It may seem like one of the worst relationships ever. "Love Fraud: How Marriage to a Sociopath Fulfilled my Spiritual Plan" tells of author Donna Andersen's unique journey with marriage with who she deems a sociopath lead her to a better and more fulfilling life. Strange in concept, Andersen explains her journey well and reminds readers that even when dealing with horrible people, you can emerge successful. "Love Fraud" is a fine read with intriguing ideas, highly recommended. --Midwest Book Donna's ability to recover from a devastating marriage to a sociopath and to make that journey one of inspiration and hope is truly a gift that she gives to all of us who have been involved in these frustrating and toxic relationships. Her tenacity is amazing! Thank you, Donna, for continuing to work tirelessly in an effort to bring the term and the meaning of "sociopath" into the awareness of everyone around the world! --Mary Jo Buttafuoco, author of Getting It Through My Thick Skull--why I stayed, what I learned, and what millions of people involved with sociopaths need to knowDonna Andersen takes her reader on a very personal journey through an intimate relationship with a sociopath. The book spans more than 600 pages of her story and other selected stories of what she has termed, Love Fraud. This is not a book to be read for research or pleasure. It is a critical book to be experienced in the manner of having a close friend stop by for tea who knows the shocking and isolating pain of trusting a person without a conscience. When you need to explore the experience, your friend is there with empathy, guidance, and finally a spiritual awakening that enriches from the awful moments of life. Donna Andersen opens her heart and soul as a friend does. The reader comes away wiser and comforted, knowing that there is a bigger purpose to this life, and alert to the subtle traps that await any of us from the charm, wit, and magnetism of the sociopaths among us. --Dr. Karin Huffer, author of Overcoming the Devastation of Legal Abuse SyndromeFrom the AuthorWhat is it really like to be hooked by a sociopath? And if it happens, how do you recover and rebuild your life? I wrote Love Fraud to answer these questions. Back in 1996, I thought I'd met the man of my dreams. James Montgomery promised me love, wealth and a happy family. But the promises were lies that cost me almost everything I had--my money, my self-confidence, my identity. My marriage was a mirage, and my husband was a sociopathic con artist. I found out much too late that the word "sociopath" does not equal "serial killer." It is someone without a conscience. Now, if I could be conned, others could too, so I wrote the book to explain how it happened. I take you along as I fight on two fronts--trying to hold my husband accountable, and trying to reclaim my sense of self. I am an honest, caring and responsible person. I honored my marriage commitment. Why was my life shoved through a meat grinder? The question--or rather, the plea for deliverance--sent me on an unexpected, and somewhat unwelcome, spiritual journey. Slowly, I learned that there was a reason for the experience. It was part of a larger plan. If you have suffered the devastation of a sociopath, Love Fraud is a comfort, like sharing the experience with a close and loyal friend. The story will help you realize that you're not alone, and there is a way out. If you've been lucky enough to avoid sociopaths so far, Love Fraud will teach you that evil sometimes comes disguised as love. You'll learn the warning signs, so if you start to see them, you'll know to keep the heartless predator out of your life. Millions of sociopaths live among us, yet most of us don't know they exist. I was once one of the uninformed. But with my book, Love Fraud, I hope that you can avoid the devastation that I experienced, or recover if it has already happened.From the Inside FlapAt age 40, Donna Andersen was a successful businesswoman, but still single. Then, through an online personal ad, she met James Alwyn Montgomery, the most dynamic man she'd ever encountered--and he proclaimed his love for her. Finally, her dream of marriage and a family would come true. Soon, however, she was living in a psychological nightmare. Through a mixture of promises and lies, cajolery and tears, James Montgomery kept asking Andersen to fund his grandiose business schemes--and it almost broke her. How could this have happened? Andersen's life was nearly destroyed, and she didn't know why. She worked with a spiritual counselor, and learned to listen to her intuition. What she discovered was that her soul wanted her to get involved with James Montgomery. The whole debacle was planned long before she was born. In Love Fraud, you will discover: 1. The true nature of sociopaths: no heart, no conscience, no remorse. 2. How sociopaths deceive and manipulate their victims. 3. The limitations of the law in dealing with sociopaths. 4. How metaphysical concepts play out in an individual life. 5. How traumas from past lives affect our present life. 6. Why our souls choose painful lessons. how do i find the edition of a book Love Fraud: How marriage to a sociopath fulfilled my spiritual plan
0 of 0 people found the following review helpful. The marriage that started it allBy blondewriter99Donna Andersen has gone on to become one of the forefront voices of what might be termed the "psychopath victimhood" of people who have been married to or otherwise involved with what we might have previously unclinically referred to as "horrible people." Her website, Love Fraud, is a font of information for those who've been tricked, deceived, defrauded, and duped by romantic partners or otherwise.Andersen, pushing 40 and desperate to be married and start a family, meets "successful businessman" James Montgomery and is engaged to him after no more than a few dates. Given that she was already once engaged to a man after a similar extremely short courtship and it blew up in her face when she realized he was a jerk, you would think Andersen would have been more cautious this time around, but if anything, she's less so.Almost immediately, she begins "lending" James large sums of cash from her savings, credit card advances, and even a second mortgage. She also pays for anything and everything, from their wedding and honeymoon, to his shirts and office supplies, to his pal's travel expenses, to his business ideas. In what seems a matter of weeks, she is drowning in debt. Andersen, up until this point a fairly successful businesswoman, has no concept that a "successful businessman" in his 50s with a long list of supposedly successful deals under his belt (including founding the "E!" entertainment network and working for the military) would have some cash floating about. She finds it credible that this businessman has no credit, no cash, and can't second mortgage his own home instead of hers, or invest his own money in his schemes instead of hers. Rather than showing her business proposals (which surely any businessman would have), he writes out large amounts on a piece of paper, passes it to her, and she takes his as proof that he will come into millions. If only we could all secure funding in such a haphazard manner.The authors naivete was, simply, absolutely astonishing. I don't want to pile on, because I'm sure Andersen looks back and wants to smack herself several times over, but as she over and over again handed more and more money to this man who was doing absolutely nothing to try and pay her back, it was difficult to maintain a level of sympathy. No doubt Montgomery is a master of manipulating sunken costs. Montgomery knows once he has that few thousand out of a source, all he has to do is keep manipulating, and the higher the lost cost, the more likely the person will be to throw good money after bad in an attempt to recoup the initial investment. It rarely works out that way - thats how casinos make money.The book is filled with far too much stuff that has nothing to do with her marriage, including long digressions on her "spiritual guides," who give her the worst advice imaginable, and whom she should have immediately fired.Andersen is a very tough cookie who managed to recover from all of this and go on to found a successful website and marry a decent man, so kudos to her for that. But the memoir would have benefitted from some major trimming and a deeper analysis of why she continued to freely hand over massive amounts of money to a man she barely knew.0 of 0 people found the following review helpful. Monsters among us...By J. J.Wow, I am speechless after reading Donna's story. The depths of depravity that these sociopaths will go to - and the destruction that they cause to the people closest to them!!! Thank you, Donna, for sharing your story. "Love Fraud" is such an apt title and description of these sociopathic monsters!!! They are FRAUDS and most everything coming out of their mouths are LIES.12 of 13 people found the following review helpful. Love Fraud will help open your eyesBy krbrown2I found "Love Fraud" after I was doing online research about sociopaths. Ironically, my sociopath husband of a little over one year left in March of 2010, the same year that the Love Fraud book and website were launched. What really drew me to the book was the subtitle: "How my marriage to a sociopath fulfilled my spiritual plan." I felt the same way - that there was a higher purpose and reason that this all happened. Although my situation was not as extreme as Donna's, I could relate to every step of her process with her ex: the fast engagement, the avoidance of answering questions, the self centeredness and grandiosity, and the Jekyll and Hyde characteristics which began on our honeymoon. I found myself dog earring almost every single page of the first half, especially the frustrating and futile conversations which were almost identical to my own conversations with my ex. It was a relief to see that I was not alone. I was also 35 when I married and never thought that someone could come into my life and do so much damage, and he did so without even a shred of guilt, shame, regret, or apology. As I have shared my story, it is amazing how prevalent this phenomenon is, but no one talks about it because they are ashamed and embarrassed. Donna blows the door wide open on this little known topic, and she is brave enough to put it out there. In addition to her book, Donna's website, resources for readers, and commitment to education is admirable and impressive. If you or someone you know is in a relationship that feels like a Twilight Zone, go to [...]. If any of it looks familiar, get Donna's book. Hers is an incredible and inspiring journey of a woman who embodies courage, faith, resilience, and spiritual transformation. Education is the key.