Escaping Linda by Jean Carey

About the book

In the novel, Escaping Linda, Linda Carson is trapped. She has ended the engagement with her abusive fiancé, Eric, and he is stalking her. As the weeks pass, she loses weight, fears leaving the house, sleeps little, experiences violent flashbacks, and cries often throughout each day and night. Linda's parents, Frank and Margaret, won't believe Eric has beaten her. They see him as the perfect man to take over the care and control of their daughter. At twenty-four, Linda still lives at home.

With the help of her best friend, she withdraws all her money from a small savings account, puts on a disguise and runs away. Eric follows her. She is rescued by a female truck driver, Dottie, and rides for three days across several states to Denver. Dottie is a mentor and with her folksy philosophy she helps Linda gain courage and confidence.

Linda takes steps to disappear and get a new identity. She finds a new name from a character in a novel and becomes Valerie Carrington. She gets a driver's license and writes her parents through a mail-drop in another state. An older cousin, Grady, a church pastor, helps her find an apartment and a part-time job playing the organ.

The only work experience Valerie has known is giving piano lessons to the neighbors' children. Finding a real job is frightening and discouraging. With her money almost gone, she is hired by an old woman who owns a shop that sells used books. The woman moves to Florida and leaves Valerie in charge. Here Valerie gains independence and a sense of her own power.

Six months later, she meets Josh. He reads history books, plays the trombone in a jazz band and occasionally sells real estate. She is defensive and cautious about men. He is laid back and friendly. They become good friends.

Her parents come to visit and are angry about her independence. She wants their acceptance and appreciation for all she's accomplished, but their only response is to insist she move back home.

Josh is the rebel in his family. With Valerie's encouragement he confronts his father's disapproval and decides to follow his dream to become a basketball coach.

They fall in love. One snowy night, Josh makes love to Valerie. They next day she opens the store and finds Eric waiting. Her parents have broken their promise to keep her life a secret from him. Josh tries to protect her. A fight breaks out and books and shelves are scattered everywhere. The police arrest Eric.

Josh asks Valerie to marry him after he completes his education. She helps him pack and waves goodbye.

Dottie phones: "Val'rie, remember, you're not driving with half a tank just because he's gone. You've got full inside yourself. Ten four."

About the author

Jean Carey declares she is addicted to writing and reading. She becomes anxious and insecure if there isn't a pen and paper available at all times. A good novel to read is also a necessity.

As a child in Newton, Kansas, she lived on block from the Carnegie Public Library. At the end of the first grade, she set a goal to read every book in the children's section. By third grade, she began writing her own stories.

Jean has been a psychotherapist for twenty years. She believes every person has a fascinating story to tell and the chapters are made complex by all the relationships. She encourages her clients to journal about their experiences and often asks them to write the next chapter of their lives.

Her own life is vivid, colorful, and definitely complex -- woven with the lives of her four grown children, four grown stepchildren, six in-law sons and daughters, and fourteen grandchildren. She lives with her husband in Denver, Colorado. Other than writing novels, Jean spends her energy on hiking, camping, family, friends and travel.