Johanna discovers that the only thing more difficult than being married to a douche bag, is divorcing one.
Swayed by her friend to go on a blind date with Louis, Johanna goes thinking ‘one night stand’, but smitten by his charms, and against every one of her rational principles, she comes back thinking ‘forever’. Taking their relationship to the next level, is just as easy, and as fast as it started, but soon Johanna learns, that what she thought she loved, never really existed. Johanna’s ‘happily ever after’ starts to crumble, with their first unplanned pregnancy, when her once promising future, is gradually reduced to a life of abuse and deceit, but born in a family, where divorce only happens to other people, she clings to her marriage, and tries to brush off an encroaching feeling of doom. A decisive blow, to their already thin matrimonial ice rink however, comes when Louis’ anger swings towards their children. Johanna files for divorce, and what started as a beautiful relationship, turns into complete chaos, because Louis is not the forgiving type, and he’s not about to let her go, without punishment. Unfortunately, their children are the only means to deliver his ultimate punch. Overwhelmed with emotions, Johanna must find a way to save her children from harm’s way, while piecing together her own shattered life, but crossing Louis for the second time, means she could flunk both. Will she take the risk and succeed, or will she lose everything near, and dear to her heart?
Professional Reviews
My Children His Victims
Some books are hard to read because the gravity of their subjects is so weighty. Some books are difficult to read because the characters are so raw and vivid, that all heartaches that the characters feel resonate in your breast. Some books are hard to read because they make you realize a horrible truth about human nature. Ica Iova’s book, My Children, His Victims, is a hard book to read for all of these reasons.
I was very happy to review this book when Ms. Iova asked me to a few months after her author interview. It is a great book: well written, unbelievably real, and a story of triumph. But when I sat down to re-read it, I almost couldn’t. I didn’t know if I could travel with Johanna as her beautiful marriage turns to open hostility and then divorce from her husband Louis. I didn’t know if I could re-read the painful details of how Louis bitterly and cruelly fought for custody of his children and how he attempted to turn their impressionable young minds against their mother. It is hard to watch Johanna’s life be destroyed and not be able to do anything to help her succeed.
What is most heartbreaking is how scenarios just like this happen every day. We have all seen a friend destroyed by divorce and embittered by the slow, capricious ways of divorce court. We have seen someone have to rise like a phoenix from the ashes of their past life and forge ahead. Some never do get the strength to move on and start a better life. I think what is truly remarkable about this book is that Johanna’s happily ever after is not a guarantee. In this book, art does imitate life; we are sated at the end: Johanna makes mistakes, she is railroaded by the court, her children are put in jeopardy, and her children won’t love her with as much innocence as before the divorce.
My Children, His Victims hopes to illuminate people about Hostile Aggressive Parenting which is a serious form of child abuse that can occur during custody battles. Hostile Aggressive Parenting (HAP) is defined as: A general pattern of behavior, manipulation, actions or decision-making of a person (usually a parent or guardian) that either directly or indirectly. Hostile-Aggressive Parenting is most apparent in child-custody disputes and is used most often as a tool to align the child with one of the parents during litigation over custody or control of the child. Hostile-aggressive parents will use the child as a weapon against the other spouse and family members. Hostile-Aggressive Parenting is considered by many health care and legal experts unhealthy, anti-social, abusive behavior which is emotionally damaging and contrary interest of a child. At the end of My Children, His Victims is an appendix which explains HAP more completely and explains what to do if you observe the symptoms of HAP.
My Children, His Victims is a lyrical novel that hopes to educate readers about a serious issue. Reading this book will be difficult but rewarding. I highly recommend reading this book (with some tissues) and learning more about HAP.
She Never Got To Say Goodbye
Well I grabbed this just to fill in an afternoon of reading and it was a pleasant surprise.
The story of Olivia was riveting and while this is a very short novella (88 pages) it seemed much longer (might question that 88 page estimate). NOTE: Goodreads says 172 pages which seems more likely but possibly too long an estimate :)
Olivia has a great life and then she is murdered, enter the vengeful ghost of Olivia and the real story begins. Who killed her and why? Forget the easy answers, this is a bit of paranormal mystery that you are going to enjoy.
The story is paced very good until about the halfway point and it seems to rush along and people I could not keep up with easily. The ghost thing is shared with a more people than you would expect to make the plot reasonable. Plus the need of an editor was apparent in a few minor places. Nothing that caused you to lose the story.
Bottom Line: Great addicting reading, I read it straight through and enjoyed it and hated to see it end (maybe a touch abrupt) but did not feel cheated out of anything. 4 Stars and a fine afternoon of entertainment.
Prejudice Not Pride
It is sad that a serial killer can continue his diabolical murder spree because of the fault of the police and the inadequacy of the investigative team. This true story points our society's shortcomings and probably the prejudice that commonly exists. Would there have been 49 murders if the victims had not been prostitutes and drug addicts?
Ms iova describes the investigation in a straight narrative format, from beginning to end. Included is an analysis of the investigation, its problems and deficiencies, and suggested corrective measures. It is an important telling that hopefully will be studied by police. This book will appeal to those who enjoy narrative based, factual investigative reporting. Reviewed by the author of The Children's Story, A Novel Not for Children (about good and evil).
“Being a couple yet free is our next challenge on the evolutionary ladder. This book successfully helps us unravel the myths that block that achievement. It does it with warmth, with readability, and with balance. It recreates everyday problems and
