Tortured Beginning takes up where Ms. Holk's previous novel, Sweet Beginning, leaves off. When Jaylah's physically abusive ex shows up in Richmond, she in angered to learn that Anne, her best friend and business partner, has kept his return a secret. Despite a retraining order, Ben is determined to claim Jaylah as his once more. No longer on speaking terms with Anne, Jaylah decides to take matters into her own hands and make sure the restraining order is enforced. However, Ben has decided to ignore the order. In Tortured Beginning Ms. Holk as narrowed her focus so that the readers gets an intimate view of Jaylah Dean's life and her struggles to closeness with the men who come into her life. After having been beaten so severely, by Ben, that she ends up in the hospital, Jaylah has serious trust issues. How will she resolve these issues, or will she? Ms. Holk has an ease in writing that makes her stories flow. The characters we meet are likeable and most important we care about their well being. I like that the focus here has been spotlighted on one of the two main characters in Ms. Holk's Sweet Pleasures series. And we are left with a twist that will make any reader anxious to find out what happens in book three. There are some editing issues that can detract from the story but over all this is a good story and Ms. Holk is a writer we can look forward to writing fun stories in the future. For the modest e-book cost this book is a steal.
