My Name Is Noelle

<p>Noelle is a self-determined but troubled young woman who is a skilled martial artist. She's proud of her hard-won independence. However she's also desperately searching for her own people and a place to belong. She has Conan her martial arts instructor and Piper a woman she works with at a local diner who is a budding musician. Then there's O'Shea's: a charming neighborhood Irish bar with a cast of characters who become like a second family.</p><p>At O'Shea's Noelle meets Vic a shadowy individual with more depth than meets the eye. Vic a rogue martial arts expert himself becomes a confidant and support for Noelle as she strives to overcome her harsh past and obtain her black belt. But when Noelle's family troubles begin to press in on her and her friends are simultaneously pulled away by choice and circumstance she is forced to learn that the hardest battles are often the ones you fight with yourself.<br><br><u>Potential triggers</u>: The main character is dealing with the aftermath of an attempted sexual assault. This shows up in minimal flashbacks. Another character has lost a family member to suicide and this is mentioned briefly. Please note the rest of the book is about persevering through life's obstacles learning compassion music & dancing finding places where you belong and the joy of found family.</p>