Reasons
Three Lives One Soul
by Sherry denBoer
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Pub Date Feb 20 2022 | Archive Date May 10 2022
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Description
Combining wisdom and wonder into an inspiring tale of self-discovery, Reasons tells the touching story of Reason who, shown to us as a teenager, an elderly woman, and at thirty-five, yearns to leave her troubled past behind and to live without shame and fear. Her quest will lead her to a magical land, thrilling encounters with peculiar guides, a terrifying test, and a transformation far more remarkable than she ever thought possible. Reason’s journey shows us there’s wisdom in introspection and serves as a great reminder that people will help us along the way if we slow down and listen.
REASONS follows three versions of the heroine—each an independent life, all three forever linked.
ONE: As a troubled teenager, Reason starts a new life after escaping an abusive relationship—only to fall victim to the same man when he kidnaps her.
TWO: As an elderly woman, Reason approaches the end of her life—and struggles with Pain while searching for hope after trauma.
THREE: As a 35-year-old, Reason is led by a Raven into a mysterious world where she embarks on a quest with peculiar guides. As the guides clandestinely prepare her for the Stickman, a spine-chilling creature born of her fear, Reason tells her story.
Given a chance to reconcile her painful history, she wrestles with its ruthless effects. But success will mean reliving every detail… and conquering her fear.
If she can endure, a marvelous discovery awaits, and with it, an opportunity to meet with the younger and older versions of herself—and a chance to save them all.
The reader is transported into the heroine’s story—into a part whimsical, part dark, and emotionally intense journey. Both heartbreaking and heartwarming, the story is thoughtful, inspiring, and relevant for today’s world. It is philosophical while allowing for differing belief systems. A story of hope, the novel doesn’t shy away from the dark side of human nature—to show and courageously face that which, for some of us, is the tragedy that leads to self-realization and renewal. The story mirrors real life with its adventure, uncertainty, failures, triumphs, and discoveries—while also including a wee bit of magic. It’s not the magic of wizards and witches and such, but the existential mysteries of life that, while defying explanation, spur us forward into second chances and new beginnings.
A Note From the Publisher
Out on her own by seventeen, life was no picnic. As her debut novel, REASONS is a creation formed out of the challenges Sherry faced as a young woman; and further enhanced by the lessons she learned. Although the story draws from Sherry’s life experience, it is a work of fiction.
Advance Praise
"When picking up a book one can only hope to embark on a journey that moves them. While reading REASONS by Sherry denBoer, I found myself all over the emotional spectrum. I loved it. I hated it. I felt fear and anger. I saw beauty and imagination. And in the last pages, it filled my heart with happiness and hope.
It is everything you want in a novel.
Not only is this a challenging story of overcoming the shame of a regrettable past, it’s a tale of strength and resilience. The injustice that encapsulates Reason’s relationship with an abusive man is heartbreaking to the point it’s uncomfortable. It hurts. And it should. Abuse of a fellow human being is a battle all decent people need to fight. We should not shy away from it. But the pain the reader feels for her pales in comparison to the celebration of strength and hope she finds along her road to self-discovery.
Reason learns from many fascinating, and a few very funny characters in a parallel world.
Each character is nuanced and placed purposefully in the story. None miss the mark, and the payoffs are huge as the reader discovers how the characters of the magical world played a role in Reason’s real life. The lessons learned from them are profound, and a great reminder that people will help us along the way if we slow down and listen.
Sherry’s descriptive powers are as magical as the world she created.
She paints vivid pictures with words. From the visceral landscapes to the treacherous confrontations with metaphorical monsters, I felt as if I were seeing a movie play out in my imagination. The beauty of the magical world balances the traumatic events of Reason’s life story. It gets very dark, but the story must be told. Self-discovery is rarely found in a cute little package, but from the lowest points in our lives.
I closed the book with tears in my eyes, having learned so much from this novel.
Pain and suffering can be a gift if we can muster the strength to overcome self-imposed shame about our past. Without the bad, we wouldn’t appreciate the good. And the fires of our past can forge the beautiful person we can become if we can forgive ourselves, learn from the past, let go of our shame, and refuse to give away our autonomy.
Also, this book challenged me to never be a neutral bystander, doing nothing while evil imposes a power dynamic that threatens the autonomy of another human being.
This novel is as relevant as it gets in times like these.
I highly recommend REASONS by Sherry denBoer to any person struggling to overcome shame about their past. Not only that, anyone who loves beautiful prose, a well-crafted story, and a magical journey to wisdom and revelation.
By Josh Templeton
I received an advanced copy to read. A woman embarks on a journey of self discovery. Whimsical surroundings paint pictures in my mind of lighter days allowing the reader to feel lightness in between the bouts of darkness the woman must relive to move on from a horrifying past. Very realistic confrontations help reader to understand the value of introspection. Great read. Makes one feel like there is always a light at the end of the tunnel.
By Boomerang Flash
Reasons Three Lives One Soul - Being fortunate enough to have received of an advanced copy, I read this book with fascination.
Reason tantalizes the reader’s full senses to visualize scenes, both fanciful and disturbing. The author uses rich descriptions to transport her audience, allowing them to follow Reason on an incredible journey of self discovery.
I highly recommend delving into Reasons travels.
By Karen Duncombe
Fantastic novel. Worth every penny :)
By Michael R"
Available Editions
| ISBN | 9781777904807 |
| PRICE | $6.99 (USD) |
Available on NetGalley
Featured Reviews
Aria H, Reviewer
I really dont know what to say about this book I have thought about it so much and I still dont know how I feel about it, it left me feeling everything and nothing all at the smae time - and I mean that in a good way. The book is so full of vovid descriptions and rich imagery that I felt like I could slide into the pages and be part of whatever was happening at the time both wonderful or disturbing.
This book was full of discovery and showed that it isnt always a pretty picture but that there is always reason behind it.
