So many emotions as I read If I Am Missing or Dead (A Sister’s Story of Love, Murder and Liberation) by Janine Latus. Anger, sadness, disbelief.

And as I read, a haunting ghost came from my past.

A woman I knew when I worked at a Christian bookstore. Me a college co-ed. She a mother of two. A wife. Both of us Christians. We talked, but never really shared intimate stories of our lives. Then one night that all changed. A co-worked told me of her secret, swore me not to tell. That night, I saw a different woman than the one I knew from the store. The black eye told me more than I could have guessed.

I’d forgotten about her until I picked up this book and read of how these two sisters endured physical and mental abuse from various men in their lives. This book made me grateful – my loving husband, the example my father set with my mom. I have what many do not.

As much as this book is about domestic violence, it’s a story of self esteem and feeling comfortable in your own skin as a woman. Often, it’s difficult to read – horrifying is the best way to describe what Latus survived, especially as a girl. Horrible, yet so important.

This one will go on the shelf for my daughters to read one day.

Then their brothers can read it as well.

Author Janine Latus’ website is If I am Missing or Dead.com