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In the Face of Adversity
A LITTLE GIRL’S TRAGIC DEATH DEVASTATES HER FAMILY. WILL THEY EVER GET OVER LOSING HER AND FIND THE STRENGTH TO CARRY ON WITHOUT HER?
When twelve-year-old Billy’s eight-year-old sister is diagnosed with cancer, it shatters their happy and loving family. To see her suffer for months before a painful death tear’s them all apart. Billy’s father takes to drink, his mother has an affair and Billy is left to grieve on his own.
When Billy’s father he finds out about his wife’s infidelity he is heartbroken. He begs her to stay, but unrepentant she leaves him for her lover and asks Billy to come with her. But he opts to stay with his dad.
A year later having heard nothing from his mother, they receive a letter in post from her solicitor filing for divorce. The settlement forces them to sell the house and move into a bedsit, which Billy hates. He is now torn between his mother and father but it seems his mother is more interested in her partner than him.
After losing his job, Billy’s father hit’s rock bottom and again turns to drink. Then out of the blue he announces they are to move in with his mother again. Is this true, or is something more sinister going on?
When twelve-year-old Billy’s eight-year-old sister is diagnosed with cancer, it shatters their happy and loving family. To see her suffer for months before a painful death tear’s them all apart. Billy’s father takes to drink, his mother has an affair and Billy is left to grieve on his own.
When Billy’s father he finds out about his wife’s infidelity he is heartbroken. He begs her to stay, but unrepentant she leaves him for her lover and asks Billy to come with her. But he opts to stay with his dad.
A year later having heard nothing from his mother, they receive a letter in post from her solicitor filing for divorce. The settlement forces them to sell the house and move into a bedsit, which Billy hates. He is now torn between his mother and father but it seems his mother is more interested in her partner than him.
After losing his job, Billy’s father hit’s rock bottom and again turns to drink. Then out of the blue he announces they are to move in with his mother again. Is this true, or is something more sinister going on?
405 pages, Kindle Edition
Published September 1, 2019
103 people are currently reading
83 people want to read
About the author
Martin Perks
7 books48 followersPeter Martin was born and bred in the West Midlands. Against Her Will is his debut novel, and is the story of one young woman's fight to lead a normal life after a horrific rape.
Martin's interests lie mainly in crime, suspense and thrillers. His favorite authors are diverse, including Robert Goddard, R J Ellory, Kate Mosse,Dean Koontz, Stephen King, Diane Chamberlain, Harper Lee,Wilbur Smith.
For more info :http://petermartinauthor.co.uk
facebook:mart.perks@facebook.com
Good Reads : https://www.goodreads.com/Martinperks
Martin's interests lie mainly in crime, suspense and thrillers. His favorite authors are diverse, including Robert Goddard, R J Ellory, Kate Mosse,Dean Koontz, Stephen King, Diane Chamberlain, Harper Lee,Wilbur Smith.
For more info :http://petermartinauthor.co.uk
facebook:mart.perks@facebook.com
Good Reads : https://www.goodreads.com/Martinperks
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Displaying 1 - 13 of 13 reviews
November 22, 2019
"In the Face of Adversity" by Peter Martin is an emotion-packed story that depicts the life of Billy, a thirteen-year-old boy who has confronted traumatic events in all aspects of his young life. The death of his little sister, Katie, marks the start of life-altering adversities. Unable to come to terms with the loss of Katie, his parents’ marriage crumbles. Billy’s grief-stricken mother, Maggie, finds solace in the arms of another woman. She decides to leave her husband and son for her new lover, Jane. Left with the sole responsibility of raising his son, Billy’s father, Thomas, takes refuge in alcohol. Although Thomas does everything he can to provide for his son, a situation related to his drinking sends him to prison. As a result, young Billy is left alone with no one but his Uncle James and Aunt Violet to care for him. Is Billy ready for what the future has in store for him? Like a butterfly, will he emerge from his circuit stances and take flight into a new life?
The author’s simple, yet descriptive, writing style made envisioning the scenes quite easy. The tragic events that Billy goes through create a roller coaster of feelings for the reader. I was impressed by how the writer skillfully balances sorrow, heartbreak, and betrayal with aspiration, strength, and love — culminating in an emotionally wrought drama. The character of the protagonist is well-developed and makes the story a worthy journey to follow. We watch as Billy grows from an intelligent teenager to a full-grown man with a family to look after. At some point, I thought all of Billy’s woes would end. But to my surprise and after repeated plot twists, his hardships continue. This made the book hard to put down. How do we exit from the wheel of life when we encounter one misfortune after another?
Peter Martin did a remarkable job developing this original storyline, creating a genuine and sincere character who faces seemingly impossible life challenges. His work seemed to be professionally edited, as I didn’t notice any grammatical errors. I would recommend this book to readers who enjoy drama and can relate to facing adversity in their own lives.
The author’s simple, yet descriptive, writing style made envisioning the scenes quite easy. The tragic events that Billy goes through create a roller coaster of feelings for the reader. I was impressed by how the writer skillfully balances sorrow, heartbreak, and betrayal with aspiration, strength, and love — culminating in an emotionally wrought drama. The character of the protagonist is well-developed and makes the story a worthy journey to follow. We watch as Billy grows from an intelligent teenager to a full-grown man with a family to look after. At some point, I thought all of Billy’s woes would end. But to my surprise and after repeated plot twists, his hardships continue. This made the book hard to put down. How do we exit from the wheel of life when we encounter one misfortune after another?
Peter Martin did a remarkable job developing this original storyline, creating a genuine and sincere character who faces seemingly impossible life challenges. His work seemed to be professionally edited, as I didn’t notice any grammatical errors. I would recommend this book to readers who enjoy drama and can relate to facing adversity in their own lives.
June 28, 2019
I received a complimentary copy of In The Face of Adversity by Peter Martin (aka Martin Perks) from the author in order to read and give an honest review.
... a well-written, character-driven book that kept me turning the pages and feeling such a range of emotions...
Young Billy's family is thrown into peril after his young sister passes away from cancer. Grieving, his family begins to crumble, his mother despondent, his father seeking solace in a bottle, their marriage dissolves. When things hit an impasse his mother walks out to move in with her lover, leaving young Billy and his father. Devastated and still in love with his wife, Billy and his father wait for her to come to her senses and return. They try to keep living their life as normal as possible, but when the betrayal and loss overwhelm his father things take a turn for the worse and they end up homeless. Out of the blue, it looks like a reconciliation might happen but with tempers flared things take a tragic turn and Billy's life is changed forever.
We watch Billy grow up, we follow along on his journey witnessing him struggle as he tries to overcome the aftermath of his childhood. As an adult, we are in awe of what Jimmy's accomplished but it's not long before we see that the trauma he endured really never disappeared and that his family tragedies seem to follow him.
Mr Martin masterfully creates a tragic, heartbreaking plot with very real and multifaceted characters that drive the story, taking the reader on an all-encompassing emotional rollercoaster.
All-in-all, a well-written, character-driven book that kept me turning the pages and feeling such a range of emotions. I would definitely recommend!
... a well-written, character-driven book that kept me turning the pages and feeling such a range of emotions...
Young Billy's family is thrown into peril after his young sister passes away from cancer. Grieving, his family begins to crumble, his mother despondent, his father seeking solace in a bottle, their marriage dissolves. When things hit an impasse his mother walks out to move in with her lover, leaving young Billy and his father. Devastated and still in love with his wife, Billy and his father wait for her to come to her senses and return. They try to keep living their life as normal as possible, but when the betrayal and loss overwhelm his father things take a turn for the worse and they end up homeless. Out of the blue, it looks like a reconciliation might happen but with tempers flared things take a tragic turn and Billy's life is changed forever.
We watch Billy grow up, we follow along on his journey witnessing him struggle as he tries to overcome the aftermath of his childhood. As an adult, we are in awe of what Jimmy's accomplished but it's not long before we see that the trauma he endured really never disappeared and that his family tragedies seem to follow him.
Mr Martin masterfully creates a tragic, heartbreaking plot with very real and multifaceted characters that drive the story, taking the reader on an all-encompassing emotional rollercoaster.
All-in-all, a well-written, character-driven book that kept me turning the pages and feeling such a range of emotions. I would definitely recommend!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
October 8, 2023
Not bad
A possible 3.5*
Definitely a drama, not sure about the psychological part though. It's a reasonably good story with a lot of heartbreak. The protagonist had a lot of bad luck that's for sure but I didn't particularly warm to him or the women he met along the way! It flowed quite well but the storyline didn't seem to lead anywhere. It's quite a sad tale about the misfortunes of a young boy struggling his way into adulthood and all the highs and lows he encounters. Not quite the ending I was expecting but it was ok.
A possible 3.5*
Definitely a drama, not sure about the psychological part though. It's a reasonably good story with a lot of heartbreak. The protagonist had a lot of bad luck that's for sure but I didn't particularly warm to him or the women he met along the way! It flowed quite well but the storyline didn't seem to lead anywhere. It's quite a sad tale about the misfortunes of a young boy struggling his way into adulthood and all the highs and lows he encounters. Not quite the ending I was expecting but it was ok.
February 1, 2025
What an awful book!
I can’t find one good thing to say about this story. It was horribly depressing, one god-awful thing after another. I felt sorry for Billy, the child because of the terrible circumstances of his youth, but he grew into a co-dependent, abusive adult who couldn’t make a relationship work. He had a terrible attitude most of the time.
I can’t find one good thing to say about this story. It was horribly depressing, one god-awful thing after another. I felt sorry for Billy, the child because of the terrible circumstances of his youth, but he grew into a co-dependent, abusive adult who couldn’t make a relationship work. He had a terrible attitude most of the time.
September 22, 2022
a man doomed
Story of a man doomed to repeat the same mistake over and over. He loses his family tragically and wants nothing more than to have a family and live happily ever after. But that is not to be.
Story of a man doomed to repeat the same mistake over and over. He loses his family tragically and wants nothing more than to have a family and live happily ever after. But that is not to be.
June 13, 2019
A great family drama
April 30, 2022
Adversity for hire
If you had as many problems as Billy y ou! would be unlucky indeed.
This is a black, dark book, full of negativity but so well written I could not out it down!
If you had as many problems as Billy y ou! would be unlucky indeed.
This is a black, dark book, full of negativity but so well written I could not out it down!
June 5, 2022
Adversity
A moving story about adversity and changes in life, when nothing goes the way you want.
This is the first book I have read by this author, but it won't be the last.
A moving story about adversity and changes in life, when nothing goes the way you want.
This is the first book I have read by this author, but it won't be the last.
January 18, 2023
The storyline was a bit slow
June 16, 2024
I kept waiting for it to get better but it never did. Just went on and on. Don’t waste your time on this one
April 25, 2025
Good story
I .enjoyed the book I could sympathise with Billy it's sad the ending couldn't have ended happier that's life as we now it!.net
I .enjoyed the book I could sympathise with Billy it's sad the ending couldn't have ended happier that's life as we now it!.net
October 12, 2019
In The Face Of Adversity follows the life of Billy from his childhood until middle age. Tragedy, tribulations and misfortunes seem to follow Billy unbelievably. At the age of 12, nobody seems to care about his homework, his happiness and his well-being as a child. On one hand, his father drowns himself with alcohol in an attempt to numb the pain of losing baby Katie and on the other hand, his mother is busy having an affair with another woman due to the same reason. The sorrows of the Price family just never seem to end, as Billy finds himself forced to stay with his uncle and aunt after his father is charged with murder. But really though, is he responsible for the death of his wife as well as her lover or there's a hidden mystery?
Many times in life we tend to believe that when one experience an unfortunate upbringing, things will probably change as they mature but this is a different story for Billy. His life is either transfixed, or it worsens. I think he is destined to be a loner because all his loved ones die or leave him for greener pastures. This novel covers themes of love, loss, death, murder, destitution, separation and divorce. I cried a couple of times while reading this novel. Maybe at some point I was expecting Billy to find a green light, a paradise and live happily but every time a bad omen knocked on his door I found myself in tears, sympathising with him and wishing things to turn out differently. For what Sarah (Billy's wife) did to Billy I wished quite often that the bad luck can follow her wherever she goes. That was wrong of me. But as a good-hearted soul you'd probably think the same after reading this novel.
What stood out for me the most was the patience and endurance that Billy portrayed. Amidst everything that he went through, he kept hoping that things will stabilise and come back to normality. The same goes for his father; he portrayed the same traits. Hoping for the best was in their genes. I also liked aunt Violet and uncle James. They were so humble, caring and kind regardless of their riches, I could relate so much with their character. What I didn't like about reading In The Face Of Adversity was Billy not having a happy ever after. How can one describe a life of misery from the age of 12?
Peter Martin has done a great job in developing the characters. Not even once did I meet a shallow character. The author continues to use a clear simple language making the novel easy to read and understand. Although the novel is well written, I did come across a few grammatical errors. They did not affect my reading as well as my rating. I therefore rate In The Face Of Adversity a perfect 5 out of 5 stars.
Many times in life we tend to believe that when one experience an unfortunate upbringing, things will probably change as they mature but this is a different story for Billy. His life is either transfixed, or it worsens. I think he is destined to be a loner because all his loved ones die or leave him for greener pastures. This novel covers themes of love, loss, death, murder, destitution, separation and divorce. I cried a couple of times while reading this novel. Maybe at some point I was expecting Billy to find a green light, a paradise and live happily but every time a bad omen knocked on his door I found myself in tears, sympathising with him and wishing things to turn out differently. For what Sarah (Billy's wife) did to Billy I wished quite often that the bad luck can follow her wherever she goes. That was wrong of me. But as a good-hearted soul you'd probably think the same after reading this novel.
What stood out for me the most was the patience and endurance that Billy portrayed. Amidst everything that he went through, he kept hoping that things will stabilise and come back to normality. The same goes for his father; he portrayed the same traits. Hoping for the best was in their genes. I also liked aunt Violet and uncle James. They were so humble, caring and kind regardless of their riches, I could relate so much with their character. What I didn't like about reading In The Face Of Adversity was Billy not having a happy ever after. How can one describe a life of misery from the age of 12?
Peter Martin has done a great job in developing the characters. Not even once did I meet a shallow character. The author continues to use a clear simple language making the novel easy to read and understand. Although the novel is well written, I did come across a few grammatical errors. They did not affect my reading as well as my rating. I therefore rate In The Face Of Adversity a perfect 5 out of 5 stars.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
April 24, 2020
Billy's story is a testament to those who possess a certain inner strength that keeps them moving despite every roadblock (literal & figurative) thrown their way. Those same people are also loners or introverts like myself. After the death of his sister, Billy's family is forever fractured. His mother begins a same-sex affair. His father finds comfort in the bottle. Billy is left on his own and it appears unloved and unnoticed. When his father is charged with an unspeakable act, his life is upended once again. It would seem that Billy from his youth to adulthood can't seem to catch a break. The character was subjected to one negative experience after another. I think Perks handled character development well and had a good handle on capturing the emotional turmoil experienced by the characters in the book. This story touches many emotional elements so if you are looking for a feel-good story or something light this is not for you. If you want to see the gritty and dark side some people experience, I think this is for you.
Displaying 1 - 13 of 13 reviews