Fire was my only companion. A burning light in a world otherwise filled with darkness. A life of pain and abuse I never thought I'd escape.

I'm still not convinced I have.

When friendly Santa-figure turned trucker, Al, finds me at a rest stop and offers me a job at his idyllic farm in small-town Nebraska, the picturesque family life is more than I could hope for.

And his youngest son, Kyle, is a dream romance that I don't deserve.

But no dream lasts. As a new nightmare begins, I'm back where I started. Captive. Abandoned. Alone. And staring into the flames.

Except this time the embers are dying, and when the monster in the dark enslaves my soul, no one will stoke me back to life.

If you like a survivor story with a touch of romance, you will love this beautiful dark psychological thriller.

Please be sure to listen with care and check for tropes on the author's website.