One woman"s powerful journey from independence into a marriage paralyzed by the grip of domestic violence - and back again to a life of hope and wholeness --- "Like so many women, I wanted a home, children, a loving husband, and a pet. When life didn"t work out the way I hoped by the time I was 30, I started to panic. I was actively looking for love when I met a man who would ultimately change my life and the lives of those closest to me... This story has a happy ending. Unfortunately, not all victims of domestic violence are so fortunate. There are steps you can take to free yourself or help free someone you know. Through my story, you"ll find out how. You will walk away with a better understanding of how someone can lose everything to an abuser - and when she is ready, reclaim her life... What would ever make a woman stay in an abusive marriage or relationship? A lot of things, among them shame and fear. Shame of leaving, shame of failure, fear of your most personal marital details...