Book excerpt: Everyone thinks Nancy Lewiston Cooper has it all: beauty, intelligence, a loving family, a great husband, and gorgeous children. But her life is not as it appears. In the days before she met her future husband, Nancy finished her college degree and appeared to have a bright future. But when she met and fell in love with Vince, her plans changed. Unfortunately, it wasn't until her honeymoon that Nancy discovered Vince's dual personality-cruel and abusive one minute, sweet-as-can-be the next. In the months that follow, Nancy falls into a vicious cycle. To avoid the horrible, abusive confrontations with her husband, she agrees to his lifestyle-drugs, sex, alcohol, and her complete submissiveness. Nancy believes that if she has a baby, her husband's disposition will improve. But things do not change, even when Nancy becomes pregnant with their second child. Feeling isolated, depressed, and fragile, Nancy struggles to hang onto her sanity. Poignant and inspirational, Private Scars tells the story of one woman's battle to overcome the emotional and physical trauma of spousal abuse and regain control of her life.