I read the first book “A White Picket Fence” more than five years ago and the story always stayed with me. It resonated because the author was so effective in describing the pain and betrayal that a wife feels when her husband cheats on her. The first suspicious text messages, the husband denials, then the confirmation. It was so hurtful and anger-provoking!
Once Phil and Lina are together again, forgiveness has been worked on between the couple, and Phil’s baby with the OW is born. Then other problems come in. Their three kids are dealing with having their father back in the house, there are the times Phil goes to visit his baby son Liam, the other woman Kim is still trying to cause problems, and Lina can’t deal with the fact that there’s a Hunter baby that didn’t come from her womb.
Everything that the author presented in this story felt real and angsty, very tumultuous although there is hope for the future of the family. The children are dealing with having a new baby brother, Lina is dealing with accepting Liam in her house, a new career opportunity opens up for Lina which brings even more chaos to the household.
In this book I saw a more self-assured Lina. She now feels safer in her relation with Phil, because he’s very careful to make her his priority. Where before he was controlling and she let him, she’s now forging her way in a new career and she’s making Phil adapt. I loved seeing Katie, so problematic before, acting mature even if she’s still feisty and rebellious. Logan and Megan were selfish and immature. Side plots related to Lina’s sister Adele and her mother’s reconciliation to long-lost ex-husband are entertaining and add lovely levels to the story.
In the previous book I saw Phil as having a stick up his butt and sometimes too strict with his children, now I see him more balanced. Still strict but more understanding. He’s owned to his mistakes and his failures and he’s laid his heart open to his wife and his children. There were some stellar parenting scenes in this book.
I enjoyed reading this book because it portrays a family that went to hell and it’s now coming back, healing one step at a time. There’s some selfishness, but there’s also growing. At the heart of everything there’s Lina who steered her family into one cohesive unit, warts and all. It was uplifting and so very beautiful in its humanity.
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About the author
Contact Laura at laurabranchflower@gmail.com
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