Joy King Dirty Little Secrets

Dirty Little Secrets

Joy King

St. Martin's, Jun 2006, $14.95

ISBN: 031235407X

Their mother took her two daughters Ella and Tyler with her when she dumped her spouse to move in with a more affluent man in Atlanta. When Tyler was six her teenage stepbrother assaulted her while the new man in the house constantly abused her mother in front of the girls. Over the next decade the three Blake women are victims of the two men in their lives. Things do not change for Tyler in high school when her first boyfriend rapes her and her second commits suicide. After strike three to include an abortion, Tyler vows no more relationships except when she is able to use men and to start over New York City where she attends college and becomes an actress

She lives up to her motto to use and discard men until she meets Detroit Piston superstar Ian and music producer T-Roc at the same time; that ends violently. Next she meets music producer: Brian, who she thinks she loves, but ends badly after she gives birth to his child. Now twenty-six, Tyler pledges no men at all as she is unable to relate with anyone decent, a lesson learned from childhood.

This inspirational tale focuses on the long term impact of childhood abuse on the person even as an adult. While Tyler seeks love, she believes only by being a victim can she receive it. Joy King's deep interwoven message is simple: respect yourself. DIRTY LITTLE SECRETS is a strong character study that focuses on the baggage we bring from childhood into adulthood as the adult remains that child.

Harriet Klausner