Tender Touch

Jennifer felt she had to run away; there was no other choice. Her stepfather’s sexual abuse combined with her mother’s emotional neglect proved to be more than she could handle. She heads to New York City, where her luck changes for the better when she meets an older woman, Martha Jenkins, who takes Jennifer under her wing. While life still has its complications, including a complex situation with the mob and a husband who starts lashing out at her, now Jennifer has a family which accepts and helps her.

Be warned: The interpersonal relationships in "Tender Touch" are tinged with violence, but author Pamela Dasgupta puts the emphasis on the loyalty and strength that is instrumental in overcoming oppressive behavior. Her depiction of domestic abuse is presented to educate the reader.