This HaBO was sent in by Barney, who is looking for this romance. Major triggers for the description below for graphic abuse:
I can’t remember the name of a book I read like 12 years ago…
This is what I remember-
The heroine marries a man who initially seems sweet, shy, timid, and intelligent — possibly a psychologist or psychiatrist. After marriage he becomes controlling and abusive.
He uses a medical injection/drug that temporarily paralyzes her while she remains conscious, and sexually abuses her while she is immobilized.
She eventually escapes and hides in a remote mountain town/cabin. There she falls in love with a rugged outdoorsman/mountain guide type.
The husband becomes obsessed with finding her. At one point he masturbates to a photo of her after learning she escaped.
He eventually tracks her down, (he’s very rich) finds the new man at the cabin, and sets the cabin on fire during the final confrontation.
No children. Romantic suspense/erotic thriller.
This reminds me of Under Her Skin by Adriana Anders, but doesn’t feel like a direct match.