Review: A gripping story of getting into and out of an abusive relationship
Rating: 5 out of 5
Date: 10 14, 2013
The story opens six months after her marriage to Lanny when her son Trevor ends up rescuing her from a knife-wielding husband who refuses to let her leave. He finally lets her go when Trevor says, "You let my Mom go or I'll put a bullet between your eyes." Although she tries to rationalize Lanny's behavior, her  adult children see the abuse and encourage her to leave.Wanda then flashes back to her happy marriage of 32 years to Dusty and shows us what a loving, committed marriage looks like. When Dusty, the love of her life dies, she experiences extreme loneliness and reaches out in desperation to fill the void only to discover after she marries Lanny that he experiences mood swings and is verbally and physically abusive.Wanda's writing is engaging and believable. She brings the reader into her experience as she moves through her shock, fear and ultimate realization that she needs to escape this dangerous man. She weaves in her Christian faith which serves as a source of strength and direction for her. We see through her lens that her need for love fueled her desire to not give up on the relationship initially.Wanda's story strikes a universal chord about knowing how to spot an abuser. Through her story of heartbreak, she teaches us what the consequences of not following our instincts when you suspect something is wrong can be in a relationship. She also projects hope in finding contentment in life through her own faith journey. Anyone who has ever found themself in an abusive relationship will find solace and hope in this story. It is a powerful testimony to the importance of listening to your inner voice and setting boundaries; an excellent resource on lessons learned from being in an abusive relationship.This is an important story and I commend Wanda for stepping forth to share her personal story so that others can feel empowered to remove themselves from abusive situations. Abuse kills and people need to hear stories of people, like Wanda, who learn how to regain control over their lives and go on to live joyful lives.