Proceed With Caution

Proceed With Caution is the story of Richard "Dick" Dean, a forty-year-old tremendously plain librarian, finally sees his wife Jane as a serial abuser. 18 years of marriage and 18 years of psychological and psychical torture by the hands of the woman he loves bring him to the harsh realization that he now has to figure out how to remove her from his life. For years Richard's close friends, Sam a Master Chief and Navy SEAL, and Bob a local hardware store owner and former Mafia associate, have tried to show him the cycle of abuse his wife Jane has subjected him to. Too ignorant, or too unobservant, Richard went about his day to day life allowing Jane to use him as her personal pin cushion. Richard finally received a wake-up call when Jane was arrested for punching him so hard she knocked out a tooth. Jane was sent to the hospital on a psychiatric hold, but relief was short lived as Jane was only held for 72 hours and was released. She returned home to continue her cycle of abuse against Richard. A local detective, Apollo Stone, takes a personal interest in Richards case and shows up at the house to notify Richard that Jane is free. Richard realizes the law failed him and he leaves Jane. Now, with the help of his friends and a lot of self-discovery, Richard faces his past and his wife in order to take back 18 years of abuse and torture that Jane wasn't ready to give up. Proceed With Caution is a novel that looks at female on male spousal abuse. Males are raised from little up to be strong and not weak. But what happens when the female is the strong one in the relationship and is able to control her weaker spouse with torture and violent acts? Instead of strong male lead, a feeble, meek, and mild shell of a man emerges and his abuser walks free, as it is unfathomable and not realistic in today's society for that type of relationship to happen.