A Family Secret My Shocking True Story Of Surviving A Childhood In Hell

‘Each time my mother laid a finger on me... it was another step into the jaws of hell. Her abuse, more so than any other, destroyed me. It was the ultimate betrayal.’

A shocking true story about familial betrayal, horrifying secrets and when justice prevails. It took three decades before Maureen felt able to talk about her dark past. Growing up in an abusive household, she was sexually assaulted by her mother, stepfather and brother for years on end. After giving birth to a son as a result of a rape, she thought that maybe, just maybe, the baby would save her. Tragically, he suffered a cot death soon after his birth, leaving Maureen devastated. Years later, with Maureen heartbroken and tormented by her childhood, her family still had not been charged with the deeply unsettling crimes they committed. That is until Maureen had the bravery and courage to approach the police. In the trying investigation that followed, Maureen's lost son once again appeared to save her, proving integral to the evidence. This heart-breaking, but ultimately uplifting tale is proof that even in our darkest moments, hope can still be found.

The traumas of childhood neglect and sexual abuse cannot be left behind when victims mature into adults. Too often, those adults repeat the crimes once perpetrated against them, depend on substances to dull the pain of memory, or choose partners similar to the adults who once abused them. Is there a way out of this darkness? Carol D. Levine, in her heartrending and yet hopeful memoir, Panic Child, reveals her childhood of parental neglect, sexual abuse, and the stranger who raped her, and her ascent from the depths of this terrible childhood to a life of service to children who suffered their own nightmares. The strong and steady voice of author Levine is the most powerful reminder that nobody is obliged to repeat the sins of those who harmed us, and that with support and a will to overcome trauma, we can heal from the deepest wounds and live loving, healthy, productive lives.

After years of physical and mental abuse, Jade thought her kindly foster mother would be the answer to her prayers. She was wrong ... this is her staggering true story.

Social welfare problems.

You only get one chance to live your life as a child, but Lily was never given that chance; her childhood was taken from her before it ever begun. From the age of four, when she was first sexually abused, her life changed forever; when she walked through the institution’s doors in Ireland, her life continued along the same path that has destroyed her soul. Her emotional pain is as strong today as it was the day it began and will never leave her alone.“When I go to sleep it’s in my head and when I wake up I can see it in the mirror and I am only waiting to die.” A child abuse story that will stay with you forever and one that you will talk about for many years to come, The Girl Nobody Wants is a harrowing true story that will appeal to fans of biographies and fans of Jodi Picoult. It has been compared to Dave Pelzer’s A Child Called It, Damaged by Cathy Glass and The Kid by Kevin Lewis.

It happened one night not long after that holiday. I think they had been out but I'm not sure. I remember I was sleeping in my bed when the noises of my mum and him getting home awoke me. Suddenly, my bedroom door opened but it wasn't my mum. I didn't know where she was. It was him. I pretended to be asleep. He came to the side of the bed and I didn't know what was happening but my mind told me to stay still. He pulled the covers back, I didn't move. I kept my eyes closed. My heart felt like it was jumping out of my chest. He lifted my legs apart and I let them move. He pulled up my nightdress and pulled my pants down. I didn't even try to open my eyes. Imagine being an innocent 7-year-old girl with a broke, single mum. Now imagine your mum meets a man that can give her a nice house and a better life in exchange for you. That's what happened to me. For years I suffered neglect and psychological and sexual abuse from him, with my mum being a silent witness. I had No One to Save Me, yet I survived.

..."This book will allow anyone to change fear to courage and speak out no matter what the situation...I felt disgust and hate for that monster and such sadness for the author, ALL at the same time! It was difficult to put down and has changed the way I communicate with my daughter because all people should know they can overcome ANY obstacle in life after reading this!" ... G. Vigil / Natalia, TX. ..."A MUST READ for every survivor and a wake up call for parents...Let's end the cycle!" ... "Tayla" / Tampa, Florida. ..."The author made her tragic story so relatable you truly feel her pain and sorrow! Her ability to overcome and seek justice after so many years made me proud of her." ... D. Tompson / also a survivor / Houston, TX. ..."Even though I found the story very disturbing and sad, it was so well written that I couldn't put it down. There's no doubt that we need to learn more about these pedophiles and help protect the children of this country." ..."Tom B." / U.S. Army Veteran, 6 years of proud service / Columbia, SC. Website: http: //www.outskirtspress.com/donttellmommy

AN ABUSIVE MOTHER Raised in the suburb of Riverside, California, twenty-year-old college student Jason Bautista endured for years his emotionally disturbed mother's verbal and psychological abuse. She even locked him out of the house, tied him up with electrical cord, and on one occasion, gave him a beating that sent him to the emergency room. His fifteen-year-old half brother Matthew Montejo also was a victim to Jane Bautista's dark mood swings and erratic behavior, but for some reason, Jason received the brunt of the abuse—until he decided he'd had enough... A SON'S REVENGE On the night of January 14, 2003, Jason strangled his mother. To keep authorities from identifying her body, he chopped off her head and hands, an idea he claimed he got from watching an episode of the hit TV series "The Sopranos." Matthew would later testify in court that he sat in another room in the house with the TV volume turned up while Jason murdered their mother. He also testified that he drove around with Jason to find a place to dump Jane's torso. A CRIME THAT WOULD BOND TWO BROTHERS The morning following the murder, Matthew went to school, and Jason returned to his classes at Cal State San Bernardino. When authorities zeroed in on them, Jason lied and said that Jane had run off with a boyfriend she'd met on the Internet. But when police confronted the boys with overwhelming evidence, Jason confessed all. Now the nightmare was only just beginning for him...

When it turns out your life is built on a lie, how do you even start to find yourself? In this stunning follow-up to A House Divided, author Donna Hill reveals one woman’s challenge to peel back the layers of her identity—and hopefully gain more than she’s lost . . . She’s a brilliant Senate candidate, a tech mogul's loving wife, and mother to two precious daughters. As a member of one of the country's most prominent families, Kimberly Maitland grew up having it all—and fighting to help those who need help most. But when journalist Zoie Crawford revealed her family's best-hidden, most shattering secret, the media firestorm and personal fallout were beyond devastating . . . Now Kimberly's campaign and reputation is in ruins. Her unforgiving husband is moving to break up their family for good. And with nowhere to go, Kimberly must take refuge with the family she never knew she had—and answer the hardest questions of her life. Who is she outside of her accomplishments and privilege? Will forging new, unexpected bonds give her the strength and courage to remake herself without losing everything else she loves? Visit us at www.kensingtonbooks.com