Love Changes by Marsha Casper Cook

OUR READERS TO DATE: 261

Love Changes by Marsha Casper Cook.

Second chances are possible, but only if the lies and compromises are gone.

Martin had lost his first wife and daughter in a horrible car accident, and it took him years to fight the sadness he woke up with every day. When he met Elaine, everything changed. He married her and their new life made Martin forget all the pain. Once again, life was good.

After feeling such happiness the second time around, Martin never expected tragedy to once again come knocking at his door. But it did. If Martin had known the truth about Elaine’s past he would have been able to help her, but her fear of the truth became her reality and the fact that they loved each other didn’t seem to be enough. Elaine came up with a solution she thought would be for the best. Martin went along with her plan, but it put him in a compromised position and very unhappy. However, he loved his wife so much he agreed to live her lie.

The stakes were very high, but Martin thought he could change her mind over time. But as the years passed, the only thing that changed was Elaine. She became withdrawn and uneasy. Eventually, things got out of hand and Martin couldn’t control anything that happened. It was a downward spiral, and everything they had worked to achieve began to crumble.

Could Martin save his wife from herself?

Would Elaine let that happen?

Review by Mom of 6: 5.0 out of 5 Stars. Not your usual love story! Reviewed in the United States on January 19, 2023. From beginning to end you are not sure what will happen next and the ending will have you in tears as you feel for this family.

Review by H. Taylor: 5.0 out of 5 Stars. An enjoyable book! Reviewed in the United States on July 12, 2017. Love changes by Marsha Casper Cook draws the reader in from the very first page and keeps them until the last word. Martin was happily married with a wonderful wife and daughter, when one fateful day devastation came knocking at the family home, the wife and daughter were involved in a car accident that took their lives. As the years passed, he fought through the sadness he woke with each day. However, Martin met Elaine and his life began to change for the better. They married and with his new life Martin finally forgot the pain, making his life great again.

However, this second time with the happiness he was surrounded by, a cruel twist of fate once again saw tragedy knocking on his door. Unfortunately, his second wife Elaine kept her past secret, although fearing the truth of her past becoming a reality and although they loved one another it could all be ruined was the mistake, the pair have to face the consequences of now in their present. The way the characters have been constructed and written makes them easy to empathize with and even hate at times. It’s wonderfully created and very enjoyable, a definite recommend.

Review by Samfreene-VINE VOICE: 5.0 out of 5 Stars. Feel the Passion! Reviewed in the United States on February 7, 2012. Marriages have a way of outlasting themselves. Sometimes we don’t even see the signs not until it is too late. Martin Lewis is trying his best to understand his wife Elaine’s erratic mood swings. Honored at a dinner for the disabled, his wife and his mother both proud, but in two different ways. A man who is selfless, a doctor who is rare and rarely cares about his patients, does not see the warning signs in front of him as his marriage is about to smolder into ashes due to the secrets and lies his wife has hidden from him for years. Spending his life as a doctor and delivering children into this world, just imagine how he would feel if he found out his child was given away. Enter into the world of gambling, adultery, abortion, mental illness and the disabled. Elaine appears to us as a selfish, unfeeling woman who enjoys the life of a rich socialite and doctor’s wife. Martin Lewis deliberately ignores her faults, her coldness and mood swings in order to keep his marriage solvent. Elaine Lewis has placed a veil of secrecy around her in order to hide the truths about her past. Will they be able to survive? What truths will be revealed in this heartfelt novel by outstanding author Marsha Casper Cook who brings to light so many issues that people face today but never really fully address.

Elaine Lewis appears on the outside to be a cold, unfeeling and distant woman. That is all a façade. Beneath the surface you will find a woman who is deeply troubled, hiding from her own pain and remembering a choice that she made that changed the course of her life, Martin’s, and an innocent child. Elaine Lewis made the choice to give away her young son, Steven. Steven was born with a disability, an imperfection that she could not stand for and would not allow into her life. Steven was born with Down syndrome and would need the love, understanding and caring of parents who would learn and want to address his needs. She was not that giving and she convinced Martin to give her child to someone she never met. Haunted by the images and dreams of her sister Megan who died in a freak accident, Elaine’s emotional scars and guilt from that day on have tortured her waking hours and left her cold and afraid to love any other child.

Facing her fears, running away from her life, and finally coming to a stark realization after almost losing her life, Elaine decides it is time to get some help but at what cost. Finding her diary and reading the entries, Martin learns the hidden secret about how Elaine really feels about their son Stevie and why she feels like a failure. With the help of her close friend Sally, Maggie and even Josh a man she formed a relationship with, Elaine might just find her way back but not before Dr. Ben Caulfield of the facility she is in forces her to face past in a very unique and brave manner. Three great doctors, her husband, her psychiatrist, and her gynecologist, all-working toward the same end to save this troubled and tortured woman from herself. But, could they and the events that do follow are startling. A man who has devoted his life to his wife and yet questions his own actions and blames himself for not being able to help his wife and understand her problems. A woman who closed herself off when her son was born but, in her heart, and soul she loves him.

There are many children born with disabilities today both physically and learning that hamper their learning. As a reading and writing specialist I worked with students that needed that extra help in both areas and I taught classes of double grades with students who were below level and had difficulty in both reading and math. Before becoming the reading and writing specialist I worked with so many children who endeared themselves to me and who will always be in my heart and soul forever. Working with children with disabilities like Down syndrome, autism and Attention Deficit Disorder takes a specially trained teacher and parent to help these children succeed. It can be done as we hope Elaine will find out.

When Martin asks Sally to attend a gallery opening more than just the paintings are revealed as Sally and Josh come to terms with his feelings for Elaine as the plot becomes more complicated and lives are intertwined. Anonymity is what Elaine strived for and wanted in order to forget her pain and release her anger. She found her solace at the racetrack where she stated she could rest her mind and no one cared who or what she was. Friendships are hard for Elaine to cultivate but the persistence of one woman would change the course of her treatment and hopefully restore her life. The dam finally burst the water began to flow and Elaine was finally on the road to recovery. Group therapy sessions revealed many other aspects of her childhood and past. As author Marsha Casper Cook takes us on a backward journey into her past and then reunites us with her present life, we learn more about the real Elaine.

The events that follow her release you will have to read for yourself. Sometimes when we wait too long, we learn many other hard lessons in life. The ending has a twist and you will never expect. What does happen to Elaine, Martin and Stevie will surprise the reader. This is a story a man whose unrequited love for his wife. A story of loyalty, friendship, hope and the desire to set the past free and strengthen the future. Friendships that will last, others that will be tested and losses that will be hard to overcome, as Elaine Lewis tries to understand what lies ahead for her and those she loves.

Well written, characters that you will either love or hate, a woman who learns many truths about herself, and a man whose undying love helped her through it all. This is a must read for everyone that has ever had a child with disabilities, learning needs or lost someone close to them. Marsha Casper Cook brings to light so many valuable issues in this book that are relevant today. A definite must read and one of my best picks for 2010.

Review by Crysmisty: 5.0 out of 5 Stars. Really need to let yourself feel this book! Reviewed in the United States on April 28, 2019. There was a love hate relationship for me with this book and the reason was because. I do not understand people’s inability to have compassion until it is too late. The characters appear to be heartless until the author delves into the reasons why they are as they are. The selfishness, the suffering, the anger and the angst. Love is better when you understand the person for the secrets they hide. Very well written book. I recommend as a sort of lesson in life moment or I should say moments. Rereading is recommended with this book. Really feel it.

Ratings:
https://www.amazon.com/Love-Changes-Marsha-Casper-Cook/dp/1604141948/ref=tmm_pap_swatch_0?_encoding=UTF8&qid=&sr=#customerReviews

Product Details:
Paperback: ‎224 Pages
Publisher: ‎Fideli Publishing, Incorporated (January 15, 2021)
Language: ‎English
Women’s Domestic Life
Fiction Family Life
Women’s Contemporary Fiction
Romance (Contemporary)
Romance (Later In Life)
Romance (Clean & Wholesome)

Amazon Print:
https://www.amazon.com/Love-Changes-Marsha-Casper-Cook/dp/1604141948/ref=tmm_pap_swatch_0?_encoding=UTF8&qid=&sr=

Kindle:
https://www.amazon.com/Love-Changes-Marsha-Casper-Cook-ebook/dp/B017KYY2FC/ref=tmm_kin_swatch_0?_encoding=UTF8&qid=&sr=

Audio Book:
https://www.amazon.com/Love-Changes/dp/B07198KG7Z/ref=tmm_aud_swatch_0?_encoding=UTF8&qid=&sr=

About Marsha Casper Cook: Chicago author Marsha Casper Cook has more than 20 years of experience in the writing industry. She writes stories about family relationships and multi- generational characters that remind her readers how much family matters. She uses her love of family to bring her characters to life. Her books are translated into Spanish, French, Portuguese, Italian, Dutch, and Japanese and can be found on Amazon

She also writes steamy romance with strong characters and has a lot of fun bringing them to life. At the beginning of her writing career, she wrote children’s stories that both kids, parents and grandparents enjoy immensely and from time to time considers writing a few more. That stems from her earlier professional life in the pediatric medical field.

She is also the founder and Producer of Michigan Avenue Media podcasts on Blog talk radio for over twelve years. Her shows are about writing, what’s new in the entertainment field, health issues and current topics.

Marsha’s latest accomplishment is being a contributor to a wonderful International Magazine, EYS, where she does interviews about authors and timely stories about life.

Published Books:

East Wing of the Meridian
Every Man Wants Her: A Virginia Templeton Stories (The Virginia Templeton Series Book 1)
Grand Central: Chaos Reigns in this Feel-Good Love Story
Guilty Pleasures: Nothing Is As Good As it Seems
I Wish I Was a Brownie
Isabella Pimpinella’s Magical Potion
It’s All About A Wedding (Warrington Legacy Book 3)
It’s All About Love (Warrington Legacy Book 1)
It’s Never Enough: A Virginia Templeton Story (The Virginia Templeton Series Book 2)
It’s Never Too Late for Love: Everyone Deserves a Fairy Tale
It’s Never Too Late: Screenplay
Love Changes
No Clues No Shoes
Sala – More than a Survivor
Second Chances (Warrington Legacy Book 2)
Snack Attack
Stepping Up Her Game: A Virginia Templeton Story (The Virginia Templeton Series Book 3)
The Busy Bus: A Collection of Short Children’s Poems
The Magical Leaping Lizard Potion
To Life by Marsha Casper Cook
The Virginia Templeton Stories: Three Sexy Stories About A Woman Who Knows What She Wants (Volume 1)
To Life: A Young Holocaust Survivor’s Journey to Freedom
Virginia Templeton Stories: She rolled the dice, and she won!