Planet of the Books

After Mrs Hamilton by Clare Ashton

2014-09-24T12:54:00.000-07:00

Rating

I enjoyed this book immensely it is well written with interesting women and very intriguing situations. At times I couldn’t put it down because I just had to know what was happening next. The story is more complex than most lesbian romance fiction; in fact I would go as far as to say that this book is a novel that just happens to contain a lesbian romance. I think it stands alone as a book worth reading without being pigeon holed into a genre.

Having said that there is a strong, compelling lesbian romance at the centre of this book between two women of different ages and backgrounds whose love transcends their potential difficulties. There is also another lesbian romance which is much more complicated and contains many surprises along the way.

This book is intriguing, compelling and worthy of serious attention when reading, otherwise you might get confused by the various twists and turns. It builds towards a wonderfully satisfying ending which made this reader very glad she persevered and compelled to read it again! Enjoy!

By Claire

Author Profile: Jade Winters

2014-09-24T12:24:00.002-07:00

Jade Winters, author of "Say Something" and "Guilty Hearts" reviewed by Planet London earlier this year (and more), opens up about life behind the pen...

What’s your first memory of enjoying reading?
My first real memory was when I read Stig of the dump. I have no idea how old I was but I loved that book. It always made me sad that he lived in such a messy place and I wanted to go and clean it up for him.
What are you currently reading?
I'm re-reading Affinity by Sarah Waters - fantastic book.

Which character you’ve created/written do you wish you could spend a day as?
Megan in Faking It. She led an unusual life and I would like to know what it feels like to live without a conscience.

Which character that someone else has written do you wish you could spend a day as?
I would like to spend the day as Ishmael from Daniel Quinn's novel of the same name. I would love to spend the day being wise and understanding the intricacies of life.

Have you created any characters you don’t like?
I have created a few. The one I disliked the most was Eddie in 143. He was an abusive, homophobic bully.

What was the first thing you ever wrote that made you think, “I want to be a writer”?
As a child I used to write scripts all the time. I would go through the yellow pages and find anyone related to the film industry I could send them to. As I got older I always had stories in my head but never actually got around to writing them. It wasn't until I had one particular plot in my head that I couldn't ignore that I started writing properly. When I'd finished 143 I knew that's what I wanted to do.
Do you edit as you go or as a full process after a first draft?
I hate editing so leave it as long as possible - I never do it as I go, I always leave it until after the first draft.
Where do you write? And what do you need around you?
I like to be comfortable when I write, so it usually involves sitting on my bed with my laptop, surrounded by my cats.

Pen and paper, typewriter or computer?
Mostly I use my laptop, but sometimes paper if I'm out and about and have ideas I need to write down.
Where do we find out more?

How can we buy your books?

Amazon, Createspace, Smashwords

Author Profile: HP Munro

2014-09-10T13:38:00.001-07:00

The Edinburgh based historical Fiction writer and Goldie Winner, HP Munro let's us peek behind the scenes

What name are you published under?

HP Munro

What’s your first memory of enjoying reading?
Being taken to the local library by my mum and deposited in the children’s corner and not wanting to leave. I loved being surrounded by all the books and was disappointed that I was only allowed two books (I was eventually allowed to take 6 books out, once the librarian got used to my face peering over the desk practically every week).

What are you currently reading?
Just finished Unbroken by Laura Hillenbrand, it was my book choice for my wine book club.

Which character you’ve created/written do you wish you could spend a day as?
Anna Conor in Stars Collide, she’s lived through the heyday of Hollywood and now spends her time as a gin-soaked diva and throws outrageous barbs and comments around, but gets away with it all.

Which character that someone else has written do you wish you could spend a day as?
Hermione Granger, provided I could have use of the Time-Turner.

Have you created any characters you don’t like?
The book I’m currently working on has a character, Virginia Grace, that like Anna says outrageous things but without an ounce of the charm that Anna possesses. She’s not meant to be liked, so if she is then I’m doing something wrong!

What was the first thing you ever wrote that made you think, “I want to be a writer”?
I loved writing when I was young and would continually construct stories in my head, it was only in the past four years that I discovered if I got them out of my head and onto paper that other people might enjoy them too. I wrote fanfiction for around a year and the epiphany happened during that time.

Do you edit as you go or as a full process after a first draft?
Full process, I have to write sequential so can’t even go back to fix something earlier in the story that I subsequently change later down the line. I have to put notes at the bottom of the documents saying things like “Go back and insert/fix” If I go back during the first draft I’ll get caught up and never finish.

Where do you write? And what do you need around you?
To begin with I wrote while travelling for work, so it was on planes and train and in airports and hotels. Now I tend to write at home in whatever room takes my fancy or where the comfy seats are. I recently got some friendly abuse from some fellow writers from posting photos of me writing at the poolside while on holiday in Thailand, which was easily the nicest place I’ve even written.

Pen and paper, typewriter or computer?
Sometimes pen and paper, usually computer and occasionally using the recording facility on my phone to dictate when something pops into my head and I have nothing else.

How can we buy your books?
They’re on amazon in kindle format or paperback
http://www.red-besom-books.com/

Author Profile: Ellen Dean

2014-09-05T17:23:00.000-07:00

Ellen Dean takes the plunge with the Planet London author profiles... find out how the Famous Five influenced this author...

Taken at a Waterstones
book signing

What’s your first memory of enjoying reading?
My first memory of reading on my own is when my cousin gave me a copy of one of the Famous Five novels by Enid Blyton. I was captivated and imagined myself being in the story with the characters. From then on I was hooked on books.

What are you currently reading?
I'm currently reading 'Beauty' by Louise Mensch, formally Louise Bagshawe. I love her work.

Which character you’ve created/written do you wish you could spend a day as?
It has to be Hyacinth Dickinson from Beautiful Strangers and Beyond Midnight, Books 1 and 2 in the Hyacinth Dickinson Series. Tall, blonde and gorgeous. Hyacinth is psychic and can use telepathy to get into people's minds and learn all their secrets, or make them do what she wants them to do. Plus, she owns valuable and rare diamonds (a girl's best friend) two fabulous houses, a yacht and enjoys partying with a wide circle of friends. It would be a hard to decide where to actually be: in one of her fabulous houses, controlling the Amethyst Coven or lazing on the yacht in Cannes. Oh, decisions, decisions!

Which character that someone else has written do you wish you could spend a day as?
Lucky Santangelo created by Jackie Collins, another of my favourite authors. Lucky is a savvy, strong woman, with her eye on the main chance, and she owns a hotel in Las Vegas as well as a film company in Hollywood. She takes no prisoners. In the morning I would be overseeing things at the film studio in Hollywood and then fly in the private jet to Vegas, for the rest of the day.

Have you created any characters you don’t like?
Lady Penny Corday. She's a conniving back stabber who doesn't know when she's well off.

What was the first thing you ever wrote that made you think, “I want to be a writer”?
I wrote a short story about a mountain bear when I was about eight or nine years old and I still have it in a school book. I really enjoyed making up the story and I guess I got the writing bug from there.

Do you edit as you go or as a full process after a first draft?
I usually write the first draft and then go back to edit. However, I have been known to edit a chapter in the first draft if something comes to mind that I feel needs attention straight away.

Where do you write? And what do you need around you?
I try to write in my study, but really I can write almost anywhere, and usually end up writing within close proximity to the kettle. It's surprising how many cups of tea us writers need. I like to have music playing in the background that fits with what I'm writing about. i.e. If I'm writing a scene set in France, I listen to French music. It's not unusual to hear pipes and drums when I create a scene that is set in Scotland. At the moment I am working on Vampire Farmer the first of the Penny Farthing Series which has evolved from a screenplay I've written called The Icing On The Cake. The music for that one has included My Son The Vampire and Monster Mash.

Pen and paper, typewriter or computer?
I write the initial draft with good old fashioned pen and paper. I love stationery and have a great collection of pens to choose from. After that I upload to the computer and do the first edit at the same time.

How can we buy your books?
Print and ebooks can be bought from Amazon, Smashwords, Kobo, Barnes & Noble, and Waterstones. Many small bookstores have my books in stock, but they are too numerous to mention. Vampire Farmer (ebook) will be for available to pre-order soon and will publish on November 26th 2014.

Keep in touch with Ellen at

www.facebook.com/ellendean36
www.twitter.com/ellendeanauthor

Author profile: Kiki Archer

2014-08-28T15:03:00.001-07:00

Top of the lesbian Amazon book charts, popular Independent Author Kiki Archer shares what gets her excited about writing & more...

What’s your first memory of enjoying reading?
My parents had to pay me to read. My older sister's books were forced upon me and I never quite bonded with Malory Towers, Little Women, or Black Beauty, hence the payment to complete a story. However once I discovered the Beano books this little lesbian was well away.

What are you currently reading?
Peter James Want You Dead. The 10th book in the brilliant Roy Grace series. I love a good thriller.

Which character you’ve created/written do you wish you could spend a day as?
Jenna James [One foot onto the Ice]. I love skiing and she's a ski instructor. She also has very good sex.

Which character that someone else has written do you wish you could spend a day as?
Lucy from Patricia Cornwell's Scarpetta series. A very smart, very rich, very hot lesbian.

Have you created any characters you don’t like?
Yes, but I like them for being so unlikeable. Bea, Marcus, Zara, Amber. It's great to get readers cringing, or shouting, or simply feeling the intense emotion of hatred for a character.

What was the first thing you ever wrote that made you think, “I want to be a writer”?
It was when But She Is My Student started to sell. I saw it get to #1 on the UK and US lesfic charts and stay there for months. It was at that point that I thought - maybe I can do this.

Do you edit as you go or as a full process after a first draft?
Both. I reread and edit my work from the previous day before I start my new word count. When I'm finished the whole MS goes to the wonderful editor Jayne Fereday: http://feredayediting.wordpress.com/

Where do you write? And what do you need around you?
Mon-Thurs 9.30am-2.30pm in my office. Friday 9.30am-2.30pm in Costa. Both places need lots of coffee and cakes. Outside of these hours I do my real job - a stay at home Mummy.

Pen and paper, typewriter or computer?
Laptop. [see photo!]

Find out more and stay in touch with Kiki...

Get yourself a copy if you haven't already...
All links for all books are on my books page: www.kikiarcherbooks.com/books

Author Profile: Karen Campbell

2014-08-27T03:28:00.002-07:00

Karen Campbell allows us to interrogate what goes on behind the scenes of a crime writing and short story author...

What’s your first memory of enjoying reading?
I remember being about 7 and waiting to get a book out of the school library that I had my name on the waiting list for. It was a book of child-style scary stories and there was a horrible witch on the front. I can still remember the excitement of waiting to get home and start reading it.

What are you currently reading?
I always have four or five books on the go at the same time. I’m on the second “Game of Thrones” book by George R R Martin. I’ve got “Her Fearful Symmetry” by Audrey Niffenegger, “A Confederacy of Dunces” by John Kennedy Toole and I started reading V G Lee’s “The Comedienne” again, just because I love it.

Which character you’ve created/written do you wish you could spend a day as?
I was torn here. Having created a character who is psychic it would have been nice to see what her brain was like but the winner is Gemini, from a short story I wrote called “Heart’s Desire”. Gemini has the ability to see into people and read their heart’s desire. I thought that would be interesting.

Which character that someone else has written do you wish you could spend a day as?
Heathcliff. The greatest literary character of all time!!

Have you created any characters you don’t like?
No. I love them all in their own unique way, from the liars to the serial killers.

What was the first thing you ever wrote that made you think, “I want to be a writer”?
I knew when I was little that I wanted to be a writer, so I started writing my first “novel” when I was about 13. It got quickly abandoned after my best friend laughed at it, but I wasn’t to be put off, starting another one. I still have it. I probably wrote about 20,000 words as a sixteen year old. Complete drivel obviously but a best-seller in my head.

Do you edit as you go or as a full process after a first draft?
I edit as I go along because I’m so lazy that between episodes of writing, I forget what I have done so I have to go over it all again and remind myself, then I realise I’m writing rubbish so change it.

Where do you write? And what do you need around you?
I write anywhere I have an A4 pad and some music. Generally, I do it in front of my computer but that's just so that I can lean on the table and blast my songs. In the summer, I was out in the garden. I shouldn’t though, as I get carried away and sing.

Pen and paper, typewriter or computer?
I always write long hand. I’m a pretty fast typist but I am an even faster long-hand writer and I can get the ideas out better. Plus, I can do it anywhere. Writing long-hand feels like creating, writing on the computer feels like work.

Connect with Karen...
I don’t have a website but I am on Facebook and twitter. https://www.facebook.com/Ringe70 https://twitter.com/RingeAlba

How can we buy your books?
My three books “The Knowing”, “Little Whispers” and “Violet’s Story” are all on Amazon as paperbacks or e-books. “The Knowing” can also be ordered from any book shop.

Author Profile: VG Lee

2014-08-25T06:51:00.001-07:00

Successful author VG Lee shares a few tidbits of life behind the scenes, in the second of our author profiles.

What's your first memory of enjoying reading?
My grandmother had a pictorial copy of Pilgrim's Progress - four drawings on each page with writing underneath. I remember at some point finding the writing of more interest than the illustrations.

What are you currently reading?
Empire Falls but Richard Russo. I read a collection of his short stories on holiday this year and loved his writing.

Which character you've created/written do you wish you could spend a day as?
Mrs Botolph in my first novel, The Comedienne. She is the old friend of the main character's mother and is very bossy and gets things done!

Which character that someone else has written do you wish you could spend a day as?
Hmm. As a child I wanted to be Katie in the What Katie Did series. Can't think of anyone I'd like to be in a more recent novel.

Have you created any characters you don't like?
Not really. I have created characters that I like but aren't necessarily meant to be liked by the reader!

What was the first thing you ever wrote that made you think, "I want to be a writer"?
Just a few pages about going to see 'Perchance to Dream' with my mum and aunty at The Connaught Theatre in Worthing. I sort of knew that I'd captured them with affection and thought I might be able to do it again.

Do you edit as you go or as a full process after a first draft?
I do both: edit as I go along all the time and then again after each of many drafts.

Where do you write? And what do you need around you?
It's a bit like sleeping, I can do it anywhere. Best times are when I wake up in the morning but often on a train when I have set myself a deadline I'll work.

Pen and paper, typewriter or computer?
I always start with pen and paper. I have notebooks piled high and full. At least first draft, sometimes second before I move on to typing it up.

Keep up to date with VG Lee
My website is www.vglee.co.uk (currently being updated).

Watch VG Lee reading from a work in progress, her next novel, Mr Oliver

If you want to buy any of VG's excellent novels and books, find her on Amazon:
The Comedienne, Always you, Edina, Diary of a Provincial Lesbian, The Woman in Beige (only available on 'new & used') and short story collection, As You Step Outside.

Author Profile: Clare Lydon

2014-08-23T13:53:00.004-07:00

The first in our series of author profiles... get to know Clare Lydon!

What’s your first memory of enjoying reading?

My parents are both keen readers and they took me to the local library every three weeks when I was a kid.

I would take out eight books every time and read the lot. Books have always been the ultimate great escape for me.

What are you currently reading?

I’m currently reading two quite contrasting books. First, Virginia Woolf’s Mrs Dalloway as it’s a classic I’ve never read. Second, Lindsey Kelk’s I Heart London - she’s a fantastically compelling romance writer.

Which character you’ve created/written do you wish you could spend a day as?

Tricky one! I would say probably Kate from London Calling. She’s cool, has a chilled attitude towards life and has great hair. My hair is ultra-fine, therefore impossible to do much with.

Which character that someone else has written do you wish you could spend a day as?

Good question! In lesfic, it would have to be Caid from KE Lane’s ‘And Playing The Role Of Herself’ just for the chance to kiss Robin. Swoon!

Have you created any characters you don’t like?

Yes! In my new novel, The Long Weekend, there are a couple of characters who are annoyingly self-absorbed. In London Calling, Jess had her moments too - she was a frustrating lead character at times, even if her heart was in the right place.

What was the first thing you ever wrote that made you think, “I want to be a writer”?

I wrote my first novel in primary school and loved it - so the seed was sewn early on. I’ve always written since, formerly as a journalist, now as an author and blogger. It’s a pretty cool gig!

Do you edit as you go or as a full process after a first draft?

I read what I did the previous day every morning when I’m in full writing flow, so edit lightly as I go. But the key thing is to get the first draft done, then it’s time for serious editing. Finish first, edit second. The edit often takes longer than the writing.

Where do you write? And what do you need around you?

I write at my desk in my office. I had it specially built into an alcove and I love it. I need a cup of tea, notepad and a thesaurus. The internet helps too if you want to check facts. I wrote the first half of my second book, The Long Weekend, at the kitchen table of my friend’s house in Spain. So sunshine and the promise of a pool in the afternoon works too!

Pen and paper, typewriter or computer?

I prefer to write directly onto my laptop. I occasionally write with pen and paper, but it’s always a pain transcribing it.

Find out more!

Personal Blog: www.clarelydon.co.uk

How can we buy your books?

The ebooks are available at Kindle, Kobo, Smashwords, iTunes, Nook and most other stores.

To buy a paperback, contact Clare via her website to buy a signed copy. Or head to Lulu.com or Amazon.co.uk.

Read our review of London Calling

Lulu

'The Knowing' by Karen Campbell

2014-08-23T05:47:00.002-07:00

Rating:

The Knowing is set in Glasgow and is narrated by a psychic psychology lecturer named Jen Keith. Her girlfriend, Kate Coutts is a police officer who finds it hard to believe in Jen’s powers. Jen’s life is a constant struggle with trying to cope with the visions she is seeing and convincing the police and Kate to act upon said visions and save people’s lives.

This book is probably one of the best I’ve ever read. The character of Jen is fantastically written and I really felt like I connected with her on every level, actually feeling every emotion she experienced, both good and bad. There are so many twists and turns in this book you really don’t know what is going to happen next and this made we want to continue reading, I found it hard to actually put the book down.

I would recommend this book to fans of mystery, thrillers, and the supernatural, in fact I would recommend to it anyone who likes reading, and to anyone who doesn’t, this book could certainly change your mind.

A thoroughly enjoyable read and I can’t wait to read the next one and find out what happens to Jen and Kate.

Available from AustinMacauley Publishers Ltd in e-book and paperback.

Review by Amy

Jean Erhardt: The Kim Claypoole Mysteries

2014-08-16T08:53:00.000-07:00

Ratings
Small Town Trouble

Deep Trouble

I thoroughly enjoyed both of these books, firmly set within the lesbian crime genre, with the required heroine, Kim Claypoole, a typical lesbian detective, unlucky in love, big drinker, dry wit, eclectic living situation and unwittingly getting herself into trouble, just as you would expect. That is where the clichés end; unusually these books are set in the smoky mountains rather than a big urban city with plenty of lesbians which brings for a very pleasing contrast and glimpse into the realities of life in a very small town.

In Small Town Trouble, I really enjoyed reading the sub plot, about the two gay dads who were doing their best to raise a child in the face of extreme prejudice without completely unravelling as a couple. The main crime plot was thrilling and a real page turner, I just had to keep reading to see what happened next and who was behind all the random murders.

Deep Trouble, was less original than the first with hillbilly counterfeiters as the main villains but it still had plenty of wit and enough drama that kept me gripped and I couldn’t stop reading until it was done. The characters in both books, are well developed not just our heroine but her mother how can you not love a woman who names her house Tara after Gone with the Wind especially when it is nothing like that grand structure. Kim has a not totally unexpected crazy family and many interesting women in her life. All of the characters, even the villains, are well written, three dimensional people who you can see and believe in.

These books are a welcome addition to the cadre of lesbian crime, they are anything but clichéd; they are funny and moving, offering an alternative view of a part of America that isn’t usually all that welcoming to gay people. Also let’s not forget that these books are thrillers and they are real page turners, as the stories unfolded I was gripped, unable to stop reading until I had found out what happened. Great summer reads and not that expensive on kindle right now. Enjoy!

Available from Amazon (from £1.91 each)

By Claire Estelle

High Rack by Wollie Boehm

2014-07-12T13:46:00.004-07:00

Rating:

Wollie Boehm's modern urban fable offers a quirky, beautiful look at love and the choices we have to make.

From their first meeting Issy, an orphaned chick and Freddie a fearless fox cub, feel a connection that transcends their backgrounds and upbringings that points to being soulmates.

Drawn together because they recognise a shared value within each other, and a desire to break free from their current situation, where they are outsiders because of their beliefs, will they be able to over come their naivity and innocence to prove to their families sometimes following true love is more important than conforming to what is expected.

Simply told, but conveying sophisticated ideas, this novella explores the debates that have rattled humans since the very beginning. By taking the concepts outside of human territory perhaps we have the chance to view the arguments from a different perspective, and change the way we act before it's too late?

Available from Amazon

By Katie

Camellia (Book one) by Cari Z and Caitlin Ricci

2014-07-08T13:40:00.001-07:00

Rating:

Danny is a model and about to go for an interview. All she knows is that the job involves tea and a kink convention. She thinks this will be an easy job: possibly wearing latex and getting spanked in front of an audience, she’s pretty sure she can handle that.

That is until she meets Lucy, her interviewer, dressed in riding boots and a corset. At the end of the interview Danny realises this job isn’t going to be as easy as she first imagined.

The book mainly takes place over the two days of Danny’s new job with Lucy. The whole experience is nothing like she expected and she very quickly finds herself enjoying her introduction into the world of BDSM and it leaves her wanting more: more of the riding crop and more of Lucy.

Camellia is extremely well written. The characters of Danny and Lucy were very real and at times I felt like I was them, I could feel what they felt, hear what they heard and see what they saw. I have to admit I don’t know much about the BDSM scene but the way Cari & Caitlin put across the scenes in the story I feel I know a lot more now that I did before I started reading the book.

This is the first in a series of Camellia books and this one definitely left me wanting to read more. Whether you are, or aren’t, interested in BDSM, I would recommend reading Camellia. It is much more than whips & chains, it is a story of two very different women who come together through their work and how a business relationship can very quickly turn into a personal one.

I didn’t want to, in fact I couldn’t, put this book down and I read it over two nights, I was sad to find I was at the end so quickly but will definitely be looking up the next in the series. A thoroughly enjoyable read.

Available from Less Than 3 Press

By Amy

"That Certain Something" by Clare Ashton

2014-06-08T04:42:00.001-07:00

The latest novel from Clare Ashton moves into rom-com with this London story of love vs luxury.

Rating:

With a contrasting London backdrop (from Kensington Gardens to Electric Avenue) creative free-spirit photographer Pia meets high flyer Cate whilst hanging from a tree trying to expose a hypocritical MP.

There is an instant spark that leads them to a night of unforgettable passion. But mysterious Cate leaves no contact details, the following morning, and Pia finally realises she will never see her again.

Until she starts her new job as a photographer on a new magazine and is paired with the senior journalist, and the wealthy owner's new wife... Cate.

It seems the pair can't escape being thrown together, as they navigate the twists and turns of working together as colleagues and an attraction neither can ignore. But, will Cate overcome her desires for a wealthy lifestyle and follow her heart instead?

With a highly likeable protagonist in Pia, plus a hot chemistry that comes across very well on the page, That Certain Something is an extremely readable love tale, with a hint of Pride and Prejudice channeled through the 'Bennet' magazine name.

Available from Amazon (£3.59 Kindle, £8.99 Paperback)
and Smashwords.

By Katie

Betrayal: Abby’s Guilt by Sofia Velardi

2014-05-17T08:49:00.001-07:00

One for your reading list...

Rating

Abigail & Kyle have been together for almost three years; they met at a freshman orientation session and have been inseparable ever since.

Abby knows everything there is to know about Kyle apart from anything to do with his older sister Brianna. All she knows is that Brianna ran away from home when she was 18 and that Kyle doesn’t seem to like her very much. Abby finally gets to meet Brianna when she is in town for an audition and her life changes forever.

I really liked this story because it constantly kept me guessing. Why doesn’t Kyle seem to like his sister? Will Abby & Brianna ever meet? What will Abby find out? And more but I don’t want to say too much on that for fear of giving too much away.

The book is very well written and the characters thoughts & feelings are portrayed very well. When Abby tries to speak to Kyle about Brianna, after the first meeting, about seeing her again, Kyle’s reaction is not pleasant. This really made me feel sorry for both Abby & Brianna, I wanted them to meet again just to spite Kyle, that and the fact I wanted to know why Kyle didn’t want him or Abby seeing her again.

The end of the book makes me want to know more and again raises more questions. Will Abby see Brianna again? Will Kyle find out? And if so what will his reaction be? I will definitely be adding the next two books in the series to my reading list & I suggest you do too.

Get your copy here: Amazon (£1)

By Amy

How will I Know? "When you Know" by Kiki Archer

2014-05-04T13:44:00.003-07:00

The highly anticipated sequel to One Foot Onto the Ice reviewed.

Rating

This is the sequel to Archer's recent One Foot Onto the Ice, picking up almost immediately after where the first novel left off, however with the twist that this novel is set back in England, and for much of the time Jenna and Susan are long distance.

A week has passed for Jenna and Susan and love is still very much in the air, the women have committed to making it work but as Jenna returns to France to hit the slopes. but it's not going to be plain sailing. From the farcical airport-dildo opening scene, we know there's hurdles to be faced.

Susan's insecurities go into overdrive as social media means she hears tidbits of rumours, fuelled by trouble makers taking compromising photos, and by the tedious Marcus winding up Susan whom he is still trying to seduce.

Will Jenna succumb to a tempting sexy seductress? Will Susan learn to trust Jenna to be true to her word?

Making the most of a modern day long distance relationship, with sexy scenes that traverse thousands of miles through cyber space, the story is very much of the here and now.

Whilst hoping that the two women can work things out, overcome stirrers and teething problems, coupled with an incredible amount of patience from Jenna, will the happy ending come to fruition?

And with an unexpected twist at the end of novel, we wonder what could be in store next for our favourite Kiki Archer characters?

Available: Amazon Kindle from £3.39

By Katie

'Say Something' by Jade Winters

2014-04-20T18:02:00.004-07:00

Rating:

For all those lovers who never forgot their first love.

The deep scars of childhood angst and tribulations run deep for childhood lovers Jessie and Toni.

When they reconnect after ten years and a gulf of tension between them, the question is can they overcome their past together, and their individual baggage to end up together?

This book explores some intense experiences of classroom bullying, emotional abuse, familial death and some of the possible consequences of these, through the developing relationship of Jessie and Toni, who are drawn together in a way neither can ignore.

Two strong female leads blend together in romance, friendship and possibly more, in this story that leads a windy, twisty path to a happy conclusion.

Available: Kindle Edition (£3.00) from Amazon

By Katie

Little Whispers (Short Story collection) by Karen Campbell

2014-04-20T16:43:00.002-07:00

Little Whispers by Karen Campbell
Rating

This lovely collection of short stories combines heart with a range of interesting characters, and a common thread of fond retrospect. A few are picked out below...

The first story Voices Carry opens the conversation, as an older woman takes a train journey that transports her into the past, remembering a special love.

Silent Love conveys the challenges but rewards of a relationship that friends and family find it difficult to accept, however from the point of view that adds an extra twist to the tale.

Forever Lost conveys the beauty of a lifetime of love and a well-weathered relationship that fades into all but memory as dementia sets in for one partner. Something that could sadly be a horribly-familiar story for couples that go the distance.

Buy a copy on Amazon (from £1.86)

By Katie

'Jess' by Pauline George

2014-04-20T16:08:00.001-07:00

An interesting debut, this writer shows promise, Pauline has based her book around Jess a 'love them and leave them' type of lesbian who falls in love with a straight friend and turns her live upside down.
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If that sounds like a cliched story, it doesn't come across like that in the book.

Set in Croydon this book is a welcome addition to lesbian fiction from the UK. The author tells a good story, keeps you interested in the characters which keeps you reading because you want to know whats happens next.

She writes particularly well about friendships, you can feel the closeness between these women, although some are more developed than others who are just names on a page.

The author is less adept at writing dialogue, it can come across as stilted, or like its being used just to move the plot along and as a result often doesn't sound realistic. Which is a shame as this has a bit of an impact on quite big scenes in the book and some of the emotional moments.

Some of the plot also didn't work for me, predictable at times as you might expect from a romantic drama/chick lit style piece. As a writer you can get away with that if the way that you write is gripping enough or full of meaning and careful use of words that as a reader you are swept away with the beauty of the language, unfortunately this writer doesn't do that. However, as a first book it may be forgivable and the style can develop; the story and characters are there and those are the essential factors. George does write very good sex scenes not cliched but real and believable, (even though they all have washboard stomachs!!!)

The book was a good read, I found myself caring about and engaging with Jess - wanting her to find happiness, getting frustrated with her at points when she was uncomfortable with her feelings.

The ending was a little unsatisfactory, I won't say more so as not to ruin the story, but I think it put the main character through unnecessary soul searching, it seemed to me that what she was being asked to accept was a huge change without any time to adjust so punishing her for months seemed a little harsh. The fact that I cared so much about her though, has to be a good sign!

I look forward to reading the author's next book.

Available on Amazon from £6

By Claire

Moon Chilled by Caitlin Ricci

2014-04-19T11:19:00.000-07:00

Moon Chilled is a story of two werewolf mates, Shae & Maiki. Shae leaves the pack when she is 13 years old; she’s had enough of being abused by the alpha.

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They do not speak for 10-years until Maiki calls her asking her to come back: Shae feels guilty about leaving her mate behind all those years ago and so instantly sets off back to the pack, her mate & the alpha she so despises.

I had never really read any werewolf books before but I really enjoyed this one. Shae & Maiki have been separated for a decade but Shae will still do anything for her mate, even if it means facing the alpha again.

I really liked how they story is told from the viewpoints of the two main characters, switching between them from chapter to chapter so we really get to know them well.

This is a simple but very effective story, one that I thoroughly enjoyed and would recommend to anyone, whether you like werewolf stories or not.

Pre-order a copy now from just £2.50 (subject to exchange rates) at Less Than Three Press

By Amy

A Map of Everything, by Elizabeth Earley

2014-03-25T10:42:00.002-07:00

A Map of Everything by Elizabeth Earley

Available: (RRP from $9.99 digital download) from Jaded Ibis Productions

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A Map of Everything is literally what it says on the tin (or the book cover in this case), it is a map (or a novel) about everything: love, tragedy, despair, complex family, and personal, relationships and personal transformation. The story follows a family through

their ups and downs, good times & bad after one very wet day changed their lives forever.

We are told this story by Anne, the youngest child, the “fifth-born” who is hit hard by what has happened to her sister June. Anne was just a young girl when the accident happened & through this story we see how she coped as a young child, how it affected her when she hit her teens and on into adulthood. Anne also tells us, through stories & anecdotes, how the rest of her family were affected by and coped with what happened.

By the end of the novel I felt like I knew Anne very well, I’d watched her grow from a young troublesome teenager into a very well-rounded woman. At times I actually felt like I was living Anne’s life right alongside her: I felt her pain, her sadness, her joy.

An exceptionally well written novel that I would recommend to anyone. Elizabeth Earley draws us into the story and makes us feel everything the characters are feeling, near the end of the book we are rooting for this family we know so well, we want everything to work out because god-knows they deserve it.

Further info from the author

By Amy

True Nature by Jae

2014-03-22T08:42:00.003-07:00

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True Nature by Jae is a supernatural lesbian romance that will immerse you in the Wrasa’s universe, where you’ll learn about shape-shifting wolves, foxes, and lions as well as their
strong passions and fears. But the book is mainly about love and how it can overcome differences.

The main characters, Rue and Kelsey, couldn’t be more different, but seeing them interact and learn about those differences to achieve a common goal is a pleasure. Rue is a woman used to
controlling everything around her, from her beloved ones to her job, so it was a matter of time until her life collapsed when her partner found other woman to love and her son, Danny, started doing exactly the opposite of what she wanted him to do. What Rue doesn’t know is that Danny’s changing mood and bad attitude is not just a phase and has nothing to do with him being a teenager but his true nature as a Wrasa.

On the other side, Kelsey is a Saru – a soldier – who can’t find her place in the world. Without a pack to call hers, she works for the seer – or Maharsi – of the Wrasa, Jorie, as her bodyguard. If being a submissive wolf has brought her nothing but troubles, the tense relationship between
Kelsey and Griffin (Jorie’s partner) just adds problems to the insecure and lost woman, whose
life has been shaped by her lack of decisions.

Everything will change for these two women when one of Jorie’s dreams brings them together.
This book is perfect if you’re looking for something deep but full of adventures, action, and
romance, because on the surface it’s a supernatural story, humans against shape-shifters
trying to survive and take care of their people, but soon the story changes and it’s all about
family, love, and belonging. Rue has lost almost everything because she can’t deal with
emotions, and whenever there is a problem related to feelings, she flees to her safe place, her
work. Danny needs her more than ever, needs his family and to feel their love for him, not only
because his First Change is near, but also because his family has disintegrated without him
knowing the real reasons. Then we have Kelsey, who not only feels guilty for what she did – or
didn’t do – to save her brother and his family; she’s in a constant conflict between what she
feels and what she thinks she has to do obeying other’s orders.

These three people need each other more than they can even imagine, but to be able to see
that, they not only will have to fight against the rules that separate them, but, because of their
differences, they’ll also have to fight against themselves, and there’s no harder fight.

Rue and Kelsey’s relationship is complex and deep. They don’t fall in love at first sight, and,
while you know they can complement each other perfectly, it’s more difficult for them to see
beyond the situation that brought them to work together. In addition to being on opposite
sides of a conflict that’s not new and won’t be resolved easily, they have their own emotional
baggage preventing them from accepting their feelings and needs.

As always, Jae is able to draw realistic characters, even when they’re not human, and that’s a
plus because every time I read one of her books, I know I will encounter a deep story, perfectly
told and with endearing characters. True Nature wasn’t an exception, of course, and I not only
enjoyed the trip with Rue and Kelsey, but now I want to know more about Griffin’s and
Shelby’s stories (Second Nature and Manhattan Moon) too.

To find out more and buy a copy (RRP $11.64) visit Ylva Publishing

By Alex, Lesbianfictionreviews.com

See Right Through Me by LT Smith

2014-03-18T08:14:00.002-07:00

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See Right Through Me by L.T. Smith is the book you’re looking for if you want to have a great time and laughter with an entertaining lesbian romance. It’s perfect for a holiday when you just want to relax and forget everything but the magic of love at first sight and read about human doubts and insecurities that can ruin everything.

Since it’s a lesbian romance, you’d hope to have two main characters but the author tells the story from Gem’s point of view, a detail that makes a difference because, while Maria seems to be a mature and centered woman, sure of what she wants and with whom, Gemma is a disaster, a mix of desire, fears, and insecurities that result in a chaotic woman so prone to getting injured that you read every page waiting for another visit to the hospital.

But there’s so much more than this in See Right Through Me by L.T. Smith. With constant humor, the author tells us how Gemma’s life, not perfect but good at least, changes completely after a visit to the hospital after she got injured because of one the silliest accidents you can have at home (if what happened to her can be called a domestic accident).

There she will meet a woman who, ostensibly, is too good to be true and seems to be more
than interested in Gemma. This will launch a Pandora’s Box full of doubts, fears, and a constant fight between what she feels and why she thinks everything with Dr. Maria Moran is too perfect to be happening to her, a boring thirty-nine-year-old English teacher too skeptical for her own good. The fact that there are some people that are more than willing to “help” her to see the light doesn’t make things any easier for Gemma. She’s not sure whether she has reasons for distrusting the nervous and ambivalent doctor or her doubts come from her insecurities more that from Maria.

By not knowing more than Gemma knows and not being able to see more than she sees, readers understand her perfectly, feel her discomfort, doubt whether to trust her instincts or the evidence that’s thrown at her every time she gets a deeper glimpse of the woman who made her fall in love in mere hours and a couple of bloody accidents.

Having read as many books as I have, I often doubt whether I’ll find a book that is different or that will make me feel something; this one soothed those doubts. While reading See Right Through Me, I argued with Gemma about how she reacted after receiving the letter, I fell in love with Maria and her wonderful blue eyes, her vulnerability, her innocence, and felt more than a spark on their first night together… and I agreed with Gemma about her everlasting ramblings.

Thank you very much, L.T. Smith, for the treasure you shared on the last pages. I’m looking
forward to the next book!

To find out more and buy a copy (RRP $9.99 ebook) visit Ylva Publishing

By Alex, Lesbianfictionreviews.com

Three new short stories from Less Than Three Press

2014-03-08T05:17:00.001-08:00

Safe Passage: Kate Owen

Synopsis: While doing renovation on the old New Orleans home inherited from her great aunt, Jules discovers an old safe filled with letters written in French—and code. Enlisting the aid of a local French teacher, the beautiful Gen, Jules slowly begins to learn the truth of her great grandfather's death ...

Review: This short story is a lovely little romance set on New Orleans between two teachers. One teacher coaches the rowing team and is renovating the house she inherited from her aunt when she stumbles across some letters written in French code. She enlists the support of the French teacher at the school and they work together to solve the mystery that the letters uncover whilst getting closer. The story of full of charm and character, New Orleans makes its own impression on the reader and becomes an integral part of the story. I found myself interested by the characters and the story and wanting to find out what happened between them and between the people in the letters she uncovers. All together a delightful read.

To purchase: http://www.lessthanthreepress.com/books/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=90&products_id=558

Modern Serpents Talk Things Through: Jamie Brindle

Synopsis: Tina is a modern dragon, or at least she struggles to be. She's (mostly) sticking to her diet, she goes to the gym, doesn't lounge on her hoard for (too) long, and she's steadily working through some issues with her therapist. Like the humans and dwarves that recently invaded her home and shot her with an arrow. She didn't like killing them—mostly humans seemed like sad little creatures—but they did attack her and so she destroyed them. Except for the one she locked in the cupboard. That bit she's still working up to telling her therapist about...

Review: I really enjoyed this short story. It takes a very clever medium to explore some of the challenges that women face in todays society. By having a dragon fall in love with a human creates an interesting way of looking at body size and shape and how the dragon is shunned by other dragons for falling in love with someone outside of their norm. By using this as a backdrop the author is showing us how silly and painful it is to be critical of how and who people fall in love with. Once again I enjoyed the way the writer tells the story and creates the characters and I especially enjoyed the dragon therapist! Classic storytelling…

Available to buy:http://www.lessthanthreepress.com/books/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=92&products_id=545

Selume Proferre: EE Ottoman

Synopsis: An-An Li-Johnson lives an easy-going, quiet life. She works part time at her friend's bookstore, is active in the local LGBTQ scene, manages to avoid the occasional crazy ex, and does temp work for the big name spell-craft firm Simon and Davidson.

Then she's hired to work with M.C. Anderson, an up and coming exorcist at Simon and Davidson. M.C. is deeply involved in the world of high stakes spell-craft, determined to carve out a place for herself among the extremely hierarchical and old fashioned world of professional exorcists. As they work together on an intense case of demonic possession, An-An finds herself more and more intrigued by her new boss. But just as the relationship looks like it might be deepening into something more, the case suddenly takes a turn for the worse.

Much, much worse.

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This story reads like two separate stories, the first part is a fascinating account of an exorcism and how witchcraft and spells can create safety in the face of such negative energy. Not a world that I’m familiar with but I found this story gripping and would have liked more. Unfortunately, for me the story was cut short, so that the author could switch genres and write a piece of erotica. Don’t get me wrong I enjoy reading erotica when in the mood but to me it jarred and I felt it was tagged onto this story instead of being a natural part and integral to the plot. I think this is also because the author chose to write a short story, had they been braver and written a novel we could have had more about the fascinating supernatural world, whilst also having space to really explore the deepening connection between the two main characters.

Available to buy: http://www.lessthanthreepress.com/books/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=94&products_id=526

I enjoyed all three of these stories; they were engaging, easy to follow, with plot and characters that you cared about.

Reviewed by Claire Estelle

London Calling by Clare Lydon

2014-02-27T08:45:00.002-08:00

A well crafted and juicy lesbian chick-lit that is one of the strongest to come in publication since the deluge of self-e-publishing came along.

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Release Date: February 28^th 2014

Available digitally: from Feb 28^th on Kindle
Print version: Coming soon

While accessible publishing has led to a marked increase in lesbian fiction, the quality across the board is variable. That is not the case with Clare Lydon's London Calling which is as strong as any mainstream straight chick lit from a major publisher.

It a nutshell, it's got everything you would expect from the genre, along with a heavy dose of real-world lesbian culture thrown in.

Jess Sharp is at a crossroads - back in London, living in her parents’ spare room, jobless and single. Not quite the irresistible package she was aiming for at age 32.

One night, things take an upward turn when she meets someone who could be a game-changer. However, everything in her riotously chaotic life seems to get in the way, including her best friend’s wedding, far too much tequila and the ghosts of girlfriends past. The course of true love has never been so injury-prone.

Will Jess eventually overcome her romantic ineptitude and find her happy ever after? Or will she continue to trip over her own feet in the race for romance?

Lydon says that the inspiration came from reading a lot of similar style novels but many tended to be set in America. "I enjoyed those greatly but wanted to read books set in the UK, books that reflected the world I live in. So I put finger to keyboard. Of course, as soon as I did that I started discovering all the other UK-based authors but thought I’d carry on anyway…"

The novel's been a long time coming, Lydon says "I’ve started and stopped writing this novel many times over the past four years, but last year I put on my serious game face and finished the first draft. Then it was a case of getting feedback and editing like a ninja. What I learned in the edit process was that I write the word ‘arse’ a lot. I’m arse-obsessed, clearly."

Find out more at: www.clarelydon.co.uk

Twitter: @clarelydon

Guilty Hearts by Jade Winters

2014-02-22T09:50:00.000-08:00

Guilty Hearts follows the lives of two women, Rachel & Kathryn. Rachel is a journalist for a new women’s magazine and Kathryn is an interior designer to the rich and famous.

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The book starts with Rachel going on a date with a girl she has met on a dating website, she just wants a bit of ‘fun’ nothing serious, Rachel is not the relationship type.

Rachel’s meeting with Kathryn is not by chance, she is contacted (through the website) by Kathryn’s husband who has a feeling his wife might be a lesbian. He wants Rachel to flirt with her and report back to him how she responds. Rachel agrees to this, against the advice of her best friend, on the basis that she feels sorry for the guy.

What happens after that takes Rachel completely by surprise. They spend a lot of time together as Kathryn has agreed to be interviewed by Rachel for the magazine. Rachel realises she is falling in love with this woman but knows there is nothing she can do about it. She has to keep this relationship professional and Kathryn is a married woman...

I love the way Jade Winters builds up the relationship between these two women. They are both going through private issues of their own: Kathryn with her husband and Rachel with something that happened in the past.

The emotions of the two women are very well written, as I was reading this book I actually felt like I was there, living right beside them. I laughed when they laughed, cried when they cried & wanted them both to hurry up & realise they wanted to be together.

There was however, the problem of the way in which they met. How will Kathryn react if/when she finds out it wasn’t the chance meeting she thought it was? Will she forgive Rachel and they live happily ever after or will that deceit end the relationship forever? You’ll have to read the book to find out. In fact, at times I had to force myself to slow down because I was enjoying the book that much I wanted to know how it ended.

This is a fantastic story, it is very well written with great character portrayal & sub-plots. I had never read any of Jade Winters’ work before but after reading this I will definitely be added more of her books to my reading list.

Buy Guilty Hearts (Kindle edition): From Amazon.
Jade's website: www.jade-winters.com
Twitter: @jadewinters3

Review by Amy