House of Wind

By Laura DeNooyer

Description:

Not all abuse leaves bruises. Not all prisons have bars.

Wendi Burkham lives in an emotional prison she unwittingly walked into. Nobody understands, and her captor holds the keys.

Married to a respected pastor, Wendi lives a life others admire--with two children and a home that reflects faith, stability, and love. But behind closed doors, Wendi is trapped in a cycle of control, manipulation, and emotional abuse no one else can see--and no one would believe.

How do you escape when no one thinks you need to?

For sixteen years, she has stayed silent. Stayed faithful. Stayed afraid. Until one night forces her to choose between the life she has built . . . and the truth she can no longer ignore.

Her husband's warning echoes: "Planting wind only reaps a harvest of tornadoes."

But what if the storm is the only way out?

This powerful novel exposes the reality of emotional abuse—and the courage it takes to break free. Readers who enjoy thoughtful fiction with emotional depth will appreciate this novel in the vein of Amanda Cox, Katie Powner, Susie Finkbeiner, and Erin Bartels.

Perfect for readers who love:
~ Emotionally powerful women’s fiction
~ Stories of resilience and personal transformation
~ Complex faith journeys
~ Portrayals of real-life relationship struggles

Book Takeaway:

My hope is that readers will learn how to identify emotional and spiritual abuse. I want victims to know they are not alone and that there is hope for healing. I want other readers to know how to walk alongside people in this situation. The church should be a place that supports victims and makes abusers accountable while reflecting the truth, holiness, and love of Christ.

Why the author wrote this book:

Emotional abuse is often difficult to pinpoint, especially for the victims. It’s more subtle than physical, verbal, or sexual abuse. Victims are held hostage by manipulation, control, blaming, shaming, and gaslighting. Unfortunately, even though abuse runs rampant in our culture—even in families devoted to church ministry—it is often unseen or swept under the carpet.