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And on the Eighth Day She Rested
Four different women come together under the sometimes tenuous but always unbreakable bond of friendship. Ruth Johnson has finally left her abusive husband of fourteen years and jumped feet first into "What the hell do I do now?" oblivion. Then into her life come three unforgettable women who turn her world upside down. Feisty, outspoken Bernice, a.k.a. "Bernie," has been there and done that when it comes to love and marriage. Her ex-husband is settled down with his much younger wife and her kids are grown, and Bernie is looking to enjoy her fellow man--in more ways than one--no strings attached...or so she thinks. Sweet Southern belle May has it a beautiful home, two wonderful children, and a fine husband who worships the ground she walks on, yet a shadow hangs over what should be her equally perfect life, threatening to shake up her happy home. The older, wiser Clara is their guiding force, and when disaster strikes, all three women rally around her, determined to see her through it. Life is just getting interesting, and if they hold on to each other, they just might make it. J.D. Mason's And on the Eighth Day She Rested is an empowering story of the tough times we all face and the friends who help us through.
336 pages, Paperback
First published March 1, 2001
20 people are currently reading
556 people want to read
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J.D. Mason
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 38 reviews
March 14, 2013
Ruth Johnson spent 14 years in a abusive relationship she finally finds the courage to leave. She meets 3 incredible women all with different personalities and there own stories.Ruth rebuilds her life and gains her confidence back she finds love again only for it to break her heart, but what's meant for you is truly meant for you and Ruth finds this out. I highly recommend this as a must read and pay close attention to the message it delivers
January 16, 2016
Excellent read. Handle the issues of abuse and escape that vicious cycle well. Shows how the main character attempts to rebuild her life as she leaves her abusive relationship. How she deals with meeting new friends, loves and a career.~~~~~~~This journey is not traveled in isolation. The author weaves in a supporting cast of colorful characters: In addition to her abusive ex-husband, Eric, she has a no nonsense best friend, Bernie, who saves Ruth's life in more ways than one; Clara, the surrogate mother; Adrian, the charming new man in her life, and May, the new friend, who's shared a similar past of her own.~~~~~~~This is a good debut novel. I enjoyed it...it opened my eyes to a world I hope to never visit. Although fictional, it also allowed me to examine the psyche and mindset of an abused woman, a learning experience I won't forget.
November 16, 2019
I loved the book! I wanted to scream at the main character. While reading it it feels almost as if you're there
December 20, 2016
"...this book just wasnt that good. Not even good enough for me to finish..." (full review at ZoraToniMaya.tumblr.com)
March 26, 2008
I love just about anything JD Mason writes. This was her freshman submission and it is very good. I love her language. It is so fluid and poetic.
May 11, 2008
I couldn't get past the first few pages and from our book club discussion, I'm glad I didn't...
January 27, 2011
Excellent book i could not put it down.
January 3, 2012
I loved this book! I found myself not being able to put it down. Just as I found the book becoming a bit predictable, JD Mason would throw something in that was totally unexpected! A wonderful read!!
August 5, 2014
awesome read. can't remember what year I read this book, but when I finished reading I knew I was a J.D. Mason fan for life. She is so under-rated.
November 19, 2018
This book was ok. Did show the effects of being in an abusive relationship and how to move forward.
May 8, 2017
And On the Eighth Day She Rested is a glimpse into Ruth Johnson's journey through life. The book begins with Ruth being in an abusive marriage, which she leaves. Divorce is a new beginning and Ruth begins her healing by doing what makes her happy. This includes establishing a home, losing weight (literal and figurative), enrolling in college, and falling in love.
Relationships (good & bad) are the center of this story. JD Mason establishes Ruth's relationship with her mother and grandmother as a way for the reader to understand why Ruth makes choices. It's important to understand that when one lacks love, they just may do anything to keep what resembles love in their life.
Ruth is surrounded by a great group of friends, each one searching for or trying to maintain love. The secondary storylines aren't quite as developed as Ruth's, but I think Bernie, May, and Adrian each make up pieces of a whole life. They each have a perspective on life that keeps the story from dragging. For example, I think Bernie's attitude is one response women and men may have to heartbreak: afraid to be open and May is another: clingy to the point of paranoia.
As for the ending, I thought it was expected. No one wants the couple to separate. I only hope Ruth & Adrian grew from their mistakes. I think I would have preferred something different, not a typical ending. I admire Ms. Mason for writing a book about how domestic violence affects the victim and how that person can pick up the pieces of their life & heal. That process isn't portrayed here as short and sweet as it's not in reality.
Relationships (good & bad) are the center of this story. JD Mason establishes Ruth's relationship with her mother and grandmother as a way for the reader to understand why Ruth makes choices. It's important to understand that when one lacks love, they just may do anything to keep what resembles love in their life.
Ruth is surrounded by a great group of friends, each one searching for or trying to maintain love. The secondary storylines aren't quite as developed as Ruth's, but I think Bernie, May, and Adrian each make up pieces of a whole life. They each have a perspective on life that keeps the story from dragging. For example, I think Bernie's attitude is one response women and men may have to heartbreak: afraid to be open and May is another: clingy to the point of paranoia.
As for the ending, I thought it was expected. No one wants the couple to separate. I only hope Ruth & Adrian grew from their mistakes. I think I would have preferred something different, not a typical ending. I admire Ms. Mason for writing a book about how domestic violence affects the victim and how that person can pick up the pieces of their life & heal. That process isn't portrayed here as short and sweet as it's not in reality.
May 24, 2019
Ruth met Eric when she was 18 barely out of school, and he was ten years older than she was.
They gotten married but Eric started abusing her, cussing, slapping her and kicking her. Ruth was beaten so badly and Eric finally left her for another woman and she hoped he was gone for good.
She met Bernie who was an acquaintance who worked at the law firm as a paralegal.
Clara she met at the hospital after Eric had beaten her so badly. Clara owned a shelter for battered women and she had this one lady that reported her to the police for running a prostitution ring, and they arrested all the women and DHS took all the children. After investigating they found out it was a lie but she had lost most of her clients because of it.
So Bernie, Clara, and Ruth became friends and they ended up holding a fundraiser to raise money to keep the Higgin's House open. They raised 200,000 and a private donor gave a trust fund for the next ten years in the amount of 75,000 a year to keep the house open.
Ruth saw this lady at the shelter who had bruises on her face and she was combing her son's hair, and the lady ask do I know you, and she liked and said no. When she divorced her husband he brought his woman to court with him, and she was the woman that's in the shelter now. It gets even better in the end and oh yeah Ruth did meet this handsome man named Adrian.
They gotten married but Eric started abusing her, cussing, slapping her and kicking her. Ruth was beaten so badly and Eric finally left her for another woman and she hoped he was gone for good.
She met Bernie who was an acquaintance who worked at the law firm as a paralegal.
Clara she met at the hospital after Eric had beaten her so badly. Clara owned a shelter for battered women and she had this one lady that reported her to the police for running a prostitution ring, and they arrested all the women and DHS took all the children. After investigating they found out it was a lie but she had lost most of her clients because of it.
So Bernie, Clara, and Ruth became friends and they ended up holding a fundraiser to raise money to keep the Higgin's House open. They raised 200,000 and a private donor gave a trust fund for the next ten years in the amount of 75,000 a year to keep the house open.
Ruth saw this lady at the shelter who had bruises on her face and she was combing her son's hair, and the lady ask do I know you, and she liked and said no. When she divorced her husband he brought his woman to court with him, and she was the woman that's in the shelter now. It gets even better in the end and oh yeah Ruth did meet this handsome man named Adrian.
May 8, 2017
This book was a roller coaster of events, suspense and emotions. It was a fantastic read, long but never boring at the least. I laughed, I cried, I had to step away from this book more than twice actually quite often, just to get a piece of mind, hell I felt like I was watching a good ass movie that I didn't want to end. I was able to relate to all four characters, including Sharon. But Ruth, my favorite of all them all inspired me the most. Ruth was lost but she later found herself, finding herself made her into a strong confident woman.
I Loved Bernie & Miles love connection how two whores were finally able to connect and possibly become one. May's looney, crazy obsessed with her husband was scary and very concerning. Clara, she was my hero of hope.
I Loved Bernie & Miles love connection how two whores were finally able to connect and possibly become one. May's looney, crazy obsessed with her husband was scary and very concerning. Clara, she was my hero of hope.
December 17, 2019
I will always struggle with domestic violence. Mason masterfully and realistically weaves a story of trauma, rage, insecurity and freedom in this heartwrenching tale of the evolution of Ruth Ashton. Ruth was married to evil personified: Eric Ashton. On her journey she meets Clara, Bernie, and Sharon who gives her a sisterhood that her life was lacking. After not having love, she falls in love with Adrian. This is an older book that you should read. The subject matter is real and raw. At times, I just had to put the book down and breathe. It is excellently written.
October 15, 2020
What a wonderful read. The flow of Ruth's journey was so relatable and realistic in so many ways. Will definitely read more of J.D. Mason's works.
March 28, 2024
This was a reread for me.
I originally read this in my senior year of high school and loved it and it was a 5 star for me. As an adult rereading it was a different experience for me. I enjoyed the story differently as I understood what Ruth went through. I didn't like the situation with Adrian. But he was who she needed as he was gentle with her and when she finally got out of her own way she allowed herself to fall in love.
I loved how all the ladies loved on each other. I would have loved to read more about Eric and how his Court case went.
Overall I enjoyed my reread.
I originally read this in my senior year of high school and loved it and it was a 5 star for me. As an adult rereading it was a different experience for me. I enjoyed the story differently as I understood what Ruth went through. I didn't like the situation with Adrian. But he was who she needed as he was gentle with her and when she finally got out of her own way she allowed herself to fall in love.
I loved how all the ladies loved on each other. I would have loved to read more about Eric and how his Court case went.
Overall I enjoyed my reread.
November 4, 2018
I believe this woman was born wirh a pen in her hand. I have read her recent series set in Blink Texas and got the itch to go back to her beginning. This book grabbed me from page 1. If you dont have a JD Mason book in your collwction or on a TBR list, you are missing a serious treat!
April 3, 2009
A great work about the strength it takes to make changes in your life, the hardwork and dedication to remove yourself from what's going wrong. It tells of a woman's journey of self discovery and and self worth.
My first by J D Mason and I was definitely not disappointed!!!
My first by J D Mason and I was definitely not disappointed!!!
August 18, 2013
Excellent book. Being in an abusive relationship is hard and not easy to walk away from. Ruth Johnson stayed with her abusive husband for 14 years, before getting the courage to leave. Letting go of the past is easier said then done. After leaving her husband, Ruth was nervous, and scared.
December 29, 2015
love this book...getting past the abuse of a spouse and learning how to overcome the hurt and pain afflicted by other's ......learning how to love one self and in the process finding true love...love it!
June 27, 2016
rated 5 out of 5 **** with a powerful message for women dealing with difficult situations of abuse we find the interesting hurdle's the main character goes through to see if she becomes / #TRIUMPHANT
April 30, 2007
Excellent book.
June 3, 2008
Incredible.
December 6, 2009
This book was awesome. It tells the story of a woman who was able to hold her own and get out of eighteen years of an abusive marriage, and soon after her divorce, finds true love. It's a must read.
July 29, 2012
This book is a great read. I felt inspired. This gave me strength that as women no matter what our struggles are we can make it. Thanks Ms Mason.
October 11, 2011
Read this book a while ago and loved it! Actually tried to buy it for my newly purchased Nook, but it's not available : (
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August 10, 2012Hard to follow.
May 25, 2012
Infatuation, Love, Loss, Inspiration, Forgiveness, Sisterhood, Self-Respect.
This was a testament.
This was a testament.
May 27, 2012
I read this years ago very good book
August 12, 2012
A story that says that there is life, friends, and love after being a victim of domestic violence. A story that women can learn from. I enjoyed it!
Displaying 1 - 30 of 38 reviews