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Rhapsody

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After eleven years on the anchor desk at Channel 4, Ashley Giraud is one of the most beloved figures in Tampa Bay. That’s how she likes her love—distant and impersonal. Outwardly sociable with her coworkers and viewers, she can’t wait to get back to her gated home and garden.

When her longtime stylist goes out of business, she follows a colleague’s recommendation to Rhapsody, a small salon that serves as a hub for an eclectic group of lesbian friends. Despite Ashley’s efforts to remain aloof, she soon trades her solitude for roller skates, swing dancing and the emotional ups and downs of new friends.

Never before has she felt so contented in the company of other women. Even so, there’s always the whisper from the past. Would any of them, especially Julia Whitethorn, the charismatic, appealing owner of Rhapsody, care about her if they knew the terrible secret she’s kept for twenty years?

Lambda Literary Award winner KG MacGregor spins a story about the power of secrets and the risks of love with her trademark wit and insight.

264 pages, Paperback

First published June 12, 2012

14 people are currently reading
165 people want to read

About the author

K.G. MacGregor

39 books331 followers
A former teacher and market research consultant, KG MacGregor holds a PhD in journalism and mass communication. Infatuation with Xena: Warrior Princess fanfiction prompted her to try her own hand at storytelling in 2002. In 2005, she signed with Bella Books, which published the Goldie Award finalist Just This Once. Her sixth Bella novel, Out of Love, won the 2007 Lambda Literary Award for Women's Romance, and the 2008 Goldie Award in Lesbian Romance. In 2009, she picked up Goldies for Without Warning (Contemporary Romance) and Secrets So Deep (Romantic Suspense).

Other honors include the Lifetime Achievement Award from the Royal Academy of Bards, the Alice B. Readers Appreciation Medal, and several Readers Choice Awards. An avid supporter of queer literature, KG currently serves on the Board of Trustees for the Lambda Literary Foundation.

KG MacGregor divides her time between her homes in Miami and Blowing Rock, North Carolina. When she isn't writing, she's either on a hiking trail, a golf course, or if she's really lucky, a cruise ship.

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5 stars
66 (23%)
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111 (39%)
3 stars
80 (28%)
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21 (7%)
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6 (2%)
Displaying 1 - 24 of 24 reviews
Profile Image for Diane Wallace.
1,455 reviews164 followers
July 1, 2017
Loved! very intriguing and interesting story..where no matter what in the end 'Love' will conquer everything (paperback!)
Profile Image for Lissa.
1,319 reviews142 followers
July 19, 2016
I really liked the first two books I read by this author (Touch of a Woman and Etched in Shadows), which apparently showed me a kink that I never knew I had: straight woman falling for a lesbian. It has nothing to do with my ex-girlfriend and wanting to "right" the way that our relationship ended horrifically, I am sure. But I just thought that this book was okayish.

Ashley was so withdrawn and self-contained that it was hard to like her character. Julia was nice but just too perfect for my tastes; she didn't feel all that realistic to me. And the romance took a backseat toward Ashley opening up and befriending a group of lesbians; while this was nice, it just didn't engage my emotions.

I almost feel like I should apologize for not liking this book, since everyone else seems to like it!
549 reviews12 followers
November 1, 2022
It's been a while since I read a K G MacGregor book. I thought I had read her entire backlist, but when I started what I thought was going to be a reread of this on a recommendation by Karin Kallmaker, I quickly realized that it had been misshelved ( I hate how GR sometimes marks a book as read when you carelessly put it on a shelf without marking is a 'want to read'). Anyway, I fell in love with the characters and enjoyed every page.
Profile Image for D. Redhawk.
Author 17 books97 followers
October 1, 2012
I read angst. I want gun fights, car chases, edge-of-the-seat death threats... This book doesn't have those. What it DOES have is great characterization and dialogue, an intriguing romance, and the blossoming of a tightly controlled and distant woman. An awesome book!
Profile Image for Line.
137 reviews22 followers
January 6, 2013
I loved this book. Just should have been longer. Would have liked to read more about their life together. Would have liked to give it 4 and 1/2.
Profile Image for Carleen.
44 reviews6 followers
July 1, 2012
If you've followed by blog over the last few months, you may remember a review I did of the movie "One Day" (you can read the whole entry here).  In that review, I compared watching that movie with reading a book by Karin Kallmaker or KG MacGregor:
Pick up a book by KK or KGM and you’re sure to get the following:

Interesting, 3-dimensional, well-developed characters

Believable dialogue

Nicely developed plot lines that, while often fitting that “romance formula,” never – EVER – seem overdone or banal

A lovely romance, usually developing throughout the book with just the right amount of sexual tension to keep things interesting until The Time

Most importantly – A HAPPY ENDING!!


I stand by this.  Particularly after reading KG MacGregor's newest offering, Rhapsody (Bella Books).

Rhapsody tells the story of Ashley Giaud, award-winning news anchor in Tampa Bay, FL and Julia Whitethorn, owner and stylist at Rhapsody hair salon.  Ashley and Julia are brought together by a mutual friend who suggests Ashley visit Rhapsody for her hair appointments after Ashley's regular stylist is no longer available.  Soon, Julia and her small group of friends gradually brings Ashley into the fold and out of her self-imposed solitude.  But as Ashley and Julia grow closer, will Ashley's well kept secrets prevent them from finding their "happily ever after"?


Readers have come to expect great reading material from a KG MacGregor novel and time after time, MacGregor does not disappoint.  So it is with Rhapsody.  KGM has put together a compelling romance filled with interesting character and just a splash of mystery - all of which holds the reader's interest from beginning to end.

Past work has shown that one of KGM's strengths is writing well-rounded, clearly developed characters.  The same holds true for the characters in Rhapsody.  We learn details about both the main characters - and their supporting cast - that make each woman distinctly different and fully unique.  I'm sure we've all read books that had characters who were so alike, we lost track of who was who.  This is not the case here.  The secondary characters are also very interesting and diverse - KGM does a great job of showing how that diversity binds them together as a group of friends.

The most growth as a character is seen in Ashley Giraud.  At the beginning of the novel, Ashley is aloof and rather introverted when it comes to her life outside the TV persona.  When she's "on", Ashley is the most trusted, most beloved newsperson in Tampa Bay - beautiful, smart, friendly.  But once away from the public eye, Ashley is perfectly content to spend her time at home - alone with her garden and her nightmare-ish memories.  Gradually, however, she is drawn out by this small group of women, finding that it's okay to turn off the TV personality and simply be.

Ashley's interactions with Julia are key to this burgeoning social life.  Julia becomes the one person who Ashley is able to speak to freely - slowly revealing bits of herself that she's never shared with anyone else - save, perhaps, her therapist.  Julia becomes more and more of an anchor for Ashley as their relationship develops - remaining steady and true as Ashley deals with traumatizing events of her past.  Perhaps, however, Julia is a bit too steady and true .  I think Julia might have been just a bit too calm in the face of everything that was happening with Ashley; she was a little to quick to back off and "give Ashley her space."  Her conversation with a military veteran while having a drink at a bar in Ft Lauderdale spurs Julia into action and she becomes a tad more determined to not allow Ashley to push her away.  But, for me, this just doesn't seem to be the dramatic catalyst that I was hoping for.  We moved from "I'm here for whatever you need" to "I'm here for whatever you need and I really, really mean it!"  I think Julia is a great character who is well-written.  She's intelligent and witty.  I just think she didn't really have as much growth in the novel.  Perhaps that was by design - she doesn't carry the baggage that Ashley carries, so perhaps she didn't need as much growth.  Personally, I would have liked just a little more "umph" in Julia's character.  If you don't agree with me, that's okay...let me know below by leaving a comment.  I'd love to hear counter-arguments.  You may bring something to my attention that I hadn't thought of.  I can be swayed.

Where this novel truly excels is the telling of the romance.  MacGregor always, always tells a good romance.  What I really appreciate about this particular romance is that it's a mature romance.  What do I mean by that?  Hmm.  Well, these characters are not young 20-somethings who don't have a lot of life experience.  Ashley and Julia are adults - late 30s and early 40s - who have been in their respective businesses for quite some time.  They are experts, professionals.  They have life experience and they've learned from it.  They've sailed these waters before...to varying success.   Appropriately, it is in the romance that we see the most conflict.  It's interesting to see how these two woman navigate the obstacles that are placed in front of them - both individually and together.  There were some aspects of their romance - particularly the physical romance - that were left unresolved at the end of the novel.  I'm actually glad they were left unresolved.  Had all obstacles been magically overcome by the close of the book, it would have felt very, very unrealistic.  The issues at hand are serious issues that will not be resolved simply by someone saying "I love you."  But, at the same time, the reader is left confident that these obstacles will be overcome and that Ashley and Julia will have their "happily ever after."  Of course, this also leaves room for further exploration in a sequel.  It's NOT an open-ended finish to the novel by any means...but there's wiggle room if MacGregor wishes to wiggle. (Or Twist - KGM does a mean Twist.)

Rhapsody is definitely a novel that I will be revisiting...it's really that good.  If anything I've mentioned above comes off as truly negative criticism, then I've done a very poor job of expressing myself.  I very highly recommend this book to anyone who likes a really good romance with an interesting story line and fascinating characters.

It's clear to see why KG MacGregor is one of the big, bright, shining stars of Lesbian Literature.
Profile Image for The Reading Panda.
156 reviews3 followers
September 17, 2017
EXCELLENT! This is by far the best KG MacGregor book I've read (I've read 5). What I love about her books is that all of the characters have to put their hearts and souls into their relationships. That is how it is in real life. Relationships are messy, and we all have to invest so much to make our relationships work. A considerable amount of ff fiction I've read gloss over how hard we have to work to make a relationship that is long lasting. As a result, they do not resonate with me. In this novel Asley and Julia had to fight tooth and nail, and that is not something I see often. I wanted to see them thrive.

Ashley was the wounded soul that won me over. Her fear of people was evident from the beginning, and her gradual acceptance of friendship and love was rewarding and a delight to read. Julia was the partner everyone dreams of having. She was kind, sweet and loving. What made Julia so memorable was how selfless she was. Julia never pushed or pressured Ashley and supported her without asking for anything in return. Their crew of friends added so much color to the story. Teddie was my favorite. There is nothing sweeter than a biker chick/guy that is soft on the inside.
Profile Image for Nancy Manahan.
Author 5 books5 followers
August 12, 2022
Complex. Satisfying. Ethical.

The reveal comes late in the book, and I wish I had known earlier the source of the MC's post-traumatic stress. But like Ashley, the author takes her time revealing the abuse. That time is well spent with other plot lines involving everything from supportive lesbian friendship circles, skillful psychotherapy, and poignant rescue greyhounds to brilliant investigative reporting of a dirty property tax scheme. McGregor provides a fascinating look inside the world of hair salons and network TV news, deftly linked by Gershwin's "Rhapsody in Blue." I appreciate that the characters communicate with honesty and kindness. It's a riveting lesbian romance in which respect, patience, and transparency win the day. This is my first KG McGregor novel; I'm delighted to know there are many more!
154 reviews
August 24, 2021
What I liked: I liked Ashley. I found her very interesting and so sadly tortured. And brave.
Her haunted past simmered below the demands of her professional life.
Her willingness to change. To want to, was admirable.
The secondary story involving an investigation merged nicely in to some of the themes of the story.
I found this a little clunky.

The rest: I struggled to really connect with Julia. There wasn't much going on with her that I was drawn to except her loyalty.
There was an opportunity missed with the supporting characters. They could have been more interesting and fun.

The conclusion was unexpected but in keeping with the story.
It was nice but I won't likely read it a second time..
Profile Image for Kathleen Wills.
44 reviews1 follower
March 29, 2023
What an amazingly different story. Rhapsody touches on some very difficult and personal situations and does so in a very tender and loving way. You have an amazing group of women who empower one another and grow in such an authentic way. Ashley defines bravery and tenacity, refusing to give in. And Julia is an epic heroine in her own right. Well worth the read!
1,149 reviews15 followers
January 22, 2017
Really enjoyed this book.

I really enjoyed Rhapsody. First it's nice to read a book w/ mature women. It's interesting to learn more about the inside of the television news business. This would make an excellent Audible book.
Profile Image for Cynthia.
15 reviews
February 13, 2022
Not what I expected. Highly enjoyable read that gave me a glimpse into what a local newscaster experiences. The charcters were realistic as were their problems. Not your typical happy romance, but not overly angsty either.
338 reviews6 followers
August 16, 2012
Ashley Giraud lives her entire life by a set of incredibly strict rules that give her the ability to control every aspect of her life, or at least the illusion of control. Her need for such extreme control stems from her childhood experiences.

The book goes into enough detail to know that Ashley was sexually abused as a young girl by a woman she trusted and in a juvenile way believed she loved. The book does not go into graphic detail describing the abuse, for which I am thankful, but it allows the reader enough insight to fully grasp the situation.

Needless to say Ashley’s life revolves around controlling her inner demons and insolating herself from the world. Which is funny since she has a career which makes her a public figure, but we quickly learn that being a public figure works perfectly into the rules she lives by and the persona she wants to portray and never really allowing anyone to see the real person.

There were points in this story where I wondered if Ashley even knew who the “real” Ashley is.

Early in the story Ashley meets Julia, who I will say has the patience and understanding of a Saint. I have to admit, that sometimes her level of understanding and patience irked me but then again I have the patience of a gnat.

The story is written in a way where it seems to make small leaps forward in time and this actually works well for the overall story because lord knows the book would be the size of War and Peace if it documented every aspect of Ashley and Julia’s journey.

Here’s the one thing that disappointed me with the story. It felt like it just ended. KG MacGregor gave an ending that allows the reader to assume things continued to progress in a positive manner but it left me wanting to know definitively that Ashely and Julia had worked through the last major stepping stone in their relationship; which, as I type this, makes me realize that I was more invested in the characters than I originally thought.
Profile Image for Pamela.
47 reviews5 followers
January 31, 2013
Rhapsody was a genuinely enjoyable read. Nothing too complicated about it, just a story about love developing between two women, one who carries some heavy emotional baggage with her, afraid to fall in love but still yearning for it. At times the story reads a little like a lesbian Steel Magnolias, which I love, due to a group of well written, likable characters, all of which add something a little different to the story.

I also found it slightly relatable, since I am sure we have all had to deal with one or two unpleasant memories that tend to creep up at times and hinder our happiness.

My only criticism (and it's a small one) is that Julia's character made me angry at times, as she was just a little too perfect and unrealistic. Although her patience and acceptance with her love interest, Ashley was beautiful, I longed to see something else come from her, such as frustration or slight anger. Additionally, I was shocked to find that she really believed a sex-free relationship was one that could truly last, but moved by the thought of it.
Profile Image for MJSam.
477 reviews40 followers
March 7, 2015
I won't bother with a synopsis as other reviewers have provided those. This is a nice love story about characters who act like real women and who have flaws. You should note though that if you're looking for a steamy book full of sex scenes, this is not the book for you.

I loved that this book tackled issues you don't usually see in Lesfic, and that KG MacGregor is so good at creating nuanced characters you can't help but care for. Even the supporting characters are fleshed out.

I enjoyed the unfolding of Ashley and Julia's romance and the way the author shows not just the building of their relationship but more importantly the growing trust between them. If she was applying the adage of 'alway leave them wanting more' to her story, she's succeeded. As other reviewers have noted the book ends with the story lines tied up, just enough perhaps, but with the feeling that we may see these characters again, hopefully in the sequel I'm already hoping for.
106 reviews
December 5, 2012
Rhapsody did not disappoint. K.G. MacGregor takes the simple idea of two women falling in love and brings real life into it. The story of Ashley and Julia, who find each other through friendship and fun, enchant the reader as the chemistry and love flow off the pages. The twist and turns that K.G. MacGregor puts into each of their pasts make the two leading ladies that much more likable and the story that much more captivating. I enjoyed this story and recommend it to readers looking for classic romance as the characters are well developed with their quirks and traits that the reader is able to easily relate to. The overall love conquers all, definitely plays into the story line as the reader is taken on a sweet Florida romance.
Profile Image for Lira.
144 reviews3 followers
June 11, 2013
It was a good read, don't get me wrong. It wasn't your typical romance novel. I thought it was a little heavy. I felt for Ashley and I loved Julia. Julia is a rare find but I didn't feel like it had the happily ever after I was hoping for. Still love KG and her writing. I always feel like a friend is telling me the story when I read her books. They're easy to relate to and fall into. Know what I mean?
Profile Image for Kennedy.
1,173 reviews80 followers
October 30, 2016
I enjoyed the gradual build up of this love story. Ashley Giraud lonely, controlled and recovering. Julia Whitehorn caring, compassionate and patience. The read is thoughtful and carries you along like a flowing river. There are a group of women you want to be friends with because they are there for you no matter what you may need. Ashley may not know it, but she needs these women, especially Julia. I enjoy romance but I also like reads that make you think.
Profile Image for Cheri.
1,121 reviews86 followers
December 5, 2024
I enjoyed the book. It didn't quite turn out the way I expected, which was sort of refreshing but I still feel a little dissatisfied. Don't get me wrong, the story held my attention and the characters felt true. I'd say that nearly half of KG MacGregor's books make it on my "Oh! I love that book" list, this one just wouldn't make the cut.
Profile Image for Alena.
874 reviews28 followers
September 14, 2012
Lovely story, would be 4 stars had it not been quite so formula. It breaks with certain things inside the formula, but doesn't break out, which would have been lovely.

Well-developed, likeable characters. Loved how love was not portrayed as the magic cure for everything.

Also, no brooding butch to be found. That seems to be quite the break from lesfic formula by itself ;)
Profile Image for Estelle.
135 reviews13 followers
December 27, 2013
Decent read. Finished it in a day, very believable story line. Unlike most of other books, this one talks about older lesbians (late 30- early 40), which I find made this book much more realistic.
Profile Image for Valentina L.
4 reviews10 followers
May 15, 2016
I absolutely loved this book, such a delicate intense story.
Displaying 1 - 24 of 24 reviews

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