Cruel Water by Freya Barker

This is a review of the novel Cruel Water by Freya Barker.

NOTE: THIS NOVEL MAYBE A TRIGGERING EVENT FOR SOME READERS AS IT DEALS WITH MENTAL,  SEXUAL, AND PHYSICAL ABUSE OF A CHILD AND CONTINUED ABUSE AS AN ADULT AND THE RAMIFICATIONS OF THOSE EVENTS. 

I don't want to trigger anybody so I am not going into as much detail with this review as I normally do.

As I mentioned in my above note this story deals with mental, sexual, and physical abuse of child and an adult and the ramifications of that abuse on the lives of all involved.  The book is a tough read and if one can manage to get through this brilliantly written novel, it tells a story of loss, hope, redemption, courage, love, healing and forgiveness.

We meet Viv who has endured horrific abuse and who has tried to move past this abuse by not really dealing with the abuse and just bottling it up inside her. She won't even reveal the extent of the abuse she suffered to her therapist. She is just existing from one day to the next until she meets Ike. Ike is dealing with his own demons because he feels responsible for the loss of his own family. He feels responsible for his brother's death and for the death of his parents and is being eaten alive with guilt over it. He bottles up these feelings and tries to pretend they don't exist but they continue to haunt him. Ike falls hard and fast for Viv and she does the same for him. Viv still has lots of issues from her past abuse as a child and adult that she hasn't dealt with and they come out after certain triggering events in her life. Viv has some rough stuff going on with her family as they deal with a decline in her father's health . The abuse she suffered as a child at the hand's of her father comes out as he lays dying in the hospital and it tears her family apart. She feels ganged up on by her family because they don't believe her at first. Eventually her family does come to believe her one by one and she begins to mend the relationships she has with her brothers. Her mother still doesn't believe her but she eventually comes around and her and Viv begin to mend their relationship as well.

Ike helps Viv to deal with these events and helps her to heal with his love and unwavering support. Viv helps Ike to heal from his guilt over losing his family. They find happiness together and get married and begin their lives together.

I received a free copy of this book from the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

My recommendation: This one is worth a read if you can get through the difficult subject matter.