My name is Toni Lee Wells, and the unspooling of my Tiffany and Wild Turkey lifestyle began with my second trip to the Luckett County Jail drunk tank. Not very dignified for a Southern girl from a prominent family.
I blame it on the tequila (no wonder they call it to-kill-ya), but the real reason I’ve been playing the fool is because I’m heartbroken. All my life I’ve wanted to be a pro tennis player, but then I severely damaged my wrist, and now my dreams are permanently dashed.
My family was patient with me for a while, but no more. My aunt Cornelia, who controls the purse strings, told me that she was cutting off my generous allowance and that I had to get a real job and keep it for a whole year. If I screw it up, I’m going to cut off from the Wells family fortune.
It wasn’t easy finding a job. There aren’t too many positions out there for people whose only skills are winning at Flip, Strip or Sip and hanging out on Pinterest. Luckily I stumbled across the Teacher Corps, which is a program that places college grads in high-need areas and fast-tracks their teaching degree.
I was looking forward to an easy teaching gig, but what I got was an assignment to Harriet Hall, one of Georgia’s roughest high schools. What’s a pampered Southern belle to do when confronted with a bunch of street smart students who are determined to make her life miserable as possible?
My kids are wild as an acre of snakes. In the middle of lessons, they love to yell out: “Let’s get krunk!” We’re all stuck out in a battered portable that’s crawling with vermin and has a broken AC unit. Some days I just lay my head on the desk and try to wish it all away. The principal is no help; in fact, he wants me to participate in some unethical dealings. But I can’t quit or I’ll be broke for the rest of my life.
Luckily, Carl, a handsome colleague, is willing to help me negotiate the rough teaching waters, but he’s the only bright spot in my life. Will I be able to make it through this school year? Guess you’ll have to check back with me in June to find out. It’s only September and I’m already about to lose my marbles.
By the way, my author is giving away a copy of Girl Meets Class, published by Henery Press. Leave a comment by 12 a.m. eastern on Tuesday, September 22 for the chance to win. (US entries only, please.) Good luck everyone!
If you’re intrigued, you can read an excerpt of Girl Meets Class here. Also if you sign up for my author’s mailing list, you’ll receive a free ebook.
About the author
Karin Gillespie is the author the Bottom Dollar series and Girl Meets Class, which is loosely based on her experience teaching at an inner-city school. Visit her at karingillespie.net
Sounds fun! Thanks for the chance!
Tis sounds very interesting. Thanks for the offer.
Sounds like a good story. Working in an inner-city school is such a challenge.
Teaching is no picnic anywhere if you do it right…and heck on wheels if the kids do not care.
Sounds like a good read. Thanks for the chance!
Sounds like a fun book – thank you for the chance to win
Wow! I really want to read this! Sounds like I’d be smiling the entire book and then looking around for more. Thanks for the giveaway.
Sounds like a really good book. Thanks for the opportunity to enter.
Another new one to me and an interesting one at that. Thanks for the introduction. robeader53@yahoo.com
Sounds like Toni Lee is going to have a rough road to hoe.
Would love to try this one. thanks.
Sounds like she’s getting a real life education!
Sounds like its a great cozy, would love to win, ty
Sounds a bit like some of the schools I went to. We were pretty rough on the teachers too. Thanks for a chance to win the book.
Sounds like a good read and one I want share. Thanks for the chance to win.
A captivating and wonderful giveaway. Thanks for this great feature and wonderful giveaway.
Intriguing and tantalizing! Thanks for the giveaway of what sounds like a very entertaining read!!
This sounds like a great book, and if it is loosely based on the author’s teaching experiences, it should be fantastic! I RAN away from the only scholarship offered after HS since it was for teaching, and I had visions of death row if I had been stupid enough to accept it. Teachers are automatically on the fast track to sainthood!! Would be a great book to win, and already on my Amazon Wish List. Thanks for the chance.
Looks like a great book!
Eager to see how the school year goes. My fave English teacher suffered abuse by students in the early 60s. Not an easy career choice.
That sounds an awful lot like my eldest boy’s job. He’s a teacher (now A.P.) at a school for at risk high school students. That means they were kicked out of their regular school and had a choice of my son’s tender mercies or Riker’s Island jail.
I’d love to win this book and see if the character has any advice my son can use. LOL LOL
I like reading stories like this — makes me glad I’m not a teacher, but makes me appreciate those who are!!!
Digicats {at} Sbcglobal {dot} Net
I LOVE YOUR WRITING. I HOPE TO WIN THIS ONE.
My mother was a schoolteacher. She had the chance to teach again, but would not do it for all the tea in china. This sounds like a good plot for a mystery.
I thinl I would enjoy this book….
Thank you for the giveaway…..
Awesome series! Looking forward to reading this.
Contest is closed