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Stronger: What Didn’t Kill Me, Made Me
In 2016, against all odds, Nicola Hanney survived a terminal cancer diagnosis and decided to live life to the full. When she matched with Garda Paul Moody on a dating app, she thought her dreams had come true, but could never have imagined she would be plunged into another a four-year campaign of violence and coercive control at his hands.
Despite being told she would never conceive due to the toll cancer had taken on her body, Nicola beat the odds a second time and became pregnant to Moody. Trapped in an unrelenting cycle of abuse, the baby she had always wished for gave Nicola newfound hope for the future. Then, midway through her pregnancy, she found a lump in her breast. The cancer was back.
In Stronger, Nicola charts her extraordinary journey through unimaginable abuse and aggressive, recurring illness. Revealing the insidious nature of coercive control, she recounts how Moody manipulated her and threatened her loved ones to keep her compliant.
Throughout it all, Nicola’s resilience never wavered. She proved herself stronger than the disease that threatened to take her life. Stronger than the man who tried to crush her spirit. Stronger than the bad hand she was dealt.
This is her story.
Despite being told she would never conceive due to the toll cancer had taken on her body, Nicola beat the odds a second time and became pregnant to Moody. Trapped in an unrelenting cycle of abuse, the baby she had always wished for gave Nicola newfound hope for the future. Then, midway through her pregnancy, she found a lump in her breast. The cancer was back.
In Stronger, Nicola charts her extraordinary journey through unimaginable abuse and aggressive, recurring illness. Revealing the insidious nature of coercive control, she recounts how Moody manipulated her and threatened her loved ones to keep her compliant.
Throughout it all, Nicola’s resilience never wavered. She proved herself stronger than the disease that threatened to take her life. Stronger than the man who tried to crush her spirit. Stronger than the bad hand she was dealt.
This is her story.
- GenresNonfiction
272 pages, Kindle Edition
First published October 1, 2024
31 people are currently reading
100 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 20 of 20 reviews
December 28, 2024
Need for change
I'd seen the documentary of Nicola sharing her story and read interviews about what that monster put her through. There are a lot of people in positions of power who were involved at different stages who need to take a long hard look at themselves. The solicitors and barristers who represented him in court during those custody hearings. The staff at Tusla. And the judges who ruled in his favour because 'he was a guard'. It was his own arrogance that was his downfall. And thank god for the decent guards who could see exactly what he was and what he put Nicola and her family through. Given his imminent release from prison Tusla, the solicitors and the judges need to do what's best for Jack. And having that man involved in his upbringing in anyway is NOT what's good for Jack!
Thanks Nicola for being so brave and honest in sharing your story. Wishing you, and Jack, a lifetime of health and happiness.
I'd seen the documentary of Nicola sharing her story and read interviews about what that monster put her through. There are a lot of people in positions of power who were involved at different stages who need to take a long hard look at themselves. The solicitors and barristers who represented him in court during those custody hearings. The staff at Tusla. And the judges who ruled in his favour because 'he was a guard'. It was his own arrogance that was his downfall. And thank god for the decent guards who could see exactly what he was and what he put Nicola and her family through. Given his imminent release from prison Tusla, the solicitors and the judges need to do what's best for Jack. And having that man involved in his upbringing in anyway is NOT what's good for Jack!
Thanks Nicola for being so brave and honest in sharing your story. Wishing you, and Jack, a lifetime of health and happiness.
November 4, 2025
As a domestic violence attorney, I say that if you want to understand coercive control, psychological abuse, litigation abuse -- then read this first hand account. I flew through this book in one evening. I stand in awe of Nicola Hanney and her strength. Jack has an amazing mom.
October 28, 2024
While this book is hard to read as the cruelty and abuse that Nicola suffered at the hands of her ex and father of her son is something one would expect in fiction not factual. All of that abuse while this woman was battling stage 4 cancer. But don’t miss reading this book as what shines through is a woman who no matter what life throws at her and what cruelty is visited upon her she is strong, kind, an amazing mother and a truly inspirational woman.
October 17, 2024
This book is just brilliant, a total rollercoaster and I could not put it down. It’s written so well you can just SEE what’s happening as you fly along with Nicola on her journey. What an amazing spirit and strength she has. This book has it all, and it’s expert story telling the way it brings you along inside her head but also seeing the reality a bit before she does. Amazing. Very well told.
October 28, 2024
Absolutely speechless
Nicola,you are some Woman for One Woman.
How you went through all of that abuse of torture from .....
Can't even bring myself to say his name.
If Cancer wasn't enough for you to be going through.
Absolutely crazy,what you had to contend with.
Thank you for sharing your STORY.
I send you & your beautiful Son, Health,Light & Happiness xx
Nicola,you are some Woman for One Woman.
How you went through all of that abuse of torture from .....
Can't even bring myself to say his name.
If Cancer wasn't enough for you to be going through.
Absolutely crazy,what you had to contend with.
Thank you for sharing your STORY.
I send you & your beautiful Son, Health,Light & Happiness xx
March 3, 2025
First read of 2025 was excellent ! 5 stars from me.
Irish author Nicola Hanney tells the story of her coercive controlling relationship with Garda Paul Moody from County Dublin. Nicola speaks about the profound challenges she faced during her time with Paul and how in the end, she was one of the lucky ones who managed to survive it.
Irish author Nicola Hanney tells the story of her coercive controlling relationship with Garda Paul Moody from County Dublin. Nicola speaks about the profound challenges she faced during her time with Paul and how in the end, she was one of the lucky ones who managed to survive it.
October 13, 2024
Strength and resilience don't go far enough to describe this woman. Her story is inspirational because of her character. Her beauty shines throughout this book. No woman should endure what she has endured.
December 14, 2024
Powerful compelling story
Absolutely amazing story. Nicola has super human strength to endure, survive and now thrive what that monster put her through all while battling cancer.
What an absolute warrior
Absolutely amazing story. Nicola has super human strength to endure, survive and now thrive what that monster put her through all while battling cancer.
What an absolute warrior
October 15, 2024
Brave lady
Wow what this lady went through is awful. He should have got longer. But what a fighter.. her son is one lucky boy. May she live a long and happy life. ❤️
Wow what this lady went through is awful. He should have got longer. But what a fighter.. her son is one lucky boy. May she live a long and happy life. ❤️
January 26, 2025
What this went through was utterly shocking. Throughout it all she kept her spirit and head up. A true survivor.
October 29, 2024
In 2022 former Garda Paul Moody was sentenced to three years and three months in prison for coercive control against Nicola in which he subjected her to a tirade of abuse during their relationship.
In this account we hear Nicola’s harrowing tale from miracles, to monsters to motherhood. Nicola had recently recovered from cancer when she signed up to Tinder and matched with Garda Paul Moody. Although there was a red flag in the beginning where he tricked her best friend into sharing details of her cancer diagnosis, she was charmed and won over by his wining and dining.
This is the Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde narrative. He would show her the world, no expenses spared and then take it right from under her without a moment’s hesitation. He made it clear that he was a Guard and untouchable, he could literally get away with her murder and no one could stop him. He understood the system and exploited it to his advantage, threatening Tusla, suggesting she was too sick to care for their child and even jeopardising her health, by suggesting if she went to Thailand for treatment with or without her son, he would get her done for either kidnapping or abandonment.
It was only when she went to Thailand and separated herself from the Ireland and the Irish justice system and gained her strength back was she able to fight for her self, her son, her freedom.
It’s such a tough listen. At many times I thought she was a goner, eventhough I knew she was here to tell the tale!
In this account we hear Nicola’s harrowing tale from miracles, to monsters to motherhood. Nicola had recently recovered from cancer when she signed up to Tinder and matched with Garda Paul Moody. Although there was a red flag in the beginning where he tricked her best friend into sharing details of her cancer diagnosis, she was charmed and won over by his wining and dining.
This is the Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde narrative. He would show her the world, no expenses spared and then take it right from under her without a moment’s hesitation. He made it clear that he was a Guard and untouchable, he could literally get away with her murder and no one could stop him. He understood the system and exploited it to his advantage, threatening Tusla, suggesting she was too sick to care for their child and even jeopardising her health, by suggesting if she went to Thailand for treatment with or without her son, he would get her done for either kidnapping or abandonment.
It was only when she went to Thailand and separated herself from the Ireland and the Irish justice system and gained her strength back was she able to fight for her self, her son, her freedom.
It’s such a tough listen. At many times I thought she was a goner, eventhough I knew she was here to tell the tale!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
July 22, 2025
Let me start by saying, I have never experienced anything that could compare to Nicola's story, nor do I wish it on anyone, however I'd like to share my review of this book objectively.
It's commendable that Nicola has come through on the other end, with her health improving, gotten finally rid of Paul and getting to see her son grow up.
That being said, listening to the audio book, it was incredible to see that despite the beatings, threats, violence, mental abuse, using his own status as a Garda and threatening her entire family, she still went back to him over and over again.
When Nicola described her health struggles, how on some days she didn't even have the energy to hold her son in her arms, how she genuinely was on brink of death, she still went back to him.
From listening, I'd have used her family as her strength, there were 10 siblings, surely someone could help. How has the entire family let it go on for 4 years I cannot imagine.
This is purely based, on how I interpret the story and things that came to my mind. How really, she would not have done anything about it, and how by pure luck the detectives got a hold of his phone.
BUT as I said, i have never been in this position, and I cannot judge the actions she took, decisions she made.
I am happy she gets to spend quality, happy time with her son and that (at least for now) Paul is locked up.
It's commendable that Nicola has come through on the other end, with her health improving, gotten finally rid of Paul and getting to see her son grow up.
That being said, listening to the audio book, it was incredible to see that despite the beatings, threats, violence, mental abuse, using his own status as a Garda and threatening her entire family, she still went back to him over and over again.
When Nicola described her health struggles, how on some days she didn't even have the energy to hold her son in her arms, how she genuinely was on brink of death, she still went back to him.
From listening, I'd have used her family as her strength, there were 10 siblings, surely someone could help. How has the entire family let it go on for 4 years I cannot imagine.
This is purely based, on how I interpret the story and things that came to my mind. How really, she would not have done anything about it, and how by pure luck the detectives got a hold of his phone.
BUT as I said, i have never been in this position, and I cannot judge the actions she took, decisions she made.
I am happy she gets to spend quality, happy time with her son and that (at least for now) Paul is locked up.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
December 8, 2024
I read this book for an upcoming episode of my podcast IPV and Me: my Journey with Domestic Abuse https://media.rss.com/ipvandme/feed.xml . I have read a lot of books about domestic abuse and this was an absolutely fascinating account. Nicola is very open and honest about her story. I felt like I was right there with her throughout. At times you will get frustrated at her behaviour and of those around her, especially when she goes back to her ex after his appalling treatment of her; but that's all part of the manipulation and the control of abuse. I have been through it myself and understand completely how and why you feel like that. Nicola has been through a lot and I wish her a long beautiful life with her little boy.
January 9, 2025
Book 2 of 2025, Stronger by Nicola Hanney.
I inhaled this book on a flight to Amsterdam, it's absolutely brilliant, what an amazing woman Nicola is. Nicola is diagnosed with terminal breast cancer in 2016 but against the odds she manages to survive it and her scans are clear. She meets Paul Moody, a police officer, on a dating app which leads to years of abuse and coercive control from him. She discovers that she is pregnant and is absolutely horrified to find a lump in her breast again. She suffers through more cancer treatment while undergoing abuse the entire time. What an awful person he is but what an amazing, strong and intelligent woman Nicola is and in telling her story she will help so many others. A super autobiography.
I inhaled this book on a flight to Amsterdam, it's absolutely brilliant, what an amazing woman Nicola is. Nicola is diagnosed with terminal breast cancer in 2016 but against the odds she manages to survive it and her scans are clear. She meets Paul Moody, a police officer, on a dating app which leads to years of abuse and coercive control from him. She discovers that she is pregnant and is absolutely horrified to find a lump in her breast again. She suffers through more cancer treatment while undergoing abuse the entire time. What an awful person he is but what an amazing, strong and intelligent woman Nicola is and in telling her story she will help so many others. A super autobiography.
November 1, 2025
Incredible book, not the better of reading it to be honest. Couldn't put it down but also dreaded what I was reading next. Delighted Nicola got justice in the end but the things she had to put up with until then. Wishing her and Jack and very long, peaceful and healthy life
January 8, 2025
Inspirational
Fantastic book.
Thank god Nicola escaped that awful man.
A truly inspirational woman to us all.
Definitely worth reading this
Fantastic book.
Thank god Nicola escaped that awful man.
A truly inspirational woman to us all.
Definitely worth reading this
April 30, 2025
a beautifully written account
May 27, 2025
this was such a good read, a hard one. read it on one day. it makes you think what goes on behind closed doors. highly recommend.
July 28, 2025
A tough read but inspiring what Nicola went through and still remained positive and strong for her son 🤍
October 28, 2024
What a true inspiration Nicola is , I really wish you peace and happiness
Displaying 1 - 20 of 20 reviews