Vivienne's Guilt

By: Heather M. Orgeron

Narrated by: Melissa Moran, Aaron Shedlock

Length: 7 hrs and 40 mins

Publisher's summary

Vivienne

Guilt...like a cancer, it festers, slowly stealing your life bit by painful bit.

What do you do when you have betrayed the love of your life, but he is no longer there to grant you forgiveness? How do you carry the weight of your gravest mistake knowing there is no way to atone for it? I've made a terrible choice - one that can't be undone. Hiding this secret is eating me alive. But if it ever came out? If it were ever discovered? It would destroy everything.

Reid

They say you always want what you can't have. From the moment I laid eyes on Vivienne Parker, I knew I was fighting a losing battle. I want to believe that I'm better than this - that I wouldn't cross that line - but deep down, I know if I were ever given a chance, there's no way in hell I'd refuse.

She's my uncle's wife, so why does it feel as if she is mine?

Contains mature themes.

©2016 Heather M. Orgeron (P)2018 Tantor

Brilliant!

The way she brought the characters through real life events and didn’t just skip forward to the happily ever after was very well done. The ending was not what I thought, I love that there was a twist.

Unexpected...

I kept listening to this book and thinking that the love story needed to be wrapping up quickly with how close to the end things were getting and still being unresolved. But this is t a typical love story where they guy gets his girl and they live happily ever after....as you would think. It’s a story of love and life and real heartache and death. I feel...a little unfulfilled at the close of this story, but reflective.

So Unexpected!

I am so glad I listed to this book, it is so much better then I expected! OMG my heart was broken over an over. I love Heather's writing and have enjoyed her other books but I must say I was skeptical about this one due to the short description of it. I didn't know what to really expect but I am so glad I took the chance! This is definitely worth a credit, worth a listen, worth a read! So good and beautifully written I can't say enough about this book!

Not what I expected

This was rather dark. The blurb doesn’t hint towards the heartbreaking darkness that is her guilt. I’m really on the fence with how to review this.
Is it good? Yes. Would I recommend it? Depends. Read it again is a huge maybe.
The writing is good. Heather captured this particular troupe in a very realistic way. I think it’s because I didn’t like the HEA. Because to me, it wasn’t. But I get it. Ugh so confusing. Read for yourself and see.

Wow...

This is one of those stories that you think you know what you're getting, but it's so much more. The way the author was able to resolve the conflict was beautiful.

Not Exactly What I Signed Up For..

So I thought I was going to be listening to a forbidden romance between a woman and her husband's nephew. I was unclear going in what the exact circumstances were but I thought I was prepared. I planned for plenty of angst, maybe some cheating.

I was not prepared at all. This is not a love triangle. This one isn't even really a romance. It is a love story. Mostly it is a story of loss and family. It is a heartbreaker. No one walks away unscathed.

It is going to take me a while to recover.

Very good narration. If I had to complain I would just have wished for a little more Aaron. Very well written. This one is not warm and fuzzy but it is a good book.

UGH! So Friggin Sad!!!

Warning: Small spoiler but necessary to express my opinion. This book gets 5 heart wrenching stars, BUT it was not the kind of love story I expected and I don’t believe the characters truly got their HEA’s. I was so disappointed at the end when I thought for a moment they had, but alas, my heart was torn out yet again.
I would have liked a different outcome, as unconventional as it may have been, that respected the right of the child to know his father instead of protecting the adults from the fall-out. As for the other child in question, she was 3 when this all went down and she was in a very loving situation. This would’ve been a non-issue by the time she was old enough to understand. I also think that Viv had very strong support in her mom and Cassie. Anyone else who had a problem with it would’ve gotten over it.
This is a 2 tissue box kinda book but still worth the credit.

Not what I was expecting

This book left me feeling gimped of a HEA. Main character was not my cup of tea.

Pet Peeve

If you don't like 2 year ills with the vocabulary and emotions of a nine year old, this book will drive you crazy. I can't finish the book as my teeth are clenched and my jaw locked in annoyance at the beyond precocious toddler.

Vivienne Parker

This is not a romance story with a HEA.

***SPOILER ALERT***

Vivienne's Guilt audiobook review. Audible Escapes borrow. Dual POV. Dual narration. Standalone. Narrated by Melissa Moran and Aaron Shedlock. Content warnings: death of a spouse, drunk driving accident, miscarriage, abuse of a prescription drug, deceit and a hidden child.

**uncertain of the spelling of character names**

Vivienne Parker (26; aka Viv) is the wife of Abbott Parker, mother of Matilda Grace, went to college at Tulane, best friend of Cassie, from AL and lives in LA with her family. She becomes a widow the night before Matilda's 3rd birthday when a female drunk driver collides with her husband and daughter on their way home from a daddy/daughter date. Reid Parker (18) is Dave's, Abbott's older brother, son. He wasn't able to make it to his uncle's funeral but Dave volunteers him to help Vivienne run the camp for asperger's teens Abbott created for the summer. It's the summer before he goes to college and while he had other plans he is willing to help his aunt for the summer.

Reid arrives and shocks Vivienne with how much he looks like Abbott. Vivienne struggles with her grief and panic attacks so she goes to see Dr Benson who prescribes antidepressants and advises her about the side effects. So deep in her grief Vivienne disregards her doctor's warnings, takes too much medication and drinks wine. Reid rescues Matilda after she falls in the lake. Vivienne is so upset she insists that Reid stay with her. He agrees, takes a shower using Abbott's hygiene products and puts on Abbott's clothes. Reid and Vivienne fall asleep together after they've had a few to drink. Reid wakes with Vivienne begging him to take her and he's so attracted to her, he does. She wakes up later thinking it was a dream. Vivienne continually flashes back to memories of her past with Abbott. Cassie is a social worker having a difficult time with one of her foster children's foster parents. She eventually decides to adopt the girl, Sierra, and her little sister, Corrie.

One night during a storm Reid finds Matilda at his door saying Vivienne is bleeding. He finds her in bed bleeding and in pain. Once she's in the ambulance Reid took Matilda to the hospital. Vivienne is confused as to how she had a miscarriage and asks Reid about it, he flips out expressing his love for her and the hurt he feels that she won't acknowledge what happened so he leaves. Two weeks later Cassie goes to see him, telling him never to see her again because it hurts Vivienne too much, explaining that she was taking meds and shouldn't have been drinking but that she's getting psychiatric help.

5 years later, Vivienne bumps into Reid in the grocery store. He's with his wife and infant daughter, and Vivienne is with Matilda and her 4 year old son AJ. Reid quickly realizes AJ is his son. Reid approaches Vivienne in the parking lot demanding answers. Vivienne said she miscarried and didn't find out that she was still pregnant with the second baby until Reid had left her in the ER. He demands to be in his son's life and at her request promises not to disclose that AJ is his.

Epilogue is 12 years later: Matilda's wedding. Reid eventually got over his anger at her for keeping AJ from him, realizing it was for the best, never acknowledging AJ as his but staying in their lives.

Side characters: Matilda Grace Parker (3 years old on May 21; aka Tilly; Dimples). Abbott Jude Parker (Matilda's dad; V's husband of 5 years/9 years together; from GA; died the day before Matilda's 3rd birthday from a drunk driver hitting his car on his way home from his date with Matilda; architect; dedicated to the autistic community; created a camp for kids with Asperger's Syndrome because his best friend growing up had it; raised by a single mother). Cassie (V's college friend; Matilda's godmother; foster child from MS; social worker). Mrs Anderson (V's mom). Mr Anderson (V's dad; left them when she was 13; remarried with kids). Officer Thomas (notified V of the accident). Elizabeth Parker (Abbott's mom). Dave Parker (Abbott's older brother). Kylie (Reid's girlfriend). Grace Adler (Abbott's bff growing up; met her when she was 12; has Asperger's). Dr Benson (V's doctor). Sierra and Corrie (foster kids). The Klausen's (Sierra's foster family). Gage (bartender). Julia (aka Jules; Reid's wife). Amelia Rose Parker (Reid and Julia's daughter). AJ (4; Reid and V's son). Blake (Matilda's husband). Riley (Sierra's daughter). Owen (ring bearer). JP

1st borrow 10-08-20 (Audible Escapes)
2nd borrow 10-01-23 (Audible Premium Plus)