Beneath My Smile: Searching for Love, Peace and Happiness

"Wherever we come from, whatever has happened to us, and wherever we are now, may we accept nothing but the best that life has to offer at all times.".A raw, heart breaking, yet beautiful memoir. Anna Bella shares her story of an abusive childhood and the many struggles throughout her adult life. She lays bare her soul..She tells of the many acts of abuse she suffered as a child. She tells of the many tumultuous relationships she entered into as an adult..Fighting to keep her own family together and pursue a career; she meets many obstacles, yet she pushes forward..Despite it all, she rises and perserveres..My heart broke for her and rejoiced with her.."As beautiful as the lotus emerging from the depths of murky, muddy water , I too have emerged from the parched and unnourished cracks of my past, determined to continue to grow. I refuse to be consumed by the atrocities of my past in my search for love, freedom, and peace."

“Beneath My Smile” is a book that conscious readers have been waiting for to be written and published for a longtime. Now that this has happened, I—for one, am happy to say that it was worth the wait.“Beneath My Smile” is a journey of experiences in the life of Anna Bella, and by extension many females. I used the term “females” to highlight that many females young (babies, girls, teenagers) and old (women) have had to endure since the beginning of time, from those (their families and the government) who are entrusted to care for and protect them.Anna’s story takes place in Trinidad—a Caribbean Island and the United States. She came from privilege and wealth. Her family continues to be well known throughout Trinidad and the Caribbean. Anna’s account is an unfortunate example of what can occur when family structures—like the divorce of her parents, can cause pain and destruction in the lives of those who are the most venerable—like Anna and her sister. Because her parents’ vitriol for each other, Anna and her sister ultimately became their unwitting pawns. Because of this, her parents lost sight of Anna and her sister’s existence, which results in unmentionable incidents/acts (incest, rape, racism, ongoing abuse, violence, neglect, etc.) occurring in Anna’s life. One cannot help but feel that Anna is sinking in quicksand with her hands and legs bound, and a bag covering her heard. However, though it all she keeps a float refusing to give in.Thorough out her memoir, one cannot help but view Anna, in her teenage and adult life, as the root source of her own downfalls. These downfalls in turn also affected her relationship with her children, leads to depression, and feelings of inadequacy. Despite having a moral compass, Anna somehow still chooses the wrong path in her search for redemption and love, hence resulting in what can be deemed as a self-fulfilling prophecy.Despite it all, Anna has shown in her memoir that she has and will continue to weather-the-storm. “Beneath My Smile” is about perseverance and the ability to fight all odds despite the situation you were born into. It’s must read!!

JAW DROPPING!!! well written! GREATLY ENJOYED!

The experiences the author depicts drew me into her story. I couldn't help but want to know what would happen next. Definitely worthy reading!

Very impressed about the way she pulled her life together for her kids and her sanity .

An intriguing read indeed. "Beneath My Smile," compels the reader to immerse his/herself quickly into the author's shoes. Then inadvertently, an adventurous journey begins. A Caribbean taste!