Book Review, Dark, Domestic Abuse, R & R Book Tours, Suspense, Women's Fiction

Forever Yours by Kathryn Reign

March 12, 2022March 12, 2022 by Sharon Clayton

ABOUT THE BOOK

When love becomes deadly…

When Natalie Grace met Caleb McCord on a dating app, she never thought she would end up fighting for her life.

What seemed like a charming and handsome man on the outside turns into something much darker, more sinister and possessive than Natalie could’ve ever imagined.

With the help of her best friend, will she find the strength to finally push aside her adoration for a monster? Or will her unconditional love for him become her own demise?

*Trigger Warning: This story may contain triggering material for anyone who has had a history of domestic abuse and/or violence. Please read with caution.

MY REVIEW

This book is categorized as a dark romance, but it’s closer to a dark journey between a woman who only wanted to be loved and a monster who loved her too much.

Natalie Grace is a college student living at home with her alcoholic parents. After Natalie’s fiance ghosted her 6 months ago, she has not wanted to date anyone. But her friend convinces her to try a dating app. Her first date is handsome and charming and looks very promising…until he isn’t.

Going down the rabbit hole with an abuse victim is not for the faint-hearted. Natalie has always wanted to feel loved by her parents who never cared about her, and then when she fell in love and made plans to marry Josh, her high school sweetheart, who ghosted her. So when Natalie finds the attractive and devoted, Caleb she jumps right into another toxic relationship. Will Natalie finally stop the endless cycle of blaming herself for Caleb’s abuse or will she become another statistic? There were several times I wanted to stop reading this book due to the difficult subject matter, but Ms. Reign’s powerful writing convinced me to see the final outcome. I admire Natalie’s strength and resilience as she finally accepts the help she needs and finds a purpose for her life before it’s too late. There is no real happy ending for abuse victims. They will carry their physical and emotional scars for the rest of their lives.

There are some shocking twists and turns throughout the story as we learn more about Caleb’s tragic life and how influence and blackmail turned a blind eye to his behavior. Gaslighting is Caleb’s form of manipulation. It is “a covert type of emotional abuse where the bully or abuser misleads the target, creating a false narrative and making them question their judgments and reality.” Know the warning signs.

Lauren’s close friendship with Natalie is so important as she sticks by Natalie’s side through the good and bad. Mr. Buckley and Detective Powers are also necessary for Natalie’s growth. As for Natalie’s mom, she expresses concern about Natalie, but it seems too little, too late.

I highly recommend this emotional story that had me on the edge of my seat as I felt like I was living through all of Natalie’s pain and confusion. It’s an important and well-written book definitely worth reading.

Thank you to Ms. Reign for giving me the opportunity to read this book with no expectation of a positive review.