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Clarksonville #4
Stealing Second: Sam's Story
**Book Four in the Clarksonville Series**
Samantha Rose Payton likes girls, but her parents don't know that. And Sam would like to keep it that way, because her parents are ultra-conservative Republicans. They live in a mansion and have servants and chauffeurs, but instead of playing the part of a dutiful debutante who plays the violin and still has a nanny at age seventeen, Sam would rather watch ice-hockey on TV and play second base on her summer softball team. Having to hide her relationship with her girlfriend Lisa from her parents is becoming an agonizing struggle. Not only are her friends pressuring her to come out to her parents, they are also trying to convince her to attend a very public gay pride festival at the local college. At least she has her nanny Helene to confide in, but for how much longer? Sam is acutely aware that the time for Helene to move on may be fast approaching. And if that isn't enough, Sam's summer softball coach gives her no end of grief after an error-filled game and isn't afraid of making an example out of her. Will Sam remain the perfect princess her parents expect? Will her beloved nanny leave her forever? Will her girlfriend get fed up about being kept hidden? Will her friends continue to pressure her about coming out? Will Coach Greer make her life miserable? All of these questions are answered in Stealing Second: Sam's Story
Samantha Rose Payton likes girls, but her parents don't know that. And Sam would like to keep it that way, because her parents are ultra-conservative Republicans. They live in a mansion and have servants and chauffeurs, but instead of playing the part of a dutiful debutante who plays the violin and still has a nanny at age seventeen, Sam would rather watch ice-hockey on TV and play second base on her summer softball team. Having to hide her relationship with her girlfriend Lisa from her parents is becoming an agonizing struggle. Not only are her friends pressuring her to come out to her parents, they are also trying to convince her to attend a very public gay pride festival at the local college. At least she has her nanny Helene to confide in, but for how much longer? Sam is acutely aware that the time for Helene to move on may be fast approaching. And if that isn't enough, Sam's summer softball coach gives her no end of grief after an error-filled game and isn't afraid of making an example out of her. Will Sam remain the perfect princess her parents expect? Will her beloved nanny leave her forever? Will her girlfriend get fed up about being kept hidden? Will her friends continue to pressure her about coming out? Will Coach Greer make her life miserable? All of these questions are answered in Stealing Second: Sam's Story
- GenresLesbianYoung Adult
261 pages, Paperback
First published May 14, 2013
2 people are currently reading
44 people want to read
About the author
Barbara L. Clanton
16 books21 followersBarbara L. Clanton writes young adult lesbian fiction because she wants girls and young women to experience positive lesbian coming out stories. Clanton hopes her books will be safe harbors for young people coming out to themselves, their friends, family, and society.
From the author's website: Barbara L. Clanton is
- a writer of Young Adult Fiction
- a writer of Children's Fiction
- a New York Mets fan
- a New York Jets fan
- a Florida resident
- a native-born New Yawker
- a softball pitcher
- ASANA Hall of Fame inductee
- a bass player in her band
- the proud "mama" to several cats
- proudly in a long-term relationship
- a Buffy fan
- a Xena & Gabrielle fan
- a mathematics teacher
- wishing she were a snow-bird
- wishing she were at a Mets game
- happy that you read her bio! ;)
From the author's website: Barbara L. Clanton is
- a writer of Young Adult Fiction
- a writer of Children's Fiction
- a New York Mets fan
- a New York Jets fan
- a Florida resident
- a native-born New Yawker
- a softball pitcher
- ASANA Hall of Fame inductee
- a bass player in her band
- the proud "mama" to several cats
- proudly in a long-term relationship
- a Buffy fan
- a Xena & Gabrielle fan
- a mathematics teacher
- wishing she were a snow-bird
- wishing she were at a Mets game
- happy that you read her bio! ;)
Ratings & Reviews
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Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews
July 30, 2013
The fourth in the Clarksonville Series, once again shows how talented Barbara L. Clanton is in providing a thoughtful, insightful, and purposeful story that all ages will benefit from reading. In Stealing Second: Sam's Story, Samantha Rose Payton, who has been an anchor and true friend to all her friends is now faced with the challenge of acknowledging Lisa as more than her friend while maintaining the image her parents expect. A challenge that many LGBTQ individuals have faced in their own coming out process. Sam's friends have always known they could count on her and in this installment, Sam comes to depend on them for their strength, encouragement and support as she faces the two images she has created for herself. I was floored by the twists and turns that Sam navigated through on her journey to define herself to her friends, her love, and her family. I highly recommend this story for all ages!
August 4, 2015
Sweet, but very very teen.
I don't mind reading coming out stories when it's mature, but this isn't. Characters act like their age... 16 and 17. Some things annoyed me. Like the fact that they're so young they can't say the word "sex" (even after having it) and blush every time they talk about being intimate. The fact that when one says "I love you", the other always replies "same". The fact that their first time is a big deal during half of the book, but when it actually happens, we don't get to read about it. I could go on and on... this book basically took me back to a time in my life I definitely do not want to relive. Naive teenage years. In love and hiding.
I just can't see how this could appeal to adults, but I guess it's a matter of taste.
I don't mind reading coming out stories when it's mature, but this isn't. Characters act like their age... 16 and 17. Some things annoyed me. Like the fact that they're so young they can't say the word "sex" (even after having it) and blush every time they talk about being intimate. The fact that when one says "I love you", the other always replies "same". The fact that their first time is a big deal during half of the book, but when it actually happens, we don't get to read about it. I could go on and on... this book basically took me back to a time in my life I definitely do not want to relive. Naive teenage years. In love and hiding.
I just can't see how this could appeal to adults, but I guess it's a matter of taste.
August 21, 2013
Awesome! Up until now, my favorite book in this series was the first (Out of Left Field) but this one is my new favorite, because there is a big twist about three quarters of the way through which took me completely by surprise! That's all I can tell you.
August 8, 2013
Great twist....
Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews