"Duck Dynasty" stars Alan and Lisa Robertson opened up about the trials they overcame before and during their marriage in their recently published book, "A New Season: A Robertson Family Love Story of Brokenness and Redemption."
The intimate release revealed details about the couple's wild youths, Lisa's affair and abortion, and how they turned to Jesus to heal.
"It makes our story even more compelling to realise everything that affected us and our relationship really started way back, before Lisa and I ever met, when she was a girl and I was a boy," Alan told Us Weekly.
In "A New Season," Lisa discussed being molested by a male relative for seven years, having an abortion at age 17, and her 14-month extramarital affair.
She also visited those subjects in "The Women of Duck Commander," but said it was important to include them in the book with her husband.
"We wanted to write our story, and [my past] has everything to do with our story," she explained. "We just wanted to put it out there — the good, the bad, the ugly, but also what God has healed us from and brought us through."
Her affair nearly ended their marriage, and temporarily caused a rift between Lisa and the members of the Robertson family.
"It was really hard," Alan admitted. "It was one of the most difficult things our family has ever gone through...
"What I will say is that once I made the decision that I was in a place where I could forgive Lisa and I wanted our marriage to work, they got on board behind me.
"It took a little while for each of them in their individual way to work through their issues with Lisa, but they did. And now we're very close and they're very close to her."
The couple are now grandparents, and stars of a show known for its Christian values and strong familial ties. Alan said he was not concerned about what fans would think of his teenage drinking and drugging.
"I realise there are people out there who only see us through the lens of the show... but it really happened, it really was who I was," he said.
"And then I became something different... I want people to know that if you're in some bad place, I've been there, and I know the way out."
"A New Season" also shares marriage tips for other couples. One of the most important ingredients for a successful marriage, Allen said, is forgiveness.
"Forgiveness — not just when something bad happens, but also for smaller things," he explained. "You have to be willing to offer forgiveness for things someone does to hurt you in a relationship...
"I made a vow 15 years ago about this; I promised God and Lisa that I would never use the affair to hurt her and hurt us, and 15 years later, I've kept it."
"A New Season" is available now online and in retail stores.
