Barbara's Plea

When Gloria said that about Nate, that is when I got tears in my eyes.

He lost them both in the same month? Oh dear!

The scenes with Todd are hard to take. Be warned.

Did she reset her nose herself?

Allie is absolutely adorable.

So unfair that she could go to jail.

I understand that people grieve in different ways, but seriously Cheryl? You had a husband and son who needed you. You did not deserve to be a mother.

How is it possible to kidnap your own kid?

Is Todd really telling a judge how to do his job? What a douche.

Woohooo! Finally something goes right. Good for you, Judge.

It was interesting going through the case proceedings with her.

The ending makes you smile.

I received an ARC from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

INITIAL THOUGHTS As I have read another book by this author, I am really looking forward to reading this one. The other book by Stacy Eaton that I have read was "Whether I'll Live Or Die", that books also dealt with the same tough subject of Domestic Violence.

MY REVIEW I received an e-copy of this book via Netgalley in exchange for my honest review. The cover depicts a young woman sitting of the floor hugging her knees to her chest with her head down too, as though she is trying to make herself as small as possible. I can say it's a position I found myself sat in, on numerous occasions. The cover also features the shadows of cell bars over it too. Something else I also went through due to my violent relationship past. The abuser can often twist things around to make the victim look guilty of something or other, I thinks it's kind of their last ditch attempt to hurt the victim.
Would the cover make me pick this one up from a book store shelf? Yes I would, as I feel a kind of kinship with the young woman on the cover, and I would want to know what the young woman felt she needed to hide from.
The book begins with Grey, a construction worker being laid off from his job. He goes to sit on a bench where he meets and elderly lady who introduces herself as Gloria. They begin speaking to each other. Gloria invites Grey to eat breakfast with her in a nearby cafe. At first he is reluctant, but Gloria has the persuasive edge and he eventually accepts her offer. Gloria strikes a bargain with Grey, that if she reveals her "story" then he has to tell Gloria his "story". Gloria tell's Grey that she has recently been told she has been informed that she has pancreatic cancer. Sadly there is very little that can be done for Gloria and she has perhaps three to four months of what she calls decent quality of life left. If Gloria underwent some treatment to prolong her life, she could perhaps stretch the month diagnosis to a year and a half. Gloria has a decision to make of whether she wishes to have quantity of life or quality of life. As Grey meets his part of the "talking promise" he reveals he too has lost important people in his life too. Whilst showing Gloria a photograph of his son, she notices a rocking chair and toy box in them and asks who made them. Grey reveals it was him and Gloria soon has a job proposition to put to Grey. Who naturally accepts as he had just lost his previous job and he had been wondering how he would survive without money. Meanwhile the other main character we meet in the book is Barbara who we later discover is the grandaughter of Gloria. Barbara is in a dark, difficult place with her relationship with Todd. Todd is a great looking, charming man, with a pleasant, friendly personality and is also a hot shot lawyer. To people out side their relationship, they look like a blissful couple. Unfortunately this is not the case. Within the home Todd is, a bullying perfectionist who blames ever negative thing that happens on Barbara. Barbara know she should try to escape this ghastly relationship but finds she is pregnant. Barbara really doesn't want to admit what goes on behind closed doors, and who would believe her anyway when Todd appears to be such a personable individual outside the home. Barbara even hopes that perhaps the arrival of their baby will somehow change Todd's behaviour. When little Allie arrives Todd's behaviour does change, it becomes worse, more violent. In fact ignoring baby Allie would be better than referring to her as "it" or "that". It is then Barbara admits to herself she must escape with Allie. So how much more should I tell you . . . a chain of events begin really well for Barbara, just when she feels she is safe with her grandmother and is beginning to have feelings for another man, Todd comes hurtling back into her life, with the law on his side! He wants to hurt Barbara convicted and in prison away from the new life she had begun to build for herself and Allie.
So what happens? What charges can Todd be bringing against Barbara? If Barbara is convicted, what happens to Allie? What about the new man in Barbara's life?
I really enjoyed reading this book, it kept me wondering how things would turn out for Barbara. At times, as in real life, the book showed how the law can work in the favour of the abuser/perpetrator. I liked that the book was realistic how it portrayed the two totally different personalities of Todd. The amiable, charming, totally agreeable professional Todd. The one the public and people other than Barbara and Allie saw. Then there was the scary, abusive, angry and violent side he saved for behind closed doors when he was with BArbara and Allie. So which side will the judge see? The outer, confident charming successful lawyer or the "Jekyll & Hyde" character that Todd truly is?
I really did enjoy reading this book, though I admit to feeling a little uneasy reading some parts of the interactions between Todd and Barbara. These scenes took me back to a place I would rather not re-visit but then again re-visiting the dark places shows you how far you have traveled away from the darkness. Stacy once again gives a very realistic description of domestic violence and how it makes the victim feel. When Todd brings charges against Barbara, Stacy handles that in a way it would unfold in real life, rather than waving a magic wand and giving her character Barbara a "happy ending". You do become emotionally attached to Stacy's characters, you ride their emotions along with them. The relief Barbara has when she arrives at her grandmother's home, the trepidation she feel's when Grey holds Allie and Allie splashes food on Grey's clean shirt. Then the burgeoning feelings and the butterflies that Grey and Barbara have as they become friends, and then friends with the possibility of something more! I also loved Gloria who by a quirk of fate meets Grey, employs him and puts a decent roof over his head. Gloria doesn't flap, when Barbara arrives late at night with Allie and only a few possessions. Gloria just takes everything in her stride. I truly love Stacy's writing style, it seems like you are in the room with the characters watching as the events unfold, sort of like a "fly on the wall"
So did I enjoy the book? I really did. Even though this book deals with the difficult and usually hidden subject of Domestic Abuse. I don't want to reveal everything that happens in the book but nearing the end of the book, I wanted to jump into those pages and hug a judge who speaks to Barbara. I also think every domestic abuse victim deserves to find their own version of Grey. Would I recommend the book? I do recommend the book as although it does deal with a somewhat thorny subject, the book manages to also be uplifting.
Would I want to read more of this book genre by Stacy Eaton? As I have already read and reviewed "Whether I'll Live Or Die" I'd say I have already done this. I'd like to read more of this genre too. Would I want to give other titles by Stacy Eaton a go too? I do intend to try Stacy's My Blood run's Blue series at some point. (I seriously need more hours in a day for reading). I also fancy reading some more of Stacy's standalone novels, when I can, her writing style really fits my reading preferences well. Though I also like the escapism of paranormal/fantasy too. Maybe I should try "Garda: Welcome to the Realm".

Normally I would be giving you a lead in to the story, maybe a bit of a tease before letting you make up your mind on whether or not to give a novel a try for yourself.

Not this time.

Domestic Violence is a very real problem around the world. And, for the most part, a hideously hidden type of life for thousands of women and children worldwide. To be fair, men can also experience abusive relationships – yet we more often learn of the women who have had to endure years of abuse, often with tragic endings.

Barbara’s Plea is told in a realistic tone, there are no punches held back, nothing glossed over. This novel will affect you, it will stay with you and perhaps it will also educate you about what is so often kept behind closed doors and never spoken about out of fear.

Our legal system will often add even more abuse when a mother tries to take herself and her children out of an abusive situation. It is a sad fact, but a true one. And Todd’s ability to use the law against the woman he has abused is slimy, disgusting but also so real life.

I highly recommend Barbara’s Plea. I’ve given it a rare 5 star rating. Not because it is a great story, it is. Not because it is well told, it is. But because it is a story that needs to be told, needs to be read. The hero and heroine are not without their own personal wounds, but together they will help, heal and protect each other as well as Gloria and Allie.

This novel is a slice of real life for so many. Not everyone gets a happy ever after. Read this one for those who never got that.

*I received an e-ARC of Barbara’s Plea from the publisher and NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. That does not change what I think of this novel.*