The Retreat

by Chariss K. Walker

The Retreat
Looking for answers and desperate for change, Amanda goes on an awe-inspiring spirit quest in the Jemez Mountains. While in that remote location, she meets a wolf, a bear, a hawk, and a swarm of bees. These surprising personal totems lead Amanda to eye-opening and much-needed answers. Magically imbued with a desire to live again, Amanda understand where her path detoured. This heartwarming, magical realism adventure could be anyone of us facing personal tragedy - whether the crisis is death, divorce, or loss. Follow Amanda’s inspiring steps to recovery as they lead to healing. Enjoy the magic!

Genres: Spirituality, Magical Realism, Chick Lit

156 pages, Paperback

First published January 23, 2014

About the author

Chariss K. Walker Bio
Keep up-to-date about all my new releases by subscribing to my newsletter: https://bit.ly/3hYNv6a
2018 Indie B.R.A.G. Medallion
Award-winning author, Chariss K. Walker, M.Msc., Reiki Master/Teacher, writes both fiction and nonfiction books with a metaphysical and spiritual component. Her fiction expresses a visionary/metaphysical message that illustrates growth in a character's consciousness while utilizing a paranormal aspect. Her nonfiction books share insight, hope, and inspiration.
Those who search for meaning and the supernatural in themselves will enjoy her books.
Even though Chariss also writes dark-fiction about insanely dark topics, such as sexual abuse, incest, pedophilia, sexual assault, and other inappropriate dinner conversation, there is always an essential question of the abstract nature that gives a reader increasing awareness and perception.
If you are looking for an author who speaks your language or vernacular then you might like to know that I was born in Arkansas, grew up in the Mississippi Delta as a farmer's daughter. After that, I lived in Tennessee, Colorado, Arkansas again, Mississippi again, Virginia, Florida, Puerto Rico, New Mexico, California, Oregon, North Carolina, Texas, North Carolina again, Colorado, Michigan, Florida again, and now I'm back in Louisiana where I hope to stay put for a while. In other words, I've been a lot of places and seen a lot of stuff which is the basis for my writing.
You can learn more about Chariss and her books on her website: www.chariss.com. All of her books are sold worldwide in eBook, paperback, and many are in large print.
Chariss has one eBook that is currently free to everyone:
Letting Go of Pain https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/4...
which can be found at the above link or my website or in my list of authored books on Goodreads and on Amazon.

Reviews

[Michele]

Amanda lost her Mom to cancer and discovered her husband in their marital bed with another woman the next day. She was doubly devastated and stayed in a depressed state for a year until her friends finally convinced her to go on a retreat. She took their advice and went to a remote cabin way up in the mountains where she encountered her totems in a peaceful spot--a wolf, a bear, a hawk and a swarm of bees--all on different days. She was able to reconcile all that had occurred in her life and learned to be happy again.

She decided to take a side trip to Santa Fe before she went home--and loved it there. Back home she took up her artist brush after many years and started her life anew.

This novel of the progression from depression and hopelessness to happiness and joy will inspire everyone!!

[Nancy LiPetri]

After Amanda's life as wife, mother and daughter is derailed, her friends encourage her to embark on a retreat. The first half of the story reads like a fable combined with women's fiction, as Amanda discovers her four totems in the wilderness. The reader doesn't have to guess what each symbolic creature means, as explanations are offered readily, in fable fashion. In the second half of the novel, Amanda incorporates what she learned about herself, making life changes, rejuvenating her creativity. I cheered for her when she realized she left a fake version of herself behind. This tale will make you reflect on your own life choices and ask yourself how you'd start over if given a second chance.

[Mary Clark]

This simple story reveals complex layers of self-realization and connections to natural and human forces. The author takes you on the hikes to the clearing on the mountainside to experience the "reveals" of three totems, easily communicating the ways in which the heroine achieves her goal of authentic renewal and personal transformation.

[TDCbookreviews]

After a devastating year, Amanda is now ready to start her life over again.
She decides to go on a spiritual quest, to a shack in the mountains for a few days and just be one with herself. No rules, no responsibilities. When she returns to her life, she is ready to be done with the past and move on.

A sweet, uplifting story. Non-religious, which didn't make it preachy, but I was waiting for a conflict. It always seemed like the next phone call or next visit from her friends would bring more bad news that she would need to deal with ... but nope. Once the initial chapters are done with, and she goes on her quest, everything comes up roses for her. Her path to happiness is short, sweet and to the point - I wish the epilogue was longer though.

[Sarah Banks]

Beautiful, that is what first popped into my head when I started planning my review. The story is beautiful, and honestly the imagery that Chariss Walker paints with her words is beautiful. Amanda takes a spiritual retreat to find herself after tragedy and betrayal make her take a close look at herself. Amanda decides to do something to rediscover her self and to take her life back. This story is a sweet and uplifting book that will remind readers to stay true to themselves.

[MJ]

While the story itself was fine, I couldn't finish it. I'm physically disabled so I use the Text-to-Speech function to read all of my Kindle books. About halfway through the book, it started reading a paragraph and then rereading it over and over and over again, like a broken record. I tried troubleshooting different ways including stopping altogether and continuing hours later to no avail. Frustrating but even if I put the technical issues aside I found the plot a bit disjointed; focusing on minute details for far too long and then jumping ahead on an entire year with minimal detail. Other aspects were so painfully predictable and still others completely unrealistic (your best friend should never volunteer to be your psychologist, EVER). I don't enjoy writing negative reviews but felt that the 2 stars warranted an explanation.

[Sheri]

The Retreat by Chariss K. Walker

Amanda has two major upsetting life events that greatly alters her life. She decided to take a healing trip through the mountains. Once there she comes to meet a bear, bees, hawk and wolf. With this encounter she is able to reach inner healing , the true meaning of life, much needed peace and eventual happiness.

An original story that moves at a rapid pace, but not short on emotions. Amanda is very likable and her personal tragedies (were) something a lot of people have encountered (In some way). Her journey to personal (emotional) healing is heartfelt, and told with a spiritual twist. I was hooked from the first page, and left with a memorable read. I highly recommend The retreat to all.

[Laura]

I found this book interesting; however, the scenes where the protagonist, Amanda, met the wolf, the bear, the hawk, and the bees, were just too unrealistic for my practical self. When I viewed these scenes as more of a dream sequence, then I enjoyed the story more. Ann Sprinkle's narration was fine, although a little expressionless at times. I was given a free copy of the audiobook and I have voluntarily left this review.

[suzanne]

A woman goes on a retreat of self discovery after finding her husband with another woman.

So dull and boring, don't waste your time. I kept waiting for something interesting to happen...she sees a bear, a wolf and other visions while on retreat and they give her clarity to move on with her life. Geez, how cliche!!

[Barbara]

I read five chapters of this book and was bored silly. It looked so promising! Eighth-grade-level writing and a very predictable storyline left me cold. I didn’t finish it.

[Chariss Walker]

Amanda is devastated. She is desperate for change. She takes a spiritual retreat, a step back, from the home and life that is causing such pain. She travels from Albuquerque into the Jemez Mountains and spends a week soul-searching, trying to discover why and how she lost the joy in life. While there, she meets a wolf, a bear, a hawk, and a swarm of bees. Each one has a message for her...if she'll hear it. We get messages all the time, but sometimes we ignore or refuse to see and hear. This book is magical realism which means that even though some of the events are fantastical, they feel and seem real to Amanda. The story is based, in part, on my own spirit quest.