In 1944, women were thought to be the weaker sex. Divorce was unheard of—a woman’s place was in the home, obeying her spouse and raising their children. After a miscarriage, Calvin Barnes blamed his wife Sarah for being too weak to carry out her duties. His violent, drunken rampages turned deadly.
A chance encounter with a mysterious stranger empowers Sarah to find freedom, sexual enlightenment, and love. Wealthy businessman, Jon Bartleaux, teaches Sarah there is more to life than the 1940s mindset of sex only being for procreation for the pleasure of the husband. Treated as an equal, he teaches her that tender, generous, mutually satisfying sex can be enjoyed by both partners.
Sarah puts the pain and guilt of her past behind her until her sister Carol asks for help with a neighbor who is desperate to escape her husband’s abuse, with the added danger of a standing hitman contract should anything happen to him. Will Sarah risk revealing her secret weapon for ending spousal abuse to help Twyla?
Will Jon’s terrible secret unravel it all?
Reviews From the United States
Zoe Bancroft
Utterly fantastic storyline.
This is the first book I’ve ever read by Ronald and wow what a book it was! I loved it from start to finish and never put it down.
I’ve not read much historical fiction for a while and this was a breath of fresh air from what I’m use to, it tells you how it was and what women really had to put up with from their husbands, they were expected to churn out babies whilst tied to the kitchen sink and if they couldn’t do that then they would suffer the consequences because they weren’t much use for anything else as far as many were conserved, even if they could sometimes they would still suffer from their husbands hands. It was a man’s world and his word was final, both children and women were ruled by fists of steel. Abuse either physical or mental was accepted and nothing was done because up until the early 90’s it was classed as domestic violence that the police wouldn’t get involved in sadly. This book tells how it is for people living in the 40’s.
The main character Sarah is really strong and it shows how she grows with the help of one man that treats her as an equal, Jon is a great character that you can’t help but like, he takes Sarah under his wing and teaches her how women should be treated. She’d thought that women didn’t have a say in life but he treats her in a way she’s never been treated.
I cried a few times throughout the book both for Sarah and the other ladies in it, then just because of the storyline itself, it is hard not to be moved by it.
The storyline is so real you feel as if you know them and could be living alongside them, the description of everything is so precise you can imagine it all and this adds to the reading of the book, page after page I was drawn in and had to read it through to the end wanting to know what happened. I cried with Sarah and for her at times.
Ronald has a brilliant imagination which shines throughout this book and he goes into so much detail with everything making the characters stand out all the more.
It is a brilliant book which is erotic but not overly as some can be, I wouldn’t say there was to much or that there was no need, it was in to show you how the characters grew and how it empowered them through it all. It was also quite violent at times but again if it wasn’t in the book wouldn’t be as believable, the story is about abused women who grow over time so without it the book wouldn’t make much sense. I have been abused in a previous marriage and what he wrote was very true and well written and this is how I know that the police turned a blind eye up until the 90’s maybe even later and sadly a lot would say they deserved it or had brought it on themselves!
I thought that the characters were brilliant all the way through and even though Sarah and Jon are the main ones there are quite a few that have a big part in it which helps you to draw a mental picture of what people look and sound like, he even writes in such a way as books would have been written years ago and how they would speak, you felt as if you were in that era in every way.
It was like stepping back in time and he captured it brilliantly. This may put some off but to me it made it all the more appealing and realistic. There was nothing about this book that I didn’t like and at the end I read part 2 straight away making for very late night or rather early morning, and I can’t wait to read Jon’s story next to find out about him a bit more.
I definitely recommend this book, it’s one that I will read again at least once and probably after I read Jon’s story
This is the first book that I am reading from Ronald D. Walker but it certainly won’t be the last. This book will touch you right down to your soul / your core at the first few paragraphs. You are in for an epic adventure, And epic is the journey through Lovers lies and lilies. I didn’t not particularly have a penchant for historical romance but decided to give this book a try. I was pleasantly surprised by an unsuspecting depth that almost from the beginning will have you established a strong connection with the characters whom are exceptionally well developed. The story plot is complex (in a very good way), fluid and so engaging. Once you start reading this book, it’s practically impossible to put it down. In what can be considered a monotonous world of romance, Ronald D. Walker brings a fresh, gripping, up beat and at times heart-wrenching perspective that is reinvigorating and exhilarating.
Sarah Barnes is a young woman who has been abused both verbally and physically throughout her marriage. At a time where the woman had no rights and the man could do no wrong; Sarah silently suffered, stoicly accepted the humiliation and horror of her situtation until she could no longer pretend. No longer able to stomach everything she went true, Sarah decides to be her own savior and gives her husband a medication that kills him. Feeling free for the first time in her life, Sarah decides to find herself again and rebuild her life. On her self-search journey, Sarah meets Jon who will force her to really become her own person and no longer feels like society rules or hypocrisy is vital for her, her well being and her confidence in herself and worth. Jon will make Sarah embrace her femininity and her sexuality and they will create their own world where raw passion and sexe reign supreme.
However, Jon is keeping a secret from Sarah that can jeapordize their relationship. Furthermore, Sarah’s own actions are casting a dark cloud on her HEA…It is a powerful story about growing up, taking chances, letting go but most importantly living. As Bob Marley said: “You never know how strong you are until being strong is your only choice”…
To find out what happens, pick up your copy today!
I voluntarily submitted an ARC review for this book!
This is such a perfect title to this book!
I have to tell you before you pick this book it has triggers for abuse.
From the first page this book grabs your attention and it never lets go! The woman are strong and resilient, loving and some of the best characters I’ve read. I’ve never really thought about how woman of this time where considered but this book sure does show us. God I cried so much with this book. Sadness, and a lot of joy. Be prepared for the hot loving. I have never read a book as described as this one either but OMG!! I can’t wait for the next part! The journey continues.
Wow – what a dramatic introduction about the horrors of wife abuse, horrible but good to set the theme of the book. Sarah, the abused wife, meets Jon, the owner/manager of a chain of stores and they fall in love and figure out a way for Sarah to escape her abusive husband without punishment. What great sex scenes! Then begins the plot to rescue another abused housewife, another very tricky explanation by author of how to do this legally. Jon keeps threatening to leave Sarah but has a very good reason which you must read the book to find out. There is an HEA, of course. I bought this book to review, so it should show as a Verified Purchase, and from the blurbs of the author’s other books, I recommend reading them, too.
Don’t overlook this little gem! Reviewed in the United States on April 18, 2018
Wow! James Patterson meets Sandra Brown meets Fifty Shades of Grey! This is a period piece from the 40’s, and gives an insight to how women were perceived at that time. Abuse, murder, redemption, and love found but then lost. And, the ethical question of “ given the circumstances, is murder ever warranted?” A must read!
Michelle Schardl Reviewed in the United States on October 4, 2016
An Amazing Book! Everyone should read this book. 🙂
Virginia Marley
It was well written , had a good storyline
I liked the love between the characters . It was very interesting and some of the love acts were hot. Held your interest.
Love it!
Unique, beautiful erotic romance
Here’s what I loved about this novel. First, I love that this is an erotic romance set in the 1940’s. Women were not meant to have high expectations of physical intimacy at that time and this story is Sarah’s own personal awakening or coming of age novel because she learns so much about her own body, men’s bodies, and what intimacy is really like. Second, I love how empowered Sarah became throughout the course of the novel and how her confidence grew, not just sexually but personally, financially, and professionally. Third, I loved Jon and how caring and generous he was with Sarah. The woman deserved to finally have some romance in her life!
The issue I had with this novel was some of Jon’s forever long dialogue. I found myself skimming as he analyzed men, women, sexuality, etc. Talking about a long-winded man, and I thought that I talked a lot. Also was his formal tone and way of speaking about sexual intimacy. It almost sounded robotic at times and would personally have sent me running out of the bedroom. Nevertheless, the erotic scenes were tastefully written with plenty of detail but not in a “dirty” way.
I was cheering for Sarah and Jon to live happily ever after, but there is a huge twist at the end which left me incredibly eager to dive into Part 2. The author left the ending open but in a hopeful way regarding Sarah and her new life away from abuse. This was a creative and original story that was a quick read but full of characterization and emotion. *Warning about triggers regarding physical and emotional abuse – there are some horrific scenes of abuse involving both Sarah and Twyla.
This was a great read and if you are a romance/erotica fan, this is a very different spin on the topic. I cannot wait to devour Part 2 and will post the review after reading!
*Many thanks to Ronald D. Walker for providing a copy of this novel in exchange for an honest review
Erotica: A beautiful story about love and loss
Overview:
The book starts off with Sarah’s violent and abusive marital situation. Sarah’s life is overwhelmingly painful, lonely, and full of fear. That is, until her situation changes and she is freed from the maelstrom that surrounds her. When Sarah meets Jon, their relationship quickly becomes one full of passion, guidance, and trust. Jon, hiding a secret from Sarah, engages is a sexual and highly erotic relationship with her, effortlessly offering Sarah all that he is.
Author Ronald Walker captivates the reader with his story from the very first page. His vivid imagery and engaging prose is a pleasant surprise and a far cry from the usual sappy romance novels that are in abundance today. This novel evoked some overwhelming emotions from me and offered an experience that I won’t soon forget. I was very much connected with Sarah and felt her fear, anger, frustation, pain, and eventual happines, love, lust, and satisfaction. The sentiments that were stirred up throughout this novel are the exact type of escape that I look for in a novel: raw, passionate, and naked.
Likes:
I truly enjoyed this novel. I particularly liked the fact that it was written by a man, and that it offered a completely different writing style and perspective than that which I’ve been used to (as this genre is overwhelmingly comprised of female authors.)
Looking into the sexual perspective of the novel, you will find some very raw, intimate, and description scenes that make you further understand intimacy from a man’s viewpoint.
Dislikes:
There were a couple of areas that I could’ve done without in this novel: First, the characters’ dialogue was unnecessarily lengthy before they formally moved on to the next thought. This frustrated me as a couple of time I felt patronized by Jon, and mistook his giving nature for a superior and slightly arrogant one. I’m sure this was not the author’s intention for the character. A less lengthy dialogue would have served the purpose of both getting the point across as well as keeping the reader – this reader, anyway – consistently engaged.
The second area that I didn’t like was with respect to the speed of certain scenes, as certain parts of the book were very rushed, leaving me wondering why. An extra paragraph or two in certain areas, would have helped the storyline flow better, without haste.
The Verdict:
This book is a wonderful read. It has a great storyline, well developed characters, complex scenes, and both sensual and graphic sexual passages. I appreciated the author’s ability to conjure up so many concurrent and corresponding emotions from the reader, as well as the added insight that a male author brings with respect to sexual intimacy and the everpresent differences between men and women’s viewpoints on the matter. What more can a reader want?! I easily give this book five stars and look forward to reading the next installment.
Marianna Maguire
Then it goes to the past maybe like 1 week or so
This was a enjoyable read. It’s starts off with Sarah believing she has killed her abusive husband Calvin. Then it goes to the past maybe like 1 week or so. She was at a club with Calvin and a very attractive man asks her to dance. She politely declines put he persists which makes her confide in him that her husband will make her pay at home. And he does. I can’t imagine how someone could feel getting pummeled by the person you love. But that is what sets the future events into motion. The story line was good but at times I felt like the sexual self help stuff got in the way. It went from her in abusive relationship to her husband dead, then it seemed like it was less then a week she was in bed with Jon. The attractive man from the club. I can some what understand because she stopped having those loving feelings for her husband way before he died. But then Jon was helping her, teaching her. I want to call him the Guru of self help. Lol. He always told Sarah his time with her would be short. That they would never be a couple but he wanted to be with her. And you’ll find out the true reason why he couldn’t commit at the end of this book. I don’t think she will ever be able to let him go. And Then she is introduced to another abused woman that she decides she is going to help get rid of the husband. He has a price on his wife’s head if she leaves or if he dies of anything other then natural causes. You see Sarah grow as a person in this book. At first she is kinda timid and by the end she is a force to be reckoned with. I was sad about the way this book ended but I am looking forward to part 2- Mandi
The courage of an abused woman
This story takes place in the 1940s. Women’s roles were much different then than they are now. My heart went out to Sarah because I have been in her situation. Sarah was in an abusive relationship. Calvin mentally, physically and verbally abused Sarah during the course of their marriage. It had only gotten worse after she had a miscarriage. The drunkenness and beatings became more severe. One night at the club, a man approached Sarah wanting to dance. She refused and warned him to leave.
Upon Calvin’s death, Sarah ran into the same handsome, mysterious man. Jon offered to help Sarah get back on her feet and offered her a place to live with him. He was attracted to her. Jon wanted to show her how a woman should feel in the arms of a man who cared for her.
This beautifully written love story is about an abused woman who struggled to stay alive. She has a second chance of love and life. Jon helps her build her self confidence, her sexuality and a reason for moving forward. This story gripped me from the beginning and lead me on an emotional ride to the end.
My heart went out to Jon. An intelligent, passionate man who loves life and Sarah.
The author’s amazing imagination portrays intricate details of life, feelings and love. This story is deep. I would recommend Lovers, Lies and Lilies.
I’m volunteering an honest review for an advance reader’s copy.
The story line never got boring and held my interest
Exceeded my expectations. I was hooked from the beginning to the end. I read it all in one sitting, which for me I usually read a little then continue later, but this one kept me intrigued. The story line never got boring and held my interest. I was sad about the way it ended, but it was a great story. I read a lot of books and usually it is easy for me to get involved with the next one I read, but this book just stayed in my head, so now until I read parts 2 and 3, I cant start another book because I wont be able to concentrate on anything else. Definitely a 5 star for me, and I am a stickler about giving a book 5 stars!!
Spoiler Ahead I never thought that I would like a book written in this time period, but I did In 1944, women were thought to be the weaker sex. After having a miscarriage Sarah Barnes husband Calvin blamed her for it he was violent and abusive and almost killed her. When Sarah meets Jon Bartleaux her life turns around for the good. Jon teaches Sarah about her sexuality and they have some hot passionate sex I mean the scenes were hot. Jon is a wealthy business who has a secret he has a kid nature that I really liked. This was my first time reading this author and I didn’t think I would like it as much. The women in this era had to be strong they faced so much with being thought of as the weaker sex only being thought of as housewives. The abuse that Sarah faced made her stronger too me. This book was written with a lot of emotions and I cried and laughed a lot while reading it. All the scenes good and bad were very descriptive. This book was well written with no grammars or spelling. It was hard for me to believe that this book was written by a man I am looking forward to reading more of Mr. Walker’s work.
Verified Purchase
I was a bit reluctant to read this book when I saw that it was called an erotic romance. I’m a bit of a prude when it comes to erotic books, but Mr. Walker was kind enough to send me a copy for my birthday. I bit the bullet and read the book. It is short, but then it is only part one. It was a bit disturbing at the beginning with the abusive marriage. But, Mr. Walker wrote in a sensitive manner that made me feel that we can get through this together. And, we did. He took a woman whom you could tell had a strong character that was being beaten down and brought that out to make her empowered. To be honest, the book would have done well enough with the sex scenes – they were more like a toss is to show how deep her passion could be. But, I get it. I wish Mr. Walker all the luck with his writing.
Sarah is a woman who is being abused by her husband. Her sister and a friend of her sister, who happens to be a doctor, know what is happening and decide to help her and keep quiet. Sarah works out a plan to get away from her husband. After one night of drunken abuse, Sarah wakes up and finds her husband dead. She believes she did it because she gave him some of her medicine the night before. Once the coroner determines that it was natural causes, the relationships move way too fast for me. I understand that it was the 1940’s, but within a couple of weeks she has moved on with another man.
While I liked Jon and the relationship between him and Sarah, I felt it was like a wham bam thank you ma’am relationship. I did like how he woke her up to her sexuality and have her confidence. I figured out why he couldn’t ever marry her pretty early on, but was still hoping for a different outcome.
Overall, I really liked this book, even though it was really fast in the timing of everything. I definitely wanted to know what happened in the second book.
Sarah’s story from darkness into the light.
This is a story about Sarah and the unusual man she came to love. The first time she met Jon was in a night club. When her husband went to the bathroom, Jon asked her for a dance. She refused out of fear of her husband ‘s reaction. As her story unfolds, she was a victim of domestic abuse. In time, Jon came to her rescue physically, emotionally and financially. Jon was an observer of life, of people and he enriched her life with his “teachings”, both in the bedroom and without. Jon is a fascinating character that the reader loves and gets attached to. The only bad thing about Sarah’s story is it ends on a cliffhanger but thankfully, Part Two is available. Recommend this book for all romance readers. Be prepared to heat up in the bedroom scenes and to shed a few tears. I voluntarily reviewed a gifted copy of this book from the author. Five stars.
I voluntarily reviewed an advanced reader copy of this book. I wasn’t sure if this story would keep me interested as its set in the 1940’s but I was surprised I really enjoyed this book. It’s my first by Ronald and will certainly read more of his works. The storyline is well written, I like Sarah who is really strong and when she meets Jon she finally learns to enjoy the sexual act. He teaches her how sensual and erotic it can be, the pages sizzled, I was captivated to the last page. I look forward to part two.
The characters were amazing Sarah a beautiful intelligent young lady who has great
This book grips you immediately I couldn’t put it down. The characters were amazing Sarah a beautiful intelligent young lady who has great strength and despite all the bad thrown at her still manages to keep on going. Then there is Jon, so gentle and caring and so interesting his character really drew me in so eloquent and smart despite or maybe because of his upbringing who knows…. But one thing I do know is I loved this book. The sex scenes were hot yet loving and sweet. This book drew many emotions from me its a roller-coaster ride from beginning to end one I highly recommend. Now to start the second book I can’t wait!!
The story line never got boring and held my interest
I totally underestimated this book. I was hooked from the beginning to the end. I read it all in one sitting, which for me I usually read a little then continue later, but this one kept me intrigued. The story line never got boring and held my interest. I was sad about the way it ended, but it was a great story. I read a lot of books and usually it is easy for me to get involved with the next one I read, but this book just stayed in my head, so now until I read parts 2 and 3, I cant start another book because I wont be able to concentrate on anything else. Definitely a 5 star for me, and I am a stickler about giving a book 5 stars!!
This is the first book I have read by this author. I must say that I did enjoy this story, but I did skip through quite a bit of the parts where Jon was waffling on. I cannot wait to read the next installment.
I absolutely loved this book! It has so many detailed emotions in it and I loved every one of them. This was different than anything I have read, but it is definitely a 5 star read. You can tell that this author took his time making sure this book was perfect. I will definitely read his books again
Sexy, Provocative, Erotic. A must read.
Sexy, provocative, and erotic. The female characters are strong and resilient. It is an intriguing and heartbreaking story about an abused woman who changes her situation. With the help of a loving and generous man she learns her worth, finds herself and her confidence. It gave me more insight into that era. The author, Ronald Walker, did an amazing job keeping me engaged in this characters life. I was enthralled the moment I started to read it and can’t wait to read the next installment.
An Abused Woman’s Struggle to Regain her Self-confidence.
The story of an abused woman and her struggle to rebuild her life and self-confidence after her husband dies. The man she comes to love and their evolving relationship. It has ups and downs with strongly emotional scenes. I just kept reading until the end, it was so good.
Great book to go from being a victim along the journey of empowerment and healing! Great book!
This book had me hooked in the first paragraph… I love mysteries and crime with a heap of romance added…
I was in tears reading the last few parts and now I can hardly wait to read part two. Well written, Ronald Walker.
Thank you..!
I love this book it was always something intriguing in each page. He is a great story teller. I would recommend this to all my friends
This book has a great storyline, loved all the characters! Reviewed in the United States on October 6, 2020
This is the first book I have read by this author. Once I started reading I couldn’t put it down. Sarah pulled me in from the start! The hell she went through broke my heart. Loved Jon. The thing he taught her, not only intimately but how to be a strong resilient woman. I am so looking forward to see where book two takes Sarah
Truly one of my favorite authors, and right up there with Dan Brown
Truly one of my favorite authors, and right up there with Dan Brown, and Tom Clancy! Really enjoyed the characters and the story. Watch for more great works from the upcoming author.
It was very intriguing.. It held my attention to the very end! I hated to put it down. Can’t wait to see how it all ends.
Very Interesting, good story.Reviewed in the United States on October 21, 2016Very interesting. Once I started reading I had a hard time putting it down. You could visualize the drama, pain, erotically explicit, and the emotions felt throughout the entire book. Well done Ronald Walker. Looking forward to reading more of your books.
Enthused
This book will suck you right in and you will not want to …
This book will suck you right in and you will not want to stop reading until you finish it. It is full of surprises with a few twists. You will not want to put it down. I highly recommend this book. I can not wait to read part 2!
Good story! Fast moving, spicy, sad at parts. Has some thought provoking passages about abuse and recovery. Good summer reading!
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