|
Title:
Arbor Vitae
Author: Susan X Meagher
ISBN: 0-9770885-0-2
Publisher: Brisk Press
Available From: www.briskpress.com, Bella Books
Price: $ 16.00
Pages: 461
Genre: Fiction/Romance/Lesbian |
Gay or straight-it's easy to fall in love with Clancy O'Connor
and Abby Graham in Susan X Meagher's sizzling romancereplete
with family drama, compelling character journeys, incredible
sex, and unforgettable characters. Arbor Vitae is a thought-provoking
page-turner, from the author of the popular, I Found My Heart
in San Francisco.
We meet Abby five years after Will's death-as she is starting
to come out of mourning. At forty-five, Abbywho was sure
that her late husband was probably her last lovefinds herself
attracted to the landscape architect she hires. Clancy is
an honest and open hard worker. She has a heart of gold and
exudes enviable self-confidence. Abby may be a straight wealthy
widow and devoted mother, but she can't resist the charming
and mature twenty-nine-year-old. What starts out as friendship
morphs into so much more as the women connect in the most
primal way despite a vast array of differences. The ensuing
courtship enriches Abby's reason for living, beyond that of
the love of her family, friends, and her charity work.
Meagher captures Abby's concerns about her immature seventeen-year-old
daughter Hayley, doting twenty-five-year-old son Trevor, and
the rest of her family and friends, so well, that I get goose
bumps just reading it. The angst Abby goes through while dealing
with the issues that come up when a sea change like that occurs
is distressing, but watching her transformation from a mother
who consistently puts other's needs before her own to a mother
who is also a woman in love, is what makes "Arbor Vitae"
satisfying and real.
Abby has more to lose by embarking on a lesbian love affair
than her young girlfriend. Clancy is out and quite comfortable
in her own skinshe makes no apologies for being gaywhich
in itself is refreshing. Life is difficult enough without
throwing a wrench in the mix, but with love, hope, patience,
perseverance, and humor, Clancy and Abby strive to have the
life they deservetogether.
For readers who enjoy the psychology and fluidity of sexuality;
exploring lesbian love from different perspectives; and witnessing
two women from different worlds, at different stages in their
lives, as they come together, I highly recommend that you
read "Arbor Vitae" by Susan X Meagher. Not only
is it more book for your buck, but the story is just great
and 461 pages goes by in a blink!
_____
Reviewed by Cheri Rosenberg
|
Title:
Burning Dreams
Author: Susan Smith
ISBN: 1933110627
Publisher: Bold Strokes Books, Inc, www.boldstrokesbooks.com
Available From: StarCrossed
Productions, www.SCP-inc.biz; www.bellabooks.com;
or libertas.co.uk
Price: $15.95 Pages: 288 pages
Genre: Lesbian Fiction/Romance |
Susan Smith's Of Drag Kings and the Wheel of Fate was
a powerful story, right on the mark in so many ways. Burning
Dreams, its sequel, is even better, and Smith's growth
as a storyteller is evident right away.
All of the characters from the first book are back. Taryn's
and Rosalind's love story continues with Ellie, Joe and Rhea
in strong supporting roles. Paul, Ros' ex, is in the picture
now, front and center. He travels to Buffalo because he wants
Ros back, and he ends up living with Joe and Rhea while he
pursues Ros. This generates friction between Taryn and Ros.
And this is where Smith's abilities as a writer shine. She
fleshes out the characters well, especially Taryn's. With
the threat of Paul, Taryn becomes unlikable and bratty. We,
the reader, want her to just grow up because she is doing
everything to push Ros away. It is hard to find any redeeming
qualities in Taryn, and this is the heart of Burning Dreams.
Smith defines the depth of love so succinctly and how it doesn't
have to make sense to any of us who are not in the relationship.
Only Ros can judge Taryn's behavior as it relates to her.
Smith's style is unique. It envelops the reader with memorable
and inspiring passages that are the meat of the story. In
my opinion, she is one of the best writers of prose in lesbian
fiction today. There is so much emotion mixed with wisdom
and clarity in Burning Dreams. It is a story about
discovering who we are even in the face of adversity, and
it is about creating families to support us so we are not
invisible. It is intense yet subtle too, like a velvet hammer.
The author again challenges our preconceived notions of love,
gender, and what is acceptable. Simply put, she makes us think.
This unusual telling of a modern romance will last a long
time. It is hard to predict a classic in the making, but I
believe Smith has penned one in Burning Dreams.
_____
Reviewed by Kathi Isserman
|
Title:
Combust the Sun -- A Richfield & Rivers Mystery
Authors: Andrews & Austin
ISBN: 1-933110-52-X
Publisher: Bold Strokes Books, Inc.
Available From: Bella Books, www.bellabooks.com; or StarCrossed
Productions, www.SCP-inc.biz;
Pages: 216 Price: $15.95
Genre: Mystery/Romance |
In a succinct film style narrative, with scenes that move, a
character-driven plot, and crisp dialogue worthy of a screenplay,
Andrews & Austin have successfully crafted an engaging Hollywood
mystery. The added bonus is an unpredictable romance between
two intelligent and witty women who have a fantastic sense of
humor evident on every page, even as danger lurks at every turn.
Richfield and Rivers are destined for each other, as if by cosmic
command. Combust the Sun doesn't follow the structure of traditional
lesbian fiction, yet Andrews & Austin are able to sustain
the sensuality/sexuality amidst utter chaos.
Someone is killing Marathon Studio's bigwigs and Teague Richfield,
an ex-cop turned screenwriter, ends up in the middle of the
mess. After having lunch with the smashingly handsome Barrett
Silvers, head of development at Marathon Studios, who had
launched Teague's writing career, Teague finds herself in
peril and pursued by thugs while Barrett ends up in Intensive
Care, and Teague finds herself in peril while being pursued
by thugs.
In the meantime, Teague's mom introduces her skeptical daughter
to a psychic astrologer, Callie Rivers. Teague is immediately
hooked on Callie: "The door swung open to reveal a drop-dead
gorgeous blond
I followed her trail of orgasmic perfume
pretending to check out the floor-to-ceiling glass that provided
a nice view of the river, but mostly I was checking out her
fabulously small, tight ass
" (p. 46-7). Teague
wonders: "What in the world do we have in common other
than my intense desire for her: Maybe that's why God gives
us desire, to keep us sexually hooked on one another until
we have time to figure out we have other things in common"
(p. 69). The mutual attraction occurs early in the novel,
without the usual build-up, barriers, and finally earth-shattering
consummation of the relationship as in most typical romance
novels, but this rollercoaster romance works because real
life isn't always neat and predictable.
Teague voices insecurity familiar in the industry: "As
a screenwriter, I vacillated between the certainty that I
would never be able to write the stories I was given and the
fear that I would never be given any stories to write"
(p. 19). Getting her break after bedding studio executive
Barrett Silvers doesn't exactly bolster her self-esteem, but
she's in, so to speak. The fact that her best friend is a
basset (basket) hound named Elmo and she is haunted by the
prospect of never finding her soul mate, Teague laments what
she's missing by living alone, "That moment in the night
when fears and frailties take over was the reason God created
coupling. It was why the passengers on Noah's Ark didn't proceed
up the plank single file. God didn't create couples merely
for procreation, because mankind can too easily circumvent
the Divine plan with petri dishes and test tubes. God created
couples for that moment between 'news and snooze,' that moment
when there is comfort in an icy bottom up against a warm belly
and the sounds of rhythmic breathing in the night" (p.
32). Teague may be a sarcastic, self-described "psycho"
in love with a psychic, but rationalization will not curb
her appetite. Human imperfection is especially cute on Teague
as her admirable strength, sense of justice, and fierce protectiveness
of Callie are endearing traits. And the 41-year-old offers
beauty tips too: "I brushed my punked auburn hair straight
up. When gravity takes the body south, brush everything north"
(p. 32).
The humor is without question the fun part, the mystery is
the hook, and the love interest is what I enjoy most. Teague
and Callie fighting in public is a classic. At the height
of their loud argument, "A tall, thin waiter swished
over to us and brandished his pad and pencil. 'Do you two
need more time...or would that just make things worse?'"
(p. 138).
Andrews & Austin convince me that it's possible for Teague
to fall so completely, madly, and deeply in love with a psychic
at first sight, and that if Callie Rivers has special powers,
then it must be true, or else life is full of some very incredible
coincidences.
I could write a book about all that I found clever, witty,
and just plain funny amidst the action, adventure, and mystery,
but luckily, they already wrote it! Every page has something
that tickles my funny bone. I love the truisms they included
as it increased my hope for romance, survival, and justice
for the main characters. Even a person who doesn't put faith
in psychics will wonder about that after reading Combust
the Sun.
Combust the Sun will leave you waiting impatiently
for the sequels Stellium In Scorpio (2007) and a third
book in the Richfield & Rivers Mystery series entitled
Venus Besieged, which will be out in 2008. A mystical
romance, Mistress of the Runes (2007), is also on the schedule.
If you long for a fun diversion in your life, or if you enjoy
action sequences that keep you on the edge of your seat, a
who-done-it that will keep you guessing, and a stay-tuned
for the next episode type of book, then Combust the Sun is
for you.
_____
Reviewed by Cheri Rosenberg
|
Title: Don't Murder Your Mystery: 24 Fiction-Writing
Techniques
to Save Your Manuscript from Turning Up D.O.A.
Author: Chris Roerden
ISBN: 1933523131 / 978-1933523132
Publisher: Bella Rosa Books, www.bellarosabooks.com
Available From: Bella Rosa Books, www.bellarosabooks.com
Price: $17.95
Genre: Nonfiction
|
From the beginning of this immensely insightful writing manual,
Chris Roerden focuses on what it takes to write novels that
will survive both an agent's and a publisher's screening process.
I spent a couple of years in the early 1990s reading the slush
pile at two nearby publishing houses, and I can affirm Roerden's
statement that the vast majority of manuscripts submitted to
agents and presses are rejected because the writers fail to
submit a solid, well-written, and entertaining product.
In the dog-eat-dog world of publishing, Roerden tells us
publishers pick very few new writers - and only those who
look like winners - and they "ignore the rest whose work
reveals evidence of average writing, aka 'amateur.'"
She goes on to tell us: "The publishing industry cannot
afford to gamble on writers who are still developing their
potential, who show little evidence of having studied the
craft of the profession they aspire to, or who fail to reflect
the preferences that publishers and agents state in their
submission guidelines" (p. 12).
The book setup is clever. In ten parts, she delineates 24
specific fiction-writing areas to focus upon in revisions.
To start out, in Part I: DEAD ON ARRIVAL, she lays out all
the reasons why writers simply must write, revise, edit, and
format their novels or else they won't be published. In that
section, Roerden tells us about THE JUDGES: Screener-outers
- and what they look for; THE PLAINTIFFS: Writers - and what
you hope for; THE DEFENDANTS: Agents and publishers - and
why they do what they do; and CORRECTIONS FACILITIES: Self-editors
- and how to do what you need to.
Each of the subsequent nine parts features one of the 24
fiction-writing techniques, which Roerden, tongue in cheek,
labels CLUES. For instance, in Part III: FIRST OFFENDERS,
she's got:
CLUE #1: HOBBLED HOOKS - Replace with high-tensile lines
that stretch your holding power;
CLUE #2: PERILOUS PROLOGUES - Beware: May lead to low-tension,
post-prologue, backstory ache;
CLUE #3: BLOODY BACKSTORY - To remove the evidence, slice,
dice, and splice.
The advice to "slice, dice, and splice" is quite
simply wonderful, and with her terrific explanations, it's
easy to remember what she means and apply it to work on a
manuscript. In concise language steeped in good humor and
fabulous examples, Roerden reveals each of the 24 CLUES (including
FATAL FLASHBACKS, TOXIC TRANSCRIPTS, DECEPTIVE DREAMS, DASTARDLY
DESCRIPTION, DYING DIALOGUE, KILLED BY CLICHÉ, GESTURED
TO DEATH, and many more). She systematically provides tips
and techniques for avoiding these pitfalls. The 24 "Clues,"
when properly understood and applied, will make any author's
well-told tale a winner.
She rounds out this well-written guide with an index and
four "Exhibits," including: instructions for standard
manuscript formatting; a bibliography of the multitude of
books she cited throughout the text; a list of popular Internet
crime-writing sites; and recommended nonfiction in the areas
of general writing, mystery, editing, character building,
marketing, etc.
All too often How-To guides warn you about basic no-no's,
but I've never before seen a guide that does such a great
job detailing HOW TO AVOID those no-no's. Using clear-headed
explanations, Roerden creates outstanding examples of poor
form and uses shining examples of good form from 150 published
novels, all of which provides thorough and easy-to-understand
instruction.
Despite the title of this book, this How-To manual is *not*
only for mystery writers. I would recommend it for anyone
who is attempting to create a finished draft for publication.
HIGHLY RECOMMENDED.
_____
Reviewed by Lori L. Lake
|
Title:
Fresh Tracks
Author: Georgia Beers
ISBN: 1933110635
Publisher: Bold Strokes Books, www.boldstrokesbooks.com
Available From: StarCrossed
Productions, www.scp-inc.biz; and www.bellabooks.com
Price: $15.95 Pages: 240 pages
Genre: Lesbian Fiction/Romance |
What better way to spend a holiday than surrounded by friends
in a place that you love? This is the opening premise of Fresh
Tracks by Georgia Beers. What starts out looking like a simple
story of friendships however, quickly becomes a study of relationships
- how they change, how they affect the ways we view each other
and how they can be threatened if they aren't nurtured properly.
Amy Forrester and Jo Cooper have been partners for many years.
They share an extremely stable and loving relationship that
is still nurtured with a healthy sexual desire for each other.
No lesbian bed death here. They share many interests and friends
and open their cabin in the woods to four of their friends
to spend the holidays between Christmas and New Year's with
them. The surprise addition of Jo's niece Darby to the mix
doesn't seem to be a problem, at first.
What Amy and Jo don't know is that their friends are not
as happy as they themselves are. Molly and Kristen are in
serious trouble, struggling to restore a relationship that
is being killed by overwork and misunderstandings. If they
aren't careful, they can lose everything they share with just
a few harsh words. Darby, who has a reputation for loving
and leaving her women, doesn't intend to be the troublemaker
in this situation, but finds herself drawn to Molly in a way
she's never felt before. If Kristen isn't careful, she's going
to find that all of the hours of work she's been spending
creating a career to support her dreams for herself and Molly
will have built a future for no one.
Sophie is trying not to let her broken heart ruin the holiday
for everyone else. She's struggling to survive her first holiday
alone since discovering that her lover had been cheating on
her and left her. She vacillates between bitter anger and
despair that she will ever trust anyone again. Unfortunately,
Sophie finds herself rooming with a woman who represents her
own betrayal.
Laura is living on her own for the first time since cheating
on her unsuspecting husband with a woman she found out didn't
love her after all. She's trying to cope with a new understanding
of herself and the guilt she feels over how she treated her
husband. What she doesn't need is the condemnation that radiates
from Sophie, who just can't help herself.
Amy and Jo find that, instead of a pleasant few days enjoying
the wilderness with their friends, they have to deal with
all of the drama spilling over from this group. They have
to strike a balance between supporting their friends and letting
them solve their own problems. More than once they're going
to wonder if they should have just kept the cabin to themselves.
Fresh Tracks is Georgia Beers' most thought-provoking book
so far. She takes a nice story and turns it into something
more. All of the characters are likeable, but some of them
do some very unlikeable things. What is interesting is the
way the relationships are juxtaposed to force the reader to
examine them as opposites. There are lessons in how actions
that are taken for the best of reasons can sometimes lead
to negative results and that people who make terrible mistakes
can have other redeeming qualities about them. There is also
a subtle message about the power of forgiving people for what
they have done as a release for the person who is doing the
forgiving. Too often in real life it seems easier to carry
a grudge than to try and understand things from another person's
perspective. Different characters struggle to understand that
other perspective. The story in Fresh Tracks isn't new, but
the way it shows the interactions between the characters makes
it interesting. Beers always provides a good story. This one
might also make you think.
_____
Reviewed by Lynne Pierce
|
Title: Lavender Secrets
Author: Sandra Barret
ISBN: 9781932300734
Publisher: Regal Crest Enterprises
Available at: StarCrossed
Productions, www.scp-inc.biz
Price: $14.95
Pages: 184Genre: Lesbian Romance
|
Relationships are complex. They can be nurturing and supportive
or the most destructive aspect in a person's life. They shape
how a person thinks and reacts to situations and other people.
Learning how to deal with them, especially if the relationship
isn't positive, can be the most difficult part of living.
Lavender Secrets is about relationships. Emma Levanteur
has a number of issues to cope with. She comes from a working
class background and aspires to be more, so she is in graduate
school working on a degree in mathematics. Emma shares an
apartment with a former girlfriend and has to adjust to the
new and dangerous relationship that the ex-girlfriend is involved
in. How far should she or does she have the right to involve
herself in the situation to protect an old love?
She also must deal with the bitter emotions that she and
her mother share over the fact that Emma's father deserted
them years before. To complicate matters further, there's
Nicole Davis, an attractive, captivating and straight professor
of English literature who has Emma's emotions in turmoil.
When Emma is hired to be the consultant for Nicole's wedding,
the women find themselves being drawn to each other, which
confuses Nicole and the plans she has made for her future.
Can a lesbian and a straight woman truly just be friends when
one of them knows she is in love with the other? What type
of relationship does Nicole have with her future husband and
his family? Does she really want to spend her life with these
pompous, self-important people or could there be happiness
in a new kind of relationship with Emma? Emma can't escape
questions either when her father suddenly reappears with a
new family. How does she establish a relationship with him
while not destroying the one she has with her mother? Life
is usually complex and it certainly is in this book.
At first, Lavender Secrets appears to be another romance,
but, as the story unfolds, it is clear that much more is developing.
These people are trying to learn how they fit into each other's
lives. They are also struggling to understand what they want
from those lives and the people who are involved in them.
It is about making connections, altering some connections
and learning to sever others. The book is about learning how
to put the pieces of your puzzle together so that you get
the best fit possible between all of your relationships to
create the most satisfying life that you can. And the bonus
in this book is that everything takes place in what is a plain
good story. Lavender Secrets is well worth the time
you will spend reading it.
_____
Reviewed by Lynne Pierce
|
Title: Lesbian Pulp Fiction: The Sexually
Intrepid World
of Lesbian Paperback Novels 1950-1965
Author: Selected and Introduced by Katherine V. Forrest
ISBN: 1573442100
Publisher: Cleis Press, cleis@cleispress.com
Available From: Cleis Press, cleis@cleispress.com
Price: $18.95 -- Pages: 415
Genre: Lesbian Fiction Anthology
|
Once upon a time, the multitude of lesbians lived closeted,
secret lives, isolated from others and often from their own
true feelings and aspirations. There was no Internet, no gay
radio, no magazine or journal or organization to turn to for
affirmation. Until the 1950s, precious few books reflected
anything at all about the lesbian experience. This changed
in 1950 when Fawcett Publications inaugurated the Gold Medal
imprint and kicked off a wave of pulp fiction publishing that
included both gay and lesbian novels. For the first time in
history, women could find cheap paperbacks featuring lesbians,
and the books sold in the millions.
Pulp novels constituted one of the first steps toward lesbians
having a written presence in any kind of literature. As Katherine
V. Forrest writes in the introduction to Lesbian Pulp Fiction:
"The importance of all our pulp fiction novels cannot
possibly be overstated. Whatever their negative images or
messages, they told us we were not alone. Because they told
us about each other, they led us to look for and find each
other, they led us to the end of the isolation that had divided
and conquered us. And once we found each other, once we began
to question the judgments made of us, our civil rights movement
was born," (p. xviii).
In moving style, Forrest also writes of finding in 1957 a
copy of Ann Bannon's Odd Girl Out, "a book as
necessary to me as air" (p. ix). How fitting that Forrest
should edit this wonderful homage to these early writers when
her own works are frequently cited as having the same effect
upon other women as Bannon's work had upon her. Curious
Wine (1983) is frequently cited by lesbians as a book
that saved their lives. I believe it when Forrest writes,
"I write my books out of the profound wish that no one
will ever have to be there again" (p. ix).
To spotlight those early pulp novels, Forrest has selected
twenty-two excerpts by nineteen authors including Ann Bannon,
Vin Packer, Paula Christian, Tereska Torres, Valerie Taylor,
and Marion Zimmer Bradley writing as Miriam Gardner. Among
reasons for selecting these particular excerpts, Forrest cites
pioneering status, sexual content, happy endings, reflections
of the times, and quality of writing.
Many of these books have been reprinted (several by Cleis
Press), and with a little diligence, all of them can be located
and purchased. Each of them is well worth reading in its entirety,
but this wonderful collection will provide hours of delight
and enjoyment to anyone willing to enter into the sexually
intrepid world of lesbian paperback novels. An essential text
for all libraries, both private and public, this book is highly
recommended.
_____
Reviewed by Lori L. Lake
There are certain stories that are repeated in literature,
told again and again by different writers. What is it about
one version that makes it stand out? Makes it more than the
pat retelling of something that the reader is already familiar
with? Since it can't be the story itself, it has to be the
skill of the writer in drawing the reader in and causing her
to want to know how this version ends. Lessons by Kim
Pritekel is such a book.
Chase Marin is just beginning college, more of an escape
from her family than a real interest in education. Many things
are changing in Chase's life and she's feeling very uncomfortable
trying to sort out what is causing them and, more importantly,
how to react to them. Things seem to get a little easier when
she discovers that the graduate student who is teaching one
of her classes is an old friend from when she was much younger.
Dagny Robertson is a few years older than Chase and was once
her babysitter. She always seemed to understand the younger
Chase when her family didn't and they reestablish their friendship
based on the same kind of understanding for each other. As
Chase moves through the process of establishing more mature
relationships with her friends and family, Dagny becomes the
stabilizer she can always turn to. The reader is allowed to
follow them as they help each other through difficult situations
and as they simply meet at the coffee shop to spend some time
together. As time passes though, Chase comes to realize that
her feelings for Dagny go beyond the hero worship she felt
as a child and the friendship she feels as an adult. She's
concerned about this because she isn't sure how Dagny perceives
the relationship, so she has to hide her feelings. This is
refreshing because the friendship is important enough to Chase
that she's willing to suppress the desire for anything else
to keep from threatening it.
As the story continues to unfold, the challenge for both
Chase and Dagny will become to decide which is more important,
the friendship which has become so crucial for both of them
or a relationship that neither is certain she's ready for.
What makes Pritekel's book stand out is that she takes the
time to develop her characters. They don't rush through a
few pages making instant discoveries and proclaiming undying
love for each other. More than once the story takes a turn
that leaves its outcome in suspense.
The reader also gets to know these two women and their friends.
They have lives that involve other people besides the two
of them. Chase particularly is surrounded by a cast of well-developed
characters. There is the childhood best friend who seems to
be on a path of self destruction no matter what Chase does;
the extremely religious roommate who appears to have nothing
in common with Chase, but opens a new world of experiences
to her and ultimately understands what is going on with Chase
before she does herself; and the members of the band Chase
performs with who give her a dimension beyond the relationship
with Dagny. Dagny is not a monotone character either, but
richly crafted for depth. The story is told from Chase's perspective
though, so she is the more complete character.
Again, though, what makes this book interesting is the time
the reader can take to get to know the characters. Anyone
who has read many romances already has an idea of where the
story is heading. It's how the book gets there that makes
this one appealing. By the end of the book, Chase and Dagny
are people you wish you really did know. Lessons is
well worth reading in order to feel that experience.
_____
Reviewed by Lynne Pierce
|
Title: Night Vision: A Jane Lawless
Mystery
Author: Ellen Hart
ISBN: 0312349440
Publisher: St Martin's Minotaur
Available From: StarCrossed
Productions, www.scp-inc.biz
Price: $24.95
Pages: 336 pages
Genre: Lesbian Fiction/mystery
|
It took me a while to discover Ellen Hart's award-winning
Jane Lawless Mystery series. The Iron Girl had
just released and I grabbed it up because of the great reviews
it had garnered. While it was the 13th in the series, it was
the first that I read, and I was hooked. I devoured every
one in the series after that over a four month period. Then
I anxiously anticipated Night Vision, the next in the
series, and the wait was well worth it. This tightly written
page turner was so enjoyable that it can be reread many times
over.
Hart sets up the intrigue from the first pages. Actress Joanna
Kasimir's stalker is back after a 10 year absence and jail
term. He has raised the stakes this time and is more terrifying.
At the same time Joanna's brother, David, an old high school
chum of restaurateur Jane Lawless', goes missing for a month.
We are led to believe that his disappearance may be related
to his sister's stalker, but while Joanna is in Minneapolis
starring in a theater production, David shows up unexpectedly.
Both are seeking refuge but for different reasons. Hart though
does not give away any details too early, and we must read
on to uncover the mysteries. Private Investigator AJ Nolan
is hired by Joanna. He makes Jane an offer she can't refuse,
and she is on the case, trying to get to the bottom of the
puzzling clues.
Night Vision floats effortlessly back and forth between
the present day action and the stalking history between Joanna
and Gordon Luberman, an ex-boyfriend. What Luberman is capable
of has a chilling effect on the overall story. Hart's description
of their disturbing history generates an element of dread
and moves the plot along at a fast clip.
All is not foreboding though in a Jane Lawless mystery. Hart
balances the story by peppering it with subtle Midwest humor.
The continuity of characters in the series gives the reader
a sense that we are visiting old friends. Her storytelling
is clever, but not simple. She does not confuse the reader
and leads us straight down the path to the logical conclusion,
if we pay attention.
Night Vision was a fun Sunday afternoon read, but
don't wait until Sunday for this entertaining story. I highly
recommend any Jane Lawless mystery especially the latest,
Night Vision.
_____
Reviewed by Kathi Isserman
|
Title: Night Vision: A Jane Lawless
Mystery
Author: Ellen Hart
ISBN: 0312349440
Publisher: St Martin's Minotaur
Available From: StarCrossed
Productions, www.scp-inc.biz
Price: $24.95
Pages: 336 pages
Genre: Lesbian Fiction/mystery
|
Ellen Hart has done it again. In Night Vision, Jane
Lawless and friends, old and new, work their way through another
great mystery.
When actress Joanna Kasimir returns to Minneapolis to star
in one of Cordelia Thorn's productions, she is already shaken
to the core. The upheaval surrounding Joanna begins again
when a dozen pink roses, the second delivery she's received
in a week, arrives at the loft complex where Cordelia lives
and where Joanna is staying. Joanna reveals that many years
ago, she received roses from an old boyfriend who subsequently
spent time in jail for stalking her. But as the story unfolds,
we learn that, as a well-known star, Joanna has quite a number
of fans with fantasies that could lead to trouble for her,
and a few try to wheedle their way into her life and heart
with various ploys.
Meanwhile, David Carlson, Joanna's brother and an old friend
of Jane's, appears unexpectedly on Jane's doorstep, looking
as though something is very wrong. Although David has come
to Jane for help, he can't seem to talk about what's troubling
him. When Jane realizes that David has become a nocturnal
animal, leaving the house late at night, or behaving strangely
when he stays in, she doesn't know what to do. In addition,
Cordelia is in crisis because, with the reappearance of her
sister Olivia and her new boyfriend, she finds that she may
lose Hattie, her beloved three-year-old niece, who has been
living with Cordelia.
Jane is forced to juggle all this turmoil while trying to
keep her own life from being forfeit when she unexpectedly
encounters the object of Joanna's fears, Gordon Luberman.
Hart has masterfully created in Gordon one of those disturbing
characters that has the reader continually thinking about
the story and looking for every opportunity to read on and
find out what happens next. Counterbalancing the terror that
Gordon's actions convey is the trademark laugh-out-loud exchanges
between Jane and Cordelia.
This is Hart's best Lawless whodunit yet. The large cast of
characters are richly drawn, and the story, with its subplots,
twists, and turns keeps the reader turning pages from beginning
to end. Don't miss Night Vision, the 14th offering
in the Jane Lawless Mystery series.
_____
Reviewed by Anna Furtado
|
Title: No Margins: Writing Canadian
Fiction in Lesbian
Edited by: Catherine Lake and Nairne Holtz with an introduction
by Susan Knutson
ISBN: 1590210603
Publisher: Insomniac Press, www.insomniacpress.com
Available From: Insomniac Press, www.insomniacpress.com
Price: $18.00 - Pages: 332
Genre: Lesbian Fiction Anthology
|
At long last, we finally have an anthology of stories and
excerpts from fifteen of Canada's very best lesbian writers.
From the gutsy feel of Dionne Brand's heroine to the beauty
of language in Lydia Kwa's work to the subtle humor Marnie
Woodrow employs, each of the short pieces in No Margins
is a wonderful read. Skillfully selected and introduced
by editors Catherine Lake and Nairne Holtz, each piece includes
notes from the writer to acquaint us with the attitudes and
ideas of each woman and ends with a brief bio for that author.
US readers may be familiar with the work of Ann-Marie MacDonald,
Karen X. Tulchinsky, Nicole Brossard, and Emma Donoghue, but
the other fantastic lesbian authors here are also writing
remarkable fiction. Anne Fleming, Larissa Lai, Elizabeth Ruth,
Marion Douglas, Jane Eaton Hamilton, Shani Mootoo, Luanne
Armstrong, and Daphne Marlatt should not be missed.
Editor Catherine Lake, in the Editor's Note, writes: "We
are not only a readership but also a community that thrives
on the words, images, and creativity of our writers."
This collection is chock-full of marvelous words and images
by some wonderfully creative writers who are writing outside
the margin, and I highly recommend it.
_____
Reviewed by Lori L. Lake
|
Title: Pipeline
Author: Brenda Adcock
ISBN: 978-1-932300-64-2
Publisher: Regal Crest Enterprises, LLC
Available From: StarCrossed
Productions, www.SCP-inc.com
Price: $ 15.95
Pages: 175
Genre: Fiction/Mystery/Lesbian
|
Pipeline by Brenda Adcock captured my attention from
the first six lines and held me captive for the entire ride.
Joanna Carlisle is tough, lives life on the edge, and before
retirement, she was one of those work-obsessed women who put
her career before her family with disastrous results. Jo didn't
know what she had until it was gone. The reclusive photojournalist,
part-time sleuth is leading a relaxing life out on her Texas
ranch until her ex shows up after a fifteen-year absence.
Jo feels a familiar pang when Cate discloses the reason for
the visit, but her stubborn, self-destructive nature thwarts
her ability to repair past regrets. Will Jo learn from her
mistakes?
Cate Hammond, an attractive and successful attorney, manages
to get back under Jo's skin. Adcock flawlessly weaves the
past and present to show the love lost between two passionate
women who are so right for each other that the reader prays
for reconciliation.
Pipeline is a classic romance as much as it is a
mystery. When Cate enlists Jo's help, Jo, against her better
judgment, gets in over her head while investigating the attempted
murder of her estranged journalist son, Kyle. She risks her
life uncovering the unscrupulous stench of the men running
the ABP meatpacking business. Watching Jo take on the villains
is as compelling as reminiscing about Jo and Cate when they
were happy together. Jo's lack of concern for her own safety
shows a caring woman of substance, even though she has trouble
expressing her love in as many words. There's also the hope
that Jo and her son will renew their relationship.
Every scene shows who Jo is and what makes her tic. Adcock's
characterization is consistent, convincing, and gives the
reader well-rounded, three-dimensional characters. Despite
Jo's foul butch mouth or her penchant for pushing away the
people she loves, the flawed, yet heroic, woman clinches the
reader's wish for her happiness.
Pipeline is touching. I highly recommend you get
a copy of this five star romantic mystery that is hot without
being sexually explicit and intriguing without being gory.
Adcock successfully validates older women in our youth-obsessed
society. At 57, Jo is just as feisty, sexy, and adventurous
as women who are half her age.
Discovering Pipeline by Brenda Adcock is just the
beginning of what I hope is many memorable reads by this talented
author. I can't wait for Reiko's Garden, due May 2007,
and Redress of Grievances, tentatively due August 2007.
_____
Reviewed by Cheri Rosenberg
|
Title: Scarlet E
Author: Lois Glenn
ISBN: 978-1-932300-75-8
Publisher: Regal Crest Enterprises, LLC
Available from: StarCrossed
Productions, www.SCP-inc.com
Price: $11.95
Pages: 118
Genre: Poetry/Erotica/Lesbian
|
A sensual, insightful, and satisfying compilation of poems,
Scarlet E, by Lois Glenn, is an enticing, thought-provoking
journey that expresses a whole gamut of human emotion ranging
through sorrow, hope, jealousy, desire, and love. Predominantly
free verse, Scarlet E has it all, depicting everything from
momentary pleasure garnered at a stranger's touch to a yearning
for surrender, safety, and commitment. In this her praiseworthy
debut poetic collection, Glenn uses sensuous imagery and melodic
phrases to describe the human need for touch, acceptance,
and, ultimately, unconditional love.
While each poem is a separate entity, the whole volume tells
the story of love, loss, and renewal. Each reader will be
able to find personal favorites based on her own taste and
experiences. From the first poem, "Just a Dance"
to the last, "Forever," Glenn speaks with candor
and grace in a style that tantalizes the imagination and stimulates
the soul. Her vivid imagery is captivating and draws the reader
along on the introspective journey.
The language of Glenn's poems changes to fit the mood and
tone. Although most of the poems have no rhyme, she does use
it here and there to call attention to a particular phrase
or set a mood as in
"Guttural Surrender" (p. 47):
Emotions swirling in misty eyes
released mighty and soulful cries.
Lips moved to swallow her groan,
completely surrendered with a guttural moan.
Throughout, the poems are enriched by the words Glenn chooses
as much for meaning as for sound. In "Stranger's Embrace"
(p. 9) the use of sibilants is soft and caressing and works
neatly with the meaning.
Long moments of silence passed,
allowing the sun's warmth to caress
the side of my face, while I listened
to her comforting voice
melt the ice from my lips.
She also varies the tone of the poems. At times conversational
with stanzas formed of complete sentences, they can also be
cryptic as in "Afterglow" (p. 23) which is a series
of unpunctuated stanzas each consisting of a single noun with
an adjective phrase. It is pure imagery. And it moves!
But always her poems are dominated by the images. Frequently
Glenn creates a juxtaposition of one thing with another completely
different to emphasize their one esoteric similarity such
as this stanza from "Stray Home" (p. 69). It is
such an effective way to express the tenuous thread that keeps
a jilted lover sane.
A breeze jangles the leaves;
knowing better than to admit weakness,
they cling tighter to the tree.
These unusual and powerful images are evocative of sensory
experience that gives a lushness and resonant timbre to the
physical and emotional substance of the poems.
Nowhere is this more strongly evidenced than in the breathtaking
and heartrending sorrow of "Malignancy" (p. 98).
Malignancy
© Lois Glenn
(Reprinted with permission from the author)
Echoes of a shadow
proved her dreaded suspicion,
silencing her vigor
with endless nausea
and eternal torture.
One day her pains disappeared
with the thunder of tears
sweeping up the front stairs.
Now clumps of mowed grass
cling to all who pass.
Rainwater swirls as a reminder
over my bare feet;
beneath the cold surface
is no place for
life's triumphant defeat.
Lois Glenn expresses personal thoughts in an intense and
intimate writing style through images appealing to all the
senses. With verses that explore the full range of the lesbian
love experience, Scarlet E is worthy of many readings.
Do not miss Scarlet E. I highly recommend it, and
it is a great gift idea too.
_____
Reviewed by Cheri Rosenberg
|
Title: Shadow Work
Author: Cynthia Tyler
ISBN: 1-56023-622-1
Publisher: Harrington Park Press, Alice Street Editions
Available From: Haworth Press Inc., www.haworthpress.com
Price: $17.95
Pages: 192
Genre: Fiction/Lesbian
|
Shadow Work is a continuation of the story of Chris
Cameron begun in Descanso (Haworth Press 2005). Having
overcome the grief of losing her partner as a result of a
violent crime in the first book, Chris now faces new challenges
both in her personal and professional life.
First, there is the political turmoil at the clinic where
Chris is a psychotherapist. It begins when the executive director,
Billy Sullivan, dies suddenly. A battle develops as a string
of applicants for Billy's job present their philosophies of
the mental health profession and their qualifications. Chris
tries to hold the Center together at the request of the Board
of Directors, but she discovers that all is not as it appears.
Billy has nearly brought the place to bankruptcy squandering
the funds on activities unbecoming to a Minister and mental
health professional.
While all this is unfolding, Chris' friends try to convince
her that she is the right person to take the helm of the Center.
Chris, however, doesn't think that she wants the position,
feeling that she would have to compromise too many of her
professional principles and her personal integrity. But is
that really what's stopping her? Or is she afraid of the responsibility?
Most of all, Chris isn't even sure that there will be a Center
for her to manage when all this is over.
Chris' fledgling relationship with Linda Vasquez continues
to unfold in Shadow Work. Chris met Linda when Linda responded
in her capacity as a police officer to some of the problems
that arose in Descanso. In Shadow Work, the two grow closer
together and Linda takes Chris home to meet her family, allowing
Chris to learn a great deal more about the depths of the woman
with whom she is falling in love. The character of Linda Vasquez
is a fascinating one. She speaks with an economy of words
but Tyler puts some true gems into her mouth.
Meanwhile, Chris' friend Corey is coming to grips with her
own demons. If Corey's partner, Kaye, finds out exactly what
kind of trouble she has gotten into, it could jeopardize their
relationship. Chris tries to offer support and guidance, but
she's not sure that she can succeed where Corey is concerned.
Chris' aunt, Willa, and her partner make a brief appearance
in the story and, as with the first book, Chris' encounters
with Aunt Willa are both funny and touching. Chris has a special
relationship with her aunt and Willa helps to break the tension
of the story while presenting the fresh outlook that only
a wise elder can.
Through it all, Chris finds that dreams are significant for
her, as they were in the first book, and she calls upon Ellie
James, the shamanic practitioner who lives in the Mojave Desert
town of Joshua Tree that we met in the first book. If there
is anything wanting in this story, it is more detail about
Ellie James, who seems an interesting character. Ellie's support
and guidance helps Chris with her continuing personal growth.
With Ellie and Linda's guidance, Chris finally finds meaning
in the chaos happening all around her.
In Shadow Work, Tyler gives us a fine continuation
of the tale of Chris Cameron's personal and professional growth,
while introducing some interesting characters whose own stories
add to this appealing account.
_____
Reviewed by Anna Furtado
|
Title: Sweetwater
Author: Mickey Minner
ISBN: 9781932300635
Publisher: Yellow Rose Books (Regal Crest Enterprises)
Available From: StarCrossed
Productions, www.SCP-inc.com
Price: $16.95
Pages: 217
Genre: Western/Romance
|
Western movies and novels used to be a staple of the American
entertainment industry, but they seem to have been supplanted
in recent years by products with a more scientific theme,
although films like Star Wars are nothing more than
cowboys and Indians in space. Sweetwater is dedicated
to Mickey Minner's grandfather who probably, like many people
of the pre-television era, had many memories of the Saturday
movies that often featured serialized Western stories. He
must have shared those memories with the author because there
is a definite tone of them about Sweetwater.
Jennifer Kensington finds her life too constraining. She
wants to work in the family business, but her father wants
her to do what other young women in Boston in the late 1800s
do - get married to someone who will enhance the family's
standing in business and society. When Jennifer can't convince
him that she's not interested in that, her answer is to run
off to the West to become a teacher and experience some of
the adventure she craves.
In Sweetwater, Montana, she meets Jesse Branson, who owns
The Silver Slipper, a successful restaurant and rooming house,
and a ranch. The two women are instantly drawn to each other,
but immediately encounter problems. Someone who is trying
to destroy Jesse's reputation also threatens her life. That
is followed by a dangerous visit to the town of Bannack, where
they have to deal with a murderous sheriff and a foundling
child. As the women struggle to clear Jesse's name and deal
with these other incidents, they build a relationship that
brings them both the warmth and acceptance for being themselves
that never existed in their respective families. Around them
are clustered a supporting cast of characters that adds depth
to the story and a flavor of the Old West.
The book starts with a disclaimer that says "
it
describes a West that the author wishes had existed and not
the historical reality of many situations." If the reader
has any knowledge of the true history of the West, there will
have to be some suspension of belief when this story is read.
It's difficult to believe that a town would accept a 16-year-old
school teacher who lives openly in a lesbian relationship
with another woman, no matter how respected that woman is.
The character of Jesse rings a little truer as a woman who
gambles with men, runs her own business and has a ranch, because
the West was famous for the increased opportunities it provided
to women, but sometimes it's a stretch to think that she would
be accepted also with no questions.
Once you get past those images however, Sweetwater is
an entertaining book. The descriptions of the environment
are vivid. The settings can be clearly visualized and what
detail there is appears to be accurate. There is the sense
of being in one of the old serials as the reader gallops from
one adventure to another and the characters are appealing.
Because Jesse and Jennifer are somewhat naïve, their
growing awareness of each other and their attraction is tender
and will remind the reader of the discovery and awkwardness
of first love. The story could have been set in any time and
place, but the choice of 1800's Montana gives the book a unique
flavor. It should provide several hours of pleasant entertainment.
_____
Reviewed by Lynne Pierce
|
Title:
Sword of the Guardian
Author: Merry Shannon
ISBN: 1933110368
Publisher: Bold Strokes Books, www.boldstrokesbooks.com
Available From: StarCrossed
Productions, www.SCP-inc.com; and Bella Books, www.bellabooks.com
Price: $15.95 -- Pages: 380
Genre: Lesbian Fantasy |
Princess Shasta is a spoiled young teen who's got everything:
royal blood, beauty, wealth, power, and influence. But her
life is turned upside down when her dashing twin brother -
heir to the kingdom - is murdered at a party in front of the
royalty, nobles, and others. If not for the quick intercession
of Talon, a young acrobat performing at the party, Shasta
would have been stabbed, too.
The king decrees that Talon be Shasta's bodyguard, not realizing
that "he" is actually a she. What follows is a terrific
adventure, coming of age story, a romance, and tale of courtly
intrigue, attempted assassination, and gender confusion as
the young princess learns, grows, and comes into her own.
This is a rollicking fun book and a must-read for those who
enjoy courtly light fantasy in a medieval-seeming time. Merry
Shannon is a bright new voice in lesbian fantasy fiction,
and this one's highly recommended.
_____
Reviewed by Lori L. Lake
|
Title:
The Clinic - Book One in the Tristaine Series
Author: Cate Culpepper
ISBN: 1933110422
Publisher: Bold Strokes Books, www.boldstrokesbooks.com
Available From: StarCrossed
Productions, www.SCP-inc.com; and Bella Books, www.bellabooks.com
Price: $15.95 - Pages: 190
Genre: Lesbian Fantasy |
When Brenna begins work as a medic at a clinic where political
prisoners are held and interrogated, she's not supposed to
feel anything for the miscreants she doctors. Despite cultural
and political expectations, however, Brenna can't help but
feel for her patients. In particular, one named Jess piques
her curiosity, and Brenna can't resist the gradual slide into
involvement, even if it's dangerous and the clinic director,
Caster, may find out.
In contrast to the repressive world where Brenna now lives,
the village of Tristaine that she learns about from Jess sounds
like a haven, and as she gets to know Jess, Brenna finds herself
longing for things she'd never considered. Will she acquiesce
to the powers that be - or take a chance and follow her heart?
Even more troubling, will Jess survive the ordeals she is
put through?
The first of what is so far a three-part series (Battle
for Tristaine: Book II; Tristaine Rises: Book III), The
Clinic sets the tone for what promises to be a terrific
series. Culpepper's writing style is spare and evocative,
her plotting precise. You can't help but feel strongly for
the Amazon warrior women and their plight, and this book is
a must-read for all those who enjoy light fantasy coupled
with a powerful story of survival and adventure. Highly recommended.
_____
Reviewed by Lori L. Lake
|
Title:
The Nesting Place
Author: Sarah Aldridge
ISBN: 0-930044-26-6
Publisher: A&M Books (originally Naiad)
Distributed by A&M Books, www.ambooks.com
Price: $12.95
Pages: 218
Genre: Fiction/Lesbian |
In The Nesting Place, the reader will find a familiar
Aldridge subject about a woman with humble beginnings becoming
a doctor and establishing a relationship with a wealthy matron.
However, this story is set in more contemporary times and
the relationship with the wealthy matron has a twist.
Dr. Sabina Hill runs a clinic for disadvantaged young women.
Befriended by Claire Duane, a rich socialite who makes a pet
project of Sabina's clinic, Claire calls upon Sabina when
she faces her own personal tragedy when her beloved beach
house, a family heirloom, burns to the ground. Claire, attracted
to Sabina, soon overcomes remoteness, and much to Sabina's
surprise, the two become lovers.
Claire's husband, Phillip, also Claire's first cousin, has
his hand in the affairs of the family wealth, especially the
art collection of the couple's grandfather, Walter Curry.
As the story unfolds, we meet another "family member"
in the person of Letty, also known as Madame Grandi, a musical
prodigy, who was "adopted" by Phillip's mother to
be trained on the piano. Letty is a winsome creature, often
doing as she pleases, much to Claire's consternation. Claire
is especially concerned when Letty refuses to perform on tour
and her reputation begins to falter among her critics.
Claire is not without influence with Letty, but there is a
problemPhillip has forbidden Claire to go to the family
house in Florida in which Letty has become a recluse. In order
to try to reach Letty, Claire sends Sabina to try to convince
Letty to leave, but Claire doesn't bargain for what happens
when Sabina arrives at Casa Aurea.
Aldridge's voice suspends time in this story, and except for
the telltale references to the Korean War and a character
in a bikini on the beach, the story may have taken place at
the turn of the century.
There are parts of this story that the reader may feel Aldridge
could have expanded. For example, Phillip seems enamored with
a room full of knives at Casa Aurea, but we never really find
out what bearing that all has on the story. Also, the shady
character of Claire's brother lurks as a threat in the shadows,
often talked about, but never encountered.
Still, The Nesting Place is a richly constructed story
for the tale that it tells and it cannot be discounted for
the classic that it is. As with all of Aldridge's earlier
books, this one shows the evolution of her writing and belongs
in any lesbian library as another enduring tale from a great
writer who paved the way for all the authors of lesbian fiction
who came after her.
_____
Reviewed by Anna Furtado
Unkindness of Ravens introduces a new mystery series
starring Sam Perry, a highly successful crime reporter. Sam
has fled Los Angeles, where she covered many sensational murders
and made a career writing books about her experiences, and
is living in Palm Springs. Sam had reached the limit of her
tolerance for murder and mayhem and needed a change of life,
but now she's getting restless, which her editor realizes,
so Sam is sent to cover the story of a body found in the desert,
a body that has no identity and has been slowly and mercilessly
tortured to death.
As Sam begins to unravel the mystery of this young man, she
finds that every answer simply opens up more questions. Some
of those questions involve the campaign of Ellen Konrad, former
movie queen and television star, who is running for the position
of mayor in Palm Springs. Was the man murdered because of
his unusually close relationship with Konrad or did he know
something that was damaging to her political career? Or maybe
the murder is tied to his fondness for hanging out in a strip
club that has shady overtones.
Sam and Ellen find themselves being drawn to each other by
strong emotions, emotions that threaten Sam's ability to remain
impartial and solve the murder, no matter who is hurt. The
trick will be to answer the questions without destroying her
new friendship with Ellen and the possibility of a future
before them.
Tracy has introduced a promising new mystery series. Sam
Perry is a highly likeable character and having her approach
mysteries from the angle of being a reporter provides a different
twist on the genre. It's interesting to see Sam move through
the process of collecting bits and pieces of information that
slowly put the puzzle together.
Tracy has written other books and, although not in the mystery
genre, this probably gives her the writing experience to be
able to twist and turn Unkindness of Ravens in believable
ways so that the mystery is not solved until the very last
of the story. This is a valuable skill in a genre where too
often the answer to the puzzle is all too obvious before the
story has progressed half way.
The attraction between Sam and Ellen is also handled extremely
well. Though there is definitely the possibility of a relationship,
whether or not it will progress is still not clear at the
end of the book. It takes a confident writer to be able to
leave a relationship dangling without resolution, but it fits
this book perfectly. The second book in the Sam Perry Mystery
series, Plague of Locusts, is already in preparation.
If it follows the quality of this story, the series should
progress into a number of more volumes.
_____
Reviewed by Lynne Pierce
|
Title:
1001 ways to Market Your Books: Sixth Edition
Author: John Kremer
ISBN: 091241149X
Publisher: Open Horizons, www.bookmarket.com
Available From: Open Horizons, www.bookmarket.com
Price: $27.95
Pages: 704
Genre: Nonfiction/Writing |
Marketing and promotions wizard John Kremer has at long last
issued the sixth edition of his incredibly smart and useful
How-To book for marketing and selling books. In twenty-one
chapters and over 700 pages, Kremer covers EVERYTHING: from
fundamentals of promoting books to publicizing, advertising,
networking, and advice about never giving up.
Particularly wonderful chapters include "How to Sell
More Books via the Internet," "Getting Distribution,"
and "How to Sell Subsidiary Rights," but every single
chapter contains commonsense, clever techniques and ideas
for marketing and selling. Kremer includes articles and web
links to dozens of other experts, including great advice by
Pam Lontos in "14 Most Common Publicity Mistakes Authors
Make," Kathi Dunn's "Design Your Book to Build Your
Brand," and Chris Roerden and Pat Miller's "Market-Savvy
Editing."
A virtual cornucopia of tips, ideas, activities, and techniques,
this is one of the greatest books on book promotions ever
written. If you're a publisher or author, don't miss this
tremendous resource. I can't recommend it more highly.
_____
Reviewed by Lori L. Lake
|
Title:
When Dreams Tremble
Author: Radclyffe
ISBN: 1-933110-64-3 / 978-1-933110-64-6
Publisher: Bold Strokes Books, Inc., www.boldstrokesbooks.com
Available From: Bella Books, www.bellabooks.com; StarCrossed
Productions, www.SCP-inc.com; and libertas.co.uk
Pages: 288 - Price: $15.95
Genre: Lesbian Romance |
When Dreams Tremble takes place in Bolton Landing,
New York, and environmental biologist Dr. Devon Weber would
like to preserve the beauty of the popular scenic tourist
town. For readers who live near, or have been to Lake George,
Radclyffe's description brings back fond memories. Those who
haven't had the pleasure will be able to visualize the three
hundred square miles of parkland that surround the enormous
lake nestled in the Adirondack Mountains.
Radclyffe clearly depicts "the unmistakable sounds of
morning in the mountains." Imagine a small rustic cabin
in the woods, revel in the crisp clean scent of nature, and
feel yourself relax. High-powered Manhattan attorney Leslie
Harris is going home for much needed rest and relaxation in
the rustic setting of her parents' lodge at Lakeview Cottages.
What she doesn't count on is bridging the gap between her
and her mother or dredging up past regrets when she reunites
with her childhood friend Devonmaking the trip an emotional
rollercoaster.
Devon and Leslie are both haunted by the past. The longing
Dev feels as she revisits the pain of rejection intensifies
when they reunite after fifteen years. Devon has changed since
her troubled youth but she is not over her first love. Radclyffe
uses powerful metaphors to emphasize her points, for example,
"The tension in [Devon's] chest and groin began to ease.
She remembered who she was, where she was, and she remembered,
too, how that long ago kiss had ended. The phantom passion,
like the taunting memory of a lost limb, might refuse to die,
but she did not need to breathe life into it" (p. 62).
When Dev finds she can't let go and Les confronts what she
has known for a long time, that she's in love with Dev, the
complications threaten to destroy each woman's heart. Radclyffe
explores how they suffer because of homophobia and what happens
when young people grow up without support for their feelings
in a less than accepting world.
With an authoritative flair, Radclyffe honestly depicts vulnerability
and strength better than most authors I've read, thereby achieving
a higher level of connection to the characters. When Dreams
Tremble explores innocence, friendship, and love through
memories and current situations. The hardships in our lives
either kill us or make us stronger. Discover how Dev and Les
overcome obstacles to become the women they are as you root
for their happiness.
Devon and Leslie have become part of my long list of characters
I'd love to hang out with in real life. Radclyffe's 25th novel
adds a few new touches that you will have to experience for
yourself. Romance lovers will be satisfied with When Dreams
Tremble, but will hunger for more. Here's hoping this
stand-alone novel is the beginning of another excellent series
by the award-winning author.
_____
Reviewed by Cheri Rosenberg
|
Title:
Writing & Selling Your Mystery Novel: How to Knock
'Em Dead with Style
Author: Hallie Ephron, with Foreword by S.J. Rozan
ISBN: 1582973768
Publisher: Writer's Digest Books, www.writersdigest.com
Available From: Online booksellers
Price: $16.99 - Pages: 248
Genre: Nonfiction/Writing |
Hallie Ephron's new How-To book is one of the best books on
writing mysteries that I've ever read. Ephron, one half of
the best-selling mystery duo, G.H. Ephron, knows exactly how
to construct interesting, twisty, and effective plots and
characters, and she doesn't hesitate to divulge her secrets.
The book is divided into four sections: Planning, Writing,
Revising, and Selling Your Mystery Novel. Ephron provides
apt examples, excellent charts, and interactive exercises
that will help both the neophyte and the long-time practitioner.
She includes an appendix of resources as well.
As SJ Rozan writes in her introduction: "The map in
this book will make the process of writing your novel controllable,
understandable, and as close to fun as it gets. You'll still
have to do the work; this book won't write your book. But
it will show you what work to do, so you can plan, structure,
and write. And revise, rework, and rewrite. It will show you
how to start, what to do when you're mired in the middle,
and how to come to a triumphant finish. And, if you're still
standing, it will help you market it to an agent or editor
so that your book can end up, finally, in the hands of those
most elusive, legendary, and desirable inhabitants of this
loony Land: readers."
If you've ever wanted to write mysteries or if you seek merely
to improve your mystery-writing craft and technique, this
book will help you get there. Run right out and get this one.
I can't recommend it highly enough.
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Reviewed by Lori L. Lake
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