presenced. I . FREAKING. HATE. HIM!
and, let me finish my rant about david. He said, and what's the writer confirm from the first 3 chapters, david said that his life is perfect no, he got loving family, adorable son, perfect wife all in peace. but then, when the story start to remind him about his affair and he has a daughter, the plot start to show that, all these "perfect" 9 years living as the perfect husband and the perfect christan who actively involved in his church social-organization- or whatever is that, the truth is, david just pushing his life to living like that, infact he doesnt that eager to listened the reading at his church, and sometimes, he even felt like his life was suffocating him, he felt like he's living with heavy "responsible" to become the perfect person, as a christian and husband and social to atone his adultery mistake, coz that would makes abby happy and that's exactly what abby wants. BUT HE NEVER WANTS IT AND NEVER REALLY MEANT IT he's doing all of those things being half ass and not comes from his really freaking soory ass. No. he's doing it coz he THINK IT'S THE RIGHT THINGS, NO BECOZE HE GENIUNELY WANT TO. so, how exactly is david character? aside he would hv died for breden and samantha by being a loving father?? he is the worse scumbag as a husband, not good enough devoted christian, he dont even love abby, so???
and when david ask susan why she didnt tell him sooner about his secret daughter, susan said , "what doea it matter? it wont change", and david said "you have lil faith in me" --- what does it supposed to mean? that IF she told him she was preganant at that time, not far from abby's , he would leave abby and married susan??
and worse, when susan said this as an anwer of her lacking faith in him, she said "no, im having faith in your faith, i know about your believeing and that makes you would not leave you wife".,
this mean, if he stayed married it's just bcoz he's christian, that's all, and that's alone. coz the MANUAL BOOK TOLD HIM SO, not second reason bcoz, maybe, he showed susan that he loves his wife and want to makes things better w/his wife. no. this means, if david was not christian, Big possiblility that he will leave his wife and married susan, coz hey, after all he stayed w/abby bcoz he is christian, nothing else. did you forget? he hardly show and cat and response that convinced me he love his wife. nooooo... no.no.no. so.. screw Him
Now., can i talk about Abby's role, character and how badly she's been treated throughout the whole book? how badly she's been accused by david the cheater that it was what's abby's doing that made things alot worse?bcoz she cant took the news about his husband adultery sin and that he has a secret daughter, calmly and "cibilised"? and how badly abby's been ignored the whole freaking time by david when samantha, his adulterous product stayed at their house?as if abby just there, but her own presence isnt important enough for david to include her into david-his son-his daughter leisure times? or how david really never try to mediated the relationship between abby and his adulterous product? no. he didnt do that, he simply just.... ignored her, which is hurting my heart everytime i read those many scenes. How unfair for abby that she's being treated as if she has no freaking reason for being angry or saying something that's been in her broken heart? and when she said things, david angry at her by saying, how can she accused him like that for many times?? is this some kind of comedy novel?? she accused him? while evrything that she's throwing at him is straight-A the truth??
how worse is that when abby just got 1 time "im sorry" from david for all his done to her and that -im sorry- thing wasnt even genuinely coming from david's heart? coz in his mind and in his defence, he think he already should be forgiven bcoz he's done the right thing by being a "christian" in those 8 years, but when he was faced by abby's word of truth about his affair, he's angry at her, saying she accused her, and even ignored her and wants to end thing w/her, and sending a letter to his mom saying that thing goes worse and that would be the same, even if it can, HE WONT DO IT. he simply given up. HE DOESNT DESERVED ABBY!
so i wonder, what's the sole purpose of the author of this book try to send? when almost all of entire 21 chapters from all of 24 chapters, is about torturing abby about how wrong in david's eyes that she act, how imperfect she was when all she had to do is accepting his husband affair and embraced it calmly and dont make a big deal out of it, wasnt this means that david forced abby to accepting that abby has no meaning at all for him? degrading her? demean his wife?
and let me tell you about what i think about all those so called "God's whisper" in david's ear, well, maybe it's not god's voice? maybe david was delusional and need to be check to the nearest mental hospital??
coz here some of those "god's whisper" that shouldbe leading and making things allright. i personaly hate chapter 21, when after all these long, finally david realise that he was being offensive to abby's ofense to him, he doesnt accept that he was wrong, and he was blinded by his own proud, bcoz in his mind, he already atone his fault for 8years. which part???
If she gets away now, I’m never going to see her again.
The panic edged even higher. Where would she go?
What would she do, on this road?
If she gets away now, he thought, panicking, I’ll lose her forever.
The gentle nudging came inside of him, the quiet, surprising wisdom he had come to rely on during these past weeks.
Beloved, let her go.
The thought came with such clarity, David knew God whispered in his heart. But if she gets away now, Father…
Slow down. Let her get away.
The hum began in his ears, the pounding in his chest. How could he do this? What would he say to Abby, if she ever asked him why?
You will never do this again, chasing after her this way.
But, Father…
Release her to Me. You are not the one responsible to keep her happy, David. You mustn’t let Abby’s pain control you anymore.
With sorrowful resignation, he eased his foot off the accelerator, and his breathing slowed. Okay. Okay. So, I let her go
you read that carefully, for 21 chapters, he degrading his wife presence, doent even do a thing to work on their marriage, doesnt even including abby in samantha's presence when she came to their house and play w/david's son, doesnt even try to encourage abby to forgive him, doesnt even do anything anymore aside from that one-im sorry-, doesnt even try to reach for abby, and then when abby finally broken out, she drive her car fast and he was following her, finally do some real act to reach abby, but then.. here comes god's voice that saying, "her happiness isnt your responsibility (for reall???? when he was part from her freaking life?part of her emotional tubulence?)"., and "you mustnt let abby 's pain control you anymore (when? where? what scenes? what occasion?? he ignored his wife!! at what chapter that bluntly told that he was control by abby's freaking pain? when all he's done is accused her back for being a bitch?? )"
see..?? after all.. it's not god's voice, david is delusional!
AND... IN THE END, OFC, ABBY said sorry to david, coz she realise that IT WAS HER OWN DOING THAT DRIFTED HIM TO DO THE AFFAIR, BCOZ SHE SHUT HIM OUT WHEN SHE WAS PREGNANT, AINT THIS SWEET??? LET THE GIRL TOOK THE FREAKING BLAME OF THE ROOT OF THEIR PROBLEM AND THE CAUSE OF HIS ADULTERY SIN WHO PRUDUCED A DAUGHTER!, COZ ONCE AGAIN, MAN COULDNT HANDLED IT, COZ THEY ARE ALL PUSSY. helloo to david's doubted mind about marrying abby too fast.. where were this reason gone then?
conclusion: lemme send david to heaven, by smack his brain out of his skull. IM hating him! and the writer even confused me to see his charcater of what he supposed to be, coz he nowhere closed to working out his infedility issue and he even only ask forgiveness from abby just one time!! the rest? he was busy feeling fall in love w/his new daughter, and feeling hate towards abby for what she done to wrecked their perfect peaceful marriage!! damn him! damn him to hell!
and susan? cheating on a married husband is down right filthy, but cheating on a married husband when she knows his wife is PREGNANT is... im hoping she was burn in the deepest hell. and then she said, "im not sorry for what i did, to abby", maybe i burn her by myself first? ughhh
why? it's not about the plot, or the cheating genre, i wouldnt even touch this book, if i hate the cheating plot, i might simply avoiding it. My problem w/this book and what i dislike, is about David's character and how exactly does you, dear writer, wants to potrayed the relationship between abby and david?
you left me stoned-cold-freaking confused about their marriage life, about how david's saw his wife and how much abby is meaning in his life as a man and as a husband. In the first 2 chapters, You, dear writer easily leading my thought about how david DOES loving his wife, abby, and how he really seems blessed having abby and mostly his adorable-out of the world son, Bradaen, who he would even give his life for him.
But !!.. as the story unfold and moved forward, i lost it. i lost it and cant find the solid foundation in david-abby's marriage, i even believe that david, after all these 9 years living w/abby, he never or not really love his wife. who his been deeply inlove, is his son, Braden. Your way to makes the story goes through David's action, david's inner thought, david guilt, david's reason and all, dear writer, as if it was Braden the one that made david seems to "work hard" to lived in what he called a perfect family life and what's makes abby has meaningful reason in his perfect "marriage life".
but Mind you, the way you, dear writer, create david's charcter through his action, it's hard to believe and convinced any sane reader that David love abby alone as just abby and not for Braden. his action and mind didnt speak that way, and never did.
in this book, dear writer, what you skip and only told as a "flash of memory" from david's-abby's past was not strong enough to believed that David marry Abby bcoz he fall in love w/her. why? again, dear writer, you made me confused on several unconvincing scenes. Let's unfold what i mean one by one, shall we?
here we go ---SPOILER ALERT---
first, the reason that trigger david's action to cheating, sleeping and even impregnant his young fling, Susan roche, aside from, well, david is a scum bag and a dick! was, he doubted about his choice to become a married man, he said that he married abby too fast, when his other friends was having fun, camping, hit the road, and rolling here and there, he in the meantime has to become a husband. even worse, he said, that when aby was pregnant,that makes his bitterness-get me back my freedom- even bitter and he's just not ready to faced this. thus, makes him having an affair w/the college young girl whose having her vacation WHEN HIS WIFE WAS 8MONTHS PREGNANT!!! that's all that we, reader knw, this from my pov, it makes him not loving abby that much in the first placed. was he forced to marry abby? so he was bitter that his freedon was steal from his life? and how long does his affair going on? coz even the day when abby was giving birth, his fling, susan, called him. asking him what's the baby sexed, and she's crying (why she's even crying? was she sad? was she saw this as a slap in the faced that, her lover was having a real baby in the flesh?? was she saw this as the end of their affair?? whyy???). and david said that it was when his affair was going along in the middle of their period. and that means, when abby flashed back to see Braden fist photo album when he was just ... maybe 3-5 months (i lose tract of time, as i hardly figured out the time that the writer wants to lead us), David is still "cold" towards abby, thus means, his affair was still going on even AFTER Braden was born! what a perfect scumbag of a husband. soo sweet...
and what's makes him stop the affair? does he finally come to realise? and what's makes him realise? coz it's hard to see the reason behind it except from his christian view. he have to stop it, bcoz his value as a christian and for Braden. not bcoz he loves abby.bcoz LOVING ABBY WASNT/NEVER ON HIS "IM SO SORRY I MESSED UP GOD forgive me"-list.
secnd, When it's finally come the time he need to told abby that he was having an affair 9years ago and now having a daughter, and abby took it hard, coz she never ever imagined that he can do that, DAVID was being bitter and even HATE ON ABBY! yes! ladiesn n gentlemen, HE HATE ON HIS WIFE FOR BEING HURTFUL AND DISLIKE AND ANGRY AT HIM!, He even HATE HER AS THE REASON to making HIS SON'S life uncomfortable, bcoz his son saw his mom being cold and got that angry look to his dad!! HE EVEN LIGHLY SAYING, THAT, AS A CONSOLIDATION, TO MAKE IT GOOD FOR ABBY, HE SAID, HIS AFFAIR IS VERRRRRYYY DISCREEETTT... NO ONE KNWS!HE SAID THAT! instead of grovel and kneeling down, he just HATE ON ABBY! he even consider to END THINGS W/ABBY COZ THAT'S WHAT ITS BEST!! you see how he easily thought to end things w/his wife? no way a husband that loves his wife would even consider this the moment everything fall apart bcoz of what he did!!! i hate him for disrespect his wife like this
here. leeme quote his wrecking mind's thought
It was Abby who was doing this, and no one else. Abby on the phone with her friends. Abby who had refused to discuss the situation with civility and who flung his broken marriage vows into his face like stinging cold water. Abby who accused him of making the world fall apart for Braden, when she was the one who heaped kindling on the pain.
Sure, he had had an affair with another woman once. Sure, he had fathered another child. But Abby was the one who held his offense against him like a fur trapper with live bait, goading a coyote forward. Abby was the one who brandished full-time bitterness against him like a punishing sword.
Lord, I don’t want any part of this. We’re so broken that maybe it would be best if we just ended it and went our own separate ways. Maybe it would be best if we hurt our son once now so he could start healing and he wouldn’t have to be hurt anymore.
Maybe
you read that??? he put the blame on abby! that bitch! how dare she makes things goes worse like this?? she's a sinner! she should have been strike w/thunder!! what a bitch. i need to shoot him... asap
third, when abby asked him, DOES HE never going to tell abby about his affair if his daughter doesnt need that bone's test from breden, You know what he said?? he said, "NO! I WOULD NEVER TOLD YOU", and hold your breath, dear reader, coz when abby ask, was it bcoz/for Braden? he said "YES!!!" FOR GOD-FREAKING SAKE!!! he didnt even tell that he never told abby bcoz he was afraid he lose her, or that he was afraid that she never forgive them and leaving him, or that he was simply wants to protect abby from the shamed mistake that he made. HE DIDT SAID ANY OF THAT!!!! so, how come i can see that his and abby marriage is solid? David seems to still being married abby JSUT BECOZ BREDEN! HE DOESNT WANT TO MAKE HIS SON'S LIFE MISSERABLE AND TASTE THE UNBROKEN MARRIAGE SITUATION. he simply never Love abby, his wife. and that makes me sick!!! why? bcoz, again, in some chapter he said he love abby. BUT THAT'S ONLY 1 TIME FROM ALL THE CHAPTERS IN THIS BOOK THAT HE EVER SAID HE LOVE HIS WIFE! NOT EVEN WHEN HE TRY TO ASK FORGIVENESS FROM HER, if you reader expect the simply and supposed to be lines like "IM SORRY I DID THIS TO YOU, FORGIVE ME, I LOVE YOU", you can throw this book away, coz you never ever got this kind of lines. ever.
all in all, i dont see enough reason of why the hell david-abby have to be reconsile, aside from 1 big elephant pink-winky reason : "bcoz their kids". but guess what??? i dont see it's enough! loving your wife should came first or equal as you dont want to lose or break your children world. IF you only compromised your marriage just bcoz your children, there's only bitterness in it, why? coz his wife even though she genuinely love david, but david seems to NOT LOVE her, and that, disrespect and demean his wife's presenced. I . FREAKING. HATE. HIM!
and, let me finish my rant about david. He said, and what's the writer confirm from the first 3 chapters, david said that his life is perfect no, he got loving family, adorable son, perfect wife all in peace. but then, when the story start to remind him about his affair and he has a daughter, the plot start to show that, all these "perfect" 9 years living as the perfect husband and the perfect christan who actively involved in his church social-organization- or whatever is that, the truth is, david just pushing his life to living like that, infact he doesnt that eager to listened the reading at his church, and sometimes, he even felt like his life was suffocating him, he felt like he's living with heavy "responsible" to become the perfect person, as a christian and husband and social to atone his adultery mistake, coz that would makes abby happy and that's exactly what abby wants. BUT HE NEVER WANTS IT AND NEVER REALLY MEANT IT he's doing all of those things being half ass and not comes from his really freaking soory ass. No. he's doing it coz he THINK IT'S THE RIGHT THINGS, NO BECOZE HE GENIUNELY WANT TO. so, how exactly is david character? aside he would hv died for breden and samantha by being a loving father?? he is the worse scumbag as a husband, not good enough devoted christian, he dont even love abby, so???
and when david ask susan why she didnt tell him sooner about his secret daughter, susan said , "what doea it matter? it wont change", and david said "you have lil faith in me" --- what does it supposed to mean? that IF she told him she was preganant at that time, not far from abby's , he would leave abby and married susan??
and worse, when susan said this as an anwer of her lacking faith in him, she said "no, im having faith in your faith, i know about your believeing and that makes you would not leave you wife".,
this mean, if he stayed married it's just bcoz he's christian, that's all, and that's alone. coz the MANUAL BOOK TOLD HIM SO, not second reason bcoz, maybe, he showed susan that he loves his wife and want to makes things better w/his wife. no. this means, if david was not christian, Big possiblility that he will leave his wife and married susan, coz hey, after all he stayed w/abby bcoz he is christian, nothing else. did you forget? he hardly show and cat and response that convinced me he love his wife. nooooo... no.no.no. so.. screw Him
Now., can i talk about Abby's role, character and how badly she's been treated throughout the whole book? how badly she's been accused by david the cheater that it was what's abby's doing that made things alot worse?bcoz she cant took the news about his husband adultery sin and that he has a secret daughter, calmly and "cibilised"? and how badly abby's been ignored the whole freaking time by david when samantha, his adulterous product stayed at their house?as if abby just there, but her own presence isnt important enough for david to include her into david-his son-his daughter leisure times? or how david really never try to mediated the relationship between abby and his adulterous product? no. he didnt do that, he simply just.... ignored her, which is hurting my heart everytime i read those many scenes. How unfair for abby that she's being treated as if she has no freaking reason for being angry or saying something that's been in her broken heart? and when she said things, david angry at her by saying, how can she accused him like that for many times?? is this some kind of comedy novel?? she accused him? while evrything that she's throwing at him is straight-A the truth??
how worse is that when abby just got 1 time "im sorry" from david for all his done to her and that -im sorry- thing wasnt even genuinely coming from david's heart? coz in his mind and in his defence, he think he already should be forgiven bcoz he's done the right thing by being a "christian" in those 8 years, but when he was faced by abby's word of truth about his affair, he's angry at her, saying she accused her, and even ignored her and wants to end thing w/her, and sending a letter to his mom saying that thing goes worse and that would be the same, even if it can, HE WONT DO IT. he simply given up. HE DOESNT DESERVED ABBY!
so i wonder, what's the sole purpose of the author of this book try to send? when almost all of entire 21 chapters from all of 24 chapters, is about torturing abby about how wrong in david's eyes that she act, how imperfect she was when all she had to do is accepting his husband affair and embraced it calmly and dont make a big deal out of it, wasnt this means that david forced abby to accepting that abby has no meaning at all for him? degrading her? demean his wife?
and let me tell you about what i think about all those so called "God's whisper" in david's ear, well, maybe it's not god's voice? maybe david was delusional and need to be check to the nearest mental hospital??
coz here some of those "god's whisper" that shouldbe leading and making things allright. i personaly hate chapter 21, when after all these long, finally david realise that he was being offensive to abby's ofense to him, he doesnt accept that he was wrong, and he was blinded by his own proud, bcoz in his mind, he already atone his fault for 8years. which part???
If she gets away now, I’m never going to see her again.
The panic edged even higher. Where would she go?
What would she do, on this road?
If she gets away now, he thought, panicking, I’ll lose her forever.
The gentle nudging came inside of him, the quiet, surprising wisdom he had come to rely on during these past weeks.
Beloved, let her go.
The thought came with such clarity, David knew God whispered in his heart. But if she gets away now, Father…
Slow down. Let her get away.
The hum began in his ears, the pounding in his chest. How could he do this? What would he say to Abby, if she ever asked him why?
You will never do this again, chasing after her this way.
But, Father…
Release her to Me. You are not the one responsible to keep her happy, David. You mustn’t let Abby’s pain control you anymore.
With sorrowful resignation, he eased his foot off the accelerator, and his breathing slowed. Okay. Okay. So, I let her go
you read that carefully, for 21 chapters, he degrading his wife presence, doent even do a thing to work on their marriage, doesnt even including abby in samantha's presence when she came to their house and play w/david's son, doesnt even try to encourage abby to forgive him, doesnt even do anything anymore aside from that one-im sorry-, doesnt even try to reach for abby, and then when abby finally broken out, she drive her car fast and he was following her, finally do some real act to reach abby, but then.. here comes god's voice that saying, "her happiness isnt your responsibility (for reall???? when he was part from her freaking life?part of her emotional tubulence?)"., and "you mustnt let abby 's pain control you anymore (when? where? what scenes? what occasion?? he ignored his wife!! at what chapter that bluntly told that he was control by abby's freaking pain? when all he's done is accused her back for being a bitch?? )"
see..?? after all.. it's not god's voice, david is delusional!
AND... IN THE END, OFC, ABBY said sorry to david, coz she realise that IT WAS HER OWN DOING THAT DRIFTED HIM TO DO THE AFFAIR, BCOZ SHE SHUT HIM OUT WHEN SHE WAS PREGNANT, AINT THIS SWEET??? LET THE GIRL TOOK THE FREAKING BLAME OF THE ROOT OF THEIR PROBLEM AND THE CAUSE OF HIS ADULTERY SIN WHO PRUDUCED A DAUGHTER!, COZ ONCE AGAIN, MAN COULDNT HANDLED IT, COZ THEY ARE ALL PUSSY. helloo to david's doubted mind about marrying abby too fast.. where were this reason gone then?
conclusion: lemme send david to heaven, by smack his brain out of his skull. IM hating him! and the writer even confused me to see his charcater of what he supposed to be, coz he nowhere closed to working out his infedility issue and he even only ask forgiveness from abby just one time!! the rest? he was busy feeling fall in love w/his new daughter, and feeling hate towards abby for what she done to wrecked their perfect peaceful marriage!! damn him! damn him to hell!
and susan? cheating on a married husband is down right filthy, but cheating on a married husband when she knows his wife is PREGNANT is... im hoping she was burn in the deepest hell. and then she said, "im not sorry for what i did, to abby", maybe i burn her by myself first? ughhh
December 16, 2025
This author is not a Christian in the way I view Christianity, she's an APOLOGIST (IMO), plain and simple. Not once did David ask for forgiveness from his wife, SHE had to explain why he cheated. (I have wondered if the author used the name David bc of what King David did, but the Bible CLEARLY shows the consequences to his actions.) She needs to go read the bible again. Infidelity AND ABUSE are the ONLY reason for DIVORCE. Yes, you forgive, but you certainly can move on WITH Gods blessing. Forgiveness is a gift we give ourselves and the transgressor, to move on, one made whether contrition is evident or not. But that is what makes it so precious, that it's given with no expectations. Then we assess whether the situation is salvageable (if we need to remove ourselves or not) and this is where the other persons actions comes into play. David was as arrogant a$$. And yes, I would forgive him for my own peace of mind (not easy, please don't think I'm making light of it) take my son and move on with a man who not only had some balls, knew how to use them and *gasp* keeps them for me. I hope you're (author) not letting people do things like this to you, because your giving Christians, who work hard at forgiveness and their spouse working hard to show they have taken Gods words to heart and show love to the one that was hurt, a very bad name. I believe you're hindering Gods message. I'm hoping you just didn't have the writing ability to pull this theme off. Very rarely do I leave such a scathing review, but when you invoke the Lords name, I dislike it being in vain.
12/30/18
I'm updating my review to acknowledge that not everyone shares my view on this subject. Some, like this author, believe that forgiveness (forgetting) entitles the perpetrator to be able to get away with anything. I just don't believe the Bible teaches this. But study for yourself, that's always the best way.
12/30/18
I'm updating my review to acknowledge that not everyone shares my view on this subject. Some, like this author, believe that forgiveness (forgetting) entitles the perpetrator to be able to get away with anything. I just don't believe the Bible teaches this. But study for yourself, that's always the best way.
August 6, 2020
I believe in forgiveness, I really do. But, I also believe it is something that some one has to earn and genuinely seek. Also, why I do not believe I could forgive infidelity, I have seen many cases where couples have worked hard and gotten over infidelity to be really happy. Infidelity is not something to be taken lightly as it is a massive betrayal, even addressed in the Bible. However, in this book I felt David's actions and behaviour warranted no redemption. He was selfish, hurtful and self righteous pretty much the whole way through the book. I can only judge someone by my own beliefs, and that is if I was selfish enough to betray someone I loved like that, I would crawl over hot coles to prove my self and to lessen their pain. David is pretty much unapologetic and resentful of his wife for not forgiving him straight away and making him feel guilty! He lashed out at her more than she does him a lot of the times. He even admits most of his supposed apologies are not real and only to get what he wants. He avoids answering questions his wife asks about the betrayal! I also don't appreciate him blaming his wife for his son's pain, if it were not for his behaviour there would be no problem. I also don't like the author not telling us details of the affair, exactly how long it was or how deeply they were involved, how it ended etc. David is so wish washy, he says he doesn't think he loved Susan, not 'that way', what way is that? Seeing as he did not even know who she was when she phoned at first I doubt very much his feelings for her were deep. But, then again I couldn't tell if he really loved Abby, by his eagerness to just give up and not prove himself, I think not. This book was uncomfortable, and Susan was not a very nice individual. Abby was far too pleasing in the end, forgiving David and her father who literally was the epitome of someone who does not care. This taught nothing of strength and redemption, only serving to make Abby realise how wrong she was and that it is ok for David to hold his ex mistres as she was so distressed! Ha ha not in this lifetime! There is forgiveness and there is stupidity.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
March 3, 2014
Absolutely hated the hero, he was a loser, he is the most unrepentant cheating husband ever... he thinsk because his sin is out that his wife should just...deal with it...forgive him...get in bed...uh...no... The other woman is probably the most repugnant...has the audacity to tell his wife she didnt regret anything... yeah too bad this was a christian based book as I know 2 horrid faithless losers who need to be together....as his wife deserved better... and once again a child born of cheating is like jesus himself...pure and perfect... he is...they cannot be...I do not know how in the world his wife remotely stood by him, the humiliation to her as anyone did the math that he was banging his mistress while she was ready to have his baby......
There are half a dozen instances where this creep and his mistress whisper...talk...hang out whispering in the dark... they are unredeemable and in no way would I ever trust those two alone as they are unrepentant cheating husband and more or less a tramp who will need to chat the rest of the perfect yet sickly childs life... I would use the bible and his infidelity to get a divorce and start anew and then he and the tramp and the angelic sickly perfect child can go on.... they were the only ones in this book that seemed to matter... she was written as unforgiving and the brother was a kid who one day will do the math adn figure out how little he meant to his father as he definately was enamored with the girl...was it because she was the daughter of his mistress? i still didnt know by the end of the book... hated the story.. well written but unredeemable characters that would only get a happily ever after in a christian book
There are half a dozen instances where this creep and his mistress whisper...talk...hang out whispering in the dark... they are unredeemable and in no way would I ever trust those two alone as they are unrepentant cheating husband and more or less a tramp who will need to chat the rest of the perfect yet sickly childs life... I would use the bible and his infidelity to get a divorce and start anew and then he and the tramp and the angelic sickly perfect child can go on.... they were the only ones in this book that seemed to matter... she was written as unforgiving and the brother was a kid who one day will do the math adn figure out how little he meant to his father as he definately was enamored with the girl...was it because she was the daughter of his mistress? i still didnt know by the end of the book... hated the story.. well written but unredeemable characters that would only get a happily ever after in a christian book
June 10, 2020
He expects acceptance, but never asks for forgiveness.
March 2, 2018
No! As a Christian i strongly reject the idea that Infidelity was handled in anything close to an appropriate manner in this book. When did Christianity ever mean you don't get to face the consequences of your actions? What on earth was happening with David's character. He cheats on his wife and whines when she finds out,even dared to blame her because she made him uncomfortable with her anger. Having a meet and greet with your with your former mistress in the middle of the night and having enough nerve to catch an attitude? I felt lightheaded for a minute. His Pastor friend!Didn't even suggest counselling for them ,spared not a dollop of empathy for the aggrieved wife. Husband never apologized for putting her through the humiliation and speculation that comes with being a cheating church leader's wife. A poster boy for the kind of Christian man you want to run away from, one with his head so far up his GI tract he cannot grovel to save his life. NO GROVELLING!Oh he actually told her he'd been working to earn her trust for the 8 years that happened...when he just told her about the affair. All this book did for me was make me feel sad for all the Christian women gaslighted by their spouses and church systems into writing off their pain and complaints as unnecessary after things like this in God's name. Maybe she wrote the book as a sort of twisted warning. 1 star for eliciting anger from me.
July 24, 2013
One star is a cruel rating, I know, but I hated everything about David Treasure, and can't bring myself to give any higher than that to his 'creator'. I could like and respect a serial killer more than this tool. Ugh. I have nothing else to say that wouldn't likely get my account deleted.
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June 16, 2020This book gives a whole new meaning to the verse “ask and you shall receive.” Why bother asking when you can demand forgiveness and the wife accepts it was her fault the husband had the affair? Not once did he say can you forgive me? Not once did he put his wife’s feelings before his. Why bother? I pushed through because I wanted to know what happens to his illegitimate sick daughter but this book delivers a bad message to all Christian women out there- to look within themselves for the problem. Sometimes, the guy is a cheater bc he is simply a selfish prick. Nothing more and certainly in this case not any deeper than that.
December 29, 2017
The writing was fine but the story was awful. I should’ve known how it was going down when I saw that that it was a “Christian” book. Apparently Christian means doormat, idiot, sucker (if you’re the wife) and entitled jerk (if you’re the husband).
December 17, 2019
It's very frustrating. I want to know why he did it. Why he had the affair. How long it went on for. Why he stopped. About 1/3 in and not knowing rod is making the story VERY frustrating. Also, so much useless dribble about completely irrelevant things is making the story soooooooo boring.
What a load of shite. The guy spent most of the hook being totally resentful of her behaviour towards him because of the affair. The OW came into the picture and he still got angry at her and her emotions. She works in a home to help abused women and yet he is emotionally abusing her and she then accepts it and then blames herself for being distant because of her father but God has shown her how wrong she was and that she should forgive?!?!? What the actual heck???
Give me a break. The guy cheated. Had a long term (I'm guessing at least 6 months) affair. Had a child with the OW Never told her but when he dies he gets all righteous and angry at her fir being pissed off. Then daughter from affair turns up. Then OW turns up. Spends time alone just talking and being with the H and she gets possession off and the "H" gets pissed at her fir being pissed off. But god tells her to let it go so all is right in the world?????
What type of message does this send to women? That when someone betrays you on the deepest level you should just get over it????
No! You need to experience your feelings and the cheater needs to be understanding and work at rebuilding trust and you GROW together from the experience. If you just swollow it like these two you don't learn anything.
I could go on and on but this has seriously wasted enough of my time.
What a load of shite. The guy spent most of the hook being totally resentful of her behaviour towards him because of the affair. The OW came into the picture and he still got angry at her and her emotions. She works in a home to help abused women and yet he is emotionally abusing her and she then accepts it and then blames herself for being distant because of her father but God has shown her how wrong she was and that she should forgive?!?!? What the actual heck???
Give me a break. The guy cheated. Had a long term (I'm guessing at least 6 months) affair. Had a child with the OW Never told her but when he dies he gets all righteous and angry at her fir being pissed off. Then daughter from affair turns up. Then OW turns up. Spends time alone just talking and being with the H and she gets possession off and the "H" gets pissed at her fir being pissed off. But god tells her to let it go so all is right in the world?????
What type of message does this send to women? That when someone betrays you on the deepest level you should just get over it????
No! You need to experience your feelings and the cheater needs to be understanding and work at rebuilding trust and you GROW together from the experience. If you just swollow it like these two you don't learn anything.
I could go on and on but this has seriously wasted enough of my time.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
February 21, 2025
This was a sweet book. While I typically don't like books with religion this didn't beat you over the head with it. The characters had conversations with God and an occasional quote was used but it didn't feel as if it was forcing religion on the reader as some books do. The story moves along well and I wanted to know the outcome. Will this book stick with me probably not but I do know some people that would like it. It's a good book for when you're just looking for a simple book to read.
October 24, 2016
Another Unhappily Ever After.
If this book is supposed to be an example of Christian forgiveness, then I thank the Lord I'm not christian.
To me, there are some things that are beyond compromise. No justification, ever. Crimes such as murder, pedophilia, and infidelity. It is a proven fact that infidelity is worse than bereavement; bereavement is about not having the person in your future and coping with that loss; but infidelity is the loss of not just your present and future plans, but your past as well. At one fell stroke, you are robbed of everything you held dear for so long, memories, trust, self-esteem. The message of this book is that it is Christian to forgive; to me, forgiving this sin is compromising my own integrity and values, and I would be a lesser person in my own eyes if I were to condone it. Forgive by all means, but understand that the relationship is lost, and ask God to find you the strength to move forward on your own. There is no shame in this. You are a mother, your children look up to you. You need to show that your values define you, and there can be no compromise on them.
The author of this book makes a big play for forgiveness, yet does not even come close to convincing the reader that the husband is worth it. There is not an atom of remorse from the husband about:
1. committing adultery
2. committing adultery at a time when his wife desperately needed his support, and denying her of it
3. hidng the truth from her for 9 long years
4. having the audacity to ask for her cooperation, in fact demand it, and the gall to feel that she is now being unreasonable about moving forward
5. shutting down totally on uncomfortable conversations (very unusual feature about this book is the lack of meaningful conversations, post affair coming to light, between husband and wife)
6. More than once, the husband is having secret conversations with the other woman, and when asked about it, gets upset with the wife for not having trust in him!
The list goes on... Both wife and reader are left looking for answers. The other woman is downright rude to the wife, says she has no intention of asking for forgiveness because it's done, and the wife is ok with it! This book has no closure.
What should have happened: Husband and girlfriend end affair. Promise never to contact each other. When the child gets leukemia and is looking for donors, the girlfriend should never have contacted the husband. As Christians believe, the sins of the father are visited on the child. So this is the mother's ultimate punishment. Her child may die, and that loss is her cross to bear, for her sins. That is being Christian, in my opinion. Ask for God's help in bearing the loss with fortitude and take comfort that you did not break up another family's happiness. That can be the only path to redemption for a crime worse than death. Why don't Christians get this?
Bottomline: the husband is a spineless coward with no moral compass.
Dear author, if you are planning to have a controversial topic like infidelity in your book, and worse, intend to have the wife forgive her cheating husband, please take the trouble to write in lots of conversations between husband and wife, and later, lots of self-analysis on the part of the husband where he truly comes to understand the magnitude of his sins and the hurt he has caused his son and wife, how he is going to deal with it, what sacrifices he is going to make, etc.. This did not happen in your book. You are one lazy person! Sloth is a sin too, you know!
If this book is supposed to be an example of Christian forgiveness, then I thank the Lord I'm not christian.
To me, there are some things that are beyond compromise. No justification, ever. Crimes such as murder, pedophilia, and infidelity. It is a proven fact that infidelity is worse than bereavement; bereavement is about not having the person in your future and coping with that loss; but infidelity is the loss of not just your present and future plans, but your past as well. At one fell stroke, you are robbed of everything you held dear for so long, memories, trust, self-esteem. The message of this book is that it is Christian to forgive; to me, forgiving this sin is compromising my own integrity and values, and I would be a lesser person in my own eyes if I were to condone it. Forgive by all means, but understand that the relationship is lost, and ask God to find you the strength to move forward on your own. There is no shame in this. You are a mother, your children look up to you. You need to show that your values define you, and there can be no compromise on them.
The author of this book makes a big play for forgiveness, yet does not even come close to convincing the reader that the husband is worth it. There is not an atom of remorse from the husband about:
1. committing adultery
2. committing adultery at a time when his wife desperately needed his support, and denying her of it
3. hidng the truth from her for 9 long years
4. having the audacity to ask for her cooperation, in fact demand it, and the gall to feel that she is now being unreasonable about moving forward
5. shutting down totally on uncomfortable conversations (very unusual feature about this book is the lack of meaningful conversations, post affair coming to light, between husband and wife)
6. More than once, the husband is having secret conversations with the other woman, and when asked about it, gets upset with the wife for not having trust in him!
The list goes on... Both wife and reader are left looking for answers. The other woman is downright rude to the wife, says she has no intention of asking for forgiveness because it's done, and the wife is ok with it! This book has no closure.
What should have happened: Husband and girlfriend end affair. Promise never to contact each other. When the child gets leukemia and is looking for donors, the girlfriend should never have contacted the husband. As Christians believe, the sins of the father are visited on the child. So this is the mother's ultimate punishment. Her child may die, and that loss is her cross to bear, for her sins. That is being Christian, in my opinion. Ask for God's help in bearing the loss with fortitude and take comfort that you did not break up another family's happiness. That can be the only path to redemption for a crime worse than death. Why don't Christians get this?
Bottomline: the husband is a spineless coward with no moral compass.
Dear author, if you are planning to have a controversial topic like infidelity in your book, and worse, intend to have the wife forgive her cheating husband, please take the trouble to write in lots of conversations between husband and wife, and later, lots of self-analysis on the part of the husband where he truly comes to understand the magnitude of his sins and the hurt he has caused his son and wife, how he is going to deal with it, what sacrifices he is going to make, etc.. This did not happen in your book. You are one lazy person! Sloth is a sin too, you know!
November 14, 2012
I’m not normally a reader of Christian fiction but the blurb on this book intrigued me so much I decided to give it a go. The book itself wasn’t bad but I’ve only given it a 2/5 because it didn’t particularly grab me and it’s not one that I would pick up again.
Bedford did a great job of bringing most of the characters to life and I especially enjoyed reading from David’s, Braden’s and Samantha’s points of view but for some reason I felt detached from Abby. I can’t put my finger on why that was but it meant that I felt much more sympathetic towards David and annoyed with Abby for not making a decision. In terms of secondary characters Bedford included some fantastic people, namely Violet and Sophie who helped to put things in perspective both for Abby and for the reader.
Although it is a Christian fiction novel, Bedford doesn’t overload it onto the reader and is very subtle. The characters are religious and look to God for help but it doesn’t dominate scenes and God is more of a strong background figure. Structurally it’s written well and Bedford divides her time between the characters successfully.
The book however just wasn’t a stand out novel and was predictable so I knew the ending way before it got there. It’s a short easy read but not one to pick up again.
Bedford did a great job of bringing most of the characters to life and I especially enjoyed reading from David’s, Braden’s and Samantha’s points of view but for some reason I felt detached from Abby. I can’t put my finger on why that was but it meant that I felt much more sympathetic towards David and annoyed with Abby for not making a decision. In terms of secondary characters Bedford included some fantastic people, namely Violet and Sophie who helped to put things in perspective both for Abby and for the reader.
Although it is a Christian fiction novel, Bedford doesn’t overload it onto the reader and is very subtle. The characters are religious and look to God for help but it doesn’t dominate scenes and God is more of a strong background figure. Structurally it’s written well and Bedford divides her time between the characters successfully.
The book however just wasn’t a stand out novel and was predictable so I knew the ending way before it got there. It’s a short easy read but not one to pick up again.
August 25, 2020
😡
Another Christian story of a woman struggling and her Christian husband cheating because the wife isn’t paying attention. Then when he has to tell wife of affair he is ticked she has trouble forgiving. Never an apology. Sickening.
Another Christian story of a woman struggling and her Christian husband cheating because the wife isn’t paying attention. Then when he has to tell wife of affair he is ticked she has trouble forgiving. Never an apology. Sickening.
January 2, 2022
This so called man was horrible! I hope he somehow suffers in some miserable, painful way. He deserves every bad thing that happens to him. His wife was crazy for staying with him.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
June 14, 2017
Ugh always fun to read about a cheater who has no remorse and then of course the author makes the wife apologize....
February 18, 2020
I haaaated this book. Husband cheats on pregnant wife, speaks to GF while at the hospital after wife gives birth and continues affair for a time after the child is born. Years later, when the affair is exposed, HE is mad at his wife for being hurt and angry. Never shows any remorse nor does he ask for forgiveness. I only finished the book because I was waiting for the idiot husband to have a revelation about his selfish, horrible self. This is supposed to be by a Christian writer and based on real life. I feel really sorry and sad for the real life people. Just awful.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
December 22, 2018
Powerful
Wow. Strong storyline, well developed characters and an interest level that resulted in a lot of lost sleep. I had to know. The H was a jerk and was self centered and believed he had more control and personal influence than others. He acted entitled though he was racked with guilt and stress. He learned and finally started acting like a responsible husband. The wife was an amazing role model!
Wow. Strong storyline, well developed characters and an interest level that resulted in a lot of lost sleep. I had to know. The H was a jerk and was self centered and believed he had more control and personal influence than others. He acted entitled though he was racked with guilt and stress. He learned and finally started acting like a responsible husband. The wife was an amazing role model!
February 16, 2021
David and Abby had the perfect life: perfect marriage, perfect son, all was perfect until the call that would turn it all around.
While Abby was pregnant David had an affair but did not know he had fathered a daughter. A daughter who was now sick and needed her fathers help.
What would this do to the perfect family?
This is a wonderful story on their faith in God and love for each other brings a triumph ending to this saga.
While Abby was pregnant David had an affair but did not know he had fathered a daughter. A daughter who was now sick and needed her fathers help.
What would this do to the perfect family?
This is a wonderful story on their faith in God and love for each other brings a triumph ending to this saga.
November 14, 2020
This book was an easy read. Faith being a stronghold of many marriages, this book shows insight on three different couples. Nice seeing it involving kids rather than excluding them. Also, the characters feel relatable. Even if you haven't been married you know someone like each character in the book.
September 30, 2019
I really enjoyed this book. A husband commits adultery and finds out 9 years later he has a child. He has to tell his wife and son about as the daughter he did not know about is deathly ill. Who is the donor to save this little girl?
March 12, 2023
Good sweet book. This book had a tough yet sweet story
September 27, 2023
Pretty good, not my choice in books, but it was okay. Very family-oriented.
December 11, 2023
Oldie
August 3, 2025
Tear jerker
Be prepared to learn from this story and it will hurt. But if it changes you and helps you understand life, love and forgiveness, it will be worth it.
Be prepared to learn from this story and it will hurt. But if it changes you and helps you understand life, love and forgiveness, it will be worth it.
October 20, 2025
Nop.
I hate him and his whore
I hate him and his whore
December 18, 2022
Some appreciable angst alternatively...annoying. Much of the story spent in unnecessary limbo no forward propulsion despite or due to religious rants and or judgments.and blame gaming by the cheaters! Confusing , unclear, nebulous and archaic messaging....The most mature characters? The nine yo son and nine yo newly discovered child\daughter.
June 11, 2009
From booksfree.com:
I received this book from Faithwords via Twitter. It is a reprint of an earlier Deborah Bedford book so this isn't new. But let me tell you - it is a wonderful book.
This book is a look into what everyone believes is the perfect marriage and family even those participating, even David whose indiscretion in the first year of marriage is known to him but not to Abby. Then his life is shattered when he learns of his daughter. A daughter he never knew and the fact that she is sick and needs the bone marrow transplant.
Reading this book you get all sides. You see it from David's side and you see it from Abby's side. You get glimpses from Braden (their son), from Susan (the long-ago lover) and also from Sam (the daughter). All of them are human and their mistakes, pride and love show through. They all go through changes and I loved reading about how the changes came about.
This book is very moving. The characters very real, but it gives you hope. It gives you hope that even when trust is destroyed that it can be rebuilt especially when you have God in your life to help you with it.
I can't recommend this book enough. It's real, it's timely in this age of infidelity and divorce and it's compelling. I picked this up and did not stop reading it until I reached the end. It drew me into their lives and kept me there wanting to know more.
David and Abby Treasure seem to have everything together: a perfect marriage, a perfect son, and a perfect life. But one simple phone call turns their world upside down. Years ago, David had an affair outside of his marriage, and though he never knew it, the affair produced a daughter. Now his former lover calls with heartbreaking news: his daughter is dying of leukemia. Her only hope for survival is a bone marrow transplant-from David or his son.
Can David and Abby set aside their betrayal and anger to save a little girl's life? If they can make it through, they may find that their love for one another and their faith in God can be redeemed . . . and grow stronger than ever before.
I received this book from Faithwords via Twitter. It is a reprint of an earlier Deborah Bedford book so this isn't new. But let me tell you - it is a wonderful book.
This book is a look into what everyone believes is the perfect marriage and family even those participating, even David whose indiscretion in the first year of marriage is known to him but not to Abby. Then his life is shattered when he learns of his daughter. A daughter he never knew and the fact that she is sick and needs the bone marrow transplant.
Reading this book you get all sides. You see it from David's side and you see it from Abby's side. You get glimpses from Braden (their son), from Susan (the long-ago lover) and also from Sam (the daughter). All of them are human and their mistakes, pride and love show through. They all go through changes and I loved reading about how the changes came about.
This book is very moving. The characters very real, but it gives you hope. It gives you hope that even when trust is destroyed that it can be rebuilt especially when you have God in your life to help you with it.
I can't recommend this book enough. It's real, it's timely in this age of infidelity and divorce and it's compelling. I picked this up and did not stop reading it until I reached the end. It drew me into their lives and kept me there wanting to know more.
December 19, 2014
'A Morning Like This' tells the story of a married, Christian couple fiercely in love. The only thorn in this relationship is the heavy secret that David has hidden from his wife for nine years. He believes that he can move on from his mistake and just pretend that it never happened and that Abby would never have to know about it...until the phone call came.
Nine years ago, David and Abby had only been married for a short time when they found out that they were having a baby. Abby, still tormented from her past and how her father had left her at a young age, turned away from everyone and became cold. During that time, David was struggling to be a young married guy in his early 30's who was now expecting a baby when all of his friends were still enjoying their youth and freedom. Abby giving him the cold shoulder made him snap, and he turned to a young, visiting vibrant college student called Susan for attention and intimacy.
In the present time, Susan unexpectedly gives him a call after all of these years and tells him that he has an 8 year old daughter, Samantha. The reason for the call? Samantha has leukemia and Susan is desperate to find a match for a bone marrow transplant and she thinks that either David or his son, Braden, could be the key to saving Samantha's life.
Unfortunately for David, if he goes through with it, Abby would have to know about his adultery, and the genuine love and stability they've built together over the past nine years would have been for nothing.
This book was overall a short but very touching read. I typically don't read Christian books so the religious aspect was a bit grating at times. Of course, I should have expected it, but I really didn't understand how David and Abigail could attribute everything to spiritual causes rather than human nature. But again, I still enjoyed this book.
Nine years ago, David and Abby had only been married for a short time when they found out that they were having a baby. Abby, still tormented from her past and how her father had left her at a young age, turned away from everyone and became cold. During that time, David was struggling to be a young married guy in his early 30's who was now expecting a baby when all of his friends were still enjoying their youth and freedom. Abby giving him the cold shoulder made him snap, and he turned to a young, visiting vibrant college student called Susan for attention and intimacy.
In the present time, Susan unexpectedly gives him a call after all of these years and tells him that he has an 8 year old daughter, Samantha. The reason for the call? Samantha has leukemia and Susan is desperate to find a match for a bone marrow transplant and she thinks that either David or his son, Braden, could be the key to saving Samantha's life.
Unfortunately for David, if he goes through with it, Abby would have to know about his adultery, and the genuine love and stability they've built together over the past nine years would have been for nothing.
This book was overall a short but very touching read. I typically don't read Christian books so the religious aspect was a bit grating at times. Of course, I should have expected it, but I really didn't understand how David and Abigail could attribute everything to spiritual causes rather than human nature. But again, I still enjoyed this book.
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