The Samantha Mallon Series
This series follows the story of a young girl growing up in an abusive home. The trials and tribulations of keeping the abuse a secret, and finally realizing she must tell truth to save her life.
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After years of torture, a mentally and physically abused daughter finally stands up to her abusers, her own mother and brother, in an attempt to save her life at the risk of losing the only family she's ever known.
Inspired by a true story of abuse.
As a little girl, Sam had no idea that her life was different than anyone else's. Her days consisted of playing in a nearby pond, banished to the forest until supper by her mother. Thankfully, she wasn't alone out in the woods... her brother, Charlie, was always there to guide and protect her from anything that may bring harm -- however, who was going to protect her from him?
Now a teenager, the bruises from Charlie are becoming harder to hide. Camouflaging them behind hairstyles and long-sleeved shirts aren't enough anymore, and Sam can feel the burn of the teacher's eyes as they struggle to figure out what's happening behind closed doors. Torn between two realities, she's terrified of what would happen if someone found out what Charlie's angry outbursts look like, and terrified of what will happen if they don't.
After a momentary lapse in judgment, Sam waits for her punishment from her brother. Bolting to her room and slamming the door behind her, she struggles to twist the tiny lock on the knob with sweaty hands. Crawling backwards on her palms and feet, she slides under the bed, curled up in the darkness. The position brings fear, as she knows all-too-well what's coming. Staring at the crack in the door, she listens to the wood floor creak underneath his 200lb body while he inches closer, taunting her. Charlie’s fist bangs on the wood breaking the silence; each pound separates it slightly more from the frame, and she’s praying that it can withstand him for just a few more moments. Closing her eyes and waiting to feel the warmth of his hands around her throat, she comes to a haunting realization ... this might be the end.
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After the death of her abusive mother, Sam’s life was finally turning around. She had married her high school sweetheart, Jake, and was reveling in the birth of their son. Her abusive past was ancient history, and she knew that love would be the only emotion filling her family home. However, sometimes things aren’t always what we envision, and Sam’s expectations are definitely not matching reality.
Now a raging alcoholic, Jake isn’t keen on his new role in life and Sam is the brunt of his frustration. Waging a constant war between her head and her heart has become the new normal, and with everyone at work telling her to end her marriage, Sam is at her breaking point. How can she leave the love of her life at a time when he needs her the most? As the health of a family member takes a turn for the worst, Sam must face some past demons. Her mother’s medical records disclose shocking information, and she and Charlie are shaken to the core by the revelations. Leaning on one another for support, they say goodbye to someone they’ve loved—and hated – for the second time in their lives, while trying to make sense of all of the secrets.
Just as Sam’s life hits its breaking point, Luke, a local divorcee, enters the bar with some friends one night, and offers a nice distraction from all the chaos. However, her decisions will have consequences – consequences that may just land her in the hospital. Once again finding herself at the other end of a police officer’s questioning, Sam isn’t so sure she can go through it all again, and leans on an unexpected friend for support. Will Sam finally find the love and safety she deserves? Or, is she destined to repeat the cycle of abuse, forever?
“One’s destination is never a place, but rather a new way of looking at things.”
~Henry Mill
The conclusion of the Samantha Mallon series.
As a teenager growing up in the backwoods of Pennsylvania, Vicky is barely surviving each day, only making it through by manipulation and avoidance. Her home life is scarier than the nightmares of most of her acquaintances; but there’s no escape. With an alcoholic father, and a mother whose health is deteriorating, Vicky is forced into running the household, and caring for her younger sister, Janice, whose only goal is to make her sister’s life miserable. Adding in a new foster brother, Arthur, haunting more than just her dreams at night, she’s positive she’ll end up beating both her parents to the grave.
After a sudden death of the patriarch before she’s old enough to move out, Vicky and Janice are sent to live with a relative which might just be the biggest blessing of her life. When things are finally looking up, and all ties to her family are broken, she stumbles across her future husband and decides to leave the only life she knows in the past for the promise of something greater. But her past has different ideas, and soon enough a familiar face returns with a vengeance to remind her of where she came from.
After losing another person she loves, and getting help battling her past demons, she’s finally on the path to happiness and ready to start a family. However, sometimes dreams aren’t meant to be a reality, and Vicky isn’t sure if being a mother was part of her destiny. Her mental health is wavering, and the love of her children may not be enough to pull her out of the dark hole she’s falling into.
Will Vicky be able to survive the past and give her children the loving home she never had? Or will she create a life that mirrors her own childhood growing up, unable to break the cycle of abuse?
Recommended for adult audiences. This book contains abusive situations.