My rating: 4 of 5 stars
Since the age of eighteen, Serenity Hathaway’s life has been a living hell. Her husband is nothing but abusive and repeatedly uses her misgiving’s as a way of making her compliant to his wishes. She’s tried to be helpful, to be understanding in the face of such adversity. Yet every bone in her body cries out against the injustices Jackson has committed against her.
Caught up in the turmoil of having lost her job due to one of her husband’s tirades, Serenity’s mind starts to shatter as the implications of her current predicament are made clear. She knows she’ll need to keep up appearances. To maintain a happy front, for Jackson will make her life hell should he ever find out.
Coming across a complete stranger on her way home, the man offers her a solace no one else ever has. In his arms, she feels safe. There’s something about him that draws her to him and she knows he’ll never hurt her. Yet the thought of trusting him is daunting and she’s not sure she can do that just yet. Nevertheless, the memory of him embeds itself deep within her, drawing forth a well of emotion she never knew existed. One that clamors for his touch in more ways than one.
Determined to stay away from the woman he unexpectedly comes across, Sebastian Bandores knows its a battle he’ll never win. Serenity has incited his passion and stoked the flames of feeling he tamped down so long ago in order to survive. Witness to the degradation she suffers at the hands of her husband, he’s well aware that he should stay away. That he should move on. Yet his better sense prevails and he dives head on into a situation he knows he may not come out of in one piece.
Traumatized by the abuse she’s suffered for so long, Serenity finds herself latching on to the enigmatic vampire. Her heart and soul yearn for him quite badly, something she knows is forbidden. Yet their immediate attraction is a fact she cannot deny. As the situation between her and husband takes a sordid turn, she knows she’ll need to find a way to set herself free if she’s to truly be happy. Yet when the opportunity presents itself, the price of her freedom is one she never imagined she’d end up paying in the very worst way.
This was a very heart-felt and thought-provoking story. Domestic and spousal abuse is something quite a few women go through in this day and age. Many, unfortunately, may not live to see another sunrise. There are those who remain in such relationships because it’s all they know. Others remain because they’re too afraid to walk away for fear that they’ll lose everything they hold so dear.
Parts of this story hit home while I was reading. My Mom went through something similar when I was little. Thankfully, she found it within herself to walk away. Granted, my step-father wasn’t that bad a guy, but his drinking problem caused irreparable damage that might have gone badly if Mom hadn’t stamped her foot down and said, ‘Enough is enough.’
I think Marissa did a great job in building Serenity’s world. The pain and heartache she feels pour through every page. We’re able to feel her insecurities, her doubts, and her joys as she tries to stand firm and face the situations she finds herself in head on. I look forward to catching up on the next book in the series to find out what happens next with her, Sebastian, and Jackson. Kudos, Marissa, on such an intriguing story!
Available for purchase via the following retailers: Amazon, Barnes & Noble, Smashwords.
Synopsis:
Caught in a violent and abusive relationship, Serenity thinks there is no escape.
On the day she fears her life can get no worse, she meets a stranger, Sebastian, who shows her the possibility of a different future.
Only Sebastian has a dark secret; he is a vampire.
As Serenity’s life takes a terrifying turn, she finds herself drawn into a world she never knew existed; one of murder, love and immortality. She is forced to confront her own weaknesses to save both her own life and that of the vampire she has come to love. But in the end all that matters is; can she find the strength to be Alone?
About The Author:
Marissa Farrar is a multi-published horror and fantasy author. She was born in Devon, England, loves to travel and has lived in both Australia and Spain. She now resides in the countryside with her husband, two children, a crazy Spanish dog, two rescue cats and six hens. She has a degree in Zoology, but her true love has always been writing.
Marissa is the author of four novels, including the dark vampire ‘Serenity’ series. Her fifth novel, Underlife, a dark fantasy set beneath the streets of London, will be published August 2012.
Her short stories have been accepted for a number of anthologies including, Their Dark Masters, Red Skies Press, Masters of Horror: Damned If You Don’t, Triskaideka Books; and 2013: The Aftermath, Pill Hill Press.
If you want to know more about Marissa, then please visit her website at www.marissa-farrar.blogspot.com. You can also find her at her facebook page, www.facebook.com/marissa.farrar.author or follow her on twitter @marissafarrar.
She loves to hear from readers and can be emailed at marissafarrar@hotmail.co.uk.
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