Are monsters born that way or do they just happen? How do
seemingly ordinary people become monsters? I couldn't
help thinking about this the entire time reading TO THE
STARS by Molly McAdams. TO THE STARS falls into the New
Adult category of books featuring those entering
adulthood. Powerful, disturbing, and compelling accurately
describe this engrossing page turner.
News reports often include stories about abuse cases that
too often end very badly. Court ordered protection is
ignored and the woman who appealed to the system for help
is found dead. The system failed her and at times her
children as well.
What if you know this flawed system has been
compromised and there is virtually no one to help? Family
has strangely turned a blind eye to what any observant
person should be able to see. TO THE STARS is about
having nowhere to turn. Molly McAdams reaches far into a
very scary place.
Harlow was a young impressionable woman away from home
and dear friends—in particular Knox the love of her
young teenage life. Therein lies the problem. Harlow's
parents encouraged Knox to put space between their
daughter and him while she experienced all college
life that to offer. They wanted her to spread her wings
and meet new people on her way to a degree. Ah be
careful what you wish for. Knox was left behind holding
fast to a promise of a future with the girl he absolutely
adored.
But Harlow misinterpreted space for indifference and when
a charming handsome collegian paid attention and was
generous to a fault she found herself falling in love. Hey,
these
things happen
The life Harlow imagined with Collin came to an abrupt
end when reality set it. To Collin, Harlow was a
possession—one he cherished in public and tortured in
private. Typical of an abuser, Collin was smart enough
to know just how to hide all evidence of abuse. Equally
typical of the abused victim, Harlow learned quickly
how to hopefully avoid triggers and blamed herself when
Collin found fault with her.
TO THE STARS is a very scary dramatic look into the mind
of the victim of abuse. Molly McAdams takes us back and
forth between the past and present world of that victim.
We see her world through her eyes and it is not a pretty
picture. Of course, there are times when we have to
suspend disbelief. How could no one see? But then again
that is the core of TO THE STARS. All and all a shocking
revelation of a situation that is unfortunately very
real. Even though there were parts that were horribly
disturbing, TO THE STARS is a compelling story&madash;one
I absolutely could not put down.
In the second standalone book in New York Times and USA Today
bestselling author Molly McAdams’ Thatch series, Knox
Alexander must convince his long-time love Harlow Evans that
they’re meant to be together.
He promised to wait for her.
She told him he was wasting his time.
Not waiting for him ended up being the biggest mistake of
her life.
When they were younger, Knox Alexander swore to Harlow Evans
that he would wait for her to turn eighteen so they could be
together. But that was two and a half years away, and Harlow
couldn’t ask him to give up all the fun and thrills of going
away to college for her. As the years passed, Knox remained
a constant in her life but when her eighteenth birthday came
around, Harlow’s heart belonged to someone else.
Every day for the last four years, Harlow has been haunted
by that fateful choice. And though he may appear unaffected
by what happened in their past, Knox has always tried to
fill the void Harlow left. But when he comes stumbling back
into her life and refuses to leave, will Harlow finally let
him into her heart…?