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Thank God that's over! I finished it!


***Review edited after long deliberation and my inability to get this story out of my head. Any book that knocks my world off its axis deserves a five-star rating versus my initial no-rating. Nothing has changed but my revelation that this author deserves my five stars......

Now for my review.....

Sweet Jesus, gimme some Prozac, wine, anything to calm my nerves! I struggled so much with this book. Why? Because I hated "their" story yet I still think it's an exceptionally written book. It stirred so many emotions.....anger, sadness, angst, disgust but zero happiness. A fantastic book, yet a book I struggled to finish. What a major conflict, huh?

This is a story 100% revolving around DEPRESSION, LOSS AND BETRAYAL. Literally, that's the main focus, an all-consuming need to be with another man, to escape, to feel free when you've got the love of your life sitting home waiting for you. Catherine has struggled with miscarriage after miscarriage (yup, I said it. Everyone else dances around that as if it's some spoiler when it's divulged in the first chapter. That, to me is NOT a spoiler). Cathy is married to Ben, a stunningly handsome, wealthy, attorney and LOYAL partner. He too struggles with their child-bearing issues but continues to be the rock in the relationship- loving her through loss after loss.....

My Ben-



Catherine is a successful hotel executive. When she meets her boss's 24-year old son he lights a fire inside of her that has long since flickered out. She's been existing in a marriage that's suffocating her....she just needs to breathe. Arsen provides that release. Arsen is her kryptonite.

My Catherine-




Arsen is a spoiled, rich kid. He's used to having actresses and models on his arm, always being in the limelight. He's got to work to prove to daddy he's not lazy and is worthy of his inheritance. When he spots Cathy, his new "boss," he's found his newest conquest. Although something about her stirs more than his "manhood" (couldn't resist). He wants to be her friend. He wants to make her smile again. Friendship, can he, for once, do friendship?

My Arsen-



As I said, through literally 75% of this book I struggled to hold on...just to finish it. It is 100% glorified angst. I wish I could say I empathized with Cathy but I didn't. Towards the end, I warmed up to her (when she finally pulls her head out of her ass) but that first 75%, I was seriously contemplating....

(thanks for the gif Sue)

My thoughts on Catherine....

I seriously had huge issues empathizing with her character. Maybe had Ben been (ha) a douche, I could see it. Not sure. But she's not getting tears from me.....



Do I seem cold-hearted? Maybe. But I'm also a neonatal nurse that works DAILY with women who've went thru these exact issues and SUCKED IT UP. Get therapy. Everyone needs it sometimes in life. Don't self destruct.

My thoughts on Arsen....

I know, no throwing stones at me but I seriously did NOT warm to him. He reminded me of an arrogant spoiled PUNK. The description when she first met him with his pants hanging low so his Armani band of his underwear was sticking out....ewe.

My thoughts on Ben....

Ben...my heart wept for him.

So, is this a love story? Yes. A friend summed up this story great with one sentence and word of wisdom......"Love the one you're with."



So, if you can stomach the mother of all love triangles where the guy that's getting cheated on is a DOLL and doesn't deserve it, this book is for you. I commend the author for this read. It pushes the reader beyond the limits one is used to in love stories. It's beautifully written and tugs at your heart at times (and makes you want to get a knife out to stab your e-reader at others). I'm happy I finished it and experienced it. The ending saved it for me.

The best quote in the book-