5-star material -- buy this book!
Sexual abuse has many side effects and ramifications that impact the stability and sanity of many women who find themselves victims. But can it be depicted as a lesson to be learned in a good story? Nevertheless, the ability to write about it in a literary scenario where readers can opt for whatever closure for good page-turning delight is a plus. Author Dwan Abram's 'My Mother's Child', does just that! It's a good read and has all the qualities of believable characters, a setting to corroborate them, and a riveting back story to allow the denouement to justify an ending worth the time spent reading it without regret. If you've read 'Divorcing the Devil', the precursor to this book, you've already met Lyric Stokes. But sequel or not, My Mother's Child stands on its own merit with a decided, if not better sequence of events. Our story begins with a perceived sense of foreboding because of not being able to have produced the son that her husband wanted.
The protagonist is easy to discern as she delivers a performance worthy of the author's intention. It's Lyric Stokes who's living the good life, married to the man of her dreams, financially secured with all that defines a blissful marriage. Can a wrench be thrown into the mix for angst to justify Murphy's Law -- that 'if anything that can go wrong generally does go wrong sooner or later'? The plot thickens as the story moves along rapidly with drama building at every turn based on rape complete with guile and deception. This unfortunate encounter fueled by a miscalculated risk that allowed whim and fancy to cause more problems bargained for, setting the stage for the day of reckoning. Unfortunate in the sense that in the interim she discovers that she's pregnant! Here, the authors weaves a fine thread having Lyric toying with success in an omniscient mindset vacillating between keeping the child or giving it up for adoption. Befuddling the situation is determining who the real father is! The antagonist, Nigel Fredericks is a vile contemptuous manipulator who preys on women's vulnerability with a history of stalking women. Embolden by the fact that he always manages to escape conviction, he uses this leverage on not only Lyric but her Psychiatrist (Skyler Little) whom she confides in, unbeknownst to her that the perpetrator has also violated Ms Little. One issue that gives contrast to the story is the fact that Nigel things that the baby is his and is entitled to it. The key to it all is the mindset that husband Michael will adorn. Will he accept the consequences, or will he retaliate?
The setting did nothing to allay frustrations despite familial order being tested under uncomfortable odds; the main characters had substance, replete with Nigel's embellished sinister facade; and yes, there was a backstory to give the denouement clarity to end on a good note! I loved this book and feel that the author did more than a credible job in pulling me into this story. I rated it five stars out of five, and feel that there's definitely and upside to Dwan Abrams ability to tell stories that radiate. Thank you Ms Abrams for bringing us a great story, as we look forward to the next one just like this one!
Was this review helpful? Yes NoThank you for your feedback.
Report this reviewThank you, this review has been flagged.
Overview
Lyric Stokes lives, by most standards, a charmed life. Married to Michael Stokes, a prominent heart surgeon, she has financial security and lives in the lap of luxury. All is not perfect, though. Lyric feels inadequate because she gave birth to a daughter, rather than the son that her husband so desperately wanted.
After an unexpected turn of events, Lyric discovers that she's pregnant again, but now she has to decide whether she even wants to keep the child she has longed for. She seeks solace in her church, where her daughter also feels at home; but they can't get Michael to join them. Disagreeing with organized religion, he has put his job before all ...