A Groundbreaking Book by Dr. Rosilda Alves

A Book That Doesn’t Just Speak—It Listens, Cries, and Fights With You

There are books that entertain, some that teach, and then there are those that hold your heart in their hands while whispering, “You are not alone.” Garden of Secrets by Rosilda Alves is the latter. It’s not just a book. It’s a mirror, a lifeline, a spiritual compass for those lost in silence, trauma, and emotional chaos.

Rosilda Alves doesn’t write to impress—she writes to heal. This book is the product of firewalks through pain, abandonment, betrayal, and deep soul searching. She strips away societal noise, religious pretense, and emotional gloss to reveal what so many feel but cannot name: the ache to be seen, the battle to be heard, and the sacred process of healing.

With searing honesty and unfiltered faith, Garden of Secrets takes readers through cycles of grief, forgiveness, spiritual awakening, and personal truth. Alves explores trauma not as a buzzword, but as a lived experience—unpacking how pain shapes identity, distorts relationships, and disrupts faith.

But this isn’t a book of despair. It’s about hope. And hope, as Alves reminds us, isn’t a delicate flower. It’s a wild vine that grows through concrete when nothing else will.

This isn’t a guidebook or a sermon. It’s a friend you didn’t know you needed. It’s a journal written in the margins of life’s hardest chapters. It’s the voice saying, “You’re not crazy. You’re courageous.”

Garden of Secrets by Rosilda Alves

About the Book

Garden of Secrets by Rosilda Alves

Garden of Secrets is not for those looking for clichés or quick fixes. It’s for those ready to wrestle with truth. It’s for the person who’s tired of spiritual shortcuts and emotional suppression. It’s for anyone who’s ever asked, “Does anyone see what I’m carrying?”

If you’ve been surviving silently, this book is your permission to speak. If you’ve been doubting your worth, it’s your invitation to rediscover it. And if you’ve been praying for something real—

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Incest and sexual abuse occur in all cultures and classes, leaving destructive and lifelong consequences. It is particularly challenging to address when the harm is inflicted by a family member, creating a painful dilemma between helping one family member and punishing another. However, it is crucial to acknowledge this silent cancer eating away at the souls of girls and boys in the United States, Cabo Verde, its Diaspora, and global communities for multiple generations.

This book focuses on the Cabo Verdean community because, unlike many cultures that have begun to discuss and understand the detrimental effects of sexual abuse, much of the Cabo Verdean population—particularly in the most rural, impoverished, and less educated areas—remains in denial. Many make excuses, and the general population often chooses to minimize its impact. This denial stems from the patriarchal nature of Cabo Verdean society, where male privilege dominates and negative behaviors are excused. Most Cabo Verdean children are expected to obey and respect adults and remain silent. When incest occurs, these children feel alone, scared, confused, and usually remain quiet, unable to voice their pain.

It is time to change the current status, to move from protecting the perpetrator to nurturing, protecting, and loving the victim(s) to prevent further destruction of our children’s spirits. Although the book primarily focuses on females, the information provided is also applicable to male victims. Incest among boys is prominent in all cultures and classes and is also present in the Cabo Verdean community. Dr. Rosilda Alves acknowledges their pain and suffering, emphasizing that while the book focuses on one particular culture, its insights and guidance are relevant to all collectivist cultures.

This book is for survivors of sexual abuse, their families, communities, and anyone dedicated to supporting and protecting victims. It provides hope, encouragement, and practical avenues to begin the long-overdue dialogue on sexual abuse, aiming to create a safer world where trauma, assault, and abuse are recognized and addressed as the destructive forces they are.

Topics Covered

Definition of Incest: Understanding what incest is and its implications.

Psychological Impact of Sexual Abuse: Exploring how sexual abuse affects the mental health of survivors.

How Sexual Abuse Impacts Children: Discussing the specific ways sexual abuse affects children.

Psychological Signs: Identifying the psychological signs of sexual abuse in victims.

Damages to Children, Adolescents, and Adults: Examining the long-term damages caused by sexual abuse.

Psychological Impact: Delving into the deep psychological scars left by sexual trauma.

Protect the Survivors: Emphasizing the importance of protecting and supporting survivors.

It’s Everyone’s Responsibility to Protect the Victim: Calling for collective responsibility in safeguarding victims.

Healing: Offering pathways and methods for healing from sexual abuse.

Community Responsibility: Advocating for community involvement in addressing sexual abuse.

Community Changes: Proposing necessary changes within communities to protect children.

Hope for the Future: Inspiring hope and action for a safer future for all children.

HELPING READErS FIND COURAGE

Dr. Rosilda Jame’s Hope for Her Readers

Dr. Rosilda Alves is a clinical psychologist, survivor, and fierce advocate for truth-telling in places where silence has ruled for too long. With a Psy.D. in Clinical Psychology and master’s degrees in Marriage & Family Therapy and Sociology, she blends lived experience with clinical insight to create writing that is both unflinchingly honest and deeply compassionate.

Born in Cabo Verde and raised in the U.S. from age 11, Rosilda’s own journey is marked by trauma, healing, and spiritual transformation. Her personal story is one of resilience forged in adversity—turning pain into purpose and wounds into wisdom. She is the author of Secrets, Believe, and Look at Me, three powerful children’s books designed to offer young survivors a path toward safety and understanding.

Rosilda doesn’t write from a safe distance—she writes from the front lines of emotional reality. Her mission is simple but radical: to help people feel seen, heard, and empowered. Her work invites others to speak, to heal, and to reclaim their voice—especially in a world that too often teaches us to stay quiet.

GARDEN OF SECRETS By Dr. Rosilda Alves

“Too many children feel like they are all alone when it comes to sexual abuse. In Dr. Alves’ book, Garden of Secrets, exposes the issue of sexual abuse in a particular community which in my view was so important because those victims and families can better relate to the issue at hand which in turn gives them the power to say enough is enough.” – Socorro H. | Amazon

“This book is what was missing to help many find their voices to feel empowered to speak up of the abuse that so many want to keep a secret. The reading is so simple, non-judgmental and yet with so many examples that help anyone understand the importance of not having secrets.” – Sandra M.  | Amazon

“We need to put a stop to these people who are ruining the lives of many innocent children. They are corrupting & breaking them down before they have any opportunity to experience life and happiness. We must protect our children from these wolves in sheep’s clothing. Your book is amazing.” – Chris B.  | Amazon