PRISONERS IN THE SHED
It started out innocently enough...
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Having grown up in a life of childhood abuse, Bella Hope was determined to break the cycle and live a life full of passion and purpose. An enthusiastic dreamer, she viewed her future as her “second chance.”
Sadly, the results of her past could not be shaken as easily as she thought. Lured by the promise of love and acceptance to fill the voids in her soul, she married a compelling, fearless man who was also a leader in a controlling religious cult.
Prisoners in the Shed is the chilling, true story of Bella Hope Shiloh’s journey through the darkness of mind control and exploitation, which ultimately led to being captive in a shed in the woods for 2-1/2 years. Under his control, she struggles to survive a life barely sustainable — washing dishes in a snake-infested creek, foraging weeds for food, bathing in the rain — always praying for deliverance.
Her testimony provides a raw, uncensored glimpse into the tragic reality of domestic violence. It is also a triumphant story of a girl who, despite deprivation and terror, defied all odds and broke through to freedom with the only ally she had - hope.
“It is not the strongest who survive. It is the ones who have hope.
Because you can break the human mind. You can break the human spirit.
But those who have hope…you can’t break them. Their arsenal is far more powerful than you can ever imagine.”
"It is only when we become completely unraveled, that we find out what we are made of. What the world is made of. What God is made of."
"Desperation has a way of deconstructing our mistaken and misguided beliefs, and forcing us to face the cracks in our inadequate theories and beliefs. Ironically, it also the thing that sets us free."
"The strongest bonds are not chains or bars. They are the lies we believe. The false perceptions we hold as truth. Those are our true chains."
- REVIEWS -
"Riveting...heart-wrenching...a powerful example of resiliency... a story of hope."
KYLA THORNE, Trauma Recovery Coach
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"Bella Hope's story is an extraordinary account of hope and perseverance in the midst of astounding abuse. Her account gives great insight into how abusers operate and how one can get caught up in abusive relationships."
NAGHMEH ABEDINI PANAHI, Executive Director of Tahrir Alnisa Foundation
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"Domestic violence cloaked in religious fanaticism is a terrifying fact of modern reality. Prisoners in the Shed reads like a horror story, all the more chilling because it's true."
SARAH MCDUGAL, Author, Speaker, Abuse Recovery Coach, WildernessToWild.Com
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“A story of resilience and strength inspires and touches the heart as you read it. Shiloh shares with us an account of what is often not heard of, and often silenced by those who allow such horrific abuse to fester. Her story is likely to inspire other survivors and will challenge the status quo of how abuse festers across the world. Bella Hope’s bravery and strength shines in a story that is sure to inspire change.”
RUBEN MURIENTE, Outreach Coordinator, Interim Executive Director, Chattanooga Family Justice Center