3 out of 4 stars
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Ginny Robert’s has hit on an important topic in her book, A Destroyed Love. The novel follows the tale of Christina, a woman who swore never to love again, but fell into the trap of a charming and successful man, Brad. Christina can’t help but fall prey to his charismatic personality after he begins courting her and treating her like a queen. Slowly but surely, things begin to change, and Brad reveals his dark side, controlling, sometimes violent, behavior, and shady business practices.
A Destroyed Love is an eye-opening book that speaks on domestic abuse, both verbal and physical. I found myself mindlessly victim-shaming Christina, which is, unfortunately, quite common in society when discussing abused women. Brad reveals so many red flags to her, yet she still stays by his side, trying to work things out, hoping that he will change. I won’t lie, I found myself judgmental at first. I grew angry and frustrated, but then I stepped back and looked at it from another perspective, and became angry at myself for judging. Manipulation in the hands of a pro can be a powerful force that is difficult to see coming.
While I whole-heartedly appreciate the heavy topics covered throughout A Destroyed Love, I do think the writing could have been smoother. The pacing throughout the book was inconsistent, and it jumped from event to event, year to year, while barely creeping the plot forward. The main reason for this effect was the addition of several smaller scenes that did not add to the story and move the plot along. At times, the dialogue felt forced and choppy, disrupting the flow and making for an awkward sound. The presentation and layout of the book, along with proper grammar, though, gave it a clean and professional look that was easy to read.
I rate A Destroyed Love 3 out of 4 stars. The awkward dialogue and pacing may have affected the technical details of the novel, but those issues were not enough to detract from the importance of the message. It is a realistic book, and Roberts nailed the description of how a person ends up in an abusive relationship and showcases the difficulty of getting back out.
I would recommend A Destroyed Love to all types of readers. Women who have been in a similar situation might appreciate it for its relatability. Others who have not been exposed to such situations can learn from the book, perhaps gaining insight into how abusive relationships happen. It is not a happy tale, but it is an important book, and anyone who reads it will walk away with a deeper understanding and, perhaps, a bit more sympathy.
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A Destroyed Love
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