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A Marriage Worth Saving
Never too late...
Once, Mila Thomas had love, marriage and the promise of the family she'd always longed for, until tragedy struck. Now, with the ink still drying on her divorce papers, no matter how painful it is, it's time to move on...
To begin again?
Leaving Mila was the hardest thing Jordan's ever had to do. However, when fate brings them back together, he's reminded of what drew him to his beautiful wife in the first place, and he wonders if it's ever too late to try again?
Once, Mila Thomas had love, marriage and the promise of the family she'd always longed for, until tragedy struck. Now, with the ink still drying on her divorce papers, no matter how painful it is, it's time to move on...
To begin again?
Leaving Mila was the hardest thing Jordan's ever had to do. However, when fate brings them back together, he's reminded of what drew him to his beautiful wife in the first place, and he wonders if it's ever too late to try again?
256 pages, Mass Market Paperback
First published June 1, 2017
13 people are currently reading
141 people want to read
About the author
Therese Beharrie
109 books360 followersTherese Beharrie is a South African romance author of several acclaimed novels, including her One Day to Forever series. She takes pride in writing diverse characters and settings, and her books are often recommended for their heart and banter. She lives in Cape Town with her husband, her inspiration for every hero, and two adorable baby boys. You can find her on Twitter and Facebook or visit her at theresebeharrie.com.
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Displaying 1 - 18 of 18 reviews
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February 6, 2020Angsty second chance romance about a couple who had a love-at-first sight rushed marriage that (unsurprisingly) fell apart as soon as they hit hard times. Coming back together involves lots of self-examination, honesty, and facing the past: ie actually getting to know one another properly. A bit angstier than my preference, but Therese Beharrie does these so well, and the couple are realistically self-protective and unwilling to be vulnerable, so it's very grounded and the eventual HEA feels real and earned.
NB: deals heavily with the loss of a late-term pregnancy and deaths of parents.
NB: deals heavily with the loss of a late-term pregnancy and deaths of parents.
July 15, 2018
Nicely angsty second chance story of a vineyard owner hero and an events planner heroine who broke up after the heroine's tragic miscarriage. The hero's father dies and writes a will that leaves half the vineyard to them both (hero already owns half) if they recreate the event that brought them together in the first place - a concert to promote the vineyard.
The H/h haven't spoken since the heroine asked the hero to leave after her miscarriage. She feels guilty because she fell down the stairs and caused the trauma that brought about the miscarriage. She is also angry at the hero for more nuanced reasons as well.
The hero did leave as asked because he couldn't stand to see her pain and felt he was going to turn into his cold, remote father if he did stay around. He also has a lot of baggage concerning his mother's death when he was five. So hero leaves and files for divorce one month later.
He also cuts off contact with his father - who dies of a heart attack before the hero could reconcile. So hero has a lot to feel guilty about when the will brings them back together.
The author does a good job apportioning blame. The heroine was just as difficult to reach as the hero. She might have stayed in the same place, but she cut herself off from her friend and hurt her as well. Heroine was a foster child and she doesn't think she is worthy of the hero. She kept this from the hero and that compounded her anger because she felt she had to hide her "true self."
Lack of communication, the fact that they married after three months from their first meeting and then couldn't handle it when they lost their son at six months are all realistic and understandable reasons for their break up. The author has them confront their issues in an equally realistic way as they plan the concert.
There is sexual tension, but no full on sex scenes. H/h actually *talk* in order to understand each other.
The story is set in South Africa. The H/h were celibate during their separation. The story ends with the H/h renewing their vows on their second anniversary and then visiting the graves of his parents and their child. That was sweet and tearful.
The H/h haven't spoken since the heroine asked the hero to leave after her miscarriage. She feels guilty because she fell down the stairs and caused the trauma that brought about the miscarriage. She is also angry at the hero for more nuanced reasons as well.
The hero did leave as asked because he couldn't stand to see her pain and felt he was going to turn into his cold, remote father if he did stay around. He also has a lot of baggage concerning his mother's death when he was five. So hero leaves and files for divorce one month later.
He also cuts off contact with his father - who dies of a heart attack before the hero could reconcile. So hero has a lot to feel guilty about when the will brings them back together.
The author does a good job apportioning blame. The heroine was just as difficult to reach as the hero. She might have stayed in the same place, but she cut herself off from her friend and hurt her as well. Heroine was a foster child and she doesn't think she is worthy of the hero. She kept this from the hero and that compounded her anger because she felt she had to hide her "true self."
Lack of communication, the fact that they married after three months from their first meeting and then couldn't handle it when they lost their son at six months are all realistic and understandable reasons for their break up. The author has them confront their issues in an equally realistic way as they plan the concert.
There is sexual tension, but no full on sex scenes. H/h actually *talk* in order to understand each other.
The story is set in South Africa. The H/h were celibate during their separation. The story ends with the H/h renewing their vows on their second anniversary and then visiting the graves of his parents and their child. That was sweet and tearful.
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September 19, 2019SUPER heavy, but written with Beharrie's sensitive and warm style. Just not for me at this time.
SPOILERS and CW's only notes:
I read about half of this story. I did not look up any reviews before starting but I typically enjoy a "marriage in trouble" romance so I jumped in.
While excellently written I personally had an issue wanting to keep reading because of the lingering grief issues and relationship problems the couple have because of Mila's miscarriage when she was in her six month of pregnancy. Both sets of their parents are also dead, one of the parents from cancer, and Mila struggles with what seems to me to be PTSD. She fell walking down stairs which led to her miscarriage.
SPOILERS and CW's only notes:
I read about half of this story. I did not look up any reviews before starting but I typically enjoy a "marriage in trouble" romance so I jumped in.
While excellently written I personally had an issue wanting to keep reading because of the lingering grief issues and relationship problems the couple have because of Mila's miscarriage when she was in her six month of pregnancy. Both sets of their parents are also dead, one of the parents from cancer, and Mila struggles with what seems to me to be PTSD. She fell walking down stairs which led to her miscarriage.
July 24, 2017
A Marriage Worth Saving by the lovely Therese Beharrie is set in Stellenbosch, South Africa. As I grew up in and around Cape Town that already was a winner for me. But the story itself absolutely captivated me.
Mila is the very capable event planner brought in to make an event happen on the Thomas Vineyard. She’s sweet and funny, but so broken by the circumstances of her life. Jordan is the handsome, charming heir apparent to the Thomas legacy. But he is equally as broken by the circumstances of his life.
They meet through the event that Mila is hired to pull off and Jordan sweeps Mila off her feet. Their short whirlwind romance ends in marriage and what should be a happily-ever-after. But life isn’t always that forgiving. Tragedy strikes and their commitment is tested to the absolute limits. Is the love that they share strong enough to see them through their own personal brokenness? I encourage you to invest in your own copy of this wonderful book to find out. I will, however, advise you to have copious amounts of tissues close to hand! I absolutely loved this book!
Mila is the very capable event planner brought in to make an event happen on the Thomas Vineyard. She’s sweet and funny, but so broken by the circumstances of her life. Jordan is the handsome, charming heir apparent to the Thomas legacy. But he is equally as broken by the circumstances of his life.
They meet through the event that Mila is hired to pull off and Jordan sweeps Mila off her feet. Their short whirlwind romance ends in marriage and what should be a happily-ever-after. But life isn’t always that forgiving. Tragedy strikes and their commitment is tested to the absolute limits. Is the love that they share strong enough to see them through their own personal brokenness? I encourage you to invest in your own copy of this wonderful book to find out. I will, however, advise you to have copious amounts of tissues close to hand! I absolutely loved this book!
March 11, 2021
CW: grief; pregnancy loss
It’s ON SIGHT Jordan Thomas!! 😤 Like I’m talking Solange in the elevator. Turns out I’ve discovered my default emotional state is Solange in the elevator when it comes to my homegirls partners. This man was all over the place emotionally, leading my girl Mila on, and then pulling the rug from under her for no real reason. Like why keep starting shit SEVERAL TIMES and them being too scared to come through??? lol Ok it sounds like I hate him, and I think mid book I was literally yelling because how mad he was making me, but alas this is a Therese Beharrie romance and she brought me back in the end. Plus his rich ass used his money to make Mila happy so. I loved Mila, she had gone through so so much, yet she remained daring and brave throughout the whole story. She high key got herself and him together, MAKING SHIT HAPPEN FOR THEM OKAY!!! She got her happily ever after so that’s what mattered to me. I enjoyed feeling cozy and like I was at the vineyard. Let me go serve me a glass of Chenin Blanc and think more about non-violent ways to torture Jordan.
It’s ON SIGHT Jordan Thomas!! 😤 Like I’m talking Solange in the elevator. Turns out I’ve discovered my default emotional state is Solange in the elevator when it comes to my homegirls partners. This man was all over the place emotionally, leading my girl Mila on, and then pulling the rug from under her for no real reason. Like why keep starting shit SEVERAL TIMES and them being too scared to come through??? lol Ok it sounds like I hate him, and I think mid book I was literally yelling because how mad he was making me, but alas this is a Therese Beharrie romance and she brought me back in the end. Plus his rich ass used his money to make Mila happy so. I loved Mila, she had gone through so so much, yet she remained daring and brave throughout the whole story. She high key got herself and him together, MAKING SHIT HAPPEN FOR THEM OKAY!!! She got her happily ever after so that’s what mattered to me. I enjoyed feeling cozy and like I was at the vineyard. Let me go serve me a glass of Chenin Blanc and think more about non-violent ways to torture Jordan.
February 26, 2018
3.5 stars
CW: miscarriage
I love angst and pain in my lyfe-
I have so many emotions about Mia and Jordan, and their inabilities to open up to each other because of their childhood traumas, these idiots. I love how they met each other and fell in love, and I also grieved the way their relationship ended after what happened to Mia. There were lots of repressed feelings to unpack between them when they reunited after the divorce, and I enjoyed the emotional rollercoaster ride.
This is my first Therese Beharrie book, and it won't be my last.
CW: miscarriage
I love angst and pain in my lyfe-
I have so many emotions about Mia and Jordan, and their inabilities to open up to each other because of their childhood traumas, these idiots. I love how they met each other and fell in love, and I also grieved the way their relationship ended after what happened to Mia. There were lots of repressed feelings to unpack between them when they reunited after the divorce, and I enjoyed the emotional rollercoaster ride.
This is my first Therese Beharrie book, and it won't be my last.
August 23, 2018
**My thanks to the author for providing me with a free copy for an honest review**
This book is packed full of angst miscommunication and family drama.
There is one part near the end that brought me to tears but on the whole it's a book where two people got together with lots of baggage, married within three months and did not talk about their pasts or believe that they were worthy of each other.
There is a sensitive subject written within the story, but it is handled well and the baggage the two hold finally comes out and the chasm that has been between the two of them can be breached and the walls crumbled.
A sweet read of reconciliation and a coming to terms of two peoples pasts.
This book is packed full of angst miscommunication and family drama.
There is one part near the end that brought me to tears but on the whole it's a book where two people got together with lots of baggage, married within three months and did not talk about their pasts or believe that they were worthy of each other.
There is a sensitive subject written within the story, but it is handled well and the baggage the two hold finally comes out and the chasm that has been between the two of them can be breached and the walls crumbled.
A sweet read of reconciliation and a coming to terms of two peoples pasts.
June 27, 2019
Really great at digging into emotions, but I found the hero a selfish jerk and was firmly Team Mila.
January 18, 2021
I really love Beharrie's writing. I think she does such a fantastic job of crafting emotions so perfectly. This marriage in trouble romance tackles a lot of really heavy topics so the emotions were critical to the book working, which it absolutely does.
CW: grief, parental death, death of a child (premature infant), foster care
CW: grief, parental death, death of a child (premature infant), foster care
June 3, 2017
I found this book so gripping that I read it in one afternoon. The characters are both emotionally damaged people, but the subject matter is dealt with sensitively and poignantly, without ever descending into mawkishness. The settings are also varied and evocative, and the author does a great job of coming full circle in a satisfying and emotionally rich way. Would absolutely recommend.
July 5, 2017
A beautifully written contemporary romance that deals with some dark and uncomfortable issues with grace and warmth. A gorgeous debut full of hope. If you like your heroes and heroines flawed and human, and your romances to bring a tear to your eye, this is for you.
February 8, 2018
This novel throws a few surprises into the works. It starts where most novels end: with a marriage between a man and woman certain they’re right for each other from the very first moment they meet.
How does that saying go? “Marry in haste, regret at leisure”? The blurb gives you the information that not all went well in paradise. Yet, even without that hint, I could smell trouble from the beginning. Jordan lies to Mila to get her to a picnic (guess simply asking her for drinks, dinner and a movie isn’t his style) and then gently taunts her by asking if she’s going to stay or run. It’s the adult equivalent of a teenager sneeringly asking whether you’re chicken or frigid.
Well, this romance is off to a promising start, isn’t it? Mila should run from this guy but she finds herself so drawn to him that she accepts it when he offers her wine, starts pulling the pins out of her hair and talking about how she must feel what he’s feeling, too. All this on their first date.
The scene fades out to a kiss, with nothing explicit being written. But I couldn’t help hoping that they at least used condoms. It’s one thing to be giddy about someone you just met. It’s another to be irresponsible and risk venereal disease with a passing stranger.
But the novel shows that they divorced after a tragedy that takes a while to be revealed. About that divorce? Well, there’s a surprise, too.
Four years create changes in this couple and they’re no longer so sure of their footing. In fact, Mila and Jordan realize they don’t know the other person at all. So the novel takes us along with them as they gradually and painfully peel back their loved one’s defenses, trying to get to the root of why their seemingly love-at-first-sight marriage shattered and disintegrated so quickly.
This is a novel that keeps its couple together but admits a love that seems predestined isn’t necessarily something to jump into without consideration. It’s a romance about adults behaving like adults not giddy, hormone-driven teenagers. Even at moments where sex seems in the offing, Mila or Jordan pulls back (usually because of an outside influence like a phone ringing rather than common sense rearing its head but I’ll take it), preferring to let conjugal relations take a back seat to the communication they earnestly need to engage in.
This book is special, wonderful and satisfying because it turns the quixotic notions of other love stories on their heads and shows what it really takes to keep a relationship going and a marriage strong. Hats off to you, Ms. Beharrie.
How does that saying go? “Marry in haste, regret at leisure”? The blurb gives you the information that not all went well in paradise. Yet, even without that hint, I could smell trouble from the beginning. Jordan lies to Mila to get her to a picnic (guess simply asking her for drinks, dinner and a movie isn’t his style) and then gently taunts her by asking if she’s going to stay or run. It’s the adult equivalent of a teenager sneeringly asking whether you’re chicken or frigid.
Well, this romance is off to a promising start, isn’t it? Mila should run from this guy but she finds herself so drawn to him that she accepts it when he offers her wine, starts pulling the pins out of her hair and talking about how she must feel what he’s feeling, too. All this on their first date.
The scene fades out to a kiss, with nothing explicit being written. But I couldn’t help hoping that they at least used condoms. It’s one thing to be giddy about someone you just met. It’s another to be irresponsible and risk venereal disease with a passing stranger.
But the novel shows that they divorced after a tragedy that takes a while to be revealed. About that divorce? Well, there’s a surprise, too.
Four years create changes in this couple and they’re no longer so sure of their footing. In fact, Mila and Jordan realize they don’t know the other person at all. So the novel takes us along with them as they gradually and painfully peel back their loved one’s defenses, trying to get to the root of why their seemingly love-at-first-sight marriage shattered and disintegrated so quickly.
This is a novel that keeps its couple together but admits a love that seems predestined isn’t necessarily something to jump into without consideration. It’s a romance about adults behaving like adults not giddy, hormone-driven teenagers. Even at moments where sex seems in the offing, Mila or Jordan pulls back (usually because of an outside influence like a phone ringing rather than common sense rearing its head but I’ll take it), preferring to let conjugal relations take a back seat to the communication they earnestly need to engage in.
This book is special, wonderful and satisfying because it turns the quixotic notions of other love stories on their heads and shows what it really takes to keep a relationship going and a marriage strong. Hats off to you, Ms. Beharrie.
October 15, 2018
Never too late…Once, Mila Thomas (event planner) had love, marriage and the promise of the family she'd always longed for, until tragedy struck, she fell and lost their child. She blames herself and her tragic upbringing in foster care makes it even more difficult to cope. Now, when the ink should be drying on her divorce papers, she finds out they’re still married; no matter how painful it is, it's time to move on…To begin again? Leaving Mila was the hardest thing Jordan's ever had to do. However, when fate brings them back together, he's reminded of what drew him to his beautiful wife in the first place, and he wonders if it's ever too late to try again? His father’s decree that they must work together and not filing Mila’s divorce papers aids in getting his head on straight about his own mom’s death and his need to run away after their child’s death.
sad, depressing, redundant, poorly edited
sad, depressing, redundant, poorly edited
February 12, 2018
Great to find a South African author being published! Good read.
October 15, 2018
Short cute second chance love story.
October 30, 2025
Enjoyable reading
This is an emotional read, and the author absolutely enables me to experience the pain the characters endured. Theme: talk about everything, be without a filter.
This is an emotional read, and the author absolutely enables me to experience the pain the characters endured. Theme: talk about everything, be without a filter.
June 12, 2017
A sad, sad story, full of emotional moments and angst. Bit depressing to be honest.
June 23, 2017
Good read, typical chick lit but I like that for an easy relaxing read.
Displaying 1 - 18 of 18 reviews