The Refuge

by Heidi Martin

Anna Waters feels her life spinning out of control after a tragic accident takes the life of her unborn child. The youngest partner in a Boston law firm, she works endless hours, distancing herself from family, friends, and especially her husband. In quick succession, she finds herself divorced and jobless. Just when she thinks she has nothing left, a dream beckons her to take a life-changing journey. Completely alone, she leaves everything she knows and drives to the countryside of South Carolina. She first meets Clark, a kindred spirit who has confronted his own grief. He helps her deepen her understanding of spirituality, which sets in motion a journey of self-discovery and hope. Along the way, she befriends an adorable girl named Lucita who not only captures her heart but also helps absolve the pain of never knowing a daughter. Her refuge isn't without complications-love triangles, alcoholism, jealousy, and sickness. These difficulties force Anna to look deeper and deeper within her soul, facing the ultimate question ... Once I learn to love myself, will it really be enough?

394 pages, Paperback

Published July 21, 2016

About the author

Heidi began her writing career with a children's book entitled Treasure Hunt which captures the childhood adventures of exploring and discovery. She then turned her creative talents to her second book, The Refuge. This novel shows us that as we move through the journey called life, we often face many challenges along the way, and it is through those challenges where we discover the value of going within and accepting who we truly are. The Refuge was recently selected as a finalist in the 11th Annual National Indie Excellence Awards in the category of Contemporary Novel. In addition, through the Outreach Program, the proceeds from Heidi's book sales have helped feed over 250,000 hungry kids.

Heidi is also a trained facilitator of Soul Circling and The Healing Power of Writing circling groups. Circling is an opportunity for women of all ages to gather together for a time of connection, inspiration, and healing. It provides a place where women can unconditionally support one another and find their inner power. Through this time of reflection, women come to discover ways they can make a difference in their own lives as well as in the lives of others. Having attended circles for six years, Heidi has seen their impact first-hand and knows what a powerful and transformational experience they can be.

Heidi lives in Massachusetts with her husband and two children. She also writes a blog, conducts writing workshops about the powerful healing/writing connection, and enjoys spending time in nature whenever she can. You can learn more about her at heidimartinbooks.com

Reviews

[Notes From 'Round the Bend · Rating 4 out of 5]

I struggled to stay engaged throughout the first 25% or so of this book. I suspect Ms. Martin has never lost a child or been asked to take a leave of absence from a job. I say that because those events were conveyed with some awkwardness; the emotions Anna expressed seemed…not forced, but not quite authentic, either. They came across with a lack of depth and dimension and, in the latter case, weren’t proportionate to the situation. Her reactions tended to be very similar, no matter what was going on and it took a long time for her to actually learn anything or start to change her behavior. I understand the very normal human reluctance to face hard choices/emotions/situations and the need to build up a character’s motivations, convey their traumas and struggles, and outline their thought-processes, but I felt like hers were a bit “Oh, running away—literally and figuratively—isn’t working? Well, then I guess I’ll just keep doing that for almost eight chapters.” By the time she started getting her shit together, I didn’t really like her very much.

Only when Anna started to settle into her new home in South Carolina did I begin to connect with her, and by the end, I loved her. Through her interactions with the new friends she made, the person she truly was began to shine. Lucita, Clark, and the others were people I think most of us can find in our own lives, and that leant “The Refuge” a much needed level of relatability. Everyone in this story has suffered a deep personal tragedy and they deal with them in different ways. There was a lesson to be learned from each of them and it was easy to turn those lessons inward. At various points, I found myself thinking about some recent events in my own life and how I’ve been seeking peace, forgiveness, and a better sense of self. The romantic aspect was sweet and will give those of us who enjoy a bit of a love story something else to enjoy about this story. I also thought it gave Anna hope in a way her spiritual journey and friendships couldn’t have, and balanced nicely with everything else that was going on.

“The Refuge” was very well edited, which is something I appreciated immensely. The character interactions were a little awkward at times and the dialogue was often stiff and wooden. It just didn’t flow like natural conversation, and I wish that had been attended to with more care. But overall, this book read very well from a technical standpoint and it was nice not to be distracted by constant typos.

Bottom line: Once I got past the somewhat tedious start, I discovered a moving and complex story. I recommend “The Refuge” for anyone seeking a light in the darkness; sometimes we just need a reminder that hope and self-discovery are possible and worth the effort.

First reviewed on Notes From 'Round the Bend

[S. Jeyran Main · Rating 5 out of 5]

The refuge is a story about Anna Waters. She is married to Fredrick. Anna is a lawyer and spends long hours working away avoiding her husband. A horrible incident in the past has caused friction between the couple. Fredrick does not know how to handle things and Anna refuses to talk about it. Fredrick files for divorce and that is when Anna’s journey to self-discovery begins.

I thoroughly enjoyed the journey this author took us, in understanding Anna better. It describes why she behaves the way she does and how hard life has been for her ever since the incident happened. Anna has to confront herself through the move she makes and the new people she meets. The message this book brings, I believe, is very helpful to anyone that is going through difficult times. The novel is not a memoir but a work of fiction; however, it does seem to be close to the author.

The literary standard of the book was in good shape. The layout and structure of the story were put together with a steady pace and had an interesting plot to it. I believe the author has great potential in writing similar style fiction novels.

No one can really understand the pain, and the suffering someone else goes through. That is because everyone’s tolerance toward matters differs. In this case, Anna has to overcome fear and accept reality. The novel does have a romantic side to it, which was pleasant.

I believe anyone that enjoys an inspirational story will like this book.

[Heidi · Rating 4 out of 5]

I was immediately pulled into the story as the author allowed Anna to express her feeling of loss and the strain in her marriage. Told in the perspective of Anna, the reader has a sense of loss toward the beginning and is easily able to embark on a journey of self love and discovery with this character.

The assortment of characters are a great addition to this read. Especially, sweet eight-year-old Lucita and kind Clark. With the help of these two, Anna learns things about herself that she didn’t previously know and throws herself back into writing to help her healing process.

Read my full review here:
https://bookloverblogs.com/2017/07/11...

*This was part of the OnlineBookClub.org Book of the Day Program*

[Tracy Tracy · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book would make a delightful Hallmark movie. The story followed a predictable journey of a woman struggling to find peace and happiness. The author created beautiful images of the scenery and that made the reader understand shy nature is so healing.