Book ~ "Seeking Shelter" (2013) Morgan K. Wyatt

From Goodreads ~ Megan’s goal of being a loving wife ended the same time her husband, Jason, tried to choke the life out of her. She flees the scene with her young children with the help of the police and her neighbor. Heading back to her home state, she realizes Jason will follow and terrorize anyone who gets between them.

Megan becomes Elaine. She changes her appearance along with her name to escape her vengeful spouse. With the help of new friends at the women’s shelter, she pieces together the broken shards of her life. Megan finds the strength to trust and love again when she meets soft-spoken Kevin. He supports Megan’s transformation from abused wife to confident woman. Life is full of potential with her new place, love and career, but Jason looms like a dark cloud. Unfortunately, Jason is not a big fan of happy endings, especially hers.

Megan thought she had found the man of her dreams when she hastily married Jason, against the wishes of her father and best friend.  Instead she ends up with an abusive dominating husband.  Eight years later she finds herself in a women's shelter in her home state of Kentucky along with her two young children.  Normal things like buses and McDonalds amaze her kids since they've never been allowed outside their home.  The kids are delighted to discover they have a loving grandfather.

As Megan tries to rebuild her life, Jason moves to her city assuming that's where she ran.  He takes up with Carly, a waitress, and takes advantage of her kindness by moving in and spending her money.  Carly has issues of her own ... her father abandoned her when she was young and she's been taking love wherever she can find it.  She's happy to have a man and overlooks Jason's rude behavior.

Megan begins counseling and forms a friendship with the director of the counselling centre, Kevin.  Though she is always looking over her shoulder, she becomes confident enough to find a job and do simple things like cut her hair and change her hair colour, despite memories of Jason accusing her of looking nice to attract other men.

Her head swiveled, involuntarily checking out the dark head bent over the map. She knew that head. She sewed buttons on that particular blue shirt. Jason! He was here. Megan froze in place as her eyes scouted for cover. A women’s restroom beckoned as sanctuary. As calmly as she could she walked across the floor, doing her best not to attract attention. She was very good at walking silently.

In the bathroom, she collapsed against the wall, sliding down to sit on the floor. An elderly woman stepped out of the stall.

“Are you okay?” the woman asked, her concern evident.

“I’m okay, really. Just felt like sitting down,” Megan said as she waved the woman’s helping hands away.

She hoped there was no one else in the restroom. Maybe she was mistaken again. Opening the door a sliver, she peeked out in the direction she saw the man leaning over a map. The man straightened up and reached for a phone book on the table revealing his entire frowning face. It was definitely Jason. That was the expression she saw most of the time. It was a good bet he was thinking about her. Unfortunately, she’d have to stay trapped in the women restroom until he left.

The tile wall was cool against her back as she slid back down. Flipping open the book, she pretended to read while she pondered what to do. The reference librarian stepped into the bathroom and looked at her askance.

“Um, it makes me feel at home since I usually read in the bathroom,” Megan explained.

“Whatever makes you comfortable,” the librarian replied.

She managed to struggle through the opening chapter as females of varying ages paraded through the facilities. Who knew the library bathroom was so popular? It had to be at least twenty minutes since she entered. It was time to look again. Cracking the door a narrow six inches, she peered out. The coast was clear. Pushing the door slowly open, she slid out with all the furtiveness of a jewel thief.

This is the first book I've read by this author and I enjoyed it.  I liked the writing style and thought it flowed well.  The author tackled a difficult subject and I was curious to see how she would handle the ending ... it could have gone a few ways and none of them good.  I was satisfied with how she ended it.

I liked the characters.  Megan had made a mistake in marrying Jason and had been paying for it ever since.  Now she's trying to start over and find herself again.  She's lucky that she has the support of her dad, the people at the women's shelter and Kevin.  It was interesting to watch the transformation of Megan and her kids.  Jason was an arrogant A-hole and I was hoping something really bad would happen to him.

I'd recommend this book and look forward to reading other books by this author.