[.ca] Startling Beauty - My Journey From Rape To Restoration (ISBN 0781440289)

Written with stark honesty and a poetic voice ...:
Heather Gemmen and her family attended a church whose mission was to achieve racial reconciliation among the predominantly Caucasian congregation and the predominantly African American neighborhood. Often times this seemed like an impossible mission as Heather and her family struggle to cope under dismal living conditions. Heather herself feels self-conscious about the way she truly feels about her neighbors. Instead of reaching out, she wishes for alternative circumstances that would move her family away from it all. One night Heather wakes to find an African American man in her bedroom. He ultimately rapes her, while her children lay asleep in their bedrooms. Despite her devastation, Heather becomes convicted in her heart about the morning after pill that is prescribed to her. "Wasn't this abortion?" was the question that plaqued her mind. After seeking the prayers and guidance from trusted church members and friends, Heather takes the pill. Unjustly Heather finds out she is pregnant - no doubt the baby in her womb - the result of her rape. Ironically, prior to the rape, the Gemmens wanted a third child, hopefully a girl. With stark honesty and a poetic voice, Heather shares her story of restoration. After struggling and pondering over options, the Gemmen's decide to keep their biracial child - a beautiful brown baby girl. Heather's experience is a testament to the awesome power of forgiveness and love that can only be found through faith in God. -- reviewed by Tyora Moody for Christian Bookshelf

Wonderful web of lies:
What is the guarantee that Heather Gemmen was not having an illicit relationship with that Black man. And then when she got pregnant, she constructed these wonderful lies to fool her husband and the rest of the world and make profits from her lies.

The recent reviewers:
\o...\c I thought it was a very inspiring story about how people CAN pull through utter hell-- but it also illuminates the fact that many rape victims can NOT.

Courageous:
After reading all the reviews I am amazed how each person draws something different from this book. Rape + baby does not have to equal abortion. In fact God reveals His awesome ability to take what was meant for evil and create so much beauty. Not just in Rachael - but in Steve's and Heather's marriage. I am in awe of the personal strength that it takes to reveal to the world this kind of personal and emotional nakedness. I hope those who are in law enforcement and those who deal with those who have been raped, male or female, will benefit from this book. Words can heal or destroy. Thank you Heather and Steve.

A compelling story but not for the unemotional:
Amazing story of a woman and her families brave journey through sexual assault, forgiveness and the brave choice to life over an easy way out.... there are several ignorant reviews from people who have not read the book - this book is not about race - this book is about having the courage and faith to overcome hardships in life - this is not a sympathy plea book - for the millions of women who have encountered sexual assault this is a journal of comfort and hope. From the opening chapter when Heather gives birth to a still born baby you realize this woman has more strength than you could ever imagine... God can use any situation for good -if we let Him lead.