Customer Reviews

BELIZE SURVIVOR: Darker Side of Paradise

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No slow spots in this story. The author has created a great sense of anticipation on nearly every page - what is going to happen next? She is also very talented in painting pictures with words; the characters are developed or portrayed very well. Much is said without a lot of embellishment; and the reader easily constructs the mental images that give the story texture.

This book was an inspiration for me to travel to see the coral reefs of the Caribbean, and the tropical forests of Central America. I just returned from a trip to a Caribbean island to explore coral reefs. While there, I met an old man who practices bush medicine. I plan to return as soon as possible to record the plants he uses and the practices of his herbal tradition before this knowledge is lost. If I hadn't read this book I never would have found this new mission and this new adventure.

BELIZE SURVIVOR:Darker side of Paradise creates a physical and emotional journey that brings you from the dream of "living in paradise" to the reality of true survival. The excitement and adventure of this newly married couple personifies the
cultural vision of that changing time. All the beauty and intrigue being overshadowed by the cruel and hidden abuse , that will take you from the beautiful waterfalls to the mudded trails of dispair. Captivating experiences of discovery and relationships complete the excitement of this truly amazing story.
Based upon a true story the author craftfully describes the trials of so many abused and battered women caught in an invisible prison of mind and fear. Through
inner strength and a true survivor's will, the book will lift you to the hope of a brighter day. ............. Looking forward to her next book.

I just finished this book, and I can't even express the power I felt after reading it. I know everyone interprets a book in their own way - and I just wanted to share that I felt powerful. I think in the 3 days following the book I made some awesome decisions- at my work in my life and everyday stuff, and I felt really secure making them since I felt strengthened and did the right homework to be sure my decisions were good. Powerful is my description ... mind you, mine is nothing compared to the author...but I really enjoyed her successes and strength

It was a pleasure beyond these words to get to read this book. Nancy brings great courage to the pages of her story; courage to re-think it, to write it, to publish it(and all _that_ involves), let alone to actually live it. Each chapter is a new adventure and each beckoned me on to the next. I happened to read the book on vacation in the Carribean, it was amazing to me that I could spend hours riveted to Nancy's story, get up and walk the beach, and then return for more... several times each day, EVERY DAY. Her descriptions of places and activities are so vivid and technically accurate that I knew that she actually lived them. Any number of her adventures would quench the desires of most, let alone the accumulation of them.

We get to experience her bliss and joy, terror and pain, humiliation and degradation, hope and redemption all in the pages of her book/her life... and I experienced those emotions while reading. Some of it was so close to my own story making it difficult to read but the author's words compelled me to continue, wanting to see her come through the other side. She bared her heart for all, showing great fortitude still today. A sequal and movie are on my wish list!

Once I started reading this book I could not stop. I would think about it during my day just waiting for time to read again. I even shared the story as I was reading with my husband, which was a first for me.
The author paints such a clear picture of her life as a hippie as well as her life in Belize. I first heard about Belize from a girl I had met 20 years ago who was born in Belize. I was always curious to learn more. And to finally learn about the culture was very interesting to me. I was also inspired by the author's strength and determination even when she felt she just could not go on. And she had to make the hardest decision a mother will ever have to make. I am hopeful for a sequal and even a movie. I will be the first on line!

Wow! I started reading this book prepared for an account of a domestic violence survivor, but found myself on an exciting journey to Key West and into the lush jungles of Belize. The challenging landscape mirrors the struggles of a woman in a controlling relationship, as she and her young family learn to brave the storms and floods of the land, and she simultaneously learns to predict and weather the dark storms of her marriage. One of the major components of domestic violence is isolation, and Koerner's Belize serves as the ultimate locale, isolating its inhabitants physically due to difficult to impossible traveling conditions, but also from basic rights due to the corruption amongst the local officials. In the 80's, America had yet to make strides in protecting our women from abusive spouses, but Koerner's revelation that in Belize the man's right to discipline his wife protects him adds to the hopelessness of Alexis' situation. As I read I felt the conflict so many friends and family members of victims feel today: I wanted to gather a group of friends and rush down to the jungle to rescue this young woman and her children, but I felt the fear of her husband's far-reaching connections and ability to manipulate any situation. And ultimately, I knew she had to rescue herself in her own way.
Captivating, thought-provoking, wonderful read.

Ms. Koerner paints a vivid picture of the horror of spousal abuse and parental alienation in "Belize Survivor," and carries the reader on a journey of hope, heartache and the will to survive.

Young and idealistic, Alexis follows the man that she loves, a kind and handsome man, into the jungles of Belize, searching for the perfect life. She reluctantly follows him, sharing and supporting his dreams and believing him to be her soul mate, but she soon learns that images are tragically deceiving.

The mountains of Belize provide the backdrop to the story, and whose majestic beauty stands in stark contrast to the pain suffered there by one young woman. Isolated from her family by distance and in a country whose legal system was corrupt and one-sided, Alexis suffers indescribably at the hands of her husband, the father of her children, but knows that the day is coming when she must make the impossible decision...

I have rarely read a book that so clearly illustrates the thoughts, beliefs and desires of an entire generation coming of age in the turbulent and tumultuous early 1970's. I was enthralled with the story of Alexis and her dogged determination not to give up, even in the face of unthinkable despair, and found myself sharing the same dreams, fears, hopes and pain.

Ms. Koerner deserves kudos for having the courage to share her story so that others may not suffer the same. I eagerly anticipate Ms. Koerner's next novel!

Belize Survivor is a page-turner. Be prepared to put other things aside until you've finished reading. It is a story of a young woman, part flower child who follows her adventurous heart, traveling across North America and down through Mexico to settle in Belize in Central America. Alexis is courageous, strong, and intelligent, and yet finds herself embroiled in a toxic, controlling relationship with the father of her children. Her struggles to break away and to obtain custody of her children are heart-breaking. The courage she displays is inspirational. Any woman living in an abusive relationship should read this book. The backdrop for this amazing story is the beautiful "jewel of the Caribbean," Belize, and the author's description of life in the jungles and on the beaches is so convincing, one can almost feel the breezes, smell the orchids, and hear the sounds of tropical birds singing. This is the book for you if you ever thought about leaving civilization and starting all over again, from scratch, living off the land in an exotic foreign land. It will make you smile, it will make you cry, and you will marvel at the strength and determination of the heroine.

Rarely does a book grab me from the very beginning, reading it late into the night, distracting me as I went about my daily routine, anxious to get back where I left off the night before. This is one of those unforgettable stories that will haunt you and stay with you long after it is finished. I have to remind myself that I have never been to Belize. The author painted a picture as clear as if I walked the trails, taking in the scents, sights and sounds. Beautiful surroundings mixed with pain, humiliation and suffering....making choices so painful I had to put the book down and weep for her strength and will to survive. I will never forget this story.

This book is riveting, from the first page to the last. I guarantee you will not be able to put it down. It will make you laugh, cry, scream, shout and explode with emotions. The author's accurate descriptions of both the people and the landscape of Belize are so completely real you will feel as though you are there. Having experienced Belize myself, I honestly didn't feel there was anyway you could do that without being there in person. That was before I read the book. So detailed were her descriptive narratives that I actually stumbled upon her son, who is still in the country, on my recent visit. I will leave the details of that to all of you treasure seekers out there to find out for yourselves. Trust me...it will be worth the adventure. A must read for those who think they should pick up and move to Belize...this is the real truth. Belize is a beautiful country but it's not for the faint of heart or spirit. The only thing better than the book was the thought of a movie that I hope will be filmed in Belize's beautiful, lush, countryside. Bravo Nancy!!! This is an excellent book and a must have for any left over hippie generation or those of us who should have been in the hippie generation.