Conspiracy by Colleen Coble Audiobook Review

About the Book:

Just as wildlife veterinarian Paradise Alden begins to envision a future with Blake Lawson, the ghosts of her past return with a vengeance. The murder of her parents has shadowed her for fifteen years, but a new threat brings the cold case into the terrifying present. A trained leopard--a chilling embodiment of Paradise's deepest fears--is now stalking her.

Haunted by resurfacing memories, Paradise, Blake, and her newfound brother, Drew, follow a trail of clues that leads them into a web of dark family secrets. The deeper they dig, the more shocking the connections become, linking their families to a dangerous conspiracy that someone is still willing to kill to protect.

With every step closer to the truth, the killer becomes more desperate. Paradise, Blake, and Drew must race to expose a murderer who has remained hidden for fifteen years, but this time, they are the ones being stalked. If they can't unmask the killer, the past will destroy both the fragile future Paradise and Blake are trying to build and the family she has finally found with her brother.

A conspiracy of lemurs is a family. But a conspiracy of people can be deadly.

My Review:

This novel finishes the Sanctuary series, featuring a private wild animal park in Alabama. It wraps up all the mysteries and secrets in the previous books and has a good amount of suspense. Much of the drama revolves around Paradise attempting to solve the murder of her parents some time ago. Secrets are uncovered and danger results. The importance of family is a prominent theme in this novel.

It was a pleasure listening to this novel. Peakes did a wonderful job of conveying the southern aspect of the characters. Her voices of the kids were the best.

Coble has worked the stories of three series, the Pelican Harbor and Tupelo Grove series and now culminating in the Sanctuary series. Readers who have enjoyed getting to know Hez, Savannah, Simon and others will enjoy this novel too.

My rating: 4/5 stars.

About the Author/Narrator:

USA TODAY and Publishers Weekly bestselling author Colleen Coble has captivated readers with over 6 million books in print, earning #1 spots on Amazon. Her novels blend suspenseful plots, emotional depth, and faith-filled redemption that keep fans turning pages late into the night.

Karen Peakes did a great job on the narration. I loved hearing the southern voices, especially those of the younger ones. This book was a joy to listen to.

Thomas Nelson, 9 hours 56 minutes.

I received a complimentary audio file of this book from the publisher. My comments are an independent review.

(My star ratings: 5-An exceptional book, 4-Better than average, relevant and liked by me, 3-It is average, 2-It is below average and not liked by me, 1-It is practically unreadable.)

Twist of Time by Tricia Goyer and Nathan Goyer Blog Tour Book Review

 

About the Book

Book: Twist of Time (The Clockwork Chronicles Book 3)

Authors: Tricia Goyer & Nathan Goyer

Genre: Historical sci-fi with a steampunk twist

Release Date: June 9, 2026

They thought they were fighting a war. They didn’t know it was the end of time.

In 1945, war rages across Europe, but deep beneath Prague, another kind of battle is unfolding. It’s a fight not just for land or power but for the very soul of humanity.

Kateřina Dubová, a brave journalist turned spy, receives a mysterious gift from a high-ranking Nazi officer―a jewel tied to a terrifying prophecy. Clues draw her deep into ancient secrets hidden within Prague Castle and a clock that may hold the power to save the world . . . or bring about its destruction.

Kateřina joins forces with Josef Loew, a gifted inventor; Theodora, a daring mafia spy gone rogue; and Dante, a historian with a powerful artifact of his own. Together, they unravel a chilling plot rooted in mysteries that whisper from beyond the veil.

Click here to get your copy!

My Review

This imaginative novel is entertaining. It features dedicated heroes willing to sacrifice their own well being to save their beloved country. It has steam punk machines, spiritual beings, glimpses into spiritual battles, and a suspenseful ending.

A different take on WW II, it has armies of darkness in battle with warriors of light. There is a possible gateway to an evil world of powerful creatures. The heroes battle a power capable of tearing the world apart.

The Goyers have created a novel that reflects the actual history of the resistance of Prague citizens during WW II. They draw a parallel between the actual physical resistance and the spiritual battle happening in the unseen realm. It is an imaginative and informative novel.

My rating: 4/5 stars.

You can read my reviews of the earlier books in this series: Breath of Bones, and Flight of Fate.

 

About the Authors

Tricia Goyer is a celebrated writer, speaker, and co-host of the Daily Bible Podcast. Author of 80 books, Tricia has won four Golden Scrolls, two Carols, and a Christian Book Award. In addition to Christy and Gold Medallion nominations, her book sales exceed 4 million copies. Tricia is a highly sought-after conference speaker, sharing on writing, parenting, and purposeful living. Tricia’s most recent work, The Clockwork Chronicles, is a historical steampunk fantasy trilogy co-authored with her son, Nathan Goyer.

Nathan Goyer is an upstart designer and science fiction author who has been writing since he was young. He has written the novel Bask: City of Shadows and solo-developed the mobile RPG game Heedless, which has surpassed 30,000 downloads. After graduating with a Bachelor of Science from the University of Arkansas Little Rock, he is now pushing forward with new endeavors, starting with his latest series, The Clockwork Chronicles, co-authored with his mother, Tricia Goyer.

More from Tricia and Nathan

The Heart Behind the Gears: The Final Battle at Old Town Hall

By Tricia Goyer (with Nathan Goyer)

Writing has always been a way for me to explore the quiet corners of history. This was true for my newest novel Twist of Time. Through this book, I step into a world that is both familiar and utterly mysterious. The book is set in Prague in 1945. I first visited Prague as a wannabe writer in 2001. Then, in 2008, I went back with my family and our church group. I’ve been there numerous times, most recently in 2024 when I was working on this book. I was able to go underground underneath the clock to see where the resistance fighters hid.

Collaborating with my son, Nathan, on the conclusion of The Clockwork Chronicles has been a highlight of my career. We wanted to take the grit of May 1945 Prague and weave it together with the ancient, ticking secrets of the Orloj—the city’s famous astronomical clock.

In this final chapter, the stakes are anchored in the very real, devastating history of the Prague Uprising. On May 8, 1945, the Old Town Hall became a focal point of fierce resistance. As the German forces retreated, they directed heavy fire toward the building, leading to a catastrophic fire that destroyed the municipal archives and heavily damaged the clock. We imagined our characters, Katerina and Josef, caught in this chaos, where the smoke of history meets the supernatural shadows hinted at throughout this series.

While the town hall burned, the Czech resistance fought with everything they had. In our story, this physical battle is a mirror to a much larger, spiritual confrontation. We often think of history as a series of dates, but I believe it is actually a tapestry of souls choosing light over darkness.

Researching the legends of Prague Castle and the hidden depths beneath the city inspired us to ask: What would you do if you realized the war you were fighting was only a shadow of a much larger battle?

We hope this story of Josef, Theodora, Dante, and Katerina reminds you that even when time seems to be running out, hope is never late. I am so grateful to have you join us for this tour. Whether you have been with us since the first gear turned or you are just now discovering this world, we hope Twist of Time keeps you breathless until the very end.

Blog Stops

Book Reviews From an Avid Reader, June 29

Lily’s Corner, June 30

Simple Harvest Reads, July 1 (Author Interview)

Happily Managing a Household of Boys, July 1

Inspired by Fiction, July 2

Artistic Nobody, July 3 (Author Interview)

Guild Master, July 4 (Author Interview)

Debbie’s Dusty Deliberations, July 5 (Spotlight)

Fiction Book Lover, July 6 (Author Interview)

The Lofty Pages, July 7

The Bookish Ledger, July 8 (Author Interview)

Mary Hake, July 8

Texas Book-aholic, July 9

Books, Books, & More Books, July 10 (Spotlight)

For Him and My Familly, July 11

Life on Chickadee Lane, July 12

Giveaway

 

To celebrate their tour, Tricia and Nathan are giving away the grand prize of a $50 Amazon gift card and a signed copy of the book!!

Be sure to comment on the blog stops for extra entries into the giveaway! Click the link below to enter.

https://gleam.io/dV2pP/twist-of-time-celebration-tour-giveaway

I received a complimentary egalley of this book through Celebrate Lit. My comments are an independent review.

(My star ratings: 5-An exceptional book, 4-Better than average, relevant and liked by me, 3-It is average, 2-It is below average and not liked by me, 1-It is practically unreadable.)

Murder in the Reading Room by Anita Davison

About the Book:

Aunt Violet and her niece Hannah have a bookshop to run. But after a customer comes in asking for a rare book, Hannah takes a visit to the reading room of the British Library – a glorious domed building in the middle of the British Museum courtyard – to find out more

Hannah has barely finished making her request when a man at one of the hundreds of desks slumps over his work. Within moments, it becomes clear he is dead, stabbed in broad daylight, in the middle of the reading room surrounded by oblivious academics.

The reading room is an exclusive space where no one can enter or leave without detection. Yet the initial investigation yields no weapon, no witnesses, and no apparent motive.

But then Aunt Violet discovers the victim had been researching the unearthing of a lost piece of Italian sculpture. And Hannah –despite her new husband’s firm insistence that she let the police do their job – finds herself unable to resist the temptation of investigating just one more murder. 

My Review:

This is another fun cozy mystery from Davison. The characters are great. Aunt Violet is a force and good at getting to places for obtaining information. I like Matilda's involvement too. Aidan, retired from the police force still has the knack and finally puts all the clues together. A possible valuable antique is at the center of the murder mystery. We are not sure whether it is real or a fake until the end. This is a fun series of historical cozy mysteries.

My rating: 4/5 stars.

You can read my review of the previous book in this series, Murder at the Wedding.

About the Author:

Anita is the author of the Flora Maguire Mysteries and the Miss Merrill and Aunt Violet Mysteries set in WWI from Boldwood Books.TBook 1 Murder in the Bookshop, Book 2 Murder in the Library, Book 3 Murder at Midwinter Manor, Book 4 Murder in Covent Garden and Book 5 Murder at the Wedding are all available in E-Book, Audio and Paperback. Book 6 in the series Murder in the Reading Room is due for release on 29th June 2026.

Boldwood Books, 280 pages.

I received a complimentary egalley og this book from the publisher. My comments are an independent review.

(My star ratings: 5-An exceptional book, 4-Better than average, relevant and liked by me, 3-It is average, 2-It is below average and not liked by me, 1-It is practically unreadable.)

The Escape Game by Gina Holder Blog Tour Book Review

 

About the Book

Book: The Escape Game (The Game Masters Book 2)

Author: Gina Holder

Genre: Romantic Suspense

Release Date: May 5, 2026

20 years ago, the world’s leading enigmatologist disappeared…

Demi Kayne, owner of a popular puzzle shop, has spent years searching for her father, who vanished without a trace. When she cracks the code he left behind, the trail leads her to a secluded mansion—and straight into danger.

Liam Shepherd, a missionary with a passion for puzzles, is desperate to find his missing sister. His investigation brings him to Silver Falls, where his path collides with Demi’s in ways neither of them expects.

Drawn into a deadly escape game designed by a brilliant and vengeful mind, Demi and Liam must unravel twisted riddles and confront buried secrets before time runs out. Losing could cost them everything. Their faith and each other may be their only means of escape.

Click here to get your copy!

My Review

Holder has created an escape room on steroids. In addition to the typical escape room plot, she has added a number of interesting issues. Hanging on to old dreams is one. Not being willing to step out in faith is another. And that brings up the Christian faith message which is very clear and very strong in this novel. A prominent topic is God's love. Demi thinks she must earn it. Liam feels forever guilty for the one betrayal of his faith. Holder provides insight into God's forgiveness available to all the characters in the novel.

This is a good novel for readers who like puzzles and escape room type adventures. In addition to the strong faith message, there is some interesting history related to solving puzzles. Finishing this book, I don't think I'll be trying out any escape room adventures myself.

While this is part of a series, each novel is independent.

My rating: 4/5 stars.

You can read my review of the first book in this series, The Puzzle Within.

 

About the Author

Gina Holder is a Christian award-winning author of romantic suspense and cozy mysteries filled with faith, intrigue, danger, romance, and epic twists you’ll never see coming.

She’s had an infatuation with books for as long as she can remember. She loves sharing uplifting messages from God’s Word and introducing readers to new and new-to-them authors on her blog.

When she’s not writing, Gina enjoys playing the piano, cooking, reading, watching Hallmark mysteries, and solving “escape room” puzzles. She loves growing in her craft as an author. She published her debut novel in 2017. Gina lives in Wyoming with her husband and daughter.

More from Gina

The Book I Almost Gave Up On

When I turned in the first full draft of The Escape Game last September, I hated it.

Not in a playful, self-deprecating way. I really, truly hated it.

I had that awful, hollow feeling in my stomach. The one that whispers, This isn’t good enough. You aren’t good enough. Why did you ever think you could pull this off?

Honestly, I believed this book was beyond my abilities.

And it was.

But I forgot I have Someone on my side who can do all things.

Back in 2022, this story idea was supposed to be simple. A shorter novel inside a collection. I had a fun premise, a few intriguing characters, and a basic plot: a second chance romance with the two main characters locked in a deadly mansion.

Easy peasy, right?

Wrong.

I realized the story needed space to breathe, so I wrote something else for the collection, and put this story back on the shelf until the right time.

Fast forward to 2025. The Escape Game was proposed as book 2 of The Game Master series.

I started writing. Characters pushed back. They wouldn’t talk. Inside my head, there was silence.

Some books flow. This one fought.

I wrestled with tone and pacing. I rewrote entire sections only to delete them again. Scenes that sparkled in my head fell flat on the page. I second-guessed everything.

My heroine was supposed to be the faithful Christian girl who wins the bad boy to the Lord.

She wasn’t.

And my hero? He was all wrong.

So, I did something terrifying.

I replaced him.

Completely.

I created an entirely new character—Liam Shepherd.

On the surface, Liam was perfect—kind, protective, devoted to the Lord, close to his family. Every Christian girl’s dream.

But fiction doesn’t work that way. Perfection isn’t compelling.

I asked God to show me Liam’s wound.

When it came, I cried.

No, I bawled like a baby.

Liam wasn’t abused. He didn’t come from a broken home. He had love and stability. Then tragedy struck, and he faced a choice.

He chose wrong.

And it haunted him.

But the troubles were far from over.

This wasn’t just a tricky plot or a stubborn manuscript.

This story touched some deep places in my own heart—places I didn’t expect to have to revisit. Writing it meant digging into tender, uncomfortable emotions, facing truths about fear, grief, and courage that I hadn’t fully confronted. It hit a little too close to home.

Some days it felt less like writing fiction and more like surgery.

And surgery is exhausting.

By the time I reached the end, I wasn’t excited. I was just tired. I turned it in because it was due, not because it felt finished.

Then the editing began.

If drafting this book was wandering through a dark forest, editing was finally being handed a flashlight. Sentences tightened. Motivations clarified. Scenes I thought were essential were cut, and others grew stronger. What felt hopeless started to feel possible.

Slowly—painfully at times—the story started to come into focus.

My editor asked hard questions. I rewrote the entire book. (Not completely, but it felt like it.)

Each round of edits chipped away at the parts I disliked and revealed the story underneath—the one I’d been trying to tell all along.

Somewhere along the way, something unexpected happened.

I stopped hating it.

More than that, I started to like it.

Everything clicked. The story finally had the depth—and the heart—it had been missing.

And now, sitting on the other side of the process, I can honestly say something I never imagined saying last fall:

I’m proud of The Escape Game.

Not because it’s perfect—no book ever is—but because it represents persistence. Growth. The courage to dig into hard places and stay long enough to find the heart of the story.

And that heart is what I hope you feel when you read it.

What started as a small, simple idea grew into something deeper than I expected. Something that required more from me than I thought I had to give.

And in the end, it became something God and I built together.

This book reminded me of something important:

We’re all first drafts.

God is shaping us, molding us … and we fight back. We look at our lives and wish things were different. We replay our wrong choices. We feel regret, frustration, and fear.

Sometimes, we even hate what we see.

But hating your draft doesn’t mean you’ve failed.

“Being confident of this very thing, that he which hath begun a good work in you will perform it until the day of Jesus Christ:” Philippians 1:6 (KJV)

It just means God isn’t finished yet.

And sometimes, the stories we struggle with the most end up being the ones we’re proudest to hold in our hands.

Blog Stops

SydneySchmied books, June 26

Book Reviews From an Avid Reader, June 27

Lyssa Loves Books, June 28

Book Looks by Lisa, June 28

Babbling Becky L’s Book Impressions, June 29

Inspired by Fiction, June 30

Texas Book-aholic, July 1

For Him and My Family, July 2

Truth and Grace Homeschool Academy, July 3

Holly’s Book Corner, July 4

Mary Hake, July 5

Pause for Tales, July 6

Cover Lover Book Review, July 7

The Lofty Pages, July 8

Lights in a Dark World, July 8

Lily’s Corner, July 9

Debbie’s Dusty Deliberations, July 10

Giveaway

 

To celebrate her tour, Gina is giving away the grand prize of a copy of The Puzzle Within and a $50 Amazon gift card!!

Be sure to comment on the blog stops for extra entries into the giveaway! Click the link below to enter.

https://gleam.io/P1o9U/the-escape-game-celebration-tour-giveaway

I received a complimentary egalley of this book through Celebrate Lit. My comments are an independent review.

(My star ratings: 5-An exceptional book, 4-Better than average, relevant and liked by me, 3-It is average, 2-It is below average and not liked by me, 1-It is practically unreadable.)

The God Test by Robert Wright

About the Book:

The God Test is the first book to capture the power behind the AI revolution—to clearly explain the breakthroughs that sparked the current wave of advance and compellingly show why this wave will grow in magnitude and meaning. Written by one of our foremost public intellectuals, and informed by his decades of chronicling the digital age, the book argues that we are about to witness the most abruptly dramatic social transformation in the history of our species.

Wright says that to truly understand this moment in technological history, we need to expand our perspective beyond the last century or even the whole history of technology and look back across billions of years of life on Earth. The advance of AI, he argues, is driven by evolutionary dynamics like those that led to intelligent life in the first place. And understanding those dynamics can empower us to confront our climactic challenge: Can we muster the political, moral, and even spiritual resources needed to guide this technology wisely?

If we fail, the consequences for the whole planet could be grave. But if we meet the challenge—if we pass “the God test”—we can live in a world where humanity thrives, finding not just happiness but deeper meaning and purpose. The very machines that might otherwise imperil or oppress us can enrich us, helping us transcend the psychological impediments to human concord and fulfillment.

My Review:

There is something about AI that makes me nervous. For good reason, Wright says. He suggests we are not prepared for the development of the revolution that is coming. Some wonder if AI might develop God-like abilities. (Separate AI systems will be able to collaborate and work as a team.) He notes the very real possibility of criminals and terrorists using it. AI generated misinformation is already widely promoted. He also records cases where AI learned more than ir was programmed to, exhibiting an emergent property.

We need to make decisions now to put us on a path to a better world and not a dystopia. We have had major revolutions in the last centuries, from industrialization to the information age. The coming AI revolution will have a much greater impact, he suggests, likening it to the Cambrian explosion. It must be planned for now.

I must admit I did not understand much of the more technical aspects of this book, such as the explanation of vectors for LLM. But I do understand enough to realize there needs to be some moral progress in general for the future to be the kind we humans want. He explores philosophical and religious aspects near the end of the book, emphasizing Buddhist enlightenment. While I am not a Buddhist enthusiast, wisdom for the future is needed, that's for sure.

My rating: 4/5 stars.

About the Author:

Robert Wright is the New York Times bestselling author of The Evolution of God (a finalist for the Pulitzer Prize), Nonzero, The Moral Animal, Three Scientists and their Gods (a finalist for the National Book Critics Circle Award), and Why Buddhism Is True. He is the cofounder and editor-in-chief of the widely respected Bloggingheads.tv and MeaningofLife.tv. He has written for The New Yorker, The Atlantic, The New York Times, Time, Slate, and The New Republic. He has taught at the University of Pennsylvania and at Princeton University, where he also created the popular online course “Buddhism and Modern Psychology.” He is currently Visiting Professor of Science and Religion at Union Theological Seminary in New York. Photo credit: Barry Munger.

Simon & Schuster, 304 pages.

I received a complimentary egalley of this book from the publisher. My comments are an independent review.

(My star ratings: 5-An exceptional book, 4-Better than average, relevant and liked by me, 3-It is average, 2-It is below average and not liked by me, 1-It is practically unreadable.)

The White Stone by Scott Meinke Blog Tour Novella Review

About the Book

Book: The White Stone: Faith at the Edge of the Deal

Author: Scott Meinke

Genre: Contemporary Christian Fiction

Release Date: November, 2025

In the high-pressure world of corporate success, the lines between ambition, compromise, and faith are rarely clear.  The White Stone tells the story of a driven professional forced to confront a question many believers face but few talk about openly: What does faithfulness look like when the cost is real- and the reward is unseen?

Rooted in the message to the church in Pergamum (Revelation 2), The White Stone explores integrity under pressure, the slow erosion of conviction, and the grace that calls us back when we’ve settled for less than we were made for.

This is a story for anyone who has wrestled with success, struggled with compromise, or wondered whether quiet obedience still matters in a results-driven world.

Click here to get your copy!

My Review

This is a compelling novella. It is short but contains a powerful message. One man facing the temptation of success and financial gain at the cost of honesty and his own integrity. When it comes to the point of making a choice between obedience to God and career suicide or maintaining loyalty to his own principles, he maintains his faith. He refuses compromise and ultimately moves to the life that honors God above all else.

This is a good little novella exploring the challenge of remaining true to Christ, recognizing the cost and being willing to pay the price. Also realizing the reward is something more than success in this world could ever offer.

The plot moves along well. The characters are likable. The writing style is readable and one I enjoyed. A three session study guide is included so this would make a good choice for a discipleship group or other gathering.

My rating: 4/5 stars.

 

About the Author

Scott Meinke is a business leader, writer, and ministry founder with decades of experience navigating faith in the workplace.  After a long career in the insurance industry, Scott began writing stories that explore integrity, ambition, and what it means to follow Christ when success and conviction collide. The White Stone is his first novel – born out of real-world experience and shaped by Scripture – examining the quiet decisions that define character long before they define careers.

 

More from Scott

What if the biggest risk isn’t losing your job… but losing your soul?

We don’t drift all at once.

It happens in small decisions. Quiet compromises. Moments no one else sees.

The White Stone: Faith at the Edge of the Deal steps into that tension.

Luke Chambers is building a career, a reputation, a future.

From the outside, everything is working.

But inside, the questions are getting louder.

How far is too far?

When does success start costing more than it’s worth?

And what happens when doing the right thing threatens everything you’ve built?

This isn’t just a story about business.

It’s about integrity under pressure.

About faith in the gray areas.

About the quiet line we all face—the one between who we appear to be and who we are becoming. 

Because the real danger isn’t failure.

It’s becoming someone you never intended to be… and calling it success.

But this is also a story of hope.

Of second chances.

Of truth breaking through.

Of what can be restored when courage finally outweighs control.

And beyond the pages, this story is part of something bigger—

supporting real lives and real work happening in Vietnam through Did Over Should Ministries.

Blog Stops

Book Reviews From an Avid Reader, June 25

Artistic Nobody, June 26 (Author Interview)

The Lofty Pages, June 27

Guild Master, June 28 (Author Interview)

Fiction Book Lover, June 29 (Author Interview)

Truth and Grace Homeschool Academy, June 29

The Bookish Ledger, June 30 (Author Interview)

Debbie’s Dusty Deliberations, July 1

Books, Books, & More Books, July 2 (Author Interview)

A Modern Day Fairy Tale, July 3 (Author Interview)

Books Less Travelled, July 4 (Author Interview)

Texas Book-aholic, July 5

History, Hope & Happily Ever After, July 6 (Author Interview)

Paula’s Pad of Inspiration, July 7 (Author Interview)

Simple Harvest Reads, July 7

Stories By Gina, July 8 (Author Interview)

Giveaway

 

To celebrate his tour, Scott is giving away the grand prize of a pre-release copy of The Open Door and a Vietnam-themed coffee package, connected to the mission of Did Over Should Ministries, supporting outreach efforts in Vietnam!!

Be sure to comment on the blog stops for extra entries into the giveaway! Click the link below to enter.

https://gleam.io/193LT/the-white-stone-faith-at-the-edge-of-the-deal-celebration-tour-giveaway

I received a complimentary egalley of this novella through Celebrate Lit. My comments are an independent review.

(My star ratings: 5-An exceptional book, 4-Better than average, relevant and liked by me, 3-It is average, 2-It is below average and not liked by me, 1-It is practically unreadable.)

I Belong to Me by Tia Levings

About the Book:

What does it mean to heal from trauma caused by the people, beliefs, and practices of your faith? And to rebuild a sense of self, when high-control religion said you shouldn’t have one?

Indoctrinated from early childhood to obey, conform, and want what others wanted for her, Tia Levings learned love and acceptance meant being someone other than herself.

After years of abuse in a violent marriage and high-control religion, Tia Levings escaped with her children (a story told in her memoir, A Well-Trained Wife) and thought the hardest was behind her.

But leaving was just the beginning.

With an audacious persistence to reclaim her life, Tia set off on a 15-year quest to psychological peace. The result is an emotionally regulated, actualized, self-aware woman who is able to tell her harrowing story without retraumatizing herself ―a woman who can reach back to help others claim what’s theirs. If trauma took your past, it shouldn't get your present and future too.

Through a series of personal stories, therapeutic stages, and resources, Tia Levings guides readers through the journey that helped her leave abuse, rediscover selfhood, and heal her mind, soul, and body after religious trauma ―so that you can too.

My Review:

It is certainly scary to leave a place of secure feeling to venture into the unknown. Levings encourages readers to know they will survive. Trauma can and will be healed and there are others who will help you. It is a good encouragement to anyone looking to heal from personal trauma. She provides some good general information too so this book would also be appreciated by those who just want to know more about trauma and healing.

My rating: 4/5 stars.

You can read my review of her first book, A Well-Trained Wife. 

About the Author:

Tia Levings is the New York Times Bestselling author of A Well-Trained Wife, her memoir of escape from Christian Patriarchy. She writes about the realities of religious trauma, evangelical patriarchy, and the Trad wife life, decoding the fundamentalist influences in our news and culture. Her work and quotes have appeared in Teen Vogue, Salon, Newsweek, and the HuffingtonPost. She also appeared in the hit Amazon docu-series, Shiny Happy People. Based in Raleigh, North Carolina, she is mom to four incredible adults and likes to travel, hike, paint, and daydream. Find her on social media @TiaLevingsWriter.

St Martin's Essentials, 400 pages.

I received a complimentary egalley of this book from the publisher. My comments are an independent review.

(My star ratings: 5-An exceptional book, 4-Better than average, relevant and liked by me, 3-It is average, 2-It is below average and not liked by me, 1-It is practically unreadable.)