2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:
3.0 out of 5 stars
Could have been better, March 15, 2006
This review is from: Marriage in Jeopardy: Hometown U.S.A. (Harlequin Superromance No. 1336) (Mass Market Paperback)
MARRIAGE IN JEOPARDY by Anna Adams
In MARRIAGE IN JEOPARDY, Anna Adams tells the tale of a married couple whose marriage had been falling apart for years. The story opens with Lydia Quincy in the hospital attached to all sorts of machines, having flashbacks of the unexpected beating she received outside the courthouse where her husband Josh Quincy, a public defender, had just lost a case. The wife of his client became so angry at the thought of her husband going to prison that she attacked what was most precious to Josh - his wife. The physical attack killed Lydia's unborn son, and Lydia luckily escaped death herself. Lydia and Josh's marriage had been troubled for years, but their hopes were lying on their unborn child to bring them closer together again. With that dream of a newborn child gone, Lydia was no longer sure her marriage had a chance. She knew one thing, though, that she did not want to go back home to Hartford.
Josh's family background was one he did not feel comfortable talking about. He lost his younger sister many years ago when she was only 5 years old, due to his parents negligence, and because of it he spent a few years living with foster parents while his own parents were sent to jail. Now, many years later, his parents want to make up for those lost years, and one of the things they want to do is be there for Lydia and Josh while Lydia recovers from her beating. Josh is against this idea, but Lydia refuses to go back home. There are too many painful memories there. Lydia convinces him to go with her back to Maine to spend some time with his parents. While he is at first against the idea (he wants to forget his memories of his childhood home), he slowly softens and finds that he still has something to say to the parents he felt weren't worthy of his attention or love.
While the novel had a good start along with some serious themes that could have made for an outstanding book, I felt the characters were not developed well and I had a problem with seeing them as real three-dimensional people. The dialogue felt stiff at times, and the story line felt a bit contrived. Another problem was that I liked the parents more than I did the two main characters, Lydia and Josh. I'm giving this book a three-star rating for the good story theme, but it certainly could have been written better. It didn't help that the two main characters were difficult to like. -- Courtesy of LoveRomances
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4.0 out of 5 stars
deep well written character study, March 17, 2006
This review is from: Marriage in Jeopardy: Hometown U.S.A. (Harlequin Superromance No. 1336) (Mass Market Paperback)
Josh and Lydia Quincy seem like the perfect American couple. That is until Vivian Durance, the wife of her spouse's client, assaults a pregnant Lydia near the courthouse. She miscarries. Psychologically Lydia fails to heal and is unable to remain in their expensive townhouse and needs to leave town. She believes Josh prefers keeping his reputation as best public defender in Hartford, Connecticut over her needs for them to feel safe; this was not the first incident only the deadliest.
Lydia threatens to end their marriage if they fail to leave town and to return to his hometown. Josh agrees to the blackmail because he still loves Lydia, but this is a place he detests as this is where his worst nightmare occurred. His sister drowned because their parents were too drunk to rescue her. As soon as he reaches Maine, Josh begins to wonder whether staying with Lydia though he loves her is worth the price of coming to a place that hosts his nastiest nightmare.
MARRIAGE IN JEOPARDY turns a light on the aftermath impact of a tragedy on a relationship even a loving one. There is no doubt that Josh loves his wife or he would never agreed to go to Maine yet he still may find her needs too overwhelming as he has his own demons fueled by guilt and grief to fight. This is not an easy tale to read even with a glimmer of light amongst the dark; yet no question this is a deep well written character study in which love may not prove enough to save a MARRIAGE IN JEOPARDY from a tragedy.
Harriet Klausner
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