Scars and Stilettos

Scars and Stilettos: The Transformation of an Exotic DancerYoung girls make bad decisions all the time. The desire to fit in or be loved convince them to make  emotionally (and sometimes physically) unhealthy decisions. Often that love they desire so strongly is false or self-serving. Convinced they know what's best, they choose to take paths that lead them away from love and self-esteem. Even those girls who are raised in "healthy" homes with loving parents sometimes make bad choices.

Back of the Book
Fear of being abandoned keeps nineteen-year-old Harmony Dust trapped in an abusive and cruel relationship. She thinks she has hit bottom-tens of thousands of dollars in debt, struggling to get by, and so controlled by her boyfriend that she doesn't protest when he begins openly sleeping around. Things can't get worse . . . until someone tells her how much money she can make as an exotic dancer. For the next three years, Harmony lives a double life as Monique, a dancer in a fully-nude strip club. Scars and Stilettos is Harmony's stark, honest, and ultimately hopeful story of how God found her in that dark, noisy place and led her out. She has since married, completed an MA in social welfare, and now leads Treasures, an organization helping women in the sex trade discover their true worth. 

My Thoughts
Harmony was raised by an erratic, absent mother. She learned well into her youth to not rely on anyone but herself. Treated as a sexual object her entire life, it made perfect sense for Harmony to turn to erotic dancing as an out of her massive financial debt.

I read this book with mixed feelings- on one hand so proud of the young Harmony's inner strength in pursuing her education despite almost unsurmountable odds yet so frustrated with her support of a man who didn't respect, care or love her. As a mother, I think this section was the hardest to read. Breaks my heart to think of tons of girls in the same situation. Without hope or a way out. So many young women in her situation have children or abusive relationships or turn to drugs or alcohol and get trapped.

Truthfully this book was hard to get through. Not because she was a bad writer. Far from the truth. She's brutally honest not just in the telling of the circumstances but of her emotional landscape and the actions of those around her. As a reader, you're in that room with her. The book was heart-breaking because you just want to take her in your arms and lead her down a different path. Which, according to Harmony finding God, did for her. Thank Goodness.

As the back of the book alludes, Harmony is leading a vastly different life now. Married with a child, a Master's degree and a new calling. As emotionally wrenching the first chapters are, the ending more than makes up for it with it's inspiring message of faith and renewal.

0 comments:

 

Labels

fiction non-fiction chick-lit romance Charlaine Harris whatever Lisa Lutz giveaways Laurell K. Hamilton Augusten Burroughs Book Blogger Hop Christopher Moore Gail Carriger Jacqueline Sheehan Janet Evanovich Jen Lancaster Karen White Patrick Wensick S. G. Browne Tawni O'Dell mystery Alan Moore Alice Sebold Amanda Mccall and Ben Schwartz Andes Hruby Anne Rice Aurelie Sheehan's Ayelet Waldman Barbara Ehrenreich Barbara O'Neal Bill Bryson Brian Rowe Caprice Crane Cathie Linz Cathy Lamb Christopher Hudson Chuck Palahniuk Cider Mill Press Dalia Jurgensen Danielle Steel Daryl Gregory Darynda Jones David Hayward David Sedaris Deborah Coonts Deirdre Martin Denise Hunter Diane Mott Davidso Eileen Rendahl Emma McLaughlin Nicola Kraus Erynn Mangum Gary Morgenstein Gavin McInnes Gregory Maguire Harmony Dust Holly Shumas Isabel Sharpe JD Robb James Levin Jane Hamilton Janelle Brown Jasper Fforde Jeaniene Frost Jill Smolinski Jodi Picoult Jonathan Tropper Joshilyn Jackson Jules Asner Julia London Julie James Julie Kenner Karen Joy Fowler Karen Templeton Katarina Mazetti Kelley Armstrong Ken Denmead Kimberly Frost Kris Radish Kristan Higgins Larissa Ione Laurie Notaro Liane Moriarty Linda Thomas-Sundstrom Lis Wiehl Lolly Winston Lynn Harris Lynne Cox Marisha Pessl Mark Rayner Matt Beaumont Matt Mikalatos Meg Cabot Nicholas Sparks Nicole Young R. Emmett Tyrrell J Rant Rhonda Pollero Rita Herron Robyn Carr Sarah Strohmeyer Seanan McGuire Shannon T Boodram Sharon Krum Sophie Gunn Stephanie Meyer Stephen King Steve O'Brien Stewart O'Nan Susan Elizabeth Phillips Susan Hubbard Susan Isaacs Tony Hendra Tori Carrington Tracey Bateman Turk Pipkin Victoria Laurie Wendy Wax Willie Nelson award

Followers

Stay off the Ladder

Disclaimer

This website is for entertainment purposes only. I am not an attorney, doctor, physicist, or elevator repairman. Don't take my word for anything!

Please seek out a licensed professional. Opinions expressed on this website do not reflect the opinions of anyone other than Zoe, unless otherwise noted.

Sample of books may be given to Zoe Right for editorial purposes, either directly from the manufacturer or from the agency that works on behalf of the manufacturer. All reviews on zoereads.com are the honest opinion of its author and editorial samples do not, in any way, affect the outcome of product reviews.

Copyright © Zoe Reads 2010 - 2017. All rights reserved.

Please do not take any of my (Zoe Right) text without my express permission. Want to use something? Ask me. I'll probably say yes. I'm nice that way.