Dating & Relationships, Sexuality, Religion & Spirituality 

When you think of a book on chastity, phrases like "page turner," "inspiring testimonial," and "engaging witness" ordinarily don’t come to mind. Then again, Mary-Louise Kurey is not your ordinary chastity speaker and author. This free-spirited virgin is probably not what one imagines in remembering "the talk": a grandmotherly woman preaching how sex outside marriage is dirty. Instead, the former Miss Wisconsin shares a message of love and inspiration for all, including those who have been sexually active in the past. In Standing With Courage, Kurey openly shares her journey from a shy, awkward adolescent to an outspoken Miss America Finalist. On the way, she addresses issues pertinent to young Americans, including drug and alcohol use, peer pressure, eating disorders, abortion, dating, and a personal relationship with God. SWC breaks the mold of what one would imagine as the typical "chastity book," with plenty of juicy bits for all ages. The author shares an array of unusual experiences bringing her message across the country, such as speaking about chastity to more than 125,000 teens and young adults in 19 states, appearing as a guest on Politically Incorrect, being protested at the University of Wisconsin, and competing at the Miss America Pageant – including the "off the record" opposition she faced for her chastity-based platform. Contrary to nay-sayers who protest that abstinence is a shallow "Just say no" message, Kurey’s book illustrates that choosing chastity is saying "Yes" to life – building the foundation for healthy relationships, for developing character and personal strength, and for a promising future free of the physical, emotional and psychological scars that come with premarital sex. Her message addresses sexuality within the context of the whole person – physically, emotionally, spiritually, psychologically and socially. - from Amzon