Feeling as if she had no choice but to abandon her newborn to the authorities, Jane Bertram is eager to turn her life around. She escapes Iowa aboard a train to Chicago, determined to rise above her abusive past, hoping a new environment will allow her to break away from her dysfunctional relationships and start over. "I love this second book even more than the first, which I adored! Jane is evolving splendidly as she begins to change the channel of her inner voice from that of her critical and abusive mother to that of her supportive and kind mentor. Absolutely brilliant!" —CHARLOTTE BELISLE, MSN, RN "I couldn't put this book down. It was like being on a roller coaster, and you were right there for all the twists and turns and ups and downs. I was rooting for our heroine the whole way. I can't wait to find out what happens next!" — JONI D. MAHLER, MEd, ET/P, learning specialist and educational therapist "A compelling, thought-provoking story about a young woman's desperate struggle to find her self-worth and self-esteem in the most difficult circumstances. Disturbing at times, it opens your mind to what can be a very fragile relationship between mothers and daughters." —KATHY PAPOLA, real estate broker associate "Trying to change her family trajectory and escape a dead-end childhood, Jane is forced to strike out on her own. She makes costly mistakes, but her resilience, perseverance, and determination to build a better life sustain her. You will be reminded that new beginnings and redemption are always possible." —Debbie Wagner, retired Director of Business Development,Dignity Health " Jane shows us what is possible when one is willing to take charge of one's life. The Jane Bertram who speaks at the conclusion of this book is not recognizable as the woman I met at the start. Her harrowing experiences helped her become her own person." —Linda Krause, retired educator "Jane starts a new life in Chicago. But although she leaves her mother behind in Iowa, she can't escape her mother's voice—it is lodged in her head. I'm looking forward to reading the next book to see if she becomes the person she wants to be." —Dr. Linda Pitcher, former Assistant Superintendent, Northville Public Schools "It became clear Jane is a hostage to forces she does not understand, as her life and mistakes eerily echo those of her mother, despite her best efforts to the contrary." —Elisa Parker, Manager, Equal Voice | Equal Future, Fund for Women's Equality "Jane is learning to live without her mother's direct influence. However, she continually fights the negative thoughts of self that her mother instilled. A fascinating tale of working against the defeatist view she learned while fighting to become her own woman." —Julie Marlay, retired Industrial Engineer, John Deere "Caught in a strange dynamic of both arguing with her abusive mother and becoming a version of her, Jane must dive deep and wrestle through the hot messes she all too often makes." —Leslie Hankins, Professor and Chair, Department of English and Creative Writing, Cornell College "As she continues grappling with the emotional scars her horrific childhood experiences created, Jane struggles to perceive the differences between loving, being loved, and making love. She is unwilling to be a victim and won't give in to the many challenges she encounters." —Ernie Norris, retired businessman "Jane is ready to leave her past behind, but her mother's voice keeps haunting her. One passage that struck a chord for me was when Jane had to tie her own knots for ziplining, emphasizing the point that our lives are in our own hands—food for thought!" —Karen Uglem, wife, mother, and retired schoolteacher "I was eager to find out how Jane Bertram would make it through the storms of adult life. Or if she would survive them! Would she cave in or become stronger? I don't want to spoil anything by writing about the ending. All I will say is that I'm looking forward to the next book." —Nancy McWherter, retired administrator CAROLE CARSON, the author of Blackbird and From Fat to Fit , has repeatedly reinvented herself. Upon turning eighty, she moved to France to pursue her passion for writing.