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Against Their Will: A Thriller Conceived From True Events
A holiday drive to Florida ends tragically for Izzy and Maria when their car breaks down outside a rural North Carolina bar. Kidnapped by two brutally sadistic men, the sisters are held captive in a remote fishing cabin. As the men become increasingly unhinged, their savagery intensifies, propelling the young women into a desperate fight for their lives. Decades and distance have healed their physical injuries, but Izzy and Maria's once-close relationship has failed to survive in the aftermath of their nightmare. Estranged and living on opposite coasts, they rarely see or speak to each other.Now, one of the kidnappers has been released from prison, vowing to exact his revenge on Izzy and Maria. As a hurricane rages around them, the sisters endeavor to repair their bond, confronting many hard truths in the process. Can they reconcile in time to defeat the demons from their past?
312 pages, Paperback
Published July 23, 2019
49 people are currently reading
228 people want to read
About the author
Carolyn Courtney Lauman
3 books17 followersCarolyn is a writer of mystery and suspense novels, as well as works focusing on the richness of her Catholic faith. She lives on the coast of Maryland, USA.
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Displaying 1 - 25 of 25 reviews
September 17, 2019
Many thanks to Reedsy Discovery for giving me a free copy in exchange for an honest review.
Izzy and Maria are best friends as well as sisters who are travelling from their home in Pennsylvania for a holiday with friends in Florida. On the way, their car breaks down, sending the girls to a dodgy bar in hopes of finding a mechanic to help them. What happens though, destroys their once close bond, and leaves the girls fighting for their lives.
I really liked Maria. She’s a fighter, someone determined to survive no matter what’s thrown at her. I didn’t really connect to Izzy, but the story doesn’t follow her life so we don’t really get to know her. However, both sisters fiercely love one another and are determined to survive the horror that they’ve been through. I also understood why they drifted apart, and was really hoping that they reconciled in the end.
Billy and Frank were horrible monsters, and I was shocked by their crimes. However, they were real people, with terrible pasts that may have driven them to do what they did to Maria and Izzy. That doesn’t justify what they did at all, but it makes them real, and not just characters who are evil just for the sake of the story.
One thing that could be changed, maybe, was seeing their interactions with Frank’s sister or maybe some of their friends. The only reason Frank’s sister had any role in the story was to testify, but it would have been interesting to see how Billy and Frank acted with her or their friends when they were sober. Their past was interesting, but it would help make them more believable characters if we had an idea of what they were like on a normal day.
I loved how thrilling the story was. I couldn’t put the book down until I finished Part I, and even then, I was still wondering and very excited to know what happened next. I’m a big fan of criminal trials, and the legal aspect of the story made me love it even more. The second half was just as good as the first, and I really enjoyed it. The ending was great; sad, but still very good, and I liked how Izzy and Maria were strong despite everything. The writing was also amazing!
In the end, this was an incredible fast-paced debut, with great characters, and a captivating plot.
★★★★☆
Content Warnings: sexual assault, abuse, kidnapping, and explicit content
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Quote: I’m not sure if I’m just punishing myself by pushing away everything I used to love.
Izzy and Maria are best friends as well as sisters who are travelling from their home in Pennsylvania for a holiday with friends in Florida. On the way, their car breaks down, sending the girls to a dodgy bar in hopes of finding a mechanic to help them. What happens though, destroys their once close bond, and leaves the girls fighting for their lives.
I really liked Maria. She’s a fighter, someone determined to survive no matter what’s thrown at her. I didn’t really connect to Izzy, but the story doesn’t follow her life so we don’t really get to know her. However, both sisters fiercely love one another and are determined to survive the horror that they’ve been through. I also understood why they drifted apart, and was really hoping that they reconciled in the end.
Quote: I am angry with everyone and no one at the same time.
Billy and Frank were horrible monsters, and I was shocked by their crimes. However, they were real people, with terrible pasts that may have driven them to do what they did to Maria and Izzy. That doesn’t justify what they did at all, but it makes them real, and not just characters who are evil just for the sake of the story.
One thing that could be changed, maybe, was seeing their interactions with Frank’s sister or maybe some of their friends. The only reason Frank’s sister had any role in the story was to testify, but it would have been interesting to see how Billy and Frank acted with her or their friends when they were sober. Their past was interesting, but it would help make them more believable characters if we had an idea of what they were like on a normal day.
I loved how thrilling the story was. I couldn’t put the book down until I finished Part I, and even then, I was still wondering and very excited to know what happened next. I’m a big fan of criminal trials, and the legal aspect of the story made me love it even more. The second half was just as good as the first, and I really enjoyed it. The ending was great; sad, but still very good, and I liked how Izzy and Maria were strong despite everything. The writing was also amazing!
In the end, this was an incredible fast-paced debut, with great characters, and a captivating plot.
★★★★☆
Content Warnings: sexual assault, abuse, kidnapping, and explicit content
Follow me for more reviews! Blog | Goodreads | Reedsy
September 7, 2020
I’m going to start off by saying this book has a lot of sexual, graphic content along with brutal attacks during a horrific kidnapping - it’s based on a true story. I hated the two men responsible for the kidnapping and the poor sisters what they went through was just terrible! I almost stopped reading it at different points in the book but the story kept pulling me back in and I wanted to see how it ended. Overall I’m giving it 4 stars. Not sure I’d recommend it because of how much vulgar content it had in it, but it was well written.
April 26, 2021
Couldn’t put it down!
Graphic, yes. Raw, yes. Amazing....YES!! Read this in just about a day. I loved the sisters bond and how the author didn’t hold back. To tell a story such as this, it has to be descriptive and keep you guessing what will happen next. This book definitely did it for me.
Graphic, yes. Raw, yes. Amazing....YES!! Read this in just about a day. I loved the sisters bond and how the author didn’t hold back. To tell a story such as this, it has to be descriptive and keep you guessing what will happen next. This book definitely did it for me.
July 21, 2024
I enjoyed the fact that this book had a little bit of everything, some thriller edge of your seat moments, a bit of police investigation,and some romance. Izzy and Maria are some bad ass sisters, each torn apart by the horrific events that happened and both dealing with their trauma their own way. Come together to finally be able to heal.
August 4, 2019
This exciting story kept me on the edge of my seat. New author Carolyn Courtney Lauman has crafted a frightening tale of terror. A skilled storyteller, she manages weaves a heartwarming romantic subplot into the mix, which kept me turning the pages. I highly recommended this fast-moving thriller.
October 25, 2019
Very good read
I enjoyed “Against Their Will”. Carolyn’s style is easy to read and the story (especially in the first third of the book) was brisk and well reported. The ending was satisfying, as well. I’d recommend this novel to mystery lovers.
I enjoyed “Against Their Will”. Carolyn’s style is easy to read and the story (especially in the first third of the book) was brisk and well reported. The ending was satisfying, as well. I’d recommend this novel to mystery lovers.
January 15, 2020
Carolyn Courtney Lauman has written a psychological thriller in Against Their Will that kept me on pins and needles from the first page to the last. Once I started reading, I couldn't stop except for life getting in my way! A horrific unfortunate kidnapping of two sisters and their extraordinary will to survive brought out so many emotions for me as I read each page, i.e. terror, hate, love, fear, anguish, healing, compassion to name a few! I will surely be reading more of Carolyn Courtney Lauman's books. This is her first book and, I hope, not her last!
June 15, 2020
If you can read a disturbing book (some bad things happen to young girls) then I highly recommend reading this book. I could not put it down and read this book in 1 day!!! I just finished her 2nd book, deceptive waters which was also very good. I live in Southport and really enjoyed both books. I think Carolyn Courtney Lauman is an undiscovered Gem and cant wait to read everything she writes.
April 5, 2022
Picked this book up from the source; a little coastal gift shop in Southport, NC.
VERY well written. An easy page turner that kept me engaged the entire story.
Immediately looked up Carolyn Courtney's other works. I'm hooked.
Best book I've read in awhile.
Disclaimer: This thriller includes very graphic descriptions of sexual assault
VERY well written. An easy page turner that kept me engaged the entire story.
Immediately looked up Carolyn Courtney's other works. I'm hooked.
Best book I've read in awhile.
Disclaimer: This thriller includes very graphic descriptions of sexual assault
May 20, 2021
Excellent suspense thriller. Kept me up late at night because I couldn’t put it down. Also enjoyed it being staged in the Sweet town I live in. Excellent job. Well done and I look forward to her next book.
Bennie Leverich.
Bennie Leverich.
May 7, 2020
Overall, decent story. Based on true events. Felt rushed and highly sexualized, unnecessarily.
May 11, 2021
Such a good book! I definitely recommend. If you can handle some of the scenes.
October 27, 2021
This book was amazing! I didn’t want to put it down and was sorry when it ended.
December 20, 2021
This was such an amazing ride! Being the author is local and story took place locally, it just added to the greatness of this book! I’ve gotten her next two and will be reading them shortly!
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June 21, 2022Do we really need to read another book about man’s inhumanity ? Plus the way it describes Carolinians is grossly unjust. I wouldn’t recommend this book to anyone.
October 16, 2022
TRIGGERS FOR SOME, BUT ALL IN ALL,, A PAGE TURNER FOR SURE
November 20, 2022
It didn’t dislike it. I just felt it wasn’t a vibe 🤷🏻♀️
May 29, 2024
Probably a good book idea but the writing was terrible. It was so hard to read. Probably closer to one star.
Read
June 10, 20243.5 ✩
September 18, 2022
The crime itself was well detailed (as in graphic, reader beware!), but the plot thereafter really didn't keep me locked in. Predictable and cliché. Fast read as well, so falls in the "cheap thrill" category for me
October 8, 2019
Sad what they went through.
Sister's Maria and Izzy are traveling from Pennsylvania to Florida when they run into car trouble in North Carolina.
They stop and ask for help and got more than what they bargained for when they are kidnapped.
I am not going to spoil it but they go through hell. All will eventually end well by the end. However if this is true story those poor people I hope they eventually healed emotionally.
Sister's Maria and Izzy are traveling from Pennsylvania to Florida when they run into car trouble in North Carolina.
They stop and ask for help and got more than what they bargained for when they are kidnapped.
I am not going to spoil it but they go through hell. All will eventually end well by the end. However if this is true story those poor people I hope they eventually healed emotionally.
January 13, 2021
If you like true crime you'll like this one.
TW: be prepared, it gets graphic.
Though I picked this up in Jan, I only got a couple of pages in before I had to put it down for reasons. Once I picked it back up, I managed to read this in just a few short hours, it's a definite page-turner that keeps you on the end of your seat until the very end. It reminds us that as women, even when together in a group of of two or more, toxic men can and will do damage.
TW: be prepared, it gets graphic.
Though I picked this up in Jan, I only got a couple of pages in before I had to put it down for reasons. Once I picked it back up, I managed to read this in just a few short hours, it's a definite page-turner that keeps you on the end of your seat until the very end. It reminds us that as women, even when together in a group of of two or more, toxic men can and will do damage.
December 28, 2022
-True stories of twisted criminals who hold their young female victims in endless captivity to satisfy their desires, kidnapping and affecting the lives of the girls and their family forever.
-Gut wrenching, based on true events, half the book is about the court hearing, slow paced.
-My grams, Grammy, and Mother read this books. Location is where my Grammy lives in Southport, NC
5/10 stars
-Gut wrenching, based on true events, half the book is about the court hearing, slow paced.
-My grams, Grammy, and Mother read this books. Location is where my Grammy lives in Southport, NC
5/10 stars
December 15, 2022
Great writing. I often would forget I was reading and could see a movie being played out with the visuals this author creates. Story is thrilling and I didn’t want to put it down. Can’t wait to read her other books!
Displaying 1 - 25 of 25 reviews