Stolen Beauty: Healing the Scars of Child Abuse: One Woman's Journey

Stolen Beauty: Healing the Scars of Child Abuse is the true-life memoir of Amy Madden, a survivor of childhood sexual abuse inflicted on her by her stepfather. Growing up with the shame, hurt, and vulnerability, feeling that the abuse she suffered was her fault, she retreated into a depressed, mistrustful state of despair. The road to recovery was a long and involved process of therapy, study, prayer, and developing strong faith in her own inner strength and spirit - the qualities she once possessed as a child so long ago. An invaluable testimony especially recommended as the experience of a kindred spirit for anyone seeking understanding during their own long journey to recovery from the trauma of abuse.

I devoured this book in less than two days! It's beautifully written and inspiring for anyone who has suffered abuse or is still suffering today from abuse. Madden offers insight to the horrors of abuse but most of all, how to heal from such experiences. Her reflections on healing and forgiveness are astounding and a highlight of this hard-to-put-down tearjerker. She brings home the point that having faith in yourself and learning how to love yourself is a key element in the forgiveness process. This is a must read for anyone who wants to heal from the bad experiences they may have gone through as a child.