Surviving Love: A Novel

by Tonda B. Solomon

In this Christian women's fiction novel, a husband's affair forces a wife to question their relationship and wonder if their marriage can be saved.

After a nine-month separation from her husband, Michael, Alyce escapes to the beach. She is processing her pending identity as a divorced woman, although divorce goes completely against her faith and her belief in "for better or for worse."

Parts of Alyce she long thought dormant begin to awake. On her first day at the beach, she meets Ben, and they strike up an unexpected and surprising friendship. Alyce also soon develops a newly defined relationship with God and finds peace with her circumstances.

Michael, meanwhile, is confronting his own life choices. When he decides he wants his wife and his life back to "normal," he must follow an intriguing trail to find Alyce at the beach. Once he arrives, nothing is as he anticipated...

Within Surviving Love, readers follow a story of finding hope and love again in marriage. The options of divorce and reconciliation are addressed in a marriage that has been ravaged by infidelity. What influences personal choice between popular opinion and following one's convictions? Surviving Love features individuals who are navigating very common ground, while exposing the impact of the uniqueness of their stories. Readers are intrigued by Alyce's struggles to maintain her identity no matter the direction life may take. What choices must she make that will reflect upon her confidence in God's promises? How can she stand firm no matter who comes and goes from her story?

215 pages, Kindle Edition

Published December 3, 2019

Reviews

[Angela Wilson · Rating 1 out of 5]

There was not enough of anything in this book. The Christianity aspect of the book was okay, but the use of the Bible Scriptures were more or less presented because the author is a Christian. I didn't feel like these characters were that religious. The husband wasn't thinking about God when he left his wife or when he wanted her back. After reading this I don't feel anything a out these characters

[Radha]

No ⭐
Utter nonsense...
He had a serious affair, kicked her out ....
Now she had her second chance in love he came back...
No one can justify Adultery 🤮

[Cindy · Rating 2 out of 5]

I am sorry to say this as I've no doubt that this was well intentioned, but this was painful. This evidenced by it's being jam packed with the farcical and utterly steeped with ludicrously unrealistic scenarios that were indeed "miraculous" turnabout along with equally ludicrous precipitous character transformations.Perhaps I am jaded. If only life were this easy and Biblical type miraculous events were ever present in daily life with all that is concerning or consequential such as sadness,evil,mistakes, disingenuity, INFIDELITY and personality faults turning on a dime with the ease of a Bible quote.

[Tmstprc]

I’m not giving this book any stars, I’m not the intended market. I went into it completely blind, not reading any reviews, not that the reviews are thorough enough to understand the level of Christian Faith that’s part of the storytelling. Strangely, the religious aspects of the story don’t mesh well with the cheating husband storyline. Her faith is strong and he’s lost his way. She’s reached the point where she’s ready to move on and he’s wants back. If you could separate the faith from the storytelling, 2⭐️s would be generous.

Please note I read inspirational fiction, it’s not my favorite genre, but I’m devout in my faith and this had a level of faith that I feel an average reader wouldn’t be comfortable with.

[Sewster]

DNF 34%

I love cheating books with reconciliation. However, the husband seems legit terrible and the alternative love interest is divorced because he was a prolific cheater too. Like, what? Can we give this poor woman some options besides middle aged men who cheat?? I feel like the second LI was introduced to make the husband look better by comparison or something, but I can’t bring myself to keep reading to find out for sure.

[Brittany Bexton · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was such a good and easy read. It was exactly what my heart needed while going through my own personal challenges. Reading this book was like gaining a new girlfriend to talk to that understood all the mixed feelings I had coming up around everything. The approach the author took of telling the story, and using faith as a guide, did my heart good. I earmarked a number of the prayers she prays in the book, and would pray through them when I didn't have words. I started reading this book in the midst of quarantine, when I was feeling very alone in the midst of everything. And this book made me feel understood in my feelings, and all the mixed emotions that come with navigating love, especially in the midst of challenges.

[Heather Callahan · Rating 5 out of 5]

I absolutely love this book! I had the pleasure of meeting Tonda at a Women's Conference in Tifton, GA. At this conference, we were able to purchase the book before it was available in stores. I am so glad that I did! I finished the book in 2 days! Such a good read. Thank you Tonda for writing this book!

[Amina · Rating 5 out of 5]

A dear friend gave me this book at the beach. It was a great book about love, marriage, and the power of prayer. I loved seeing where the characters went and the courage it takes to forge a new path in a marriage.

[Olivia Gross · Rating 5 out of 5]

Definitely a must read. Could not put this book down.

[KAYE GUTHRIE · Rating 5 out of 5]

A very special lady from my home town wrote this book. It is an awesome read. I would recommend it to anyone. It is very inspirational.

[Kema Fussell · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved Surviving Love. It is a great read. No matter where you're at in life or love, this book will help you see unconditional love does survive.

[Sharaya Michelle · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved this book! Beautifully written. Well done Tonda!!!

[Linda · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was a powerful faith based story. I could feel the grief and sorrow of the h as well as her anger and rage. The H, in the beginning was a narcisstic, self absorbed 20 year old wanna be who was experiencing a midlife crisis and a loss of faith. Naturally, to make himself feel younger, he ditches his wife and family and hooks up with a coworker barely older than his daughter. Nice guy. There was not a lot of detail in the story concerning this period of time and the reader was left to fill in the blanks.

The h had fulfilled herself through her role as wife and mother and was totally blindsighted by her husband's affair. She thought of him often, he rarely considered her at all. Both were empty vessels.

I thoroughly enjoyed the part about her week at the beach. Meeting Ben was probably a divine intervention for both the h and H. The actual catalyst for the turn around in Michael is not totally clear. Redemption is powerful, divine forgiveness is available for the asking, spousal trust and forgiveness must be earned.

I highly recommend this book. If you have no interest in faith based stories, this is not the novel for you. For me, it was powerful.

[Dee · Rating 1 out of 5]

Christian based. I didn’t realize it when I started the the story. I don’t mind Christian based books as long as they’re not overly preachy. This one was a little too much. And seriously WTF, he brought his whore into their home, fucked her in their bed and h still wanted him. h is a pathetic doormat and he’s scum.

[Judy · Rating 5 out of 5]

LOVE THE GREATEST OF THESE

What a power packed book of the love of Christ in An uncanny way that no one would’ve anticipated! Wow!

[Violet · Rating 5 out of 5]

more info

Great story but would have liked to see how Michaels change of heart. The sudden turn around was not clear.

[Kimberly M · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wonderful book

I so enjoyed reading this book. I love the Lord and appreciate the story and the scriptures. Very well written.

[Beth James · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent weekend read!

I really enjoyed this book. It tackles the subject of infidelity in a realistic and easy to read way. I really liked the multiple POV's.