Summary from good reads: Nobody wakes up one morning and decides that today is the day they are going to cheat on their spouse. When the opportunity presents itself however, it ultimately becomes a choice. And that choice, whether good or bad, can have irrevocable consequences.
Ethan and Jessica Harrington are doctors who work alongside fellow doctors Gavin and Sarah Williams. After Jessica has an affair with Gavin, their lives are thrown into turmoil as they deal with the aftermath and subsequent fallout. For the better part of a year the four of them have been working to piece their marriages back together. Sarah and Gavin are still reeling from a devastating miscarriage, while Jessica and Ethan are hesitantly looking forward to the birth of their first child. Sarah’s hopes are immediately shattered when she learns how far Gavin’s infidelity has gone. Suddenly thrown into an unwanted independence she fights to find her way. Jessica struggles to repair her marriage to Ethan as they become parents. But when Ethan, a borderline alcoholic, learns a dark secret, his world steadily begins to crumble. His drinking, fueled by this discovery slowly engulfs him. Jessica’s love for him is only matched by her fear of his temper. With his marriage now in pieces and his sanity questionable, Ethan struggles to come to terms with his alcoholism and face his past. Theirs is a story of the tremendous amount of love some people have for one another, regardless of the pain that is sometimes inflicted. 



After All Is Said And Done by Belinda G. Buchanan
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Initially, I was drawn to this book because it dealt with alcoholism and unforgiveness.  Both are issues that have dramatically affected our family, and the latter is affecting it now.  I joined a blog tour to give away a copy of it, and the author did a guest post along with it.  After reading her guest post, I knew I had to read this book.  I contacted her, and she graciously sent me a copy to review.  She warned me about any issues I may find with the book (I can’t tell you how much I appreciate it when authors do that), but I was convinced this was a book I was supposed to read.  And I am so glad I did!

The writing style, plot, and characterization in this book are absolutely exquisite.  In the beginning, I struggled to keep the characters straight.  (My fault, not the author’s).  I finally got Gavin, Jessica, Sarah, and Ethan straightened out.  I’ll let you read the book and figure all that out yourself.

I truly feel that this book was very realistic.  Sometimes an author will write a book and water down the topics so that there is a “happy ending.”  Belinda Buchanan does not do this.  She handles the issues of infidelity and alcoholism in a way that is real, human, and tragic.  And she shows you exactly what bitterness and unforgiveness can do to a person.

I am glad that author warned me about the “adult” portions.  Yes, there was some profanity and intimate scenes.  Most intimate scenes occurred between married people and did not go into great detail.  Practically all profanity was used sparsely and at what most would feel were appropriate moments.  I was not nearly as offended as I might have been if the profanity was rampant and incessant.

The amazing thing about the characters is that I grew to love Ethan in spite of everything.  In fact, I was amazed to discover that through everything (don’t want to spoil it for anyone), I still loved him and never stopped.  I wanted him to make it, and there were some emotional points.  In fact, as I read a good portion of these portions, I was in a classroom with a group of students, and I really forgot where I was!  I was not overly aware of what was going on in the class.  There were also points that just hit too close to home.  I came from an emotionally abusive marriage, and some of the situations very difficult to read.

In conclusion, I so wish that those close to me who are struggling with bitterness could learn the lessons that the characters did in the book.  They so need to understand that hatred and anger accomplishes nothing if you keep holding onto it.  You must let it go.

I am very grateful that the author gave me this book for free in exchange for an honest review.  All opinions are 100 percent mine.

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