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The Woman He Married
An aspiring young defense attorney, Josie McClain looked forward to taking on the injustices of the world—one case at a time. Eleven years later, she’s a stay-at-home-mom, battling demons that don’t require a law degree, but do demand the ability to remain insanely busy while nursing a heavy dose of denial. But keeping up pretenses proves more than she can bear when a bracelet that should have been hers shows up on the wrist of another woman. Now, in the midst of an Alabama judicial campaign, Josie’s marriage to candidate John Bearden slowly begins to unravel as an ex-lover comes back into her life. When he offers her the dreams she thought she’d lost, Josie faces one of the most difficult decisions of her life. Josie embarks on a journey of self-rediscovery, hoping fulfillment might be within her reach.
390 pages, Unknown Binding
First published May 1, 2011
277 people are currently reading
1055 people want to read
About the author
Julie N. Ford
7 books187 followersA graduate from San Diego State University with a BA in Political Science, Julie also earned a Master of Social Work from the University of Alabama, which has only made her better able to recognize the unhealthy, codependent relationship she has with writing. Professionally, she has worked as a Lamaze Certified Childbirth Instructor, small Business Owner/Manager, and Licensed Clinical Social Worker. She is the author of six women’s fiction novels, including Count Down to Love, a 2011 Whitney Award finalist. When she’s not writing or seeing clients, Julie entertains delusions of being a master gardener and/or beekeeper. She has lived all over the United States, including Texas, Alabama, Florida, Tennessee, and Southern Utah. In December (2020), Julie relocated with her husband and Scottish Fold cat to the enchanted State of Oregon. She loves to chat with readers.
Visit her at JulieNFord.com or JulieNFord.com/blog
Visit her at JulieNFord.com or JulieNFord.com/blog
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 205 reviews
September 12, 2012
In the cheating romance category this book was a big fail for me. The H marries her because her father is a famous important judge and can help his career. She marries him because she slept with him and because she wants her daddy's approval. During the course of the marriage the H marginalizes her into the 'barefoot and preggers in the kitchen' wife he wants. The h is caught up with the expectations of his family and him and three small children.
The H never loved her and everyone around him knows it, she loved him and still does so she lets him walk all over her. She starts drinking and the H uses this excuse to indulge in an affair. She isn't an alcoholic per say, she just uses the booze to continue her ostrich imitation by burying her head to the utter contempt the H treats her with. When she realizes how far down she is gone, she does pull herself together and attempts to fix her life by getting a job, being more assertive etc.
The problems come in when she only does surface things like getting a job instead of taking a good look and analyzing the real problems. She thinks "If only he loved me" everything would be okay and she is wrong. Her main thoughts for most of latter portion of the book are that she has kids and can't take their daddy away from them. So in actuality the only reason they stay married is they have three children and another on the way.
The way that pregnancy occurs really bothered me and the h thinks nothing of it. Basically he had been smexing his lover hours before, the h gets hurt in the bus explosion and is drugged out of her mind and he has sex with her cause he was afraid he had lost his children's caretaker. This disturbs me to no end, cause he know she knows about the affair and he know she would never have slept with him if she had been in her right mind. She barely even calls him on it. This woman is a passive aggressive doormat and in a way kinda deserved getting stuck with the POS H.
He doesn't really care about her even by the end of the book, the only reason he changed his behavior even a little bit is because he needs his kids to pressure her to stay married and he needs her support to continue his career. He was going to lose his place in his law firm and also lose the election if he did not coerce her into damage control and he uses his kids to do it.
The h realizes that she married the wrong person, but instead of moving on and negotiating a co-parenting relationship and figuring out what she needs to do with her life and getting her self together, she lets him use the kids and her own basic insecurity to accept half a loaf when she could have had a much more fulfilling life.
IMO when the kids are grown, they will split, him to whatever girlfriend he has on the side and her to a bitter old age filled with regret for all she supposedly gave up. She never really acknowledges or understands that she is the one who needs to take charge of her attitudes and her life instead of putting up with a man who has no respect for her and won't even defend her to his family.
I found his behavior to be pretty unforgivable and I am usually much more understanding in the affair context, but in this case I had no empathy whatsoever. He was a POS manipulative user and she was a passive aggressive, weak throw rug who consistently refused to make good choices for herself and her children because " they need their daddy". I don't see how one week of half assed participation in the children's activities makes him a model father when his prior utter lack of involvement means he did not even know what class his daughter was in at school or any thing about his kid's lives.
I also found it absolutely despicable that he willingly let the lies about who rescued the people on the bus to continue since it made him look great. The half baked statement at the awards dinner "My wife helped" in no way made up for the self-aggrandizement he showed for weeks. Why she let him do that is just another example of her passive aggressiveness, and why she did not get an order of separation and make him move out of the house were just more examples of how this woman really wants nothing to change in her life. She is fine with him just mouthing the " I love you" so she can continue living in her fantasy land and the way she used Brian was pretty much despicable.
Bottom line, he married her to get a career boost and stayed because he was about to lose his career and he needed her support to smooth things over and keep his job. When the dust settles, she will be right back where she started and she is too stuck on "keeping the family together" and indulging in her own private la la land to really see the situation as it is. She is so pathetically needy for the H's attention that she brainwashes herself and when the kids are grown and he is flaunting another affair, she will wind up a hermit being bitter over all the wrongs done her. She will never realize that her desperation for the H's attention and affection is an extension of her wanting her daddy to love her and so she will waste her life beating her head against a brick wall instead of learning herself and getting a fulfilling life.
The total lack of understanding for themselves, each other or their relationship in either of the main characters, the failure to really discuss the underlying problems of the relationship and a complete lack of any resolution to those problems makes this book an utter fail in the cheating romance category and unfortunately there is no way the attempted HEA is believable or acceptable for a romance.
The H never loved her and everyone around him knows it, she loved him and still does so she lets him walk all over her. She starts drinking and the H uses this excuse to indulge in an affair. She isn't an alcoholic per say, she just uses the booze to continue her ostrich imitation by burying her head to the utter contempt the H treats her with. When she realizes how far down she is gone, she does pull herself together and attempts to fix her life by getting a job, being more assertive etc.
The problems come in when she only does surface things like getting a job instead of taking a good look and analyzing the real problems. She thinks "If only he loved me" everything would be okay and she is wrong. Her main thoughts for most of latter portion of the book are that she has kids and can't take their daddy away from them. So in actuality the only reason they stay married is they have three children and another on the way.
The way that pregnancy occurs really bothered me and the h thinks nothing of it. Basically he had been smexing his lover hours before, the h gets hurt in the bus explosion and is drugged out of her mind and he has sex with her cause he was afraid he had lost his children's caretaker. This disturbs me to no end, cause he know she knows about the affair and he know she would never have slept with him if she had been in her right mind. She barely even calls him on it. This woman is a passive aggressive doormat and in a way kinda deserved getting stuck with the POS H.
He doesn't really care about her even by the end of the book, the only reason he changed his behavior even a little bit is because he needs his kids to pressure her to stay married and he needs her support to continue his career. He was going to lose his place in his law firm and also lose the election if he did not coerce her into damage control and he uses his kids to do it.
The h realizes that she married the wrong person, but instead of moving on and negotiating a co-parenting relationship and figuring out what she needs to do with her life and getting her self together, she lets him use the kids and her own basic insecurity to accept half a loaf when she could have had a much more fulfilling life.
IMO when the kids are grown, they will split, him to whatever girlfriend he has on the side and her to a bitter old age filled with regret for all she supposedly gave up. She never really acknowledges or understands that she is the one who needs to take charge of her attitudes and her life instead of putting up with a man who has no respect for her and won't even defend her to his family.
I found his behavior to be pretty unforgivable and I am usually much more understanding in the affair context, but in this case I had no empathy whatsoever. He was a POS manipulative user and she was a passive aggressive, weak throw rug who consistently refused to make good choices for herself and her children because " they need their daddy". I don't see how one week of half assed participation in the children's activities makes him a model father when his prior utter lack of involvement means he did not even know what class his daughter was in at school or any thing about his kid's lives.
I also found it absolutely despicable that he willingly let the lies about who rescued the people on the bus to continue since it made him look great. The half baked statement at the awards dinner "My wife helped" in no way made up for the self-aggrandizement he showed for weeks. Why she let him do that is just another example of her passive aggressiveness, and why she did not get an order of separation and make him move out of the house were just more examples of how this woman really wants nothing to change in her life. She is fine with him just mouthing the " I love you" so she can continue living in her fantasy land and the way she used Brian was pretty much despicable.
Bottom line, he married her to get a career boost and stayed because he was about to lose his career and he needed her support to smooth things over and keep his job. When the dust settles, she will be right back where she started and she is too stuck on "keeping the family together" and indulging in her own private la la land to really see the situation as it is. She is so pathetically needy for the H's attention that she brainwashes herself and when the kids are grown and he is flaunting another affair, she will wind up a hermit being bitter over all the wrongs done her. She will never realize that her desperation for the H's attention and affection is an extension of her wanting her daddy to love her and so she will waste her life beating her head against a brick wall instead of learning herself and getting a fulfilling life.
The total lack of understanding for themselves, each other or their relationship in either of the main characters, the failure to really discuss the underlying problems of the relationship and a complete lack of any resolution to those problems makes this book an utter fail in the cheating romance category and unfortunately there is no way the attempted HEA is believable or acceptable for a romance.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
August 30, 2018
WTF did I just read?
It takes 11 years into a marriage before either spouse said ILY???
They never even really deal with the affair. Completely smutless and I’m pretty sure I stumbled on my first Christian romance. Written for Christian women with straying husband’s. The lesson here...suck it up, buttercup, it’s your fault he cheated and you have kids so take him back. He did nothing to prove himself trustworthy again and he was still discounting his wife’s intelligence at 98%.
Fuck off with this bullshit.
It should have stayed on my pass-wtf shelf after all.
It takes 11 years into a marriage before either spouse said ILY???
They never even really deal with the affair. Completely smutless and I’m pretty sure I stumbled on my first Christian romance. Written for Christian women with straying husband’s. The lesson here...suck it up, buttercup, it’s your fault he cheated and you have kids so take him back. He did nothing to prove himself trustworthy again and he was still discounting his wife’s intelligence at 98%.
Fuck off with this bullshit.
It should have stayed on my pass-wtf shelf after all.
February 24, 2025
SPOILERS
Jocelyn came from a wealthy upper class family in Alabama.
Her father was a judge. She attended law school in California and she had progressive views,
contrary to her family's conservative ones.
She was actively fighting for social justice.
At college she met Brian who shared her progressive ideas.
John grew up in a dysfunctional, poor family in a rural county in Alabama.
He graduated law school and worked for a judge, Jocelyn's father.
To the judge John was a valued and trusted law clerk.
John was with his college girlfriend Trisha and even though he did not love her, he was in lust with her.
He was done with her though, the moment he met Jocelyn.
To Jocelyn, John was the most handsome, intellectually challenging and alluring man.
Politically they were opposite but they were very attracted to each other.
In the years she and Brian had dated she'd never been unfaithful, but she'd slept with John the same day she'd met him.
John told her he loved her and asked her to marry him.
Eleven years later:
Jocelyn was a stay at home mother of three children.
Jocelyn wasn't happy. She had lost herself.
Her first mistake was putting John's goals and dreams ahead of her own.
She'd willingly exchanged her dreams for the love of one man.
She felt that she went from a brave and adventurous free spirited person to a doormat.
Six months ago, Jocelyn began working part-time at Brian's legal practice.
John was in the middle of a very heated race for the circuit court.
Judicial campaign in full steam, the late nights had grown in frequency over the last few months.
He had kept Jocelyn out of matters regarding the campaign.
He viewed her as a liability, told her to keep her liberal opinions to herself.
A year ago she started drinking, she said because he didn't pay her enough attention, she was lonely.
That was when he and his ex girlfriend Trisha started an affair.
He'd hired Trisha as his campaign's press secretary.
At an event, Jocelyn saw that Trisha was wearing the bracelet she'd told John she liked.
Alarm bells rang.
She thought of John's distance from her and the children, their non existent sex life for many months, the late nights.
At a dinner party with John's rich campaign donors and all the campaign staffers, Jocelyn learned that they were all going on a three day trip to the Caribbean.
All except her.
At the end Jocelyn did go with them at the insistence of the donors.
What Jocelyn did not know was that this trip would change her life.
The first day in the Caribbean, Jocelyn found in John's pocket an extra key card that wasn't for their hotel room. Again alarm bells rang but she thought that she needed irrefutable proof before she accused him of anything.
For eleven years she'd allowed John to ignore her and discount her feelings and ideas.
She decided to stop seeking validation from John.
She had to start moving forward again.
John knew that after the election he had to concentrate on salvaging what was left of his marriage.
Because he was always working, he'd lost sight of the one person capable of bringing him true happiness.
During the next two days, Jocelyn felt certain she finally had confirmation that her husband was having an affair with Trisha.
For the first time she saw John and felt nothing but loathing and disgust.
Today she would be taking back control of the rest of her life.
She told John she wanted a divorce. To pack and move out as soon as they returned back home.
She told him she had sacrificed her hopes, dreams and who she was.
They were not partners. She was his housekeeper, nanny and friend with benefits.
And what he were really doing all those late nights he said was working late?
And the fact that he haven't touched her in months.
He admitted that Trisha and him were having an affair, but it was over as of a few hours ago.
He wanted to earn Jocelyn's trust again.
She said she was going to keep up appearances until the election was over, but she wanted him out of the house immediately.
John looked back and realised that his priorities had been out of whack.
It was time he put the one person he couldn't live without at the front of the line.
He'd fired Trisha, but she'd continued to pursue him.
Weeks passed. John was trying to woo Jocelyn back.
At an event Jocelyn found John and Trisha in each other's arms.
Jocelyn ran away, and John told Trisha for the first time that he never loved her and to leave him alone.
Later John told Jocelyn that he hadn't seen Trisha since their return from the Caribbean trip.
He showed her all the pictures Trisha been sending him since. He never replied.
This night he was telling Trisha to stay away, when she grabbed hold of him, kissed him while he was trying to push her away.
The next day it was all over the State news.
Trisha was on the screen, dabbing her eyes with a handkerchief, "For the past year, l have been engaged in an extramarital affair with Judicial candidate John Bearden..." and so on.
John was to give a damage control press conference.
He told Jocelyn that they could start over, do things right this time.
He've learned his lesson and he promised it would never happen again.
He did not have a good role model growing up.
He was sorry he didn't see how much she needed him to include her, that he disregarded what a talented woman she was and needed to use these talents to feel whole.
Jocelyn stood by him at the press conference, as wives do in these situations, unfortunately.
She became his new press secretary, and they did get back together. Why? Because she loved him.
This book raised some questions:
* Can a man who really loves his wife, be able to have an affair when the going gets tough? Even though its only for solace?
* Is it possible for a liberal and a conservative person to have a successful marriage?
* Had Jocelyn made the right decision in staying with John, especially as handsome, dynamic, successful Brian, who shared her values and ideas, wanted to have a life with her and her children?
* What are the odds of John staying faithful as he'd already crossed the line?
Jocelyn came from a wealthy upper class family in Alabama.
Her father was a judge. She attended law school in California and she had progressive views,
contrary to her family's conservative ones.
She was actively fighting for social justice.
At college she met Brian who shared her progressive ideas.
John grew up in a dysfunctional, poor family in a rural county in Alabama.
He graduated law school and worked for a judge, Jocelyn's father.
To the judge John was a valued and trusted law clerk.
John was with his college girlfriend Trisha and even though he did not love her, he was in lust with her.
He was done with her though, the moment he met Jocelyn.
To Jocelyn, John was the most handsome, intellectually challenging and alluring man.
Politically they were opposite but they were very attracted to each other.
In the years she and Brian had dated she'd never been unfaithful, but she'd slept with John the same day she'd met him.
John told her he loved her and asked her to marry him.
Eleven years later:
Jocelyn was a stay at home mother of three children.
Jocelyn wasn't happy. She had lost herself.
Her first mistake was putting John's goals and dreams ahead of her own.
She'd willingly exchanged her dreams for the love of one man.
She felt that she went from a brave and adventurous free spirited person to a doormat.
Six months ago, Jocelyn began working part-time at Brian's legal practice.
John was in the middle of a very heated race for the circuit court.
Judicial campaign in full steam, the late nights had grown in frequency over the last few months.
He had kept Jocelyn out of matters regarding the campaign.
He viewed her as a liability, told her to keep her liberal opinions to herself.
A year ago she started drinking, she said because he didn't pay her enough attention, she was lonely.
That was when he and his ex girlfriend Trisha started an affair.
He'd hired Trisha as his campaign's press secretary.
At an event, Jocelyn saw that Trisha was wearing the bracelet she'd told John she liked.
Alarm bells rang.
She thought of John's distance from her and the children, their non existent sex life for many months, the late nights.
At a dinner party with John's rich campaign donors and all the campaign staffers, Jocelyn learned that they were all going on a three day trip to the Caribbean.
All except her.
At the end Jocelyn did go with them at the insistence of the donors.
What Jocelyn did not know was that this trip would change her life.
The first day in the Caribbean, Jocelyn found in John's pocket an extra key card that wasn't for their hotel room. Again alarm bells rang but she thought that she needed irrefutable proof before she accused him of anything.
For eleven years she'd allowed John to ignore her and discount her feelings and ideas.
She decided to stop seeking validation from John.
She had to start moving forward again.
John knew that after the election he had to concentrate on salvaging what was left of his marriage.
Because he was always working, he'd lost sight of the one person capable of bringing him true happiness.
During the next two days, Jocelyn felt certain she finally had confirmation that her husband was having an affair with Trisha.
For the first time she saw John and felt nothing but loathing and disgust.
Today she would be taking back control of the rest of her life.
She told John she wanted a divorce. To pack and move out as soon as they returned back home.
She told him she had sacrificed her hopes, dreams and who she was.
They were not partners. She was his housekeeper, nanny and friend with benefits.
And what he were really doing all those late nights he said was working late?
And the fact that he haven't touched her in months.
He admitted that Trisha and him were having an affair, but it was over as of a few hours ago.
He wanted to earn Jocelyn's trust again.
She said she was going to keep up appearances until the election was over, but she wanted him out of the house immediately.
John looked back and realised that his priorities had been out of whack.
It was time he put the one person he couldn't live without at the front of the line.
He'd fired Trisha, but she'd continued to pursue him.
Weeks passed. John was trying to woo Jocelyn back.
At an event Jocelyn found John and Trisha in each other's arms.
Jocelyn ran away, and John told Trisha for the first time that he never loved her and to leave him alone.
Later John told Jocelyn that he hadn't seen Trisha since their return from the Caribbean trip.
He showed her all the pictures Trisha been sending him since. He never replied.
This night he was telling Trisha to stay away, when she grabbed hold of him, kissed him while he was trying to push her away.
The next day it was all over the State news.
Trisha was on the screen, dabbing her eyes with a handkerchief, "For the past year, l have been engaged in an extramarital affair with Judicial candidate John Bearden..." and so on.
John was to give a damage control press conference.
He told Jocelyn that they could start over, do things right this time.
He've learned his lesson and he promised it would never happen again.
He did not have a good role model growing up.
He was sorry he didn't see how much she needed him to include her, that he disregarded what a talented woman she was and needed to use these talents to feel whole.
Jocelyn stood by him at the press conference, as wives do in these situations, unfortunately.
She became his new press secretary, and they did get back together. Why? Because she loved him.
This book raised some questions:
* Can a man who really loves his wife, be able to have an affair when the going gets tough? Even though its only for solace?
* Is it possible for a liberal and a conservative person to have a successful marriage?
* Had Jocelyn made the right decision in staying with John, especially as handsome, dynamic, successful Brian, who shared her values and ideas, wanted to have a life with her and her children?
* What are the odds of John staying faithful as he'd already crossed the line?
July 23, 2019
I wasn't prepared for the awesomeness of this story. I'm always prowling the GR's cheaters lists, looking for decent cheating stories. I love these stories, and they are getting more and more scarce lately. I kind of avoided this story for a long time because the cover looked to me like it was a historical and that's definitely not my favorite genre. After skipping over this one for months, I finally read the blurb and DL'd this story, and man was I ever blown away. I had such a hard time putting this down every time RL caught up with me and I had to do things around the house. I would pick it up again immediately after finishing whatever chore I had to do at the moment.
Josie was an amazing woman. She was a free spirit, with tons of confidence and backbone, saving the planet and shining on the people around her. Until she got married to John, that is. Her light was pretty much extinguished by her asshole husband over the years, with his constant negative critiquing and down putting of Josie, as well as him treating her like she was nothing more than a maid and a nanny.
John never listened to anything his wife had to say concerning her life. He pretty much ignored his wife as well as his children. John got so arrogant along the way up his career ladder, that he was willing to risk everything in his life by blatantly having an affair with his old girlfriend.
This story involves Josie and John's turmoil as the truth of John's transgressions come out. I got to feel all the angsty feels I crave, but I also got to witness Josie coming back to life again, and becoming the lively spitfire she was before John dampened her self esteem. I loved everything about this story from beginning to end, even though I'm not quite certain John gave sufficient ass kissing and groveling needed by the ending of this story. This author has an amazing gift of weaving a tale. I can't wait to read Brian's story next.
January 31, 2014
4 cheating stars!
An angsty read reminiscent of those old and not-so-old Harlequins where the H, John, blatantly cheats on the h, Josie. Whether or not you believe the HEA between the two MCs is up to you. But for me, I felt like the John got away scot-free and Josie forgave him way too easily. Not enough grovel and he still came out smelling like roses. Ugh!
Josie was a bit of a doormat. And when John essentially blamed her for his infidelity, she just accepted it. But I still gave this one a 4 since it was really well-written. A train-wreck, yes, but a well-written train wreck.
An angsty read reminiscent of those old and not-so-old Harlequins where the H, John, blatantly cheats on the h, Josie. Whether or not you believe the HEA between the two MCs is up to you. But for me, I felt like the John got away scot-free and Josie forgave him way too easily. Not enough grovel and he still came out smelling like roses. Ugh!
Josie was a bit of a doormat. And when John essentially blamed her for his infidelity, she just accepted it. But I still gave this one a 4 since it was really well-written. A train-wreck, yes, but a well-written train wreck.
August 30, 2020
I need a shower.
Minus a million for romance, but well done cheating story as in realistic which makes it less than enjoyable. No heroic characters here.
The hero is a cheater who blames his wife for his cheating, and his evidence of not cheating at a later date are the aggressive texts he’s rebuffed from the witch he cheated with in the first place. Hey, this guy wants to be a judge and this is his best defence?
The heroine isn’t much better. She’s passive and passive-aggressive and wants to cheat with her old boyfriend but circumstances get in the way.
We have a “Good Wife” moment at the end where she swoops in to save his election. She had some lucid points about cheating vs the H’s ability to do the job, but I would have had more respect and enjoyed it more if she had flayed him and his Jezebel on TV.
So 3 stars for the effective writing.
-1,000,000 stars for enjoyment
Minus a million for romance, but well done cheating story as in realistic which makes it less than enjoyable. No heroic characters here.
The hero is a cheater who blames his wife for his cheating, and his evidence of not cheating at a later date are the aggressive texts he’s rebuffed from the witch he cheated with in the first place. Hey, this guy wants to be a judge and this is his best defence?
The heroine isn’t much better. She’s passive and passive-aggressive and wants to cheat with her old boyfriend but circumstances get in the way.
We have a “Good Wife” moment at the end where she swoops in to save his election. She had some lucid points about cheating vs the H’s ability to do the job, but I would have had more respect and enjoyed it more if she had flayed him and his Jezebel on TV.
So 3 stars for the effective writing.
-1,000,000 stars for enjoyment
July 1, 2019
2 ⭐⭐ - Meh!
==============
Our Zero is a selfish SOB who has not redeemed himself in my opinion.
Our Zeroine, I do not know what to say about her. Weak, with daddy issues and doormat syndrome.
Besides neglecting the family, he humiliates her publicly because everyone knows about his affair. And still drags his name and family in the mud with a scandal.
I would pick Brian in the blink of an eye and kick the cheater out of my life.
I was disappointed with the end of the book.
==============
Our Zero is a selfish SOB who has not redeemed himself in my opinion.
Our Zeroine, I do not know what to say about her. Weak, with daddy issues and doormat syndrome.
Besides neglecting the family, he humiliates her publicly because everyone knows about his affair. And still drags his name and family in the mud with a scandal.
I would pick Brian in the blink of an eye and kick the cheater out of my life.
I was disappointed with the end of the book.
What was so pressing he couldn’t have shared even a speck of his attention with the smallest matter relating to his children? Children he’d insisted on having in the first place.
Stopping, Gina pursed her lips, eyeing Josie a moment. “All right, then. You say you could be doing more productive things with your time, yet here you are, every day,” she smacked Josie on her backside, “work’n hard to look pretty darn good for a mother of three, and for what? For whom? That undeserving husband of yours? Has he even noticed?”
“First a minivan, and now the infamous Josie McClain is sitting down to supper with a toxic polluter,” he commented before she could slink away.
“Jocelyn’s my wife and the mother of my children.” He slammed his palm to the desk. “I won’t sit here and listen to you disrespect her any longer.” The corners of Andy’s lips twisted into a mocking smile. “Right, ’cause you’re doing enough of that for the both of us.”
“Why do you let him treat you that way?”
“Can’t you see I’m trying to save my marriage?” Gina shifted her weight to one hip. “How, by being his doormat?”
Only it wasn’t her beauty or bombshell figure that troubled Josie, or even the way she couldn’t keep from touching John’s arm as she spoke to him, but the sparkling piece of jewelry Josie spied dangling from the woman’s wrist.
When was the last time he’d paid Josie that kind of undivided attention? How sad that she couldn’t remember. Josie’s eyes leapt back to the bracelet. Grayson had said that John bought it for Josie. So if he’d bought it for Josie, then why did it appear that Trisha was wearing it?
And hadn’t John and Trisha been an item back in college?
So desperate was she to keep her husband from walking away again, she’d offered the very man she suspected of cheating on her an evening of uninterrupted passion out at their guesthouse. An offer he’d flat-out refused.
Not even in her mind could she stomach the sight of John’s body wrapped around that of another woman’s, his hands touching her in places he’d once promised to only touch Josie.
The fog clinging to Josie’s brain cleared. “What kind of deal?” A look of helplessness with a side of guilt formed tiny creases in Carol’s flawless complexion. “The kind that involved John convincing you to marry him before the summer ended and Brian returned. If he was successful, your father would make sure he got his job at Tyler and Whitney, pay off his student loans, help y’all buy this house, and get him into the country club. All the things he knew John wanted.”
Josie’s hand gripped her coffee cup so tight it started to shake. “Wait, what are saying? That John married me for Daddy’s money?”
“Jocelyn, your daddy wasn’t a perfect man, but he loved you. He only wanted what was best for you. Child, it would break his heart to see you like this.”
“The morning after my first date with Jocelyn, The Judge called me into his office. He was old and frail at that point, but by the homicidal look in his eye, I was fairly certain he had enough strength to wring my neck, had he chosen to,” John explained, the memory of the deal they’d struck sending a gnawing prick he couldn’t quite define to sting his chest. “Thankfully, I’d already decided to do everything in my power to keep Jocelyn from going back to that boyfriend of hers, regardless.”
How stupid could one woman be, going all gooey inside over a kiss? How long was she going to keep trying to love a man who couldn’t be bothered with loving her back?
All these years she’d been all but invisible to him, screaming into a vacuum of alcohol and passive-aggressive behavior, begging for him to tell her she mattered.
Posed on the corner of the dock, she stood there a moment, staring down at him until their eyes met and held. Then she reached for the hem of her short cover-up. Back arched, inch by inch, she slowly— seductively— peeled the fabric up and over her head. Balanced in the tiniest, black bikini top John had ever seen, her globed breasts swung, then settled back into place with the motion. Rising onto her toes, she stretched her arms wide and proceeded to execute a perfect swan dive. The water, and all its human contents, stilled while her elegant body made barely a splash as she disappeared into the ocean below. A burning desire of a completely different, more carnal nature stirred inside him. Without thinking, he relaxed his grip on his wife.
The brief meeting of their lips had been nice, natural, and then . . . Trisha.
John dragged his feet through the sand, resistant to follow along as Trisha led him farther into the darkness, heading toward some sort of rickety old structure.
Trisha poked out her bottom lip. “You’re worried about the election, aren’t you?” She used a whiny voice. “That’s all you ever think about. Why can’t you focus on me for once?” John hated to admit it, but that voice made him weak, vulnerable to her allure. “I focus on you plenty.” He smiled in spite of the fact that he knew better than to encourage her. “Too much, in fact.”
With each additional mile, Josie’s shock and humiliation had slowly morphed into fury. He hadn’t even bothered to refasten the buttons on his shirt properly.
Even if John had never really loved her, how could he have humiliated her like that?
Her anger erupted at last. “If it’s the election you’re worried about, I’ll wait until it’s over to file for divorce. But when we get home, I want you to pack your things and get the hell out of my house! And if you don’t, I’ll have Brian serve you with divorce papers first thing tomorrow morning. Then I’ll hold a press conference so the whole of Alabama can hear what a cheating S.O.B. you really are. See if your beloved Trisha can spin that one in your favor. And don’t think I won’t.”
“I was out of my mind last night. In fact, when I woke up this morning, I almost puked at the thought of having sex with my cheating bastard of a husband.”
Andy snickered. “Hate to break it to you, big brother, but everyone knows about you and Trisha.” He leaned forward and lowered his voice. “Y’all haven’t exactly been subtle. If you didn’t want Jocelyn to know too, you shouldn’t have banged Trisha on the beach last night.”
Andy shook his head, an almost laugh dropping from his lips. “I’ve got news for you, bro, you had an affair. With a lawyer like McAlister on Jocelyn’s side, she’s going to take your home, the kids, and everything else she damn well pleases.”
Like an itch that grew more intense each time she scratched it, with every day that passed, Josie’s anger toward John intensified, growing into a big ol’ toxic cloud of seething resentment.
Josie raised a hand to stop him from saying any more. “John, I’m not interested in your love life, much less who works for you and who doesn’t,” she said. “Just keep your girlfriends away from this house and our children.” The vein in John’s forehead pulsed. “I don’t have any girlfriends. Trisha was the only woman I ever—” Josie extended her hand farther. “And I don’t care.”
“So, you’re telling me that you bought that bracelet for your mistress as an anniversary present from her husband?” she recapped. “That’s twisted, even for you.”
“That doesn’t change the fact that you were sleeping with her behind my back, and if I hadn’t seen that bracelet on her wrist, you still would be,” she said, and started for the door.
He’d received a half-dozen or so similar invites over the last few weeks, all of which he’d fabricated a convenient excuse to refuse. Not that he couldn’t see the benefit in releasing some tension though an evening of meaningless sex, but that particular error in judgment had landed him in exile, and he liked to think he was capable of learning his lesson.
In the middle of the corridor, a man had a woman pressed up against the wall, kissing her. The woman was holding tight to his lapels, her fully exposed leg snaked around the man’s hips. Josie and Amy let out a collective gasp.
“Oh. My. Gosh!” Amy shrieked. John broke away from Trisha, his wide eyes whipping around to see who had caught them. His shocked gaze met Josie’s and held a breathless stroke. “What are y’all doing up here?” he asked.
June 27, 2016
I find it hard to believe but it's been about eight years or so since I first decided to write my first novel. The Woman He Married was my first ever venture into writing fiction. Needless to say, I had a lot to learn and, unfortunately, had to "cut my teeth" on the first edition of this one. Now, with five additional novels under my proverbial belt, and having the rights to this story returned to me from my publisher, I was excited to sit down and give this one another go. To get the story right, so to say, this time around.
However, even rewritten there seems to be a lot of conflicting opinions about Josie, like she's too wimpy and weak. How can she go from being so strong to a doormat to back to strong again. Others say that they relate to her completely, to feeling that loss of oneself as she gives herself in service to her husband and family. I say that readers of both opinions love and hate Josie for the same reason -- because they see themselves in her and either relate to what they see or are in denial of what the see. We all make sacrifices to stay in a marriage and we all have issues in our marriages/relationships (maybe not infidelity per se) in need of addressing that for whatever reason we choose to ignore. Being a wife and mother chips away at who we are whether we want to admit it or not as we give a piece of ourselves to those we love and care for. In the end, I feel like the choice Josie makes is heroic. Strength doesn't always equal vengeance.
In a modern world where women are being told they can have it all, my question in writing this story is: Can we, really? How is having it all even possible?
This story is dear to my heart because I don't like to see marriages with children break up. Because I don't like to see women running crazy, trying to be the perfect wife, mother, and career woman while questioning: Why am I doing all this? Why? Because my hope for every woman is that she finds a place where she can be happy with who she is and the direction her life has taken. Period.
I hope all my readers will enjoy this book, hard truths and all, looking deep between the lines for what really matters.
However, even rewritten there seems to be a lot of conflicting opinions about Josie, like she's too wimpy and weak. How can she go from being so strong to a doormat to back to strong again. Others say that they relate to her completely, to feeling that loss of oneself as she gives herself in service to her husband and family. I say that readers of both opinions love and hate Josie for the same reason -- because they see themselves in her and either relate to what they see or are in denial of what the see. We all make sacrifices to stay in a marriage and we all have issues in our marriages/relationships (maybe not infidelity per se) in need of addressing that for whatever reason we choose to ignore. Being a wife and mother chips away at who we are whether we want to admit it or not as we give a piece of ourselves to those we love and care for. In the end, I feel like the choice Josie makes is heroic. Strength doesn't always equal vengeance.
In a modern world where women are being told they can have it all, my question in writing this story is: Can we, really? How is having it all even possible?
This story is dear to my heart because I don't like to see marriages with children break up. Because I don't like to see women running crazy, trying to be the perfect wife, mother, and career woman while questioning: Why am I doing all this? Why? Because my hope for every woman is that she finds a place where she can be happy with who she is and the direction her life has taken. Period.
I hope all my readers will enjoy this book, hard truths and all, looking deep between the lines for what really matters.
August 8, 2019
4 ⭐'s
Another one off my cheating list and I was a little hesitant about this one and with good reason since I had seen some reviews. Cheating is one thing but redemption is a whole other ball park and what I heard wasn't good.
Still, I was in the mood so in I went and I have to say I LOVED all the angst. There's a particular scene at the beach that just killed me.
The plot isn't new...John and Josie have been married for over ten years and have three kids. He's a lawyer running to be a judge. She was going to be a lawyer but got pregnant and stayed home with the kids basically putting her career to the side.
Things are going well until they both start pulling away - both set off by things the other did...or didn't do and then John does the unmentionable.
I always like a good grovel and I think John did that to a certain extent but what I think was missing was a grand gesture...any way you look at it, he needed to do more.
One issue I had with the story is that there's a lot of complications. It takes a lot of page time to get the history of everyone and there's a lot of build up that takes too long to culminate. That leaves only a short amount of time for the resolution.
Another one off my cheating list and I was a little hesitant about this one and with good reason since I had seen some reviews. Cheating is one thing but redemption is a whole other ball park and what I heard wasn't good.
Still, I was in the mood so in I went and I have to say I LOVED all the angst. There's a particular scene at the beach that just killed me.
The plot isn't new...John and Josie have been married for over ten years and have three kids. He's a lawyer running to be a judge. She was going to be a lawyer but got pregnant and stayed home with the kids basically putting her career to the side.
Things are going well until they both start pulling away - both set off by things the other did...or didn't do and then John does the unmentionable.
I always like a good grovel and I think John did that to a certain extent but what I think was missing was a grand gesture...any way you look at it, he needed to do more.
One issue I had with the story is that there's a lot of complications. It takes a lot of page time to get the history of everyone and there's a lot of build up that takes too long to culminate. That leaves only a short amount of time for the resolution.
Read
August 5, 2016Another disappointing cheating "unromance" bites the dust. Husband has affair with his ex g/f, now PA or such treated wife like crap but expects forgiveness with no real explanation or solid reason for cheating. Taking your kids to school and spending time with your kids as you should be doing anyways does not equate grovelling! I am a fan of HEA but in this case, not so much,not with the way he treated wife, even left her middle of the night to go to his uncomplicated slutty also married ex! I like my HEA to leave me sighing with contentment not with frustration -lol.
Though I have not experienced cheating personally, I experienced being with my best friend who was cheated on and betrayed by the love of her life since she was 16 ( hubby and her sister in law), I saw the devastation and pain and the many years it took to get over this so when I see these quick fix/forgiveness I know these authors must not have a clue - maybe more research required?
Well, still searching for that perfect cheating romance grovel, the strong heroine who kicks him in the balls and make him beg before forgiving him!
Though I have not experienced cheating personally, I experienced being with my best friend who was cheated on and betrayed by the love of her life since she was 16 ( hubby and her sister in law), I saw the devastation and pain and the many years it took to get over this so when I see these quick fix/forgiveness I know these authors must not have a clue - maybe more research required?
Well, still searching for that perfect cheating romance grovel, the strong heroine who kicks him in the balls and make him beg before forgiving him!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
July 3, 2020
I give this book 3 1/2 stars ⭐️⭐️⭐️ 1/2. The writing was good. The story flowed well and I couldn’t put the book down. This book stayed with me after I put it down and I’ve had many thoughts about it. I felt anger, frustration, and sadness. Instead of a plot run-down, I’m going to list my thoughts as I read this book.
* Wow this husband is a POS. I sure am thankful for my husband. He’s not even letting her finish a thought before he shuts her out! They’ve been married 11 years!?
*Josie is a DOORMAT. Why is she letting him treat her this way?
* This poor woman is having her alcohol problem thrown up in her face over and over again. Alcoholism is a DISEASE. She deserves compassion and rehab, not shame. She’s been sober for 6 months! That’s pretty damn good!
*What a dead-beat dad!
*Her “best friend” is TOXIC! Kick her to the curb.
*The bracelet, OMG the bracelet! Get your head out of your ass, Josie!
*The trip! He didn’t tell you about the trip because you are a “liability” Josie, he didn’t tell you because he was planning to screw Trisha the whole time!
*Josie, you need rehab.
*The angst, oh the angst!
*Too little, too late!
*Who cares how much her dress cost, you ass! You married her for her father’s money, anyway!
*Okay she basically caught him in the act now! He humiliated you in front of everyone, Josie!
*She’s drugged up and very injured—you took advantage of her, you slime!
*Is he ever going to apologize?
*No, he just cares about his stupid campaign!
*Kick him to the curb Josie!
*Your best friend is toxic Josie!
*Kick him to the curb Josie!
*Too little, too late!
*Oh, so asshat sees how hard it is to be a contributing parent because he’s NEVER EVER HELPED OUT BEFORE. All you were was a nanny and baby maker, Josie!
*Josie he left you on the DANCE FLOOR alone and walked off with Trisha. He did it again! Twice now!
*Still no apology.
*SCANDAL and he’s still not taking full responsibility. This is “Josie’s fault too” and toxic “best friend” is confirming it.
*Josie has been so gaslit.
*Great, now she’s pregnant from the rape.
*Quit stringing Brian along. Even if you get divorced you shouldn’t jump into a new relationship!
*Josie you at least need some groveling before you take him back! Where’s the jewelry and lavish gifts?
*You took him back with little-to-no groveling, Josie.
*You agreed to quit your job and go to Alcoholics Anonymous!? You’re pregnant and have been sober for 2 months! Also, AA is a faith-based program and you’re not religious, Josie. Where is your backbone?
So Josie stays with a man who never truly proved his love, nor offered a genuine apology. He always half-blamed her and took her for granted. She agreed to quit her job and essentially gave up all her dreams again.
Do I think their marriage will work? Nope. They’re going to open a law firm together even though they don’t see eye-to-eye on anything. He’s going to continue to discredit and devalue her. Is he at least going to buy her a nice bracelet? Also, there’s a 65% chance he will cheat again!
This book frustrated the ever-living heck out of me. It is entertaining though! This is the plight of many, many women unfortunately. The raging feminist in me is about to explode. I will say that I snuggled up to my husband when I finished this and that I lavished him with affection because I am so damn grateful for him. Read this at your own risk!
* Wow this husband is a POS. I sure am thankful for my husband. He’s not even letting her finish a thought before he shuts her out! They’ve been married 11 years!?
*Josie is a DOORMAT. Why is she letting him treat her this way?
* This poor woman is having her alcohol problem thrown up in her face over and over again. Alcoholism is a DISEASE. She deserves compassion and rehab, not shame. She’s been sober for 6 months! That’s pretty damn good!
*What a dead-beat dad!
*Her “best friend” is TOXIC! Kick her to the curb.
*The bracelet, OMG the bracelet! Get your head out of your ass, Josie!
*The trip! He didn’t tell you about the trip because you are a “liability” Josie, he didn’t tell you because he was planning to screw Trisha the whole time!
*Josie, you need rehab.
*The angst, oh the angst!
*Too little, too late!
*Who cares how much her dress cost, you ass! You married her for her father’s money, anyway!
*Okay she basically caught him in the act now! He humiliated you in front of everyone, Josie!
*She’s drugged up and very injured—you took advantage of her, you slime!
*Is he ever going to apologize?
*No, he just cares about his stupid campaign!
*Kick him to the curb Josie!
*Your best friend is toxic Josie!
*Kick him to the curb Josie!
*Too little, too late!
*Oh, so asshat sees how hard it is to be a contributing parent because he’s NEVER EVER HELPED OUT BEFORE. All you were was a nanny and baby maker, Josie!
*Josie he left you on the DANCE FLOOR alone and walked off with Trisha. He did it again! Twice now!
*Still no apology.
*SCANDAL and he’s still not taking full responsibility. This is “Josie’s fault too” and toxic “best friend” is confirming it.
*Josie has been so gaslit.
*Great, now she’s pregnant from the rape.
*Quit stringing Brian along. Even if you get divorced you shouldn’t jump into a new relationship!
*Josie you at least need some groveling before you take him back! Where’s the jewelry and lavish gifts?
*You took him back with little-to-no groveling, Josie.
*You agreed to quit your job and go to Alcoholics Anonymous!? You’re pregnant and have been sober for 2 months! Also, AA is a faith-based program and you’re not religious, Josie. Where is your backbone?
So Josie stays with a man who never truly proved his love, nor offered a genuine apology. He always half-blamed her and took her for granted. She agreed to quit her job and essentially gave up all her dreams again.
Do I think their marriage will work? Nope. They’re going to open a law firm together even though they don’t see eye-to-eye on anything. He’s going to continue to discredit and devalue her. Is he at least going to buy her a nice bracelet? Also, there’s a 65% chance he will cheat again!
This book frustrated the ever-living heck out of me. It is entertaining though! This is the plight of many, many women unfortunately. The raging feminist in me is about to explode. I will say that I snuggled up to my husband when I finished this and that I lavished him with affection because I am so damn grateful for him. Read this at your own risk!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
November 6, 2025
So this book is hard for me to categorize. I would lean more heavily towards categorizing the book as chick lit/ womans fiction then a contemporary Romance. Although this is a story about a marriage in trouble that involves physical infidelity and betrayal on the husbands part.
I think as long as you go into this story without the notion of expecting a husband that completely changes his ways and a wife that's strong and doesn't want to patch up her torn apart marriage in the end for the sake of her children then you'll enjoy the story. The writing is brilliant and the plot is highly thrilling. The book kept md entertained and wanting to read more.
John and Josie have 3 children. Johns running for state judge and the election takes place down. He believes he can keep up the front of happy, family man to secure the election even though he's screwing his colleague behind his wife's back.
Josie is done being a door mat and asks for a divorce, which John refuses. She regrets not marrying her college sweetheart and working as a lawyer. She loves her kids but she yearns for both a career she feels good doing beyond being a stay at home mom as well as a man that she knows loves her.
John promises a divorce after the election but when his reputation is blown to smithereens, will he come to regret potentially losing his family forever?
The biggest disappointment in the story to me was that Josie never got her bracelet or really any other gift that said , ' I actually paid attention to what you wanted. I got you something to make up for not paying attention and giving the one gift you longed for to my mistress.
I mean the bracelet that Josie dropped a million hints about wanting and she went to the jeweler and put it on and was told her husband bought it, was what led to the cheating being revealed and a full circle moment would have come to Josie getting at least something she really wanted that was a physical object.
I definitely loved this book despite despising the MMC. The storytelling is well designed.
I think as long as you go into this story without the notion of expecting a husband that completely changes his ways and a wife that's strong and doesn't want to patch up her torn apart marriage in the end for the sake of her children then you'll enjoy the story. The writing is brilliant and the plot is highly thrilling. The book kept md entertained and wanting to read more.
John and Josie have 3 children. Johns running for state judge and the election takes place down. He believes he can keep up the front of happy, family man to secure the election even though he's screwing his colleague behind his wife's back.
Josie is done being a door mat and asks for a divorce, which John refuses. She regrets not marrying her college sweetheart and working as a lawyer. She loves her kids but she yearns for both a career she feels good doing beyond being a stay at home mom as well as a man that she knows loves her.
John promises a divorce after the election but when his reputation is blown to smithereens, will he come to regret potentially losing his family forever?
The biggest disappointment in the story to me was that Josie never got her bracelet or really any other gift that said , ' I actually paid attention to what you wanted. I got you something to make up for not paying attention and giving the one gift you longed for to my mistress.
I mean the bracelet that Josie dropped a million hints about wanting and she went to the jeweler and put it on and was told her husband bought it, was what led to the cheating being revealed and a full circle moment would have come to Josie getting at least something she really wanted that was a physical object.
I definitely loved this book despite despising the MMC. The storytelling is well designed.
January 3, 2025
4 conflicted stars. More for the writing because it was good. But these characters? They frustrated me. One being if I knew my husband was having an affair there's no way I'd wait to let him know of his transgressions. Man's getting attacked literally. Two the h Josie was a pushover. A feminist at heart that gave up what she wanted to support a man, and in my opinion, even in the end, didn't truly love her. The H came from a family where infidelity was the norm and he brought that into his own marriage. Along with his younger brother who was worse in my opinion because he actually had a condo for his affairs. Which looks like by the end no one's telling his TDTL wife. 🤷 I have to say the victim of this whole book was Brian. Josie's ex who she took for a ride from beginning to end. It's actually a good thing Josie decided to stick by her hubby. Brian you dodged a bullet my friend.
As a whole this book wasn't really all that romantic whatsoever. The H John was extremely cold and could be king of the assholes. The shit that came out of his mouth. I tell you my fists would have been flying. And Josie let him. I know it sound's like I didn't enjoy this book, and there were definitely parts that really irked me but it was really well written and had my attention for sure. Also, it was true to life, and I'm glad I never got involved with a lawyer. They seem to be the biggest cheaters in this trope so I guess that's saying something 🙈.
As a whole this book wasn't really all that romantic whatsoever. The H John was extremely cold and could be king of the assholes. The shit that came out of his mouth. I tell you my fists would have been flying. And Josie let him. I know it sound's like I didn't enjoy this book, and there were definitely parts that really irked me but it was really well written and had my attention for sure. Also, it was true to life, and I'm glad I never got involved with a lawyer. They seem to be the biggest cheaters in this trope so I guess that's saying something 🙈.
Read
November 30, 2019Some authors should worry about taking their time with things other than embarrassing themselves by writing this kind of garbage. And a woman who writes this shit still works as a family counselor ????? You're kidding right ??? I hope her clients don't hear a word of what she has to say!
dnf
April 27, 2024DNF @ 57%
Not angsty at all. In fact, I found it boring. Next!
Not angsty at all. In fact, I found it boring. Next!
January 22, 2023
3 stars, maybe high 2.
This is well written and angsty and is what I was looking for in terms of marriage in trouble and cheating. However, I realllllly wish the heroine was less of a doormat and that the hero groveled a lottt more, so I wasn't really satisfied with the HEA. As in most of these books, the resolution was too quick and easy.
Also, the very end of the book left a sour taste in my mouth.
This is well written and angsty and is what I was looking for in terms of marriage in trouble and cheating. However, I realllllly wish the heroine was less of a doormat and that the hero groveled a lottt more, so I wasn't really satisfied with the HEA. As in most of these books, the resolution was too quick and easy.
Also, the very end of the book left a sour taste in my mouth.
January 13, 2023
Observations:
(1) Too much melodrama
(2) No well-educated, contemporary southern heroine should use the phrase "dadgum" ... EVER.
(1) Too much melodrama
(2) No well-educated, contemporary southern heroine should use the phrase "dadgum" ... EVER.
August 7, 2020
The writing is good, and some of the characters such as Jocelyn are really interesting and actually have personality. However, the husbands behaviour is beyond redemption. It’s not just the cheating, which was disgusting, it was his whole treatment of his wife. He Never helped her when she wanted to study for the bar, he shut her out of helping with his campaign, he expected her to be a step Ford wife who did everything for him and the kids, and then hosted perfect dinners etc for his job without any notice. If she ever messed up he lashed out at her and insulted her and then stormed off. His behaviour was deplorable. Than to top it off he has an affair with his married college ex, who works for him, and this women is horrid, she treats his wife like shit, and he allowed it. I know Josie had a drinking problem, when things got to much and she was insulted or hurt, she got drunk. I am not saying that is ok, but when you are emotionally abused as she is, when your husband and all his family treat you like crap and you feel isolated, I could not really blame her. Her drinking did not equal all the pain John caused, he had nothing to forgive her for compared to his actions. There is also a secret regarding her dad and John, making Josie even more sure John does not love her. As a result John did not grovel enough for me, his pride came first. He never really proved himself to me, and I do not know why Josie forgave him. Especially when she actually was a strong, intelligent and interesting character. I wished she had ditched him and got with Brian. Also Josie’s best friend was a dope. She agreed John treated Josie like shit, but when Josie was free of him she Thought he should be forgiven? Fuck off. Andy, John’s Brother is a prolific cheater as well, he actually has a love nest to take his mistress to! Apparently they take after their daddy, but their mummy still idolises them. What I do not get about this author though is that she writes about how the brothers love their wives, and their lives would not be worth living without them, but the both cheat so easily and do not seem to care. Their work seems to come first and they are shit husbands, but they never seem really remorseful, especially Andy. I wish we could have seen Lydia find out about her husbands cheating and the fall out of that. But then again Lydia was a bitch who treated Jocelyn badly. Mostly horrible people in this book.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
June 29, 2016
"The Woman He Married" was my first Julie Ford book, but it won't be my last. What an emotional roller coaster ride! I loved it! Had a difficult time putting this one down.
The story is centered around John and Josie and their terribly dysfunctional marriage. Slowly the story unwinds of how this couple came together and what has chipped away at their love for one another. A tale of a woman who has lost herself in caring for her husband and family. Oddly enough, she is not the only person who misses the woman she was before. As Josie and John confront the mistakes they have made along the road of marriage, mistakes that come in the form of infidelity for him, alcoholism for her, and a myriad of smaller troubles as well, Ford helps us see how both John and Josie realize how their marriage deteriorated and was brought to the point of destruction.
The story was so well conceived that I could overlook the things I didn't like in the book. Things like an excessive use of adjectives. I know....surprised? We hear all the time about adverbs being used excessively, but in this case it was adjectives. And they were usually used in connection with a characters expression...."He gave her a woolly look." They were jarring to me as I read and pulled me from the story.
I also wasn't a big fan of Josie. Not sure what it was about her that I didn't like. Maybe it was her total lack of self-awareness, what she brought into the marriage that helped it along it's destructive course. Or maybe, in someways, I saw some of my own insecurities in the character and didn't like facing that.
The ending....which in a story like this is difficult at best to resolve...wound up just as I wanted it to, but all in the last chapter and a bit too easily. I admit, I am a stickler for this kind of thing. I like HEA endings, but I want them realistic.
The writing, except for the adjectives, was very good. The plot line heartbreaking. If you love reading about relationships - realistic relationships - I would highly recommend this book. I will be looking into more of Ford's books.
The story is centered around John and Josie and their terribly dysfunctional marriage. Slowly the story unwinds of how this couple came together and what has chipped away at their love for one another. A tale of a woman who has lost herself in caring for her husband and family. Oddly enough, she is not the only person who misses the woman she was before. As Josie and John confront the mistakes they have made along the road of marriage, mistakes that come in the form of infidelity for him, alcoholism for her, and a myriad of smaller troubles as well, Ford helps us see how both John and Josie realize how their marriage deteriorated and was brought to the point of destruction.
The story was so well conceived that I could overlook the things I didn't like in the book. Things like an excessive use of adjectives. I know....surprised? We hear all the time about adverbs being used excessively, but in this case it was adjectives. And they were usually used in connection with a characters expression...."He gave her a woolly look." They were jarring to me as I read and pulled me from the story.
I also wasn't a big fan of Josie. Not sure what it was about her that I didn't like. Maybe it was her total lack of self-awareness, what she brought into the marriage that helped it along it's destructive course. Or maybe, in someways, I saw some of my own insecurities in the character and didn't like facing that.
The ending....which in a story like this is difficult at best to resolve...wound up just as I wanted it to, but all in the last chapter and a bit too easily. I admit, I am a stickler for this kind of thing. I like HEA endings, but I want them realistic.
The writing, except for the adjectives, was very good. The plot line heartbreaking. If you love reading about relationships - realistic relationships - I would highly recommend this book. I will be looking into more of Ford's books.
July 3, 2016
I don't even know what to write about this book. It is supposed to be about marriage and relationships, but the main characters are two selfish, angry, headstrong people who barely communicate. Josie was once a vibrant woman, but has been reduced to a doormat who drinks too much. She desperately needs AA meetings, but thinks she can stop at any time. Her husband, John, instead of encouraging his wife belittles her and treats her like garbage while ignoring his children. He is a narcissistic jerk who want to win a judge's seat in the election, so outwardly everything has to be perfect--especially his wife!
Both the main characters improve as the story goes along. They (eventually) learn that they have to tell their spouse what they want rather than expecting them to know it on their own.
Some of the content just bugged me. I HATE that John swears at his wife. Totally not cool. There is more sexual content in this story than I like to read about--especially when it involves someone other than their spouse! I don't want to read about how aroused they are or how big someone's breasts are.
Overall, it was a pretty well written book, but not my kind of story. It was depressing to me rather than inspiring.
Both the main characters improve as the story goes along. They (eventually) learn that they have to tell their spouse what they want rather than expecting them to know it on their own.
Some of the content just bugged me. I HATE that John swears at his wife. Totally not cool. There is more sexual content in this story than I like to read about--especially when it involves someone other than their spouse! I don't want to read about how aroused they are or how big someone's breasts are.
Overall, it was a pretty well written book, but not my kind of story. It was depressing to me rather than inspiring.
August 28, 2018
2.5 stars
I would have given it 4 stars had the heroine left her asshat of a husband for nice guy, Brian.
I would have given it 4 stars had the heroine left her asshat of a husband for nice guy, Brian.
August 16, 2024
This was better than I expected. I had been put off by reviews for a long time. I really appreciated the heroine's journey and growth and I did believe her husband loved her.
August 19, 2020
Love the cheating angst so much. This isn’t for everyone but I felt the grovel was very good considering the level of frustration and anger I had for what John did. I did side eye the “stand by your man” political scene at the end (tbh I really don’t like politics in my romance books at all) but overall I enjoyed this. I feel it’s probably an accurate portrayal of a marriage between two people who are absolutely opposed with their beliefs.
August 21, 2022
SJW And lawyer Josie became a trophy wife for politician husband John. She finally figures out her husband is cheating with his political consultant marries ex gf. She comes into her own again and her ex Brian is back in the picture. John gets a dose of his own medicine. Josie grows back he r backbone and hea.
September 26, 2016
This book contained one of the most disgusting, selfish heroes I have ever read, the heroine was a complete doormat, who forgave him way too easily.
October 18, 2016
Originally reviewed for www.buriedunderromance.com
In a romance novel, we usually meet our couple before they are involved with each other. We get to enjoy watching them meet and we celebrate with them as they overcome various obstacles and gradually fall in love. THE WOMAN HE MARRIED by Julie N. Ford is a different type of story. It is a fascinating, but often painful, look into a marriage that is slowly falling apart.
John and Josie Bearden have been married for eleven years and they have three children. They met when John was a law clerk for Josie’s father who was a judge. John became a well respected lawyer and, as our story begins, he is in the middle of his own campaign to become a circuit judge. He is also having an affair with Trisha Denton, a sexy former girlfriend who is now the public relations manager for his campaign.
Josie originally fell in love with Brian McAllistar. While in college and law school in California, they also travelled the world together trying to help people wherever they found a need, such as helping to build a water system for a community in Africa. One summer, instead of travelling with Brian, Josie was called home because her father was seriously ill. It was during this break from Brian that Josie met and fell in love with John. Unbeknownst to Josie, her father offered John a large sum of money, enough to become established in the law community, if he would marry Josie before Brian returned. Believing that John was in love with her, Josie accepted John’s proposal. Several years later, after two failed marriages, Brian returned town. As a friend, he encouraged Josie to finish her law degree and he hired her to work part-time in his law firm.
When we first meet Josie, she is very unhappy. She feels that John rarely pays any attention to her or the children, and she suspects he is having an affair because he “works late” almost every night. He is so oblivious to what is going on in Josie’s world that he doesn’t even realize that the Brian she works for is the same Brian that was her boyfriend for several years. To make things worse, Josie has started drinking. She often wonders what her life would have been like if she had picked Brian instead of John. As the reader, I was wondering the same thing. Where do we go from here?
I liked many things about this book. I liked that it was a different approach to the story, and as we sorted through the good and the bad in their marriage, we really didn’t know where they were headed. It held my interest to the end.
I liked Josie very much even though I often wanted to yell at her, “What were you thinking?” She was a strong woman who once knew exactly who she was but now is not so sure. She loves her children and is very involved in their activities. She also does her best to support her husband in his campaign even though he doesn’t seem to appreciate anything she does. The only thing she does for herself is work part time for Brian, but that almost seems like an afterthought. In spite of everything, she is still in love with her husband. I really wanted her to find herself and be happy.
I can’t say that I liked John much. I found him to be misogynistic and arrogant. Without giving away spoilers, there was one incident in particular in which his behavior was totally inappropriate and disgusting. I hoped I would get past it and begin to like John as the story went on, but sadly, I can’t say that I did. I questioned the author’s choice to include that incident in the book the way it was written, and I also question her choice to use a theme in anothere scenario in the book that will undoubtedly be extremely offensive to many readers.
All in all, I am giving THE WOMAN HE MARRIED three stars. It held my interest and I liked Josie, the heroine of the story very much. I do wish I could have liked her husband more. I also wish that author would have made different choices with a couple of key elements.
The sequel, NO HOLLY FOR CHRISTMAS, will be out in November. It promises to look back at Josie to see how she is doing. I’m looking forward to reading it.
I voluntarily read an Advanced Reader Copy of this book.
In a romance novel, we usually meet our couple before they are involved with each other. We get to enjoy watching them meet and we celebrate with them as they overcome various obstacles and gradually fall in love. THE WOMAN HE MARRIED by Julie N. Ford is a different type of story. It is a fascinating, but often painful, look into a marriage that is slowly falling apart.
John and Josie Bearden have been married for eleven years and they have three children. They met when John was a law clerk for Josie’s father who was a judge. John became a well respected lawyer and, as our story begins, he is in the middle of his own campaign to become a circuit judge. He is also having an affair with Trisha Denton, a sexy former girlfriend who is now the public relations manager for his campaign.
Josie originally fell in love with Brian McAllistar. While in college and law school in California, they also travelled the world together trying to help people wherever they found a need, such as helping to build a water system for a community in Africa. One summer, instead of travelling with Brian, Josie was called home because her father was seriously ill. It was during this break from Brian that Josie met and fell in love with John. Unbeknownst to Josie, her father offered John a large sum of money, enough to become established in the law community, if he would marry Josie before Brian returned. Believing that John was in love with her, Josie accepted John’s proposal. Several years later, after two failed marriages, Brian returned town. As a friend, he encouraged Josie to finish her law degree and he hired her to work part-time in his law firm.
When we first meet Josie, she is very unhappy. She feels that John rarely pays any attention to her or the children, and she suspects he is having an affair because he “works late” almost every night. He is so oblivious to what is going on in Josie’s world that he doesn’t even realize that the Brian she works for is the same Brian that was her boyfriend for several years. To make things worse, Josie has started drinking. She often wonders what her life would have been like if she had picked Brian instead of John. As the reader, I was wondering the same thing. Where do we go from here?
I liked many things about this book. I liked that it was a different approach to the story, and as we sorted through the good and the bad in their marriage, we really didn’t know where they were headed. It held my interest to the end.
I liked Josie very much even though I often wanted to yell at her, “What were you thinking?” She was a strong woman who once knew exactly who she was but now is not so sure. She loves her children and is very involved in their activities. She also does her best to support her husband in his campaign even though he doesn’t seem to appreciate anything she does. The only thing she does for herself is work part time for Brian, but that almost seems like an afterthought. In spite of everything, she is still in love with her husband. I really wanted her to find herself and be happy.
I can’t say that I liked John much. I found him to be misogynistic and arrogant. Without giving away spoilers, there was one incident in particular in which his behavior was totally inappropriate and disgusting. I hoped I would get past it and begin to like John as the story went on, but sadly, I can’t say that I did. I questioned the author’s choice to include that incident in the book the way it was written, and I also question her choice to use a theme in anothere scenario in the book that will undoubtedly be extremely offensive to many readers.
All in all, I am giving THE WOMAN HE MARRIED three stars. It held my interest and I liked Josie, the heroine of the story very much. I do wish I could have liked her husband more. I also wish that author would have made different choices with a couple of key elements.
The sequel, NO HOLLY FOR CHRISTMAS, will be out in November. It promises to look back at Josie to see how she is doing. I’m looking forward to reading it.
I voluntarily read an Advanced Reader Copy of this book.
August 12, 2016
This story starts by painting a sad, hard situation for Josy. Her husband is absent most of the time, an affair is implied, she has given up on her hopes and dreams to be a stay at home mum, things we as women can relate to at one point or another in life (most things anyways, not so sure about the affair). But the more you read on in the book, you see how horribly Josy deals with this, by turning to alcohol in a very abusive way, repeating the patterns she loathed as a child, etc. The sympathy you had going for her at the beginning of the book starts to wane, and the distaste for John grows more as the evidence of his affair starts to ring true.
During this all Josy is turning to Brian, an ex-boyfriend and her current boss for support, and this kind, wonderful man is there at every turn offering her everything she needs.
Then the story takes us back to how they met, and here is where I really lost all interest in the H and h. At the time when Josy and John went on their first date, she was in a long term relationship of 5 years with Brian (the nice guy, and current boss!). This first date ends up with her sleeping with him.
I’m reading this, and thinking to myself, so here you are Josy, someone who cheated on your long-term boyfriend, and crying because your husband is cheating on you.
As much as I wanted to like this book, and don’t get me wrong, it is written well, I had a hard time with it. I know life is cruel, and infidelity is all around us. But the way these two handled it, and the road they had to travel to get there is astounding!
At one point in the book John has to explain to the children that he had an affair, and the oldest son gets very upset and tells his father exactly what he thinks of people who cheat. Meanwhile Josy almost slept with Brian, and would have if her friend didn’t walk into the office at that exact moment. What an example for their children!
This book is probably a true depiction of real life for certain people, but for me a book can be so much more than that. A book can inspire and move, it can uplift and influence you. A book that draws a certain picture can leave a mark on you for a lifetime. It can stimulate you to change or help and motivate you when you need it most. This book, sadly didn’t do that for me.
During this all Josy is turning to Brian, an ex-boyfriend and her current boss for support, and this kind, wonderful man is there at every turn offering her everything she needs.
Then the story takes us back to how they met, and here is where I really lost all interest in the H and h. At the time when Josy and John went on their first date, she was in a long term relationship of 5 years with Brian (the nice guy, and current boss!). This first date ends up with her sleeping with him.
I’m reading this, and thinking to myself, so here you are Josy, someone who cheated on your long-term boyfriend, and crying because your husband is cheating on you.
As much as I wanted to like this book, and don’t get me wrong, it is written well, I had a hard time with it. I know life is cruel, and infidelity is all around us. But the way these two handled it, and the road they had to travel to get there is astounding!
At one point in the book John has to explain to the children that he had an affair, and the oldest son gets very upset and tells his father exactly what he thinks of people who cheat. Meanwhile Josy almost slept with Brian, and would have if her friend didn’t walk into the office at that exact moment. What an example for their children!
This book is probably a true depiction of real life for certain people, but for me a book can be so much more than that. A book can inspire and move, it can uplift and influence you. A book that draws a certain picture can leave a mark on you for a lifetime. It can stimulate you to change or help and motivate you when you need it most. This book, sadly didn’t do that for me.
August 24, 2016
I received a copy of this book by the author for an honest review. Josie was destined for greatness. But family and life had other plans. Now married to John for over eleven years life seems to have passed her by. But when she finds proof of Johns infidelity all goes down hill fast. It starts with the bracelet she thought he got for her but found on another woman's wrist. Before all answers to many questions become clear so much must happen to both of them. Is John truly faithful or scoundrel? Are others conspiring against them? They both had secrets and needed to open up to one another. This book I had read and placed in my wish list years ago. This is the second printing of it. I am glad that I was given a chance to read and review it at this time. It will be one I will reread again.
September 30, 2024
F*C* THIS BOOK 🔪☠️
And Brian he deserves someone a hundred times better than Josie's , This woman has no dignity and again F**K THIS BOOK 💩☠️🔪
And Brian he deserves someone a hundred times better than Josie's , This woman has no dignity and again F**K THIS BOOK 💩☠️🔪
June 18, 2024
I can't form a coherent opinion on this but some thoughts I had:
- The couple's marriage troubles were complicated, messy and left unresolved even by the end.
- John never takes responsibility for his actions. He blamed everyone and everything - Josie, his tragic upbringing, his mistress (Yuck).
- The infidelity of the side characters? John's brother also cheating on his wife and Trisha / Denton? This was too yucky for me. It's realistically messy, but I did not expect this level of unvarnished Ugly in a "romance".
- Josie's alcohol abuse made me uncomfortable. This is a pretty big part of the story, so if you aren't good with reading about a mother who passed out drunk in front of her young children (I think it was an once-off event), you'll not want to touch this with a ten-foot-pole.
- I didn't see the love between Josie and John. We were told, not shown, how much they love each other (doesn't matter if John escapes his home and engages in a YEAR-LONG affair with his press secretary, puts Josie down, refuses to communicate with her until it was too late; doesn't matter if Josie has always refused to communicate with her husband, and her icky residual feelings for her first boyfriend who she works for). Suuure.
- If you're expecting a grovel, you'll be disappointed. There was none in sight. Crickets.
Now, some things that I liked:
- The complexity of Josie's dilemma - Throughout her marriage, she struggled between the fact that she has given up being the strong, career woman she had always thought she would become to be a good mother to her children. I appreciated how the author doesn't peddle the narrative that women can "have it all". Here, Josie doesn't put down her housework and sacrifices made for her family. What she struggled with was balancing her sense of personal identity (who was she? has she lost her personality?) and her isolation with her pride in having built a home for her family that she runs with honed efficiency. I only wished that she had friends and family who saw her through her pain and she wasn't left alone to fight her battles.
- Little Jack telling his dad he would go to hell for being an adulterer.
- The couple's marriage troubles were complicated, messy and left unresolved even by the end.
- John never takes responsibility for his actions. He blamed everyone and everything - Josie, his tragic upbringing, his mistress (Yuck).
- The infidelity of the side characters? John's brother also cheating on his wife and Trisha / Denton? This was too yucky for me. It's realistically messy, but I did not expect this level of unvarnished Ugly in a "romance".
- Josie's alcohol abuse made me uncomfortable. This is a pretty big part of the story, so if you aren't good with reading about a mother who passed out drunk in front of her young children (I think it was an once-off event), you'll not want to touch this with a ten-foot-pole.
- I didn't see the love between Josie and John. We were told, not shown, how much they love each other (doesn't matter if John escapes his home and engages in a YEAR-LONG affair with his press secretary, puts Josie down, refuses to communicate with her until it was too late; doesn't matter if Josie has always refused to communicate with her husband, and her icky residual feelings for her first boyfriend who she works for). Suuure.
- If you're expecting a grovel, you'll be disappointed. There was none in sight. Crickets.
Now, some things that I liked:
- The complexity of Josie's dilemma - Throughout her marriage, she struggled between the fact that she has given up being the strong, career woman she had always thought she would become to be a good mother to her children. I appreciated how the author doesn't peddle the narrative that women can "have it all". Here, Josie doesn't put down her housework and sacrifices made for her family. What she struggled with was balancing her sense of personal identity (who was she? has she lost her personality?) and her isolation with her pride in having built a home for her family that she runs with honed efficiency. I only wished that she had friends and family who saw her through her pain and she wasn't left alone to fight her battles.
- Little Jack telling his dad he would go to hell for being an adulterer.
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