Emily Converse and her brother Ian survived an abusive and hellish childhood after their mother died in a tragic car accident. Emily escaped from the house of horror with a scholarship to college and never looked back. Now twenty years later she's back in her hometown for a friend's wedding. When she meets the best man Navy Seal Mike, sparks fly, but her cruel step-father Ray, a US senator, shows up and pushes Ian's buttons and a brawl ensues. Unfortunately, Ray knows how to bait Ian's feelings of self-worth and Emily faces the nightmare of waiting to see if her brother will survive his suicide attempt. She blames Ray for Ian's suicide attempt and wants revenge. Can Mike convince Emily to stand down and make a plan to take Ray down?
This was a surprising book that takes the reader on a journey of self-doubt, hopelessness, despair, coming to terms with an abusive childhood and finally reconciling to the fact that things don't always turn out like you want them to, but somehow you survive. Without any spoilers, this was a difficult book to read because of the stark facts of the abuse Ian and Emily suffered at the hands of sadistic Ray. There were a few surprising twists and turns along the way and kept me turning the pages to the end.
