Shades of Trust

by Cristiane Serruya

  A single gesture can save a child’s life.

  It’s up to us, conscious adults, to protect our and others’ children, because they are the future.

  Because they deserve.

  About the Author

  I live in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, with my husband, two teenage daughters, and Loki, my Shetland sheepdog.

  After twenty-two years of practicing law, I decided to give writing a go. And—amazingly—it was the piece that was missing in my life.

  And as confessions go, I also want to tell you that Sophia, Gabriela, and I share a few things. Apart from being able to read when I was three and starting my first University course—Fine Arts—when I was fifteen years old, I also share Sophia’s interest in preventing sexual abuse and violence against children and women. My main thesis at Law School was on this subject, in June 1991.

  I love to connect and hear from readers, so feel free to stalk me online!

  And if you want to receive my very, very sporadic emails about new releases and promotions, you can sign-up on my website.

  Cristiane Serruya Website

  Cristiane Serruya Facebook Fan page

  Cristiane Serruya on Goodreads

  @CrisSerruya on Twitter

  CristianeSerruya on Instagram

  CrisSerruya on Pinterest

  You can also find my other books on my Amazon Page

  The Modern Man, A philosophical divagation about the evil banality of daily acts

  Love Painted in Red

  From the Baroness’s Diary

  The Kingdom of Perfection, my first children’s book

  The Essential Woman, A philosophical divagation on the perennial good of the daily acts

  Please, consider leaving a review. It will help other readers discover Sophia, Ethan, and Alistair’s story, and I’ll be grateful.

  I hope you’ve enjoyed reading this book as much as I’ve loved writing it.

  Acknowledgements

  First of all, I’d like to thank Margarete Bianchi. Thank you, thank you. A hundred times thank you. For believing when no one else did, for encouraging when I faltered, for your trust in my capacity.

  I found many, many friends along this long and arduous road and here I thank them, in alphabetical order, so as not to hurt feelings, and because you all are as important as the next one. If I forgot to name someone, believe me, you’ll always be etched in my heart.

  To my terrific beta readers, whose inestimable opinions helped me a lot: Eugenia Jaeger, Haylee Tippett, Leta Fisher, Natalie Gerber, Niyati Mavinkurve, Stacey Price, and Svetlana Len. Also, I have to thank my special Advanced Readers: Aarati S, Jillian Michel, Linda Sims, Sónia Costa, and Tammy Thompson.

  The precious bloggers, whose arms were always opened to interview me, post my opinions, read, review, and promote my books; love and hate Sophia, Ethan, Alistair, and even myself; without you, the Trust Series would still be lying somewhere in the back of my drawer, collecting dust: Ana Neves at O Mundo Encantado dos Livros; Braine at TalkSupe; Divya Nambiar at Criti…que…not…Criti...cize; Gillian Pemberton at Tatooed Book Review; John Henneshy at The Write Thought; Mason Canyon at Thoughts in Progress; Melissa Robles, at The Reader and the Chef; Michelle Bowman at We Love Kink; Nyiati Mavinkurve at Books, Food and Me; Sónia Costa at SBookLover Reviews; Samantha Martin at FairieTaleBooks; Roxanne Roads at Bewitching Book Tours; WildAboutBones, at Cover Reveals and @CoverReveals; all the bloggers on Facebook, and so many, many others that these pages wouldn’t be enough.

  To a few Goodreads nominated friends—you represent many others too—who have helped me along the road when I needed it. Thanks, you are awesome:

  Aaron Powell, for all your tips, and for our many chats. Ah! And yeah, for teaching me that sometimes saying ‘F*** you, bitch!’ is okay and relieving, although I’m not quite used to it yet. ‘Damn you!’ still sounds better, Marine;

  Dolors Casas, for gifting me Fernando Pessoa’s The Book of Disquiet. It has become one of bedside-shelf books; and especially for your inspiring and sensitive insights regarding Vietnam and Cambodia—and the artistic photos taken by your boyfriend, Aitor Bòrras—which took me there when my broken foot kept me here, chained to a wheelchair;

  Edward M Wolfe, for being so intuitive, sensible, and a witty man, who knows how to treat women. Your messages always put a smile on my face and make me laugh. You are a rare specimen;

  Jillian Michel, for your incomparable contribution, catching the last infernal typos, which drive me crazy; and for your impressive punctual remarks, which made me feel that I had done the correct thing, even if that was making you cry. Sorry, dear, but pregnancy hormones are deliciously infectious;

  Leta Fisher, the blonde, smiling mermaid, for taking such extraordinary photos of my books;

  Niyati Mavinkurve, for your discernment and understanding of the Indian female society. Don’t you ever stop dreaming;

  Sagar Das (Silvermoon), my intelligent, geek friend, for your assistance dissecting the confusing world of White, Gray, and Black hackers and auto-destroying passwords;

  Sónia Costa, for being so true about this illusional world of writing. I guess we discovered its truthfulness together;

  Steve Sckenda, for all the magnificent reviews he wrote on his Goodreads profile. They made me think and learn, and this is absolutely priceless.

  And all my fans, for their incredible reviews: Thanks for your time dedicated to writing them.

  For my right and left hands—and feet too:

  - My cover designer, Renata Fontanive, for being, from the start, my most constant and reliable partner, helping me not only with the awesome covers, but with the elegant personal cards, bookmarks and tips. You’re the best.

  - My funny, patient, loving editor, Edward M Wolfe, who was always available; who chatted and laughed with me; who supported and virtually hugged me through my crying moments; who explained all my doubts and answered asap all my emails, no matter if he had already eaten or not; during day, night, and weekends; and for his icy-cold editing, not applauding me but for once (you, ogre!) as he was searching for the flaws, mistakes, wrong tones and pointing them out to me, so, in his own words: ‘To remove the fly from the ointment.’ Thank you, Edward, I’m sure you made my manuscript way better and consistent as it could never be without your professional—and friendly—editing. You have a special place in my heart;

  NOW!

  For the hearts of my heart, in chronological order of arrival in my life, my biggest thanks:

  My parents, Sergio & Lilian Allevato, for being proud of my work;

  My brother, Sergio Allevato, my best friend, who drew the most amazing eyes for the original first cover and commented on all the others;

  My broad, six-foot-six, stubborn, loving husband, Raphael, who hated this series with all his might. In spite of his many official—and unofficial—complaints against it, he supported and helped me, as any other husband wouldn’t do, through all those long two-and-a-half years.

  My brilliant, older daughter, Raphaela, who cried and hated me when I killed Ethan’s dog in the first installment, but encouraged me when I couldn’t kill Ethan. Go figure!

  My blue-eyed, spirited, youngest daughter, Giovanna, who since she was a toddler called my books and my Kindle ‘The enemy’, and was so much jealous of this series, but never failed to like my FB posts;

  And last but not least, a prayer to my real companion on those long, long hours, Duda, my husband’s British Bulldog, who slept and snored through all those lines. He passed away just a few days after I finished this last book. I miss you, Duda, and I hope you are in Heaven;

  I feel that I have completed a very important stage of my life and that without your help I wouldn’t be here now.

  For all of you, who have accompanied me on this journey, my heartfelt thanks.

 

 

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