What do you think?
Rate this book
The Failed Marriage
Lots of men stray in a failing marriageAnd Joshua had good reason. After all, it was nearly a year since Joanna had denied him access to her bed and body. Yet it seemed only yesterday that their fragile love had shattered with the death of their only child."I'm taking Angela to the States, " he had stated coldly, "and you must find yourself a lover, too!" That he demanded a year away with someone else, and the same for Joanna, was hurtful.But the rekindling of desire between her and Joshua right before his departure troubled Joanna most of all... .
192 pages, Hardcover
First published January 1, 1983
69 people are currently reading
465 people want to read
About the author
Carole Mortimer
1,301 books911 followersI have written almost 250 romance novels in contemporary and Regency.
I am a USA Today Bestselling Author and recipient of the 2015 RWA Lifetime Achievement Award. In 2014 I received a Pioneer of Romance Award from Romantic Times in the US and in 2012 I was recognised by Queen Elizabeth II for my 'outstanding service to literature'.
I am very happily married to Peter with six sons, and live on the Isle of Man
I am a USA Today Bestselling Author and recipient of the 2015 RWA Lifetime Achievement Award. In 2014 I received a Pioneer of Romance Award from Romantic Times in the US and in 2012 I was recognised by Queen Elizabeth II for my 'outstanding service to literature'.
I am very happily married to Peter with six sons, and live on the Isle of Man
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 67 reviews
July 5, 2021
Marriage in trouble of a May/December couple who are unable to communicate (or have sex) one year after the death of their toddler daughter. The hero has an unusual remedy – a separation for a year while he lectures in the US and the heroine stays in London and perhaps takes a lover and lives an independent life.
Yes – he's suggesting an open marriage. Heroine thinks she doesn’t care about the hero any more until the night before he leaves and they finally have sex again. But he’s gone in the morning and she’s left to endure a year without the H, torturing herself with the thought that he is sleeping with his secretary.
Heroine writes a children’s book based on her childhood dog, a mischievous boxer. She becomes friend with the illustrator – who fills in nicely as a wanna be OM when the hero returns. She also grieves her daughter, remembers how they met (and how she pursued him) and puts up with her horrible mother.
The heroine is not that likeable at the beginning of the story, but she grows and changes with a brief stint of misinterpreting everything the hero does and says when he returns for the black moment.
The hero is redeemed at the end of this story in a twist that eased my mind, but a lot reviewers didn’t like it.
I like this story for a lot of reasons. I love the angst. I love how cold and frozen the heroine is at the beginning and how it isn’t sex that cures her – it’s creative work, it’s the hard work of examining herself and deciding to change and let go of her hurt and fear.
Another reason I like this story is I am a sucker for older heroes who back off for their younger heroines to live their life without them. It’s the noble sacrifice that gets to me.
In this case it was a stupid sacrifice. A year separation is really not a good idea if you need to work on your marriage. However, the hero’s shock method worked because this is an HP. And did I mention that the angst is off the charts? It is delicious.
Triggers: cheating, talk of abortion in flashback.
Yes – he's suggesting an open marriage. Heroine thinks she doesn’t care about the hero any more until the night before he leaves and they finally have sex again. But he’s gone in the morning and she’s left to endure a year without the H, torturing herself with the thought that he is sleeping with his secretary.
Heroine writes a children’s book based on her childhood dog, a mischievous boxer. She becomes friend with the illustrator – who fills in nicely as a wanna be OM when the hero returns. She also grieves her daughter, remembers how they met (and how she pursued him) and puts up with her horrible mother.
The heroine is not that likeable at the beginning of the story, but she grows and changes with a brief stint of misinterpreting everything the hero does and says when he returns for the black moment.
The hero is redeemed at the end of this story in a twist that eased my mind, but a lot reviewers didn’t like it.
I like this story for a lot of reasons. I love the angst. I love how cold and frozen the heroine is at the beginning and how it isn’t sex that cures her – it’s creative work, it’s the hard work of examining herself and deciding to change and let go of her hurt and fear.
Another reason I like this story is I am a sucker for older heroes who back off for their younger heroines to live their life without them. It’s the noble sacrifice that gets to me.
In this case it was a stupid sacrifice. A year separation is really not a good idea if you need to work on your marriage. However, the hero’s shock method worked because this is an HP. And did I mention that the angst is off the charts? It is delicious.
Triggers: cheating, talk of abortion in flashback.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
August 27, 2013
How does a couple survive the loss of their child?For some couples,it may either strenghten their bond or tear it apart.For this couple,the loss drifted them apart untill they were strangers in their home.
Joshua and Joanna married when she became pregnant at seventeen and he in his early thirties( Joshua thought that she was twenty).When their baby girl is six weeks old,it was discovered that she had a fatal illness.I am guessing leukemia.The baby dies when she is about three years old .Joanna,unable to cope with the loss,turns away from Joshua.Soon after ,he attempts to make love to her and she becomes angry and hysterical,hitting him.She is so over come with her grief that she does not see the grief that Joshua also has.
This goes on for a year and the couple drifts further apart.
Things change when Joshua is offered the chance to tour the U S as a guest medical speaker.He tells Joanna that he is going away for the year alone and taking his secretary with him.Joanna thinks that he has been having an affair with her these past few months.
The year passes and Joanna is now an independant young woman who writes children's stories and has moved into her own apartment.
Joshua returns and is a much changed person than when he left.During their time apart,Joanna realizes that she still is in love with him and decides to fight for her man.
I was fully prepared to dislike this heroine at the beginning of the book.She came across as a spoilt young woman who would do anything to get what she wants.She in my opinion stalked the hero when she first met him and lied about her actual age .Her personna after their daughter had died was so cold and withdrawn..Towards the end,she became a much warmer person and I had empathy for her.
The hero on the other hand,I liked his character.I could tell from the beginning that he had feelings for the heroine .Talk about a couple that need to speak to each other openingly about their feeling and loss.
This was an emotional angsty read that I enjoyed.4.5*** read.
Joshua and Joanna married when she became pregnant at seventeen and he in his early thirties( Joshua thought that she was twenty).When their baby girl is six weeks old,it was discovered that she had a fatal illness.I am guessing leukemia.The baby dies when she is about three years old .Joanna,unable to cope with the loss,turns away from Joshua.Soon after ,he attempts to make love to her and she becomes angry and hysterical,hitting him.She is so over come with her grief that she does not see the grief that Joshua also has.
This goes on for a year and the couple drifts further apart.
Things change when Joshua is offered the chance to tour the U S as a guest medical speaker.He tells Joanna that he is going away for the year alone and taking his secretary with him.Joanna thinks that he has been having an affair with her these past few months.
The year passes and Joanna is now an independant young woman who writes children's stories and has moved into her own apartment.
Joshua returns and is a much changed person than when he left.During their time apart,Joanna realizes that she still is in love with him and decides to fight for her man.
I was fully prepared to dislike this heroine at the beginning of the book.She came across as a spoilt young woman who would do anything to get what she wants.She in my opinion stalked the hero when she first met him and lied about her actual age .Her personna after their daughter had died was so cold and withdrawn..Towards the end,she became a much warmer person and I had empathy for her.
The hero on the other hand,I liked his character.I could tell from the beginning that he had feelings for the heroine .Talk about a couple that need to speak to each other openingly about their feeling and loss.
This was an emotional angsty read that I enjoyed.4.5*** read.
June 29, 2013
A marriage in peril written with tons of angst and incredible passion. It was clear from the very beginning that the Hero and heroine were crazy about each other. Their sizzling chemistry could be felt for miles around. Their love was so strong that others could feel it. Forced to marry due to an unplanned pregnancy they became blinded to each other's feelings. This really hindered their ability to build a strong foundation in their marriage. Consequently, when tragedy struck they couldn't hold it together.
I was absolutely mesmerized by this story. Definitely one of CM's very best. 4.5 stars
I was absolutely mesmerized by this story. Definitely one of CM's very best. 4.5 stars
October 30, 2021
Dnf @51%
Lots of men stray in a failing marriage.
Well, Dr. Joshua strayed too but could you really blame him when he had a wife like Joanna. If I were Joshua I would have strayed on the second day of marriage. Maybe even on the wedding night. Maybe even during the wedding ceremony. Props to my man for putting up with Joanna for five years. He was a survivor. A champion. A ⭐️.
It all started one (doomed) day when Joanna (17) went on a skiing trip in Canada with her parents and there she set her eyes on an unsuspecting Joshua (early thirties) while he was skiing with his holiday fling, and decided that she wanted Joshua for herself and would have him at any cost because she’d never been denied anything in her life. 😠😘😠
Joanna on her way to make Joshua aware of her:
Joanna’s failed attempt at making Joshua aware of her:
Joanna unashamedly approaching a very uninterested Joshua the next day (or maybe 3 days after, don’t remember, don’t care) and offering to buy him coffee.
Joshua blatantly insulting Joanna and her still not taking the hint:
Long story short, after lecherously pursuing Joshua, Joanna finally managed to get the d, went back home and discovered two months later that she was p 🤰
Joanna on her way to visit Joshua at his clinic so she could ask him to abort their baby.
I always suspected Joanna had great mother potential.
And I always suspected that Joshua had great father potential and he proved me right when he tried to make love to Joanna the night their daughter died.🤩😫🤩
This book was sooo all over the place from the hero admitting to have been cheating on the heroine for 6 months to him asking to spend a year away with his mistress and asking her to FIND a lover for herself, but REFUSING to divorce his wife because he intended to come back to her after his little getaway to see if they felt any different about their already-in-shambles-and-undoubtedly-irredeemable marriage. 🙂
At any rate, Joanna must have been thrilled inside to hear about his proposition because it probably heralded another ski trip for her.
Lots of men stray in a failing marriage.
Well, Dr. Joshua strayed too but could you really blame him when he had a wife like Joanna. If I were Joshua I would have strayed on the second day of marriage. Maybe even on the wedding night. Maybe even during the wedding ceremony. Props to my man for putting up with Joanna for five years. He was a survivor. A champion. A ⭐️.
It all started one (doomed) day when Joanna (17) went on a skiing trip in Canada with her parents and there she set her eyes on an unsuspecting Joshua (early thirties) while he was skiing with his holiday fling, and decided that she wanted Joshua for herself and would have him at any cost because she’d never been denied anything in her life. 😠😘😠
“The first day Joanna saw him at the ski-run on his own she thought perhaps the redhead had decided to spend the day in Banff for a change, but when she didn't put in an appearance for three days in a row Joanna knew the other woman had left, that it had only been a holiday romance after all and not a cosy getaway for two in Canada.
As far as she was concerned it was the ideal opportunity for her to make him aware of her, something she hadn't so far achieved, for all that she had tried to.”
Joanna on her way to make Joshua aware of her:
Joanna’s failed attempt at making Joshua aware of her:
“Miss Proctor,' he acknowledged curtly, and instantly left the locker-room.
So much for getting him to notice her! Oh, he had noticed her, all right, and just as soon dismissed her, she thought indignantly. Well, Joshua Radcliffe was about to find out that she only became all the more determined when something was constantly denied her.”
Joanna unashamedly approaching a very uninterested Joshua the next day (or maybe 3 days after, don’t remember, don’t care) and offering to buy him coffee.
“Oh, I do,'she nodded eagerly. 'Er--could I buy you another cup of coffee?' she asked desperately as he seemed about to get up and leave.
He froze in the action of standing, looking down at her slowly. 'Are you in the habit of buying strange men coffee?' His voice was icy.”
Joshua blatantly insulting Joanna and her still not taking the hint:
“For a moment he said nothing, then his mouth twisted into a mocking smile. 'And I suppose you've been tempting men since you were in your cradle?' he mused.
He was actually flirting with her! 'Not exactly,' she grinned.
All humour left him, leaving his face more austere than usual. 'That's probably because you haven't left it yet!' And with this abrupt comment he left her.”
Long story short, after lecherously pursuing Joshua, Joanna finally managed to get the d, went back home and discovered two months later that she was p 🤰
Joanna on her way to visit Joshua at his clinic so she could ask him to abort their baby.
I always suspected Joanna had great mother potential.
And I always suspected that Joshua had great father potential and he proved me right when he tried to make love to Joanna the night their daughter died.🤩😫🤩
This book was sooo all over the place from the hero admitting to have been cheating on the heroine for 6 months to him asking to spend a year away with his mistress and asking her to FIND a lover for herself, but REFUSING to divorce his wife because he intended to come back to her after his little getaway to see if they felt any different about their already-in-shambles-and-undoubtedly-irredeemable marriage. 🙂
“But the situation won't! I'll still be married to you and wishing I weren't, and you'll still be married to me and wishing you weren't. I know you're taking Angela with you, Joshua,' she told him softly. 'Am I supposed to sit here in London waiting faithfully for my husband to come back from a year spent with his mistress?' she scorned.”
“No,' he rasped. 'You're supposed to go out and find yourself a lover for a year!'
'What?' she gasped weakly.
'We'll be totally separated, Joanna,' he informed her harshly. 'Live our own lives, have our own friends. You and I will be totally free to be with whom we like, sleep with whom we like for that year.”
At any rate, Joanna must have been thrilled inside to hear about his proposition because it probably heralded another ski trip for her.
Read
June 4, 2018So, after dwelling on whether to read it or not, I DID in fact read it, however, I don't have a decided reaction. Therefore it is only fair that I don't rate this book. I have only tagged the book that might have been possible triggers for some.
I would suggest you read two reviews and make up your own mind:
StMargaret's Review
and
Kathy's Review
I'll throw in my two cents of what I thought about H's actions, not the book review:
So there, these are the reason why I respected, and loved the hero, but at the same time, hated him too. As I said. I am not sure where I stand with this book. So I'll leave it un-rated.
I would suggest you read two reviews and make up your own mind:
StMargaret's Review
and
Kathy's Review
I'll throw in my two cents of what I thought about H's actions, not the book review:
So there, these are the reason why I respected, and loved the hero, but at the same time, hated him too. As I said. I am not sure where I stand with this book. So I'll leave it un-rated.
June 25, 2013
That was a romance with lots of angst and drama! Hero and heroine have a vacation fling when heroine is only seventeen and hero thirty two. They get married because the heroine is pregnant and they are quite happy together. Unfortunately their daughter dies very young and this tragedy tears them apart.
The heroine wants a divorce, the hero moves to America for a year and in the meantime the heroine reinvents herself, moves out of her husband's house and has a great career. When her estranged husband returns he thinks his wife has moved on with a younger man and she thinks he had and still has a mistress.
Lots of miscommunication and misunderstandings occur before the HEA but this is what made this book so compelling to me. Also there was NO cheating whatsoever which is always a plus!
The heroine wants a divorce, the hero moves to America for a year and in the meantime the heroine reinvents herself, moves out of her husband's house and has a great career. When her estranged husband returns he thinks his wife has moved on with a younger man and she thinks he had and still has a mistress.
Lots of miscommunication and misunderstandings occur before the HEA but this is what made this book so compelling to me. Also there was NO cheating whatsoever which is always a plus!
July 2, 2019
Well, in this case I would be in the statistics of divorced couples, because if my husband, however good his intentions, would leave me for a year and travel with an ex-lover, surely on his return would be the divorce papers signed by me, waiting for him. And, of course, the advice of having a lover or marrying someone else with more consideration would be accepted! Who wants a big cowardly loser on their side?
February 18, 2021
I hated her when she was soo understanding of her husband's "supposed" affair.
November 7, 2016
Joshua and Joanna get married due to an unwanted pregnancy , she was eighteen and in love with him . She goes to him after 2months , expecting him to abort their baby since he is a gynaecologist , but he marries her instead .
They were happy together as any other married couple , till the tragedy strikes , they discover that their daughter is suffering from unrecoverable disease . As soon as Joanna knows it , she distances herself from everyone else mentally except her daughter . Joshua understands her and don't bother questioning . With the death of their daughter 2 years later , she shuts her husband out of her life , out of her bed and body . Now its been a year since they behaved something more than acquaintance , they became strangers being in the same house .
Now Joshua offers her one year of freedom , He is going America with his secretary and he asks Joanna to have a lover . He postpones her divorce idea for one more year .
During that one year , obviously she realises she is still inlove with him and she cannot afford to let him go what so ever may be the reason she wants her husband . It was a very simple story after that , but Mortimer penned them beautifully , I enjoyed reading it .
They were happy together as any other married couple , till the tragedy strikes , they discover that their daughter is suffering from unrecoverable disease . As soon as Joanna knows it , she distances herself from everyone else mentally except her daughter . Joshua understands her and don't bother questioning . With the death of their daughter 2 years later , she shuts her husband out of her life , out of her bed and body . Now its been a year since they behaved something more than acquaintance , they became strangers being in the same house .
Now Joshua offers her one year of freedom , He is going America with his secretary and he asks Joanna to have a lover . He postpones her divorce idea for one more year .
During that one year , obviously she realises she is still inlove with him and she cannot afford to let him go what so ever may be the reason she wants her husband . It was a very simple story after that , but Mortimer penned them beautifully , I enjoyed reading it .
March 9, 2020
"The Failed Marriage" is the story of Joanna and Joshua.
This books deals with grief and forgiveness- how the loss of a child can affect a couple. Our very young h fell in love with the much older H, and seduced him only to get pregnant. They have a lovely child and a passionate marriage, until all goes wrong and their dreams shatter.
Now they live in an unhappy home, barely talking. Until the H decides it's time for them to separate, and possibly take lovers..
Honestly, for the first time I believe the separation did them good- the h had time to mature, realize her love and become independent, and forgive herself as well as the H. The H did not have much role in the book, but was a brooding, distant, obsessed lover.
Safe
3/5
This books deals with grief and forgiveness- how the loss of a child can affect a couple. Our very young h fell in love with the much older H, and seduced him only to get pregnant. They have a lovely child and a passionate marriage, until all goes wrong and their dreams shatter.
Now they live in an unhappy home, barely talking. Until the H decides it's time for them to separate, and possibly take lovers..
Honestly, for the first time I believe the separation did them good- the h had time to mature, realize her love and become independent, and forgive herself as well as the H. The H did not have much role in the book, but was a brooding, distant, obsessed lover.
Safe
3/5
March 18, 2016
I loved him to pieces. He couldn't fool me!
I loved reading about how they met and how this 17 years old girl had set her eyes on him and nothing on her path was going to dissuade her on getting him. I believe I liked the younger version more than the woman she became during the one year separation. Her younger self was fearless and wasn't afraid of going after what she wanted. Although the changes she went through in personality were quite understandable considering what she had to face for few years.
There was too much love and respect on both sides for this to be a failed marriage. It was the grieve and blaming themselves that made each of them so unhappy.
I loved reading about how they met and how this 17 years old girl had set her eyes on him and nothing on her path was going to dissuade her on getting him. I believe I liked the younger version more than the woman she became during the one year separation. Her younger self was fearless and wasn't afraid of going after what she wanted. Although the changes she went through in personality were quite understandable considering what she had to face for few years.
There was too much love and respect on both sides for this to be a failed marriage. It was the grieve and blaming themselves that made each of them so unhappy.
December 27, 2020
4.5 angsty stars
April 16, 2019
Wow ... this has been on my tbr for sometime now ... and finally I picked it up ..
I won't go on about the synopsis ... there are plenty of detailed reviews ...
What worked for me? This is about a couple who have been through a huge tragedy ... its one thing if a couple lose a child unexpectedly ... another if they know the child will not live for long .. each moment is a race against time ... so not very surprisingly, this couple fall apart ...
She becomes apathetic and he becomes distant ... but because he is older, he feels she did not get a chance to play around and enjoy her youth ...
I never believed he cheated ... when he tells her he slept with his assistant for 6 months, I got the idea he meant something else entirely ... which he does ...
They separate and both get a chance to develop; he becomes more relaxed while she builds a career, growing up in a different way ... and both realise they love each other ...
All in all, this is a good book and IMHO a must read .... one of CM's best works ...
I won't go on about the synopsis ... there are plenty of detailed reviews ...
What worked for me? This is about a couple who have been through a huge tragedy ... its one thing if a couple lose a child unexpectedly ... another if they know the child will not live for long .. each moment is a race against time ... so not very surprisingly, this couple fall apart ...
She becomes apathetic and he becomes distant ... but because he is older, he feels she did not get a chance to play around and enjoy her youth ...
I never believed he cheated ... when he tells her he slept with his assistant for 6 months, I got the idea he meant something else entirely ... which he does ...
They separate and both get a chance to develop; he becomes more relaxed while she builds a career, growing up in a different way ... and both realise they love each other ...
All in all, this is a good book and IMHO a must read .... one of CM's best works ...
September 26, 2020
The book was just OK. I think some scenes were OTT and forced. I have liked some books by this author, but this one wasn't great, in my opinion ñ_ñ
Oh! I forgot to mention that I missed an epilogue with a baby or twins to round up the whole story, that would has made me to add one star more to the rating ;)
P.S. Other shelves: hero-is-a-doctor, betta-hero, heroine-is-a-children's-book-author
Oh! I forgot to mention that I missed an epilogue with a baby or twins to round up the whole story, that would has made me to add one star more to the rating ;)
P.S. Other shelves: hero-is-a-doctor, betta-hero, heroine-is-a-children's-book-author
August 25, 2018
"The Failed Marriage" is one emotional coaster romantic tale...full of passion,love and heartbreaking emotions that tore me apart.
What the heroine and hero had to go through was a tragic,a horrible disaster that could have killed anyone...but the two of them were stronger than anyone could have been..
but that was what failed them.
Lack of communication.
I think this heroine, Joanna Radcliffe is one of my favourite heroines EVER.She was really a spoiled brat when she first met the hero,and i just thought her so adorable and funny for trying to capture his attention and then i just admired her when she seduced him.What a GODDESS!
And her emotions when it came to the death of her daughter...how can you live while watching your child die?Knowing it`s dying?
I understand her coldness,her grief and her bitter state..i would have behaved the same.
Mortimer made me fall in love with this INCREDIBLE hero,Joshua Radcliffe is EVERYTHING in a man.I knew of his love towards her all along and his patience,his sacrifice and the extreme love he had for her was too much.
I knew of his desperation,the desperation to have his wife back,loving him.I almost smiled when he didn`t deny having an affair with his secretary,cuz i KNEW HE NEVER HAD..OR EVER WOULD CHEAT AT ALL.His love for Joanna was too powerful and what he did to win her back was...OH POOR Joshua!!!!!!!!!!
Joshua and Joanna had an incredible chemistry,their love- story is a really emotional one but i am glad they found back to each other.SO GLAD!
What the heroine and hero had to go through was a tragic,a horrible disaster that could have killed anyone...but the two of them were stronger than anyone could have been..
but that was what failed them.
Lack of communication.
I think this heroine, Joanna Radcliffe is one of my favourite heroines EVER.She was really a spoiled brat when she first met the hero,and i just thought her so adorable and funny for trying to capture his attention and then i just admired her when she seduced him.What a GODDESS!
And her emotions when it came to the death of her daughter...how can you live while watching your child die?Knowing it`s dying?
I understand her coldness,her grief and her bitter state..i would have behaved the same.
Mortimer made me fall in love with this INCREDIBLE hero,Joshua Radcliffe is EVERYTHING in a man.I knew of his love towards her all along and his patience,his sacrifice and the extreme love he had for her was too much.
I knew of his desperation,the desperation to have his wife back,loving him.I almost smiled when he didn`t deny having an affair with his secretary,cuz i KNEW HE NEVER HAD..OR EVER WOULD CHEAT AT ALL.His love for Joanna was too powerful and what he did to win her back was...OH POOR Joshua!!!!!!!!!!
Joshua and Joanna had an incredible chemistry,their love- story is a really emotional one but i am glad they found back to each other.SO GLAD!
March 4, 2013
WHAT A LOAD OF TRIPE
The heroine gets pregnant by the much older hero when she's eighteen. They marry but then the baby dies. They struggle on with the marriage for five years, growing further apart. Then he announces that he's going to America for a year taking his mistress of six months with him. He advises her to take a lover herself.
I have read many books by this author, and have enjoyed lots of them. But this was miserable and depressing. What really got me was when the hero returned after spending a year in America he immediately came back into his wife's life. Why she didn't tell him to take a hike was beyond me. Glad that I paid pennies for this at the local charity shop was the only plus point.
The heroine gets pregnant by the much older hero when she's eighteen. They marry but then the baby dies. They struggle on with the marriage for five years, growing further apart. Then he announces that he's going to America for a year taking his mistress of six months with him. He advises her to take a lover herself.
I have read many books by this author, and have enjoyed lots of them. But this was miserable and depressing. What really got me was when the hero returned after spending a year in America he immediately came back into his wife's life. Why she didn't tell him to take a hike was beyond me. Glad that I paid pennies for this at the local charity shop was the only plus point.
May 13, 2020
I don't know if it's because I am older but I really enjoyed this book on re-read. The husband was very cruel and lied to her to try and jolt her back into life I think. She avoided him and wouldn't have sex with him for a year after her child died. He ended up taking his assistant with him for another year of travelling. The wife thought she was his mistress but you have to read it to find out. I cried at several parts and I really didn't like the heroine at first but the ending was good just wish there was an epilogue.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
June 1, 2022
When two idiots marry...
He's as dumb as a box of rocks, and she's tstl. She was practically a child when they marry, so she has that excuse, but him? He's just an idiot. Neither of them can talk to each other? He never once said "I love you" in their five year marriage. When she's clearly suffering from depression after the loss of their toddler instead of helping her he basically abandons her. Then just tells her he's been having an affair with his secretary and he intends separate for an year so he can travel with his mistress and she should find herself some lovers too? Abandons her for said year during which she finally gets over her depression, does some growing, and finds herself as an adult woman not just a bride child (which was the onto one good part) but nonetheless lives pinning away for the husband who she believes is having a great time with his mistress, waiting for him to return to her. She obviously never finds any "lovers" lol. just makes friends with the guy she works with. When he comes back finally, she still believes he's staying with the OW, she basically just begs for him to give her any attention, whenever he can spare her some time if he's not spending it with his mistress ugh!. Turns out he's just a moron who thought it was a brilliant idea to make his wife believe he's having an affair, that he's with ow, to give her "space" for a year without contact, and to come back as like nothing and start "courting" her??? Lucky for him, she was as stupid as him and didn't have a spine or the wits to get a divorce. Turns out he never had an affair, or a mistress, but was too afraid to talk to his wife or tell her he lives her because he thought she hated him after the death of their child, and she thought kind of along the same lines about him.
He's as dumb as a box of rocks, and she's tstl. She was practically a child when they marry, so she has that excuse, but him? He's just an idiot. Neither of them can talk to each other? He never once said "I love you" in their five year marriage. When she's clearly suffering from depression after the loss of their toddler instead of helping her he basically abandons her. Then just tells her he's been having an affair with his secretary and he intends separate for an year so he can travel with his mistress and she should find herself some lovers too? Abandons her for said year during which she finally gets over her depression, does some growing, and finds herself as an adult woman not just a bride child (which was the onto one good part) but nonetheless lives pinning away for the husband who she believes is having a great time with his mistress, waiting for him to return to her. She obviously never finds any "lovers" lol. just makes friends with the guy she works with. When he comes back finally, she still believes he's staying with the OW, she basically just begs for him to give her any attention, whenever he can spare her some time if he's not spending it with his mistress ugh!. Turns out he's just a moron who thought it was a brilliant idea to make his wife believe he's having an affair, that he's with ow, to give her "space" for a year without contact, and to come back as like nothing and start "courting" her??? Lucky for him, she was as stupid as him and didn't have a spine or the wits to get a divorce. Turns out he never had an affair, or a mistress, but was too afraid to talk to his wife or tell her he lives her because he thought she hated him after the death of their child, and she thought kind of along the same lines about him.
October 28, 2021
I came here to read the reviews because I’m only on page 17 and I realize I’m already wanting to DNF.
The h is the standard poor little rich girl/woman; she’s the typical blonde, elite daughter of a rich banker. She hasn’t worked a day in her life. She comes from a rich family and her husband (the H) is rich too. Wealth surrounds her arrogancy.
She’s having lunch with her mother and this adult woman is all the time wallowing in self-pity about her mother not being really interested in her. I don’t see any interest from her for her mother either, but okay. Her husband is not interested in her, the whole world isn’t interested in her. Omg.
The way she talks to the publisher, so haughty. She’s not a nice person.
Anyway, I see a lot of good ratings, so I’ll try to read further.
————————
Update: I gave up at page 65. When she admitted that she had lied to him about her age before he slept with her. She said she was 20, he thought she was 19, but the truth is she was 17.
And wth, he is a gynaecologist and he doesn’t use birth control with a stranger. A young woman he has known only for two days on a skiing holiday. That is just crazy.
Ughh. DNF.
I totally agree with Adensanti’s review: he should have found himself a better woman.
The h is the standard poor little rich girl/woman; she’s the typical blonde, elite daughter of a rich banker. She hasn’t worked a day in her life. She comes from a rich family and her husband (the H) is rich too. Wealth surrounds her arrogancy.
She’s having lunch with her mother and this adult woman is all the time wallowing in self-pity about her mother not being really interested in her. I don’t see any interest from her for her mother either, but okay. Her husband is not interested in her, the whole world isn’t interested in her. Omg.
The way she talks to the publisher, so haughty. She’s not a nice person.
Anyway, I see a lot of good ratings, so I’ll try to read further.
————————
Update: I gave up at page 65. When she admitted that she had lied to him about her age before he slept with her. She said she was 20, he thought she was 19, but the truth is she was 17.
And wth, he is a gynaecologist and he doesn’t use birth control with a stranger. A young woman he has known only for two days on a skiing holiday. That is just crazy.
Ughh. DNF.
I totally agree with Adensanti’s review: he should have found himself a better woman.
Did not finish
September 29, 2021DNF - story isn’t for me - child loss, H isn’t j/p - suggest open marriage - takes off for a year with former bed buddy - he lets h think he’s having an affair with OW… I know he doesn’t actually cheat, but knowing that he’s been working with a woman he’s had a long-term sexual relationship with and then leaves to go abroad with her for a year is yuck. And I know that his intention is to let the h grow up and spread her wings …But encouraging her to take a lover makes him the very worst beta male in my book. 🤷🏼♀️ I also didn’t like how the h did all the pursuing. They only married because she was pregnant. He never intended on seeing her again. Not for me.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
April 25, 2018
I was torn to give rating for this book. I admitted the so called angst in the story, I wanted to rip Joshua apart, come on... a mistress?? although in the end he explained to Joanna, but still... to lie like that, ugh, despicable!
in all fairness, I'm quite enjoyed this book.
in all fairness, I'm quite enjoyed this book.
January 19, 2021
This was different. I like Carole Mortimer because she doesn't write every time the same book with different names of characters like many other Harlequin writers do. We have different plot, some of them really interesting. And she doesn't reveal all their secret immediately or only in the ende but one at a time. So the reading is really enjoyable. We have a married couple and a tragedy (they lost their little child). The h is frozen in her despair and converted her pain into hatred and resentment towards her husband. H is older and doesn't know what to do to help her. He decides that they have one year separation and then they will decide. She thinks he has a mistress, and he doesn't disabuse her of this idea. He tells her she must have other lovers during this year and leave for America. He will come back and eventually they will be happy together, solving their misunderstanding. I wonder why these couples never talk about their issues. They keep on believing the worst of each other until they almost divorce, when a free talk would solve all their problems. I don't think that long separations are healthy for a couple either, most of them in the end decide to part because there is no more a true commitment to bind them. If you are a couple you solve the problems together, you don't run and hope they solve by themselves. This is the meaning of being a couple: to stay together even when things go very very wrong. For better or for worse. So I find it difficult to believe that in the end they are happy. Anyway, this was a different story and I liked it.
May 23, 2015
this one also was about adultery. i enjoyed it very much even before i knew the truth. joshua and joanna had an intense relationship. in the recap, it was painfully obvious dat joshua did love his wife but did not know how to approach her. she was a sad soul, broken after her baby's death. joshua thought she married him only bcoz she was pregnant and she thought exactly the same thing about him; dat he married her bcoz she was enceinte. i cud believe he took a mistress after the chaotic events of their shared past and her very painful rejection of him. dat did not diminish his love in no way.
April 12, 2021
Lots of men stray in a failing marriage
And Joshua had good reason. After all, it was nearly a year since Joanna had denied him access to her bed and body. Yet it seemed only yesterday that their fragile love had shattered with the death of their only child.
"I'm taking Angela to the States, " he had stated coldly, "and you must find yourself a lover, too!" That he demanded a year away with someone else, and the same for Joanna, was hurtful.
But the rekindling of desire between her and Joshua right before his departure troubled Joanna most of all.
And Joshua had good reason. After all, it was nearly a year since Joanna had denied him access to her bed and body. Yet it seemed only yesterday that their fragile love had shattered with the death of their only child.
"I'm taking Angela to the States, " he had stated coldly, "and you must find yourself a lover, too!" That he demanded a year away with someone else, and the same for Joanna, was hurtful.
But the rekindling of desire between her and Joshua right before his departure troubled Joanna most of all.
August 10, 2012
3.5 stars
This one will angst you. Read several months ago so I just skimmed to refresh my memory about the story and remember suffering through a great deal of it and being happy at then end. Not a bad read.
This one will angst you. Read several months ago so I just skimmed to refresh my memory about the story and remember suffering through a great deal of it and being happy at then end. Not a bad read.
August 6, 2019
3.75 Stars
June 22, 2015
hmm.. im not liking joana, not even a bit. this is the first time where i felt that, it will b good, if Josh was really taking a mistress. joana was selfish and immature, and childish, but that's what she was supposed to act, right? since she was only 18 at the time she went all out to beg josh to take her to his bed. and she was only 21-ish when she was faced by the dead of her daughter, so in here, i was trying really hard to not forgeting that it was her age that makes her being potrayed as annoying lil bitch toward josh. yes, i said it, she's an annoying lil bitch. it's normal if she felt like hating josh and shut him out of her life due to her depression bcoz of lindy death. But it bcome weird when for 2 latter years after she gone "individual" in their marriage relationship that when she was firmly believed she doesnt need josh, hate for his touch, not even bother to communicate, not even bother to scream or throwing tantrum, and sured as hell that she want a divorved and not even give a flying F about his rumour mistress, not even feel emotionally cheated, she's just as icy as a cold lil bitch can, and want to divorced him, then the next thing happened when she knw that josh was going to US for 1 year w/his "mistress", she went crazy and angry. i mean.. the F joana?? and when josh give her a 1 year trial to acknowledge what she want, sleep with who she want before taking the divorce route, she then feeling that she felt like she didnt meant a thing to Josh. should she be thinking that she still has that right to be felt that she was a treasure to josh? that's just plain weird. i mean, after the way she treated josh??? really? jo? and when he comeback, she just angry bcoz she felt that, why he bcome cold? why he didnt want to jump and hump her right at the door the first time Josh was step into her life again? why josh?? coz that's the first thing that's come on her mind.she felt she love josh, soo much love him, love him too much she could die. yes. it's weird. and then when josh acted awkward, coz mind you "awkward" is the normal thing josh can showed after a year away from her, and after the way she refused him and want a divorced, she cried like a victim, when what she hoped for josh, to hump her right away didnt happened. she though he dosnt want her anymore. He, the guy that she treated cold, the guy that she herself refused, the guy that she disnt give a flying F at all. and now she was expecting him to be all lovey dowey? what a bitch...
ughh... i can felt josh love for her, but nowhere i can felt joana's love for him. right after 5chapters, i thought that maybe joana was mental after all. No? oh well
ughh... i can felt josh love for her, but nowhere i can felt joana's love for him. right after 5chapters, i thought that maybe joana was mental after all. No? oh well
July 15, 2013
Maybe even 4.5 stars. I really enjoyed this one, particularly because I love a totally smitten hero and a heroine who is pretty indifferent to him at the start. I like having the hero chase the heroine. Plot was goofy and the characters made some insane decisions and told huge lies, but it was still a satisfying read.
October 8, 2011
Review it later
September 25, 2012
I love it!It was pretty intense and it reminded me of "The ultimate betrayal" by Michelle Reid.
4.8*
Strongly recommend it!
4.8*
Strongly recommend it!
Displaying 1 - 30 of 67 reviews