Book

Beyond the Power of Love

Janice Romney

Truly this book is a painful story. For Janice to share suchpersonal and private violence in an attempt to help many to heal is to beadmonished. The critical realization that healing cannot be found in an abusive relationship is the wake-up call needed to begin to stop the abuse cycle and to begin to heal.

This book gives an inside view, to comprehend and help victims to let go and find inner peace victims can return their hearts to love and create a whole new future. The first step towards this deep inner healing can start today with Beyond the Power of Love.

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Reader Reviews

Reader Ratings Reviews

bananaboat

Beyond the Power of Love

Reviewed in the United States on 11 April 2013

This is a beautiful but sad book about a woman who found her power to escape from sexual, physical, emotional and spiritual abuse. It is tragic that this is so prevalent in our society. It will educate those who need to know.

Dorothy Thompson

Gripping and powerful!

Reviewed in the United States on November 15, 2004

Recovery from Domestic Violence" was one of the most gripping and heart-wrenching books I have read in a long time. Janice writes with such experience and empathy and I am impressed with her ability to bounce back after such distress in her life. Her message is empowering and proves that you can overcome obsurdities such as domestic violence such as Janice has. "Recovery from Domestic Violence" is a must-read for those who are experiencing domestic violence in their lives so that they can understand that they are not alone. But, not only that, to see how we can overcome this hardship and the grief and abuse that goes with it. I highly recommend this book...it will grip you, astound you and you will not be able to put it down.

Cat Mahoney

Powerful

Reviewed in the United States on June 10, 2011

This book is a true testimony of being a woman, mother and wife in the mist of domestic violence. It touches upon the truth of the emotional, psychological and spiritual damage that occurs in silence. The children are the victims of this dyfuctional behavior. They are born with an inner light, flame that burns with love and/or hatred. Domestic violence snuffs the flame, their potential, their spiritual destiny. The emotional carnage that this writer describes her personal journey from failure to victory is very soul wrenching. True this story will inspire and encourage others to find their healing angels, and methods to release the pain. Forgiveness is the only freedom we can give to each abuser, abused and the unfortunate victims in the mist of violence, starting first with the self, the mother and the offender. The written spiritual element of this story was like a calling for this reader, there is message hidden in this book; It is written to heal or teach. If you as a reader need to heal, learn or grow this is the book to open the door to a new beginning. It is full with love, faith and hope, there is a light, a flame willing to come alive; The flame needs to be brighter and the cycle of abuse needs to stop and healing to begin...

A victim as well

Gripping

Reviewed in the United States on November 15, 2004

This book is a must read for all those who have experienced abuse, know of someone who is being abused or would like to understand more how abuse affects so many people. This book is both heartbreaking to read but inspiring too. It is a book that is hard to put down once you start to read it. It is heartbreaking to read of all the physical and emotional abuse the author endured for so long and how all this abuse affected her children. It is also inspiring to read how she finally overcame all this emotional and physical abuse and turned her life around. This book is powerfully written and will hold you spellbound until you read the entire book. I would highly recommend it to anyone.

Tracey Rosehorse

Life Changing

Reviewed in the United States on January 11, 2005

This book literally changed my life! The author writes with such brutal honesty, yet with such compassion and integrity, you cannot help but be moved when reading this. It reaches out with help and encouragement to those who are in the cycle of abusive relationships, and educates those who have not experienced these horrors. While reading this book, I was able to both see and stop my own dysfunctional cycle from passing down through generations, and for that I am deeply in gratitude to the author. A fantastic read for anyone wanting to take the reins in their own lives.

Bookworm

An incredible Story, so inspiring and life changing!

Reviewed in the United States on January 14, 2005

I can't thank the author enough for the book she has written and shared with others. She is awesome! So courageous and genuinely compassionate. I'm an abuse survivor. I'm also a young girl who has struggled with self esteem issues, she opened my eyes to my authentic power and spiritual identity, and taught me so much through her example of love and forgiveness. If your life has been affected in anyway that has troubled you or created obstacles in your life and prevented you from living authentically and powerfully, read her story. You too will feel the love with which she writes and lives her life today.

Unknown (thriftbook user)

Best book I've ever read

By Thriftbooks.com User, December 22, 2004

If you have ever been affected by abuse, this book will greatly impact your life. The author writes about her experiences in a powerful way that is captivating and enlightning. But what I loved most was her healing journey and how she teaches others to do the same for themselves. It is self-empowering and life-changing. This is a book I highly recommend for friends and family members of abuse victims as well, it will help them understand and know how they can help. It is a perfect book for those who suffer from low-self esteem or depression - it's so inspiring and educational.

Unknown (thriftbook user)

Gripping

By Thriftbooks.com User, November 15, 2004

Steve Lowther

A Message to the Author

Reviewed in the United States on March 29, 2013

Wow! It took an immense amount of courage to write this book, but it takes courage to read it, too! Even that is an understatement. The reading is so painful, so honest, and so emotional. I am on the last chapter. I am weeping. You wrote "You knew the knowledge you would need could only come from personal suffering." I thought I already understood this principle. It is in much better focus now. At first my tears were for your pain. Tears in the last chapters are for a different reason, however. They are tears that come from that wonderful inspired feeling of understanding. What a remarkable woman you are!

AprilR, (MyBookAddictionandMore)

BEYOND THE POWER OF LOVE by Janice Romney is an amazing Memoir.

11 years ago

BEYOND THE POWER OF LOVE by Janice Romney is an amazing Memoir. *Revision of "Beneath Wings of an Angel,published in 2004* It is the story of one woman's struggle with spousal abuse,the power of religion,childhood abuse,her triumph and though it all, the power of love. A powerful,compelling story of sexual,physical and mental abuse,ending the cycle of abuse and most of all the healing power of love. Abuse does not only effect the person, but the children involved also. A heart wrenching story that is not only powerful,but healing though faith,education,family and prevention. If you know of someone in an abusive relationship,please check out the resources this author has included. "Beyond The Power of Love" is not only an adult,young childhood situation but also teenage abuse as well. A must read! Be warned you will need tissues handy. This author did an amazing job of pouring her heart out,which I am sure was hard for her to describe some of the things she went through to get to where she is today. I was crying from the beginning to end. A powerful lady,with a desire to STOP the cycle of abuse,one person at a time. A powerful,powerful story! I would highly recommend "Beyond the Power of Love" not only for readers who enjoy Memoirs,but to readers who enjoy an awesome read,and for anyone who knows someone who is or has been abused. Received for an honest review from the author.

E. Dian Moore

Abuse knows no class, race or religion

Reviewed in the United States on September 27, 2005

Monsters are real. Janice Romney Farnsworth lived with one for fifteen years and bore six children for him. A devout Mormon, Farnsworth believed in the sanctity of marriage, of being a submissive wife and honoring her husband. But what she didn't understand was why her husband repeatedly beat her, demeaned her, turned her children against her, convinced others she was mentally ill and a danger to her children, and raped her. Faced with this ongoing horror, Farnsworth turned to her Church for help. She was advised to go back and be a better wife, while her batterer enjoyed the full benefits of church membership. Poignant and eye opening, Beneath Wings of an Angel, is a fascinating look inside the mind of a woman who became a victim of domestic violence. Her nightmare, told in her own voice, complete with her own thoughts of no self-worth so she must deserve it, and the downward spiral of her life, physically and mentally is torment to watch. But it also inspires understanding and a longing to reach out. Farnsworth has brought forth a look inside the terror of prolonged domestic violence that helps the outside world understand why a woman would stay and submit to the lies and blows of an abuser. She also tells, without excuse, the damage an abusive home heaps upon the children of that home. Anger, disbelief, understanding, empathy, and rejoicing - all are emotions Farnsworth's story brings about in the reader as the reader experiences the writer's life. Farnsworth found her path to healing, but only after experiencing the worst that can be dealt. "During those awful days, I felt like yesterday's trash, and for the most part, really didn't care. I don't know how others coped, but I faced each day with a tear-stained face too tired to take care of myself, emotionally drained and obsessed with revenge." When Farnsworth was finally able to escape her abusive husband, she then faced trouble with the courts and the danger of having her children taken from her. Her children suffered dreadfully at the hands of their father - not only physically, but emotionally. Today, Farnsworth is still praying for her children's healing. Beneath Wings of an Angel is unique in several ways - it gives a glimpse inside the Mormon religion and tradition; it chronicles fifteen years of abuse, and more importantly, why she stayed; it also offers hope as Farnsworth details her therapy, a new love that is not abusive, a deeper spiritual awakening and her acknowledgment of the necessity of the continuance of the journey. Abuse knows no class, race or religion - this book is a stepping stone to freedom from abuse, for counselors and pastors to understand the dynamics of abuse and the need for the Church to be proactive and provide safety for women under attack.

Amanda

Brutally honest and inspiring

Reviewed in the United States on May 8, 2013

I first heard of this book through a review request. The memoir's synopsis mentioned religious abuse, which I thought was an interesting idea, so I decided to accept the review request and give this book a try. This book is a difficult one to review. To describe it as brutal would be an understatement; because it's a memoir it was that much harder to read. This wasn't a fictional character, is was a real woman who was telling her story of abuse. The honesty behind her cruel experiences definitely kept the pages turning. Even though I appreciate her truthfulness I did wish it was written a little differently. The book is written entirely chronologically, no occasional flashes to the future or vignettes from her childhood. I think it would have brought more depth to her story if she had been a little creative with the organization. She's a great writer, she was able to write about her years of pain without being repetitive and her story was never boring, but I think it could have been a little more powerful if it had been occasionally juxtaposed what it looks like now after her healing process.

Summers

goodreads, September 8, 2013

This was recommended by a friend a long time ago and I finally got up the courage to read it. I did not read it for pleasure, and it was not a pleasure to read it, but I wanted to better understand abusive relationships. It was certainly informative and went into great depth of why and how and what she overcame, not as a strong woman, but out of fear for her life and desperation, and then her path to becoming truly herself. There were lots of pieces it seems she left out, a lot of blame she placed on the Church and never forgave, her struggles to at least forgive herself for not having the answers. Tragedy for all with the ripple effect throughout her family relationships.