This three-part memoir novel examines the impact of religion on the way women see themselves and their place in the world. * Synopsis of Book One - Fool Me Once (Melody Joy's Personal Mystery, Book One): On the surface, MJ appeared to be an ordinary Mormon wife with an ordinary Mormon life. But looks can be deceiving. When MJ married Walter, he said "I Do" and she thought he meant it. After all, when Mormons get married in the temple, it's for keeps: happily-ever-after lasts forever. Then Lacey - six feet tall and built like a Barbie Doll - came along and snagged Walter's attention. When MJ discovered that the one person she had trusted with her heart and her eternal soul was actually a treacherous, lying cheat, she had to decide what to do. The church discouraged divorce, she didn't want to do jail time, and she couldn't afford a hit-man. What other options are left when your fairy-tale marriage is in serious trouble? Follow MJ's adventures as she sorts out her priorities, learns how to protect her heart, and discovers things about herself and her LDS family she never knew she needed to know. * Even a relatively new-ish, western religion like Mormonism has a very structured, patriarchal approach with traditional, conservative doctrine. The status of women in the church has retrenched in some significant ways from its original relatively egalitarian position. The story MJ tells examines one modern woman's experience, from her own perspective, of living with and reconciling the dogma of her faith against her need for personal fulfillment and emotional safety. Heartbreak, trauma, joy, sorrow, enlightenment, and epiphany all combine for a compelling story that educates and enlightens. Whether you're a Mormon looking for a kindred spirit, or a non-Mormon wondering what makes your Mormon neighbor think the way she does, this book will amaze, infuriate, and surprise you, and will help you to understand how a church that appears so conventional can keep its women "in line" and suppress equality movements with relatively little effort. * A word from the author: Fool Me Once is a story about a Mormon woman trapped in a no-win situation who had to find a way to survive as best she could when everything in her life had been stacked against her. If the story sounds familiar, that's because it is. It repeats itself daily all around the world - not just in Mormon families (although latter-day saints are not exempt) but in every union where patriarchy is the defining characteristic and driving force behind the relationship. I don't have anything against Mormons. I was raised in the Mormon church myself so I've seen it from the inside out for my entire life. I write about Mormons because that's the culture I know best and it's a rich resource for observation and commentary on human relationships. MJ could have been a member of any church, anywhere. She just happens to be LDS.