What do you think?
Rate this book
God Bless the Child
When we first meet Mary Kline in God Bless the Child, Book One of The Women of Paradise County series, she is sewing, her main obsession besides eating. It is hard to blame Mary for who she has become. She’s been perpetually hungry since childhood, and as she becomes a woman, she craves something far more delicious—a child of her own.
When Pearl Davis turns up pregnant after a church-basement encounter with James Pullman, the pastor’s son, Mary and her parents swoop in and “adopt” Pearl and her baby, Elizabeth. It’s a disastrous move.
As a teen, Elizabeth rebuffs Mary’s smothering affection and winds up pregnant. Mary insists on an abortion, which they both keep secret. When she later becomes a young mother, Elizabeth’s depression leads to severe OCD. When her irrationally patient husband, David, learns about the abortion and the harrowing nights Elizabeth witnessed as a child when her birth mother was abused, more secrets are revealed that explain Mary Kline’s insatiable appetite and her desire to be loved.
By the time Mary and Elizabeth confront the twisted truths that bind them, their entire family is sucked into grappling with layers of trauma spanning three generations.
Everyone in God Bless the Child must reckon with their past as they seek forgiveness and redemption.
When Pearl Davis turns up pregnant after a church-basement encounter with James Pullman, the pastor’s son, Mary and her parents swoop in and “adopt” Pearl and her baby, Elizabeth. It’s a disastrous move.
As a teen, Elizabeth rebuffs Mary’s smothering affection and winds up pregnant. Mary insists on an abortion, which they both keep secret. When she later becomes a young mother, Elizabeth’s depression leads to severe OCD. When her irrationally patient husband, David, learns about the abortion and the harrowing nights Elizabeth witnessed as a child when her birth mother was abused, more secrets are revealed that explain Mary Kline’s insatiable appetite and her desire to be loved.
By the time Mary and Elizabeth confront the twisted truths that bind them, their entire family is sucked into grappling with layers of trauma spanning three generations.
Everyone in God Bless the Child must reckon with their past as they seek forgiveness and redemption.
- GenresFiction
308 pages, Kindle Edition
Published June 7, 2024
2 people are currently reading
2545 people want to read
About the author
Anne Shaw Heinrich
4 books24 followersSince she fell in love with writing in high school, Anne Shaw Heinrich has been a journalist, columnist, blogger and nonprofit communications professional. Her first article appeared in Rockford Magazine in 1987. She’s interviewed and written features on Beverly Sills, Judy Collins, Gene Siskel, and Debbie Reynolds. Anne’s writing has been featured in The New York Times bestseller The Right Words at the Right Time, Volume 2: Your Turn (Atria 2006) and Chicken Soup for the Soul's The Cancer Book: 101 Stories of Courage, Support and Love (2009). Anne's debut novel, God Bless The Child, is the first in a three-book series, The Women of Paradise County, to be published by Speaking Volumes. She and her husband are parents to three adult children. Anne is passionate about her family, mental health advocacy and the power of storytelling.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 16 of 16 reviews
May 23, 2024
I'm so bummed about this one. I really thought I was going to enjoy it, especially based on the blurb of the book:/ As someone who struggles with mental health, specifically Obsessive Compulsive Disorder, I thought I'd be able to relate to the story in the slightest bit. That (clearly, based on my rating) was not the case. So much of it felt off-kilter with some weird holier-than-thou undertones... it just didn't work for me unfortunately.
Before I get into it, I'd like to preface my review and the book with a trigger warning. There are major themes sexual assault, sexual assault of a child, and child loss. There are also heavy religious themes - which in most cases is totally fine... but I will discuss my issues with this particular storyline further on.
One last thing before moving onto the review - past here I will be spoiling some major plot points so please be aware.
My issues:
𝐒𝐎 𝐌𝐀𝐍𝐘 𝐏𝐎𝐕𝐬: this book is not even 300 pages long and there were 9 or 10 separate points of view. While multiple povs can enhance a story greatly, 5-10 points of view is overkill for a book of any length. I think having so many really altered the timeline and a lot of them were not needed to get the point across. 3rd person omniscient narration would have worked so much better here.
𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐛𝐥𝐚𝐭𝐚𝐧𝐭 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐜𝐨𝐧𝐬𝐭𝐚𝐧𝐭 𝐧𝐞𝐠𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐯𝐞 𝐟𝐨𝐜𝐮𝐬 𝐨𝐧 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐦𝐚𝐢𝐧 𝐜𝐡𝐚𝐫𝐚𝐜𝐭𝐞𝐫'𝐬 𝐰𝐞𝐢𝐠𝐡𝐭: This bothered me so much. It felt like every other sentence was attacking this character's size in such a horrible way. While I understand that her weight was a product of trauma, the negative stigma was so overused and actually incredibly detrimental to the story. There are other ways to talk about trauma than constantly disparage your character.
𝐬𝐞𝐥𝐟-𝐝𝐞𝐩𝐫𝐞𝐜𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐟𝐞𝐦𝐚𝐥𝐞 𝐜𝐡𝐚𝐫𝐚𝐜𝐭𝐞𝐫𝐬: Every single female character talked so negatively about themselves and the other women around them. It's a very unflattering part of the story... especially because the only praise for other women usually came from the men in the story which is incredibly off-putting.
𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐩𝐨𝐫𝐭𝐫𝐚𝐲𝐚𝐥 𝐨𝐟 𝐎𝐂𝐃: Again, as someone who struggles with OCD, the portrayal of it here was abysmal. Don't get me wrong, perfectionism can be a part of obsessive compulsive disorder... but there are other caveats to the disorder that make it debilitating. This felt like the "oh my gosh I'm just SO OCD about having my area clean and perfect" kind of vibe. It absolutely rubbed me the wrong way and I hope that moving forward, if Ms. Heinrich decides to show more mental health themes in this series, that more research is done into what they really look like.
𝐫𝐞𝐥𝐢𝐠𝐢𝐨𝐮𝐬 𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐦𝐞𝐬 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐮𝐧𝐝𝐞𝐫𝐭𝐨𝐧𝐞𝐬: Usually, for me at least being someone who is an adamant atheist, religious themes are no issue and I enjoy getting a different perspective. That being said, this part of the book is what I had the most issue with. There are two main instances in this story that really made me want to set it down and never pick it up again. I will discuss them here in a moment - one last trigger warning for sexual assault and child loss.
The first: A man who eventually becomes a church official commits multiple violent sexual assaults (and it is talked about in the book, in black and white) and is never punished for it. Multiple people know about it, yet they say nothing and ALLOW him to become a church official. God has "punished" him enough and he "knows it was wrong."
The second: The awful stigma around one of the characters losing a child. It's painted as though she births a stillborn baby as punishment from God because she had an abortion early on in her teen years. That situation is heartbreaking on it's own, but to essentially come out and say that it happened because of a choice she made that an omnipotent being didn't agree with is awful and so incredibly sad.
There are other instances throughout that really really did not lend well to how I felt about this book, but those are the two main ones. You are allowed to believe and feel how you would like to about those situations, and the author is allowed to write it, but if you're anything like me, you absolutely will not like this book.
Overall, I just cannot recommend this to anyone. While there are raw and real moments that would have been good... everything I mentioned prior just negates every positive I could find. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
Before I get into it, I'd like to preface my review and the book with a trigger warning. There are major themes sexual assault, sexual assault of a child, and child loss. There are also heavy religious themes - which in most cases is totally fine... but I will discuss my issues with this particular storyline further on.
One last thing before moving onto the review - past here I will be spoiling some major plot points so please be aware.
My issues:
𝐒𝐎 𝐌𝐀𝐍𝐘 𝐏𝐎𝐕𝐬: this book is not even 300 pages long and there were 9 or 10 separate points of view. While multiple povs can enhance a story greatly, 5-10 points of view is overkill for a book of any length. I think having so many really altered the timeline and a lot of them were not needed to get the point across. 3rd person omniscient narration would have worked so much better here.
𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐛𝐥𝐚𝐭𝐚𝐧𝐭 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐜𝐨𝐧𝐬𝐭𝐚𝐧𝐭 𝐧𝐞𝐠𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐯𝐞 𝐟𝐨𝐜𝐮𝐬 𝐨𝐧 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐦𝐚𝐢𝐧 𝐜𝐡𝐚𝐫𝐚𝐜𝐭𝐞𝐫'𝐬 𝐰𝐞𝐢𝐠𝐡𝐭: This bothered me so much. It felt like every other sentence was attacking this character's size in such a horrible way. While I understand that her weight was a product of trauma, the negative stigma was so overused and actually incredibly detrimental to the story. There are other ways to talk about trauma than constantly disparage your character.
𝐬𝐞𝐥𝐟-𝐝𝐞𝐩𝐫𝐞𝐜𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐟𝐞𝐦𝐚𝐥𝐞 𝐜𝐡𝐚𝐫𝐚𝐜𝐭𝐞𝐫𝐬: Every single female character talked so negatively about themselves and the other women around them. It's a very unflattering part of the story... especially because the only praise for other women usually came from the men in the story which is incredibly off-putting.
𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐩𝐨𝐫𝐭𝐫𝐚𝐲𝐚𝐥 𝐨𝐟 𝐎𝐂𝐃: Again, as someone who struggles with OCD, the portrayal of it here was abysmal. Don't get me wrong, perfectionism can be a part of obsessive compulsive disorder... but there are other caveats to the disorder that make it debilitating. This felt like the "oh my gosh I'm just SO OCD about having my area clean and perfect" kind of vibe. It absolutely rubbed me the wrong way and I hope that moving forward, if Ms. Heinrich decides to show more mental health themes in this series, that more research is done into what they really look like.
𝐫𝐞𝐥𝐢𝐠𝐢𝐨𝐮𝐬 𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐦𝐞𝐬 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐮𝐧𝐝𝐞𝐫𝐭𝐨𝐧𝐞𝐬: Usually, for me at least being someone who is an adamant atheist, religious themes are no issue and I enjoy getting a different perspective. That being said, this part of the book is what I had the most issue with. There are two main instances in this story that really made me want to set it down and never pick it up again. I will discuss them here in a moment - one last trigger warning for sexual assault and child loss.
The first: A man who eventually becomes a church official commits multiple violent sexual assaults (and it is talked about in the book, in black and white) and is never punished for it. Multiple people know about it, yet they say nothing and ALLOW him to become a church official. God has "punished" him enough and he "knows it was wrong."
The second: The awful stigma around one of the characters losing a child. It's painted as though she births a stillborn baby as punishment from God because she had an abortion early on in her teen years. That situation is heartbreaking on it's own, but to essentially come out and say that it happened because of a choice she made that an omnipotent being didn't agree with is awful and so incredibly sad.
There are other instances throughout that really really did not lend well to how I felt about this book, but those are the two main ones. You are allowed to believe and feel how you would like to about those situations, and the author is allowed to write it, but if you're anything like me, you absolutely will not like this book.
Overall, I just cannot recommend this to anyone. While there are raw and real moments that would have been good... everything I mentioned prior just negates every positive I could find. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
June 7, 2024
Rating: 5 Stars!!
Review:
Thank you to BooksForward for sending me this FREE ARC COPY of Book 1 in this Contemporary Fiction Series by Anne to promote and review for her as part of the Book Tour this week.
This was my first time reading a Contemporary Novel by Anne let alone in a series. The story starts off about Mary a woman who helps out a Young Teen, Pearl who ends up Pregnant through Rape by A Pastors Son, James. As the story continues we learn how each character goes from Faith in God to Finding Forgiveness and Redeaming themselves as they endure pain but overall God brings them through it.
The Characters were enjoyable and interesting to read about. Mary and Elizabeth were definately my favorites. Pearl was OK i didnt always like how she treated Mary who was trying her best to raise Pearl and by the time Pearl did treat Mary right it seemed to come too late.
The Setting was beautifully described which made me feel like i was actually in the book while reading BUT i wish Anne was more descriptive about where the book was set cause i kept looking back at what town or state each chapter was in.
Overall a Good Book 1 in this Series about Women of Paradise County. Can't wait to read Book 2 once its released!!
Review:
Thank you to BooksForward for sending me this FREE ARC COPY of Book 1 in this Contemporary Fiction Series by Anne to promote and review for her as part of the Book Tour this week.
This was my first time reading a Contemporary Novel by Anne let alone in a series. The story starts off about Mary a woman who helps out a Young Teen, Pearl who ends up Pregnant through Rape by A Pastors Son, James. As the story continues we learn how each character goes from Faith in God to Finding Forgiveness and Redeaming themselves as they endure pain but overall God brings them through it.
The Characters were enjoyable and interesting to read about. Mary and Elizabeth were definately my favorites. Pearl was OK i didnt always like how she treated Mary who was trying her best to raise Pearl and by the time Pearl did treat Mary right it seemed to come too late.
The Setting was beautifully described which made me feel like i was actually in the book while reading BUT i wish Anne was more descriptive about where the book was set cause i kept looking back at what town or state each chapter was in.
Overall a Good Book 1 in this Series about Women of Paradise County. Can't wait to read Book 2 once its released!!
October 14, 2024
I received this book to review for LibraryThing's Early Reviewers program. I'm glad I chose it. As I read the story of Mary Kline, Pearl, and Elizabeth, the emotional experience was unexpected. So much of what I read resonated with me. I like the courage with which the author tackled some uncomfortable but unfortunately all too common problems in our society. I came to love and appreciate each of the three main characters as they handled difficulties in their lives. I really adore Johnson! I don't want to say more because I don't want to give anything away. It's definitely a book I would recommend.
October 15, 2024
This intriguing story centers around Mary Kline, the very obese only child of the owners of Kline Department Store. Mary is the object of derision and loneliness in high school until she befriends Pam, a girl with an intellectual disability that also makes her a target for her classmates. David, the popular son of the local pastor, takes more than a passing interest in Pam, and she becomes pregnant with a daughter, Elizabeth, who bears an uncanny resemblance to her paternal grandmother.
Mary Kline becomes a surrogate mother to both Pam and Elizabeth, and they all live together with the Klines in their home. As a teenager, Elizabeth rebels against the smothering attention of Mary Kline. Elizabeth eventually marries and has her own daughter, whom she names Mary. Pam meanwhile is put into a nursing home, and Mary Kline again assumes the role of mother to Elizabeth and grandmother to little Mary.
These are complicated relationships when long-held devastating secrets are revealed. The juxtaposition of alternating characters' perspectives is skillfully done and very effective. My appreciation to LibraryThing and the publisher for this copy. I look forward to more in this series.
Mary Kline becomes a surrogate mother to both Pam and Elizabeth, and they all live together with the Klines in their home. As a teenager, Elizabeth rebels against the smothering attention of Mary Kline. Elizabeth eventually marries and has her own daughter, whom she names Mary. Pam meanwhile is put into a nursing home, and Mary Kline again assumes the role of mother to Elizabeth and grandmother to little Mary.
These are complicated relationships when long-held devastating secrets are revealed. The juxtaposition of alternating characters' perspectives is skillfully done and very effective. My appreciation to LibraryThing and the publisher for this copy. I look forward to more in this series.
June 13, 2025
God Bless the Child is like a slow-burning emotional storm, you see it coming, you brace for it and it still hits hard. We meet Mary Kline, obsessed with sewing and snacks, but what she’s really starving for is love, specifically, the love of a child. And yeah, things spiral fast from there.
When teenage Pearl gets pregnant after a sketchy church-basement moment with the pastor’s son, Mary pounces. She and her fam “adopt” Pearl and the baby, a move that’s just as messy as it sounds. That baby, Elizabeth, grows up into a storm of her own, and what follows is a tangle of secrets, shame, trauma, and motherhood on hard mode.
The story unfolds through different POVs, and honestly, every voice is so vivid it’s like you’re eavesdropping on their private thoughts. Each chapter peels back another painful truth, and the generational trauma just keeps stacking. Mental illness, buried pasts, complicated mother-daughter bonds, it’s raw, it’s real, and it doesn’t sugarcoat a thing.
But what keeps you reading isn’t just the chaos, it’s the heart. Under all that dysfunction, there’s a quiet search for forgiveness and healing. It’s not pretty, it’s not easy, but it’s honest. And by the end, you’re rooting for every broken piece to somehow come together.
When teenage Pearl gets pregnant after a sketchy church-basement moment with the pastor’s son, Mary pounces. She and her fam “adopt” Pearl and the baby, a move that’s just as messy as it sounds. That baby, Elizabeth, grows up into a storm of her own, and what follows is a tangle of secrets, shame, trauma, and motherhood on hard mode.
The story unfolds through different POVs, and honestly, every voice is so vivid it’s like you’re eavesdropping on their private thoughts. Each chapter peels back another painful truth, and the generational trauma just keeps stacking. Mental illness, buried pasts, complicated mother-daughter bonds, it’s raw, it’s real, and it doesn’t sugarcoat a thing.
But what keeps you reading isn’t just the chaos, it’s the heart. Under all that dysfunction, there’s a quiet search for forgiveness and healing. It’s not pretty, it’s not easy, but it’s honest. And by the end, you’re rooting for every broken piece to somehow come together.
May 22, 2024
God Bless the Child by Anne Shaw Heinrich
A huge exhale after reading to the end of this novel! I didn't want it to end but it ended well. Mary Kline has her dream fulfilled becoming a mother in a different way than most. She was able to mother both her mentally challenged friend, Pearl, and Pearl's daughter, Elizabeth. Mary Kline came from an affluent and well-known family in town, yet she was bullied throughout her life because of her large girth. She was able to give love to Pearl and Elizabeth that she felt she didn't receive as a child and in her life. There are other characters that are all intertwined, and secrets revealed. This story is fraught with emotion. The ending helps the reader understand the complicated relationships and how each person processed their guilt and grief, eventually finding peace with themselves and with each other. Be cautioned that this novel regards some deep matter, but I thought it was well written with characters people can either relate to or have a deeper appreciation for.
Thank you to Net Galley and Speaking Volumes, LLC Naples, Florida for the advanced reader's copy. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
A huge exhale after reading to the end of this novel! I didn't want it to end but it ended well. Mary Kline has her dream fulfilled becoming a mother in a different way than most. She was able to mother both her mentally challenged friend, Pearl, and Pearl's daughter, Elizabeth. Mary Kline came from an affluent and well-known family in town, yet she was bullied throughout her life because of her large girth. She was able to give love to Pearl and Elizabeth that she felt she didn't receive as a child and in her life. There are other characters that are all intertwined, and secrets revealed. This story is fraught with emotion. The ending helps the reader understand the complicated relationships and how each person processed their guilt and grief, eventually finding peace with themselves and with each other. Be cautioned that this novel regards some deep matter, but I thought it was well written with characters people can either relate to or have a deeper appreciation for.
Thank you to Net Galley and Speaking Volumes, LLC Naples, Florida for the advanced reader's copy. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
July 31, 2025
A deeply moving and unforgettable story.
God Bless the Child is the kind of novel that lingers with you long after the final page. It explores motherhood, trauma, and generational pain with boldness and emotional clarity. The characters feel achingly real, and their struggles are written with such empathy and depth that it's impossible not to be affected.
This book deserves to be read, shared, and talked about. It’s a powerful reminder of how the past shapes us, and how healing begins when truths are finally brought to light. I wholeheartedly recommend it to readers who appreciate stories that are raw, layered, and ultimately redemptive.
Anne Shaw Heinrich has a rare gift for storytelling. I truly hope she continues writing, her voice is needed, and this story is proof of the impact she can make as an author.
God Bless the Child is the kind of novel that lingers with you long after the final page. It explores motherhood, trauma, and generational pain with boldness and emotional clarity. The characters feel achingly real, and their struggles are written with such empathy and depth that it's impossible not to be affected.
This book deserves to be read, shared, and talked about. It’s a powerful reminder of how the past shapes us, and how healing begins when truths are finally brought to light. I wholeheartedly recommend it to readers who appreciate stories that are raw, layered, and ultimately redemptive.
Anne Shaw Heinrich has a rare gift for storytelling. I truly hope she continues writing, her voice is needed, and this story is proof of the impact she can make as an author.
August 2, 2025
God Bless the Child is the kind of story that stays with you long after you've finished reading. It confronts themes of motherhood, inherited trauma, and emotional scars with both courage and remarkable sensitivity. The characters are so authentically drawn that their experiences feel deeply personal, resonating in ways that are hard to shake.
This is a book that should be discovered, discussed, and passed on. It serves as a poignant reflection on how our histories shape who we are, and how true healing often begins with confronting long-buried truths. I strongly recommend it to anyone who values emotionally rich, honest, and transformative fiction.
Anne Shaw Heinrich’s talent as a writer is undeniable. I sincerely hope she continues to share her voice, this book proves just how much she has to offer the literary world.
This is a book that should be discovered, discussed, and passed on. It serves as a poignant reflection on how our histories shape who we are, and how true healing often begins with confronting long-buried truths. I strongly recommend it to anyone who values emotionally rich, honest, and transformative fiction.
Anne Shaw Heinrich’s talent as a writer is undeniable. I sincerely hope she continues to share her voice, this book proves just how much she has to offer the literary world.
June 17, 2024
I have never read this author and was interested in the story. The story is told from multiple POV’s in the book, from Mary and another woman named Elizabeth. Mary is helping a young lady named Pearl who was raped by a pastor’s son named James. This is a deeply religious read and I recommend this to anyone who has religious taste in readings. There is a powerful message about having faith in God and learning to forgive someone in this book.
The characters were well written, and I liked Mary the best overall. I also really enjoyed the plot of the book and how Mary helped Pearl with her baby and everything after the rape happened. The author did a good job writing about that. This was a good introduction to Paradise County and also a good debut and start to the series!
The characters were well written, and I liked Mary the best overall. I also really enjoyed the plot of the book and how Mary helped Pearl with her baby and everything after the rape happened. The author did a good job writing about that. This was a good introduction to Paradise County and also a good debut and start to the series!
June 7, 2024
What a delightful story full of quirky, dysfunctional characters that will fill up your heart. I wasn't sure what to expect going in, but I thoroughly enjoyed everything about God Bless the Child. Each character within the pages has their own issues to work through and when they are all thrown together, what a mess it becomes. But I ended up loving each and every one of them and enjoyed this story so much.
This is book #1 in a new series and I can't wait to read more about this unorthodox group of people. I highly recommend God Bless the Child.
This is book #1 in a new series and I can't wait to read more about this unorthodox group of people. I highly recommend God Bless the Child.
October 22, 2024
I'm in a little of a quandary about this book. Warning, this book contains sexual predators. This is not a book for the under 18 readers. I received this book from the publisher. I've given it a 4* rating. Parts of this book read a little slow and seemed to be a little unconnected. However the ending seemed to round out the issues and answered lots of questions and more. I blame the mother for not ending the situation when she found out. This did a good job of showing how more than one person is affected by this type of issue.
July 27, 2024
First time reader of this author, all in all a well written book. Characters are those some can associate with and the story well its heart wrenching. To readers be aware of the sexual content in this story, while is accurate to the times it can be disheartening. Especially when the perpetrators are not punished.
November 11, 2024
A very poignant story, each character tells their feelings and as the story develops so do the characters and their actions at first questionable become understandable as we learn the history of the family
Read
September 21, 2024Lovely stories and insight from a pastor’s wife.
November 11, 2024
So beautifully written that I wanted to linger, but couldn’t wait to see what was next. Engaging, empathetic and great character development. Mrs. Heinrich hit it out of the Ballpark with her debut novel. I cannot wait to read the next in this series!
Displaying 1 - 16 of 16 reviews