Title: Blind Curves Author: Diane and Jacob Anderson-Minshall ISBN10: 1-933110-72-4 Publisher: Bold Strokes Books, www.boldstrokesbooks.com Available From: StarCrossed Productions, www.SCP-inc.biz; and www.bellabooks.com Price: $15.95 Pages: 264 Genre: Lesbian Fiction/Intrigue

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 crave for more in the series as they complete Blind Curves. In discovering 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 is released in October of 2007.

Title: Flight Risk Author: Kim Baldwin ISBN-10: 1-933110-68-6 - ISBN-13: 978-1-933110-68-4 Publisher: Bold Strokes Books Available From: Bella Books, StarCrossed Productions, www.SCP-inc.biz, or libertas.co.uk Price:$15.95 Pages: 296 Genre: Romance

Kim Baldwin's fourth action-packed novel, Flight Risk, is a suspense and romance lover's dream. Blayne Keller and Alexi Nikolos are formidable opponents at first but their undeniable attraction, even under incredible circumstances, doesn't diminish one's hope for them to become allies, to survive against all odds, and to let love bloom.

Blayne works as a travel agent in her close friend Claudia's family business. She fantasizes about saving enough money and getting away from Chicago for a South Pacific adventure in the Fiji Islands. A petite thirty-year-old redhead, Blayne is feisty, independent, outspoken, and stubborn. When she inadvertently witnesses a murder, Blayne has to be gutsy if she's going to live through testifying against the boss of a major crime family. Entering WITSEC, the Federal Witness Protection Program, and permanently relocating and leaving her friends is not the vacation she has in mind when she finds herself running for her life.

With all that Blayne has endured up, it's understandable that she is suspicious of everyone, even Alexi, an Inspector with WITSEC, that she meets in her travels. But Blayne and Alexi form an instant connection with just one look.

A commanding presence at only 5'6" tall, Alexi is confident, smart, sexy, and considered by many to be infuriatingly complex and controlling. She doesn't allow romance and relationships to get in the way of her job or her sexual dalliances. At least, not until she meets Blayne. If anyone can penetrate Alexi's cast-iron exterior, maybe Blayne can. Blayne does her best to entice the inspector to no avail but the sexual tension between them is thick because Alexi doesn't give in easily to temptation. "Damn. Damn. Damn." Blayne sucked in several deep breaths in an effort to dispel the anger and frustration coiling low in her belly. "She did it again. I swear to God that woman is going to make me implode if she keeps this up" (p. 195). This is one of Baldwin's cliffhanger chapter endings, which increases the tension, not only making it impossible to stop reading (and you'll have to read the book to get the full effect), but also making the rewards of the wait that much sweeter.

Baldwin's first book, Hunter's Pursuit, will always be special, but Flight Risk proves that this author is not a one-hit wonder. Baldwin balances action plot with romance. Her characters are rich and unique and each has a distinct "voice," often rendering dialogue tags superfluous when distinguishing between Alexi and Blayne, yet Baldwin employs their use when appropriate.

It's a pleasure following Baldwin's career from Hunter's Pursuit, through the riveting adventures Force of Nature and Whitewater Rendezvous to Flight Risk. Her gift for writing action amidst romance becomes more evident with each endeavor and this reviewer looks forward to future projects penned by this fine author. Flight Risk is popular lesbian fiction at its best - it's exciting, hot, and satisfying with a few surprises. Pick up a copy today. Focus of Desire is coming in October 2007.
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Reviewed by Cheri Rosenberg

Title: In Broad Daylight Author: Jane Vollbrecht ISBN: 971932300765 Publisher: Regal Crest Enterprises Available From: StarCrossed Productions, www.SCP-inc.biz Pages: 208 Price: $16.95 Genre: Drama

The framework of the story is that Elizabeth Albright is the owner of Sappho's Shadow Publishing - Triple S in the business - a company that she hoped would open new avenues in lesbian literature and produce cutting edge novels. Elizabeth thought she would break out of the mold of the formula romances so popular in the genre, but she finds that she's publishing the same stuff that everyone else is.

At this moment, Elizabeth finds herself involved with Colleen McCrady, an aspiring writer who shows tremendous promise. They begin an affair fraught with problems. Elizabeth is afraid her other authors will resent her being involved with Colleen, and Colleen seems to be hiding so many things about herself that a stable relationship may not be possible. Though both of them are "out" lesbians, they find themselves living a clandestine life hidden away from everyone. While they are grappling with this, Colleen gives Elizabeth a manuscript to read, one that she never expects to see published. The Curse of Canaan then becomes the heart of the book, a book within a book. The manuscript tells an engrossing story about Willie Rice, whose story begins in the racial atmosphere of Mississippi in the 1940s and ends in Minnesota in the 1950s with a mystery.

Willie's story drives In Broad Daylight and gives it richness as he strives to survive as a black man in a white world. The story is just as compelling to Elizabeth, who finds she can't leave it alone despite the fact that there are no lesbian characters in it. This could be the answer to her publishing dreams if she can find a way to fit it into the genre. Elizabeth also becomes convinced that solving the mystery of "Coon Willie" will tell her a great deal about Colleen and may lead to possibilities that neither of them imagined.

There are numerous aspects that make this book interesting to read. In the opening chapters, there is a perceptive insight into the philosophy driving lesbian publishing. If you are not familiar with the thinking that prevails in many of the publishing houses, this will be a true education. There is the relationship between Elizabeth and Colleen, two older women who find that the happiness they want comes with a lot of strings attached. The most interesting part of the book is the story of Willie. There is the racial situation of the post World War II, pre-Civil Rights Movement period that is so emotional and tragic. Then there is the story of Willie in Minnesota and the final mystery of what happens to him. All of these combine to make In Broad Daylight a most unusual book.

Title: Magdalena Author: Sarah Aldridge ISBN: 096466481X Publisher: A&M Books Distributed by A&M Books (www.ambooks.com) Price: $9.95 Pages: 336 Genre: Lesbian Fiction

Suppose you loved someone so deeply that when that person died, you found yourself so lost and adrift that you just walked away from a life of luxury, a life surrounded by people who cared about you, and disappeared. Where would you end up? On the streets? Dead? In Magdalena, Sarah Aldridge's eighth novel, the reader is presented with just such a question.

A homeless woman named Mary Brown appears in Judge Ailsa Cameron's court. Even though the woman is dressed in tattered rags, Ailsa is drawn to her, and later, when she finds out that Mary is in the hospital clinging to life, she visits her, hoping to catch a glimpse of who this woman really is. When Mary recovers, Camilla, Mary's young social worker, takes her into her own home to live with her.

Ailsa is struggling with her own relationship with Dina, a theatrical agent, who, although she seems to want to live a committed life with Ailsa, has led a very different, bohemian existence in the past.

Camilla has her own set of doubts and concerns about her relationship with a young, aspiring entertainer from Brazil, named Seraphina. 'Fina, as Camilla calls her, is hiding from her wealthy parents in order to pursue her dream of becoming a famous performer. These four women's lives become inextricably intertwined because of the mysterious Mary Brown.

Cracking the code of Mary's real identity becomes not so much a classic mystery as more of a puzzle to be fitted together. Each of the characters contributes pieces to the whole picture as they expend their time and energy trying to get to the bottom of who Mary really is - from one softly spoken remark made by the homeless woman to Seraphina. Because of this statement, the younger women begin to suspect that Mary might be the famous opera singer, Magdalena Gibbon, but in order to prove it, they must overcome a myriad of obstacles, not the least of which is that all of Magdalena's old acquaintances believe the diva has been dead for the past three years.

Camilla, who protects Mary and champions the cause of homeless women in her area, finds out about the homeless woman's life on the streets as part of her job. Seraphina has long chats with Mary whom she calls Titia (Aunt in Portuguese) and she manages to extract tiny shards of information from Mary in the form of short, baffling sentences every now and then. Ailsa adds to the information from the tidbits she gathers during her own, mostly one-sided conversations with Mary. But it is Dina who has the resources to find the people who knew the famed opera singer, Magdalena Gibbon, before she disappeared and the women to finally begin to make some headway into finding out who Mary Brown really is. In spite of the fact that none of Magdalena's old friends believe that she is still alive, the women plunge on in their pursuit of the truth, carefully piecing together clue after clue until they start to see a picture of Mary's true identity. All the while, the contrapuntal story of Mary's past unfolds like a flower to reveal tiny hints of what the future may hold.

In Magdalena, Aldridge's writing has shifted and is no longer written in the archaic form seen in much of her first seven books. In this story, it is easy to envision the women in contemporary times. In addition, the story evolves and is brought to a more thorough conclusion. It evokes feelings that are much deeper than previous Aldridge tales. There is a sadness that permeates the story, but the reader shouldn't be put off by this fact. Mary Brown is a character who speaks so little throughout the story, yet Aldridge has masterfully portrayed a woman of great depth and dignity without words. Finally, this is more than a mysterious puzzle to be solved. It is a real lesson in deep, abiding love that does not fail to deliver to the reader.
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Reviewed by Anna Furtado

Title: Skin Deep Author: Kenna White ISBN10: 1594930783 Publisher: Bella Books, www.bellabooks.com Available From: StarCrossed Productions, www.SCP-inc.biz; Bella Books, www.bellabooks.com Price: $13.95 Pages: 280 Genre: Lesbian Fiction/Romance

It is wonderful to see an author grow into her craft and sharpen her storytelling skills. Kenna White has done just that with her newest release, Skin Deep. This is her best written book to date with fleshed out characters that have real depth.

Reece McAllister ended a high-powered journalism career abruptly, and Jordan Griffin, magazine journalist, is tasked with finding out why. Jordan is forced to take the assignment because everyone else at the magazine has failed to obtain the story. To score the interview, Jordan makes a couple of deceptive moves and ends up in a remote area of the Olympic Peninsula following Reece. Jordan, ill-equipped for camping, continues to trail Reece further into the wilderness without any back-up plan. As the plot unfolds Jordan and the reader become curious as to why the once renowned journalist is now a recluse.

White creates a compelling and enigmatic character with Reece, and her depiction of her as a nature photographer is brilliant. We see the classical beauty of nature juxtaposed with the superficial standards that society sets for us, especially women, and it is eye-opening.

White has matured as a storyteller. The sexual tension is slowly and deliciously drawn out. She is true to her characters, giving them attributes that complement the plot. Skin Deep is a totally satisfying romance, and one that should not be missed.
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Reviewed by Kathi Isserman

Title: Storms of Change Author: Radclyffe ISBN: 1933110570 Publisher: Bold Strokes Books Available From: StarCrossed Productions, www.SCP-inc.biz; and Bella Books, www.bellabooks.com Price: $15.95 Pages: 275 Genre: Romance/Lesbian

The Provincetown series continues with a tale that hits close to home in this war-torn era when Reece Conlon is ripped from her family to answer the call to active duty as a Colonel in the Marines. Reece does not go willingly to the life she was once dedicated to. Instead, she steels herself to do her duty knowing she must leave the two loves of her life - her baby daughter, Reggie, and her partner, Dr. Tori King.

While Tori struggles to be strong and Reece braces herself to do her duty, two other women have moved into P-town and bring problems of their own. Undercover detective Carter Wayne and mafia daughter Rica Grechi's lives become intertwined as Carter tries to get close - very close - to Rica to learn the secrets of Rica's father's particular branch of organized crime. What she finds is that Rica wants nothing to do with her father's business - and that Carter herself is almost uncontrollably attracted to the don's daughter. This creates a tension among the characters and within the story that is so thick, it is almost palpable.

During the course of the events of this tale, Tori has occasion to meet Reece's father and he proves to be everything we have been led to believe he is - aloof, dedicated to his career, a man with high expectations of his daughter, but a man who also loves her.

This Provincetown tale is very different from previous ones in the series. The tension hangs heavy throughout the tale as we wait for news of Reece's wellbeing in Iraq and we worry about Tori when she gets mixed up with what happens to Carter and Rica as they struggle to come to terms with their own difficulties.

In spite of this difference, we still see the sweetness of deep abiding love, and once again, Radclyffe doesn't fail to deliver a great read that will keep the reader on the edge of her seat. The interplay of the characters we have come to know so well and the new characters with captivating personalities all their own make this another great, not-to-be-missed Radclyffe offering.
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Reviewed by Anna Furtado

Title: The Secret Keeping Author: Francine Saint Marie ISBN: 188352377x Publisher: Spinsters Ink Available From: StarCrossed Productions, www.SCP-inc.biz; and Bella Books, www.bellabooks.com Price: $14.95 Pages: 310 Genre: Romance

The Secret Keeping is not a book for the casual reader. It challenges your attention and requires patience as the story develops, but the wait is worth it.

Dr. Helaine Kristenson, AKA The Love Doctor, feels she is somewhat of a hypocrite. Through her best-selling book and her practice, she helps other people solve problems in their relationships, but she can't solve her own. She is trapped in a loveless long term affair with the internationally famous model Sharon Chambers, who ignores Helaine while she has numerous liaisons around the world, but who Helaine can't seem to get out of her system. When Sharon is home, the sex is abusive and unfulfilling for Helaine and she can't help but agree with friends who tell her she's a fool for not ending the situation.

Lydia Beaumont is an extremely successful investment strategist with a high powered firm on Wall Street. Although she is skilled in the bedroom, she has found her various affairs to be unsatisfying, so she has devoted herself to long hours in the office and focusing herself on her career. Lydia is going to the top quickly. One of her few distractions is to meet with her friends at a bar/restaurant not far from the office and there she becomes intrigued by the woman she sees every time she is there who sits alone at a window table reading books. As her interest grows, Lydia is shocked to realize that, for the first time, she is falling for a woman and she has absolutely no idea what to do about it.

Eventually, Helaine and Lydia are drawn together, in great part due to the helpful machinations of a friendly waiter, and then the trouble starts. Sharon Chambers is not the kind of woman to let a lover walk away from her and she sets out to prove it. The book moves through palimony suits, corporate intrigue and the harassment of a "free press." The question finally is whether the relationship of two women who are basically very private can survive very public exposure and what are they willing to pay to make that survival happen.

The Secret Keeping can be a difficult book to grasp when you first start it. The first third tells the story from Lydia's point of view and is written in a style verging on stream of consciousness. Sometimes scenes aren't understood until you get to the end of them or even until the next scene. When Helaine's story picks up as the second third of the book, the pattern switches to long, fast paced conversations with other characters that require the reader to be paying close attention to who is talking. If you're used to quickly reading through a book, this one will force you to change your habits.

The first few chapters can be very trying, but it's worth the effort. The story is unique and told in an engrossing manner. The reader will suddenly realize at some point that a story that seemed difficult to follow has turned into a fascinating story that can't be put down. You will have to focus on this book right until the last pages to grasp all of its complexities. In a recent book, Jane Vollbrecht suggests that lesbian literature should become more sophisticated and offer depth in addition to the girl-gets-girl formula. The Secret Keeping meets those criteria. The girl story is still there, but it's told in a more elaborate manner than most lesbian novels. You may find it confusing at first, but stick it out until the end. You'll be glad you did.
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Reviewed by Lynne Pierce

Title: The Target Author: Gerri Hill ISBN: 9781594930829 Publisher: Bella Books, www.bellabooks.com Available From: StarCrossed Productions, www.SCP-inc.biz; and Bella Books, www.bellabooks.com Price: $13.95 Pages: 271 Genre: Adventure/Suspense/Romance

Gerri Hill has already proven herself to be an accomplished and popular author with several books published; however The Target may rank as her best. She has written a terrific adventure story, full of suspense, intrigue and a romance, that will probably have you reading the book in one sitting, an assumption based on personal experience.

Detective Jaime Hutchinson is designated by her police department to protect a woman who doesn't think she needs protecting. Sara Michaels is the owner of a self-help clinic for women and the daughter of a senator who has received death threats since announcing his candidacy for the Presidency. Sara is sure the threats can't be aimed at her since she hasn't talked to her ultraconservative father in years, so she intends to take her latest class of women on the traditional culminating activity of their therapy, a two week hiking trek in the wilderness. Jaime manages to infiltrate the group undercover and finds herself in the company of a delightful group of women, including the somewhat uptight Sara.

As the trip progresses Jaime finds she is really enjoying the experience and also begins to believe that the threats were unfounded, until someone starts shooting at them. Then a race ensues. No one knows where they are, and most of these women have never spent any time in the wild. They need to reach safety in a hurry, but they have limited skills. The trip was intended to show the women that they could be more self-reliant, and life has dealt them the ultimate test of their skills. And, if they reach safety, then the problem facing Jaime will be to figure out who is trying to kill Sara and how it might be connected to her father's political aspirations.

There are numerous positive aspects to this book. The interaction of the characters is superb. The women in the therapy group add a special dimension. They provide a good lesson in how people can restart their lives no matter what has happened to them previously, and their interactions with Jaime provide more than one humorous scene. Jaime and Sara have precisely the correct amount of tension between them, and although a romance does develop, the focus of the story is on their determination to save the women in this group from a tragedy they had no part in creating. The frightening part about the book is that what happens to the women and the reason behind it are plausible. The women in the group could be better defined in their characteristics and histories, and the climax of the story is perhaps a little predictable and rushed, but neither one of those detracts from the overall enjoyment of the book.

A number of writers have shown up lately who appear to be trying to build really good stories that, oh, yes, happen to have romance involved, but the romance doesn't drive the story. The goal appears to be to prove that a story can be full of adventure, suspense, or mystery and the starring characters just happen to be lesbians, but they could be anyone. Gerri Hill has now joined that group with The Target. It's a good addition.
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Reviewed by Lynne Pierce