Bare Souls

by Casey Hagen

*This title is out of print*

Years of abuse left heartbreaking scars.

He wanted to save her.

She needed to save herself.

Maggie Larsen, small town girl returns home to find the woman she used to be before a whirlwind marriage to a charismatic, powerful monster sucked her into a life of domestic violence and gut-wrenching shame. Finally free from her abuser, and left with a crippling agoraphobia, she’s determined to get her life back, one agonizing step at a time and on her own terms.

Jonathan Maddox’s mission as a local psychologist is to help those in need overcome traumas of the past and move toward fulfilling futures. With scars of his own buried deep and too painful to confront, he finds peace knowing that he can help others even if he’s helpless to help himself. Until he meets the one woman he thinks he can help the most just to find she’s determined to heal and move forward on her own.

Can Jonathan accept Maggie’s need to heal herself when everything he is demands he step up and help her toward peace? Can Maggie’s frozen heart ever learn to trust a man again after the husband who was supposed to love and cherish her left her broken and terrified of the world around her?

88 pages, Kindle Edition

Published November 12, 2018

About the author

USA Today Bestselling author Casey Hagen pens her stories from the salty air of Kennebunk, Maine. She's the author of over 30 books that would make your mama raise her eyebrows if she caught you reading them!

All things Casey here: geni.us/StalkCasey

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Reviews

[Gwen Shafer · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was the first book I have read by Casey. This was emotional gripping from beginning to end. Written extremely well and covers a topic that some woman go through. I could easily relate to the female character in this one. I love how strong she tries to be when she tries to get her life back. So very well written with a great story line and two characters who are perfect for each other. They have their own pasts to deal with and together they being out the best in each other. I enjoyed this book from beginning to end. Highly recommend.

[Nate · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoyed Maggie & Jonathan's story. It was an emotional & intriguing read. Great book. I'm voluntarily leaving an honest review for a copy of the book.

[Nicole Studioso · Rating 4 out of 5]

I read a Hidden Gems advanced copy of this book in exchange for a voluntary, honest review. I truly enjoyed this lovely little book. The story is deal and intense, yet it rips right along and drags you into the second chance story of Maggie and Jonathan. Maggie is a 31 year old divorced woman who was physically, mentally and emotionally abused by her ex-husband, Andreas, for the entirety of their marriage. She finally walked away and testified against Andreas, landing him in prision. However, she has lasting scars; most noticably, agoraphobia.
Jonathan is a local psychologist who runs therapy sessions and support groups for survivors of domestic violence, sexual assault, and marital abuse. He sees Maggie standing outside of the doorway of the community center, but she bolts before he can try to help her. Later, they run into each other when she nearly runs him over with her friend's car. Thus begins a new chapter for Maggie; redemption, friendship, and possibly a second chance at life. Jonathan carries deep physically and psychological scars from his own past, and is terrified of becoming attached to Maggie as their friendship deepens and feelings begin to grow.
I have this book 4 stars only because I felt the pacing of the story was inappropriate, considering the subject matter and horrible details each character had endured in their pasts. However, the story was beautiful and uplifting!!

[Jessica · Rating 5 out of 5]

Bare Souls is an emotional romance between two scarred individuals, and it completely stands alone. Maggie is physically free from her abusive ex-husband, but mentally still locked in a cage. Challenging herself to start getting out more and taking her life back, she leaves the house and runs into Jonathan, a man who helps run the local abuse support groups, and who looks just like her ex. But as fate brings them together, she sees more differences than similarities and she starts to fall for him. But will Jonathan’s issues with his own past hinder their budding romance?

Oh my goodness, bring tissues because this book will grab your attention and heart. While it might crack your heart a little with their pasts, this book will heal your heart and surround you with love! I loved this book! Maggie and Jonathan are two peas in the same pod, dealing with emotional and physical abuse from those they trusted and who should have loved them. Maggie is amazing, with her core of steel, never allowing herself to be broken, and finally wanting to break free of her bonds. Jonathan thinks that helping others will help himself, but I love that he has his own issues to deal with before he can fully accept Maggie’s love! I love that fate kept throwing them together and I loved Maggie’s bold proposition for Jonathan! This book was absolutely fabulous, I stayed up late to finish reading it, and this is a book I’ll be rereading!

[Sharon Grow · Rating 5 out of 5]

One of the most emotional yet uplifting stories that I have read that deals with the subject of domestic abuse. Maggie Larsen’s idea of love and marriage was destroyed by her now ex-husband. He seemed charming and strong and he was…with his fists. Now divorced, with her ex in prison, she returns to the small town where she grew up. Maggie has to find the person she once was with “baby steps”. Maggie meets Jonathan Maddox, a psychologist, who works with those who are dealing with some form of trauma. He is not Maggie’s therapist, but will be her friend while she is on this journey to reclaim her life. As he is helping Maggie, it becomes clear that Jonathan has his own past issues with which he has not dealt. Will Maggie have the strength to overcome her abuse? Will Jonathan open up about his own past before it is too late? I really, really enjoyed this book. Although domestic abuse is the beginning of this story, Ms. Hagen does not dwell on the abuse as much as the process Maggie will go through to reclaim her life. This story brings such a strong message of hope for recovery and love. I was not asked to read and review this story, but I try to read every book that Ms. Hagen writes. She is such a talented author that manages to get to the “heart” of each story. (by paytonpuppy)

[Yvonne Cruz · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is another masterpiece written by this very talented author.
The story of Maggie Larsen and Jonathan Maddox is one that is very real.
A year after being free of an abusive husband, Maggie is still struggling with life . Leaving her home is a struggle but she’s ready to take steps to move forward.
When she finally attempts to go to a support group, she flees when the therapist reminds her of her worst nightmare.
Somehow Maggie touches Jonathan’s senses and he makes it his mission to help her, with the understanding that he is just her friend. He too has a past that still haunts him.
The author’s sensitivity in dealing with domestic abuse , and it affects everyone not only physically but also emotionally and psychologically is to be acknowledge . As well as a reminder that as a society we need to do more to help these victims.
The story is heartbreaking but also heartwarming and one you will remember for a very long time.
I was entrusted a copy of this book by Hidden Gems. The opinions expressed are solely my own.

[Lauren · Rating 4 out of 5]

I received an ARC of Bare Souls in exchange for an honest review. I have read a few books by this author but this one seemed quite different. It is the story of Maggie Larsen, who is a survivor of domestic violence and as the book opens, she is reclaiming her life after her ex-husband has been incarcerated for what he had done to her. When she attempts to join a support group, she meets Jonathan Maddox, a therapist. As they start to get to know each other she continues to emerge from her past and reclaim her life. Although it is short, it did not go the direction that I thought it would. I enjoyed how they developed as a couple and how the author used her past but not in a cliché way. All I could think of at the end of the book was the line from Pretty Woman, "She rescues him right back."

[Kristen Lewendon · Rating 5 out of 5]

This may be a quick read, but it isn’t necessarily an easy one. It’s also not for the faint of heart as it covers subject matter that can be considered very difficult to read. Both Maggie and Jonathan are survivors. They’ve travelled dark and brutal roads to come out the other side. The biggest difference is that one of them is focused on healing the wounds they’ve survived while the other is a little more set on pretending they’re already over them. Love is one of the most amazing powers of healing available and this pair deserves so much. It hurt my heart to watch Maggie and Jonathan resisting it, but the ending wouldn’t be quite the same without that extra bit of angst.
I received a complimentary advanced copy of this book through Hidden Gems Books.

[Nikki · Rating 4 out of 5]

Bare Souls by Casey Hagen is a 3.5 star read.
Maggie Larsen has spent the last year stuck inside her house afraid to go outside after leaving her violent husband, but she’s now decided its time for her to get over he fear and live again. Slowly she’s rebuilding the relationships her ex forced her to distance herself from, she just wasn’t expecting Jonathan.
Jonathan Maddox is a therapist he runs a few support groups including a domestic violence one. One day a woman appears at the door during a session and he asks her to join, he doesn’t expect her to flee nor does he expect what she will come to mean to him.
I liked this story I just felt the ending was rushed too much.
I voluntarily reviewed an advanced copy of this book.

[Patricia Baxes · Rating 4 out of 5]

Talk about being put through the emotional wringer...Lordy, Bare Souls absolutely put you through the paces. This is a very poignant book about domestic abuse—you can’t help but feel the pain the main characters went through. It hurts your heart and your sensibilities...it’s hard to take it all in; the book probably needed to be a full length novel as the characters’ quick resolution to their fears just left you wanting to further explore their journey.

It’s a tough read—but one you should add to your TBR. (I voluntarily reviewed an advance reader copy of this book book and was totally amazed by it.)

[Debbie Benson · Rating 5 out of 5]

I received this book as part of an ARC review. Maggie is recovering from a severely abusive relationship with her ex husband. She forces herself to move out into the world again after a year. Taking baby steps at first, she progresses. Maggie meets Jonathan, a psychologist, with his own bad history. Together they heal and fall for each other. Jonathan is scared at first when she tells him she loves him and runs. But with a pep talk from his friend, another psychologist, Jonathan takes steps to finally heal his own problems and admits he loves Maggie. I have to admire both Maggie and Jonathan for their strength and determination in healing from their pasts.

[Kirstin · Rating 3 out of 5]

The depth of issues that both MC's had were far too great to have been worked out in a novella. I think I would have enjoyed this more in a full book form. I just couldn't wrap my head around how quickly Maggie went from not leaving her house in over a year to driving and going on dates. It just wasn't believeable enough for me to really enjoy.

*Arc provided by author in exchange for an honest review*

[Vivian Chrisman · Rating 5 out of 5]

"All have scars" "Those are the stories that makes us. They change our choices, shape who we are." These are probably two of my most favorite lines. They are so true. Despite her "scars", Maggie was determined to reclaim her life on her own. I agree with Jonathan she was like Tinkerbell- tiny little package that packs a wallop. She was also just who Jonathan needed to help him heal.

*I received an Advance Reader's Copy of this book via Hidden Gems which I am voluntarily reviewing*

[Mona williams · Rating 5 out of 5]

this book was kinda heart breaking reading it! she was abused so bad that she cant go anywhere without having a attack. than she meets him and he has his own demons . can these two heal each other? read to find out.