Love and Happiness

Ben Burgess Jr.

May 2019 · Urban Renaissance

About this ebook

Sexy and relatable, insightful and inspiring, Love and Happiness shows us both sides of Chris and Karen's story. Author Ben Burgess Jr. reminds us that sometimes to have it all, you must first lose it all.

Karen has it all: a handsome husband, beautiful twin daughters, a lovely home, and a great job. She also has a secret: she's cheating on her husband with not one man, but two. On the outside, her life seems perfect, but Karen feels neglected, bored, and unappreciated. Yearning for affection and excitement, she falls into the arms of first Raheem, and then Tyrell. Out of fear of losing her husband, Karen ends the affairs, but things don't turn out how she planned. When Karen's dirty secrets are revealed, she must fight to keep her family together.
Chris is doing all he can to hold his marriage together. He loves Karen, but she's been growing more distant every day. When she starts coming home later and later, he suspects she is being unfaithful. When Chris accidentally takes her cell phone, what he finds changes their lives forever.
Tragedy strikes, and Karen must decide if she should sacrifice her happiness for her husband's love, and Chris wonders if he should stay with Karen, because he still loves her despite her infidelity. If they do stay together, will they ever find love and happiness again?

Ratings and reviews

Anyone who has been or is married knows that it is work and often the perspective of one partner is completely different from that of his/her partner. This book delves into the difficult topic of two married partners who are not on the same page, which leads to the wife, Karen, seeking what she needs, both physically and emotionally, outside of the marriage. As the old adage says, what is done in the dark will come to the light! The infidelities are revealed, and Karen and her husband Chris must deal with the fallout. The interesting part about this story is that the reader gets to experience their marriage from both perspectives. This is so revealing about the way that two partners can see things completely differently. It also gives us a better understanding of the complexities of a relationship. Just because someone is unfaithful does not mean that they do not love their partner, which is sometimes counter-intuitive. The characters in this book are raw, honest, and truly flawed, which often makes them more relatable. It is too easy to wrap up characters in pretty packages that often feels more comfortable to the reader, Burgess is not afraid to show the human side of the people he creates. As a reader, I found myself often shaking my head at Karen’s behavior, but I also appreciated the real, honesty with which she was portrayed. I’ll tell you one thing for sure, that woman gets some major action in this book! Burgess is not scared of a sex scene so be prepared for some very descriptive erotic moments. I felt that this added to the realness and rawness of this book rather than detracting from it. Don’t worry, Chris gets some action too! I also really enjoyed the supporting characters in this book. Chris and Karen’s different set of friends are flawed in their own ways and not always the best influences. They are great additions to the story and a part of helping the couple along in their conclusions. There are times that they definitely added fuel to the fire, but, again, this is a realistic reflection of life and friendships and how they can impact your decisions in your own life. This book has a fantastic and unexpected arch. It is so realistic and raw! I really love the journey this author takes us on through the perspective of these two people. It really shows how life’s difficult twists and turns can turn out to be exactly what we needed to get where we need to be. I highly recommend this read for anyone who has ever experienced the drama of a loving relationship falling apart and how it can actually lead to the right path.

Love this book I could put it down I really recommend it 👍👍👍👍❤

About the author

Ben Burgess Jr. is the author of the award-winning novels Monster, Wounded, Love and Happiness, Daddy's Girl, and his latest novel, Black and White. He is an active performer of spoken word poetry. Ben uses his love of writing to inspire and influence youths to strive for what they believe in and to never give up on their dreams. His novels Monster and Wounded are currently used in schools on the Lower East Side of Manhattan. Ben has a BA degree in business management and an MA degree in educational leadership. He is the proud father of Jaelynn and Jaclyn, and he is active in trying to improve urban neighborhoods and communities.