Reviewed by Kat
TITLE: Freiya’s Stand
AUTHOR: Anastasia Vitsky
PUBLISHER: Self-Published
LENGTH: 129 pages
RELEASE DATE: August 16, 2016
BLURB:
When should love take a stand?
Freiya’s life is perfect. She’s got doting parents, a classroom of adorable kindergarteners, and the love of her life. Even if Sabrina insists on discretion in their private Catholic school, they share happiness in private.
That is, until the bombshell hits. Their principal demands a “Fight for Families” covenant to refrain from “sexual perversion.” All teachers must sign. No exceptions.
Sign, Sabrina says. Otherwise, they’ll lose their job, privacy, and home.
Freiya doesn’t want to betray the woman she loves, but how can she sign a document that denounces their love? Is standing up for love worth losing her livelihood?
If she speaks the truth, she’ll lose everything.
If she lies, she’ll lose even more.
How can Freiya take a stand for what’s right when the choices are wrong?
How can it be wrong to love the woman who makes her life worth living?
The truth should set them free, but Freiya’s stand threatens to destroy the very love she refuses to deny.
When “religious freedom” legislates against identity, how can Freiya and Sabrina survive?
REVIEW:
I believe this is my most favorite Anastasia Vitsky book to date. She really got the sacrifices that teachers are willing to make for the sake of their students.
“Freiya’s Stand” is the story of two teachers that meet and fall for each other while working at a conservative Catholic school. Once they realize that their love is real they are forced to hide it, in fear of retribution from the school administration. They also discover that they have a fondness for the same kink – spanking, while on a school trip to England to visit and explore everything Shakespeare. But things become difficult when their principal goes on a crusade about the sins of homosexuality and its effects on families. She forces all staff members to sign a morals covenant and teach daily against the sins of homosexuality. “Freiya’s Stand” is what happens to these two women when they are faced with this homophobic bigotry.
As I stated, Ms. Vitsky got the sacrifices of working with our youth down perfectly. From the long hours, to the lack of parental involvement, to finally the feeding students from your own personal stash from Costco. I recently retired from public education and these things are real. Students come to school daily hungry and tired. Many have very little adult guidance and supervision. Parents are struggling to keep a roof over their children’s heads and food in their bellies. The olden days of sitting around the dining room table eating together, discussing the daily events at school and helping with their homework is very seldom seen in most homes today unfortunately.
Freiya is a young woman finally breaking from her family to reach out and grab life. She seemed a bit naïve to me but is probably more of a new adult with stars in their eyes. Sabrina seemed a bit older and more knowledgeable of the ways of the world. Keep things to yourself and above all – self-preservation. She knew what would happen if Freiya made a stand and bucked the administration.
I am not sure that there is a place like Sacred Lily. It seems a bit dream-like and more like a sanctuary than a town. Although it would be nice to know that you are safe and protected, I am one for a bit more diversity in life.
Good book about how close-minded and sanctimonious some small private schools can be. Also how hard it can be to rise to your cause and how that rise can have consequences that can affect more than just yourself.
RATING: 
BUY LINK: