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From Trauma to Triumph
In her poetic memoir, Behind the Masked Smile, author Isabella Rose takes off her mask of smiles to reveal the innermost world of a survivor of trauma and abuse. Breaking silence, she invites the reader into the real world behind the mask of happiness and into the raw, painful moments of her past that led her to a transformational healing journey of love, hope, faith, and freedom. In this collection of autobiographical essays, original artwork, and 184 short poems (written over a 30-year span, beginning when she was only 14 years old), she shares a life story that is moving, oftentimes harrowing, and ultimately inspiring.
Growing up in the “perfect” dysfunctional alcoholic family made Isabella’s world a scary and unsafe place from the start. She was told at a young age to silence her voice about what went on in the family home while trying so hard to gain the love, acceptance, and approval she needed. Raped at fourteen, she began a battle with depression, anxiety, and PTSD. Always appearing happy and bubbly, she hid well the pain and torment she suffered. As Isabella grew older, she followed in the footsteps of her mother along the path of trauma and abuse laid out by generations of ancestors before her. In this book, she shares the confusion, betrayal, abandonment, being in love with a substance user, and becoming one herself in her search for love and acceptance.
For years, her journey seemed to be leading to a dark place, until one day, she knew something had to change. Praying for the courage and strength she needed to take back her power, she learned to love herself and rise above the trauma she had experienced. Yet it was the trauma, abuse, and addiction she battled alone in silence that ultimately led her to a triumph of faith, love, healing, and a life of freedom—a life she loves, a life where she is making her dreams come true.
“This book of personal essays and poetry following the incredible transitional life of the author is a testament to the resilience of the human spirit and offers hope where there seems to be none.”
~ Jessica Lucci
5% of profits from this book's sales will be donated to Janie's Fund.
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Ray C
Wow. Just Wow
This book is amazing. Isabella is a true survivor. She shares her soul with the world letting us know that no matter how dark our world my seem we can always find the light. This book is a must read for all those who have been physically, emotionally or mentally abused.
Margaret Annie Price
An Intimate Journey to
Self-Love
In “Behind the Masked Smile”, Isabella shares with heartfelt authenticity the emotional, physical, and sexual trauma of her young life--the ongoing challenges of finding real love, overcoming substance abuse, and ultimately, discovering the power of self-love. She includes an intimate collection of poems from her early teen years and beyond, in an expression of the turmoil that surrounded her. The challenges described are familiar to many people yet may be difficult to acknowledge and ask for help. Isabella is a gifted healer of several modalities, and her book is truly an inspiration. I love her joyful heart, powerful spirit, and her message that we are never alone!
LM Read
“Victory came when I stopped looking outside myself and instead turned within to find love, acceptance, and approval.”
This is only one of the many profound lessons learned by Isabella throughout her journey to wellness and self-awareness after years of mail-treatment on so many levels. As you follow her journey through her own words, you see her struggles, growth, and finally success as she goes from a vulnerable teenager to confident and successful woman. Her vulnerability touches your heart as you walk with her, leaving you to cheer, celebrate, and cry with her as you learned more and more about her life.
Hers is story of strength, perseverance, and finally victory as Isabella battled her demons throughout the years. She inspires others to do the same through her vulnerability and emotionality of her words.
If you need to find encouragement through the difficulty of abuse, addiction, as well as physical and emotional recovery this poetic memoir is the one to read.