The Fulfillment by LaVyrle Spencer

 

Summary (from the publisher): Two brothers work a rich and bountiful land—and one extraordinary woman shares their lives. To Jonathan Gray, Mary is a devoted and giving mate. To Aaron, she is a beloved friend. But seven childless years of marriage have forced Jonathan to ask the unthinkable of his brother and his wife—binding the two people he cares for most with an act of desire born of compassion . . . awakening Mary to the pain of infidelity, and to all the bittersweet joy and heartache that passionate love can bring.

Review: Brothers Jonathan and Aaron Gray inherited their family farm when their parents died. Jonathan is married to Mary, his hard working and giving wife. Together, the three have formed a close partnership and family. But after seven years of marriage, Mary and Jonathan are still childless, and Jonathan believes he is unable to give his wife children. Desiring to have a family, he does the unthinkable and asks his brother to help give Mary and himself a child to raise as their own. But his request, born out of love of his wife and a desire to be a father, leads to friction in their formerly happy trio and awakens Mary's eyes to the pain of betraying her husband and the allure of passionate love. 

Author LaVyrle Spencer really did a great job setting the scene for some tormented souls in this book. Jonathan, Aaron, and Mary are all conflicted by the choice they make and the tension in their household is evident. At the same time, the author makes it clear from the beginning that the affection between Jonathan and Mary is companionate love at best. With Aaron, she experiences something much deeper and greater. It's hardly fair to poor Jonathan that Aaron swoops in with such passion and tender care for the wife that Jonathan seems to mostly see as a partner in the household chores. It made me wonder why the two ever got married in the first place. 

I don't want to give away any spoilers, but the ending is a bit too convenient and tidy. I think I would have liked it more if Spencer had picked a messier conclusion that didn't require any tragic endings. Certainly, a very unconventional love story and while I wish their love had been less traumatic and more straight forward, I was rooting for a happy ending all along. 

Stars: 3