by
Because of His Heart is a psychological drama with intimately-drawn characters and unforeseen trials. A happy marriage is challenged after an incidence of hurtful intimacy and a failure of communication. As Erica Seames and Charles Portland struggle to reconcile and recover their lives, a trusted counselor is in their midst—who kills for love.
Erica is losing her identity and purpose. How could she have been so wrong about her husband? Charles is shocked by this personal tragedy, but as a reporter who knows his beat, he is determined to understand. “I am not a bad man, I am not.” He had acted foolishly, even meanly, but as he considers his joyful marriage of eight years, he discovers that there is something vital he is missing.
As Erica flees New York for her childhood home, Toronto, an anonymous blog is her creation and refuge. She is never alone. Yet when Charles discovers Erica’s online diary, he no longer recognizes his wife or himself in her anguished assertions. To whom can he turn?
In this chilling literary drama, abuse, infidelity, psychological manipulation and calculated malice draw a group of near-strangers together to save Erica—in pursuit of elusive justice.
...There was a man at the back of the hall, a spiritual intruder, standing, holding a notebook, illuminated with back-light like the desiccated bones of a cathedral icon, unmoved. Milo felt odd disquiet in sensing the insolent figure. Milo’s dark eyes had developed mild myopia in recent years, but there was an emanation from the gaunt, indistinct character which he could not identify. The man was out of place, not attuned to the common purpose. Milo had therefore chosen to focus his contempt upon this arrogant consumer of words, granting to him the status of indecent scientist beneath the light. This artless, haloed one had earned Milo’s ire and therefore served him.
READ MORE...Why is he so incensed? Stroud mused, to what end? Milo’s gestures had widened to uncharacteristic apoplexy, like an actor impassioned; it was too much, even as his words attempted to appease. It seemed to Stroud that Milo’s gaze had resolved to focus upon himself like the red dot of an assassin’s gunsight, but he could not believe that it was possible. Another observer, the young poet, familiar with Milos’s art, stood observing, hidden and apart...
COLLAPSEon Independent Review of Books:"Recently, Charles Portland has become a bachelor again following his separation from his wife, Erica. He is flabbergasted by the turn of events, which seemed to arise without warning. Charles is a journalist and is often out of town on assignments, but when he has been home, he hasn't noticed anything amiss in their marriage. If anything, Charles is more concerned about Erica's ambition and workaholic behavior as a doctor at St. Ambrose Hospital. Charles believes that Erica's devotion to her career will ultimately lead her to abandon the idea of starting a family.
Erica met Charles while he was at the hospital for a routine checkup. Despite a twelve-year age gap between the pair, a relationship soon developed. While Charles missed the signs of discord in their relationship, Erica took notice of Charles' emotional unavailability when home. Their relationship was further strained when Charles happened upon a seemingly harmless interaction between Erica and a co-worker while he was dropping something off for her. Erica believed Charles was jealous, and she was taken aback when, during a moment of reconciliation, Charles engaged in forced intimacy.
While unable to communicate with Charles, Erica maintains an anonymous blog where she can pour out her marital woes to the blogosphere. The blog resonates with many sympathetic readers who follow the exploits of Mary (Erica's alias) and her husband Bill (aka Charles). The most polarizing blog post is when she recalls the alleged marital rape that occurred between her and Charles. Many readers leave comments with either support or vitriol. Erica separates from her husband and flees to her hometown of Toronto.
Dr. Nathan Milo is a renowned psychiatrist who has been treating Erica. He has taken a great interest in her life and marital troubles and offers her a place to stay after she leaves Charles following a failed reunion. Erica believes that Milo has her best interests at heart, but when she discovers disconcerting information while snooping through his files, she views him as dangerous. Upon discovering Erica's evident inquiry, Milo begins a campaign of targeted character assassination against his one-time patient. Meanwhile, Erica reaches out to Milo's former patients and colleagues to warn them about his checkered past and his Svengali-like tendencies.
The breakdown of a marriage serves as the backdrop for Marvin's impressive psychological drama/thriller. Erica is a woman whose vulnerability is barely concealed as she still hurts from past psychological trauma. Erica's narrative revolves around the affection she yearns for from Charles and how his failure to reciprocate represents a betrayal that is further compounded by his alleged assault. In addition, Charles commits infidelity during their time apart. While still hurting from the separation from Charles, the ability to express her feelings on her blog gives her character purpose and agency. Marvin's incorporation of a second betrayal in the storyline that comes from Milo, who attempts to invalidate her blog by asserting that her stories are fictional, causes readers to identify with Erica even more.
The author does an excellent job of contrasting Erica's genuineness with Milo's calculated malevolence. The latter is a master manipulator whose villainy is unquestioned in the narrative. The plot intensifies when Erica learns of Milo's ulterior motives, and when various characters begin keeping tabs on one another in hopes of uncovering dastardly deeds. The story culminates in a memorable climax. This novel will hold immense appeal for readers who enjoy dark psychological dramas with dynamic plot twists."
"A gripping tale of personal sovereignty, soul-searching, and the need to speak our hardest truths, Because of His Heart by Stephen A Marvin is a slow-building masterclass in fractured romance.
When Dr. Erica Seames is surprised by her husband Charles during a shift at the hospital, he witnesses a moment of indiscretion that sends him spiraling into a fit of jealousy and mistrust. His violent reaction and the subsequent rift in their marriage lead Erica to flee, seeking comfort in her childhood home and the anonymous confessional of an online blog.
The thinly veiled truths she reveals through her writing are discovered by her estranged husband, who chooses yet another path of betrayal during their weeks-long silence and separation. They are each indelibly changed as their conjoined lives diverge and coalesce, and they begrudgingly embark on their own bitter roads to resolution. As more peripheral players enter the drama, the stakes boil ever higher, and Erica’s desire for a trustworthy confidante invites a dark force into her world, one that will cross any line to keep his secrets safe.
It is no small feat to write so eloquently and honestly about the complicated nuance of marriage, the nebulous nature of abuse, and the psychological toll of imperfect love. Yet from the first page, this book never shies away from contradictions or challenging subjects, while frequently putting words to seemingly indescribable emotions that many readers will recognize, perhaps even as unspoken revelations about themselves.
Thematically, this book explores the loaded subjects of infidelity, jealousy, obsession, professional ethics, taboo fantasies, and the insidious fringes of emotion that can corrupt an otherwise happy marriage. Erica’s online outpourings are methodical examinations of love as it fractures and fails, acting as powerful meditations on the nature of commitment and the boundaries of obligation to a spouse. Overcoming a breach of trust is one of the most complicated demands of a committed partnership, and this book delves deeply into the self-inflicted torture that such closure often requires.
The prose is a linguistic playground where Marvin dexterously toys with syntax and vocabulary. Melodic and entrancing, the narrative passages include streams of internal monologue from the characters, and while this tool can often be overused by authors as a crutch, here it functions as a revelatory break from omniscient storytelling.
The elevated language and writing style suggest an older time period, yet this novel is set in the era of printers and tablets, and this ongoing disconnect could be jarring for readers unused to such refined speech patterns. Similarly, the blog excerpts have an equally erudite voice to the narration, making the reading experience somewhat seamless, but more distinction might highlight the emotional peaks and valleys of the story.
Overall, the story and prose are remarkably original, and the subject matter boldly transcends traditional fare in the genres of both psychological thrillers and marital drama, resulting in an intellectually rich and even instructive work of contemporary fiction."