Between Monsters and Mercy

An Inspiring True Story of a Soul Lost and Found

By: Kelly Thompson

Narrated by: Kelly Thompson

Length: 4 hrs and 1 min

Publisher's summary

When all appears lost, the miraculous power of the atonement of Jesus Christ can heal in the most unlikely places and in the most unlikely ways. In a world where addiction has become the epidemic of despair, Between Monsters and Mercy is the incredible true story of author Kelly Thompson's struggle to overcome drug abuse, escape from her life as a prostitute, and leave behind the loneliness and isolation that accompany them.

The unexpected loss of her father, the betrayal of a close friend, and the events that quickly followed started a chain reaction of anguish and sorrow that only the healing power of Christ's atonement could shatter.

Kelly's courage and determination, combined with a remarkable vision of her deceased father, gave her the strength to approach God in humility, trust in his redeeming power, and climb from the evil abyss of addiction into the arms of our loving savior Jesus Christ.

A powerful memoir of hope and forgiveness, Kelly's story is proof that with God's help, anyone can rise from their afflictions and walk again toward the light.

©2020 Cedar Fort Publishing and Media (P)2020 Cedar Fort Publishing and Media

Wow... Tears as I'm writing this.

Beautiful testimony of addiction in it's ugliest form. Rising up from the pits of rock bottom & into the Father's comforting, forgiving arms... I know from experience, the feeling is indescribable. And the glorious Miracles along the way are wonderfully life-changing. I love her courage & fearless strength to tell her heartbreaking story, but to come out of it not wanting to change a thing... just so powerful... Goosebumps. Highly recommend.

Humbling

I was given this free review copy audiobook at my request and have voluntarily left this review.
A very emotional book. I am truly touched. While I may never be able to directly related her story, it has reminded me that like myself I do not have to go through trials alone. It also reminded me that everyone had their own problems and they might not be willing to share all those details. But being the friend they need can mean soo much more than distancing. This book is a good example of how anyone with either an addiction or mental illness can succeed in life. Many times they just need the help and support to make that decision.
I would caution that while not detailed and specific for some readers this may cause some ptsd issues.
Otherwise this is a beautiful story and I encourage everyone who can to read it. Just gaining some of that insight into life with addiction can help you understand a small portion of what they are experiencing.
@cedarfort

Harrowing true story of one woman’s triumph over addiction and mental illness

This is the harrowing true story of Kelly Thompson and her struggle with mental illness, drug addiction, prostitution, and her own self-worth and how her faith in Jesus Christ saved her. How can you not rate someone’s heart wrenching autobiography as anything less than 5 stars? It was gritty, raw, and an honest look at what she went through and the choices that negatively impacted her life until she found real hope. There were many times I was brought to tears by her story. While Kelly’s struggles are ones that anyone could learn from, I feel like her message is especially compelling for members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.

Though mental illness has better treatments and is better understood than it was 40 years ago, Kelly’s message is profoundly important in showing the great harm of ignoring problems with mental illness especially in children and not finding helpful treatment. It also shows the ongoing need to de-stigmatize mental illness and look for better ways to treat those who suffer. Sadly, I think there are many like Kelly who use drugs and other addictions to self-treat the mental illness they are suffering from. This books brings hope and real sympathy for those who are living on the streets and suffering from the painful consequences of addiction. I appreciate the strength it took for Kelly to share something so personal and am grateful that she was finally able to find the peace she has been seeking for so long.

As for the book itself, the writing was very compelling and Kelly definitely has talent. The story was hard to stop listening to and definitely kept my attention. My only criticism was that the story would sometimes jump from time period to time period with phrases like “little did I know” or “if I had only known x,y,z…” My personal preference is to let the story play out without too much foreshadowing, but this is a minor criticism.

The audiobook version was made all that more impactful because the writer narrated it. I rated the audiobook version 4 stars mainly because of technical issues. I recognize that it’s hard to produce an audiobook. Unfortunately, there were several times where it was noticeable that audio was spliced together. This was another minor issue and it didn’t take too much away from the powerful narration.

Thanks to Cedar Fort for providing the audiobook version on Audible for my honest review. All thoughts and opinions are my own and I was not required to provide a positive review.