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For a Good Time: Surviving Sex Work and Addiction to Become the Mother I Was Meant to Be
It’s 1953 in Southern California, Patty is five years old, and her mother hasn’t been home in two days. A police officer eventually arrives and takes Patty and her brothers to juvenile hall—their mother has been drinking again.
Twenty-eight years later, Patty herself is an alcoholic mother to three children. Divorced and homeless, she soon realizes that she can’t support her children with her job cleaning houses, so she accepts the offer of a man who works at the gas she’ll have sex with him for money.
For the next seventeen years, Patty lives a double life as a sex worker. Though she supports her family with the money she makes, she struggles to be the parent she wants to be, until she realizes she has become just like her own an alcoholic who doesn’t give her children what they need.
When Patty gets sober, her life begins to change. She finds healing through therapy, spirituality, community, and, most importantly, speaking the truth to her children. Powerful and insightful, Patty’s story is proof that we all are capable of healing ourselves—and that forgiveness can transform our lives completely.
Twenty-eight years later, Patty herself is an alcoholic mother to three children. Divorced and homeless, she soon realizes that she can’t support her children with her job cleaning houses, so she accepts the offer of a man who works at the gas she’ll have sex with him for money.
For the next seventeen years, Patty lives a double life as a sex worker. Though she supports her family with the money she makes, she struggles to be the parent she wants to be, until she realizes she has become just like her own an alcoholic who doesn’t give her children what they need.
When Patty gets sober, her life begins to change. She finds healing through therapy, spirituality, community, and, most importantly, speaking the truth to her children. Powerful and insightful, Patty’s story is proof that we all are capable of healing ourselves—and that forgiveness can transform our lives completely.
240 pages, Paperback
Published September 27, 2022
2 people are currently reading
24 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 15 of 15 reviews
December 28, 2022
To say Patty Tierney has led a remarkable life is an understatement. Growing up, she had little to no structure or parental guidance. She moved constantly and sought love in all the wrong places. Her confidence was shattered by teachers and people who were supposed to love and respect her. And yet, her positive attitude persevered.
When Patty grew up and became a mother it almost felt like she might get the happy ending she had always deserved and desired. But too soon those dreams were dashed when her alcoholism reared back up and her husband began doing and dealing drugs.
After her divorce, to make ends meet, Patty became a prostitute. And what had once been just been a way to put food on the table and presents under the Christmas tree, soon became a way of life and her sole source of income.
Hindsight is 20/20 and it’s clear in her telling of her life that Patty was always seeking love and acceptance and respect from others. Because she often didn’t love herself, she repeatedly allowed men to take advantage of her and succumbed to her addictions.
Hearing Patty’s story is at once heartbreaking and inspiring. Her positive energy radiates and is infectious. Her delivery leaves no room for judgment and opens the readers eyes to what some people must do to survive and persevere.
The book does take a bit of a spiritual turn as Patty makes her way through recovery, but I appreciated that it wasn’t an overwhelming part of the book nor was it preachy. There are also times where Patty’s upbeat delivery felt incongruous to the nature of the content, but it truly is indicative of her personality so it worked.
Thank you to Kate Rock and Patty Tierney for the copy of this audio memoir. It’s definitely one that will stick with me.
When Patty grew up and became a mother it almost felt like she might get the happy ending she had always deserved and desired. But too soon those dreams were dashed when her alcoholism reared back up and her husband began doing and dealing drugs.
After her divorce, to make ends meet, Patty became a prostitute. And what had once been just been a way to put food on the table and presents under the Christmas tree, soon became a way of life and her sole source of income.
Hindsight is 20/20 and it’s clear in her telling of her life that Patty was always seeking love and acceptance and respect from others. Because she often didn’t love herself, she repeatedly allowed men to take advantage of her and succumbed to her addictions.
Hearing Patty’s story is at once heartbreaking and inspiring. Her positive energy radiates and is infectious. Her delivery leaves no room for judgment and opens the readers eyes to what some people must do to survive and persevere.
The book does take a bit of a spiritual turn as Patty makes her way through recovery, but I appreciated that it wasn’t an overwhelming part of the book nor was it preachy. There are also times where Patty’s upbeat delivery felt incongruous to the nature of the content, but it truly is indicative of her personality so it worked.
Thank you to Kate Rock and Patty Tierney for the copy of this audio memoir. It’s definitely one that will stick with me.
October 14, 2022
Thank you so much to @PattyTierneyAuthor and @KateRockBookTours for the chance to read I Love You Just the Way You Are in exchange for an honest review!
This was such a powerful account of a mother’s journey towards healing and truth. I loved the raw transparency of her struggles of trying to find herself, while also figuring out how to be the mother that her children needed.
While I’ve never found myself in Patty’s shoes, I know what it’s like to feel “not enough” or “unworthy”, and my heart broke for her.
I don’t want to spoil too much because this is one of those memoirs that you have to be 1000% ready to receive.
“Patty’s story is proof that we are all capable of healing ourselves - and that forgiveness can transform our lives completely.”
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ / 5 stars for me!
#PattyTierneyAuthor #KateRockBookTours
#ForAGoodTime #Memoir #survivingsexwork #terrinunn #motherhoodmemoir #KateRockBookTours #hotreadingmess #bookrecommendations #bookreviews #bibliophile #bookaddict #bookaholic #booknerd #booksbooksbooks #readersofinstagram #readingislife #bookish #readingchallenge2022 #2022readingchallenge #readingislit #booksofinstagram
This was such a powerful account of a mother’s journey towards healing and truth. I loved the raw transparency of her struggles of trying to find herself, while also figuring out how to be the mother that her children needed.
While I’ve never found myself in Patty’s shoes, I know what it’s like to feel “not enough” or “unworthy”, and my heart broke for her.
I don’t want to spoil too much because this is one of those memoirs that you have to be 1000% ready to receive.
“Patty’s story is proof that we are all capable of healing ourselves - and that forgiveness can transform our lives completely.”
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ / 5 stars for me!
#PattyTierneyAuthor #KateRockBookTours
#ForAGoodTime #Memoir #survivingsexwork #terrinunn #motherhoodmemoir #KateRockBookTours #hotreadingmess #bookrecommendations #bookreviews #bibliophile #bookaddict #bookaholic #booknerd #booksbooksbooks #readersofinstagram #readingislife #bookish #readingchallenge2022 #2022readingchallenge #readingislit #booksofinstagram
October 13, 2022
I'm in shock. It surprised me by how deeply touched I was by this memoir. There is hardship, triumph, joy, and everything one can only imagine going through in this story. It only takes a memoir done right to take you on such an emotional rollercoaster. Patty's openness and honesty makes this memoir so emotional and heartfelt. Although reading about someone's tough childhood is never easy, this story has stayed with me in ways that I never expected. Sometimes this story was tough to read, but it is an inspiring one. Using therapy, spirituality, and community, Pat shows how she overcame the dark place she was in, and shows you can heal from within.
September 27, 2022
💕For A Good Time
Surviving Sex Work and Addiction to Become the Mother I Was Meant to Be 💕
by @pattytierneyauthor
Thank you to @katerockbooktours and @pattytierneyauthor for my #gifted copy and including me on this tour.
Synopsis:
IT’S 1953 IN SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA, Patty is five years old, and her mother hasn’t been home in two days. A police
officer eventually arrives and takes Patty and her brothers to juvenile hall. Their mother has been drinking again.
Twenty-eight years later, Patty herself is an alcoholic mother of three children. Divorced and homeless, she soon realizes that she can’t support her children with her job cleaning houses, so she accepts an offer from a man who works at the gas station: she’ll have sex with him for money. From there, for the next seventeen years, Patty lives
a double life as a sex worker. Though she supports her family with the
money she makes, she struggles to be the parent she wants to be—
and one day, she realizes she has become just like her own mother: an
alcoholic who doesn’t give her children what they need.
When Patty gets sober, her life begins to change. She finds healing through therapy, spirituality, community, and, most importantly, speaking the truth to her children.
Thoughts: This book was a very emotional book. It is so very hard to read about someone else’s tough childhood where clearly they didn’t choose the environment they grew up in. Patty did was she was able to do…adapt and survive with what she was given. She swore to herself she wouldn’t become her mom and unfortunately in order to make ends meet she gave into some demons she tried to stave off for so long. At times I was frustrated with her (sorry Patty) but also knew that when someone is in the thick of trauma you can’t see the forest through the trees. Patty truly had an uphill battle in all of her relationships. Her mother, her brothers, her best friend, her love interests all came with their own challenges and the most amazing thing is Patty pulled through. Thank you for sharing your story Patty!
Surviving Sex Work and Addiction to Become the Mother I Was Meant to Be 💕
by @pattytierneyauthor
Thank you to @katerockbooktours and @pattytierneyauthor for my #gifted copy and including me on this tour.
Synopsis:
IT’S 1953 IN SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA, Patty is five years old, and her mother hasn’t been home in two days. A police
officer eventually arrives and takes Patty and her brothers to juvenile hall. Their mother has been drinking again.
Twenty-eight years later, Patty herself is an alcoholic mother of three children. Divorced and homeless, she soon realizes that she can’t support her children with her job cleaning houses, so she accepts an offer from a man who works at the gas station: she’ll have sex with him for money. From there, for the next seventeen years, Patty lives
a double life as a sex worker. Though she supports her family with the
money she makes, she struggles to be the parent she wants to be—
and one day, she realizes she has become just like her own mother: an
alcoholic who doesn’t give her children what they need.
When Patty gets sober, her life begins to change. She finds healing through therapy, spirituality, community, and, most importantly, speaking the truth to her children.
Thoughts: This book was a very emotional book. It is so very hard to read about someone else’s tough childhood where clearly they didn’t choose the environment they grew up in. Patty did was she was able to do…adapt and survive with what she was given. She swore to herself she wouldn’t become her mom and unfortunately in order to make ends meet she gave into some demons she tried to stave off for so long. At times I was frustrated with her (sorry Patty) but also knew that when someone is in the thick of trauma you can’t see the forest through the trees. Patty truly had an uphill battle in all of her relationships. Her mother, her brothers, her best friend, her love interests all came with their own challenges and the most amazing thing is Patty pulled through. Thank you for sharing your story Patty!
October 16, 2022
Trigger Warnings: alcohol and drug abuse, underage alcohol and drug use, sex work, death
I always find it so hard to write a review when someone is telling the story of their own life. It is their story, their lived experience. I will do my best to do this story justice.
This is a tough read. Period.
In this honest and open memoir, Patty discusses her childhood and the path that led her to become an alcoholic and a sex worker. Patty had to support her three children after divorcing her husband. When her car breaks down, the mechanic offers Patty a deal. This begins the story and a detailed account on how she came to be a sex worker.
Patty experiences a great deal of hardships which keeps her in this world. I felt that she did an incredible job helping her readers understand why she made the choices she made. How she searched for love and acceptance in men.
This was definitely a challenge to read. There is a lot of trauma to unpack but it felt like a story of trauma and redemption. I appreciated the honesty about her failed attempts to get sober and loved seeing her find the supports and connections that helped her to recover and lead a happy, healthier life. This story provides hope in its pages and Patty now uses here experiences to help others.
This is definitely a book that will stay with me.
Thank you to Kate Rock Book Tours for providing my free copy in exchange for an honest review.
I always find it so hard to write a review when someone is telling the story of their own life. It is their story, their lived experience. I will do my best to do this story justice.
This is a tough read. Period.
In this honest and open memoir, Patty discusses her childhood and the path that led her to become an alcoholic and a sex worker. Patty had to support her three children after divorcing her husband. When her car breaks down, the mechanic offers Patty a deal. This begins the story and a detailed account on how she came to be a sex worker.
Patty experiences a great deal of hardships which keeps her in this world. I felt that she did an incredible job helping her readers understand why she made the choices she made. How she searched for love and acceptance in men.
This was definitely a challenge to read. There is a lot of trauma to unpack but it felt like a story of trauma and redemption. I appreciated the honesty about her failed attempts to get sober and loved seeing her find the supports and connections that helped her to recover and lead a happy, healthier life. This story provides hope in its pages and Patty now uses here experiences to help others.
This is definitely a book that will stay with me.
Thank you to Kate Rock Book Tours for providing my free copy in exchange for an honest review.
October 5, 2022
Oh man. This memoir touched my heart in ways I was not expecting. This is a story of hardship, desperation, joy, overcoming, and everything in between. Get ready for an emotional rollercoaster that only a memoir done right can take you on.
Patty Tierney finds herself in a position she never imagined she would be in: divorced, homeless, and trying to support her three kids. She finally accepts that she cannot keep her family afloat trying to clean houses, so she accepts an offer of a man who works at the gas station: she’ll have sex with him for money. This is the beginning of a long seventeen years Patty spends as a sex worker which eventually leads her to realize she has become the person she did not want to be: an alcoholic who doesn’t give her children what they need just like her mother.
That Patty can be so open and honest about her story is something that makes this memoir so emotional and heartfelt. Reading about someone’s tough childhood is always difficult, but as I said in the beginning, this story has stayed with me in ways I didn’t expect. This wasn’t a story that was always easy to read but it is truly an inspirational one. Patty shows how she got help, came up from the dark place she had found herself in, used therapy, spirituality, and community to heal, and show that you can heal from the inside out.
Patty Tierney finds herself in a position she never imagined she would be in: divorced, homeless, and trying to support her three kids. She finally accepts that she cannot keep her family afloat trying to clean houses, so she accepts an offer of a man who works at the gas station: she’ll have sex with him for money. This is the beginning of a long seventeen years Patty spends as a sex worker which eventually leads her to realize she has become the person she did not want to be: an alcoholic who doesn’t give her children what they need just like her mother.
That Patty can be so open and honest about her story is something that makes this memoir so emotional and heartfelt. Reading about someone’s tough childhood is always difficult, but as I said in the beginning, this story has stayed with me in ways I didn’t expect. This wasn’t a story that was always easy to read but it is truly an inspirational one. Patty shows how she got help, came up from the dark place she had found herself in, used therapy, spirituality, and community to heal, and show that you can heal from the inside out.
October 9, 2022
Thank you to Kate with Kate Rock Book Tours and to Patty for having me on the tour and for the review copy! This was an interesting and enlightening read!
Patty is an alcoholic and a sex worker. She has done it to provide for her kids. After leaving their father and a horrible home environment, she had no money and with her car broken down, no way to fix it. So her life of prostitution began. Patty’s life hasn’t been an easy one, beginning with her home life growing up. In this memoir, Patty begins learning about herself, her past, and how to overcome all of the obstacles she has been through.
I enjoyed this read. It was eye opening and felt humble. Patty’s life was HARD and none of us know how or what we’d do in the situations she faced. I applaud her courage and rawness in this story. After years of being unfulfilled, she has come full circle and has received her reward with a husband who loves and cares for her. Life is simple in that respect, we all crave love and desire the feeling of being wanted. This is a four star read. Real thoughts, real feelings and pure, real life. It’s as real as you can get with helpful tips and encouragement. Great read!
Patty is an alcoholic and a sex worker. She has done it to provide for her kids. After leaving their father and a horrible home environment, she had no money and with her car broken down, no way to fix it. So her life of prostitution began. Patty’s life hasn’t been an easy one, beginning with her home life growing up. In this memoir, Patty begins learning about herself, her past, and how to overcome all of the obstacles she has been through.
I enjoyed this read. It was eye opening and felt humble. Patty’s life was HARD and none of us know how or what we’d do in the situations she faced. I applaud her courage and rawness in this story. After years of being unfulfilled, she has come full circle and has received her reward with a husband who loves and cares for her. Life is simple in that respect, we all crave love and desire the feeling of being wanted. This is a four star read. Real thoughts, real feelings and pure, real life. It’s as real as you can get with helpful tips and encouragement. Great read!
September 28, 2022
Patty Tierney has made some very significant changes to her life…but not without experiencing some challenges first. In her 20s, as a divorced and homeless mother of three, she accepted an offer to have sex for money and spent the next 17 years the followed as a sex worker. Such a sacrifice was the only way she knew how to support her family, but after realizing she wasn’t truly giving her kids what they needed, she found her way out of this fog.
In a truly inspirational story, she describes how she got help, made a change and improved her circumstance from the inside out. All it took was therapy, spirituality, community and the courage to live in a truthful and conscious way. Patty is an amazing person! Reading her words is proof that we are all able to make big changes as long as we are willing to put in the work!
I love reading memoirs like these because I am rooting for the writer the whole time. Happy endings such as these are so wonderful!!
In a truly inspirational story, she describes how she got help, made a change and improved her circumstance from the inside out. All it took was therapy, spirituality, community and the courage to live in a truthful and conscious way. Patty is an amazing person! Reading her words is proof that we are all able to make big changes as long as we are willing to put in the work!
I love reading memoirs like these because I am rooting for the writer the whole time. Happy endings such as these are so wonderful!!
October 16, 2022
The author grew up with an alcoholic mother and sadly, followed in her footsteps, and in dysfunctional relationships, having sex with the occasional man for a few extra dollars here and there till it became her main source of income. She did things that she probably never, ever thought she would do to make money to survive and take care of her kids. This is her story. It’s sad, heartbreaking, parts made me angry at how hard she tried and never seemed to get ahead and how others took advantage of her.
Patty is a strong woman. Resilient. Intelligent. And once she started to take care of her self and love herself as she deserved, there was no stopping her.
I flew through this book because it was interesting, engaging, and I was so happy to see Patty overcoming the challenges in her path. Im thankful to have gotten a copy of the book from the author and been a part of @katerockbooktours. I encourage you to read it.
Patty is a strong woman. Resilient. Intelligent. And once she started to take care of her self and love herself as she deserved, there was no stopping her.
I flew through this book because it was interesting, engaging, and I was so happy to see Patty overcoming the challenges in her path. Im thankful to have gotten a copy of the book from the author and been a part of @katerockbooktours. I encourage you to read it.
September 26, 2022
I received an advance review copy and am leaving this review voluntarily. Thank you @PattyTierneyAuthor @KateRockBookTours for my #gifted copy.
Today, I have a remarkable story to share with you. Due to the nature of the subject matter, I appreciate the vulnerability shared by the author. The courage displayed is genuine and shares all of the ups and downs of her life. I feel like the more vulnerable an author, the better I understand them as a person. I feel like I better understand the decisions she made and why.
As I read Patty's story, I experienced all of the feels. From empathy to anger and being scared for her, I shared her hope, joy, and am proud of her for taking an imperfect life and learning to live her best life by creating the life she wants. This is a powerful story of hitting rock bottom only to soar to heights unexpected heights.
Today, I have a remarkable story to share with you. Due to the nature of the subject matter, I appreciate the vulnerability shared by the author. The courage displayed is genuine and shares all of the ups and downs of her life. I feel like the more vulnerable an author, the better I understand them as a person. I feel like I better understand the decisions she made and why.
As I read Patty's story, I experienced all of the feels. From empathy to anger and being scared for her, I shared her hope, joy, and am proud of her for taking an imperfect life and learning to live her best life by creating the life she wants. This is a powerful story of hitting rock bottom only to soar to heights unexpected heights.
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October 11, 2022This memoir was gutting. It was raw and vulnerable. Patty, an alcoholic and a sex worker, shares her story about leaving a dangerous home environment with her children and doing prostitution to provide for her family. Through her hardships, broken relationships, blackouts and several failed attempts to quit drinking. Struggling to connect with a partner intimately after 17 years of sex work, Patty finally comes to the realization that this is not the kind of life she wants to live.
Kudos to you, Patty. You put in the WORK. I'm so proud of you.
I personally connected with the feelings and sadness in this memoir as I grew up with an alcoholic mom. It's F hard. You cannot help someone who doesn't want help. You cannot force someone to quit. They have to want it.
TW: addiction, drug abuse, prostitution, alcohol abuse, underage use, death
Kudos to you, Patty. You put in the WORK. I'm so proud of you.
I personally connected with the feelings and sadness in this memoir as I grew up with an alcoholic mom. It's F hard. You cannot help someone who doesn't want help. You cannot force someone to quit. They have to want it.
TW: addiction, drug abuse, prostitution, alcohol abuse, underage use, death
August 31, 2022
I do enjoy reading memoirs. If done right, they can provide a window into the sol of the person whose story is being shared. This is because I can imagine to be a vulnerable experience to tell your personal story knowing that lots of people will be reading it. So, that is kind of what I am looking for when I read a memoir is to experience that.
In the case of Patty's story, I truly did feel that. I went through a range of emotions...sadness, rage, disappointment, scared, joy, and proud. This meant I was affected by reading Patty's story. For the type of childhood, she and her brothers had, it was not a "perfect" one. Yet, she was able to become a fighter and turn her life around. You go Patty!
In the case of Patty's story, I truly did feel that. I went through a range of emotions...sadness, rage, disappointment, scared, joy, and proud. This meant I was affected by reading Patty's story. For the type of childhood, she and her brothers had, it was not a "perfect" one. Yet, she was able to become a fighter and turn her life around. You go Patty!
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December 27, 2022
For a Good Time is a relatively short memoir by Patty Tierney about her time as a sex worker, alcoholism and how she worked to overcome barriers to become a better mother.
Overall I thought Patty did a great job at describing her life, what she thought it would look it and where it went. She doesn't attempt to justify her poor choices in regards to her children and the last bit of the book focuses on what happens when she opens up to her kids and how they react.
What I personally didn't connect with was her Goddess talk, as a non-religion/non-spiritual person, it didn't resonate with me but I think it would for those who are open to it.
Thank you to Kate Rock Book Tours & Patty Tierney for providing me with an audiobook to review.
Overall I thought Patty did a great job at describing her life, what she thought it would look it and where it went. She doesn't attempt to justify her poor choices in regards to her children and the last bit of the book focuses on what happens when she opens up to her kids and how they react.
What I personally didn't connect with was her Goddess talk, as a non-religion/non-spiritual person, it didn't resonate with me but I think it would for those who are open to it.
Thank you to Kate Rock Book Tours & Patty Tierney for providing me with an audiobook to review.
December 18, 2022
🔴Experiences 🔴Learning 🔴Healing
A moving and inspiring story. As I listened to this audio, I listened to understand and take it all in. There was no judgment. As we go through life our experiences are not the same. Now there may be some similarities, but you can only tell your story. As I listened to Patty tell her story, it brought up a few things from my pass. The way she explained certain experiences, had me rethink somethings.
I like that she mentioned the different types of journals she started doing, which I think I will be doing in 2023.
I appreciate all that this book had to offer.
A moving and inspiring story. As I listened to this audio, I listened to understand and take it all in. There was no judgment. As we go through life our experiences are not the same. Now there may be some similarities, but you can only tell your story. As I listened to Patty tell her story, it brought up a few things from my pass. The way she explained certain experiences, had me rethink somethings.
I like that she mentioned the different types of journals she started doing, which I think I will be doing in 2023.
I appreciate all that this book had to offer.
October 7, 2022
5/5 GRIPPING Stars!
An EMOTIONAL and MOVING memoir.
Patty Tierney opens her heart and gives us a gripping and emotional journey of her life. My whole heart was in this book and her story. It was so emotional and compelling.
For A Good Time is a raw and honest story that wrecks your heart but also inspires. These pages are filled with bravery, resilience and hope! Change is ALWAYS possible. A remarkable story from a remarkable woman who fought for a better life. A MUST read.
Displaying 1 - 15 of 15 reviews