Stolen Innocence by Elaine Carole
Her eyes sparkle, her smile glows and her confidence beams - twenty-first century businesswoman. Devoted mom, devoted daughter and devoted teen advocate. Elaine Carole has a message for teenagers. It can save years of torment and pain. Elaine knows. She endured that torment and pain herself. If only someone could have been there for her...
Stolen Innocence is Elaine's personal chronicle of the sexual abuse and terror that she suffered during ten years of childhood. It was Elaine's stepfather who with each visit to her bedroom, stole the innocence of her youth.
By nature, Elaine is a strong woman. When the abuse stops she moves on with her life. Although no doubt tortured on the inside, she goes about the business of being a daughter, a mom and a provider. No one on the planet, not even her mom, knows the evil that she endured. No one knows that is, until Sergeant Chris Long comes along and her story begins to slowly unravel.
The monster, for her stepfather could no longer be regarded as anything but, is suspected of molesting children in his neighborhood. Sergeant Long contacts Elaine's mom in regards to her now ex-husband. When Elaine hears what he is suspected of doing, her head pounds and her mind numbs. There is no way in the world that she wants to go down this road. For Heaven's sake, her mom, her best friend, still doesn't know!
The reason that Elaine eventually does come forward (you'll have to read the book), is in my opinion, partly responsible for her life's work today. Elaine has a daytime job, but I suspect if you ask her, her life's work is slightly different.
Rosemary and I had the privilege of sitting down to talk with Elaine. When our conversation ended, Rosemary walked up to Elaine, hugged her and said, "You are an incredible woman Elaine!" I'll add remarkable. Pick up a copy of Stolen Innocence today and find out why for yourself.
Elaine is donating a portion of the proceeds of her book to the Pinellas County Victim Rights Coalition.
Really cool inside bit of info that we personally got from Elaine that you might touch on as you read the book but knowing in advance you'll appreciate even that much more: Sergeant Chris Long is a very, very good policeman (and now detective) and a stand up, caring human being.
Ordinarily I don't mention Amazon.com book reviews of books that I review. But the one and only negative review of Stolen Innocence sends up a red flag. An English professor might take exception with parts of Elaine's work. Her story however, is so compelling and powerful, criticism of this nature slips into the background and fades irrelevant.
