Redeemed - by Penny Lane (Paperback)

About the Book

When she's abruptly snatched away from her home by a Hungarian father she does not know, four-year-old Penny finds herself in a strange, foreign household with a stepmother who alternately abuses and ignores her. Even after escaping that misery, she finds herself in yet another type of prison: fundamentalist Christianity. Ultimately, though, she finds the strength to stand up against societal and familial pressure and finds her way to happiness.

Book Synopsis

Penny is just four years old when she is snatched away from her all-American home by the Hungarian father who abandoned her when she was a baby. After facing isolation and neglect in a strange, dysfunctional household where heartache, rejection, and physical abuse rule her life, she escapes--only to find herself in a relationship with a man who's just converted to fundamentalist Christianity. Penny's road is long, winding, and often painful, but gradually she begins to listen to her inner voice, stand up for herself, and refuse to bow to the pressures of either her family or society--freeing herself to build a life on her own terms and find her way to happiness.

A rise-from-the-ashes hero's story of overcoming abuse, trauma, and unbearable odds, of being waylaid by both family and religion's promise of love, and harnessing the resilience to find the way home, Redeemed offers a rare window into Eastern European immigrant culture and reads like a page-turning thriller. Especially relevant today--a time when marginalized people are increasingly finding a voice--this memoir will serve as an inspiration to women everywhere, encouraging them to overcome their obstacles and go after their dreams.

Review Quotes

2025 Independent Press Award Winner in Memoir

"Articulate, emotional prose brings readers into the author's struggle to reclaim her inner strength and begin a new life . . ."
--Kirkus Reviews

"About trauma, lost love, and the determined push toward success, Redeemed is a powerful memoir."
--Foreword Reviews

". . . Redeemed is a highly recommended memoir that is sure to reinstate enduring hope for a better tomorrow in those who need it most."
--Readers' Favorite, 5-star review

"With unflinching honesty and raw vulnerability, this memoir offers a powerful message of hope and healing. The author's journey from victim to victor is a testament to the power of determination and our will to be happy. I was spellbound."
--Julian Guthrie, New York Times best-selling author of Alpha Girls

"A remarkably assured debut. Your heart will ache for the author of this rise-from-the-ashes memoir as you compulsively turn each page, but you'll never stop rooting for her to come out on top."
--By John J. Geoghegan, best-selling author of Hear Today, Gone Tomorrow

"Written like a thriller, told by a truth-teller, Redeemed presents an intimate portrait of a woman's survival from a traumatized and abusive immigrant family to the underbelly of American cults into freedom and awareness. Penny's honesty and pragmatic storytelling allows us to follow the facts of this twisted story and cheer for her when she finally becomes free. From this very unique story, we can feel the harrowing effects war has on generations--and how it takes lifetimes and a courageous spirit to rise above."
--Rebecca Woolf, author of All of This: A Memoir of Death and Desire

"The narrative will stir strong emotions in the reader and hopefully prompt more people to speak out and report abuse. A compelling, gripping story that ends in redemption."
--Linda Moore, author of Attribution and Five Days in Bogota

"I found myself incredibly inspired by this author's resilience and ability to overcome circumstances that were beyond her control. Much like The Glass Castle by Jeannette Walls, this memoir almost reads like a thriller."
--Corrine Pritchett, Publicist, Books Forward

"Penny Lane's memoir of childhood trauma is engrossing and terrifying. Carefully crafted and beautifully written, this memoir is a tribute to resilience and, in the end, to family and love and belonging."
--Ellen Barker, author of East of Troost and Still Needs Work

"The author had me from the start and kept me riveted throughout her harrowing story. Few among us can not only survive a painful and emotionally abusive childhood but also go on to thrive and make deep meaning of our lives. Penny Lane has done that, and has written a tour de force that will resonate with so many people. This is a book that will be spoken of for a long time."
--Joanne Greene, author of By Accident

"I was hooked from the first words of this engaging memoir--I strongly recommend it."
--Lally Pia, MD, author of The Fortune Seeker's Prophecy

"Penny Lane's memoir confronts the stark realities of childhood trauma with unflinching honesty. Though it may be triggering for some, I found myself drawn into Penny's world. This memoir is a poignant reminder that while scars may linger, they need not define us, and that true redemption lies in the courage to reclaim one's own story."
--Jude Berman, author of The Healing Zone and The Die

"Penny Lane's gripping memoir is both heartbreaking and heartening, a testament to resilience and hope. This is a page-turning journey that maintains hope through the bleakest of circumstances, and ends on a tremendously satisfying note. I highly recommend this book!"
--Ann Bancroft, author of Almost Family

"What a spectacular read; I could hardly put it down. Lane's writing is eloquent and intimate, easily drawing the reader into her world. You are in for a real treat with this remarkable book."
--Claudia Marseille, author of But You Look So Normal

"Redeemed will grab you and wrap you into a forty-eight-hour whirlwind! Be prepared to start this book and not put it down. It pulls you into an unbelievable story of trauma, sacrifice, and a true testament of a woman surviving in this patriarchal and pained world. Penny tells her story with precision, bravery, and honesty. Do yourself a favor and read it."
--Erica Tanamachi, award-winning director/producer