This book is an autobiography about a pastor of a substantial California ministry who realizes while he is on a mission in India, that he is unhappy with his family life and has an affair with one of his parishioners. Then after he returns from India he faces the wrath of many while he destroys the lives of his family and of his mistress's family. The mistress then decides to go back to her family while he slides into a mental breakdown. But, no, it’s not over.

See more of my review at The Eclectic Review ( )

I won a copy of this book for review.

This was a really good book. I can only imagine the hurt that writing this book brought back to Trotter. But I have to say he did a great job.

I always find it hard to review books written about actual events and/or people. To me the people in the stories are just characters while I'm reading, even though I know that they are real people and that these things really happened to them. I want to say that these were great characters, they seemed so real, because they are real. This was so emotional, there were the highs and lows. My heart truly ached for David as he tries to put his life back together, only to have it smashed to pieces again.

The story was so emotional, I'm actually surprised I didn't cry through the entire book. David's breakdown was so raw, being able to describe what he was going through to someone who was not there is no small feat. I was able to understand what was going on in his head and how he rationalized his decisions. Having been in a similar place in my life before I guess I have a better understanding of what he was going through. Had I not been in a similar situation before would I have understood as much? I would say yes, I think you have to go into this story with an open mind. If you look at it as he had an affair and that makes him a horrible person I don't think you will enjoy this book at all.

What I really liked about it is that I didn't get the sense that he was leaving anything out. He threw everything onto the table and really explained what was going on in what had to be the darkest time of his life. I can't say that there is ever a good reason to have an affair, and I think this book really shows the dark side of affairs. Movies tend to sensationalize affairs and this is a real look at the damage that is done to all parties involved. ( )

I really enjoyed this book. I loved seeing the transformation that the author went through. I like many people thought he was an ass for the way he went about leaving his wife in the beginning...But I was so happy that he and his wife got back together in the end. ( )

An account of how the choices that we make not only effect us but others in our lives. Trotter does an excellent job of recounting his story of a man of God and his fall from grace. He gives us an honest and introspective look at his life. Rarely do we look inside ourselves as he does to examine the reasons, feelings and thoughts that go into life altering decisions. A glimpse of one man's struggle with his choices. A good read without preachy overtones. ( )

It was a hard book to read. it made me look at myself and see what choices I would make.I dont think I could be that honest about my mistakes or that forgiving. It shows a lot of details of how the choices came and why. i wanted to shout no dont start becareful. I got involved with david and Laura. and wish them well and I hope i could be so forgiving and admit my faults and change them like you both did.. it showed a lot of character and how important our friends are to us good and bad. ( )