Shattered Dreams Audiobook By Irene Spencer cover art

Shattered Dreams

My Life as a Polygamist's Wife

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Shattered Dreams

By: Irene Spencer
Narrated by: Laural Merlington
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Irene Spencer did as she felt God commanded in marrying her brother-in-law, Verlan LeBaron, becoming his second wife. When the government raided the fundamentalist, polygamous Mormon village of Short Creek, Arizona, Irene and her family fled to Verlan's brothers' Mexican ranch. They lived in squalor and desolate conditions in the Mexican desert with Verlan's six brothers, one sister, and numerous wives and children. Listeners will be appalled and astonished but, most amazingly, greatly inspired. Irene's dramatic story reveals how far religion can be stretched and abused, and how one woman and her children found their way out, into truth and redemption.©2007 Irene Spencer (P)2007 Tantor Religious Women Marriage Emotionally Gripping Heartfelt Inspiring Mormon

Critic reviews

"Engrossing....An intense story." ( Kirkus)
"Nothing short of astonishing....Emotional and shocking." ( Publishers Weekly)
Captivating Memoir • Emotional Journey • Superb Reading • Fleshed Characters • Inspiring Story • Honest Account
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Loved every second of it. What a sick twist of religion. I cannot imagine this life. I recently met Irene's daughter. I can hardly wait to see Donna again to talk about her life as the child of Irene. My heart is a little heavy knowing this story is real and women have experienced all of this.

Facinating

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I wasn’t quite sure what to expect when I decided to listen to this book. I knew somewhat about the practice. I was never really interested in it because I thought it portrayed women as rather sad and the men as rather abusive. Listening to the story was really interesting. I enjoyed the narrator quite a bit. Her portrayals of the interactions between Irene and her husband were great. I’m sure the story could’ve been five times as long and still not been able to cover all of the feelings and the time the past for Irene.
If you want to know more about Mormons and polygamy, this may not be the best history, but as an overall story of one woman’s life, it is very interesting.

I couldn’t put it “down”…

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Trying to figure out why she was a victim? I am not a member of any form of Mormon church, but grew up in Murray Utah and remember many of the families she speaks of in this book. Even though she had been born into polygamy her mother and family had left and actively discouraged her from following that path. It was her choice to pursue LeBaron and become his 'wife' and then she spends the rest of the book listing on why this was a bad choice. If she had married Glen I wonder if she would have written a book on that bad choice. There are polygamus wives who had little or no choice of who they married or when they married and truly suffer and do without and are treated as little more than property but it seems like LaBaron's first wives had a choice and made it. Kinda like marrying a drunk and then complaining they drink.

I remember some of the families

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Wow! I couldn’t shut this book off! What an incredible story. I usually don’t like books that are so heavy, but Irene weaved enough comedy and hope in her story to keep me from completely despairing for her and her family. Such a well written and inspiring story about one tough woman finding her true freedom. Bravo!

Pleasantly surprised!

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I found this interesting but it dragged on about the same thing over and over, how sad, lonely and jealous she was as a polygamous wife. I think it should have included more about the actual religion. I also cringed every time the reader mispronounced “lived”.

Could have been more detailed

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Could'nt turn it off! One second I was totally exasperated with the author for putting up with the ^*&%$ she put up with, the next second I was feeling her pain and could understand. My only criticism was that I would have liked to have heard more---like what was going on with the other wives. The book was very detailed about the first half of her life, and then kind of sped through the second half.Definately facsinating and enjoyable to listen to.

Great!

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If you could sum up Shattered Dreams in three words, what would they be?

Oh My Goodness

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This book was amazing, and I don't use that word loosely...I was with her the entire book. I recommended this book to anyone and plan on reading it several more times.

SO SO SO GOOD!

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This story had me feeling every form of emotions there are.....happiness, anger, betrayal, laughter, sadness, anxiety....and so much more. It's so hard to believe what someone can bare in their life. I am in complete awe of Irene Spencer and am thrilled that she finally knows the love and respect of one man and the true salvation of God the father. you are an inspiration to us all. Thank you for sharing your incredible if sad story. I will definitely recommend your story

A true testament of courage and strength

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Irene is one strong woman. Her years in polygamy are unimaginable, yet she did it because she thought it was what she had to do. I am so glad she ended up setting herself free 💗

Heart Breaking

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I’ve been on a quest as of late for information on Cults. that’s how I came upon this story and other’s about FLDS, specifically polygamists. This was so honest and heartbreaking while illuminating the abuse of Morman woman and children, especially the female children. This is extremely important information to me as an American in light of what’s happening in my country today! This Author is a great storyteller and an even greater survivor, thank you Irene for your honesty!

Captivating

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