One New Message

by Vivian Ward

Ever wonder what your spouse "really thinks" sexually? This all started when my wife, Maddy, and I seemed to have drifted apart. I found an online ad written by a guy who promised to help unlock her secrets, but I wasn't going to trust some creep to talk to my wife so I downloaded a text app. Her fantasies quickly became my obsession. I wasn't going to lose her to a stranger who didn't exist, but the damage was already done long before I ever sent her the first message. This stranger could give her things that I never thought of, make her feel things that I hadn't made her feel in years, but this stranger was all me. Now my wife is in love with two men. Or maybe one...until she discovers who's behind the messages. All of this is going to end badly. This a complete, standalone romance novel that guarantees a happily ever after.

Genres: Erotica

220 pages, Kindle Edition

Published July 25, 2017

About the author

Vivian Ward is a romance author from St. Louis, Missouri. She pens dark and dirty stories about alpha heroes and strong heroines with emotional HEAs. Vivian is happily married to her real-life Prince Charming who is also her best friend. One of her guilty pleasures is reading and writing smut while indulging in chocolate caramel candies.

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Reviews

[April Symes · Rating 4 out of 5]

Sizzling Steamy and Kinky Hot!! One New Message by Vivian Ward is one good book to curl up and kick back to read a story that is unconventional …one about a husband Drew who realizes that his relationship with his wife Maddy is so boring that its coming apart at the seams yet he doesn’t know how to fix it. So he comes up with this plan, its one that I wouldn’t recommend yet in his mind, it’s good because he thinks it will fix everything and finally get him and his wife back together so he ends up catfishing his wife and he pretends to be this other guy.
The real issue here is miscommunication and along the way this online ad leads to some serious lies, deceit and I guess in a way, betrayal then we have the discovered darkest fantasies from the fake boyfriend “Robbie”. This is a must read story of how wife and husband find their way back together. Its emotional, angsty and full of steamy passion. I would have like more of an epilogue to see how this couple was doing after a raw and emotional story but overall this was a very good read.

My Rating: 4.5 stars *****
"I voluntarily reviewed an Advance Reader Copy of this book in exchange for an honest review***

[Debbie · Rating 3 out of 5]

Maddy and Drew have fallen into a boring routine in their marriage. There's no excitement and they feel as if they've drifted apart. In hopes of bringing them closer together again, Drew starts texting Maddy from a text app he downloaded onto his phone and pretends to be a stranger named "Robbie." He can't believe how Maddy starts to open up to Robbie and share her deepest, darkest fantasies and her true feelings about him, her husband. He's hurt and ashamed and also angry about how far Maddy will go.

The remaining portion of my review contains opinions which are spoilerish. If you don't want to see them, please stop reading now. You've been warned.

I realize that on some level Drew pretending to be someone else was wrong. It was deceptive and not fair. However in his defense he wanted to somehow connect with his wife and hoped to discover ways to help bring them closer. Maddy never once tried to slow things down with Robbie and went as far as inviting him, a stranger, into her home to fulfill her fantasies. Yeah it's Drew, but Maddy doesn't know that and puts their marriage on the line. Then she has the audacity to get mad at Drew when he confesses about Robbie's identity. Seriously!! He's so apologetic when what she did was so much worse. I don't recall her ever apologizing. She never asked for forgiveness, she just got mad and yelled at Drew. Keep in mind, for all intents and purposes, she cheated. She slept with a man who she thought was someone else. A stranger she met through text messaging and wanted to see again. Needless to say, I wasn't a fan of Maddy's. I felt sorry for Drew and believed Maddy should have taken more responsibility for the condition of their marriage, but sadly the majority got dropped on Drew.

In the end, the couple are happily working together to heal their marriage. The story's a reminder to communicate with your partner.

This story ended at 16% on my Kindle. There were several other stories included that I didn't read.

[SBee Reviews · Rating 5 out of 5]

Review Rating: 5.0 out of 5 stars.

Starving for more attention, love, and the dark side.

I received an Advance Reader Copy for One New Message written by Vivian Ward and voluntarily reviewed this book. Being married is no easy street. But what happens when you find yourself drifting apart so badly that you suddenly feel like you are living like strangers? Eight years of marriage has come and gone for Drew and Maddy, their current routines now rundown-versions of their original ones, and both have been feeling that something was definitely going wrong, but they just didn’t know how to communicate with each other any more. Until Drew comes upon a nifty little app that will allow him to hopefully gain insight into exactly what his wife is thinking and feeling, without her knowing.

When Maddy receives a text which appears to have been sent in error to her, she responds to it, thereby opening herself up to a “relationship” with “Robbie,” to whom she ends up expressing her innermost wants, needs, and most frank thoughts. Drew, on his side of things, is absolutely shocked, dismayed, and utterly embarrassed to hear these confessions, but he is desperate to show her that he can be the man she needs, because the bottom line is that he loves her. He hatches a plan to convince her, armed with these new insights into their failing relationship, but will this plan end up backfiring on him when the truth comes to light?

This was a refreshing and engaging story, one that I can easily imagine taking place thanks to the multitude of apps available these days for nearly every issue possible. Dark may not end up being so dark after all, if you can go there together and explore, when you have love, trust, and caring.

[Kiyonna Valdez · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wow!

I absolutely loved it, my emotions were everywhere.. In some thoughts I felt sorry for the husband that he had to catfish his own wife, in others I was like get your lazy ass out of the basement and go take what you want.. I loved the fantasies the wife had they were so hot. Though at one put I was pissed of at the wife and thought she was a bitch because she was willing to cheat on her husband instead of talking to him. She had the audacity to get mad at him for catfishing her when she should have felt bad and been mad at her self.. I mean what if turned out in the end it was someone else, she was Willing to through her sweet husband away for a Spidey sex life when she could have just asked for it.. I felt for the husband, I just wanted to beat her! Anyway thanks Vivian for writing g such a great book and I loved the extra stories!

[Meghann Alford · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this story and it's a plot line that I don't believe I have seen before. Parts of this story were hard to read for me because it hit so close to home. But it also opened my eyes to see just how truly important communication really is, especially with your significant other. This story is about salvaging a love you know is there in any way you can. Putting forth the effort to make your marriage work. And of course there is some naughtiness in there too! Couldn't stop reading this book, I just had to see what happened next. I voluntarily reviewed an advanced copy of this book.
Hero,  Maddie = 5/5
Heroine, Drew = 5/5
Chemistry = 5/5
Sex = 5/5
Plot = 4/5
Mystery = 1/5
Action =  1/5
Darkness = 1/5
Humor = 1/5
POV = dual
Would I recommend this book = yes
Would I re-read this book = yes
Would I read future books by this author = yes

[Jenny · Rating 5 out of 5]

Vivian Ward has written a great story with "One New Message". Her characters are strong and likeable, which made reading their story very easy. The storyline was constantly evolving and kept me guessing as to what would happen in the end.
I enjoyed the two person POV as Maddie and Drew tell their story, which made it easy to see how there was a communication break down.
This is my favourite Vivian Ward book to date, and I look forward to reading more of her work.
I am volunteering to leave a review for an ARC of this book.

[Laila Viking · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this very unique story. It is so different from the usual romance theme stories. It is very well written and has a lot of chemistry between the main characters. The story is about Drew and Mable and their marriage. It is very realistic and relatable. It could have been about your friend or someone else you know. The question in this book is how far you will go to save your marriage.
I can only say I loved it and I will recommend it to all readers who wants to read a book with a very different topic!

I voluntarily reviewed an Advanced Reader Copy of this book.

[Gladys · Rating 5 out of 5]

One New Message by Vivian Ward is a very good book. This unique story is well written and thought provoking. This is a story of a couple that's relationship has reached that boring stage. The distance between them keep growing until one day an online ad leads to lies, deceit and the discovering of the deepest darkest fantasies. I am posting an honest review after reading an ARC copy of this book.

[Angela · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a great book with an interesting and unique plot. A storyline that is see well written that it brings the reader into each character. It asks how far would you go when your marriage is in a slump and there is little to no communication but the desire is still there. Plenty of steamy scenes included!

[SJ · Rating 5 out of 5]

I received a free advanced reader copy of this book and voluntarily decided to review it

Omg this book is seriously hot, I could not put it down. I really enjoyed this refreshingly different Romance, it's amazing what one man will do to ensure his wife is happy and satisfied

Another great book by Vivian Ward, I highly recommend this book

[Angelia · Rating 4 out of 5]

I received this ARC copy of this book from the Author for an honest review. I give this book 4 stars. The storyline between Maddy and Drew started out with them having a communication problem. Drew got an idea to get an app to text his wife as Robbie. You must read to find out happen.

[SouthernAngel · Rating 5 out of 5]

Morally Steamed:
This brilliant and unique plot is a thought provoking page turner that'll have you on an emotional roller-coaster from start to finish. How far will you go to safe your marriage?
I voluntarily reviewed an Advanced Reader Copy of this book.

[Mona williams · Rating 5 out of 5]

this was a very interesting book! its about a married couple who are having problems. so he down loads a app on his phone to text her without her knowing its him. will she ever find out its him? read to find out what happens. thanks for giving me a chance to read this book!

[Toni · Rating 5 out of 5]

Enjoyed reading this 1. Its a very unique, emotional rollercoaster of a book. Plenty of hot and steamy to go around. Deff worth a read as I thought it was great and the plot is very different from anything iv read so far

[LORRIE · Rating 4 out of 5]

A very good read. Drew had an idea to fix his marriage. Maddy wanted excitement. They did it wrong, but it worked in the end

[RJ · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fabulous read. I could not put it down. I was provided a complimentary copy of this book so I could give an honest review.

[Bookbytch5 janet Gray · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another awesome read from Vivian Ward, This is a brilliant book. Couldn't put it down, read it till late at night. I voluntarily reviewed an advance copy of this book.

[Deneale Williams · Rating 5 out of 5]

If you have a spouse, or even significant other, then you have probably wondered just what the other person wanted deep down sexually. No one ever tells you all of their fantasies, do they? They always tend to keep something hidden, just because.

This book is a ‘Dark Romance’ Novel, which promises to entice you in more ways than one. Why? Because low and behold Drew and Madison have hit a dry spell in their relationship.

One-day Drew ends up finding an online ad from someone who promises there is a way to get into your spouse’s head, and learn her secrets. Drew thought it sounded promising, so he downloaded the app.

I know, right? Typical man, can’t ask the right questions, has to do it the difficult way. Just like a hint, can’t catch those either.

So now, Drew is playing with fire, and getting the inside scoop and making his wife fall in love with another man, or is still in love with him too?

Drew refused to lose Madison, or Maddy as she preferred to be called, to a stranger that didn’t even exist. But he was in too deep now.

This stranger was giving her things he hadn’t been able to give her in years, but the thing is, the strange was…him.

All of this could end badly, if she discovers the messages. Or he could maybe seduce her, or blind fold her, and start doing the things he was saying, and then undo the blind fold. Was Drew up for this? Could he actually pull this off? Would Maddy go for it, or would she get angry?

You will have to read this deliciously sexy book to find out for yourself, I’m not gonna give you the answers! But I will tell you that it is hot, hot hot, and I loved every minute of it! This is most definitely a five-star read, and I promise you, that you will not be disappointed. In fact, you will want to be a member of Vivian’s fan club! The woman knows how to write, and make you see what you are reading! Trust me!

[Leticia · Rating 5 out of 5]

One new message is a story with a well-descriptive plot. Deserves more than five stars. Is packed with strong emotions and feelings from both characters. I felt connected to the story from page one to the very end. The connection that I felt touched me in different ways. If I was in a marriage. What I like was how the story towards the end had a happy ending. What I didn't like was the quilt. Drew and Maddison's marriage is falling apart. The spark is not there. They don't talk like before. The only conversation they have is during dinner by asking how was their day at work. Nothing else. When their marriage was in full swing. Maddison used to dolly herself for Drew, and he will tell her how beautiful she looks. Know she just stops. After dinner Drew and Maddison ignores each other. By going their separate ways. Drew goes downstairs to watch sports and Maddison goes to her bedroom to read romance novels. As the story progresses Drew is afraid of losing Maddison. So he goes to the source of the problem. To save his marriage and for Maddison to speak to him. He figures a way to communicate with her through a text app, he downloads on his phone. He pretends to be Robbie. Drew doesn't know is her husband. Drew answers to all of Robbie questions he asks. How things will end up when Drew finds out it was her husband or will they end up being closer. Highly recommend this book. I volunteered to read an advanced copy of this book to leave an honest review.

[Scrap · Rating 5 out of 5]

I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book
Vivian Ward has done it again. This book was so HOT, and such a fantasy of many I am sure.
This is about Maddy and Drew. Drew loves Maddy so much and has realized that their marriage is crumbling.
He will do anything to make his wife happy. When Drew comes up with a plan and while his plan is in motion
Drew starts to learn so much about his wife he didnt even know. Maddy has secrets. She has never been honest with Drew about her sexual needs. She gave up trying to encourage him to do the things she likes and now they are like two strangers who eat dinner together. But when a stranger
starts texting her and they start to connect Maddie shares these needs with her new "boyfriend". This story is full of angst, secrets, lies and some may even think betrayal but mixed into all that some HOT STEAMY scenes as well.

What I took away from this book was be open with your spouse. communicate. especially if they are your one true love/ soul mate. By being honest with that person it can only make life better. I HIGHLY recommend this book

[Jessica Mitchell · Rating 5 out of 5]

One New Message
Vivian Ward

A heart wretching story of two people who are married but are falling into a rut. They know that their marriage is collapsing due to comunication mainly and sex secondary. Can they find a way to make it work? Or will all be lost between Drew and Madison?

Madison is lonely most nights at home even with her husband at home. He likes his tv and his games on the phone. But what about her? Why all the sudden has it seem like they are drifting apart more and more. She has secrets that she fears she can't share with him because he might think she is too weird. But she wants to let that dark side of out of her to play. But how...

Drew is lonely most nights even with the wife at home. She reads her books in their bedroom constantly. Or she's cooking then reading. But never talking to one another. He knows their marriage is falling apart and wants to fix it. But how? Then he reads about a texting app and what it happened when it was used. Can he really use it to dupe his wife into thinking he's another man? Or will it all fall apart.

[Kari Hansen · Rating 5 out of 5]

Drew loves his wife Maddy but he can feel his marriage and his wife slipping away. Maddy loves Drew however she wants more from their sex life than he is giving her and she has given up trying. They have stopped having any meaningful conversations so they might as well be roommates not a couple.

Drew comes up with a plan to send text messages to his wife by pretending to be someone else so that he can find out what the problem is and he realizes that he never really knew his wife.

When the truth comes out it leaves both of them feeling betrayed but is their love for each other stronger to change what they have had to something that they both want?

This author has a talent for exploring relationships in a way you never expect and it definitely makes you think. Every marriage can hit a rough spot and it is how you deal with it that makes your love stronger. I voluntarily reviewed an Advanced Reader Copy of this book.

[Nicki Benson · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved One New Message and the idea of the characters trying to save their marriage. We follow Madison and Drew, they don't really talk or spend time with each other anymore. Madison spends most of her time reading and Drew goes in the basement to watch sports. It comes to a point when Drew realizes their relationship is in jeopardy and he doesn't want to lose her. He reads something online about a man who texts someone as a "stranger". Drew is desperate to find out why things have changed between them so he messages Madison. I thought this really captured realistic problems in relationships. It showed the importance of communication even if the subject matter is deemed embarrassing. I don't want to spoil the book so I won't say more about the plot but it was amazing! I loved that you could tell the characters really loved each other. I wasn't expecting what was going to happen. I really enjoyed the book and would definitely recommend!!!

[Amanda N. · Rating 5 out of 5]

Solidifying a Rusty Marriage

After nine years together and eight years of marriage, Drew and Madison "Maddy" Brooks no longer have the close connection they use to have. Their communication, intimacy levels, and presents in each other's lives have drifted apart. She spends her evening reading in bed, while he spends his in their basement watching sports.

Both parties realized the growing distance but neither is sure how to approach the subject. With fear of losing his wife, Drew decided to take desperate measures. He downloads a texting app and texts his own wife as a stranger in hopes of getting a glimpse into her thoughts.

This is a wonderful story! Miss Vivian Ward has such a great story telling ability. I love the fact that this couple isn't just meeting, that the have already been married a while and have hit a rut in the relationship. It's the true "happily ever after" of a real marriage, in real life. I would absolutely recommend this story to my friends to read.

[Joy Westerfield · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is about a married couple who love each other but don't communicate to each other what their wants and needs are. How many couples out there can totally relate to this story? I'm sure many do. Drew & Madison love each other, but after many years of marriage, they find themselves in a rut. So Drew takes it upon himself to try and find out how to solve their issues by sending text messages to his wife but as someone else. I love how their text messages evolve and how they find out things about each other they were afraid to tell each other, not to mention how steamy those messages became! Phew, hot stuff!. I really enjoyed this book and loved how they really wanted their marriage to work and would do anything to stay together. I highly recommend this book. It is a definite must read!

[Cathy · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is my first book by this author but it won't be my last. What a great take on the idea of a Catfish. Drew and Maddy's marriage is in a rut, and really it is because they don't communicate anymore, and as days go by the start to pull further and further away. Drew sees an ad to text your wife and find out her fantasies, instead of having someone else do it, he does it himself, and the entire situation gets out of hand.

I like that we see both perspectives and even more so that both admit they were part of the problem and both messed up throughout this story. Drew just wanted to fix his marriage but I do blame Maddy for how far things got before the "end". This review is hard to write as I don't want to give anything away, but I loved the unique storyline and the writing for both characters. It is also a nice quick read, but it is fairly dark so here is your warning!

[Natalie Casey · Rating 4 out of 5]

A REAL PAGE TURNER!!
I don't even know where to start! This story was unlike any I've ever read before!
A married couple who truly love each other with all their heart and soul are slipping away from each other. There is no communication or romance between these two anymore. The husband Drew, goes to extreme lengths by "catfishing" his wife to learn ways to get closer to her. Will it all work out, or will it destroy what they have?
This book will stir all your emotions up,,,one minute I'm feeling bad for them, the next I want to strangle both of them! It really makes you think about what you would do. This book was really well written and an amazing plot! I loved it!!
I received an ARC in exchange for an honest review, and I'm sooo happy I did! I highly recommend this book!!

[Dora Harvey · Rating 5 out of 5]

I voluntarily reviewed an Advance Reader Copy of this book.

Lies, suspicion, non-communication, deception, fantasies—will all of these add up to a failing marriage? Can text messages save a marriage? Well that is what Drew thought? ONE NEW MESSAGE may be a bit dark, but it's also a great romance story with some steamy sex scenes. Vivian Ward manages to weave a grippingly dark and twisted plot with artfully developed main characters; but it also was heartwarming and emotional. From the very first page, I was spellbound by these fantastically described characters that you will find yourself falling in love with—or not. The momentum of the story keeps you wanting to read more that you can’t put it down. Drew and Maddy’s marriage was falling apart where there was not much intimacy left after eight years of marriage, and they were both concerned. In order to save his marriage, Drew was desperate so he devised a plan to seduce his wife and put some life back into their marriage. After downloading a texting app, he started sending text messages to her as a stranger to open the doors of communication. Find out for yourself if this type of communication saved Drew’s marriage? You will revel with delight in this story with an erotic flare for the sensuous adult in you because there is a lot of unfettered sex, so be warned. The scenes are well written, fast-paced and flow smoothly from one scene to the next. The story will also pique your interest and draw you in from the beginning to the very end.

[Stephanie Ditmore · Rating 5 out of 5]

I voluntarily reviewed an Advanced Readers copy of this book. I absolutely floved this book. Vivian has done it again. Maddy and Drew are having marital issues and their life has become boring in every aspect and he doesn’t know what to do to fix it. He comes up with a brilliant plan and puts it in motion to secretly text his wife and takes on the persona of Robbie to find out what is wrong in their marriage and he begins to learn her deepest darkest secrets and desires something Maddy has never shared with him. He wants to learn all he can about his wife but is not expecting to find what he does. This can’t be good, what will happen when Maddy finds out that Drew is really Robbie? Will she pack and run or hear him out? This story is full of angst, lies and deceit, steamy sex scenes, and maybe a little bit of betrayal. This is an amazing read and I highly recommend this book.

[Misty's Book Space · Rating 5 out of 5]

I voluntarily read and reviewed this book.

Once again another great book by Vivian Ward. This is by far my favorite of all the books I have read by her.

I saw a lot of myself in Maddie from the beginning but once “Robbie” came into the picture everything she did made me mad. She kept making one wrong decision after another and I just wanted to smack her and say what the heck are you doing.

I felt so bad for Drew but at the same time I was like y’all are married and have been for 8 years so the communication between them shouldn’t have been as bad as they were saying it was. Sometimes I thought I was reading about a teenage relationship full of all the drama. Y’all are adults act like it.

So I know this review is coming off really negative but I truly enjoyed reading this. I was so into the story that I didn’t want to put the book down, and I wouldn’t have if the hubby didn’t have to get up for work the next day.

I couldn’t help but want to know how things were going to play out. This was a really quick read that had some steamy scenes. It dealt with some real life situations and even though I can’t really see things playing out the way they did in the book I really enjoyed it.