Against Her Will(A Gripping Psychological Suspense Novel)

This is not much of a mystery or suspenseful story. There was little sense of an investigative nature. No police investigation, no victim investigation, it was just bad. I did not want to give it any stars. A waste of time and money.

The book was horrible. The characters were hard to relate to, and I was never able to muster up any sympathy for the main character. To be honest, I don't think that I liked any of the characters in the book. I also don't know how I finished it. I guess I was just waiting for it to get better, and it never did. Don't waste your time or your money on this book.

After reading Peter Martin's book "Missing:Dead or Alive", I had really high hopes for this book; but it was honestly nothing mind blowing.

Pros:
1) I want to commend Peter Martin for writing such a tastefully done rape scene. Honestly, 5++ stars for that! Rape is an incredibly hard thing to talk about, much less write about and the way he presented it was well done.

2) The way he writes about Donna's experience in life after rape about 30% in the book is insanely accurate. Despite the fact that the author is male, he somehow was in sync with all of the high strung emotions that went along with her trauma.

3) In too many of these stories a lot of authors take awhile to get to the point, but the beginning of the story moved along nicely. I like that he ripped the band aid off quickly, and he didn't wait until we were halfway through the book to learn about her rape.

4) I loved Evan's character! He is the ideal man that any woman would love to have. Handsome, kind, understanding, and VERY patient! I'd marry him in a heartbeat if he were a real person!

Cons:
1) The first 30% of the book I had empathy for Donna. I realize everyone deals with traumatic life events differently, but her "woe is me" attitude got a bit obnoxious after awhile. Personally, I would have liked to see more growth in her character. We saw a little growth when the Theresa character was introduced, but I was left expecting a lot more. Donna is an extremely hard character to like. After awhile she just got too needy, annoying, bitchy, and a little over the top rebellious at times. I'm a firm believer that if you don't develop a main character people like, chances are your readers won't love the story. In a story like this, I had hopes I'd love her eventually, but unfortunately that feeling never came.

2) I desperately wanted to see some closure for Donna. I wanted her to come out a stronger, better, more positive woman towards the end. Instead the ending felt like Peter Martin slapped us with, "Oh, she'll figure it out, but you won't get to walk through that with her, even though you've seen every other emotion out of this woman." I was disappointed after I'd waited the whole book to see her find some true inner strength, that it just never happened.

3) There were events in this book that seemed too unrealistic. I mean I know this is fiction, and I could have dealt with a couple of things for the sake of moving the story along, but for me personally there were one too many unlikely coincidences.

4) Maybe it's just me, but I wasn't the least bit "shocked" by the ending.

This is honestly a hard book to review. I know there are a lot of people who could really enjoy it, but to me it was predictable and just ok.

After working late one night, Donna, an attractive young woman, is brutally raped in the subway. Psychologically traumatized she seeks help. In therapy, she meets a male nurse who seems to be what she needs to overcome her fears, and a romance blooms. But, on their honeymoon, she discovers that he might be the person who raped her. Against Her Will by Peter Martin is a tense story of the trauma of sexual assault and the way various people react to it. An interesting story, it is in places a bit too predictable. The author did, however, do a fairly good job of keeping the suspense high.
I received a complimentary copy of this book, and I give it three stars.

Against her Will is story that follows Donna, a young woman who experiences a horrible tragedy. I am not a reviewer who likes to write out the plot I think that is why the readers must read the book. However, I can say it touches on a dark subject, one that many authors would be afraid to write about. I found myself intrigued and invested into this story from the very beginning and I was held captivated until the very end. I thought the main character Donna was very well developed I felt I got a true sense of who she was before and after the incident. I also felt I got an understanding of her parents as well. I had an idea of the twist at then end but the Author did throw me off for a second only to bring the story back around to my original suspicions so I felt that was very well written on his part. I do feel this could be a very good script for a movie as well. Like some of the other reviewers have mentioned there are some basic editing errors, however, that did not take away from the story. Many people kept complaining about the main character and how they could not continue reading due to the fact they did not like her. I do have to say to those people that we as readers are not meant to like every character and in fact, it shows the Authors talent if he does succeed in making us feel that way. Donna went through a tragic event and everyone reacts differently in those types of situations. We cannot determine if a book is good because we don't agree on how the main character changes through the process and do not like them. I thought she became cold, callous and impossible to deal with but chances are that is probably the exact way I would end up if I went through what she did. Overall I really enjoyed this story and I think with a professional editor combined with the writers imaginative talents he can continue to write very intriguing stories.

Against Her Will opens with the introduction of Donna and the end of a harried work day and an uncomfortable relationship with her boss. The author skilfully sets up the suspense, the reader guesses something very bad is about to happen – and it does. Her attack is dramatically described without being overly graphic. After the comparatively brief terror of the act, the true nightmare begins for Donna in dealing with the multitude of psychological issues that occur with any victim of a sex crime.

The aftermath of the crime immediately takes its toll on her relationship with her live-in boyfriend. He is unable to understand her repulsion at being touched, her paranoia, depression and the start of agoraphobia. Her self-esteem has been shattered and she acts in ways that would seem irrational without the deft insight the author brings to the victim’s state of mind. Her shame can flip to anger when those around her react in a manner she deems uncompassionate.

Donna’s experience is told with incredible insight as her life slowly begins to crumble – from her relationships to her job.
Just as the Scarlett Letter where Hester wears the letter “A” for Adultery, Donna feels as if she will forever be branded and stigmatized as a Rape Victim. The combination of feelings evoked by the attack along with deep seeded self-image issues drives her to the brink of self-destruction. Her arduous journey towards wellness is aided by a cast of inspirational supporting characters. The ultimate plot twist creates an unforgettable and surprising ending.

Against Her Will masterfully tackles sensitive subject matter which could ultimately bring comfort to those who have ever dealt with – or know someone who has faced similar challenges. Exceptional combination of suspense and insight into the often overlooked psychological challenges facing victims of crime - well done.

First off, my hats off to Martin for tackling such a sensitive, traumatic and life altering issue as rape in his novel "Against Her Will." I love psychological thrillers and this also suspenseful story runs directly into the traumatic and heart wrenching events of this young woman, Donna's life.

The way the author shows the contrast and comparison between Donna's very controlled and very meticulous job as an analyst with the traumatic events of her brutal attack ( which is something beyond any control and beyond any statistical reasoning and or comprehension) sets this on the level of a character study particularly where the author has broken down in very fine detail the human/female psyche exposing the barest essence of the torture of the human spirit, body and soul into the smallest of molecules to reveal something more deeply poignant and powerful.

This makes the character much more intimate and relatable which is a brilliant accomplishment on the author's part. I also liked the way he showed how distant maybe even indifferent, possibly a little cold her fiancé Blake is being through her ordeal making this character more realistic. Because sometimes even those closest to you when you're going through a trauma can be quite insensitive whether intentional or unintentional.
To triumph over adversity is easier said than done and this extraordinary author as crafted that aspect of it perfectly and honestly.

Poignant tale of a woman's recovery from a brutal rape and battery. The psychological and emotional wounds are always the last to heal.
The lovely Donna, a former model and extremely brainy as well, struggles against the sheer despair of coping with the awful results of her attack. Her parents rally around her, but they only seem to make things worse. Other folks also offer support, colleagues at work for example do their best to help, but in doing so merely wind up pushing her farther away.
It is only after a failed suicide attempt that lands Donna in a psychiatric hospital that she finally meets a true friend. Evan is a male nurse there, appears very kind and gentle, and gradually manages to draw Donna out of her painful shell. Evan's family, people who have also suffered losses in recent years, invite Donna into their home.
It's all quite a positive experience for Donna, and eventually leads to her and Evan getting married. But just when you think all is going to turn out happily a shocking turn of events proves otherwise.
“Against Her Will” addresses a difficult subject. The author has taken on the task of getting inside the female victim's head quite convincingly. Not at all easy for a male author.
Heartily recommended for those readers who appreciate this type of book.

Against Her Will is a psychological, realistic thriller about a young woman, Donna, who is brutally raped. This violent crime leaves deep emotional scars. Donna’s world is shattered. She finds it difficult to cope with the aftermath of the rape and is unable to move on with her life.
At first, the story develops slowly but its pace picks up later on. There is quite a lot of suspense in the second half of the story with all the twists and turns in Donna’s life. Until, finally, the identity of the rapist is revealed. Although I found the main character rather unlikeable, self-centred and devoid of empathy, the story gripped me and held my attention to the end.

Peter Martin’s writing is clear, easy to follow and engaging. The storyline is well-defined. All in all, I enjoyed reading this book.

I read this book on Kindle Unlimited after seeing it featured on Fire and Ice Book Promos. I could tell from the blurb that it was going to be a chilling read. After starting on it, though, I realized it's so much more. The book takes us from Donna's attack and through the resulting consequences. At times I really thought Donna was a selfish character, which added a depth to this book that just made it even more interesting to read. I see that the author is male, and I was really impressed as to how insightful he was into the female psyche in his development of Donna's character, as most men wouldn't have this kind of insight. In fact, most men wouldn't have even tried to write a book like this, from a female's viewpoint. Kudos to the author for a great read that kept me intrigued from beginning to end. And the twist at the end. Wow, you won't see this one coming.

This book has an appropriately dark mood throughout. The language and style reinforce the devastating nature of the subject. As a result, the plot is engaging, but heavy. The struggle of the main character to rebuild her life after her attack and subsequent physiological breakdown is sensitively drawn. The story has trigger warnings for abuse, sexual assault, and self-harm. Martin did a good job of keeping the tension high while exploring the nature of anxiety, victimization, and recovery. The pacing was slow in some places, but overall the transitions were smooth.

I found the level of pet naming irksome because it read as very condescending. Perhaps that was the point, to suggest that the other characters do dehumanize her unintentionally, but it worked against the characters that were supposed to be portrayed as sincere. My favorite aspect of the story was the character’s dismay at constantly being complimented and valued for her beauty. This aspect is exacerbated by the fact that she blames her looks as the reason she was attacked. I would read more by this author in the future. I received a review copy of this book, but was in no way compensated for this commentary.

Donna is a successful Statistical Analyst, she was a hard worker and didn't let anything stand in her way. What should have been a night to remember ended up being a nightmare and one she would never forget. Leaving work late she hurries out to catch a train to meet up with her fiance, Blake. They were going out to celebrate their anniversary, while waiting she was brutally raped and attacked. This is where Donna's life starts spiraling out of control. Being unable to cope with her daily struggles, she soon moves back in with her parents. Donna did not have a easy childhood. They controlled every move she made, wanting her to model and be something she had no desire to become. Still unable to cope she feels suicide is her best escape. . .. .

As Donna struggles to cope in the hospital she become friends with a male nurse, Evan. Evan becomes the friend she needs and feels she can trust. Their friendship grows as their love for each other. While on their honeymoon Donna yet again will need to reach down in and find the courage she needs to cope once again.

Peter Martin knocked this one out of the park! This is one book that will make you cry, mad and just wanting to rip into someone. Peter takes the sensitive subject of rape and makes you understand what they go thru on a daily basis. At times I found myself upset with Donna, but I had to step back and remember she is a victim, one that changed her whole world changed in a matter of minutes. Peter did a wonderful job with all the characters and the twist and turns was beyond awesome ! ! ! !

5 bright shiny stars
Wende

Like many other reviewers, I had a hard time liking the main character...which is a problem in this type of story. Yes, the crime was brutal, but the main character is such a bundle of continuously weeping. self-centered nerves that it's hard to be drawn to her emotionally. The story itself was OK, but so much more could have been done differently with the main character that it drew attention away from the overall plot for me. I ended this one feeling slightly disappointed.

I’d this fortune of coming across Against her will by Peter Martin. I’ll start by praising the author for handling a sensitive subject with immense maturity. The book deals with the aftermath of rape and how the girl struggles to recover from it.

The story starts with beautiful Donna, returning to her home after late office hours, when she was attacked, traumatised and left for dead by a masked brute. She tried her best but found it nearly impossible to recover from the shock and repercussions. What I found interesting is how her relations changes with people around her- her parents, her boyfriend and office colleagues. It’s true that sad times show who is our real friend, the point is effectively illustrated in the story as Donna’s perception about her acquaintances began to alter. At times, Donna was portrayed a little mean and bitchy, but her reactions were indeed practical and you can’t help but sympathising her throughout. Her every mood swing, anger, irritation, fear, nightmares has been handled with perfection and illustrated fairly. I’d a hard time leaving this book until I reached the last of it and now it’s still playing in my mind as if I’m a character around her to heed her, counsel her and motivate her.

The book has a rather odd concluding, the one you can guess, reaching around 80% mark. I found the ending, a bit rushed but in the end gratifying. I’d recommend this book to mature readers, especially the ones who like to get in depth of characters and see them growing and responding to the circumstances. I thoroughly enjoyed the book and will surely track the next titles of the author.
My rating: 4.5/5

“Against Her Will” by Peter Martin begins like a stiff punch right to the gut that leaves you bent over and gasping for air. The main character Donna, an ex-model with a college degree in mathematics, is brutally attacked and raped after leaving work. The rest of the story allows us to follow her trials as she comes to grips with the event and how it has changed her life. Mr. Martin builds a very realistic world and a very realistic group of characters. I felt like I was a “friend of the family” after reading this book and really hoped for good things for Donna. It’s interesting that this book doesn’t cleanly stand in one genre. The storyline has elements of a horror, mystery, thriller and romantic novel which makes it quite diverse and would make it interesting for a variety of readers. There is even a bit of a twist at the end. I liked it, I bet you will too.

Everyone needs someone at the best of times, but at the worst of times, such support is imperative.

No such crutch is available to Donna, the heroine of Against Her Will, who is brutally raped and left to deal with the horrifying consequences alone. Suicide beckons and a pretty devastating scenario cries out for a glimmer of hope.

That hope is eventually forthcoming in the form of a young male nurse, and other victims she meets in the mental institution into which she has descended.

But Sunshine and laughter do not miraculously light up her sad and battered life. This tale is far more complex than that. Even perceived solutions can quickly turn into problems. It’s a tough and rocky life for Donna, one that will keep the reader gripped until the end.

A harrowing story that is periodically warmed by goodness, only to be plunged back into gloom.

Peter Martin deals adroitly with a sensitive plot and ensures the reader stays with him throughout the journey.

I recommend you immerse yourself in this book. You will emerge feeling glad that you did.

A psychological thriller about a woman who is dealing with the aftermath of rape. While I think the author adequately described Donna's intense fear and depression following her ordeal, her character never seemed fully developed. She had no depth, was utterly stupid at times (especially toward the end), and was generally unlikable. I want to say there were definitely some suspenseful moments, but the dialogue just droned on forever. I found myself skimming through many pages. The lack of editing was probably the biggest issue, as I found myself getting distracted and annoyed by all the mistakes. I seriously almost felt like reaching out to the author and editing it for free.

I DO think this author has potential and I may try his second book to see if the writing gets any better.

Donna is a brilliant, beautiful woman whose life is shattered when she is the victim of a brutal and horrible attack. No one understands her pain. No one can get through to her. Nothing helps--therapy, medication, even the support of her love ones. Leaving this world seems to be the only answer. But then an unexpected ally and his family give Donna the ray of hope that she needs to restart her life. Until...the unthinkable happens, and Donna must confront her worst fears and understand who her friends really are. Martin's novel is a deft psychological thriller that delivers suspense and pathos, all the while keeping the pages turning until the end.

I received a free copy of this book in exchange for a fair review.

There are some topics that are difficult to discuss, even in literature.

Much like my 2004 book, Amanda Rio, which examines domestic violence, author Peter Martin bravely confronts another delicate issue: rape. Martin skillfully navigates this difficult territory with a sensitive portrayal of Donna Askey, a young woman who suffers a devastating sexual assault. The brutal encounter is handled honestly, yet without needless gore. Instead, Martin focuses on the emotional turmoil Askey suffers, and the impact on the people in her life.

Her parents are understandably upset by the news of the attack, but they compound the trauma with their unintentional clumsiness. Askey's boyfriend, Blake, struggles with the aftermath of the assault, as he stumbles through relationship territory that he is woefully unprepared to handle. However, a sympathetic policewoman and an understanding nurse at a healthcare facility do their best to help Askey with her recovery.

Martin weaves together a strong story that tactfully shines a light on a dark subject. Readers may feel uncomfortable probing into the life of a rape victim, but they will come away with a greater understanding of the trauma someone like Askey faces.

Isn't that the goal of fine literature?

Steven Donahue was a copywriter for TV Guide magazine for 14 years. His first novel, Amanda Rio, was published in 2004. He released three novels in 2013: The Manila Strangler (Rainstorm Press), Amy the Astronaut and the Flight for Freedom (Hydra Publications), and Comet and Cupid's Christmas Adventure (Createspace). His short story Grit was also included in the anthology Hero's Best Friend by Seventh Star Press in 2014.

Donna is a beautiful young woman who has had little good come out of being beautiful. In the first chapter she is raped and the aftermath of that becomes the underpinnings of the story. With a broken relationship and an abortion behind her, emotionally scarred Donna returns home to her parents whose over-pampering, manipulative care she’d fled years ago. Now their controlling behavior threatens to drive an already fragile young woman, over the edge. While there were moments when I found Donna’s behavior difficult, it soon became clear that she was acting out, and that her behavior was a byproduct of the rape. As the story progresses she begins to find peace both in her relationships and in herself as she heals, finds happiness, love and what she thinks is security. But is it? Despite the story’s dark beginnings it quickly hooked me and kept me reading. A thought provoking story that winds to a dramatic end that doesn’t pull any punches.

The story starts off with Donna, a beautiful woman who happens to be at the wrong place at the wrong time. She was brutally attacked by a man in a subway station. But what Martin's novel achieves is the psychological dilemma presented by Donna's recovery. The pain torments her and she is constantly looking over her shoulder. She trusts no one and she seems to be lost for hope. Someone comes to her rescue but she then questions the people closest to her, begging you to read further in this psychological thriller.

This is a difficult subject matter to read and to rate. The author did an expert job in bringing to life the characters and the drama. He made me feel for Donna, my heart pounding as I had to read through the tragedy and then silently encourage her to heal. Life is hard even without terrible traumas, Donna loses everything in the aftermath of her attack and then struggles to find her place again now as a broken person.
This was a very thorough journey down the path of struggle, healing, helplessness and hope. The balance ever teetering each day. I commend Peter Martin for tackling a subject that is so disturbing and yet so prevalent, and for doing a fine job of crafting a book that kept me on my toes til the very end. Well done!

As someone with reading difficulty, I am always very careful at picking what I read and decide whether I'd want to review. It is not easy writing about this extremely sensitive matter, but Martin Perks did it eloquently. He uses simple language so nicely that before I realise it, I was done reading the whole book.

Everything he describes of the incident aftermath and beyond, seems very accurate, the details and the characters building are done perfectly, not every writer could do that on this subject. And the story, such unexpected turns of twists. The ending, in fact, the middle onwards, truly blew my mind and I just had to keep on reading until the end. (sitting on my hands now trying not to provide spoilers here)

I also know the reason why this book harvests controversial Reviews, is because the topic itself is THAT complicated and controversial, again, it is not easy writing this, but he did write it well enough. His knowledge on this subject is very in depth, it surprises me to learn that a man could write about a raped victim so perfectly well with so much light to every perspectives. And the plot, oh I gotta stop myself here again before I blurt out spoilers, it definitely drove me up my couch and finish the whole book instantly.

Apart from the crime perspective, there is also another moral of story to the readers, it teaches you to understand, and open up your mind and heart to many other perspectives. That not everything is as it seems, and that we have to remain vigilant, no matter how open our hearts must be.
This is definitely the best book I've read on the matter.

Against her will is a very good book, what happened to Donna could be a real story.
When seems your life is quiet and perfect happens events that will change it forever, and this is the story of Donna that is being raped one day and since then she have lost the joy of life, lost boyfriend and her good work as financial analyst. When she met Evan and his family, finally this will give her a new great input for start new life.
The ability of the author is to keep the reader on suspense and interested about Donna and wondering if she will fully recovered from her bad experience, i must add that it is well written and the reader never get bored reading it. Absolutely recommended.

There are some topics that are difficult to discuss, even in literature.

Much like my 2004 book, Amanda Rio, which examines domestic violence, author Peter Martin bravely confronts another delicate issue: rape. Martin skillfully navigates this difficult territory with a sensitive portrayal of Donna Askey, a young woman who suffers a devastating sexual assault. The brutal encounter is handled honestly, yet without needless gore. Instead, Martin focuses on the emotional turmoil Askey suffers, and the impact on the people in her life.

Her parents are understandably upset by the news of the attack, but they compound the trauma with their unintentional clumsiness. Askey's boyfriend, Blake, struggles with the aftermath of the assault, as he stumbles through relationship territory that he is woefully unprepared to handle. However, a sympathetic policewoman and an understanding nurse at a healthcare facility do their best to help Askey with her recovery.

Martin weaves together a strong story that tactfully shines a light on a dark subject. Readers may feel uncomfortable probing into the life of a rape victim, but they will come away with a greater understanding of the trauma someone like Askey faces.

Isn't that the goal of fine literature?

Steven Donahue was a copywriter for TV Guide magazine for 14 years. His first novel, Amanda Rio, was published in 2004. He released three novels in 2013: The Manila Strangler (Rainstorm Press), Amy the Astronaut and the Flight for Freedom (Hydra Publications), and Comet and Cupid's Christmas Adventure (Createspace). His short story Grit was also included in the anthology Hero's Best Friend by Seventh Star Press in 2014.

Donna is a beautiful young woman who has had little good come out of being beautiful. In the first chapter she is raped and the aftermath of that becomes the underpinnings of the story. With a broken relationship and an abortion behind her, emotionally scarred Donna returns home to her parents whose over-pampering, manipulative care she’d fled years ago. Now their controlling behavior threatens to drive an already fragile young woman, over the edge. While there were moments when I found Donna’s behavior difficult, it soon became clear that she was acting out, and that her behavior was a byproduct of the rape. As the story progresses she begins to find peace both in her relationships and in herself as she heals, finds happiness, love and what she thinks is security. But is it? Despite the story’s dark beginnings it quickly hooked me and kept me reading. A thought provoking story that winds to a dramatic end that doesn’t pull any punches.

The story starts off with Donna, a beautiful woman who happens to be at the wrong place at the wrong time. She was brutally attacked by a man in a subway station. But what Martin's novel achieves is the psychological dilemma presented by Donna's recovery. The pain torments her and she is constantly looking over her shoulder. She trusts no one and she seems to be lost for hope. Someone comes to her rescue but she then questions the people closest to her, begging you to read further in this psychological thriller.

This is a difficult subject matter to read and to rate. The author did an expert job in bringing to life the characters and the drama. He made me feel for Donna, my heart pounding as I had to read through the tragedy and then silently encourage her to heal. Life is hard even without terrible traumas, Donna loses everything in the aftermath of her attack and then struggles to find her place again now as a broken person.
This was a very thorough journey down the path of struggle, healing, helplessness and hope. The balance ever teetering each day. I commend Peter Martin for tackling a subject that is so disturbing and yet so prevalent, and for doing a fine job of crafting a book that kept me on my toes til the very end. Well done!

As someone with reading difficulty, I am always very careful at picking what I read and decide whether I'd want to review. It is not easy writing about this extremely sensitive matter, but Martin Perks did it eloquently. He uses simple language so nicely that before I realise it, I was done reading the whole book.

Everything he describes of the incident aftermath and beyond, seems very accurate, the details and the characters building are done perfectly, not every writer could do that on this subject. And the story, such unexpected turns of twists. The ending, in fact, the middle onwards, truly blew my mind and I just had to keep on reading until the end. (sitting on my hands now trying not to provide spoilers here)

I also know the reason why this book harvests controversial Reviews, is because the topic itself is THAT complicated and controversial, again, it is not easy writing this, but he did write it well enough. His knowledge on this subject is very in depth, it surprises me to learn that a man could write about a raped victim so perfectly well with so much light to every perspectives. And the plot, oh I gotta stop myself here again before I blurt out spoilers, it definitely drove me up my couch and finish the whole book instantly.

Apart from the crime perspective, there is also another moral of story to the readers, it teaches you to understand, and open up your mind and heart to many other perspectives. That not everything is as it seems, and that we have to remain vigilant, no matter how open our hearts must be.
This is definitely the best book I've read on the matter.

Against her will is a very good book, what happened to Donna could be a real story.
When seems your life is quiet and perfect happens events that will change it forever, and this is the story of Donna that is being raped one day and since then she have lost the joy of life, lost boyfriend and her good work as financial analyst. When she met Evan and his family, finally this will give her a new great input for start new life.
The ability of the author is to keep the reader on suspense and interested about Donna and wondering if she will fully recovered from her bad experience, i must add that it is well written and the reader never get bored reading it. Absolutely recommended.

Donna is beautiful and could have been a model. In fact her parents wanted her to be one, and her mother had strongly pushed her in that direction. But Donna wished to make something of herself and not live on her looks. She went to university, received an honours degree in Maths and now has a responsible job as statistical analyst. The story begins at the office where she is finishing her work for the day. Her boss asks her to stay late to correct some mistakes in her work. She is meticulous, so of course agrees. She finishes, and as she prepares to leave the office her boss offers to give her a ride home, but she refuses. As she walks alone to the rail station, a man stops her and rapes her. Donna is taken to hospital and her injuries treated.

After this dramatic and gripping beginning, Donna begins her rehabilitation. She has been living with her boyfriend, who seems to try to be understanding and comforting. Difficulties arise and she goes home to live with her parents. More difficulties. She eventually ends up in a care home, where she continues a very long process of healing. As the story continues there are twists and surprises, ending with an exciting conclusion.

To my mind this novel is very well written, and the descriptions of the principal characters is in-depth and believable. The best parts of the book are the beginning and the end. The descriptions in the books middle of Donna's fears and her difficulties of continuing to function in the world are very well done, and I expect accurately portray the way in which many women might feel and respond after a brutal rape. This middle section is quite long, and for a while we forget that we are reading a thriller, but instead a psychological novel. Perhaps this is what the author intended. In any case, when the conclusion comes it is nail-biting and satisfying.

This is indeed a good read, and I recommend it.

Was this written by an eighth grade English student? I couldn't get more than half way through it and was incredulous the whole time. It's juvenile, literally everything about it. The only gripping part would be trying to figure out why the author felt this was ready for publication? I was grippingly perplexed.

This is a story with many elements. Donna the main character is attacked and raped. The story leads you through the aftermath from her point of view as she unravels. The author held my attention, building suspense with the question, what will become of Donna? Her depression is overwhelming but I think realistic and her actions, that of someone at their limits. As the story continues I was desperate to see how it ended and Peter Martin had me guessing to the last page! His subtle hints and red herrings made the twist at the end a surprise. Would definitely read more from this author!

An excellent psychological thriller that takes you on the tormented journey of a young woman who suffers a terrible crime and struggles to bring normality to her life. With an already difficult upbringing, her experiences threaten to consume any chance she finds of happiness on the way. The author has done an excellent job of developing the characters allowing the story to utterly absorb you and sets up beautifully for the twist at the end. A gripping book that I would recommend to anyone who likes a gritty thriller. A super début novel.

The main character, Donna, is raped. She isn't able to cope with the pain or her parents. They try to force back into modeling, which leads to control issues and her loss of self-esteem. She quits her job, leaves her fiancee, and then tries to kill herself. Her cry for help leads her to be institutionalized. In the hospital, she makes a friend of a male nurse. She moves in with his family. She leaves her grief and family to join a second family with their own sadness. Donna learns lessons about life and her own strength.
This book has mystery and interesting characters with their own unique problems and personalities. I like the surprise ending.

Peter Martin's book deals with the delicate subject of rape. He does a wonderful job of describing the aftermath a woman suffers from such a violent crime. Donna, his main character, has the anxiety, the nightmares, the inability to leave her apartment. It soon takes a toll on her relationships with those close to her. She finally suffers a breakdown and is institutionalized where she meets a concerned male nurse and his family who changes her life. I won't say more for fear of it becoming a spoiler alert.
I feel, Martin is an author who has great potential. He has talent. He is good now and he will only improve with time.

I just read the book, Against Her Will, a suspenseful thriller, that kept me wondering about the characters even when not reading. I am very glad the book had a happy ending (I had been wondering). It is very good to read a story that shows how sadness and depression and emotional distress can be overcome and can even help make a person stronger, and that sometimes it helps to associate with others less fortunate. This is an entertaining story with a lot going on. The author brings all the storylines together with an unexpected ending.

This is a psychological thriller that goes in depth into the trauma and aftermath of the rape of the main character, Donna, after she's attacked on the way home from work. It's great at showing the emotional devastation something like that can cause to someone, and goes on to show Donna's recovery in a care center. It's a very sensitive subject but handled well, with strong writing and detailed characterization. The ending is a twist, and the book overall is well worth your time and highly recommended, with complex characters and dark, emotional moments throughout.

This is a peer review.

This was an interesting story. I applaud Peter Martin's attempt to describe a violent rape and its after-effects from a female character's perspective. Not sure how realistic it is, but it seems plausible. His writing is tight, and he conveyed the actions, emotions, and rollercoaster of thoughts and feelings of the main character (Donna) very well as she tried to come to terms with what had happened to her. The first half of the book did drag a little bit, as previous reviewers have noted, but I kept on and was pleasantly rewarded with the secondary plotline involving Theresa. The scenes between Theresa and Donna made the story of Donna's journey more believable by having a more sympathetic character for her to interact with. I thought I knew what the twist at the end was going to be, and then I was surprised when I was wrong. I do wish the ending had been a little less rushed, but the main action and characters were well done.

A brutal experience, graphically described will set your heart pounding and your blood raging. Against Her Will does not pull any punches and the reader will be left reeling from blow after blow.

Portrayals of mental illness, manic depression and post traumatic stress are all too real. The protagonist, Donna, must cope with what every woman fears. Her road to recovery after a brutal rape is long, and far from easy.

Not for the faint of heart, but a well written book dealing with a vital and important subject. Worth your time.

Pain
Against her Will is crafted with care. The conversation is well done and realistic. The story helps the reader to understand the trauma of rape, and the emotions of the victims and their loved ones. The reader sees the pain, the anger, and the rejection.

The story flows well, and is readable. Good work. Bravo!

Against Her Will is a well written mystery suspense novel about a woman mugged, beaten and raped. The author did an excellent job of showing us, the reader, how it is to be treated so horribly. His character development is good, and he keeps us feeling the emotions of a victim such as the main character. I would recommend it and say, it is a good read. Great Job, Peter!
Pattimari Sheets Cacciolfi, Therapist, Author, and VP to PnPAuthors.

This novel follows Donna, an intelligent and beautiful young woman. Her life is wonderful until one day she suffers the most brutal attack. I felt that Peter Martin handled the rape chapter and her recovery in a realistic way and very sensitively. If follows on by showing how this one awful event managed to bring down Donna’s life to the point where she reaches rock bottom.

I would class this novel as primarily a drama/suspense until the last third when it hits you with a punch. Then the unravelling of the suspense which thrills the reader and races to the end finalises the story. An excellent pay-off.

I would thoroughly recommend this book and I would read further works by this author. Great debut novel. Looking forward to more in the future. 5 stars.

Against Her Will is an intense, psychological novel. It covers the series of events following a young woman’s rape, including her emotional response—which is interesting, to say the least. I enjoyed the trip into Donna’s psyche, and the way her past and life before and after the rape all intertwine definitely kept me reading. I wouldn’t recommend the novel to younger audiences, simply because of the adult themes, but for anyone else I would say that this is worth a look!

Free copy received in exchange for an honest review.

I found it interesting that this novel was written by a man. I feel like the story and the writing really hit home with what it would be like as a woman to be assaulted. The book deals with the stressful aftermath of an assault and the realization that people's understanding has real limits. There were also some surprises along the way. I would recommend.

A remarkable tale of one young woman’s struggle to survive after a brutal attack left her in shambles. Author Peter Martin delves deep into the turmoil and psychological trauma that scars twenty-one year old Donna after she is brutally raped and left for dead. Against Her Will takes the reader on a journey with the main character as she struggles to, at first rebuild her old life and when that tragically fails, to build a new life while confronting her fears and mental confines that seek control of her will until her eventual recovery. The author does justice to conveying the struggles of the main character throughout the story especially in the first part and his skill in weaving a remarkable path to recovery for Donna is noteworthy as is the grand finale of the tale.

This is a story of strength through compassion and sheer will to survive.

Real suspense, mystery, and a Hitchcock-like tension throughout the book draws you in, grabs you and makes you want to know the truth. This book has one of the most vividly drawn and fleshed out main characters of any book I’ve ever read. As character study alone, the novel lead me to reconsider some of my own beliefs and it definitely shined a light on the dark side of beauty. The book is compelling, well paced and has a climax that delivers the goods. Also, I enjoyed the many UK English expressions; things like “molly coddling”. Though some will find the subject matter challenging, I highly recommend this novel.

What an Amazing Story. I totally love it. I admire the author dedication for writing an incredible story. This story grabs my attention from the very start of the book and couldn't put it aside till I finish it. It was a wonderful read. From me, I will definitely rate this book and the author's hard efforts a 5-STAR. I highly recommend this book to everyone.

This is one of the most emotional and sensitive books I have ever read and I'm not usually a fan of this genre of books. Peter has done a fine job on the detailing of the emotions and expressions of Donna, the victim. This book is not for the light-hearted and it may leave a void behind in you. There are minor editing flaws in the book but it did not ruin my reading experience. I look forward to reading something else from this author on a similar genre. I give this book a hefty five stars.

An emotional read. More so, I’d imagine, for anyone who has been raped, or who has suffered the effects of rape. Not an easy read for anyone…yet uplifting at the same time.

More a drama than a thriller, it nevertheless captivates the reader and carries you along on a ride that is both gut-wrenching and irresistible.

A worthy five stars!

I didn't connect with the main character right away and almost didn't like her. But the story was too good to pass up. It traverses the road from rape to recovery - and I'm not giving you a spoiler...only telling you the end took me by total surprise. The story is a page turner for anyone interested in a good mystery!