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Tear Stained Beaches
Haylie Julian wants nothing more than to put her crumbling marriage back together. Chase used to be a fun-loving, light hearted husband who has lately become an overworked attorney obsessed with climbing the corporate ladder. It isn’t long before Haylie starts waking up next to a man she barely knows. His secretive phone calls and late nights at the office leave her feeling alone and afraid of what he might be hiding. Ignoring his continuous pleas to just leave well enough alone, she continues to dig for answers and discovers a heartbreaking truth.
Struggling with what she has just learned, Haylie sets off to a quaint little North Carolina beach town to decide if her marriage can survive. It isn’t long after she arrives that her world is once again turned upside down as Chase’s secret stares her right in the face.
Struggling with what she has just learned, Haylie sets off to a quaint little North Carolina beach town to decide if her marriage can survive. It isn’t long after she arrives that her world is once again turned upside down as Chase’s secret stares her right in the face.
158 pages, Kindle Edition
First published January 1, 2013
164 people are currently reading
1499 people want to read
About the author
Courtney Giardina
12 books141 followersCourtney is the author of Tear Stained Beaches, Holding on to Georgia and the Behind the Strings series. When Courtney isn't busy writing her next novel, she also loves songwriting, listening to country music and traveling.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 188 reviews
August 1, 2020
Angst Galore , that’s the best way to describe this book.
I cried ok?
This book is not a love story. It’s about what used to be a love story and the people involved.
Some people might adeptly describe this book as being emotional torture and I agree.
We read books about cheating and how the people involved try to grovel, make amends, forgive and move on.. Well, this takes a different approach.
It starts with the doubts. The unexplained absences in the name of “work” and business trips. The constant cancelling of plans and avoidance of spending quality time together. It continues for a few months until Hailey (the heroine) can no longer hold onto her unwavering trust in a man that she thought would never hurt her that way. The impossible has become possible all of a sudden, and her feelings are all over the place. From here onwards, the author does not spare us any emotional pain. It’s like being hit over and over (metaphorically). We go through each step of the journey with the heroine. The blind trust, the doubt, the realisation, the avoidance, the confrontation, the processing/ decision making and ultimately the moving on.
It was gruelling and not many people would sign up to read this, but it was a sad playlist and angsty book type of day for me so I trudged through.
This is a story of cheating indeed BUT, it’s also a story about love. Hailey reminisces about hers and Chase’s relationship from start to finish. We go from the meet cute, the romantic proposal, buying their first house, promising each other unwavering love to ultimately closing the door on that chapter and moving on with her life and getting ready for the next chapter.
Do I think that Chase was a bad guy? No, I don’t. I think he’s human. Sometimes we do stupid, out of character stuff almost robotically because we might feel off at the time or unfulfilled and it’s 100% not who we are. I don’t know if he would be the type to do a repeat performance if he was forgiven but he didn’t get the chance because unlike other women who would try to forgive and forget, Hailey knows herself and she knows that the memories would forever taint her life and she would sentence herself to a daily torture of doubts and resurfacing anger.
*SPOILERS AHEAD*
There are some great (don’t know if great, but they are true to this kind of situation I suppose) quotes:
But first there’s a spoiler for you which is that the mistress had no idea she was the mistress and she was truly falling in love with him. Unknowingly, Hailey and the mistress become friends until the truth comes out and bam.. cry your hearts out.
This part in the book was the hardest to read, because not only did he destroy his marriage and his wife’s life but also broke someone else’s heart.
“This woman, this poor innocent, wanted-to-believe-in- love woman was crying in front of me, because she was in love with my husband and he broke her heart”
“Why? Why was she better than me? What did she have that Chase couldn’t get from me? I thought I was the one. I was the one he had chosen, the finger he put that ring on. If I was enough then; why wasn’t I enough now? I wanted the answers to those questions: I just didn’t know if I was ready to actually hear them.”
“Good morning beautiful,” he said
I rolled over onto my back and smiled. When I finally opened my eyes, his were looking back at me. I wanted to cry. Thinking of those eyes looking at any one else the way they looked at me broke my heart. He kissed my forehead and rolled out of bed, grabbing his cell phone from the night stand before heading into the bathroom to get ready.”
“Or was there another woman? What did she look like and did she know about me? Was she taller than me, skinnier than me, prettier than me? My head was spinning. This was not happening. There’s no way that my husband was having an affair. He knew how strongly I felt about adultery. The mere thought of it made my skin crawl.”
“You’ll be ok Haylie; you’ll be ok. People get through this all the time. I pressed my head against the wall and cried. This time, I didn’t try to hold it in. I know hind- sight is always twenty-twenty, and maybe five years from now I’ll look back at this whole thing and know that it happened for some inexplicable reason and something good would come out of it, but at that moment, I felt like I was at a standstill. I couldn’t move forward on my own, but the plans I had wanted to create with Chase had been destroyed. Life without him seemed unbearable”
“All the worrying I’d been doing, the constant anxiety, it had finally become too much. You can only bend something so much until it breaks and that is what happened to me.”
“You can never take away the memories I have of us; I will hold those deep inside. And someday, when my heart heals, I may even be able to forgive you. But I just don’t have it in me for second chances.”
I cried ok?
This book is not a love story. It’s about what used to be a love story and the people involved.
Some people might adeptly describe this book as being emotional torture and I agree.
We read books about cheating and how the people involved try to grovel, make amends, forgive and move on.. Well, this takes a different approach.
It starts with the doubts. The unexplained absences in the name of “work” and business trips. The constant cancelling of plans and avoidance of spending quality time together. It continues for a few months until Hailey (the heroine) can no longer hold onto her unwavering trust in a man that she thought would never hurt her that way. The impossible has become possible all of a sudden, and her feelings are all over the place. From here onwards, the author does not spare us any emotional pain. It’s like being hit over and over (metaphorically). We go through each step of the journey with the heroine. The blind trust, the doubt, the realisation, the avoidance, the confrontation, the processing/ decision making and ultimately the moving on.
It was gruelling and not many people would sign up to read this, but it was a sad playlist and angsty book type of day for me so I trudged through.
This is a story of cheating indeed BUT, it’s also a story about love. Hailey reminisces about hers and Chase’s relationship from start to finish. We go from the meet cute, the romantic proposal, buying their first house, promising each other unwavering love to ultimately closing the door on that chapter and moving on with her life and getting ready for the next chapter.
Do I think that Chase was a bad guy? No, I don’t. I think he’s human. Sometimes we do stupid, out of character stuff almost robotically because we might feel off at the time or unfulfilled and it’s 100% not who we are. I don’t know if he would be the type to do a repeat performance if he was forgiven but he didn’t get the chance because unlike other women who would try to forgive and forget, Hailey knows herself and she knows that the memories would forever taint her life and she would sentence herself to a daily torture of doubts and resurfacing anger.
*SPOILERS AHEAD*
There are some great (don’t know if great, but they are true to this kind of situation I suppose) quotes:
But first there’s a spoiler for you which is that the mistress had no idea she was the mistress and she was truly falling in love with him. Unknowingly, Hailey and the mistress become friends until the truth comes out and bam.. cry your hearts out.
This part in the book was the hardest to read, because not only did he destroy his marriage and his wife’s life but also broke someone else’s heart.
“This woman, this poor innocent, wanted-to-believe-in- love woman was crying in front of me, because she was in love with my husband and he broke her heart”
“Why? Why was she better than me? What did she have that Chase couldn’t get from me? I thought I was the one. I was the one he had chosen, the finger he put that ring on. If I was enough then; why wasn’t I enough now? I wanted the answers to those questions: I just didn’t know if I was ready to actually hear them.”
“Good morning beautiful,” he said
I rolled over onto my back and smiled. When I finally opened my eyes, his were looking back at me. I wanted to cry. Thinking of those eyes looking at any one else the way they looked at me broke my heart. He kissed my forehead and rolled out of bed, grabbing his cell phone from the night stand before heading into the bathroom to get ready.”
“Or was there another woman? What did she look like and did she know about me? Was she taller than me, skinnier than me, prettier than me? My head was spinning. This was not happening. There’s no way that my husband was having an affair. He knew how strongly I felt about adultery. The mere thought of it made my skin crawl.”
“You’ll be ok Haylie; you’ll be ok. People get through this all the time. I pressed my head against the wall and cried. This time, I didn’t try to hold it in. I know hind- sight is always twenty-twenty, and maybe five years from now I’ll look back at this whole thing and know that it happened for some inexplicable reason and something good would come out of it, but at that moment, I felt like I was at a standstill. I couldn’t move forward on my own, but the plans I had wanted to create with Chase had been destroyed. Life without him seemed unbearable”
“All the worrying I’d been doing, the constant anxiety, it had finally become too much. You can only bend something so much until it breaks and that is what happened to me.”
“You can never take away the memories I have of us; I will hold those deep inside. And someday, when my heart heals, I may even be able to forgive you. But I just don’t have it in me for second chances.”
November 26, 2020
He didn’t suffered enough like I would like him to, well maybe he has but we don’t get his pov, but more important than his reactions is she being strong and looking forward to a happy life without a cheating asshole. This is not my favorite book, I would like to see more dialogues, more about her HEA and him being a pathetic excuse of a man.
Heroine POV only but what’s the point of reading the cheater’s side if I wouldn’t be able to trust one single shit he says.
I’m gonna start by saying cheating is disgusting, it is toxic, it is manipulative and of course it is a form of abuse, especially when it is an affair or a case of several cheating, although a one night stand is just as unforgivable.
Many authors and unfortunately a lot of readers seems to believe cheating is forgivable, it is not. If your partner cheats on you, don’t fool yourself looking for excuses, there is none, he doesn’t respect you. Unfortunately, some people believe love is the most important thing when it comes to a romantic relationship, it is not, respect is the base for everything. If a man doesn’t respect the woman he claims to love enough to be faithful to her, his allegedly love isn’t worth shit. Once a cheater always a cheater even if it he doesn’t do it again to you, he did it once and it can’t be undone, he can’t erase his past so he will always be someone who broke your trust, there is no coming back from that unless you don’t respect yourself enough to kick his ass.
I’m giving five stars to this book because the protagonist didn’t forgive her husband, it is a shame but many romance writes make their heroines forgive the cheaters and I will never accept it. Cheating is unforgivable and irredeemable doesn’t matter the circumstances, I do believe a cheater can start a new relationship and improve himself becoming someone faithful (as long as it happens with someone other than me.... well, maybe I don’t believe in it at all because I would never trust a cheater) but that is only acceptable if it is with someone new, otherwise there is no way in hell the cheater can be redeemable.
Authors who like to write about cheating calling it “Christian romance” I have some news to tell you: Jesus Christ doesn’t think you are a good person because you are stupid enough to forgive an asshole who doesn’t respect nor love you nearly enough to treat you with decency, whatever bullshit you are feeding yourselves is not based on God’ wishes is only based on lack of self respect.
About the story:
-8 years together, 5 eyes married
-she was cheated on high school and told him about it when they met on her senior year at college
-months cheating
-texting the ow the same time he was calling her to go back home
Haylie to Chase the cheater
“I made a mistake,” he said. He reached his arms towards me again and I shoved him away.
“I let all my fears of failing and not being good enough take over and I made a mistake. I turned into someone I didn’t recognize and I did a lot of things I’m not proud of. I know I can’t take them back, but that’s all it was Haylie; a mistake.”
“You didn’t make a mistake!” I screamed. I was right back in his face again waving my finger in front of me.
“You made a choice. It was a conscious choice. You don’t just fall into bed with someone. Not once and certainly not multiple times.”
“When I vowed to love you until death do us part, that did not mean that I was willing to accept something that would make me unlove myself in the process.”
“A man who respects his wife, does not sleep with other women. And a woman who respects herself does not allow her husband to get away with it.” Fucking finally this is SELF RESPECT
I would like to end this with some beautiful motivational words: death to cheaters
Heroine POV only but what’s the point of reading the cheater’s side if I wouldn’t be able to trust one single shit he says.
I’m gonna start by saying cheating is disgusting, it is toxic, it is manipulative and of course it is a form of abuse, especially when it is an affair or a case of several cheating, although a one night stand is just as unforgivable.
Many authors and unfortunately a lot of readers seems to believe cheating is forgivable, it is not. If your partner cheats on you, don’t fool yourself looking for excuses, there is none, he doesn’t respect you. Unfortunately, some people believe love is the most important thing when it comes to a romantic relationship, it is not, respect is the base for everything. If a man doesn’t respect the woman he claims to love enough to be faithful to her, his allegedly love isn’t worth shit. Once a cheater always a cheater even if it he doesn’t do it again to you, he did it once and it can’t be undone, he can’t erase his past so he will always be someone who broke your trust, there is no coming back from that unless you don’t respect yourself enough to kick his ass.
I’m giving five stars to this book because the protagonist didn’t forgive her husband, it is a shame but many romance writes make their heroines forgive the cheaters and I will never accept it. Cheating is unforgivable and irredeemable doesn’t matter the circumstances, I do believe a cheater can start a new relationship and improve himself becoming someone faithful (as long as it happens with someone other than me.... well, maybe I don’t believe in it at all because I would never trust a cheater) but that is only acceptable if it is with someone new, otherwise there is no way in hell the cheater can be redeemable.
Authors who like to write about cheating calling it “Christian romance” I have some news to tell you: Jesus Christ doesn’t think you are a good person because you are stupid enough to forgive an asshole who doesn’t respect nor love you nearly enough to treat you with decency, whatever bullshit you are feeding yourselves is not based on God’ wishes is only based on lack of self respect.
About the story:
-8 years together, 5 eyes married
-she was cheated on high school and told him about it when they met on her senior year at college
-months cheating
-texting the ow the same time he was calling her to go back home
Haylie to Chase the cheater
“I made a mistake,” he said. He reached his arms towards me again and I shoved him away.
“I let all my fears of failing and not being good enough take over and I made a mistake. I turned into someone I didn’t recognize and I did a lot of things I’m not proud of. I know I can’t take them back, but that’s all it was Haylie; a mistake.”
“You didn’t make a mistake!” I screamed. I was right back in his face again waving my finger in front of me.
“You made a choice. It was a conscious choice. You don’t just fall into bed with someone. Not once and certainly not multiple times.”
“When I vowed to love you until death do us part, that did not mean that I was willing to accept something that would make me unlove myself in the process.”
“A man who respects his wife, does not sleep with other women. And a woman who respects herself does not allow her husband to get away with it.” Fucking finally this is SELF RESPECT
I would like to end this with some beautiful motivational words: death to cheaters
January 17, 2016
Finally a book where heroine does not take the cheating ass back! I would have given this a 4* but I wanted to see the cheating ass suffer more and maybe his PoV would have been great at the end thus my 3.5*
July 1, 2025
Chase and Haylie met on the college campus. They fell in love and after three years together they tied the knot.
Five years later they were living in North Carolina, had a nice house in the suburbs and were very happy. That is until a few months ago.
Haylie, now twenty-eight, had noticed that Chase had been texting often lately. His phone never seemed to leave his side and he looked distracted.
He started taking out of state business trips, even though he was allowed to practice law only in NC.
But to Haylie was the most trusted man she ever met, he would do nothing to intentionally hurt her.
One night he went out for drinks with his best friend. He sneaked in two in the morning and smelled of perfume.
His behaviour was so off that Haylie worried that Chase was getting tired of her. He was making a lot of effort not to be around her.
The fact that they stopped connecting and spent so much time apart was becoming detrimental to her state of well-being. Her attempts to put their marriage back together failed.
Chase was more and more preoccupied with his phone.
She confronted him. She told him that she thought he was having an affair.
He said: "There is nothing going on. I love you so much. Look what you are doing to us. Why are you accusing me of things l haven't done? Why don't you trust me? I will never cheat on you. I will never do this to you."
Haylie decided to play detective!
SPOILERS
Haylie checked their joint cell phone account. He was calling a certain number a lot, and there were thousands of texts. She found a current credit card statement: Relaxation spa, flowers. Bistro, jewelers.
Haylie thought that a man who respects his wife, does not sleep with another woman. And a woman who respects herself does not allow her husband to get away with it.
So Haylie was more determined than ever to find out the truth.
She broke into Chase's home computer. She found a receipt for an airline ticket to Kettlewood Island for Labor Day, that was two weeks away.
She found a video of Chase saying: "Hey baby, l'm about to go to bed and l just wanted to say goodnight. I miss you and l really hate sleeping without you and to know how long l have to go without seeing your pretty face is killing me. Labor Day is not going to come fast enough. I will see you soon sweetheart."
Haylie thought of confronting him, but she knew he was going to call her crazy and make up some lame excuse for the video.
She had to gather her thoughts and gain courage.
That night she cried for the end of her marriage and for the now unknown future.
She was sickened by the thought that he would spend an entire weekend with someone else and then come home to her, make love and hold her as she fell asleep.
He'd looked her in the eye every day for months, lied to her and never gave it a second thought.
He was not the Chase she married. He was a manipulative, egotistical liar.
The next day after Chase left for the gym, Haylie headed for Kettlewood. She felt that she needed to be there. The place that her husband and his girlfriend had arranged to meet in less than two weeks time.
She arrived on the island and rented a seaside cottage, before having dinner at a restaurant. There she got acquainted with the hostess, Meghan.
That night Haylie ignored Chase's phone calls and texts. She only responded to her friends texts.
The next day Haylie met Meghan on the beach by chance.
Haylie felt like she could trust Meghan, so she poured her heart out. Meghan was a sweet girl, she was sympathetic to Haylie's plight.
Meghan told Haylie that she've been seeing someone who owned stores, for some time now, but she was playing it cautious, taking things slow.
Chase continued texting Haylie wanting to know if she was okay and asking her to come back home.
She never responded.
During the next few days Haylie and Meghan spent time together.
One day Meghan said that her boyfriend would be back on the island the following week.
He texted her that he had something important to talk to her about and wanted to do it face to face.
She did not know if she should be worried or excited, she said.
Haylie cried often since she arrived on the island. She cried on the beach (the book's title), at night before she fell asleep.
She thought that finding out your husband is having an affair is similar to the grieving process one goes through when losing a loved one.
How could she ever reconcile with him? There was too much he had hidden and lied about. Her trust in him had disappeared.
What was broken could not be fixed.
The night before Labor Day, Meghan drove by on her way back from work. She said that her boyfriend had arrived, he was actually in the car, and she was very happy. She said she did not think she was going to sleep that night. Haylie was happy for her.
The next morning Haylie went for a walk on the beach. As she was approaching Megan's beach house, she saw someone emerge from her new friend's cottage. He was standing on the porch, a cup of coffee in his hand gazing at the sea. He was shirtless, he had a perfect body and Haylie thought that Meghan had a good taste in men.
He turned his head, she saw his face. He had not noticed her yet.
It was the man who stared into Haylie's eyes five years ago, and vowed to love her, honour her and be faithful until death do them part.
Haylie realised that the girl she had come to trust, the girl she had poured her heart and soul out to, cried to and leaned on, was the girl Chase was having an affair with, and he had just spent another night with her.
Haylie approached him, he saw her but he did not say a word. He knew nothing he would say was going to get him out of this.
When Meghan came out on the porch and saw their faces, the life drained out of her. She figured it out.
Chase said: "Haylie please...", but Haylie had ran away crying.
Later Meghan knocked on Haylie's door. She said that after Haylie ran away, she confronted him.
He told Meghan that for a while he thought maybe he had made a mistake getting married so young. He was starting to feel the pressure at work, and responsibility of taking care of a family, as he and Haylie were talking about kids, it was too much for him. He told Meghan that when he was with her, the pressures of the everyday world disappeared. Meghan was his escape.
Haylie asked Meghan: "Did he tell you he loved you?"
"No, he never said that to me. He told me he loved you. That everything was all messed up now but he was going to do whatever he had to do to fix what he broke. He never touched me last night. He said he was tired. "
He also told Meghan that he came to the island to tell her the truth and to put an end to their relationship.
The girls cried together for the same man for both were betrayed by him.
Haylie next saw Chase at their house in NC. This scene is very long, so l am going to give the reader's digest version.
Chase told Haylie that he was sorry, he loved her so much. He let all his fears of failing and not being good enough take over and he made a mistake. He turned into someone he did not recognise. He said when Haylie left, he realised what a mess he'd made. He was running from a life he should have been thankful for. He got so caught up in the stress and the pressure and he cracked. He went to Kettlewood Island to end it with Meghan. It would never happen again. He could not lose Haylie, she was everything to him. She owned it to him to give him a second chance.
He cried, really cried, but Haylie had her doubts about how genuine those tears were. He had been so manipulative. He had lied so many times.
"You didn't make a mistake Chase. You made a conscious choice. You don't just fall into bed with someone. Not once and certainly not multiple times. I don't have it in me for second chances. I just can't get past this. You and me, what we had, the life we built, it's over. I'm done."
There is an epilogue.
Five years later they were living in North Carolina, had a nice house in the suburbs and were very happy. That is until a few months ago.
Haylie, now twenty-eight, had noticed that Chase had been texting often lately. His phone never seemed to leave his side and he looked distracted.
He started taking out of state business trips, even though he was allowed to practice law only in NC.
But to Haylie was the most trusted man she ever met, he would do nothing to intentionally hurt her.
One night he went out for drinks with his best friend. He sneaked in two in the morning and smelled of perfume.
His behaviour was so off that Haylie worried that Chase was getting tired of her. He was making a lot of effort not to be around her.
The fact that they stopped connecting and spent so much time apart was becoming detrimental to her state of well-being. Her attempts to put their marriage back together failed.
Chase was more and more preoccupied with his phone.
She confronted him. She told him that she thought he was having an affair.
He said: "There is nothing going on. I love you so much. Look what you are doing to us. Why are you accusing me of things l haven't done? Why don't you trust me? I will never cheat on you. I will never do this to you."
Haylie decided to play detective!
SPOILERS
Haylie checked their joint cell phone account. He was calling a certain number a lot, and there were thousands of texts. She found a current credit card statement: Relaxation spa, flowers. Bistro, jewelers.
Haylie thought that a man who respects his wife, does not sleep with another woman. And a woman who respects herself does not allow her husband to get away with it.
So Haylie was more determined than ever to find out the truth.
She broke into Chase's home computer. She found a receipt for an airline ticket to Kettlewood Island for Labor Day, that was two weeks away.
She found a video of Chase saying: "Hey baby, l'm about to go to bed and l just wanted to say goodnight. I miss you and l really hate sleeping without you and to know how long l have to go without seeing your pretty face is killing me. Labor Day is not going to come fast enough. I will see you soon sweetheart."
Haylie thought of confronting him, but she knew he was going to call her crazy and make up some lame excuse for the video.
She had to gather her thoughts and gain courage.
That night she cried for the end of her marriage and for the now unknown future.
She was sickened by the thought that he would spend an entire weekend with someone else and then come home to her, make love and hold her as she fell asleep.
He'd looked her in the eye every day for months, lied to her and never gave it a second thought.
He was not the Chase she married. He was a manipulative, egotistical liar.
The next day after Chase left for the gym, Haylie headed for Kettlewood. She felt that she needed to be there. The place that her husband and his girlfriend had arranged to meet in less than two weeks time.
She arrived on the island and rented a seaside cottage, before having dinner at a restaurant. There she got acquainted with the hostess, Meghan.
That night Haylie ignored Chase's phone calls and texts. She only responded to her friends texts.
The next day Haylie met Meghan on the beach by chance.
Haylie felt like she could trust Meghan, so she poured her heart out. Meghan was a sweet girl, she was sympathetic to Haylie's plight.
Meghan told Haylie that she've been seeing someone who owned stores, for some time now, but she was playing it cautious, taking things slow.
Chase continued texting Haylie wanting to know if she was okay and asking her to come back home.
She never responded.
During the next few days Haylie and Meghan spent time together.
One day Meghan said that her boyfriend would be back on the island the following week.
He texted her that he had something important to talk to her about and wanted to do it face to face.
She did not know if she should be worried or excited, she said.
Haylie cried often since she arrived on the island. She cried on the beach (the book's title), at night before she fell asleep.
She thought that finding out your husband is having an affair is similar to the grieving process one goes through when losing a loved one.
How could she ever reconcile with him? There was too much he had hidden and lied about. Her trust in him had disappeared.
What was broken could not be fixed.
The night before Labor Day, Meghan drove by on her way back from work. She said that her boyfriend had arrived, he was actually in the car, and she was very happy. She said she did not think she was going to sleep that night. Haylie was happy for her.
The next morning Haylie went for a walk on the beach. As she was approaching Megan's beach house, she saw someone emerge from her new friend's cottage. He was standing on the porch, a cup of coffee in his hand gazing at the sea. He was shirtless, he had a perfect body and Haylie thought that Meghan had a good taste in men.
He turned his head, she saw his face. He had not noticed her yet.
It was the man who stared into Haylie's eyes five years ago, and vowed to love her, honour her and be faithful until death do them part.
Haylie realised that the girl she had come to trust, the girl she had poured her heart and soul out to, cried to and leaned on, was the girl Chase was having an affair with, and he had just spent another night with her.
Haylie approached him, he saw her but he did not say a word. He knew nothing he would say was going to get him out of this.
When Meghan came out on the porch and saw their faces, the life drained out of her. She figured it out.
Chase said: "Haylie please...", but Haylie had ran away crying.
Later Meghan knocked on Haylie's door. She said that after Haylie ran away, she confronted him.
He told Meghan that for a while he thought maybe he had made a mistake getting married so young. He was starting to feel the pressure at work, and responsibility of taking care of a family, as he and Haylie were talking about kids, it was too much for him. He told Meghan that when he was with her, the pressures of the everyday world disappeared. Meghan was his escape.
Haylie asked Meghan: "Did he tell you he loved you?"
"No, he never said that to me. He told me he loved you. That everything was all messed up now but he was going to do whatever he had to do to fix what he broke. He never touched me last night. He said he was tired. "
He also told Meghan that he came to the island to tell her the truth and to put an end to their relationship.
The girls cried together for the same man for both were betrayed by him.
Haylie next saw Chase at their house in NC. This scene is very long, so l am going to give the reader's digest version.
Chase told Haylie that he was sorry, he loved her so much. He let all his fears of failing and not being good enough take over and he made a mistake. He turned into someone he did not recognise. He said when Haylie left, he realised what a mess he'd made. He was running from a life he should have been thankful for. He got so caught up in the stress and the pressure and he cracked. He went to Kettlewood Island to end it with Meghan. It would never happen again. He could not lose Haylie, she was everything to him. She owned it to him to give him a second chance.
He cried, really cried, but Haylie had her doubts about how genuine those tears were. He had been so manipulative. He had lied so many times.
"You didn't make a mistake Chase. You made a conscious choice. You don't just fall into bed with someone. Not once and certainly not multiple times. I don't have it in me for second chances. I just can't get past this. You and me, what we had, the life we built, it's over. I'm done."
There is an epilogue.
November 21, 2023
5 ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ - Amazing!
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♥♥♥♥Rereading in 2023♥♥♥♥♥
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Finalmente a heroína chuta a bunda do bastardo traidor e manda ele passear.
Gostei, porque a vida continua e você não é obrigada a aceitar uma situação que vai contra aquilo que você acredita.
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Finally, the heroine kicks the ass of the cheater bastard and tell him to walk.
I liked it, because life goes on and you are not obliged to accept a situation that goes against what you believe.
“A man who respects his wife, does not sleep with other women. And a woman who respects herself does not allow her husband to get away with it.”
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♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥
♥♥♥♥Rereading in 2023♥♥♥♥♥
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S
P
O
I
L
E
R
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Finalmente a heroína chuta a bunda do bastardo traidor e manda ele passear.
Gostei, porque a vida continua e você não é obrigada a aceitar uma situação que vai contra aquilo que você acredita.
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Finally, the heroine kicks the ass of the cheater bastard and tell him to walk.
I liked it, because life goes on and you are not obliged to accept a situation that goes against what you believe.
“A man who respects his wife, does not sleep with other women. And a woman who respects herself does not allow her husband to get away with it.”
February 1, 2016
Finally a heroine who knows her value!!!! YES, YIPPEE, HOORAY!!
* May contain spoilers*
Thank you CG for writing a story about a women who does not accept cheating- no matter how much her husband "used" to love her and used to be this great guy. She knows her worth and knows that she can be better without a cheating husband.
This book was gut wrenching. no doubt about it. To see the good times in a marriage, to see when the guy was nice, thoughtful and loving, and then to see how, despite all that, his selfishness wipes away every good thing in their relationship story- It's hard to read. It's very hard to read. You like the guy, the "old" version of him, but you hate the "new" version. That is what makes you feel for the heroine so much. You can understand her struggle because once upon a time, he was a good husband. Now, not so much.
He cries, he apologizes, but yet he did it. Just like the heroine says, "I wish sorry was enough." He can't take it back- not only that, but this wasn't a one time thing. This was a conscious act to betray his wife multiple times over a period of months, and then he has the gall to say to her, "I would never cheat on you, how could you think that? I love you."
Do I believe he loved her? In the beginning of their relationship, yes. But, I think he was weak (obviously). His love was based on his feelings towards his wife, and not a conscious decision to chose her over everything else- when he wasn't feeling it, he cheated. I think he was sorry, but I am not sure to what extent. He manipulated her during his affair- and the shit he did- calling the woman everyday before he came inside the house, texting her in front of his wife, seeing her and then coming home to his wife with her perfume still lingering on him, going away for weekends with her, spa treatments for her, dinners for her, etc. He had one big pair of cahones to do what he did. If it was a one time thing, I can see the heroine trying to forgive him, but he chose to do this for months- once is a mistake, months is a choice.
The only thing I would have liked to see is maybe introduce another love interest for our heroine at the end. She deserves to be happy and would have been nice to see her have some chemistry and hope with another man who would treat her right... maybe another divorcee who was cheated on too? I would have liked for her to have a happy ending in the romance department.
* May contain spoilers*
Thank you CG for writing a story about a women who does not accept cheating- no matter how much her husband "used" to love her and used to be this great guy. She knows her worth and knows that she can be better without a cheating husband.
This book was gut wrenching. no doubt about it. To see the good times in a marriage, to see when the guy was nice, thoughtful and loving, and then to see how, despite all that, his selfishness wipes away every good thing in their relationship story- It's hard to read. It's very hard to read. You like the guy, the "old" version of him, but you hate the "new" version. That is what makes you feel for the heroine so much. You can understand her struggle because once upon a time, he was a good husband. Now, not so much.
He cries, he apologizes, but yet he did it. Just like the heroine says, "I wish sorry was enough." He can't take it back- not only that, but this wasn't a one time thing. This was a conscious act to betray his wife multiple times over a period of months, and then he has the gall to say to her, "I would never cheat on you, how could you think that? I love you."
Do I believe he loved her? In the beginning of their relationship, yes. But, I think he was weak (obviously). His love was based on his feelings towards his wife, and not a conscious decision to chose her over everything else- when he wasn't feeling it, he cheated. I think he was sorry, but I am not sure to what extent. He manipulated her during his affair- and the shit he did- calling the woman everyday before he came inside the house, texting her in front of his wife, seeing her and then coming home to his wife with her perfume still lingering on him, going away for weekends with her, spa treatments for her, dinners for her, etc. He had one big pair of cahones to do what he did. If it was a one time thing, I can see the heroine trying to forgive him, but he chose to do this for months- once is a mistake, months is a choice.
The only thing I would have liked to see is maybe introduce another love interest for our heroine at the end. She deserves to be happy and would have been nice to see her have some chemistry and hope with another man who would treat her right... maybe another divorcee who was cheated on too? I would have liked for her to have a happy ending in the romance department.
July 28, 2022
Thank god in this one the heroine kicked the hero out of her life after the cheating.
It was mostly a book about the heroine’s journey to a new maturity and consciousness.
She felt something was wrong with her husband and of course at a certain point she suspected of him cheating.
But him, coward liar that he was, always denied.
Until she left him and found out the truth that was more horrifying than she expected.
He had an affair because he felt stressed by his job and his wife.
Ha!
Even if he was regretful the heroine divorced him.
And I think she did the right thing.
For several reasons.
Because she felt she would never be able to trust him.
Because she was young and she could start anew.
Because they didn’t have children to think about.
Why settle for a cheating coward who would surely cheat again in future when things got hard?
Women should listen to this wonderful example of how a woman can put a marriage behind when it has become a trap and a nightmare instead of simply ignore the issues and go on being only half happy.
I wish she found another man but the book is hopeful because she was a new woman when the story ended, ready for a better man and a new love.
The hero didn’t suffer enough but the book was all about the heroine, and we don’t know how he is so we hope he’ll find a woman who marries him only for his money, then cheat on him with the gardener, the postman, the butcher, etc while he works his ass to death to keep their lifestyle! Lol!
It was mostly a book about the heroine’s journey to a new maturity and consciousness.
She felt something was wrong with her husband and of course at a certain point she suspected of him cheating.
But him, coward liar that he was, always denied.
Until she left him and found out the truth that was more horrifying than she expected.
He had an affair because he felt stressed by his job and his wife.
Ha!
Even if he was regretful the heroine divorced him.
And I think she did the right thing.
For several reasons.
Because she felt she would never be able to trust him.
Because she was young and she could start anew.
Because they didn’t have children to think about.
Why settle for a cheating coward who would surely cheat again in future when things got hard?
Women should listen to this wonderful example of how a woman can put a marriage behind when it has become a trap and a nightmare instead of simply ignore the issues and go on being only half happy.
I wish she found another man but the book is hopeful because she was a new woman when the story ended, ready for a better man and a new love.
The hero didn’t suffer enough but the book was all about the heroine, and we don’t know how he is so we hope he’ll find a woman who marries him only for his money, then cheat on him with the gardener, the postman, the butcher, etc while he works his ass to death to keep their lifestyle! Lol!
October 3, 2015
Oh...my God. Could it be...??? A female protagonist who actually loves herself?!
I wanted this book to be a lot better than it turned out to be. The premise was interesting, but the execution, however, left much to be desired. I knew going in what was going to happen (having read the other reviews) so I wasn't dreading her giving in to him. That's why I was hoping the book would be a lot better than it actually was.
There were a couple of reason why my rating for it kept dropping as I read.
The writing, for one, played a major role in the rating. I realize that the author was trying to get the reader to sympathize with Haylie, but I got pretty annoyed that, if I were to go back and catalogue, there are pages worth of same feelings and emotions being paraphrased and repeated. It felt like major filler material. And, considering the book is just over a hundred pages, having filler is just ridiculous. It got really boring at times to read.
There were also many, many, many spelling and grammar issues I came across. These are just some I noted (how it's spelled in the book/how it should be spelled).
I think the book needs a major edit and overhaul.
The other reason why it got the rating it did was because of Meghan.
“A man who respects his wife, does not sleep with other women. And a woman who respects herself does not allow her husband to get away with it.”
I wanted this book to be a lot better than it turned out to be. The premise was interesting, but the execution, however, left much to be desired. I knew going in what was going to happen (having read the other reviews) so I wasn't dreading her giving in to him. That's why I was hoping the book would be a lot better than it actually was.
There were a couple of reason why my rating for it kept dropping as I read.
The writing, for one, played a major role in the rating. I realize that the author was trying to get the reader to sympathize with Haylie, but I got pretty annoyed that, if I were to go back and catalogue, there are pages worth of same feelings and emotions being paraphrased and repeated. It felt like major filler material. And, considering the book is just over a hundred pages, having filler is just ridiculous. It got really boring at times to read.
There were also many, many, many spelling and grammar issues I came across. These are just some I noted (how it's spelled in the book/how it should be spelled).
• heals/heels
• waived/waved
• everyone/every one
• pedals/petals
• waste/waist
• here/hear
• sleep/asleep
• of/off
• (coffee) grinds/(coffee) grounds
• What was it going to take for to be able to find the “Smoking Gun” I’d been looking for?
I think the book needs a major edit and overhaul.
The other reason why it got the rating it did was because of Meghan.
June 7, 2023
3,5.
It’s a lot to swallow.
What a story and well done.
It’s worth the reading
It’s a lot to swallow.
What a story and well done.
It’s worth the reading
September 21, 2017
You know, I have no one to blame but myself. I was looking for books where the hero cheats. And I found one... but it's kind of broken me. It's opened up wounds that I thought I buried along time ago. This is a realistic look on a relationship that goes through the cycle of infidelity. The late nights...the secret phone calls...that awful feeling in your gut because YOU KNOW that your husband isn't being faithful. But you try to lie to yourself and say that he isn't. All the while that little nagging feeling in the back of your head knows otherwise.
The author completely got it right. I hurt so bad right now.
The author completely got it right. I hurt so bad right now.
July 13, 2020
This one’s been on my TBR forever, and I saw it on KU so I snatched it up. I didn’t realize that it was so short (158 pages), but it’s a quick read. We only get Haylie’s POV, and it flips back and forth between present, and the past working its way to the present. The book blurb pretty much tells us that he cheats on her, so that’s not a surprise. I also felt the “secret staring her in the face” was very obvious, so I found that part particularly boring just waiting for the confrontation. I loved that Haylie eventually stuck up for herself, and demanded better. Although, I felt it was pretty unrealistic that she would wait for so long to “confirm” and call him out for his BS.
Bottom Line- Ok read for me. I didn’t find it very emotional because we’re pretty much just stuck in Haylie’s head the entire time. I feel like we got ½ a story, and then it just ended. It has a refreshing ending, and I wish the author would have developed that part more, and focused less on the stuff leading up to it. I'd love to rate it higher, but I was bored and skimmed, which is pretty bad for such a short book.
Bottom Line- Ok read for me. I didn’t find it very emotional because we’re pretty much just stuck in Haylie’s head the entire time. I feel like we got ½ a story, and then it just ended. It has a refreshing ending, and I wish the author would have developed that part more, and focused less on the stuff leading up to it. I'd love to rate it higher, but I was bored and skimmed, which is pretty bad for such a short book.
November 15, 2013
Three and a half stars. The story wasn't too bad, except for the predictability of the "Big Secret". Loved how the main character didn't take any shit though, and thoroughly enjoyed the ending of this story & what she did with her life by the end of the story.
May 30, 2017
Warning: This review does have spoilers in it!!
My Thoughts
This was a really good book. It was so different from other marriage/ relationship books. It brought out emotions that I might not have wanted to deal with but have no choice. I always thought that if I were to ever be cheated on, then I would automatically leave the guy. No second chances or forgiveness, just leave him, because I believe that cheating is a multiple step process. Someone doesn’t accidentally cheat on you, no they took the effort to find someone else and see them behind your back. So while I was reading this book, it really challenged my standings on cheating.
The Plot
I loved how this book came together and how it incorporated different aspects of break ups and cheating. Like how Haylie’s neighbor’s story was used to show that some people are able to forgive cheating and still be together. You could feel the frustration and pain Haylie was going through.The book does a really good job in playing devil’s advocate. This was the only book I ever read where my thoughts on cheating were challenge. Once Haylie found Chase cheating on her she the right thing by leaving him, but when Chase begged for a second chance and Haylie said no, I felt sad. Like I was happy that she held her ground and said no to him, but at the same time I wanted her to give him that second chance and work things out. But in the end she remembered that cheating is still cheating. I guess I really don’t know what I would do in a similar situation, if I wanted to give Chase another chance.
The Characters
I liked all the characters in this book, even Chase. He wasn’t evil or anything, just selfish into thinking that he could have the best of both worlds. Haylie was the best she knew how much she was worth and didn’t him get through her. She understood that her marriage was the only main thing in her life, she didn’t have anything for herself, and that needed to change. I also liked Meghan, even though she was the other woman, we got understand how that came about, and in the end I truly felt bad for her.
The Ending/ Final Thoughts
The ending was my favorite part in this entire book. It made you understand that after a divorce your life is not over, in fact it’s the beginning to your life. I loved how Haylie held strong and went through with the divorce, moved out and began creating a life for herself. I wish we knew what happens in Chase's and Megan’s life afterwards, but the book wasn’t about them. It was really emotional for my liking, but it fit well with the book. Overall this was a really good book to read, and I would recommend this to anyone who’s in the mood to cry lol.
My Thoughts
This was a really good book. It was so different from other marriage/ relationship books. It brought out emotions that I might not have wanted to deal with but have no choice. I always thought that if I were to ever be cheated on, then I would automatically leave the guy. No second chances or forgiveness, just leave him, because I believe that cheating is a multiple step process. Someone doesn’t accidentally cheat on you, no they took the effort to find someone else and see them behind your back. So while I was reading this book, it really challenged my standings on cheating.
The Plot
I loved how this book came together and how it incorporated different aspects of break ups and cheating. Like how Haylie’s neighbor’s story was used to show that some people are able to forgive cheating and still be together. You could feel the frustration and pain Haylie was going through.The book does a really good job in playing devil’s advocate. This was the only book I ever read where my thoughts on cheating were challenge. Once Haylie found Chase cheating on her she the right thing by leaving him, but when Chase begged for a second chance and Haylie said no, I felt sad. Like I was happy that she held her ground and said no to him, but at the same time I wanted her to give him that second chance and work things out. But in the end she remembered that cheating is still cheating. I guess I really don’t know what I would do in a similar situation, if I wanted to give Chase another chance.
The Characters
I liked all the characters in this book, even Chase. He wasn’t evil or anything, just selfish into thinking that he could have the best of both worlds. Haylie was the best she knew how much she was worth and didn’t him get through her. She understood that her marriage was the only main thing in her life, she didn’t have anything for herself, and that needed to change. I also liked Meghan, even though she was the other woman, we got understand how that came about, and in the end I truly felt bad for her.
The Ending/ Final Thoughts
The ending was my favorite part in this entire book. It made you understand that after a divorce your life is not over, in fact it’s the beginning to your life. I loved how Haylie held strong and went through with the divorce, moved out and began creating a life for herself. I wish we knew what happens in Chase's and Megan’s life afterwards, but the book wasn’t about them. It was really emotional for my liking, but it fit well with the book. Overall this was a really good book to read, and I would recommend this to anyone who’s in the mood to cry lol.
July 6, 2023
JUMPING IN JOY. Finally found a novel where the FMC didn’t took back the cheating MMC.
“By the time I was done, my living room was a train wreck. Nothing but broken glass and clutter surrounded me. It was like I had blacked out. I couldn’t stop myself, and when I was done I couldn’t remember doing it. I stood in the middle of the mess for some time; the only sound that of my panting. I wiped sweat from my brow, and my shoulders slumped. And then, when I was ready, just like I had to do with the mess my life had become, I grabbed a broom, and as I started the massive job of cleaning up, the tears came anew.”
“Chase knew how important loyalty and honesty was to me. He knew it was a deal-breaker for me. He had made me a promise he couldn’t keep. I couldn’t forgive and forget something like that. Now it was my turn now to say those two dreaded words.”
This is probably the part that I was sold to Haylie. I love her. Hoped she finds her happy ending with another man.
“By the time I was done, my living room was a train wreck. Nothing but broken glass and clutter surrounded me. It was like I had blacked out. I couldn’t stop myself, and when I was done I couldn’t remember doing it. I stood in the middle of the mess for some time; the only sound that of my panting. I wiped sweat from my brow, and my shoulders slumped. And then, when I was ready, just like I had to do with the mess my life had become, I grabbed a broom, and as I started the massive job of cleaning up, the tears came anew.”
“Chase knew how important loyalty and honesty was to me. He knew it was a deal-breaker for me. He had made me a promise he couldn’t keep. I couldn’t forgive and forget something like that. Now it was my turn now to say those two dreaded words.”
This is probably the part that I was sold to Haylie. I love her. Hoped she finds her happy ending with another man.
Want to read
October 29, 2019Yes finally a heroine who is not doormat, who doesn't forgive and forget all!
September 13, 2021
“Love is a funny thing. It can make you the happiest person in the whole world when it’s good, but when it all goes bad, it can crush you beyond recognition”
Very appropriate title for this book. Damn I’m an emotional wreck right now.
Very appropriate title for this book. Damn I’m an emotional wreck right now.
August 23, 2020
this was going ok until around 60% and it plummeted!
Re-read August 2020.
Re-read August 2020.
hard-pass
October 1, 2023Hard Pass
Reason:
I only seek angsty cheating stories when it’s a second chance romance. The h leaves the cheater in this one. Good for her but not for this reader. I prefer grovel, comeuppance and redemption.
Reason:
I only seek angsty cheating stories when it’s a second chance romance. The h leaves the cheater in this one. Good for her but not for this reader. I prefer grovel, comeuppance and redemption.
November 8, 2013
This was such a good book, it was sad,intense and emotional roller coaster ride. But in the end, he still cheated and she didn't forget. she left him and moved on, smart woman
March 2, 2019
The plot is generic and traditional - it should have been a "ho-hum" effort - and it wasn't. We've all been there - well 99% of us - attached to a cheating man, whether as teenagers, young singles or married women. The impulse to cling on through thick and thin is inherent in our gender, who have been encouraged from small girls to nurture, to placate, to feel guilty about everything that goes wrong. I'm generalising here of course, and particularly about my older generation. I am hoping the latest generation is made of sterner stuff - but the very nature of us leads me to doubt it.
Haylie is a loving wife to Chase who is showing signs of drawing away from her. The clues that he is having an affair are obvious, but Haylie doesn't want to admit to herself that this is what is happening for fear of having her life blowing up around her. This is understandable and no doubt familiar territory to millions of women. Finally, she can't take his manipulative attitude any longer - the turning her queries into accusations of her "argumentative" behaviour - the late hours, the perfume on him...need I say more?
After finding evidence that he is planning to go to a town a few hours away for a long weekend, Haylie walks out and heads for the same town. Perhaps it is time to find out once and for all what he is up to even if it means confronting the other woman.
I won't give a spoiler - that would be unfair - and there is a slight plot fault that I can't reveal for letting cats out of bags - but which gave me pause for thought, however this in no way spoils the denouement.
Haylie's reaction to her husband's infidelity is a lesson for all the women - and that means most of us - who have been cheated by their husbands.
Courtney Giardina handles this story with sensitivity and great finesse. Well written and paced - although the flow slows while Haley procrastinates over whether Chase is playing up or not - and it's obvious he is - this is a novel unique in the genre.
Congratulations to the author for an interesting twist on a traditional plot.I would dearly like to read a sequel to find out how Haley is forging ahead and how she copes with the next bloke on her horizon!
Young women who read this novel, take note!
Haylie is a loving wife to Chase who is showing signs of drawing away from her. The clues that he is having an affair are obvious, but Haylie doesn't want to admit to herself that this is what is happening for fear of having her life blowing up around her. This is understandable and no doubt familiar territory to millions of women. Finally, she can't take his manipulative attitude any longer - the turning her queries into accusations of her "argumentative" behaviour - the late hours, the perfume on him...need I say more?
After finding evidence that he is planning to go to a town a few hours away for a long weekend, Haylie walks out and heads for the same town. Perhaps it is time to find out once and for all what he is up to even if it means confronting the other woman.
I won't give a spoiler - that would be unfair - and there is a slight plot fault that I can't reveal for letting cats out of bags - but which gave me pause for thought, however this in no way spoils the denouement.
Haylie's reaction to her husband's infidelity is a lesson for all the women - and that means most of us - who have been cheated by their husbands.
Courtney Giardina handles this story with sensitivity and great finesse. Well written and paced - although the flow slows while Haley procrastinates over whether Chase is playing up or not - and it's obvious he is - this is a novel unique in the genre.
Congratulations to the author for an interesting twist on a traditional plot.I would dearly like to read a sequel to find out how Haley is forging ahead and how she copes with the next bloke on her horizon!
Young women who read this novel, take note!
August 3, 2018
I'd recommend this story to anyone who has ever read a novel in which a hero cheats and is forgiven, and was entirely filled with murderous rage.
The thing about cheating is that trust is like a vase. A beautiful glass vase. Once it's broken, that's it. You can glue it together, but honestly? It's never going to be the same again. I honestly don't understand how any person, no matter how much they love their partner, can forgive something like this.
To be clear, I'm not talking about a momentary lapse in judgement. I'm not talking about a once-off thing, immediately admitted and apologized for. That's not this story. Thisstory is months and months and fucking months of lies. Of saying "I don't know why you're acting this way, I love you and I'd never cheat on you, you're being ridiculous." Of gaslighting her until she wondered if she was being paranoid. Of sitting outside the house he shared with a woman he'd promised to be faithful to, talking to this other woman he's having an affair with. It's lying to the woman he's having the affair with because a woman like her wouldn't get involved with a man like him unless he lied and lied and lied. How is his wife supposed to trust him ever again? How is she going to live with this kind of betrayal without becoming a bitter, paranoid shrew? Answer: She can't.
I'm glad he got his comeuppance. I'm glad that he had to go back to the house he'd shared with his wife, knowing that there was nothing that he could do to get her back. Knowing that he'd broken this beautiful thing they had had between them, and that everything is completely and utterly his fucking fault for being a wanker.
I just feel sorry for both the women involved, because neither of them deserved to have a scumbag like that inflict himself on their lives.
The thing about cheating is that trust is like a vase. A beautiful glass vase. Once it's broken, that's it. You can glue it together, but honestly? It's never going to be the same again. I honestly don't understand how any person, no matter how much they love their partner, can forgive something like this.
To be clear, I'm not talking about a momentary lapse in judgement. I'm not talking about a once-off thing, immediately admitted and apologized for. That's not this story. Thisstory is months and months and fucking months of lies. Of saying "I don't know why you're acting this way, I love you and I'd never cheat on you, you're being ridiculous." Of gaslighting her until she wondered if she was being paranoid. Of sitting outside the house he shared with a woman he'd promised to be faithful to, talking to this other woman he's having an affair with. It's lying to the woman he's having the affair with because a woman like her wouldn't get involved with a man like him unless he lied and lied and lied. How is his wife supposed to trust him ever again? How is she going to live with this kind of betrayal without becoming a bitter, paranoid shrew? Answer: She can't.
I'm glad he got his comeuppance. I'm glad that he had to go back to the house he'd shared with his wife, knowing that there was nothing that he could do to get her back. Knowing that he'd broken this beautiful thing they had had between them, and that everything is completely and utterly his fucking fault for being a wanker.
I just feel sorry for both the women involved, because neither of them deserved to have a scumbag like that inflict himself on their lives.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
October 27, 2013
This was a horribly hard story to read. At times I almost felt like I was having a panic attack. It was so hard to read. It was not because, thankfully, I have ever gone through this situation. It was because the story was so well written that you felt every horrible emotion the heroine was going through at the moment. Even if the story was not well written, I may have gave it 4 stars just for the ending of it. I am so thrilled to finally read a story with a strong heroine that chooses herself over the man. Finally. I will definitely read another work by this author, but I will definitely need time to heal from this one.
August 16, 2020
I wanted a fast, angsty read and this fit the bill. It took a couple of hours to read and moved pretty quickly to the drama. I didn't really feel connected to the two main characters being together, and thought the husband's presence and perspective was underdeveloped. I did like the heroine and the way she never lost sight of what she deserved. Overall it was exactly what I wanted at the time, something quick that packed a punch.
June 21, 2015
Finally read this book and so glad for it. Im a die hard HEA book reader and didnt know if i wanted to read knowing this did not have one ....but it kinda did! strong strong heroine. Now, we need a followup with HEA for her!!! PLEASE, HER STORY IS UNFINISHED.
October 20, 2013
Finally...an h that doesn't heed the grovelling and empty promises and moves on!
June 20, 2013
Unfortunately I know all too well what hayley was going through. I give her so much credit for standing up for herself and what she believes in.
October 25, 2013
2.5 stars.
I don't really know how I feel about this book, but I'm glad I read it.
I don't really know how I feel about this book, but I'm glad I read it.
September 25, 2019
Typical asshole cheating dude. "I am so stressed at work and instead of talking to the woman who loves me I'm going to stick my dick in some strange, completely ignore the woman I love's anguish and lie to her daily. That'll solve all my problems."
I know this happens in real life but I'd like a little more substance to the reason for infidelity. I'd also like a woman to not ignore the proof when it slaps her in the face.
Spoiler Ahead - Turn back now!!!
But! Kudos for leaving the jackass.
I know this happens in real life but I'd like a little more substance to the reason for infidelity. I'd also like a woman to not ignore the proof when it slaps her in the face.
Spoiler Ahead - Turn back now!!!
But! Kudos for leaving the jackass.
July 21, 2025
3 stars
So...I've read a lot of these types of books lately. I love the marriage in trouble trope and the cheating theme, expecially waiting for her to kick him to the curb. I want the MMC to get his just desserts and for the FMC to become a better person, without the a-hole.
Warning -Minispoilers below:
This one was just OK. The writing was engaging. I saw the plot twist WAY before it even happened. Very predictable. That being said, I found her man, Chase, completely despicable. He faked it with the best of them. Still calling her sweet things and showing affection. No remorse and even came to bed without the courtesy of washing off the OW's perfume. When the FMC, Haylie asked questions about his suspicious behaviour, he was an amazing liar. After she pieced it together and she leaves to get some space, THEN, he comes to the realization that he loves her and can't live without her. This is after he went on numerous trips with the OW and bought the OW jewellry and lied to his wife for over 6 months. He was such a douchebag. I don't care if he was crying or shaking or whatever the hell happened when Haylie told him that she still wanted a divorce, despite his promises it wouldn't happen again. That just annoyed me.
I think the ending also contributed to the so so feel of the story. It felt unfinished. It's because book 2 "Holding on to Georgia" lets us know what eventually happens to Haylie and how she moves on. I don't really care enough to read it but I did download the book and did a quick search for her name so kind of got an idea of what happened.
So, I liked the story and writing enough to read it, but didn't love how things got resolved. It kind of left a bad taste in my mouth. Maybe if we got to see him in the depths of depression, that might have made me feel better. Instead, he even got to stay in the house. I needed him to pay for his misdeeds and I just didn't feel like he did. I think it depends on why you read these types of books. I read it for revenge and a-kicking, which really didn't happen so....hence the 3 star rating.
So...I've read a lot of these types of books lately. I love the marriage in trouble trope and the cheating theme, expecially waiting for her to kick him to the curb. I want the MMC to get his just desserts and for the FMC to become a better person, without the a-hole.
Warning -Minispoilers below:
This one was just OK. The writing was engaging. I saw the plot twist WAY before it even happened. Very predictable. That being said, I found her man, Chase, completely despicable. He faked it with the best of them. Still calling her sweet things and showing affection. No remorse and even came to bed without the courtesy of washing off the OW's perfume. When the FMC, Haylie asked questions about his suspicious behaviour, he was an amazing liar. After she pieced it together and she leaves to get some space, THEN, he comes to the realization that he loves her and can't live without her. This is after he went on numerous trips with the OW and bought the OW jewellry and lied to his wife for over 6 months. He was such a douchebag. I don't care if he was crying or shaking or whatever the hell happened when Haylie told him that she still wanted a divorce, despite his promises it wouldn't happen again. That just annoyed me.
I think the ending also contributed to the so so feel of the story. It felt unfinished. It's because book 2 "Holding on to Georgia" lets us know what eventually happens to Haylie and how she moves on. I don't really care enough to read it but I did download the book and did a quick search for her name so kind of got an idea of what happened.
So, I liked the story and writing enough to read it, but didn't love how things got resolved. It kind of left a bad taste in my mouth. Maybe if we got to see him in the depths of depression, that might have made me feel better. Instead, he even got to stay in the house. I needed him to pay for his misdeeds and I just didn't feel like he did. I think it depends on why you read these types of books. I read it for revenge and a-kicking, which really didn't happen so....hence the 3 star rating.
March 8, 2015
I loved this book. I couldn't put it down and read it in one sitting.
This book was about the struggles, the trust and the fidelity in a marriage!
Chase and Haylie had been married for 5 years and like with any marriage, work and stress put a strain on their personal life. Haylie started to notice that Chase was coming home later and later and that he was taking business trips that weren't necessary in his line of work. Haylie started to become suspicious when Chase and his cell phone suddenly became attached at the hip and one night he came home smelling like perfume.
After doing some investigating, her worse fears came true and now she must decide if her marriage is worth saving or if she should just walk away.
This book was so good, it made me angry and it made me cry. I would recommend it to everyone !!
This book was about the struggles, the trust and the fidelity in a marriage!
Chase and Haylie had been married for 5 years and like with any marriage, work and stress put a strain on their personal life. Haylie started to notice that Chase was coming home later and later and that he was taking business trips that weren't necessary in his line of work. Haylie started to become suspicious when Chase and his cell phone suddenly became attached at the hip and one night he came home smelling like perfume.
After doing some investigating, her worse fears came true and now she must decide if her marriage is worth saving or if she should just walk away.
This book was so good, it made me angry and it made me cry. I would recommend it to everyone !!
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