A Morning Like This [Mass Market Paperback]

Deborah Bedford (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: October 1, 2004

New York Times bestselling author Deborah Bedford crafts a riveting tale of two families and the secret that ties them together--a secret that may destroy them both.

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

There is currently a spate of evangelical Christian novels examining what happens when infidelity torpedoes a marriage. Bedford's take on the subject, while still flogging the same plot horse, features an unusual twist. David Treasure, his wife Abby, and their son Braden seem to have the perfect Christian family. David's adulterous affair nine years ago is about to come back to haunt them, however, in the form of an eight-year-old daughter, Samantha Roche, whom he never knew he had. Samantha desperately needs a bone transplant, and David or Braden may be her best hope. In order to help, however, David must allow his darkest secret to come to light, and things quickly unravel. Bedford lets the characters of Abby and David unfold as their marriage begins its descent into hell; she authentically portrays David's belligerent insistence that Abby should instantly forgive, and his refusal to accept responsibility for the enormity of his mistake. Abby's own feelings of anger and betrayal are well captured, and Bedford skillfully ties her heartfelt emotions and despair back to painful events in her childhood. The writing is solid, the pacing steady and the description satisfying. There are flaws; readers may feel irritated by how far Abby goes in her ability to pardon David, and David's relationship with his former lover is still a bit murky toward the end. Nevertheless, the novel's themes of forgiveness, the consequences of adultery and the cost of commitment should be well-received by CBA readers.
Copyright 2002 Cahners Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

Review

'Deborah Bedford once again shines light into hidden corners of the human heart and shows us how God wants to heal our hurts-even hurts caused by our own sin.'-Robin Lee Hatcher, Christy Award-winning author of RIBBON OF YEARS 'The writing is solid, the pacing steady, and the description satisfying.'-Publishers Weekly

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Product Details

• Mass Market Paperback: 336 pages
• Publisher: FaithWords (October 1, 2004)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0446614858
• ISBN-13: 978-0446614856
• Product Dimensions: 4.2 x 1 x 6.8 inches
• Shipping Weight: 5.6 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 3.3 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (9 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #2,870,330 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

9 of 11 people found the following review helpful:

2.0 out of 5 stars If infidelity is okay with you, this is your book!, November 8, 2005

By 

Just another Stephanie "Stephanie" (Somewhere in Illinois) - See all my reviews

This review is from: A Morning Like This (Paperback)

David and Abby Treasure (niiiiiice fake last name), along with their son Braden, are the perfect Christian family. Until, that is, David's affair from 9 years ago comes back to haunt them. Turns out his mistress gave birth to his child and never told him. Oops. And of course, now the illegitimate daughter is dying of cancer and needs a bone marrow transplant, and he has to tell his wife and bring all sorts of loverly turmoil into his family. Yada yada yada, we've all heard this story a zillion times before.

I was pretty irritated by this book. Abby gets angry at David, rightly so, and he acts like a creep toward her. He doesn't get that because he went out acting like a manwhore, he's to blame. But what grossed me out was when Abby tells him that the affair was partly HER fault, that she pushed him away, even though he cheated on her while she was not only pregnant, but just after giving birth to their son. Nice guy there. She forgives him (this is a Christian novel, and the author seems set on the fact that divorce is never an option, even if your significant other goes around acting like a workaholic prostitute), and of course, everyone lives happily ever after.

I don't agree. I think that she was making faith out to be the only remedy for a marriage that was in desperate need of a lot of therapy (faith never hurts, of course, but God helps those who help themselves). I felt almost as though the author looked down on anyone who would dare divorce over something so little as infidelity. This made me feel small. Didn't care for that.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

1.0 out of 5 stars Disappointing, January 2, 2010

By 

Judy Shewmake (California) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: A Morning Like This: A Novel (Paperback)

The author is very sloppy with details, dates, vehicles, events are not consistent - she needs an editor!
The husband David claims to be a Christian and wants to do what the Lord wants, but he's sneaking around talking to his ex-mistress, he never tells the full truth to his wife, he never apologizes when first revealing his adultery or at the end.
This is supposed to be a Christian family but David never prayed once, he didn't try to bring healing to his wife for the pain he caused, he never admitted he was wrong and was prideful and he never confessed to God or his wife his adultery.
This story teaches that women must make the first move, take all the steps to reconcilliation and make all the sacrifices in an relationship - while allowing men to be jerks.
The author obviously knows nothing about marriage problems and this book that could have taught the true meaning of healing a marriage - instead disappoints...

4 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Another moving story from Deborah Bedford, August 17, 2002

By A Customer

This review is from: A Morning Like This (Paperback)

Although the plot is one readers have seen many times before (unfaithful spouse, secret child), Bedford's writing has a beauty of voice that makes this book special. I'll be recommending it to others.