Hope's Merry-Go-Round (Paperback) (ISBN-13: 9798526717519)

A survivor's journey of healing from sexual abuse!
Hope has always felt her life was like a carousel - a continuous ride of hurt, disappointment, and shame she could never get off of. After years of self-loathing and desperate attempts to stop her merry-go-round of painful sexual abuses, Hope meets Laurie, a doctor with her own dark secrets, who might be able to help Hope get off the ride. Brick by brick, Laurie works to bring down Hope's walls, and finally, the carousel stops spinning as Hope begins to heal.
Hope's Merry-Go-Round is a kaleidoscope of emotions and relationships that will surprise and shock you as you delve into the pages unraveling Hope's life.
Despite this book being a work of fiction, it is so real. I am sure you know someone who has gone through this who would benefit from reading Hope's story.

The Room
(c) Mary M. Cushnie-Mansour

It draws me down the dark, narrow hallway.
My tiny feet stumble past the heat register,
skirt the bookcase to my left.
The friendly light to my right
fails to invite me in.
The door swings open its toothless mouth,
reaching its tongue towards
my hesitant frame.
Come, little one,
come see what I have to offer you.

There is no escape.
It is a dead-end room.
I linger just inside the cold wasteland.
The grey, rumpled landscape is
rugged against my tender skin.
The blank window offers no warmth.
The light above is dim.

I am frozen in time.
Only time will release me from this room.
Please time,
Be kind.

"Out of the mountain of despair, a stone of hope."
Martin Luther King, Jr.

FIVE STAR RATINGS FROM GOODREAD'S READERS!

Dec 15, 2021 Haley rated it FIVE STARS - it was amazing
Emotional raw look into sexual abuse
(Trigger warnings:: sibling sexual abuse, father and grandfather sexual abuse, suicide)

Hope's life has been a consistent mess since her childhood and she cannot seem to free herself from despair; unfortunately attempting suicide multiple times. Admitted to a hospital once again with only the feeling of support from her dad and best friend she once again struggles. Enter Laurie, therapist, who finally brings Hope to her breakthrough point. As the story is told its eye opening and emotional, however, there are also times you just have so much hope and happiness. Hope and Laurie's stories, although fictional, showcase real problems and can hopefully encourage other survivors to fight for themselves.

Mary truly made an eye opening, emotional journey of healing available for others to either begin to understand or to help with healing themselves. She showed in this book how unfortunately family members truly may not have known and how even with the hurt you cannot heal until you take the steps both of these women did.

Really did love this book even in the hard parts. (** I received this book through a Goodread's giveaway and this is my honest review)

Dec 10, 2021 Jenn rated it FIVE STARS - it was amazing
Heartbreaking and beautifully written, I had a lot of trouble putting this one down. So happy I won this book in a Goodread's giveaway!

Dec 07, 2021 Jessica rated it FIVE STARS - it was amazing
One for any survivor ...
This book had me from page one. Powerful message for survivors of abuse and a way to heal and move forward after.

Nov 21, 2021 Paulette rated it FIVE STARS - it was amazing
This was a great read. Story line got better and better.

Author: Bethany Jamieson
ISBN-13: 9798526717519
Publisher: Independently Published
Language: English
Published: 07/23/2021
Pages: 280
Format: Paperback
Weight: 0.83lbs
Size: 9.00h x 6.00w x 0.59d