Book Nook: Breaking Bonds - How to Divorce an Abuser and Heal - A Survival Guide

First of all, I want to say that I am in a solid marriage, so I was definitely not the target audience for a book I recently got to review. Breaking Bonds: How to Divorce an Abuser and Heal - A Survival Guide is targeted towards women who are currently stuck in an abusive relationship and need to break free from that relationship and later find the healing they need to move on and form healthy relationships as well as a strong sense of self.

The book is written by financial advisor and candid abuse survivor Rosemary Lombardy. She recognizes the phases of divorcing an abusive spouse, especially the often overlooked fact that for some relationships the most dangerous time is actually once divorce proceedings start.

The book is written to provides a safe haven for women to refer to throughout the many phases of divorcing an abusive spouse. As a financial advisor, the author spends a good deal of time discussing financial and legal information; as an abuse survivor, she also includes practical self-care and healing tips.

Other information in the book:

• Financial and legal considerations—including things a lawyer or an accountant might overlook.
• What to pack in a go-to bag if you need to plan an escape.
• Life-changing – and, in some cases, life-saving – tips, such as to always back your car into the driveway and keep the driver’s door unlocked, with a hidden key, in case you need to escape in a hurry.
• Strategies to minimize the damage he will try to inflict both financially and emotionally, how to deal with trauma, and be confident in a better life ahead.
• Typical behaviors to expect from abusers and how to counteract them.
• Mistakes that she and others have made—and the potential ramifications— so the reader can avoid similar negative experiences.
• How to protect your children

“I’m dedicated to raising awareness around this important issue, and to empowering and supporting other women to break the cycle of domestic abuse in their own families,” adds Lombardy. “My goal is to give a voice to abused women—so many of them hide the abuse from friends and family out of shame —and give them the essential roadmap to break free from an intolerable situation and move toward a positive and joy-filled future.”

If you or someone you know is looking for a way out of an abusive situation, this book can be an excellent resource to read or recommend to someone else. Even if you don't get the book, the website offers good advice from someone who's been there.