Thistles & Thorns

by Jessica Lee Peterson

Thistles & Thorns is a mother’s personal memoir of surviving murdered children, seeking justice, rejecting revenge, and persisting through love.
Thistles & Thorns, a true crime memoir will wreak havoc on the status quo of how to survive and grieve. On July 10, 2012, Jessica Lee Peterson woke up as a single mother of three complicated creatures named Amara, Sophie, and Cecilia. By the end of that bright summer day, she had empty arms and broken dreams due to domestic violence. Her journey of survival would start from the deepest pit of despair, a world in which her daughters had been murdered by their father.
This is her story about the people she made, how they were taken from the world, and how she survived without them.
Jessica was not alone in her grief. The small-town Wisconsin community the girls had grown up in was rocked to its core and rose up to support her family. Her battles would take her from court rooms to playgrounds to the edges of the world. Tragedy and suffering are endemic in this world, but Jessica shows how it can be overcome by grace and love.

Genres: True Crime, Nonfiction

238 pages, Kindle Edition

Published November 1, 2022

Reviews

[Jessica Lee · Rating 5 out of 5]

I know I am biased being the author of the book! But I 100% feel this little story with a big soul deserves all 5 stars!

[Patty Getsla · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is pure pain, but your responsibility as a reader is to bare witness to this pain in order to honor the souls affected by the bleakest parts of humanity, to walk with them through the darkness, to confront fear, tragedy, and evil, to uncomfortably tread through the Thistles and Thorns and forge a path of light to rekindle love, hope, and joy.

This book alone is deserving of a five just due to the pure strength, vulnerability, and courage it took to write. Putting that aside, the writing is also deserving as it is raw, blunt, emotional, and beautiful. Jessica writes as if she is a seasoned author and her style is both painfully graceful and gracefully painful.

[Gabby Tufts · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book hit close to home. As someone who grew up in the River Falls area, I remember the deep pain our community felt amidst the loss of Amara, Sophie, and Cecilia. Albeit an emotional read, this book helped provide solace as we followed Jessica’s journey through grief and healing. In this honest and compelling story, Jessica honors her girls by bringing the truth to light…the truth about her girls’ vivacious personalities, the truth about that fateful day in July 2012, and the hard truth about life after loss.

[Marla Butler · Rating 5 out of 5]

Jessica shares her story with raw emotion of the journey of becoming a mother to losing her children at the hands of her ex husband and becoming a wife and mother again. Her supporters and her own strength pulled her through.

[Jaimee · Rating 5 out of 5]

There are truly no words to describe this book. It is so incredibly heartbreaking to read what you have and continue to go through, Jessica. I admire your strength, thank you for sharing your tragic story with the world.

[Sarah Abbott · Rating 5 out of 5]

Impossible not to give this memoir 5 stars for the story and bravery in writing it. I was worried that it would be too sad and it definitely is a tear jerker but I’m in awe of the way the writer persevered and found the backstory interesting.

[Kylie Jensen · Rating 5 out of 5]

Oh my heart! 🥺

[Nicole Harke · Rating 5 out of 5]

It’s hard to give this book 5 stars because of the storyline… But it definitely deserves 5 stars.

[_sassy_39 · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thistles & Thorns is a true crime memoir written by the author Jessica Lee Peterson. Jessica met a guy named Blake who was born and raised in the Twin Cities. Blake was 22 years old at that time. When they started making out, they didn't want an unplanned pregnancy but soon they got to know that Jessica was pregnant. Jessica's parents suggested Jessica get married before the baby is born. Her family helped with the wedding arrangements. One by one, Jessica and Blake welcomed Amara, Sophie and Cecilia into their world.

After their divorce, Blake started showing signs of imbalance. Jessica's world turned upside down when all of her girls were murdered by their father Blake. Read this story to know how she survived after losing her daughters.

This is a true crime memoir. It was heartbreaking to read about a mother losing all her kids. The support that the Wisconsin community showed to Jess is amazing. This book is a hope to those who have faced tragedy in life and think that they could never overcome it. I am glad to read Jessica's story and I appreciate her courage in sharing her story with all of us.

[Raquel Stockey · Rating 5 out of 5]

The epitome of survival with dignity

The story in this book affected my life personally. My perspective during Jessica's journey through hell was the other side. I was a deputy jailer who dealt with "blake" on a daily basis. Reading this book is a testament to how strong of a person she is. This book is an accurate portrait of the actual events. This is an amazing glimpse into how to not only survive but to continue to live after a monstrous act was carried out.

Jessica talks about the trauma suffered by everyone in the wake of this horrific crime. I am one of many who are no longer in that profession due to the nature of this crime and having to interact with "blake" on a daily basis, maintaining the safety and security of him as required by law.

The one thing that is watered down, in my opinion, is the pure evil and narcissistic behavior of "blake" and his mother. Jessica clearly took the high ground, writing this and made a beautiful tribute to her daughters who were taken from her.

[Nancy Bauer · Rating 5 out of 5]

I found Jessica's book very well written. I already knew the heartbreaking story. I have 2 daughters that live in River Fall, WI....one in the same housing development where the murders happened. My other daughter works at the day care where Cea was going at the time of her death. My grandkids went to the same school as Amara and Sophie. I really quite dreaded reading the book, because I thought I would cry the entire time. To my surprise, I even laughed in parts!!! Jess's honesty is a breath of fresh air. It is hard to say it was a "good" book....or that I "enjoyed" it. The subject matter leaves that impossible. But I am glad I read the book and will read it again. I highly recommend the book! And I admire Jess more than words can describe!

[Christian Matson · Rating 5 out of 5]

.....

I have no words.
Read this book. It's tough and gruesome, and it shows the rise, fall, and destruction of a man who decides to end the life of his three daughters. This book also informs readers about the aftermath of a murder, how people cope, and where they go after hitting rock bottom.

[Sara Sykora · Rating 5 out of 5]

I was able to meet Jessica at her book launch last year and knew that when I read her book I needed to read it in one sitting.

What a beautiful writer she truly is. She took an unfathomable reality and brought you into her world with so much grace, honesty and strength that 99% of us couldn’t do.

I laughed at certain points at the girls’ hijinks and then I cried about things that no one should ever have to endure.

Thank you for sharing a glimpse into your life after.

[Dawn · Rating 5 out of 5]

A heartfelt story that details the lives lived behind the headlines. As a local, I knew the girls only by pictures and their wonderful park. I was working in town when I heard of the tragedy and will never forget that day. So glad Jessica wrote this book, as difficult as I imagine that was for her. Unforgettable and moving.

[Samantha · Rating 5 out of 5]

Heartwrenching first hand account of the horrors this mother has had to face. Jessica has poured her heart and soul in this debut tome, immortalizing daughters Amara, Sophia, and Cecilia for herself, family and friends.

Thank you Jessica, for sharing your girls with the world, for being strong and sharing how you've pulled through your tragedies and continue on.

[Rebecca Ann · Rating 5 out of 5]

I was 9 months pregnant when this happened. We live in SW MN so with in 4 hours of River Falls. It was all over the news and absolutely awful. As a mom of 3 plus one on the way I couldn’t believe this could happen. I give Jessica so much credit and praise for writing this and getting her girls story out there for people never to forget those 3 beautiful babies.

[Lisa Nowack · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wow! This for me was a difficult read but a wonderful read all in one. A parent of a child who has died makes you realize that what I am going through is normal even when I think I'm not feeling, doing normal.

[Snizzles · Rating 5 out of 5]

Heart wrenching! Thank you, Jessica, for sharing your story and the girls’ story. They were obviously loved and taken much, much too soon.

[Donna · Rating 5 out of 5]

Raw and honest.

[Suzanne Daggett · Rating 5 out of 5]

A difficult book to read but so well done.

[Christy Aufderhar · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thank you Jessica for having the strength & courage to write this book. I am a local and I also work at the same place you work. When I heard from a co-worker that you had written a memoir I made sure that the local library purchased copies on preorder. Because I requested the library purchase/order them I was able to be the first library patron to read the first copy received (I'm just slow at rating and reviewing books!). I am now recommending friends, family, and co-workers read it.
I saw the headlines in 2012 and I was so incredibly heartbroken for you. I have three girls of my own and you lived through what would be my worst nightmare. I was smiling when you talked about your girls and describing their personalities and in tears when things turned evil. This book was honest and raw and had to take immense courage to share your personal story & your life with the world. Thank you for giving us a glimpse of what your beautiful girls were like. My girls love playing at Tri-Angels playground and they know that the playground is in honor of three angels Amara, Sophie, and Cecilia.

[Kelsey Shehow · Rating 5 out of 5]

This story is a punch to the gut, I surely wish it wasn’t true. I won’t soon be forgetting the nightmare that Jessica had to live through after losing her three daughters in the most horrific way. She is the true definition of a survivor to continue to fight for her own life even on those dark and empty days without her sweet girls. Makes me hug my daughter even tighter…😢 This is a story of resilience in the face of evil and how God can make miracles happen in the midst of immense trauma.

[Laura Jo · Rating 4 out of 5]

Filled in the details of a local sad story of domestic violence.

[Michelle · Rating 5 out of 5]

I think about these three girls so often. I’m glad their mom wrote a memoir. What a tough read but a great book to keep the memory of the tri-angels alive.