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Just Beneath the Surface #1
Just Beneath the Surface, I
"His fingertips began apologizing, grazing over my cheeks. He closed his eyes and stepped toward me until our bodies touched. He kept walking toward me until we were both against the wall. He then buried his face in my blouse as he began to weep. 'I'm so sorry,' he whimpered. 'Do you understand me? I'm so, so sorry.' He held my face in his hands. My heart pounded. My chest hurt. How could I go? But how could I possibly stay?"
When Kendall Berkely takes a look in the mirror, she not only desperately wants to run away from the stranger staring back at her, she also knows that her days are numbered. She can feel it in her bones, and has the bruises to prove it. To make matters worse, Kendall will soon discover that her seventeen year old daughter, Diamond is on a path nearly just as dangerous.
After the demise of the family unit she once knew, a distracted mother, and being forced to accept a new stepfather, Diamond finds herself knee deep in a multitude of mistakes. When Diamond finds herself more lonely than ever before, she crosses paths with Bobby Lidell, a teacher’s aide with a dark side ..
But what is lurking in the shadows will not stop until a vow has been kept; what is lurking just beneath the surface will come seeking revenge.
When Kendall Berkely takes a look in the mirror, she not only desperately wants to run away from the stranger staring back at her, she also knows that her days are numbered. She can feel it in her bones, and has the bruises to prove it. To make matters worse, Kendall will soon discover that her seventeen year old daughter, Diamond is on a path nearly just as dangerous.
After the demise of the family unit she once knew, a distracted mother, and being forced to accept a new stepfather, Diamond finds herself knee deep in a multitude of mistakes. When Diamond finds herself more lonely than ever before, she crosses paths with Bobby Lidell, a teacher’s aide with a dark side ..
But what is lurking in the shadows will not stop until a vow has been kept; what is lurking just beneath the surface will come seeking revenge.
217 pages, Kindle Edition
First published February 22, 2012
43 people want to read
About the author
R.H. Ramsey
3 books18 followersRH Ramsey is a military wife, mother of two and student. Over the course of eight years, RH has diligently researched topics ranging from but not limited to: relationships, addiction, abuse and mental illness.
RH has completed several novels, four novels near completion and five short stories. She has two self-published books: Just Beneath the Surface I, and Into the Atmosphere, with many more to come.
Just recently, her books have been acquired by an indie publisher.
With a passion for people, helping and learning, she hopes to continue in her quest of learning from and inspiring others.
http://www.inknbeans.com/rh-ramsey.html
RH has completed several novels, four novels near completion and five short stories. She has two self-published books: Just Beneath the Surface I, and Into the Atmosphere, with many more to come.
Just recently, her books have been acquired by an indie publisher.
With a passion for people, helping and learning, she hopes to continue in her quest of learning from and inspiring others.
http://www.inknbeans.com/rh-ramsey.html
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Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews
August 25, 2014
good fast paced confusing at times because the author bounced around telling parts of the story but left the reader thinking they had missed something only to later go back to explain...God story though
August 8, 2013
It's hard for people on the outside not to judge. When it comes to spousal abuse, Kendall felt like many others. That would never be her. After her longstanding relationship with her boyfriend of almost two decades dissolves, Kendall wants to live her own life for once. She doesn't realize at first, though, that this means sacrificing her relationship with her children and falling prey to an abusive man. Her desire for independence becomes a struggle to survive.
This was a tough topic to cover. From the beginning, I wondered how I was going to be able to connect with Kendall and understand her choices. I wasn't sure it was possible, but Ramsey surprised me with the strength of her writing. The emotional intensity of this book was captivating. She was somehow able to make Kendall's decisions seem realistic enough that I understood her and sympathized with her. Yes, I wanted Kendall to make the right choice and leave at the first sign of danger, but I knew she couldn't because Ramsey did such a good job of letting me get inside Kendall's head.
The other characters in this book were very deep and complicated as well. The boyfriend, Michael, was so childish in the beginning, but the personal change he experienced throughout the story developed him into someone I cared about as well. Their son, Jules, wasn't a big player in the book as far as page time, but he did a great job of tying the family members together and giving a different look to each situation, especially in dealing with his sister, Diamond.
Diamond was another great aspect of this book. I felt like I connected with Diamond even more than Kendall at times. As a teenage girl struggling to deal with her parents splitting up, her mom remarrying, and basically being abandoned, Diamond acts out and makes choices she never would have made otherwise. It was heartbreaking to watch Diamond stumble through choices made just to escape what was happening at home. She ends up putting herself in dangerous situations and then is forced to face ridicule and harassment when her secrets are revealed. Not many books make me tear up, but this one did as I watched Diamond's world fall apart around her.
This book was heart wrenching the whole way through. It's a hard one to put down between watching Kendall convince herself she deserves the life she leads and watching Diamond tear her life apart. The emotion in this book was developed very well and expertly woven through each chapter. This is a book that will stay with me for some time.
Check out my other reviews at The Edible Bookshelf
This was a tough topic to cover. From the beginning, I wondered how I was going to be able to connect with Kendall and understand her choices. I wasn't sure it was possible, but Ramsey surprised me with the strength of her writing. The emotional intensity of this book was captivating. She was somehow able to make Kendall's decisions seem realistic enough that I understood her and sympathized with her. Yes, I wanted Kendall to make the right choice and leave at the first sign of danger, but I knew she couldn't because Ramsey did such a good job of letting me get inside Kendall's head.
The other characters in this book were very deep and complicated as well. The boyfriend, Michael, was so childish in the beginning, but the personal change he experienced throughout the story developed him into someone I cared about as well. Their son, Jules, wasn't a big player in the book as far as page time, but he did a great job of tying the family members together and giving a different look to each situation, especially in dealing with his sister, Diamond.
Diamond was another great aspect of this book. I felt like I connected with Diamond even more than Kendall at times. As a teenage girl struggling to deal with her parents splitting up, her mom remarrying, and basically being abandoned, Diamond acts out and makes choices she never would have made otherwise. It was heartbreaking to watch Diamond stumble through choices made just to escape what was happening at home. She ends up putting herself in dangerous situations and then is forced to face ridicule and harassment when her secrets are revealed. Not many books make me tear up, but this one did as I watched Diamond's world fall apart around her.
This book was heart wrenching the whole way through. It's a hard one to put down between watching Kendall convince herself she deserves the life she leads and watching Diamond tear her life apart. The emotion in this book was developed very well and expertly woven through each chapter. This is a book that will stay with me for some time.
Check out my other reviews at The Edible Bookshelf
March 13, 2013
I have never been in an abusive relationship. I have watched a LOT of true crime shows and read a LOT of true crime books that involve abuse and a woman staying in a relationship that clearly is going to escalate to hospitalization or even death. I can imagine those women having the same thought processes and rationales as Kendall. There’s a feeling after reading this book of having been behind the scenes to see something rare and the need to share that new knowledge with women or men who may find themselves in a similar situation.
Kendall is unhappy with her relationship and looks to move on. She’s been with the father of her two children a long time and while marriage is important to her, he doesn’t see the point. He’s written as a bit of a self-absorbed jerk at the start of the novel. “My life is important and what you do doesn’t matter.” When they break off and Kendall starts a new relationship there are signs. Signs that she chooses to ignore. Ramsey does a good job showing us where Kendall’s life falls apart and the reasons she chooses to stay.
While she’s moving on, Diamond is falling apart. She’s promised her friend that they’ll wait to have sex until they’re married and then, in the midst of her parents divorce, breaks that vow with the a man who was engaged to a friend’s mother. Her reputation at school is trashed, she’s called horrible names and boys are saying that they slept with her that haven’t (of course, she’s called a whore and they’re patted on the back). She gets involved with an older authority figure that warns her up front that he’s intense in relationships. Like all girls, she finds this appealing at first but the reality can be scary.
What most impressed me about this book was how carefully Ramsey plotted the abuser. He’s about control. He references Kendall’s former model status and he’s clearly insecure in his relationship with her. Each time something happens he says the right things. They curl up and talk and he pampers her and for a few days everything is okay until the next time there’s an imperceptible slight. Kendall must tell him that she loves him in a certain way, quit her job so he’s her only interaction.
Kendall is unhappy with her relationship and looks to move on. She’s been with the father of her two children a long time and while marriage is important to her, he doesn’t see the point. He’s written as a bit of a self-absorbed jerk at the start of the novel. “My life is important and what you do doesn’t matter.” When they break off and Kendall starts a new relationship there are signs. Signs that she chooses to ignore. Ramsey does a good job showing us where Kendall’s life falls apart and the reasons she chooses to stay.
While she’s moving on, Diamond is falling apart. She’s promised her friend that they’ll wait to have sex until they’re married and then, in the midst of her parents divorce, breaks that vow with the a man who was engaged to a friend’s mother. Her reputation at school is trashed, she’s called horrible names and boys are saying that they slept with her that haven’t (of course, she’s called a whore and they’re patted on the back). She gets involved with an older authority figure that warns her up front that he’s intense in relationships. Like all girls, she finds this appealing at first but the reality can be scary.
What most impressed me about this book was how carefully Ramsey plotted the abuser. He’s about control. He references Kendall’s former model status and he’s clearly insecure in his relationship with her. Each time something happens he says the right things. They curl up and talk and he pampers her and for a few days everything is okay until the next time there’s an imperceptible slight. Kendall must tell him that she loves him in a certain way, quit her job so he’s her only interaction.
November 2, 2012
This is a novel about the breakup of a family and its effects on family members as told from the viewpoints of the mother and daughter. Kendall, the mother, precipitates the breakup out of frustration with the immaturity of the father, Michael, and his unwillingness to marry her after a multi-year relationship, two kids, and a shared home. In what follows, Kendall marries a man she is attracted to but does not know well. The two children are separated; daughter with Kendall, son with Michael. Kendall’s new husband reveals himself as an insecure and controlling tyrant who abuses Kendall mentally and physically. Kendall soon shows the classic signs of Battered Woman Syndrome, making excuses and blaming herself for her situation, repeatedly forgiving her abuser, and seemingly unable to escape. (The author has apparently researched the syndrome, for she illustrates it well in this novel.) Kendall’s daughter Diamond reacts negatively to the unsettled environment and soon seeks solace elsewhere. Her bad judgment leads to her own personal crisis involving loss of reputation and friends. The story is suspenseful. As I read, I asked myself: What will happen next? Will Kendall ever wise up to the dangerous bully she has married? Will someone die? Can the broken family ever reunite? I liked the tight, realistic dialogue and the use of alternate chapters written from the intimate viewpoints of the two main characters. The author got inside these two and developed fully rounded, sympathetic yet flawed, individuals with emotional depth.
October 15, 2013
Kendall and Michael have been together for 14 years, share a home, a life, and two kids – Diamond and Julian (Jules). Kendall loves Michael, but hates his immaturity and irresponsibility. When Kendall finally realizes she and Michael aren’t ever going to get married, she decides she is done. Michael moves out and the kids are devastated. Shortly after their split Kendall runs into Michael’s boss, Spencer, at the store and they start dating. While Kendall is spending more and more time with Spencer, Diamond is making some bad choices of her own. She’s sleeping around, getting a reputation, and starting a relationship with an older man. Kendall’s relationship with Spencer starts to take a dark turn and it’s becoming obvious to everyone that something is really wrong. Can both Kendall and Diamond rectify the consequences of their decisions before it is way too late?
‘Just Beneath the Surface I’ takes a long hard look at an oft-overlooked issue…abusive relationships, whether physical or psychological. Yet the author handles this subject matter in a way which shows the multitude of feelings the victims go through and the reader is able to truly empathize. With realistic characters and situations, ‘Just Beneath the Surface I’ will hopefully open people’s eyes to when there are subtle signs of abuse. Well-written, emotional, and with a powerful message, ‘Just Beneath the Surface I’ will tug at your heartstrings.
‘Just Beneath the Surface I’ takes a long hard look at an oft-overlooked issue…abusive relationships, whether physical or psychological. Yet the author handles this subject matter in a way which shows the multitude of feelings the victims go through and the reader is able to truly empathize. With realistic characters and situations, ‘Just Beneath the Surface I’ will hopefully open people’s eyes to when there are subtle signs of abuse. Well-written, emotional, and with a powerful message, ‘Just Beneath the Surface I’ will tug at your heartstrings.
August 7, 2013
Truly gut-wrenching. I am remiss to use such a clichéd phrase, but my stomach literally churned with emotion as I read Just Beneath The Surface (I), which I did in just two days.
Ramsey's way with dialogue and inner monologues is so powerful it borders on reading the recollections of non-fictional accounts. Having had some experience with domestic abuse myself, I couldn't believe how well she captured the thoughts and feelings a battered woman goes through and their reactions before, during, and after each incident. Additionally fascinating was the author's introspective look at the family dynamic as a whole, how abuse can often be cyclical.
I only wish Ramsey had added a little more description to her writing. As bold as her dialogue was, it may have benefitted from the texture of what the characters saw, smelled, heard, etc. Just a little more in the way of immersing the reader fully into the setting. Also, the ending was a bit choppy and rushed and the passage of time could have been transitioned cleaner. (MILD SPOILER ALERT AHEAD) But bringing together the gripping opening scene with the invigorating ending scene was brilliant and definitely made up for it. (And I didn't see it coming, at least not in the way that it did.)
Overall, I was impressed with Ramsey's raw, emotional debut and, although the topic at hand is a touchy one for me personally, I look forward to reading more from this author.
Ramsey's way with dialogue and inner monologues is so powerful it borders on reading the recollections of non-fictional accounts. Having had some experience with domestic abuse myself, I couldn't believe how well she captured the thoughts and feelings a battered woman goes through and their reactions before, during, and after each incident. Additionally fascinating was the author's introspective look at the family dynamic as a whole, how abuse can often be cyclical.
I only wish Ramsey had added a little more description to her writing. As bold as her dialogue was, it may have benefitted from the texture of what the characters saw, smelled, heard, etc. Just a little more in the way of immersing the reader fully into the setting. Also, the ending was a bit choppy and rushed and the passage of time could have been transitioned cleaner. (MILD SPOILER ALERT AHEAD) But bringing together the gripping opening scene with the invigorating ending scene was brilliant and definitely made up for it. (And I didn't see it coming, at least not in the way that it did.)
Overall, I was impressed with Ramsey's raw, emotional debut and, although the topic at hand is a touchy one for me personally, I look forward to reading more from this author.
January 12, 2014
The Apple Doesn't Fall Far From the Tree
Kendall and Michael have two children and have been playing house. Kendall wants more but Michael does not. They break up, which affects the children. Kendall meets a man who she feels treats her like a queen and eventually they get married. As time goes on, Kendall sees her husband for the man he really is. Will masking her own problems cause her to lose her kids?
“Just Beneath the Surface I” portrays a realistic account of domestic abuse and the effects it can have on an entire family. We sit back and assume no one will know if we cover up the bruises or make excuses for the abuser. Ramsey does an excellent job of presenting the story through the voice of the women. This is a book I'd recommend. It's a well-written page turner packed with a powerful message.
Reviewed by: Jas
Kendall and Michael have two children and have been playing house. Kendall wants more but Michael does not. They break up, which affects the children. Kendall meets a man who she feels treats her like a queen and eventually they get married. As time goes on, Kendall sees her husband for the man he really is. Will masking her own problems cause her to lose her kids?
“Just Beneath the Surface I” portrays a realistic account of domestic abuse and the effects it can have on an entire family. We sit back and assume no one will know if we cover up the bruises or make excuses for the abuser. Ramsey does an excellent job of presenting the story through the voice of the women. This is a book I'd recommend. It's a well-written page turner packed with a powerful message.
Reviewed by: Jas
December 14, 2013
How many times do you meet someone only to realize later that they aren't what they originally seem to be?
I found myself asking that question a lot as I read this book. There were moments when I had to stop reading to ask myself what would I do if I were in Kendall's situation. I love books that make you think!
There were also some sections that were painfully graphic, it's a subject that is not for the faint of heart and many times I wanted to skip over certain sections because my own sensitivities were getting in the way. Ramsey has a way of making you feel everything that the character is feeling, good and bad!
Five stars from me, I will be back for more of Ramsey's work to continue finding out what else is beneath the surface.
I found myself asking that question a lot as I read this book. There were moments when I had to stop reading to ask myself what would I do if I were in Kendall's situation. I love books that make you think!
There were also some sections that were painfully graphic, it's a subject that is not for the faint of heart and many times I wanted to skip over certain sections because my own sensitivities were getting in the way. Ramsey has a way of making you feel everything that the character is feeling, good and bad!
Five stars from me, I will be back for more of Ramsey's work to continue finding out what else is beneath the surface.
July 21, 2016
3.5 - Full Review to come.
Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews