Title: And Playing the Role of Herself Author: K. E. Lane Publisher: Regal Crest Enterprises ISBN: 9781932300727 Available From: StarCrossed Productions, www.SCP-inc.biz Pages: 318 Cost: $21.95 Genre: Romance

Caid has finally accepted the idea that she is a lesbian and that she is attracted to Robyn, but she doesn't think she can act on her feelings. Caid's fascination with Robyn grows each time that they appear in a show together, but she thinks the situation is hopeless until Liz proposes the idea that a lesbian storyline should be introduced into the series and the producer picks Caid and Robyn for the roles. As the women are brought together more and more, a friendship develops and Caid realizes that the relationship Robyn and Josh share has advantages for both of them, but romance isn't one of them.

Caid believes she can make a life with Robyn, but complications abound. Both women are deeply in the closet to protect their careers. They have to sneak around to see each other, which isn't easy for people who are constantly being followed by the paparazzi. They can't confide in friends, family or co-workers when their own self-doubts threaten to destroy the relationship. Throw in a murderous stalker, angry family members and a public that begins to hate Caid because it thinks she's trying to steal Josh from Robyn and the reader will wonder how or if these two can work out the situation to be together. For every step forward, there are two steps back as the book winds through the twists of the story, keeping the reader wondering what will happen.

Readers of online fan fiction will recognize this as one of the more popular stories to emerge in that genre. Although Caidence and Liz are patterned physically after Xena and Gabrielle, they don't have the type of relationship usually indulged in by a lot of fan fiction. The TV shows appear to be modeled after Law and Order and its many incarnations. None of that obstructs the fact that this is a well-crafted story. The plot flows smoothly and the characters interact in a convincing manner. Robyn does not immediately unveil her true sexuality and jump into bed with Caid.

When the women begin their relationship, they are not "out and proud" to the whole world, thumbing their noses at society. Instead, this is a very real picture of women who want to be together but believe, quite correctly, that it could cost them careers and positions that both enjoy. Their struggle to work the situation out will be familiar to people who deal every day with occupations that do not allow you to be truthful about who you are. This is refreshing since most lesbian novels take the approach that most of society doesn't care how you live your private life. That might be appealing fantasy, but doesn't relate much to the lives of many lesbians.

The extended length of the book gives the characters a chance to really develop their personalities and allows for events to play out over a believable time line. There is also an interesting view of the role of the press in the lives of the famous, how it can be manipulated and some of the problems it can cause. And there is a scene where Caid is attacked by a deranged fan that is harrowing in its detail.

And Playing The Role Of Herself is a very satisfying read. There are some holes. There are some interesting family members for both women who could have been explored more since they play pivotal parts in the story. Also, Robyn keeps rushing to Caid's side when there are crises and no one suspects her anxiety for being more than that of a "friend." Overall though, everything fits together and you'll find this worthy of your time.
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Reviewed by Lynne Pierce

Title: Braggin' Rights Author: Kenna White ISBN: 978-1-59493-095-9 Publisher: Bella Books, www.bellabooks.com Available From: Bella Books, www.bellabooks.com and StarCrossed Productions, www.SCP-inc.biz Price: $13.95 Pages: 292 Genre: Romance/Lesbian

Braggin' Rights investigates what happens when a woman who has her lasso wrapped around the world discovers that she is not invincible, and that she cannot control everything.

Taylor Fleming, at 36, is a partner in her father's vast cattle ranch. Tall and attractive, Taylor is much too busy for more than the occasional one night stand. Trouble happens when a trailer tips over, trapping Taylor under it, and causing her a concussion and two badly broken legs.

Jen Holland is an up and coming sculptor. Upon learning that her estranged father is failing, she is persuaded to visit his ranch, which borders the Fleming spread. The visit causes Jen anguish as she discovers her father must go into a nursing home and that the ranch is about to be taken for back taxes. Needing a quick influx of money to pay the ranch bills, Jen decides to go back to her former profession and take a job as a private nurse. Her patient is none other than Taylor Fleming.

Kenna White is extremely skilled at showing how Jen and Taylor are able to grow in understanding as their relationship develops. Each woman has weaknesses, inner demons, and inner strength. As physical and emotional events occur, each is able to support the other. Braggin' Rights is a wonderful love story about two wonderful characters.
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Reviewed by RLynne

Title: Brilliant Author: Ann Roberts ISBN: 978-1-59493-115-4 Publisher: Bella Books, www.bellabooks.com Available From: Bella Books, www.bellabooks.com and StarCrossed Productions, www.SCP-inc.biz Price: $13.95 Pages: 256 Genre: Romance

Title: Celtic Shadows Authors: K. C. West and Victoria Welsh ISBN: 0-9770318-6-1 Publisher: Blue Feather Books, www.bluefeatherbooks.com Available From: Blue Feather Books, www.bluefeatherbooks.com; and StarCrossed Productions, www.SCP-inc.biz Price: $16.99 Pages: 272 Genre: Lesbian romance/adventure

K.C. West and Victoria Welsh have another hit on their hands with their second novel, Celtic Shadows, the sequel to their captivating debut novel, Superstition Shadows. Celtic Shadows takes heroines Kim Blair and PJ Curtis to Wales to do research on an ancient Celtic artifact for a friend of PJ’s wealthy father. The two archeologists figure a bit of research plus some vacation time in a new country should be the perfect combination.

After a few day trips exploring the enchanting Welsh countryside, Kim and PJ return to The Royal Lion Inn in Dolgellau to discover their working vacation is about to become anything but relaxing. Instead of idyllic travels about the Welsh countryside, they find themselves in a quagmire of murder, danger, deception, and intrigue.

Rather than savoring tasty treats served up by Arwel at the inn, one of the archaeologists spends her time with despicable characters she dubs Woodsy, Garlic Breath, and Designer Suit. Kim’s ex-lover, Terry Simms, resurfaces to stir old memories and raise new doubts, and some Amazons from Kim’s past show up, too, at the most fortuitous moments to offer guidance.

The authors superbly incorporate Welsh culture, geography, and history into the Celtic Shadows story. I could almost taste and smell the hearty foods, feel the boggy soil under my feet, and smell the grasses and flowers in the meadows. West and Welsh have created strong, believable, sensitive, and likeable protagonists and have given them life in a story readers won’t soon forget. The book is a treat for the senses as well as for the mind. For a wonderful vicarious romp in Wales, pick up a copy of Celtic Shadows. You’ll be glad you made the trip.
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Guest Review by K.A. Torpy

Title: Hearts Aflame Author: Ronica Black ISBN 10:1-933110-82-1 Publisher: Bold Strokes Books, www.boldstrokesbooks.com Available From: StarCrossed Productions, www.SCP-inc.com and Bella Books, bellabooks.com Price: $15.95 Pages: 246 pages Genre: romance

Set in the Southwest, Hearts Aflame takes the reader to a working cattle ranch. Krista Wyler has been called back to the family ranch to help her beloved aunt, who is dying. Once there, she learns that her uncle has elder dementia, and that the ranch is in financial trouble. With the help of Rae Jarrett, the local vet, Krista decides to turn the place into a dude ranch, and teach city slickers how to herd cattle.

Hearts Aflame takes the reader on the rough and tumble ride of the cattle drive. Heat, flood, and a sexual pervert are all part of the adventure. Heat also appears between Krista and Rae. The twists and turns of the plot engage the reader all the way to the satisfying conclusion.
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Reviewed by RLynne

Title: Michaela Author: Sarah Aldridge ISBN: 1-56280-055-8 Publisher: A&M Books (originally from Naiad) Distributed by A&M Books (www.fayjacobs.com) Price: $12.00 Pages: 250 Genre: Fiction/Lesbian

Michaela is the fascinating story of a poor young woman who aspires to be a ballet dancer. When Julia and Laura vacation in Paris, the pair is finally free to be together after years of a clandestine affair. Laura’s husband, a philandering Don Juan who played the field with both men and woman, has recently died of AIDS, freeing her from her duties as a figurehead wife. However, there is still one part of her old commitment that she can’t seem to let go of—her relationship with Dick’s conservative, mid-western parents. Laura is the one who has kept the relationship going, even when Dick shunned them, presumably so that they wouldn’t find out what a louse he really was.

During Laura and Julia’s stay in France, Laura discovers that a waif of a girl named Michaela has secret aspirations to become a ballet dancer, and Laura becomes enthralled with her and wants to take her back to the United States in an attempt to help her realize her dream. Julia indulges Laura and agrees to help Michaela but there is an obstacle in their way. Michaela’s mother is a no-nonsense Englishwoman who only sees Michaela as a ticket to better herself in her downtrodden state. The mother has been eking out a living in France trying to run a “pension,” or small hostel, and not very successfully. However, she finally agrees to allow the women to take Michaela back to the States with them when they promise to fund her own trip as soon as she can free herself from her commitments in France.

Laura and Julia return home with Michaela and go to visit Dick’s parents. While there, they meet a woman who has ties to the theater and she introduces the women to Lila, a famous ballet instructor, who in turn evaluates Michaela and recognizes a great talent in her and agrees to take her as a pupil. As usual, Aldridge uses the vehicle of her fiction as a study of particular groups of people. In this case, it is the itinerate people of whom Michaela and her mother are a part, as well as theater people and mid-western conservatives. When Michaela’s mother arrives in New York, she is not pleased with Michaela’s entry into the world of ballet, but she doesn’t express her displeasure because Laura and Julia are paying for everything.

When the women return to Laura’s in-laws for Christmas, Dick’s former mistress shows up on the farm and things really get interesting. In a complicated plot, Michaela’s mother finally turns on Laura and Julia and she tries to prevent Michaela from pursuing her training and having anything to do with them. Michaela’s mother only allows her daughter to pursue her dream when she finally finds a way to ensure her own success in life, ironically, by forming a working relationship with a wealthy patron of the ballet, who subsidizes Michaela’s training with Lila.

The plot of Michaela is, perhaps, one of the most complete of the Aldridge novels for everyone seems to find some sort of resolution to their own conflict before the end of the book. In early Aldridge novels, this was not always the case. Still, this body of work is significant and Michaela, in particular, both informs and entertains. In addition, descriptions of the little village in France where Laura and Julia stay are lovely.
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Reviewed by Anna Furtado

Title: Pearl Had to Die Author: Val Brown ISBN10: 0977031829 Publisher: Blue Feather Books, LTD, www.bluefeatherbooks.com Available from: StarCrossed Productions, www.SCP-inc.biz Price: $15.99 Pages: 256 pages Genre: Lesbian Romance/short story collection

Val Brown states in her acknowledgements for Pearl Had to Die that it is an “…eclectic collection of highs and lows, comedy and tragedy, weird and unexpected…” I could not have said it better, which is why readers will find at least one story in this diverse and unique collection of eight novellas that they will enjoy.

Two stories that are tied together, “Unlimited Sexual Favors” and “More Unlimited Sexual Favors” stood out for me. They are about long time friends, one straight the other a lesbian, who become lovers on a bet. Through this wager, they discover their long buried love for each other. The pieces were well written, highly erotic, sensual, and loving all at once. Brown’s strength as a storyteller peaked here, and the two take up over 100 pages together.

Brown’s skill as a writer is excellent, but her storytelling is uneven. I found that in her first story, “The Dregs of Summer” the romance peaked too early. The story continued into the next, “Endless Summer,” but the author did not have much to say after hitting the high notes of the romance. In “Human Interest” and “Human Interest 2: Recovery,” Brown undertook the tough subject of second chances, but it was a little too depressing for me even though the ending was uplifting. The last tale in the collection “Pearl had to Die” was very strange. I could see how it could appeal to some, but not to me.

Brown has courage. She penned a collection that would show her varied styles while reaching out to a broader readership. I think she accomplished that in Pearl Had to Die.
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Reviewed by Kathi Isserman

Title: Red Light Author: JD Glass ISBN: 9781933110813 Publisher: Bold Strokes Books Available From: StarCrossed Productions, www.SCP-inc.com; Bella Books, bellabooks.com Price: $15.95 Pages: 285 Genre: Romance

Sometimes romance is right under our nose, and we don’t even know it. Sometimes we hook up with the wrong woman, and we don’t discover it until it’s too late. That’s what happened to Tori in Red Light by JD Glass, an uncommon romance crafted for all generations.

Red Light is bold, sexy, gritty and real life. The book deals with some very serious issues while conveying a convincing romance. Glass has created her own formula as a storyteller that is in your face gutsy and down to earth. She describes Staten Island and the life of an EMT with a raw passion from someone who has been there. She knows what she is writing about, and better than that, she communicates it beautifully in novel form.

In Red Light, we do not find any flowery language as Glass does not mince words. She tells it to us straight from the gut and heart. She exposes the ugly side of life when Tori becomes involved with a woman that abuses her emotionally and physically. Glass lets us know that manipulation, as well as the use of the date rape drug GHB, can happen in the lesbian community too. Rather than the reader getting turned off by this story though the author flawlessly blends in a heart wrenching romance that obliges us to read on. Tori does not lose hope and neither do we.

Glass continually does what few authors can do well – write in the first person and still let us know what all of the characters are thinking and feeling. The ending expertly ties up the first three books Glass has published (Punk Like Me and Punk and Zen), and also leads us right into American Goth, due out January, 2008. Red Light is definitely a must read.
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Reviewed by Kathi Isserman

Title: Redress of Grievances Author: Brenda Adcock Publisher: Regal Crest Enterprises ISBN: 9781932300864 Available From: StarCrossed Productions, www.SCP-inc.com Pages: 269 Cost: $19.95 Genre: Mystery

Brenda Adcock is beginning a new mystery series featuring Harriett Markham, a defense attorney in Austin, Texas. Years before, she won a case that had tragic consequences and resulted in her fleeing from a very prosperous law firm in Dallas where she was the rising star, and leaving behind her lover. Now, she's living a very quiet, but successful, life raising her niece Lacey and has left all of that behind…she thinks.

The book has a startling opening as an anonymous sniper kills an unsuspecting victim and the reader is allowed to listen inside the head of the shooter to the thought processes that are going on. That is juxtaposed with a scene of Harriett delivering her closing summation in a case that reflects the type of lawyer she has become. The story then opens up when Harriett receives a visit from her former lover, Alexis Dunne, who has a request. The sister of a prominent state senator has been accused of shooting out car windows on the highway and causing a series of deaths. The evidence against Sharon Taggert is pretty conclusive, and now she needs an attorney who can save her from the death penalty.

Because Alexis' law firm represents the senator, they want Harriett to take the case. She is reluctant to do that because it will drag her back into the life she left behind, but then she meets Sharon and realizes that she may not be responsible for her own actions. Despite the consequences to herself, she is determined to save this woman's life. What she doesn't realize at first is that her own life is in danger.

When Harriett begins to receive death threats, she is brought into contact with Jess Raines, a police officer who works in the Sex Offender Office. Jess's job is to figure out if Harriett and Lacey are in danger because of what Harriett is finding out about Sharon's past or if the threat is from a totally different source. Neither of them knows that Jared Wilkes, the man Harriett never should have gotten acquitted the first time he was tried, has been released from prison without the warning Harriett was promised she would receive. And Jared has an agenda of his own. Harriett will also find herself having to make a choice. Does she let Alexis back into her life or does she follow the new possibilities that are being opened to her by Jess?

Redress of Grievances is considered a mystery, but it also qualifies as a psychological study. Sharon's story involves rape and sexual abuse when she was younger and manifests itself in multiple personalities and homicidal behavior. Unraveling how she thinks and what motivates her is one of the most interesting parts of the book. Harriet has her own difficulties, though, dealing with her role as an attorney and the people she is called upon to defend. The Jared Wilkes' case left her damaged in ways that could end up costing her life.

Adcock weaves these characters' stories together with no jerky feeling to the action or story telling. Incidents flow from page to page in a way that keeps the suspense building on two fronts. There is a growing realization of what kind of person Sharon Taggert really is, meanwhile the stalker is moving closer to Harriett all the time. There is a hook in Sharon's story that comes completely from left field and adds a terrific punch to the story. Then there is a climatic ending involving Harriett that is guaranteed to cause chills.

Redress of Grievances is the first book in the Harriett Markham series. If they all deliver on the mystery and suspense like this one does, readers should hope to anticipate many future volumes.
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Reviewed by Lynne Pierce

Title: Such A Pretty Face Author: Gabrielle Goldsby ISBN: 1-933110-84-8 Publisher: Bold Strokes Books Available From: StarCrossed Productions, www.SCP-inc.com; Bella Books, bellabooks.com Price: $15.95 Pages: 246 Genre: Romance

Such a Pretty Face refers to the often used expression for an overweight woman. It's usually followed by, "it's too bad she's so heavy". Mia Sanchez's mother has said these words to Mia for as long as she can remember. Mia dreads the Sunday brunches where her brother-in-law stares at her breasts while her mother counts every bite she eats. Now, saying Mia has "really let yourself go", her lover, Brenda, has left her.

Ryan Benson learned construction skills from her grandfather. She is now working for a contractor who is remodeling the building where Mia works. The two women strike up a friendship. When Ryan is accused of stealing, and is fired, Mia offers her a place to stay and a job making repairs on her house. The two women become friends, each trying to ignore the sparks which fly between them. The plot thickens when Brenda returns and discovers a much fitter, trim Mia.

Such a Pretty Face skillfully examines the deep messages each of us are given about body image, professions and status. As Mia, Ryan, and their friends sort out relationships, they also learn that being beautiful includes a lot more than just a pretty face. It's an enjoyable read that challenges making superficial assumptions.
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Reviewed by RLynne

Title: The Killing Room Author: Gerri Hill ISBN: 978-1594930508 Publisher: Bella Books Available From: Bella Books, www.bellabooks.com; StarCrossed Productions, www.SCP-inc.biz Price: $13.95 Pages: 385 Genre: Mystery/Thriller/Lesbian

The Killing Room was a 2007 Golden Crown Literary Society “Goldie” award winner in the Mystery/Thriller/Adventure category. Although this story has a strong romantic thread running through it, this only enhances the impact of the mystery/thriller plot. In fact, it only serves to increase the tension in the story when Jake McCoy must find the serial killer who is on the loose in order to save Dr. Westbrook from becoming his ultimate victim.

The Killing Room begins with Detective Jake McCoy spending time in her beloved mountains as she recovers from a gunshot wound and the trauma of not being able to stop a young boy from being killed in a hostage situation. Jake finds healing comfort in the secluded hot springs in the mountains near her cabin and usually doesn’t see another living soul while there. However, a young woman named Nicole stumbles on her while lost during a hike, and the two spend a gloriously passionate time together until Nicole realizes that Jake’s infirmity was inflicted by a gun—and she conjures up a story that Jake’s involved in some kind of criminal activity and flees in fear for her life.

Fast-forward to Jake returning to Denver where she is assigned to work on a murder that soon becomes a rash of serial killings and she discovers that the victims are all connected to one Dr. Westbrook. She is shocked to find that the woman is the same one with whom she has had the tryst in the mountains, and about whom she can’t stop thinking. Yet the two women, in spite of their obvious feelings for one another, can’t get past the fact that they run in two very different circles of people and they each surmise that they could not possibly have a relationship with one another because of this.

As Jake comes closer and closer to identifying the killer, she falls for Nicole deeper and deeper. By the time she is forced to try to rescue her, both she and her police partner know she is in too deep to be objective. But Jake doesn’t care. Nicole’s life is at stake, so she must help her.

This story has plot twists and turns and, in the end, we find that all is not as it seems. The final confrontation is definitely worthy of the mystery / thriller category and will leave the reader’s heart pounding.

As with most of Hill’s works, the underlying romantic thread only seems to improve the mystery-thriller plot of the story. The Killing Room is a masterful tale told by a consummate storyteller.
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Reviewed by Anna Furtado

Title: Writing My Love Author: Claire McNab ISBN: 1-59493-063-5 Publisher: Bella Books, www.bellabooks.com Available From: Bella Books, www.bellabooks.com; StarCrossed Productions, www.SCP-inc.biz Price: $13.95 Pages: 185 Genre: Romance/Lesbian

Claire McNab has given us a tongue-in-cheek story about a novelist writing a story in order to give subliminal messages to an editor that the writer has fallen in love with her, hoping that the editor will reciprocate.
Diana K. Broswell is Vonny Smith’s editor. Vonny writes under the pen name of Veronica Vanderveer and with her new novel, Desire’s Desperate Drumbeat, she has one goal in mind: to win Diana’s heart and finally find the person Vonny describes as “The One.”

Throughout the story, though, Vonny finds all kinds of obstacles in the form of other women that cause her to question herself, along with the motives of the other women, all the while re-tooling Drumbeat in an attempt to make Diana realize that Vonny is the “The One” for her. Along the way, we meet characters who mirror real life. For example, there are the would-be authors desperate to get a foot in the publishing world door and get their manuscripts some attention. One, in particular, is very creative in her attempts, but Vonny gets the ultimate revenge in the situation.

Diana sticks to her professional editor’s role, giving Vonny feedback on how to make the story better, while Vonny continues to try to get her point across as she tries not to take her criticism too personally. Will Diana ever get the point and reciprocate?

Writing My Love is a delightful, easy-to-read romance. There are some laugh-out-loud moments in the story as well as some great insights into the author-editor professional relationship.

This reviewer was just a little confused by the character names at one point. It had nothing to do with the fact that McNab uses similar names for her characters as the real life people (Vonny – Velda, Diana – Davina), because she does a good job of reminding us who is who throughout the story. What really threw me was the fact that the back jacket says “Vonny Smith, otherwise known as Victoria Vanderveer…” but in the story, the author’s pen name is Veronica. Fortunately, Veronica is used throughout the story, so the back cover doesn’t contribute too much to the issue. This difficulty aside, McNab has given us a great read for the beach or for in front of a cozy fall fire. Writing My Love is a delightful, easy story to while away a summer afternoon.
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Reviewed by Anna Furtado