<b>**FULL REVIEW**</b>

What a sad, yet hopeful story.
No…really it’s just sad.

What makes it so is that this is a lot of people’s reality…and it hits close to home on more levels than I care to admit.

Graves writes a beautiful prose, her words flow in a way that gives you every raw and real emotion for that moment. You never want to stop turning pages. I think I even read through her acknowledgments because I honestly love the way she writes.

Claire is me. Or was me…and the way she felt in her marriage pulled my heart into some deep places I have since buried.
At the end of this story, Claire is also me…or I am her, just further down the road. Trust and love go hand in hand, and while loving someone may never go away, trusting them can. When the trust is gone, love isn’t enough…I am so glad she found her voice, she and Chris found their middle ground, and neither was willing to give up on the other.
A true testimony of marriage. A life no longer just their own, but one lived for and with the other.

I will absolutely be checking out the next book in this series. I’m curious if we get to know Daniel and Jessie? I certainly hope so…I’d hate for that to be his ending.

<b>**4 Emotional Affair, Stars**</b>

Look at the gorgeous cover for this book. It's just stunning in real life too (I picked up a copy when I realized I still hadn't read my review copy via Netgalley).

I loved Tracy Garvis-Graves debut, On The Island, and just knew that I would enjoy reading more from her. She did not disappoint. Her writing is beautiful and poignant.

I've never been in a situation like Claire, but did I ever empathize with her. As her story unfolds, I found myself getting emotionally sucked into the book and both feeling sorry for Claire and being angry with her for letting herself get into this situation. I could see how easy it would be to let the attention and affections of another man make you feel special again if you were feeling ignored or forgotten by your current beau/husband, but I was angry with her for letting herself think that being "just friends" would work with a man she was obviously attracted to. I was both rooting for Claire and yelling at her throughout the story. Ms. Garvis-Graves writes this emotionally charged story in a way that you can't help but feel for Claire and want the best for her whatever the ends up being.

And you also simultaneously root for both Daniel and Chris. Daniel because he seems to be the kinda of man that Claire needs in her life and Chris because he deserves the chance to show her that he's still here and loves her. What a love triangle! The backstories unfold throughout the chapters and you learn more about the three as time goes on. I loved Daniel and Claire together, but they really just seemed to experience the best of each other and not facing any real stressful or challenging times during the story (until near the end of the book). And it felt like all Chris and Claire had at the moment was this big, ugly situation that wasn't getting any better. Both relationships were heartbreaking in their own way. I did not envy Claire and the choice she had to make.

There were also some really interesting supporting characters namely Claire's friends who each had issues of their own going on including alcoholism, gambling and infertility. It touched on many different issues, but left Claire's story of loneliness be the star topic.

I'm looking forward to more by this author and I think she has now become and auto-buy for me.

After losing his job, Chris turns inward and away from his wife Claire. This is their story and how even though you think people will be waiting, they may not or they may come close to straying.

This was a beautifully written story and I enjoyed every single page.

5 stars

What a wonderful book! Covet had everything going for it - great characters and an engrossing storyline. I loved all three of the main characters - Claire, Chris, and Daniel. I felt for all of them, and wanted the best outcome for all.

Chris and Claire are going through a terribly rough patch in their marriage when Claire meets Daniel. They strike up an unlikely friendship. Daniel and Claire are both very lonely and find comfort in their friendship. As they grow closer, Claire will have to make a choice between her marriage and her friend.

I loved this book! Tracey Garvis Graves has quickly become one of my favorite authors, and this one is just as good as what I've come to expect from her. I don't think you can go wrong with one of her books!