Wilson Lewis, a prestigious estate lawyer in New Bern and narrator of the story, is the son-in-law of Noah and Allie Calhoun, the main characters in Sparks' The Notebook. When Wilson deeply hurts his wife Jane, Noah and Allie's daughter, by forgetting their 29th wedding anniversary he sets out to discover a way to show his undying love for Jane hoping he hasn't already lost her. There is just one problem for Wilson: as a result of his cold upbringing he is unsure of how to go about making the grand gesture. Unsure of what he should do Wilson visits Noah at Creekside Extended Care Facility hoping to get a few pointers from his father-in-law. As is customary of Noah he answers Wilson's question by telling Wilson the reason he read Allie the Notebook for so many years. Noah reveals his reason was quite simply so that he and Allie might fall in love all over again.
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With this knowledge in hand Wilson has to rethink what it was about him that Jane fell in love with so many years ago; his nostalgic trip takes us through his and Jane's courtship and the early years of their marriage. The only thing he learns, however, is why he fell in love with her in the first place which creates an even bigger inner debate for him: how could Jane have ever loved him to begin with. Wilson becomes certain he is losing the love of his life when Jane goes to stay with their son Joseph in New York for a few weeks leaving him behind. In a desperate panic to save his marriage to Jane, Wilson begins exercising and cooking supper once a week for her once she returns from New York. Wilson remains patient through all of his attempts knowing he will come up with just the right gift for their anniversary. It's as he is standing in their family room looking at Jane's beloved wedding photo that Wilson devises a plan that he feels is sure to make Jane fall in love with him all over again.
With the help of all of his friends and family Wilson manages to put together a special album showcasing all the things he loves so much about Jane. One night shortly after Noah has had a stroke Jane and Wilson's eldest daughter, Anna, comes to them with the shocking news that not only is she engaged but wishes to have the wedding the following weekend on their 30th Anniversary. In a lucky twist of fait, and with much help from Wilson and the loving people of New Bern, Anna and Jane are able to create the wedding of Jane's and Anna's dreams at Noah's refurbished Mansion. During the wild week of planning and preparation Jane and Wilson grow closer with each passing day, and with nearly a hundred of their closest friends and family looking on Wilson finally finds the words he has been searching for to win Jane's heart back.
The review of this Book prepared by Jana Calcote
A man struggles to rekindle his love affair with his wife at the time of his daughter's engagement. He desperately wants the same love that his in-laws shared before his mother-in-law's death.
At a point in the book when you think that all else has failed for this man's marriage, you realize that all the planning for his daughter's wedding was, in reality, the preparations for a renewal of vows for him and his wife. His wife does not realize this until it is time to walk down the aisle.
Wilson has realized that he wasn't the husband to his wife, Jane, that he should have been. He certainly did not give her the romantic love and attention that her parents gave each other for fifty years. He finds himself trying to repair the damage that took so long to create by reminding her of the good times and showering her with attention and finally giving her the wedding she always wanted.
The review of this Book prepared by Sherrie L. Jones