This book is a story of healing and a journey to unlock the hidden secrets of a painful past. It’s a beautifully woven tale of sisterhood and the connections made from shared trauma. I do want to warn the readers, there is a potential trigger warning for those who have suffered from domestic abuse.

The story opens up with a young woman who has lost her memory and awakens in a hospital room. She has no idea who she is, how she got there, and no recollection of her past. Accepting a temporary name of Rosa, she begins her journey of healing and unraveling her traumatic past that has led her to this place. New friendships are born with shared experiences of abuse among the women. They lean on each other for hope, healing, and begin fixing what was broken at the hands of their abusers.

Rosa slowly begins to remember snapshots of her life and the horrors she had to endure. We journey with her and see how over time she loses her identity, her voice, and suffers silently in fear from both verbal and physical abuse. This book delves into a very real issue of women who have experienced unimaginable violence within their own family. The staff and fellow patients help Rosa unlock her hidden memories while dealing with PTSD due to the abuse. As she remembers, she finds her inner strength and vows to return stronger and no longer allow herself to be a victim.

The book is wonderfully written and I had a hard time putting it down. As I read, I held my breath, I cried, I joined alongside these women as they shared their stories. Although the book may be a work of fiction, it does an excellent job of spreading awareness of domestic violence and abuse and will stay with you for days after finishing it.

Grab the tissues and a warm blanket, and pick this book up as soon as you can. It really is a must read!

Editor's Note: If you need help or know someone who does, please look for resources and stop the suffering today. National Domestic Violence Hotline: 1-800-799-SAFE (7233) or 1-800-787-3224 (TTY)

~review by Amber Barnes

Author: Sandra Carrington-Smith and Giovanni Logli
Crossroads Books, Aug. 15, 2018
pp. 249, $9.99