Review: Sex, Celibacy, & Priesthood

Synopsis:

The traditional Catholic Church views true celibacy as a gift from God. But today’s reality paints a much different picture. In “Sex, Celibacy, and Priesthood, ” the Most Rev. Lou A. Bordisso reviews the research on sexual activity and celibacy among Catholic priests. Featuring heart-wrenching, anonymous, and candid self-disclosures about the sexual behaviors of heterosexual, gay, and bisexual priests, Bordisso explores the meaning of celibacy in accordance with Roman Catholic Church teachings, doctrine, and canon law. “Sex, Celibacy, and Priesthood” provides an honest and frank study of current perspectives on celibacy in light of priestly sexual behaviors. It allows for Roman Catholic priests to speak out in their own voices about their struggles and the conflicts they experience between celibacy and their sexual activities. At a time when most are disgusted with the sexual scandal cover-ups, smokescreens, and veil of secrecy provided by many Roman Catholic bishops and their apologists, “Sex, Celibacy, and Priesthood” tells the truth and encourages us to think imaginatively and compassionately about an issue of crucial importance to the Roman Catholic Church at this moment in history. 

Rating: 4.5-stars

Review:

Sex, Celibacy, & Priesthood by Lou A. Bordisso, OSJV is a great book, if readers are wanting to know about the priests and their lives of celibacy as well as their struggles in living their vows. The writer allows readers to explore several priests ranging from heterosexuals to LGBTs. Each priest in each of these sexual categories gives their voice on this matter. I was expecting more of what we can do to prevent the Catholic priests from breaking their celibacy vows versus hearing how it’s unrealistic for priests to deny their sexual orientation and to keep up their vows. This is an ongoing and important issue that means a lot to those who are Catholic. I think there should be solutions to the issue or else priests shouldn’t become a priest, if it’s too much of a struggling seeing as they are human just like the rest of us. 

Review: Even Odds

 

Synopsis:

Geeky meets kinky in this first deliciously sexy novel in the Slices of Pi series by RITA-nominated author Elia Winters, which follows the romantic rendezvous of the employees at PI Games, a gaming company based out of sultry Florida.

As a design manager at PI Games, Isabel Suarez is no stranger to the struggles of being a woman in a male-dominated industry. But when her team attends a gaming convention on the other side of the country, she figures there’s no harm in putting aside her professional demeanor for one weekend to participate in a risqué scavenger hunt. Why shouldn’t she let loose and have a little fun?

A careless romp soon turns into more, however, when Isabel ends up having a fling with Caleb Portland, an artist, and animator, without knowing he has just been hired to partner with her at her company—and Caleb can’t bring himself to tell her. When they end up coworkers a few weeks later, they need to find a way to work together and keep things strictly professional. Caleb doesn’t want to take on a relationship and risk failure. Isabel doesn’t want to risk ruining the professional reputation she’s worked so hard to develop. But when faced with the undeniable sizzling chemistry between them, will either of them be able to resist temptation?

A sexy and witty tale of romance and modern workplace politics, Even Odds is the latest winning entry in Elia Winters’ unique and well-loved erotic novels.

Rating: 5 stars

Review:

Even Odds by Elia Winters is absolutely a must read for all. This is one geeky romance that will keep readers laughing and falling in love with the characters. The female character, Isabel, is the only female working in an all male dominated area. Game software. She designs games and is now in the manager position. Before moving to the PI Games she worked at another company. A company where she experienced a disastrous relationship which then lead to sexual harassment. The sad part was that the Human Resource person told her that words weren’t much of a harassment and that they wouldn’t take her complaints seriously. Isabel ended up taking action that suited the company better than helping solve her issues at work. This past life experience has left her feeling like an ice queen at work. Acting as sexless as possible to survive working in the gaming industry surrounded by all men. An area that showed me that was hard for any woman including Isabel to be taken seriously by men as a professional. Her hard work pays off…but there’s one employee who makes her uncomfortable…will she face up to him or let him continue his harassments against her? The other part to this exciting tale was the trip to DiceCon and that’s where everything heats up…Isabel wants to let loose for once and three of her teammates get her in on a game that has her meeting the one man that might just be a forever thing…a man that can not only make her feel like a woman but also respect her in the industry. That combination alone would make any woman’s knees go weak. Isabel and Caleb are a perfect couple. Their journey was realistic and believable. The pages got hotter with every turn….and the plot sets readers on the edge of their seats wondering what comes next.  Even Odds by Elia Winters is by overall, a hot and brilliantly well-written geeky romance that all will enjoy. I highly recommend this novel to readers everywhere.

 

 

Creating a Scene!

Creating a scene is both fun and easy to do!

First, you need to know that a scene contains three items.

It contains a goal, conflict, and a disaster.

What is the goal? 

– The goal is where your character goes after what he or she wants.

What is the conflict?

– The conflict is where your character has to struggle to get what he or she wants.

What is the disaster?

– The disaster is where you allow your character to fail at reaching his or her goal. 

Now practice writing your very first scene! Be sure to include all three items. A goal, a conflict, and a disaster. These all make up one scene!

 

Creating Suspense In Your Novel

One way to create suspense in your novel and allure readers in is by having your characters have kept secrets. Secrets can cause for all kinds of conflicts to happen in your novel. 

Conflicts move your plots forward. They extend your novel.  

You can let your readers in on your characters secrets and keep them in suspense as to wonder who will find out the character’s secret(s) and what will the other character(s) that find out the secret do? 

 

Hope this helps! 🙂

Murder Mystery #5

Leslie and her detective boyfriend, Mark, have been asked as chaperons for the upcoming Spring Ball at the local high school.  Leslie and Mark dressed up to blend in, while keeping an eye on students were having fun. Until a high school student dressed in a pink prom dress walks across stage covered in mud. She falls down knocking the bands microphone along with her. Students start screaming, other chaperons are running trying to calm students down. Mark and Leslie run over to the young girl covered in mud. Leslie calls for an ambulance as Mark checks her pulse. Nothing. He then checks for a wound. He soon finds shes been shot multiple times in the chest and back. As the rest of the police made their way towards, Mark and the victim, the projector screen rolls down. Then a message pops across the screen: Beware or be the next victim! All the students started screaming and running out of the building faster than ever. The police didn’t blame the students for their fright. Who would kill this student and why? Why shoot her multiple times? How did she get covered in mud from head to toe? Who wrote that message on the projector? Was the killer in the gym? So many questions that needed to be answered. The police along with Mark and Leslie, went to check for a nearby place that was muddy. After a short distance by the grave yard, they found a muddy place. There was an indention of foot prints. Along with bullets scattered around. This was where the young high school girl was killed. But why? Who? And who was next? 

 

Write all this and what happens next using only 2500 words. Please, post your response down below for feedback! Thanks!

 

Best of luck!!!! 🙂