“An emotional roller coaster ride that will leave you breathless.” – Dana from Random Chaos ★★★★★“The Dear Wife should be on every woman’s nightstand.” – Whitney Dineen, Bestselling Author ★★★★★She’s been holding on for dear life, now she must learn to let go.Marathon runner and quintessential wife and mother Avery Decker appears to have it all together. But don’t let her smile fool you. Since … have it all together. But don’t let her smile fool you. Since the death of her daughter four years ago, she’s been trying to fake her way through life.
So far, it hasn’t worked out so well.
Avery is overwhelmed not only with the grief of losing her daughter, but with the fear that she’ll lose someone else she loves–her husband James. This time not to death, but to the secret demons he’s been using to cope with the loss of their little girl. Day after day she’s been privately battling to save him and their marriage, but it’s only left her exhausted and lonely. Tired of pretending, she turns to the strongest women she knows. Together they help her face the truth and realize that the only person she can save is herself. But will it cost her the person she loves the most? Or will James remember who he is and hold on to the person he holds most dear?
Content warning: This book contains sensitive subject matters including pornography addiction and the loss of a child.
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I absolutely loved this series. This book was a gut wrenching read. Get a box of tissue. The emotions you feel while reading this book, there are no words. James and Avery’s story is a must read. Jennifer Peel, you have definitely outdone yourself with this book a d series. I am a new fan, and will continue to support your passion as a writer. GREAT JOB!
Honestly one of the most real books I have read. This book even though is about an addiction, the message behind it is one that relates to everyone. You can’t help but to feel every emotion that Avery goes through from grief to anger to letting go.
You will cry for them once you find out their story and your heart will be broken for her Avery. You will be angry at James but you will also cheer for them, hope for them and wish you were there to offer support.
This was a fantastic series with strong women who life has thrown them some curve balls and how they juggle their new lives and not only survive but flourish.
OH MY GOSH!! Jennifer Peel is one heck of a writer. I don’t generally read the summary about a book before reading it. Especially when it is by an author I already love. I like to get the story on my own. I was so surprised by the content of this story. I, myself, have not dealt with a spouse who was addicted to porn, but I do know of some that have. I also have boys who I think need to know the ramifications of looking at porn. I guess I’m just naïve, but I hadn’t thought about some of the issues that this book brought up. This is a sweet story about forgiveness and love and working through the hard things. Only a good writer like Jennifer Peel could pull this off. I think the therapy sessions offered good help for any married couple. Every marriage has its own problems and we need to make sure we are communicating with out spouse so that we are on the same page and can have the best marriage possible. Thanks for a wonderful book!!
I don’t ever recall highlighting a book’s words as much as I highlighted this one. Starting with The Sidelined Wife, The More Than a Wife trilogy has consumed me for the past week. Even though each book stands on it’s own with crossover characters, I found myself relating in one way or another to each dilemma, emotion, and/or character. I’ve concluded I’m simply a mishmash of the Decker family members.
My emotions ran the spectrum of laughs to tears with all three books but The Dear Wife wrecked me. Jennifer Peel tackled and slayed a very controversial subject that is extremely prevalent in modern day society: addiction to pornography. My hat’s off to Jennifer for going there, ripping off the painful scab, and revealing all it’s ugly secrets.
After becoming so familiar with Avery and James Decker in the previous two books, I admired the love and affection they openly shared. They were “that couple”, perfect. Time moved on and things changed. The little romantic things that fell by the wayside one day became monumental hurdles later.
Avery’s pain became my pain. Her emotions became my emotions. I cannot sugarcoat this story. It was a difficult read but one that deserves attention. It’s relevant and likely an issue someone you know has experienced or is experiencing in their relationship.
I highly recommend you read The More Than a Wife trilogy in order to get the full affect and all the Decker family dynamics. Jennifer Peel is a new to me author, and I just became a huge fan.
This is a must-read for romance fans; however you should read the first 2 books in this series (The Sidelined Wife and The Secretive Wife) to get a feel for the characters. James and Avery are secretly struggling in their marriage because of grief over the loss of their daughter and an addiction that James has. Avery finally reaches her breaking point and kicks him out. This story is poignant and very-well told and the reader will cheer for both Avery and James. There is plenty of humor as well as some sadness, but ultimately it is uplifting and hopeful. I couldn’t put this book down, and highly recommend it!
Jennifer writes “clean” romance and this is appropriate for anyone 16+.
*Please note… if you don’t read reviews before you read the book, please see my warning at the bottom of this review*
Where do I even begin with reviewing The Dear Wife? This book deals with very hard, very taboo subjects. Pornography and the loss of a child. I know this book is not going to be for everyone, and that’s okay. But Ms. Peel is one of those authors who does an exceptional job when it comes to writing about the hard stuff. I can’t explain it, but there’s just something about her writing style that makes it easier to read about the hard stuff people face in real life.
We know from the previous book that James and Avery were going through something difficult. I didn’t know what it was but I have been dying to find out their story. I’m not going to lie or sugar coat anything. Their story broke my heart into a million pieces. I have never cried so much while reading a book before. And don’t even get me started on how angry I was. I didn’t know how or if James and Avery were going to be able to fix all that was broken between them. There were times that I was encouraging Avery to just walk away. She didn’t deserve to be put through everything that she had been.
But as the story progressed, and Avery not only started finding herself again, but started believing that things could be better, I found myself slowly… ever so slowly… having a change of heart about James. But, just like Avery, I was cautious when it came to the possibility of them getting back together. James’s story is the prime example of how no one really knows what demons someone is facing on the inside. Their journey definitely was not an easy one. They both had to be willing to do whatever they could to make changes and strive to be better not only as a couple, but as individuals as well.
It doesn’t matter what kind it is, addiction is hard. Whether you’re the one going through it or you’re watching a loved one go through it. It’s not something that you can just get over. It takes a lot of blood, sweat, tears, courage, strength, determination, and love to face whatever it is you’re facing. Everyone deserves a chance to overcome it and have the much needed support from their loved ones to face that long, difficult road to recovery.
As I said before, Ms. Peel knows how to write about the hard stuff. I can always count on her to make me feel all the feels. If you read The Dear Wife, buckle up and hold on tight as you embark on the biggest emotional roller coaster you have ever been on. There’s no question, it will be tough, but this is one of the best books she has ever written! I cannot wait to see what she has in store for us next!
Beautiful souls are shaped by ugly experiences. ― Matshona Dhliwayo
**Content warning** The Dear Wife deals with tough topics including pornography addiction and the loss of a child. If you know you can’t handle those topics, PLEASE don’t read the book. Jennifer has put a lot of blood, sweat and tears into this book and she does not need readers who cannot handle these topics leaving negative reviews. Please search your heart to know if this book is one you should read or not.
Loved it.
First, I don’t know who asked Jennifer Peel to tackle the subject of porn addiction and the damage it does to families, but KUDOS to them. Jennifer did an amazing job of addressing this in the marriage of Avery and James and their heart-wrenching journey of healing. This book touched me personally and I cried through most of it.
I don’t know how Jennifer Peel does it, but she makes you feel every emotion possible while reading her books. Every one of her books is a wonderful emotion journey.
This is a must read. I highly recommend.
Wow! I loved reading this book!
It’s a captivating, thought-provoking subject,
& very emotional romance.
Jennifer Peel, delivered!
Avery & James, story was worth the wait!
It’s well-written & has beautifully developed characters with some
intense & incredible scenes.
It will draw you in, from the very beginning,
& keep you reading till the end.
MOST HIGHLY RECOMMENDED!!
Some couples seem to be perfect, but there’s the key word–seems. No one is ideal and everyone has their demons to face and battles to wage–even fictional characters. Jennifer Peel manages to peel the layers back and exposed the real and raw pain and hurt that secrets can cause, allowing for a deep reader connection with these realistic protagonists.
It’s not a secret that I HATE to cry, but this book turned me into a blubbering pile of goo…and more than once. Although there are some heavy and sensitive topics within these pages, I felt the glimmering threads of hope streaming throughout. I had no idea how this story would end, but I had a strong desire to see it conclude how I wanted it to. Alas, life doesn’t always go as we would like or how we would plan, but how God sees fit.
My whole world revolved around this book and these characters from start to finish and Peel tackles these tough issues in a tactfully refreshing way. I feel like a better person for reading this book and would like to think that my compassion for others has expanded because of it. This story was worth every tear in my eye, sniffle sniffed, and crack in my heart. While this may not be a book for everyone, and especially not for younger readers, I would highly recommend it.
Content: moderate romance/sexual elements (no sex, but innuendo and talk of porn, affairs, vague talk of sex–no details); moderate language; moderate religion elements
*I received a complimentary copy. All opinions expressed are my own and were voluntarily given.*
I can honestly say that Jennifer Peel has one crazy, wonderful gift for writing tangible, emotional stories that stay with you long after you finish reading in them. The way she allows me, as a reader, to become so emotionally invested in not only the story but the characters as well, always leaves me amazed. I have no idea how she does it but I always end her stories feeling grateful to be a reader. Not all Jennifer Peel books dig this deep into the difficulties of life but all her books breathe with real emotion. It’s something I’ve come to count on.
I need to say upfront that this book tackles some real, raw and hard topics. There are many possible triggers in this book for people. Please read my content description for a detailed list so you can decide for yourself if this book is right for you.
This book. Wow. I had a hard time putting it down. When I did, I was thinking about it and anxious to get back. Emotionally, this was not an easy book to read (you should keep tissues on hand) but it is beautifully written and it took me on a journey. There is a ribbon of hope through the darkest moments and I can honestly say that this book ends in a lovely place of healing and love. For me, it was a journey worth taking.
Avery is a good person. Better than I would be in her situation. I admired her strength even when she felt at her weakest. It was especially good to see the characters from previous books in this series step in and rally around both Avery and James as family and friends.
I would say that this book can stand alone but you will have a much stronger connection it if you read the whole series in order. It will help you have a clear view of the family, their motivations and their history together.
Content: frequent mild swearing, situations involving pornography- use and addiciton, emotional and verbal affairs, discussion and mention of intimate relations between a husband and wife, loss of a child, alcohol abuse
– I received a complimentary copy of this book. All opinions expressed are my own.
I really enjoyed book 1 in this series, The Sidelined Wife. Although it was about a serious subject, adultery, it was also lighthearted and, at times, funny. The religious aspect was particularly cute and campy, (loved Mimsy and her holy water in book 1), though at times it took on more serious tones.
With each subsequent book, however, the religious views and ideologies became more prominent and integral to the storyline. By the time we get to The Dear Wife, it was the main storyline. Yes, porn addiction was a prominent part of the story, but, make no mistake, the Church, and its ideologies, was the main focus of this book.
While I thought it was humorous, if not a bit over-the-top, that the mother, Sarah, was so concerned about whether or not her 40 year old, divorced daughter (who was also a mother to a 16 y/o son) was having sex outside of marriage, by the time we get to this book the author becomes preachy and shames readers for, among other things, sex outside of marriage regardless of age or marital status. She even makes judgements about lingerie, distinguishing between “raunchy” and what she deems appropriately “sexy”. It becomes clear that this author is peddling her religious views and the Catholic church’s agenda that sex, including masturbation (insert eyeroll here) is dirty and shameful outside of the marriage bed.
While I have a strong and personal relationship with my creator, my life philosophy is “an it harm none, do what ye will”. I know when I die and and am being judged by my God, I will only be judged for my sins, not those of others. So, unless they harm others, I don’t worry about anyones sins but my own. I sincerely wish more Christians felt this way and simply lived their lives as they believe right and true and leave the rest of the world to do the same.
While I mostly enjoyed books 1 and 2 of The More Than a Wife series by Jennifer Peel, this was the first and last time I’ll read her books. Little more kills romance quite like religion, so I have firmly (and permanently) sat this authors preachy ass in the naughty chair on my no read shelf. I go to church when I want a sermon, not to my Kindle.