Forward Pass by Lorna Schultz Nicholson

Big thumbs up to the author for tackling a very "sensitive" subject in the YA world...actually, two subjects: sexual abuse and sexuality.


Parmita is at a special sports-oriented school in Canada. Though months from graduating high school, she's already living away from her parents, with a family near the school, sort of like an exchange student program but there is no exchange.

By day she plays soccer and tries to avoid her very hands-on coach, by night she battles with the growing attraction to her best girl friend. Nobody knows she's a lesbian.

Long story short, the coach does some inappropriate things and lays it out like this: if Parm tells, the coach will make sure she doesn't go to Nationals (a big deal) and will say it was all mutual (it wasn't.)

Parm being a young girl who hasn't  yet "come out" of the closet yet is faced with some really tough choices. I fell this is an important story. Many young people face stuff like this and sadly, out of shame or fear, won't speak up. This enables people in positions of power to continue abusing others, something Parm realizes. But just when she decides to take action, someone else does it for her.

Again, I appreciated the lessons in this book and the fact it brings awareness to a serious problem, not only sexual abuse, but a teenager's fear of "coming out".
What I didn't like: 1. The story was real quick in the telling. It bypassed descriptions and emotions much of the time just to lay the story quickly on the page. Don't tell me Parmita sits there and cries, tell me what she is feeling deep inside, especially after the social network thing. WOW. I felt that warranted more emotions than we were given. 2. There was no dawning awareness of her sexuality. I'm not sure when that happened. I wanted to know when she realized she was a lesbian, what that realization was like. 3. There was a beautiful opportunity here to show the Christian community should practice "tolerance" of others. I don't like the outcome with her billet/exchange family. Perfect opp was there and passed over, to educate the family.

Still a very good read though and I def think young people should read it. Three bikes. I got this from netgalley.

Is This Lady Pastor Going from the Pulpit to Prison? Or...

Please welcome J.Q. Rose as she talks about her latest mystery romance...featuring a woman pastor!

Tara and I have at least one thing in common. We like to write about strong women as our heroines. No wimps allowed. I was drawn to Tara’s historical fiction book, Ride for Rights. This YA story is about two sisters who showed everyone they could ride motorcycles across the country in 1916 where there weren’t even roadways! Amazing examples of strong women. I was especially interested in this story because I wrote a non-fiction book for girls, Girls Succeed! I profile fifteen strong women who share their journeys on paths blazing new trails for women in the workplace.

In my latest mystery/romance, Coda to Murder, my strong heroine is Pastor Christine Hobbs. Yes, she’s a female minister, an occupation where women are finally breaking down the barriers to share in the leadership of many denominations in the Christian churches.

In order to write the book, I interviewed female pastors. One woman laughed as she told me how parishioners will make comments to her they would not say to a male pastor e.g. “I like your shoes.”

When asked if it was difficult for a woman to lead a congregation, another minister said, “I have discovered that people don’t care if you are a man or a woman. They just want you to do your job well.”

Pastor Christine Hobbs wants to do her job well, but seminary school didn’t prepare her for obstacles she faces in Coda to Murder. She’s been in the pulpit business for over five years, but she never imagined herself caring for a flock that includes a pig, a kangaroo, and a murderer. 

Detective Cole Stephens doesn't want the pretty pastor to get away with murdering the church music director. His investigative methods infuriate Christine as much as his deep brown eyes attract her.

Can they find the real killer and build a loving relationship based on trust?

Thanks, Tara, for hosting me on your blog. Strong heroines rock!

About J.Q. Rose:

After writing feature articles in magazines, newspapers, and online magazines for over fifteen years, J.Q. Rose entered the world of fiction writing with her first published novella, Sunshine Boulevard, released by MuseItUp Publishing in 2011. Her latest mystery, Coda to Murder, was released in February. Blogging, photography, Pegs and Jokers board games, and travel are the things that keep her out of trouble. Spending winters in Florida with her husband allows Janet the opportunity to enjoy the life of a snowbird. Summer finds her camping and hunting toads, frogs, and salamanders with her four grandsons and granddaughter.

Connect online with J.Q.

J.Q. Rose blog

Girls Succeed blog 

Author website 

Goodreads

Pinterest 

Buy Links for Girls Succeed:

Smashwords Link http://www.smashwords.com/books/view/241825

Amazon Link  http://www.amazon.com/dp/B009NY6ZAS

Kobo Link http://www.kobobooks.com/search/search.html?q=girls+succeed%3A+stories+behind+the+careers+of+successful+women

Barnes and Noble Link http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/girls-succeed-jq-rose/1114041658?ean=2940045118033

Sony Link https://ebookstore.sony.com/ebook/j-q-rose/girls-succeed-stories-behind-the-careers-of-successful-women/_/R-400000000000000883970

Buy Links for Coda to Murder

Now available at MuseItUp Publishing- http://tinyurl.com/anax9x7

Amazon.com http://tinyurl.com/ap376tb

bn.com and major online booksellers

Ask Away Sunday: Yes, I DO Have a Bad Writing Habit...

Today's question is from M.A. Grant. He or she wants to know..."What is your best writing habit, and what is your worst writing habit (if you have one, that is)?"

My best writing habit...is...I edit as I go! Every few paragraphs I go back up and reread it and watch for errors. I'm sure my publishers and editors appreciate this as they rarely get MSs from me full of errors.

My worst writing habit: I sometimes start things and don't finish. I have thrown away 10k before. Something wasn't working. I wasn't satisfied. Maybe book sales were really bad and I said, "F*ck this! Nobody wants to read my sh*t anyway!" and I'll throw the entire first quarters of novels away.

I'd say that's a bad habit. LOL

Want to ask me a question about me, deafness, my books, editing, publishing, whatever, for next Sunday? Head over to this post to fill out the form.

I Am Who I Was Born As

June is the month of weddings and all these weddings got me to thinking about wedding-related traditions and why they were started...and heck, upon learning the reason for some of these traditions, I began to question why we still do them. 

Why do women take the man's name upon marrying him?

Online research reveals many different reasons, the main one being:

In biblical times, a woman was considered a burden on her father. He was eager to get rid of that extra mouth to feed. He provided a dowry, perhaps a couple of sheep along with some gold coin--and when a suitor agreed to take the daughter off his hands, he was rewarded. Eager to get the daughter gone, the father was more than happy to see the daughter's clan name change to that of her husband. She became of his property and his problem.

Why, in 2013, are we continuing this practice? I'm curious. What are your thoughts?

I'm fortunate. I married a wonderful man. I did not marry because society expected it of me. I did not marry because I was pressured. I was not handed over with a dowry. My husband wanted to marry me. I did not NEED to be married. I was living on my own, making my own money.

And I also wed a man who respected my desire to stay ME, to stay Tara Chevrestt. I kept the name given me upon birth, the name that I carried through childhood, the name I said proudly during roll calls, the name I used on job applications. The name Chevrestt got me through 23 years without fail. Why not continue with it?

I told my husband, "I am not your property. I am Tara Chevrestt."

This, however, has led to problems with other people. Men I used to work with would ask me, "You didn't take your  husband's name? Why not?"

"This is the 2000s. Why? I'm not his property. I am me. Despite the ring on my finger, I am still me."

This warranted outrage on their parts. "I wouldn't marry a woman that didn't take my name!"

"Why not?" I would ask.

"Because it's a sign of respect. If she doesn't take my name, she doesn't respect me."

I'd think on this and ask, "Do you respect your wife?"

"Of course."

"Then why don't you take her name?" And I would shrug. Seemed like such an honest question to me.

The answer is always, "It's just not done."

Pffffht.

Are we really still, thousands of years later, that close-minded a society?

p.s. The only reason mine is hyphenated on FB is to separate the personal me from the author me. ;)

The Scavenger's Daughters (Tales of the Scavenger's Daughters #1) by Kay Bratt

This is a story full of morals and lessons, each one will touch a spot on your heart.


It begins with a boy...imprisoned, beaten, harmed, all because of his family background. All it takes is one act of kindness to change this boy's life and that of dozens of people. For when someone shows him this act of kindness, he vows he spend the rest of his life doing good for others.

The boy becomes a man, a trash collector. In China, daughters are discarded and abandoned a lot. He finds them in the trash and he keeps them, feeds them, clothes them, provides them as love as he can. With all these daughters, he's relegated to a life of poverty. They don't live like other people, but they have love. They have each other.

But what will happen to them all when he dies? He's very ill; he has no retirement, no savings; nobody is helping them.

The lessons that sum up beautifully in the pages...

-You can't judge a group as a whole by the actions of one or a few. There are bad and good in every bunch.
-Never let pride prevent from you getting help if it's needed and available. Don't deny those around you a better life because you can't bear to admit you need help.
-Karma happens. One good deed can change a life....as well as your own.
-One doesn't need material objects to have a fulfilling life.

Very well done and thought evoking. I truly felt as though I stepped in another world. Chinese customs and stories and revelations about Mao's reign and just how the Chinese live in general kept me absolutely entranced. My only quibble: I wish the book had told us more about the romance between Ye Ye and Nai Nai, but this is the first in a series. I imagine there may be a prequel in the future--at least I hope so.

Five bikes. I received an ARC via Amazon Vine.

Is it Time for a New Giveaway?

Last year, I tried something new. I had T-shirts made and had a grand bash in which I gave one away. I made them to promote myself as an author and put my website on it.

I purchased these shirts on ooshirts.com. I remember flipping out because I was afraid I didn't have the right pixels and the image would be blurry. I'm pleased to say they communicated with me via email about it, and the pixels/image on the shirt turned out fine.

I'm now thinking it's time for another giveaway...After all, I've changed the name of my site and my motto is now STRONG IS SEXY.

What would ya'll say about a Strong is Sexy T-shirt giveaway? And should I use my super-heroine logo?

Thoughts welcome. I'll keep you updated, but I see a T-shirt giveaway in the near future. Let the wheels start turning...

Meanwhile, those of you seeking custom T-shirts for anything, do take a moment to check out their site. It's easy to use and they take the time communicate with you. 

Strong is Sexy Heroine of the Week: Dorian North

Title: Soldier in Chains
Author: Megan D. Martin
Heroine: Dorian North

Dorian North a soldier in the United States Army, doesn't put up with anyone's crap. She's thrilled about finishing her last tour in Afghanistan before heading back to the U.S. and never coming back. Only she takes a serious detour when the helicopter she's a passenger on has to take an emergency landing. She soon finds herself the prisoner of man that she can't help her attraction to. She's never depended on or needed a man before in her life, at least not for anything but sex. When she wants something she gets it, and freedom from this man's clutches is her top priority at least until she finds out that there's something she wants more than freedom…him.

Dorian has never thought of herself as a sexy woman, there wasn't time for that in the midst of her life, but her captor makes her feel sexy in ways she never has. In the end someone will bend their will to the other and Dorian is sure she will get her way.

Blurb:

Dorian North, a soldier in the United States Army, is only hours away from being finished with her final tour in Afghanistan. It's only when she’s ambushed by al Qaeda that Dorian is knocked unconscious and awakens to find herself bound and gagged in a stranger's bed. She desperately tries to escape, but quickly finds herself enamored with her captor's alarming handsomeness.

Rob Hutcherson is a former Sergeant of the United States Marine Corps, who stumbled upon an al Qaeda ambush. He rescues the surviving soldier: the most beautiful woman he's ever laid eyes on. Taking her back to his home he finds his attraction to the fierce young woman to be overwhelming. When she wakes for the first time her goal is clear: escape. In fear for her safety he chains the little hell cat to his bed. He can't bear the thought of losing her, so he plans to show the little spit fire all the reasons she should stay… 

About Megan:
Megan D. Martin is a multi-published author, mother, student and editor. In her spare time she enjoys decorating her house with strange things that do not match, playing her old school Nintendo Entertainment System, and buying fish for her many fish tanks. To learn more about Megan, check her out on these social networking sites. Blog: http://www.MeganDMartin.blogspot.com
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/authormegandmartin
Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/Megan_D_Martin
goodreads: http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/6656963.Megan_D_Martin
Google+: https://plus.google.com/115096823539939478098/posts

Are you an author with a strong heroine in your book? Want to see her featured? Find out how here.