Product Description

Four-year-old Lisa's world turned upside down when her step-father moved in. Most of the time he was just violent but then he started making her do things she knew were wrong. Soon he was visiting her at night. Lisa begged her mother for help but she just shrugged, telling Lisa he would have his way. It was the greatest betrayal of all. Four-year-old Lisa's world turned upside down when her step-father moved in. Most of the time he was just violent but then he started making her do things she knew were wrong. Soon he was visiting her at night. Lisa begged her mother for help but she just shrugged, telling Lisa he would have his way. It was the greatest betrayal of all.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #24651 in Books
• Published on: 2009-09-03
• Original language: English
• Binding: Paperback
• 320 pages

Review
'Truly remarkable ... Lisa's courage is an inspiration to us all.' Shy Keenan and Sara Payne 'Her mother was no mother at all. In the face of the ultimate betrayal, Lisa somehow found the strength to rescue herself. Her plight inspired us to fight for a change in the law and her courage inspires victims everyday to speak out. She is and always will be a true Phoenix Hero.' Shy Keenan & Sara Payne MBE

About the Author
Lisa James is married and lives with her husband and six children in the north of England. In 2005 she reported her step-father to the police and three years later, when the case came to court, he was convicted.

Customer Reviews

A Remarkable Memoir

Lisa James, I take my hat off to you!

You have written a remarkable book about the most vile abuses but somehow managed to do it with both dignity and great charm. Your writing hooked me from the first page with your amazing spirit shining through. You are so couragious and brave to have taken that brute to court without any support. You deserve every happiness you now have with your husband and wonderful children.

I highly recommend this book. It isn't your run-of-the-mill memoir. This is a blinding read that you'll think about for a long time after. It thoroughly deserved its spot as a Sunday Times no1 bestseller.

Well done Lisa. Thank you for telling us your story. You will help many people with this.

xox

Another victim...another survivor...
Lisa had the most degrading childhood, one of the very worst I have read. It's a miracle she managed to survive the daily violence that was doled out to her from her stepfather. The cruel coldness of her mother is equally as shocking. It disgusts me to think her mother is out there somewhere being 'doted on' by her other children who so easily turned their back on their sister when she really needed their support.
But instead of letting that beat her, Lisa went on to testify against her 'dad' Frank in court last year.
Without the family support she should have recieved, Lisa found the strength to send her stepfather to prison.

This book is brilliantly written (without a ghost-writer as many are these days). It's honest, graphic in places but not overly done. I totally agree with the other reviewers - You won't want to put this book down until you find out for sure that she did survive her horrors. It's so frightening to hear that people witnessed some of the attacks and did absolutely nothing to help. The most upsetting one for me was the trip back from the doctors. I hope society has changed since then. I know for sure I would step in if I saw something like that happening!!!

I wish you all the very best in the future Lisa. Despite your lonely start in life you are now surrounded by lots of people who care and love you very much. Thank you for sharing your story with us all. I hope the more people that come forward may help those in similar situations to find the courage to take control and report their abuser.

Take care xx

A page turner
I've read a lot of books in this genre, and I have to say this is the best of them. I'm sure there are lots of books with equally sad and shocking stories, but this is written as a real page turner.I could hardly drag myself away from it. I was disgusted by the mum and dad, and the rest of the family weren't much better. Lisa James is a very brave lady, and going by this, a very talented writer. I wish her all the best and if she ever wrote a follow-up, I'd be first to buy it.