At the tender age of 18, Penny Carson believes that she has found her true love in Trent Tyler. Not long after they marry, Trent hits Penny for the first time; her Prince Charming has become her abuser. When Trent is injured at work, Penny finds work cleaning a house. There, she is befriended by two women who help her discover her own strength. VERDICT Holmes (Crossing Oceans) creates complex, fully realized characters, deftly portraying the nuances of an abusive relationship in a way that will help readers understand why battered women don't immediately leave their abusers. This gripping novel is sure to appeal to Christian and secular readers alike. Recommend it to fans of Karen Kingsbury and Kimberla Lawson Roby. (c) Copyright 2013. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.