Forgive

by Crystal Wisdom

Ben and Emma Wellston were a happily married couple until an encounter one night changes Ben. Now he is angry, bitter, and distant.

Clueless as to the reason why Ben changed all Emma knows is she can't take much more of his treatment. When things suddenly come to a head one day, Emma packs her belongings and moves out.

When Ben discovers he had been wrong about the encounter that night he realizes what a fool he has been and tries to do everything in his power to make amends for the wrong he has done to Emma.

Will Emma forgive Ben? Or is it too little too late for him?

Genres: Second Chance, Contemporary

224 pages, Paperback

Published June 20, 2017

About the author

Crystal Wisdom was born in a small town in Illinois and moved to Oklahoma at the age of two. She grew up with a passion for reading. It wasn't until she took a creative writing course in high school that she found her love of writing. When she's not reading or writing she enjoys movies and music.

Reviews

[Lu Bielefeld]

DNF 50%
==========
boring

"I feel angry and hurt and heartbroken." I tucked a lock of hair behind my ear. "My world feels like it's been turned upside down. I don't know where I belong anymore. I thought I was going to spend the rest of my life with Ben and now I don't know what the future holds for me."

[Debbie DiFiore]

Marriage Most Miserable

I hated the hero had first and I was afraid he was cheating but it all turned out in the end. Not going to say how it turned, but it definitely turned. Lol. It was a good journey for me. I thought old brother Pete was a little handsy with Emma but he was a good guy and so was Ben once he pulled that splinter out of his...you know what! Miscommunication and no communication made Ben a bad boy! He was so stupid. He should have just talked to her! Oh well. Loved his family a lot! Wish I had in laws like that. They were awesome. I definitely would read this author again as long as she keeps writing safe stories! Plus this book is free in KU.

[Tmstprc]

Skim read, it was probably a me thing. If I find myself restructuring the author’s sentences, I’m not engaged in the story.

[Hasime]

:)

I love this book. Made me think about life and not to take things for granted. And always show the ones you love that you love them. Before it’s too late.

[Linda]

This story was so well done, it drew you into the drama immediately and you could just 'feel' the anguish of the h. I seriously wanted to hit the H with a 2x4 for the first half of the book and then said a prayer that he would remove his head from a lower body part and grow up. Almost all of his reactions were over the top while the h's were subdued. It seemed like, at times that his biggest plus was his family. Even during their separation, she stayed with his parents!

I cannot imagine the stress of being invisible and unappreciated in a relationship. It was so great that the author did not have the H issue an apology, have the h immediately forgive him, jump into bed and all is roses and rainbows. There was work to be done and it took time.

In my opinion, his reactions to his assumption demonstrated his own insecurities that, like a bully, he covered up with aggression and sarcasm. He did grow up, grovel and earn their HEA.

[Traci]

Notes for me

Ben

Emma - assistant for Ben’s father

Married 10 years. They don’t communicate. In the last 3-4 months he’s pulled away from her and he’s cold. Everything is an argument.

Emma is seeing a counselor. She knows she needs to tell Ben but is afraid he will think she’s crazy. However she’d feel betrayed if he kept something from her.

She tells him and he reacts like she thought. Mad she kept it from him, says they are a waste of money.

He’s not cruel as in secretly loves her. His words cut deep.

He hears her on the phone with a Dean. She says he’s a college friend and getting married. Ben confesses he knew she was meeting a friend at a hotel restaurant. He left work early and was talking to a friend. He sees her and a guy come out of the hotel elevator and he kisses her on the mouth.

That’s all he needed to see to decide she was cheating. He didn’t leave her because he wants to make her life miserable. She asks why he didn’t ask her that night. He said she’d lie. So she learns he thinks she’s a cheat and a liar.

He finds out the truth and is repentant but she’s not forgiving right away.

Side stories of her alcoholic dad owes a loan shark. Dean’s brother attacking her in college and pregnancy.

[Paige Whitecotton]

❤️.

This was busy angst filled read. The anger Ben felt was palpable, the hurt Emma felt was as well. This book is a good example of why you should communicate even when you think you have all the pieces of the puzzle. Great book n

[Boan07]

3.5 stars - review coming up later

[Jennifer Collins]

DNF

[Diedre]

So many contrived tropes that it was like reading a flimsy soap opera on tv.

[Cat Ciolko-Sutton]

He saw his partner entering a hotel room with another man. Instead of confronting the situation head-on, he showed hostility towards her for several months. The accusation caused her anger towards him to increase, ultimately resulting in her departure due to his lack of trust. The extent of the abuse caused her to leave.

Realizing his error, he is now obligated to undergo a substantial amount of humbling to reconcile with her.

This narrative exemplifies the profound impact of assumptions in marriages and explores the challenges of granting forgiveness.

This narrative is thoroughly enjoyable and highly recommended for troubled marriages.