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The Storm
Anna’s life in the small town of Heavenly Harbor, Michigan, seems idyllic. Married ten years to her childhood sweetheart, Mark, she wants for nothing, except a baby. Unfortunately, her husband doesn’t share her enthusiasm. But Anna has been secretly keeping a journal. She’s recorded her suspicions about Mark’s reluctance to share her dream. As she is about to confront him, lightning strikes, literally, causing her to lose her memory. The Storm will not only damage Anna physically, but possibly destroy her marriage as well—and Mark’s secret life is about to implode.
- GenresMarriage
262 pages, Kindle Edition
Published November 2, 2016
About the author
John M. Wills
18 books8 followersJohn M. Wills is a former Chicago police officer and retired FBI agent. He is a freelance writer and award-winning author in a variety of genres, including novels, short stories and poetry. He has published more than 150 articles relating to officer training, street survival, fitness and ethics. John also writes book reviews for the New York Journal of Books and is a member of the National Book Critics Circle. He also writes video scripts honoring fallen first responders and military personnel for the William McLain Foundation. His latest novel is, The Storm.. Visit John at:https://jwillsbooks.com/ .
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Displaying 1 - 26 of 26 reviews
November 17, 2020
Edited 11/17/2020: this popped up in a group of FB today and I thought I should update the review with a detailed spoiler review...
SPOILERS…
Holy crap! Warning!! Kitchen sink book!!!
The Storm by John Wills:
1. Wife suspects/knows hubby is cheating.
2. Wife has accident while running in The Storm.
3. Husband is cheating, plans another overnight with OW.
4. Husband home, can’t find wife.
5. Wife’s been found, she’s in a coma
6. Husband feels guilty, loves wife, will end with OW.
7. OW shows up at hospital, wants to know what’s going on, he breaks up.
8. Husband calls recently widowed MIL. She rushes to his side.
9. Wife wakes up with amnesia, this is good she doesn’t remember cheating.
10. Wife is pregnant.
11. Husband finds wife’s journal; knows she knows he was cheating. Husband hides journal.
12. Wife still has amnesia, but comes home.
13. OW turns into stalker/blackmailer.
14. MIL finds journal, doesn’t want wife to know he’s been cheating. Takes journal with her when she goes home.
15. Wife remembers journal, but not what’s in it. Asks hubby and mom about it, both deny knowing about it.
16. Mom’s feeling guilty, plans to bring journal back to daughter.
17. Mom collapses in attic while talking to dead husband.
18. Wife is worried hasn’t heard from mom. They find mom dead in attic.
19. Wife finds journal and remembers everything.
20. Wife confronts drunk hubby at mom’s funeral luncheon. Leaves him there.
21. OW is arrested for blackmailing numerous boyfriends including hubby.
22. Hubby is arrested for DWI after funeral luncheon.
23. Wife throws hubby out after he asks her to come get him after DWI arrest.
24. Hubby vows to be better man.
25. Hubby finds God, yes, this turns out to be a Christian cheating husband story.
26. Hubby has provisional license and has accident with a snow plow during another Storm.
27. Hubby in coma, may lose nearly severed leg.
28. Reattached nearly severed leg is gangrenous needs to be amputated.
29. Hubby realizes he will be handicapped, but all is well, still pregnant wife forgives him.
30. HEA
Moral of the story? Don’t join a gym—that’s where the hubby met the blackmailing OW. Not a problem during a pandemic.
Original review 5/11/2020: Holy cow! Can anyone say kitchen sink??
SPOILERS…
Holy crap! Warning!! Kitchen sink book!!!
The Storm by John Wills:
1. Wife suspects/knows hubby is cheating.
2. Wife has accident while running in The Storm.
3. Husband is cheating, plans another overnight with OW.
4. Husband home, can’t find wife.
5. Wife’s been found, she’s in a coma
6. Husband feels guilty, loves wife, will end with OW.
7. OW shows up at hospital, wants to know what’s going on, he breaks up.
8. Husband calls recently widowed MIL. She rushes to his side.
9. Wife wakes up with amnesia, this is good she doesn’t remember cheating.
10. Wife is pregnant.
11. Husband finds wife’s journal; knows she knows he was cheating. Husband hides journal.
12. Wife still has amnesia, but comes home.
13. OW turns into stalker/blackmailer.
14. MIL finds journal, doesn’t want wife to know he’s been cheating. Takes journal with her when she goes home.
15. Wife remembers journal, but not what’s in it. Asks hubby and mom about it, both deny knowing about it.
16. Mom’s feeling guilty, plans to bring journal back to daughter.
17. Mom collapses in attic while talking to dead husband.
18. Wife is worried hasn’t heard from mom. They find mom dead in attic.
19. Wife finds journal and remembers everything.
20. Wife confronts drunk hubby at mom’s funeral luncheon. Leaves him there.
21. OW is arrested for blackmailing numerous boyfriends including hubby.
22. Hubby is arrested for DWI after funeral luncheon.
23. Wife throws hubby out after he asks her to come get him after DWI arrest.
24. Hubby vows to be better man.
25. Hubby finds God, yes, this turns out to be a Christian cheating husband story.
26. Hubby has provisional license and has accident with a snow plow during another Storm.
27. Hubby in coma, may lose nearly severed leg.
28. Reattached nearly severed leg is gangrenous needs to be amputated.
29. Hubby realizes he will be handicapped, but all is well, still pregnant wife forgives him.
30. HEA
Moral of the story? Don’t join a gym—that’s where the hubby met the blackmailing OW. Not a problem during a pandemic.
Original review 5/11/2020: Holy cow! Can anyone say kitchen sink??
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
January 26, 2024
2 ⭐⭐ - Meh!
==================
I didn't look at my Goodreads notes and ended up reading the book. Amazon kept telling me to read it and at the time I didn't even remember that it was on my list to avoid and run away from.
The husband had sex with his wife and mistress at the same time, so much so that his wife is pregnant. Something he avoided, as he didn't want the responsibility of having a child.
He dedicated a year of his life to his mistress and neglected his wife completely. If she hadn't had an accident, I imagine he would have continued the affair with the other woman without feeling guilty.
He turned out to be a total piece of shit who was enchanted by the attention the mistress gave him, stroking his ego.
I confess that I was totally disappointed with Zeroine taking the cheater back. The excuse is always a return to faith. It's irritating to see a hypocrite supposedly repent only after his life goes to shit, before that he didn't even have a little thought about the consequences of his actions.
==================
I didn't look at my Goodreads notes and ended up reading the book. Amazon kept telling me to read it and at the time I didn't even remember that it was on my list to avoid and run away from.
The husband had sex with his wife and mistress at the same time, so much so that his wife is pregnant. Something he avoided, as he didn't want the responsibility of having a child.
He dedicated a year of his life to his mistress and neglected his wife completely. If she hadn't had an accident, I imagine he would have continued the affair with the other woman without feeling guilty.
He turned out to be a total piece of shit who was enchanted by the attention the mistress gave him, stroking his ego.
I confess that I was totally disappointed with Zeroine taking the cheater back. The excuse is always a return to faith. It's irritating to see a hypocrite supposedly repent only after his life goes to shit, before that he didn't even have a little thought about the consequences of his actions.
February 10, 2021
What a passive reactive dud. I can’t believe the idiot had any gumption to cheat on his wife. Did the ow do all the work?
March 4, 2018
The story and premises was ok. It had great potential but the emotions and characters lacked depth. There was no real emotions felt. Emotions were told but the author really missed the mark with them being felt. Because of this, I could not forgive the hero. He was not worthy of redemption. Although it stated his remorse and his guilt, I felt that if he hadnt got caught and that it became such a debacle, he would do it again. and not give a shit. There was no real reason as to why he did it other than he could. He "loved" his wife yet he felt nothing but minor twinges of guilt for a year? This is a weak selfish man. But even then I felt little for him. I felt the author really missed the mark with the heroines feelings and reactions. All very pathetic really. But regardless, I was not drawn into the story. The ending to me was just Meh... Really? Well there you go. The wife can back with him because now he is disabled he has less chance of cheating again... not that this is how it was portrayed but that thought jumped in my mind.
Overall, this story just .... Lacked. On all fronts.
Lastly, The religious throws, although not consuming, became annoying, as i felt much was once again excused for being a forgiving Christian/Catholic (now there is a reason to not become religious... your husband now has an excuse to cheat because all will be forgiven as dictated by your peers and by god!). But I am atheist, therefore forgiveness is given where it is deserved and warranted and to those who are truly repentant. Not those that say it is YOU who needs to forgive. But I digress and realise that my comment is a gross generalization. I actually like 75 % parts of the christian cheating books, but I always loose respect for them where they base their forgiveness on that is what is expected by the church. This is just my personal opinion. I am not after a theological debate. I actually do respect your own personal beliefs in god or otherwise. This is just my thoughts on a number of books that i have read that use religion as an excuse to be redeemed rather than an actual heart wrenching epiphany by the cheater.
December 9, 2020
Started of Ok, but in the end I had major eye roll.
December 30, 2016
December 29, 2016
A Review by Anthony T. Riggio of the book “The Storm” written by John M Wills
For full disclosure, John Wills is a friend and I have read every book he has written and I rated them very high because I truly enjoyed his excellent storytelling and great writing skills.
When I learned about his latest book, I immediately ordered it on Amazon and received it before Thanksgiving and read it in two sittings. John Wills writings have developed and I would have to consider him an example for ambitious and developing authors to emulate. His stories are usually police oriented with a family undertow that draws the reader in, right from the beginning of his book.
The Storm, was a slight bit different and it showed John Wills, maturing authorship skills. The Storm is a love story and the struggling efforts of a married couple who are thrown into a most difficult situation. Adultery is a big taboo for most in our society, but especially for morally oriented people. Being married myself the idea of betrayal by your partner is awful and a giant hurdle to overcome in a marital union.
John Wills lays out the struggles of a cheating spouse and the recovery of an amnesiac spouse. The recovering spouse is the wife and in her struggles to regain her memory, the husband is terribly guilt ridden and his remorse is palpable. Trying to weigh the confession of his infidelity against her recovery is both daunting and prohibitive. While he procrastinates in telling his wife about his affair, she slowly gets her memory back and discovers, on her own, this terrible reality.
During the wife's struggles with remembering details about her relationship with her “stranger” husband; he realizes his mistake and discovers his own fault in the adultery and begins to recall why he married his wife and understands that notwithstanding his "sin”, he loves his wife more than anything else.
In this tale of adultery, his adulterous partner is revealed for the evil and manipulating person that she is and this adds dimension to the age-old story of the cheating spouse. The married couple reunite but the scars are and will be struggles that will need to be overcome. But sometimes, this is something that makes a marriage stronger.
The Storm has many twists and turns that will keep the reader guessing. The delight and surprise of Wills story telling is that there is added use of unnecessary foul language.
I unhesitatingly recommend this book and consequently gave it five starts.
The Storm has many twists and turns that will keep the reader guessing. The delight and surprise of Wills story telling is that there is no added use of foul language.
I unhesitatingly recommend this book and consequently gave it Five stars.
A Review by Anthony T. Riggio of the book “The Storm” written by John M Wills
For full disclosure, John Wills is a friend and I have read every book he has written and I rated them very high because I truly enjoyed his excellent storytelling and great writing skills.
When I learned about his latest book, I immediately ordered it on Amazon and received it before Thanksgiving and read it in two sittings. John Wills writings have developed and I would have to consider him an example for ambitious and developing authors to emulate. His stories are usually police oriented with a family undertow that draws the reader in, right from the beginning of his book.
The Storm, was a slight bit different and it showed John Wills, maturing authorship skills. The Storm is a love story and the struggling efforts of a married couple who are thrown into a most difficult situation. Adultery is a big taboo for most in our society, but especially for morally oriented people. Being married myself the idea of betrayal by your partner is awful and a giant hurdle to overcome in a marital union.
John Wills lays out the struggles of a cheating spouse and the recovery of an amnesiac spouse. The recovering spouse is the wife and in her struggles to regain her memory, the husband is terribly guilt ridden and his remorse is palpable. Trying to weigh the confession of his infidelity against her recovery is both daunting and prohibitive. While he procrastinates in telling his wife about his affair, she slowly gets her memory back and discovers, on her own, this terrible reality.
During the wife's struggles with remembering details about her relationship with her “stranger” husband; he realizes his mistake and discovers his own fault in the adultery and begins to recall why he married his wife and understands that notwithstanding his "sin”, he loves his wife more than anything else.
In this tale of adultery, his adulterous partner is revealed for the evil and manipulating person that she is and this adds dimension to the age-old story of the cheating spouse. The married couple reunite but the scars are and will be struggles that will need to be overcome. But sometimes, this is something that makes a marriage stronger.
The Storm has many twists and turns that will keep the reader guessing. The delight and surprise of Wills story telling is that there is added use of unnecessary foul language.
I unhesitatingly recommend this book and consequently gave it five starts.
The Storm has many twists and turns that will keep the reader guessing. The delight and surprise of Wills story telling is that there is no added use of foul language.
I unhesitatingly recommend this book and consequently gave it Five stars.
December 22, 2016
I have read John Wills work before and really liked it. This book takes his writing to another level. The story is very strong as are the characters. Once you started reading this book I think you will have a hard time putting it down.
January 22, 2017
This looked ok from the description. But it's the same old amnesia victim so far...plus add religion and God. I do not like Christian books...I may not finish this
Ok I finished it. I gave it 3 personal stars...too much God for me. But not a bad story, just turned me off.
Ok I finished it. I gave it 3 personal stars...too much God for me. But not a bad story, just turned me off.
May 5, 2025
Going to give this a solid 4. It was written almost like a detective wrote the story, more factual than emotionally engaged, even though there was emotional engagement, but not like a romance thriller. And as I kept reading and the story kept developing with new entanglements, it became absorbing. There was an introduction of prayer and God towards the end, but nothing mechanically pushed and that was refreshing that God moved to heal their hearts and start over.
September 23, 2024
Meh - I rarely give 2 stars 🫤 Found through one of those pay per chapter ads and got interested enough to find on KU but it was clearly written by a dude and not realistically emotional enough for a pregnant wife with memory loss from getting hit by lightning… Adding in a cheating husband and a dying mother… But don’t worry nothing that God and a little yoga can’t handle… 🙄
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
December 1, 2024
❤
I really enjoyed this book. It was about heartache, pain, infidelity and forgiveness.
Anna had felt Mark pulling away and she had her suspicions. An accident happened and Anna was left with no memory. If her memory returns will she be able to forgive Mark?
Great book and I would recommend it.
I really enjoyed this book. It was about heartache, pain, infidelity and forgiveness.
Anna had felt Mark pulling away and she had her suspicions. An accident happened and Anna was left with no memory. If her memory returns will she be able to forgive Mark?
Great book and I would recommend it.
January 31, 2025
Mark and Anna Love, Forgiveness
Emotional and well written story that had such solid good and Christian emphasis, who h made me love the story and characters Anna and both Marks, father and son along with goof friend's of Anna's, Leslie.
Both main characters grew a lot throughout the story and like that church got brought in and forgiveness.
Emotional and well written story that had such solid good and Christian emphasis, who h made me love the story and characters Anna and both Marks, father and son along with goof friend's of Anna's, Leslie.
Both main characters grew a lot throughout the story and like that church got brought in and forgiveness.
November 4, 2025
Ok
This felt a bit flat ,emotionless and the characters were a bit boring ,it may be that's it's a fairly short book but if my husband cheated id want to make sure he knew how much he destroyed our lives ,she forgave him too soon and although he sort of got karma in other ways it wasn't enough angst ,ok read though
This felt a bit flat ,emotionless and the characters were a bit boring ,it may be that's it's a fairly short book but if my husband cheated id want to make sure he knew how much he destroyed our lives ,she forgave him too soon and although he sort of got karma in other ways it wasn't enough angst ,ok read though
October 20, 2021
just okay
This was an okay read. But, it just lacked emotion. What I mean is that if I’d gone through half of what this woman went through I’d be a lot more emotive about things. It seemed to lack...something.
This was an okay read. But, it just lacked emotion. What I mean is that if I’d gone through half of what this woman went through I’d be a lot more emotive about things. It seemed to lack...something.
November 28, 2024
2.25
Me gusto la forma de escritura y la trama en si.
Pero no me gusto que volvieran a estar juntos
Capaz el proceso de reconciliación pudo haber sido mejor o bien no volver con el pero perdonarlo
Me gusto la forma de escritura y la trama en si.
Pero no me gusto que volvieran a estar juntos
Capaz el proceso de reconciliación pudo haber sido mejor o bien no volver con el pero perdonarlo
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
February 6, 2025
the story
I love this story line it was heartbreaking and compassionate. It focused on a couple’s marriage that was broken with betrayal and cheating. I enjoyed the twists and circumstances hat bring this relationship together.
I love this story line it was heartbreaking and compassionate. It focused on a couple’s marriage that was broken with betrayal and cheating. I enjoyed the twists and circumstances hat bring this relationship together.
October 26, 2020
This was quick forgiving sort of Christain read. I enjoyed it.
November 17, 2020
👎
This fell flat. It was a page turner up until the black mail and arrests. Then there another twist. What a waster of time.
This fell flat. It was a page turner up until the black mail and arrests. Then there another twist. What a waster of time.
April 16, 2021
This was an okay read. There was almost too much drama thrown at the heroine.
December 15, 2022
wow.
This a great book. So much happens. Infidelity, theft, blackmail, accidents, memory loss, amputation, forgiveness, and love. This was such a great book.
This a great book. So much happens. Infidelity, theft, blackmail, accidents, memory loss, amputation, forgiveness, and love. This was such a great book.
May 18, 2023
Compelling and dramatic storyline
The writing was stilted and formal but the storyline was electric and dynamic. Many twists and surprises. Worth the read.
The writing was stilted and formal but the storyline was electric and dynamic. Many twists and surprises. Worth the read.
August 2, 2023
Wasn't sure I was going to like this but I was hooked. Read it in one day. It is well written and entertaining with several twists that keep you guessing.
December 20, 2023
I think him losing his leg is the perfect karma for cheating on h.
August 18, 2024
Cheater + handicapped + wimpy = no thanks. I hope h would divorce him 🙄
- no grovel, just wimpy
- uh…oh things
- skipped a lot
- no grovel, just wimpy
- uh…oh things
- skipped a lot
September 22, 2024
Sweet-ish
Possible spoilers. It was a good story but I just couldn’t get behind the reconciliation. Especially after the affair lasted for so long, but I liked the overall plot.
Possible spoilers. It was a good story but I just couldn’t get behind the reconciliation. Especially after the affair lasted for so long, but I liked the overall plot.
Displaying 1 - 26 of 26 reviews