Thorns of an Innocent Soul: Novella [Paperback]

Barbara Watkins (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: February 27, 2006

It’s ironic, in life Ella and Jennifer were each her own worst enemy. But in death they are closely bound together, each wanting redemption. Ella had the assumption that if you had beauty, wealth, and prestige then everything you wanted would come to you. She was abusive to her children; we assume she was responsible for her husband’s death, although it was never quite clear. But most likely she was. She lived her life with no regard for human life. She never thought that one day she would be the recipient. Jennifer, taunted and abused by her mother, was filled with rage and thoughts of revenge. She took none of the responsibility for the pain or grief she had caused in her own life. It was easier to blame her mother. She, like her mother, never believed the day of reckoning would come. She would never accept the belief or faith in God, even when her appointed angels gave her many signs. So are we to believe that faith and forgiveness overpower greed and revenge? If not in life, then surely in death.

Product Details

• Paperback: 61 pages
• Publisher: PublishAmerica (February 27, 2006)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1424107849
• ISBN-13: 978-1424107841
• Product Dimensions: 6 x 9 x 0.2 inches
• Shipping Weight: 4 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (3 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #5,008,245 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Barbara Watkins was born in 1959 in Sikeston, Missouri. In 2005, her novella 'Behind the Red Door' sparked the interest of Escape Artists Studio, and in return they requested a copy. Her articles, short stories, and poetry have appeared in The Heartland Writers Guild, 2008 New York Skyline Review, Cold Coffee Magazine, and several on-line publications. Her first full length novel was released through R. J. Buckley Publishing October 31, 2011. Writing in the subgenre Paranormal/Suspense she loves to evoke a sense of terror, and hopes to continue to entertain her readers for some time to come.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A Great Read, Edgy and suspenseful, with a surprising twist!, June 6, 2008

By 

Whitechapel Jack "Whitechapel Jack" - See all my reviews

This review is from: Thorns of an Innocent Soul: Novella (Paperback)

Barbara Watkins has produced a story that held me enthralled and on the edge of my seat as I followed the life of a young girl as she grew to womanhood in the shadow of her abusive mother. How she coped with that abuse, and the effects it had on her own development thorugh her teens to her own adulthood are explored in detail,giving a fascinating insight into the mind of the abused and the abuser. Despite being only 60 pages in length, 'Thorns of an innocent Soul' leaves nothing out and the unexpected twist in the tale will satisfy those who, like me, enjoy being taken by surprise.

Brian L Porter, Author of the award-winning novel 'A Study in Red - The Secret Journal of Jack the Ripper

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A profound tale about the difficult journey to redemption and the quest for lost innocence, September 13, 2006

By 

Midwest Book Review (Oregon, WI USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Thorns of an Innocent Soul: Novella (Paperback)

Thorns Of An Innocent Soul is a short novella about two women, corrupted by hatred and enmity in life, forced to confront their own flaws and failings after death. Ella, the mother, was cruel to her children in her obsession for beauty, wealth and prestige; Jennifer, the daughter, hated her abusive mother so much she refused to take any responsibility for the pain or grief that she caused in her own life. Neither woman would believe in or accept God; when the day of reckoning came, both would have to confront the greed, hatred, and revenge that had colored their lives for so long. A profound tale about the difficult journey to redemption and the quest for lost innocence.

1 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars The Responsibility We All Have!, January 14, 2007

By 

Viviane Crystal (New York, USA) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)   

This review is from: Thorns of an Innocent Soul: Novella (Paperback)

"...I dreamt I was sitting in a brier patch. On one side of me was a bush of beautiful red and pink roses, and on the other side was nothing but a bush of thorns. Every time I would reach for a rose, the petals turned into thorns..." Reaching for thorns - an apt metaphor for an attitude of victim hood and one that can be pruned through experience and awakening to revelation's wisdom.

Sound familiar? Surely it does, yet how many just don't get it? This is a book for those who find themselves perpetually fearing the Damocles sword over their head no matter where or to whom they turn. Barbara Watkins tells the story of a dysfunctional family who abusively and cruelly thwart the development of Jennifer into a confident, loving woman.

She in turn begins to repeat the painful scenario on the death of her abusive mother, Ella. But something prevails and Jennifer begins to realize that her desire for telling the truth is as destructive as what was done to her. What she does with that is lovely, lovely, lovely to read!

No more about the plot here. After all, this is a novella of short duration, an art that requires spare or concise telling of a story. Watkins does just that - reading this novella about an innocent soul is bound to touch the reader's own innocence and...look twice at one's own world. Perhaps it may also enlighten someone you know, for who among us does not know similar characters with different stories but living a pattern that yields thorns instead of the beautiful flowers larger than the thorns.

This writer has something to say about responsibility - not just the proverbial dysfunctional story! Find out what she has to say - it's well worth it!

Reviewed by Viviane Crystal on January 14, 2007