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Tissue
One reckless night shatters her scripted world, and truth won't stay buried for long.
Tabitha Bonaparte Hayes has it all—wealth, privilege, and a place in her family's generational business empire. But in the smoky malaise of 1970s America, she's suffocating under the weight of expectations and a secret she can't outrun.
Fleeing to the shadows of a small North Carolina town, Tabitha constructs an elaborate double dutiful companion to a demanding matriarch by day, wild party girl by night. She's hiding behind carefully crafted lies, caught between the sexual revolution's promise of freedom and the faith-driven values etched into her soul.
But the past has a way of catching up. When a bevy of fierce women and one steadfast man see through her masks, Tabitha is forced to confront the wreckage she's been running from. As love threatens to break through her defenses, she faces an impossible continue the charade or fight for redemption and a life worth living.
Tissue is a raw, romantic journey through the contradictions of the 1970s—a story about the courage it takes to face your demons, the power of unlikely connections, and finding a peace far groovier than ever dreamt.
A clean read with While tackling mature themes and complex moral questions, Tissue offers thoughtful storytelling without graphic content. This is sophisticated women's fiction that respects readers who prefer clean romance and meaningful exploration of life's gritty realities without explicit scenes.
Tabitha Bonaparte Hayes has it all—wealth, privilege, and a place in her family's generational business empire. But in the smoky malaise of 1970s America, she's suffocating under the weight of expectations and a secret she can't outrun.
Fleeing to the shadows of a small North Carolina town, Tabitha constructs an elaborate double dutiful companion to a demanding matriarch by day, wild party girl by night. She's hiding behind carefully crafted lies, caught between the sexual revolution's promise of freedom and the faith-driven values etched into her soul.
But the past has a way of catching up. When a bevy of fierce women and one steadfast man see through her masks, Tabitha is forced to confront the wreckage she's been running from. As love threatens to break through her defenses, she faces an impossible continue the charade or fight for redemption and a life worth living.
Tissue is a raw, romantic journey through the contradictions of the 1970s—a story about the courage it takes to face your demons, the power of unlikely connections, and finding a peace far groovier than ever dreamt.
A clean read with While tackling mature themes and complex moral questions, Tissue offers thoughtful storytelling without graphic content. This is sophisticated women's fiction that respects readers who prefer clean romance and meaningful exploration of life's gritty realities without explicit scenes.
320 pages, Kindle Edition
Published November 13, 2025
4 people are currently reading
2 people want to read
About the author
Renee Leonard Kennedy
3 books14 followersYou can never have too many bookcases.
Renee Leonard Kennedy endeavors to keep finding just one more spot for another, while lending books and sharing the extras she buys.
Her book, After the Flowers Die, won a Benjamin Franklin from the Independent Book Publishers Association, a Selah, the Serious Writer Book of the Year, along with an Illumination and Living Now Books Award.
Her novel, Tissue, a clean contemporary (set in 1974) is coming out soon.
When not writing, Renee enjoys hiking the farm with her dog Tinkerbell, as well as learning smooth and rhythm dances, and getting her heart rate up at Orange Theory.
She would love to get her office close to organized.
Renee is blessed with amazing children and gifted beyond measure with grandchildren.
Please connect on her website, on Facebook and author page as Renee Leonard Kennedy, and on Instagram as reneeleonardkennedy. And don't forget the X. Can't do that: ReneeLeonardKe1.
Also check her out on Moral Tea Podcast and her latest, Whatever Is.
Renee Leonard Kennedy endeavors to keep finding just one more spot for another, while lending books and sharing the extras she buys.
Her book, After the Flowers Die, won a Benjamin Franklin from the Independent Book Publishers Association, a Selah, the Serious Writer Book of the Year, along with an Illumination and Living Now Books Award.
Her novel, Tissue, a clean contemporary (set in 1974) is coming out soon.
When not writing, Renee enjoys hiking the farm with her dog Tinkerbell, as well as learning smooth and rhythm dances, and getting her heart rate up at Orange Theory.
She would love to get her office close to organized.
Renee is blessed with amazing children and gifted beyond measure with grandchildren.
Please connect on her website, on Facebook and author page as Renee Leonard Kennedy, and on Instagram as reneeleonardkennedy. And don't forget the X. Can't do that: ReneeLeonardKe1.
Also check her out on Moral Tea Podcast and her latest, Whatever Is.
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December 21, 2025
This book has characters you’ll love and characters you’ll love to hate. It was fun being transported to the 70s and reading about the time just before I was born.
A note to readers, this book focuses heavily on pregnancy and the decision to carry or abort the baby. The author handles this difficult subject well.
A note to readers, this book focuses heavily on pregnancy and the decision to carry or abort the baby. The author handles this difficult subject well.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Displaying 1 of 1 review