This book is not an easy read but one with topics that need to be addressed. I cannot image the terror of a young girl seeing her mother being tortured by a man with hate in his eyes. The scars of that day will remain with her and harden her heart in ways that only God can soften. That young girl is now grown and in a marriage where abuse is an everyday occurrence . Cara makes a decision that in her mind will set her free. Can she live with herself after her decision causes a death? She has grieved for a child she feels could have been saved and blames her husband for the death. Will she ever be free from the pain of losing her child? It was hard to read how her daughter died and I could understand her desire to seek peace in her heart.

The author paints a picture of a woman who is hurt and wonders why God has allowed her to suffer. I could understand her desire to be rid of a husband who brought back memories of her childhood. As I continued reading I kept being reminded of the scripture, " Vengeance is mine, saith the Lord." The story is riveting as we witness a group that keeps women in submission by beatings and threats. I wanted to scream at times as I read how domineering the men were in this little community. It reminded me of a cult that was on the news several years ago. They were kept in a compound and treated like animals. Women had no say and were kept in line by harsh punishment. Young girls were married off to older men and the family could not stop it.

I had a hard time reading this book only because the author has done such a good job of sharing a story of pure evil at its best. Cara comes to the aid of one of her friends and finds herself in danger. Can the new pastor help her get free from this group? Dayne knew Cara in their younger days and has always had feelings for her. What will he do when he witnesses the torture being placed on people by intimidating men?

Elder Simmons is a man to be reckoned with. He reminds me of a bully and takes his authority to the edge. How can he believe that women should be whipped almost to death? His delusion that man should rule over their wife and children with violence made me sick. I could feel how powerful he thought he was and how many feared him. I think he forgot that what the Bible tells husbands how to treat their wives. The story shows how people twist scriptures to meet their own needs and how easy power gets to their head.

The author has written a book that is hard to read at times but I found myself wanting to know if Cara will ever be set from her hate and learn to forgive. Cara is a character that has many challenges and her defiance is quickly becoming a problem for the elders. Dayne is trying to open the eyes of the men to see what true love is and how God wants them to treat their wives as helpmates, not doormats. This story was tense at times and at other times so heartbreaking I wanted to stop reading. I appreciate the author writing this story to expose how people can be deceived. It is a journey that will find Cara questioning God and allowing her heart to be softened and her faith restored.

I received a copy of this book from Celebrate Lit. The review is my own opinion. ( )

“Who am I? What have I become besides a mother who adores her daughters?”

Thrusting the reader immediately into the world of The Children of Righteous Cain, a radical religious cult that exists in its own self-contained world, “The Redemption of Caralynne Hayman” is both eye-opening and heartbreaking, but with a whisper of hope that beckons throughout. Skeptical as I was when I started reading this story, I am glad that I took a chance on it. With a jarring prologue that begins to make more sense as the novel winds down, Carole Brown establishes a steady pace interjected with occasional moments of serenity that allow the reader to catch their breath. Once I stepped into the story, I had a difficult time putting it down, and it reminded me somewhat of a Lifetime movie. There is the requisite romance, and a forbidden one at that, and plenty of drama. Exposing the cornerstone of the cult, Brown manages to evoke revulsion but also sympathy, and she does so in a non-gratuitous manner that makes readers aware of the abuse and unpalatable issues without including graphic details or profanity.

As the narrative unfolds, the characters remain the most prominent aspect, even above the situations. They are my favorite part of the book because of the complexities woven into them by the author. When writing about cults, it can be easy to fall into stereotypes and characters who are either good or evil, with no middle ground. “The Redemption of Caralynne Hayman” offers a more authentic study of human behavior by demonstrating the conflicts within the cult members themselves, and the effects of brainwashing. While there is true evil, it comes through the sin resulting from twisting or denying God’s Word, and the consequences thereof. Indoctrinated with a false religion, the followers are expected to be subservient to whatever the leader proclaims, and anyone who challenges the modus vivendi is a threat. Due to her oldest daughter’s death, Caralynne defies the status quo: “All she wanted was for her girls to have a chance at a good and happy life. Whatever it took, she would do it. Right or wrong.” Ultimately, what causes the cult’s theology to fall apart is its lack of love. 1 John 4:18 encapsulates this missing element: “There is no fear in love. But perfect love drives out fear, because fear has to do with punishment. The one who fears is not made perfect in love.” Thankfully, we have a Savior who does love us with a perfect love, and as this story demonstrates, it is Him we need to listen to and follow.

I received a complimentary copy of this book through CelebrateLit and was not required to post a favorable review. All opinions are my own. ( )

Imagine being in a cult where you cannot see anyway out of it. This is the incredible story of one such group - the Children of Righteous Cain. While this in not a true story, I can’t help but wonder how many of these details might be true for groups that are alive and prospering at this time in our world.

Dayne has grown up in this setting, has been sent to seminary and groomed to be the pastoral leader for this congregation. In his studies he realizes that this is not God’s plan for his children. Armed with this wonderful news, he returns to share what he has learned, but will their eyes be opened as his were?

Caralynne experienced a trauma as a child that so scarred her that as an adult she cannot remember it. Can she possibly believe that God loves her and learn to trust Him with her life and the lives of her children?

With kidnapping, murder, child molestation and mysterious disappearances one could almost feel the pain and heartache experienced by this unfortunate group. The author has done a fabulous job of taking us inside the workings of this fictional cult, but do we really believe that this is only the product of a prolific imagination or is it possible that such communities really exist...?

I received a copy of this book through CelebrateLit. The musings, impressions and opinions are my own and in no way solicited. ( )

Author's guest post at my blog:
https://bookfare.blogspot.com/2017/11/foodfic-please-welcome-carole-brown.html

Title: The Redemption of Caralynne Hayman
Author: Carole Brown
Pages: 332
Year: 2013
Publisher: Lighthouse Publishing of the Carolinas
This is a story set in the present day and revolves around the life of Caralynne Hayman. She is a member of a religious group called The Children of Righteous Cain. Her life is misery at the hands of her abusive husband. Her only joy in life is her two daughters. Her life is extremely restricted and governed by her husband, the elders of the community as well as the lead elder who allegedly receives direct communication from God. Some women receive heinous treatment from the lead elder or other men at the command of the lead elder. He rules his people with an iron fist.
As Caralynne tries to socialize with some of the other women, she sees the signs of abuse they are experiencing as well. She knows this is not how husbands are supposed to treat their wives and encourages the women to stand up for themselves. The new minister, Dayne MacFarland, also preaches new messages from the pulpit about God’s love and how men should treat their wives. As they become more outspoken, they face more and more resistance from the hard core fanatics loyal to the lead elder. Soon their lives are in danger as well as the lives of Caralynne’s two young daughters. Caralynne now realizes her community is in fact a cult, one in which women are expected to submit to abuse from their husbands or other men in the community. They are taught that their husbands are the way to salvation. Dayne and Caralynne have had feelings for one another for a long time, but circumstances intervened that made it impossible for them to pursue a relationship. Now circumstances have changed, but living in such a dangerous community with such outspoken beliefs could prove fatal.
I would recommend this for adult readers only. This was a difficult book to read with the physical abuse the women endured. The young teenage girls were programmed to accept a “breaking in” time by men in the community to prepare them for marriage and to learn how to be a “good” wife. This leader of this cult was just evil and spread his sickness to others. The author did a good job of creating lots of tension and suspense to keep the story moving at a quick pace. The story is gripping and I wanted to keep reading to see how it ended. I look forward to reading more books by this author.
My rating is 4 stars.
Disclosure of Material Connection: I received one or more of the products or services mentioned above for free in the hope that I would mention it on my blog. Regardless, I only recommend products or services I use personally and believe will be good for my readers. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255. “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”
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