Jae's Blog, page 32

Giveaway of f/f sports romance “Romancing the Kicker” by Catherine Lane

For the first author interview in 2019, Catherine Lane has agreed to answer a few questions. Catherine is also giving away an ebook copy of her latest book, an f/f  sports romance titled Romancing the Kicker.

 

Welcome, Catherine. Please tell us a little about your newest release, Romancing the Kicker.

 The story’s set in the world of professional American football, but you don’t have to love, or even like, football to enjoy the book. Most of the sparks between Parker and Carly fly off the field, and the story is really about two women who lift each other up during hard times. Happily, they also fall in love along the way. I tried to make Romancing the Kicker a hopeful, feel-good book, where women support each other and celebrate their power in a male-oriented world. I wanted to find a setting that matched that theme, and what’s more patriarchal than American football?

 

Romancing the Kicker is set in Las Vegas, and Parker, one of the main characters, is the daughter of a hotel & casino owner. Have you ever been to Vegas, and if yes, what were your impressions of the city…and most importantly, did you gamble in one of the casinos?

 I’m not a big gambler, but I do love the entertainment and the extravagance of Vegas. I could stand outside the fountains at the Bellagio Hotel all day, watching the water dance against the sky. The fountains and, actually, all the entertainment along the Strip inspired the holiday shows at the fictional Sherbourne Hotel in the book. If there is a place where the Sherbourne shows could actually exist, it’s certainly in Vegas!

 

After The Set Piece, which is set in the world of soccer, Romancing the Kicker is your second sports romance. What draws you to this subgenre? Have you ever played in a sports team?

Sports have always been a big part of my life. I was a three-sport athlete in high school, played soccer in college, and later met my wife on the soccer field when I was training with Team L.A. for the Gay Games. But on a bigger stage, there’s something almost magical about sports. The way a community of fans can unite when a last-minute field goal wins the game or when a home run flies into the stands. In a world where it’s getting harder and harder to find common ground, sports can bring us all together.

 

So far, your writing has been pretty diverse—you have written two contemporary romances, a paranormal romance (Tread Lightly), and a celebrity romance that is set partly in 1960 (Heartwood). What’s your favorite genre, and is there any other genre that you would love to write in the future?

 Ah, you hit the problem right on its head. I haven’t found my favorite genre yet. Writing would be so much easier if I could figure that out. I’m like a kid in a toy store attracted to every shiny thing I see. What I really like to write, though, is the moment where one character notices the other. You know, glances meet across a crowded room, heat rises in the chest, worlds expand.  Luckily, all subgenres of lesbian romance have this moment.

 

Tell us a little about how you got started as a writer.

 I’ve always “written” things in my head, and then, one fateful day, my wife and I were standing in our kitchen. I was talking about a book I was reading in that half complaining, half wondering way if I could do better. She challenged me to try, so I did. I quickly realized how hard it is to actually write a book. But happily, by then, I was hooked. I also need to give a shout-out to the Golden Crown Literary Society and their mentor program. Without them, there is no way I would be giving this interview.

 

Which of the characters from any of your books has been the most challenging to tap into? Why?

Strangely, she’s one of my all-time favorite characters: Minnie Lee, Carly’s grandmother in Romancing the Kicker. She’s based on my own mother. Both are from Alabama, both cook amazing Southern food, and both are wise and kind in the most wonderful ways. There were many times when Minnie Lee did something, and I would think, my mother would never do that. It took me a while to stop hitting the delete key and let Minnie Lee be her own person.

 

You have a wife, a son, a dog, and a job that keeps you busy. How do you balance it all and ensure you have enough time for your work, your family, your writing, and yourself? 

I don’t—not very well. I tend to go at things whole hog, which is both a blessing and a curse. Fortunately, my son is older now (six months away from getting his driver’s license—still can’t believe that one), and my work luckily has some built-in down time. Most importantly, my wife is super supportive, and she’s really the glue that holds our crazy schedules together. All in all, I am very lucky to be able to balance everything—on a good day, that is.

 

If you would have to give up 3 of these 6 things for the rest of your life and could keep only 3, which ones would you keep? Coffee, pizza, chocolate, music, Netflix/TV, social media.

A very happy day would be sitting in front of a big-screen TV watching Netflix, eating a pizza with mushrooms, onions, and artichokes.  Then several binge episodes later, I would get up and make an ice-cream fudge sundae.  I couldn’t do it every day, but I’d much rather do that than drink a latte and fall down the social media rabbit hole. But, you know, actually that sounds fun too…

 

What makes a good novel?

When you can’t stop thinking about the book. When you’re driving home from work and you’re thinking about the characters as if they’re real. When you fall asleep at night wondering what is going to happen next. When years later you can’t get a piece of dialogue out of your head. I don’t know what it is exactly. But it’s the same sort of feeling when you meet someone and know that they’ll be a life-long friend.

 

What are you working on right now?

I just wrote a short story about Parker in high school. It happens long before the action in Romancing the Kicker, but it shows Parker’s true character right from the start. I turned it into an audio file and put it up, for free, on my You Tube channel. One of my goals in 2019 is to create a bunch of free audio stories during the year. Check it out here.

 

Where can your readers find out more about you and your books?

Catherine’s books at Ylva Publishing

Catherine’s website

Catherine on Facebook

Catherine on Twitter

 

Book giveaway

Catherine is giving away an ebook copy of her f/f sports romance Romancing the Kicker.

Anyone can enter. To be entered into the drawing, leave a comment on this blog.

Entries close on Thursday, January 17, 2018, 10 a.m. CET, when I’ll draw the winners using a random numbers generator. I’ll notify winners via email. Your email address won’t be used for any other purpose.

 

There’ll be more author interviews, giveaways, and free books this year. If you want to make sure you don’t miss any of them, please subscribe to my blog.

The post Giveaway of f/f sports romance “Romancing the Kicker” by Catherine Lane appeared first on Jae.

The most-read books for Lesbian Book Bingo

First, for anyone who wondered, yes, there was as typo in yesterday’s post: It was actually 7,115 books that were read for Lesbian Book Bingo, not 115.

And since that’s a LOT of books, it took quite some time to compile this list of all the books that were read for Book Bingo. Thanks so much to my friend and beta reader Trish, who spent more than 50 hours putting this list together.

I’m listing just the top 10 most-read books for each square in this post and the 20 most-read books overall; otherwise, it would get much too long. For a complete list of all the books people read for Book Bingo, click here.

Some categories have more than 10 books listed because there was a tie.

 

DON’T MISS THE SURPRISE GIVEAWAY

Oh, and for a surprise giveaway, make sure you scroll down to the bottom of this post.

 

The 20 most-read books for Lesbian Book Bingo

Perfect Rhythm by Jae

Just for Show by Jae

Who’d Have Thought by G Benson

Backwards to Oregon by Jae

Just Physical by Jae

Casting Lacey by Elle Spencer

The Brutal Truth by Lee Winter

Under a Falling Star by Jae

Departure from the Script by Jae

Damage Control by Jae

The Lily and the Crown by Roslyn Sinclair

Fated Love by Radclyffe

Conflict of Interest by Jae

Something in the Wine by Jae

Next of Kin by Jae

The Red Files by Lee Winter

Ask, Tell by E.J. Noyes

Heartsick by Tracey Richardson

Survival Instincts by May Dawney

Paper Love by Jae

 

 

Women in uniform

Conflict of Interest by Jae

Relic by Anne Hagan

Ask, Tell by E.J. Noyes

Sawmill Springs  by Gerri Hill

Don’t Call Me Hero by Eliza Lentzski

Dangerous Waters by Radclyffe

A More Perfect Union by Carsen Taite

Strong by Natalie Debrabandere

Between the Lines by KD Williamson

Fragmentary Blue by Erica Abbott

Intersection by Nancy Ann Healy

Moment of Weakness by KG MacGregor

Officer Down by Erin Dutton

 

 

Historical fiction

Backwards to Oregon by Jae

Shaken to the Core by Jae

Letters Never Sent by Sandra Moran

Fingersmith by Sarah Waters

Water’s Edge by Genevieve Fortin

Galveston 1900: Swept Away by Linda Crist

Hidden Truths by Jae

The Covert Captain by Jeannelle M. Ferreira

Tiopa Ki Lakota by D Jordan Redhawk

Escape to Pirate Island by Niamh Murphy

In the Company of Women by Kate Christie

Silver Wings by H.P. Munro

 

 

Doctors and veterinarians

Heartsick by Tracey Richardson

Fated Love by Radclyffe

LA Metro by RJ Nolan

All the Little Moments by G Benson

All That Matters by Susan X Meagher

Trigger by Jessica L Webb

Heart Trouble by Jae

The Origins of Heartbreak by Cara Malone

Dangerous Waters by Radclyffe

Love on Call by Radclyffe

 

 

Fantasy

Of Fire and Stars by Audrey Coulthurst

When Women were Warriors by Catherine Wilson

Sword of the Guardian by Merry Shannon

Rising From the Ashes by Caren J. Werlinger

Breaking Legacies by Zoe Reed

Banshee’s Honor by Shaylynn Rose

Dragon Horse War: The Calling by D. Jackson Leigh

The Beast That Never Was by Caren J. Werlinger

Ice Massacre by Tiana Warner

The Seer & the Shield by D Jackson Leigh

 

 

Women of color

Tailor-Made by Yolanda Wallace

Falling Hard by Jae

Anika Takes the Long Way Home Up Soul Mountain by Eliza Andrews

Keile’s Chance by Dillon Watson

An Outsider Inside by R J Samuel

Not Your Sidekick by C.B. Lee

Parties in Congress by Colette Moody

All the Little Moments by G Benson

Pink by KD Williamson

The Power of Mercy by Fiona Zedde

Falling Into Place by Sheryn Munir

Up on the Roof by AL Brooks

 

 

Celebrity romance

Damage Control by Jae

Casting Lacey by Elle Spencer

And Playing the Role of Herself by K.E. Lane

The Locket by Gerri Hill

Waiting in the Wings by Melissa Brayden

After the Glitter Fades by Diane Marina

Just Physical by Jae

All That Lies Within by Lynn Ames

Leaving LA by Kate Christie

Departure From the Script by Jae

In Fashion by Jody Klaire

The Gravity Between Us by Kristen Zimmer

The Princess Affair by Nell Stark

The Princess Deception by Nell Stark

 

 

Fake relationship romance

Just For Show by Jae

Who’d Have Thought by G Benson

Something in the Wine by Jae

Casting Lacey by Elle Spencer

Tricky Wisdom by Camryn Eyde

Backwards to Oregon by Jae

By Mutual Consent by Tracey Richardson

The Color of Love by Radclyffe

Contract for Love by Alison Grey

Face it by Georgette Kaplan

In Development by Rachel Spangler

Piece of Cake by Gun Brooke

 

 

Science fiction

The Lily & the Crown by Roslyn Sinclair

Survival Instincts by May Dawney

Friends in High Places by Andi Marquette

Paradox Valley by Gerri Hill

Partners: Book 1 by Melissa Good

Depths of Blue by Lise MacTague

Raging at the Stars by Lesley Davis

Without a Front: The Producer’s Challenge by Fletcher DeLancey

Ammonite by Nicola Griffith

The Caphenon by Fletcher DeLancey

 

 

Age difference

The Brutal Truth by Lee Winter

Next of Kin by Jae

Seasons of Love by Harper Bliss

Bring Holly Home by A.E. Radley

The Music & the Mirror by Lola Keeley

Sidebar by Carsen Taite

By Design by JA Armstrong

Coffee Sonata by Gun Brooke

Winter Jacket by Eliza Lentzski

Touchwood by Karin Kallmaker

 

 

Foodie romance

Taste by Kris Bryant

Chef’s Special by Susan X Meagher

How Sweet it is by Melissa Brayden

First Course by JA Armstrong

Blend by Georgia Beers

All You Can Eat by R.G. Emanuelle & Andi Marquette

Starting from Scratch by Georgia Beers

Veritas by MJ Duncan

Perfect Pairing by Rachel Spangler

Sugar by Karin Kallmaker

 

 

LGBTQIA+ characters

Perfect Rhythm by Jae

Being Emily by Rachel Gold

Tengoku by Rae D. Magdon

Outcaste by Fletcher DeLancey

Roller Girl by Vanessa North

Thaw by Elyse Springer

Who’d Have Thought by G Benson

Just Jorie by Robin Alexander

Dark Horse by A.L. Brooks

Flinging It by G Benson

Just Juliet by Charlotte Reagan

Knit One, Girl Two by Shira Glassman

London Harmony: Squid Hugs by Erik Schubach

Sweet Boy & Wild One by TL Hayes

 

 

Erotica & erotic romance

Hot Line by Alison Grey

Thirteen Hours by Meghan O’Brien

The Club by A.L. Brooks

Shadow Haven by AJ Schippers

Don’t Be Shy by Astrid Ohletz & Jae

Heart’s Surrender by Emma Weimann

Her Best Friend’s Sister by Meghan O’Brien

Shameless by Brit Ryder

Private Passion by Ronica Black

The Taste of Her Vol. 1 by Jess Lea

Behind the Green Curtain by Riley LaShea

 

 

Summer reads

Strawberry Summer by Melissa Brayden

When the Stars Sang by Caren J. Werlinger

Symphony in Blue by MJ Duncan

Breaker’s Passion by Julie Cannon

Hearts like Hers by Melissa Brayden

Sparks Like Ours by Melissa Brayden

Summer’s Cove by Aurora Rey

Take Only Pictures by Laina Villeneuve

The Secret Pond by Gerri Hill

The Summer of our Discontent by Robin Alexander

Whitewater Rendezvous by Kim Baldwin

 

 

Friends to lovers romance

The Gravity Between Us by Kristen Zimmer

Jericho by Ann McMan

Just Three Words by Melissa Brayden

Imagining Reality by Lynn Galli

Without Warning by K.G. MacGregor

Beginnings by L.T. Smith

None so Blind by LJ Maas

Prairie Heart by Marian Snowe

Always Alex by Robin Alexander

Hidden Truths by Jae

Snow Globe by Georgia Beers

The Secret Pond by Gerri Hill

Greengage Plots by Emma Sterner-Radley

The Goodmans by Clare Ashton

 

 

Romantic comedy

Kellen’s Moment by Robin Alexander

The Plus One by Natasha West

Greengage Plots by Emma Sterner-Radley

Clinched Love by Lynn Galli

Just Jorie by Robin Alexander

Just My Luck by Andrea Bramhall

Scissor Link by Georgette Kaplan

A Fairytale of Possibilities by Kiki Archer

Temporary Girl by Robin Alexander

See Right Through Me by L.T. Smith

Hoosier Daddy by Ann McMan

Kiss the Girl by Melissa Brayden

Welcome to the Wallops by Gill Mcknight

Crazy Little Thing by Saxon Bennett & Layce Gardner

 

 

Enemies to lovers romance

The Red Files by Lee Winter

The Road to You by Harper Bliss

Second Nature by Jae

Anyone But You by KG MacGregor

Blend by Georgia Beers

Sparks Like Ours by Melissa Brayden

Ice by Lyn Gardner

Tropical Storm by Melissa Good

Visiting Hours by Tagan Shepard

Paper Love by Jae

A Girl Called London by Clare Lydon

Failing Slowly by Lila Bruce

First Position by Melissa Brayden

Rook Takes Queen by Em Stevens

 

 

Workplace/office romance

Paper Love by Jae

Turbulence by E.J. Noyes

It’s Not a Date by Heather Blackmore

The Brutal Truth by Lee Winter

Fated Love by Radclyffe

Eyes Like Those by Melissa Brayden

Right Here, Right Now by Georgia Beers

The Muse by Suzie Carr

Under a Falling Star by Jae

Beauty and the Boss by Ali Vali

 

 

Characters with a disability

Just Physical by Jae

Blindsided by Karis Walsh

Wounded Souls by RJ Nolan

Battle Scars by Meghan O’Brien

Frame by Frame by CJ Murphy

Making a Comeback by Julie Blair

The Loudest Silence by Olivia Janae

Love’s Melody Lost by Radclyffe

The Smell of Rain by Cameron MacElvee

Mending Defects by Lynn Galli

Unconventional Lovers by Annette Mori

Sheridan’s Fate by Gun Brooke

 

 

Butch/femme couples

Departure From the Script by Jae

Unexpected by Jenny Frame

Charming the Vicar by Jenny Frame

The Devil Inside by Ali Vali

Lost for Words by Andrea Bramhall

Love at Cooper’s Creek by Missouri Vaun

Just Physical by Jae

Between the Lines by KD Williamson

Fated Love by Radclyffe

Close to Home by Rachel Spangler

Fearless by Shira Glassman

Switching Gears by Rhavensfyre

 

 

Paranormal

Second Nature by Jae

Wild by Meghan O’Brien

Five Moons Rising by Lisa MacTague

Good Enough to Eat by Jae & Alison Grey

Ambereye by Gill McKnight

Fury’s Bridge by Brey Willows

Hunger for You by Jenny Frame

Manhattan Moon by Jae

Dark Wings Descending by Lesley Davis

Goldenseal by Gill McKnight

Indigo Moon by Gill McKnight

Witch Wolf by Winter Pennington

 

 

Holiday books

Under a Falling Star by Jae

Chasing a Brighter Blue by Gerri Hill

That Old Emerald Mountain Magic by Cara Malone

The Bureau of Holiday Affairs by Andi Marquette

Holme for the Holidays by Miranda Macleod

All I Want for Christmas by Clare Lydon

Language of Love by Astrid Ohletz & Alex Thorne

Season’s Meetings by Amy Dunne

Mistletoe by Lyn Gardner

Winter Calling by Lynn Galli

Snow Globe by Georgia Beers

Ticket 1207 by Robin Alexander

 

 

Sports romance

Code of Conduct by Cheyenne Blue

Edge of Glory by Rachel Spangler

Delay of Game by Tracey Richardson

Gold by EJ Noyes

Fore Play by Julie Cannon

Switchback by S.W. Andersen

Defensive Mindset by Wendy Temple

Playing for First by Chris Paynter

Illegal Contact by Becky Harmon

Sparks Like Ours by Melissa Brayden

To Have Loved & Lost by Eliza Andrews

 

 

Romantic suspense & mystery

Requiem for Immortals by Lee Winter

Hunter’s Way by Gerri Hill

Conflict of Interest by Jae

Next of Kin by Jae

Four Steps by Wendy Hudson

Devil’s Rock by Gerri Hill

Sawmill Springs by Gerri Hill

A Dark Horse by Blayne Cooper

The Killing Ground by Syd Parker

Trigger by Jessica L Webb

 

 

Second chance romance

The Art of Us by KL Hughes

Twice in a Lifetime by Clare Lydon

Second Chances by MJ Duncan

A Road Through Mountains by Miranda MacLeod

Goldenseal by Gill McKnight

Outside the Law by Carsen Taite

Captain’s Choice by VK Powell

Capturing Forever by Erin Dutton

Drawing the Line by KD Williamson

Once in a Lifetime by Harper Bliss

The Miracle Girl by TB Markinson

The Plus One by Natasha West

 

 

Free choice

Stoner McTavish by Sarah Dreher

Backwards to Oregon by Jae

All that matters by Susan X Meagher

Curious Wine by Katherine V. Forrest

Depths of Blue by Lise MacTague

Eyes Like Those by Melissa Brayden

The Devil Inside by Ali Vali

Heartwood by Catherine Lane

Fated Love by Radclyffe

The Red Files by Lee Winter

Under Your Skin by Lee Winter

Heart Like Hers by Melissa Brayden

Embracing the Dawn by Jeannie Levig

Pennance by Clare Ashton

 

 

SURPRISE GIVEAWAY!

One of the three winners of the grand prize donated six of the ebooks she won for other readers to enjoy! Thanks so much, Ali.

The ebooks you can win are:

Chef’s Special by SX Meagher
Code of Conduct by Cheyenne Blue
Heartwood by Catherine Lane
Imagining Reality by Lynn Galli
Perfect Rhythm by Jae
The Red Files by Lee Winter

 

To be entered into the drawing, please leave a comment and tell us your favorite lesbian or f/f book that you read in 2018. I’ll draw the six winners on Saturday, January 5, 10 a.m. (Central European Time).

 

For more book giveaways in 2019, please subscribe to this blog.

The post The most-read books for Lesbian Book Bingo appeared first on Jae.

Lesbian Book Bingo—a resume and the winners of the grand prize

I can’t believe our year-long reading challenge is already over. Lesbian Book Bingo made my year so much fun—and I think it did the same for many readers of lesbian and f/f fiction.

According to the feedback I got, what readers loved most about Lesbian Book Bingo was that it forced them to read outside of their comfort zone and pick books from genres that they don’t normally read. Many readers were surprised to discover that they actually enjoyed those genres. Others appreciated that they discovered new authors through Book Bingo instead of sticking to their established favorites.

 

A BIG THANK-YOU TO EVERYONE WHO PARTICIPATED

Book Bingo was a huge endeavor, and I couldn’t have done it alone.

I’d like to thank all the participating authors and publishers who contributed books for the giveaways—among them Bold Strokes Books, Bella Books, Ylva Publishing, Bedazzled Ink, Desert Palm Press, Intaglio Publications, Regal Crest, Bywater Books, Sapphire Books, Affinity, and many indie authors.

Thanks so much to my friends Christiane, Anne, Melanie, and many others, who brainstormed books for each square with me, and to Trish, who spent many hours putting together the list of books people read for Book Bingo.

A big thank-you also goes to The Lesbian Review Book Club, T.B. Markinson from I Heart Lesfic, Harper Bliss & Caroline Manchoulas from MyLesfic, and everyone else who helped promote Lesbian Book Bingo.

Last but most importantly, I’d like to thank the readers who participated and left comments on this blog.

 

LESBIAN BOOK BINGO STATS

Before I reveal the winners of the grand drawing, I’d like to share a few stats about Lesbian Book Bingo.

About 1,000 readers participated in Lesbian Book Bingo (not everyone sent in their cards, but many used the suggested reading lists to find reading material—that’s totally okay too).
278 bingo cards were completed, with all squares filled out.
115 books were read for Lesbian Book Bingo. Very likely, it was more, but that’s the official count from the cards that were sent in.
Three readers managed to complete 10 or more bingo cards. One reader sent in 17 cards, with 419 lesbian and f/f books read this year! You can read the interview with the readers who read the most books here.
The most popular bingo categories were: woman in uniform, fake relationship romance, doctors & veterinarians, friends to lovers romances, and age difference.

 

THE MOST-READ BOOKS FOR LESBIAN BOOK BINGO  

I’m still compiling a list of the books people read for Book Bingo. I’ll post a list for each square tomorrow, including the top 10 for each category, so if you need more book recommendations in your favorite categories, check back tomorrow.

 

AND  THE WINNERS ARE…

Every completed bingo card was put into the drawing, and this morning, I randomly drew the three winners of the grand prize.

Winner #1 is Mindy M. She wins 25 e-books and a fun surprise package. Among other things, there’ll be yummy German chocolate and signed copies of my novels Something in the Wine, Heart Trouble, and Conflict of Interest.

Winner #2 is Alison R. She wins 25 e-books.

Winner #3 is Mary O. She wins 25 e-books.

I’ll be in touch with the winners later today.

 

WILL THERE BE A BOOK BINGO IN 2019?

I spent a total of 400+ hours on Book Bingo this year, so I’ll need a little break next year before I will run it again.

That doesn’t mean there won’t be a Book Bingo next year, though. A reader who participated this year is putting together her own version of Lesbian Book Bingo in 2019, with a new bingo card with fun squares! Check out Maggie’s Lesbian Book Bingo here.

 

MY PLANS FOR 2019

I still want to do something fun for lesfic readers in 2019, so I’ll host a series of author interviews. To make it more interesting for you, each one will include a giveaway, a free ebook, or a discounted book. I already have 25 great authors lined up, including Radclyffe, Georgia Beers, Gerri Hill, Melissa Brayden, Lynn Ames, Carsen Taite, and many more.

Subscribe to this blog so you’ll get each interview & giveaway delivered directly to your in-box.

 

Thanks again for participating in Lesbian Book Bingo, and have a wonderful 2019!

Jae

The post Lesbian Book Bingo—a resume and the winners of the grand prize appeared first on Jae.

Reader interviews: Favorite f/f & lesbian books, favorite tropes, and how to read a book a day!

When I first started Lesbian Book Bingo at the beginning of this year, I knew many of you are avid readers, but I had no idea how much some of you really read! Many readers didn’t just send in one bingo card; they sent in several. Two participants are even working on their fifteenth cards as we speak—which means they have read 375 f/f & lesbian books this year! That’s more than a book each and every day.

Isn’t that amazing?

I’m sure the same question that I had is running through your mind right now: How on earth did they manage to read so many books?

So I thought I’d just ask and find out. I interviewed four of the book bingo participants who sent in most cards. Here’s what they had to say about their book bingo experiences:

 

What many readers probably would like to ask you most: How on earth did you manage to read so many books?

Joc: I usually have my book with me. I read in queues, I read when I’m waiting for people, I read while I hold my children as they fall asleep, I read myself to sleep, I read while waiting for paint to dry, and I even read while watching TV (there is a limit to the number of times one can watch The Descendants). I’d read in church, but I don’t think my wife would be particularly impressed. I also work in a small shop, and there is some down time, so I read.

 

Kelly: I’m very lucky to have the time and the budget to meet or beat my goal of reading a book a day in 2018. I’ve always been a voracious reader, but I’ve amazed myself in the sheer number of books I’ve read this year. So how have I managed to read so many books?

There are so many good books out there to read! I’m constantly amazed how often I’ve spent an entire afternoon, lost in a terrific story. A big thank-you to all of the authors who have shared their work to entertain us all.
My loving wife is a school bus driver who is early to bed and early to rise. I’m a night owl who gets several uninterrupted hours in the evening to read.
I’m lucky to work from home. When my work and chores are done, I can pick up a book.
My kids are grown, and now that college is paid for, I have a bigger book budget.
Kindle Unlimited!
Audible books are great for long trips or bedtime stories. I’m a sucker for a British accent.
I’ve turned off the TV and ignored social media and pop culture. Other than watching sports, (I’m a long suffering Buffalo Bills fan.) it’s much more fun to immerse myself in a good plot than spending time on the awful content that seems to cater to the lowest common denominator or our baser instincts.

 

Órla: Well, first off, I should declare the fact that as a secondary teacher in Ireland I get ten weeks off in the summer. Unless there’s something special on that demands my attention, I’ll easily read a novel a day (on average). I do most of my reading on my Kindle and the Kindle app on my phone, keeping the two synched up so that if I have even five minutes while I’m out and about, I can carry on with the book I’m reading. I’ve always been a book lover and was initially very skeptical of the ereader as a concept, but I eventually embraced it, and now wouldn’t be without mine. It’s freed me from the horror of finishing a book while out of the house and not having anything new to read! I also watch very little television, (we didn’t have a TV when I was a child so I never really acquired the habit) and have no interest in gaming, leaving my downtime free for reading.

 

Victoria Thomas: That’s a really good question! I’ve always been an avid reader. When you announced the premise and the start of Lesbian Book Bingo, it immediately appealed to me. I love a challenge, and I am very goal-oriented. The first thing my inner book nerd thought was, “I want to complete one bingo card for each month!” That’s how it began. For the first five months, I was able to read about a book a day. It slowed down to two or three books a week when I took on more responsibility at work. I won’t hit my original goal, but I am still filling squares. Some people have a schedule of TV shows that they keep up with, which I know can be fun. I decided to turn my television off for this year and fill my free time with books. I’ve loved every minute of it, and I plan on making it the norm.

 

 

What did you like most about Lesbian Book Bingo?

Joc: I really liked that it challenged me to read in different sub-genres of lesfic. Last year, I read a similar number of books, but very few were speculative fiction and not because I’m averse to the genre (in fact, I was always a fan), but more because it never occurred to me to look for them in lesfic. I also find that when I don’t really know what to read next, I take a look at the bingo card and see what I’m missing and narrow my search criteria.

 

Kelly: I’ve really enjoyed reading books from authors outside the US. Thanks to Ylva Publishing and the imports available on Amazon and Audible, I’ve read stories from authors from around the globe. I’ve enjoyed learning about their different backgrounds and experiences. I hope to someday soon travel to and explore some of the beautiful places that I’ve read about.

 

Órla: I discovered some new authors (well, new to me anyway), specifically in the sci-fi and fantasy genres, which were the hardest squares for me to fill. Anna Burke & JL Heylen are two I will definitely be looking out for from now on. I also revisited a few old favourites, in particular the complete works of both Lee Winter and Ann McMan, two authors who never cease to amaze me with the depth and breadth of their writing. For some of the books like Lee Winter’s Shattered it amazed me how much more I got from the text on a second reading, so much so that I went back and rewrote my review. For some of Ann McMan’s works, I included audio versions on my bingo cards, and having that option was a big plus as I listen to books in the car. The dulcet tones of Christine Williams (and others) kept the road-rage at bay!

 

Victoria Thomas: There are so many things I loved about Lesbian Book Bingo. First of all, I love supporting lesfic authors, so I was happy to redirect a large part of my monthly entertainment budget to buying books. I was able to discover a slew of authors who I had never read before. I am a member of the Facebook group The Lesbian Review Book Club. I enjoyed discussing the books I was reading with other members. I also got into the habit of posting books as I finished them and listing which bingo squares the books would be appropriate for. And, I’ll be honest, part of me enjoyed posting my completed bingo cards in the Facebook group. It made me feel like a kid bringing home a good report card. I really hope that Lesbian Book Bingo was popular enough that we will get a 2019 version.

 

 

Was there anything that surprised you while participating in Lesbian Book Bingo?

Joc: I was surprised by how much I struggled to fill the foodie romance, summer reads, and holiday book blocks. The first one because I’m really not a fan of food books and cooking is really low on my list of likes. The second and third because there always seems to be a better block for the books and also that summer reads come out when I’m bundled up next to a heater and holiday books are under a metre of snow while I’m in a cozzie (swimsuit) by the pool.

 

Kelly: I’m not sure whether or not it’s a surprise, but I’ve really embraced the chance to read books from different genres. I’m not a big sci-fi or fantasy reader, so delving into those worlds has expanded my universe. I’m still not a big fan, but there are some very well-written books in every category.

 

Órla: That for someone who loves sports I don’t read a lot of sport romance novels. I swiftly discovered that this was because I don’t like it when people get sport wrong! I stopped partway through a few sports novels (admittedly, I had only started them to fill the square) because they were either boring me or driving me up the walls with clichés. It really was the hardest slot to fill each time. The only sports novels I was truly satisfied with were Wendy Temple’s Defensive Mindset and E.J. Noyes’ Gold.

 

Victoria Thomas: Participating in Lesbian Book Bingo was a revelation because I discovered speculative fiction. I know, it’s been there all along, but I always thought that it just wasn’t my thing. I’ve always liked paranormal romance novels so that wasn’t a problem. Having to fill in the Science Fiction and Fantasy squares started out as a chore. However, I got some great suggestions, and my mind was blown. There is such a huge selection of lesfic speculative fiction out there. I had no idea. My spec-fic library is still in its infancy, but I am looking forward to reading much more from that category.

 

 

What were your favorite squares/categories of Lesbian Book Bingo?

Joc: My favourite squares were erotica, sci-fi, women in uniform, paranormal, mystery & suspense, fantasy, and fake relationship.

 

Kelly: I’m a huge fan of age difference romances. I’m ten years younger than my wife, so maybe that has something to do with it, but it’s my favorite genre. I’m also a big fan of Women in Uniform.

 

Órla: It’s hard to choose, but I think Romantic Suspense & Mystery and Age Difference. In search of some suspense, I was prompted to go back and reread Cari Hunter and explore for the first time the works of authors like Wendy Hudson. While the age difference square had me revelling in the beautiful prose of Lee Winter, Clare Ashton & Lola Keeley to name but a few. It’s really good to see women over forty as romantic leads in lesfic because elsewhere in popular culture and the media in general it’s still almost taboo.

 

Victoria Thomas: Ooh, I could talk about this all day. I love work place romances, celebrity romances, and fake relationship romances. These categories are always so ripe for drama and often include prickly ice queens. I also love second chance romances because you can usually find a fair amount of angst in that trope and I love a good angsty read. If a book can make me laugh and then make me weepy, I’m all in.

 

 

Are there any other squares that you would have liked to see?

Joc: Tricky question! I would never suggest squares that would be difficult to fill. I wouldn’t have minded squares for established relationships, women with children, and fanfiction/or based on fanfiction.

 

Kelly:

Politics (I love the By Design series by JA Armstrong)
Lawyers (Anything by Carson Taite)
Pets/Animal Lovers, and/or separate Doctors from Veterinarians

 

Órla: I can’t think of any.

 

Victoria Thomas: I thought the categories represented by the different bingo squares were well thought out. I think if I could, I would change the Summer Reads square to Vacation Reads, mainly because I’ve come across some really great books about being on vacation, but they didn’t take place in the summer.

 

 

What were your favorite lesbian/wlw books that you read for Lesbian Book Bingo?

Joc: I’ve had quite a number of fantastic reads this year – too many to list them all – but here are some of my favourites.

The Cybernetic Tea Shop by Meredith Katz
After Mrs Hamilton by Clare Ashton
Lucky 7 by Rae D Magdon
Truth and Measure by Telanu
The Dark Victorian: Bones by Elizabeth Watasin
Butch Fatale, Dyke Dick – Double D Double Cross by Christa Faust
The Smell of Rain by Cameron MacElvee
Breaking Character by Lee Winter
The Art of Us by KL Hughes
Tricky Chances by Camryn Eyde

 

Kelly: I’d personally like to thank Jae and all of the many authors who have sponsored this contest. I appreciate all of the authors, editors, and publishers that work hard every day to entertain and enlighten. I’ve read some very good and bad lesbian fiction, but I feel that I’ve learned something from every voice. Thank you all.

Here are some of my favorite authors:

Radclyffe
Ali Vali
AE Radley
Eliza Lentzski
SX Meagher
Ann McMan
Harper Bliss
Jae
JA Armstrong
RE Bradshaw
Lee Winter

 

Here are some of my favorite books:

Rum Spring by Yolanda Wallace
Almost Heaven by SX Meagher
By Design by JA Armstrong
Thin Fire by Nancy Little
Broken Wings by LJ Baker
And Playing the Role of Herself by KE Lane
Wild Things by Karen Kallmaker
Hidden Truths by Jae
Without a Front by Fletcher DeLancey
Tricky Wisdom by Camryn Eyde
Beowulf for Cretins by Ann McMan
Carly’s Sound by Ali Vali
The Smell of Rain by Cameron MacElvee
The Princess Affair by Nell Stark
Seasons of Love by Harper Bliss
Breaking Character by Lee Winter

 

Órla: Ooh, tough to narrow it down. In no particular order:

Breaking Character by Lee Winter
The Brutal Truth by Lee Winter (and the excellent Angela Dawe audio version)
The Art of Peeling an Orange by Victoria Avilan (and the Christine Williams audiobook)
Compass Rose by Anna Burke
Ask, Tell & Ask Me Again by E.J. Noyes
Confessions of the Fox by Jordi Rosenberg
The Music & the Mirror by Lola Keeley
The Taste of Her Vol 1&2 by Jess Lea
The Goodmans by Clare Ashton
Goldenrod & Beowulf for Cretins by Ann McMan

 

Victoria Thomas: Shame on you for asking such a question! That’s like asking me which of my children I love most. What I can do is tell you some of my favorite books that I read by authors who I may not have discovered if it weren’t for Lesbian Book Bingo. So, no disrespect to any authors, but this list only includes authors who I had never read before (sorry, Jae!). This list could easily include fifty books, but I am going to cut it down to ten, and they are in no particular order.

Crossing the Wide Forever by Missouri Vaun
Scissor Link by Georgette Kaplan
The Extractor trilogy by Robyn Nyx
The Afterlife Inc. trilogy by Brey Willows
How Still My Heart by Diane Marina
Charming Memory by EL Bossert
Compass Rose by Anna Burke
The Smell of Rain by Cameron MacElvee
The Killing Ground by Syd Parker
When You Were My Girlfriend by Nikki Hammond

(I know. The two trilogies equal six books, but I couldn’t break them up!)

 

I hope you enjoyed these interviews and could add a couple of books to your to-be-read list. I know I did.

 

Please take a minute to answer the Lesbian Book Bingo survey

If you played Lesbian Book Bingo, please take a minute to answer a short survey. It’s only three questions, so it won’t take more than a minute.

 

Get ready for the drawing of the grand prize! 

If you haven’t sent in your bingo cards yet, please email them now so I can include them in the drawing for the grand prize.

Don’t forget to check back on December 31, when I will draw the winners and give you some stats on the book bingo. If you don’t want to miss the biggest giveaway of the year, please subscribe to my blog and you will get the post directly to your in-box.

 

The post Reader interviews: Favorite f/f & lesbian books, favorite tropes, and how to read a book a day! appeared first on Jae.

F/F Second Chance Romance Novels (Lesbian Book Bingo #25)

I can’t believe it’s already time for the “second chance romance” post—which will be the very last Lesbian Book Bingo post! The year has flown by, and although it was an incredible amount of work, I had a lot of fun with the book bingo. Thanks so much to everyone who left comments and sent in their bingo cards! Of course, a big thank-you also to the authors and publishers who participated.

If you have completed one or several bingo cards and haven’t sent them in yet, please email me before December 31 and I’ll add your card to the drawing for the grand prize!

Now on to the very last bingo square—second chance romance novels!

In a second chance romance, the two main characters have once been in love with each other, but for some reason, things between them didn’t work out. Now, years later, they meet again and get a second chance at happiness with each other. They could be former lovers or even ex-wives. Sometimes, the two weren’t a couple in the past because they were afraid to confess their feelings to each other.

15 GREAT LESBIAN SECOND CHANCE ROMANCE NOVELS

I’ve put together a list of 15 f/f second chance romances I hope you’ll enjoy.

Always Alex by Robin Alexander

Dana Castilaw grew up tossing coins in a well, hoping her wishes would come true, but the candy fountain, puppy, and love never seemed to manifest. Alex Soileau stood at Dana’s side for years tossing her coins into the well, making the same wish each time, a secret plea that she refused to reveal even to her best friend. Reunited as adults, both women realize that maybe there was magic in the well after all.

 Available at:Amazon

Poppy Jenkins by Clare Ashton

Poppy Jenkins makes everyone smile. She’s the heart of Wells, a beautiful village in mid-Wales, leaving light and laughter in her wake. But she’s the only gay in the village and it’s a long time since she kissed a girl. But could everything change when her old BFF arrives?

Available at:
AmazonApple iBooks

The Copper Egg by Catherine Friend

Archeologist Claire Adams receives a mysterious package that lures her to Peru in search of a treasure-filled tomb. She must find the tomb before looters do. She’s helped in her quest by old friends and by a strange connection to an ancient copper egg. Unfortunately Claire’s ex, Sochi Castillo, plans to find the tomb first and raid it. As Claire and Sochi are drawn into a web of intrigue, betrayal, and greed, they discover that love complicates everything.

Available at:
Bold Strokes BooksAmazonApple iBooks

At Seventeen by Gerri Hill

Travel through the years with Shannon and Madison and watch their love unfold as they move from teens to young women and into adulthood.

Available at:
Bella BooksAmazonApple iBooksAudible (audio book)

The Art of Us by KL Hughes

When Charlee met a leggy brunette with a valedictorian medal hanging from her rear-view mirror and an attitude as biting as a Boston winter, it was love. For four years, she and Alexandra were unbreakable…until they weren’t. A chance meeting years later sweeps them up in a whirlwind of heart-rending history. Is it too late? Or should the past remain the past?

Available at:
Ylva PublishingAmazonApple iBooksAudible (audio book)

Hurricane Days by Renee J. Lukas

Two college roommates shared a life-altering romance. Years later, they emerge on opposite sides of nearly every social issue, with one of them running for president on an ultra-conservative platform. Will their reunion be bitter or sweet? 

Available at:
Bella BooksAmazon

Twice in a Lifetime by Clare Lydon

When her first love walks back into her life, Harriet Locke is thrown—because Sally McCall still looks as gorgeous as ever. Sally loved her once, but 17 years later, is that still the case? And if it is, there’s just the small matter of living in different states, as well as convincing Sally she’s worth taking a chance on again. Will Harriet and Sally be lucky enough to find love twice in a lifetime?

Available at:
AmazonApple iBooksAudible (audio book)

A Road Through Mountains by Miranda Macleod

Cecily and Rorie were lovers in college, but secrets drove them apart. Now one is an unhappy housewife, the other an award-winning designer. When they are reunited backstage at a community theater production, the sparks between them are quickly rekindled, but can they overcome the ghosts of their past to find a future together?

Available at:
Amazon

Finding the Grain by Wynn Malone

Kentucky was only ever going to be a summer job. Come fall, Blue Riley would be back in North Carolina, in college. But one job led to another, one town led to another, and one woman led to another. Now, after twenty years Blue faces the hardest question of all—is it time to go home?

Available at:Bywater BooksAmazonAudible (audio book)

The Miracle Girl by T.B. Markinson

After returning to her Colorado hometown to revive a dying newspaper, JJ is forced to work with the woman she secretly loved in college many years ago. Both are keeping secrets that could ruin their second chance at love. Must JJ lose everything in order to gain the life she’s always wanted?

Available at:
Amazon

When I Knew You by KE Payne

When Ash Wells and Nat Braithwaite are thrown together after seventeen years apart, old resentments and passions are rekindled. The days of their heady teenage relationship are long gone—or are they? As they put aside their differences to honor the memory of a friend, Ash and Nat learn that sometimes, to build a future, you have to be willing to let go of the past.

Available at:
Bold Strokes BooksAmazonApple iBooks

Captain’s Choice by VK Powell 

When architect Kerstin Anthony is tasked with designing a police substation, she sees it as a stepping stone to professional and personal independence, until Bennett Carlyle, the first girl she ever kissed, turns out to be her contact and supervisor.

Available at:
Bold Strokes BooksAmazonApple iBooks

Barring Complications (The Love and Law series, book 1) by Blythe Rippon

When a gay marriage case arrives at the US Supreme Court, two women find themselves at the center of the fight for marriage equality. Closeted Justice Victoria Willoughby must sway a conservative colleague and attorney Genevieve Fornier must craft compelling arguments to win five votes. Complicating matters, despite their shared history, the law forbids the two from talking to each other.

Available at:
Ylva PublishingAmazonApple iBooks

Getting Back by Cindy Rizzo

At her 30th college reunion, Elizabeth must face Ruth, her first love who bowed to family pressure long ago. As they try to reconcile the past, Elizabeth must decide whether she is more distrustful of Ruth or of herself. Is she headed for another fall or does she want to be the one who walks away this time?

Available at:
Ylva PublishingAmazonApple iBooks

Bait and Switch by Blythe H. Warren

When marine biologist Liv Cucinelli is unexpectedly reunited with her former nemesis Mira Butler, the last thing she wants is to spend one second with the woman who ruined her life. But Mira, oblivious to the destruction she caused, refuses to leave Liv alone. Once Liv learns the truth about their shared past, she begins to see more to Mira than she ever anticipated. Can they overcome their stormy history to become friends—or maybe more?

Available at:
Bella BooksAmazon

If you haven’t done so already, download your bingo card, pick the book you want to read for the “second chance romance” square, and start reading! Remember that you can either read one of the 15 books listed above or pick another f/f second chance romance.

Lesbian Book bingo giveaway: Win a book by leaving a comment

For the second chance romance square, I’m giving away an e-book copy of:

Poppy Jenkins by Clare Ashton
The Art of Us by KL Hughes
The Miracle Girl by T.B. Markinson

Anyone can enter. To be entered into the drawing, leave a comment on this blog and let us know which book you’re going to read for the “second chance romance” square or if you can think of other lesbian books that fit this category.

Entries close on Thursday, December 27, 2018, 10 a.m. CET, when I’ll draw the winners using a random numbers generator. I’ll notify winners via email. Your email address won’t be used for any other purpose.

Drawing for the grand prize

I’ll be drawing winners for the grand prize on December 31, 10 a.m. CET. There’ll be three winners. The first one wins 25 e-books and a fun surprise package from Germany, and the other two win 25 e-books. All you have to do to be entered into the drawing is to email me any Lesbian Book Bingo cards you completed this year. If you completed several, you can send them all and I’ll enter all of them into the drawing.

My plans for 2019

Lately, a lot of people asked me if I’ll be organizing another book bingo for 2019. Since I spent about 400 working hours on Lesbian Book Bingo, I need a little break. I might do another one in 2020. For 2019, I have something else planned for readers. I’ll be posting two fun interviews with lesbian fiction and f/f fiction authors each month, and with each interview, there’ll be a giveaway, a discounted book, or a free book. That way, you can try out a new-to-you author—or you can get a book from your favorite authors for free or at a reduced price.

Subscribe to my blog so you won’t miss any of these posts!

Happy holidays and happy reading,

Jae

The post F/F Second Chance Romance Novels (Lesbian Book Bingo #25) appeared first on Jae.

F/F Romantic Suspense & Mystery Novels (Lesbian Book Bingo #24)

It’s time to talk about one of the top-selling subgenres of lesbian fiction: f/f romantic suspense and mystery novels.

In a mystery novel, the main character is investigating a crime—often a murder—or trying to solve a mystery. She can be a detective, a law enforcement officer, a private investigator, or a sleuthing amateur.

A romantic suspense novel weaves together a romance and suspense, mystery, or thriller elements. The potential lovers have to face danger together before they can live happily ever after.

15 GREAT LESBIAN MYSTERY & ROMANTIC SUSPENSE NOVELS

I’ve put together a list of 15 lesbian mystery novels & romantic suspense books with lesbian or bi main characters. I hope you’ll enjoy them.

Collide-O-Scope (Norfolk Coast Investigation, book 1) by Andrea Bramhall

One unidentified dead body. One tiny fishing village. Forty residents and everyone’s a suspect. Where do you start? Newly promoted Detective Sergeant Kate Brannon and Kings Lynn’s CID have to answer that question and more as they untangle the web of lies wrapped around the tiny village of Brandale Stiathe Harbour to capture the killer of Connie Wells. 

Available at:

Ylva Publishing
Amazon
Apple iBooks

Blood Money Murder by Jessie Chandler

Secrets. It all begins with secrets. A long-held secret is about to implode with potentially catastrophic results. Will Shay and her sister Lisa pay the ultimate price for Eddy’s sins, or will Eddy confront her twenty-five year secret head-on before time runs out?

Available at:
Bella Books
Amazon

A Dark Horse by Blayne Cooper

Best-selling, award-winning author Blayne Cooper exposes the intrigue of the Big Easy in this epic story of dedication, risk and passion.

Available at:
Bella Books
Amazon
Apple iBooks

Forsaken Trust (A Luce Hansen Thriller) by Meredith Doench

Unwelcoming of outsiders, the community of Wallace Lake, Ohio, closes ranks when four women are found murdered. Agent Luce Hansen must find a way in before another woman loses her life to the ruthless serial killer. With the help of her new team—a hot rookie and a smart, beautiful medical examiner—Luce works to unearth the dark secrets of this close-knit town. And when Luce feels forsaken, both professionally and personally, she must regain trust in her most valuable investigative tool: herself.

Available at:
Bold Strokes Books
Amazon
Apple iBooks

Love’s Redemption by Donna K. Ford

For ex-convict Rhea Daniels and ex-priest Morgan Scott, redemption lies in the thin line between right and wrong.

Available at:
Bold Strokes Books
Amazon
Apple iBooks
Audible (audio book)

Amateur City (Kate Delafield series, book 1) by Katherine V. Forrest

Tough LAPD Detective Kate Delafield leads an investigation into a highrise office building murder. The case is intriguing but routine—until Kate interviews the only witness, Ellen O’Neil. During the investigation, Kate finds her path increasingly intersecting with that of Ellen, who is proving unpredictable and dangerous in a far more personal way. 

Available at:
Bella Books
Amazon
Apple iBooks

Tangled Mark by Becky Harmon

Flagler Security Agent, Nikki Mitchell, is completely immersed in the secrecy of her job. Mel Carter has a secret mission of her own. Completely dedicated to their individual missions, the lives of both women become tangled as personal and professional lines begin to blur.

Available at:
Bella Books
Amazon
Apple iBooks

Facing Evil by CL Hart

Detective Abby Stanfield has worked tirelessly to bring serial killer Billy Ward to justice, but when his case is thrown out of court, Abby loses control and threatens publicly to kill him. Forced to take a leave of absence, Abby heads to a mountain resort where she meets Sarah. The two women discover love but are soon torn apart. Through twist and turns of the novel, Abby and Sarah experience for themselves the brutality of a serial killer before he ends up dead, and Abby is his accused killer.

Available at:
Amazon

Devil’s Rock by Gerri Hill

Bestselling, award-winning Gerri Hill presents the turmoil of unbidden passion combined with heart-pounding suspense in a compelling story inspired by her own Hunter’s Way.

Available at:
Bella Books
Amazon
Apple iBooks
Audible (audio book)

Four Steps by Wendy Hudson

Seclusion suits Alex Ryan. Haunted by a crime from her past, she struggles to find peace and calm.  Lori Hunter dreams of escaping the monotony of her life. When the suffocation sets in, she runs for the hills.  A chance encounter in the Scottish Highlands leads Alex and Lori into a whirlwind of heartache and a fight for survival, as they build a formidable bond that will be tested to its limits.

Available at:
Ylva Publishing
Amazon
Apple iBooks

No Good Reason (The Dark Peak series, book 1) by Cari Hunter

Detective Sanne Jensen and Dr. Meg Fielding are lifelong best friends, sharing the same deprived background and occasionally the same bed. When a violent kidnapping stuns the Peak District village of Rowlee, Sanne and her colleagues in East Derbyshire Special Ops search for the culprit, while Meg fights to keep his victim alive. With the clock ticking, Sanne and Meg find themselves pushed closer by a crime that threatens to tear everything apart.

Available at:
Bold Strokes Books
Amazon
Apple iBooks
Audible (audio book)

Next of Kin (Portland Police Bureau series, book 2) by Jae

Detective Aiden Carlisle’s private and professional lives collide when her lover’s newest patient gets in trouble with the law. Will she be able to solve the case without pushing Dawn away?

For years, Deputy District Attorney Kade Matheson has been focused on her career, but when she finds herself with two secret admirers, she is finally forced to face her attraction to women.

Available at:
Ylva Publishing
Amazon
Apple iBooks

Death by the Riverside (Micky Knight Mysteries series, book 1) by JM Redmann

Among the moss-covered trees and wrought-iron balustrades of southern Louisiana, Detective Michele Knight (Micky to her friends) takes on the seemingly simple job of shooting a few photos for a client, but the going gets rough as Micky finds herself slugging through thugs and slogging through swamps in an attempt to expose a dangerous drug ring.

Available at:
Bold Strokes Books
Amazon
Apple iBooks

Holy Hell (Lillian Byrd Crime series, book 1) by Elizabeth Sims

Lillian Byrd is a small-time reporter with a flair for making big-time mistakes, so her investigation into the disappearances of women in the Detroit area might not be the best idea. But when one of the missing women turns up dead and Lillian recognizes the bizarrely mutilated corpse, she’s in too deep to get out. After simultaneously blowing the case for the police and revealing herself to the off-kilter killers, she’s completely on her own. Can she catch the murderers before they catch up with her?

Available at:
Amazon
Audible (audio book)

Requiem for Immortals by Lee Winter

Requiem is a brilliant cellist with a secret. The dispassionate assassin has made an art form out of killing Australia’s underworld figures without a thought. One day she‘s hired to kill a sweet and unassuming innocent. Requiem can’t work out why anyone would want her dead—and why she should even care. 

Available at:
Ylva Publishing
Amazon
Apple iBooks

If you haven’t done so already, download your bingo card, pick the book you want to read for the lesbian mystery & romantic suspense square, and start reading! Remember that you can either read one of the 15 books listed above or pick another f/f mystery or romantic suspense novel.

Lesbian Book bingo giveaway: Win a book by leaving a comment

 For the romantic suspense & mystery square, I’m giving away an e-book copy of:

Four Steps by Wendy Hudson
Holy Hell by Elizabeth Sims
Blood Money Murder by Jessie Chandler

Anyone can enter. To be entered into the drawing, leave a comment on this blog and let us know which book you’re going to read for the “romantic suspense & mystery” square or if you can think of other lesbian books that fit this category.

Entries close on Thursday, December 13, 2018, 10 a.m. CET, when I’ll draw the winners using a random numbers generator. I’ll notify winners via email. Your email address won’t be used for any other purpose.

Subscribe to this blog so you won’t miss the next book bingo post

The reading list for the next bingo square—second chance romance novels—will be posted on December 20. Subscribe to my blog so you won’t miss it. There’ll be another giveaway too!

Happy reading!
Jae

The post F/F Romantic Suspense & Mystery Novels (Lesbian Book Bingo #24) appeared first on Jae.

F/F Sports Romance Novels (Lesbian Book Bingo #23)

Is it just me, or has there recently been an uptick in the number of f/f sports romance novels lately? Lesfic romance novels about heroines who are professional athletes seem to be pretty popular right now. There’s just something about athletic women with a passion for winning that lends itself to a hot romance novel.

You don’t even have to like sports in order to enjoy sports romance novels. I recently edited Romancing the Kicker by Catherine Lane and very much enjoyed it, even though I don’t know a thing about American football. So even if you’re not into sports, read on and give these sports romances a chance.

15 GREAT LESBIAN SPORTS ROMANCE BOOKS

I’ve put together a list of 15 f/f sports romance books I hope you’ll enjoy.

Switchback by S.W. Andersen

Life is full of twists and turns.

After an accident on the track lands Sierra in Kara’s on-site medical center, the doctor suddenly finds she has more on her mind that work. Blindsided by mutual attraction, Sierra and Kara struggle to accept their feelings for each other and to deal with the change it brings.

Will love be enough? Or will life’s little switchbacks send them both careening off course?

Available at:
Amazon
Audible (audio book)

Code of Conduct by Cheyenne Blue

Top ten tennis player Viva Jones had the world at her feet. Then a lineswoman’s bad call knocked her out of the US Open, and injury crushed her career. While battling to return to the game, a chance meeting with the same sexy lineswoman forces Viva to rethink the past…and the present. There’s just one problem: players and officials can’t date. A lesbian romance about breaking all the rules.

Available at:
Ylva Publishing
Amazon
Apple iBooks

Touch by Kris Bryant

As the go-to therapist at Elite Therapy, Dr. Hayley Sims is the best in her field. It’s exactly why she’s just been assigned her most challenging patient yet, hockey player Elizabeth Stone.

Available at:
Bold Strokes Books
Amazon
Apple iBooks
Audible (audio book)

Training Ground (Girls of Summer, book 1) by Kate Christie

In Book One of the Girls of Summer series, soccer players Jamie Maxwell and Emma Blakeley meet at a tournament in Southern California. Neither girl expects their chance encounter to form the basis of a bond that will last across years and miles, from youth national team try-outs to the 2015 World Cup–and beyond.

Available at:
Amazon
Apple iBooks

Out of Left Field: Marlee’s Story by Barbara L. Clanton

High school junior Marlee McAllister lives and breathes softball. For reasons Marlee doesn’t understand, she’s drawn to a rival team’s left fielder. Struggling to maintain her grades, dealing with the ever-increasing estrangement from her best friend, and handling the pressures of pitching, Marlee also has to confront the bittersweet realities of what it might mean to be gay.

Available at:
Regal Press Enterprises
Amazon

Illegal Contact by Becky Harmon

Flagler Security agent Jamison Krews has agreed to protect a long-time friend’s sister. Quarterback Shea Carter has more important things to focus on than the supposed threat to her life–like a National Championship. Will Jamison be able to convince Shea that she’s more than a babysitter and gain her trust–and her heart–before it’s too late?

Available at:
Bella Books
Amazon
Apple iBooks

The You Know Who Girls: Freshman Year by Annameekee Hesik

As they begin freshman year, Abbey Brooks and her best friend Kate pinky swear they’ll keep away from the lesbians in Gila High, but Abbey already suspects she’s one of those you-know-who girls herself and slowly learns who her true friends really are. Sometimes promises can’t be kept. And sometimes girls in uniform are impossible to resist.

Available at:
Amazon
Apple iBooks

Off Pitch (Pitch Prodigies, book 1) by Brianna Kienitz

Soccer star Adeline Fahey has never taken an interest in the world outside of the pitch. Then Gabriella Soto, the teaching assistant in Adeline’s dreaded Beginning Spanish class, walks onto her playing field. After a drunken night in a T-rex costume boots their hearts onto a collision course, Adeline and Gabriella must tackle a field of school scandal, homophobic parents, and their own passionate career goals to have a shot at something more.

Available at:
NineStar Press
Amazon

Gold by E.J. Noyes

Pro alpine skier Aspen Archer’s career ended after a crash at the 2010 Vancouver Olympics. She picked up her broken body and now hides in comfortable obscurity at ski resorts around the world.

Cate Tierney has been hurt by a past relationship and has a teenage daughter to protect, yet her initial reluctance is quickly overcome by her intense attraction to Aspen. But with Cate’s vacation ending in a few short weeks and Aspen’s aversion to staying in one place, can their encounter be anything more than a fling?

Available at:
Bella Books
Amazon
Apple iBooks

The Change-Up by Syd Parker

Sawyer Evans has a great career as a head coach for a talented college baseball team. Bellamy Carter is a successful accountant with her own firm, a beautiful home, and a son she adores. When Sawyer comes to town to scout new players, their encounter forces Bellamy to question everything she believes about life, love and faith, leaving her wondering if she will make it out the other side.

Available at:
Amazon
Apple iBooks

Playing for First (Playing for First, Book 1) by Chris Paynter

Sportswriter Lisa Collins gets the scoop of a lifetime–covering the story of a woman trying to break the jock barrier into major league baseball. Amy Perry has to overcome the odds to reach her dream of playing first base for the Cincinnati Reds. Lisa is supported by her longtime friend, Frankie Dunkin. When she finds herself attracted to both women, Lisa has a choice to make. Which woman will be Playing for First in her life?

Available at:
Amazon
Apple iBooks

Gravity by Juliann Rich

How can Ellie Engebretsen, Olympic ski jumping hopeful with her eye on the gold, soar through the air when all she feels like doing is falling hard for Kate Moreau, her greatest competitor and the girl of her dreams?

Available at:
Bold Strokes Books
Amazon
Apple iBooks

Delay of Game by Tracey Richardson

Passion and patriotism sizzle on the ice at the Winter Olympics as rivals and once former lovers battle on the biggest stage for women’s hockey.

Available at:
Bella Books
Amazon
Apple iBooks

Edge of Glory by Rachel Spangler

As Olympic snowboarder Corey LaCroix and skier Elise Brandies ride the razor’s edge between victory and defeat on the slopes, they also face a heat neither of them is prepared for in their safe worlds of snow and ice. The stakes become steeper than any mountain either of them will ever face when legacies and hearts collide at breakneck speed.

Available at:
Bywater Books
Amazon
Apple iBooks

Romancing the Zone by Kenna White

When 40-year-old Liz Elliott accepts her daughter’s challenge to return to college and play her last year of basketball eligibility, she is met with resistance from head coach Sheridan Ross, who has no patience for babysitting an over-the-hill athlete. But soon, sparks begin to fly.

Available at:
Bella Books
Amazon
Apple iBooks

If you haven’t done so already, download your bingo card, pick the book you want to read for the “sports romance” square, and start reading! Remember that you can either read one of the 15 books listed above or pick another f/f sports romance novel.

Lesbian Book bingo giveaway: Win a book by leaving a comment

For the sports romance square, I’m giving away an e-book copy of:

Code of Conduct by Cheyenne Blue
Playing for First by Chris Paynter
Switchback by S.W. Andersen

Anyone can enter. To be entered into the drawing, leave a comment on this blog and let us know which book you’re going to read for the “sports romance” square or if you can think of other lesbian books that fit this category.

Entries close on Thursday, November 22, 2018, 10 a.m. CET, when I’ll draw the winners using a random numbers generator. I’ll notify winners via email. Your email address won’t be used for any other purpose.

Subscribe to this blog so you won’t miss the next book bingo post

The reading list for the next bingo square—romantic suspense & mystery novels with a queer female main character—will be posted on December 6. Subscribe to my blog so you won’t miss it. There’ll be another giveaway too!

Happy reading!
Jae

The post F/F Sports Romance Novels (Lesbian Book Bingo #23) appeared first on Jae.

F/F Holiday Books (Lesbian Book Bingo #22)

The festive season will soon be upon us, so it’s time for some f/f holiday books!

A holiday read is a book in which one of the winter holidays such as Thanksgiving, Christmas, Hannukah, etc. plays a role. “Winter” refers to winter in the northern hemisphere, but, of course, the book can be set in the southern hemisphere during the holidays too. Also, it doesn’t need to be a Christian holiday.

15 GREAT LESBIAN HOLIDAY BOOKS

I’ve put together a list of 15 f/f holiday books I hope you’ll enjoy.

Ticket 1207 by Robin Alexander

Jill Searcy has lost her belief in love and magic, and she even despises Christmas. Two women come into her life and make her question everything she thought she knew. She gets more for Christmas than she ever dreamed.

Available at:Amazon

Snow Globe by Georgia Beers

When Mackenzie Campbell’s girlfriend bails less than two weeks before their Christmas wedding, Kenzie’s picture-perfect world begins to crumble. Determined to hold on to at least some shred of her dignity, Kenzie snags her best friend, Allison, and flees to an LGBT resort in Florida to take the honeymoon anyway. Sun and fun seem to be just what Kenzie needs to take her mind off of her lost relationship. But can a few hot dances, a mysterious suitor, and a handful of rum runners help her figure out what it is she really wants?

Available at:
Brisk PressAmazonAudible (audio book)

Season’s Meetings by Amy Dunne

Catherine Birch reluctantly ventures on the festive road trip from hell with beautiful stranger Holly Daniels only to discover the road to true love has its own obstacles to maneuver.

Available at:
Bold Strokes BooksAmazonApple iBooksAudible (audio book)

The Christmas Wolf by Bridget Essex

Kathryn is on the lookout for a new roommate to help pay the rent, but every time a potential roommate visits her place, it doesn’t end well because Kathyrn’s apartment is a Christmas Wonderland.

But when Kat meets potential roommate Jewel, she has high hopes. For one, Jewel’s gorgeous as hell. There’s just one problem: werewolves were recently outed in society, and Jewel is having difficulty finding the perfect place to live. Because Jewel just happens to be a werewolf…

Available at:
AmazonAudible (audio book)

Mistletoe by Lyn Gardner

Three sprigs of mistletoe, two women…and an elf on a mission.

Available at:
AmazonApple iBooks

Chasing a Brighter Blue by Gerri Hill

A Christmas wedding in Colorado threatens the locked-down hearts of war-scarred Reagan Bryant and wary heiress Shelby Sutton.

Available at:
Bella BooksAmazonApple iBooksAudible (audio book)

Under a Falling Star by Jae

Falling stars are supposed to be a lucky sign, but not for Austen. The first assignment in her new job—decorating the Christmas tree in the lobby—results in a trip to the ER after Dee, the company’s COO, gets hit by the star-shaped tree topper.  There’s an instant attraction between them, but Dee is determined not to act on it, especially since Austen has no idea that Dee is her boss.

Available at:
Ylva PublishingAmazonApple iBooksAudible (audio book)

Do You Feel What I Feel by Jae & Fletcher DeLancey

Twelve lesbian fiction authors bring you a heartwarming collection of holiday-themed short stories. From a tattoo artist hiding an origami angel in her lover’s desk to a seventy-year-old woman hesitating to accompany her partner to a family celebration on the first night of Hanukkah, this anthology will delight you with romantic holiday moments.

Available at:
Ylva PublishingAmazonApple iBooks

The Wish List (Meddling Friends – Kelsie, book 1) by Riley LaShea

Kelsie doesn’t have is a girlfriend, and her friends aren’t about to stand for that. During a night of drunken frivolity, they send a letter to Santa on Kelsie’s behalf, asking for a girlfriend for Christmas. The very next day, Kelsie meets Randa, a seemingly perfect woman who possesses all the attributes her friends specifically requested in their letter. When a chance encounter brings another woman into Kelsie’s life, though, she begins to wonder whether perfect is necessarily right and if Santa could be way off the mark.

Available at:
AmazonApple iBooks

All I Want for Christmas (All I Want series, book 1) by Clare Lydon

This Christmas, Tori Hammond is on a mission to find love. Her ideal present under the tree would be a shiny new girlfriend, so Tori gives herself one month to find that special lady by December 25th. Christmas spells romance and she’s going to grab some.

Available at:
AmazonApple iBooks

Holme for the Holidays by Miranda MacLeod

An American musician with a broken heart meets an English farmer with a hidden past on a holiday house swap in the Yorkshire village of Holme. It starts as a fling, but can a bit of Christmas magic help them build a new life together? A charming romantic comedy that will fill your heart with holiday cheer!

Available at:
AmazonApple iBooksAudible (audio book)

That Emerald Mountain Magic by Cara Malone

Carmen hasn’t had snow on Christmas in ten years, and when her dad books a cabin in the idyllic, snow-capped mountains of Colorado for Christmas, her family is skeptical. Carmen is in the same ‘bah humbug’ mood until she meets the optimistic, intriguing Joy and their worlds collide—quite literally—on the slopes. Can Joy help Carmen and her family rediscover the true spirit of Christmas?

Available at:
Amazon

The Bureau of Holiday Affairs by Andi Marquette

Corporate executive Robin Preston didn’t get where she is by being nice. That’s why the Bureau of Holiday Affairs has scheduled an intervention for her that’ll take her to her past, present, and future in hopes she’ll be able to change her ways and open her heart to the one woman Robin thought she’d left in her past. Will the Bureau’s agents succeed in their mission? Or is Robin a lost cause?

Available at:
Ylva PublishingAmazonApple iBooks

Christmas Crush by Kate McLachlan

Sparks fly between Jasmine and Darcy, two women competing in the Christmas tree business. Before long, sparks of a different sort fly, and they find themselves experiencing a Christmas they’ll never forget.

Available at:
Regal Crest EnterprisesAmazon

A Christmas Kiss by Jade Winters

When romance pessimist Emma finds herself under the mistletoe with the enigmatic Zara, she doesn’t think the encounter will last longer than a night. Will it take more than a Christmas kiss for Zara to find a place in her heart?

Available at:
Amazon

If you haven’t done so already, download your bingo card, pick the book you want to read for the “holiday books” square, and start reading! Remember that you can either read one of the 15 books listed above or pick another lesbian book with a holiday theme.

Lesbian Book bingo giveaway: Win a book by leaving a comment

For the holiday books square, I’m giving away an e-book copy of:

Snow Globe by Georgia Beers
All I Want for Christmas by Clare Lydon
That Emerald Mountain Magic by Cara Malone

Anyone can enter. To be entered into the drawing, leave a comment on this blog and let us know which book you’re going to read for the “holiday books” square or if you can think of other lesbian books that fit this category.

Entries close on Thursday, November 8, 2018, 10 a.m. CET, when I’ll draw the winners using a random numbers generator. I’ll notify winners via email. Your email address won’t be used for any other purpose.

Subscribe to this blog so you won’t miss the next book bingo post

The reading list for the next bingo square—sports romances—will be posted on November 15. Subscribe to my blog so you won’t miss it. There’ll be another giveaway too!

Happy reading!
Jae

The post F/F Holiday Books (Lesbian Book Bingo #22) appeared first on Jae.

Paranormal books (Lesbian Book Bingo #21)

With Halloween approaching, it’s time to take a closer look at paranormal books with lesbian or women-loving women main characters.

Paranormal books are set in a world that looks like our current, ordinary world at first glance—but paranormal creatures and supernatural beings such as werewolves, shapeshifters, vampires, demons, or ghosts exist along with humans.

If paranormal fiction is a square that you struggle with, take a look at these tips on how to complete your book bingo card even when you don’t like speculative fiction.

15 GREAT LESBIAN PARANORMAL BOOKS

I’ve put together a list of 15 paranormal books featuring women-loving women. I hope you’ll enjoy these novels.

The Devil You Know (Darkmirror Agency, book 2) by Marie Castle

Cate Delacy isn’t thrilled to be volunteered as a finder of lost bodies, but she’s not immune to Gemini Roskov’s grief and righteous desire to claim her father’s remains. It means a confrontation with the hostile Council of Supernatural Beings that controls far too much of New Orleans’ darker mysteries and…personalities.

Available at:
Bella BooksAmazonApple iBooks

Beauty and the Wolf by Bridget Essex

Bella has lived her whole life in the little town of Paris, Vermont. Her family’s restaurant, the Rose Garden Diner, has been a point of pride…until they’re forced to sell it.

Every day, a mysterious woman comes to the diner for lunch. Mel Grim enchants Bella, and when Grim makes her an offer she can’t refuse, Bella goes to work for her. But Grim has a secret. Is their love strong enough to overcome the truth? Or are they destined for an unhappily ever after?

Available at:AmazonAudible (audio book)

The Awakening (Sisters of Spirits Trilogy, book 1) by Yvonne Heidt

Sunny Skye, a psychic medium, is the head investigator and founder of Sisters of Spirits, a paranormal society dedicated to helping others understand what they can’t see. She is excellent at finding ghosts but finds it difficult to cope in the real world. When she meets Jordan, she is instantly attracted and completely unnerved by the personal demons she carries around with her.

Available at:Bold Strokes BooksAmazonApple iBooks

Stranger Than Fiction (Animus series, book 1) by Jeanine Hoffman

Tori Hunter’s life is about to change, in ways she never dreamt possible. Going from a loner living in the woods to a member of a rather unusual community is one of the easier changes Tori will have to deal with as the result of a minor accident when hunting on her land.

Available at:Regal Crest EnterprisesAmazon

Good Enough to Eat (The Vampire Diet Series, book 1) by Jae & Alison Grey

Robin is a vampire who wants to change her eating habits. To fight her cravings for O negative, she goes to an AA meeting, where she meets Alana, who battles her own demons.

Despite their determination not to get involved, the attraction is undeniable.

Is it love or just bloodlust that makes Robin think Alana looks good enough to eat? Will it even matter once Alana finds out who Robin really is? 

Available at:Ylva PublishingAmazonApple iBooks

Ex-Wives of Dracula by Georgette Kaplan

Mindy’s best friend, Lucia, is a vampire. Every second Mindy spends with her she’s in danger of becoming dinner. But Lucia needs help. To keep her alive they need fresh blood, and to cure her they have to kill her sire. So why is it that Nosferatu, the cops, and the chance of becoming an unwilling blood donor don’t scare Mindy half as much as the way she feels when Lucia looks at her?

Available at:Ylva PublishingAmazonApple iBooks

Five Moons Rising by Lise MacTague

Code-named Malice, Hunter Mary Alice Nolan was genetically modified and rigorously trained to use her great strength, heightened senses, and killer instincts to eliminate supras who prey on the innocent. Werewolf Ruri Samson is comfortably situated as the Beta of her peaceful pack. Until she is betrayed by the woman she loves and an evil outsider massacres her pack. Although these two women should despise each other, fate compels them to join forces on a dangerous quest to avenge their loved ones—and will ignite a forbidden passion that neither of them ever imagined.  

Available at:Bella BooksAmazonApple iBooks

Little Dip (Garoul Series, book 5) by Gill McKnight

It’s 1977, and Connie Fortune has an easy, freewheeling life as a wildlife photographer and illustrator. A new contract brings her to the Little Dip valley in Oregon to track down a rare bird, but a clash with Sylvie Garoul, the valley’s owner and matriarch of the mysterious Garoul family, and her daughter, the haughty, frustrating, but somehow bewitching Marie Garoul, ruins the deal.

The following year Connie tries again, but this time, things have changed. The residents of nearby Lost Creek are up in arms about strange goings-on in the valley, with blame swirling around the Garouls. Connie is unsure whose side she is on, even as she’s drawn deeper into Little Dip.

Available at:Dirt Road BooksAmazonApple iBooks

Fallen Elements (The Elements series, book 1) Heather McVea

A train ride, a beautiful woman, a possible romance… what more could anyone ask for? But there is magic in the air, old magic, and not everyone is happy about it.

Available at:AmazonAudible (audio book)

Wild by Meghan O’Brien

The only thing that frightens shapeshifter Selene Rhodes more than the full moon is the idea of falling in love.

Available at:Bold Strokes BooksAmazon

Apple iBooksAudible (audio book)

Witch Wolf (Kassandra Lyall Preternatural Investigator series, book 1) by Winter Pennington

Preternatural Private Investigator and Paranormal Huntress Kassandra Lyall is used to working alone. Whenever there’s a murder or a mystery to solve that involves the preternatural—she’s the witch they call. When she’s called in to help the local cops work on a mysterious murder case, she finds herself needing all the help she can get.

Available at:Bold Strokes BooksAmazonApple iBooks

The Midnight Hunt (Midnight Hunters, book 1) by L.L. Raand

Medic Drake McKennan has never been good at following protocol, so she doesn’t think twice about rendering emergency care when a young girl’s life is at stake—even if the girl is in the throes of Were fever and any sane human should know better. It isn’t the bright shining pain of the bite or even the wrenching agonies of the fever that convinces her everything in her life has changed.

Available at:Bold Strokes BooksAmazonApple iBooksAudible (audio book)

The Devil’s Tree (The Hunter series, book 1) by Ali Spooner

Torn between her love for the pack and her need to find what’s missing in her life, Devin Benoit travels to New Orleans. She senses something calling to her as she enters a small club off Bourbon Street and her eyes are drawn to the DJ spinning music. Without any doubt, she knew she had found the missing piece of herself. When her new love Tia is kidnapped, Devin and her brother Damen, alpha of the Baton Rouge werewolf pack, must return to the Devil’s Tree, where lives and souls are lost, and sad memories abound. Will the previous happenings at the Devil’s Tree help or hinder Devin in the fight of her life, and the life of Tia, the woman who now owns her heart?

Available at:Affinity Rainbow PublicationsAmazonApple iBooks

Fury’s Bridge by Brey Willows

Avenging fury Alectho (Alec) Graves has been tasked with saving the world. If she fails in her mission, those she loves will cease to exist. Philosophy professor Selene Perkton lives an ordinary, well-scheduled life. When Alec appears, the world she thought she knew becomes a very different place. Can Alec and Selene put aside their differences, or will the evil lurking in the shadows manage to pull them apart?

Available at:Bold Strokes BooksAmazonApple iBooks

Twisted Echoes by Sheri Lewis Wohl

Can a reluctant psychic set things right, or will an angry spirit destroy those she loves the most? Lorna Dutton is ready for something new and a chance to move beyond the numbness of a broken heart. Inheriting her great-aunt’s house on the shores of the Pacific Ocean, she embarks on an exciting adventure only to discover things are more complicated than simply starting over.

 Available at:Bold Strokes BooksAmazonApple iBooks

If you haven’t done so already, download your bingo card, pick the book you want to read for the “paranormal” square, and start reading! Remember that you can either read one of the 15 books listed above or pick another lesbian paranormal book.

Lesbian Book bingo giveaway: Win a book by leaving a comment

 For the paranormal square, I’m giving away an e-book copy of:

The Devil’s Tree by Ali Spooner
Five Moons Rising by Lise MacTague
Fury’s Bridge by Brey Willows

Anyone can enter. To be entered into the drawing, leave a comment on this blog and let us know which book you’re going to read for the “paranormal” square or if you can think of other lesbian books that fit this category.

Entries close on Thursday, October 25, 2018, 10 a.m. CET, when I’ll draw the winners using a random numbers generator. I’ll notify winners via email. Your email address won’t be used for any other purpose.

Subscribe to this blog so you won’t miss the next book bingo post

The reading list for the next bingo square—f/f holiday books—will be posted on November 1. Subscribe to my blog so you won’t miss it. There’ll be another giveaway too!

Happy reading!
Jae

The post Paranormal books (Lesbian Book Bingo #21) appeared first on Jae.

Books Featuring Butch/Femme Couples (Lesbian Book Bingo #20)

As we’re slowly approaching the end of the year and of Lesbian Book Bingo, I would be amiss not to include a list of books featuring butch/femme couples. Most of these are romance novels in which a butch and a femme character meet and fall in love.

15 GREAT LESBIAN BOOKS THAT FEATURE BUTCH/FEMME COUPLES

I’ve put together a list of 15 books featuring butch/femme couples I hope you’ll enjoy.

Criminal Gold by Ann Aptaker

New York, 1952. Midnight. Cantor Gold, dapper, custom tailored butch-about-town, smuggler of fine art and treasure, waits in her small boat under the Brooklyn Bridge to complete a smuggling operation: the delivery of a priceless jewel. But the plan, and the jewel, sink when a woman in a red sequined dress plummets from the bridge, smashing down on Cantor’s boat, capsizing it. The dead woman and the lost jewel trigger a night of danger, desire, and double-cross, when Cantor—and a seductress who excites Cantor’s passion but ensnares her in a labyrinth of lies—run for their lives, and into an explosion of love, lust, loyalty…and murder.

Available at:Bold Strokes BooksAmazonApple iBooks

Lost for Words by Andrea Bramhall

Massage therapist Sasha’s meddlesome mother and best friend conspire to shake up her mundane existence by entering her into a scriptwriting contest. She’s not entirely sure how she feels about the life-upending chaos that ensues, which includes meeting an attractive, perfectionist film producer. A bittersweet lesbian romantic comedy about the fun of never knowing what life will bring.

Available at:Ylva PublishingAmazonApple iBooks

Unexpected by Jenny Frame

When Dale McGuire falls for Rebecca Harper, the mother of the son she never knew she had, will Rebecca’s troubled past stop them from making the family they both truly crave? 

Available at:
Bold Strokes BooksAmazonApple iBooksAudible (audio book)

Fearless by Shira Glassman

Lana Novak hasn’t played violin in over twenty years, her musical life these days confined to being a devoted band mom to her clarinet whiz daughter Robin. She didn’t think she could get back into it after this long, but Melanie Feinberg, the outgoing, enthusiastic, and very cute butch orchestra director from Robin’s school, has other ideas.

Available at:
Amazon

Break in the Storm (WeHo series, book 2) by Sherryl D. Hancock

Ex-Special Forces bodyguard Quinn Kavanaugh takes a job protecting up-and-coming singer Xandy Blue. Little does she know the diminutive lavender-eyed singer is far from the drama queen type that Quinn can’t stand. When the tragedies of Xandy’s young live catch up with her, can Quinn save the day to bring a Break in the Storm?

Available at:
Amazon

Departure from the Script by Jae

Amanda isn’t looking for a relationship – and certainly not with Michelle. She has never been attracted to a butch woman before, and Michelle personifies the term butch. Having just landed a role on a TV show, Amanda is determined to focus on her career. But after a date that is not a date and some meddling from her grandmother, she wonders if it’s not time for a departure from her dating script.

Available at:
Ylva PublishingAmazonApple iBooks

Inside Out by Susan X. Meagher

In Washington, DC, a town hungry for gossip, it’s political blogger Kit Travis’s job to feed the beast—under a closely guarded pseudonym. Kit meets Bailey Jones, a strikingly pretty software engineer who turns heads with her androgynous sense of style. Bailey challenges Kit’s priorities and her preconceived beliefs about herself. As they begin to fall in love, Bailey reveals that being out and proud as a couple is integral to her happiness. Can a woman who values her anonymity like a treasure abandon it for the sake of love?

Available at:
Brisk PressAmazon

Safe Harbor (Provincetown Tales, book 1) by Radclyffe

Reese Conlon, Lt.Col USMCR, is the new sheriff who has heads turning amidst speculation as to who will be the first woman to capture her attentions. Doctor Victoria King has been betrayed by love once and refuses to risk heartbreak again. Brianna Parker, the teenaged daughter of Reese’s chief, fears her father’s wrath when he learns that she loves another girl. As these three women struggle to live and love in freedom, they risk their hearts and souls to give one another a Safe Harbor.

Available at:
Bold Strokes BooksAmazonApple iBooksAudible (audio book)

Built to Last by Aurora Rey

After moving to upstate New York from Atlanta, Olivia Bennett falls in love with and purchases an old, run-down farmhouse. The only catch: she knows nothing about renovating a house, taking care of land, or snow. Joss Bauer is a New York native who grew up in her family’s construction business. She has a soft spot for old houses, but no patience for overpaid debutantes who want to play at country living.

Available at:
Bold Strokes BooksAmazonApple iBooksAudible (audio book)

Switching Gears by Rhavensfyre

Micah is young, dark, and dangerous, Olivia is the epitome of the woman in a power suit, but when the two of them get together, the power dynamics will take your breath away. More than just an erotic love story, this novel will move you in ways you will never suspect as you follow their journey of discovery and healing.

Available at:Amazon

Courageous Love by KC Richardson

When Alex is diagnosed with a devastating disease, her role is changed from caregiver to patient and she prepares for the fight of her life. Frank Greco has developed intense feelings for Alex, but wonders if she has it in her to take care of another woman she loves who has become sick. However, she sees this as an opportunity to do things differently this time around.

Will Alex and Frank be able to overcome Alex’s illness, and their own demons, to embrace love?

Available at:
Bold Strokes BooksAmazonApple iBooksAudible (audio book)

Close to Home by Rachel Spangler

Kelly Rolen, a smart, focused, and closeted accountant with a respectable, if unexciting life in Darlington, Illinois hires the young and brash Elliot Garza to help her through tax season—but can their future add up to something greater than the sum of their escalating attraction, or will the answer to their equation end up hitting too close to home?

Available at:
Bywater BooksAmazonApple iBooks

The Devil Inside (Cain Casey series, book 1) by Ali Vali

Derby Cain Casey was groomed from birth to take the reins of the Casey family enterprises, which just happens to be one of the major crime organizations in New Orleans. Cain is as careful with her heart as she is with her business—until she met Emma Verde. The farm girl from Wisconsin puts a hit out on Cain’s heart and leads her down a dangerous road filled with great joy and devastating sorrow.

Available at:
Bold Strokes BooksAmazonApple iBooksAudible (audio book)

Whiskey Sunrise by Missouri Vaun

Culture and religion collide when Lovey Porter, daughter of a local Baptist minister, falls for the handsome thrill seeking moonshine runner, Royal Duval.

Available at:
Bold Strokes BooksAmazonApple iBooks  

Between the Lines (Cops and Docs #3) by KD Williamson

Cool, detached psychiatrist Tonya Preston prefers dealing with her patients more than her family. When her path dramatically crosses that of irrepressible rookie cop Haley Jordan, she’s thrown out of her comfort zone. A simmering attraction draws them close. But will it be enough when work, family and a confronting police case start to tear at them?

Available at:Ylva PublishingAmazonApple iBooks

If you haven’t done so already, download your bingo card, pick the book you want to read for the “butch/femme couples” square, and start reading! Remember that you can either read one of the 15 books listed above or pick another lesbian book featuring a butch/femme couple.

Lesbian Book bingo giveaway: Win a book by leaving a comment

For the butch/femme couples square, I’m giving away an e-book copy of:

Lost for Words by Andrea Bramhall
Fearless by Shira Glassman
Safe Harbor by Radclyffe

Anyone can enter. To be entered into the drawing, leave a comment on this blog and let us know which book you’re going to read for the “butch/femme couples” square or if you can think of other lesbian books that fit this category.

Entries close on Thursday, October 11, 2018, 10 a.m. CET, when I’ll draw the winners using a random numbers generator. I’ll notify winners via email. Your email address won’t be used for any other purpose.

Subscribe to this blog so you won’t miss the next book bingo post

The reading list for the next bingo square—paranormal books—will be posted on October 18. Subscribe to my blog so you won’t miss it. There’ll be another giveaway too!

Happy reading!
Jae

The post Books Featuring Butch/Femme Couples (Lesbian Book Bingo #20) appeared first on Jae.