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Agony Of Being Me
Agony of Being Me is Part One of a Two Book Set. Finding You is Book Two
Anticipated Release date of Finding You is on or before June 30, 2016 and is available for Pre Order on Amazon..
An intense teen & young adult romantic drama intended for coming of age & other readers 16+
For some girls, life is a romance novel; for others, a horror story. Zoe Channing has it all: beauty, brains, talent. She owns the heart of high school hottie, Jesse Sinclair. She’s the star of the school play, with love at her fingertips, but just before her sixteenth birthday, tragedy strikes, hurling her on a turbulent course back from the hell that replaced her heaven.
Can a soul withstand so much torment? A mind such terror? A body such physical agony?
Jesse's life is all planned out. Graduate high school and head to art school in the city. His mother is gone, and his dad has just suffered a near fatal heart attack, leaving Jesse to fend for himself. Older brother, Jamie, could be Jesse's twin, but only in appearance. Jesse James as they're referred to couldn't anymore different on the inside. Where Jesse is responsible, Jamie is a fly by night woman abusing man whore. Jesse's senior year of high school brings about a dramatic and delightful change in the form of a small blonde girl with big blue eyes. Jesse's never felt this way before, but fate sends him into a tailspin, and he'll spend the next few years trying not to follow in his brother's footsteps. Sometimes life doesn't leave much choices. And the choices you make can be devastating.
***
Zoe is like a sudden storm that charges the air, leaving it sweet and fresh. Plain and simple, Zoe is pure energy.—Jesse
And the moment is pure magic. I’m not Zoe. I’m someone like Claudette. I have no past. There’s just tonight. No party. No one else in the world.
Just Jesse and me. Me and Jesse. And I’m about to be kissed like a woman. Made love to like I’m something precious. —Zoe
The wheels in my head start spinning, I want to do so many things with her. To her. Kissing her within the next five minutes is exactly how I plan
on starting.—Jesse
***
The bathroom door squeaks shut. Now I’ll have to walk into class like a loser, with everyone’s eyes on me, is the only thought plaguing my mind. I haven’t taken two steps when I feel the ominous presence behind me. Before I can spin to confront the danger, one massive hand comes around my waist, while the other slams over my mouth. My lips are crushed against my teeth. My head is jerked up, the involuntary movement almost snapping my neck. Bite! My mind screeches. Kick! Scream! But my mouth is sealed shut, so the only sound I can manage is a grunt. I can’t turn my head which is in a vice-like grip. I can’t move my arms, as they are suddenly pinned tightly to my sides. Oh God. What’s happening to me? Help me. Someone help me!
***
Warning: Contains one sexual assault scene. As in real life, some language represents the character angst. Two book set.
Agony of Being Me is Part One of a two book set. Finding You is Part Two, the twisting, explosive conclusion.
Anticipated Release date of Finding You is on or before June 30, 2016 and is available for Pre Order on Amazon..
An intense teen & young adult romantic drama intended for coming of age & other readers 16+
For some girls, life is a romance novel; for others, a horror story. Zoe Channing has it all: beauty, brains, talent. She owns the heart of high school hottie, Jesse Sinclair. She’s the star of the school play, with love at her fingertips, but just before her sixteenth birthday, tragedy strikes, hurling her on a turbulent course back from the hell that replaced her heaven.
Can a soul withstand so much torment? A mind such terror? A body such physical agony?
Jesse's life is all planned out. Graduate high school and head to art school in the city. His mother is gone, and his dad has just suffered a near fatal heart attack, leaving Jesse to fend for himself. Older brother, Jamie, could be Jesse's twin, but only in appearance. Jesse James as they're referred to couldn't anymore different on the inside. Where Jesse is responsible, Jamie is a fly by night woman abusing man whore. Jesse's senior year of high school brings about a dramatic and delightful change in the form of a small blonde girl with big blue eyes. Jesse's never felt this way before, but fate sends him into a tailspin, and he'll spend the next few years trying not to follow in his brother's footsteps. Sometimes life doesn't leave much choices. And the choices you make can be devastating.
***
Zoe is like a sudden storm that charges the air, leaving it sweet and fresh. Plain and simple, Zoe is pure energy.—Jesse
And the moment is pure magic. I’m not Zoe. I’m someone like Claudette. I have no past. There’s just tonight. No party. No one else in the world.
Just Jesse and me. Me and Jesse. And I’m about to be kissed like a woman. Made love to like I’m something precious. —Zoe
The wheels in my head start spinning, I want to do so many things with her. To her. Kissing her within the next five minutes is exactly how I plan
on starting.—Jesse
***
The bathroom door squeaks shut. Now I’ll have to walk into class like a loser, with everyone’s eyes on me, is the only thought plaguing my mind. I haven’t taken two steps when I feel the ominous presence behind me. Before I can spin to confront the danger, one massive hand comes around my waist, while the other slams over my mouth. My lips are crushed against my teeth. My head is jerked up, the involuntary movement almost snapping my neck. Bite! My mind screeches. Kick! Scream! But my mouth is sealed shut, so the only sound I can manage is a grunt. I can’t turn my head which is in a vice-like grip. I can’t move my arms, as they are suddenly pinned tightly to my sides. Oh God. What’s happening to me? Help me. Someone help me!
***
Warning: Contains one sexual assault scene. As in real life, some language represents the character angst. Two book set.
Agony of Being Me is Part One of a two book set. Finding You is Part Two, the twisting, explosive conclusion.
- GenresYoung Adult
320 pages, Kindle Edition
Published May 31, 2016
1 person is currently reading
239 people want to read
About the author
Victoria Valentine
34 books69 followersI've been writing since I was a child, and have boxes of unfinished, unpublished stories as well as three novels. I also write romance as January Valentine.
About 11 years ago, I began publishing online ezines that led to beautiful literary magazines that were distributed across the country. After a few years, I switched over to the publication of Literary Anthologies and Poetry Digests that appear on Amazon.com and other sites. Skyline, Literary House and Water Forest Press books are subscribed to by the New York Public Library, Rockefeller Library @ Brown University, Madison Library @ University of Wisconsin, college libraries in CA and Illinois, Indie book stores in California. Hudson View is distributed in South Africa as well.
I published a book with another author, Steve Manchester, in 2002, At The Stroke of Midnight, 24 tales of terror which sold a print run of 3000 books. I've published short stories and poetry in Taj Mahal anthologies, a French literary publication, poetry online Red River Review, and others. I've also written lyrics for an alternative rock CD entitled, Eyes of Ash which was performed by Jeremy Calogero and his band, The Unintended.
I started writing Love Dreams, one of my four unpublished novels, over 20 years ago, resurrected seven "bad" chapters and a skeleton outline last year, and decided to finally finish it. So, 98,000+ words later, her I am. I've finally completed it.
Excerpts of The Last Resort horror novel appear in At the Stroke of Midnight. However, along with my other novels, The Last Resort has never been entirely completed due full time jobs and running an indie book publishing gig, which I've set aside to concentrate on my own endeavors before I take my final breath :-)
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Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews
July 5, 2016
This is not your average teenage angst story. In this captivating novel, Victoria Valentine takes teenage angst to new heights. She removes the stigma of teenage angst as being trivial and unimportant and takes it to a level on which everyone can relate. Zoe and Jesse have to navigate through their separate demons and very real, tragic situations to find their way into each other’s lives. The result is an evocative and engrossing novel.
This book is daring. An author does not write better than when he or she takes risks, deviates from his or her comfort zone and branches out into new territory, and comes up with a stunning, absorbing and memorable story. Victoria Valentine is at her best here, deftly building suspense and tension, and leaving the reading wanting more.
The use of alternating points of view is very effective and helps to round the characters, both main ones and secondary ones, and make them sympathetic, memorable and come to life in the mind of the reader.
I read this book of 300+ pages in just two days. If you want an engrossing, gripping and addictive read, you won’t be disappointed. This is your book.
This book is daring. An author does not write better than when he or she takes risks, deviates from his or her comfort zone and branches out into new territory, and comes up with a stunning, absorbing and memorable story. Victoria Valentine is at her best here, deftly building suspense and tension, and leaving the reading wanting more.
The use of alternating points of view is very effective and helps to round the characters, both main ones and secondary ones, and make them sympathetic, memorable and come to life in the mind of the reader.
I read this book of 300+ pages in just two days. If you want an engrossing, gripping and addictive read, you won’t be disappointed. This is your book.
June 15, 2016
Book: Agony of Being Me
Author: Victoria Valentine , January Valentine
Publication Date: 5/31/2016
Reviewed by: Tammy Payne- Book Nook Nuts
My Rating: 5 Stars
REVIEW
New to me author
Zoe is young and still in high school. She is very talented and beautiful in her own way. She meets Jesse who is the high school heartthrob.
Jesse and his brother are battling demons of their own in this story and now Zoe has her demons after a horrible tragedy finds its way into her life.
Although young, these two people have to grow up quickly to deal with the issues that have found there way into their lives.
Zoe is younger and that makes things a little difficult for these two a tragedy separates them but it does not separate their hearts. I am hoping they can find their way to each other.
The author gives us a very deep story line and the characters are good.
The book gives us a cliffhanger and now I anxiously await book two.
I was gifted this book for my honest review.
Victoria Valentine
Author: Victoria Valentine , January Valentine
Publication Date: 5/31/2016
Reviewed by: Tammy Payne- Book Nook Nuts
My Rating: 5 Stars
REVIEW
New to me author
Zoe is young and still in high school. She is very talented and beautiful in her own way. She meets Jesse who is the high school heartthrob.
Jesse and his brother are battling demons of their own in this story and now Zoe has her demons after a horrible tragedy finds its way into her life.
Although young, these two people have to grow up quickly to deal with the issues that have found there way into their lives.
Zoe is younger and that makes things a little difficult for these two a tragedy separates them but it does not separate their hearts. I am hoping they can find their way to each other.
The author gives us a very deep story line and the characters are good.
The book gives us a cliffhanger and now I anxiously await book two.
I was gifted this book for my honest review.
Victoria Valentine
August 7, 2016
This is a young adult read with sexual abuse, only one scene but it haunts the victim daily. I recommend this for young adults and adults only, due to the sexual content and language. This is a two part book, part two is Finding You. This is the first book I have read by this author and I really enjoyed her style of writing, she took young adult to another level for me. And what a raw emotion to describe in such detail, I could feel Zoe's pain, I knew her pain, she is handed two life grief sentences. No more details, you will have to read the book for yourself. Did I mention, awesome cliffhanger!!!!
Zoe Channing is almost sixteen, musically talented. She is a beautiful person inside and out. And unbeknownst to her she has the attention of Jesse Sinclair the senior at high school that makes all the girls go crazy. But something happens to Zoe that changes everything for her, she is no longer the same person. Scared and confused she withdraws into herself. Will she ever be able to share her secret? Will she ever feel safe enough? Does time heal all wounds?
Favorite passages:
"This girl is the portrait I've been waiting to paint."
"Sorry I am trying to stop the clock."
"I'm mesmerized. A sidewalk stalker. I can't help myself, or the way I feel."
"He says paint flows through my veins, instead of blood."
"He's like the one peg that doesn't fit any of the holes."
"Whoever said time heals all wounds is a liar. Evil is festering inside me. Growing in intensity. Spreading: causing nausea, tremors."<3
"I hate when clueless people try to comfort someone with dumb things... like when someone dies, people say, Ohhh, he's in a better place. How the fu** do they know where a dead person goes? Or what a better place is!"
"No shelter for me, thank you. I find peace in the emotionless rain."
"He strums a few cords, drops his face close to the mic, and his deep voice is like velvet."
Zoe Channing is almost sixteen, musically talented. She is a beautiful person inside and out. And unbeknownst to her she has the attention of Jesse Sinclair the senior at high school that makes all the girls go crazy. But something happens to Zoe that changes everything for her, she is no longer the same person. Scared and confused she withdraws into herself. Will she ever be able to share her secret? Will she ever feel safe enough? Does time heal all wounds?
Favorite passages:
"This girl is the portrait I've been waiting to paint."
"Sorry I am trying to stop the clock."
"I'm mesmerized. A sidewalk stalker. I can't help myself, or the way I feel."
"He says paint flows through my veins, instead of blood."
"He's like the one peg that doesn't fit any of the holes."
"Whoever said time heals all wounds is a liar. Evil is festering inside me. Growing in intensity. Spreading: causing nausea, tremors."<3
"I hate when clueless people try to comfort someone with dumb things... like when someone dies, people say, Ohhh, he's in a better place. How the fu** do they know where a dead person goes? Or what a better place is!"
"No shelter for me, thank you. I find peace in the emotionless rain."
"He strums a few cords, drops his face close to the mic, and his deep voice is like velvet."
July 10, 2016
**Trigger Warning** There is a scene of sexual abuse.
Zoe Channing lives the perfect life. She has parents who love nothing more than her, she's incredibly smart, talented, and although she's only a freshman in high school, she has captured the eye of her crush, senior Jesse Sinclair. What more could she ever dream of? How about her world not crash down around her.
Jesse Sinclair is sought out by every girl, no matter the age. Jesse is the whole package; sweet, charming, loyal, hard-working, responsible (so much more so than his older brother James), and sex on a stick HOT! Every girl wants a piece of Jesse, but once his eyes land on Zoe, no one else matters. Can Jesse and Zoe have their moment, or will they learn the true meaning of Agony?
Within minutes of starting this book, I was caught up in Zoe and Jesse's story. I was so caught up in their story that I couldn't put it down. I as distracted from everything. I ranted, I cried, I laughed, I cried, and then I came to the end of the book. I was so thankful that the second book in the story "Finding You" was out so that I could start right away.
This is the second book from Mrs. Valentine that I have read. She has an amazing gift of storytelling, and innate ability to make the reader feel as though they are right there - in the middle of the story. I can't wait to see what she has planned for Zoe and Jesse.
Zoe Channing lives the perfect life. She has parents who love nothing more than her, she's incredibly smart, talented, and although she's only a freshman in high school, she has captured the eye of her crush, senior Jesse Sinclair. What more could she ever dream of? How about her world not crash down around her.
Jesse Sinclair is sought out by every girl, no matter the age. Jesse is the whole package; sweet, charming, loyal, hard-working, responsible (so much more so than his older brother James), and sex on a stick HOT! Every girl wants a piece of Jesse, but once his eyes land on Zoe, no one else matters. Can Jesse and Zoe have their moment, or will they learn the true meaning of Agony?
Within minutes of starting this book, I was caught up in Zoe and Jesse's story. I was so caught up in their story that I couldn't put it down. I as distracted from everything. I ranted, I cried, I laughed, I cried, and then I came to the end of the book. I was so thankful that the second book in the story "Finding You" was out so that I could start right away.
This is the second book from Mrs. Valentine that I have read. She has an amazing gift of storytelling, and innate ability to make the reader feel as though they are right there - in the middle of the story. I can't wait to see what she has planned for Zoe and Jesse.
June 5, 2016
I was gifted Agony of Being Me to beta and give an honest review. This story deals with sensitive sudject, but Victoria did a great job creating the characters and ensuring the book was realistic. Zoe and Jesse are your typical high school students until Zoe's life was changed by trauma, not once, but twice. Jesse wants to be her hero, but she isn't ready to be carried off on the white horse just yet. This book takes you through Zoe dealing with the trauma(s) and how life must go on. It shows people to not judge a book by its cover. I can't wait to see where book two takes Zoe and (hopefully) Jesse.
July 12, 2016
Wow, this book was intense. I felt so sorry for the main character, Zoe in this story. It's a real life problem that happens to teenage girls and the author did a spectacular job of writing about something that is a tough subject to overcome, especially in teenage girls. I could actually feel Zoe's emotions flow through the pages of this story. This book is not for the faint of heart but I do highly recommend this story for all to read.
CAUTION: READER DISCRETION IS ADVISED
CAUTION: READER DISCRETION IS ADVISED
August 5, 2016
Oh, my god, I broke my heart with this read. I love January (Victoria) Valentine's work, I'm a massive fan and this didn't let me down at all. A little different from what January (Victoria) normally writes but I love this new bold comeback. Looking forward to continuing the read with Finding you.
April 11, 2017
A gritty and hard-hitting exploration in young adult voice and characterisation. Not for the faint hearted, strong issues are dealt with and experienced from the teenager’s points of view, and the narrative voice is excellent.
Read the rest of this review at UndergroundBookReviews.org
Read the rest of this review at UndergroundBookReviews.org
Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews