Book excerpt: In the small farm town of Arbor Falls, NJ, a young girl named Anelisse must convince her love-struck mother that her new husband is not the man he appears to be. Once his violent true colors are revealed, Anelisse desperately attempts to convince her mother to leave him, but to no avail. After realizing she no longer has the support of her mother, Anelisse must do what she can to protect herself, as well as her siblings, in order to make it out of the house alive. Anelisse is the chilling true story of a young New Jersey girl who struggles to survive emotional, physical, and verbal abuse at the hands of her alcoholic stepfather. Based on author Adriana Bellini's real-life battle with child abuse, Anelisse provides a chilling, detailed look inside the dysfunctional world many abused children come from. WARNING: Contains graphic violence and strong language.