One guilty secret will tear her life apart...After a series of heart-breaking miscarriages, Kate's marriage is hanging by a thread. When her husband Michael tells her he has shocking news, at first, she thinks the worst - he's been having an affair. It would explain why he's been so distant. Instead, he reveals that the daughter he abandoned twenty years ago is coming to stay. Kate is blindsided by the sudden arrival of Imogen mere hours later. Her new stepdaughter is beautiful but troubled and seems wary of her own father. All the same, Kate is pleased to find herself connecting with Imogen, until one day, Imogen reveals a disturbing secret to her stepmother, making her swear never to tell a soul. With Kate already keeping secrets of her own, she worries her marriage will crumble under the weight of another. But perhaps it's not Imogen's intrusion Kate should be worried about. Perhaps it's Michael's past she should have been looking at all along... A completely addictive domestic suspense novel that will keep you guessing into the early hours of the morning. Perfect for fans of The Stepdaughter, Amanda Robson and Adele Parks. What readers are saying about The Stepmother:'This elegantly written suspense novel quickly drew me in and transported me into the lives of Kate and Michael and their dysfunctional marriage... Compels the reader to keep turning the pages... A very satisfying and well-written novel.' M. M. DeLuca 'Loved this one! So easy to read and lots of twists and turns along the way. Definitely a quick read and one I recommend.' NetGalley Reviewer 'I really enjoyed this book, I was hooked from the first chapter and couldn't put it down, loads of twists & turns to keep one guessing' NetGalley Reviewer 'A marriage in tatters and a shocking surprise. This thriller is just that, thrilling until the end. Definitely not for the faint-hearted.' NetGalley Reviewer 'I really enjoyed this story... It was well written and truly heartfelt... A great read that I would recommend.' NetGalley Reviewer 'An original domestic thriller telling the story of a stepmother caught between the rock and a hard place... Highly recommended!' NetGalley Reviewer 'I really enjoyed this book... A unique perspective on the step-parent spectrum. Carne really makes you think and question the secrets of her characters. The Stepmother is a great read.' NetGalley Reviewer 'This is a story of a marriage failing, death and life's drama. Well written and gripping. This is my first book by Ros Carne and look forward to her next book.' NetGalley Reviewer 'I really enjoyed it. There were enjoyable twists to keep me guessing and I'd definitely read more by this author in the future.' NetGalley Reviewer

Narcissistic abuse. Two horrible words with huge consequences to physical and mental wellbeing. This book gives practical steps that can be taken to avoid getting into an abusive relationship in the first place, how to get out of an abusive relationship and recover from abuse. The Practical Guide to Understanding, Leaving and Recovering from Narcissistic Abuse is a guide to spotting the warning signs with suggestions about how to leave safely and recover from abuse from people who have gone through the traumatic experience personally and understand what you might be going through. This book gives important insights into why it is so easy to get drawn into a romantic relationship with a narcissist and why it is so difficult to leave the relationship, and even harder to recover from it. Discover for yourself the sixteen stages of an abusive relationship, the two pre-leaving stages and the eight recovery phases.

Bestselling author Joyce Meyer explores the true path to emotional healing through God's love.

Many people seem to have it all together outwardly, but inside they are a wreck. Their past has broken, crushed, and wounded them. They can be healed. God has a plan to heal the broken hearted and he wants to heal victims of abuse.Joyce Meyer was a victim of physical and sexual abuse she suffered as a child. Yet today she has a worldwide ministry of emotional healing to others like herself. In Beauty for Ashes she outlines major truths that brought healing to her life and describes how other victims of abuse can also experience this healing, which include:

• How to deal with the emotional pain of abuse

• How to understand your responsibility to God for overcoming abuse

• Why victims of abuse often suffer from other addictive behaviors

• How to grab hold of God's unconditional love

• The importance of God's timing in working through painful memories

For over 30 years, Joyce suffered the devastating effects of abuse. God exchanged her ashes for beauty and she wants to help others allow Him to do the same thing in their lives.

Domestic violence, a serious and far-reaching social problem, has generated two key debates among researchers. The first debate is about gender and domestic violence. Some scholars argue that domestic violence is primarily male-perpetrated, others that women are as violent as men in intimate relationships. Johnson's response to this debate - and the central theme of this book - is that there is more than one type of intimate partner violence. Some studies address the type of violence that is perpetrated primarily by men, while others are getting at the kind of violence that women are involved in as well. Because there has been no theoretical framework delineating types of domestic violence, researchers have easily misread one another's studies.The second major debate involves how many women are abused each year by their partners. Estimates range from two to six million. Johnson's response once again comes from this book's central theme. If there is more than one type of intimate partner violence, then the numbers depend on what type you're talking about.Johnson argues that domestic violence is not a unitary phenomenon. Instead, he delineates three major, dramatically different, forms of partner violence: intimate terrorism, violent resistance, and situational couple violence. He roots the conceptual distinctions among the forms of violence in an analysis of the role of power and control in relationship violence and shows that the failure to make these basic distinctions among types of partner violence has produced a research literature that is plagued by both overgeneralizations and ostensibly contradictory findings. This volume begins the work of theorizing forms of domestic violence, a crucial first step to a better understanding of these phenomena among scholars, social scientists, policy makers, and service providers.It reassesses thirty years of domestic violence research and demonstrates three forms of partner violence, distinctive in their origins, effects, and treatments.

"Stunning . . . . This is an immensely courageous story that will break your heart, leave you in tears, and, finally, offer hope and redemption. Brava, Kelly Sundberg." -Rene Denfeld, author of The Child Finder In this brave and beautiful memoir, written with the raw honesty and devastating openness of The Glass Castle and The Liar's Club, a woman chronicles how her marriage devolved from a love story into a shocking tale of abuse-examining the tenderness and violence entwined in the relationship, why she endured years of physical and emotional pain, and how she eventually broke free. "You made me hit you in the face," he said mournfully. "Now everyone is going to know." "I know," I said. "I'm sorry." Kelly Sundberg's husband, Caleb, was a funny, warm, supportive man and a wonderful father to their little boy Reed. He was also vengeful and violent. But Sundberg did not know that when she fell in love, and for years told herself he would get better. It took a decade for her to ultimately accept that the partnership she desired could not work with such a broken man. In her remarkable book, she offers an intimate record of the joys and terrors that accompanied her long, difficult awakening, and presents a haunting, heartbreaking glimpse into why women remain too long in dangerous relationships. To understand herself and her violent marriage, Sundberg looks to her childhood in Salmon, a small, isolated mountain community known as the most redneck town in Idaho. Like her marriage, Salmon is a place of deep contradictions, where Mormon ranchers and hippie back-to-landers live side-by-side; a place of magical beauty riven by secret brutality; a place that takes pride in its individualism and rugged self-sufficiency, yet is beholden to church and communal standards at all costs. Mesmerizing and poetic, Goodbye, Sweet Girl is a harrowing, cautionary, and ultimately redemptive tale that brilliantly illuminates one woman's transformation as she gradually rejects the painful reality of her violent life at the hands of the man who is supposed to cherish her, begins to accept responsibility for herself, and learns to believe that she deserves better.

Violence in the home is one of the most damaging and widespread of social problems. It is an issue that cuts across all socioeconomic, racial, ethnic, gender, and age boundaries. It takes many forms, including emotional, physical, and sexual abuse as well as neglect. This important book reviews the most current theoretical explanations of family violence and then links theory to practice. It looks at the systems and institutions that interact with families, which are mandated to provide protection and services, and explores the current debates surrounding family violence and public policy. In addition, Kurst-Swanger explores the role of power in abusive relationships and considers the short- and long-term consequences of abuse. This insightful book will be a practical resource for professionals and of interest to all those concerned with the far-reaching impact of family violence.

Pregnant Women: Violent Men is written by an experienced midwifery educator and health professional, and by a social scientist and Open University Lecturer who has considerable experience in supporting women who survive violence. Case studies and scenarios illustrate how to apply theory to clinical midwifery practice, taking into account contemporary society, exploring the causes of violence and focusing on violence in pregnancy and childbirth. Pregnant Women: Violent Men is an essential purchase for every midwife and health care professional involved in offering childbearing women care and support. * Offers sound advice and ideas on how the midwife can support, influence and stand alongside women as they experience both childbirth and the crime of domestic violence; and discusses who else can help, including the law and the Women's Aid network * Explores the shape of society and examines the roots of violence * Sensitively considers the role of the midwife when faced with domestic violence among childbearing women

This accessible text takes a multi-disciplinary approach to exploring issues surrounding domestic violence. It draws on contemporary research findings, policy developments, innovative practice and case studies to explore new directions in professional and voluntary sector responses to domestic violence.

Centred on the United Kingdom, but located in a context of global change, the book discusses and critically evaluates new criminal justice and multi-agency initiatives such as domestic violence courts and risk assessment conferences, as well as assessing how far these initiatives improve the safety of women and children.

Harne and Radford aim to disseminate ideas about best practice in relation to dealing with this sensitive and still controversial issue. They use real-life case studies from professionals, including the police, health services and Women's Aid, and are inclusive of the experiences of a wide range of survivors, in order to enable an understanding of the need for appropriate responses, depending on different survivor needs.

"Tackling Domestic Violence" provides an informed background for professionals in the police, probation, health and social care services, the legal system and voluntary sector with a remit to respond to domestic violence. It is also highly relevant to those undertaking courses on domestic violence at undergraduate and postgraduate level.

In the early 1990s policy changes were introduced in the UK in an attempt to increase arrest rates in domestic violence cases. This book examines the criminal justice response to this prevalent form of violence in the light of these changes. In particular, the book discusses the needs and expectations of victims, and how their choices impact on decisions made by police and prosecutors.

The systematic lockout of women from social and political power is responsible for the phenomenon of double/multiple discrimination, so that in every social category, the status of women is always the lowest. This severe injustice is at the core of the situation of violence which still remains in the world today and poses a real challenge for the future. Teaching Against Violence deals with gender based violence, paying particular attention to domestic violence, as in this field feminism has tenaciously sought to change the condition of women and, as a result, many international policies have promoted a significant social transformation. The chapters present active techniques that were adopted during the interventions to promote women's empowerment. The contributions face these issues from various perspectives, present the state of the art research in multiple fields of study and suggest educational best practices that can be used where this problem is particularly severe.

One Saturday morning, Beverly Gooden is woken by her husband shoving her off the bed. She makes to flee, but he catches her, his sudden anger inexplicable. No words are exchanged. He begins to strangle her - as he has done many times before. With unflinching vulnerability, Gooden outlines in painstaking detail what she had to do to walk away from violence and control, and how others can use her experiences to escape their own abuse, from skimming the grocery money, to squirreling away personal belongings, to navigating a domestic violence shelter. She offers strategies for overcoming the barriers survivors often face, such as money, housing, overcritical social circles, or, most powerfully: love. Uniquely compassionate when it comes to the heartbreak of still loving one's abuser, Gooden shares how she transformed and extended this love outward, using her story to encourage others to choose themselves. The voice and fire behind #WhyIStayed, Bev Gooden is exceptionally positioned to explore the many reasons victims stay in abusive relationships, and how they can muster the resources and motivation to leave. Surviving is unlike any other memoir of survivorship, given its nuance, compassion, and candour. Above all, it is an exquisitely powerful testament to Gooden's healing, survivorship, and dedication to helping others do the same.

The Blackstone's Guide Series delivers concise and accessible books covering the latest legislative changes and amendments. Published within weeks of the Act, they offer expert commentary by leading names on the effects, extent and scope of the legislation, plus a full copy of the Act itself. They offer a cost-effective solution to key information needs and are the perfect companion for any practitioner needing to get up to speed with the latest changes. domestic legislation in thirty years, introducing new powers for the police and courts to tackle offenders whilst ensuring that victims get the support and protection they need. The Act comes into force at the end of 2004 and will have a very significant impact on existing legislation and practice - notably the Family Law Act 1996 and the Criminal Justice Act 2003. a new offence of causing or allowing the death of a child or vulnerable adult; ensuring cohabiting same-sex couples have the same access to non-molestation and occupation orders as opposite sex couples; breach of a non-molestation order will become an arrestable criminal offence, punishable by up to five years in prison; stronger legal protection for victims by enabling court to impose restraining orders when sentencing for any offence; putting in place a system to review domestic homicide incidents; providing a Code of Practice so that all victims receive support and protection; setting up an independent Commissioner for Victims; giving the Criminal Injuries Compensation Authority the right to recover from offenders the compensation it has paid to their victims. its many provisions - Explains how the Act interrelates with, and amends, related legislation - notably the Family Law Act 1996 and Criminal Justice Act 2003 - Gives practical pointers on changes to practice and procedure - Contains the full text of the Act, plus the text of key related legislation as amended by the Act, allowing practitioners to access the relevant legislation quickly and easily - Has a clear and easy to use layout, aiding quick reference

Providing an authoritative overview of the growing phenomena of child to parent violence - a feature in the daily life of increasing numbers of families - this book outlines what we know about it, what is effective in addressing it, and outlines a proven model for intervention. Based on non-violent resistance (NVR), the model is founded on a number of key elements: parental commitment to non-violence, de-escalation skills, increased parental presence, engaging the support network and acts of reconciliation. The book outlines the theory and principles, and provides pragmatic guidance for implementing these elements, accompanied by case studies to bring the theory to life.

When she was a little girl, Jasvinder Sanghera's father told her about the village he came from, Kang Sabhu in rural Punjab. One day, he promised to take her there so she could meet her half-sister, Bachanu, who had stayed behind. But at the age of sixteen - as she so vividly related in her bestseller Shame - Jasvinder ran away from home to escape a forced marriage. Her parents disowned her. 'Shame travels...' her father told her. Although her mother took all her other daughters to meet the extended family in the Punjab, Jasvinder was never allowed to go. With her own daughter about to marry, Jasvinder decides to challenge thirty years of rejection by going to India herself. She wants to explore her roots and to see for herself the place her parents called home until the day they died. What Jasvinder finds in India and what she learns changes the way she sees the world, and has important lessons for all of us. SHAME TRAVELS is not only a gripping and revealing quest, but also an inspirational journey of the heart.

Women battering is one of the most pervasive and dangerous problems in American society. Helping abused women escape and remain free from violent relationships is the challenge the authors of this book have undertaken. They focus on the recently developed and implemented public policies, programs and intervention methods effective in the elimination of domestic violence and breaking the inter-generational cycle of abuse.

In this volume, the authors present an overview of the innovative work taking place in relation to domestic violence and child protection. This book looks at new prevention initiatives and how interventions for children exposed to domestic violence have been developed. It shows how services for abusive fathers have evolved and provides discussion and critique of a number of new initiatives in the field of interagency risk assessment. With international perspectives and examples drawn from social care, health care and voluntary sectors, this book brings together established ideas with recent thinking to provide an authoritative summary of current domestic violence and child protection practice. As a valuable source of guidance on how to work safely with children living with domestic violence, this is a key reference for social workers, health professionals and policy makers.

Even the littlest lies can have the biggest consequences... On the night of her mother's wake, only one thing brings Ruby comfort; the knowledge that her mother's killer is safely behind bars. But guilt is eating away at fragile younger sister Sophie, who brought their mother's killer into their lives. This is why Ruby is glad that Sophie is with her supportive boyfriend Ewan, despite Ruby's doubts about him. He's been Sophie's rock, not only taking care of her, but her little kids, too. So what if he doesn't like talking about his past? But when news of another woman's murder spreads through their town like wildfire, Ruby is shocked to find herself with reason to suspect Ewan of the crime. And with one good lie driving a wedge between the sisters, it's hard for Ruby to get Sophie to see what she sees. Ewan is keeping dangerous secrets. But he's not the only person close to home who has something shocking to hide... A gripping and unputdownable thriller that will keep you reading into the early hours of the morning. Read what everyone is saying about One Good Lie:'Oh my GOODNESS!! I absolutely loved this... It got to the point where I was suspecting every single character in the book... The ending was twisty, thrilling, scary and, best of all, satisfying. Truly a wonderful psychological thriller that kept me captivated throughout!' Shalini Boland, author of The Secret Mother, 'I can honestly say that this is psychological fiction at its best. Cleverly written and packed full of chilling suspense... With lots of delicious twists and clashes of personality that could set the pages on fire, One Good Lie ticks all the boxes for me. A hugely satisfying read and one I would highly recommend.' Sheryl Browne, author of My Husband's Girlfriend, 'A clever, creepy and compulsive psychological thriller' Diane Jeffrey, author of The Silent Friend, 'Jane Isaac never lets us down; this is fast-paced storytelling at its best. One Good Lie is a chilling, unputdownable read, packed with menace and suspense... Highly recommended!' Linda Huber, author of Baby Dear, 'One Good Lie had me on the edge of my seat! Every time I thought I had the plot figured out the carpet was pulled from under my feet! Twisty and full of surprises. Highly recommended! 5/5.' NetGalley Reviewer, 'An exciting psychological thriller that will appeal to fans of Ruth Ware, Greer Hendricks, and Sarah Pekkanen... Excellently-written, well-plotted... I sped through this book and finished it in a day... If you're a fan of the thriller genre, you won't regret checking out this book' Goodreads Reviewer, '5 Stars! Highly recommend. It was hard to put this book down. It was a fast-paced story full of suspense. I was hooked from the first chapter... I absolutely loved this story of two sisters.' NetGalley Reviewer, 'I was invested straight away; it was fast-paced and I couldn't put it down.' NetGalley Reviewer, 'Book drought over! Hooked from page one, didn't stop reading until silly o'clock, had a few hours' sleep, walked the dog then dived back in to finish.' Goodreads Reviewer 'Absolutely kept me on the edge of my seat. I couldn't wait to find out what happened. The ending didn't disappoint. I highly recommend this one.' NetGalley Reviewer, 'This is a brilliant read... The characters are likeable, even the villainous ones, and it just shows you can never really trust anyone who you think you know.' Goodreads Reviewer,

Just a few years ago, most Russian citizens did not recognize the notion of domestic violence or acknowledge that such a problem existed. Today, after years of local and international pressure to combat violence against women, things have changed dramatically. Gender Violence in Russia examines why and how this shift occurred and why there has been no similar reform on other gender violence issues such as rape, sexual assault, or human trafficking. Drawing on more than a decade of research, Janet Elise Johnson analyzes media coverage and survey data to explain why some interventions succeed while others fail. She describes the local-global dynamics between a range of international actors, from feminist activists to national governments, and an equally diverse set of Russian organizations and institutions."

This book takes a global approach to violence between husbands and wives in faith contexts. Focusing primarily on Christians, the book uses anthropological, theological and historical methods, which intersect with, and are challenged by, lay and ordained women and men from sixteen countries. Focusing on marital violence, the book explores ways to understand how various churches, their priests, preachers, theologians and members, approach the topic, interpret the texts, and, with often thoughtless complicity, hide from the sin. Drawing on over a decade researching marital violence in Christian contexts across five continents, Elizabeth Koepping, an anthropologist and priest, presents testimonies from abused women, as well as theological and cultural justifications for spousal abuse employed by perpetrators and bystanders. She argues that if violence against the (female) spouse is understood as proper behaviour by manly men towards unruly wives, Christians may set aside the core text 'Men and women are made in the Image of God', enabling and silently colluding in abuse. The book shows that spousal abuse is an ecumenical phenomenon present all over the inhabited world, and therefore in all Christian churches and indeed other faith traditions.

The field of Domestic Violence research has expanded considerably in the past decade and now includes work conducted by researchers in many different disciplines, notably political science, public health, law, psychology, sociology, criminology, anthropology, family studies, and medicine. The SAGE Handbook of Domestic Violence provides a rich overview of the most important theoretical and empirical work in the field, organized by relationship type. The handbook addresses three major areas of research on domestic violence: - Violence against partners - Violence against children - Violence against other family members. This Handbook is a unique and timely publication and a long awaited, valuable resource for the vast amount of Domestic Violence research centres and individual researchers across the globe.

Intimate Partner Sexual Violence (IPSV) is the most common type of sexual violence and a common component of domestic violence, yet most cases go unreported and service responses are often inadequate. This book brings together advice for all those professionals working with individuals who have experienced IPSV and puts forward recommendations to tackle this prevalent form of sexual violence. With contributions from leading experts on IPSV, Intimate Partner Sexual Violence is a comprehensive guide to the subject which bridges the gap between research and practice. Multidisciplinary and international in approach, the book covers key issues salient to all professionals - the impact of IPSV, reproductive coercion, the physical and psychological indicators, possible consequences of taking a case to court, and best practice service responses. One section also addresses the risks and needs of IPSV victims in different contexts, such as those in same-sex or teenage relationships, immigrant victims, and those living in rural areas or in prison. This is an authoritative resource for all professionals who work with IPSV victims including counselors, social workers, refuge workers, victim advocates, mental health professionals, pastoral workers, lawyers, police, and health practitioners.