Showing posts with label lesbian. Show all posts
Showing posts with label lesbian. Show all posts

Love and Other Ruins Review

Love and Other Ruins
Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)
This is the great sequel to the first Nomi Rabinovitch story: "Love Ruins Everything". The same characters: Nomi of course, her best friend Betty, her boss Patty, her long-distance-girlfriend Julie, her cousin Henry and the rest of her family [including her grandmother Bubbe who passes away, or doesn't she?].
The story picks up where the first book ended and it is as funny, as readable, as great in character-developing as the first book was.
If you loved the first book you will love this one as much.
If you haven't read the first one: buy it, read it and then start on this one.

Click Here to see more reviews about: Love and Other Ruins



Buy Now

Click here for more information about Love and Other Ruins

Read More...

Blind Curves (Blind Eye Mysteries) Review

Blind Curves (Blind Eye Mysteries)
Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)

Blind Curves is the first book in a thrilling new detective series by Diane and Jacob Anderson-Minshall. The story takes place in San Francisco, the authors' home, and the descriptions are rich and lively, thus making the city itself an additional character in the novel.
Velvet Erickson, journalist, is suspected of killing wealthy publisher and former lover, Rosemary Finney. Since she is the only suspect and must prove her innocence within 48 hours or be jailed until her trial, she hires friend Yoshi Yakamoto, owner of Blind Eye Detective Agency. Yoshi and fellow detective Bud Williams set out to find the killer, but along the way they uncover corruption at the highest levels in the wealthy secluded town of Woodside, south of San Francisco. In a race against time, the real murderer is doing everything possible to keep the truth from unfolding, and Velvet is counting on the Blind Eye team to save her skin.
This easy to read, down to earth novel is electrifying from the get-go. The pace moves at a quick clip, and the authors clearly explain the complex relationships as they divulge key clues. Blind Curves is used metaphorically and literally throughout the book tying together the mystery puzzle neatly in the end.
The character development though is what makes this novel stand out and will make the reader craving for more in the series as they complete Blind Curves. In revealing that Yoshi is legally blind and Bud is a paraplegic and wheelchair bound, we get a glimpse of the challenges they face and how they compensate. But the reader does not feel sorry for these two because Blind Curves strips away the labels and gives us gritty, likeable, and appealing characters. The authors add depth to their characterization by enlightening us, and we see Yoshi as clever, intelligent and at times manipulative, but never helpless. This detective knows how to get to the facts, and she uses all of her resources to do it. Anderson-Minshalls add to the book by including wonderfully colorful secondary characters in Tucker, Yoshi's receptionist, and AJ, an East Palo Alto policewoman.
One of the best features of this book is that all of the key characters except Bud are lesbians, and that's the way I like my fiction. While the reader is left hanging as to what the future has in store for these characters, I was fully satisfied with Blind Curves. I am counting the days until Blind Leap's release in October of 2007.


Click Here to see more reviews about: Blind Curves (Blind Eye Mysteries)



Buy Now

Click here for more information about Blind Curves (Blind Eye Mysteries)

Read More...

Run to Me Review

Run to Me
Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)
I liked "Love on Location" by this author more. But this book was one that will slip effortlessly in among the average quality of lesbian romances, and likely charm those who pick it up.
The writing and editing was a little loose for me to give the book really high marks. Beth flees to San Francisco to train for its half-marathon after the abrupt and painful end of a 3-year relationship in LA. There she spontaneously rents a room from a quirky cast of characters and removed from her old life begins an emotional recovery process. She meets Mary, whom everyone loves and who seems to love everyone, and they strike immediate sparks, but Beth is wary of being cheated on, and Mary has been shying away from serious relationships for years. Determined to keep it casual, they begin to train for the race together, furiously attempting to resist all impulses to take their relationship deeper.
The reader spends the vast majority of the book inside Beth's head and thoughts. I like a rich internal voice, so that was good.
Except Beth had a tendency to think one thing one scene, then think something in direct opposition in the next. She'd make a decision, then ponder contradictory thoughts without referencing that decision. Perhaps the author meant to portray the disorganized jumble of one's thoughts as their mind and body war with one another, but it would have meant more if the tenor of the thoughts and contradictions had changed as Beth recovered. Instead she hashed and rehashed the same thoughts over and over, and they began to manifest in confusing actions, and also to be boring. I kept thinking, "Didn't we already go over this...more than once?" This led to the character repeatedly creating her own drama. Not something I generally enjoy.
Thankfully we also got a bit from Mary's point of view, which was usually clearer, and helped express the confusion this reader was feeling at Beth's mixed signals. There were sweet and hot moments as their relationship stuttered along. And despite Beth's clothes unaccountable disappearing in one such hot scene, it wasn't too hard to overlook the frustrating moments as the author brought her novel to a decent close, wrapping up events in a satisfying manner.
I liked the additional psychology the author brought to this book, compared to "Love on Location." She also shook up her formula a touch, which isn't a bad thing. So far I'm a fan. Hopefully she tightens up the characterizations a bit in her next work, but I'm interested to see what she does next. It's a solid, quick read, and I expect the vast majority of those who take the time to read this book will be entertained enough to consider it time well-spent.

Click Here to see more reviews about: Run to Me



Buy Now

Click here for more information about Run to Me

Read More...

Cherry Grove Review

Cherry Grove
Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)
If you are tired of reading Lesbian Romance where the whole point is the sex, or the author is too shy to be proud of the sexuality of her characters. Or where the problems are contrived and the ending is sappy. You've found the right harbour. SX brings quirky and realistic characters to life. Poses real life questions for them and then has us rooting for them as they make their human way toward a resolution. Every book reinforces my faith in the human family without being unrealistic and every book makes me think. The quality of the writing is professional, lively, and vivid.
Thanks again for another book for my permanent library.

Click Here to see more reviews about: Cherry Grove



Buy Now

Click here for more information about Cherry Grove

Read More...

Beginnings (I Found My Heart in San Francisco, Book Two) Review

Beginnings (I Found My Heart in San Francisco, Book Two)
Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)
The writer managed to craft a story of two PEOPLE. None of the unbelievable characters that litter
lesbian fiction. I enjoyed that the main characters were people who had issues and weren't totally
"OMG I never thought a sexual thought until X came into my life" characters. The plotting kept my
interest. Ryan's exes on the AIDS ride were realistic: some people are fine with you moving on, some
get over it after awhile and some stay bitter. Meagher writes this w/o resorting to a stalker sub-plot.
The cop scene was too funny -- it happens too. Cassie was one (minor) character I think I have met in
real life about two dozen times. LOL! This book comes after Awakenings and before Coalescence.
Enjoy!

Click Here to see more reviews about: Beginnings (I Found My Heart in San Francisco, Book Two)



Buy Now

Click here for more information about Beginnings (I Found My Heart in San Francisco, Book Two)

Read More...

Getaway (I Found My Heart In San Francisco: Book Seven) Review

Getaway (I Found My Heart In San Francisco: Book Seven)
Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)
I really enjoy this series, though as a rule I just love SX Meagher's style of writing. She really delves into the psyches of her characters, getting to the root of motivations and actions. It's a treat to read. Perhaps it isn't for everyone. I have heard some complaints about the length of some of the books. Myself, I was sort of sad at the "life" detail that was chopped out of the first two books as they were prepared for being published, but it still worked very well. I just love how these characters have been created, how human they seem with their faults and flaws, yet even in their missteps they're also some type of idealized version of aspects of all of us. The heart of these books, the relationship between Ryan and Jaime, provides an extremely strong base, and I love reading about the love and learning they experience in their "ordinary" lives with their family and friends. This author weaves a rich tapestry of setting and psychology that is second to none.
This particular book, the seventh in the series, is also the shortest (so far). It's a charming little ditty that is mostly a light romp through Disneyland as Jaime continues to build a relationship with her mother, but also includes plenty of life lessons and emotional exploration as Jaime learns things about her past and that of her parents, and as Ryan and Jaime deal with taking care of little Caitlin for several days. I'm very impressed at this point in the series about how every situation is used as an opportunity the author can take to deepen the relationships between the characters. This book is a quick read, but has a depth to it as well that makes it satisfying.
So go on vacation! Read about Catherine, Jaime, Ryan and Caitlin in Disney Land, and wish you were there as well: having breakfast with Goofy, riding the Tea Cups, swimming in the Neverland Pool. This book is definitely not a stand alone book, and you'll be lost as far as many of the deeper issues if you jump into the series at this point, but fans of the series should be well entertained.

Click Here to see more reviews about: Getaway (I Found My Heart In San Francisco: Book Seven)



Buy Now

Click here for more information about Getaway (I Found My Heart In San Francisco: Book Seven)

Read More...

Honesty (I Found My Heart in San Francisco, Book Eight Review

Honesty (I Found My Heart in San Francisco, Book Eight
Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)
I'm a fan of this series, and of this author. Her explorations of of the lines between gay and straight, of learning and growing in a relationship, of family dynamics and the positive and negative ways that those we love surprise us are all on display in this 8th book in her I Found My Heart in San Francisco series about two college students who fall in love and begin a life together.
The strongest books of this series focus on the constant wonder and learning the two women experience as they grow closer to one another. It's very satisfying to read about what comes after they initially get together, the point at which too many books end, often frustratingly abruptly. Jaime and Ryan move into Jaime's Berkeley house as classes resume session after their summer break. Jaime has to deal with the intense emotional consequences to her immediate family, as her mother continues her staunch support of their relationship, and even becomes more integrated into the O'Flaherty family unit herself, and her father continues his knee-jerk rejection of Jaime's "choice" all the while protesting that he just wants her to be happy. Not happy that Ryan moves into the house against his wishes, he continues his efforts to separate them by hiring a private investigator to dig up dirt on his daughter's partner, unable to comprehend the resistance he's getting from his normally maleable daughter.
Meanwhile, Jaime and Ryan deal with issues of trust and secrets. Ryan also comes down with an intense bout of the flu, through which Jaime nurses her. The classic hurt/comfort detour, along with authentic details of being a student athlete, managing money, handling an intense course load, and learning how strong love can be buoy this story along at a delightful pace. A good supporting cast (whose stories are still peripheral in this installment, though have a tendency to take over in the future) lend just the right amount of depth.
Fans will be satisfied. New readers should start at the beginning with Awakenings, Beginnings, Coalescence, Disclosures, Entwined, Fidelity and Getaway.
P.S. You can get a copy at the authors website. Just do an internet search on her name.

Click Here to see more reviews about: Honesty (I Found My Heart in San Francisco, Book Eight



Buy Now

Click here for more information about Honesty (I Found My Heart in San Francisco, Book Eight

Read More...

Disclosures (I Found My Heart in San Francisco, Book Four) Review

Disclosures (I Found My Heart in San Francisco, Book Four)
Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)
Susan has done it again! Disclosures is yet another fantastic addition to the I Found My Heart series. This book deals with Jamie & Ryan settling into married life, and with Jamie coming out to family & friends (not always voluntarily). Jamie has to get used to being perceived as a lesbian even if she isn't ready to adopt the label yet. Ryan begins to grasp just how much money Jamie really has & must adjust to the lifestyles of the rich & famous. Maids, gardeners, car detailing services, expensive restaurants, buying a Lexus with Amex - it's quite a culture shock for a scholarship student who has been saving for grad school by pinching every penny until it screams.
Susan also does a nice job showing the different characters' reactions to Jamie's new lifestyle. Jamie has always been closer to her father than her mother, & she predicted that her father would accept her new lifestyle quickly & her mother would be somewhat uptight. Instead, her dad freaked out & her mother was fine.
The print version of Disclosures is a well edited, high-quality book. The cover is a nice, heavy stock, the design is beautiful, and the binding didn't show any tilt or creasing even after reading it twice. Brisk Press is definitely a cut above many of the other `Uber' publishers. Don't settle for the web version of this series; the books will be a fine addition to your lesbian fiction collection.


Click Here to see more reviews about: Disclosures (I Found My Heart in San Francisco, Book Four)



Buy Now

Click here for more information about Disclosures (I Found My Heart in San Francisco, Book Four)

Read More...

Awakenings (I Found My Heart in San Francisco, Book One) Review

Awakenings (I Found My Heart in San Francisco, Book One)
Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)
WOW, I hope all of this series will be available on the Kindle. She is a great author. I just love the texture of her writing and the vibrancy of the characters. This is a unique and loving view of people discovering who they are and what they want in life.

Click Here to see more reviews about: Awakenings (I Found My Heart in San Francisco, Book One)



Buy Now

Click here for more information about Awakenings (I Found My Heart in San Francisco, Book One)

Read More...

Coalescence (I Found My Heart in San Francisco, Book Three) Review

Coalescence (I Found My Heart in San Francisco, Book Three)
Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)
Finally! They're actually going to get busy! This is the honeymoon book. It's a bit light on plot, but the love scenes are very well-written. This author knows the difference between a hot sex scene & a hot love scene! Jamie discovers the joy of lesbian sex & Ryan finally ends months of tortuous celibacy. There isn't a lot of conflict, although we do get a glimpse of how hard it's going to be for Ryan to accept Jamie's wealth.
Do not read at work!

Click Here to see more reviews about: Coalescence (I Found My Heart in San Francisco, Book Three)



Buy Now

Click here for more information about Coalescence (I Found My Heart in San Francisco, Book Three)

Read More...