What do you think?
Rate this book
Praise God for Pasties
A Dark Literary Thriller About Survival, Sisterhood, and the Fight for Freedom
Rebecca Coleman escaped her suffocating small-town life and controlling mother to reinvent herself as Bella Valentina, a burlesque performer who finally found freedom and sisterhood. But one reckless decision at an abandoned nightclub changes everything.
When a photoshoot turns into a nightmare, Rebecca and her fellow dancers are kidnapped and sold into a human trafficking ring.
Trapped under the control of Mr. Rainaldi-a ruthlessly powerful trafficker-and his manipulative accomplice Antoinette, Rebecca faces psychological warfare designed to break her spirit and destroy the bonds between the women. The gaslighting and coercion she endures mirror the trauma of her past, forcing her to confront years of manipulation that taught her to doubt her own worth.
In a world where innocence is currency and autonomy is stripped away, Rebecca must transform from victim to survivor-and ultimately, into the villain she needs to be to escape.
Praise God for Pasties is a character-driven psychological thriller set in Florida that unflinchingly explores human trafficking, narcissistic manipulation, and the psychological trauma of captivity. With dark humor and gritty realism, this literary fiction novel follows one woman's journey from America's sweetheart to her villain era as she fights to reclaim her identity and protect her chosen family.
Perfect for readers who
Dark psychological thrillers with complex female protagonistsLiterary fiction that tackles difficult social issuesCharacter-driven crime fiction exploring trauma and resilienceStories about sisterhood, survival, and female empowermentGritty, unflinching narratives with morally gray charactersFans of Gillian Flynn, psychological suspense, and twist endings human trafficking awareness, psychological manipulation, gaslighting, narcissistic abuse, found family, sisterhood, identity, freedom, trauma recovery, overcoming abuse, villain era, strong female characters
Content This book contains depictions of human trafficking, sexual violence, physical abuse, psychological manipulation, and strong language. Includes statistics and resources for trafficking survivors.
Book
Literary Thriller, Psychological Fiction, Dark Women's 6x9 Paperback, 280 Survival, sisterhood, identity, freedom, resilience
Rebecca Coleman escaped her suffocating small-town life and controlling mother to reinvent herself as Bella Valentina, a burlesque performer who finally found freedom and sisterhood. But one reckless decision at an abandoned nightclub changes everything.
When a photoshoot turns into a nightmare, Rebecca and her fellow dancers are kidnapped and sold into a human trafficking ring.
Trapped under the control of Mr. Rainaldi-a ruthlessly powerful trafficker-and his manipulative accomplice Antoinette, Rebecca faces psychological warfare designed to break her spirit and destroy the bonds between the women. The gaslighting and coercion she endures mirror the trauma of her past, forcing her to confront years of manipulation that taught her to doubt her own worth.
In a world where innocence is currency and autonomy is stripped away, Rebecca must transform from victim to survivor-and ultimately, into the villain she needs to be to escape.
Praise God for Pasties is a character-driven psychological thriller set in Florida that unflinchingly explores human trafficking, narcissistic manipulation, and the psychological trauma of captivity. With dark humor and gritty realism, this literary fiction novel follows one woman's journey from America's sweetheart to her villain era as she fights to reclaim her identity and protect her chosen family.
Perfect for readers who
Dark psychological thrillers with complex female protagonistsLiterary fiction that tackles difficult social issuesCharacter-driven crime fiction exploring trauma and resilienceStories about sisterhood, survival, and female empowermentGritty, unflinching narratives with morally gray charactersFans of Gillian Flynn, psychological suspense, and twist endings human trafficking awareness, psychological manipulation, gaslighting, narcissistic abuse, found family, sisterhood, identity, freedom, trauma recovery, overcoming abuse, villain era, strong female characters
Content This book contains depictions of human trafficking, sexual violence, physical abuse, psychological manipulation, and strong language. Includes statistics and resources for trafficking survivors.
Book
Literary Thriller, Psychological Fiction, Dark Women's 6x9 Paperback, 280 Survival, sisterhood, identity, freedom, resilience
296 pages, Paperback
Published June 17, 2026
About the author
Pamela G. Holmes
1 book21 followersPamela G. Holmes is a Gulf Coast poet, novelist, and educator whose work moves between the lyrical and the unflinching. Her debut novel, Praise God for Pasties, follows a burlesque performer pulled into a human trafficking ring — published through her own imprint, Pink Crow Press, to keep the story's hardest truths intact. Her poetry and prose have appeared in Emerald Coast Review, The Diarist, Philosophy Today, and The 50-Word Stories. She teaches high school and college English on Florida's Gulf Coast.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 11 of 11 reviews
April 5, 2026
ARC REVIEW
I was impressed by the author's ability to vividly depict settings and objects in the book, thereby drawing the reader into the world of the story. The strong and courageous characters bring a special element to the book. As someone who enjoys survival stories, I found the author's treatment of the subject to be particularly effective.
Thanks to Book Sirens for sending me an advanced copy to read and review
I was impressed by the author's ability to vividly depict settings and objects in the book, thereby drawing the reader into the world of the story. The strong and courageous characters bring a special element to the book. As someone who enjoys survival stories, I found the author's treatment of the subject to be particularly effective.
Thanks to Book Sirens for sending me an advanced copy to read and review
September 20, 2026
I won this in a GoodReads giveaway, so big thank you to the author for sending me a signed copy! I honestly never win anything so I was plum tickled to get this!
I loved the pacing and the plot was awesome. Definitely kept me interested and kept me reading wanting to quickly find out what happens to our girls and how they overcome their obstacles.
Its listed as a dark psychological thriller and while there were elements of darkness to it i would have really enjoyed some more twists and turns. However, I really enjoyed the ending and the way it wrapped up.
Great job shining light on this area of work and some of the dangers dancers face on a day to day basis.
Congrats on the first novel!! And thanks again!
I loved the pacing and the plot was awesome. Definitely kept me interested and kept me reading wanting to quickly find out what happens to our girls and how they overcome their obstacles.
Its listed as a dark psychological thriller and while there were elements of darkness to it i would have really enjoyed some more twists and turns. However, I really enjoyed the ending and the way it wrapped up.
Great job shining light on this area of work and some of the dangers dancers face on a day to day basis.
Congrats on the first novel!! And thanks again!
August 4, 2026
I won this book from the Goodreads Giveaway. Thank you to the author for sending me an autographed copy of your book.
This story is told to us in third person and we are following Rebecca Coleman and her fight for survival when her and her troupe are kidnapped and imprisoned in a human trafficking ring.
First of all, this was not a light and fluffy read. There were parts that were dark and uncomfortable but I wanted to keep reading to find out if they were about to escape or was just stuck in their horrible situation. It was about half way through the book the plot had me sucked in and I just wanted to keep reading - who needs sleep am I right?
The only critique I have is the chapters - it did not seem like they flowed as well as they could have. One chapter just ended and the next one started and I was left confused sometimes. Speaking of the chapters - I did like the chapter titles and the playlist that was provided at the end of the book. Songs that went with the title names was a nice touch.
Favorite Quotes:
"There's a Hispanic guy that works in the kitchen that I talk to sometimes. I get to practice my Spanish a little. Keeps the brain sharp. But he is not here because he wants to be. He's here because they told him they would bring his family over from Haiti. He's being trafficked, too. The only difference is he grills steak and I suck dick."
"in a perfect world, prostitutes could have autonomy over their bodies and their lives. And everyone would be paid fairly for the fruits of their labor. But this isn't a perfect world. Far from it."
I think all in all this was a great debut from this author and I look forward to be able to read more.
This story is told to us in third person and we are following Rebecca Coleman and her fight for survival when her and her troupe are kidnapped and imprisoned in a human trafficking ring.
First of all, this was not a light and fluffy read. There were parts that were dark and uncomfortable but I wanted to keep reading to find out if they were about to escape or was just stuck in their horrible situation. It was about half way through the book the plot had me sucked in and I just wanted to keep reading - who needs sleep am I right?
The only critique I have is the chapters - it did not seem like they flowed as well as they could have. One chapter just ended and the next one started and I was left confused sometimes. Speaking of the chapters - I did like the chapter titles and the playlist that was provided at the end of the book. Songs that went with the title names was a nice touch.
Favorite Quotes:
"There's a Hispanic guy that works in the kitchen that I talk to sometimes. I get to practice my Spanish a little. Keeps the brain sharp. But he is not here because he wants to be. He's here because they told him they would bring his family over from Haiti. He's being trafficked, too. The only difference is he grills steak and I suck dick."
"in a perfect world, prostitutes could have autonomy over their bodies and their lives. And everyone would be paid fairly for the fruits of their labor. But this isn't a perfect world. Far from it."
I think all in all this was a great debut from this author and I look forward to be able to read more.
Read
May 27, 2026Definitely an interesting read! Definitely creepy and crazy and I couldn’t stop reading! Loved it!
Review of advance copy received from Author
Disclosure: I received a complimentary ARC from the author through BookSirens in exchange for an honest review.
Praise God for Pasties by Pamela G. Holmes is not a story you read for comfort. It is not a story you read to be entertained. It is an ugly, painful, and horrendous look at human trafficking, and Holmes refuses to give the reader a single moment of reprieve.
There is no cleansing and rebranding of the truth here. There is no romance, no song-and-dance, and no blockbuster movie softening of the edges to appease our delicate consumerist sensibilities. There is only the brutal reality of sexual violence, psychological manipulation, and the commodification of human beings—realities that have existed for as long as money and power have held sway.
Holmes writes with an unflinching clarity that forces you to hold the weight of the survivors' experience. We spend our lives skipping through existence complaining about "fairness," while thousands are trapped in a cycle of abuse they will never escape. This book stares directly into the face of that oppression. It asks the uncomfortable questions: Why are we more concerned with keeping the images of our icons intact than we are with being empathetic to the victims of heinous abuse?
I am absolutely blown away. This is, hands down, one of the best pieces of literary fiction I have ever read. It made me feel ugly, raw, and deeply uncomfortable, and I am okay with that—because the victims whose lives inspired these narratives experience infinitely more than "a little discomfort."
Be very, very careful of the trigger warnings. This is a visceral, traumatic, and essential narrative.
We may never be able to listen to every single victim, but if fiction can come even remotely close to documenting their reality, I will take it. Won't you?
Read this. Let it hurt. It is a reality that needs to be heard.
Praise God for Pasties by Pamela G. Holmes is not a story you read for comfort. It is not a story you read to be entertained. It is an ugly, painful, and horrendous look at human trafficking, and Holmes refuses to give the reader a single moment of reprieve.
There is no cleansing and rebranding of the truth here. There is no romance, no song-and-dance, and no blockbuster movie softening of the edges to appease our delicate consumerist sensibilities. There is only the brutal reality of sexual violence, psychological manipulation, and the commodification of human beings—realities that have existed for as long as money and power have held sway.
Holmes writes with an unflinching clarity that forces you to hold the weight of the survivors' experience. We spend our lives skipping through existence complaining about "fairness," while thousands are trapped in a cycle of abuse they will never escape. This book stares directly into the face of that oppression. It asks the uncomfortable questions: Why are we more concerned with keeping the images of our icons intact than we are with being empathetic to the victims of heinous abuse?
I am absolutely blown away. This is, hands down, one of the best pieces of literary fiction I have ever read. It made me feel ugly, raw, and deeply uncomfortable, and I am okay with that—because the victims whose lives inspired these narratives experience infinitely more than "a little discomfort."
Be very, very careful of the trigger warnings. This is a visceral, traumatic, and essential narrative.
We may never be able to listen to every single victim, but if fiction can come even remotely close to documenting their reality, I will take it. Won't you?
Read this. Let it hurt. It is a reality that needs to be heard.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
September 15, 2026
This book was such an interesting read, and I really enjoyed the way the story came together. The premise immediately caught my attention, and I found myself wanting to keep reading to see where the story would go. I especially enjoyed the deeper meaning behind the title, which was a detail I appreciated discovering as the story progressed.
There were definitely some heavier and more emotional moments throughout the book, but I thought they added depth to the story and its characters. The author did a good job exploring difficult topics while still keeping the story engaging.
That said, there were a few areas where the pacing and transitions could have been smoother. At times, the story moved a little abruptly between scenes or chapters, which occasionally made it difficult to follow. I also noticed a few moments where the writing felt repetitive.
Overall, I thought this was an engaging story with an important message. While it wasn't a perfect read for me, I appreciated the author's willingness to tackle difficult subjects and bring attention to experiences that are often overlooked.
There were definitely some heavier and more emotional moments throughout the book, but I thought they added depth to the story and its characters. The author did a good job exploring difficult topics while still keeping the story engaging.
That said, there were a few areas where the pacing and transitions could have been smoother. At times, the story moved a little abruptly between scenes or chapters, which occasionally made it difficult to follow. I also noticed a few moments where the writing felt repetitive.
Overall, I thought this was an engaging story with an important message. While it wasn't a perfect read for me, I appreciated the author's willingness to tackle difficult subjects and bring attention to experiences that are often overlooked.
Review of advance copy received from Publisher
This book was okay.
I understand the direction the author was heading in and the main message they wanted to convey. I loved finding the meaning behind title within the story, that's always a fun easter egg. That said, overall this book just missed the mark for me. It fell flat and was often repetitive. Some phrases such as " vibes don't lie" were stated eight times within the first 100 pages times. Unfortunately, this book suffers from telling the readers what is happening vs letting the reading figure it out --- and the story telling struggles as a result.
The transitions from chapter to chapter felt abrupt and it made you wonder if you skipped a page. There were also a few typos so another round of editing could be helpful. Dealing with topics of human trafficking and sexual assault and coercion can be incredibly difficult to tackle, and while I don't think the author fully hit the mark, I do think she did a great job portraying hidden realities and highlighting lived experiences that are often ignored.
(thanks to the publisher for the e-arc)
I understand the direction the author was heading in and the main message they wanted to convey. I loved finding the meaning behind title within the story, that's always a fun easter egg. That said, overall this book just missed the mark for me. It fell flat and was often repetitive. Some phrases such as " vibes don't lie" were stated eight times within the first 100 pages times. Unfortunately, this book suffers from telling the readers what is happening vs letting the reading figure it out --- and the story telling struggles as a result.
The transitions from chapter to chapter felt abrupt and it made you wonder if you skipped a page. There were also a few typos so another round of editing could be helpful. Dealing with topics of human trafficking and sexual assault and coercion can be incredibly difficult to tackle, and while I don't think the author fully hit the mark, I do think she did a great job portraying hidden realities and highlighting lived experiences that are often ignored.
(thanks to the publisher for the e-arc)
Review of advance copy
ARC book review
Thanks to booksirens and the author for sending this ARC and trusting me with this one. It means a lot!
Praise God For Pasties focuses on the main character, Becca, getting caught up in this S*x Traffic chain. This book isn't inspired word to word from a real life incident but surely it does give you a look into how these things work. The recruiting/kidnapping, the business, the mental torture the victims go through.
Bella Valentina on stage, the hot, quirky, mesmerizing, GORGEOUS work of a human being, is actually a shy, goodie two shoes Rebecca off stage. I loved this concept of her having two identities to differentiate her strong and her scared side. I was in love with her character the whole book.
I would rate this book a 10 out of 5 if I could.
Thanks to booksirens and the author for sending this ARC and trusting me with this one. It means a lot!
Praise God For Pasties focuses on the main character, Becca, getting caught up in this S*x Traffic chain. This book isn't inspired word to word from a real life incident but surely it does give you a look into how these things work. The recruiting/kidnapping, the business, the mental torture the victims go through.
Bella Valentina on stage, the hot, quirky, mesmerizing, GORGEOUS work of a human being, is actually a shy, goodie two shoes Rebecca off stage. I loved this concept of her having two identities to differentiate her strong and her scared side. I was in love with her character the whole book.
I would rate this book a 10 out of 5 if I could.
Review of advance copy
So first and foremost I really liked the book!
-I could envision the characters, felt their frustrations and triumphs and trauma.
-enjoyed the story line
-although this isn’t based on a true story per say, it’s real life and sad! Put a lot into perspective.
-will there be a book 2!? Please! Would love to see that the characters do next!!!
My only downside, there was a lot of bouncing around and I wasn’t always clear which character we were focusing on.
Overall, solid 4/5!! Would definitely read a sequel!!
Thank you for the opportunity to read this ARC!!!
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
-I could envision the characters, felt their frustrations and triumphs and trauma.
-enjoyed the story line
-although this isn’t based on a true story per say, it’s real life and sad! Put a lot into perspective.
-will there be a book 2!? Please! Would love to see that the characters do next!!!
My only downside, there was a lot of bouncing around and I wasn’t always clear which character we were focusing on.
Overall, solid 4/5!! Would definitely read a sequel!!
Thank you for the opportunity to read this ARC!!!
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
Review of advance copy
The book had some good parts and the writing was humorous at times, but parts of it felt rushed, like they were trying to get everything in and not make it too long. the book just kinda ends leaving the reader to assume what happens after. It would be nice to have a "one year later" or something chapter to know where everything ended up and how the other two Florida Four were faring. All and all a good book but I just wanted more out of it, something that did not let me feel like I was left hanging at the end. I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
Review of advance copy
This book is a genuinely entertaining read, and one that I would recommend to anyone looking for an engaging way to spend a few summer afternoons. Though the plot is at times unbelievable, it doesn't need to be: as the reader accompanies Bella on her journey, they become invested in her story as well as that of her 'sisters'.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
Displaying 1 - 11 of 11 reviews