A creepy domestic drama that sucked me right in from the very beginning, Its a tense and traumatic read at times.

I've had this book for years, I still haven't, unfortunately, got to it, so this is a placeholder review to reduce my shelf for my own sanity, but will replace this if I ever get to the book

I couldnt stop turning the pages , its a dark story, not really a love story more like a survival story. Its not an easy read as you become emotionally invested with the characters and the story.

This book deals with domestic violence, and the reader soon develops empathy for the poor victim suffering through it. It was done well and opened my eyes to a lot of the inner workings of a poor victim than I had before. Recommended.

When Freya falls for the manipulative Kane, her life changes beyond her wildest imagination. When the luxurious life she craves gradually becomes intolerable she realises escape is out of reach. Her life has changed and so has she.. She knows that when she least expects it, he will return and make good his promise to exact revenge and ensure she pays the price he felt he is owed.
Can Freya ever be free?
Whoever knew love could be so dangerous?

Oh my gosh, what a book! I read this book in one sitting. I was routing for Freya throughout. I wanted her to survive the ordeal. She was such a strong character.

The book was full of suspense and I really enjoyed it.

An uncomfortable read....it read more like an autobiography then a fiction book and probably not the style I usually go for. A book centred around an abused girlfriend and tells the story from her perspective. I couldnt not finish it but it wasn’t an enjoyable read !

Wow, what a rollercoaster of a read! It's scary to think that Freya is such a normal girl when the story first starts and that such manipulation and abuse could happen to any girl reading the book. At times I felt terrified for Freya and the first person narrative definitely helped to connect with her as it places the reader right in the middle of what's happening. I found it clever that Freya's narrative was largely looking back at events from her present day perspective and her hindsight is sprinkled throughout to explain why she should have left but didn't. A very well written and well handled account of a very dark story that rarely lets up and constantly leaves you fearing for Freya.

I would like to thank Bloodhound Books and the Netgalley website for this partnership.

I had already read "They don't know" by this author and I loved that book even more.

I was immediately attracted by the cover, you see a woman from behind with her hand on a window pane and a catchphrase makes you want to read this book: "Love can be dangerous".

We find Freya there who falls in love with Kane, her life changes forever. She's wondering if he's coming back for revenge or not?

I immediately hooked on the story so captivating, moving and full of suspense and twists and turns with the very endearing character of Freya.

The author brings us here into Freya's life from the age of 20 until today with a complex, blind and obsessive love story. I love this author's pen.

Thankyou to NetGalley. Bloodhound Books and the author, Patricia Dixon, for the opportunity to read a digital copy of Over My Shoulder in exchange for an honest, unbiased opinion.
This was not an easy book to read. But it was worth it.
I thought the storyline was well written and kept me up in to the early hours to finish. Would definately read this author again.

Wow! This is one of the most disturbing novels I’ve ever read. it’s a warning of how easily young impressionable girls can be taken in. This was a page turner and a half! Patricia Dixon has absolutely excelled with this book, and yes, it’s dark, menacing and downright scary in places but it is definitely a ‘must read’ . If I could give it ten stars I would!

This is a gripping story of an abusive relationship. Disturbing but compulsive reading. This is one of the best books I have read this year. I couldn't put it down

A great quality read. I couldn’t put it down. My first read by this author. Looking forward to reading more

<b>DNF at 18%</b>

This book is not bad written. My problem was not the writing style but the female protagonist. She annoyed me to such an extent that at 18% I had enough of her empty twaddle and couldn't imagine to spend even a second longer in her company.

Besides, a psychological thriller where I know from the very beginning how it will end, doesn't work for me.

One star rating reflects only my personal preference and liking.

"Before I begin to tell you what happened and how I find myself in this situation, I'd like to warn you that most of it isn't pleasant, but all of it is true. By the end, you will probably think I am one of the most stupid people you have ever read about, or feel irritated that someone of a moderate intelligence could allow it to happen. Perhaps you will pity me or hope for a happy ending to this tale, catching a glimpse of light at the end of what will be a very dark tunnel."

Now that is how you grab my attention!!! For some reason I gravitate to love-gone-bad stories and this one makes the others look like kid play.

This is Freya's story of how she met, fell in love with, and eventually became terrorized by Kane and let me assure you that this story is not for the faint of heart.

I have met and dated my fair share of losers in my younger years so I have a soft spot for the Freya's of the world. I wish with all my heart that I was like the strong confident women I admired but I always lacked self confidence and it was no one's fault but my own. I had a loving family that cared and sheltered me and always provided for me with no questions asked. So why my lack of confidence? I thinks it stems mostly from the societal pressures of what is considered beautiful and when my 14 year old self would read the latest issue of Cosmopolitan with drop dead gorgeous models of unrealistic proportions gracing it's pages I would then in turn analyze every aspect of myself and would always come to the conclusion that I didn't quite measure up and never mind the fact that I was fairly quiet and introspective anyways. The teenage years are difficult in the best of times but also formative and I managed to convince myself that I wasn't good enough, smart enough, or pretty enough. This mindset made me a perfect victim for these narcissistic assholes. Let me tell you I have come a long way since those days and feel better about myself now in my 40's than I ever did in my youth BUT I still relate to the Freya's of the world. I'd never be one to say "Why doesn't she just leave?" or make comments such as "What an idiot she is to stay." because the effects of psychological warfare run very, very deep and are actually much harder to recover from than say a black eye or a split lip.

Sorry for spilling my guts but my point is this: THIS BOOK ENRAGED ME! BLOOD = BOILING!

There were several times while reading this that I questioned my own sanity when I was plotting Kane's death. Like, crime of passion, I totally fucking get it and I'd of gladly cut this dudes balls off.

This book was relentless which I think was incredibly effective storytelling as if you are trapped in this relationship with Freya. Seriously, at 87% I looked down and was told yet again that her story was not over yet and I screamed inside myself to please give this woman (an myself!) a break. Patricia Dixon did not shy away from making you squirm or making you angry or making your heart break. She gave no shits to your feelings when she wrote this and for that I thank her.

On a serious note, please seek help if you find you or anyone you love or care about in this situation. You are not alone even though it feels like you are. People do care!!!

Thank you to NetGalley and Bloodhound Books for providing me with a digital ARC in exchange for my honest review.

4☆ A Gripping Compulsive Page Turner!

Over My Shoulder is a hard hitting story about Domestic Abuse, Survival and Hope and a strong main character.

Freya met Cane. He was everything she wanted. He was likeable, Charismatic, Charming, Popular, lavish lifestyle and she fell in love.
Things were good but then things started to go terribly wrong.
Freya was trapped in Cane's world and he wasn't about to let her go. As the relationship progresses, the abuse escalates.

Patricia draws the reader into Freya's world and you literally experience everything she does.

Freya's Strength was the thing that kept me reading, I wanted her to come out the other side a survivor.
Cane is in no way likeable character. But he isn't meant to be nice you are meant to despise him and boy did I hate him!
Patricia has done a fantastic job at her character development they are The perfect characters!

The pace and suspense ramps up as the story unfolds to a point you feel like you are holding your breath.
This was in no way an easy read, but it isn't meant to be easy. It's dark undertones really make for a Gripping Compulsive page turner. A dark Pyschological Thriller that will get under your skin!

Thank you to Bloodhound books for this copy which I reviewed honestly and voluntarily.

Excellent book, dark, disturbing, and brutal. I had to find out exactly what was going to happen to Freya, so had a hard time swapping to my other books. Characters well developed, tense, and edge of your seat. Towards the middle it sort of dragged or I would've given 5 stars. One I definitely will use in daily challenge and recommend in Chapter Chatter Pub.

I loved Over My Shoulder it hooked me from the first few pages and even now after finishing it it has still touched me.
Focusing on domestic abuse and violence it can be a quite emotive subject but this book covers it and portrays an important message. A well deserved 5 stars from me.

I found this book to be quite chilling! The attention to detail that was given made me feel like I was a shadow cast right beside the poor female lead character. Her boyfriend was truly awful! Would make a great weekend read and I would recommend to other fans of domestic thrillers!

Thank you Netgalley, Bloodhound Books and the author for the Chance to read this ARC.

I am finding it quite difficult to review this book because.I really struggled to stick with it. Now I know this is just me as there is nothing but praise and positive reviews given until now.
I found it quite dreary at the beginning and even commented to my husband that I was struggling to stick with it.
It was very drawn out or maybe very thoroughly described depending on your point of view.
The situation was described to the reader perhaps a bit too simply almost like a paint by numbers situation. I didn't enjoy the way the author wrote in the first person and kept speaking to me, the reader, as though I had. no patience for her or thought her decisions were wrong, stupid or naive.

The subject matter was dark and difficult and if when reading this anyone recognises their own situation then there are helpful phone numbers and websites t the back of the book.

The book did make me aware of the horrors that go on in an abusive relationship and how depraved some people are.
Not really for me - sorry.

Freya is like any normal twenty-five year old working class woman. She is carefree, smiles a lot, has friends, and loves every aspect of her life. Like all working class women, bills become a struggle and she finds her pay doesn’t quite afford her all of the things she needs. So, when she meets Kane, a debonair businessman, she can’t help but think he could be the answer to her struggles. Even though Freya has a boyfriend, she goes out with Kane and quickly falls in love with him. She eventually breaks up with the man she has been dating because Kane was a top of the line boyfriend and with him she was on her way to leaving the working class lifestyle behind her for good. When Kane starts showing his true colors, Freya makes excuses for him, convincing herself his terrible upbringing is the cause of all of his anger issues, but when the abuse becomes to much to handle, will it be too late for Freya to get away from her controlling, manipulative and abusive boyfriend?

I really wish that I can say that I sympathized with Freya throughout this entire story, but I didn’t. Before you can say “OMG, but she was abused how can you not sympathize with what she was going through!?” Let me explain and start from the beginning. At first I was upset knowing that there would be horrors Freya would speak of as she reels you into her story. She is locked in a room, by who? We don’t know yet. She begins by telling a really sad story about her life, but Freya is flawed and in parts comes off as a god digger especially when she first meets Kane and feels as if he is the answers to all of her money problems. Yes, she is falling in love with him, but she also likes the stability he can give her in return. This is probably the only part of the story where I did not like Freya. Other than that one small part, I could feel the terror through her words, the feeling of hopelessness being in a domestic abusive relationship. The first time Kane becomes violent towards her she makes excuses. Kane apologizes saying it will never happen again and Freya believes in him. The abuse though takes a toll on Freya and she quickly finds herself alienated from her co-workers, her friends, and her family. It was utterly heartbreaking to read through Freya’s narrative detailing the humiliation, the degradation, and constant abuse she suffered through. I really hoped for a positive outcome, but little by little, I wasn’t sure how it would even be possible.

Kane is the worst of the worst abuser I have ever read in any book and I read a lot of dark books. He is controlling, deceitful and sadistic. He puts Freya through so much in such a short period of time. I don’t think I have ever hated a character so much. He shows all of the classic signs of an abuser from the punches to the I’m sorry’s. He is a master manipulator and shows time and time again how easy it is to wiggle his way back into Freya’s good graces even after every evil thing he has put Freya through.

I really have to give credit to Patricia Dixon for showing the other side of domestic abuse and how a smart woman can forgive someone as evil as Kane all because she loves him. How women make excuses for their abusers, saying maybe it is their fault their boyfriend/husband beats them. How maybe they should not have antagonized them or made them angry. Even though this is a fictitious story, in many ways it is also true to real life. We can always ask ourselves “how can a woman stay with a man who abuses them?” Patricia Dixon said it all in just a few sentences. You don’t know what your answer would be until you are in that situation. That just completely gutted me. I am a pretty strong minded woman and I dated a guy briefly, but his jealousy and controlling nature really made me stop and think “what am I doing in this relationship?” Not that I ever let him control me although he tried to. It all came down to one night where he punched me in front of friends of my mother’s. Right in that instant I snapped and attacked him. My mother’s friends had to pull me off of him. From that day on, I knew that if a man ever laid a hand on me again, he would be dead. I am as sweet as can be, but if you punch me, choke me, or use any other abusive tactic to harm me, you better run because I’m coming for you.

Please if you are in a situation like this, get help now. No woman or man deserves to be physically or mentally abused. Your life matters. Call the police, or your family, or your friends. Don’t stay because you think you have no other option. You are worth more than that. Your life is worth more than that.

Over My Shoulder is compelling and frightening story of one woman’s fight for survival. This is one story that has left me shaking and filled with so many emotions and at times, I was blinded by my tears by the gripping and harrowing narrative. Patricia Dixon has created a story that mirrors real life in the darkest and dirtiest secret that many women are too ashamed to admit to. There are not enough stars I can give this story to show you how much I loved this book. Another book to add to my favorite list for the year!