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Catherine Bailey, like all of us, has a past. However her past has drastically scarred her, leaving her crippled with obsessions and compulsions and avoidance issues. The doctors call it by simple little acronyms like "OCD" and "PTSD". I think Catherine would simply call it "life shattering". Several years ago, she had a violent and obsessive boyfriend, leaving her paranoid and always looking over her shoulder, never trusting her surroundings.
Stuart is the upstairs neighbor. Being a therapist, he seems to see beyond all of the compulsions to the woman that lies beneath, and he is drawn to the woman she was and he knows she can be again.
I found this gritty and emotional story quite fascinating. When looking at Catherine "today", you see a broken woman, weak, out-of-control, totally irrational in her behavior. Yet the way that the book is written, shifting quickly from the past to the present and back again, you get to slowly walk through her past relationship, watching it build little-by-little. As you do, you find that the present-day actions and behaviors that previously seemed irrational begin to make total sense. She isn't crazy at all. Her obsessive behaviors seem almost "right" in light of the past.
A note of warning: This book can be quite graphic, violent and vulgar. But it is real, believable, and not exploitative.
My final word: Guttural, this story reaches deep within, leaving you a little uneasy as you think perhaps "There but by the grace of God go I." How a person can enter your life so innocuously and damage it so irreparably. How you could be taken from a strong and powerful woman, and left shattered and fearful. And mixed in amidst the twisted fears and terror is a touching romantic story. Frightening but intriguing and, in the end, utterly fascinating.
35 out of 41 people found this review helpful.
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Posted June 27, 2012
i was confused at first, because it goes back and forth between the past and the present. as you get involved in the story, it all comes together. i couldnt stop reading until i reached the end. i would definitely read more books by this author. i would recommend this book for discussions.
24 out of 27 people found this review helpful.
Was this review helpful? Yes NoThank you for your feedback. Report this reviewThank you, this review has been flagged.If you’ve ever wondered what it’s like to have an obsessive compulsive disorder, this book will show you a view into that world. The author definitely did her research and had great reasoning’s behind why Cathy does the things she does. Her compulsions are so believable that I couldn’t imagine a world where she didn’t do these things.
At the start of the book I was confused as to what was going on as each chapter moves back and forth in time. With the name change from Catherine (in the past) to Cathy (in the future) I didn’t catch that they were the same person for awhile. Maybe if I had read the synopsis of the book more recently I would have known that, but because I read a digital edition I didn’t have that handy, and I like to be surprised when I’m reading.
When I was getting close to the end I was hoping and hoping that the author wouldn’t take the easy way out – and she didn’t, so I was totally pleased. There are a number of hard to read parts to the book – the abuse Catherine suffers is torturous, but reading it is well worth getting into her mind and feelings.
This book is 611 pages long, but so easy to read, it flew by without me knowing how long it really way. (I honestly just saw the page count as I was typing the review.) Haynes is an author I will keep an eye on!
ARC reviewed by Jessica for Book Sake.
19 out of 23 people found this review helpful.
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Posted June 29, 2012
Check out the full review at Kritters Ramblings
If a book can give you the creepies, then this one is first on my list. I have read books where I am left on edge or wondering who dun it, but this one just made me want to check the security in our condo and make sure the dog would bark at anything other than the wind.
13 out of 17 people found this review helpful.
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Posted February 16, 2013
I Also Recommend:
Great read, still prefer Fallen Angel (author is genie ems...i think) Just my opinion.
12 out of 14 people found this review helpful.
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Posted June 13, 2012
I could not put this book down. I just had to know what was going to happen next. This book was excellent, especially for a first book. Will definitely look for her next one!
12 out of 14 people found this review helpful.
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Posted June 12, 2012
I found the every other chapter is a flashback set up a bit tiresome, but it definitely kept you reading it was so easy to find out what happened next. Descriptions of the characters state of mind were really good. It felt like you really were getting in her head. Not an easy thing to do. I'd give five stars but i feel like you always have to leave a little wiggle room.
10 out of 12 people found this review helpful.
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Posted June 25, 2012
Amazing and super suspenseful!! Highly recommended!!
9 out of 12 people found this review helpful.
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Posted July 19, 2012
I Also Recommend:
I loved this book. very well written. Finished it very quickly
8 out of 9 people found this review helpful.
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Posted January 26, 2013
This book was awesome!! I could not put the book down! If you are thinking of buying this book DO IT. This book does not disappoint.
5 out of 6 people found this review helpful.
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Posted December 26, 2012
I dont understand everyones confusion about the story going from present to past, it was not confusing at all, all you need to do is read the title of the chapter! Great book, could not put it down!
3 out of 3 people found this review helpful.
Was this review helpful? Yes NoThank you for your feedback. Report this reviewThank you, this review has been flagged.This book took me about three times longer than other books to finish because parts of it just went on and on without seeming to have progress. To be honest I almost quit it half way through but I wanted to stick with it. I lost interest often but I felt compelled to go on. I wanted Catherine to have her moment of victory. The storyline was brutal to be sure, yet Catherine’s quick recovery seemed off once she started therapy.
Most disappointing to me was the ending when she finally has to face off against him. It felt anti-climactic…almost over before it began. It lacked the “tour de force of suspense” that the synopsis promised. That scene should have lasted a while and and have the readers biting their fingernails! A missed opportunity to be sure.
I think overall what was lacking for me was her attraction to Lee in the first place. There was never a time where I thought he was just such an awesome guy in the beginning that would make her so attached to him. He was kind of a turd from day 1 so I didn’t see the charisma. It wasn’t bad…just…ok.
Remember Sleeping With The Enemy? That guy made you want to crap your damn pants! He was a mental mind freak! This guy…I don’t know…just “meh”.
3 out of 5 people found this review helpful.
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Posted July 20, 2012
Such a good read. Creepy in all the right places. This would make a great movie.
3 out of 5 people found this review helpful.
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Posted July 18, 2012
This was a great book - I could not put it down. I read the reviews prior to reading the book, so I wasn't confused when one chapter was in 2004, and the next in 2008...I thought it would annoy me, to be honest, but it was a perfect way to tell the story. I thought this book accurately portrayed what your life is like in one of these situations...The only thing I didn't like was that she was able to look her friend in the eye when it was all over. I usually find when reading books like this that the endings can be somewhat cheesy, and not to keep harping on how great this book is, but the fact is that yes, her ending was somewhat happy, the real ending left me unsettled, which is realistic and I love that. Buy the book!!
3 out of 3 people found this review helpful.
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Posted February 6, 2013
Amazing Psychological Thriller!
This is a psychological thriller that will keep the reader engrossed in the novel until the very end. It starts with a bang and ends with chills running down your body. It’s that good! The story begins with a court hearing, then moves to a murder scene. After that, each chapter alternates with flashbacks from the past and the present. Eventually, the past catches up with her present and the story stays in the present. While it was a bit confusing at first, once the story fell into place, it wasn’t difficult to make the mental shift.
Catherine (the past) is a vibrant, confident, who loves to go partying with her girlfriends. One night, she meets Lee and they quickly develop an intimate relationship. While Catherine loves everything about Lee, with time, she starts to see a darker side to him that keeps her on her toes. Coming home to find that he’s been there, seeing small insignifcant items moved, feeling that she’s being followed, and having to tell him everything she does so that he won’t freak out on her begins to take its toll on her mental well-being. She becomes jumpy and scared that she will provoke him to hit her or become sexually violent with her.
Lee is a charmer and not only seduces her, but begins to tell her friends things that aren’t true about Catherine, to make excuses for her bruises, scratches, and somber attitude. Soon, her friends begin to believe him and she is isolated from her social circle and feels alone and unable to escape from him. Because of his charisma and line of work (special units police officer), he begins to play mind games with her and she soon realizes that her only way of escaping is leaving the country. Because of Lee’s abuse of power, Catherine is kidnapped, raped, mutiliated, and is slowly dying. However, a neighbor notices something and saves Catherine from any further torment….or so she thinks.
Present time Cathy (Catherine) is suffering from PTSD, OCD, and becomes so paranoid that she isolates herself from anyone and limits her time away from her apartment. Because of her past, Cathy doesn’t trust anyone in authority, doesn’t trust her own instincts, and is always on high alert that Lee is watching her even though he is in jail. Living in a flat with 2 other neighbors, she meets Stuart, a psychologist. He is recovering from a failed engagement, she is recovering from the trauma and abuse she endured with Lee. Both begin a very “safe” and slow relationship,with Stuart encouraging Cathy to seek treatment for her OCD. While in outpatient therapy, Cathy begins to address the trauma, learns coping skills, and slowly begins to reclaim her life. I loved the Cognitive-Behavioral techniques addressed in the book.
While this book isn’t a self-help book, it does address in detail the ways Cathy was taught to overcome her anxiety and no longer fear the unknown or the illusion of Lee. This helps Cathy handle Lee differently and the situations she finds herself in, as she reconnects with an old friend and soon has to confront her fears. This is a creepy, psychological thriller that readers may identify with. We’ve all had “bad” relationships, hopefully not near as bad as Catherine’s….but enough to make the reader sympathize with her. Lee was a charmer and the more he scared Catherine, the more turned on he becomes, which in turn equates to the level of violence he demonstrates. Abuse of power and his charasmatic attitude means that he will do anything to keep Catherine under his thumb, isolated from friends, and dependent on him. Having Stuart in her life, Cathy learns what it’s like to have a healthy relationship, slowly learns to let her defenses down around him, and begins to face her anxiety and fears.
I loved this book and read it in one day! This hasn’t happened in a very long time, but I just had to keep reading to find out what happens next. The ending was chilling and sinister because it leaves the reader wondering if Lee’s letter and “gift” is really trying to show how he is ready to take responsibility or if it’s a threat to what will happen to her when he gets out. Cathy only shows the first part of the letter to the detective and wants to hold on to the ending for herself, until she sees his “gift”. I wondered why she wanted to keep it, but it is obvious that she will always feel connected to him in some way. After mutilating her body, in my opinion, it’s the later, going along the lines, “if I can’t have you, no one else can”. In Lee’s mind, Catherine is his and only time will tell what he means by that….I look forward to hearing your thoughts about the book, once you read it! -Books in the Burbs
2 out of 6 people found this review helpful.
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Posted December 27, 2012
A srory of a woman in an abusive relationship is very suspenseful. This is Ms. Haynes' first novel and she did a bang-up job. She has a knack for taking the mundane (I arrived home from work) and creating a very tense atmosphere where you are expecting the "bogey-man" to appear at any time!
2 out of 2 people found this review helpful.
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Posted November 3, 2012
Wow! What a book. I stayed up all night reading this page turner. The book is dark, gritty, violent, and bone chilling. Yet through the whole thing I was glued, I had to know how the protagonist was going to finally be released from her violent past. Warning: Anyone who has suffered through any kind of violent situation, may find this hard to get through, howver, it could offer some kind solace in knowing they are not alone, and there can be light at the of their dsrkness
Not going to write an essay on the book as many of the reviewers like to do. I'm just going to tell if I think it's worth the investment in buying it or not. For me, it was worth it. I was truly swept away with the authors story telling; so true and authentic in every sense of the word. She has a gift of creating and using language that is poetic and beautiful, and never faulters or loses momentum. This author is quite gifted. I can see this being a movie one day.
2 out of 2 people found this review helpful.
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Posted September 7, 2012
Wow. What a chilling book. This book sucks you in , leaves you with chills . Quick and excellent read. Get all your errands ran and your house cleaned b4 you start this one. If you like a chilling story then this read is for you. Disturbung at times with all the horriable abuse she had taken . So nice to find a book not about witches, vampires or divisions . Not a teen read either . I have never posted a book review before . I just HAD to with this one. I
2 out of 3 people found this review helpful.
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Posted July 19, 2012
A must read. Loved it
2 out of 4 people found this review helpful.
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Posted July 17, 2012
Does anybody else notice that on the Nook, the banner for this says that it's on discount: Was $1.99 Now $1.99 ._.
2 out of 32 people found this review helpful.
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Overview
Catherine has been enjoying the single life for long enough to know a good catch when she sees one. Gorgeous, charismatic, spontaneous - Lee seems almost too perfect to be true. And her friends clearly agree, as each in turn falls under his spell. But there is a darker side to Lee. His erratic, controlling and sometimes frightening behaviour means that Catherine is increasingly isolated. Driven into the darkest corner of her world, and trusting no one, she plans a meticulous escape. Four years later, struggling ...