When the narrator, Taylor, was a little preschool girl, she was repeatedly molested and then raped for years by her step-father, Dean, while her mother, busy studying for her advanced college degrees, was often in a nearby room but did nothing to help Taylor. And for years after that, Taylor carries the horrendous scars of being sexually abused, lashing back at teenage boys her age who wanted to draw closer. She finally allows herself to be attracted to fellow high school student, Kevin, only to find that he is involved with another girl. Attacked and beaten while on college break in Daytona Beach, Taylor fights back physically, something she wishes she had done with her abusive stepfather. She gets her life together, loves her work as an operating room nurse specializing in open-heart surgeries but marriage to Tony Faulkner, who makes her feel normal, is fraught with problems. Will Taylor ever get to a point in her life where she feels accepted and loved?

Author Taylor Evan Fulks has written a detailed and often disturbing story of a young girl's survival into adulthood after suffering sexual abuse for years as a young child. Main character Taylor is an authentic victim as she lashes out at her mother for not being there, at her teenage loves for failing her, and at her husband for the family he brings with him to their fragile marriage. Taylor suffers horrific attacks, even to the story's end. The reader learns that sexual predators often speak too fondly of their preys and succeed in destroying the lives of those around them, as the son of Taylor's stepfather attacks her at the story's end. "My Prison without Bars" is well-written and gives a good look into the lives of those who have been sexually attacked and marred in some way both physically and mentally for life.

"My Prison Without Bars: The Journey of a Damaged Woman to Someplace Normal" by Taylor Evan Fulks is based on the life of the author. This book opens with Taylor lying on a bed with broken ribs, gasping for breath, a broken nose, and a possible concussion. The year was 1981 and she was on Spring Break when she was assaulted. At this point the narrative shifts back through time to West Texas in the 1950s. Taylor’s biological father, Gerald, was violent. She was practically a baby when her mother divorced him and married a former boyfriend, Gene. Gerald signed a document giving up all rights to Taylor and Gene adopted her. When she was three he began his little “games” with her. The games led to fondling her which led to rape. After years of torture, abuse, threats and manipulation Taylor kicked him where it hurt and told her mother about the abuse she suffered for years at his hands. Her mother left him for a while and then allowed him back in their life. Her mother made excuses for Gene’s behavior and placed all the blame on Taylor. Eventually she was placed in foster care but even there she was not safe. She married Tony and had two children when she discovered his unfaithfulness. It seemed that all her life she had a sign on her back that said 'abuse me.' While at a conference she was once again attacked and nearly killed. It was at this point in her life that she realized she could only be a victim if she allowed herself to be the victim. She realized that no one was going to come to her rescue. It was time to stop thinking her mother would protect her. It was time to fight for her own life.

I would like to deal with the technical part of this review first. This book is well written. The plot is well done and well developed. Now to the content: A good writer can describe something and allow the reader to picture it in their mind's eye. A great writer can describe something and allow the reader to experience it. Fulks is a great writer. I felt as if I was Taylor. I was horrified by the pain and degradation she was forced to endure. I could smell the mixture of blood and semen. I could hear her scream. I am appalled at what she suffered. I wanted to shake her mother. I hope that writing this book brought a tiny bit of closure to Taylor’s horror. Perhaps it helped the nightmares to stop. I believe Taylor put pen to paper in the hope that her story would help someone else. I admire Taylor Evan Fulks for baring her soul so that others might be saved.