What do you think?
Rate this book
Goddesses Anonymous #3
No River Too Wide
Some betrayals are like rivers, so deep, so wide, they can't be crossed. But for those with enough courage forgiveness, redemption, and love may be found on the other side.
On the night her home is consumed by fire, Janine Stoddard finally resolves to leave her abusive husband. While she is reluctant to involve her estranged daughter, she can't resist a chance to see Harmony and baby Lottie before she disappears forever.
Harmony's friend Taylor Martin realizes how much the reunited mother and daughter yearn to stay together, and she sees in Jan a chance to continue her own mother's legacy of helping women in need of a fresh start. She opens her home, even as she's opening her heart to another newcomer, Adam Pryor. But enigmatic Adam has a secret that could destroy Taylor's trust and cost Jan her hard-won freedom.
On the night her home is consumed by fire, Janine Stoddard finally resolves to leave her abusive husband. While she is reluctant to involve her estranged daughter, she can't resist a chance to see Harmony and baby Lottie before she disappears forever.
Harmony's friend Taylor Martin realizes how much the reunited mother and daughter yearn to stay together, and she sees in Jan a chance to continue her own mother's legacy of helping women in need of a fresh start. She opens her home, even as she's opening her heart to another newcomer, Adam Pryor. But enigmatic Adam has a secret that could destroy Taylor's trust and cost Jan her hard-won freedom.
485 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 2014
75 people are currently reading
1202 people want to read
About the author
Emilie Richards
188 books945 followersI'm the author of seventy-something novels, including romance, women's fiction and mystery. When We Were Sisters debuted in June 2016, a stand alone novel about two foster sisters traveling back into their past together. I loved writing it and love the cover my publisher chose.
I'm also excited about my recent series, Goddesses Anonymous, which started with One Mountain Away and was followed by Somewhere Between Luck and Trust. The third book in the series, A River Too Wide, came out in July 2014. The Color of Light debuted in August 2015. Will there be more? We'll see.
I'm also putting up my newly edited romance backlist and love re-reading and updating them a bit.
Last year my husband and I moved from Virginia, to Osprey, Florida, the state where both of us were raised, met, and married. In the summer we live in Chautauqua, New York. I'm a quilter, knitter, kayaker, and the mother of four children, whom I regard as my greatest creative endeavors. And now there are four wonderful grandchildren to spoil.
Visit me at my web site, emilierichards.com, and my blog, www.emilierichards.com/blog. You can also find me at Twitter and on my Facebook reader page.
I'm also excited about my recent series, Goddesses Anonymous, which started with One Mountain Away and was followed by Somewhere Between Luck and Trust. The third book in the series, A River Too Wide, came out in July 2014. The Color of Light debuted in August 2015. Will there be more? We'll see.
I'm also putting up my newly edited romance backlist and love re-reading and updating them a bit.
Last year my husband and I moved from Virginia, to Osprey, Florida, the state where both of us were raised, met, and married. In the summer we live in Chautauqua, New York. I'm a quilter, knitter, kayaker, and the mother of four children, whom I regard as my greatest creative endeavors. And now there are four wonderful grandchildren to spoil.
Visit me at my web site, emilierichards.com, and my blog, www.emilierichards.com/blog. You can also find me at Twitter and on my Facebook reader page.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 106 reviews
March 7, 2016
After years of abuse from her husband Rex, Janine Stoddard with some help, finally finds a way out. Before she disappears forever, she plans a brief stop off to reassure her daughter Harmony who fled from home years before. For those of us who have never been involved in an abusive relationship, this book provides probably the clearest picture I have encountered of why a woman would stay so long and the lengths some men will go to manipulate, injure and control. Although this is a heavy topic, at no time did it feel a chore to read because I was so involved with Janine and her plight. I experienced a range of emotions while reading. At time I was horrified, outraged, sad, relieved, afraid and suspicious, but at all times I was thoroughly engrossed in the story of Janine and Harmony. I also liked the story of Harmony’s friend Taylor and the developing relationship with Adam Pryor, who is not quite as Taylor initially thinks.
This is the third in the Goddesses Anonymous series and it could probably be read as a stand-alone but is better read in conjunction with the others. I loved this book a. It was a very quick and involving read for we which I would definitely recommend to anyone who likes a story about families, and friendships but with a touch of danger and mystery as well. All I wanted to do was keep reading and resented anything which took my time away from it. By the end I felt I knew these characters as friends and I loved spending time with them.
This is the third in the Goddesses Anonymous series and it could probably be read as a stand-alone but is better read in conjunction with the others. I loved this book a. It was a very quick and involving read for we which I would definitely recommend to anyone who likes a story about families, and friendships but with a touch of danger and mystery as well. All I wanted to do was keep reading and resented anything which took my time away from it. By the end I felt I knew these characters as friends and I loved spending time with them.
November 3, 2015
After years of abuse, Janine finally summons the courage to leave her husband. She is intimately aware of his murderous rage and knows she will need to disappear if she is to have any chance of surviving, but before starting her new life she travels to North Carolina to visit her estranged daughter and grand-daughter.
Harmony convinces her to stay, that she will be able to hide and be a family. Little do they know, Janine's escape wasn't so secret and she has already been discovered.
As you would expect with a series titled "Goddesses Anonymous", these books have a spiritual element. They are about family and redemption and the resilience of women. In some ways the books remind me of Emily March's Eternity Springs books, but I think these are much better and without the patronising under-current.
Harmony convinces her to stay, that she will be able to hide and be a family. Little do they know, Janine's escape wasn't so secret and she has already been discovered.
As you would expect with a series titled "Goddesses Anonymous", these books have a spiritual element. They are about family and redemption and the resilience of women. In some ways the books remind me of Emily March's Eternity Springs books, but I think these are much better and without the patronising under-current.
February 25, 2023
Another excellent book in this Goddess Anonymous series, authentic characters with very believable feelings and reactions. The book explores a very important issue in society - that of the abuse of many women by their husbands and partners, and how this affects them and their children. There are no easy answers and Emilie Richards doesn't offer quick fixes. However she does salute courage and support and offers hope.
My reread in 2023 was via audio and it was superb. Loved it all over again.
My reread in 2023 was via audio and it was superb. Loved it all over again.
June 25, 2014
Originally posted at http://smexybooks.com/2014/06/review-...
Janine (Jan) married Rod Stoddard during a low point in her life. Both her parents had been killed by a drunk driver and Rod became her anchor in the sea she was adrift in. It wasn’t until later that she realized she had married a controlling abusive man. After years of trying to become the “perfect woman” she knew she never would be, she takes advantage of his absence to escape the hell she has been living in. Helping her is an organization called Moving On (fictional) which arranges to secretly move abused women through a human network to safety. Jan chooses to go to Asheville in order to see her daughter and granddaughter before she disappears for good.
Harmony ran away from her abusive home and her mother refused to keep in contact with her for fear her father would find her. She is devastated when she sees her family home on the news, engulfed in flames. Unable to contact her mother, Harmony panics until a knock on the door reveals her mother.
Tyler, upon learning Jan’s story and her fears that Rod will come looking for her and place Harmony and her granddaughter in jeopardy, opens up her home to Jan. Tyler wants to continue on with her mother’s legacy of helping others but also feels this is the perfect way to pay back Harmony for the friendship she gave Tyler’s mother, Charlotte, before her death.
As Jan and Harmony work on rebuilding their relationship, Tyler opens her heart to another newcomer-Adam Pryor. Soon, their friendship blossoms into a romance, convincing Tyler that she is ready to move forward in her life.
No River Too Wide is the third installment in Emilie Richards’ Goddesses Anonymous series. A series built around a group of women who have created a safe place in the mountains of North Carolina to help women in need. This contemporary follows the lives of three women whose trust have been broken. A wife finds the strength to leave her abusive husband, her daughter guards her heart in order to not be caught in the same trap as her mother, and a single mother betrayed by love finally opens her heart only to find disappointment once again. When the lives of these three women intersect, old wounds are opened and lessons are learned in redemption, forgiveness, and hope.
A compelling story that takes an intimate look at domestic abuse from a survivor’s point of view; Richards’ has three strong voices in here that compete for our attention. The blending isn’t as flawless as I would have liked because of the strength of each of the characters. Each character’s story is just that-their story. Though Richards’ uses these mothers as a bridge to help understand the dynamics of the mother/daughter relationship and the hard choices one will make for the love and protection of a child, I couldn’t help but feel the bridge never truly completes and each woman remains an island unto themselves.
Jan struggles with her first taste of freedom, her fears that her husband could find her at any given time, and trying to rebuild a relationship with her daughter. A majority of the time Jan is in her own world and her interactions with Harmony are limited to short secret visits because she can’t be seen with Harmony. Harmony is angry at her mother for staying with her father all those years and essentially abandoning her while struggling to form keep a friendly relationship with the father of her child who she refused to marry. The interactions between Harmony and Jan are uncomfortable at times. I commend Jan’s strength in leaving her abuser and understand the reasons why it took so long for her to leave. It’s extremely easy to ask, “Why didn’t she leave,” when you are standing on the outside looking it Harmony is personable with a dry sense of humor and a strong sense of self. She understands her anger towards Jan and actively seeks to understand and forgive.
Taylor, also a single mother, allows Jan to live with her in order to help her keep Harmony and her granddaughter safe. Owner of a yoga salon, Taylor shares with us her struggle with having a child as a teenager, her own pain at mother’s abandonment, and her inability to forgive those she feels transgressed against her. Both Harmony and Tyler are alike in their issues. Tyler’s mother pushed her away when Tyler got pregnant in high school and refused to give up the child. Though Tyler and her mother eventually healed their breach, Tyler still harbors resentment of what her mother did and the fact they didn’t have much time together in the end. She also has residual anger towards her child’s father for how he acted when he found out she was pregnant though they too have reached a better place. I can’t say I really liked or disliked Taylor because I never really felt I got to know her. She had a place saver feel to her. I felt she was used more as a stepping stone to help bring in the suspense and mystery that surrounds her love interest-Adam.
The story bobs and weaves, giving us insight into the past and present, while moving forward. Richards doesn’t use emotional manipulation to make you feel sorry for these women. Rather, she digs deep and allows them to come full circle; each finding their own path to peace and serenity. I did feel after I was finished that reading the ones before this may have allowed me a better understanding of Taylor and Harmony.. Regardless, No River Too Wide is a quiet story of triumph and perseverance. The lessons learned show that life is a series of unknowns and that with the acceptance of help from others, you can rise above your circumstances to lead a life that is fulfilling and filled with wonder.
RATING: C+
Janine (Jan) married Rod Stoddard during a low point in her life. Both her parents had been killed by a drunk driver and Rod became her anchor in the sea she was adrift in. It wasn’t until later that she realized she had married a controlling abusive man. After years of trying to become the “perfect woman” she knew she never would be, she takes advantage of his absence to escape the hell she has been living in. Helping her is an organization called Moving On (fictional) which arranges to secretly move abused women through a human network to safety. Jan chooses to go to Asheville in order to see her daughter and granddaughter before she disappears for good.
Harmony ran away from her abusive home and her mother refused to keep in contact with her for fear her father would find her. She is devastated when she sees her family home on the news, engulfed in flames. Unable to contact her mother, Harmony panics until a knock on the door reveals her mother.
Tyler, upon learning Jan’s story and her fears that Rod will come looking for her and place Harmony and her granddaughter in jeopardy, opens up her home to Jan. Tyler wants to continue on with her mother’s legacy of helping others but also feels this is the perfect way to pay back Harmony for the friendship she gave Tyler’s mother, Charlotte, before her death.
As Jan and Harmony work on rebuilding their relationship, Tyler opens her heart to another newcomer-Adam Pryor. Soon, their friendship blossoms into a romance, convincing Tyler that she is ready to move forward in her life.
No River Too Wide is the third installment in Emilie Richards’ Goddesses Anonymous series. A series built around a group of women who have created a safe place in the mountains of North Carolina to help women in need. This contemporary follows the lives of three women whose trust have been broken. A wife finds the strength to leave her abusive husband, her daughter guards her heart in order to not be caught in the same trap as her mother, and a single mother betrayed by love finally opens her heart only to find disappointment once again. When the lives of these three women intersect, old wounds are opened and lessons are learned in redemption, forgiveness, and hope.
A compelling story that takes an intimate look at domestic abuse from a survivor’s point of view; Richards’ has three strong voices in here that compete for our attention. The blending isn’t as flawless as I would have liked because of the strength of each of the characters. Each character’s story is just that-their story. Though Richards’ uses these mothers as a bridge to help understand the dynamics of the mother/daughter relationship and the hard choices one will make for the love and protection of a child, I couldn’t help but feel the bridge never truly completes and each woman remains an island unto themselves.
Jan struggles with her first taste of freedom, her fears that her husband could find her at any given time, and trying to rebuild a relationship with her daughter. A majority of the time Jan is in her own world and her interactions with Harmony are limited to short secret visits because she can’t be seen with Harmony. Harmony is angry at her mother for staying with her father all those years and essentially abandoning her while struggling to form keep a friendly relationship with the father of her child who she refused to marry. The interactions between Harmony and Jan are uncomfortable at times. I commend Jan’s strength in leaving her abuser and understand the reasons why it took so long for her to leave. It’s extremely easy to ask, “Why didn’t she leave,” when you are standing on the outside looking it Harmony is personable with a dry sense of humor and a strong sense of self. She understands her anger towards Jan and actively seeks to understand and forgive.
Taylor, also a single mother, allows Jan to live with her in order to help her keep Harmony and her granddaughter safe. Owner of a yoga salon, Taylor shares with us her struggle with having a child as a teenager, her own pain at mother’s abandonment, and her inability to forgive those she feels transgressed against her. Both Harmony and Tyler are alike in their issues. Tyler’s mother pushed her away when Tyler got pregnant in high school and refused to give up the child. Though Tyler and her mother eventually healed their breach, Tyler still harbors resentment of what her mother did and the fact they didn’t have much time together in the end. She also has residual anger towards her child’s father for how he acted when he found out she was pregnant though they too have reached a better place. I can’t say I really liked or disliked Taylor because I never really felt I got to know her. She had a place saver feel to her. I felt she was used more as a stepping stone to help bring in the suspense and mystery that surrounds her love interest-Adam.
The story bobs and weaves, giving us insight into the past and present, while moving forward. Richards doesn’t use emotional manipulation to make you feel sorry for these women. Rather, she digs deep and allows them to come full circle; each finding their own path to peace and serenity. I did feel after I was finished that reading the ones before this may have allowed me a better understanding of Taylor and Harmony.. Regardless, No River Too Wide is a quiet story of triumph and perseverance. The lessons learned show that life is a series of unknowns and that with the acceptance of help from others, you can rise above your circumstances to lead a life that is fulfilling and filled with wonder.
RATING: C+
July 22, 2014
4.5 stars
I am in awe ... seriously, how does Emilie Richards do it? This is the 3rd installment in the Goddesses Anonymous series and it's another winner. Winner ... an unusual choice of words for the heartbreaking issue of domestic violence but at the heart of No River Too Wide is strength, hope, courage and triumph.
Emilie Richards writes with truth, I know this ... for 10 years I lived an abusive marriage. (thank God not Janine's) In some ways it feels like a lifetime ago, in others, I'm a work in progress. (To Move Forward, To Begin Healing 2010) I'm not looking back ... breaking the silence goes some small way to breaking the power and hold of abusers.
... as does having a support network. It takes courage to reach out and accept what's offered and it was heartwarming watching Janine's interactions with her support network. Reuniting with her daughter Harmony and meeting grandaughter Lottie for the first time, another step in the healing process. I cheered each and every one of Janine's steps to reclaiming her self.
I loved catching up with the characters from One Mountain Away; they're the trustees of the mountain cabin called The Goddess House, a safe haven for women needing a fresh start or second chance. Emilie Richards keeps it very real when we see how Harmony and Taylor are fairing, their emotions and reactions resonated with me. It's the women that hold my attention, rather than the mystery but I must admit I enjoyed the challenges Adam Pryor brought to the mix.
I want so much to convey my love for the gorgeous, lyrical quality, the raw honesty of Emilie Richards' writing but relating so personally has made this a difficult review to write ... my brain is cramping. I can't rave enough about the series and I really love the titles, they represent the themes of each book so beautifully.
"Abandon perfection. Welcome reflection. Nuture connection." Taylor paused. "And to that I think we need to add 'offer protection.'"
I am in awe ... seriously, how does Emilie Richards do it? This is the 3rd installment in the Goddesses Anonymous series and it's another winner. Winner ... an unusual choice of words for the heartbreaking issue of domestic violence but at the heart of No River Too Wide is strength, hope, courage and triumph.
Emilie Richards writes with truth, I know this ... for 10 years I lived an abusive marriage. (thank God not Janine's) In some ways it feels like a lifetime ago, in others, I'm a work in progress. (To Move Forward, To Begin Healing 2010) I'm not looking back ... breaking the silence goes some small way to breaking the power and hold of abusers.
... as does having a support network. It takes courage to reach out and accept what's offered and it was heartwarming watching Janine's interactions with her support network. Reuniting with her daughter Harmony and meeting grandaughter Lottie for the first time, another step in the healing process. I cheered each and every one of Janine's steps to reclaiming her self.
I loved catching up with the characters from One Mountain Away; they're the trustees of the mountain cabin called The Goddess House, a safe haven for women needing a fresh start or second chance. Emilie Richards keeps it very real when we see how Harmony and Taylor are fairing, their emotions and reactions resonated with me. It's the women that hold my attention, rather than the mystery but I must admit I enjoyed the challenges Adam Pryor brought to the mix.
I want so much to convey my love for the gorgeous, lyrical quality, the raw honesty of Emilie Richards' writing but relating so personally has made this a difficult review to write ... my brain is cramping. I can't rave enough about the series and I really love the titles, they represent the themes of each book so beautifully.
"Abandon perfection. Welcome reflection. Nuture connection." Taylor paused. "And to that I think we need to add 'offer protection.'"
December 5, 2015
This is the first book I have read by Emilie Richards, and it caused me to go to the author’s web site to check out other books she has written. This is the third in the Goddess Anonymous series; and although the book works perfectly well as a stand-alone, it would have been great to have had the background on the various goddesses and Goddess Anonymous members before reading to give meaning to various allusions in the storyline. The goddesses are described later in the book as "strong, powerful women who would rally to protect their own." However, the reader quickly becomes absorbed in the lives of the characters in this book as Harmony and Janine and Taylor deal with family and personal issues.
The long-lasting effects of domestic violence are explored as Janine and Harmony deal with emotional scars and constant fear of being found by the abuser. Excerpts from Janine's "audio journal of a forty-five-year-old woman, taped for the files of Moving On,, an underground highway for abused women" helps the reader to understand why a woman would allow herself to be beaten and traumatized over and over again while refusing all the help that was available to her or offered. Both the personalities of Janine and Harmony have been tainted by their years of turmoil, but the sisterhood they find in Ashville with the goddesses help them to overcome the past. It is especially satisfying to see Janine come out of her beaten-down shell to display confidence and strength. I highly recommend this example of good woman’s literature. I received the book in a Goodreads First Reads drawing, but the opinions expressed are solely mine.
The long-lasting effects of domestic violence are explored as Janine and Harmony deal with emotional scars and constant fear of being found by the abuser. Excerpts from Janine's "audio journal of a forty-five-year-old woman, taped for the files of Moving On,, an underground highway for abused women" helps the reader to understand why a woman would allow herself to be beaten and traumatized over and over again while refusing all the help that was available to her or offered. Both the personalities of Janine and Harmony have been tainted by their years of turmoil, but the sisterhood they find in Ashville with the goddesses help them to overcome the past. It is especially satisfying to see Janine come out of her beaten-down shell to display confidence and strength. I highly recommend this example of good woman’s literature. I received the book in a Goodreads First Reads drawing, but the opinions expressed are solely mine.
November 13, 2015
Delve yourself into this well-written, thoroughly realistic and powerful novel about domestic abuse. This topic is addressed on many levels. Finding a way to escape and deal with the after affects is scary. A wife who needs to find a way to escape and start a new life, and her daughter who had managed to stay hidden with the help of her mother, need to find a way to move on, set aside their fears, and find the means to deal with whatever the future may hold.
True to life itself, this novel does not disappoint. As you read, you are there, you feel the pain that all have been through, and encourage both of them to stay hidden, deal with the past, and move on. Learning to trust the support of others to gain your own strength and continue to live without fear is difficult to accomplish, especially after a long-time abusive relationship.
This series is a treasure. Tough true-to-life circumstances are addressed in each, and I look forward to the fourth Goddesses Anonymous novel.
True to life itself, this novel does not disappoint. As you read, you are there, you feel the pain that all have been through, and encourage both of them to stay hidden, deal with the past, and move on. Learning to trust the support of others to gain your own strength and continue to live without fear is difficult to accomplish, especially after a long-time abusive relationship.
This series is a treasure. Tough true-to-life circumstances are addressed in each, and I look forward to the fourth Goddesses Anonymous novel.
February 20, 2017
I am kinda sad I only have one more book left in this series. Sigh.
July 7, 2014
Janine Stoddard has spent her married life under the thumb of her controlling husband, Rex. In the more than two decades together, Rex manipulated her, tore down her self esteem, and physically abused her due to his own ruthlessness.
Browbeaten and submissive, Janine concocts ways to leave so Rex could not locate her to kill her, as he threatened many times. With the help of a group of female truckers, called Moving On, she flees one night when Rex doesn't return from work. Her home explodes in her flight, but she escapes unscathed.
Janine journeys to Asheville, NC, where daughter, Harmony resides with Jan's infant granddaughter, Lottie. Though it's risky in case Rex sends his spies in search of her, she needs to assure Harmony is free and planning to move to New England, a place Rex would never consider looking.
Janine changes her name to Jan and concocts ways to see Harmony in case they are being watched. Harmony's friends known as Goddesses Anonymous, who help other women in trouble, convince Jan to stay in NC. She moves in with Taylor, Harmony's friend to care for her preteen daughter and not be near Harmony.
Meanwhile, Adam Pryor arrives and becomes acquainted with Taylor, offering to teach martial arts at her exercise studio. Taylor, who carries trust issues, is surprised she's attracted to Adam, and she hopes he will stay in town. However, Adam possesses secrets he's not ready to convey.
Harmony is bitter toward her father, and Jan grieves at this, despite the fact that she received the brunt of his wrath. She demonstrates her true strength by telling her daughter, "I think forgiveness is letting go of the hatred and not letting it have power over us anymore." No truer words were spoken, and though she was battered in physical and emotional ways, she proves her willingness to forgive. But, will Jan and Harmony ever be free of Rex?
Ms. Richards writes with authority of domestic violence, adding mystery and romance to the mix, along with well-developed characters, making this an insightful and enjoyable read.
This review can also be seen at WWW.ReaderToReader.com
Browbeaten and submissive, Janine concocts ways to leave so Rex could not locate her to kill her, as he threatened many times. With the help of a group of female truckers, called Moving On, she flees one night when Rex doesn't return from work. Her home explodes in her flight, but she escapes unscathed.
Janine journeys to Asheville, NC, where daughter, Harmony resides with Jan's infant granddaughter, Lottie. Though it's risky in case Rex sends his spies in search of her, she needs to assure Harmony is free and planning to move to New England, a place Rex would never consider looking.
Janine changes her name to Jan and concocts ways to see Harmony in case they are being watched. Harmony's friends known as Goddesses Anonymous, who help other women in trouble, convince Jan to stay in NC. She moves in with Taylor, Harmony's friend to care for her preteen daughter and not be near Harmony.
Meanwhile, Adam Pryor arrives and becomes acquainted with Taylor, offering to teach martial arts at her exercise studio. Taylor, who carries trust issues, is surprised she's attracted to Adam, and she hopes he will stay in town. However, Adam possesses secrets he's not ready to convey.
Harmony is bitter toward her father, and Jan grieves at this, despite the fact that she received the brunt of his wrath. She demonstrates her true strength by telling her daughter, "I think forgiveness is letting go of the hatred and not letting it have power over us anymore." No truer words were spoken, and though she was battered in physical and emotional ways, she proves her willingness to forgive. But, will Jan and Harmony ever be free of Rex?
Ms. Richards writes with authority of domestic violence, adding mystery and romance to the mix, along with well-developed characters, making this an insightful and enjoyable read.
This review can also be seen at WWW.ReaderToReader.com
September 6, 2014
I loved this book from the first, even though the plot seems to be similar to , out there about women who undergo traumatic events and undergo a lot of learning, growth and recovery -
The book starts with the desperate escape of Janine, a survivor of many years of domestic violence from her husband Rex. She flees to the same small town that her daughter Harmony and baby Lottie live in. Gradually, we learn more about Harmony's own life as a single mother, her relationships with others in the town, such as her friend Taylor's mother Charlotte - and Taylor herself, who is drawn to a mysterious new man in town, Adam, who is there for reasons of his own...
I also appreciated the networks of women in this one - the women truckers who help Janine escape, the Goddesses network that Taylor is part of, and how the women come together to help each other, despite the personal dilemmas they face. Janine's story is especially touching and well portrayed, how a woman has to relearn everything about coming back into society, after years of domestic violence and increasing isolation by her husband. She is afraid like so many other survivors, of trusting her own instincts about whom to trust, whether she can actually trust others, and form good relationships with others, friends or otherwise. Janine's bravery in reclaiming herself is really moving, and her journeys remind me of the ones that we all face as women, even if we aren't experiencing traumas like domestic violence.
Although this can be read as a stand alone novel, finding out that this is the third volume of a trilogy makes me want to read the previous two volumes in the "Goddess" series!
The book starts with the desperate escape of Janine, a survivor of many years of domestic violence from her husband Rex. She flees to the same small town that her daughter Harmony and baby Lottie live in. Gradually, we learn more about Harmony's own life as a single mother, her relationships with others in the town, such as her friend Taylor's mother Charlotte - and Taylor herself, who is drawn to a mysterious new man in town, Adam, who is there for reasons of his own...
I also appreciated the networks of women in this one - the women truckers who help Janine escape, the Goddesses network that Taylor is part of, and how the women come together to help each other, despite the personal dilemmas they face. Janine's story is especially touching and well portrayed, how a woman has to relearn everything about coming back into society, after years of domestic violence and increasing isolation by her husband. She is afraid like so many other survivors, of trusting her own instincts about whom to trust, whether she can actually trust others, and form good relationships with others, friends or otherwise. Janine's bravery in reclaiming herself is really moving, and her journeys remind me of the ones that we all face as women, even if we aren't experiencing traumas like domestic violence.
Although this can be read as a stand alone novel, finding out that this is the third volume of a trilogy makes me want to read the previous two volumes in the "Goddess" series!
November 4, 2017
Although I find the series title distracting, I have loved every one of these books. And I can't believe I'm saying that about a book published by Harlequin! This book continues the stories featuring members of a group of women who are trying to help the world, one person at a time, with resources left to them by Charlotte Hale, whose story the first book tells. This book focuses on Taylor and especially on Jan, who is Harmony's mother and is escaping her abusive husband. Richards has absolutely done her homework on this one, and if reading about abuse triggers your anxieties and bad memories, you may want to skip this one. I found it to be worthwhile despite the discomfort of reading about the tragedies involved in Jan's and Harmony's lives, and the other stories woven in are also well told.
July 7, 2015
I am an Emilie Richards' fan but found this book hard to get into. The first part was terrifying as Jan lived in great fear of her abusive husband finding her. Then the story seemed to drag as she settled in to a new lifestyle in Ashville. Nice blend of relationships, vivid description of environment, and development of character. At times the battered woman syndrome, although accurate, seemed a bit too determined to educate. As an infant mental health specialist focused on infant development, baby Lottie's readiness to relate joyfully to her father totold to and grandmother whom she did not know was unrealistic. Still, I like Richards' books and will look forward to the next one.
September 3, 2014
This is the third book of The Goddesses Anonymous Novels. This is the story of Janine(Jan)Stoddard who comes to see her daughter, Harmony who lives in Ashville, North Carolina. While there she begins to relate what her life has been like for the past two decades. This is a novel about domestic abuse and recovery from it. The book was an easy read and the story flowed.
November 2, 2014
I love this series. The characters are real. They have problems and need to work through them. There is not prince who comes in and rescues them. It is through their relationships, the people they come to depend on that they realize having people in your life who trust you, whom you can trust and who support your decisions can help you face problems and work through them.
February 5, 2016
A gripping story of an abused woman and her daughter as they first hide and later try to put their lives back together. Richards is good at putting together romance and suspense. This is the second of the Goddesses novels I've read. I'll definitely want to read more of Richards' books.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
July 18, 2014
Emilie Richards is a master at writing stories with realistic characters and complicated relationships. This book is no exception. I've been enjoying this series immensely.
July 8, 2014
A heart wrenching story wonderfully and wisely written. I really loved the friends in this novel; they were friends that I would love to have---but also friends that I would like to be.
November 19, 2014
Confusing if you have not read the others. Story could have been told as effectively with less pages.
July 22, 2017
One of my favorite authors has nailed it again. Janine Stoddard finally escapes her abusive husband, though not without inadvertently causing the cops to think she may have had something to do with his disappearance. In the fire that destroys their home, perhaps? She has no idea and only wants to get away. En route to the place where she intends to restart her life, she stops to see her daughter, with whom she's been estranged since Harmony left home to get away from her violent father.
Harmony's friend, Taylor, takes Jan in with the intention of helping mother and daughter get to know one another again. When Adam Pryor shows up, no one knows who he is or why he's come to Asheville and he's not telling. But his observations of Jan tell him that she may be more a victim than a perpetrator of the crime he's seeking to solve. Further complicating his understanding of Jan and Harmony is his attraction to Taylor, who learned long ago not to trust men. But she decides to set aside her fears that Adam may be just another of those men who use and then leave as she loses her heart to him--until it becomes clear why he is there and what he intends to do.
Nothing he can say will convince Taylor that he can be trusted or that he wants to help Jan--until he continues to work the case in order to prove that Jan is innocent of both her husband's death and the illegalities committed by his insurance company. The question then becomes, is he right? And can he prove it before Jan is arrested?
An affecting story that brings to life the realities of women who are abused, and often killed, by their husbands and how their plight is often hidden so effectively from those around them.
Harmony's friend, Taylor, takes Jan in with the intention of helping mother and daughter get to know one another again. When Adam Pryor shows up, no one knows who he is or why he's come to Asheville and he's not telling. But his observations of Jan tell him that she may be more a victim than a perpetrator of the crime he's seeking to solve. Further complicating his understanding of Jan and Harmony is his attraction to Taylor, who learned long ago not to trust men. But she decides to set aside her fears that Adam may be just another of those men who use and then leave as she loses her heart to him--until it becomes clear why he is there and what he intends to do.
Nothing he can say will convince Taylor that he can be trusted or that he wants to help Jan--until he continues to work the case in order to prove that Jan is innocent of both her husband's death and the illegalities committed by his insurance company. The question then becomes, is he right? And can he prove it before Jan is arrested?
An affecting story that brings to life the realities of women who are abused, and often killed, by their husbands and how their plight is often hidden so effectively from those around them.
December 12, 2019
I did not realize that No River Too Wide was the third in a series until I went to Goodreads to add it to books read. I think I would have enjoyed it even more if I had read the earlier books in the series since there are many references to past events in the lives of the main character. However, I believe it can also be enjoyed as a stand-alone.
Although Richards has written some Christian fiction books, this is not one. The story revolves around Jan Stoddard, a woman who has suffered severe mental and physical abuse from her husband but finally gets up the courage to leave one night when he doesn't come home. In her preparations to leave, she accidentally sets the house on fire. Jan is helped in her escape by a group of woman truckers who call themselves Movin' On and help women in abusive situations.
She flees to her daughter Harmony's home in Asheville, NC. She and Harmony had also been separated because of threats Jan's husband had made after Jan helped Harmony get away from their home. Harmony has already been helped to build a new life by a diverse group of women who call themselves Goddesses Anonymous, and now these women set out to help Jan and keep her safe. Another main character is Adam Pryor, a man who has a complicated past and has a job which secretly connects him to Jan.
Through the character of Jan, the author has vividly portrayed what it is like for the wife of an abuser---also providing reasons why a woman might stay in a situation. Harmony portrays what it is like for a child growing up with an abusive parent.
There is romance in the novel but it is not the focal point of the book.
It was a book well worth reading.
Although Richards has written some Christian fiction books, this is not one. The story revolves around Jan Stoddard, a woman who has suffered severe mental and physical abuse from her husband but finally gets up the courage to leave one night when he doesn't come home. In her preparations to leave, she accidentally sets the house on fire. Jan is helped in her escape by a group of woman truckers who call themselves Movin' On and help women in abusive situations.
She flees to her daughter Harmony's home in Asheville, NC. She and Harmony had also been separated because of threats Jan's husband had made after Jan helped Harmony get away from their home. Harmony has already been helped to build a new life by a diverse group of women who call themselves Goddesses Anonymous, and now these women set out to help Jan and keep her safe. Another main character is Adam Pryor, a man who has a complicated past and has a job which secretly connects him to Jan.
Through the character of Jan, the author has vividly portrayed what it is like for the wife of an abuser---also providing reasons why a woman might stay in a situation. Harmony portrays what it is like for a child growing up with an abusive parent.
There is romance in the novel but it is not the focal point of the book.
It was a book well worth reading.
July 22, 2018
No River Too Wide is the third book in Emilie Richards' Goddesses Anonymous series.
This book is primarily the story of Jan, the mother of one of the Goddesses, Harmony, who was introduced in an earlier book in the series. Jan has suffered emotional and physical abuse from her husband Rex for most of her marriage and finally found the courage to escape her abuse.
Jan's story is told very well. Richards is able to lay out the complexity of an abusive marriage. She takes her time laying out the story so that the reader is able to understand the character of Jan and how her life unfolded.
The book contains a bit of mystery, a bit of romance, and some of the female friendship storylines that Richards does so well in the Goddess series.
Overall, I enjoyed the book, but perhaps not as much as some of the others in the series. Jan's story was told well, but some of the rest of the book dragged on a bit for me.
I still look forward to reading the fourth and final book in the series.
This book is primarily the story of Jan, the mother of one of the Goddesses, Harmony, who was introduced in an earlier book in the series. Jan has suffered emotional and physical abuse from her husband Rex for most of her marriage and finally found the courage to escape her abuse.
Jan's story is told very well. Richards is able to lay out the complexity of an abusive marriage. She takes her time laying out the story so that the reader is able to understand the character of Jan and how her life unfolded.
The book contains a bit of mystery, a bit of romance, and some of the female friendship storylines that Richards does so well in the Goddess series.
Overall, I enjoyed the book, but perhaps not as much as some of the others in the series. Jan's story was told well, but some of the rest of the book dragged on a bit for me.
I still look forward to reading the fourth and final book in the series.
January 25, 2021
(3.5 stars) This is the third book in the series. Jan has finally decided to leave her abusive husband. When he unexpectedly takes a business trip, she puts her plans in motion with the rescue network, even though they are not quite ready. As she is leaving, she impulsively burns some pictures showing their “perfect” life, but the fire gets out of control, burning the house. She stops to see her daughter, Harmony and her granddaughter, baby Lottie on her way into hiding, but is convinced to stay and live with Harmony’s friend Taylor. They keep a pulse on the news about her husband, but he remains missing. In the meantime, Jan works hard to reintegrate into life and become less afraid. Unknown to them, her husband and his insurance firm were under investigation for fraud, and a detective has been hired to find who is to blame. Taylor is working on opening her fitness studio and cafe and is also opening herself up to love. But things begin to get complicated and put them all at risk.
March 31, 2021
3.5 Third book in the series. In an abusive relationship for many years Jan has finally decided to make a break for it and leave her husband but her planning goes wrong. As she was about to leave the house it caught on fire and she barely escapes. Jan wants to see her daughter and granddaughter before she makes a new life for herself and makes her way to where her daughter is living with the help of a group of people who help settle abused wives. Jan's daughter is so happy to see her and wants her to stay close by. Jan's husband was not in the house when she left and has not been found. This of course is worrying as he is a very vindictive man. a sad story of how a woman was molded into something her husband wanted her to be and totally isolated her. Jan deserves a new styart but will be she able to accomplish this?
May 4, 2020
I LOVE the writing style of this author. Once I realized this was #3 in a series, I didn't stop. I usually stop. Once I finished it, I checked to see if #1 and 2 were in my local library. Yes! Then I checked with my favorite librarian to see if she really can get books for readers. Yes! She and I met for the exchange--outside--6 ft apart once the hand off was made.
Now I'm reading #1 and the writing is even better--if that's even possible.
Now I'm reading #1 and the writing is even better--if that's even possible.
Read
July 23, 2024Not heavy reading but not fluff. Emilie Richards writes books that have substance and also lightness. I've read several of her books and are never disappointed. This one focuses on the 'life after' of a wife and daughter who were subjected to an abuser husband and father but whose strengths created a quality life apart from his domination.
May 27, 2017
Book 3 in the Goddesses Anonymous series.
If you haven't read any books in the series don't let the title of the series put you off;
Emelie Richards has become one of my favorite authors.
Her books are well written and realistic.
This book was a powerful story about domestic abuse.
If you haven't read any books in the series don't let the title of the series put you off;
Emelie Richards has become one of my favorite authors.
Her books are well written and realistic.
This book was a powerful story about domestic abuse.
August 26, 2017
3 3/4 star
November 19, 2017
Charming and sad.
Lovely characters and a sad tale that unfortunately is no longer fiction. Enjoyed that everyone has some battle they are fighting. Going to read another now!
Lovely characters and a sad tale that unfortunately is no longer fiction. Enjoyed that everyone has some battle they are fighting. Going to read another now!
January 13, 2018
This book was WAY TOO LONG! And the subject of domestic abuse was too depressing.
June 10, 2018
Amazing story. Sence of close communitie is so overwheming.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 106 reviews