Evil in Disguise was a hard book for me to read. It isn't a bad book- I'm giving it 4 stars! My problem is that Jenny, the main character, was so gullible. It was difficult for me to understand how a person couldn't see the truth staring her right in the face.

This book is about abuse, but it doesn't chronicle the spousal abuse that Jenny is subjected to. It actually starts towards the end of that part of her life, when she should be starting anew, finally living a free life after having been beaten, starved, not allowed to have a job outside the home, and raped for 30 years. Jenny has plans to do wonderful things with her life and the first on her list is to visit her pen pal of many years, Helen, in Florida. (And this is where I have a problem with Jenny's naivety.) Jenny falls for a scam and while in Florida is taken in by smooth-talking con man. Everyone in Jenny's life is telling her she is being manipulated but Jenny just wants to help and be a good person.

It was hard for me to understand why Jenny would do this, would go against logic. I had to let this book sit with me a day or so before reviewing it to think about it. This is a book based on true events, and I've watched movies based on similar situations- with women who go from being manipulated and used by one man right into the arms of another, so we all know this happens in real life. I can't understand it because it isn't in my personality to be that way. But Jenny had been suffering years of being beaten down, told she was not worthy, and basically getting accustomed to being used and abused. History has shown us that these people often go right back into those situations- they find someone who will dominate them. As for Jenny being stupid and not seeing what was happening, well, it occurred to me that I know people like that, people who wouldn't see the truth no matter what you say to them and the only way for them to finally open their eyes is for them to get burned a few times.

There were some questions I still had at the end of the book, but they weren't a big deal. The ending was a big "Hallmark" for my taste too, a little too easy, but that's how most people would want this story to end.

Yes, this book is hard to read and, yes, it is hard to believe that one person can be so naive, but this really does happen all over the world, the scams and the abuse. We read about it every day. We probably know someone who is suffering from abuse of some kind behind closed doors. The statistics are heartbreaking. This book is a good eye opener for those of us who don't understand how this kind of abuse can take place. It makes us feel a little more compassionate and open minded to those going through situations like this and hopefully we would be in a better position to help a friend if ever the need were to arise. ( )