Dealing with Infidelity After A Tragedy
If there’s anything I love, it’s a good piece of fiction, especially one simmered in eroticism, sexuality and unthinkable but realistic situations topped with a healthy dose of humor. Such novels are hard to find, and when I discover one, I’m ecstatic to share. Thus I present to you Zane’s Total Eclipse of the Heart
, a page turner that explores the theme of infidelity in the course of life’s twists and turns.
Damon and Carleigh are a happily married couple who seem to have it all. Damon’s prominent corporate position provides a stable six figure income and comfortable lifestyle. To top it off, Damon is the perfect devoted husband, and a perfect physical male specimen; Carleigh’s friends often comment on their attraction to him.
Damon, however, is secretly irritated by Carleigh’s pride in him as her “trophy” husband, and even more incensed at her friends’ blatant attempts to seduce him under her nose. Damon also has big dreams of owning his own businesses, and constantly endures Carleigh’s refusal to support him. Carleigh also continues to put off his dream of having a family.
Brooke’s was once head-over-heels for her boyfriend, Patrick, until he became controlling and abusive. Patrick comes from a privileged background and enjoys a successful career as a prominent attorney, while Brooke is a waitress. Patrick wields his financial power over Brooke’s life, and his parents constantly remind Brooke that she’s beneath their elite standing and a poor choice for their reputable son. After discovering one of Patrick’s many sexual affairs, Brooke makes the choice to leave him and reclaim her life.
Everyone’s lives intersect during a tragic accident that leaves Damon permanently disabled. Damon doesn’t regret losing his arm; he figures the tradeoff was worth saving lives, but he’s discouraged by the effects his impairment has on his marriage. Now that he’s no longer “perfect” his wife wants almost nothing to do with him. As a result, he forges a strong relationship with the ever-grateful and humble Brooke, the other woman’s life he’s saved.
As I read this book, I was shocked by how heartless Damon’s wife was. Carleigh seemed to have lost all interest and attraction to her husband once he lost his arm, an arm he sacrificed to save her life. Instead of being supportive, grateful wife, she instead pushes him away, allows her friends to disrespect him (and, occasionally, join in) and ridicules his attempts to produce a positive outcome from the situation.
In my mind, I wondered, “What kind of wife does this? Marriage is for better or worse. A man saves your life, and instead of helping him deal with the effects, you dismiss him as useless?”
Additionally, as it stood with Patrick and Brooke, people tried to tell her that she needed to get over his infidelities and get used to them, because she would never find another man like him. While it was quite true that Brooke didn’t appear to have a lot going for her, would any person truly find it an excellent tradeoff to substitute a healthy, strong, loving relationship for “the pampered life”? I don’t think there’s any amount of money that could bring peace of mind to a woman who would rather have a devoted husband over anything else.
Now I must stop and insert here, the infidelities in this book were not solely physical and sexual. At one point, Damon and Brooke’s platonic friendship becomes an emotional affair of sorts. Zane cleverly maneuvers this relationship in a way that clearly shows the dangers of emotional infidelity, yet blends it into the storyline; while you may or may not condone the forbidden intimacy that is shared between these two, there’s a part of you that understands how it occurred.
I could give away the end of the book, but truthfully speaking, I feel it’s too good to spoil. What I will say is, besides infidelity, Zane expresses an important point to her readers:
“The world is full of people who remain in relationships that they realize they have no business in. Yet, they stay, hoping and praying for change, believing that the other person will eventually appreciate them and recognize their value. This cycle leads to regret, despair and oftentimes depression.”
If you’re currently dealing with or have ever experienced an unhealthy relationship, then surely you can affirm the painful truth of this statement. But what does it take before you (or anyone else, for that matter) release yourself of that toxicity and instead open yourself to the potential of experiencing what happens when, as Zane puts it, “two people meet by pure chance…with no expectations between them… [and] nature takes its course … the right way”?
If you’re interested, check out more reviews of Total Eclipse of the Heart
