Before reading this, I noticed when it was published - 1999. A lot of books from the 80's and 90's are written in a way where the reader has NO IDEA what the hero/man is really thinking, only the woman/heroine. Because of this, his actions can come across even more asshole-ish (yes, I made that word up!) and just plain wrong, making him look like a dick and a bully. I've noticed later, more recently published books are written in a way where the author lets the reader see what's not only going on in the woman's/heroine's head and what she's feeling, but also from the man/hero. A perfect example of this pattern are books by Nora Roberts. Her first many books are written in a way that we have no idea what's going on in the guy's head or where he stands. He comes across as a total jerk, therefore he's difficult to like. In her later books her style of writing changes in that she lets us into the guy's head and not just the female's.Because I have encountered this time and time again, I wasn't surprised when I started reading this and Rhy came across as a real asshole, for lack of a better, more eloquent word. Having read so many romance books, I didn't put it down or let his behavior turn me off because I knew that he actually really loved his wife and his feelings were coming out wrong and making him behave so poorly and kind of crazy. Regardless of his behavior, Linda Howard's writing kept me hooked into the story, wanting to see what happened next. She is very talented in that regard.I really liked that the heroine, Sally, was this strong woman. And better yet, I loved that she had transformed herself into this strong woman from someone who was more of a doormat. I'm giving this book 5 stars because it was a good story and was written well. If this book had been written NOW, I'd be giving it a much lower rating since Rhy comes across as a dick. However, this was a popular writing style when it was written and published. So, I'm not basing my rating on that aspect at all. Because once you read the entire book and find out how Rhy feels about Sally, his past behavior and everything he'd said in all their arguments and everything makes sense. It's just the reader has NO IDEA where his head is at or how he's feeling until the very end. I definitely want to read a more recently released Linda Howard book and see how it is. Like I said, I liked the book a lot and found myself really involved in the story. You just have to keep in mind that although Rhy is coming across as a dick a lot of times, we don't know what's going on in his head or how he truly feels about Sally. The reader has to read between the lines of the things he says, something I don't mind doing.
SERIOUSLY!Even though this was first published in 1982 that wasn't the dark ages. But this story is almost medieval except it's set in modern times.Seven years ago Sarah had married Rhy, he was 28 to her 18. He was a reporter often travelling away on dangerous assignments, Sarah unable to cope with this asked him to stop. He refused and walked out. He never made any attempt to contact her after that.Present day and Sarah has reinvented herself, instead of Sarah she's now called Sallie, she's no longer the innocent and niaeve chubby little teenager. She has a degree, she's lost weight, gained self confidence, and ironically is a reporter travelling the world on dangerous assignments as her husband Rhy once did. Then suddenly the magazine that she works for has a new owner, it's her husband Rhy. Hoping that he won't recognise her she tries to stay out of his way.There may be some SPOILERS here. Once Rhy realises that his wife is one of his employees he goes all out to get her back. That's after not bothering where she was for seven years. He stops her travelling telling her it's too dangerous. He threatens any man she talks to, he stops her from leaving the job saying he will get her blacklisted. When she arrives home one day he's had all her furniture put in storage and moved her clothes to his flat. He wants her back he wants children as well. But during all this he's still seeing another woman. As for Sarah/Sallie, weak doesn't quite describe her, she has no backbone at all. She thought a good fight, but just caved into Rhy every single time. This is the first time I've read anything by this author I won't be reading anymore.
What do You think about An Independent Wife (1999)?
From MelissaB @ Ami:'The "hero" marries a young vulnerable girl, treats her like crap for awhile then basically leaves her after she has a miscarriage and forgets about her for a few years. He sees her again a few years later, she is thinner, beautiful and a successful investigative reporter. So what does he do? He systematically destroys her life and takes away everything that allows her to be independent and successful because he thinks her job is too dangerous and because he wants her in his house, barefoot and pregnant under his control. And of course she lets him do this and falls in love with the SOB. The title of this book is a joke.'
—Dina
ok I need a break from this shit. WTF! That's all that I can even say right now without flipping out and I've only been able to force myself to read 40 % of this carp. I hate the characters and the plot.Ok I had time to calm down and then I finished the book. I still don't like it. I know this book is old but come on. Are there really woman so pathetic and weak minded as the main character. The male character was a despicable, unforgivable, pathetic excuse for a man.I felt like this story was saying.....o your man don't love you like you are, that's ok, just change everything about yourself. It also seemed ok that he was emotionally and maybe even a little physically abusive. He was not a good man and this was NOT a good story.Be yourself ladies and NEVER put up with a man that behaves like this. There is alfa and then there is piece of sh*!.
—Kimberly Morris
When a characters name is Rhy, I think saying that he did anything wryly should be against some sort of rule and yet the author did it constantly throughout this book. That in itself was just a personal irritation and didn't make the book bad for me. What made the book bad for me was not only the story line but the characters. Is it just me or did anyone feel like this woman needed a restraining order? I found myself not able to like either character in this book. The lead character Sallie, was not independent at all but rather co-dependent and I found myself getting frustrated with her time and time again. While Rhy, I found to be a narcissistic and controlling bully. I stopped reading this book on two different occasions and the only reason I kept picking it back up is because I was desperately hoping that Sallie would realize that she was in an abusive relationship and leave him in the end. When she took her money out of the bank and hid from him, I was so full of hope but my hopes were yet dashed. I didn't....couldn't connect with this one.
—tammy
