His Other Wife: A Novel [Paperback]

I have not had the pleasure of reading a book by Deborah Bedford before, but to say that reading His Other Wife is a pleasure would be a huge understatement. This book was absolutely fantastic on so many different levels.

The first thing that struck me about this book was simply the writing. Sometimes it takes me a little time to get used to an author's writing style, but not this time. I instantly responded to Deborah's writing and welcomed the experience of a story that sounded like it could have been heavy and a little tough to take.

Naturally, with writing as flawless as this, the story captured my attention right from the start and not one moment passed through the entire book where I felt bored or where I felt the story was too heavy. There was a lot of drama and a lot of painful history in this story, but Deborah skillfully avoided having "too much" at any one time. The reader learns about each character and his or her issues slowly as the story unfolds just as we would naturally learn about someone we would meet in real life. Watching Pam and Hilary both come to terms with the situation they find themselves in and watching God take hold of Hilary's heart was very inspiring.

Some folks may find that the story wrapped up too neatly, and I must admit that I briefly felt that way. But, after reflecting on it for a few minutes I think that was done intentionally by the author to show the reader that once we surrender to God, things have a way of falling into place. For good or for bad, God takes care of us if we let Him. That is the message Deborah was conveying throughout this story and she did it beautifully.

His Other Wife is one of those books that I didn't just read. I savored it. I had certain expectations and each of them were either met or exceeded. This book is going on my all-time favorites shelf and I will certainly be reading more from Deborah. If you are looking for a story with a powerful message that will inspire you and leave you feeling uplifted, I highly recommend His Other Wife.

Hilary is a survivor and a fighter who knows the ups and downs life can throw at you and how to come back from the brink of disaster. She thought she had a good marriage only to find out that her husband wanted a great marriage to another woman. She believed her 18 year-old son was mature enough to make an adult decision but learned that while she had raised him to have a head on his shoulders at times he didn't want all that bearing down directly on him. When Hillary's husband moved out of their house and left a void as to who should be the man she asked her young son to take on that role. She depended on him and at times relied on him to help her fill the voids she had in her life without her husband.

All that pressure on her son was too much and Seth was a tornado of emotion. It all comes to a head one night when a quick decision and poor judgment has him deciding to take a dare and not look back. Seth wanted to be a kid like everyone else and enjoy life without the burden he bore as the son of divorced mother but no one is listening to him when he talks.

Hilary's life is changed again and never to be returned to the way it was but this time if she and her son get out of this mess she has decided to move her life in another direction, one she is not clear on but one she will be guided to walk down. Hillary knows it is a life where she may be on her own but not alone.
But even when Hilary is faced with disaster, crisis and her ex-husband's new wife and family she still knows that there is a power so much stronger that will guide her through the sadness and crisis. Hilary tries to move past the hurt of what her ex-husband had done and draw him and his new family into her heart and let them help her son heal from his mistake but can she, is she stronger enough to let go of the hurt and see past problems to let them work together to find a resolution.

That which does not kill us makes us stronger but at times we all question whether God is paying attention or has forgotten to help us with the cross we bear. But when you stop to hear the whisper in your ear that says you are strong enough and you can get past this if you just don't dictate what you need but appreciate what you have.

Hilary is Eric Wynn's first wife --- the wife he cheated on and left to raise their son alone so he could marry Pam, known as his other wife. It's been six years since the divorce, but Hilary still hasn't quite gotten over it.

Hilary and Eric's son, Seth, is now 18 and graduating from high school. Eric and Pam, along with their daughter and Pam's son from a previous relationship, come back to Chicago for the graduation ceremony and to celebrate the occasion. This puts Hilary in an awkward situation. Eric's new wife is condescending, harsh and critical. Hilary struggles with her emotions, trying to be mature and civil for Seth's sake, yet is seething on the inside. She even resents the fact that Eric and Pam have a child together.

Seth has tried to be the "man of the house" and act as a pillar of strength for his mom since the divorce. He is angry with his dad for leaving and feels protective of his mom, but he also carries some buried resentment towards his mother for depending on him a little too much.

In keeping with tradition, after graduation, Seth and his entire graduating class plan an overnight camping trip. Hilary only agrees to this because she knows her son. She has had plenty of conversations with him about teenage temptations like alcohol and sex, and trusts that he will act responsibly during the unsupervised event. But Seth doesn't. He makes a poor decision that will impact his life forever.

The book is titled HIS OTHER WIFE, but really, it's the incident with Seth that's the main focus of this book. Yes, Hilary is dealing with her ex-husband and his wife throughout the story, but Seth's actions and the after-effects are what drive the plot. The lessons Hilary learns about herself, extending forgiveness, and relinquishing control to God directly relate to her son's life-altering event.

Deborah Bedford's style of writing took me a while to get used to. The book is written in an almost omniscient point of view, as if someone from afar is watching these characters and telling us about them. While all had sympathetic qualities, I found it somewhat difficult to truly relate to them. Growing up with divorced parents myself, I understand the pain, heartache and struggles that come with broken families. I can especially appreciate the emotional fallout, but some of the actions and motivations of the characters just didn't ring true for me. Additionally, some of the dialogue and actions seemed awkward and forced, particularly with Hilary. This possibly has to do with preference and/or personality style. Bedford has been described by other reviewers as a lyrical writer, which is more flowery and descriptive, a style many readers appreciate but that I find less enjoyable.

That said, the character I found the most likable and endearing was Seth. His storyline is gritty, interesting and fresh, from the camping event to the way he deals with the result of his poor choice. I found myself connecting with his pain and remorse, and rooting for him the whole way through. Not all of us have made a mistake as impactful as Seth does in this story, but who hasn't been in a place where they've reaped the consequences of a poor judgment call?

HIS OTHER WIFE does tackle some common issues that Christians face today, such as divorce, blended families, tragedy, trust and forgiveness, and also explores the question of where God is when bad things happen. This is something Hilary cries out to God about and eventually realizes that it is she and not God who has stepped back.

The book ends neatly, though perhaps a bit predictably, but in a way that shows how things come together once we surrender control and leave our hurts, resentments and cares in God's hands.

--- Reviewed by Lynda Schab

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