Rape Books

It was shipped to me within 2 days, great service and great product.

I had to read this book for one of my Woman's Studies classes at Western Illinois University. I think this is a must read book for everyone (especially those who are in recovery or have been convicted of a violent crime of this nature). It is a bit graphic and I don't recomend that anyone under high school age read it. I had to set it down a couple of times due to that, but, it was nessessary to truely understand Ms. Raine's story. You don't truely understand what someone goes though after rape without going through it yourself.

A friend loaned this book to me but it is likely a book I will never forget. Nancy Venable Raine tells her important story in a very accessible way. As a nurse who took care of rape victims in the middle 80's and now a school nurse, I am aware that the secret of abuse and assault reverberates in too many lives. And while I would never say that my experiences as a young nurse were equivalent to those of my patients, I vividly remember hearing my victim-patients stories and identifying with them. Many of my victim-patients were not that different from me--young, single, living alone. During that time, I _usually_ slept with the lights on because I wanted to try to be able to identify my perpetrator, if that ever happened to me.

Raine shows us her story, how it echoes in her life. Coming back from and integrating the experience in life is not, cannot be easy but one cannot help but feel she is one of the minority of individuals who gets the needed help to do so.

Now, in year 2007, I was acutely aware that at times Raine paired the rape experience and the torture experience. It is a source of sadness to me that we, as a nation, are perpetuating that experience for so many. There is something profound about her description of the rape victim as a container for her perpetrator's anger. And that is far from the only profound idea.

Having also read "Lucky" by Alice Sebold, I would say they are both very important books but this book is a far better glimpse into the recovery aspect.

"Throw away the lights, the definitions
And say of what you see in the dark" - Wallace Stevens

"Speech is civilization itself. The word . . . preserves contact - it is silence which isolates." - Thomas Mann

Following her rape, this author became a completely different person, a person who lived "with sudden fear the way others live with cancer. The fear was always there." It took seven years before she could begin writing about her experience. She states that the anniversary of her rape "was more significant than my own birthday, and yet there was only silence . . . I had become, the one who marked her anniversaries in silence . . . Could I celebrate my survival in silence and alone? Not according to Webster's, which defines the verb "to celebrate" this way: "to perform (a sacrament or solemn ceremony) publicly and with appropriate rites" . . . It pained my family and friends to remember. To acknowledge my experience might bring up what they hoped I had forgotten . . . for me to remind them that I had not forgotten seemed unkind, even cruel, because I knew they needed to believe I had. Our rite was, therefore, silence."

"I thought about Wittgenstein's observation that the limits of language are the limits of reality. Was rape off limits to our most distinctly human attribute - language? . . . I could no longer consent to silence."

Another friend and rape victim asked her, "How do I tell people who don't know, people who might become close friends? If I don't tell them, it makes it a secret, like something to be ashamed of. When I do tell them, they make it worse. They never ask me about it. It'a a part of me, part of who I am now, but they don't want to know about it. It's no-win. Just no-win."

"But silence has the rusty taste of shame. The words 'shut up' are the most terrible words I know. I cannot hear them without feeling cold to the bone. The man who raped me spat those words out over and over during the hours of my attack - when I screamed when I tried to talk him out of what he was doing, when I protested . . . The real shame, as I have learned, is to consent to them."

So she wrote an essay "Returns of the Day" in The New York Times Magazine in 1994. In response "Without exception, all of the letters from survivors described the isolation of the aftermath of rape, its life-altering transfromations."

"The victims of rape must carry their memories with them for the rest of their lives. They must not also carry the burden of silence and shame."

If you have friend or family member dealing with these issues (and the odds are that you do), here are other books that are also excellent on this and related topics, "Lucky" & "The Lovely Bones" by Alice Sebold, & "Siolence" edited by Susan McMaster - all written by women. Rape victims and victims of relationship violence and abuse often hide their experiences and the behaviors of their abusers, feeling ashamed for even being involved with the abusive patterns. All of these books suggest women become more free and mentally at ease when they realize there is nothing to be ashamed of about being victimized. And they suggest the causes of our silences and the things we hide probably deserve more attention, new perspectives, and reconsideration.

Ms. Raine describes the trauma and recovery of rape in clear and helpful terms and I appreciate the references to other works about rape recovery and feminism. Raine's AFTER SILENCE inspired me to read another landmark TRAUMA AND RECOVERY by Judith Herman, MD. It is hard to find books about rape recovery and people who can and will talk calmly, rationally, compassionately (or at all) about this subject. Raine's AFTER SILENCE should be required reading in high school for both boys and girls! Rape is so widespread that it should be addressed more often by family and friends; local, state, national, and world leaders; educators and news media. Raine also references I NEVER CALLED IT RAPE by Robin Morgan, another excellent source for raising awareness of the frequency and extent of rape in society. My own childhood incest and young adult rape were not known to my parents, siblings and doctors for decades even though the symptoms were so obvious that I was hospitalized for months. Can't praise Raine's work enough. My heartfelt gratitude goes out to Raine and all those who made her work possible. Healing may be slow in coming, but it does come, after the silence, with the help of authors like Raine.

This novel about a young girl forced to confront adult issues latched onto my heart and refused to let go. Mara struggles to find answers we take for granted. Longing for love and a real home, she probes until those around her finally tell the truth.

Mary shows us Mara's heart, her courage, and her determination to survive. The theme of God's answers to a child's prayers weaves it way seamlessly throughout the book.

I can't wait to read the sequel, as well as Mary's other works. Don't miss this classic example of the triumph of good over evil.

The whole time I was reading this book I kept wondering if this was intended for adults or children? The subject matter certainly did not seem appropriate for children but I found the book "childish". The characters are portrayed as either evil or good without exception and Mara is not a believeable heroine.

A disappointing book.

I read this book a few years ago, but I recently ordered a few copies when Amazon was having a sale. I realized I'd given mine to somebody at church and that I really needed a copy for my library because it's worth reading twice - or more. I love DeMuth's lyrical style and how beautifully she writes about human emotions that are difficult to talk about, let alone admit they exist. This is one you should add to your library.

This novel so accurately described a child's thought patterns when forced to deal with a situation beyond her wisdom and age. I suggest that every parent, educator and neighbor read it to learn to be aware and protect the innocence of those who are most vulnerable. It is both a tragic and beautiful story made more poignant that it reflects the authors own story and her desire to use her experiences to help others (shared in her non-fiction "Building the Christian Family You Never Had"). Thankfully, there is hope and assurance at the end, but left enough hanging to look forward to the sequel.

In her debut novel, Watching the Tree Limbs, Mary DeMuth introduces us to Maranatha, a creative girl who longs to color her world and to belong. As nine-year-old Mara struggles to cope with life-changing circumstances and rejection in her small Texas town, she falls prey to a neighbor boy who sexually abuses and terrorizes her. Although her story is heart-wrenching and painfully sad at times, it is not depressing or hopeless. Mara's story is also sweet and funny, especially her interactions with her best friend, Camilla, and her guardian's housekeeper, Zady. DeMuth gives the reader a beautifully written tale of grace and hope, transformation and deliverance. Mara plays real-life Nancy Drew with Camilla to solve the mystery of her past, which adds an unexpected element of suspense to the novel. As she grows, so does her faith, not only in God but in those He puts in her life to help and love her. The faith DeMuth portrays is not full of simplistic, pat answers and platitudes. Mara rages at God and wonders how He could allow such a thing to happen, even as she views her abuser as having almost supernatural powers to see inside her head and know her every thought and action. I look forward to continuing Maranatha's story in the book's sequel, Wishing on Dandelions.

I was lounging around at my grandparents house and saw this book on a bookshelf in one of the old rooms that nobody ever goes in anymore. I picked it up, and out of curiosity at the title, decided to read the first page...I must have sat there for HOURS reading! It is so hilarious (and at times not so hilarious.) It is also incredibly insightful. I just finished reading it today (I started 2 days ago) and have demanded that all my other 19 and 20 yr. old friends read it...it's THAT good, and still a great book even now in 2002, and even for us kids who weren't even alive until the 1980s! READ THIS BOOK!!!

I was very young when I read this book, still in grade school. While I admit, much of the rhetoric and philosophies concerning the sexual revolution were indeed lost to me, being that I was so young; I took with me, unto adulthood the humor and witty excerpts, which are indeed both so simple and clever. Years later, I still make references to this book; whether I regard it in terms of how it introduced/helped me, personally examine and evolve my ideas of sexuality or how much it still makes sense, it is a classic work of art. Read this book!!

Those who Get It should be printing up and handing out this book like Gideons. Every home should have one. Allan Sherman succeeds, as very few authors have, in laying out the terms and conditions of our domestication, and exhibiting nakedly the sad state of slavery under whose shadow we furtively fornicate. This is a hilarious book, which is a symptom of the wisdom it contains. In order to unravel the mystery of how the Sixth Pleasure got so screwed up that a sexual revolution was necessary, Sherman disentangles threads of politics, religion, and culture, all with a light touch and human sympathy. There is no other book that you need more urgently to read.

I'm just about finished with this book, it is absolutley the funniest book I have ever read. His detailed history of the "corruption" of our minds starting with the dawn of man is wonderful. The only tragedy to this book is that he isn't alive now to see how things have progressed since 1973. . .

It is an absolute must-read.

While Allan Sherman's musical offerings are witty and fun, this book is one of the most amazing documents ever published. Like most of the other folks here, I first read it when I was young (16) and have bought and lost (as loaners) several copies. I found a hardcover in a used bookstore about ten years ago and will never let it leave my house now, as replacement copies are amazingly expensive and hard to come by.

I consider it the funniest book ever written, and this comes from someone who absolutely adores Twain, so take that as extremely high praise.

In a style and setting similar to Harper Lee's "To Kill a Mockingbird", "Wishing on Dandelions" is the story of a girl sprouting into womanhood in a lazy town where everyone knows everyone else's business.
Maranatha Winningham, a seventeen-year-old orphan, is one of the most charming and endearing characters you'll come across. Well-mannered and respectful, she's everything you'd hope for in a teenager, but frequent glimpses into her thought life reveal a load of secrets and fears that she shares with no one--not even Charlie.
Charlie is everything a boyfriend should be--loyal, protective, forgiving. There's only one problem. He's black, and in Burl, it's simply not done. A mere blip on the sun-scored Texas map, 1980's Burl applauds young love, unless it comes in package of a different color.
His complete opposite, Georgeanne is loud, obnoxious, bossy, and irreversibly engaged to Maranatha's Uncle Zane. Maranatha pleads with God for her uncle to wake up and realize what he's about to get himself into, but God doesn't seem to be listening. Maybe the saying is right. Maybe hurt people hurt people. Maybe Maranatha needs to love Georgeanne anyway... Nah. It's easier to hate her.
A delightful encore to the celebrated "Watching the Tree Limbs," DeMuth's story tackles some serious issues while downplaying them with wit, humor, and a passel of quirky characters.
DeMuth has done a superb job of reviving 1980's Texas, complete with big hair, big trucks, and big attitudes. Who would have thought a Texas drawl could be written with such grace?
"Wishing on Dandelions" is worth sticking it out through the slow start. The heart of the book is worth waiting for. It's fun yet impacting, nostalgic and delightfully familiar.

Wishing On Dandelions by Mary E. DeMuth couldn't come soon enough for me. I had devoured the first in the Maranatha series (Watching Tree Limbs) and was left wanting more. Part of the appeal for me was the raw Texas setting, since I lived several years in East Texas.
In Wishing On Dandelions, the main character, Maranatha Winningham is now a teenager trying to find her place in the world. Her history of sexual abuse taints the many events teenagers usually enjoy. She has more than teenage angst to blame for her struggles.
Maranatha also has to learn to deal with a new woman in her life. Uncle Zane married shallow Georganne Peach and brought her home amid many changes. While wedding drama is going on, Maranatha grapples with her feelings for Charlie. Was it wrong for her to love him as more than a friend? Nothing was black and white.
Reading this book will possibly be like rubbing salt in a wound. The same salt that stings, heals. As Wishing On Dandelions comes to a close, you will find issues resolved in your own life-issues you didn't even realize you were still struggling with. Go ahead, blow away the dandelion seeds and make a wish. It just might come true!

Wishing on Dandelions is a great follow up to Watching the Tree Limbs in the Maranatha Series. I'm glad DeMuth let readers see what happens to Maranatha. While this novel contains a love story, it's so natural and sweet that the book doesn't come across like a romance, but more of a journey where readers get to see Maranatha learn to let herself be loved.

Can you trust God once more after your life has been broken? It doesn't happen overnight, as 17-year-old Maranatha Winningham learns in this well-crafted story. WISHING ON DANDELIONS is a follow-up to WATCHING THE TREE LIMBS, in which Maranatha is abused by a young neighbor. In the opening pages of Mary DeMuth's latest novel, the reader learns that Natha's best friend Camille has left the small town of Burl, Texas, for college. Natha, meanwhile, plunges into her senior year of high school.

Because both her parents are dead, Natha lives with her father's brother. Since his stroke, Uncle Zane moves much slower and, while never much of a conversationalist, talks even less. Natha's home life is in turmoil when Uncle Zane marries Georgeanne, who has her own ideas about how the household should be run and in what part of town to live. Throughout the story, Georgeanne tries to build some sort of a relationship with Natha but often ends up crossing some imaginary barrier and offending the teen.

Then Violin Charlie, the son of a judge who lives in a better area in Burl, invites Natha to the Homecoming Dance. Georgeanne pitches in and takes Natha to purchase a new pink dress, building a bit of good will. Ultimately, Georgeanne has plans to move the entire family to this better part of town, which throws Natha into a panic as she wonders if she will be able to leave the protection of the house she has always known.

The abuse from the past comes roaring back into Natha's life. One day she rides her bicycle to a property where she likes to think. A man named Jake Gully confronts her about trespassing and then offers her a ride into town. When she gets into his truck, he takes off away from town and acts suggestively toward her. Natha manages to escape and reports the incident to the police. Miss Nichols, the assistant district attorney, pressures Natha to testify against Gully. After being convinced that he will be freed without her testimony, a reluctant Natha finally agrees to take that big step, as friends and family gather to support her throughout the trial.

WISHING ON DANDELIONS will keep the reader turning pages to see how Natha deals with the various obstacles that life throws in her direction. DeMuth has written an emotionally-charged novel that will help others grow in their own faith relationship.

--- Reviewed by W. Terry Whalin

If you are looking for a book that stirs your emotions and keeps you up until the wee hours of the morning, then I highly recommend Wishing on Dandelions by Mary DeMuth. WOD is the sequel to DeMuth's debut novel, Watching the Tree Limbs. Although it took me a little longer to be drawn into this second book, it surpasses the first. WTTL focuses on redemption, and as a natural progression, WOD focuses on learning how to accept God's love and growing deeper in understanding our redemption.

I found this story heavier that the first book, despite the fact that the main traumatic events occur to Maranatha in WTTL. For me, I identified on a deeper level with the struggle to fully grasp and accept that God loves me despite all my faults. While I enjoyed the first book, I connected more with the second. I appreciated the new characters Mary introduced as well. Some of them I liked immediately, and only wished to know them more. Some of them had to grow on me, but the more glimpses I got into their hearts, the more I wanted to know about their back stories. Still others I appreciated for the reality of their humanity. One character in particular I really thought was going to have a change of heart after he heard Maranatha's story, but he didn't. In fact, the depth of the judgment in his soul only became more evident. At first I was appalled, but then quickly realized that people like that do exist and therefore have an appropriate - even necessary - place in a novel like this.

One of the many things I enjoy about Mary's writing is that while she is a Christian author who discusses Christian values and issues, her books do not feel "Christian." Do you follow me here? Writing a great story is what comes first for Mary, not writing a Christian story that she hopes is great. Of course, Jesus pours out onto her page, but that's because He's so pervasive in her life, not because she has an agenda to write about Him. I applaud her for writing reality, writing authentically and writing with excellence. It's no wonder she's nominated for a Christy Award.

"Fall" is superb. This is the best "true crime" book I have read in years, and (author) Ron Franscell is extraordinarily talented.

The book is poignant, brutal (at times), succinct (thank you, Ron!), and yet it offers hope.

It is also accurate. Well done, Mr. Franscell.

This is one of the best true crime books I've read...and I've read a lot.
Really gets into the heads of the victims and the perps. Good psychological study of "why" some people behave the way they do. Very insightful.

Franscell does a masterful job of recounting the tragic crimes in his hometown, Casper, Wyoming. His writing is superb.

In 1973 in Casper, Wyoming, the paths of two twenty something lowlifes, Ronald Kennedy and Jerry Jenkins, intersected with that of two half-sisters, eighteen year old Becky Thompson and eleven year old Amy Burridge. None of their lives would ever be the same again. Becky and Amy had just finished up some last minute grocery shopping at a local store, when they realized that they had a flat tire. Kennedy and Jenkins offered to help them and give them a ride home.

Once they were in the car, however, it was clear that Becky and Amy were going to be taken to hell and back again. The upshot is that they were abducted and ultimately driven to the North Platte River where Amy was thrown from a bridge that spanned a gorge into the river over a hundred feet below. Becky was then raped by Kennedy and Jenkins, and then she, too, was thrown from the bridge into that same river and left for dead. The only difference is that she physically survived her ordeal and lived to tell the tale.

The author divided the book into three parts. In the first part, the author takes great pains to describe the town and the people who played a part in the unfolding drama. He also paints a poignant portrait of the two girls who had been abducted and treated so cruelly by fate. He also describes the details of the events that led up to the crime, the crime itself, and its immediate aftermath.

In the second part of the book, the focus is on the prosecution of the case. Again, the author gives much detail on the individuals who were going to be involved in the prosecution of the case, as well as those who were to be responsible for the defense of Kennedy and Jenkins. The author also gives details from the trial itself, in addition to the outcome.

In the third part of the book, the author details what became of Becky Thompson and notes the impact that this singular event had on her life. He also details what happened to Jenkins and Kennedy. The reader also discovers what became of the families of the victims, the families of the defendants, and those who were involved in the trial process. He also includes portions of a memoir written by Kennedy, which the author expertly dissects and analyzes. This is, however, the Achilles heel in the book, as the self-serving drivel served up by Kennedy made this portion of the book drag somewhat.

This case was big news when it happened, and it shook the town of Casper to its core. In fact, the author knew Becky and Amy, as they were his next door neighbors in Casper, Wyoming, where he grew up. He was a junior in high school at the time that the crime occurred, and he recalls the impact that the crime had on not only the community but on his family, as well. This personal connection explains the well-spring of deep sadness that resonates throughout this well-written book and speaks to the reader. Meticulous in his research, it is clear that for this author this book was a labor of love, as the author brings to life with his prose all those whose lives had been touched by this heinous crime.

This book has been released as a paperback under the title: The Darkest Night: Two Sisters, a Brutal Murder, and Loss of Innocence in a Small Town".

This is an excellent book. Few true crime novels manage this level of polished writing, careful and skillful storytelling and sympathy for the victims. Truly a tragic story, but so vivid and powerful I couldn't put it down.

Written in a way that had me hooked from the very beginning, this is one of the best books I've ever read and I am an avid reader. This story will stay with me for a very long time.

This book is so well written Corey Mitchell has done it again. He is a great true crime writer. This is a very sad book.
This book is for all true crime fans,Mitchell is such a great writer!!
Run out and buy it now.

I did some reaserch on this awhile back when I was in law enforcment. I just recently found out that one of them was executed. That is when I bought this book. If you want to walk through hell, this is as close as it gets. I was infuriated when reading the chapter that explained what happend those last hours. Those girls who actually were making something of themselves were cut short of life by six wastes of human DNA! Be warned.....one pic in the book(Jennifer) is really disturbing. If you ever wanted to help families that go through this kind of thing, this would be the tool to get you started! Great book!

I have been an avid reader of true crime for a number of years, but have only been compelled to review the work of one author: Corey Mitchell. There is something about the way Mitchell writes that not only pulls me directly into each story he tells, but also inspires me as a citizen. No other true crime author is able to compile so much research, yet make it interesting, gripping, and terrifyng. In addition, a reader of his books learns about all the key players involved, not just the victims or just the killers. He is truly a gifted author who stands head and shoulders above all modern day true crime authors and easily ranks among the greats like McGinniss, Capote, Rule, and Bugliosi.

Mitchell's excellent writing reaches an even higher level with the story of Jennifer Ertman and Elizabeth Pena, murdered by six teenage boys in Houston in 1993. Most true crime books throw the murder in your face within the first ten pages. Not Mitchell. He draws out the tension by forcing you to get to know both of the girls, what they are like, their character and their flaws; and the boys, all six of them, and how they got to the point of being capable of murder. It takes almost 200 pages to actually get to the murder, and by the time you are there it is almost unbearable. Mitchell's ability to make you feel for the victims and fret for the killers has not been replicated in other recent true crime works. The tension is palpable, and, as always, Mitchell thrusts you right into the horrible scene on that hot Houston day.

The crime itself is almost too frightening to believe and Mitchell paints a most vivid depiction. I'm glad he does because it made me realize how truly despicable these young men were and how horribly they assaulted, raped, mutilated, and finally killed these two sweet teenage girls.

The second half of the book is a heart-wrenching look at how insensitive the legal system is for the family members of crime victims. The ordeals that the Ertmans and Penas had to endure were outrageous, yet somehow, the families come off as dedicated, yet humorous individuals. Both families are to be commended for how they have dealt with the continuous legal manuevering by the defendants for fifteen years and counting.

Not much of a death penalty advocate, I had no problem whatsoever in feeling relieved that one of the killers, Jose Medellin, was executed in Texas recently. The fact that he was allowed to live 15 years after these murders is pathetic, as were the attempts by President George Bush and Condoleeza Rice to stall his execution.

"Pure Murder" is a heart-wrenching classic that is truly destined to become one of the most memorable and greatest true crime books ever penned. An instant classic.

After learning a 31 year old man had FINALLY been excecuted for the murder he (and others) committed at 18 years old. I purchased the book Saturday afternoon and I finished Tuesday evening. I am a mother of 3 children under 5.
I just couldn't put it down and when I did, I said a prayer for those beautiful girls and their families. I felt emotions, anger, scared, helplessness and cried.
The Author just captivated me. The story was there he just put the information in order and shared the VICTIMS injustice. Corey Mitchell put the victims first, NOT the criminals. There was no making excuses for their actions.
Even not wanting to know the animals lives and up bringing, it gave a sense of how the did not value or respect life. I realize not just Adult men are true animals but it can happen in Young men, I am now a changed woman and mother for reading this book! I will always pray that they are ALL executed and burn in hell. Good JOB TEXAS! Better late then NEVER!"

When Virginia Sills is found stabbed and raped in a dark alley, no one can possibly guess how twisted her story really is. Not even Virginia knows. On the verge of death, her Guardian Angel, Mahatiel, attempts to force her back into the land of the living. Ever stubborn, Virginia balks at every turn, endangering her soul and Mahatiel's life as the forces of evil gather to snatch her to themselves. Marcellus Grimes, an arrogant detective, is assigned to find Virginia's rapist. He has no idea of the darkness he will enter while on the search. Want-to-be detective Darrell, who takes a lot of abuse and ridicule from Marcellus, sees clues that Marcellus doesn't and he determines that he will find Virginia's abuser on his own and the race is on.

IN DARK THINGS David M. Humphrey, Sr. spins a tale of heaven and hell, of good vs. bad, God vs. Satan. He covers the fall of Lucifer from grace and the birth of all Lucifer's dark demons. He shows us the trials that Guardian Angels have as they try to protect their human charges. The book encourages the reader to listen to that voice that is telling us what to do: it could be God talking to us. It was an interesting story with a Christian message. In some places, it got just a bit preachy which slowed the action down. It was certainly an interesting story on the relationship of God, Satan and human beings.

Reviewed by Alice Holman
of The RAWSISTAZ Reviewers

As I read through the pages of this book, the war in the heavenlies between the Kingdom of God and the forces of darkness became even more real to me. This book provides insight into spiritual warfare that has to be unprecedented. Although it is fiction, it is still fact based. It's based on the word of God, the Holy Bible, and Brother Humphrey put a Holy Spirit inspired spin on it that should cause every person to understand how real Satan and his kingdom are. More importantly, it demonstrates the awesome power of God and proves that if we are on the Lord's side and He is for us, we are victorious over the works of the enemy in our lives. If there is the slightest propensity in the sinner to forsake the things of this world and live for God, this book will push them over into a place of total surrender to Him. In addition, it will frighten the believer into selling out to God totally and completely. I highly recommend purchasing this book because it is a true blessing. I thank God for Divinely placing it in my hands.

This book was TOTALLY AWESOME!!! I couldn't put the book down! (even almost got fired for bringing it on the sales floor!)I can't believe how great the book was. I can't wait to see if there is a second part continuing the search for the rapist! This is a book if you have any doubts about, just pick it up and read it, you will love it! An amazing story with a great ending!!

Wow, what a gripping book, providing insight to the spiritual world. Through a fictional and gripping story, you are also taught and realize how little the everyday material world means in God's grand scheme of things, and how wonderful and powerful God is. Through his Son, Jesus, he has bestowed this power on us to use against the principalities of darkness.

Great read! I was glued to the pages as the lives were protected and saved by mighty angels and deceived and ruined as puppets by mighty the dark-things.
David's vision of Satan creating "Death" was awesome, I was in the lab, frozen as the plot unfolded and transformed the unwitting demon into Death it self. keep writing and your gift will make room for itself.

And keep praying the enemies/dark-things are not pleased when someone turns on the light.

What I loved about this book was that it was not written by a professional writer, it wasn't a lawyer's point of view, and it didn't preach to me about the death penalty. Instead, this book was a look at the justice system from a regular person's point of view. Kerry Max Cook raised questions about how the justice system works, or more appropriately, doesn't work, and not by hammering on lofty principles, but by showing the reader what actually happens, in court, out of court, and in prison. However, most importantly, he brings us inside the mind of a person facing the worst possible situation and how that affects him. I was inspired by his strength and ability to persevere through things that would have crushed nearly every human being. This book is a must-read for anyone who endeavors to understand the American criminal justice system and what it means to be accused of a crime.

Read the Innocent Man and thought I could never be moved so much by a book-really a life story. Saw the movie The Exonerated and heard about Kerry's life. I started reading the book for about 2 hrs a few nights ago... Last night I actually read from 9 pm to 3 am and then got up snowy day here) and read from 8 am finishing the book. I felt I couldn't put the book down until this whole ordeal was over-like my not finishing it still had held him in a deplorable state on Death Rown. When he is handed his belongings and the 1.28 check from his Trust Fund I bawled like a baby. I never really thought this was a just world but never really considered how injust men could be. Amazing life story of a man overcoming and rising above horrendous acts of injustice!
A Must Read!

A first-hand account of how and why innocent men and women can spend decades on death row in the United States that should be read and discussed by both pro-death penalty proponents as well as abolitionists.
Kerry Max Cook is a modern Dante/ Job. His story is of one who travels to hell and back, physically, spiritually, and emotionally, but who in the end has the strength to emerge as an enlightened, if wounded human being. The tortures he endures after being wrongfully convicted of the rape and murder of a young woman he only knew casually are simply inconceivable. Not only does he have to contend with the fear of losing his life on a daily basis, (the fear of execution, and the fear of being stabbed) but he also must survive psychologically the tragic deaths of loved ones in the outside world while he is in prison.
The depth of police and prosecutorial misconduct Kerry describes is nothing less than infuriating, shocking. Yet, the presentation of his case is not intended to be an ideological rant against "the system." Merely by stating the facts, Kerry can convince us of the depth of the flaws.
Besides being an eye-opening account into injustice, Kerry's book is also
told in a way that draws us close to him, a human tale that cuts deeply into our hearts. It is a face-paced read that will keep you turning the pages, one that will haunt you and make you want to live each day of your own freedom to the fullest.

Kerry Cook had a few scrapes with law enforcement as a teenager in a small Texas town - joyriding, kicking out the windows of a store that falsely accused him of armed robbery. Thus, police "knew" they had their man when his fingerprints were found at the scene of a grisly murder.

The abuse of justice started immediately, continued for two decades, and nearly ended with Cook's execution. First it was merely physical - police slamming him into a wall, holding his head underwater in a toilet, arranged beatings by fellow prisoners, refusing showers and clothing, and sleep deprivation to force Kerry to confess. More serious abuses then occurred - withholding evidence from Kerry's attorneys, coaching witnesses to slant/fabricate testimony against Kerry, providing scientifically unfounded testimony that "aged" Kerry's prints to the time of murder, solicited false testimony from fellow inmates that Kerry had confessed - culminating to Kerry's arrival on Death Row in 1978. There Kerry was raped three times, and attempted suicide after each. Then his appeal stalled for eight years, and ultimately was denied.

Finally, things started to go Kerry's way. The prisoner who initially testified Kerry confessed, decided to come clean. An FBI expert provided an affidavit stating that scientific fingerprint "aging" was not possible, information was uncovered that a pathologist had told police that the victim's librarian prior boyfriend had ordered a book describing how she had been mutilated (police ignored, and did not provide to Kerry's defense), the major Dallas newspaper printed a major expose of how Kerry had been railroaded, a foundation funded Kerry's successful re-appeal.

The judge in the retrial, however, prohibited introducing most of this new evidence, the foundation funding Kerry's defense ran out of money (his attorney worked pro bono, but could not afford expert witnesses), and after a mistrial (deadlocked jury) and third trial it was back to Death Row for Kerry.

Fortunately, this conviction was reversed again, and Kerry was offered a "No Contest" plea in exchange for time served. His initial decision was to refuse and go back to trial - however, Kerry accepted the deal after learning that the potential jurors generally thought he had gotten out on a technicality and that they were there to "make it right." Finally, after being freed, results of a DNA test came back, exonerating Kerry and pinning the crime on the librarian originally identified by an eyewitness who had been coerced by prosecutors to change her testimony. Yet, prosecutors continued to contest his exoneration when interviewed.

Kerry, however, is not blameless in this miscarriage. Throughout the trials he lied about how his fingerprints got on the victim's door, instead of simply admitting she had invited him up there. (Kerry claims his father told him not to admit this; however, such an action makes no sense whatsoever.) Finally, while Kerry also should be commended for writing the book himself, continually referring to his parents as "momma" and "daddy" was both infantile and aggravating.

Bottom Line: This book seriously questions the wisdom of the death penalty in America.

Kerry Max Cook met young Linda Edwards in 1977 and was invited back to her apartment for a drink, where he left his fingerprints on the sliding glass door. Four days later, Ms. Edwards was found brutally murdered, and Cook was immediately arrested for the crime. In one of the worst examples of police and prosecutorial misconduct in American history, Kerry Max was put to trial with coached prosecutorial witnesses, bunk expert testimony about the "age" (six to twelve hours) of the fingerprint, and suppressed evidence that would have favored the defense. The state declared that Kerry Max was a repressed homosexual (at a time when homosexuality was a mental illness, and in rural Texas, no less) who raped and butchered a female out of repressed rage - a theory, incredibly, they stuck to even during re-trials two decades later, in the 1990's!

Chasing Justice is the story of the framing of Kerry Max by the Texas justice system. The narrative was written in Kerry's own hand (1,200 pages at first draft) and condensed into a powerfully personal 350-page account of life on death row - desperation, abandonment, rape and sodomy, stabbings, and attempted suicide. The prose isn't depressing; rather, Kerry Max just fights on, always waiting for the next turn, building his cadre of supporters. Texas death row has been ruled in federal court to constitute cruel and unusual punishment. Kerry Max fought for a full two decades for his freedom, through three outrageous trials, with not a penny to his name. While the major Dallas newspaper was decrying the railroading of an innocent man, he was convicted again and again and again. To date, he is still not eligible for reparations from the state of Texas because he has not been officially pardoned, which would require the unanimous concurrence several bureaucratic offices unwilling to admit their culpability in the grave trespass of justice against Kerry Max Cook. (By the way, the state spent $5 - $7 million over two decades in their effort to execute Kerry Max).

The reader will question - why Kerry Max? In his book, the author does not devote his energies to answering why, rather, he uses his energy to fight. From some brief research on the case, I have determined that the real culprit hired a very expensive, well-connected good ol' boy lawyer, requiring the police to find another suspect to satisfy the anger of the community. I can only begin to wonder how the Texas justice system conspired for 20 years to keep an innocent man behind bars. During each of his three trials, judges continually approved motions by the prosecutor and denied those of the defense, even to the point at which the court had contradicted itself on which evidence should be suppressed or allowed and for what reason!

Kerry Max's remarkable story is a damning indictment of the death penalty and the Texas justice system. Right before the publication of his memoir, national crime show Body of Evidence: From the Case Files of Dayle Hinman featured forensic experts "solving" the Edwards murder based on false evidence from the prosecution. Even 10 years have Kerry Max's exoneration in the national eye, misinformation is still being spread by those in power. Kerry Max Cook's experiences should serve as clear warning not to blindly accept the word of authority.

This book is perfect. It is perfectly written and the story perfectly told. There are moments when you feel joy for the author, but there are also moments when you are heartbroken because of the battles that she must fight. However, through it all you learn that she will always continue to fight for the things that she believes in. It is an amazing story that shows we all must continue fighting are own daily struggles. The book was an inspiration to me and I must thank Sally for having the ability to inspire. I cannot express enough the impact that this book has had on me. It would be a cruel injustice for someone to miss the opportunity to read this book. It can help no matter what type of situation you are dealing with.

While I was walking is like having a peek into someone's journal. Sally Russo expertly chronicles a period of her life with honesty and raw truth. A must read for anyone needing inspiration through tough times. And a big Aplus for the truth about Lyme Disease and how it is NOT be handled by our country's doctors so well.

Sally the book is amazing and I could not be more proud of you. I am so impressed with how well you are able to open up and tell your story of stuggles and the way you are persevering. You truly are an insperation to all. I wish nothing but success and happiness for you so don't give up and keep up with the fantastic writing!

What a remarkable story illustrated in such a vivid way. Sally's fight & passion for life is so touching, and her story truly made me realize how important the simplicities of life are. Sally's struggles and challenges have sculpted her into a very strong and brave young woman. I would highly recommend this story for all ages!

No surprises here. I couldn't put the book down. Sally is and always has been an extremely strong and determined person. This book evidences how she has persevered through things in life that would have made many of us give up. I commend her for turning these life experiences into positive ones to share and educate those around her. This book can be read by any college bound student, any parent with college bound children, and any person or parent who has experienced these same tragedies. It is truly an inspiration to take this journey with Sally through her writing, teaching the reader that it is possible to move on and face life head on to conquer any obstacle. Not only does it address her emotional distress while in college, she then addresses her next obstacle of facing a life altering disease yet still presses on. This book may open the eyes of some people experiencing these same unexplained health problems leading to, and in some cases, masking Lyme Disease and perhaps face them in the right direction. If nothing else, this book can make many others feel that they are not alone. This book is a rollercoaster of emotions and experiences. I cried a lot and laughed some but all in all, I am so proud that Sally is doing better and has chosen to own this journey and share it with the world.

Oh my, Barbara Berot has made me such a fan! What a web she has woven with her first two novels. A lot of subtext in both. I rarely read novels as I'm into history, politics, biographies and autobios. I can not wait for the third book. I understand she is working on that now. Such a fabulous love story!!!!!!! We should all have an Andrew! LJ

The only thing keeping them together - the complex and diverse web of lies and falsehoods has begun to unravel. "Lies & Liberation: The Rape of Europa" is the tale of Andrew's failing marriage and his endless lust and need to be with the woman he so wished he had married in the first place - Annie. The two decide that no matter what stands in there way they must go through to overcome the odds - and there are odds in their way - to be together. A thrilling story of romance that captivates from first page to last, "Lies & Liberation: The Rape of Europa" is highly recommended for romance fans everywhere and for community library fiction collections.

Sometimes the past cannot help but profoundly predict the future! Andrew Stuart-Gordon makes a decision in the present to live with the one love of his life, Annie, recently separated from her own husband, Mike. Simple enough, right? No, not quite!

Barbara Berot's novel is a story of romance unlike the majority of romantic novels being published today! For her characters can't just make their decisions and move on to create a different future. Andrew at first believes he can maintain his relationship with his wife, Janet, and Annie is led by Andrew to maintain her connection with Mike. But neither Andrew nor Annie realize the familial decisions made years earlier that involved subterfuge, infidelity, betrayal, possible murder and other deviant actions that are about to implode smack in the middle of their romance!

One person will seek to bribe Andrew into compliant abandonment of Annie. He also has no idea of how Andrew's intense passion will lead to action rather than passive acceptance, resulting in page-turning, searing plots and counterplots that leave the reader hanging on for the hoped-for yet not so inevitable conclusion.

How will vengeance and protection play out in these characters who phenomenally talk out the evolution of their past with everyone around them? What are the possibilities for characters who refuse to let go? What are those who are left in the dust of this whirlwind romance to do or not to do?

Barbara Berot is a master creator of plot and subplot. Her story seems more realistic because readers know it just isn't that easy to ignore the past and forge onward into the "happily ever after" scenario that passion imagines! Maintaining tension and connection, she deftly succeeds in compulsively drawing the reader into the complexities of this second novel of a series that will definitely be welcomed by her ardent readers! Also included are some lovely descriptions of Scotland's beautiful Highland country and France's luscious vineyard atmosphere.

Quite different and a refreshingly new approach to the typical romance novel!

Reviewed by Viviane Crystal on March 9, 2008

These two books are among my favorite novels in many years. The first book left me wanting more of the story and more of Barbara's writing and the second was no disappointment. I talked with her recently at a book signing at Oxford Valley (PA) and told her how much I enjoyed the intrique and story line of these characters, and the rough and tumble of romance as well as the passion. I hope there is a #3.

Jerrett L. Hansen

This is not your ordinary romance novel!It is so much more. Barbara Berot described St. Andrew's in such detail and with such beauty...I felt as though I had been there myself and experienced the lush green hills and centuries old buildings. Her character development is exceptional. The length of the book allows you to become fully committed to the characters, which is a rare gift. I love Annie as a heroine because she is flawed, which makes her so real. When Europa Rode the Bull and the Rape of Europa ignited the "what if" questions for me personally. What if, 13 years ago, I had chosen the other guy instead of my husband? Where would I be now? Barbara is a brave writer who is unafraid to go places most writers never would. I eagerly await chapter 3 of Annie and Andrew's beautiful love story.