Jae's Blog, page 34
June 21, 2018
Erotica and erotic romance (Lesbian Book Bingo #13)
As summer is beginning (at least for readers in the northern hemisphere) and temperatures are rising, it’s time to heat up our reading too!
Here’s the recommended reading list for the lesbian erotica and erotic romance square.
15 GREAT LESBIAN EROTICA AND EROTIC ROMANCE BOOKS
I’ve put together a list of 15 f/f erotica and erotic romance books that I hope you’ll enjoy.
A Touch of Temptation by Julie Blair
Law graduate Kate Dawson is focused on the future laid out for her—partnership in her family’s law firm and marriage. When she moves to a cabin in the mountains to study for the bar exam, she crosses paths with handsome butch top Chris, who enthusiastically agrees to initiate her beautiful neighbor to sexual pleasure. Sex was the deal. Falling in love ruins everything. Or does it?
Available at:
Bold Strokes Books
Amazon
Apple iBooks
Audible (audiobook)
Once in a Lifetime by Harper Bliss
Leigh Sterling and Jodie Whitehouse share a deep love and extreme passion in the bedroom. However, their differing desires for the future force them to go through life separately. When they see each other again eleven years after their painful breakup, an opportunity arises to explore if they really were each other’s one true love.
Available at:
Amazon
Apple iBooks
The Club by A.L. Brooks
Welcome to The Club—leave your inhibitions and your everyday cares at the door, and indulge yourself in an evening of anonymous, no-strings, woman-on-woman action. For many visitors to The Club, this is exactly what they are looking for, and what they get. For others, however, the emotions run high, and one night of sex changes their lives in ways they couldn’t have imagined.
Available at:
Ylva Publishing
Amazon
Apple iBooks
Hot Line by Alison Grey
Two women from different worlds. Linda, a successful psychologist, uses her work to distance herself from her loneliness. Christina works for a sex hotline to make ends meet. Their worlds collide when Linda calls Christina’s sex line. Instead of wanting phone sex, Linda makes an unexpected proposition. Does Christina dare accept the offer that will change both their lives?
Available at:
Ylva Publishing
Amazon
Apple iBooks
Nights of Silk & Sapphire by Amber Jacobs
Dae is rescued from desert slavers by the mysterious Zafirah Al’Intisar and placed as a prize in the Scion’s harem. At first, Dae struggles with desires she has never before experienced, but as love and lust collide these two women slowly forge a bond.
Available at:
Ylva Publishing
Amazon
Apple iBooks
Strange Bedfellows (Strange Bedfellows series, book 1) by Q. Kelly
What happens when the queen of the ex-gay movement decides to come out of the closet? The person who helps Frances Dourne with this enormous task is a call girl Frances hires. A call girl with a secret of her own. Can they learn to trust each other enough to find the love they seek in each other’s arms?
Available at:
Amazon
Apple iBooks
Denial by Jackie Kennedy
Time spent in Somalia has Doctor Celeste Cameron accustomed to living and working in a war zone. Danger seems to follow Celeste and she finds it in the shape of Amy. What Celeste feels for Amy scares her more than anything she has faced in war zones.
Available at:
Affinity E-Book Press
Amazon
Apple iBooks
Behind the Green Curtain by Riley LaShea
When Caton’s sleazy boss offers her a position as his wife’s personal assistant, she accepts the job with reservations, certain Jack Halston has ulterior motives.
After meeting his wife Amelia, though, it’s Caton’s motivations that begin to unravel. As vicious as she is beautiful, Amelia threatens Caton’s position and her sense of decorum.
As the attraction between the two women spirals into a torrid affair, Caton is drawn deeper into Jack and Amelia’s world of privilege and prestige, where everything is at stake and nothing is what it seems.
Available at:
Amazon
Apple iBooks
Thirteen Hours by Meghan O’Brien
Can you fall in love in thirteen hours? It’s her birthday but lonely workaholic Dana Watts is at the office late, drafting a proposal. Laurel Stanley performs strip-o-grams to pay her way through school. She has never encountered a more ungrateful recipient than Dana.
Available at:
Bold Strokes Books
Amazon
Apple iBooks
Audible (audiobook)
Don’t Be Shy by Astrid Ohletz & Jae
25 sultry, sensual, kinky erotica short stories with a smart, sexy twist: A woman talks her girlfriend into an arduous mountain hike, only to reveal a naughty al fresco birthday surprise when they reach the peak; a tempestuous opera diva finally makes her longsuffering servant remember why she continues in her mistress’s employ; in the shadow of a rocket launch, a bed-and-breakfast owner reaches new heights of sexual satisfaction from a guest she almost turned away; a woman takes a risk with a compelling stranger in a dive bar and is rewarded with an unforgettable night with an experienced dom. Celebrate the pleasures of the female flesh without having to check your mind at the door. Come, don’t be shy, take a peek inside—you won’t regret it.
Available at:
Ylva Publishing
Amazon
Apple iBooks
Fire on the Ice by Tamsen Parker
Blaze Bellamy is the bad girl of the short track speed skating world, and she’s determined to get onto the front pages of the papers regardless of how she has to do it.
Serious, modest, and polite, Maisy Harper of the Canadian women’s figure skating team would prefer to win her victory on the ice rather than in the press and is exasperated by Blaze’s antics. When she’s not lusting after her anyway, which she has been since the last Snow and Ice Games during which they had a whirlwind affair.
They both harbor fond memories of their time together and are keen for a repeat, but they’ve got different ways of going about getting what they want, and Blaze’s willingness to go to any lengths for the spotlight could ruin any chance she has with Maisy.
Available at:
Amazon
Apple iBooks
Shameless by Brit Ryder
Fire Investigator Emery Pearson doesn’t have time for a relationship. Sex is always on the table, though. Finding the perfect woman who only wants a quick hookup seems like a fantasy, but when she meets Lily online, the fantasy turns to reality. Their tête-à-tête at the museum is more than Emery could imagine—satisfying, exciting, and passionate. Can Emery walk away from sex this good, or can a spontaneous interlude open her heart to more?
Available at:
Bold Strokes Books
Amazon
Shadow Haven by AJ Schippers
A holiday on a private island comes with an erotic surprise when Julia meets the alluring Alexandra, a professional dominatrix. An explosive first meeting leads to friendship and something more sensual. Can Julia overcome her fears to explore a submissive relationship with Alexandra? What happens when power is not just left to the imagination?
Available at:
Ylva Publishing
Amazon
Apple iBooks
Heart’s Surrender by Emma Weimann
Neither Samantha Freedman nor Gillian Jennings are looking for a relationship when they begin a no-strings-attached affair. But soon simple attraction turns into something more.
What happens when the worlds of a handywoman and a pampered housewife collide? Can nights of hot, erotic fun lead to love, or will these two very different women go their separate ways?
Available at:
Ylva Publishing
Amazon
Apple iBooks
Audible (audiobook)
Hungry For It (How Sweet It Is, book 2) by Fiona Zedde
Club owner and Miami socialite, Rémi Bouchard, is a lady’s woman. With her money, good looks, and limitless charm, she can have just about anyone she wants. The problem is the woman she wants happens to be her best friend’s mother. Has Rémi finally come up against a challenge even she can’t conquer?
Available at:
Amazon
Apple iBooks
If you haven’t done so already, download your bingo card, pick the book you want to read for the lesbian erotica & erotic romance square, and start reading! Remember that you can either read one of the 15 books listed above or pick another f/f erotica or erotic romance book.
Lesbian Book bingo giveaway: Win a book by leaving a comment
For the erotica & erotic romance square, I’m giving away an e-book copy of:
Hot Line by Alison Grey
Heart’s Surrender by Emma Weimann
Hungry for It by Fiona Zedde
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 erotica & erotic romance square or if you can think of other lesbian books that fit this category.
Entries close on Thursday, June 28, 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 will be posted on July 5. Subscribe to my blog so you won’t miss it. There’ll be another giveaway too!
Important notice to make sure you don’t miss any of the Lesbian Book Bingo posts!
The data protection laws have changed on May 25, so I’m asking you to re-subscribe to my blog if you want to get each new book bingo post sent to your in-box.
Happy reading!
Jae
The post Erotica and erotic romance (Lesbian Book Bingo #13) appeared first on Jae.
June 7, 2018
LGBTQIA+ characters (Lesbian Book Bingo #12)
While Lesbian Book Bingo is named after the category that booksellers like Amazon sort most of the women-loving-women books into, it’s really a reading challenge for and about all women who are attracted to women.
Since June is pride month, I want this month’s focus to be on the often neglected, ignored, or erased sexual orientations and identities within the LGBTQIA+ community.
So for this square, please read a book with at least one female main character who is bisexual, pansexual, asexual, aromantic, trans, intersex, queer, or identifies in some other way that is not straight or lesbian and cis.
If you’re not sure what some of these terms mean, this might be a great time to read up on it. Queer Pack offers an explanation of queer terms here, but there are many other sources of information out there too.
15 GREAT BOOKS WITH LGBTQIA+ main characters
I’ve put together a list of 15 books with LGBTQIA+ main characters that I hope you’ll enjoy.
Out on Good Behavior (Radleigh University, book 3) by Dahlia Adler
Pansexual main character
Frankie Bellisario knows she can get anyone she sets her sights on, though Samara Kazarian, the daughter of a southern Republican mayor, just might be pushing it. But when it turns out her attraction is reciprocated, they’ll both need to lay down some ground rules to protect their hearts.
Available at:
Amazon
Apple iBooks
Outcaste by Fletcher DeLancey
Asexual character
Rahel Sayana is desperate to escape the life her parents have planned for her. She runs away to the dangerous port city of Whitesun and becomes an outcaste: a person of no caste and few rights. A planetary threat pulls her into the biggest battle in Alsean history, then into a treacherous game of power. The loss of both her honor and caste sends her reeling, but Rahel has always made her own fate. She gambles everything on one final chance. Will giving up her hopes lead to the highest honor of all?
Available at:
Heartsome Publishing
Amazon
Cricket by Barbara Dennis
Intersex character
After the death of her partner, Cricket tries to find the will to go on. With the love of old friends and the excitement of new adventures, she finds new meaning and quite possibly new love.
Available at:
Amazon
Reintegration by Eden S. French
Bisexual and trans characters
Streetwise cyborg Lexi Vale brokers deals for gang lords in the anarchic city of Foundation. Her mind-reading implant gives her a crucial edge—but it also makes her brain a hot commodity.
When she’s targeted by an augmented hunter, Lexi joins a group of rebels: a murderous vigilante, a daredevil smuggler, a drug-addled surgeon, and a revolutionary whose shared past with Lexi endangers them all.
Available at:
Ylva Publishing
Amazon
Apple iBooks
Knit One, Girl Two by Shira Glassman
Bisexual main character
Small-batch independent yarn dyer Clara Ziegler is eager to brainstorm new color combinations—if only she could come up with ideas she likes as much as last time! When she sees Danielle Solomon’s paintings of Florida wildlife by chance at a neighborhood gallery, she finds her source of inspiration. Outspoken, passionate, and complicated, Danielle herself soon proves even more captivating than her artwork.
Available at:
Amazon
Being Emily by Rachel Gold
Trans main character
They say that whoever you are it’s okay, you were born that way. Those words don’t comfort Emily, because she was born Christopher and her insides know that her outsides are all wrong.
Available at:
Bella Books
Amazon
Apple iBooks
Perfect Rhythm by Jae
Homoromantic asexual main character, aromantic supporting character
Pop star Leontyne Blake is over love and women falling for her image. When she heads home to be near her sick father, she meets small-town nurse Holly, an asexual woman who has no interest in dating, sex, or Leo’s fame. Can their tentative friendship develop into something more despite their diverse expectations?
Available at:
Ylva Publishing
Amazon
Apple iBooks
Audible (audiobook)
Vow of Celibacy by Erin Judge
Bisexual main character
Natalie has made a promise: a vow of celibacy, signed and witnessed by her best friend. After a string of sexual conquests, she is determined to figure out why the intense romantic connections she’s spent her life chasing have left her emotionally high and dry. As Natalie sifts through her past and her present, she confronts her complicated feelings about her plus-sized figure, her bisexuality, and her thwarted career in fashion design.
Available at:
Rare Bird Books
Amazon
Apple iBooks
Finding Your Feet by Cass Lennox
Trans main character, asexual main character
Unlikely circumstances land Evie—tourist, ace, non-dancer—in a dance competition just in time for Toronto Pride. Her friends think this is great, but she’s not so convinced, especially when she meets her dance partner. Tyler—local, trans, dancer—is a guy who’s stuck in a rut and knows it. The competition, and Evie, aren’t what he wants, but might be exactly what he needs in order to move forward.
Available at:
Amazon
Apple iBooks
Tengoku by Rae D. Magdon
Trans main character, bisexual main character
Aozora Kaede has run away from home. She’s forced to become a wanderer, with a spirit wolf as her only companion. Homura Imari, daughter of a daimyo, needs a favor. Someone must guide her to a faraway mountain and a magical blacksmith who can repair her missing left hand. Together, they must travel across the treacherous Jade Sea, protect themselves from Kaede’s vengeful family, and perhaps even save the Empire from destruction.
Available at:
Desert Palm Press
Amazon
Apple iBooks
Not Otherwise Specified by Hannah Moskowitz
Bisexual main character
Etta is tired of dealing with all of the labels that seem so important to everyone else in her small Nebraska hometown. Everywhere she turns, someone feels she’s too fringe for the fringe. Not gay enough for the Dykes, her ex-clique; not tiny and white enough for ballet, her first passion; not sick enough to look anorexic (partially thanks to recovery). Etta doesn’t fit anywhere—until she meets Bianca, the straight, white, Christian, and seriously sick girl in Etta’s therapy group.
Available at:
Amazon
Apple iBooks
Roller Girl by Vanessa North
Trans main character
Derby offers recently divorced Tina an outlet for her frustrations, a chance to excel, and the female friendships she’s never had before. And as Tina starts to thrive at derby, the tension between her and Coach Joanne “Joe” Delario cranks up. Despite their player/coach relationship, they give in to their mutual attraction. Sex in secret is hot, but Tina can’t help wanting more.
Available at:
Amazon
Apple iBooks
Just Juliet by Charlotte Reagan
Bisexual main character
Lena Newman is 17, her best friend’s a cheerleader, her boyfriend’s a football player, and as far as everyone is concerned, her life is sorted. But that’s before she befriends the new girl. Juliet is confident, slightly damaged, drop-dead gorgeous and a lesbian.
Lena realizes that her interest goes beyond just friendship. She sets off on a path of self-discovery where the loyalty of those closest to her will be tested.
Available at:
Amazon
Audible (audiobook)
London Harmony: Squid Hugs by Erik Schubach
Trans main character
Zilrita was at the top of her game, managing the most successful record label in Europe, London Harmony. There was nothing that could derail the squid hugging goth woman, except the smile of the woman she secretly longed for, their receptionist, Jennifer.
After an emergency calls her back to Denver after being away for thirteen years, Zilrita is forced to re-examine her life and face some truths she has hidden herself away from.
Available at:
Amazon
Apple iBooks
Thaw by Elyse Springer
Asexual main character
Abigail is content with her quiet life as a librarian. But when she’s invited to a high-profile charity auction, she finds herself dancing with one of the most beautiful women she’s ever met, supermodel Gabrielle Levesque. Gabrielle has a reputation as the Ice Queen, except she warms up whenever she’s with Abby. But Abby isn’t interested in the heat between them; she’s asexual, and she’s worried that admitting as much to Gabrielle might spell the end of their blooming romance.
Available at:
Amazon
If you haven’t done so already, download your bingo card, pick the book you want to read for the LGBTQIA+ characters square, and start reading! Remember that you can either read one of the 15 books listed above or pick another book that fits the category.
Book bingo giveaway: Win a book by leaving a comment
For the LGBTQIA+ characters square, I’m giving away an e-book copy of:
Reintegration by Eden S. FrenchBeing Emily by Rachel GoldNot Otherwise Specified by Hannah MoskowitzAnyone 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 LGBTQIA+ characters square or if you can think of another book that fits this category.
Entries close on Thursday, June 14, 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—erotic romance—will be posted on June 21. Subscribe to my blog so you won’t miss it. There’ll be another giveaway too!
Important notice to make sure you don’t miss any of the book bingo posts!
The data protection laws have changed on May 25, so I’m asking you to re-subscribe to my blog if you want to get each new book bingo post sent to your in-box.
Happy reading!
Jae
The post LGBTQIA+ characters (Lesbian Book Bingo #12) appeared first on Jae.
May 31, 2018
Free choice square (Lesbian Book Bingo #11)
I initially hadn’t planned on putting together a list of recommended books for the “free choice” square of the Lesbian Book Bingo—after all, you’re completely free to pick whatever book you want for this square, as long as it has a female main character who’s attracted to women.
But I’ve been asked for a little guidance by several readers who can’t make up their mind or want to be pointed toward books that aren’t on their radar so far, so I decided to put together a list of recommended reads for this square after all. It’s not as if there could ever be too many recommended books, right?
Here’s how I picked the books on this list: I asked readers on Twitter and in several groups on Facebook to name their favorite lesbian fiction book(s). The books that got the most mentions made it on this list. Since we had several draws, I finally decided to have 20, not just 15 books.
Initially, I wanted to take out all the books that already made it onto the reading lists for other squares, but that was half the list, so I just went by the number of mentions.
20 LESBIAN BOOKS THAT WERE NAMED AS A READER FAVORITE MOST OFTEN
In alphabetical order (sorted by author name), here are the 20 lesbian novels that readers named as their favorite most often:
Pennance by Clare Ashton
Lucy is haunted by the death of her partner, Jake. She lives in a small, introverted village in Cornwall called Pennance, and is surrounded by Jake’s family and memories of him. She feels intensely guilty about his death and thinks someone is out to get her in retribution. Relief appears to come when a new neighbour, Karen, enters her life, but is that when the real threat begins?
Available at:
Amazon
Apple iBooks
Mine by Georgia Beers
Three years after Courtney McAllister loses her partner in a car accident, she’s finally trying to move forward. She’s even dated halfheartedly over the past year, but no one is able to penetrate her emotional barricades until she meets aggressive real estate broker Rachel Hart.
Available at:
Bold Strokes Books
Amazon
Apple iBooks
Audible (audiobook)
Strawberry Summer by Melissa Brayden
When Margaret Beringer’s first love Courtney Carrington returns to their small town, she must grapple with their troubled past and fight the temptation for a very delicious future.
Available at:
Bold Strokes Books
Amazon
Apple iBooks
Audible (audiobook)
Stoner McTavish by Sarah Dreher
Meet lesbian travel agent turned reluctant detective, Stoner McTavish and her friends, on their first adventure to Grand Teton National Park, where she falls in love with her dream lover, Gwen, whom she must rescue from almost certain death.
Available at:
Amazon
Curious Wine by Katherine V. Forrest
The intimacy of a cabin at Lake Tahoe provides the combustible circumstances that bring Diana Holland and Lane Christianson together in this passionate novel of first discovery.
Available at:
Bella Books
Amazon
Apple iBooks
Audible (audiobook)
Something So Grand by Lynn Galli
As a designer for the wealthy, Vivian Yeats doesn’t have a lot of time for a relationship. Despite being her favorite subject in books and on screen, romance constantly eludes her.
For Natalie Harper, romance has never been on her radar. She prefers working hard at her construction job. When they meet, both are knocked off that focused path.
Available at:
Amazon
Gulf Breeze by Gerri Hill
Wildlife biologist Dr. Carly Cambridge returns to the Texas Gulf Coast to manage the latest Habitats for Nature project. Having sworn off women and relationships, Carly is perfectly content to live her life alone. But then wildlife photographer Pat Ryan is duped into volunteering her talents to the cause.
Available at:
Bella Books
Amazon
Apple iBooks
Backwards to Oregon by Jae
“Luke” Hamilton accepted that she would spend her life alone when she chose to live her life disguised as a man. After working in a brothel for three years, Nora Macauley no longer hopes for a man who will sweep her off her feet and take her away to begin a new, respectable life.
But now they find themselves married and on the way to Oregon in a covered wagon, with two thousand miles ahead of them.
Available at:
Ylva Publishing
Amazon
Apple iBooks
Daughter of Mystery by Heather Rose Jones
An unexpected inheritance fuels Margerit Sovitre’s dream of becoming a scholar, not simply making a good marriage. But the least expected part of that legacy is the swordswoman Barbara, who may be the only person standing between her and a charge of sorcery and treason.
Available at:
Bella Books
Amazon
Apple iTunes
The Kiss That Counted by Karin Kallmaker
CJ Roshe is a successful businesswoman with a dark past, so she never makes any connections that go deeper than one night, but when she meets kind-hearted Karita, she starts wishing for something more. Karita has always lived for today while she waits for tomorrow to happen. One kiss couldn’t change all that–unless it’s the kiss that counted.
Available at:
Bella Books
Amazon
Apple iBooks
Heartwood by Catherine Lane
When the law firm she works for sends Nikka to the Springs, home of lesbian author Beth Walker, she is determined to prove herself to her boss, Lea.
But nothing is as it seems. Beth is hiding her past with a film star. Lea may be keeping Beth prisoner in her own home. The only person who knows the truth is adorably impulsive Maggie.
Will Nikka dare look into the mystery—and into her own heart?
Available at:
Ylva Publishing
Amazon
Apple iBooks
And Playing the Role of Herself by K.E. Lane
Actress Caidence Harris is living her dreams after landing a leading role among the star-studded, veteran cast of 9th Precinct, a hot new police drama. When she meets her beautiful co-star Robyn, Caid is instantly infatuated but settles for friendship, positive that Robyn is both unavailable and uninterested. Soon Caid sees that all is not as it appears, but can she take a chance and risk her heart when the outcome is so uncertain?
Available at:
Amazon
Audible (audiobook)
Depths of Blue by Lise MacTague
For Torrin Ivanov, life is a bargaining table. Every planet is a new business opportunity. Legality is optional and supplying one side in a local civil war always adds up to profit. Jak Stowell is at war within a war. A woman hidden in the heart of a male-only army, her brother’s murder has left her desperate for vengeance. These two women on a collision course set off a chain reaction of intergalactic intrigue—and awaken a dangerous passion that could cost them their lives.
Available at:
Bella Books
Amazon
Apple iBooks
All That Matters by Susan X. Meagher
Dr. Kylie Mackenzie’s happily gay, Blair Spencer’s happily straight. Their friendship is so intense friends and family start to question whether they’re setting themselves up for heartache. The question is whether each woman can change her view of both herself and her needs. The answer is All That Matters.
Available at:
Brisk Press
Amazon
Thirteen Hours by Meghan O’Brien
Can you fall in love in 13 hours? It’s her birthday but lonely workaholic Dana Watts is at the office late, drafting a proposal. The very last interruption she expects comes in the form of the most beautiful breasts she has ever seen. These belong to an incredibly hot woman, who is standing in front of her, stripping to music.
Available at:
Bold Strokes Books
Amazon
Apple iBooks
Audible (audiobook)
Fated Love by Radclyffe
What do you do when your carefully planned life takes a wrong turn into hell? When Quinn Maguire, a dashing young trauma surgeon, unaccountably accepts a position as an ER physician, her new boss, Honor Blake, suspects that Quinn is hiding a dark secret. While the two declare an uneasy truce in an effort to work together, both struggle with mutual, and unexpected, attraction.
Available at:
Bold Strokes Books
Amazon
Apple iTunes
Audible (audiobook)
An Outsider Inside by RJ Samuel
For Irish-Indian lesbian activist, JAYA DILLON, an outsider who craves belonging over all else, survival depends on hiding the truth of who she is and who she loves – from herself. She discovers a manuscript, written by an Indian woman, Lana, who disappeared in worrying circumstances. Jaya is drawn into a fictional world that may be truer than reality.
Available at:
Amazon
The Devil Inside 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 Books
Amazon
Apple iBooks
Audible (audiobook)
Fingersmith by Sarah Waters
Sue Trinder is an orphan, left as an infant in the care of Mrs. Sucksby. One day, the most beloved thief of all arrives—Gentleman, an elegant con man, who carries with him an enticing proposition for Sue: If she wins a position as the maid to Maud Lilly, a naïve gentlewoman, and aids Gentleman in her seduction, they will all share in Maud’s vast inheritance.
Available at:
Amazon
Apple iBooks
Audible (audiobook)
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 “free choice” square, and start reading! Remember that you can either read one of the 20 books listed above or pick another book with a female main character who’s attracted to women.
Lesbian Book bingo giveaway: Win a book by leaving a comment
For the “free choice” square, I’m giving away an e-book copy of:
Backwards to Oregon by JaeHeartwood by Catherine LaneRequiem for Immortals by Lee WinterAnyone can enter. To be entered into the drawing, leave a comment on this blog and either name your favorite lesbian fiction novel or let us know which book you’re going to read for the “free choice” square.
Entries close on Thursday, June 7, 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.
Important notice to make sure you don’t miss any of the Lesbian Book Bingo posts!
The data protection laws have changed on May 25, so I’m asking you to re-subscribe to my blog (even if you had already subscribed before May) if you want to get each new book bingo post sent to your in-box.
Happy reading!
Jae
The post Free choice square (Lesbian Book Bingo #11) appeared first on Jae.
May 9, 2018
Lesbian foodie romance (Lesbian Book Bingo #10)
It’s time for another popular subgenre: lesbian foodie romances!
Foodie romance novels—sometimes also called culinary romances—are romance novels in which food and the preparation of food are an integral part of the plot. Usually, at least one of the main characters works in the food business as a chef, a chocolatier, a pastry chef, a bakery owner, a food critic, a restaurant manager, or a caterer. These delicious reads are sure to leave you hungry for more!
You don’t need to limit yourself to food-themed books. Think about beverages too! I would count books with characters who work as vintners, brewery owners, baristas, bartenders, or sommeliers as foodie romances too.
15 GREAT LESBIAN FOODIE ROMANCES
I’ve put together a list of 15 lesbian foodie romances I hope you’ll enjoy.
First Course by J.A. Armstrong (First Course series, book 1)
When charming chef Devon and quirky businesswoman Carrie meet, they immediately feel a strange connection. As their friendship progresses, they discover that they have a few quirky things in common—a love of Star Wars, a love of women, and best friends who constantly need them to come to the rescue.
Available at:Amazon
Starting from Scratch by Georgia Beers
What happens when your life takes an unexpected turn? What happens when you need to protect the one you love from the one you want to love? What happens when you lose something you never knew you wanted? Award-winning author Georgia Beers brings to you her long-awaited seventh novel, Starting from Scratch, a story where learning, laughing, loving, and baked goods are just a few of life’s basic ingredients.
Available at:Brisk PressAmazonAudible (audiobook)
Where the Light Glows by Dena Blake
Sometimes what you need is right in front of you, all you have to do is open your eyes… Mel Thomas doesn’t realize just how unhappy she is in her marriage until she meets Izzy Calabrese. Will she have the courage to overcome her insecurities and follow her heart?
Available at:Bold Strokes BooksAmazonApple iBooksAudible (audiobook)
How Sweet It Is by Melissa Brayden
Molly O’Brien is a sweetheart. After losing the love of her life four years prior in a plane crash, Molly thinks she’s ready to navigate the dicey dating waters once again. When Jordan Tuscana, the beautiful younger sister of her lost love, returns to town, Molly finds her interest piqued in a manner she wasn’t prepared for.
Available at:Bold Strokes BooksAmazonApple iBooksAudible (audiobook)
Taste by Kris Bryant
Accomplished chef Taryn has walked away from her career in the city’s top restaurant to devote her life to her five-year-old daughter and is content until Ki Blake comes along. Ki and Taryn try their best to resist the undeniable chemistry between them. And when at last they begin a passionate affair that must be kept a secret, they are each convinced it’s only a short fling. Have they found something genuine, or is the taste of romance they’ve had truly enough?
Available at:Bold Strokes BooksAmazonApple iBooksAudible (audiobook)
Veritas by MJ Duncan
To accomplished sous chef Lauren Murphy, working as a chef aboard a private yacht is a dream come true. Enter Grey Wells, the owner and captain of the Veritas and the most complicated person Lauren has ever met. Even though Grey is cold and distant one minute and then cautiously friendly the next, Lauren is compelled to get to know her better. What happens when she does, however, is enough to change both of their lives forever.
Available at:Amazon
For the Love of Cake by Erin Dutton
Maya Vaughn, the hottest young pastry chef to emerge from the reality television machine, takes a turn as a judge on the very show that launched her career, expecting to find a nice change of scenery and a little diversion. Shannon Hayes, a late bloomer at forty-two years old, is finally on the precipice of achieving her dreams. She has one shot to prove she can compete with chefs half her age and with much more experience.
Available at:Bold Strokes BooksAmazonApple iBooks
Add Spice to Taste by R.G. Emanuelle
Jo Rossini teaches cooking classes at The New York Culinary Institute, but is struggling to make ends meet. Her heart was shattered with the end of her long-term relationship, but during a Moroccan cooking class, she finds herself attracted to Julianna, one of her students, and must deal with her own weaknesses and past mistakes. Can Jo find the courage to allow Julianna past her self-imposed boundaries and allow herself to love again? This novella contains original recipe and photos of dishes from Jo’s Moroccan cooking class.
Available at:Amazon
All You Can Eat by RG Emanuelle & Andi Marquette
Chef R.G. Emanuelle and sous chef Andi Marquette locked themselves in the kitchen to create a menu that would explore the sensuous qualities of food and illustrate how the act of preparing and eating it can engage many more senses than simply taste and smell. They gathered a great group of cooks who put together an array of dishes that we hope will whet your appetite and send you back for seconds.
Available at:Ylva PublishingAmazonApple iBooks
Sugar by Karin Kallmaker
Three women want sugar from Sugar, who can’t make up her mind. Finding Ms. Right is no piece of cake.
Available at:
Bella Books
Amazon
Apple iBooks
Chef’s Special by Susan X. Meagher
Emily Desjardins is finally poised at her goal—cooking at the kind of restaurant she’d love to one day own. Blake Chadwick, her new boss, is classically trained, and has stunningly high standards. She’s also demanding, inflexible, ridiculously confident and so hot it’s almost silly.
Emily’s challenge will be to keep her mind on the job as Blake pervades her thoughts, her dreams, and eventually, her body.
Available at:
Brisk Press
Amazon
Side Order of Love by Tracey Richardson
A celebrity chef and a pro golfer possess all the ingredients for a tasty romance, but will it be a forgetful snack or a full course meal to remember?
Available at:Bella BooksAmazonApple iBooks
Perfect Pairing by Rachel Spangler
What happens when a woman who never settles for “no” collides with a woman who never settles down? Chef Hal Orion loves life, her food truck, and the city of Buffalo. Investment banker, Quinn Banning has a plan to help make Buffalo great again. Can these two women learn that sometimes the most distinctive ingredients make for the perfect pairing?
Available at:Bywater BooksAmazonApple iBooks
Month of Sundays by Yolanda Wallace
Love doesn’t always happen overnight. Sometimes it takes a month of Sundays. If conservative accountant Rachel Bauer accepts celebrity chef Griffin Sutton’s culinary-themed proposition, will she find more than a good meal?
Available at:
Bold Strokes BooksAmazonApple iBooks
Ferrelli’s Restaurant (Forever Woman series, book 5) by BL Wilson
Restaurant owner Maria Ferrelli meets bitter English Lit professor Leah Williams when she sends every course of a 7-course Italian dinner back to the kitchen with very loud, public complaints against the master chef. Eventually, Maria kicks out the professor and bans her from returning to the restaurant. They meet again when Maria returns the wallet and briefcase the professor accidentally leaves behind.
Available at:AmazonApple iBooks
If you haven’t done so already, download your bingo card, pick the book you want to devour for the foodie romance square, and start reading! Remember that you can either read one of the 15 books listed above or pick another lesbian foodie romance novel.
Leave a comment to win a book
In addition to winning books by completing a line on the bingo card, there’ll also be a giveaway for each post. This time, you can win an ebook copy of:
• Perfect Pairing by Rachel Spangler
• Ferrelli’s Restaurant by BL Wilson
• How Sweet It Is by Melissa Brayden
To be entered into the drawing, leave a comment and let us know which book you’re going to read for the foodie romance square or if you can think of other lesbian books that fit this category.
I’ll announce the winners of the three ebooks on Thursday, May 24.
Subscribe to this blog so you don’t miss the next bingo square or any of the giveaways
The reading list for the next bingo square—LGBTQIA+ characters—will be posted on June 7. Subscribe to my blog so you won’t miss it. There’ll be another giveaway too!
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Jae
The post Lesbian foodie romance (Lesbian Book Bingo #10) appeared first on Jae.
May 3, 2018
Age difference romance novels (Lesbian Book Bingo #9)
Today, I’ve got another very popular romance trope for you. A lot of romance readers love age difference romance novels.
Traditionally, an age gap romance is considered a romance novel in which there’s an age difference of at least 10 years between the two main characters. The main focus isn’t so much on the specific number of years, though, but the disparity in experience and life stage. For example, if one of the characters is in college, while the other already has a successful career, even eight years could feel like a considerable age gap.
May/December romance novels are a subcategory of age difference romances. In these novels, there’s an even bigger age difference between the lovers. One partner is in the spring of her life, while the other is in the winter of hers, so it’s an intergenerational relationship.
15 GREAT LESBIAN AGE DIFFERENCE ROMANCE NOVELS
I’ve put together a list of 15 lesbian romance novels in which there’s a significant age gap between the two main characters. I hope you’ll enjoy them!
Summer Winds by Andrews & Austin
Widow Maggie Tanner needs a ranch hand to work her thousand acres of Kansas hayfields. Young Cash Tate takes the job—a summer break from the city and her girlfriend troubles. Cash is irritated by and enamored of this self-sufficient rancher woman who refuses to treat her as an equal, and she vows to earn her respect. While Cash struggles to win a place in Maggie’s heart, Maggie fights her unwelcome desire to take Cash into her arms.
Available at:
Bold Strokes Books
Amazon
Apple iBooks
By Design by JA Armstrong
Jameson Reid spends her days designing some of the most elegant buildings in North America. Senator Candace Fletcher has spent her life working to build bridges between people. When they meet, Candace challenges all of Jameson’s preconceptions about the women of Washington D.C. The enigmatic architect will test the resolve of the Junior Senator from New York.
Available at:
Amazon
After Mrs. Hamilton by Clare Ashton
Clo leads a loveless life as an escort for older women. Laura is locked in a safe marriage, but longs to break out and find the parents she never met. Two women enter the lives of these friends and Clo and Laura’s secrets, and those of the generation before, begin to unravel.
Available at:
Amazon
Apple iBooks
Seasons of Love by Harper Bliss
Alice McAllister is a successful solicitor who likes a quiet, disciplined life. But when her business partner Miranda forces her to take a vacation at her holiday home in Portugal, the presence of Miranda’s daughter Joy turns Alice’s world up-side down.
Available at:
Ladylit Publishing
Amazon
Apple iBooks
Audible (audiobook)
Just My Luck by Andrea Bramhall
Genna Collins works a dead end job, loves her family, her girlfriend, and her friends. When she wins the biggest Euromillions jackpot on record everything changes…and not always for the best. What if money really can’t buy you happiness?
Available at:
Ylva Publishing
Amazon
Apple iBooks
Coffee Sonata by Gun Brooke
Four women, Manon, Eryn, Vivian and Mike, whose lives unexpectedly intersect in a small town by the sea share one thing in common—they all have secrets. Despite tragedy, past and present, each learns that life holds more than they dared dream.
Available at:
Bold Strokes Books
Amazon
Apple iBooks
Totally Worth It by Maggie Cummings
Twenty-something Meg McTiernan is all about her career when her house hunt unexpectedly lands her at Bay West—a lesbian mecca tucked away in the suburbs of NYC—and her social life is given a turbo boost. There’s a pool, a softball league, even a nightclub practically in her backyard. In this loaded environment, finding the right girl just got a lot more interesting.
Available at:
Bold Strokes Books
Amazon
Apple iBooks
Audible (audiobook)
Touchwood by Karin Kallmaker
Rayann loves Louisa. Louisa loves Rayann. Will the decades between their ages—and their friends and family—keep them apart?
Available at:
Bella Books
Amazon
Apple iBooks
Winter Jacket (Winter Jacket series, book 1) by Eliza Lentzski
Elle Graft might have made it through six years of graduate school, but she’s not convinced she’ll survive her first position as an Assistant Professor. Because for all she learned, graduate school never prepared her for dealing with a student crush.
Available at:
Amazon
Next of Kin (Portland Police Bureau series) by Jae
In the last few years, Deputy District Attorney Kade Matheson has taken case files and law books, not lovers, to bed. She has been focused on her career, but now a case forces her to finally face her attraction to women. She suddenly finds herself with two secret admirers, but which one is more dangerous—the threat to her life or to her heart?
Available at:
Ylva Publishing
Amazon
Apple iBooks
Arbor Vitae by Susan X. Meagher
Clancy O’Connor, a young landscape architect, is trying to build her business. Getting recommendations from Abby Graham’s upper-class social circle would be a major coup. Faster than she could have dreamed, Abby is singing Clancy’s praises—in bed. All too soon a threat develops that could destroy the tentative, but tenacious bond that holds them together.
Available at:
Brisk Press
Amazon
Rest and Relaxation by Rhavensfyre
Allyse DeLeon is a high-powered executive at the top of her game. Dani lives alone and likes it that way. She’s young, quirky, and doesn’t appreciate having her uncle’s business partner foisted on her—that is until sparks start to fly between the two. The problem? Dani isn’t great at catching subtleties, and it’s up to Allyse to find a way to get her point across.
Available at:
Amazon
Echo Point by Virginia Hale
Bron never intended to move back to Australia. Wracked with guilt over her sister Libby’s death, she’s spent three months trying to handle her grief while taking care of Libby’s young daughter, Annie. When Libby’s best friend Ally suddenly returns home from prison, Bron can’t fathom why her family is so enamored with her, but grudgingly admires the way Ally and Annie get along. When bushfires begin to rage in the nearby mountains, Bron begins to see that she’s sorely underestimated her sister’s friend.
Available at:
Bella Books
Amazon
Sidebar by Carsen Taite
Judge Camille Avery and her clerk, attorney West Fallon, agree on little except their mutual attraction, but can their relationship and their careers survive a headline-grabbing case?
Available at:
Bold Strokes Books
Amazon
Apple iBooks
Audible (audiobook)
The Brutal Truth by Lee Winter
Aussie crime reporter Maddie Grey is out of her depth in New York and secretly drawn to her twice-married, powerful media mogul boss, Elena Bartell, who eats failing newspapers for breakfast. As work takes them to Australia, Maddie is goaded into a brief bet—that they will say only the truth to each other. It backfires catastrophically. A lesbian romance about the lies we tell ourselves
Available at:
Ylva Publishing
Amazon
Apple iBooks
If you haven’t done so already, download your bingo card and brush up on the rules of Lesbian Book Bingo. Then pick the book you want to read for the age difference romance novel square, and start reading! Remember that you can either read one of the 15 books listed above or pick another lesbian book featuring characters with an age gap.
Leave a comment to win a book
In addition to winning books by completing a line on the bingo card, there’ll also be a giveaway for each post. This time, you can win an ebook copy of:
Just My Luck by Andrea Bramhall
Sidebar by Carsen Taite
The Brutal Truth by Lee Winter
To be entered into the drawing, leave a comment and let us know which book you’re going to read for the “age difference” square or if you can think of other lesbian books that fit this category.
I’ll announce the winners of the e-books on Thursday, May 10.
Subscribe to this blog so you don’t miss the next bingo square or any of the giveaways
The reading list for the next bingo square—foodie romances—will be posted on May 17. Subscribe to my blog so you won’t miss it. There’ll be another giveaway too!
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Jae
The post Age difference romance novels (Lesbian Book Bingo #9) appeared first on Jae.
April 19, 2018
Lesbian science fiction novels (Lesbian Book Bingo #8)
Science fiction seems to be one of the genres that people either love or hate.
Personally, I love a well-written science fiction novel, especially if it envisions a world with different concepts of gender and sexual orientation.
If you love science fiction, you probably won’t even need this list of recommended reads because there aren’t that many lesbian science fiction novels, so you’ve probably already read most of them.
If you’re not a big fan of science fiction, you might want to check out this helpful post about how to finish lesbian book bingo even if you don’t like speculative fiction.
15 GREAT LESBIAN SCIENCE FICTION NOVELS
I’ve put together a list of 15 science fiction novels with lesbian, bisexual, or other female, women-loving main characters. I hope you’ll enjoy them!
The Significant by Kyra Anderson
Kailynn Evada was born in the non-citizen district on the most powerful planet in the Altereye System. To save her brother’s life, Kailynn finds herself working as a Significant—a person paid to act as a friend to clients. High pay drives her to a secretive job with the most powerful person in the planetary system—Elite Isa, who is genetically altered for perfection and forbidden from intimate relationships. The undeniable attraction between the two leads to a secret love that could kill them both.
Available at:Amazon
Face of the Enemy (Terran-Novan Universe, book 1) by Sandra Barret
Helena “Dray” Draybeck is a cocky military brat, and Jordan Bowers is the daughter of a high-ranking ambassador. Both want to finish at the top of fighter pilot training. Both live under the shadow of very different family legacies. When the enemy declares war, Dray and Jordan have to survive an acceleration to active duty and a dangerous secret that threatens them both in different ways.
Available at:Bedazzled InkAmazon
Raging at the Stars by Lesley Davis
Emory Hawkes is an investigative journalist dedicated to seeking out the truths behind cover-ups and exposing the lies that keep the general population in the dark. Emory’s theories go against everything Captain Sofia Martinez stands for, and all she has dedicated her life to, working at Area 51. Sofia knows Emory lives to challenge her authority, but can they put aside their differences to fight together to save mankind? Can they save the world from not just the invaders above but also from the all too human element who have their own secret agendas to set in motion?
Available at:Bold Strokes BooksAmazonApple iBooks
Survival Instincts by May Dawney (dystopian fiction)
Civilization has fallen. Lynn, alone in the debris of a world reclaimed by nature and hiding from the threat of man, is forced to go on a dangerous journey through decaying New York City. As Lynn’s feelings for her guard, Dani, grow, she’s forced to face her belief that staying alone is the only way to survive. A fast-paced dystopian adventure where love trumps instinct.
Available at:Ylva PublishingAmazonApple iBooks
Without a Front: The Producer’s Challenge (Chronicles of Alsea series) by Fletcher DeLancey
In the aftermath of war, Andira Tal, Lancer of Alsea, is working nonstop to heal her world and bring it into the future. The producer caste—and one producer in particular—stands in her way. Tal’s solution leads to an unexpected sanctuary and the kind of love she always dreamed of…but her enemies are watching, and now she has more to lose.
Available at:Ylva PublishingAmazonApple iBooks
Daughters of a Coral Dawn by Katherine V. Forrest
Late in the 22nd century, the settling of a new world falls on the strong shoulders of young Megan. The perfect leader, she undertakes to guide her sisters to a new planet, free from the shackles of the brutal Earth regime. When a landing party of men and women discover their colony, Megan must decide if the outsiders will live or die. And that includes Lt. Laurel Meredith, whose disturbing beauty is as dangerous to Megan as her people are to Megan’s world.
Available at:Bella BooksAmazon
Ammonite by Nicola Griffith
Anthropologist Marghe Taishan is sent to Jeep, a planet where a virus killed off all men generations ago, leaving a women-only society. Tasked with testing a new vaccine, Marghe risks death to uncover the women’s biological secret. Soon, she finds that she’s changing and realizes that not only has she found a home on Jeep, but that she alone carries the seeds of its destruction.
Available at:AmazonApple iBooks
Depths of Blue (On Deception’s Edge, book 1) by Lise MacTague
For Torrin Ivanov, life is a bargaining table. Every planet is a new business opportunity. Legality is optional and supplying one side in a local civil war always adds up to profit. Jak Stowell is at war within a war. A woman hidden in the heart of a male-only army, her brother’s murder has left her desperate for vengeance. These two women on a collision course set off a chain reaction of intergalactic intrigue—and awaken a dangerous passion that could cost them their lives.
Available at:Bella BooksAmazonApple iBooks
Friends in High Places (Far Seek Chronicles, book 1) by Andi Marquette
Does a shared past mean anything between two women on different sides of a divide in a city where allies can quickly become adversaries? Or will the possibility of connection be a price too high for either to pay?
Available at:Dirt Road BooksAmazonApple iBooks
Deep Merge by Linda North
Kaesah, a geneticist from another planet, is stranded on Earth due to the death of her mate who was vital in piloting their starship. Kaesah has abducted a human, Toni Lorne, to assist in piloting her starship back home. Two women, from different worlds, will set a new course for their planets and a new future for themselves.
Available at:Sapphire BooksAmazon
Saving Morgan by MB Panichi
Morgan Rahn’s co-worker is killed in a freak Moon Base accident. When Morgan also becomes a target, Shaine Wendt is hired onto Morgan’s work crew as undercover security for Morgan. No one, including Morgan, is to know of Shaine’s dual role. But how can Morgan trust her when Shaine is part of yet another lie, and Morgan’s life is turned inside out? Danger and romance abound as adventure takes the two women from Moon Base to Earth and the Asteroid Belt.
Available at:Bella BooksAmazonApple iBooks
The Lily and the Crown by Roslyn Sinclair (sci-fi romance)
Young botanist Ari lives an isolated life on a space station, tending a lush garden in her quarters. When an imperious woman is captured from a pirate ship and given to her as a slave, Ari’s ordered life shatters. Her slave is watchful, smart, and sexy, and seems to know an awful lot about tactics, star charts, and the dread pirate queen, Mir. A lesbian romance about daring to risk your heart.
Available at:Ylva PublishingAmazonApple iBooks
The Magistrate (The Prisonworld Trilogy, book 1) by Keira Michelle Telford (neo-Victorian dystopian fiction)
Crime rates are at an all-time high, and living conditions for many are bleak in twenty-fourth-century London. The laws are illiberal and unsympathetic. Homosexuality is punishable by death—which becomes a potentially deadly problem for Carmen Wild when the discovery of a murdered prostitute brings her back into the life of her first love, the Madam of an East End cathouse.
Available at:Amazon
A Quantum Convergence by C.A. Farlow
Lauren Beckwith, eco-scientist and medical doctor, identifies life-threatening pollution and is challenged to remediate it. Alexandra, Queen of Fuar Ćala, struggles with the aftereffects of a bioweapon released on her world. Children are contracting a strange disease. A quantum convergence brings their worlds together. Can they help each other?
Available at:Desert Palm PressAmazonApple iBooks
Paladins of the Storm Lord (Godfall Novels, book 1) by Barbara Ann Wright
Surrounded by dead crewmates and marooned above an unknown planet, the bridge crew of the Atlas develops extraordinary mental abilities that turn them into gods.Two hundred years into their rule, Cordelia Ross’s faith in her god is absolute until his orders begin to value obedience over integrity. With the fall of the gods at hand, can Cordelia protect her family, friends, and the alien woman she’s falling in love with?
Available at:Bold Strokes BooksAmazonApple iBooks
If you need to brush up on the rules of Lesbian Book Bingo, check out the rules post, then pick the book you want to read for the science fiction square, and start reading! Remember that you can either read one of the 15 books listed above or pick another lesbian science fiction novel.
Leave a comment to win a book
In addition to winning books by completing a line on the bingo card, there’s also a giveaway for each post. This time, you can win an e-book copy of Survival Instincts by May Dawney and an e-book copy of Friends in High Places by Andi Marquette.
To be entered into the drawing, leave a comment and let us know which book you’re going to read for the science fiction square or if you can recommend any other lesbian science fiction novel.
I’ll announce the winner of the two e-books on Thursday, April 26.
Subscribe to this blog so you don’t miss the next bingo square or any of the giveaways
The reading list for the next bingo square will be posted on May 3. Subscribe to my blog so you won’t miss it. There’ll be another giveaway too!
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Jae
The post Lesbian science fiction novels (Lesbian Book Bingo #8) appeared first on Jae.
April 13, 2018
10 tips on how to complete your Lesbian Book Bingo card when you don’t like speculative fiction
I’ve had several readers ask me: How can I ever complete my Lesbian Book Bingo card when I don’t like speculative fiction?
Speculative fiction is an umbrella term that includes fantasy, science fiction, and paranormal fiction. If you, too, struggle to fill your Lesbian Book Bingo squares for these genres, here are a few tips for you:
1. Keep an open mind
First off, I think being “forced” to read something that is a little out of your usual comfort zone can be a good thing. Keep an open mind—you might just find that you don’t really dislike that genre after all or maybe at the very least find a couple of books in the genre that you do enjoy. You should be able to find bits and pieces that you can relate to in at least one book in every category, even if you find that you still don’t like the genre very much.
2. Take a look at your favorite lesbian fiction authors in your preferred genres
Many lesbian fiction authors write across several genres. Maybe the author of your favorite lesbian romance novel has also penned a fantasy novel, and you might like it because you enjoy that author’s style.
3. Try one of the highly recommended books in these genres
Ask around for recommendations in Goodreads or Facebook groups, or check out The Lesbian Review’s top 10 lists for lesbian science fiction and supernatural lesbian books. In particular, look for recommendations from other readers who don’t usually read those genres either. Two books that I often see recommended are Daughter of Mystery by Heather Rose Jones (fantasy) and Without a Front by Fletcher DeLancey (science fiction).
4. Download excerpts of several books that other readers recommended
Find one that makes you want to read on at the end of the excerpt. It doesn’t always have to be the genre that grabs you; it can be an engaging writing style or an interesting character too.
5. Take a look at the subgenres of lesbian fantasy and science fiction
Realize that speculative fiction is a very broad category, and even within the different genres, there’s a lot of variety. Science fiction isn’t all about aliens and spaceships, and fantasy isn’t all about elves and magic. Dystopian fiction, for example, is grouped under sci-fi, but they often read more like adventure stories, so even people who don’t like science fiction might enjoy books such as Survival Instincts by May Dawney.
6. Search out books that are light on speculative aspects
If you dislike speculative fiction because you prefer books that are set in “the real world,” look for novels that keep the fantastical elements at a minimum. For example, my novel Heart Trouble is a contemporary romance/medical romance with a paranormal twist.
7. Pick a book that blends science fiction, fantasy, or paranormal fiction with a genre that you like
For example, if you love lesbian romance novels but don’t usually like science fiction, look for a sci-fi romance such as The Lily and the Crown by Roslyn Sinclair.
8. Try a speculative fiction audiobook
If you love audiobooks, look for a speculative fiction book narrated by one of your favorite narrators. I’ve heard good things about the audiobook version of Meghan O’Brien’s paranormal romance Wild, for example.
9. Look for books that have tropes you like
For example, Chasing Stars by Alex K. Thorne is a superheroine novel, but it also fits the celebrity romance trope and the fake relationship trope.
10. Go for shorter works
If all else fails, pick a speculative fiction novella or a short novel instead of a 500-page tome. My paranormal romance Manhattan Moon, for example, is a 29,000-word novella.
I hope these tips will help you find a lesbian fantasy, science fiction, or paranormal book you will enjoy!
Have any of you struggled with some of the squares on the Lesbian Book Bingo card because you don’t usually like that genre? How did you handle those squares? Did you find that after forcing yourself to read a book for those squares, you don’t dislike that genre after all?
The post 10 tips on how to complete your Lesbian Book Bingo card when you don’t like speculative fiction appeared first on Jae.
April 5, 2018
Fake relationship romances (Lesbian Book Bingo #7)
Since April Fools’ Day was just a couple of days ago, let’s start off April with a very popular trope: pretend relationship romance novels!
I think what most readers love about “fake girlfriend” or “fake fiancée/wife” stories is that the plot throws together two characters who usually are total strangers and who might not even like each other. Under normal circumstances, they would never consider dating each other, but now they are forced to spend time together and pretend to be a couple. As you can imagine, they get into some hilarious situations, and after a while, they discover that their feelings are no longer fake…
I assume most of you will be familiar with the rules of Lesbian Book Bingo by now, but if you have only recently discovered this reading challenge, it’s not too late to join in. Check out the rules post here.
15 GREAT LESBIAN ROMANCE NOVELS ABOUT FAKE RELATIONSHIPS
I’ve put together a list of 15 lesbian books featuring fake relationships and marriages of convenience. I hope you’ll enjoy them.
Who’d Have Thought by G Benson
When Hayden Pérez stumbles across an offer to marry Samantha Thomson—a cold, rude, and complicated neurosurgeon—for $200,000, what’s a cash-strapped ER nurse to do? Sure, Hayden has to convince everyone around them they’re madly in love, but it’s only for a year, right? What could possibly go wrong?
Available at:
Ylva Publishing
Amazon
Apple iTunes
Audible (audiobook)
Beholden by Fox Brison
How far would you go to secure your dream job? How far would you go to save someone you love? One fateful night Joanne Cassidy and Adele Jackson’s worlds collide and these questions are answered. A deal is brokered, one that has the capacity to either make or break them—and their dreams.
Available at:
Piece of Cake by Gun Brooke
Will Kendal Moore be able to help her boss, Holly McAllister, by marrying her—or will mistrust, cold feet, and guilt destroy the love they haven’t recognized yet?
Available at:
Bold Strokes Books
Amazon
Apple iTunes
Take Me Home (Belladonna Ink, book 2) by Lorelie Brown
I love my family. I’m lucky to have them—well, most of them. But my aunt? I’m so tired of her giving my mom crap because I happen to be a lesbian. So one pink-haired tattoo artist pretending to be my girlfriend will annoy my Christian fundamentalist aunt right back and make my Thanksgiving perfect.
Available at:
Riptide Publishing
Amazon
Apple iTunes
Just Business by Julie Cannon
What should be just business becomes much more when two women agree to a deal that changes their lives. Dillon Matthews, in the middle of negotiating the deal of her life, is stunned at the final condition she must meet to close the deal. Callie Sheffield is struggling to pay the attorney she has hired to appeal her brother’s conviction for a crime he didn’t commit. When Dillon and Callie meet by chance, they realize a simple business transaction will give them both what they need—until love threatens to derail the negotiations.
Available at:
Bold Strokes Books
Amazon
Apple iTunes
Audible (audiobook)
Kiss & Tell by Cynthia Dane
Advice author Victoria Nicholson is about to embark on the biggest world tour of her life. Too bad her girlfriend’s dumped her before her moment of glory. Now her publisher’s demanding a woman on Victoria’s arm at every event. Any woman.
Enter New York escort Madison Ricci, a woman Victoria instantly falls for. But is it mutual? And how far is too far when it comes to exchanging money for love?
Available at:
Tricky Wisdom (Tricky series, book 1) by Camryn Eyde
Darcy Wright is a closeted lesbian who has been infatuated with her best friend, Taylor, since junior high. Leaving her small Minnesota town for Boston in a quest to become a doctor, she moves in with fellow med-student Olivia Boyd, a neurotic, anal, gigantic thorn in the side. The first year of medical school is a nerve-wracking encounter in medicine, learning lessons the hard way, and romance.
Available at:
Born out of Wedlock by Lyn Gardner
Two women. Two worlds. Two problems…and two opposing attitudes.
Available at:
Just for Show by Jae
When Claire, an overachieving psychologist with OCD tendencies, hires Lana, an impulsive, out-of-work actress for a fake relationship, she figures the worst she’ll have to endure are the messes Lana leaves around. It’s only for a few months anyway. And it’s not as if she’ll enjoy all those fake kisses and loving looks. Right?
Available at:
Ylva Publishing
Amazon
Apple iTunes
Something in the Wine by Jae
All her life, Annie suffered through her brother’s practical jokes. He sets her up on a blind date with lesbian winemaker Drew, even knowing Annie is straight. Annie and Drew turn the tables on him by pretending to fall in love. But what starts as a revenge plan turns their lives upside down as the lines between pretending and reality begin to blur.
Available at:
Ylva Publishing
Amazon
Apple iTunes
Audible (audiobook)
Dating Sarah Cooper by Siera Maley
Katie Hammontree and Sarah Cooper have been best friends since the second grade. But when a misunderstanding leads to them being mistaken for a couple and Sarah uses the situation to her advantage, Katie finds herself on a roller coaster ride of ambiguous sexuality and confusing feelings. How far will Sarah go to keep up the charade, and why does kissing her make Katie feel more alive than kissing her ex-boyfriend Austin ever did?
Available at:
Touched by Starlight by Linda North
Kiernan O’Shay’s dream is to build a light-speed spaceship. To inherit the funds needed, she must adhere to her grandmother’s will to marry and have an heir. To keep her family safe, Ariel Thorsen has no choice but to marry Kiernan. Can love grow when trust isn’t in the equation?
Available at:
The Color of Love by Radclyffe
Black sheep Derian Winfield needs to convince literary agent Emily May to marry her to save the Winfield Agency and solve Emily’s green card problem, but Derian didn’t count on falling in love.
Available at:
Bold Strokes Books
Amazon
Apple iTunes
Audible (audiobook)
By Mutual Consent by Tracey Richardson
A busy surgeon and a starving artist discover they need something from each other, but both gain much more than they bargained for.
Available at:
Bella Books
Amazon
Apple iTunes
Crossing the Wide Forever by Missouri Vaun
As Cody Walsh and Lillie Ellis face the perils of the untamed West, they discover that love’s uncharted frontier isn’t for the weak in spirit or the faint of heart.
Available at:
Bold Strokes Books
Amazon
Apple iTunes
If you haven’t done so already, download your bingo card, pick the book you want to read for the “fake relationship” square, and start reading! Remember that you can either read one of the 15 books listed above or pick another lesbian romance novel featuring a pretend relationship.
Leave a comment to win a book
In addition to winning books by completing a line on the bingo card, there’ll also be a giveaway for each post. This time, you can win one of three e-books!
Who’d Have Thought by G Benson, published by Ylva Publishing
Just for Show by Jae (me), published by Ylva Publishing
Crossing the Wide Forever by Missouri Vaun, published by Bold Strokes Books
To be entered into the drawing, leave a comment and let us know which book you’re going to read for the “fake relationship” square or if you can think of other lesbian books that fit this category.
I’ll announce the winners of the three e-books on Thursday, April 12.
Subscribe to this blog so you don’t miss the next bingo square or any of the giveaways
The reading list for the next bingo square will be posted on April 19. Subscribe to my blog so you won’t miss it. There’ll be another giveaway too!
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Happy reading!
Jae
The post Fake relationship romances (Lesbian Book Bingo #7) appeared first on Jae.
March 21, 2018
12 great ways to find the best lesbian books, freebies, giveaways & special offers
If you’re an avid reader of lesbian fiction, you know there’s no such thing as too many lesbian books. Thankfully, we live in a time where books about women loving women are readily available, from lesbian romance novels to mysteries, science fiction, fantasy, and any other genre you can think of.
But now that there are so many lesbian books out there, how do you keep track of new releases and find book recommendations? And how can you make sure you won’t have to sell a kidney to finance your reading habit?
Here are 12 great ways to find great reads, free books, and special offers and to make sure you never miss a new release by your favorite lesbian authors.
SUBSCRIBE TO AUTHOR NEWSLETTERS
One of the best ways to keep up with new releases and special offers in the lesfic world, especially for lesbian books from indie authors, is to check out your favorite authors’ websites and sign up for their newsletters, if they have one. Some authors even offer a free book to newsletter subscribers. For example, I’m giving away the short story “Facing the Music” if you sign up for my author newsletter, and since I’m running the Lesbian Book Bingo reading challenge this year, there are two giveaways each month.
SUBSCRIBE TO PUBLISHER NEWSLETTERS
Most of the lesbian fiction publishers send out newsletters once a month to let readers know about new releases and special offers. Here’s the link to the Ylva Publishing newsletter, for example.
SUBSCRIBE TO THE I HEART LESFIC NEWSLETTER
You might also want to check out I Heart Lesfic, a site that T.B. Markinson set up to celebrate lesbian books. I Heart Lesfic sends out a weekly newsletter to keep you informed about new releases across all publishers plus indie authors, runs giveaways, and lists freebies that authors are offering to newsletter subscribers.
SUBSCRIBE TO THE MY LESFIC NEWSLETTER
Another great way to keep up with special offers is to subscribe to the weekly My LesFic Newsletter, which alerts you to limited-time discounted and free lesbian books. My LesFic was created by Harper Bliss and Caroline Machoulas because other newsletter services either leave out lesbian fiction or lump it together with gay fiction, making it harder for readers to find books about women loving women.
FOLLOW AUTHORS & PUBLISHERS ON SOCIAL MEDIA
Of course, if you are on Facebook, Twitter, or Instagram, you can follow your favorite authors and lesbian fiction publishers on social media. Many authors have a social media presence. You can find me on Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, and Pinterest, for example. Keep in mind, though, that it’s easy to miss a tweet and that Facebook doesn’t always show you the posts you might want to see.
FOLLOW AUTHORS ON AMAZON
If you buy your books on Amazon, you can also follow your favorite lesbian fiction authors there so you’ll get an email notification each time they release a new book. It’s easy to do: Just sign in to your Amazon account, visit an author’s Amazon page (here’s mine for example), and click on the yellow “follow” button.
Some of the other online bookstores such as Smashwords offer a similar feature.
CHECK OUT THE AMAZON TOP 100 BESTSELLER LISTS
While you are on Amazon, you can also check out their top 100 bestsellers list for lesbian fiction or lesbian romance to find books that you might want to read.
JOIN FACEBOOK GROUPS DISCUSSING LESBIAN FICTION
One of my favorite ways to find book recommendations is to read the posts in one of several Facebook groups for readers of lesbian fiction. There are a lot of avid readers in these groups who can recommend books in any subgenre you might be interested in. If you haven’t already, check out the Lesbian Review Book Club Facebook group or Lesbian Books, Writers, Readers, and don’t be shy about asking for recommendations.
CHECK OUT LESBIAN BOOK REVIEW SITES
If you’re overwhelmed with the amount of new releases and lesbian books available and need recommendations, find a lesbian book reviewer whose opinion you trust or who has similar taste in books. By far the largest review site is The Lesbian Review, which is run by Sheena. They have several reading lists for popular subgenres and tropes such as 10 Best Friends to Lover Romances and also a list of 100 Best Lesbian Books to Start With that gives you a good idea of where to start if you are only just discovering lesbian fiction.
There are also other lesbian book review sites such as The Lesbian Reading Room, Sistahs on the Shelf, The Lesbrary, Les Rêveur, LezReviewBooks, and many others.
FOLLOW THE WOMEN & WORDS BLOG
Women and Words is a site that regularly offers interesting blog posts about LGBT characters in books and TV. They also release a monthly list of new lesbian book releases across publishers.
LISTEN TO LESBIAN FICTION PODCASTS
If you like to listen to podcasts on your commute or while you work out, you could listen to lesbian fiction podcasts. The most active one is the Lesbian Talk Show, a podcast channel for women about women, with a focus on lesbian fiction. Their shows include book clips (lesbian author readings) and Les Do Books, where lesbian books are reviewed and discussed.
GOODREADS GROUPS
The two biggest ones are probably the Lesbian Book Club and Mostly Lesfic. They have discussion boards for recommendations, a book of the month, buddy reads, and reading challenges. While you’re on Goodreads, also check out this list of new releases and most-read lesbian books.
How do you find new books and keep up with special offers and giveaways? Did I miss any great sites that could be helpful to readers looking for books with lesbian, bisexual, or pan female characters?
The post 12 great ways to find the best lesbian books, freebies, giveaways & special offers appeared first on Jae.
March 19, 2018
It’s my birthday—and you are getting gifts
It’s my birthday today, and since I believe in sharing, I want to give YOU a gift instead of keeping them all to myself. I had a great year so far, and this is my way of saying thank you to my readers.
So I thought I would celebrate with a birthday giveaway that is exclusive to my newsletter & blog subscribers:
I’m giving away a signed paperback copy of my new lesbian romance novel Just for Show and an audiobook copy of my award-winning romance Something in the Wine to two lucky subscribers of my newsletter.
If you found this post in your email inbox, you’re already subscribed to my newsletter and don’t have to do anything. You are automatically entered into the drawing.
If you stumbled across this blog post and haven’t subscribed to my newsletter yet, feel free to check it out here:
https://jae-fiction.com/newsletter/
It’s fun and it’s free, so why not subscribe?
I’ll draw the winners on March 31 and notify them via email.
Now I’ll go have cheesecake.
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Have a great day!
Jae
The post It’s my birthday—and you are getting gifts appeared first on Jae.
