Publisher's Synopsis
Young Maria is a joyful, high-spirited girl who grows up on the East coast in the early 2000s. She lives with her three sisters and mother. Maria and her sisters endure poverty, emotional abuse and neglect by their mother, Regina. Regina's life is focused on her own needs, love affairs and pain killers. The irresponsible parenting leaves her children vulnerable to a predator.
Tony is a family friend that hides behind the disguise of his church and claims to be 'a man of God.' He invades the family by offering Regina help with baby-sitting, stocking the refrigerator and surprising the children with gifts. In plain sight, Tony preys on Maria. His abuse makes her become isolated, groomed and manipulated. As she grows up, Maria realizes that she is stuck under the reign of Tony's control. Will she decide to save herself? Or continue to let Tony destroy the light that is left within her?
