Review by Booklist Review
Maddy flees after being raped on her prom night, running over what she believes are her attackers on her way out of town. She keeps driving to Massachusetts. Micheals then alternates between the past and the present, two decades later, when Molly, as Maddy is now known, finds herself in an unhappy marriage with a wealthy but abusive husband and his boorish stepsons. After a terrible night, she drops her daughter off for a trip to Europe and sets in motion her secret plan. She returns to the Florida town where she grew up, ready to face the realities she ran from and find the courage to deal with her current situation. Her husband hires a detective who can read between the lines and see him for the criminal he is, convincing him to help Molly instead. Similar tales have been published, but the triumphant theme of women like Molly finding justice will appeal to readers, who will also appreciate prolific and popular Michael's vivid dramatization of terrible situations. Michaels even includes notes on rape and abuse organizations.--Alessio, Amy Copyright 2016 Booklist
From Booklist, Copyright (c) American Library Association. Used with permission.
Review by Publisher's Weekly Review
After 21 years, brutal injustice gets its due in this somewhat roughly written story of secrets, revenge, and personal redemption from bestseller Michaels. Maddy Carmichael is a poor but honest and hardworking Florida high school senior. Her no-account brother sets her up to be raped on prom night. After a traumatized Maddy believes she's killed three of her attackers in a hit-and-run accident afterward, she runs as far as she can and ends up in Boston. But changing her name and marrying Tanner McCann, a wealthy suburban dentist, can't take away the awful memory of that night-especially when Tanner turns out to be an abuser who raises his sons to disrespect her too. Two decades after the accident, a mysterious phone call frightens her into thinking her secret is out, and Maddy runs again. But this time, she's determined to get some justice. Michaels's dedication to advocating for abused women is heartfelt, but the story suffers from repetitive writing, plot holes, and stereotypical characters. Michaels's many fans, however, are likely to forgive those problems for this tale of strong emotions and courage. (Apr.) © Copyright PWxyz, LLC. All rights reserved.
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