Review: So emotional, so riveting and so good....
Rating: 5 out of 5
Date: 02 14, 2014
I received a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. I got this book by accident. I mean, I was given this book, but I have other reviewers that review for me. Somehow, this one got missed and wasn't assigned. I read the synopsis and decided that it didn't sound too far off from stuff that I normally read. I was just hoping it didn't have any "sneaky" romance in it as I have been fooled by the synopsis of books before. I am SO glad I got to read this book!!Karen Barnes is a bad ass; she just doesn't know it yet. She had a horrific time in Iraq and just wants to be on her farm with her horses and forget about it. But, someone else has different plans for her. She is kidnapped, beaten, almost killed several times and betrayed by countless people. The amount of tragedy and suffering that she gets in this story is astonishing. The fact that she can still say her name and breath through half of this stuff is a testament to her courage and strength.I know that PTSD is real. I wholeheartedly believe that not enough people are diagnosed with it nor do they seek treatment for it. I personally know people that have had it and didn't want to admit it because they think they are going to be laughed at or not believed. They are afraid that they are going to be seen as less of a person or weak because they admit that this is happening. There have been so many needless deaths from people committing suicide from this. I am glad that T.J. wrote about this as it is a really big elephant in the room that deserves more publicity and less stigma.I love all of the animal references in this book. Animals are truly cathartic and therapeutic. They are a great resource for people with mental, physical and developmental issues. I believe in the power of their love and innocence. The fact that they have pure, unbiased love for humans no matter what has got to be healing. Animals love you even if you are dirty, smelly, in pain, ugly, scarred, beaten...in any size, shape or form. If only people could learn a little of that from animals, the world would be a much better place. I give this story 5 books and can't wait to read more from T.J. Loveless.