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Christine U. Cowin
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My Secret Self: Trials and Tribulations of an Innocent – Book One Kindle Edition

by Christine U. Cowin (Author) Format: Kindle Edition
4.8 out of 5 stars 11 ratings
My Secret Self is an internalised story of my life, and my impressions of the world around me. I kept my views of that world, and of other people, a secret. I felt misunderstood. If I shared my views, I felt I’d be laughed at. I would keep my biggest secret, a secret. I saw magic in nature, and nature could be trusted to support me in my times of trouble.

Our family lived only as individuals; we lived in a world of pretence, lies, shame, guilt, and conditionings, under a grief imposed on us. Innocence was lost due to the manipulations of my grandmother, through her fears of being isolated.

As I observed these people, I knew my life would be different. I coped by observing others and realising this is not how a family should be.
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  1. Book 1 of 3
    My Secret Self
  2. Print length
    284 pages
  3. Language
    English
  4. Accessibility
    Learn more
  5. Publication date
    September 16, 2018
  6. File size
    2.1 MB
  7. Page Flip
    Enabled
  8. Word Wise
    Enabled
  9. Enhanced typesetting
    Enabled
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Editorial Reviews

Review

Review from Holly Smith author of "The Billabong Games"Is a delightful book and very well written. It flows easily because it's so exciting and it is written with great knowledge of language and the flow of the words is brilliant. Christine has written her story in chronological order about her childhood and that in itself is an absolute delight, even with those in her family and the things they used to do. In the background is trauma that Christine had to live through, but the background does not in any way diminish the rest of the manuscript; how she has overcome it is an inspiration to anybody who has to overcome this trauma. It was trauma perpetrated by a family member in whom Christine had trust, and that trust was broken because of what he did to her; and yet despite this, it is still a book of great enjoyment with well-written, lovely little narratives about her childhood, and also the joys of childhood are expressed very beautifully. Everybody should have a childhood like this because it was such a good time, except for this one traumatic thing; yet Christine has chosen to decide that she will not let that ruin her life; and any other children and grown-ups who have had this trauma of being molested by another person, they could learn a lot from Christine's example. Christine has shown great courage and fortitude to be able to overcome this very traumatic time of her life and write a book about it, and not a book which is maudlin in any way; it is a book which states what happened, and almost not from an objective point of view, because it would have been for any child a most traumatic event or events. But she has shown great resilience in deciding (and here is the key word, deciding) to not let those events of childhood ruin her life, and for that, it is much to be commended; not only for telling this tale but for these delightful insights into her childhood with her family members. The writing is of such a high caliber that anyone would be glad to read this book, and anybody who does not have Christine's book would be very well advised to get it, because it shows insight into certain things that people hush, hush about and Christine has come out boldly and made it known in her book how she lived through these traumas and managed through great fortitude of character to overcome this in her adulthood. Christine is much to be recognized and praised for being able to do this with what has happened, and I hope you all enjoy reading; "My Secret Self" by Christine Cowin.

From the Author

My Secret Self: Trials and Tribulations of an Innocent. Read this surprising book and learn of the protagonist's experiences. Secrets, hidden things, the forbidden revealed. Discover now her darkest secrets. This book is guaranteed to inspire you.

Product details

  • ASIN ‏ : ‎ B07HFKJDVB
  • Accessibility ‏ : ‎ Learn more
  • Publication date ‏ : ‎ September 16, 2018
  • Language ‏ : ‎ English
  • File size ‏ : ‎ 2.1 MB
  • Simultaneous device usage ‏ : ‎ Unlimited
  • Screen Reader ‏ : ‎ Supported
  • Enhanced typesetting ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • X-Ray ‏ : ‎ Not Enabled
  • Word Wise ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • Print length ‏ : ‎ 284 pages
  • ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-0648401315
  • Page Flip ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • Book 1 of 3 ‏ : ‎ My Secret Self
  • Customer Reviews:
    4.8 out of 5 stars 11 ratings

About the author

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Christine U. Cowin

Christine U. Cowin

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Born in Australia, one of three siblings. I am a Spiritual Coach. I am an intuitive coach who works on a spiritual level. My life experiences have given me a true insight into life and I have a deep understanding of people. An inner calling lead me to Istanbul, Turkey where I lived for six years. There I found the inspiration to write my books. Traveled most of Turkey alone. There are reviews on Amazon UK, USA, Canada, Australia and on my website.

Life is a journey full of experiences.

Customer reviews

4.8 out of 5 stars
11 global ratings

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Customers say

Customers find the book inspiring and incredibly captivating, with one review providing a deep look at Cowin's young life. They appreciate its strength, with one customer noting it held them from start to finish.

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4 customers mention "Heartwarming"4 positive0 negative

Customers find the book heartwarming and inspiring, with one customer noting how it provides a deep look at Cowin's young life, while another mentions how it goes into detail about family members.

"...This made the book incredibly captivating and made the writing easy to read, even if the subject matter was not always easy to get through...." Read more

"...in this book the issues at hand are often extremely important and interesting...." Read more

"...The book comes down to family. Cowin goes into detail about her family members, her relationships to them, and is unafraid, to be honest about the..." Read more

"...Thank God there is more communication and understanding between family members today...." Read more

4 customers mention "Strength"4 positive0 negative

Customers praise the book's strength, with one noting it held them from start to finish and another mentioning it survived rough handling.

"...The subject matter of this book is very tough and intense, this is important to keep in mind while reading...." Read more

"...covering we find it is not so fragile and that is has outlasted some rather rough handling, bumps and bruises both that have effected both the..." Read more

"...She shows hope and inner strength that is truly awe-inspiring. I was captivated by her story and brought to tears by her courage and honesty...." Read more

"What can I say, this book held me from start to finish...." Read more

Top reviews from the United States

  • Emerson
    5.0 out of 5 stars A Powerful Story
    Reviewed in the United States on May 24, 2019
    Verified Purchase
    My Secret Self: Trials and Tribulations of an Innocent – Book One is a true story about the life of author Christine U. Cowin. The book details her life as she grew up on a farm in Australia. The book is a deep look at Cowin’s young life. The story does jump around a little bit, but for the most part, it is the chronological account of her young life, which includes her mother leaving her and her sister behind to escape their physically abusive father, and the sexual abuse that Christine suffered in her mother’s absence. The subject matter of this book is very tough and intense, this is important to keep in mind while reading. I was very impressed by Cowin’s ability to express herself and the traumatic and isolating events of her childhood in such a clear, meaningful, and hopeful way. She is not afraid to let out the truth of what happened and goes into detail about her own mental state during her experiences. I found myself, horrified, crying, and heartbroken throughout the book because of what she was put through at such a young age, but her writing shows just how strong she is. The book is written in a very story-like manner so that while reflective, Cowin gets you directly into the head of her young self. This made the book incredibly captivating and made the writing easy to read, even if the subject matter was not always easy to get through. From beginning to end this book is a shocking yet inspiring story. Cowin has clearly put her full self into this book, and I am awe-inspired by her courage to put her experience into words for others to read. This book is an incredible read. I would highly recommend this book to anyone who enjoys reading true stories about overcoming trauma.
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  • The Book Dragon
    4.0 out of 5 stars To Thine Own Self
    Reviewed in the United States on October 25, 2019
    Verified Purchase
    Hello My Fellow Book Dragons, welcome to our Time Travelling day of the week, Throwback Thursday. Our Gem this evening is covered in dust, and we must brush it gently, remove the grains, and expose the black and blue veins that run through this seemingly fragile Opal-like stone. As we brush away the covering we find it is not so fragile and that is has outlasted some rather rough handling, bumps and bruises both that have effected both the inside and outside of this one. It took a very long time to mine it. The Miner is Christine U. Cowin, who dug deep and long to find this Gem, to polish it, to bring it forth and to bear it forward that we might observe it in a clearer light.
    My Secret Self is book 1 in Christine’s own biography of a journey of self discovery, and her childhood. It is not always easy to read. She was raised in a household where hugs, kisses and cuddles were not easily passed out to little children. Where harsh words and slaps were more likely to be passed out than a lullaby or a gentle touch. Her matriarchal grandmother could have ridden her father like a canoe and paddle him along the lagoon they lived near. To Christine’s mother, her grandmother was more dangerous than anyone of the deadly creatures in the Australian bush, the way she controlled Christine’s father to abuse his own wife.
    Christine is brutally honest about all manner of abuse that went on in their home. Not only physical, but mental, verbal, physical, emotional and sexual. It came from every direction. And, as is typical in an abusive environment, everyone abused everyone else at some point. And, just as typical, everyone seemed to get along and show some affection or at least get along with everyone else at some point.
    Christine pulls no punches whether talking about her parents, her grandmother, her two siblings or her extended family and how far the cycle stretched. She explains how it effected her personally when it came to her own physical and emotional maturation, her relationships with both the opposite and same sex and her internal struggles to find herself and her place in her corner of the world.
    By that same token there is a lot of fun in the book. She describes rural life in Australia in the 1950’s, 60’s and 70’s. Living in the country, caravan vacations, hit music, fashions and all the rest and I thoroughly enjoyed stepping back in time.
    I liked this book. I liked it’s honesty and her spirit of perseverance. I could see many beings I have known throughout my long life in the people she described and I liked many of them. This is a book One can relate to. She talks of her Auntys’ and how they effected her life, the seamstress, the career women, the one who wasn’t such a great mother, but was a fun aunt to be around. These women affected her greatly and helped to form who she became. Aunts are often not given credit for the influence they can hold over their nieces and nephews lives. I have a couple I love very dearly and influenced me greatly.
    I only gave this book 4 Flames for one reason. Christine alludes several times to believing in some form of reincarnation, but never gives much detail. This detracts from the book because it is not very important at this stage as there are two other books in the series. It often distracted me from what I was reading at the time, as it got me thinking about that instead of the issue at hand. And in this book the issues at hand are often extremely important and interesting. She states at the end of this book, in the prologue that more will be explained in the next two books. I believe it would have been better then, to have left mentioning the reincarnation until the second book when she might have gotten into that a bit more. But please do not let this keep you from reading the book. It was a very good read.
    Until tomorrow I remain your humble Book Dragon, Drakon T. Longwitten
    I received a copy from the author of this book in exchange for an honest review.
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  • Breanna A.
    5.0 out of 5 stars Powerful and Heart Warming
    Reviewed in the United States on June 7, 2019
    Verified Purchase
    The book, My Secret Self: Trials and Tribulations of an Innocent – Book One, is a powerful and often heartbreaking account of author Christine U. Cowin’s life. The book, which was published on September 16th of 2018, follows Christine’s childhood. The book comes down to family. Cowin goes into detail about her family members, her relationships to them, and is unafraid, to be honest about the conflicts, the lack of connection, and the physical, mental, and sexual abuse. Through Cowin’s voice, both when she is writing in the head of her young self, or her current self reflecting on her life, you can see the inner strength she has. I was astounded by the way that she is able to look back and see the reasons behind her family members actions. Showing them with their faults and praises with understanding. When it comes down to it, Cowin loves her family but knows that she needs to express her story no matter the trauma. The true story that Cowin weaves before us through her words is incredibly interesting. Cowin had a childhood that in many ways is unlike others but also is a relatable experience to those that struggle with their familial relationships. Growing up on a farm in Australia, Cowin was raised in part by her controlling grandmother while her young parents dealt with their own issues. Her tale is one that expresses an important and hidden part of too many children’s lives. The book covers this horrifying abuse that Cowin faced, but Cowin writes this book in a way that is inspiring. She shows hope and inner strength that is truly awe-inspiring. I was captivated by her story and brought to tears by her courage and honesty. I would highly recommend this book and would give it a five-star rating.
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Top reviews from other countries

  • James Davidson
    5.0 out of 5 stars A touching and honest appraisal of a courageous woman.
    Reviewed in the United Kingdom on December 4, 2018
    Verified Purchase
    This book is a million light years away from my accustomed reading list. That said, this is a warm hearted, honest and gratifying tale that delves into the life and times of a woman who has overcome hardship, turmoil and adversity. As I read this, I found myself relating to stories such as 'Philomena', perhaps even 'Flowers in the Attic' and 'The Color Purple' and even a nod to the recent movie 'Brooklyn.' This is a story of self actualisation through hardship, and for that there is universality in her tale. This is a commendable piece of writing.
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  • Amazon Customer
    5.0 out of 5 stars Beautiful story
    Reviewed in Canada on February 3, 2019
    Verified Purchase
    I met Christine thru a friend of mine. We connected as we are both are authors. She read my book and now I am reading hers. It is absolutely unbelievable how we live on the other sides of the world , but yet we r so connected thru simliar experiences. I always thought i was alone in my wierd but beautiful world. No i am not. Everyone should read her book, i am still reading it but ready to write a review, her book makes you feel good, makes you feel good about being different. She has a great talent of expressing herself and I reccomend everyone to read it. I will write more once I am finished.
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  • Cathy Lynn Brooks
    4.0 out of 5 stars Honest and Heartbreaking
    Reviewed in Canada on December 12, 2018
    Verified Purchase
    Engaging account of a girl living in a deeply dysfunctional family. Christine endures many hardships but shows strength and reliance. I couldn’t put it down.
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