Customer Reviews

Another Woman's Son (Harlequin Superromance No. 1294)

5 star:		(1)
4 star:		(2)
3 star:		(2)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

Isabel Barker has known for months that her estranged husband Will and her married sister Faith were having an affair. She never informed her brother-in-law Ben feeling unsure whether to tell him or not that his wife cheated on him with her brother-in-law. However, the car crash that killed the cheating lovers leaves her no choice as she feels she must explain to the grieving husband that his eighteen month old child Tony does not contain his DNA.

Ben is stunned with Isabel's accusations that their deceased spouses were fleeing with their infant when they crashed. He assumes at first that she is filled with guilt over her rift with her late husband. However, as Ben begins to accept the truth about his wife and their child, he sees how loving and nurturing Isabel is towards her nephew. As the two work closely together to insure that Tony is loved the cuckolded pair fall in love, but can they make a happy family of three out of the tragedy.

Though the intriguing family drama at times feels like a soap opera, fans will enjoy this fine contemporary romance that demonstrates the healing power of love. The adults are a delightful duo as they struggle with anger and resentment towards their late spouses which in turn makes it difficult to admit they love one another until their feelings towards the innocent child and each other begins healing them. Fans of deep character study tales will appreciate Awesome Anna Adams' strong tale.

Harriet Klausner

The emotional angst seemed to be here in this book but I'm not sure if I buy the execution of the plays. So Isabel discovers that her husband was having an affair with her very own sister for ahile and no one put this together? She finds out three months before the adulterous parties are killed in a car accident. . . little too convenient for me. You can never get the full closure now since those two are gone. Why should the get to escape all the heartache they caused for the other's left behind? Ben, the hero, is angry that Isabel didn't tell him what she knew three months before. Um . . . really how was she supposed to tell him? Would he have believed her or hated her because of her telling him? Her parents, mother in particular, came across as caring more for the adulterous Faith than she did Isabel. She didn't seem to be too concerned with the fact that Faith and Will were having an affair but more so that Ben and Isabel had even thought to hook up after their spoused passed away. One other thing: given that Faith and Will were basically living a lie for quite sometime why oh why would anyone believe a word that they said in regards of the parentage of Tony? I say DNA testing and then the whole nasty business could have been avoided . . . possibly . . . .

If you want amazing glimpses into the tender heart inside all of us, read Anna Adams!!! Another Woman's Son speaks to the strength in all of us--that we can overcome any loss, any fear. You'll feel for Isabelle and Ben. You'll root for them. You'll be sucked into their worlds... You won't want to put this one down!!

The tale of implied adultery and its destructive force leads to an excellent story.
Isabel Barker walked out on her husband when he admitted to having an affair with her sister, Faith and that they had a child together. Now she has to deal with Will's mother, Leah who apparently was a possessive mother.

Leah reacts badly to her son's death. She want everything of his.

Isabel is guilt ridden about keeping the truth from her parents, who might take little eighteen month old Tony away from Ben.
The four of them, Will and Isabel - Ben and Faith had been close friends for over seven years. Isabel always felt that Faith was the favored daughter. How could she destroy her mother's love for Faith with the knowledge of her sister's tawdry actions?

How could she destroy Ben's belief in Tony as his son? For three months she has carried this destructive knowledge. How can she ever forgive her sister or her husband?

How can she be feeling the emotions that Ben arouse in her now?
More guilt! Ben doesn't deserve to have his life destroyed yet his affections for her are now suspect. Is he just trying to keep her quiet?

Now when they start to admit to the possibility of love between them they further confuse the issue by hoping into bed. Then Isabel decides this is wrong. Yeah! right! And then she can't decide to marry Ben? Yuck! they live together for 6 months before she will commit? This attitude is what ruined a good story for me.

Excellently written - good subject matter - but crazy woman! or attitude!

Will recommend with reservations [about attitude] Too much angst for me.

Isabel has spent most of her life in her sister Faith's shadow. The first born, Faith has always been first in the eyes of their parents. The two sisters are so close that they marry two guys that are best friends. After several years together, Isabel gives husband Will an ultimatum - she wants to start the family that he continues to put off, or she will leave him. Will then confesses that not only he is having an affair (again), but he fathered a child with his mistress. To Isabel's horror, the mistress was Faith, and the relationship lasted at least 3 years.

Three months after leaving Will, Isabel is attending Faith and Will's funeral. The deceptive duo bundled up baby Tony, and were killed in a car crash. The only one to survive was baby Tony, who is now being raised by the only father he has ever known, Ben.

Ben discovered the truth when searching for clothing to bring to the funeral home; he comes across Faith's Dear John letter admitting that Tony is not his child. Ben is terrified that he might lose his son, and enlists Isabel's help to keep the truth from her parents, who cling to anything having to do with Faith.

Ben tries to use guilt first to get Isabel on his side, since she has had 3 months to recover from their spouses' infidelity, while he is still shell-shocked. Soon, the two are sharing close quarters, and starting to feel an attraction to each other. Is it just their way to get even with their cheating partners, or is Ben trying to seduce Isabel to get her to side with him? Isabel never feels like she can trust him or her own distrust after having her heart shattered by Will and Faith.

Tensions, sibling rivalry, unresolved feelings, deception, and some pretty ballsy in-laws help to progress the melodramatic story. I thought at times it just bogged down so much with Ben and Isabel arguing about whether to tell her parents or not. I would have liked to see some passages including the adulterous couple - this would have made the story much more interesting. Typical HQN fare, with dialogue that is a little implausible at times.