Official Review: Into The Wilderness by Karen Marie Dion

[Cecilia_L]

[Following is an official OnlineBookClub.org review of "Into The Wilderness" by Karen Marie Dion.]

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4 out of 4 stars

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"When you finally come out of your wilderness, make sure you've got the power that comes from standing strong in trials and believing in the goodness of God despite what appearances are."

Illustrating that life is stranger than fiction, Karen Marie Dion chronicles her experiences firsthand in her second book, Into the Wilderness: One Woman's Extraordinary Journey through Corruption, Lies, and Betrayal. After the end of her marriage and with virtually no financial support from her ex-husband, Dion seeks to build a new life for herself and support her two children. When she starts a new business to provide for her family, she inadvertently becomes embroiled in a web of small-town corruption. Although Dion takes appropriate legal action, the tenants who are destroying her property and owe her thousands of dollars seem to be beyond the reach of the law. After Dion's attorney advises her to file a complaint with the Attorney General, she becomes a Judicial Conduct witness, and despite the FBI's involvement, she fears for her safety. With heartfelt candor, Dion recounts her wilderness journey and the faith that sustained her when all else failed.

Dion's intriguing narrative of the corruption she faced is compelling, shocking, and hard to imagine. It is beyond admirable that she consistently models integrity despite being treated unfairly in both business and personal relationships. This is not to imply that she sugarcoats the shady dealings or holds in her feeling; she appropriately expresses frustration, suspicion, and anger. Dion quotes the words of Jesus: "I am sending you out as sheep among wolves. Therefore, be innocent as doves but shrewd as serpents."

Although Dion's account of numerous frauds and corrupt business dealings is a relevant part of her story, the sheer volume of offenses is overwhelming. However, she balances the weighty content by sharing personal tidbits about other aspects of her life. For instance, home decor is one of my passions, and I especially like the details she shares about decorating her bed-and-breakfast. "As we worked our way down the wall, we discovered original milk paint stenciling on the wall, in a border along the top and midway down. It was beautiful, with flourishes of terracotta, blue, and a faint brown and green."

In my original review, I noted several inconsistencies regarding a name. However, Dion has since corrected this mistake, as well as the noted grammatical errors. These errors were the only thing preventing me from awarding the book a perfect rating. Therefore, I amend my rating and give Into the Wilderness 4 out of 4 stars. I caution sensitive readers that it contains profanity and non-explicit sexual references. I recommend the book to readers who appreciate stories about strong women overcoming adversity. While Dion credits her faith in God for seeing her through such difficult circumstances, her message of hope and perseverance is universal.

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This review has been edited based on changes made to the book.
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Into The Wilderness
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[Miller56]

Thanks for the review. Sounds like an intriguing tale. I will have to put this on my reading list.

[Cecilia_L]

Thanks for the review. Sounds like an intriguing tale. I will have to put this on my reading list.

You're welcome. I appreciate your comment.

[Jeremie Mondejar]

Thank you for the review, I am always amazed by a woman with a strong personality.

[kandscreeley]

It definitely seems like the author has been through quite an ordeal. It seems like we can learn from these experiences. It's too bad about the errors, though. Thanks for another interesting review.

[1deannajv]

Thanks for the review. I enjoy reading about strong women overcoming adversity and this book sounds interesting. Unfortunately, the number of errors makes me hesitant to read the book.

[Mutegude]

The author seems like she has been through a lot. Anyway thanks for the review I am definatly going to be reading this book sometime in the future.

[Magnify3]

It is quite sad what corruption does. You need justice but end up a victim. Her faith in God really saw her through. Thanks for the review!

[Cecilia_L]

Thank you for the review, I am always amazed by a woman with a strong personality.

You're welcome. I appreciate your comment.

[Cecilia_L]

It definitely seems like the author has been through quite an ordeal. It seems like we can learn from these experiences. It's too bad about the errors, though. Thanks for another interesting review.

Thank you!

[Cecilia_L]

Thanks for the review. I enjoy reading about strong women overcoming adversity and this book sounds interesting. Unfortunately, the number of errors makes me hesitant to read the book.

Thanks for your comment.

[Cecilia_L]

The author seems like she has been through a lot. Anyway thanks for the review I am definatly going to be reading this book sometime in the future.

Enjoy!

[Cecilia_L]

It is quite sad what corruption does. You need justice but end up a victim. Her faith in God really saw her through. Thanks for the review!

You're welcome. Thanks sharing.

[ashley_claire]

I feel like the title of this book is a little misleading and I was expecting a story about survival in the wild. But I’m glad you enjoyed it. It’s a shame when the only thing knocking a book down a star rating is the editing. Nice review!

[Cecilia_L]

I feel like the title of this book is a little misleading and I was expecting a story about survival in the wild. But I’m glad you enjoyed it. It’s a shame when the only thing knocking a book down a star rating is the editing. Nice review!

The title confused me at first until I realized the author was referring to spiritual wilderness. Thanks for your comment.