A guy should never marry a woman who was in love with someone else. Even if that someone was dead. Especially if that someone was dead.

One Fine Day by Theresa Weir, the second book in the Molly duology is loosely interconnected with Forever, the first book in the series. First published in 1994, One Fine Day brings to readers the much coveted story of Molly Bennet, whose marriage to Austin Bennet is on the rocks, and has been that way for a long time. Making the decision to leave Austin is one of the hardest decisions Molly has ever taken, and once she does so, she believes that she would never look back.

Almost a year passes by and it is the news that Austin has had a stroke and is in need of family that makes Molly return, especially with her daughter unable to juggle her own family with that of the responsibilities of taking care of her father. While Austin hates the very thought of being at Molly’s mercy, he has no choice but to, given the circumstances, but is determined to drive her away even if he has to be his worst self to do so.

Thus begins the struggle between Austin and Molly where each of them, with own versions of tainted memories of their marriage, try to adjust to the new norm defined by the roles thrust upon them; Molly as the caregiver and Austin, the dependent.

Austin is a proud man, brought up by a father who had no love to give, but drummed into him the critical importance of always saving face. For a man such as Austin, competing with a dead man for the affections of his wife had been a losing game from the onset. Molly’s ability to hide her emotions had made Austin’s worst side manifest, trying to shake out some form of reaction from Molly, when it had in fact done just the opposite. Molly’s departure from his life had shaken him up to face the bitter truth, and given him the time to grapple with his loneliness, reflect on his own failings, especially when it came to his attempts to dominate Molly emotionally.

Molly too struggles with her memories of the beginnings of her relationship with Austin, the man who had married her and given her security and support, despite her being in love with someone else. It is only as Molly’s patience gets tested to the very limits of her endurance, with Austin trying to drive her away, that she comes to see things through a different lens; that how difficult their union had been for a man like Austin from whom she had withheld her affections.

As always, the prose by Ms. Weir is evocative, painting scenes with vivid detail and emotional depth. Her narrative style captures the essence of longing and emotional conflict, weaving together intimate moments of physical passion with introspective reflections on love and self-discovery. The stormy imagery is powerful and perfectly in line with the characters’ inner turmoil, echoing the turbulent nature of their relationship.

I was astounded by how Ms. Weir shaped Austin and Molly’s story and completely reshaped my perspective of their marriage, when I had come out of reading Forever totally rooting or Molly, believing that Austin to be a douche-bag of the highest order. Little did I see, how Austin had suffered deeply given his love for Molly, and how his heart had frosted over time, eventually coming to the conclusion that he could not compete with Molly’s first and only love. From thereon, my sympathies shifted greatly towards Austin, while at the same time, knowing that it did not justify certain actions on the part of Austin.

Molly and Austin both coming from emotionally scarring childhoods in their own ways made profound sense in the end; that they both needed to heal in their own ways to really give their marriage a fighting chance. Ms. Weir with her flair delivering angst ridden reads, deftly draws readers into a world where love is not simply a romantic ideal but a battlefield of emotions, where characters wrestle with their pasts and strive for a future where healing and forgiveness might be possible.

The only issue I had with the story was how there was no resolution for the relationship that forges to life between the secondary characters, which left me with a feeling of emptiness. But therein also lies a message which I guess I was not really ready to receive, given my need for happily ever afters in my novels.

Recommended for those who love second-chance romances with characters who makes your emotions bleed and your heart yearn.

Final Verdict: One Fine Day is a compelling exploration of love’s complexities, filled with emotional depth and rich prose, leaving readers pondering upon the intricacies of the webs of desire, devotion, and heartache that defines our most intimate relationships.

Favorite Quotes

The years teach much which the days never know – Ralph Waldo Emerson

Him.
She wanted him.
Deeper. Harder. She needed … wanted– Something. Maybe the ground, maybe–
He pushed again, and her thoughts flew away.
She swung backward; he swung forward. She gasped and made a small sound of strangled pleasure. Something in her wound tighter, tighter, taking her to the edge … so close, so close–
He bent his legs and the swing dropped into a backward arc. Back and forth. Then he slowed it until they were almost to a stop, enough for him to touch her. While Molly clung to the ropes, he ran his hands over her perspiring body. He groaned her name and she felt him stir deep within her.

She wanted to let go, wanted to touch him, but she knew if she did she would fall. She wanted, needed–
His mouth was on her breast, his teeth scraped her nipple. She arched against him. “Austin, I want–”
“What?” He breathed against her hot, tingling skin while his hands supported her rib cage. “What do … you want?”
It was happening. Whatever it was. A coiling, a tightening, a longing, a need–
“You.”
She didn’t know what she was saying. It was talk. Just talk. “I want you.”

“Molly. God, Molly.”
They were both breathing hard, their chests rising and falling.
“I … didn’t … forget,” he said raggedly, the roar in his head competing with the roar of the storm.
“Me either.”
He said her name again and slid his fingers through the dripping hair at the nape of her neck, water trickling down his arm, her hair coiling around his wrist. “Want to kiss you.” He did want to kiss her. God how he wanted to kiss her. As he cupped her head in his palm, his mouth found hers.

She cried out. Her fingers dug into his shoulders. He froze.
Had to stop. Couldn’t hurt her. Couldn’t hurt Molly …
Her legs tightened around him. She lifted herself to him. “Don’t stop,” she said against his throat. Water from her hair trickled down his chest. “Don’t stop.”
The storm–it was in her too.
For the first time in his life, Austin let go. Completely. Mindlessly.
They came together like the raging storm. Fast. Wild and furious. A ragged, bursting tempest. Pounding, pounding, pounding, burning up every bit of energy in him.

Purchase Links: Amazon