Loving in Fear

Book Review

Basic Details:

Book Title: Loving in Fear

Subtitle:

Author: Elizabeth Grimes Brown

Genre: Women’s Fiction

Part of a series? No

Order in series:

Best read after earlier books in series?

Available: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/25374837-loving-in-fear

Overall score:

I scored this book 5/5

⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️

Short Summary of the book:

This is not a book for the faint-hearted. The story is one of control and domestic abuse and the effect this has on a young and impressionable girl. Kathy falls for the handsome Adam and despite friends and family warning her he is too controlling, she feels she understands and can change him. Slowly, she starts to believe it is all her fault. If only she obeyed him better. Eventually, her eyes open, but is it too late to escape an abusive relationship?

What I liked about the book:

This book has you hooked from the start. It’s action-filled and has an unexpected twist.

What I didn’t like about the book:

I enjoyed the entire book despite discussing uncomfortable issues.

My favourite bits in the book:

How Kathy finally had the guts to find a way out.

My least favourite bits in the book:

Every time Kathy ended up on the wrong end of her husband.

Any further books in the series? Any more planned by this author?

I am not aware of any other books by this author.

What books could this be compared to and why?

This book is not like any other books I’ve read before. It deals with an uncomfortable subject and makes you wonder if the author has personal experience.

Recommendation:

In summary, I would recommend this book for the following readers:

Children No

Young Adult Possibly

Adult Yes

If you like your books dark, but full of hope for the future, this book may be the book for you.

I’m certainly looking forward to reading more by this author.

Book Description by Author:

Finding herself in a relationship that, over a short period of time, has changed from caring and attentive to manipulation and control, Kathy Grove continues to ignore all warnings from friends and relatives. By convincing herself this is love, only serves to help the handsome, dominant Adam to alienate and isolate her. Through his jealousy and suspicion, things soon escalate into violence. As her self-esteem dwindles, he tells her it’s all her fault. She accepts the blame and believes he’ll change if she doesn't provoke him.

Kathy feels close when they make love, and using sex as a form of control he ensures that she is satisfied.

After Adam reveals a dark secret from his childhood, she believes this is why he chose her above any of the voluptuous girls at school. Convincing herself this is in part the cause of his paranoia, she tries to keep him pacified.

Also his threats to harm her family keep her from leaving him.

She thinks he’ll change when they have children, she is wrong. Now he has something more to hold over her, the safety of her little girls.

Finally, finding a way to escape him, she sets her plan in motion but is forced to take drastic action when she believes the children’s lives are in imminent danger.

A bloody scene sends Kathy and the children fleeing to their secret hide-out.