This story is about a deceitful woman who wants a successful marriage without owning up to her past. Jasmine has been keeping secrets from her husband Hosea. One of the things she neglected to tell him she was that she had been married before. The omission is literally haunting her while she sleeps. She is dogged by dreams of Hosea confronting her and kicking her out.
Click here to see the rest of this review...
She loves him and doesn't want to lose him, but her past has plenty of dark secrets and she doesn't trust herself enough or their love to risk the truth. Not when life is good in so many other ways. He was ready for them to renew their wedding vows and Jasmine's conscious starts getting the best of her. Unable to tell Hosea that she was married before and who really fathered their daughter Jacqueline, was beginning to take a toll on her sanity.
As Hosea wipes his wife's sweating brow after one of her nightmares, he has no idea that things are about to go badly, very fast.
Jasmine is very wary of Hosea's co-worker Natasia's designs on her man. Making notes that they share similar conniving personalities she confronts Natasia. Jasmine's feelings were on point, and even though Natasia was leaving New York for Los Angeles on a three month temporary assignment, Jasmine wanted it to be permanent.
She doesn't confront Hosea, but instead goes after Natasia with threats. When Natasia leaves for Los Angeles Hosea gets pulled into the project and has to meet with people in Oakland. Jasmine does not waste time making plans to accompany him. The two working together in sunny California, is too close for comfort for Jasmine, since Oakland and LA are a mere hour apart by plane Hosea might try and cheat under the guise of work.
As Jasmine plots on Natasia she is hit with a new problem. Jaqueline's father Brian, a successful surgeon hasn't told his wife Alexis about the Jaqueline. Brian reaches out to Jasmine as his lies to Alex begin to mount. He needs to see her and it involves his daughter who he signed away rights to. He has a sex addiction while Alex is a loyal spouse. Jasmine dismisses Brian his problems are not hers, on top of it she has to cover her tracks and the lies she has told Hosea.
When Hosea doesn't return her call to the Oakland hotel where they are staying, Jasmine automatically assumes he and Natasia are in bed instead of working and the thought consumes her. She's partly right, Hosea is having constant thoughts of Natasia. He hasn't slept with her yet, but they have shared a kiss and California was presenting some promising opportunities.
Brian gets his meeting with Jasmine, with Hosea standing right in front of him. His request is that the couple keep his secret of fathering Jacqueline between the three of them. Hosea isn't having it. In his mind, Brian signed away rights and keeps entering their lives and stirring up trouble.
On top of it, the truth comes out about Jasmine's first marriage. Hosea is done when he learns that she was married prior to him, for fifteen long years. He queries Jasmine as to whether or not she ever legally divorced and demands to see the paperwork. Heck, he could be married to a bigamist.
Alexis is so hurt over Brian's illness and having sex with so many random women (including some of friends) that she is ready to throw in the towel. Added hurt comes with Brian's announcement that he has a child.
Hosea helps Alexis deal with the latest news Brian is a daddy and with someone she can't stand at that. Hosea tells her that he was able to get over Jasmine being pregnant while they courted even though he respected the celibacy vow they had taken prior to marriage. He doesn't share that his wife kept the secret of her previous marriage from him.
Overtime Alexis makes Brian sweat, but she decides to stay with him. Hosea and Jasmine are able to work through their issues once Natasia decides that it is not worth the effort to have a relationship with a married man.
Jasmine grows in her spiritual walk with the help of her Godmother Mae Frances and the realization that she has to trust herself enough to be honest with those she loves.
Best part of story, including ending:
I liked that Jasmine was able to grow in trust and love and learned that lies will catch up with you.
Best scene in story:
My favorite scene was Hosea forgiving Jasmine for her deceit.
Opinion about the main character:
I disliked that Jasmine thought she could get away with lying and hurting someone who loved her.
