Jean Erhardt: The Kim Claypoole Mysteries

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

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

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

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

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

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

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