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Laura Johnson is a first time author with her new novel titled “Where Would I Be”. She resides in Memphis, TN, where she attends college pursuing her Bachelor’s degree in Psychology and Social & Criminal Justice with a minor in Forensics. Laura was first bitten by the writing the bug three years ago. While writing a journal she began to realize her story could possibly help others who were going through the same thing.
In 2006, Laura was the victim of an abusive relationship that lasted for two and a half years. The relationship was volatile from the beginning. While in this relationship, Laura contemplated suicide on almost a daily basis.Laura had suffered many things at the hand of her abuser. Everything from verbal abuse to rape. She soon decided that she had to get out of the relationship before it was too late. Her last interaction with her abuser consisted of an argument and a fight, which lead to him being arrested. That day he promised to get even.
In 2009, Laura began to write. She thought that, as her mother had told her many times before, that she was not the only woman who had or will ever go through something like this. After filling up four notebooks, she decided that she might have a book on her hands.
Reviewed by J'son L for Readers' Favorite
In her debut novel, "Where Would I Be", Laura T. Johnson takes us on an emotional journey into the psyche of a survivor of domestic abuse. Lisa Jenson, a successful Investment Banker at Morgan & Peterson, has finally put her abusive past behind her – or so she thinks. Afraid to love again, Lisa takes a six-year break from relationships; that is, until her strikingly handsome colleague, Marcello “Marc” Cavell, catches her attention. Try as she might, Lisa soon finds out that her feelings for Marc are stronger than her restraint.
After serving three years behind bars for beating Lisa within an inch of her life, James Harris resurfaces with aspirations of reconciliation. She continues to reject James’ assertions that he is a changed man, and after much prodding, decides to give love another try with Marc. Her decision only serves to fuel James’ obsession: “I’ll see you dead before I see you with someone else...”
Laura T. Johnson’s "Where Would I Be" is a heartfelt story of love, loss and redemption. Her characters and relationships are believable and relatable. Though well-written, there are a few choices that detracted from the story. Firstly, at times, it became difficult to tell who was speaking during conversations. This should be an easy fix for the author. Secondly, many of the sex scenes (and they are hot!) had repetitions such as “whispered against her lips” and “hard against her inner thigh”. Again, this is another easy fix for the author. Lastly, apart from the author telling the reader the ethnicity of a few of the characters, there was no clear differentiation in vernacular, preferences or mannerisms. Personally, I would have liked to have seen a clearer delineation between the ethnicities.
Despite these detractions, Johnson still managed to weave a powerful story of one woman’s struggle to love again. I would strongly recommend this book for anyone who has experienced abuse or is looking for a romantic love story. I admire Johnson for her bravery in allowing us a peak into her personal experiences with abuse, and I suspect, a peek into the heart of a woman who still believes in love despite almost having it beat out of her.
