As someone who was in a verbally abusive relationship that became physically abusive a few times, I have to say that this is a chillingly accurate book. It grabs your heart and you pray for the woman to survive, to find a way to live through escaping. It is heart-wrenching, vividly portrayed and a must read in hopes others may see warning signs of an abusive relationship before it becomes too late. ( )

Annie is a normal teenage girl who believes in everything about God, waiting ‘til marriage, and going to college after school. Annie has also fallen in love with a boy named Kevin. Kevin is much bigger than her. He was on the football team and is very popular at school. The only thing Annie sees wrong with Kevin is his jealousy. He gets very jealous when any man or boy even talks to her. After one mistaken night with Kevin, Annie becomes pregnant and it changes her life. Annie starts to see changes in Kevin that scare her. After Kevin and Annie get married she feels trapped. She has no say in anything about herself or her daughter, Mary, because Kevin makes all the decisions without Annie. Kevin got a scholarship with football that sent Kevin, Annie and Mary to Texas which is thousands of miles away from their family and friends. It started out good for their little family, they were all happy. Then things started changing with Kevin; he was always mad at Annie. Soon his anger started getting to be too much so Annie started going to see a therapist. Kevin started getting back to his old self, so Annie started to feel safe again. She got a job and started taking classes. It got close to Christmas and Kevin started running things and Annie, once again, just didn’t get things right according to Kevin. What happens if the one you love is the one that scares you and hurts you the most? One night changes Annie’s life. That night Kevin is at his worst and Annie has no one to help her.

The only person Annie has to turn to so she can keep herself alive is a friend of her brother’s named Buddy. Is Buddy good enough to save Annie and Mary from the man who wants them dead? Casey