After All Is Said And Done: A Novel of Infidelity, Healing & Forgiveness

What a fantastic read. This book had me in right from the start. Well written, mature characters, interesting storyline and a decent size book (650 pages) for a change. I have read many books about cheating spouses and I can honestly say that this one strands out above the rest. A well deserved 5 stars. I will certainly be reading more from this author.

Well what a book this turned out to be. When I read the blurb, I really wasnt sure how I would like it, I have been through my own marriage troubles and in the end what was best for me was to end it. I am now very happy with the man of my dreams. I was leary reading it would dredge up feelings I didnt want to visit again, that wasnt the case at all. When starting the book you look at the number of pages it is, 659 on my ereader and sometimes when a book is that long you think goodness is the book going to drag on, not the case at all with this one. Once you start turning the pages you CANNOT put this book down, I was up until 2am so I could try to finish reading it, and when I had to put it down I was finding myself thinking about the book and what was going to happen next. It totally sucked me in and would not let go until I read the very last word, and when I read the last word, I sat in my purple chair and said Holy Crap on a Cracker lol I instantly went to the authors website and found out another book is coming. So I relaxed a bit knowing theres more to come, but then I realized oh man I gotta wait for the next one. The story the author has created for these 2-couples was nothing short of amazing. To see the twists and turns between both couples made me chuckle at times, made my heartbreak, made me gasp as I couldnt believe that just happened, and I actually cried in a few part, I mean tears, some of sadness and some of happiness. I really liked Belindas writing style, the story flowed well and the plot was clear and concise, it was really cool how just when you thought you figured out where the story was heading, Belinda threw in a twist you never saw coming. I did find myself taking a look at my own life and say how much could I forgive. Its a story that makes you think and its a story you will think about long after you have finished reading it. I highly recommend this book to all and I really hope you enjoy it as much as I did. Enjoy!!!!

The story is a little unbelievable: that a man (Ethan), would want so much to stay with an unfaithful wife (Jessica) who bore the child (Ryan) of another man (Gavin). Ethan seems to be more condemned for his reaction to the deceit and betrayal than Jessica and Gavin are for having the affair. Ethan is taunted and belittled at work by Jessicas and Gavins comments and confrontations. Their flirting at the company Christmas party drives Ethan to create a disturbance there with both of them. Eventually Ethan is confined to the hospital psych ward through the conspiracy of his sister, Renee, and the hospital staff. Of course his adulterous wife and her cousin, Grace, are assigned to be his doctors and they torment him with humiliating examinations and force-feeding. Jessica is especially cruel by bringing their son, which was fathered by Gavin, to visit Ethan to further remind him what he has lost and her contempt for him. In the end there is no comeuppance for Jessica and Gavin who seem to have had all their desires fulfilled and, I suspect, later on get married and have a family with their son. The hospital staff all go on with their lives while Ethan is left to rebuild from the devastation that has befallen him. He marries Sarah (the other discarded spouse in this love quadrangle) and they move to England. I guess I was expecting more of a story about someone excising a cancer from their life and moving on & moving up. It just did not satisfy me that way.