Reviewed by Tammy Ruggles for Readers' Favorite

The Power Women Diaries: Sara's Story--The Night the Boys All Vanished by Skye Stanton Gold and Lucia Grace is a fascinating work of women's fiction. Accomplished journalist Sara Parker is on the verge of suicide following the deaths of her son and former husband during 9/11. The only thing that saves her from ending her own life is a guided meditation CD, which causes her to fall into a deep slumber. This is where the plot begins to thicken and the major themes unfold. When she awakens, she finds herself in a beautiful heaven of sorts, over a century into the future, where there is peace, love, and understanding--because it's been conceived and maintained by women only. Led by her female guide Sage, Sara is informed that this harmonious utopia exists because "the boys" (corrupt politicians and leaders that dominate the world and spread dictatorship and war) disappeared. When Sara arrives back at herself from her sleep-induced journey, she knows she must take action to make the female-centered world a reality, and starts a new women's movement with that in mind. But the drama doesn't stop there. On the contrary, it's just beginning, because now a price is on her head after upsetting the male-dominated apple cart. Can Sara survive "The Fellowship" with the help of a diverse group of women who deserve a better future?

Gold and Grace pull out the stops in this blockbuster of a novel. These authors know how to create memorable characters with a cause greater than themselves, a strong plot, and unyielding suspense. Sara is a fully-fleshed out hero that you will connect with and admire. She does and says some imperfect things, but this is what makes her relatable. As you read, you will find yourself entertaining Sara's world and will become convinced that feminine consciousness could create such a positive reality. In order to have such a utopia, you have to first imagine that it can exist, and this is what the novel does--it frees the imagination toward a new way of thinking. Sage, Sara's guide, is a wise character, and the women in Sara's life--family included--are colorful characters too. When I first started reading this, I thought, "Oh boy, it's going to be a man-hating book." But I was relieved to find out it wasn't. Hate only widens the gap between groups and interferes with worthy goals, and women do a fair share of violence and corruption. The concepts of feminine and masculine consciousness are used in this work. The good news is that this is the first book in a trilogy, so there is more to come. If you're looking for a gripping novel with something to say, get your hands on The Power Women Diaries: Sara's Story--The Night the Boys All Vanished by Skye Stanton Gold and Lucia Grace.