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The Dark Side of Marriage
Could she bear to live a lie...?
Karen hadn't seen Nick since their painful and bitter separation two years before, but he was still her husband. Now he had come back with an impossible request
"You are coming to Dellersbeck to play the part of a loving wife as though nothing had ever come between us."
How could she possibly live under the same roof as the man who despised her--hiding the fact that she still loved him?
Karen hadn't seen Nick since their painful and bitter separation two years before, but he was still her husband. Now he had come back with an impossible request
"You are coming to Dellersbeck to play the part of a loving wife as though nothing had ever come between us."
How could she possibly live under the same roof as the man who despised her--hiding the fact that she still loved him?
190 pages, Paperback
First published September 1, 1978
1 person is currently reading
108 people want to read
About the author
Margery Hilton
73 books18 followersMargery Hilton and her husband worked in the theater and in wasn't until she had to retire from her job due to a back injury, which also prevented her from doing any housework. So she had time to settle down to serious writing.
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Displaying 1 - 17 of 18 reviews
June 26, 2024
Hero has an EPICALLY INAPPROPRIATE, quasi-incestuous relationship with his adoptive sister, who he is ALWAYS ALWAYS ALWAYS prioritizing over his own wife and getting all handsy-feely with in front of their respective spouses, with absolutely ZERO shame. Shades of Jamie and Cersei YUCK.
I mean that scene when this grown, married woman flies out of the house in the middle of the night wearing her nightie and flings herself on her "brother" while the actual wife watches, horrified, from the window.... SMH 😧
And of course, hero went and married a woman with EXACT body type and EXACT hair texture and color as his "sister."
The "dark side of marriage" indeed!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
March 29, 2020
Re-read 3/2020
Whyyyyyyyyy???? I forgot I read it and it was awful omg. I just wish I had that hour back.
First read
Just too crazy. Two years apart, marital rape, jealousy and a dying mother. Oh and a car accident. And boring as all get out. I can't believe I turned out normal after reading these in my teen years. Or did i????
Whyyyyyyyyy???? I forgot I read it and it was awful omg. I just wish I had that hour back.
First read
Just too crazy. Two years apart, marital rape, jealousy and a dying mother. Oh and a car accident. And boring as all get out. I can't believe I turned out normal after reading these in my teen years. Or did i????
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
August 30, 2022
Every M&B cover artist is my very favorite at some point—at the moment it's Spanish artist Domingo Álvarez. He's another of Spain's many notable cartoonist/illustrators, a combination which requires overlapping but distinct skills and speaks to their remarkable artistry.
Hqn cover is by Emile La Liberté.
A bleak uncompromising look at but not into a broken marriage and it's rather dubious repair. Unusually—and whence it achieves it's negative power—the heavy mood never lifts.
All we see of Karen and Nick's brief marriage is their sudden breakup two years prior when Karen refuses to fully exonerate herself against Nick's assumption, on flimsy evidence, that she cheated on him. Why does she behave so stupidly? Because she made a careless promise of secrecy to her sister-in-law. So beyond rational evaluation of harm—or the understanding that a marriage vow to forsake all others isn't just about bodily fidelity—she's never never gonna tell. And she's hurt and indignant when Nick won't trust her word, how is that love she wonders? She expected trust without realizing he had little trust in her from the outset, at least not with any personal or painful facts about his past. She only learns about his abused childhood much later from her MIL when it's used somewhat cheaply as a get-out-of-bad-behavior-free card.
So Nick is inflexible and withholding and Karen is a fool. Yet the believability of TDSoM's HEA depends on a reader's acceptance that but for this one example of miscommunication and mistrust the marriage was fundamentally sound. Otherwise there's no evidence of love at all. No softening or spontaneous moments of fondness from him; no strengthening or repairing of the relationship. When he uses emotional blackmail to force her into the pretense that they're still together I assumed this was partially an excuse to get Karen back but it wasn't.
. Ta-da the foundation built on dust is now firmly embedded in granite. Yeah, I didn't believe it either.
I spent the entirety of this grim book waiting for Margery Hilton to build a case for why this couple ought to be reconciled which she never managed to do. It was gripping—it was a bit of a slog—it wasn't a love story. I'll probably read it again at some point.
Hqn cover is by Emile La Liberté.
A bleak uncompromising look at but not into a broken marriage and it's rather dubious repair. Unusually—and whence it achieves it's negative power—the heavy mood never lifts.
All we see of Karen and Nick's brief marriage is their sudden breakup two years prior when Karen refuses to fully exonerate herself against Nick's assumption, on flimsy evidence, that she cheated on him. Why does she behave so stupidly? Because she made a careless promise of secrecy to her sister-in-law. So beyond rational evaluation of harm—or the understanding that a marriage vow to forsake all others isn't just about bodily fidelity—she's never never gonna tell. And she's hurt and indignant when Nick won't trust her word, how is that love she wonders? She expected trust without realizing he had little trust in her from the outset, at least not with any personal or painful facts about his past. She only learns about his abused childhood much later from her MIL when it's used somewhat cheaply as a get-out-of-bad-behavior-free card.
So Nick is inflexible and withholding and Karen is a fool. Yet the believability of TDSoM's HEA depends on a reader's acceptance that but for this one example of miscommunication and mistrust the marriage was fundamentally sound. Otherwise there's no evidence of love at all. No softening or spontaneous moments of fondness from him; no strengthening or repairing of the relationship. When he uses emotional blackmail to force her into the pretense that they're still together I assumed this was partially an excuse to get Karen back but it wasn't.
. Ta-da the foundation built on dust is now firmly embedded in granite. Yeah, I didn't believe it either.
I spent the entirety of this grim book waiting for Margery Hilton to build a case for why this couple ought to be reconciled which she never managed to do. It was gripping—it was a bit of a slog—it wasn't a love story. I'll probably read it again at some point.
April 9, 2016
Whoa - this title fits the story. Twenty-two year-old heroine is compelled by her estranged husband after two years to reconcile and move to the family house in Yorkshire to ease the mind of his terminally ill adoptive mother. Also moving in? His married sister who is the bio daughter and the reason for the H/h's separation.
In order to enjoy/gawk at this story, you have to accept a few premises:
Yes, it's wrecky in a good way. I couldn't stop reading - even though the H/hr weren't always together or the narrative wasn't always focused on their marriage. I realized how different the author's treatment of the hero's backstory is compared to the angsty stories of today. In this story his past is mentioned and the heroine thinks about it when it's relevant at certain times, but it's not spelled out in capital letters with paragraph after paragraph of psycho babble. The reader is responsible for remembering his backstory - and I managed to when the author presented his unspoken vulnerability through his angry actions. . The heroine acts with more compassion and less defensiveness without explaining it all.
A jarring note came at the end. The heroine had been so unhappy for so long, it was startling to read her lighter, calmer tone in the epilogue. It wasn't necessary and felt false. More groveling by the hero and a fade to black ending would have been a better use of page time.
In order to enjoy/gawk at this story, you have to accept a few premises:
Yes, it's wrecky in a good way. I couldn't stop reading - even though the H/hr weren't always together or the narrative wasn't always focused on their marriage. I realized how different the author's treatment of the hero's backstory is compared to the angsty stories of today. In this story his past is mentioned and the heroine thinks about it when it's relevant at certain times, but it's not spelled out in capital letters with paragraph after paragraph of psycho babble. The reader is responsible for remembering his backstory - and I managed to when the author presented his unspoken vulnerability through his angry actions. . The heroine acts with more compassion and less defensiveness without explaining it all.
A jarring note came at the end. The heroine had been so unhappy for so long, it was startling to read her lighter, calmer tone in the epilogue. It wasn't necessary and felt false. More groveling by the hero and a fade to black ending would have been a better use of page time.
March 29, 2011
Must say a good emotional read, Nick-Karen both fall in love get married are happy with each other but Nick's adoptive sister Lisa gets involved with a man who is painter Vince,she posses for him ,he had promised he will never publish the paintings but he does and media starts speculating who is Vince's secret mistress n model the tragedy strikes Vince is killed in an accident and Lisa is with her to be hubby who gave her a watch n she left the watch at Vince,she is scared someone might find it,she begs Karen to collect it but also takes a promise not to tell anyone abt it
Karen goes to collect n she gets it but same time a photographer clicks the pic and it is said that she is the secret mistress of Vince,Nick comes home really angry is not ready to listen n accuses Karen of being unfaithful n Karen she keeps quiet for 2 reasons she had promised n second reason when she sees how Nick is thinking so much worse of her her trust breaks in him n cause Karen walks out without explanations he thinks she broke her trust
So Nick-Karen's love is destroyed under these misunderstandings,i loved the fact how author has potrayed how the one whom you love unconditionally distrust you n thiunks worse of you that destroys ur trust in him and you are left thinking do i know him or the whom you love knows you n understands you
i hated the rape scene but this scene also shows us how Karen is totally shattered as the man who teached her so tenderly abt love making violated not only the soul n body of Karen but also the memories that Karen cherished
At the end Karen forgives Nick for everything and he even asks why her loyalty towards Lisa was important than him n answer Karen gave was logical
Recommend it
Karen goes to collect n she gets it but same time a photographer clicks the pic and it is said that she is the secret mistress of Vince,Nick comes home really angry is not ready to listen n accuses Karen of being unfaithful n Karen she keeps quiet for 2 reasons she had promised n second reason when she sees how Nick is thinking so much worse of her her trust breaks in him n cause Karen walks out without explanations he thinks she broke her trust
So Nick-Karen's love is destroyed under these misunderstandings,i loved the fact how author has potrayed how the one whom you love unconditionally distrust you n thiunks worse of you that destroys ur trust in him and you are left thinking do i know him or the whom you love knows you n understands you
i hated the rape scene but this scene also shows us how Karen is totally shattered as the man who teached her so tenderly abt love making violated not only the soul n body of Karen but also the memories that Karen cherished
At the end Karen forgives Nick for everything and he even asks why her loyalty towards Lisa was important than him n answer Karen gave was logical
Recommend it
August 30, 2012
Husband and wife are estranged for 2 years. He comes back into her life because his adoptive mother is dying and he wants to give her happiness in the last few months of her life. It seems he has hidden the separation from his mother and wants to play happy, happy families again.
The couple had split when the husband accuses her of infidelity based on a photo taken outside the artist's apartment and a painting of a nude woman who looks similar to the heroine. Though the heroine absolutely denies that she is having an affair, the asshat destroys his marriage over a photograph and a painting that somewhat resembles her.
Though, I found this a mesmerizing read, I got hung up on a few things, and I found myself rolling my eyes and saying "enough"!
1) The "let's do everything we can to give mama a few happy moments before she dies" was touching, but the author really went way over board with the theme. Everyone's life had to go on hold so the hero could play God. The heroine was subjected to hell given the hero was a vicious bast#$%. Her acceptance of this situation without standing up for her rights...just lessened her. I'm not sure I would put her in the category of TSTL, but she came very close.
2) The heroes vicious attitude escalates to rape, which wasn't surprising, but begs the question why the heroine didn't see this coming when she agreed to the phony reconciliation and allowed the hero to continually degrade her. She had so much power over him and these situation, but chose not to use it. Just the slightest threat of a whisper to mama that the situation was bogus, would have put an end to his asshat moments.
But with all that said, I could have gotten over it had she really forced him to win her back. Instead of a well written (very required) grovel, the author spent her time on an epilogue of HEA that I just couldn't buy into.
The couple had split when the husband accuses her of infidelity based on a photo taken outside the artist's apartment and a painting of a nude woman who looks similar to the heroine. Though the heroine absolutely denies that she is having an affair, the asshat destroys his marriage over a photograph and a painting that somewhat resembles her.
Though, I found this a mesmerizing read, I got hung up on a few things, and I found myself rolling my eyes and saying "enough"!
1) The "let's do everything we can to give mama a few happy moments before she dies" was touching, but the author really went way over board with the theme. Everyone's life had to go on hold so the hero could play God. The heroine was subjected to hell given the hero was a vicious bast#$%. Her acceptance of this situation without standing up for her rights...just lessened her. I'm not sure I would put her in the category of TSTL, but she came very close.
2) The heroes vicious attitude escalates to rape, which wasn't surprising, but begs the question why the heroine didn't see this coming when she agreed to the phony reconciliation and allowed the hero to continually degrade her. She had so much power over him and these situation, but chose not to use it. Just the slightest threat of a whisper to mama that the situation was bogus, would have put an end to his asshat moments.
But with all that said, I could have gotten over it had she really forced him to win her back. Instead of a well written (very required) grovel, the author spent her time on an epilogue of HEA that I just couldn't buy into.
November 12, 2011
Maybe 3.5 stars. Super angsty & dark. Not quite enough action for my taste -- and the main sex scene is a rape, sheesh. Still, I was definitely drawn into caring about what happened to the main characters. I kind of hate it (though it's super common) when the romance is resolved only with the reveal of a misunderstanding -- I wish the hero could decide to want her back even believing she's done something wrong.
June 5, 2016
رواية غفرت لك
كعادة روايات عبير مليئه بالرومانسية
حبكه بسيطه ومكرره شجار الزوجه والزوج وبقائهم مع بعض من اجل الغير والنهاية السعيده
رغم بساطتها وتكرارها لكن لا تمل من هذه الروايات البسيطه التي تاخذكه بعيدا نحوه الرومانسيه
جيل بعد جيل قرأ روايات عبير ومازالوا يحبونها وانا منهم قرأتها وانا مراهقه وها انا اعيد قراءتها وانا ام
كعادة روايات عبير مليئه بالرومانسية
حبكه بسيطه ومكرره شجار الزوجه والزوج وبقائهم مع بعض من اجل الغير والنهاية السعيده
رغم بساطتها وتكرارها لكن لا تمل من هذه الروايات البسيطه التي تاخذكه بعيدا نحوه الرومانسيه
جيل بعد جيل قرأ روايات عبير ومازالوا يحبونها وانا منهم قرأتها وانا مراهقه وها انا اعيد قراءتها وانا ام
May 13, 2018
It is unbelievable love from her side if she is so ready to give up on her marriage just because to keep a promise! If reason was that he didn't trust her why was she so fast to forgive him when the truth was revealed finally?
August 21, 2023
Worst story
If this is the way the H shows h he loved her
1) by no believing her
2)threatening her.
3)Being rude to her, not caring, it was always either his adoptive mother or that bitch of a sister.
4)The h was away for most of the day and none of the realised she was not at home?? seriously!!
5)Even after her accident the way he behaved rudely, condescendingly omg don't author ever read their own stories and think what are they conveying.
6) At that rape thingy was put under the rug like anything, also god save me for TSTL h who keep secrets for people who don't deserve to be kept for and don't have an ounce of self respect should have left the H or atleast let him grovel till he doesn't die from it.
The whole of the story was not of romance but stupidity, even the foster mother Elisabeth came across as selfish in her avatar of goodiness.
Am sorry not for me
If this is the way the H shows h he loved her
1) by no believing her
2)threatening her.
3)Being rude to her, not caring, it was always either his adoptive mother or that bitch of a sister.
4)The h was away for most of the day and none of the realised she was not at home?? seriously!!
5)Even after her accident the way he behaved rudely, condescendingly omg don't author ever read their own stories and think what are they conveying.
6) At that rape thingy was put under the rug like anything, also god save me for TSTL h who keep secrets for people who don't deserve to be kept for and don't have an ounce of self respect should have left the H or atleast let him grovel till he doesn't die from it.
The whole of the story was not of romance but stupidity, even the foster mother Elisabeth came across as selfish in her avatar of goodiness.
Am sorry not for me
October 23, 2025
How I love these older books written by authors who have a good vocabulary and a talent to express emotional pathos. Other reviewers seem to disengage from the thrust of the story only to pick apart things that they just don't like. There is a lot of things I didn't like. There were a lot of things that had me driving on to understand the heroine's heart and the hero's agony. And it all culminated beautifully at the end. The hero was definitely very hurtful towards the heroine. But as I was reading and realizing how he grew up, you already knew that the love he had for his wife was the driving force of betrayal he felt. This was good.
February 22, 2024
I HATE when a troublemaking OW (in this case, the H's sister who was half in love with him, since he was adopted when they were both kids) gets away with everything, and this self-centered, immoral adulteress got away with it all, including helping to mess up the H and h's relationship, causing them to be separated for several years.
Though the H is not without blame, accusing the h of cheating on circumstantial evidence, and breaking her heart with his lack of trust. The jerk treats his slutty sister with kid gloves and his innocent wife with iron boots, so to speak. At times I wanted to smash him one!
They pretend they're still together (he worked in a different country for two years and his family assumed she was with him) so as not to upset his ill adopted mother, who ends up making a miracle recovery, when a German widower gets the hots for her and takes her to a clinic abroad that was too late to save his late wife. That's okay, he forgot all about her now, just like the H's mom forgot her own dead hubby pretty fast. One minute she's missing him and reminiscing, the next she's planning her wedding to the widower.
This whole family is lacking in character. How the h could still love the H is beyond me, same as it's hard to believe his brother-in-law could love his lying, cheating wife. (At the end of the book, she's pregnant with twins, and what are the odds they're his?) If either had any sense, they would have run off together and left that crummy family in the dust!
Though the H is not without blame, accusing the h of cheating on circumstantial evidence, and breaking her heart with his lack of trust. The jerk treats his slutty sister with kid gloves and his innocent wife with iron boots, so to speak. At times I wanted to smash him one!
They pretend they're still together (he worked in a different country for two years and his family assumed she was with him) so as not to upset his ill adopted mother, who ends up making a miracle recovery, when a German widower gets the hots for her and takes her to a clinic abroad that was too late to save his late wife. That's okay, he forgot all about her now, just like the H's mom forgot her own dead hubby pretty fast. One minute she's missing him and reminiscing, the next she's planning her wedding to the widower.
This whole family is lacking in character. How the h could still love the H is beyond me, same as it's hard to believe his brother-in-law could love his lying, cheating wife. (At the end of the book, she's pregnant with twins, and what are the odds they're his?) If either had any sense, they would have run off together and left that crummy family in the dust!
May 19, 2021
Intriguing like a scary, gothic!
Read
May 10, 2024Old reads
September 5, 2024
I have completely gone mad with hatred for the simple ending, as it appears to present numerous unsettling elements and lacks the essential components of love and respect expected in a marriage. The inappropriate hug towards the adopted sister and the concerning comment about her painting are certainly distressing aspects that contribute to the overall discomfort. The perceived chemistry between Lisa and Nick further complicates the narrative, raising questions about the authenticity of the central couple's feelings. Karen's persistent doubts regarding Nick and Lisa's relationship remain unresolved, casting a shadow over the apparent revelation. The revelation itself, coupled with the disturbing nature of the depicted events, challenges the portrayal of genuine love between the characters. The disproportionate reactions of Nick to different situations, especially his heightened response to Lisa's situation compared to Karen's accident, add to the disconcerting atmosphere. The acknowledgment and apology for a disturbing act only amplify the unsettling nature of the storyline. The lack of awareness about the sister's capabilities and keep her naked photo are particularly troubling elements in the narrative. The author's choice in crafting such an ending is perplexing and could potentially alienate readers seeking a more respectful and wholesome conclusion. Considering the distressing content, I would advise caution in approaching this narrative.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
July 24, 2013
Positive things first: like most of the vintage romances I've been reading lately, it's very well written in a way that suggests an assumption of a literate, intelligent readership. I've frequently seen the argument that romance novels used to be dismissed as silly, worthless reading for housewives, but really, just comparing the style of a vintage romance to most of what's on the shelves now (in any genre) proves someone out there at least used to take their readers seriously enough to EDIT MANUSCRIPTS for them.
The story was twisted and angsty, so if you're looking to feel emotionally exhausted and wrung out, this might suit.
But it had the least emotionally satisfying ending I've read in a long time. Damn it, when I read romances I want truly happy endings for the good people and some sort of punishment for the awful ones. Or at least repentance from the awful ones.
Longer review here: http://themummyreads.blogspot.ca/2013...
The story was twisted and angsty, so if you're looking to feel emotionally exhausted and wrung out, this might suit.
But it had the least emotionally satisfying ending I've read in a long time. Damn it, when I read romances I want truly happy endings for the good people and some sort of punishment for the awful ones. Or at least repentance from the awful ones.
Longer review here: http://themummyreads.blogspot.ca/2013...
August 19, 2022
Could she bear to live a lie...?
Karen hadn't seen Nick since their painful and bitter separation two years before, but he was still her husband. Now he had come back with an impossible request
"You are coming to Dellersbeck to play the part of a loving wife as though nothing had ever come between us."
How could she possibly live under the same roof as the man who despised her--hiding the fact that she still loved him?
Karen hadn't seen Nick since their painful and bitter separation two years before, but he was still her husband. Now he had come back with an impossible request
"You are coming to Dellersbeck to play the part of a loving wife as though nothing had ever come between us."
How could she possibly live under the same roof as the man who despised her--hiding the fact that she still loved him?
Displaying 1 - 17 of 18 reviews