Goldfish Dreams breaks stereotypes.  In a culture where pumped-up images of masculinity defined by domination and disconnection are increasingly prevalent, it’s refreshing and relieving to meet many of the men in Hines’ book.  By juxtaposing perpetrators and pedophiles with male characters who find strength in respect, understanding, and compassion, Hines confronts us with the reality that there is more than one way to be a “real man.”

Patrick and Sean, while imperfect, have clearly found ways to break free from the trap that traditional masculinity sets for men of all ages.  Rather than attempting to prove their manhood by putting others down or seeming indifferent, they reach out to others with care and concern.  Their relationships with Eileen, in particular, offer moving illustrations of how men and women can connect and communicate as equals, respecting each others’ strengths and boundaries and helping each other mend old wounds. 

In essence, Goldfish Dreams provides us with hope – hope that one can recover from the trauma of sexual violation, hope that we can rebuild the trust between men and women that sexual violence erodes, and hope that by transcending the confines of rigid gender roles, we can all connect more fully with our humanity and heal together.

~Jonathan C. Stillerman, Ph.D.
Co-Founder & Co-Director, Men Can Stop Rape

For some time there has been a growing movement in the realm of abuse and sexual assault prevention: men have joined forces with women and organized to battle against rape and sexual abuse. As a dedicated sexual assault counselor, author Jim Hines brings a sensitive and compassionate viewpoint to this unforgettable story about one young woman determined to face and defeat the demons that haunt her.

This book is well-written and evocative. Not many male authors have created such a true portrait of a woman in pain and trouble. Hines has done it with effortless grace and with empathy and accuracy as well. This novel is for anyone trying to reconcile the terrors of the past with the hopes of the future. I highly recommend it.

~Lori L. Lake
Midwest Book Review

In Goldfish Dreams, Jim Hines weaves a memorable fictional tale of abuse, secrets and regrets, but he also skillfully handles the topic of incest, giving hope to those dealing with the haunting memories and scars of the past.

~Nancy Arant Williams
Timeless Tales

"I have never found a book that has touched on all of the feelings and emotions that women who have been abused feel. I can not praise this book enough.  It was a pleasure to read this book and I look forward to reading many more of Jim Hines' works."

~Robin Guddendorf
Bookideas.com

Balancing great verisimilitude with thoughtful restraint, with honesty and passion, Hines brings to life one of the darkest and most difficult themes in the underbelly of the American family; he offers a poignant and yet sober new voice to the important and ever-growing genre of survival literature.

~Heinz Insu Fenkl
Author of "Memories of my Ghost Brother"

Goldfish Dreams is a complex story of a woman's sexual abuse by her brother that is written with sensitivity ... one of those books readers will not forget soon; I know I won't.

~Hattie Boyd
Scribes World Reviews

...provide[s] a realistic portrayal of rape trauma syndrome, and therefore might be useful for first-year college students or high school seniors to read and discuss.

~Pat McGann
Men Can Stop Rape

Goldfish Dreams is a fascinating book -- it is well written with excellent, realistic dialogue, and moves at a very good pace.  Eileen has to go through a lot of anguish and trauma as she examines her brother's life and her own....  There are a few surprising twists and turns as her friends get tangled up in her problems and try to help her solve them.  Hines has written a page-turner in Goldfish Dreams, and I am looking forward to reading more by this author.

~Marilyn Heyman
The Best Reviews

Goldfish Dreams is an engaging story of a coed who has been a victim of sexual abuse and her struggle to become a survivor. Although fiction, the story rings true in its presentation of the isolation, fear, confusion and denial - as well as the moments of understanding and even healing. Against these all too real dynamics, Hines crafts refreshingly nuanced characters (especially Eileen and her abuser); he skillfully captures the sometimes quirky personalities experienced during freshman year to produce a work that is both compelling and unpredictable.

~Paul Leighton, Ph.D.
Webmaster, StopViolence.com & Professor of Sociology

Jim Hines has written an excellent work of fiction about a young woman who was sexually molested by her brother.  Goldfish Dreams is an honest and realistic exploration of sexual abuse and its consequences, both to the main character and the people in her life.  Hopefully, Hines' novel will help readers who have been affected by this kind of abuse to understand and seek help for the ways it has impacted their lives.

~Vernon Wiehe, Ph.D.
Author of "Intimate Betrayal" and "What Parents Need to Know About Sibling Abuse"