A romance novel that is full length, 24 chapters. Registered copyright Library of Congress

Midwest Book Review rated this romance 5 stars.: "for anyone who wants a controversial love story.......a conflict of love and respect....a classic love story.....A fine addition to any romance shelf......"

Being a teenager isn't easy, especially when it involves an attraction to a young married girl in the conservative 1950s.

Love, friendship, and humor come together in this tender romance as a high school student and a young married girl are attracted to each other in a small conservative town in the mid 1950s.

Jimmy Trenton finds something fresh and beautiful in Carol Dulaney, a religious young girl who wears a mysterious gold chain around her neck that intrigues him. And Carol discovers that Jimmy’s positive outlook on life and sensitive nature fulfills a need for love in her life. Both try to break free of this unlikely and forbidden attraction to each other and also must struggle with a blackmailer’s threats.

Excerpt 1:

I slowly put my arms around her and reached the back strap, fumbling with it, but finally unfastening it. The bra fabric, which had been taught against her skin, relaxed.

“You’re almost there," she whispered. “Pull the straps down, Jimmy.”

“Is this what you want, Carol?”

“It’s what has to be. We both have to resolve something, Jimmy,” she said.

It was the final step I would take to cross that line away from Lakewood and into that other reality whose boundaries I had been toying with for so long. All the issues about right, wrong, and righteousness were for parents, schoolteachers, and others to debate.

I had put them aside as obstacles I did not wish to deal with…………..……..,

Excerpt 2:

I dove for the gun as I saw Charlie start to move toward it. I slid across the floor sideways and snatched the pistol, then turned over onto my chest facing the approaching giant. Charlie froze in place with a crazed grin on his face as I aimed the pistol at him. He looked like a building that was about to start walking. No thoughts of his own mortality or of the fragility of life seemed to cross his mind as he stared at the gun with that grin still on his face.

“Don't come any closer,” I said.

He laughed as I saw him reach down to his right side to a leather sheath attached to his belt and pull out a hunting dagger with a blade that must have been nine inches long. He pointed it at me delightfully in a menacing fashion. It could have easily ripped through the hide of any bear if the animal were foolish enough to attack this giant human who was now only a few feet away from me..........................