Can someone escape from a violent marriage in Victorian times?

Synopsis

Having lost her father, Thea Goodson is alone in the world.

It is true she has a husband, but Ernie is a brutal man, more inclined to use his fists to keep Thea in line than to build on their marriage. And besides, Ernie Goodson has secrets – secrets that even his wife cannot share.
But in Victorian Yorkshire, appearances must be kept up, so Thea goes on powdering her bruises and forcing a smile as she toils in Ernie’s home and tobacco shop. There seems to be no other option.
That is, until a handsome and well-bred stranger arrives to set up shop next door…
Can Thea escape her misery and break from the conventions of society? Or will the clutches of her abusive husband confine her forever?

My review

After losing her father, Thea hoped she could find happiness by marrying Ernie Goodson. He seemed a nice man when he visited and was very kind to her when her father died. So accepting his marriage proposal made sense and Thea hoped she would learn to love Ernie in time.
But once married, Ernie shows his true face. He is not a kind man at all. He prefers to use violence to keep Thea in line and does not accept any contradiction. And then the secrets he is keeping from Thea.

Thea has no other choice than covering her bruises and plaster a fake smile on her face. Because that’s what women are supposed to do in Victorian Yorkshire.

Yet when a new neighbour appears, under the form of a handsome stranger, Thea finds herself feeling what love truly supposed to be like.
But can she escape her abusive marriage? Or will she be bound to her husband forever?

This story captured my complete attention immediately.

I felt sympathy for Thea, after losing her father and finding herself stuck in one of the worst marriages…
I found it terrible how Ernie played a charade and change into a brutal, despicable man after he gained ‘his prize’.
if I knew a Ernie myself, ooh how I would kick him in a not so nice manly place!

Thea has no other choice to endure everything, and that made me reflect on how lucky we are now that things have changed so much for women.
Even if it seems like Thea is only a victim, I found her a strong woman. She is determined to find out what secrets her husband is keeping. She also makes it clear that she wants more responsibilities in the shop, and that she can do more than just cleaning.

When Adam comes in the story, I found it nice to read how slowly Thea is changing and dares to stand up even more to her husband.
No matter how different Adam and Thea are, somehow they were both suffering and lacking on receiving love.
It was beautiful to read how these two kind people became closer during the story.

But the story is by long not quickly over. There are so many things going on. and the moment you think it’s all coming to an end, there is another twist and the consequences are even terrifying!

I found this an intriguing story, as I never knew what would be happening next to Thea. I was so hard hoping she would find happiness, but so often it seemed a dream too far away.
Despite the dark edges of this book, there are so many sweet and tender moments that made me smile.

The author wrote a story showing the brutalities women had to endure in the past. But also showing that not all men are the same, something that sometimes we have to remind this ourselves even in our own present.