Acts of Contrition

This is a story about a couple their names are Tom and Mary they have four children who they adore twin boys and two girls you could consider them as a role model family Tom is a hard working man he want the best for his family provider and protector of his home and a man of honor Mary is a praying women who keep him cover she makes sure that when he travel he have every thing he need clean clothes cell phone credit cards she make sure the house is clean laundry done make his dinner and serve it she'also a romantic who loves her husband and want to see him excell but there's a secret that Mary have with held from her loving husband that could destroy their married Mary ex-lover is running for senate she haven't seen Landon in a decade the one who had broken her heart Landon wasn't one who like to settle down he had a fancy free life a man with a ego one who wore custom made suite he been though in his life he's one who work himself to the top Mary realize Landon had strung her alone for the last time she ended the relationship and married a wonderful man who loved her and their beautiful children Mary was one who loved being married Mary sometime observed how her husband would interact with the children one in particular Sally she love to read you wouldn't catch her without oneSally is amazing child she was a honeymoon baby Mary thinks Tom and Sally look a like they both are close nitted the next day Mary goes and get a pedicure she thought about she is bless to have a husbandwho loves her beautiful home in the suburb four adorable children good school to attend After a couple of yrs. Mary ex-lover re-appear call saying he's going out of the country and that he left a small insurance policy that his grandmother left him and he want to make Marythe beneficiary in case his air plane crash Mary want him to give it to someone else Mary thought it's time for her to come clean with her husband she believe's he would understand as Mary approach him she couldn't bring herself to tell him her situation had gotten worst Tom notice every time he would turn on the tv.hewere always seeing Landon face he's tired of seeing Mary ex-mug Mary prepare dinner they having spaghetti and meat balls one of Tom favoriteNext day Landon call Mary saying Mary don't get nervous for what i'm about to say there's a picture of us standing in the lobby of the hotel I was kissing you on the jaw Mary thought to herself recalling back we wasn't standing in th lobby we were leaving the hotel room Mary said Landon what are we going to do he said continue to go about your business as Mary and her husband were getting ready for bed Mary ask God to forgive her of her sin for all thoughs many yrs.Next day Tom come home starring at Mary rubbing his chin saying boy wonder is all over the place Mary heart seem like it had committed a crime lock in prison she turn around facing Tom saying sweetie what do you meanTom never met Landon he didn't like the fact that he dated Mary for ten yrs.Mary husband are quiet and kind Landon on the other hand are head strong confident Tom seem to think Landon is a smooth operator Mary met Tom three month before breaking up with Landon Tom and Mary told each other their secrets things they had hidden with in they were persistent in getting to know one another they were running out of time they desided not to date they gave each other a part of their history Mary made the mistake of telling him about Landon now he's looking at Mary like he could stab her with his eyesTom is now holding a grudge against her now this secret have now brought a wedge between their marriage Landon tell Mary that he love her and want a familyAfter finding out Mary secret with Landon will Tom give Mary a divorceExcellence Book Five Star

How would you respond if your spouse chose not to tell you something of great importance? Something that would probably make a huge difference to both of you. There are sins of commission, things we do that are wrong and sins of omission, the act of not doing something you know is right. This is a subject that a great number of philosophers and famous thinkers could never agree upon. Is one right and the other wrong or are they both wrong? Nobody likes to be lied to but to find out so many years after the fact is a betrayal that is hard to ignore. The bottom line is anyone could have found themselves in the same situation.Mary and Tom had four beautiful young children. Sally, the oldest was born just eight months after their wedding. Most everyone just thought she was a honeymoon baby. When she was born she had beautiful auburn hair just like her daddy. Emily, their second daughter was born just shy of a year and they were as different as night and day. The twin boys came four years later and completed their family. Anyone looking at them thought they were the perfect family but looks can be deceiving can't they?The characters felt real, well thought out and fit the needs of the story. The story itself was good with the right amount of conflict to drive it forward. I was disappointed with the ending. It was so abrupt I kept looking at the pages to see if I missed something. I'm not sure if I would read another book by this author due to the ending. I gave it four stars because the rest of the book was good but it was more of a three and a half stars book.

This is a slightly annoying book. Mary is married to Tom. They have four children and are a family that love being together and never tire of declaring their love for each other. Mary loves being a mother and a wife. That's what she wanted, and she left a ten year on again off again relationship with Landon, an upcoming politician, to marry Tom and create her piece of domestic bliss. Only Landon isn't entirely in the past. In addition to appearing on Tom and Mary's television screen as he campaigns to be a Senator, Landon also appears on Mary's cell phone. As the story unfolds there are some beautiful descriptions or "moments caught" of Mary and her children. It is possible to believe in the early parts of the book, Mary's own narrative, she is a perfectly happy, perfectly committed, perfectly loving, wife and mum. As they story continues however it becomes clearer and clearer (pretty clear from the first chapter so no big spoiler here) that Mary has told a giant whopper. The rest of the book is about her angst in deciding to come clean; and then her angst once she has come clean.At this point, Mary's lack of insight into herself, becomes really annoying. And the story becomes problematic. Lots of characters playing a role for the story- not actually creating the story. This book had a lot of good reviews, but I was quite disappointed. It was okay- but nothing more than that.

Keeping a major secret for ten years!!!! Any devout Catholic would not be able to do that (in my opinion), but whatever one believes in, Mary's situation depended solely on her decision alone - to keep quiet or not. She decided not too; she came clean and she suffered the consequences.Here is a story that is plucked from ordinary characters living an ordinary life. Until the truth came out, until the life she once knew was no more, then nothing is ordinary anymore. Mary wanted to confess and still have the life pre-expose, but she was asking for too much.A lot of life lessons here:1. If nothing is wrong, don't fix it. If not for pride, or maybe she still loved Landon - this must have been the prompt for Mary to seek Landon with her newly born daughter.2. Be content. One couldn't have it all.3. Do not lie, do not cheat, do not deceive.4. Time heals...always.5. Forgive. It is good for your heart.

Decent read. Tells of a mother's struggle to hang onto her family, her life whilst harbouring and struggling with a big secret. When the secret is revealed she finally feels the weight lifted from her shoulders but she is amazed how her husband deals with it all. True she has rocked the once family rock she thought he had but now she can learn to rebuild it without the fears. Not a schmoozy book but down to earth real to life situation which the reader can understand maybe even empathise with rather than criticise the secrecy motives too harshly.

I struggled to relate to any of the characters. The children seemed the most real. Mary was very dithery and I couldn’t see why Landon had such a hold on her for so many years. Tom became a different person by the end but on the whole the book was a bit meandering for me. The premise wasn’t that complicated to take so long to resolve.

A tale of an idyllic marriage and then a bombshell drops. Will it ever recover ? I really enjoyed this book. It was so well written and the author has a great turn of phrase.

Really enjoying this book. The writing is really good and the story is quite believable. I am intrigued to find out how they deal with this betrayal.

Despite it being a bit too treacly for my taste, and the repetition of background detail being rather boring, I found this book quite enjoyable.