The Dear Wife (More Than A Wife #3) by Jennifer Peel

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 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.

* Amazon * Goodreads *

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.  I will also direct you to the author's page to read what she has to say about writing this book.  Click here.

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.

The Secretive Wife (More Than A Wife, #2) by Jennifer Peel

I have a famous secret, but it's not the biggest one I keep.

From an outside view, my life would be the definition of boring. I'm married to a landscaper, albeit a very attractive one, I drive an old cheap car, and I write articles for an online magazine. So, maybe I've been a constant fixture on the New York Times Best Sellers list for the last few years, but that secret is locked safely in my attic.

Here's a word of advice. If you want to keep a secret, don't tease your mother-in-law about what's in that attic, especially when her life goal is to save her son from you. Now that my famous secret is out, past acquaintances willing to do anything to get their own fifteen minutes of fame are lying to the media about me. But my biggest problem isn't the lies in the press, it's the truth I'm forced to face. The secret I've kept from everyone, even my husband, the man I love, the first person who made me feel like I belonged somewhere.

Now I have no other choice but to tell the truth and face my biggest fear, that Peter and I were never meant to be together and my secrets could take him away too.

 * Amazon * Goodreads *

💗💙💚💛💜

Hang on to your heart with this one friends, because Jennifer Peel once again delivers an emotionally gripping story of love, loss and forgiveness that you will not be able to let go of.  I am, even days later, still fully entrenched in the world of Delany and Peter.

This story is told in the first person and Delany's whirling emotions became mine so quickly.  She is witty, smart and handles difficult situations with humor and (most of the time) grace.  I really love her.  And Peter?  Yeah.  He's a rock star right along with Delany.  

This story was like a roller coaster of emotions.  The highs are high, the lows are low.  By the end of the book your hair will be a mess, your eyes will be watering and your heart will be pounding but you'll want to go right back and start it all over again.  That's how I felt.   I love books that make me feel something, with characters that I cannot help but root for.  That's why I am such a fan of Jennifer Peel's books.  She always delivers this.  Always.

My best recommendation? Get this book.  Grab a fan and some tissues. You will need them both.

Content:  Some innuendo and talk of intimate relations between a married couple with no details but it is a married couple so you know that sexual relations are a part of their marriage.  Mild swearing.

- I received a complimentary copy of this book but I also bought my own copy.  All opinions expressed are my own.

The Sidelined Wife (More Than A Wife #1) by Jennifer Peel

She’s getting back in the game, one blog post at a time.

Samantha Higgins never thought driving her husband’s car would forever change her life. But one conversation later, heard through his Bluetooth, and Samantha is changing her last name. While trying to figure out who Samantha Decker is, she writes what she thinks is one final post on her blog, announcing her divorce. When the post goes viral, she finds herself with a new title, The Sidelined Wife, and an unbelievable following.

To make matters more interesting, her younger brother’s best friend, Reed Cassidy, who was a thorn in Samantha’s adolescent side, moves back to town as the new head football coach for her son’s high school team. Unbeknownst to Samantha, Reed has harbored a crush for his old babysitter all these years. But, Samantha isn’t keen on dating anyone, much less a younger man that used to booby trap her bedroom with firecrackers.

While Samantha is doing her best to learn and even make up some of the rules of single life and being a semi-celebrity, Reed comes in and changes the game. Now Samantha must decide if she should get back on the field or if she prefers the sidelines.

 * Amazon * Goodreads *

Oh. My. Swoon.  Reed!!  My tummy butterflies were all a flutter over the persistently sweet and sexy ways Reed worked his magic on Samantha.  Honestly, grocery shopping will never be the same for me again.  There is just something so sexy about a man who goes out of his way to give the woman he is interested in the message that he wants her.  Reed is expert at this.  

I loved that this book felt adultish and more mature.  I love young love, first love (which this book has some of) but as I get older (ahem, cough*cough) there is something satisfying in reading about more mature situations and feelings that come with time and experience.  Samantha is a mother to a teenage son.  Life isn't quite the same as when she was in her twenties.  I loved watching Sam find her own self again- processing all those emotions that were swirling inside her.  Healing from hurtful experiences looks different for all of us and I really enjoyed Sam's journey.  She was heartfelt and entertaining.  The perfect balance.

Jennifer Peel has a knack for writing realistic emotion that I really connect to.  No matter the age or the circumstances of her characters, I feel things when I read her books.  That's why her books have become an addiction of sorts for me.  I just can't get enough.  I could have read about Reed all week and been a happy girl.  

I also loved how well Jennifer peeked my interest in the next books in this series.  I am so interested in these side characters who will steal the show in the next books.  

Content:  Some mention of affairs, kissing

- I received a complimentary copy of this book from the author.  All opinions expressed are my own.