The Stain: A Book of Reincarnation, Karma and the Release from Suffering

by Charlene Diane Jones, Sue Reynolds (Cover Art)

Deja vu ever crept up your spine? Ever looked around and wonder why everything feels so...familiar? Questioning the sense that the same people with the same outlooks, the same activities with the same outcomes replay through your life?

Reincarnation usually brings to mind a sense of this for that. You hit me last lifetime, I retaliate this one. Not so. Reincarnation is the replay of deeply worn grooves of thought, emotion and action. Exactly like a needle stuck in a groove, repeating and repeating, reincarnation expresses the deepest sorrows, hardest hits, strongest loves of people who came before, people with whom your life intertwines.

Tahni in the 17th century weds Chief Takoda in a glorious meadow that exactly matches the beautiful meadow of her nightly dreams. Her happiness leaves when Takoda does not return. Tahni's breaking heart leaves her vulnerable to the medicine man, Chaytan who uses his powers to connect his life with hers, beyond time.

In London England in the 1890's Mary stands wretched in the corner of the asylum rocking an invisible baby yearning to get to the meadow she sees just beyond this world. A single visitor claims her. Who is this stranger? Can she truly heal from her heartache, betrayal and loss?

Contemporary, middle-aged Diana weaves the tale of her life, including the rape she endured as a young girl, the madness that followed and her trail of meditation and travel that led to healing. Her listener, the mysterious and attractive Jake awakens in her feelings she thought she'd never have again. Can she trust her heart and life to his hands?

Three women their lives bound by a single, horrifying event, replay madness, betrayal, brutality and loss until one of them finds a way to clear them all from the karmic suffering of The Stain.

Ever look around and wonder why the same people, same events keep repeating in your life? Reincarnation bears the simple answer to this question and more. Read about Tahni, a native woman from 1660's in Tonawanda. Explore with Mary from the 1890's in England how men and women relate. Examine life through the eyes of Diana and learn from all three of these women how reincarnation works and how to release yourself from The Stain.

360 pages, Paperback

First published November 9, 2014

About the author

My bio is most detailed through memoir, My Impossible Life trauma travel & transcendence
https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/4...

If you enjoy meditation and learning about how meditation works you might enjoy Medicine Buddha Medicine Mind:

https://www.amazon.com/Medicine-Buddh...


I have written a work of fiction The Stain, stories dressed up around the theme of reincarnation

https://www.amazon.com/Stain-Story-Re...

Contact me at charlenej@rogers.com Hope to hear from you soon!

Reviews

[Mary Woldering · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Stain - walking the threads of karma
Three women; Tahni, Mary and Diana living in three different lands and eras, have lives that flow through each other in a common and repeated bond of betrayal, loss and heartbreak. Tahni from 1650 dies in what becomes a dream experienced by Mary who has gone “mad” in 19th century England. Mary in turn dies before her time, bringing the stain of karma into the present era in Canada where Diana searches her soul through meditation in hopes of healing a self-limiting psychic wound.
The author, Charlene Diane Jones, carefully weaves three women’s lives step by step. She switches between each woman the separate stories unfold. The telling of the tales and the re-living of exactly what happened in each life takes on the power of healing transformation.
I identified with Mary at first, because of my attraction to England in the 19th century, enjoying the rich scenarios and descriptions of life in and morals of that era. In the case of the other women, I found myself gaining page turning interest in what each woman would face next in her life. The story-weaving and world-building skill in this novel is the mark of an excellent author.
Although the novel might be more appealing to readers with a background in spiritual exploration or esoterica, it is written well enough to impress any lover of historical or women’s fiction.
Well worth a read.
I hope I see more from this author.

[Catherine · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Stain, by Charlene Jones, begins with a tough scene. One that the reader will not forget, even though the character Diana will forget. That is one of the points readers will discover as the exploration of reincarnation unfolds through the lives of three women over three different eras and locations. We find ourselves in a 1640’s First Nations village, 1885 London England, and current day in what some readers may recognize as the Toronto area.

Fans of Andrew Davidson’s Gargoyle, will enjoy another view of this topic. Where Davidson is very good for creating a mood in his love story through time, Jones is much more satisfying in presenting some mechanics of how this whole act of reincarnating occurs.

It’s very easy to read straight through the story if readers choose. Occasionally, the author’s poetic background seeps into the prose, but this too, may be intentional by Jones. There are moments the reader finds themselves pausing to consider the turn of a phrase, such as “Theodore’s callousness had cleaved her psyche more deeply than Mipham had understood”.

Although contemplative in places, this novel is not a lecture or treatise on a philosophical topic. We care for these characters. We thrill to the discovery of clues that weave throughout their three lives. There are things they have forgotten. Things that drive their lives in ways that have been pre-determined and the reader has the privilege of piecing the mystery together.

Similar to Robert Sawyer, Jones tells a good story, but her real strength is in presenting complex concepts in a clear and entertaining manner. Readers may never look at karma the same way after reading the Stain. Perhaps readers will pause to consider what clues they can see in their own lives.

[Pennie · Rating 5 out of 5]

A well executed novel that spills out so many types of emotions. Three women separated by centuries deliver romance, heartache and betrayal. Captivating from the very first few pages as 'Diana' whom is the first character, describes obscene and detailed events that unfold rape as a subject matter. For women as a whole, this is one of our worst fears but it is written with such precise care and consideration and delivered with such thoughtfulness as not to offend. The stories move smoothly throughout and crafted and entwined together which makes for a great read. My favorite one is 'Tahni', who is from the 1640's though I don't wont to give away any spoilers.
The most interesting thing about 'The Stain' is that I have never read anything quite like it, and each century depicts a different way of life for the three women, you can vividly imagine yourself right there by their side. The writing style speaks like prose..."Quote" The apparition drew the whole village, who witnessed the vest of bearskin, naked legs, streaks of red and black trailed across the face and upper chest in zigzag patterns". The use of words is uncanny to say the least. An enjoyable and emotional book that is both sensuous and romantic, definitely one to add to your library. Highly recommended.

[Mehreen Ahmed · Rating 4 out of 5]

Mehreen Ahmed reviews

Charlene Diane Jones' sensuous book is seriously captivating. 'The Stain' is uniquely endowed with the lives of three women woven into an intricate novella. There are a number of varied stories about the experiences of three characters appearing from eras as far back as the 17th century. Tahni's 17th century story of her bittersweet life of romance and adventure in the Native Indian setting is dramatically different from Diana's horrific life of rape and torture set in 2005 near Toronto. Again, Mary's life cut short when she was struck with pneumonia is set in 1884 England - a depiction of a a time in England when incurable disease such as this claimed the sensitive lives of many untimely.

Each story is painted imaginatively with literary devices such as metaphors, similes and lovely onomatopoeic reverberations. The writer's story-telling talent is evident in her stylistic strength of conjuring profound and eternal themes of suffering, death and disappointment.

[Maria · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Stain is important for its teachings about healing and the level of trust that it draws out of you to perceive life events more closely. There are clues throughout The Stain that link the different personalities and you will find yourself asking about the clues in your own life. It is very engaging….you will look at coincidence differently

[Debbie Carnes · Rating 5 out of 5]

I truly enjoyed this book. I believe in reincarnation so this hit the spot.

Well written ,with characters that are so believable. You get sucked into the story from the first page.

I look forward to more books by Charlene Jones

[Janice]

This book is a genre that I don't normally read - romance, chick lit - and it's not holding my interest. The premise sounded intriguing which is why I entered the giveaway. I'm sure others will really enjoy the book.

[A.B. Funkhauser · Rating 5 out of 5]

SEEKING ACROSS TIME
Multiple points of view coalesce when three characters from three different time frames embark on a journey of healing. Are they the same person? Author Charlene Jones explores that possibility in a visceral tour de force that challenges readers to plumb the depths of their own psyche. Dedicated to those who have experienced suffering, this work of fiction finds a home in the fabric of ‘real life’ in ‘real time.’ For those seeking answers to the bigger questions without preaching or pop panaceas, this book will resonate. I give it 5 stars.

[Tony Parsons · Rating 5 out of 5]

Warning: This book is for adults only & contains extreme violence, adult content or expletive language &/or sexually explicit scenarios.
It may be offensive to some readers.

I did not receive any type of compensation for reading & reviewing this book. While I receive free books from publishers & authors, I am under no obligation to write a positive review. Only an honest one.

A very awesome book cover, great font & writing style. A very well written Metaphysical Fiction book. 3 different time eras: 1640, Tonawanda; 1885, London England; & 2005, Toronto, CA. about 3 woman: Tahni, Mary Eagleton & Diana -, + life trials/tribulations. How will their lives turn out? The 3 variations were all very easy for me to read/follow from start/finish & never a dull moment. There were no grammar/typo errors, nor any repetitive or out of line sequence sentences. Lots of exciting scenarios, with several twists/turns & a great set of very unique/colorful characters to keep track of. There was a common bond for these 3 woman. It was just OK for me but I will still rate it at 5 stars.

Thank you for the free Goodreads; Stone’s Throw Publication; Author; PDF book
Tony Parsons MSW (Washburn)

[Brendan Gall · Rating 4 out of 5]

Diana, Mary and Tahni are the brave and tragic (or near-tragic) heroes of Charlene Diane Jones’ THE STAIN – a fearless first novel that spans continents, cultures and centuries to tell the unflinching stories of three women (or the same woman three times) who bend and reverberate under the much-misunderstood rules of Karma as they struggle to navigate the treacherous landscapes of trust and betrayal, love and heartbreak, survival and pain. The Stain is not afraid to shine light into the darker corners of humanity, and Jones does not pull punches; indeed, more than a few passages left me feeling knocked down, beat up. But underneath the book’s horror and violence a quiet hope persists, winding through its pages and eventually pulling taught to shrink time and space and unite its embattled protagonists. An astonishing debut.

[Debra K. · Rating 5 out of 5]

Karma, a core tenet in several religions, is the operative dynamic in Jones book, The Stain. The theme of violation begun in Tahni’s 17th century life reweaves itself in her successive incarnations as Mary in the 19th century and Diana in current day. What is most intriguing is the journey to consciousness that emerges in Mary and culminates with Diana.

Jones novel goes beyond cause and effect of love gone horrifically wrong to posit an end to suffering through spiritual integration. Through increasing self observation and meditation, Diana is finally able to identify and bring her stain into the light of awareness and subsequently into healing.

Any student on the path of spiritual evolution will find this book provocative not only for the karmic tale unwound, but for the the threads of light it shines on our own stories.

[Andy Makowski · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Stain is a compelling novel that illustrates the concepts of reincarnation and karma. We follow the lives of 3 different women, in different time planes: Tahni, a First Nations woman in the 1600s, Mary, a British woman in the late 1800s and finally, Diana who lives in our time. While there is much sadness in these womens' lives, Charlene Jones does a wonderful job of bringing these characters to life and we gradually see how these characters lives are intertwined and how healing is facilitated. I enjoyed the book as it made me think about concepts that I have recently opened up to. I plan to read it again from a more analytical level now that I have appreciated the stories at face value. The only thing that I would have like to have seen in the book is some more historical accuracy in the time of Tahni to reinforce the story line.

[I.D. Johnson · Rating 4 out of 5]

Jones tells a captivating story in which she masterfully weaves the lives of three different women together through the mysteries of reincarnation. While the characters are unique, their similarities lend to the prospect that they are, in fact, the same soul. Jones finds a way to describe difficult scenes, such as rape, in such a way that the reader is faced with the same terror as the victim. Her prose and word choice are impressive. While certainly not an easy read, The Stain will linger long after you turn the final page.

[Leslie Hickey · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this book! It was an interesting and unique storyline about the lives of 3 women separated by centuries whose lives end up being intertwined. I loved the character development of each of them. I found myself looking forward to each of the storylines and wanting more details as the book progressed. A great read!

[Crista Devers · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Stain. A great spirit lives in us all.

This book is different, because instead of reading one whole story you read a different story about different ladies on different journeys at the end of each chapter, truly you have to read to understand how good this book is. That's why I gave it 4 stars.

[Maighread MacKay · Rating 4 out of 5]

I found The Stain to be explicit and raw in its emotions. The characters are vivid...strong women who through Diana are finally released from their suffering and karmic bonds. Encouraging for anyone struggling to come to terms with their own life in this mortal realm.

[Aurelia Casey · Rating 5 out of 5]

Reading this story was an experience I'll never forget. I learned so much by reading this wonderful story. I encourage you to read it too, especially if you're a little skeptical.

I related to Tahni most strongly at the beginning and to Diana most strongly at the end. The lives of the three women are inextricably linked. Events that begin in Tahni's life and continue in Mary's become problems that Diana has to solve in order to break the cycle. Charlene has woven the stories of Tahni, Mary, and Diana into a beautiful tapestry of cause and effect, of hurt and healing.

[Aly · Rating 2 out of 5]

I was not into this book. This book did not engage me like I thought it would. I was missing something in it for me. I did not like the story line. I guess I was looking for something a bit different in this book. For me the book hopes storied a lot and I did like the romance part of this book. But I just feel I could've used more from it. *This book was given to me from the author in exchange for an honest review*