Review: 4.5 smooches
Rating: 5 out of 5
Date: 01 29, 2014
Reviewed as The REAL Housewives of Romance Book Blog"…instead of fighting for our relationship it feels like we are simply accepting its decline."Darlene and Reid are in a very rocky place. Reid got a new job and they moved across the country for a better life.  Things didn’t quite turn out as expected for Darlene.  She has no friends, has not been able to find a job, and her husband is always at work.  Darlene is sinking deeper and deeper into a depression.  Reid is clueless!  He doesn’t realize or refuses to see just how badly his wife is coping with this move and carries on with his life, business as usual.Darlene tries to find her own happiness.  She starts playing music again, which has always been a huge part of her life and befriends the owner of the bar she is playing at.  Blue appreciates her music and provides the friendship and attention that she has been lacking for so long.  And here is where things really start to spiral out of control.  I’m sure you can see where this is going and it is no secret that this friendship leads to something more.  Will it mean the end of their marriage?"To feel loved is the richest feeling in the world, but when that love is taken away it takes much more than it ever gave.  It takes a part of who you are."Darlene is losing herself.  She hates the person she is becoming but can’t seem to stop it.  Blue fancies himself in love with her and Reid... well he just may be too late."If I was his friend I’d slap him on the back.  If it wasn’t my wife he was confessing his love to I’d congratulate him on his huge balls.  If I wasn’t scared to death that his subtle declaration was working I’d admire his creativity.  As it happens, I want to take his guitar and crush it into his skull.  Repeatedly." ~ReidWinter Blues is not an easy read.  I would compare it in many ways to Thoughtless or Arsen.  If you enjoyed either of those books then I believe you will love this one as well.  Winter Blues dissects a marriage falling apart.  You can easily see the faults in both parties and how simple communication could have saved a lot of hurt.  It is a book that will make you wish you could jump inside and shake or slap some sense into these characters.  It is a book that has made me appreciate my own marriage and it is a reminder to never take that for granted.The only thing keeping Winter Blues from being a 5 star read for me are a few of the choices that Darlene makes, especially the one at the end of the book.  You will have to read it to find out what that choice was!  If you are like me and enjoy a book that ties you in knots and makes you FEEL then this is the book for you!  Jade is an excellent writer.  I seriously wanted to quote half of the book.  But, I won’t spoil it for you.  You need to read!  The very first chapter was genius and had me HOOKED."Love is easy, marriage is hard, but trust?  Trust is the hardest."