Jae's Blog, page 35
March 15, 2018
Celebrity romance novels (Lesbian Book Bingo #6)
The 90th Academy Awards ceremony took place earlier this month, so I thought this would be a good time to post the recommended reading list for the celebrity romance square of the Lesbian Book Bingo.
If you need to brush up on the book bingo rules, check out the rules post.
I think what makes celebrity romances so appealing to many readers is that we get to see the glamour, but also the downside of fame. Whether the famous person is an actress, an athlete, or a singer, love in the limelight has its challenges. Often, seeing two very different worlds—those of a star and a normal person—collide can be part of the fun.
15 GREAT LESBIAN CELEBRITY ROMANCE NOVELS
I’ve put together a list of 15 celebrity romance novels with lesbian, bi, pan, or other women-loving female main characters. I hope you’ll enjoy them.
All That Lies Within by Lynn Ames
A sexy, glamorous movie star with a secret second career… A learned professor of American Literature with a particular expertise in the work of a mysterious, Pulitzer Prize-winning author… And the chance phrase in a letter that forever alters the course of their lives. Welcome to the worlds of Dara Thomas and Rebecca Minton.
Available at:
Amazon
Audible (audiobook)
Off Screen (Off Screen series, book 1) by J.A. Armstrong
Actress Emma Bronson seems to have it all, but she’s lonely and craves love. When aspiring writer Addison Blake accidentally collides with Emma; sparks ignite. Friendship and companionship are rivaled by an attraction that neither woman has ever experienced. But Addison seems reluctant to pursue a romantic relationship with the popular television star, challenging Emma to finally demolish all of her self-imposed walls.
Available at:
Amazon
Waiting in the Wings by Melissa Brayden
Jenna McGovern has spent her whole life training for the stage. At graduation, she’s stunned when a chance audition lands her a prime supporting role in the hottest Broadway touring production in the country. In more exciting news, Jenna discovers acclaimed television star Adrienne Kenyon is headlining the production..
Available at:
Bold Strokes Books
Amazon
Apple iBooks
Audible (audiobook)
Leaving L.A. by Kate Christie
When Hollywood A-lister Tessa Flanagan’s long-term nanny quits, she hires graduate school-bound Eleanor Chapin to watch her young daughter for the summer. The job is supposed to be temporary, but when a deeper connection begins to develop between the two women, will Eleanor change her mind about leaving LA?
Available at:
Bella Books
Amazon
Apple iBooks
Love on Location by Lisa Girolami
Power, money, and fame spell happiness—at least in the movies. Hollywood film producer Kate Nyland has it all, including her gorgeous movie star girlfriend, Hannah Corrant. Amid the excitement of shooting multimillion dollar movies and being photographed by the ever-present paparazzi after a glimpse of Hannah, Kate is reminded continuously that her life couldn’t be better.
Available at:
Bold Strokes Books
Amazon
Apple iBooks
Damage Control (Hollywood series) by Jae
When actress Grace Durand is photographed in a compromising situation with a woman, she fears for her career.
She hires PR agent Lauren Pearce to do damage control, not knowing that she’s a lesbian.
As they run the gauntlet of the paparazzi together, Lauren realizes how different Grace is from her TV persona.
Getting involved would ruin their careers, but the attraction between them is growing.
Available at:
Ylva Publishing
Amazon
Apple iBooks
Stepping Stone by Karin Kallmaker
Producer Selena Ryan isn’t going to let anyone use her to get what they want, ever again, even if that means living without love.
Lights, camera and action are the backdrop for this lesbian romance novel of taking chances by Golden Crown and Lambda Literary award-winning author Karin Kallmaker.
Available at:
Bella Books
Amazon
Apple iBooks
And Playing the Role of Herself by KE 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 shot on location in glitzy LA. Her sometimes-costar Robyn Ward is magnetic, glamorous, and devastatingly beautiful, the quintessential A-List celebrity on the fast-track to super-stardom. When the two meet on the set of 9th Precinct, 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)
Between the Lines by Bobbi Marolt
When romance writer Gail Prescott meets British actor Tannen Albright, she develops feelings that she usually only experiences through her characters. Despite Gail’s prickly demeanor, Tannen won’t be deterred from striking up a friendship. Gail’s emotional walls begin to crumble before Tannen’s irresistible charms, and she cautiously allows Tannen, and the possibility of love, into her life.
Available at:
Bold Strokes Books
Amazon
Apple iBooks
Stars Collide by H.P. Munro
Despite her fame, Freya Easter has managed to keep one aspect of her life out of the public eye. However, a new job on the hit show Front Line and a storyline that pairs her with the gorgeous Jordan Ellis may mean that Freya’s secret is about to come out. While their on-screen counterparts begin a romantic journey, Freya and Jordan also find themselves on a pathway towards each other.
Available at:
Amazon
Survived by her Longtime Companion by Chris Paynter
After the death of a movie star, Daphne DeMonet, two former lovers, Bailey and Chelsea, find themselves interviewing her “longtime companion,” Eleanor Burnett. Eleanor insists the two women read portions of her diaries to learn from the mistakes that she and Daphne made during their relationship–and from the love they shared. By reading about Daphne and Eleanor’s 60 years together, will Bailey and Chelsea renew their own relationship?
Available at:
Amazon
Apple iBooks
Love’s Autograph by Michele M. Reynolds
What do you do when you show up at an apartment to pick up your blind date and she mistakes you for her kid’s sitter?
Lesbian rock star EJ Way decides to be the sitter for the night. Fascinated by both Ria and her eleven-year-old daughter, she finds herself sitting night after night, without revealing who she really is. Getting a glimpse into their family life seems like a nice change of pace from her world of music and fame. She doesn’t count on falling in love—or on having to watch Ria go on date after date.
Available at:
Amazon
Backstage Pass by Riley Scott
Everyone’s favorite rock ’n’ roll bad girl has gone too far this time. When scandal finally breaks, Raven is forced to hire public relations guru, Christina Villanova, to refine her image. As Raven’s behavior escalates dangerously, Christina realizes she’s not just fighting for Raven’s popularity, she’s fighting for Raven’s heart—and her future.
Available at:
Bella Books
Amazon
Apple iBooks
Casting Lacey by Elle Spencer
Coming out is easier when you’ve got someone by your side. At least that’s how the hyper-private Quinn Kincaid sees it. When her publicist suggests a good old-fashioned sham of a Hollywood relationship, Quinn reluctantly agrees. And that’s how the star of Jordan’s Appeal, TV’s highest-rated legal drama, ends up with a fake girlfriend—the very real, very sexy, and very gay soap star Lacey Matthews.
Available at:
Amazon
The Princess Affair by Nell Stark
Rhodes Scholar Kerry Donovan has never had anything handed to her on a silver platter. As she arrives at Oxford to begin her course of study, she is determined to make the most out of this latest opportunity. But when she meets Her Royal Highness Princess Sasha, second in line to the British throne, Kerry’s priorities are eclipsed by an attraction neither of them can ignore.
Available at:
Bold Strokes Books
Amazon
Apple iBooks
Audible (audiobook)
If you haven’t done so already, download your bingo card, pick the book you want to read for the celebrity romance square, and start reading! Remember that you can either read one of the 15 books listed above or pick another lesbian book featuring a famous main character.
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 e-book copy of my novel Damage Control (which is part of the Hollywood series, but is a standalone with all-new main characters) and an e-book copy of Stepping Stone by Karin Kallmaker.
To be entered into the drawing, leave a comment and let us know which book you’re going to read for the celebrity romance square or if you can think of other lesbian books that fit this category.
I’ll announce the winner of the two books on Thursday, March 22.
Subscribe to this blog so you don’t miss the next bingo square or any of the giveaways
The reading list for the next book bingo square—fake relationships and marriage of convenience romances—will be posted on April 5. 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 Celebrity romance novels (Lesbian Book Bingo #6) appeared first on Jae.
March 1, 2018
Women of Color (Lesbian Book Bingo #5)
Although the publishing industry is slowly starting to become more diverse, women of color are still underrepresented in both mainstream and lesbian fiction. March 1 is Women of Color Day, so I thought it would be great to talk about our favorite titles featuring LGBTQ+ characters of color.
If you need to brush up on the rules of Lesbian Book Bingo, check out the rules post.
15 GREAT LGBTQ+ BOOKS WITH CHARACTERS OF COLOR
I’ve put together a list of 15 novels featuring lesbian, bi, pansexual, and queer women of color as main characters. I hope you’ll enjoy them.
Anika takes the long way home up soul mountain by Eliza Andrews
When her mother is diagnosed with cancer, Anika Singh reluctantly returns home to Marcine, Ohio. She hopes she won’t run into Jenny, her high school sweetheart-turned-ex-wife.
Then there’s Amy, a dark-haired beauty who happens to be in Marcine for a friend’s wedding. Nothing serious can happen with Amy; she’s only going to be in town for a week. Which means that falling for her would be stupid, especially given the fact that Jenny might be available again.
Available at:Amazon
Audible (audiobook)
Breaking Jaie by S. Renée Bess
Twenty-eight-year-old Ph.D. candidate Jaie Baxter is supremely confident about three things: She will become a noted writer. She’ll win the prestigious Adamson Prize. And she can have any woman who grabs her attention. But Jaie’s arrogance begins to slip away the day she meets Terez Overton, a woman whose ethnicity matches hers, but whose background is the exact opposite.
Available at:Amazon
Barnes & Noble
Homecoming by Celeste Castro
An author and sought-after Native American rights expert is invited to keynote at a conference set in her hometown. A place she’d like to continue to avoid, but she can’t turn it down; the issues are too near and dear. Along the way she meets a bartender-slash-professor-slash-advocate-slash—you get the picture. After several misunderstandings between them and three days stranded together following a natural disaster, home doesn’t feel like such a bad place after all.
Available at:
Bella Books
Amazon
Apple iBooks
Tell Me Again How a Crush Should Feel by Sara Farizan
High-school junior Leila has made it most of the way through Armstead Academy without having a crush on anyone, which is something of a relief. Her Persian heritage already makes her different from her classmates; if word got out that she liked girls, life would be twice as hard. But when a sophisticated, beautiful new girl, Saskia, shows up, Leila starts to take risks she never thought she would, especially when it looks as if the attraction between them is mutual.
Available at:
Amazon
Apple iBooks
Audible (audiobook)
The Gilda Stories by Jewelle Gomez
Before Buffy, before Twilight, before Octavia Butler’s Fledgling, there was The Gilda Stories, Jewelle Gomez’s sexy vampire novel. In 1850s Louisiana, Gilda escapes slavery and learns about freedom while working in a brothel. After being initiated into eternal life as one who “shares the blood” by two women there, Gilda spends the next two hundred years searching for a place to call home.
Available at:
Amazon
Apple iBooks
A Return to Arms by Sheree L. Greer
When Toya meets Folami and joins the activist collective RiseUP!, she thinks she’s found her life’s purpose. Folami’s sensuality and her passion for social justice leave Toya feeling that, at last, she’s met someone she can share all parts of her life with. But when a controversial police shooting blurs the lines between the personal and the political, Toya is forced to examine her identity, her passions, and her allegiances.
Available at:
Bold Strokes Books
Amazon
Apple iBooks
Not Your Sidekick (Sidekick Squad, book 1) by CB Lee
Meet Jess Tran, who really wants to live up to her superhero parents’ expectations, but doesn’t seem to have any powers of her own. When she takes an internship with tech firm Monroe Industries, she has a chance to prove herself and also work with her crush, Abby, but soon they uncover a plot that’s bigger than heroes and villains altogether.
Available at:
Amazon
Apple iBooks
Keeping Secrets (Mimi Patterson/Gianna Maglione Mystery, book 1) by Penny Mickelbury
Someone is killing closeted gay people in Washington, D.C. Police Lieutenant Gianna Maglione has a month to find the killer–or she’ll find body #6.But she has another problem in ace newspaper reporter Mimi Patterson, who thinks the public has a right to know a serial killer is on the prowl. They clash…but only in public. Their private attraction is as dangerous to them as, well, a serial killer.
Available at:
Amazon
Apple iBooks
Falling into Place by Sheryn Munir
Romance isn’t for Tara. After a college fling, she vows to never love again—especially since it feels like there’s no future for same-sex love in India. Then, one rain-soaked night, a mad decision brings Sameen into her life. She’s cute, full of life…and straight. In an instant, everything changes.
Available at:
Ylva Publishing
Amazon
An Outsider Inside by R J 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
Sacred Fire by Tanai Walker
Tinsley Swann is cursed to change into a beast for seven days, every seven years. She keeps her distance from the world, and has more of a relationship with the antique erotic postcards she collects. With the time of her transformation approaching, she finds herself torn between two women. One woman is Sandra, Tinsley’s new boss, and the two are having an affair.
Available at:
Bold Strokes Books
Amazon
Apple iBooks
Tailor-Made by Yolanda Wallace
A bespoke suit shop in Brooklyn. A tailor who never dates her clients. A gender-bending model. Romance couldn’t be better suited.
Available at:
Bold Strokes Books
Amazon
Apple iBooks
Keile’s Chance by Dillon Watson
One fateful day in the park, Keile Griffin falls for a pair of big brown eyes. Sure the eyes are attached to a toddler, but when she meets his mother, Hayden Davenport, she realizes what has been missing in her life. Will she and Hayden be able to set aside past baggage to forge a future together?
Available at:
Bella Books
Amazon
Pink by KD Williamson
Shawnna Green is heartbroken, lost, and broke. Starting over fresh in New Orleans, she takes a job at Stumpy’s Sex Emporium. There she experiences every slice of life imaginable while also discovering that women, dating, and sex aren’t what they used to be. Can Shawnna pick herself up, reach out, and connect with those around her? A smoldering look at the things we hide from ourselves.
Available at:
Ylva Publishing
Amazon
Apple iBooks
The Power of Mercy (Superheroine Collection) by Fiona Zedde
To her family, Mai Redstone is weak. When she becomes Mercy, a rooftop-climbing chameleon with at least nine lives, she finds her power. But when Mercy is called in by police to a murder case, her whole world threatens to crumble. The dead man made her childhood a hell. She is torn between giving the murderer a medal and finding the killer for her family. Mercy is a blade that can cut both ways.
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 women of color square, and start reading! Remember that you can either read one of the 15 books listed above or pick another novel featuring an LGBTQ+ woman of color.
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 two paperback books. One lucky winner will win a copy of Tell Me Again How a Crush Should Feel by Sara Farizan, and a second winner will win Homecoming by Celeste Castro.
To be entered into the drawing, leave a comment and let us know which book you’re going to read for the women of color square or if you can think of other lesbian books that fit this category.
I’ll announce the winners of the giveaway on Thursday, March 8.
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—celebrity romance novels— will be posted on March 15. 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 Women of Color (Lesbian Book Bingo #5) appeared first on Jae.
February 21, 2018
Pre-order my fake relationship romance “Just for Show” now!
The long-awaited day is finally here: You can now get my latest lesbian romance novel Just for Show from the Ylva Publishing webstore or pre-order it on Amazon.
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?
If you’d like to know a bit more about the book, here’s an excerpt.
In this scene, Claire and Lana are attending an office party and are trying to convince Claire’s colleagues that they are a couple, even though they don’t always get along so well.
“Listen.” Claire took a deep breath. “I wanted to…” Before she could say apologize, movement caught her attention out of the corner of her eye.
Her colleague Vanessa stood by the entrance, leaning against the metal gate, a cigarette dangling from her fingers. She was watching the smoke curl up, so she hadn’t seen Claire and Lana yet, but if she turned her head a bit or went back inside, she would discover them. The cigarette was smoked almost down to the filter, so it could happen any moment.
Shit. Claire’s gaze darted around, but the slender palm trees and ferns wouldn’t provide any cover.
Vanessa would catch sight of them any second, and she would know immediately that Claire and Lana were arguing. Their body language—facing each other with their arms stiffly by their sides and their shoulders up—screamed arguing couple. Besides, what other reason could they have for sneaking away from the party? At least Vanessa with her cigarette had a good excuse.
No doubt Vanessa would offer them relationship counseling or recommend a chapter from her book—unless Claire could convince her that she hadn’t dragged Lana here to argue.
Lana’s words echoed through her mind. You know they are totally thinking you’re dragging me to your office so you can have your way with me on your desk, right?
Vanessa threw her cigarette stump down and crushed it with a twist of her nine-hundred-dollar stilettos—the same way she would crush Claire’s reputation if Claire didn’t stop her.
Just as Vanessa turned around, Claire stepped forward, right into Lana’s personal space.
Lana’s hazel eyes widened. “Wh—?”
No time for long explanations. “Please don’t slap me,” was all Claire whispered before she dipped Lana back against a palm tree and kissed her.
Lana went rigid.
For a moment, Claire thought she’d get punched or at least pushed away, but then Lana parted her lips and kissed her back, and all thoughts stopped.
Lana’s lips were so incredibly soft and warm and pliant against hers.
A breathy gasp escaped Claire as Lana’s tongue stroked along her bottom lip then gently touched her own. Lana tasted of champagne and something fruity. Her body melted against Claire’s, all hints of resistance gone.
Lana slid her hands up Claire’s back. Her fingertips grazed Claire’s neck, sending shivers down Claire’s spine, and then her fingers tangled in Claire’s hair so she could deepen the kiss.
Several strands came loose from Claire’s pinned updo. Not that she cared at the moment. The warm glide of Lana’s tongue against hers sent spirals of sensation through her entire body. Her mind spun, and she gripped Lana’s hips with both hands to keep her balance. Oh holy…
Someone cleared her throat next to them.
Reality washed over Claire like a bucket of ice-cold water. Vanessa. Right. That was why she’d kissed Lana.
She backed away from Lana, but it took several seconds before she could tear her gaze from her.
Lana stared back, her lips red and her cheeks flushed.
Was it a physical reaction to their kiss, or was part of it anger at being ambushed like that?
Claire didn’t have time to figure it out.
“Well, well,” Vanessa said. “Looks like you two made up.”
“Who says that we were arguing?” With trembling fingers, Claire tried to pin her hair back up. Her scalp still tingled where Lana had touched her.
Vanessa let out a huff. “Please. If you’d read my book, you’d know it was obvious.”
“And if you’d read Claire’s book, you’d know that the best part of arguing with your lover is the making up,” Lana said, her voice low and seductive. She stepped next to Claire and pressed against her side, her body hot and soft against Claire’s. “Right, honey?”
“Right.” Claire’s own voice was husky without her having to act.
They turned their heads and looked at each other, their gazes catching and not letting go. What was going on behind those hazel eyes? For once, even three degrees in psychology weren’t going to help Claire figure it out.
“Well, good for you,” Vanessa said stiffly. “As you probably know, our target audience doesn’t like self-help authors who don’t practice what they preach.”
Claire narrowed her eyes. What was that supposed to mean? It sounded almost like a threat. Did Vanessa suspect something?
But that was impossible. Their kiss had been entirely convincing. Claire’s libido had certainly bought it, hook, line, and sinker.
“You’ll have to excuse me now. I bet Daniel is already looking for me.” Vanessa strode past them, back toward the party, leaving them staring after her, hesitant to look at each other.
I hope you enjoyed that excerpt and will enjoy the book too!
You can now get it at the Ylva Publishing webstore or pre-order it on Amazon, where it will be published on March 7, along with several other bookstores such as Apple iBooks, Kobo, and Barnes and Noble.
The post Pre-order my fake relationship romance “Just for Show” now! appeared first on Jae.
February 15, 2018
Lesbian fantasy novels (Lesbian Book Bingo #4)
I know some people aren’t clear on the difference between fantasy and paranormal fiction, so let’s start this post with a definition.
What is paranormal fiction?
Paranormal fiction is set in our normal world, just with some paranormal aspects added, e.g., werewolves, vampires, ghosts, or shapeshifters exist along with humans. If you take away the paranormal creatures, you’d be left with our current world.
What is fantasy?
Fantasy novels are set in another, imaginary world that has its own rules. Very often, magical powers and mythological creatures such as dragons play an important role.
However, there’s a huge overlap between the two genres, especially between urban fantasy and paranormal romance. Many even consider paranormal fiction to be a subgenre of fantasy, so I’m not going to be too strict if you want to put a novel such as Second Nature into the fantasy square.
I know some people have been looking forward to this reading list because fantasy is their favorite genre, while others are shying away from it.
If you belong to the latter group, give it a chance. There are some fantastic (no pun intended!) fantasy novels out there, and if you find the right one, you might end up loving it.
15 GREAT LESBIAN FANTASY NOVELS
I’ve put together a list of 15 fantasy novels with lesbian, bisexual, and other women-loving female main characters.
Of Fire and Stars by Audrey Coulthurst
Princess Dennaleia has spent all her life planning to marry a prince and seal an alliance that will protect their homelands from other hostile kingdoms. But as her forbidden magical gift for fire becomes harder to hide and she starts to fall in love with her fiancé’s rogueish horse-training sister, she must choose between her duty, her power, and her heart.
Available at:
Audible (audiobook)
Divine Touched (Vaelandrian Goddesses, book 1) by Cassandra Duffy
Harper, Sword Maiden for the illustrious Goddess of the Open Sea, has returned to the fabled city of Griffon’s Rock to rest for the winter months after a disappointing year treasure hunting. Her rest is cut short by a mysterious storm of divine origin, an attempted theft of her beloved mount, and the sudden appearance of a beautiful southerner who seems determined to capture Harper’s heart. The object of Harper’s desire, the mysterious rogue Calista, appears destined to get everyone into trouble with a mystical stew-brewing ogre, a greedy guild of Dwarven thieves, and finally an exalted march out of the snowy north bent on divine retribution. Before the spring thaw, Harper will choose between the woman she loves and the Goddess that is the source of her magic.
Available at:
The Exile and the Sorcerer (Lyremouth Series, book 1) by Jane Fletcher
The quest for the chalice is a sham, a way to banish Tevi, without causing scandal. She must go alone into a world where monsters and bandits are the least of her problems.
Jemeryl wants only to be left to study magic in peace and avoid common folk who don’t understand sorcerers. It is all very straightforward, until she meets Tevi.
Available at:
Daughter of Mystery (Alpennia series) 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:
Dragon Horse War: The Calling by D. Jackson Leigh
When is war justified to preserve peace? Jael, seasoned commander of a latent cell of dragon horse warriors, understands what Alyssa, an alluring young Advocate, doesn’t—words won’t be enough to quell the violent sect preying on the population’s fear and hunger. As their conflicting ideologies threaten to jeopardize their mission to save The Collective, Alyssa and Jael realize their growing attraction and entwined destiny might be more formidable than the enemy they have been called upon to defeat.
Available at:
The Second Sister (Amendyr series, book 1) by Rae D. Magdon
Eleanor of Sandleford’s entire world is shaken when her father marries the mysterious, reclusive Lady Kingsclere to gain a noble title. Ellie is forced to live at Baxstresse Manor with her two new stepsisters. Luciana is sadistic, but Belladonna is the woman who truly haunts her. Forced to be a servant after her father dies, how will she stop an ancient sorcerer’s curse and save her country?
Available at:
Breaking Legacies by Zoe Reed
In a land impoverished by a war that started before she was born, Kiena has provided for her mother and brother by becoming one of the best hunters in the kingdom. But when a lifelong friend with connections recommends her to the king to track down a runaway princess, her life gets turned upside down. Finding the princess is easy. Deciding what to do in a conflicting mess of politics and emotions…not so much.
Available at:
My Fair Maiden by Del Robertson
Gwen is the not-so-innocent virgin. Bodhi is the less-than-dashing hero. And My Fair Maiden is not your ordinary damsel-in-distress fantasy.
Available at:
Banshee’s Honor (The Tales of Y’Myran, book 1) by Shaylynn Rose
Warleader—in Y’Dan, this is a title of pride, of honor, and of joy. Oathbreaker—a word branded only on those whose crimes are so heinous, all must know of their crime. Both of these names have been given to Azhani Rhu’len. Only one of them is right.
Available at:
Sword of the Guardian by Merry Shannon
Princess Shasta is saved from an assassination attempt by a handsome traveling acrobat named Talon. Impressed, the King declares Talon will become the Princess’s new bodyguard. Intrigue and treachery permeate the palace, but the greatest deception of all is right under Shasta’s nose. What will she do when she discovers her charming guardian isn’t what he seems?
Available at:
The Abyss Surrounds Us by Emily Skrutskie
Cassandra Leung has been a Reckoner trainer-in-training ever since she could walk, raising the giant sea monsters to defend ships as they cross the pirate-infested NeoPacific. But then pirate queen Santa Elena kidnaps her. Santa Elena wants to take back the seas with a sea monster of her own, and she needs a proper trainer to do it. She orders Cas to raise the pup and teach him to fight for the pirates. If Cas fails, her blood will be the next to paint the sea.
Available at:
The Only Way by Jamie Sullivan
In the Gutter, there are only two ways for a girl to earn a living—among the trash or on her back. When Hart decides that’s not good enough for her, she takes on the high stakes world of no-holds-barred fighting. There’s just one problem: women aren’t allowed in the ring. Hair cut short and dressed in her father’s old clothes, Hart ventures into the world of arena fighting. There she meets Ruby…
Available at:
Audible (audiobook)
Ice Massacre (Mermaids of Eriana Kwai, book 1) by Tiana Warner
A mermaid’s supernatural beauty serves one purpose: to lure a sailor to his death. Meela, a warrior of Eriana Kwai, must fight for her people’s survival on the ocean’s deadliest battleground — battling against the mermaid she once called a friend.
Available at:
Audible (audiobook)
Rising from the Ashes: The Chronicles of Caymin (The Dragonmage Saga, book 1) by Caren Werlinger
In ancient Ireland, a young girl is orphaned and left to die. Rescued by a clan of badgers, she and her magic come to the attention of other humans. Some want to help her; some want to use her. When she bonds with an orphaned dragon cub, they become the targets of those who seek to use their power. Forced to flee, dragon and dragonmage must search for the answers as to what their future holds.
Available at:
The Warrior’s Path (When Women Were Warriors series, book 1) by Catherine M. Wilson
Tamras arrives in Merin’s house to begin her apprenticeship as a warrior, but her small stature causes many, including Tamras herself, to doubt that she will ever become a competent swordswoman. To make matters worse, Merin assigns her the position of companion, little more than a personal servant, to a woman who came to Merin’s house, seemingly out of nowhere, the previous winter, and this stranger wants nothing to do with Tamras.
Available at:
Audible (audiobook)
If you haven’t done so already, read up on the rules of Lesbian Book Bingo, pick the book you want to read for the fantasy square, and start reading! Remember that you can either read one of the 15 books listed above or pick another fantasy novel with a female main character who identifies as LGBTQIA+.
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, there’ll be two prizes: One lucky winner will get a paperback copy of Audrey Coulthurst’s Of Fire and Stars, while another is getting all three e-books in Catherine M. Wilson’s When Women Were Warriors trilogy.
To be entered into the drawing, leave a comment and let us know which book you’re going to read for the fantasy square or if you can think of other lesbian books that fit this category.
I’ll announce the winners of the giveaway on Thursday, February 22.
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—women of color—will be posted on March 1. Subscribe to my blog so you won’t miss it. There’ll be another giveaway too!
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Jae
The post Lesbian fantasy novels (Lesbian Book Bingo #4) appeared first on Jae.
February 1, 2018
Doctors & veterinarians (Lesbian Book Bingo #3)
I know many of you have been waiting none too patiently for this list. Medical romance novels have been popular not just since Callie & Arizona from Grey’s Anatomy.
Maybe it’s their great bedside manner or their white coats that makes women in medical professions such a hit with readers.
To make this square of the Lesbian Book Bingo even more interesting, I’ve added a handful of veterinarians to the mix.
If you need to brush up on the rules of Lesbian Book Bingo, check out the rules post.
15 GREAT LESBIAN MEDICAL ROMANCE NOVELS
I’ve put together a list of 15 books featuring stethoscope-wielding heroines:
The Secret of St. Claire by Robin Alexander
Veterinarian Nicole Allen is looking for something different. She finds it in the town of St. Claire, Louisiana with its hypochondriac rabbits, shotgun-toting shut-ins, and eclectic mix of people. The most alluring, though, is a woman who’s also looking for something different.
Available at:
Amazon
All the Little Moments by G Benson
Anna is focused on her career as an anaesthetist. When a tragic accident leaves her responsible for her young niece and nephew, her life changes abruptly. Completely overwhelmed, Anna barely has time to brush her teeth in the morning let alone date a woman. But then she collides with a long-legged stranger.
Available at:
Tricky Chances (Tricky series, book 2) by Camryn Eyde
Moving into the final years of Harvard Medical School, Darcy Wright matures with every fatigue-riddled experience she endures, however, the rigorous schedule of clinical rotations clashes with her attempts to navigate her sanity and her happiness. Olivia, her temperamental girlfriend with too many rules is an asset amidst the chaos; but can their relationship withstand the intensifying pressure?
Available at:
Snowbound by Cari Hunter
When heavy snowfall isolates the small English village of Birchenlow, a violent robbery shatters the community. Taken as a hostage and stranded with the increasingly desperate criminals, Sam is seriously injured during an ill-fated escape attempt. Already struggling to save the lives of the villagers caught up in the raid, Dr. Kate Myles volunteers to walk straight into the lion’s den.
Available at:
Audible (audiobook)
Heart Trouble by Jae
Dr. Hope Finlay learned early in life not to get attached to anyone because it never lasts.
Laleh Samadi, who comes from a big, boisterous family, is the exact opposite.
When Laleh ends up in the ER with heart trouble, Hope saves her life. Afterwards, strange things begin to occur until they can no longer deny the mysterious connection between them.
Are they losing their minds…or their hearts?
Available at:
Long Shot by D. Jackson Leigh
If you’re going to bet a long shot, you have to be prepared to lose.
Equine veterinarian Tory Greyson has always played the safe bet. That is, until she runs into a very cute, opinionated, jobless journalist. The small town of Cherokee Falls is just a pit stop for Leah Montgomery while she figures out how to put her career back on track and deal with her grandmother’s slide into dementia.
Available at:
The Origins of Heartbreak (Lakeside Hospital, book 1) by Cara Malone
Alex’s world stood still the day her father passed. After more than a year of living frozen in that moment, she decides to take the first steps out of her grief by enrolling in a paramedic program. It’s in one of her first classes that she meets Megan, a pretty but aloof medical student who has a few skeletons of her own in the proverbial closet. Can they work together to mend their broken hearts?
Available at:
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:
Saving Grace by H.P. Munro
Charlotte Grace left Grace Falls at the age of seventeen, swearing she’d never return. More than twenty years on she still regrets breaking the heart of her first love. Erin Hunter has spent a lifetime recovering from having her heart shattered by the person she trusted most. Neither woman ever thought they’d see each other again. They didn’t count on Grace Falls.
Available at:
L.A. Metro (L.A. Metro series, book 1) by RJ Nolan
Dr. Kimberly Donovan’s life is in shambles. After her medical ethics are questioned, first her family, then her closeted lover, the Chief of the ER, betray her. Determined to make a fresh start, she flees to California and L.A. Metropolitan Hospital.
When she meets Jess McKenna, L.A. Metro’s Chief of the ER the attraction is immediate.
Can either woman overcome her past to make a future together?
Available at:
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:
Audible (audiobook)
Tie Dye and Flannel by Rhavensfyre
Dr. Stacie Phillips is a young veterinarian trying to establish her new career. Maria is a free-spirit who lets life take her where it may. Find out what happens when a straight-laced flannel falls for a tie dye sort of gal.
Available at:
Heartsick by Tracey Richardson
An ER physician and a paramedic must heal the most painful affliction of their lives―their own broken hearts.
Available at:
Audible (audiobook)
Trigger (A Dr. Kate Morrison Thriller) by Jessica L. Webb
Dr. Kate Morrison races to discover how to defuse human bombs while learning to trust her increasingly strong feelings for the lead investigator, Sergeant Andy Wyles.
Available at:
Audible (audiobook)
Blurred Lines (Cops & Docs series, book 1) by KD Williamson
Wounded in a police shootout, Detective Kelli McCabe spends weeks in the hospital recovering. Her only entertainment is verbal sparring matches with Dr. Nora Whitmore, the talented and reclusive surgeon. Two very different women living in two different worlds. When the lines between them begin to blur, will they run from the possibilities or embrace the changes they bring to each other’s lives?
Available at:
If you haven’t done so already, download your bingo card, pick the book you want to read for the “doctors & veterinarians” square, and start reading! Remember that you can either read one of the 15 books listed above or pick another lesbian medical romance.
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, there’ll be not one, but two lucky winners! One person will win an e-book copy of Fated Love by Radclyffe, and someone else will win a copy of Heartsick by Tracey Richardson.
To be entered into the drawing, leave a comment and let us know which book you’re going to read for the “doctors & veterinarians” 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, February 8.
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—fantasy—will be posted on February 15. 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 Doctors & veterinarians (Lesbian Book Bingo #3) appeared first on Jae.
January 18, 2018
Lesbian historical fiction (Lesbian Book Bingo #2)
If you haven’t heard of the Lesbian Book Bingo before now, it’s not too late to join! In short, it’s a year-long reading challenge where you’re trying to read one book for each square on the bingo card—and you can win great books while doing it. If you need to brush up on how Lesbian Book Bingo is played, check out the rules.
I’ll post suggestions for a new square on the first and third Thursday of each month. Today, I’ll be covering the “historical fiction” square.
Part of the fun and the challenge of the Lesbian Book Bingo is that you are encouraged to read books that you might not have tried otherwise.
I know that some people shy away from genres such as historical fiction, but give it a try—or if you already love historical fiction, enjoy your read for this bingo square!
15 GREAT LESBIAN HISTORICAL FICTION BOOKS
I’ve put together a list of 15 historical novels with lesbian or bisexual characters I hope you’ll enjoy.
Charity by Paulette Callen
The friendship between Lena Kaiser, a sodbuster’s daughter, and Gustie Roemer, an educated Easterner, is unlikely in any other circumstance but post-frontier Charity, South Dakota. Gustie is considered an outsider, and Lena is too proud to share her problems (which include a hard-drinking husband) with anyone else.
Available at:
Ylva Publishing
Amazon
Apple iTunes
In the Company of Women by Kate Christie
Fort Bliss—it’s anything but. Caroline “CJ” Jamieson gave up studying history and joined the Women’s Army Corps to live it instead. Along with her new WAC friends, she is ready to do her part to help boys like her brothers, fighting in the European and Pacific theaters, make it home sooner. But when CJ meets fellow WAC enlistee Brady Buchanan, Fort Bliss might live up to its name.
Available at:
Bella Books
Amazon
Apple iTunes
Galveston 1900: Swept Away by Linda Crist
On September 7-8, 1900, the island of Galveston, Texas, was destroyed by a hurricane. Rachel Travis fled her family at a young age and now makes her livelihood in Galveston. Independent, friendly, and yet often lonely, only one other person knows the dark secret that haunts her. Madeline “Mattie” Crockett is trapped in a loveless marriage, never daring to dream of true happiness until she meets Rachel. As emotions come to light, can they survive the great storm and build the life they both dream of?
Available at:
Affinity Ebook Press
Amazon
Apple iTunes
Water’s Edge by Genevieve Fortin
In 1888, Emilie Levesque and her family must leave their beloved Canada to seek employment in the booming textile mills of New England. Emilie’s initial culture shock is eased by her friendship with Angeline Fournier. Emilie knows she’s different but has no words for what she is and what she feels. Can these loving friends ever cross the forbidden boundary between the warmth of affection and the heat of desire?
Available at:
Bella Books
Amazon
Apple iTunes
Kicker’s Journey by Lois Cloarec Hart
In 1899, Kicker works as a hostler and farrier at Grindleshire Academy for Young Ladies. When Kicker falls in love with teacher Madelyn, it radically alters the course of her tranquil life.
Available at:
Ylva Publishing
Amazon
Apple iTunes
Shaken to the Core by Jae
Kate Winthrop, daughter of a shipping magnate, is expected to marry a respectable man. But her true passion lies with photography—and with women.
Much to the dismay of her parents, she becomes friends with their maid Giuliana.
Then an earthquake hits San Francisco. Will the disaster shatter their tentative feelings? Or will they be able to save each other’s lives and hearts?
Available at:
Ylva Publishing
Amazon
Apple iTunes
Awake Unto Me by Kathleen Knowles
In turn of the century San Francisco, two young women fight for love in a world where women are often invisible and passion is the privilege of the powerful.
Available at:
Bold Strokes Books
Amazon
Apple iTunes
The Liberators of Willow Run by Marianne K. Martin
1943. It’s up to America’s women to produce the tools of war – America’s Liberator, the B-24 bomber. For Audrey, hard work and long hours are what is needed to keep her past at bay. Ruth seizes the opportunity to create a new life for herself – a life her mother would not recognize. In a rapidly changing world, these women capture the spirit of the times through determination, ingenuity and courage.
Available at:
Bywater Books
Amazon
Apple iTunes
Golddigger by Hilary McCollum
Everything that mattered to Frances Moriarty was left behind in famine-ravaged Ireland. Beset with grief and guilt, she is scraping out a shadowy existence as a New York shoeshine boy when word spreads: gold lines the riverbeds of California. Determined to find her fortune, Frances sets out on the overland trek to California’s gold fields. But her steps are haunted by a past she can’t outrun.
Available at:
Bella Books
Amazon
For Me and My Gal by Robbi McCoy
Gwen Lawson is director of a small Naval museum whose treasures pique her curiosity and her compassion, especially when she comes across an old WWII-era diary describing a tragic love affair between two women. Gwen teams up with Shelby Pratt, the granddaughter of the diarist, and the pair set out to right past injustices while being drawn into an unexpected romance of their own.
Available at:
Bella Books
Amazon
Apple iTunes
Letters Never Sent by Sandra Moran
In 1931, Katherine Henderson leaves behind her small town in Kansas and the marriage proposal of a local boy to live on her own in Chicago. There she meets Annie—an outspoken feminist who challenges Katherine’s idea of who she thinks she is. In 1997, Katherine’s daughter Joan finds a packet of sealed letters when she cleans out her mother’s house. In those letters, she discovers a woman completely different from the aloof and unyielding mother of her youth. Can Annie find the strength to forgive and to live the life she’s always wanted?
Available at:
Bedazzled Ink
Amazon
Audible (audiobook)
Basic Training of the Heart by Jaycie Morrison
In 1944, socialite Elizabeth Carlton joins the Women’s Army Corps to escape family expectations and love’s disappointments. Can Sergeant Gale Rains get her through Basic Training with their hearts intact? With the whole world at war, victory is never certain as two women wage their own battles of will and desire.
Available at:
Bold Strokes Books
Amazon
Apple iTunes
Tiopa Ki Lakota by D. Jordan Redhawk
Wi Ile Anpo is two-spirited, a Lakota warrior with visions of a pale-skinned woman that mystify her yet also wound her soul. Kathleen McGlashan Stevens, an Irish immigrant, confronts savagery and madness when she’s abducted by Indians, but finds an anchor in Anpo. But Anpo holds herself aloof, as if there’s a secret Kathleen will never understand and a future neither of them will live to see.
Available at:
Bella Books
Amazon
Apple iTunes
Waiting for the Violins by Justine Saracen
Antonia Forrester, an English nurse, is nearly killed while trying to save soldiers fleeing at Dunkirk. Embittered, she returns to occupied Brussels as a British spy to foment resistance to the Nazis.
Available at:
Bold Strokes Books
Amazon
Apple iTunes
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 iTunes
Audible (audiobook)
If you haven’t done so already, download your bingo card, pick the book you want to read for the historical fiction square, and start reading! Remember that you can either read one of the 15 books listed above or pick another lesbian book that is set at least 25 years in the past.
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 e-book copy of Basic Training of the Heart by Jaycie Morrison, which fits not just the historical fiction square but also the previously posted women in uniform square.
To be entered into the drawing, leave a comment and let us know which book you’re going to read for the historical fiction square or if you can think of other lesbian books that fit this category.
I’ll announce the winner of the e-book on Thursday, January 25.
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—doctors & veterinarians—will be posted on February 1. 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 Lesbian historical fiction (Lesbian Book Bingo #2) appeared first on Jae.
January 15, 2018
Lesbian Book Bingo – Frequently asked questions
I’ve had questions about some of the squares of the Lesbian Book Bingo card, so I thought I’d post a short FAQ.
Here’s what you need to know about these categories:
LGBTQIA+ character
For this square, please try to read books with a main character who is bisexual, pansexual, trans, queer, intersex, asexual, or identifies with a letter of the LGBT+ community other than the L (lesbian) since the L is covered by all the other bingo squares already.
The category is named LGBTQIA+ because no one would recognize what it’s supposed to mean if I left the L out.
Examples for this category would be:
Being Emily by Rachel Gold (trans character)
Perfect Rhythm by Jae (asexual homoromantic character)
Flinging It by G Benson (bisexual character)
Disabled character
In this category, look for books with a main character who has a physical disability, a chronic illness, or a mental illness. Remember that there are “invisible” disabilities, too, which are not immediately apparent, e.g., chronic pain, fibromyalgia, MS, depression, etc.
Examples for this category would be:
Just Physical by Jae (multiple sclerosis)
Battle Scars by Meghan O’Brien (PTSD)
Far From Home by Lorelie Brown (eating disorder)
Summer reads
A summer read is a book that is set during the summer months, which might mean June to September in the US and Europe, but December to February if the story is set in Australia, or that takes place in an exotic location where people go on vacation, e.g., a beach, an island, a cruise ship, etc.
Examples for this category would be:
Take Only Pictures by Laina Villeneuve (set in summer)
Sea Legs by KG MacGregor (set on a cruise ship)
Symphony in Blue by MJ Duncan (set on Maui)
Age difference
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 the specific number of years, though, but the disparity in experience and life stage, e.g., one of them is in college, while the other already has a successful career.
In May/December romances—which are a subcategory of age gap romances—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.
Examples for the “age difference” category would be:
After Mrs. Hamilton by Clare Ashton
The Brutal Truth by Lee Winter
Seasons of Love by Harper Bliss
Holiday book
A holiday book is a book in which one of the winter holidays such as Thanksgiving, Christmas, Hannukah, etc. plays a role. Again, “winter” refers to winter in the northern hemisphere, but, of course, the book can be set in the southern hemisphere during the holidays too.
Examples for this category would be:
Under a Falling Star by Jae
The Bureau of Holiday Affairs by Andi Marquette
All I Want for Christmas by Clare Lydon
Paranormal
Paranormal fiction is set in our ordinary world, just with a paranormal twist added, for example, werewolves, vampires, ghosts, or shapeshifters exist along with humans. If you take away the paranormal creatures, you’d be left with our current world.
Examples for this category would be:
Second Nature by Jae
The Midnight Hunt by L.L. Raand
The Devil You Know by Marie Castle
Fantasy
Fantasy is set in an alternative world that has its own culture. Mythology and magic often play an important role.
Examples for this category would be:
Banshee’s Honor by Shaylynn Rose
Rising from the Ashes by Caren Werlinger
Daughter of Mystery by Heather Rose Jones
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.
If one main character gets a chance at happiness with someone else or at a new beginning in general, the book isn’t a second chance romance.
Examples for this category would be:
The Miracle Girl by T.B. Markinson
The Art of Us by KL Hughes
Always Alex by Robin Alexander
If you have any other questions about the bingo squares & categories, please let me know!
The post Lesbian Book Bingo – Frequently asked questions appeared first on Jae.
January 3, 2018
Women in uniform (Lesbian Book Bingo #1)
I’m very excited to share the first post of the long-awaited Lesbian Book Bingo with you.
In case you missed the rules post and don’t know what Lesbian Book Bingo is all about, read up on the rules and then come back to this post for your first bingo square.
I picked “women in uniform” as the theme for the first reading list since they are such popular heroines. Whether they are in the military or part of the police force or other first responders, there’s something about a woman in uniform that makes us swoon. Maybe it’s their integrity or the fact that they’re putting themselves in danger for the greater good. Plus it probably doesn’t hurt that they are physically fit and easy on the eyes.
15 GREAT LESBIAN BOOKS WITH MILITARY OR POLICE OFFICER HEROINES
I’ve put together a list of 15 books with military or police officer heroines that I hope you’ll enjoy.
Fragmentary Blue (Alex/CJ series, book 1) by Erica Abbott
C.J. St. Clair’s success as a police officer has brought her a new job and a fresh start with Internal Affairs in Colfax, Colorado. Captain Ryan loves her department, her detectives, and her family. Loving another woman isn’t in the game plan, but C.J.’s southern charms are difficult to ignore.
Available at:
The Long Way Home by Roslyn Bane
Major Sam Davies is a warrior, helicopter pilot, and Marine. Lt Cdr Kris Matthews is a highly skilled, combat experienced Navy Surgeon. One fateful afternoon their paths cross and their lives change forever. In a world where independence and strength are as valued as teamwork, and they struggle through rehab, will they heal enough to live again and find happiness or be destroyed?
Available at:
Close Enough to Touch (Rylee Hayes Thriller, book 1) by Cade Brogan
Homicide detective Rylee Hayes has just about given up on the idea of a relationship until an investigation causes her to cross paths with her old college sweetheart, Kenzie Bigham. As they discover that the passage of time may have offered them a second chance at love, serial killer Joanna Grey sets her sights on her next target. Will Rylee have what it takes to meet the challenge of a serial killer who’s proven herself to be a more than worthy opponent in time to save Kenzie’s life?
Available at:
Strong by Natalie Debrabandere
Life is a challenge and IEDs a constant threat for the soldiers working at Cobel, an American checkpoint in Afghanistan. British Army medic Kate Sanderson’s mission there is crystal clear: to look after the injured and save as many lives as she can. She is assigned to a platoon led by USMC Captain Tyler Jackson, a talented young officer who uses her career as an excuse to avoid personal relationships. The handsome captain has learnt the hard way that love can hurt beyond life itself, but Kate’s presence in camp is making it difficult for her to keep her distance.
Available at:
Officer Down by Erin Dutton
Veteran emergency dispatcher Hillary O’Neal can handle any crisis, until she gets the call that destroys her confidence. Now she spends every shift dreading what could happen and doubting whether she’ll be able to handle another tragedy. Olivia Dennis joined the sheriff’s department for the action and to fulfill the family legacy. But she could lose both when she’s caught up in an internal investigation and assigned to a security desk at the communications center.
Available at:
Relic (The Morelville Mysteries series, book 1) by Anne Hagan
Cases collide for two star-crossed ladies of law enforcement! Customs Special Agent Dana Rossi and semi-rural Ohio county Sheriff Melissa “Mel” Crane are each working critical cases that seem to be related. Can they get along together long enough to solve them both, and will their undeniable feelings for each other be allowed to grow, or will the two ladies fight each other every step of the way?
Available at:
Whatever Gods May Be by Sophia Kell Hagin
Jamie Gwynmorgan doesn’t believe in prayer. She doesn’t believe in anything much. Except that people can’t be trusted—certainly not anyone she’s ever met. But Jamie knows some things. From experience. She knows if she died, nobody would give a damn. Nobody would even notice. She knows the better she can fight, the safer she’ll be.
Available at:
Intersection (Alex and Cassidy series, book 1) by Nancy Ann Healy
FBI agent Alexis Toles is dispatched to New Rochelle, New York, to investigate threatening letters sent to Congressman O’Brien and to protect his ex-wife Cassidy and six-year-old son, Dylan. But when she gets to New Rochelle, Alex discovers that there is more to the situation than simple stalking or political agendas; she finds that she has growing romantic feelings for Cassidy—and that the feelings are mutual. While Alex and Cassidy explore their budding romance, the investigation continues, and the complicated web surrounding the threats begins to unravel, placing their lives in grave danger.
Available at:
Sawmill Springs by Gerri Hill
After a botched drug bust left a friend dead, homicide detective Mandi Murphy left Houston for peaceful Sawmill Springs. When things soured between FBI agent Kayla Dixon and her lover, she was ready for a change from the fast paced life she was living. Her father, the Police Chief in Sawmill Springs, offered her a job. Mere hours after she starts her first shift, a prominent citizen is gunned down. While the two women are trying to solve the murder, their attraction grows.
Available at:
Conflict of Interest (Portland Police Bureau series, book 1) by Jae
Detective Aiden Carlisle isn’t looking for love, especially not at a law enforcement seminar, but the first lecturer isn’t what she expected. After a failed relationship, psychologist Dawn Kinsley swore to never get involved with another cop, but she immediately feels a connection to Aiden. Can Aiden keep from crossing the line when Dawn becomes the victim of a brutal crime?
Available at:
Don’t Call Me Hero (Don’t Call Me Hero series, book 1) by Eliza Lentzski
It’s been over a year since Cassidy Miller retired from the United States Marine Corps, but transitioning back to civilian life isn’t easy after eight years in a war zone. Looking for a fresh start, she’s left Minneapolis to be a police officer in northern Minnesota. It’s in the tiny town of Embarrass where she learns more about Julia Desjardin. The city prosecutor is cool, professional, and untouchable. But she and Cassidy have history, and Cassidy isn’t going to let her forget that.
Available at:
Moment of Weakness by KG MacGregor
Zann Redeker returns to Vermont a wounded war hero. Valiant, dashing—she’s the shining warrior Marleigh Anderhall always dreamed would sweep her off her feet. They have all they could ever want…a home they’ve built together and a love that grows stronger every day. It’s an idyllic life, until Zann discovers something that calls into question her very identity.
Available at:
Ask, Tell by E.J. Noyes
An innocent crush on your boss shouldn’t be an issue. Unless you’re an Army surgeon serving under ‘Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell’ where it could get you fired, or worse. Captain Sabine Fleischer knows policy is only one of the reasons Colonel Rebecca Keane is off-limits, so she’s content with her private fantasies. When Sabine’s life is turned on its head, she’s surprised to find the Colonel by her side and wonders if fantasy might actually be reality.
Available at:
Show of Force by AJ Quinn
When correspondent Tate McKenna broke her own rules and took navy pilot Lieutenant Commander Evan Kane home from an embassy dinner in Bahrain, she knew all the reasons why it wouldn’t work. Long, unpredictable work hours. Extended absences. The dangers inherent in their jobs. Yet after being with Evan once, it was inconceivable she wouldn’t be with her again.
Available at:
Rescue Me by Michelle L. Teichman
Kristen Bailey of the Royal Canadian Mounted Police has it all figured out, until she meets Ashleigh Paige. Beautiful, naïve, and trusting, Ashleigh is the perfect lead for her case. Only she’s a paramedic, and in Toronto, EMTs and cops don’t mix, and the closer she gets to Ashleigh, the more the line between informant and intimate gets blurred.
Available at:
If you haven’t done so already, download your bingo card, pick the book you want to read for the “women in uniform” square, and start reading! Remember that you can either read one of the 15 books listed above or pick another lesbian book with a woman in uniform as a main character.
Leave a comment to win a book
But wait, that’s not all there is to Lesbian Book Bingo. There’ll also be great giveaways twice a month. This time, you can win Cade Brogan’s Close Enough to Touch as an audiobook.
To be entered into the drawing, leave a comment and let us know which book you’re going to read for the “women in uniform” square or if you can think of other lesbian books that fit this category.
I’ll announce the winner of the audiobook on Thursday, January 11.
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 January 18. Subscribe to my blog so you won’t miss it. There’ll be another giveaway too!
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Happy reading!
Jae
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January 1, 2018
Lesbian Book Bingo — Join our reading challenge and win great books!
To make 2018 a little more interesting for all avid readers of lesbian fiction, I got together with a bunch of fellow lesbian book addicts and came up with a fun reading challenge: Lesbian Book Bingo!
How does Lesbian Book Bingo work?
Download this cool Lesbian Book Bingo card ( letter size or A4 ).
Throughout the year, fill in your bingo card with the titles and authors of lesbian books you have read in 2018. You can either type in the PDF or print it out and write by hand.
Each square of the bingo card represents a certain subgenre or theme. For example, if you started the year by (re-)reading Backwards to Oregon, you would write “Backwards to Oregon by Jae” into the “historical fiction” square.
I will post suggested reading lists for each square here on my blog, but you can also pick any other lesbian book that fits the category. I’ll post a new list twice a month, so by the end of the year, we’ll have 24 lists covering all squares of the bingo card.
For the “free choice” square in the middle of the bingo card, you can read any lesbian book of your choice.
You win by completing a horizontal, vertical, or diagonal line on the bingo card, which means reading at least five books.
While you can read the books in any order you want, you might want to wait for the lists of suggested books I’ll provide on my blog twice a month so you don’t miss out on some excellent books.
What books can you pick for Lesbian Book Bingo?
The only conditions are:
It needs to be a book you read (or re-read) in 2018.
It needs to be a book with at least one main character who is a woman who loves women.
You can read a book of your own choosing that matches one of the squares or pick one from the suggested reading list for each square.
Each book may be used only once per card. So if you read a romantic suspense novel about a detective who falls in love with her new partner, you have to decide if you want to put it down in the “romantic suspense” square or in the “workplace romance” square, but you can’t use it for both squares.
What can you win and how?
You can win some great ebooks by participating in Lesbian Book Bingo as well as several paperbacks and audio books. More than 250 authors and almost 50 publishers such as Bold Strokes Books, Bella Books, Ylva Publishing, Bedazzled Ink, Riptide Publishing, Desert Palm Press, Intaglio Publications, Regal Crest, Dirt Road Books, Affinity eBook Press, and many others are participating.
There are three ways to win at Lesbian Book Bingo:
Twice a month, you can win an e-book by checking in when I post the recommended reading lists. All you have to do is to leave a comment on this blog, letting us know what book you are reading for this square or suggest another book that fits the category, and you’ll be entered in the drawing.
If you complete a horizontal, vertical, or diagonal line of the bingo card, you’ll win an e-book from one of the 250 great authors of lesbian fiction participating in Lesbian Book Bingo. You don’t even need to be the first person to complete a line to win. Send me an e-mail with the PDF or a photo of your filled-out bingo card attached, and you’ll get an e-book in the format of your choice. Each reader can win only one e-book, even if you complete several rows, columns, or diagonals—unless you complete all 25 squares. The deadline is December 31, 2018.
If you complete all 25 squares and e-mail me your filled-out bingo card, you’ll be entered in the drawing for the grand prize. 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.
Don’t miss any of the Lesbian Book Bingo posts!
The recommended reading lists for each square will be posted on the first and third Thursday of each month, starting on Thursday, January 4. Winners of the “leave a comment” giveaway will be announced one week later, on the second and fourth Thursday of each month.
Subscribe to my blog so you don’t miss any of the opportunities to win an e-book. All you have to do is to enter your e-mail into the box below and click “subscribe.”
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Join us for the Lesbian Book Bingo, read great lesbian books all year, discover new novels and authors, and win fantastic prizes!
Happy New Year!
Jae
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December 29, 2017
2017 in review and my writing goals for 2018
2017 is drawing to a close. Just three more days and we’ll be into 2018. For me, the week between Christmas and the New Year is always a time to look back at the past year and make goals for the next year.
So, how did I do on my writing goals for 2017?
A year ago, I posted my goals for 2017, which were:
Write and publish two English novels.
I did achieve that goal. My medical romance Falling Hard was published in April, and Perfect Rhythm, a romance novel with an asexual main character, was published in September.
Translate and publish two German novels.
I also accomplished that goal. Hängematte für zwei, the translation of Falling Hard, was published in June, and the German version of Perfect Rhythm was published in October. That means my German readers had to wait only a month or two for the translation after each novel became available in English.
Write two short stories.
I actually wrote not two, but three short stories. Two are available as part of my short story collection Love at First Write, which was published in December. The third, “Facing the Music,” is a very short sequel to Perfect Rhythm. It’s available for free to newsletter subscribers here.
Attend the book fair in Leipzig in March and the book fair in Frankfurt in October as well as the GCLS conference in Chicago in July.
Being able to travel is one of the benefits of being a writer since I can write from anywhere. So I did attend the book fair in Frankfurt and the one in Leipzig, and I combined the GCLS conference with some sightseeing in Chicago. It was great to reconnect with fellow writers and readers of lesbian fiction at the GCLS, and I ended up taking home two Golden Crown Literary Awards (for Finding Ms. Write and Shaken to the Core), which was another highlight of the year for me.
Continue to mentor new writers and give back to the community of LGBT writers.
That’s another check mark on my list of goals for 2017. I mentored a new writer who’s working on her first novel as part of the GCLS’s Writing Academy. It’s time-consuming, but worth every minute, and I’m pretty sure that novel will end up being published.
Become a more healthy writer.
Since writing is such a sedentary activity, I’m trying to stay fit by exercising more and eating healthy. I think I achieved that goal for most of the year, but I let things slide a little for the past two months, so that’s definitely something I need to work on in 2018.
Re
ad more books for fun. This is another goal that I didn’t fully achieve this year. I did read for fun, but not as much as I wanted. The picture to the right shows how I kept track of the novels I read in 2017.
As you can see, there would have been space for more books on that shelf, so this is another goal I want to recommit to for 2018.
My goals for 2018
Here are the goals I set for myself for 2018:
Write and publish two English novels.
Just for Show, a fun romance about a fake relationship between a psychologist with OCD tendencies and an impulsive actress, is actually almost done. It will be published in February. Novel #2 for 2018 will be another book in the Portland Police Bureau series featuring Dawn and Aiden from Conflict of Interest, Del and Kade from Next of Kin, and two new characters. The still untitled book will be published in December 2018.
Translate and publish four German novels.
My German readers can look forward to four novels from me in 2018. Aus dem Gleichgewicht, the translation of Shaken to the Core, will be published in February. Alles nur gespielt, the German version of Just for Show, will be published in April. I will also finally translate my historical romance Backwards to Oregon, which will be published in two parts in August and October.
Co-author a novella set in Germany.
Alison Grey, my co-author for the paranormal romance Good Enough to Eat, and I have been talking about co-writing another novella in 2018. It will be a romance set in Freiburg, the city where I live. Of course, the novella will be available in both English and German.
Attend the GCLS conference in Las Vegas in July and at least one literary event in Europe.
I just booked my flight to Vegas, so I’ll definitely be attending the GCLS conference. I’m also thinking about attending ELLCon, the European Lesfic Literary Conference in Bristol in August.
Continue to give back to the community of LGBT writers.
While I won’t have the time to mentor a new writer for the GCLS in January, I still want to give back to the LGBT community and promote lesbian fiction in other ways. One of the things I’m planning for 2018 is a Lesbian Book Bingo, a year-long reading challenge that includes books from pretty much every publisher of lesbian fiction plus many indie authors.
Become a more healthy writer.
I’ll restructure my workday in 2018 so that I can take a walk during my lunch break, and I’ll keep working out at least three times a week.
Read more books for fun.
To help me accomplish that goal, I’ll participate in Lesbian Book Bingo as a reader. I’ll try to complete my entire bingo card, which means reading at least 25 lesbian books in 2018.
What are your goals, plans, and hopes for 2018?
Please leave a comment and let us know.
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