IF YOU WALKED IN MY SHOES - Gwynne Forster
Kensington/Dafina
December 2004
SYNOPSIS: The bestselling author of BLUES FROM DOWN UNDER and WHEN TWILIGHT COMES delivers a moving and powerful story of a woman who must deal with the past's emotional and physical abuse before it's too late.
MAINSTREAM FICTION: (4+) Tricia-Ann Blades
REVIEW: If You Waked in My Shoes is an excellent read, almost impossible to put down. The story line is engaging as the author examines the themes of deceit, communication, abuse and love.
IF YOU WAKED IN MY SHOES is the journey of two women and the path they have walked and now chose walk. Both have been abused and battered but deal with their emotions differently. One hides behind her veil of success while the other breathes vengeance from her nostrils like fire. One is able to prove that love can conquer whereas the other destroys her immediate success at a loving relationship. This novel explores and addresses issues which are often swept under the carpet we call life.
The half has not yet been told. This is the story of Coreen Treadwell who has lived half her life veiled, emotionally hidden from herself and her husband. Fear dogs her steps daily and as she reaches the zenith of success that fear increases until it consumes her. Paranoia becomes her friend and the inability to reveal her true self almost destroys her lifetime accomplishments. The author uses this character to bring out the theme of effective communication within marriage and the necessity of being one with your spouse.
Her support is seen in the form of her husband, Bates. Although not knowing what she is dealing with, he remains quiet and somewhat supportive. But he too has skeletons in his closet, skeletons that make him judgmental and causes his wife to wonder if she can ever open the veil to him.
Coreen’s life is intricately linked to Frieda, not only through the cord that binds them but through the pain suffered. The difference exists in the length of time that the abuse occurred. Coreen hates the action done against her and though still haunted, she removes what reminds her of this act. Frieda has nothing to remove her but rather has been propelled to accomplish enough to wreck vengeance on the one who has placed her in this position.
Frieda Davis’ vengeance consumes her. She knows that vengeance belongs to God but she is driven to make another pay for the hand that she was dealt in her teenage life. The fire she breathes and the anger she feels leads her to plot and plan. But life has thrown her to the curb and unintentionally, she discovers what it means to be a woman. But her desire to get even takes this away from her and she becomes an empty shell, now needing to be filled with the love and forgiveness of another.
This is an excellent novel. Mrs. Forster has used her characters effectively to weave an excellent story. Great story telling!
Tricia@romanceincolor.com (25th November 2004)