No One Crosses the Wolf by Lisa Nikolidakis

This is a memoir about a troubled childhood full of abuse and neglect. It’s not an easy read and I wasn’t looking for one. It follows her growing up years with her brother and parents and all the trauma you can imagine.

Her father is a piece of crap, to put it lightly. He is an alcoholic that spends most of his at-home hours terrorizing his family. When he isn’t home, they dread his coming home so they are never truly free of him. After reading her recollections of him, I can understand that fear.

And her mother isn’t much better in comparison. She doesn’t abuse the kids but she doesn’t stop the abuse either. She puts her head in the clouds and pretends that everything is just fine. Domestic violence doesn’t go away because you want it to, you have to stop it! Her mother failed them all.

When her father finally snaps, I expected more somehow. More untangling the emotional threads of her life. More in-depth onion peeling. I wanted to see her do the hard work to undo all the lessons that her upbringing taught at such high prices. But she did none of it. She drank, slept around, and went to Greece. I’m healed!!! The end. What?? Yeah, I’m confused too.

My first inclination was to give this a 2-star review. I mulled it over though, for several days I might add. Three is as high as I can go. She writes well. She knows how to create an atmosphere and add texture and shade to a story but in the end, there’s no story. There’s no healing final chapter. There’s no Oprah “Aha!” moment. And that is a true letdown.

⭐⭐⭐ /⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

Crybaby by K. Webster

Sophia is a 17 year old high school student and life is great. College scouts are in the stands when her life drastically changes. She is horribly injured playing softball, effectively ending her days as an athlete. Now she knows pain and pills, not hits and runs. To say that she isn’t handling it well would be an understatement.

Drew is 40 years old and established in his own life. He’s a physical therapist in his own practice and has several employess. His sex life involves a local club or his own hand. He happens to be a bit of a Dom and has set his sights on Sophia. It didn’t happen overnight though. She is the teenage sister of his best friends girl and they spent alot of time together after her accident. He sees her in pain and using a cane. He can and will fix it, whether she likes it or not.

It wont be easy. First, Sophia has become trapped in the cycle of pain and pills and hopelessness. Shes angry and holding onto it as a coping stragety. She feels like its the only thing she has left. Before long they are sneaking behind her father’s back. Also her father is a judge and knows that what Drew wants is illegal. Overcoming obstacles either make or break a relationship. Will they survive? Will Sophia?

I have to tackle the ages and illegality first. Yes, she’s 17 but he’s 40! Her father is a judge and he doesn’t even attempt to stop this until a more appropriate time? It’s inappropriate not only because of her age but become of her health. She has two other life threatening things going on that I won’t reveal because it would essentially be telling the whole story. If you don’t think that’s wrong subtract two years from each of their ages and think again. It’s wrong and it feels like a pedophile strong-arming or grooming her. She is incredibly vulnerable and her family has basically discarded her to her own devices. She is ripe for the picking.

The sex is very aggressive, with bondage and punishment not usually seen in stories featuring a teenager. They participate in public sex, ass play, and breath play among others. There could be more, but as stated above, I skimmed most of the later sex scenes.

I found some of aspects unbelievable. What kind of family walks away from a 17 year old girl after a horrific accident? Why aren’t they more involved? How is Drew able get enough time and space to begin the grooming process? She was surrounded by adults for heavens sake!

Otherwise, there is continuity and flawless editing. I didn’t spot any mangling spelling errors. However, I will be honest and say that I began to skim over the sexual aspects. They were too much for me. It is a full story though.

Other parts of the story also bothered me but once again, I’ll refrain. This story bothered me in so many levels that I actually struggled to finish it. I wont let my ‘Ick Factor’ to influence my rating though.

Can I recommend this book? I’m neutral. Yes, its a over the line for me. I know that will not be the case for everyone. The writing was smooth, the editing was nicely done and it’s a standalone. I feel like this is the best I can do in this instance.

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