What would you do if you thought you had the perfect life? Two beautiful boys and a loving husband. Then your world was turned upside down. That is what happened to Ava when her husband walks out and then tricks her into letting him take the boys.

Ava had no idea what was happening. Mitchell went from being a loving attentive husband to a total stranger. He had filed for a divorce and custody of their two boys before he walked out on her. She had no idea what to do or where to turn. Her mother was never there and she knew would never be. She had to take matters into her own hands.

Trying to talk to Mitchell only made things worse. All she wanted was her life back. Her husband and children. When she finally realized that was not going to happen she hired a new lawyer in town, Graham Thomas, to help her. Together they do everything by the book. She had no idea what Mitchell was capable of. What he would stoop to to discredit her and make it look like she was an unfit mother wife and person.

Through it all she never gave up. She fought for her children even when it seemed like nothing she did would help. She uncovered dark secrets and lies that Mitchell had been hiding through their marriage.

A mother's love is strong and Ava loved her boys more that life itself. She will not give up until she has her boys back in their home where they will be happy and well taken care of.

She fights to almost the death for Jack and Sam. Jack was Mitchell's son from his first marriage. Karen was killed in a car wreck and when Ava married Mitchell she adopted Jack as her own son and loved him as much as any mother would love their child.

This book will keep you turning pages to see what will happen next. You hear from Ava, Mitchell, Jack, Graham and the court appointed therapist who learns a lot about both Ava and Mitchell. I felt like I was right there with Ava and could feel her pain and Jack's pain and fears too.

This is one of the best books I've read by Laura McNeill and loved it from start to finish. It's a wonderful story of love, loss, tears and even super heroes. One you won't be able to put down or forget long after you have read the last word.

#NetGalley, #LauraMcNeill, #ThomasNelson
5/5 huge stars

What hapened? How could her marriage crumbled down like the house of cards? And how could her beloved husband turned into this unpredictable, cruel man?

Ava does not understand. She is not having an affair! So why has MItchell taken their sons and is asking for divorce? Why is her fighting against her like crazy?

This one is both a fast-paced thriller and the believable portrait of the destruction of a family. Told from different points of view, this novel believably, touchingly shows how far can one person go to destroy the other one, how hard -BUT POSSIBLE! - is to find the strength within
themselves and how can the choices if the adults touch the children - among other motifs and issues touched here. This is richly layered, deeply emotional and honestly brutal storytelling. And I admire it. Also kudos to the Christian publisher for going for the raw, difficult theme and book covering it! I could not read faster! This is deep, readable and heart-touching story.

But - yes. This is a debut and there are some weaknesses. As Mitchell needing to have more serious "background" for his story and fall - he has become the wicked one too soon in the story, without the proper development to this state of mind and soul. The same goes for Karen's story - this needs a stronger reasoning. Also why Ava does not have any female friends?

But, having said all that - now I will follow this authoress's work. It shows the signs of precisely the things I like to read - strong story, empathy, rawness, brokenness and courage, honesty, deepness.
Recommended read.