Virtuous Women
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Published by: Quiet Publications
Release Date: February 5, 2024
Pages: 354
ISBN13: 978-0999521519
Synopsis
Sometimes being virtuous isn't enough.
Raised and homeschooled in her family's home, isolated from the world except for their insular church community, Hope Wagner has little exposure to people and environments outside of her father's beliefs. That all changes when her father marries the worldly newcomer to their church.
Jennifer Levine has always wanted a large, close-knit family that lives according to traditional values, just like in her beloved historical novels. But after her marriage to Michael, a handsome widower at her new church, Jennifer's life becomes a nightmare of inadequacy and futility as she tries to embody her husband’s idea of a virtuous woman. Michael will stop at nothing to ensure his wife and daughters fulfill their God-given roles as helpmeets and mothers, and does everything in his power to eliminate the dangerous ideas his new wife has introduced into his family.
When Jennifer finally rejects Michael’s authority over her, she launches the family into a crisis. Now, to escape the future her father has planned for her, Hope must find the courage to leave the only world she's ever known and pursue a life she's never been given the tools to manage.
This emotional and eye-opening book shows the reality of Christian patriarchy, and the terrible price paid by women who have no choice but to be virtuous.
Add on GoodreadsPraise
"A thoughtful and compassionate exploration of female autonomy in the face of repressive strictures."
-Kirkus Reviews
"By turns emotional, humorous, and chilling, this novel doesn't shy away from the darkness, but it also never truly lets go of hope."
-Erin Bartels, award-winning author of We Hope for Better Things
"A riveting and immersive study on the dangers of patriarchal authority and isolation. Thought-provoking and at times shocking, a story with important themes that will stay with me long after reading."
-Lainey Cameron, award-winning author and host of The Best of Women's Fiction Podcast
"This book will definitely haunt you."
-Suanne Schafer, author of A Different Kind of Fire
"Absolutely couldn't put it down. A fascinating dive into what it does
and doesn't mean to be a virtuous woman."
-Amazon Reviewer
"Goltz's eloquent prose and richly drawn characters make for a compelling read that lingers in the mind long after the final page is turned."
-Goodreads Reviewer
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