This book is amazing. For anyone suffering from RELIGIOUS abuse you have ...
933738
This book is amazing. For anyone suffering from RELIGIOUS abuse you have got to read this!  I just got the book and I can't put it down.

Amazing!  A must read!
1321864
In the early 90's I was a batterd wife of a "Christian" broadcaster. I felt like I was reading about my life on every page of this book and that there was actually someone who understood what I was going thru. There are still many other battered and abused christian women and children suffering and not knowing where to turn for help. This book gave me great hope, healing and encouragement.
4045340
This book completely blew my mind. I felt as if his book was written specifically for and to me. God is using this book to transform so many hearts and minds. I am 20 years old and this book is pushing me to make huge decisions in my life and to be the kind of brave Annie speaks about continuously throughout the whole book. I encourage any and everyone to read this book. It doesn't matter if you're 13 to 103 this book can speak to anyone. God is using this book and miss Annie Downs ability from God to change lives. This truly is a must read.
1566462
OMG! This is an amazing book! Not only does this book grab the reader and never, ever, lets the reader go, but it's written as a "...survivor-driven public outreach, intended to deepen public awareness of crimes against children and of the lingering impacts of PTSD. Publishing was entirely funded by a consortium of nearly 100 child abuse survivors and their allies." (This was written on the last page of the book, right after then book's ending.)  Therefore, a lot, if not all, of the abuse written about in this book has actually happened to children in the USA.

I'm a teacher and I have witnessed what child abuse does to a child, and what adult survivors of child abuse go through for the rest of their lives; we can't ask/demand that child abuse survivors "just get on with your life" because in many circumstances those children and adults can't get on with their lives. This book should be required reading for...everyone, pastors, teachers, police, social workers, abusers, anger management groups, everyone.

If you are looking for a high interest book then look no further but realize that this book is very dark, and once you realize that all of the abuse that takes place in the book really did happen to some child and is still happening to other children, you won't be able to put this book down.

Mr. Hickman, the author, is a child abuse survivor, and writing this book must have been extremely difficult for him to write, but because he has first-hand knowledge of the types of abuse he has written about, the voice of this novel is a realistic and true voice that doesnt back down - just when I thought that I had read the worst possible thing, Mr. Hickman wrote about an even more extreme and degrading type of child abuse. Most of the abuse in this book perpetuated by "good Christians" who translate the saying, spare the rod, spoil the child into "beat your child until they do exactly what you say, then beat them some more to keep the fear alive, beat them very, very hard."  The actual words from Proverbs 13:24 are:  He that spareth his rod hateth his son: but he that loveth him chasteneth him betimes (diligently).  From the New English Standard Bible the translation is, He who withholds his rod hates his son, But he who loves him disciplines him diligently.  The abusers in this book are all Christians who follow the different passages in Proverbs with zeal, leaving the reader with a horror film of parents who are just trying to do the right thing.

Thank you Mr. Hickman for writing what must have been an extremely difficult book for you to write and bringing so much of what we don't talk about to light.  So many people believe that child abuse of this kind doesnt actually happen but it does happen.  Read this book, your only regret will be that you didn't understand the breadth and depth = the dark extent of child abuse in this country. Read it and then go and volunteer somewhere to help these children and adult survivors of child abuse.
1328152
Anyone who has had any kind of abuse in their life needs to read this. I read it in one day. I couldn't put it down. I'll read it over and over again.
780601
This is an awesome book.  Cynthia D. Hunter has blessed me with the gift of understanding.  There have been stories told where woman will stay with their mate regardless the abuse he may give her.  I always wondered why.  I am one of the first to say that could never happen to me. After reading this book, I can now understand why a woman might feel she has to stay in that kind of relationship.  Now all I can do is pray to GOD that I don't go through something like that.

In a diary form, Ms. Hunter tells us of her every day struggle living with a man whom is addicted to crackcocaine.  She shares the horrifying stories of the day by day abuse that she receives from the man that she loves and is pregnant for.  I respect Ms. Hunter for being brave and telling the world her story.  I recommend this book to everyone.  This may be just the thing to help you get out of that kind of relationship or to prevent you from getting in a relationship like that.  Ms. Hunter I want to thank you, you have helped so many people.
2399868
This book has blessed me TREMENDOUSLY. I have what Pastor Franklin mentioned in the last chapter"The Wind From Elsewhere" a solution to my feelings of depression, worry, anxiety etc. a refreshed revelation of God!!. I recommend this book to ANYONE who's going through a spiritual drought in their lives. After reading this book I realize, The Spirit of Python is real but can be conquered with the help of the Holy Spirit. A must read.
342137
This book was recommended to me by a friend who had recently suffered the death of an infant baby.  Last year, I lost my 29 year old daughter to suicide and my heart is still mending.  I could not put this book down.  I am a Christian person and I truly do believe that the events that took place in this book are true.  The book made me look at my own beliefs and strength that the Lord is getting me through this difficult time.  I would recommend this book to anyone, whether they be Christian or not.  A Christian will have their faith renewed and strengthened and  non-believers will truly have to question themselves.  After reading it the first time, I waited a week and then re-read it.  It was even more powerful the second time because I could put things in a different perspective knowing how it ended.  This is an absolute MUST READ for anyone.  Thank you to the author for sharing this fabulous experience.  I am truly jealous but so happy that you were able to take this walk with the Lord and allow your heart to heal.  I have already purchased enough copies of this book to give one to each of my family members for Christmas.  My dad read it and we discussed it several times after he finished it.  What a life changing book this has been!
4639611
OMG this book is so amazing... it made me laugh and it made me cry. It showed me how much God really loves me and it also made me do a heart check. This book is a must read because after reading this book my life will never be the same! It brought me to a place of total surrendering because without God and His Holy Presence I am nothing. It also help heal the pain that was in my heart. I would say everyone needs this book. Know matter what painful things you have gone through the Holy Spirit is their to help heal the broken places.
275321
This book was incredible! It was just what I needed to read. It was full of beautiful personal stories from the author's life experiences. This book challenged me in ways that I did not expect, causing me to rethink just what it means to be a follower of Jesus. This book made me laugh out loud and cry for the heartaches in the world and for my own failure to see the suffering in the lives of those around me. The author has some great insights on grief and suffering. This is a must read for any person who is suffering, grieving, or seeking to grow in their walk with Christ.
37056
This book is amazing. I read this book shortly after a very good friend of mine passed away and it really helped me heal. highly I recommend it to anyone who has lost a loved one or struggles with fear of the "after life". You have to read it. No explanation or review will do it justice.
1692909
This book is amazing! Barb GETS IT! She knows what she is talking about when it comes to chronic pain. As a sufferer of chronic pain and failed surgeries, I know what it is like to deal with depression, frustration, and the feeling that God has turned his back on you. The thought that you have to pray harder, read your Bible more, and just keep a positive attitude is everything that Barb talks about as lies from the pit of hell. She talks about how important it is to rely on community and suffer well and suffer real. This book is AMAZING and I would recommend it to anyone who is suffering from chronic pain, or if you have a friend or family member in chronic pain, this will help you understand how to help them!
4863999
I met Angela 4 years ago at a Prayer Conference. She gave me her book to help me go from a victim of child sexual abuse to a victor in Christ. Her story of how she overcame with Christ is amazing and I believe everyone should read it!
4509360
This book should be read by everyone who has gone through an abusive relationship and felt less than. You will get the encouragement that you need for God's loving arms and Words through Sharon Wynn. God is using her for such a time as this.
2741696
This is an amazing book. It is a quick read but brings you to tears. I shared the hurt along with each woman in the book and am praying that they will be healed; these incidents may have taken place a year or two ago, but healing does not happen overnight. I know, I've experience God's miracle of healing. God is working through Suzanne in the manner he is by giving her the wisdom and strength to listen to and minister to these struggling women. This is a special gift that few have. Blessings to you, Suzanne, my prayers are always there for you, dear Friend!  I recommend this as a gift or a book to keep in your archives and share with friends and/or family.
2859940
This book is amazing.... Me and my husband are separated but reading the book on our own.. It's making a huge diffrance on me and on him...  It convicted both our hearts how we both were not viewing each other the way God calls us to see each other as his children..  How the lord being out father in-law and we're not honoring him with our behaviors... That is just a small part of this book, there is so much more healing that comes from this book.. Praise God someone write a book more on Gods view of us and our marriage then a step by step how to book that if you chsnge this behavior all will be better.. This changes the heart and your entire thinking...
2727932
This is an amazing book. My son was murdered March 2010,I so understand what Mary is sharing. She has so eloquently described the very same feelings and issues I'm going through. I will use this book as a tool to try to get my friends, family and the DA's office to understand what I'm going through. I am not able to verbalize these feelings to others, as I was reading this book I could have been reading about myself. We belong to a "club" so few understand, I hope others will read this book and use it to reach out to others who have lost loved ones to violent crime.