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More Than A Wife #3
The Dear Wife
"An emotional roller coaster ride that will leave you breathless." - Dana from Random Chaos ★★★★★
"The Dear Wife should be on every woman's nightstand." - Whitney Dineen, Bestselling Author ★★★★★
She’s been holding on for dear life, now she must learn to let go.
Marathon runner and quintessential wife and mother Avery Decker appears to have it all together. But don’t let her smile fool you. Since the death of her daughter four years ago, she’s been trying to fake her way through life.
So far, it hasn’t worked out so well.
Avery is overwhelmed not only with the grief of losing her daughter, but with the fear that she’ll lose someone else she loves—her husband James. This time not to death, but to the secret demons he’s been using to cope with the loss of their little girl. Day after day she’s been privately battling to save him and their marriage, but it’s only left her exhausted and lonely. Tired of pretending, she turns to the strongest women she knows. Together they help her face the truth and realize that the only person she can save is herself. But will it cost her the person she loves the most? Or will James remember who he is and hold on to the person he holds most dear?
Content warning: This book contains sensitive subject matters including pornography addiction and the loss of a child.
"The Dear Wife should be on every woman's nightstand." - Whitney Dineen, Bestselling Author ★★★★★
She’s been holding on for dear life, now she must learn to let go.
Marathon runner and quintessential wife and mother Avery Decker appears to have it all together. But don’t let her smile fool you. Since the death of her daughter four years ago, she’s been trying to fake her way through life.
So far, it hasn’t worked out so well.
Avery is overwhelmed not only with the grief of losing her daughter, but with the fear that she’ll lose someone else she loves—her husband James. This time not to death, but to the secret demons he’s been using to cope with the loss of their little girl. Day after day she’s been privately battling to save him and their marriage, but it’s only left her exhausted and lonely. Tired of pretending, she turns to the strongest women she knows. Together they help her face the truth and realize that the only person she can save is herself. But will it cost her the person she loves the most? Or will James remember who he is and hold on to the person he holds most dear?
Content warning: This book contains sensitive subject matters including pornography addiction and the loss of a child.
344 pages, Kindle Edition
Published February 13, 2020
554 people are currently reading
316 people want to read
About the author
Jennifer Peel
63 books1,385 followersJennifer Peel is the mother of three amazing kiddos. Wife to her one and only for the past twenty-two years. Lover of late night talks, beach vacations, the mountains, pink bubble gum ice cream, tours of model homes, and southern living. She can frequently be found with her laptop on, fingers typing away, indulging in chocolate milk, and writing out the stories that are constantly swirling through her head.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 175 reviews
February 14, 2020
*Please note... if you don't read reviews before you read the book, please see my warning at the bottom of this review*
Where do I even begin with reviewing The Dear Wife? This book deals with very hard, very taboo subjects. Pornography and the loss of a child. I know this book is not going to be for everyone, and that's okay. But Ms. Peel is one of those authors who does an exceptional job when it comes to writing about the hard stuff. I can't explain it, but there's just something about her writing style that makes it easier to read about the hard stuff people face in real life.
We know from the previous book that James and Avery were going through something difficult. I didn't know what it was but I have been dying to find out their story. I'm not going to lie or sugar coat anything. Their story broke my heart into a million pieces. I have never cried so much while reading a book before. And don't even get me started on how angry I was. I didn't know how or if James and Avery were going to be able to fix all that was broken between them. There were times that I was encouraging Avery to just walk away. She didn't deserve to be put through everything that she had been.
But as the story progressed, and Avery not only started finding herself again, but started believing that things could be better, I found myself slowly... ever so slowly... having a change of heart about James. But, just like Avery, I was cautious when it came to the possibility of them getting back together. James's story is the prime example of how no one really knows what demons someone is facing on the inside. Their journey definitely was not an easy one. They both had to be willing to do whatever they could to make changes and strive to be better not only as a couple, but as individuals as well.
It doesn't matter what kind it is, addiction is hard. Whether you're the one going through it or you're watching a loved one go through it. It's not something that you can just get over. It takes a lot of blood, sweat, tears, courage, strength, determination, and love to face whatever it is you're facing. Everyone deserves a chance to overcome it and have the much needed support from their loved ones to face that long, difficult road to recovery.
As I said before, Ms. Peel knows how to write about the hard stuff. I can always count on her to make me feel all the feels. If you read The Dear Wife, buckle up and hold on tight as you embark on the biggest emotional roller coaster you have ever been on. There's no question, it will be tough, but this is one of the best books she has ever written! I cannot wait to see what she has in store for us next!
Beautiful souls are shaped by ugly experiences. ― Matshona Dhliwayo
**Content warning** The Dear Wife deals with tough topics including pornography addiction and the loss of a child. If you know you can't handle those topics, PLEASE don't read the book. Jennifer has put a lot of blood, sweat and tears into this book and she does not need readers who cannot handle these topics leaving negative reviews. Please search your heart to know if this book is one you should read or not.
Where do I even begin with reviewing The Dear Wife? This book deals with very hard, very taboo subjects. Pornography and the loss of a child. I know this book is not going to be for everyone, and that's okay. But Ms. Peel is one of those authors who does an exceptional job when it comes to writing about the hard stuff. I can't explain it, but there's just something about her writing style that makes it easier to read about the hard stuff people face in real life.
We know from the previous book that James and Avery were going through something difficult. I didn't know what it was but I have been dying to find out their story. I'm not going to lie or sugar coat anything. Their story broke my heart into a million pieces. I have never cried so much while reading a book before. And don't even get me started on how angry I was. I didn't know how or if James and Avery were going to be able to fix all that was broken between them. There were times that I was encouraging Avery to just walk away. She didn't deserve to be put through everything that she had been.
But as the story progressed, and Avery not only started finding herself again, but started believing that things could be better, I found myself slowly... ever so slowly... having a change of heart about James. But, just like Avery, I was cautious when it came to the possibility of them getting back together. James's story is the prime example of how no one really knows what demons someone is facing on the inside. Their journey definitely was not an easy one. They both had to be willing to do whatever they could to make changes and strive to be better not only as a couple, but as individuals as well.
It doesn't matter what kind it is, addiction is hard. Whether you're the one going through it or you're watching a loved one go through it. It's not something that you can just get over. It takes a lot of blood, sweat, tears, courage, strength, determination, and love to face whatever it is you're facing. Everyone deserves a chance to overcome it and have the much needed support from their loved ones to face that long, difficult road to recovery.
As I said before, Ms. Peel knows how to write about the hard stuff. I can always count on her to make me feel all the feels. If you read The Dear Wife, buckle up and hold on tight as you embark on the biggest emotional roller coaster you have ever been on. There's no question, it will be tough, but this is one of the best books she has ever written! I cannot wait to see what she has in store for us next!
Beautiful souls are shaped by ugly experiences. ― Matshona Dhliwayo
**Content warning** The Dear Wife deals with tough topics including pornography addiction and the loss of a child. If you know you can't handle those topics, PLEASE don't read the book. Jennifer has put a lot of blood, sweat and tears into this book and she does not need readers who cannot handle these topics leaving negative reviews. Please search your heart to know if this book is one you should read or not.
June 22, 2022
3 ⭐⭐⭐ - OK decent reads.
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S
P
O
I
L
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Our heroine is still not over the death of her daughter and her husband is having intimate conversations with an employee of the company where he works. It's one step away from going from emotional to physical cheating when our heroine finds out. They are also with their intimacy destroyed by his addiction to pornography. Family life that was already complicated by grief is now imploded by cheating.
I like the author's writing, but I confess that it took me a long time to finish reading and I wanted to give up several times. The reading drags on and I advanced slowly.
Finally they resolve to face the problems and have a satisfying ending. But reading was painful.
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S
P
O
I
L
E
R
.
.
.
Our heroine is still not over the death of her daughter and her husband is having intimate conversations with an employee of the company where he works. It's one step away from going from emotional to physical cheating when our heroine finds out. They are also with their intimacy destroyed by his addiction to pornography. Family life that was already complicated by grief is now imploded by cheating.
I like the author's writing, but I confess that it took me a long time to finish reading and I wanted to give up several times. The reading drags on and I advanced slowly.
Finally they resolve to face the problems and have a satisfying ending. But reading was painful.
February 14, 2020
I can honestly say that Jennifer Peel has one crazy, wonderful gift for writing tangible, emotional stories that stay with you long after you finish reading in them. The way she allows me, as a reader, to become so emotionally invested in not only the story but the characters as well, always leaves me amazed. I have no idea how she does it but I always end her stories feeling grateful to be a reader. Not all Jennifer Peel books dig this deep into the difficulties of life but all her books breathe with real emotion. It's something I've come to count on.
I need to say upfront that this book tackles some real, raw and hard topics. There are many possible triggers in this book for people. Please read my content description for a detailed list so you can decide for yourself if this book is right for you. I will also direct you to the author's page to read what she has to say about writing this book.
This book. Wow. I had a hard time putting it down. When I did, I was thinking about it and anxious to get back. Emotionally, this was not an easy book to read (you should keep tissues on hand) but it is beautifully written and it took me on a journey. There is a ribbon of hope through the darkest moments and I can honestly say that this book ends in a lovely place of healing and love. For me, it was a journey worth taking.
Avery is a good person. Better than I would be in her situation. I admired her strength even when she felt at her weakest. It was especially good to see the characters from previous books in this series step in and rally around both Avery and James as family and friends.
I would say that this book can stand alone but you will have a much stronger connection it if you read the whole series in order. It will help you have a clear view of the family, their motivations and their history together.
Content: frequent mild swearing, situations involving pornography- use and addiciton, emotional and verbal affairs, discussion and mention of intimate relations between a husband and wife, loss of a child, alcohol abuse
- I received a complimentary copy of this book. All opinions expressed are my own.
I need to say upfront that this book tackles some real, raw and hard topics. There are many possible triggers in this book for people. Please read my content description for a detailed list so you can decide for yourself if this book is right for you. I will also direct you to the author's page to read what she has to say about writing this book.
This book. Wow. I had a hard time putting it down. When I did, I was thinking about it and anxious to get back. Emotionally, this was not an easy book to read (you should keep tissues on hand) but it is beautifully written and it took me on a journey. There is a ribbon of hope through the darkest moments and I can honestly say that this book ends in a lovely place of healing and love. For me, it was a journey worth taking.
Avery is a good person. Better than I would be in her situation. I admired her strength even when she felt at her weakest. It was especially good to see the characters from previous books in this series step in and rally around both Avery and James as family and friends.
I would say that this book can stand alone but you will have a much stronger connection it if you read the whole series in order. It will help you have a clear view of the family, their motivations and their history together.
Content: frequent mild swearing, situations involving pornography- use and addiciton, emotional and verbal affairs, discussion and mention of intimate relations between a husband and wife, loss of a child, alcohol abuse
- I received a complimentary copy of this book. All opinions expressed are my own.
August 29, 2020
Hard to read
This was a hard book to read due to the pornography addiction and the other woman. She was the aggressor of course and half the time he didn't answer her but he did talk about his wife and their marriage and not in a good way. He was on the path to an affair. And I really felt bad for the heroine. He no longer could be intimate with her and was really a disgusting slob. I don't know what the OW really saw in him. She wasn't hot just younger. He never touched her, at least that is what he said but the emotional aspect of what he did destroyed his marriage, his relationship with both of his son's and his relationship with his Father/family. It was heartbreaking in many places and at times it made me uncomfortable. Jennifer Peel is very talented and I have liked several of her books. This one is okay too. Maybe it's the subject matter that made it so difficult to read but it really showed how hard it is to keep a marriage together. They had lost a child prior to the books start and they both still grieved too Both sides contributed to it too but mainly it was his addiction to porn that destroyed it. He worked hard to win her back and I loved the epilogue. It was worth three stars all by itself. Great characters and I loved Mimsy the best. And their sons were incredible too. It's just the subject matter that was difficult for me.
This was a hard book to read due to the pornography addiction and the other woman. She was the aggressor of course and half the time he didn't answer her but he did talk about his wife and their marriage and not in a good way. He was on the path to an affair. And I really felt bad for the heroine. He no longer could be intimate with her and was really a disgusting slob. I don't know what the OW really saw in him. She wasn't hot just younger. He never touched her, at least that is what he said but the emotional aspect of what he did destroyed his marriage, his relationship with both of his son's and his relationship with his Father/family. It was heartbreaking in many places and at times it made me uncomfortable. Jennifer Peel is very talented and I have liked several of her books. This one is okay too. Maybe it's the subject matter that made it so difficult to read but it really showed how hard it is to keep a marriage together. They had lost a child prior to the books start and they both still grieved too Both sides contributed to it too but mainly it was his addiction to porn that destroyed it. He worked hard to win her back and I loved the epilogue. It was worth three stars all by itself. Great characters and I loved Mimsy the best. And their sons were incredible too. It's just the subject matter that was difficult for me.
January 12, 2025
I've really loved this series, but for some reason could not connect to this couple. I've read it twice now and still have the same feeling.
Definitely a case of "It's me, not you."
Definitely a case of "It's me, not you."
February 14, 2020
My heart wanted to cry
Some couples seem to be perfect, but there's the key word--seems. No one is ideal and everyone has their demons to face and battles to wage--even fictional characters. Jennifer Peel manages to peel the layers back and exposed the real and raw pain and hurt that secrets can cause, allowing for a deep reader connection with these realistic protagonists.
It's not a secret that I HATE to cry, but this book turned me into a blubbering pile of goo...and more than once. Although there are some heavy and sensitive topics within these pages, I felt the glimmering threads of hope streaming throughout. I had no idea how this story would end, but I had a strong desire to see it conclude how I wanted it to. Alas, life doesn't always go as we would like or how we would plan, but how God sees fit.
My whole world revolved around this book and these characters from start to finish and Peel tackles these tough issues in a tactfully refreshing way. I feel like a better person for reading this book and would like to think that my compassion for others has expanded because of it. This story was worth every tear in my eye, sniffle sniffed, and crack in my heart. While this may not be a book for everyone, and especially not for younger readers, I would highly recommend it.
Content: moderate romance/sexual elements (no sex, but innuendo and talk of porn, affairs, vague talk of sex--no details); moderate language; moderate religion elements
*I received a complimentary copy. All opinions expressed are my own and were voluntarily given.*
Some couples seem to be perfect, but there's the key word--seems. No one is ideal and everyone has their demons to face and battles to wage--even fictional characters. Jennifer Peel manages to peel the layers back and exposed the real and raw pain and hurt that secrets can cause, allowing for a deep reader connection with these realistic protagonists.
It's not a secret that I HATE to cry, but this book turned me into a blubbering pile of goo...and more than once. Although there are some heavy and sensitive topics within these pages, I felt the glimmering threads of hope streaming throughout. I had no idea how this story would end, but I had a strong desire to see it conclude how I wanted it to. Alas, life doesn't always go as we would like or how we would plan, but how God sees fit.
My whole world revolved around this book and these characters from start to finish and Peel tackles these tough issues in a tactfully refreshing way. I feel like a better person for reading this book and would like to think that my compassion for others has expanded because of it. This story was worth every tear in my eye, sniffle sniffed, and crack in my heart. While this may not be a book for everyone, and especially not for younger readers, I would highly recommend it.
Content: moderate romance/sexual elements (no sex, but innuendo and talk of porn, affairs, vague talk of sex--no details); moderate language; moderate religion elements
*I received a complimentary copy. All opinions expressed are my own and were voluntarily given.*
April 27, 2022
EVERYONE should read this book! Seriously folks, it is a must-read. Why? Because it addresses the problem of pornography and its addiction in such a real, honest and touching way. It doesn't preach, it enlightens as it just shows a couple who are madly in love with each other but who have had heart-breaking tragedies like the loss of a child in their lives and the devastating consequences of their choices in their fight to keep love alive.
It is beautifully penned and honestly written. It has heart and a soul that makes the reader laugh and cry right along with the characters. There were a few times in the book that it seemed to lag just a bit because of the inner-dialogue repeats but even then, I realized that those are exactly what each of us would be doing in real life. "What did I do to cause this?" "Why wasn't I good enough?" and other self-questioning thoughts would be on constant replay in anyone's mind.
My hat goes off and up to the author for tackling such a heavy and volatile subject with such grace and compassion. It truly shows the strength and healing power that real love can accomplish! Bravo, Ms. Peel!
It is beautifully penned and honestly written. It has heart and a soul that makes the reader laugh and cry right along with the characters. There were a few times in the book that it seemed to lag just a bit because of the inner-dialogue repeats but even then, I realized that those are exactly what each of us would be doing in real life. "What did I do to cause this?" "Why wasn't I good enough?" and other self-questioning thoughts would be on constant replay in anyone's mind.
My hat goes off and up to the author for tackling such a heavy and volatile subject with such grace and compassion. It truly shows the strength and healing power that real love can accomplish! Bravo, Ms. Peel!
February 15, 2020
Love this series
This is not the average Jennifer Peel book it’s so much more. She tackles a subject that is infecting so many marriages today. The addiction and the stigma attached but this group of strong women are there for Avery lending her the support she needs. This is not an easy book to read due to subject matter but stick with it the reward is great.
My thanks to Jennifer Peel for being brave and writing the not so easy story but one only she could tell with grace and strength. I definitely recommend The Dear Wife.
This is not the average Jennifer Peel book it’s so much more. She tackles a subject that is infecting so many marriages today. The addiction and the stigma attached but this group of strong women are there for Avery lending her the support she needs. This is not an easy book to read due to subject matter but stick with it the reward is great.
My thanks to Jennifer Peel for being brave and writing the not so easy story but one only she could tell with grace and strength. I definitely recommend The Dear Wife.
June 6, 2020
This book deserves all the stars! If you've read my review for The Secretive Wife (book #2 in this series) then you'll notice I used the following paragraph in that review. After I wrote it I just had to add it into this review as well as it deals with the series and the friendships and one of the biggest reasons why I loved this book and series!
I am slow at writing a review for this book (this applies to both The Secretive Wife and this book). I debated about just letting it go and letting my 5* rating speak for itself. But I can't. I have to leave a couple words about how much I loved this book. How much I loved this series! Each one just kept getting better and better. Not necessarily because of the author's writing style, because her style was the same and amazing. But better in the sense that the books just keep building upon each other and the three female protagonists from the books are a part of every story. I loved that. I loved the strength of these women. And I especially loved the strength of their relationships and friendships. How they lifted and helped each other. How they were there no matter what and with no judgement of each other. It was beautiful and just what we all need in our lives. Someone or many someones who are you friends no matter what. They love you, flaws and all! People who don't demand that you are perfect and who love you through your mistakes and your struggles. Friends who will help you when you're down.
This book tackles a hard topic. One that many don't feel is a hard topic, or they don't feel that there's anything not normal about it. But the truth is, it is a hard topic because it causes so much pain. It can destroy lives and families and relationships and true and real love. Pornography is an addiction that is worse than drugs. Jennifer Peel wrote this story in such a beautiful way. She showed the hope for those struggling with and affected by Pornography. I loved so much how Avery took the time to really explain it and the effects it has to her children. I ached for the truth behind how it hurt so many people. I have deep respect for this author in writing this book. And I have deep respect for those who are struggling/have struggled with pornography and are willing to admit it and seek help. There is hope.
Avery and James. Their story. After watching them from the first two books, you know there's something happening between them. I kept hoping that what I was assuming was happening wasn't. But it was. I was a little torn wondering if I could read this book or not. Not due to the way that I figured the author would handle the topics but just knowing the pain and heartbreak that would be within. Then I started reading reviews from friends and how much they loved the book. I took a breath and picked up the book. Oh my heart! This book has so many emotions and heartache and struggles. But it was also full of love and forgiveness and healing and joy. I loved how the author was able to tackle this subject and still give these characters dignity and healing and joy. I also loved how just Avery's emotions and heartache were shown, but James's and their children's and all of their family members. It was very well written even with the ugliness of it at some points.
My heart ached so much for these characters. Not just because they are fictional but because there is so much truth and pain for so many people in relation to this subject. I cried and cried while reading this book. It was raw and hard and emotional. But it was beautiful.
I wish I could give it more than 5 stars. Jennifer Peel is a favorite author of mine. I love her ability to create these characters who are raw and real and who touch my heart deeply. I think it's because we all see some part of ourselves in her characters. If you are looking for a book that will touch you deeply and help you feel all of the emotions, this is the book (or rather the series-or author).
Content: This book deals with Pornography and the loss of a child and an emotional affair. It doesn't go into graphic detail. There are some innuendos throughout. I would say that it is a clean read with some heat and would recommend for mature readers.
My own personal copy.
Happy Reading!!!
I am slow at writing a review for this book (this applies to both The Secretive Wife and this book). I debated about just letting it go and letting my 5* rating speak for itself. But I can't. I have to leave a couple words about how much I loved this book. How much I loved this series! Each one just kept getting better and better. Not necessarily because of the author's writing style, because her style was the same and amazing. But better in the sense that the books just keep building upon each other and the three female protagonists from the books are a part of every story. I loved that. I loved the strength of these women. And I especially loved the strength of their relationships and friendships. How they lifted and helped each other. How they were there no matter what and with no judgement of each other. It was beautiful and just what we all need in our lives. Someone or many someones who are you friends no matter what. They love you, flaws and all! People who don't demand that you are perfect and who love you through your mistakes and your struggles. Friends who will help you when you're down.
This book tackles a hard topic. One that many don't feel is a hard topic, or they don't feel that there's anything not normal about it. But the truth is, it is a hard topic because it causes so much pain. It can destroy lives and families and relationships and true and real love. Pornography is an addiction that is worse than drugs. Jennifer Peel wrote this story in such a beautiful way. She showed the hope for those struggling with and affected by Pornography. I loved so much how Avery took the time to really explain it and the effects it has to her children. I ached for the truth behind how it hurt so many people. I have deep respect for this author in writing this book. And I have deep respect for those who are struggling/have struggled with pornography and are willing to admit it and seek help. There is hope.
Avery and James. Their story. After watching them from the first two books, you know there's something happening between them. I kept hoping that what I was assuming was happening wasn't. But it was. I was a little torn wondering if I could read this book or not. Not due to the way that I figured the author would handle the topics but just knowing the pain and heartbreak that would be within. Then I started reading reviews from friends and how much they loved the book. I took a breath and picked up the book. Oh my heart! This book has so many emotions and heartache and struggles. But it was also full of love and forgiveness and healing and joy. I loved how the author was able to tackle this subject and still give these characters dignity and healing and joy. I also loved how just Avery's emotions and heartache were shown, but James's and their children's and all of their family members. It was very well written even with the ugliness of it at some points.
My heart ached so much for these characters. Not just because they are fictional but because there is so much truth and pain for so many people in relation to this subject. I cried and cried while reading this book. It was raw and hard and emotional. But it was beautiful.
I wish I could give it more than 5 stars. Jennifer Peel is a favorite author of mine. I love her ability to create these characters who are raw and real and who touch my heart deeply. I think it's because we all see some part of ourselves in her characters. If you are looking for a book that will touch you deeply and help you feel all of the emotions, this is the book (or rather the series-or author).
Content: This book deals with Pornography and the loss of a child and an emotional affair. It doesn't go into graphic detail. There are some innuendos throughout. I would say that it is a clean read with some heat and would recommend for mature readers.
My own personal copy.
Happy Reading!!!
Read
October 2, 2024It was didactic, so haven’t been able to feel the angst. 🤷🏻♀️
May 1, 2021
Trigger warning: death of a child prior to the start of the book... 3+ years later and from the start of the story you know much of the story is driven by unrelieved grief.
I cried enough to trigger an asthma attack, allergies probably triggered the attack, but I did cry through this entire book.
I give Jennifer Peel credit taking on subject matter that isn’t romantic.
Emotionally brutal from page one.
Book 3 of a series, but the first one written, the author thought it needed build up to get to. I’d say read them in order.
3 stars for the story, the extra is because I want to believe their HEA... I’m not so sure it’s possible.
I cried enough to trigger an asthma attack, allergies probably triggered the attack, but I did cry through this entire book.
I give Jennifer Peel credit taking on subject matter that isn’t romantic.
Emotionally brutal from page one.
Book 3 of a series, but the first one written, the author thought it needed build up to get to. I’d say read them in order.
3 stars for the story, the extra is because I want to believe their HEA... I’m not so sure it’s possible.
February 15, 2020
I loved this book! For those who are already following this series (this is Book 3, but could be read as a standalone; I would recommend reading the first two books to get the back stories of the other people in the book), we already love James and Avery, but it has been strongly hinted that since the death of their 9-year-old daughter over 4 years ago, something is wrong in their marriage.
Avery's life has gone from being like a Hallmark movie to "more like a Dateline episode of why spouses turn to murder." James, the man she has loved fiercely, has some serious pornography addictions (see content warning below) to deal with. Sadly, he isn't dealing with them and Avery is suffering because of it - until she hits her breaking point. And now James is on the verge of losing everything that matters to him.
I think most of us know at least one person who suffers with pornography addiction or has been directly affected by it. If it was that easy to overcome, it wouldn't be as big a problem. There was so much about pornography addiction that I didn't know and this was a great way to see into what these women endure.
I loved how Sarah was a more loving mother in this book than the previous books and Mimsy was a bit subdued. One of my favorite lines was when Avery said: "I imagined Mimsy beating down my door with a priest in tow and a fire hose of holy water." - I was picturing that happening! LOL
Jennifer Peel did a great job handling such an emotionally-charged subject! I hope that a lot of women will read this and not feel so alone or helpless.
I borrowed this warning from another reviewer (thank you Kathy Jo!) because I had similar thoughts and was wondering how to word it...
**Content warning** The Dear Wife deals with tough topics including pornography addiction and the loss of a child. If you know you can't handle those topics, PLEASE don't read the book. Jennifer has put a lot of blood, sweat and tears into this book and she does not need readers who cannot handle these topics leaving negative reviews. Please search your heart to know if this book is one you should read or not.
Avery's life has gone from being like a Hallmark movie to "more like a Dateline episode of why spouses turn to murder." James, the man she has loved fiercely, has some serious pornography addictions (see content warning below) to deal with. Sadly, he isn't dealing with them and Avery is suffering because of it - until she hits her breaking point. And now James is on the verge of losing everything that matters to him.
I think most of us know at least one person who suffers with pornography addiction or has been directly affected by it. If it was that easy to overcome, it wouldn't be as big a problem. There was so much about pornography addiction that I didn't know and this was a great way to see into what these women endure.
I loved how Sarah was a more loving mother in this book than the previous books and Mimsy was a bit subdued. One of my favorite lines was when Avery said: "I imagined Mimsy beating down my door with a priest in tow and a fire hose of holy water." - I was picturing that happening! LOL
Jennifer Peel did a great job handling such an emotionally-charged subject! I hope that a lot of women will read this and not feel so alone or helpless.
I borrowed this warning from another reviewer (thank you Kathy Jo!) because I had similar thoughts and was wondering how to word it...
**Content warning** The Dear Wife deals with tough topics including pornography addiction and the loss of a child. If you know you can't handle those topics, PLEASE don't read the book. Jennifer has put a lot of blood, sweat and tears into this book and she does not need readers who cannot handle these topics leaving negative reviews. Please search your heart to know if this book is one you should read or not.
February 14, 2020
Must read ! Inspiring !
This is a must read for all . Husbands , wife's, sons and daughters. The message in this book is inspiring rather you are going through this or know someone who is. The message your not alone comes through. It truly gave me insight and helped me understand what a close friend is going through. It makes you aware of the pain and hurt others feels when dealing with addiction. This book is so well written the emotional rollercoaster the pain, the joy makes this book so hard to put down. 5 stars just isn't enough!
This is a must read for all . Husbands , wife's, sons and daughters. The message in this book is inspiring rather you are going through this or know someone who is. The message your not alone comes through. It truly gave me insight and helped me understand what a close friend is going through. It makes you aware of the pain and hurt others feels when dealing with addiction. This book is so well written the emotional rollercoaster the pain, the joy makes this book so hard to put down. 5 stars just isn't enough!
February 15, 2020
My favorite one to date. So insightful and the storytelling was captivating. I couldn’t put it down.
February 19, 2020
Heartbreaking and achingly tender
This is such a fantastic series, a definite MUST read! I have been anxiously awaiting this final book in the series about Avery and James, and the emotional rollercoaster it took me on was unbelievable and beautiful.
Avery has been married to James for over 20 years, and while they have loved one another and made a good life together, the loss of a child and addiction to pornography tear them apart from the inside out. I don’t want to spoil what happens, but their story was soul-wrenching and had me in tears multiple times. This book is definitely for an older audience (not for YA or teens) and deals with a lot of hard things.
I did not expect to feel such a connection to Avery, or to be so affected by the events in the story. At this point pornography is EVERYWHERE, and easily affects just about everyone in some way. There are several people close to me who I know struggle with this, and reading about it in a very real and raw way brought to life the daily struggle of that addiction and the pain it causes.
Avery was a strong and brave protagonist. I loved the support and love given to her by the Decker women from the other books. As always, these Decker women (and Joan!) make me laugh, and oh- Avery’s thoughts on going to the doctor had me in stitches!
The letters were another favorite part of the book. I just couldn’t put this one down and read it in one day. There was such grief, loss, and emptiness, but with it came redemption, change, and hope. I loved every moment.
I’m so glad Jennifer Peel took on such a difficult task of shedding light on this dark addiction in today’s world. It was personal and beautiful in a way only she can do it. A MUST read!!!!
This is such a fantastic series, a definite MUST read! I have been anxiously awaiting this final book in the series about Avery and James, and the emotional rollercoaster it took me on was unbelievable and beautiful.
Avery has been married to James for over 20 years, and while they have loved one another and made a good life together, the loss of a child and addiction to pornography tear them apart from the inside out. I don’t want to spoil what happens, but their story was soul-wrenching and had me in tears multiple times. This book is definitely for an older audience (not for YA or teens) and deals with a lot of hard things.
I did not expect to feel such a connection to Avery, or to be so affected by the events in the story. At this point pornography is EVERYWHERE, and easily affects just about everyone in some way. There are several people close to me who I know struggle with this, and reading about it in a very real and raw way brought to life the daily struggle of that addiction and the pain it causes.
Avery was a strong and brave protagonist. I loved the support and love given to her by the Decker women from the other books. As always, these Decker women (and Joan!) make me laugh, and oh- Avery’s thoughts on going to the doctor had me in stitches!
The letters were another favorite part of the book. I just couldn’t put this one down and read it in one day. There was such grief, loss, and emptiness, but with it came redemption, change, and hope. I loved every moment.
I’m so glad Jennifer Peel took on such a difficult task of shedding light on this dark addiction in today’s world. It was personal and beautiful in a way only she can do it. A MUST read!!!!
December 3, 2020
Somewhat preachy but also a good read.
May 1, 2021
Preachy and judgmental
I really enjoyed book 1 in this series, The Sidelined Wife. Although it was about a serious subject, adultery, it was also lighthearted and, at times, funny. The religious aspect was particularly cute and campy, (loved Mimsy and her holy water in book 1), though at times it took on more serious tones.
With each subsequent book, however, the religious views and ideologies became more prominent and integral to the storyline. By the time we get to The Dear Wife, it was the main storyline. Yes, porn addiction was a prominent part of the story, but, make no mistake, the Church, and its ideologies, was the main focus of this book.
While I thought it was humorous, if not a bit over-the-top, that the mother, Sarah, was so concerned about whether or not her 40 year old, divorced daughter (who was also a mother to a 16 y/o son) was having sex outside of marriage, by the time we get to this book the author becomes preachy and shames readers for, among other things, sex outside of marriage regardless of age or marital status. She even makes judgements about lingerie, distinguishing between "raunchy" and what she deems appropriately "sexy". It becomes clear that this author is peddling her religious views and the Catholic church's agenda that sex, including masturbation (insert eyeroll here) is dirty and shameful outside of the marriage bed.
While I have a strong and personal relationship with my creator, my life philosophy is "an it harm none, do what ye will". I know when I die and and am being judged by my God, I will only be judged for my sins, not those of others. So, unless they harm others, I don't worry about anyones sins but my own. I sincerely wish more Christians felt this way and simply lived their lives as they believe right and true and leave the rest of the world to do the same.
While I mostly enjoyed books 1 and 2 of The More Than a Wife series by Jennifer Peel, this was the first and last time I'll read her books. Little more kills romance quite like religion, so I have firmly (and permanently) sat this authors preachy ass in the naughty chair on my no read shelf. I go to church when I want a sermon, not to my Kindle.
I really enjoyed book 1 in this series, The Sidelined Wife. Although it was about a serious subject, adultery, it was also lighthearted and, at times, funny. The religious aspect was particularly cute and campy, (loved Mimsy and her holy water in book 1), though at times it took on more serious tones.
With each subsequent book, however, the religious views and ideologies became more prominent and integral to the storyline. By the time we get to The Dear Wife, it was the main storyline. Yes, porn addiction was a prominent part of the story, but, make no mistake, the Church, and its ideologies, was the main focus of this book.
While I thought it was humorous, if not a bit over-the-top, that the mother, Sarah, was so concerned about whether or not her 40 year old, divorced daughter (who was also a mother to a 16 y/o son) was having sex outside of marriage, by the time we get to this book the author becomes preachy and shames readers for, among other things, sex outside of marriage regardless of age or marital status. She even makes judgements about lingerie, distinguishing between "raunchy" and what she deems appropriately "sexy". It becomes clear that this author is peddling her religious views and the Catholic church's agenda that sex, including masturbation (insert eyeroll here) is dirty and shameful outside of the marriage bed.
While I have a strong and personal relationship with my creator, my life philosophy is "an it harm none, do what ye will". I know when I die and and am being judged by my God, I will only be judged for my sins, not those of others. So, unless they harm others, I don't worry about anyones sins but my own. I sincerely wish more Christians felt this way and simply lived their lives as they believe right and true and leave the rest of the world to do the same.
While I mostly enjoyed books 1 and 2 of The More Than a Wife series by Jennifer Peel, this was the first and last time I'll read her books. Little more kills romance quite like religion, so I have firmly (and permanently) sat this authors preachy ass in the naughty chair on my no read shelf. I go to church when I want a sermon, not to my Kindle.
February 24, 2020
Wow.
Just…
Wow. This is the most powerful and poignant story I’ve read in the longest time. It is completely gut wrenching. The subject matter was uncomfortable and potentially controversial, and watching this couple’s marriage fall apart was awful.
But, it is also the best story of true love I’ve read in ages. One that made me think and really ponder. I finished The Dear Wife over a week ago, and I’m STILL thinking about it. So much so, I had a hard time getting into another book. I really liked the first book in Ms. Peel’s More Than a Wife series - The Sidelined Wife, and loved the second one - The Secretive Wife, but my head and my heart remain with this story.
James and Avery Decker have been married for over twenty years and have the kind of marriage everyone envies. They even appear to have weathered the devastating loss of their young daughter four years ago. Appear being the operative word.
Lately, though, everyone in the Decker family has noticed things are “off” between the couple they admire, but no one knows what is going on. Avery continues to put on a happy face, and James is just grumpy.
After a long year of mounting issues, Avery has reached the end of her rope. When she discovers her husband is flirting with crossing the line of infidelity - in addition to having a pornography addiction he doesn’t think is a problem, she realizes she deserves better and tells James things are over.
Watching Avery come to this conclusion was gut wrenching.
Watching her deal with the fallout of her decision to demand better for herself, tore my heart apart.
But watching her put on her big girl panties and make plans to do what was best for herself and her sons - and even James - made me cheer her on. With the support of her two sisters-in-law, she was able to keep her head above water and just keep swimming.
This story is overwhelmingly real. It’s rare that a 20 year marriage doesn’t face a crisis or two, and every action is going to cause a reaction - some healthy, some destructive. Losing a child has got to be the most difficult thing a marriage can experience, and it’s just a fact that two people are going to cope differently. What one person thinks is helping may really not, and the other person may think their way to cope doesn’t affect the other. Before you know it, things have strayed so far from where you were that you don’t know if you’ll ever get back what you once had... As much as I hated James for the choices he made, I could understand how he got to where he was that caused his marriage to implode.
But really, this is Avery’s story of how she found the courage to demand better for her marriage, and for herself. She really didn’t want to call it quits, but when faced with a husband who wasn’t willing to admit his problems, she had no choice. I loved how her two sisters-in-law, Samantha (who is actually James’s sister) and Delanie (who is married to James’s brother, Peter), played the good cop/bad cop roles in facing James and how to deal with him. We all need one friend to talk us off the ledge, and the other by our side ready to help us push the offending party off the cliff! It was so wonderful to see the whole Decker family support Avery’s decision to end her marriage if that was what needed to happen.
Thankfully, James pulled his head out of his ass before he completely lost his family. He had some serious demons to fight and it was hard watching him battle. What made this a true story of redemption was his sincere remorse for hurting his wife and family, and his desire to repair the damage he caused. So often in books we have a man who behaves poorly and all he gives is a half-hearted “I was a jerk” and everything is forgiven. Not here! I loved how this story showed all the feelings, all the emotions, all the hurt, all the anger. Nothing was swept under the rug. But then the couple was willing to do the hard work - yes, both of them (because with most marital problems there’s usually at least some culpability on both parties), and they fought for their relationship and healing. Yes, it was ugly. Yes, it was hard to read. But it was the most beautiful story of love and forgiveness I’ve read in forever.
Besides being a fantastic story about a troubled marriage that finds healing, I’m impressed by this book on two counts. First, The Dear Wife has some very religious aspects (as you might expect from a family with a son who was a priest at one time), showing how faith is important and can help you through your darkest hours. Often times, a faith message is thrown into a story and its presence feels out of place and preachy, or is used to prosthelytize, but that was not the case here. These characters struggled with their faith in very real ways and this was perhaps the most realistic portrayal of people of faith in a book that isn’t specifically labeled as “inspirational” romance. I feel it was done so well that even if someone is opposed to religious themes in a book, they wouldn’t feel offended or put off with it here. And that is quite the feat.
Secondly - and I’m still blown away by this - Ms. Peel decided to write a book about pornography addiction, which goes so far out on the limb of “acceptable” romance topics, which is remarkable all on its own. However, in her author’s notes she tells how she knew she couldn’t have readers pulling for this couple unless we’re already engaged in their story, which would be hard to do in one book. So she wrote TWO OTHER BOOKS first, with this story as the end goal. Which okay, maybe other authors have done that. But you can tell when one story is just a means to another. That couldn’t be further from the case here. The Sidelined Wife and The Secretive Wife were great stories on their own. To have written two great books, in the process of getting to the main story you want to write, completely blows me away. I am in awe of Jennifer Peel’s storytelling abilities. Clearly the woman’s got skillz!
It’s been a long time since I’ve read a book that I could hardly put down. And because of Jennifer Peel I’ve just read two in a row. The Dear Wife is unbelievably touching, compelling, and totally heart wrenching. It’s also an amazing story of true love. The Dear Wife touched my heart deeply and I have a feeling it will be a long time before James and Avery’s story lets go.
Just…
Wow. This is the most powerful and poignant story I’ve read in the longest time. It is completely gut wrenching. The subject matter was uncomfortable and potentially controversial, and watching this couple’s marriage fall apart was awful.
But, it is also the best story of true love I’ve read in ages. One that made me think and really ponder. I finished The Dear Wife over a week ago, and I’m STILL thinking about it. So much so, I had a hard time getting into another book. I really liked the first book in Ms. Peel’s More Than a Wife series - The Sidelined Wife, and loved the second one - The Secretive Wife, but my head and my heart remain with this story.
James and Avery Decker have been married for over twenty years and have the kind of marriage everyone envies. They even appear to have weathered the devastating loss of their young daughter four years ago. Appear being the operative word.
Lately, though, everyone in the Decker family has noticed things are “off” between the couple they admire, but no one knows what is going on. Avery continues to put on a happy face, and James is just grumpy.
After a long year of mounting issues, Avery has reached the end of her rope. When she discovers her husband is flirting with crossing the line of infidelity - in addition to having a pornography addiction he doesn’t think is a problem, she realizes she deserves better and tells James things are over.
Watching Avery come to this conclusion was gut wrenching.
Watching her deal with the fallout of her decision to demand better for herself, tore my heart apart.
But watching her put on her big girl panties and make plans to do what was best for herself and her sons - and even James - made me cheer her on. With the support of her two sisters-in-law, she was able to keep her head above water and just keep swimming.
This story is overwhelmingly real. It’s rare that a 20 year marriage doesn’t face a crisis or two, and every action is going to cause a reaction - some healthy, some destructive. Losing a child has got to be the most difficult thing a marriage can experience, and it’s just a fact that two people are going to cope differently. What one person thinks is helping may really not, and the other person may think their way to cope doesn’t affect the other. Before you know it, things have strayed so far from where you were that you don’t know if you’ll ever get back what you once had... As much as I hated James for the choices he made, I could understand how he got to where he was that caused his marriage to implode.
But really, this is Avery’s story of how she found the courage to demand better for her marriage, and for herself. She really didn’t want to call it quits, but when faced with a husband who wasn’t willing to admit his problems, she had no choice. I loved how her two sisters-in-law, Samantha (who is actually James’s sister) and Delanie (who is married to James’s brother, Peter), played the good cop/bad cop roles in facing James and how to deal with him. We all need one friend to talk us off the ledge, and the other by our side ready to help us push the offending party off the cliff! It was so wonderful to see the whole Decker family support Avery’s decision to end her marriage if that was what needed to happen.
Thankfully, James pulled his head out of his ass before he completely lost his family. He had some serious demons to fight and it was hard watching him battle. What made this a true story of redemption was his sincere remorse for hurting his wife and family, and his desire to repair the damage he caused. So often in books we have a man who behaves poorly and all he gives is a half-hearted “I was a jerk” and everything is forgiven. Not here! I loved how this story showed all the feelings, all the emotions, all the hurt, all the anger. Nothing was swept under the rug. But then the couple was willing to do the hard work - yes, both of them (because with most marital problems there’s usually at least some culpability on both parties), and they fought for their relationship and healing. Yes, it was ugly. Yes, it was hard to read. But it was the most beautiful story of love and forgiveness I’ve read in forever.
Besides being a fantastic story about a troubled marriage that finds healing, I’m impressed by this book on two counts. First, The Dear Wife has some very religious aspects (as you might expect from a family with a son who was a priest at one time), showing how faith is important and can help you through your darkest hours. Often times, a faith message is thrown into a story and its presence feels out of place and preachy, or is used to prosthelytize, but that was not the case here. These characters struggled with their faith in very real ways and this was perhaps the most realistic portrayal of people of faith in a book that isn’t specifically labeled as “inspirational” romance. I feel it was done so well that even if someone is opposed to religious themes in a book, they wouldn’t feel offended or put off with it here. And that is quite the feat.
Secondly - and I’m still blown away by this - Ms. Peel decided to write a book about pornography addiction, which goes so far out on the limb of “acceptable” romance topics, which is remarkable all on its own. However, in her author’s notes she tells how she knew she couldn’t have readers pulling for this couple unless we’re already engaged in their story, which would be hard to do in one book. So she wrote TWO OTHER BOOKS first, with this story as the end goal. Which okay, maybe other authors have done that. But you can tell when one story is just a means to another. That couldn’t be further from the case here. The Sidelined Wife and The Secretive Wife were great stories on their own. To have written two great books, in the process of getting to the main story you want to write, completely blows me away. I am in awe of Jennifer Peel’s storytelling abilities. Clearly the woman’s got skillz!
It’s been a long time since I’ve read a book that I could hardly put down. And because of Jennifer Peel I’ve just read two in a row. The Dear Wife is unbelievably touching, compelling, and totally heart wrenching. It’s also an amazing story of true love. The Dear Wife touched my heart deeply and I have a feeling it will be a long time before James and Avery’s story lets go.
February 15, 2020
The Dear Wife
Jennifer Peel, this review(letter) is for you. I have at this moment finished chapter 8. And am emotionally invested in finishing the book. I lived with a man for thirty plus years who had this addiction. I tried everything including leaving. He did cross the line. I stayed till he died. This story brought to light the book that computer porn can and does destroy marriages. Thank you for writing this story in a way that focuses on the hurt it does to family members. I will continue with the book. But know that I am glad this was addressed in this way.
Jennifer Peel, this review(letter) is for you. I have at this moment finished chapter 8. And am emotionally invested in finishing the book. I lived with a man for thirty plus years who had this addiction. I tried everything including leaving. He did cross the line. I stayed till he died. This story brought to light the book that computer porn can and does destroy marriages. Thank you for writing this story in a way that focuses on the hurt it does to family members. I will continue with the book. But know that I am glad this was addressed in this way.
February 17, 2020
Deals with some hard realities
Pork addiction is destroying more marriages in these days. With the internet it is easier to access. This book will make you angry at James for what he put Avery through. You will cry with this family as they deal with the painful memory of their deceased daughter. You will be touched by the close bond of the three sister in law and yes You will laugh at the antics of Mimsie. There are a few minor swear words in this book and there is discussion of marital sex. Overall a good book.
Pork addiction is destroying more marriages in these days. With the internet it is easier to access. This book will make you angry at James for what he put Avery through. You will cry with this family as they deal with the painful memory of their deceased daughter. You will be touched by the close bond of the three sister in law and yes You will laugh at the antics of Mimsie. There are a few minor swear words in this book and there is discussion of marital sex. Overall a good book.
March 17, 2020
**Actually a 3.5-rating**
Oof, the hype for this book series is kind of dwindling down for me. The first book was out-of-this-world fabulous...the 2nd was great but not memorable and this one, wow...okay, it just felt like the topic was a little heavy-handed and sledge-hammered to readers but also, this feels like it would've been better written for the late 1990s or early 2000s. Somehow, in this day and age, the idea of a "porn addiction" being so detrimental to a marriage is a bit out-dated to me. It's not that I don't take this seriously because there was some good meaty discussion here but well, there are women of a certain generation or personal belief that think porn is not healthy and it's sickening and gross and should be outlawed. I get it, I do. I understand some men/husbands/boyfriends can hit a level of hardcore addiction that can ruin relationships...but wow, tone the rhetoric down a bit and this book could have been so much shorter. I didn't mind the slowness of the wife and husband fixing their broken marriage, but, I don't know if the depths and levels of suffering are at these intensities in 2019/2020. Plus, what she was upset over had truly begun with a tragic event and loss to their family that they never properly grieved or healed from, so everything after that fact is just a sad side-effect of the true culprit.
Everything the husband did to "cheat" was with his addiction to porn and his near-cheating with a female co-worker...it put him on the cusp of being a bad-dude and I could never join in the wife's outrage or inner humiliation. His constant whining to be accepted back into the house and their home got on my nerves but I didn't outright hate him. I did understand that prior to the near-cheat -yeah, emotionally he was cheating...but prior to where this book begins, the wife had been suffering for a lot longer, attempting to fix her marriage with no help from her husband. I almost wished we started back-there and not right where we did. I guess it showed the gravity of how far she let things slide without seeking real counseling and finding her backbone to threaten a divorce which kicked her husband into gear to clean up his act. But, yeah, this idea that she had been somehow wallowing in misery for months before the book opens is a little dismaying, especially since she had some idea it could be "prayed away" and God could handle it or that they, themselves, could repair what was broken with them and between them. It's only when he almost cheats with another woman is when she sees how drastic things have gotten.
The story could have been much shorter. I wanted, at many points, to give up on both of them, especially the husband because..."dude, ya done f'd up!" and for much of the middle of the book he's not a good enough guy to go back to; he continues to spiral down the drain the more he begs forgiveness and won't give up porn. I think she literally had to kick him 6-7 times while he was down before he got the hint that he better stop watching porn and focus on HER and their marriage. I hated that we only got HER, the wife's, POV.
It took a good majority of the book when things started to look brighter from them going to couples' therapy, rewinding time back to the years they first met...The wife had kept a box of her husband's old written letters to her which always began, My Dear Wife; it was sweet and heartbreaking to see they had a few great years in their marriage they could cling to. This wife is much older, mid-40s or so and we constantly have her going in and out of the DR's office...I always feared we would find out she had cancer or needed some life-saving surgery. We did, sort of...it was a little forced angsty-drama at this point because we already have enough from the broken marriage and trying to heal, but the wife writes If I Die letters to not just her husband but to her kids, in case she doesn't make it off the surgical table??? I'm not sure what this was meant to do...it wasn't a life-or-death surgery and it went into too much overkill on dodging heavier emotions in order to jerk and yank this couple into clarity.
A little level of God and Christianity popped in, but it didn't stay for much longer than a few scenes because the wife had less faith in God or kept losing her faith. I'd go in to explaining why this couple had a dual spiral into depression but it's really not relevant because it kept weaving in and out of the story on whether or not this couple was going to deal with the tragic loss or just swipe it away as if it never happened. Oh, yeah, there were moments where each of them individually recalled the tragedy, but they never quite came together to grieve. They do repair their marriage and get a second chance HEA, then the Epilogue did a weird thing and jumped 10yrs into the future...oh-kay...
Oof, the hype for this book series is kind of dwindling down for me. The first book was out-of-this-world fabulous...the 2nd was great but not memorable and this one, wow...okay, it just felt like the topic was a little heavy-handed and sledge-hammered to readers but also, this feels like it would've been better written for the late 1990s or early 2000s. Somehow, in this day and age, the idea of a "porn addiction" being so detrimental to a marriage is a bit out-dated to me. It's not that I don't take this seriously because there was some good meaty discussion here but well, there are women of a certain generation or personal belief that think porn is not healthy and it's sickening and gross and should be outlawed. I get it, I do. I understand some men/husbands/boyfriends can hit a level of hardcore addiction that can ruin relationships...but wow, tone the rhetoric down a bit and this book could have been so much shorter. I didn't mind the slowness of the wife and husband fixing their broken marriage, but, I don't know if the depths and levels of suffering are at these intensities in 2019/2020. Plus, what she was upset over had truly begun with a tragic event and loss to their family that they never properly grieved or healed from, so everything after that fact is just a sad side-effect of the true culprit.
Everything the husband did to "cheat" was with his addiction to porn and his near-cheating with a female co-worker...it put him on the cusp of being a bad-dude and I could never join in the wife's outrage or inner humiliation. His constant whining to be accepted back into the house and their home got on my nerves but I didn't outright hate him. I did understand that prior to the near-cheat -yeah, emotionally he was cheating...but prior to where this book begins, the wife had been suffering for a lot longer, attempting to fix her marriage with no help from her husband. I almost wished we started back-there and not right where we did. I guess it showed the gravity of how far she let things slide without seeking real counseling and finding her backbone to threaten a divorce which kicked her husband into gear to clean up his act. But, yeah, this idea that she had been somehow wallowing in misery for months before the book opens is a little dismaying, especially since she had some idea it could be "prayed away" and God could handle it or that they, themselves, could repair what was broken with them and between them. It's only when he almost cheats with another woman is when she sees how drastic things have gotten.
The story could have been much shorter. I wanted, at many points, to give up on both of them, especially the husband because..."dude, ya done f'd up!" and for much of the middle of the book he's not a good enough guy to go back to; he continues to spiral down the drain the more he begs forgiveness and won't give up porn. I think she literally had to kick him 6-7 times while he was down before he got the hint that he better stop watching porn and focus on HER and their marriage. I hated that we only got HER, the wife's, POV.
It took a good majority of the book when things started to look brighter from them going to couples' therapy, rewinding time back to the years they first met...The wife had kept a box of her husband's old written letters to her which always began, My Dear Wife; it was sweet and heartbreaking to see they had a few great years in their marriage they could cling to. This wife is much older, mid-40s or so and we constantly have her going in and out of the DR's office...I always feared we would find out she had cancer or needed some life-saving surgery. We did, sort of...it was a little forced angsty-drama at this point because we already have enough from the broken marriage and trying to heal, but the wife writes If I Die letters to not just her husband but to her kids, in case she doesn't make it off the surgical table??? I'm not sure what this was meant to do...it wasn't a life-or-death surgery and it went into too much overkill on dodging heavier emotions in order to jerk and yank this couple into clarity.
A little level of God and Christianity popped in, but it didn't stay for much longer than a few scenes because the wife had less faith in God or kept losing her faith. I'd go in to explaining why this couple had a dual spiral into depression but it's really not relevant because it kept weaving in and out of the story on whether or not this couple was going to deal with the tragic loss or just swipe it away as if it never happened. Oh, yeah, there were moments where each of them individually recalled the tragedy, but they never quite came together to grieve. They do repair their marriage and get a second chance HEA, then the Epilogue did a weird thing and jumped 10yrs into the future...oh-kay...
December 1, 2020
DNF
I can't believe I didn't finish this, maybe I'll go back at a later date and try and struggle through to the end. I hate not finishing a book but sometimes I think life is too short to force it. First of all I have read these books out of order. I read Delaney and Peter's book first and I really enjoyed it but this one seemed to be about 2 different people than what was portrayed in the other books. It started off pretty good but fell away for me very quickly. Was it just me or did anyone else feel that everyone washed their hands of James too quickly? This is a man that Peter and Sam had known all their lives and Avery for over 20 years even Delaney who had skeletons of her own was quick to judge and convict. What happened to James and Avery was tragic and life changing and as often happens it can drive couples apart eventually because we all handle grief differently. Once Avery made up her mind it was straight to the divorce courts and don't let the door catch you on the way out. Did no one think that James may have been spiralling into depression? It didn't appear to me that Avery (maybe because of her own grief) tried that hard to talk things through with James before it got to this point instead she became his watch dog. Yes she was hurt, and I do believe emotional affairs can be worse than a sexual affair in some cases, so she had every right to be angry but some of her hurt was brought about by her own immaturity. So many times I found it hard to remember this was a nearly 40 year old woman and not a high school student. I started skipping ahead half way through the book hoping that these 2 people would both finally come to their senses and have an adult conversation. I think Avery really wanted James to don a hair shirt and walk on broken glass before she would give her husband a fair hearing. It's funny how the girls could objectify Hunter their BBF from Autumns books but didn't see any similarity to what James was doing. It's all escapism, to begin with, to a fantasy world where things are always better. It doesn't make either of them better than the other. Maybe it's a case of it not mattering where you get your appetite so long as you still go home to eat? People make mistakes it's how we react sometimes that determines our mettle in the end though. I am not advocating for the porn industry at all or any addiction but I think more understanding would have been beneficial maybe them it wouldn't have blown up like it did. I couldn't feel empathy in the end for either character they both acted too childishly and for me that was the ultimate sin.
I can't believe I didn't finish this, maybe I'll go back at a later date and try and struggle through to the end. I hate not finishing a book but sometimes I think life is too short to force it. First of all I have read these books out of order. I read Delaney and Peter's book first and I really enjoyed it but this one seemed to be about 2 different people than what was portrayed in the other books. It started off pretty good but fell away for me very quickly. Was it just me or did anyone else feel that everyone washed their hands of James too quickly? This is a man that Peter and Sam had known all their lives and Avery for over 20 years even Delaney who had skeletons of her own was quick to judge and convict. What happened to James and Avery was tragic and life changing and as often happens it can drive couples apart eventually because we all handle grief differently. Once Avery made up her mind it was straight to the divorce courts and don't let the door catch you on the way out. Did no one think that James may have been spiralling into depression? It didn't appear to me that Avery (maybe because of her own grief) tried that hard to talk things through with James before it got to this point instead she became his watch dog. Yes she was hurt, and I do believe emotional affairs can be worse than a sexual affair in some cases, so she had every right to be angry but some of her hurt was brought about by her own immaturity. So many times I found it hard to remember this was a nearly 40 year old woman and not a high school student. I started skipping ahead half way through the book hoping that these 2 people would both finally come to their senses and have an adult conversation. I think Avery really wanted James to don a hair shirt and walk on broken glass before she would give her husband a fair hearing. It's funny how the girls could objectify Hunter their BBF from Autumns books but didn't see any similarity to what James was doing. It's all escapism, to begin with, to a fantasy world where things are always better. It doesn't make either of them better than the other. Maybe it's a case of it not mattering where you get your appetite so long as you still go home to eat? People make mistakes it's how we react sometimes that determines our mettle in the end though. I am not advocating for the porn industry at all or any addiction but I think more understanding would have been beneficial maybe them it wouldn't have blown up like it did. I couldn't feel empathy in the end for either character they both acted too childishly and for me that was the ultimate sin.
September 4, 2020
Grab a box of tissues cause you will need it. I cried just reading the first page. It was very real to me, with being a woman and mother. This book sucks you in. I love books like that. This book may not be for everyone. Jennifer talks at the end of the book not everyone may feel the same about pornography as she does. But I do this is such a real evil in our world and it’s everywhere. I love how she wrote a love story about a couple journey through the trails that an addiction like this can cause. Or other things in life that if not dealt with can lead to such an addiction. It a hard subject matter. I didn’t like Avery at times and how she handle situation. We all handle things differently but that what makes us Us. Plus we have to learn and grow through those choices we make to make us better human beings. Life is hard and it has so many challenges. It is nice to know we aren’t alone in our trails. I have not been through what Avery has. This is a very tender subject but so important in our time!
I feel like I can relate to each of the Decker woman in different ways. I probably would say Delaine is who I relate most to. I have really enjoyed this series. This was a great end to it. I am sad it is over!
I feel like I can relate to each of the Decker woman in different ways. I probably would say Delaine is who I relate most to. I have really enjoyed this series. This was a great end to it. I am sad it is over!
July 18, 2020
I don't ever recall highlighting a book's words as much as I highlighted this one. Starting with The Sidelined Wife, The More Than a Wife trilogy has consumed me for the past week. Even though each book stands on it's own with crossover characters, I found myself relating in one way or another to each dilemma, emotion, and/or character. I've concluded I'm simply a mishmash of the Decker family members.
My emotions ran the spectrum of laughs to tears with all three books but The Dear Wife wrecked me. Jennifer Peel tackled and slayed a very controversial subject that is extremely prevalent in modern day society: addiction to pornography. My hat's off to Jennifer for going there, ripping off the painful scab, and revealing all it's ugly secrets.
After becoming so familiar with Avery and James Decker in the previous two books, I admired the love and affection they openly shared. They were "that couple", perfect. Time moved on and things changed. The little romantic things that fell by the wayside one day became monumental hurdles later.
Avery's pain became my pain. Her emotions became my emotions. I cannot sugarcoat this story. It was a difficult read but one that deserves attention. It's relevant and likely an issue someone you know has experienced or is experiencing in their relationship.
I highly recommend you read The More Than a Wife trilogy in order to get the full affect and all the Decker family dynamics. Jennifer Peel is a new to me author, and I just became a huge fan.
My emotions ran the spectrum of laughs to tears with all three books but The Dear Wife wrecked me. Jennifer Peel tackled and slayed a very controversial subject that is extremely prevalent in modern day society: addiction to pornography. My hat's off to Jennifer for going there, ripping off the painful scab, and revealing all it's ugly secrets.
After becoming so familiar with Avery and James Decker in the previous two books, I admired the love and affection they openly shared. They were "that couple", perfect. Time moved on and things changed. The little romantic things that fell by the wayside one day became monumental hurdles later.
Avery's pain became my pain. Her emotions became my emotions. I cannot sugarcoat this story. It was a difficult read but one that deserves attention. It's relevant and likely an issue someone you know has experienced or is experiencing in their relationship.
I highly recommend you read The More Than a Wife trilogy in order to get the full affect and all the Decker family dynamics. Jennifer Peel is a new to me author, and I just became a huge fan.
February 19, 2020
This is the last in the More Than A Wife series, and it was a beautifully told tale of true love and what it takes to hold onto that precious gift. Avery and James have been side characters in the other 2 books, but this is their story. We’ve known they lost their ten-year-old daughter four years ago, and knew something was up between this wonderful couple…but we never knew what their issue was. The poop hits the fan in this book though when Avery discovers texts on her husband’s phone to the bookkeeper at his business—intimate texts that should be to her, not any other woman. She’s devastated, but determines not to keep her silence any longer about his pornography problem that has led to this ultimate betrayal. They separate while she tries to find herself again, and James spirals into drinking and self-destruction. She loves the man she married, but doesn’t know where he’s gone to. This tragically heartbreaking love story was a skillfully woven tale of betrayal, deepest love, hard work and sacrifice to become one again and earn trust back when it’s been shattered. I couldn’t put the book down once I started. I loved these characters so much and am in awe of what this author created…a masterpiece of the heart.
May 5, 2020
Romance, contemporary, clean; Series but stand alone read; PG-13 for complex adult issues
Avery and James' marriage, hurting, romantic, heartbreaking, and healing, a well-drawn portrait of a crisis in a family. Strong supporting characters, family and setting. This is a well needed novel that speaks to what can happen between a couple to destroy a marriage and the process to heal hearts, and 'see' the partners in the marriage. Communication, children, all the elements that make a marriage complex, caring, difficult, raw, heartbreaking, supportive, and worth the risk of self.
I avoided this for a while, but took a chance to see if I could stomach the topic. J.P. does and excellent job portraying so many aspects of this complex issue. So glad I read this.
Avery and James' marriage, hurting, romantic, heartbreaking, and healing, a well-drawn portrait of a crisis in a family. Strong supporting characters, family and setting. This is a well needed novel that speaks to what can happen between a couple to destroy a marriage and the process to heal hearts, and 'see' the partners in the marriage. Communication, children, all the elements that make a marriage complex, caring, difficult, raw, heartbreaking, supportive, and worth the risk of self.
I avoided this for a while, but took a chance to see if I could stomach the topic. J.P. does and excellent job portraying so many aspects of this complex issue. So glad I read this.
February 17, 2020
Raw and Real
This book was amazing. Avery is so raw and real. Even though my relationship doesn't have the same problems (no relationships perfect) as Avery and James Avery as a woman has so many relatable qualities. It is ok to be vulnerable, and it's ok to let those who love you help you. Avery and James remind us love is a lot of work but definitely worth it. Highly recommend this book!
This book was amazing. Avery is so raw and real. Even though my relationship doesn't have the same problems (no relationships perfect) as Avery and James Avery as a woman has so many relatable qualities. It is ok to be vulnerable, and it's ok to let those who love you help you. Avery and James remind us love is a lot of work but definitely worth it. Highly recommend this book!
February 19, 2020
Great book
This is the most heart rending book I have ever read. It is a hard subject to read about but was portrayed so well. It was a hard book to put down. I wish I were more eloquent.
This is the most heart rending book I have ever read. It is a hard subject to read about but was portrayed so well. It was a hard book to put down. I wish I were more eloquent.
February 15, 2020
Sooooo good!
Warning, before you start reading this fabulous book, make sure you have a pack of tissue nearby! This was such a wonderful book full of heartbreak and redemption. It deals with sensitive subjects in a very real way, but is filled with hope and healing as well.
I started reading yesterday evening and finished this morning, with puffy eyes from all of the tears, both the happy and the sad kind.
Warning, before you start reading this fabulous book, make sure you have a pack of tissue nearby! This was such a wonderful book full of heartbreak and redemption. It deals with sensitive subjects in a very real way, but is filled with hope and healing as well.
I started reading yesterday evening and finished this morning, with puffy eyes from all of the tears, both the happy and the sad kind.
February 8, 2024
Dragged, boring, nothing happens
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