8 Weeks

Time for Love, Book 1

By: Bethany Lopez

Narrated by: Beth Stewart

Length: 4 hrs and 26 mins

Publisher's summary

Is eight weeks enough time to earn back the love of someone you've betrayed... the only one you've ever loved? Shelly has been in love with Cal since they started dating in eleventh grade. Despite everyone saying that the odds were against them, they got married after graduation and built a life together. Now, six years later, she is faced with the ultimate betrayal. Devastated, her first instinct is to call it quits... After a drunken binge at his best friends' bachelor party, Cal betrays the one person who has always been there for him, his wife, Shelly. Terrified and realizing she might divorce him, Cal must come up with a way to prove to her that his love is true... Cal asks Shelly for eight weeks. Eight weeks to convince her that their marriage is worth the fight. Will Shelly be able to trust him again, or will their marriage end the way many others do when faced with opposition... In divorce?

©2014 Bethany Lopez (P)2015 Bethany Lopez

Wonderful emotional narration!

Any additional comments?

First things first: I HATE cheating in any kind of romance novels. It’s a dead giveaway that I will have troubles with the book. Because although I’m not married yet (but engaged) I am absolutely positive that I would not be unable to forgive my partner, no matter if he did it only once or repeatedly.

Cal is lucky that he had troubles remembering himself cheating at all. It does not make it an easier pill to swallow for the wife and yet it can be seen in a different light as had he cheated fully intentionally. Oh, and instead of hiding it, he went home and directly told his wife. Big plus for Cal in my book.

Hypocritical? Yeah, well, maybe a bit. But I need to believe in the happy end, at least when it comes to 99 % of the romance novels I read. Plus, I am a sucker for stories about forgiveness, second chances, especially such where a marriage is in jeopardy, in general. How two people who have been together for so long reveal new facets of one another they did not know about and discover once again the things they love about each other.
And within those 8 weeks, Cal discovered so many new things about Shelly.

I loved that Shelly did not give in easily, that during their dates there were many bumps which rather pulled her into the opposite direction of Cal. Although she let her feelings shine through at times, Cal really had to work for his second chance.

It was that concept of the 8 weeks, the defined timeframe Cal requested from his wife to win her back that peaked my interest. And I did not regret it one second. This book is highly emotional and tears threatened to blur my vision on more than one occasion, which was not that funny because I listened to the audio book version while driving to and from work.

Narrator Beth Stewart did a wonderful job. The emotions in her voice only added to my heartbreak. Each character could be told apart by the different tones and I actually think that the voice she gave Cal worked in his favor with me. He talked with that smooth voice and I wanted to like that idiot, although he so stupidly cheated on his loving wife.

I am going to look into the other books of this series, that’s for sure :)
I was voluntarily provided this free review copy audiobook.

More than I expected

Who was your favorite character and why?

I liked Cal. I know he made a huge mistake in the beginning, but he really went all out to make up for that....and we never really know what happened in Vegas so maybe there was nothing to get worried about anyway.

will she fogive

I was gifted this audio ARC for a honest and unbiased review from the author/narrator
Bethany Lopez has written a great book that grabs your emotions from the very start, then it holds you to the very end,.
Her concept of 8 dates over 8 weeks for each of the 8 years together to try and save their relationship is a little different but good.
Bethany Stewart spoke clearly and made me feel like the characters personalities come through really good. Beth puts a lot of emotions in her retelling of the story.
I highly recommend this audio book to anyone who loves a good love story

Sweet story

Any additional comments?

I received this audio book for free in exchange for a true and honest review.

After going to Vegas for a friend’s bachelor party and drinking more than your average village, Cal wakes up with the mother of all hangovers!
He also seems to be naked..........and not alone!!!

Unfortunately it also isn't his wife that is naked in the room with him, Cal must decide what to do!

He actually is very honest and instead of the usual “what happens in Vegas” straight away tells his wife, who subsequently dumps him for cheating and asks for a divorce.

All of Cal’s friends (after telling him what an idiot he is) know that he never would have done anything to jeopardise his relationship with Shelly, he is head over heels in love with her and have to watch as he sinks lower and lower when he ends up having to sleep on a friends couch after being thrown out of his home.

After apologising over and over again to Shelly, Cal refuses to give her a divorce until she allows him 8 dates (weeks) to prove to her that their marriage is worth keeping and how much he loves her, and to gain her trust back.

I was pleasantly surprised with this book as cheating is not something that I take lightly yet I was quietly rooting for Cal to woo Shelly back.

Narration was excellent, I didn’t feel a need to speed up/ slow down the story and I could clearly distinguish all of the voices.

A great 4 star read.

Meh

This was a well written and ultimately very sweet story. However I just didn't care for the characters. Just wasn't my thing.

The narrator was decent. She mostly did a good job but sometimes her performance fell flat.

This audiobook was provided by the author, narrator, or publisher at no cost in exchange for an unbiased review.

A sweet love story

What made the experience of listening to 8 Weeks the most enjoyable?

The sweetness of the couple

What other book might you compare 8 Weeks to and why?

Not really sure there is one. Romance is not my preferred genre

Which scene was your favorite?

The one at the karaoke bar

Was there a moment in the book that particularly moved you?

His vulnerability at the bar.

Any additional comments?

Full review:
8 Weeks Time for Love #1

By Bethany Lopez Narrated by Beth Stewart

After “possibly” making the worse mistake a married man can make, Cal asks Shelly to give him 8 weeks to show her how much he loves her. Cal hopes to save his marriage with 8 dates; he plans 8 Saturday nights in an attempt to win back the love of his young wife. That can’t be too challenging, right?
8 Weeks is a quick and smooth read or listen; the characters are well developed and the writing is superb. This group of young adults will have someone to remind us all of one of our friends. I liked the story and would recommend this book to anyone who like romance, or just for a quick and fun read. I still want to know what really happened in Vegas, but the story was fine without knowing.
Overall, 8 Weeks is a strong 4.5 Boundless Stars.

Shelly and Cal

This was a pretty good book. I am glad Shelly gave Cal the eight weeks to try to work things out after an incident at his friends bachelor party in Vegas that was seemingly the ultimate betrayal. Did he really cheat? Beth Stewart did a good job with the narration. I received this free copy audiobook at my request and have voluntarily left this review.

Will 8 weeks be enough time?

The book had me utterly frustrated within the first few chapters to the point that I wanted to stop and walk away. The lead female character, Shelly was so stubborn (and that's saying it nicely) that it made her seem weaker even though she was the one betrayed. Luckily, Cal convinced her to give him 8 weeks before following through any life changing decisions which got me curious for more and to see what happens.

A listen that will make you look at any challenging situation in relationships as a whole even after being together for awhile/years and to determine how deep is the love? Is it worth fighting for? This is a good look at a married couple finding themselves as a person and as one together again.

This is my first narration by Beth Stewart and she did not too bad on telling Cal and Shelly's story. Although irritated by some the scenes she had a way on easing my thoughts and had a way on making us feel for the characters and the uncomfortable situation that they were both facing.

“This audiobook was given by the authors', narrator, or publisher at no cost in exchange for an unbiased review via Audiobook Boom.”

Will she forgive and forget?

This book is written by a new author to me and performed by a new narrator. It is a new adult book that deals with betrayal and those feelings that surround that. This story is told in dual POV. The topic deals with a real life issues and those feelings and emotions. I was voluntarily provided with this review copy audiobook at no charge by the author, narrator and/or publisher. This book is a standalone listen and does not end in a cliffhanger.

Sometimes A Second Change Is Needed

What aspect of Beth Stewart’s performance would you have changed?

Beth did a nice job with 8 plus character voices.

Could you see 8 Weeks being made into a movie or a TV series? Who should the stars be?

I could potentially see this as a movie but I would pick lesser known actors, no pre-conceived images of people.

Any additional comments?

I received this audio book free in exchange for a honest review.