Title: A Matter of Degrees Author: Alex Marcoux ISBN: 1-56023-611-6 Publisher: Harrington Park Press Available From: Haworth Press, www.haworthpress.com/lgbt Price: $19.95 Pages: 301 Genre: Fiction/Mystery/Thriller/Sci-Fi Lesbian

Title: Beyond the Breakwater, Third Printing Author: Radclyffe ISBN: 1-933110-06-6 Publisher: Bold Strokes Books, Inc. Available From: Bella Books, www.bellabooks.com; StarCrossed Productions, www.scp-inc.com, or libertas.co.uk Price:$15.95  Pages: 320 Genre: Romance/Lesbian

As much as it is great to revisit Reese and Tory, Beyond the Breakwater is Bri Parker's story too. Bri and her girlfriend Carre, both twenty, deal with being young lesbians growing up in a less than tolerant world along with outside distractions and temptations. They are trying to find their way into adulthood, responsibility, and their respective careers. Bri makes choices out of love without consulting Carre and unexpectedly leaves her in Manhattan to go home to Provincetown. Can a long-distance relationship survive? Are Bri and Carre committed enough to one another to weather any storm? Radclyffe gets into the minds of her characters and accurately portrays their hopes, dreams, growth, angst, and joys. The strengths and weaknesses of all her characters make them as real as they can be.

I highly recommend Beyond the Breakwater. Radclyffe gives readers exactly what they expect in a romance novel. To her credit, the author never bogs the story down with superfluous details. Even when the scene changes from Reese and Tory to Bri and Carre, it enriches the story since it's easy to care about more than one couple. I enjoy the way Radclyffe employs different techniques to convey the plot. Whether using the action as it unfolds or relaying past events through the eyes of her characters, Radclyffe knows how to hold the reader's attention. Don't miss Beyond the Breakwater. It has sizzling sex, terrific character growth, and a story you won't soon forget.
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Reviewed by Cheri Rosenberg

Title: Coffee Sonata Author: Gun Brooke ISBN: 1933110414 Publisher: Bold Strokes Books Available From: StarCrossed Productions, www.SCP-inc.biz; Bella Books, www.bellabooks.com; or www.libertas.co.uk Price: $15.95   Pages: 300 pages Genre: Lesbian Fiction/Romance

Award-winning author Gun Brooke has given us another delightful romance with Coffee Sonata. I was so totally immersed in this story that I read it in one sitting.

Brooke builds anticipation as she introduces us to her four main characters. We want to know who each will fall in love with and how they will come together, and Brooke does not disappoint us. Vivian Harding suddenly comes home to East Quay to give her last performance as an opera singer after staying away for years. Her friend, deeply closeted socialite Manon Belmont, has arranged for Vivian to perform a benefit concert. Eryn Goddard is a top notch reporter covering the diva's return when she attends a press conference staged by Manon for Vivian. She is captivated by both Manon and Vivian. Mike Stone is the owner of a coffee shop and spends so much time there that her home is in the secluded basement below it. Mike seems the most unlikely to fit in with this group, but Brooke makes Mike's story the linchpin of Coffee Sonata. These four women are not searching for romance. They are not even looking for friendship, but all of them find both in this most unusual romance.

Each of these characters is intriguing, attractive and likeable, but they are heartbreaking, too, as the reader soon learns when their pasts and their deeply buried secrets are slowly and methodically revealed. Brooke does not give the reader predictable plot points, but builds a fascinating set of subplots and surprises around the romances. On top of this, we are treated to some very erotic scenes too. The author develops two romances within the book, and the story floats effortlessly back and forth between the two. She blends their lives, their friendships, and their loves with an easy writing style. This is most impressive since this is only Brooke's third published novel. This style also makes the reader care about the story's characters.

It may be an understatement to say that Brooke has improved with each of her books since Course of Action, her debut novel, and Protector of the Realm recently won 2006 GCLS Goldie awards. With Coffee Sonata, the author continues her award-winning storytelling and gives us a charming tale.
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Reviewed by Kathi Isserman

Title: Counterfeit World Author: Judith K. Parker ISBN: 1933113324 Publisher: Intaglio Publications Available From: StarCrossed Productions, www.scp-inc.biz Price: $17.95 Pages: 200 Genre: Scifi/Lesbian

Shon Emerick, a woman with a few secrets and an enduring heartache, is the lead negotiator for Raimsee Enterprises, one of the pre-eminent multi-world corporations in this futuristic world. Many citizens of the U.S. now live in space, and huge competition exists between private companies for open space and stake in planets. Corporations basically run the government, and there's big money to be made supplying those living off-world, but it's hard to police the galaxy. So Shon is called in to investigate a space station where several suspicious deaths—perhaps murders—have occurred.

Shon doesn't want to go, but she ends up being tricked into it by her mother, who wields more than motherly power and just happens to be the principal owner of Raimsee Enterprises. Little does the reticent and wise-cracking Shon know that on the Traqstar space station she'll find mystery, intrigue, danger, and maybe a new love interest. But first she has to live through it.

This first-person novel moves swiftly, and Shon's narrative voice is sardonic and at times witty. "Privatizing the U.S. government ruined good old sayings like 'Nothing is sure but death and taxes.' 'Nothing is sure but death and fees for service' doesn't have quite the same ring" (p. 13).

The writing is crisp, and for those who aren't fond of "sci-fi," you'll be happy to hear that this story is a good old-fashioned yarn replete with action, strong emotions, and plenty of good interaction between Shon and the characters on the space station. Perhaps there could be a bit more description throughout, but rest assured that you won't be overwhelmed with technical sci-fi details. This is a realistic novel—no magic—well, except for the spell the author puts on the reader using humor, reasonable pacing, and a steady accretion of clues until we come to the exciting denouement.

Counterfeit World's conflicts and the plotline are wrapped up at the end, but I've never seen a character or such a unique world set-up that cried out more for sequels. Shon Emerick is a character who deserves a whole string of stories, and I hope Judith K. Parker is up to the challenge.
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Reviewed by Lori L. Lake

Title: For Every Season Author: Frankie J. Jones ISBN: 1-59493-010-4 Publisher: Bella Books Available From: Bella Books, www.bellabooks.com; Starcrossed Productions, www.scp-inc.biz Price: $12.95   Pages: 234 Genre: Romance/Mystery/Lesbian

For Every Season by Frankie J. Jones is the story of Andi Kane, a woman with an unfulfilling job and a difficult relationship with her partner, Trish. On the day that she gets a call from her grandmother with a mysteriously urgent message to return to her family home, Andi finds herself laid off from her job as a manager for a telephone company. The next day, the unfeeling Trish, throws Andi out of the house, leaving Andi with a feeling of insecurity that we later discover has been with her all her life.

Andi decides that, with little prospects for a job in a city that she has always disliked, she will return to her childhood home in San Antonio. Upon her arrival, her grandmother pulls her aside at the first opportunity and tells her that she needs her to solve a mystery. When her grandmother was a child, Andi's great-grandfather was convicted of killing a man, a crime that her grandmother is convinced he didn't commit and she charges Andi with the task of proving it. At first Andi protests, but then she decides to just try to see what information she can discover before giving up the undertaking. All the while, jobs in San Antonio don't seem to pan out for Andi, nor does her search for the ideal place to live seem to materialize.

The novice PI spends most of her time in the sleepy town of HiHo, where her family once lived and where the murder took place. The more she digs, the more she is convinced that her great-grandfather was guilty. Although she feels terrible about having to give the news to her grandmother, she doesn't see how she can prove anything to the contrary. Yet every time Andi is ready to give up, another morsel of information seems to fall into her lap, beckoning to look for more.

While digging for information in HiHo, Andi discovers several other things. First, that HiHo has an unusually large lesbian population. Second, that the District Attorney, the lovely Janice Reed, is also lesbian—and interested. However, as the plot proverbially thickens, twists and turns, Andi and Janice cannot seem to get past their differences over the old case to allow them to succumb to their obvious attraction. To top it all off, Andi realizes that her mother is vehemently opposed to her snooping around the ghosts of HiHo, for she has painful, difficult memories of a childhood taunted by cruel children who pointed her out constantly as the descendant of her criminal grandfather. The link between these childhood memories and Andi's relationship with her mother begin to give Andi some insight and healing.

For Every Season was a 2006 Golden Crown Literary Society Goldie Award finalist. In it, Jones has given us a charming, well-written tale that is both entertaining and mysterious. Not only will the reader want to find out if Andi's great-grandfather really did murder George Zucker, but she will also be sitting on the edge of her seat to find out if Andi ever really finds a job, a home and a life-long companion.
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Reviewed by Anna Furtado

Title: Forever Found Author: Jlee Meyer ISBN: 1933110376 Publisher: Boldstrokes Books Available from: Bella Books, www.bellabooks.com; StarCrossed Productions, www.scp-inc.biz Cost: $15.95   Pages: 248 Genre: Romance

Dana Ryan and Keri Flemons were so close as children that they could finish sentences for each other. At the age of six, before they understood the ways of the world, they decided that they would be married some day. Unfortunately, when you are six, you don't control your own life and the friends find themselves separated by a parent who doesn't understand their closeness. Any chance of them ever reuniting seems smashed years later when an accident, caused by Keri, robs Dana of a promising career in professional soccer, and her father. Keri's callous treatment of the situation only convinces Dana that there never was really any bond between them.

The bulk of the novel deals with years later when Keri has assumed the management duties once held by her father over a professional football team. She quickly discovers that something is wrong in the team organization and there are forces trying to force her out of her position. When the team photographer suggests a book of photographs of her in action and that the photographer they choose could act as a buffer to discussions, the idea seems logical and leads to a blind competition to find someone to do the job. When Keri discovers that she has unknowingly chosen Dana's work, she knows that convincing her to take the job will be a gigantic hurdle. For Dana, everything is at stake. Can Dana overcome the prejudice against Keri's family that was beaten into her by her father? Can she forgive Keri for the accident that altered her life and can she overcome that to reestablish the bond they once had? In trying to answer those questions, she finds that she also has to worry about a very real threat against Keri's life.

Meyer has written a very nice romance. It doesn't reveal anything new about the genre, but that isn't always important. It doesn't totally adhere to the accepted formula either and that's nice. These two characters struggle with each other. Dana doesn't just decide to totally forgive Keri for what has happened before. She has to deal with her emotions that keep getting in the way of the relationship that she feels growing between them. In that aspect, the book is very realistic and the reader can't be sure until the end of the book just how these two will resolve their situation. Forever Found is worth spending time with, a pleasant story to pass the time.
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Reviewed by Lynne Pierce

Title: Idaho Code Author: Joan Opyr ISBN: 1932859152 Publisher: Bywater Books Available from: StarCrossed Productions, www.scp-inc.biz Cost: $13.95 Pages: 231 Genre: Mystery

What makes a good mystery? How about a story you can't figure out until the last pages? What makes for easy reading? How about a bunch of unique characters that will sometimes have you laughing out loud at what they do and say? What makes a good book? How about one that combines both of these traits?

Wilhelmina "Bil" Hardy has one of the most unusual families there could be, even in Idaho. Bil has returned home to recover from a broken heart, attend college and live with her parents, aging liberal hippies who settled in the small town of Cowslip, Idaho, where Bil's grandmother is a leader in the campaign against gay rights. Of the five siblings, three are adopted, two are African American, her sisters are a doctor, a lawyer and a librarian and brother Sam is the town drug addict who, when he isn't in the hospital for cancer treatments, is in jail for petty crimes. And there is where the problem starts. While in the jail for one of his regular visits, Sam's cellmate dies mysteriously and the police want to charge him for the crime.

The mystery deepens when the dead man is identified as someone who left town during a scandal many years before and left behind a daughter who Bil finds more than appealing. Bil finds herself trying to prove her brother's innocence while also courting the daughter of the man he may have killed. And, just to keep things interesting, she needs to work for gay rights and win her woman while not being "out" to anyone in the town. Throw in the arrival of her old lover with the Lesbian Avengers, her involvement with her friend Tipper and the Radical Faeries, plus the discovery that her mother may have been involved in a murder many years earlier and you have a hero who wishes she could get just a little control of her own life. Then she finds out she's been investigating the murder of the wrong man and is in real danger of flunking out of college. Some days you should just stay in bed.

Idaho Code is Joan Opyr's first novel, but reliable sources report that her partner has locked her in a room until she finishes her second one, so she will be heard from again. That is only a plus for lesbian literature. Opyr has a style that combines humor, a great ability to build characterization and a knack for putting enough twists in a story that the reader cannot be sure where it's heading until the very end. Her work is refreshing in that it doesn't follow the "formula" so many lesbian writers seem to admire and she displays a skill that many of them wish they could develop. If you like mystery, you'll like this book. If you like humor, you'll like this book. If you like good writing, you'll like this book. In case it isn't clear, you'll like this book.
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Reviewed by Lynne Pierce

Title: Picture Perfect Author: Jane Vollbrecht ISBN: 1-59493-015-5 Publisher: Bella Books Available From: Bella Books, www.bellabooks.com; StarCrossed Productions, www.scp-inc.biz Pages: 207   Price: $12.95 Genre: Lesbian Romance

In her first published novel, Jane Vollbrecht shows that with love and the will, there is a way to overcome adversity and even find romance when life events block the path. What should be a distressing look at how Alzheimer's type dementia wreaks havoc on a family is, in fact, a life-affirming account of how two brave women deal with a dreadful disease that afflicts their fathers. Picture Perfect, a worthy finalist for a 2005 GCLS Literary Award, has earned its place among books of substance. Vollbrecht is an author to watch, as she is getting off to an impressive start.

With hopes of making junior partner, Katherine Lorraine Bingham (Kate) prides herself on her accomplishments as she climbs the corporate ladder of an Atlanta-based accounting firmAlthough Kate grew up on a farm, she becomes a bona fide city girl who manages to fall in love with a country girl. Kate is reacquainted with Kayrun Clarice (Casey) when she goes to the hills of North Carolina to visit Nora Marsden, an old friend, former co-worker, and Casey's mother. Kate never counted on having feelings for the younger woman, who is actually closer to her age than Nora is, but sparks fly, and the attraction is mutual.

Kate has suffered a devastating break-up, which leaves her clueless as to what went wrong. Casey is not looking for love when she sees Kate again, but they form a bond, at first based on friendship and commonalities, but resulting in so much more.

Casey's father suffers from Alzheimer's, and her mother is in denial about the severity of his condition. Kate understands all too well the rocky road ahead for the Marsdens. "Although [Kate's] own father had been dead for more than six years, she was never more than a fleeting reminder away from reliving the horror of watching him die, synapse by synapse, as his brain rotted from the inside out. By the time it was done, he had forgotten how to do every single thing that constituted living" (p. 26).

Picture Perfect is touching, sweet, believable, vivid, and has plenty of humor to keep it from being completely depressing. After all, Alzheimer's disease isn't a picnic. Vollbrecht does a fine job of tapping into the human condition and the emotions that accompany it in a well-written novel equipped with romance between memorable characters and well-plotted action. Dealing with ill parents is never easy for the children who end up switching roles with their elders, but Casey does an admirable job of taking on the arduous task with amazing strength and valor. Having Kate's help is the one thing Casey comes to count on, but can their love survive Kate's professional ambitions?

While Picture Perfect is a truly satisfying romance, it is not simply a glorified lesbian love story. By showing how love helps conquer all, or at least how it makes life's adversities more tolerable, Vollbrecht provides the reader with just the right mix of pathos, information, and narrative to bring the reader into the story.

With love scenes that don't need to be graphic to convey the intense love and lust between these two women, characters you'll become invested in, and a story with a moral that reminds us what's important in life, Picture Perfect proves that Jane Vollbrecht is an author who has already left her mark on lesbian fiction. I am looking forward to Heart Trouble (scheduled for release in August 2006), Dykes in the Daylight (February 2007), Close Enough (May 2007), Second Verse (November 2007), and anything else penned by this talented and prolific author.
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Reviewed by Cheri Rosenberg

Title: Primal Touch Author: Amber Jacobs ISBN: 09777031853 Publisher: Blue Feather Books Available From: www.bluefeatherbooks.com Price: $13.75 Pages: 260 pages Genre: Lesbian Fiction/Romance/Action

Amber Jacobs has written an unusual and imaginative novel with her first published book, Primal Touch. While the plot seems far-fetched at times, the inventiveness of the story far outweighs the implausibility.

Leandra Thorton, once a ruthless poacher, is now living in the jungles of India as a tiger woman. She acts much more like a big cat than a woman until she meets Ashley Richards, a wildlife photographer, traveling on expedition. Ashley is instantly drawn to Leandra after she saves Ashley from being shot by a poacher. Although Leandra is unsettled by her feelings towards Ashley, she is intrigued by this uncomplicated and genuine woman.

Much of the book focuses on the growing attraction of the two women, but Jacobs adeptly introduces Leandra's back-story as a way for the readers to understand why she is now living as a tiger in the jungle. Leandra has treated everyone and everything badly, and she exiles herself to the very jungle she abused, for punishment. Her history of selfishness and carelessness is a little predictable, but it does advance the story smoothly as well as give the reader insight into the cruelty of poaching.

The description of the jungle is dramatic and realistic, transporting the reader to a foreign and stimulating world. The sensual and passionate love scenes between the two women enhance this setting even more. These complementary scenes of exotic and erotic envelop the reader and make the plot appealing.

As the novel progresses, the plot becomes a little too neat, but once again Jacobs surprises us with an unfinished ending. Rather than leaving the reader frustrated, she allows us to use our imaginations, making this story much like life itself—unfinished. The storytelling is so solid that the reader does not feel cheated by the ending. We want more.

Primal Touch is well worth the time to read. Jacobs shows promise as a new author, and I expect to read more great novels from her in the future.
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Reviewed by Kathi Isserman

Title: The 100th Generation Author: Justine Saracen ISBN: 1-933110-48-1 Publisher: Bold Strokes Books Available From: StarCrossed Productions, www.scp-inc.biz; Bella Books, www.bellabooks.com Price: $15.95 Genre: Fiction/Magic Realism/Lesbian

Archeologist Valerie Foret uncovers a magnificent find in the Egyptian desert. But when her rival and boss shows up, Valerie's fight for her career becomes just one of many battles she confronts. The sporadic appearance of a mystery woman pulls Valerie in yet another direction as she scrambles to regain control of a situation that is being manipulated not only by her boss, but also by Egyptian authorities, ancient forces, and a mysterious prophecy that she has unwittingly released on herself and her best friend.

Saracen's writing talent is clear from the first chapter of this book. She presents a complex plot with many surprises. Her understanding of modern and ancient Egypt is obvious and provides a rich backdrop for the tale she tells. With the exception of a one-dimensional villain, all of Saracen's characters are dynamic and believable. Given the clever way that she wove old world and new throughout the story, it was somewhat disappointing when that cleverness weakened in the last few pages as Saracen attempts to contrast two modern world religions with an ancient religion.

Saracen successfully wraps up this first book of the Ibis Prophecy by leaving the reader with a satisfying tale and just enough mystery to wonder where the author will take this story in the next book.
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Reviewed by Sandra Barret

Title: The Chosen Author: Verda Foster ISBN: 1933113251 Publisher: Intaglio Publications Available From: StarCrossed Productions, www.scp-inc.biz Price: $15.25 Pages: 204 Genre: Medieval Fantasy/Romance/Lesbian

In the land of Ryshta, a pre-industrial medieval world, the rich and powerful reign superior while the rest of the people are slaves. For as long as anyone can remember, women have been treated like chattel and the slaves have been maltreated or even murdered at their master's whim. The slaves toil with the hope and long-held belief that one day, somehow, The Chosen will arise and lead them out of their pain and misery.

A battle-hardened, charismatic warrior named Brice does indeed rise up and organize to overthrow the sadistic ruler and his society. In the process, Lady Roslin, daughter of the sovereign, comes into contact with Brice, and the secrets and lies begin. To save her neck, Roslin pretends to be one of the peasants while Brice keeps silent about her identity—for it becomes clear to the reader that Brice, though tall, dark, and handsome, is actually a very powerful woman. Her parents brought her up as a male so that she would not be forced to perform as a prostitute/bed slave like the rest of the slave women.

Brice and Roslin's worlds are turned upside down by the revolution in Ryshta. Rich, pampered Roslin has never given the culture and society much thought. She soon begins questioning all she knew once she is living in the war camp with Brice and the slaves who are passionately fighting for freedom and willing to die to overcome the cruel limitations imposed by the ruling elite.

It's clear that the old, corrupt society must fall, but what will take its place? Can Roslin survive—especially if she is found out as being related to the vicious ruler? What will Brice's role be in a new society? Can two people from different ends of the spectrum find common ground, much less a common life together? And above all, is Brice actually The Chosen?

For those who prefer fantasy with elves, wizards, talking dragons, and magic, this book isn't for you. But if you like adventure, well-plotted conflict, and a solid romance between two attractive characters set in an enchantingly medieval time, this book's for you.

Though The Chosen is not overly long, there is a lot of action packed into it. The battles are intense, the conflicts well-written, and the relationship between Brice and Roslin intriguing. I read the first edition of this book several years ago, and the author has smoothed out the previous rough spots. This newly edited version is a joy to read. You can't help but root for Brice and Roslin as they struggle to make a place for themselves by transforming a brutal world into a better place and at the same time, gradually unveil their inner souls to one another.
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Reviewed by Lori L. Lake

Title: The Clinic, 2nd Ed. (Tristaine: Book One) Author: Cate Culpepper ISBN: 1933110422 Publisher: Bold Strokes Books Available From: StarCrossed Productions, scp-inc.biz and www.bellabooks.com Price: $15.95   Pages: 254 pages Genre: Lesbian Fiction/Romance/fantasy

On the surface, The Clinic is a story about a military research facility where Jesstin, an Amazon of Tristaine, is being held for bogus crimes. Brenna, a healer, is tasked by Caster, her superior, to break Jess' spirit and make her compliant. Caster's intent is to force a peaceful annexation and assimilation of Tristaine because Caster and her people believe the Amazons, who are lesbians, are deviants and savages. Brenna goes along with Caster to keep her job, and inflicts physical pain and humiliation on Jess, thus going against everything she has been taught. When the "treatments" begin to turn brutal, Brenna starts to question Caster's authority. She also is feeling more than compassion for Jess. This is when The Clinic really gets interesting.

Culpepper creates a compelling set of characters in Brenna and Jess. Brenna is reluctant to give up her comfortable lifestyle, and she uses alcohol to dull what she really feels as she continues to inflict more violence on her prisoner. Jess, through her unselfish sacrifices to help Brenna save her job, enables Brenna to see that she is free to make choices of her own. Brenna's transformation consumes most of the book and is executed realistically and thoughtfully. Caster's stubbornness and heartlessness is juxtaposed beautifully alongside Brenna's growth, letting the reader feel the intensity of this novel.

While there is a romance between Brenna and Jess, it is an added bonus, blending smoothly with the overall plot. Culpepper is an exceptional storyteller who has taken on a very difficult subject, the subjugation of one people by another, and turned it into a spellbinding novel. As an author, she understands well that fiction can teach us our own history without the force and harshness of nonfiction. Yet The Clinic is just as powerful in its telling.
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Reviewed by Kathi Isserman

Title: The Iron Girl Author: Ellen Hart ISBN: 0-312-31749-2 Publisher: St. Martin's Minotaur Available From: Starcrossed Productions, www.scp-inc.biz Price: $24.95 (Hardback) Pages: 339 Genre: Mystery/Lesbian

Jane finds one of a set of derringer pistols, missing from the Simoneau mansion, among Christine's things. Then a friend presents Jane with a statue of "the iron girl" and informs her that Christine gave it to her for safekeeping just before she died. When the gun and the statue are identified as pieces stolen from the Simoneau mansion during a brutal murder of three people, Jane embarks on a journey to solve the mystery and find healing from her grief once and for all.

The story is complicated by the appearance of a woman named Greta Hoffman whose appearance stuns Jane because she is a "dead ringer" for her partner, Christine. This tale is filled with odd characters, most notably, Bernadette and Laurent Simoneau, the surviving heirs; Frank and Timmy DeWitt, husband and son to another Simoneau, who died prior to the murders; Phillip Simoneau; and a man named Dexter Haynes. Jane meets Haynes in prison where he is serving a life sentence for the Simoneau deaths. He is frightening, yet there is something about him and the murders that doesn't quite fit. In addition to these people, the inimitable Cordelia, Jane's friend, is back with her unique brand of wit and friendship.

As Jane works with a new business partner to turn the old Xanadu Theater into a chic new restaurant, she tries to solve the mystery of the old murders, the mystery of Christine's relationship with the Simoneaus, and the mystery of who Greta is and what she means to Jane. Along with this, Jane also struggles with her fledgling relationship with Kensie Mullroy, her new long-distance love. When we finally find out who Greta really is and why she has come into Jane's life, it is a surprise, as are the answers to most of Jane's questions surrounding the murder and her love life.
The Iron Girl is another in the long list of Jane Lawless mysteries and Hart does not fail to deliver once again. Fans of Jane Lawless will love this story, a 2006 winner of the Golden Crown Literary Society Goldie award in the mystery/thriller/adventure category. Those new to the Lawless mysteries will quickly join the ranks of fans after reading this offering.
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Reviewed by Anna Furtado

Title: The Next World Author: Ursula Steck ISBN: 1-59493-024-4 Publisher: Bella Books Available From: Bella Distributors, www.bellabooks.com; Starcrossed Productions, www.scp-inc.biz Price: $12.95   Pages: 229 Genre: Mystery/Lesbian

The Next World is Ursula Steck's first American novel (although she has published several in Germany) and it was a Debut Author finalist for a 2006 Golden Crown Literary Society Goldie Award. Steck's turns of phrases are sometimes foreign, and in another novel, they might seem strange, but put into the mouth and thoughts of Anna Spring, a woman of Chinese and Caucasian descent who has lived most of her life in Germany, they seem to add to the character's persona. In addition to these speech mannerisms, this quirky character has a glass eye that she frequently changes out to different colored prostheses, while at other times, she chooses to wear an eye patch.

The story has a somber tone—Anna's good friend Jeff is hit by a car and within minutes of it happening, Anna realizes that he has been murdered. Anna is attracted to Midori James who works for the same ad agency as her friend Jeff, and Anna is convinced that Mido is also in trouble. This is confirmed when Anna realizes that Mido has disappeared.

In an effort to find Mido, Anna searches for the mysterious "John" and "Kelly" who were involved with a surrogate parent program in the Nevada desert. When Anna realizes that her friend has links to this program and that the surrogate program might be some sort of scam at the Green Desert Reproductive Clinic, Anna does some daring undercover work in order to get to the truth about what is really going on at the clinic and to find the missing Mido.

When a dark, curly-headed man tries to kill Anna in the Silver Legacy, the reality of the danger that she and Mido are in begins to hit home and Anna becomes much more stealthy in her search. When she finally gets to the bottom of the mystery, it is truly a surprise. Steck has given us a suspenseful story that keeps us guessing until she finally chooses to reveal the truth.
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Reviewed by Anna Furtado

Title: The Quokka Question: A Kylie Kendall Mystery Author: Claire McNab ISBN: 1555839150 Publisher: Alyson Books Available from: Alyson Books, www.alyson.com; StarCrossed Productions, www.scp-inc.biz Pages: 183  Price: $13.95 Genre: Mystery

You have to love Kylie Kendall. In the previous books in this new series by Claire McNab, The Kookaburra Gambit and The Wombat Strategy, Kylie left her Australian roots behind and moved to Los Angeles to claim the inheritance left to her by her estranged father, half of a detective agency. The fact that Kylie knew nothing about being a detective did not deter her one bit; nor did trying to adjust to life in Los Angeles or working with the cast of zany characters employed at the agency.

In The Quokka Question, Kylie finally has her own case to handle. Dr. Oscar Braithwaite believes that someone is stealing his research on the lifestyle of Quokkas (you'll have to read the book to find out what they are) and is planning to torpedo his presentation at an international symposium about to be held in Los Angeles. He hires Kylie to find out who is doing this, which seems to be a simple enough case for a novice detective to handle, until someone murders him. This brings into the story one of the truly amazing characters in the book, his sister, sex therapist extraordinaire Dr. Penelope Braithwaite, who wants Kylie to find out who killed her brother. To say that Penelope is bigger than life doesn't do her justice as she sweeps into Kyle's life, creating mayhem wherever she goes. Meanwhile, Kylie is still trying to convince her business partner Arianna Creeling that they should take their partnership to a deeper level…or softer bed. Will Kylie earn her wings as a detective before someone clips them permanently? Will Arianna finally let her icy exterior melt so that Kylie can really get to know her? Will Dr. Penelope find someone in the book she doesn't want to give sexual advice (or experience) to? You will have fun reading this as the questions are answered.

Claire McNab has been writing for a number of years and is well known for her straightforward mystery series featuring Carol Ashton and Denise Cleever, as well as other books. It's nice to see an established author try a new spin in her work and do it well. The Kylie Kendall books are still mysteries, but they're infused with a sense of humor not found in McNab's other works. You get the feeling that McNab has decided to cut loose a little and just enjoy writing. The cast of characters she surrounds Kylie with will keep you chuckling, from the receptionist Melodie, who doesn't have time to do that job while she takes off for casting calls, to the self-centered cat Julia Roberts who shares Kylie's unusual living arrangements. And leading the pack is the irrepressible Kylie, often puzzled by what is going on around her, but never afraid to plunge in and see what happens. If you have not experienced Kylie Kendall yet, you are missing a gem of an opportunity.
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Reviewed by Lynne Pierce

Title: The Tides of Passion Author: Diana Tremain Braund ISBN: 1594930481 Publisher: Bella Books Available from: Bella Books, www.bellabooks.com; StarCrossed Productions, www.scp-inc.biz Pages: 390   Price: $12.95 Genre: Romance

Diana Tremain Braund has been writing novels for a number of years and is a well-known name in lesbian fiction. The nice thing about that is she has a proven track record with her earlier books. You know when you buy one that you are going to read a story that you like. She adds to that tradition with her latest work, The Tides of Passion.

The central question in this book is, how long do you hold onto a relationship that is no longer working? How long do you stay loyal to a commitment and resist the temptation provided by what could be a more fulfilling life? Amy Day and Kelly Burns live on Bath Island, Maine, where Amy runs an antique shop and Kelly is the director of nursing at the local hospital. Their relationship has been unsatisfactory for Kelly for a long time. Amy can be loving and kind, but most of the time she is emotionally abusive towards Kelly and hypercritical of whatever she does. Kelly is trying to hang on to make the situation work because she doesn't believe that you walk out on a commitment, but she is suffering greatly in silence.

All of that will begin to change when Susan Iogen arrives on the island. Susan is the publicity representative for a company that wants to use the island for a liquid natural gas depot. This would mean badly needed jobs for the community, but it would also change the nature of life there forever. The opposition to the project organizes quickly with Amy as its leader. Kelly stays out of most of the activities because she is busy at the hospital and this adds more tension to what is happening between her and Amy. Eventually, Kelly meets Susan, who represents the antithesis of everything Amy believes in, but who holds a special attraction for Kelly. As Amy becomes more immersed in the fight against the company, Kelly and Susan are drawn together, leading to an eventual betrayal. Kelly breaks the rules and the reader is left to decide if her actions are a justified reaction to Amy's behavior or a selfish indulgence. How will Kelly resolve the situation she then finds herself in?

Braund uses a number of richly drawn supporting characters who help to flesh out the story. One particular favorite is Elizabeth Robinson, a crusty island dweller who acts as the crone of the lesbian community and shows a sense of adventure and fun that makes her a joy to read about. There are situations used that help to explore the characters more fully and lend depth to the story. This is a romance, but it's the story of the death and birth of romance at the same time. Braund's books are always worth reading and this is one of her better ones.
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Reviewed by Lynne Pierce

Title: Turning the Tables Author: Jessica Thomas ISBN: 1-59493-009-0 Publisher: Bella Books Available From: Bella Distributors, www.bellabooks.com; Starcrossed Productions, www.scp-inc.biz Price: $12.95 Pages: 229 Genre: Mystery/Lesbian

Like any good old-fashioned scary tale, this 2006 Golden Crown Literary Society Goldie Award finalist starts out with an old-time curse placed on the main character by a witch. With that, Alex Peres, Private Eye, is determined to stay uninvolved when a Provincetown houseboy is found murdered.

Turning the Tables is the second Alex Peres mystery, and her beloved dog and sometimes sidekick, Fargo, is back. Fargo is described as "a large black Labrador retriever with a heart the size of New Jersey, a beautiful deep bell of a bark and a talent for acting…" (page 4). Two older gay men known as Peter and the Wolf draw Alex into the murder investigation. The men own the Green Mansions bed and breakfast and the murdered houseboy, Lewis Schley, worked for them. One of them is suspected of being the murderer.

The body is left at the P-Town Amphitheater, laid out as if in some type of ritualistic gesture, but Alex has no clue what it could mean. As the tale unfolds, the significance of a table with a "wonky" leg, the table that gives the book its clever title, becomes clearer.

While Alex tries to help the owners of the Green Mansions, she juggles another rather routine assignment that takes her through three of the New England states doing a background check for the manager of the local bank on potential new employees. Her journey takes her through territory that enables her to question some of the other suspects. Throughout her travels, Alex struggles against the effects of the curse visited upon her on Halloween night at the opening of the story, making for some rather awkward and comical moments.

The story abounds with suspects, from the Rev Lawrence Bartles to the Provincetown police themselves. There are also loveable town characters, not the least of which is Alex herself, who often gravitates toward the local bar, The Wharf Rat, affectionately called "The Rat." Alex moves through the story with no lack of wit. She is a woman filled with that soft-pedaled sarcasm that makes us laugh—sometimes out loud—as she takes us through the twists and turns of the tale.

Thomas has penned an easy to be with, loveable gem in her Peres character. Whodunit, in the end, was fairly easy to spot, but the story is filled with such wit and style that it didn't really matter. When the bumbling police finally uncover the killer, the capture scene is hysterical in its portrayal of classic slapstick. Thomas describes it with such visual aplomb that the reader can't help but laugh, in spite of the serious nature of the crime. The scene is so true to the Alex Peres character that it stands out as a memorable part of the story. A good read with lots of humorous moments, Turning the Tables will leave the reader wanting more of Alex, her sidekick, Fargo, and her Provincetown friends.
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Reviewed by Anna Furtado