Juliana by Adelle Laudan is one woman’s journey that is a testament to the strength of the human spirit.

Juliana had that fairy tale wedding that all women dream of, but her happy-ever-after shattered when she quickly realized that her prince charming was in fact a very evil and sadistic man. For seven years she was torn from everyone she ever cared for, and she lived with physical, sexual and emotional abuse the like that most people have never seen. Then a miracle (but not quite a miracle) occurred when she found out her abusive husband was killed in a car accident, and she was free from her nightmare. At first she thought it was a cruel joke, but when she realized it was over, she entered the forbidden room in her home, her prison, and called the one person she still had, her sister Cyndi. Horrified with what she found, Cyndi took Juliana home with her determined to help her sister regain her life. Come follow one very courageous woman as she rises from the very depths of despair to find her true worth with the love of her family and one very special and loving man.

Ms. Laudan has created a superb story that shows the reader the greatness and the evil that exists in our world. Juliana lived through a situation that would destroy most people, but some how she held onto her identity and soul even after everything that her husband put her through. It was wonderful to see that there are still people in the world who have enough love to accept and try to help others in their time of need. From the policeman who took the extra time to make sure Juliana was OK, to her sister’s friends, to the sweet and loving man who saw beneath Juliana’s surface to the beautiful woman she is inside. Thanks go to Ms. Laudan for a truly inspirational story.

Reviewed by: Teresa