Tuesday, December 29, 2015

Behind Closed Doors by A.L. Smith

Description
"For Sierra, Alex and Latrice, the innocence of childhood was lost at an early age. Choosing significantly different paths, they struggle to deal with the psychological effects of abuse. The three are eventually driven apart and they transition into womanhood carrying a secret that would influence their lives and threaten to destroy their family. Through a series of unlikely circumstances, the three are reunited. The meeting would ultimately set the stage for atonement."


Behind Closed Doors is a thought provoking, heart wrenching look at the long term effects of abuse.
Three cousins Sierra, Alex, and Latrice, come from a family with a history of sexual abuse that spanned generations. All three women suffered sexual abuse as children by the same family member. Years after the abuse Sierra tried to tell her mother what had been done to her, but was met with nothing but blame as her own mother asked "How could you let him do that to you" As if Sierra at 4 years old should have been able to prevent any of this. Latrice turns to drugs, Sierra to prostitution. Alex becomes a successful attorney, but is never able to form lasting relationships with any man. All of them carry their grief and shame and the pain of what has been done to them in their own private way, choosing not to speak of it, until at long last they are brought together by a single event that forces them to speak out to protect another family member.  This was a very emotional read. I would rate it 4 out of 5 stars.

I was given a complimentary copy for review.

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