A first hand account of domestic violence and struggles in the US Court System written by a domestic abuse survivor. Available as a downloadable e-book. The foreword, written by Steve McCrea, MS, is shown below.

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This is a fantastic book for anyone to read who is wondering whether their relationship is going down an abusive path, or who simply wants to understand how an abusive relationship can slowly develop from seemingly benign beginnings. Kim takes us through her own experiences, from the earliest and mildest signs of emerging abuse, through her own slow realization of what was really happening, through her careful planning and separation from the abuser, and the ensuing escalation that nearly resulted in her own murder. She relates convincingly how and why it is so difficult for a victim to recognize and leave an abusive relationship, and how our culture fails to support victims' attempts to escape to safety.

I was very impressed with the style of presentation in Kim's book. She chooses to break down her own story into segments which she uses to illustrate the different kinds of abuse that are commonly experienced by victims. This technique helped me as a reader to balance the intensity of the emotion involved with the important lessons that Kim is trying to convey. In some ways, it felt like an intensive course in Domestic Violence 101, with Kim's life as the primary case study. At the same time, Kim conveyed her story in very personal and sometimes intensely emotional terms that would make it difficult to view her situation from an intellectual distance, but rather pulled me into the story. This movement back and forth from the didactic to the personal narrative is a very effective tool to convey the reality of the domestic violence experience.

This book could be a lifesaver for you or one of your friends. I would highly recommend it, as both an excellent primer on the dynamics of domestic violence and a very engaging story about the courage required and demonstrated by one remarkable woman on the path from victim to survivor.

To purchase the e-book online:

Visit the Rhiannon3, Inc. domestic violence organization's bookstore. All proceeds are donated.

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Kensington Pond Books