What an amazing ending to the Beautiful Creatures series! The writing is almost like worlds apart from where books one and two were. The dialogue flowed better. I didn’t find myself confused throughout passages (although Lena’s poems were sometimes confusing to me). And I honestly don’t remember any repetitive passages anywhere in the book.

I loved Beautiful Redemption so much that I couldn’t put it down until I finished. In fact, I’d almost classify this one as a crack book because I had to keep moving to find out what would happen next. I also found that I’d grown so wonderfully attached to the characters through the last two books that I actually cried during portions of Beautiful Redemption. Amazing ending to a series and am hoping these authors keep writing so I can indulge in more of their works, especially with all of the improvement I’ve seen within this series.

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Beautiful Chaos was notably better than book one and book two, which was a HUGE relief! Though I did notice a couple of repetitive ideas (particularly Link’s mom thinking the end of the world was coming), this book didn’t go over the same ideas from books one and two, and the repetition was much less noticeable. As a result, I ended up enjoying Beautiful Chaos much, much more! In fact, I think I flew through it in just three, four days. So, if you’ve pondered whether or not to go through with the series because of irritation at the technical aspects of books one and two, then I say go for it! I’m glad I did! Just be prepared to purchase Beautiful Redemption immediately after finishing because you won’t be able to NOT read what happens in the next book.

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As you may know, Alex and Jo have been arguing a lot lately. Jo has been dating “douchebag” OB doctor, Jason. Alex is in love with Jo, but unfortunately, he realized it too little too late. His concern for Jo and jealousy of Jason ended up causing some serious conflict between them, and Jo has demanded that Alex stay out of her personal life. Alex tries to comply, but then Jo shows up at Alex’s place after having an argument with Jason – an argument that Alex saw the start of and walked away from. When Jo turned her face at the end of the episode, you saw the bruising.

Now, I don’t know what happens in the next episode, but it looks as though Alex is going to give Jason more than a talking to. (If you remember, Alex’s dad was abusive as well) I hope I’m right. But I do know that Jo is going to make excuses and try to rationalize the behavior. Why? Because it’s what victims do.

Think back to how long Jo and Jason have been dating. The abuse didn’t happen right away. It took time to reach that point. And this probably wasn’t their first argument, or the first time that Jason had hurt her…only, Jo probably hadn’t realized what was happening at the time. It could have been a grab of the wrist, or a thrown piece of furniture, or a hole in the wall. But whatever it was, this wasn’t the first time that something has happened. It’s just the first time that something serious has happened. And now, she’s already invested. Damage has already been done. And Jo has been through enough in her life that she’s a pretty easy target for abuse.

If none of that makes sense, then you’re not alone. It’s something that few people understand, and I’m hoping that the authors of Grey’s Anatomy do a good job at explaining it. I know one thing, I’m looking forward to seeing the next episode and am hoping to see Alex go ballistic on Jason. Maybe he’ll get fired from the hospital and kicked off the show. I just hope we see Jo work through the relationship well enough to leave.

What are you hoping for in the next few episodes of GA? Will the way it turns out affect your overall view of the show?

**UPDATE!: 

As you may or may not know, the next episode of Grey’s Anatomy has aired. And even I was surprised at how things turned out. It started out with Alex bringing Jason into the ER, beat up and unconscious. You’re led to believe that Alex did it, but then it turns out that Jo was the one that beat the crap out of him before she left. I don’t know what’s going to happen after this, but I’m interested to find out. I just hope they don’t leave this part of the show in a cliffhanger during next week’s season finale! 

Have you watched the following episode? What were you thinking and feeling throughout the episode? What was your reaction to the ending?

Beautiful Darkness picks up where Beautiful Creatures left off. Lena is dealing with the grief of losing her Uncle Macon. Ethan is trying to figure out how to help her process it all, but everything he does seems to push her further away. There’s something strange happening to Lena, and to him. And then he learns just how far she’s gone, just how distant their relationship has become. True to his character, Ethan continues to pursue Lena, even after it seems that all hope is lost. The only question is, will his efforts be a waste or will he find a way to save the Caster girl he loves?

I’ve got to be honest: I found myself just as intrigued by the story and its characters as I had been with book 1. I also found myself just as frustrated with the strange, awkward and confusing thought streams. But Beautiful Darkness came with its own unique set of frustrations, namely the unnecessary repetition. During the first half of the book, the authors repeatedly retold things we’d learned from book 1. For some of the minor things, like who Lucille Ball is, I can see reminding readers. But this reminding applied to even core concepts of the book – the difference between Dark and Light Casters, explanation of who main characters were from book 1, etc.

Thankfully, by the time I’d reached the halfway point, all of the repetition had stopped. Or, at the very least, it had decreased enough that I no longer noticed it was happening. And, by that time, the story had picked up and I couldn’t put it down. Like I said, pretty much most of the same – great story, amazing characters, but some mechanics that are downright frustrating. Hoping that book 3 will be better though because, as much as I love the story and the characters, I’m getting a little annoyed with some of the writing and it’s starting to squash my desire to keep going. I’d hate for my annoyance to keep me from finishing the series because I really do care about what happens to the characters in the end.

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I think I’ve become rather spoiled by the amazing authors I’ve read lately because this wasn’t my typical read and gush review. I actually had to take a few days to think about what I wanted to say and how I honestly felt about this book. In the end, I found myself standing on the line – I liked the story, enjoyed the characters, and definitely found some originality in the pages. But some of the mechanics kind of distracted me, which was frustrating, and ultimately, it affected my review.

The Story:

This is one of those almost insta-love books. It’s not quite that, but the main characters, Ethan and Lena, definitely fall for each other rather quickly. Typical of teenage relationships. But there’s another element that I felt justified the quick transition from strangers to love struck teens: they shared the same dreams before they even met. Like experiencing some kind of supernatural déjà vu, they connect during their very first in-person meeting. But Ethan has no idea what he’s in for when he allows himself to fall for Lena. Certainly, he knows she’s strange, but he has no idea just how different she really is. And there’s more. During his relationship with Lena, Ethan learns that things aren’t quite what they seem in the sleepy town of Gaitlin. He also discovers the truth about Lena’s family and her impending birthday. They abandon the warning of their families, and for once, it’s the guy chasing the girl and helping her hold on to something worth fighting for.

The Characters:

Ethan is the main character of this story. I found it refreshing to read a romance book from a guy’s perspective. There aren’t a lot of those out there, and it’s really interesting to see the insight an author is able to give her male protagonist. Lena is your not-so-typical outcast who, despite the fact that things may soon change for her forever, loves Ethan, a boy she shouldn’t love. Other interesting characters worth mentioning include Link, the comedy relief and best friend; Amma, the superstitious hoo-doo-ish caretaker of Ethan; Macon, Lena’s uncle that is hiding more than you realize at first; and Ridley, the seductive dark cousin of Lena. These were the characters that stood out for me the most, and they were characters that I honestly connected with. There were others that played more minor parts, all of which were well put together (with the slight exception of Marian, the town librarian…she kind of talks in quotes and riddles a bit too much for my taste). Overall, believable, interesting characters that I enjoyed.

Book Distractions:

Unfortunately, there were some things I found very frustrating and distracting about this book. The first being the somewhat disjointed thought patterns throughout the book. I found myself confused sometimes, or bored because of redundancy. It felt like the thought-flow was just a bit mixed up at times.

The second issue I ran into had to do with the history. While I definitely felt like the history of Gaitlin and its characters needed to be shared, I also felt like there were some areas where the history overshadowed the story. There’d be whole sections of history that I’d end up skimming over because I felt like it’d just went on entirely too long.

Lastly, I felt like it took me forever to get into the book. It’s a slow read at first, and I had to fight to keep reading. I’d put it down several times, not really sure I even wanted to continue. Thankfully, the book did pick up pace nearly halfway through and I ended up being very glad that I’d continued. By the time I’d reached the last quarter of the book, I had a hard time putting it down.

Overall, I did enjoy the book, and I would recommend it. I’ve started the second book already, and though it’s a slow start just like the first one, I’m going to keep fighting for that page-turning section that I managed to find within book 1. Had there been fewer distractions, I definitely would have given Beautiful Creatures a higher rating because the story, and its characters, were that good.

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My rating: 5 of 5 stars

“If there’s anyone in the world who deserves a happy ending, it’s two broken people who taught each other to love.”

I’m going to be straightforward about this one…If someone had told me I’d be giving this book five stars, I don’t know that I would have believed them. Although I’m well acquainted with (and a huge fan of) Rachael Wade’s work, I wasn’t really sure I even wanted to read Ryan’s book. I’d fallen in love with Ryan at the beginning of Preservation but by the time I’d reached the end, he’d left me annoyed. I’d felt like he didn’t deserve Kate. But when Reservation came out, I felt like I needed to read it – maybe for some kind of closure, or maybe to try and better understand Ryan Campbell and his motives. I’m so glad I decided to read this book!

Not only did I fall in love with Ryan all over again, I felt like I found some resolution in the way things had ended in book 1. That’s not to say that I didn’t want to wring his neck or clock him over the head with a frying pan; I just better understood the motive behind his actions. I gained that insight I’d been looking for – the why behind his stupid, seemingly selfish decision. I guess, in other words, I’d gained a sense of compassion for him while reading Reservation. That compassion continued to grow as I went through the book, and by the time I’d reached the last half of the book, I couldn’t bring myself to put it down.

There had been one small detail that I would have liked to have seen more “resolved,” so to speak. But other than that, I absolutely loved Ryan’s story. I’d also appreciated the fact that Ryan’s story hadn’t simply his side of the Preservation book – it was a completely original novel with a completely different story line, and I loved that! Now I’m just waiting for Carter’s story, book 3 of the Preservation series…rather impatiently, I might add, since he just so happens to be my favorite character from the series!
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A gritty, coming-of-age drama about a young woman’s self-destructive quest to find purpose, self-worth, and love in a broken world.

My name is Elise Duchamp. I’m 23 years old and I’m known as the town whore.
No, not the kind who exchanges sexual favors for money. The other kind. The kind who gives it all away for free, whenever and however she likes. I am that girl. The one everyone whispers about and the one none of the girls seem to like, because all of their boyfriends either want to sleep with me or already have. Promiscuity is my thing—the kind that slowly, violently turns my insides black, but gives me something I need.

All things considered, I’m not completely reckless. I’m safe, and contrary to popular opinion, I haven’t chucked my entire moral code out the window. Just most of it. I live in a world of careless choices, and with those choices come careless people. I cannot judge them, because I am one of them. I too bow down to the altar of the self-serving. I am not a good friend. I am not and never could be anyone’s girlfriend. I’m convinced any goodness in me shriveled up and died long ago.

But I am a replacement. That is something I know how to be, and this is a story of the lengths I’d go to in order to keep it that way.

Add it to your Goodreads To-Read list HERE.
Connect with Rachael on Facebook, Twitter, and Goodreads. Find her other books HERE.http://www.amazon.com/Rachael-Wade/e/B005EUR0A4/ref=ntt_athr_dp_pel_1

My rating: 4 of 5 stars

“Really great books are hard to find, harder to put down, and impossible to forget,” – source unknown.

This quote made me think of October Snow, instantly. It is a book that will stick with me forever. The emotions, thoughts, and personal reflection that this book stirred in me are practically impossible to articulate, but I’m going to give it a try.

October Snow is an in-your-face look at the reality that so many women face each and every day. Centered around the topic of domestic violence, the book is an amazing way for victims to find a character they can fully identify with. It is this common thread of domestic violence that ties the three friends in this book together, but interestingly enough, they don’t even realize it until somewhere towards a quarter of the way into the book. But there is so much more to this book than that.

Most notable is the fact that there is useful information for victims and their families – information that could make the difference between successfully making it out and ending up being back in the clutches of an abuser. But what really snagged me and kept pulling me in was the emotional investment I had in each of the characters. I was able to identify with all of them in one way or another. I also found myself wonderfully bonded to them and their little circle, if for no other reason than they remind me so very much of the bonds that I have formed with other women in my own life. Their mannerisms, their reactions, their emotional scars, their attachment, all of what you see from these three women describe the reality of how domestic violence and trauma affect a person forever. That, above all else, makes October Snow nothing short of an addictive read. And as I continued to turn the pages late into the night, I found myself gripped with fear, sadness, happiness, and concern. I’m not a person that cries over books or movies, at least not easily. But I cried for at least three chapters while reading October Snow because of how deeply and profoundly the book touched some of the deepest parts of my soul and humanity.

I wanted, so desperately, to give October Snow a full five stars. The story definitely deserves it, but there were a couple of minor issues that kept me from doing so. The first was the fact that there were a few instances where I had a hard time following the story. This was particularly true for some of the dialogues; I couldn’t tell who was speaking sometimes and it threw me. But there were also a few scenes that I felt jumped too quickly for me. There were also a few scenes where I felt like the topic or conversation dragged; I just wanted to get back to the story. But please don’t let any of this deter you from reading October Snow because, in all honesty, it wasn’t so distracting or jarring that it took much from the overall story. I still enjoyed the experience of reading it more than I’ve enjoyed reading any book in a very long time. And I’d give it a solid 4.5 stars if there was a half-star option. =)

Jenna Brooks is definitely an author to watch for; I have a feeling she’s going to end up taking the literary world by storm! And, for the record, if there’s ever a book that needs to be made into a movie, this is it! Many thanks to the author for giving me a reading experience that will forever be a part of my life.
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For quite some time now, I have wanted to discuss some of the control tactics that abusers often use when a victim tries to escape because it is one of the main issues that the protagonist in my upcoming novel deals with. But the approach I take to discussing this may be a little different from what is often out there. Quite often, the victim is basically stripped of all control. She is portrayed as…well…a victim. Certainly, battered women are victims, but I feel that this type of thinking feeds entirely too much into the victim mentality. Because her abuser has too much power, because the system is entirely too screwed up to protect her, because she will lose her children or be forced to continue contact with her abuser, she has no choice in the matter; she is forever the victim. The problem with this? As long as you’re a victim in your head, you will never be anything but. There are stories of success, stories where women have made it out, changed the laws, kept custody, and made a new life free of violence. I get it; it’s important to highlight where the system is lacking, where women go unheard because it happens. Too much. My concern is that there is so much focus on the negative that we’re forgetting a very important part of helping victims – empowering them.

Here are my thoughts: (If I ramble a bit, please forgive me; this is a pretty emotional post.)

One of my biggest concerns is that domestic violence support groups, meetings and even shelters are sometimes slighted for the work they do. Maybe the negative talk is coming from groups that are actually against helping victims (I literally just learned of these groups of people and am appalled). Maybe it’s because it takes the average woman 7 times of leaving to finally leave her abuser for good (which has nothing to do with the shelters, support groups or meetings…at least not in my experience). Or maybe the work they do and what they are is misunderstood. I know that when I first went, I had no idea what I was stepping into. In my head, I pictured a big cafeteria-like room full of cots and pallets made on the floor. I imagined people telling me how horrible of a mother I was for allowing my children to be in an abusive situation. I was deathly afraid of having people look down their noses at me because I was a victim, because I was homeless, because I needed help. Most of all, I feared that these resources wouldn’t be anything more than a place to stay for a while, and that I would have to figure it all out on my own. I found quite the contrary.

Since being there, I’ve heard a few discussions (both online and in person) where it was said that these resources actually push the victim back to the abuser. That, by discussing the abuse and the abuser, and by asking the victim to take responsibility for the reason she was in or stayed in the relationship, they are guilting her into going back, excusing the abuser’s actions and behaviors, and advocating for the abuser. Personally, I have never, not once, ever, been to a domestic violence meeting, class or other function that advocated for the abuser. The abuser IS addressed. But in my own experience, the purpose of addressing the abuser’s issue was about education – not to help the victim understand or excuse the actions of the abuser. Instead, it was designed to help the victim better understand how she ended up in an abusive situation in the first place and how she can better SPOT an abuser in the future. Why is this important?

If you don’t understand how you ended up in an abusive relationship, you can’t avoid them in the future. There are clear instances and moments in an abusive relationship (these are generally early on) that emotionally healthy women would walk away from. Women that end up in abusive relationships make excuses; they may even see these acts as endearing or sweet. They internalize the blame, long before the abuser starts to transfer blame. And even after the abuse starts, many victims rationalize the behavior. This is just one scenario – there are many, many more. But the point is that it’s important to understand why YOU ended up in the relationship in the first place, why you didn’t see the signs early on in the relationship, why you continued to raise the bar on what’s considered okay and safe. Which brings me to my next point…

Another reason that abuser education is important is that, until you can recognize the commonalities between abusers, you cannot avoid getting into abusive relationships. For example, potentially abusive individuals are more likely to talk negatively about their childhood and their parents (particularly their fathers) than non-abusers. Since talks about childhood and parents often occur early on in a relationship, this is a key point for former victims to know. Is this trying to understand the abuser that you’ve already left? It can be interpreted that way by some, but I would hope not. Is this helping a victim spot the next potentially abusive guy that walks into her life? That is the goal.

I refuse, and I do mean REFUSE to accept the whole mentality of “Well, what is she supposed to do when the entire system is against her and her abuser is out to get her?” Is it difficult to get away from an abuser and win? Yes, without a doubt. But is it possible to get away and win? Absolutely. But it all starts with keeping the control where it belongs. Victims already have so much control taken away from them while they are in the relationship; don’t take away what control they do have when they leave the abuser by telling them that the system is so screwed that their situation is hopeless. Sure, I agree that the system could be better. But there are options for victims, and the second you lead them to believe that there aren’t, you strip them of all the control that could help them get out. Here are just a few examples in which the victim is led to believe that they have to submit to the abuser:

Religion: I could rant for days on this one, so I’m just going to leave it at this: I’m 100% certain that abuse does not fall under the whole “women should be submissive to their husbands” clause. This applies, no matter what religion/doctrine you believe in.

Custody of children: Abusers will threaten to take full custody, but rarely do abusers get full custody. Does it happen? Yes, but it’s not an easy thing to accomplish. Abusers may be given residential custody (where the child resides primarily with the abuser) if they can “prove” that the victim is unable to provide a safe and stable environment (there are many ways that abusers may try to do this), but more and more states  are moving towards providing both parents with equal parenting rights. But victims can fight it. Victims have the power to request that all visits are supervised while custody proceedings are pending (the victim does NOT have to be the supervisor). Or, if the abuser does not pose a threat to the child, the victim has the right to request neutral pick up and drop offs of the children. (It should be duly noted, however, that if the victim provides proof of abuse, it is highly unlikely that a child will be left unsupervised in the care of the abuser. And it should also be mentioned that, if an abuser is able and willing to abuse a partner, they are quite capable, and often do, abuse their children at some point.) That means filing police reports. It means pressing charges. It means filing an order of protection the DAY she leaves. It means going to a place that can help with all the legalities (think police station, Child Protective Services and domestic violence shelters), and it requires her to think ahead. Certainly, there are times in which thinking ahead is practically impossible because the situation suddenly turns beyond dangerous, but even in these instances, there are options. Go to the police station first. Then go to a domestic violence shelter. I recommend this to ALL victims, for a variety of reasons, but namely because they are a victim’s biggest resource.

Can you still lose? Yes. It’s possible, and it does happen. The results can be tragic. And yes, there are worst case scenario situations. And while it is true that leaving can actually cause violence to escalate, there are no guarantees that staying will keep you or your children safe of alive. Remember, the second you stop fighting, the second that you give up your control, you become the victim again. Also in some cases where custody losses have happened, the victim failed to fight for herself, failed to speak out because she was afraid, or simply wasn’t educated on the resources that do exist. She gave in to the abuser’s requests, pressuring, ploys, etc. Or she allowed an attorney to convince her that it would be in her best interest to keep quiet and play cooperative. None of this is true, and none of this should ever happen.

The fight has to start the second she leaves, and if at all possible, before she actually leaves. Start talking to someone, anyone. Call the domestic violence hotline. Talk to a friend or family member. Seek out a domestic violence support group; other victims (many of which have successfully left abusive relationships) can provide you with a plethora of knowledge and experience. Do whatever you can to start making steps in the right direction before you leave. Just be cautious and careful. Never use a phone that can be checked by your abuser – the hotline number is free, so you can even make the call from a payphone. If you start attending a support group, attend only if you know he will be gone or busy, and never take the same route twice, just in case he follows you for a while. If you ever suspect that you are in immediate danger, do not wait to leave. Leave NOW. Go to a safe place – a police station, a public place, and call the domestic violence hotline. And never, I mean NEVER, leave your children home alone with your abuser.

Lawyers: In any case where criminal charges are involved, the court can APPOINT you an attorney. For non-criminal cases, seek out an attorney. You should never, ever, EVER go up against an abuser without one. For any reason. If finances are an issue, contact your local legal aide. And be sure to have all your ducks in a row. Get copies of all police reports and give them to your lawyer. Get letters from the shelter, if at all possible. Gather statements from family and friends. If you’ve ever been treated for breaks, concussions or any other injuries relating to the abuse, get copies and give them to your lawyer.

Abuser pushing family and friends out of your corner and into his: Generally, family and friends will take your side – at least REAL friends and family members. Be honest with them about the situation. Explain to them what has happened and what’s been going on in your life. Do this immediately. Family and friends are smart; they suspected something all along. I promise. They saw how you stopped making contact with them. They wondered why you stopped visiting or calling. And at least one person suspected that you were being abused. Though you may feel ashamed, like you are weak, you have to stand up for yourself now – and that starts with being open about the abuse. This also helps start the healing process.

Claims of mental instability: Go to a counselor. You can see a counselor through the shelter, but I recommend additional therapy. If you have no income, then you can usually qualify for state insurance. This will give you access to mental health services at no cost. Provide any and all mental health records to your attorney prior to your first court date.

Claims of drug abuse: Get a drug test. On your own. Provide the results to your attorney.

Lack of funds: This is a key area that abusers use to keep victims within their control. But it doesn’t have to be. There is state funding – food stamps, cash assistance and medical care. If you go to a domestic violence shelter, you can usually get approved within 10 days of your application because you are considered “homeless.” Remind yourself that it’s temporary, and that eventually, you will get back on your feet; you will have a job and a place of your own eventually. But for now, there’s nothing wrong with accepting help.

School for the kids: Change the kids’ school. Do NOT take them to the school they were attending while you were with your abuser. Provide the new school with a copy of your order of protection so that they know the abuser cannot pick up the children from school, for any reason.

Victim or survivor – the real truth: I can’t tell you how many women I watched go back. It was never the same reason. Some went back because they felt guilty; the kids would say how much they missed their Daddy or the women would worry that they would look like the bad guy. Some went back because they felt they couldn’t survive alone (financially, emotionally, or otherwise). To be honest, there are almost as many reasons to go back as there are victims. But there is always a core issue – an issue that goes much deeper than what most people can see.

Very rarely does the core issue come down to a fear of the abuser; if that were the case, the victim would continue to run in the other direction. However, there may be other fears, such as being afraid they can’t parent alone or that they can’t survive on their own. There are sometimes fears that the abuser can take the children, and that does happen on occasion. If, however, the victim takes the appropriate steps, gets enough people in her corner (people with authority) and speaks quite plainly and honestly (note I did not say maliciously or out of anger) about her situation, many people will listen. The problem comes when the victim doesn’t speak about the issue until the court date comes – when she stands in front of a judge and announces that she was abused when there is no documentation to back her story up. That’s why police reports, Child Protective Services, domestic violence shelters, and protective orders are so very important. These things and organizations serve as documentation.

Now, there is a real issue here, and that is, where custody situations arise, the batterer may be permitted to attend a support group or classes to obtain visitation (or in some cases, custody) of the child/ren. This is something that really needs to be addressed in the family court system because, not only are these classes/groups ineffective at treating the abuser (unless, of course, the abuser is actually interested in changing), these systems are easily manipulated. And it puts the battered woman and her children at further risk. What’s more, there are rarely follow-ups on custody cases where these types of arrangements have been made. Because of this, the abuser may (and often does) return to his abusive/stalking/threatening, and the children and the victim are left without any form of recourse.

In conclusion:

I can’t tell you, for certain, what makes the difference between someone leaving an abusive situation for good and why it is that so many women go back; I don’t have that answer, but I will tell you what was different for me. From the day I stepped into the shelter, I refused to accept the word victim. I wasn’t a victim and I didn’t believe that I ever had been. We victims tend think we have no choice but to be the victim, after all, our abuser has spent quite a bit of time and energy convincing us that we’ll never make it out or survive without them. But as long as you ARE a victim, you have no control. That lack of control is pretty scary, and it feeds into the thought that you can’t make it, that you can’t win, that you’ll never be able to get away from him. I was a survivor, even before I left. In my personal opinion, the only real victims are those that die while with their abusers because they never make it out. All other “victims” have the chance to leave. As hard as it may be, as scary as it is, there is always that chance. And only when the victim realizes that she doesn’t have to be a victim anymore will she truly be ready to leave the situation for good. Certainly there are challenges, and the entire thing feels insurmountable. But focusing on what can be done, by taking one small step after another, the victim can reach a healthier, violence free life.

All of this may just be my own opinion, but I am a survivor. Having survived and having put my life back together, I feel I do have a bit of authority to speak on this issue that so very few truly and honestly understand. Don’t mistake me for high and mighty or uppity; I just know that, in the shelters I stayed at, most of the women that worked there had been victims themselves at one time. I believe there really is a reason for that – because unless you’ve been a victim, you can never really understand what it’s like to be a victim or what it’s like to try and leave the abuse behind for good. It’s like trying to understand what it’s like to be blind. You can empathize, but until you’ve been blind, you’ll never fully understand.

Additional note: Oddly enough, I decided to do some additional research after writing this post. I found this resource which provides much of the same information listed above, but also some additional tips for battered women facing custody issues. The statistics are scary and alarming, and almost disheartening. But remember, there are things you can do. Do not give up. Do not let anyone take away your hope for a safe home environment. Above all, do not continue to live a life in which you must feel fear each and every day. There are ways to fight back, and you can start today.

Much love and support to all my fellow victims and survivors,

Catherine Givans

Oh. my. WORD! Where to start? I could word vomit about this book for hours, but I’m going to try really, really hard to keep this a somewhat focused review. =)

First off, the story itself…How can you not fall in love with a story like this? I think most of us have had those times in our life where we look around and wonder, “How did I get here?” Camryn experiences this exact moment and then does what I so often wish I could do – she headed out on a road to nowhere. It’s on the road that she meets the amazingly sexy, free-spirited Andrew. But what I love most about this story is that they don’t fall in love instantly. Sure, there’s an attraction there, but the two of them are actually fighting any feelings of attraction they have. It takes until almost the end of the book for them to become an official couple, and I LOVED that. In my opinion, too many books nowadays have that insta-love kind of storyline. And then there’s the whole WAY they fall in love. *SWOON!*

As for the characters…who couldn’t fall in love with Camryn and Andrew? They are beautifully flawed and so wonderfully real. And there’s just something about the two of them, separately and while they are together, that made me fall in love with them. And even though the author took on writing two different characters, they each had their own voice, their own personality and their own hang-ups.

And then the end of the story – how it all comes together – oh. my! I won’t say much more because it would totally ruin the story for anyone reading it, but let me just say that I could NOT put this book down. I tried, desperately, to spread this book out because I knew, from page 5, that I was going to LOVE it. I wanted to indulge as long as possible, but by the time I hit halfway through the book, I couldn’t concentrate on anything else, and just kept picking it up to read “just a few more pages.” It’s been two days and I STILL have a book hangover…sigh.

I have no idea what book 2 is supposed to be about, but honestly, I cannot WAIT to read it. If I could actually survive without a book long until book 2 came out, I wouldn’t read anything else until then. Yeah. It was THAT good!

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