When A Woman Finds Her Voice by Jo Ann Fore

When a Woman Finds Her Voice by Jo Ann Fore: With straight talk, insightful biblical truths, and heart-aching stories of hope, Jo Ann leads you on the unparalleled adventure of finding your voice and using it to make a difference. Jo Ann helps you find healing, then leads you to help others do the same. You will learn how to overcome life's hurts. You will be moved to share the stories you’ve been hesitant to share—those healing stories that have the power to change both your life and the lives of others. (publisher)

I was aware who Jo Ann Fore is through the Write Where It Hurts page I had stumbled across on Facebook, so when I saw she had written a book, I hoped to someday read it. It was such a blessing a few days later when I was contacted by the publicist asking if I would review When A Woman Finds Her Voice. I love this book! Some of the stories she shares from her own life and from others are beyond what I can imagine, yet each found the courage to rise above their pain to to reach out to others and to God to begin a journey toward healing and restoration. Whether you find your 'voice' through speaking or writing, your story is valuable and one that needs heard. It doesn't matter if your audience is millions or just one person who needs to know she is not alone. Jo Ann uses this book to let the reader know that she can trade in the lies for Truth, hurts for healing, and silence for a voice that will set you free from emotional bondage. I highly recommend this book!

Write Where It Hurts website.

I received a copy of this book at no charge from ACU Press/Leafwood Publishers in exchange for a fair and honest review. I was not required to wrote a good review and all opinions are my own.

Help For The Fractured Soul by Candyce Roberts

Dr. Candyce Roberts, who has a doctorate in Systematic Theology, wrote Help For The Fractured Soul to share strategies with people who help those who have been victims of  severe abuse. Many people who have suffered severe abuse, including SRA, can be traumatized to the point of having Dissociative Identity Disorder. Helping people who have been that broken, and who will have a natural mistrust for those in authority, is certainly not a quick fix. Candyce has ministered to these adult survivors for over 15 years as part of her inner healing ministry and shares both techniques and personal stories in this book.

This book is well-written and does not use clinical terms or a formality that would bore even a casual reader. The stories are heart-breaking, yet hopeful, as she relates how the methods she has used and the restoration of the Lord, has healed the broken pieces and a transformation to wholeness has emerged. I found Chapter 12: "Top Ten Keys for Overcoming Trauma" to be wise advice for everyone in maintaining a healthy relationship with the Lord, others, and themselves.

However, I do feel that this book is much better as a tool for those who are part of a ministry dedicated to helping victims of abuse. I remember a time when it seems stories were rampant of repressed memories of abuse, and I would hate for that to happen again. There is no doubt that this evil exists, and there are more cases than the public realizes, yet the power of suggestion can cause people to think that perhaps they are repressing memories; we all know people who cannot hear of a medical issue without being convinced they have contracted a disease. There are also those who think the casual perusal of a book immediately qualifies them to provide treatment to others. So, this is a good book that is interesting to read, but one I would be more likely to recommend to a pastor or mental health care provider.

I received a free copy of this book in return for my honest opinion, from Chosen Books.