Paperback Romance

by Karin Kallmaker

Literary agent Alison has been in love with her favorite author-client for years. Not that paperback romance writer Carolyn has ever noticed. She sees Alison as a close, loyal friend; she has never questioned society's conventions.

When Alison negotiates a lucrative contract for her, Carolyn seizes the unexpectedly large advance to fulfill a passion of her own. Beginning in Paris, scene of her brief, calamitous marriage, she will immerse herself in great music from the world's great orchestra's.

Paris brings a dramatic encounter with Nicolas Frost, the remote, driven young conductor who is creating a reputation for musical brilliance. When the smitten Carolyn discovers the conductor's masquerade - necessary to achieve recognition in the male - dominated higher echelons of classical music - she is suddenly faced with the true nature of her powerful attraction to Nick.

Meanwhile, Alison has found her own consolation. But does sweet, passionate Samantha have any chance of winning Alison 'a affections away from Carolyn? Can there be any future for Nick and Carolyn?

Find the answers in this captivating, deliciously romantic and erotic tale from one of our most entertaining storytellers.

Editor: Christi Cassidy

Genres: Lesbian, Lesbian Fiction, Lesbian Romance, LGBT, Romance, Fiction, Queer

245 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1992

About the author

Karin Kallmaker has been exclusively devoted to lesbian fiction since the publication of her first novel in 1989. As an author published by the storied Naiad Press, she worked with Barbara Grier and Donna McBride, and has been fortunate to be mentored by a number of editors, including Katherine V. Forrest.

In addition to multiple Lambda Literary Awards, she has been featured as a Stonewall Library and Archives Distinguished Author. Other accolades include the Ann Bannon Popular Choice and other awards for her writing, as well as the selection as a Trailblazer by the Golden Crown Literary Society. She is best known for novels such as Painted Moon, Simply the Best, Touchwood, The Kiss that Counted and Captain of Industry.

The California native is the mother of two and lives with her wife in the Bay Area. You can catch her blogs at Romance and Chocolate: https://kallmaker.com/blog/. Find her on social media by searching for "Kallmaker" - there's only one.

Reviews

[Alex · Rating 3 out of 5]

i did devour this! my main issue is that...i want my leads to interact more. they were in mutually unrequited love but barely hung out. there were more sex scenes between one of the women and a third party.

and that third party said several transphobic things too ("of course im a woman - i love my vulva and clit!" or "i wear mens clothes but im all woman inside!" gender =/= presentation miss girl)

anyway i bought this for cheap at a sale and its from like 1992 so it did what i expected <3 lesbian sex scenes. ty for the publisher suggestion too

[Dannica · Rating 3 out of 5]

Without really realizing it, I went from one crossdressing f/f romance straight to another (the first one was Chaos Beneath the Moonbeams). How did I not know? Well, I bought both of them ages ago and just kind of forgot the summaries lols. How did they compare to each other? This one is a lot more matter of fact about the crossdressing than CBTM was; the stakes are lower, the crossdressing is more the woman's choice, and it's made more realistic and plausible. In CBTM, a character needs a fucking magical talisman to convince people she's a man. In Paperback Romance, you just need to bind and wear men's clothes with masculine tailoring, and as long as you are fairly tall and thin to begin with, it pretty much works. Which I find to be more like real life. I don't even crossdress (...much? I am a little butch) and I am very very short and small and I don't bind, but when I shave my head, I do get people assuming I'm a man without me doing anything to convince them of it. Ppl see what they expect to see.

Okay, enough of that. Now some thoughts on Paperback Romance in itself:
The love triangle (love square, really) was killing me! Kallmaker made me wrote for every one of the relationships involved. If only they could end up in some polyamorous mishmash, but I don't think that would really satisfy any of these women, especially Alison, who's quite jealous of Carolyn despite having pined silently and theoretically in a resigned manner for years. Alison/Carolyn really was the OTP, but I loved Nick and I loved Sam and if only, if only...

I wish we got to hear more about what Carolyn got up to in her literary life, either about her books before the story gets started or what she writes after her lesbian midlife crisis. I loved hearing Nick talk about her connection to music, and the descriptions of the scenes where she conducts. Yay for artistic main characters!

Overall, an enjoyable read that had me feeling conflicted right up until the end, and begging the characters to just tell each other how they felt!!!

[Bea Elwood · Rating 3 out of 5]

A romance writer who is unlucky in love, a closeted conductor on the cusp of fame, and... well the real romance in this novel was not the one I was cheering for so it was a bit of a miss for me but I was very pleased with the ending announcement...

I've not been able to read like I could before the pandemic and global shutdown and so I have turned to Sapphic romances and I think it is helping me recover. I've been having some fun over the last two years rediscovering and exploring the works of Kallmaker, it seems right now I am flipping between the very first novels published and their most recent coins of love series. It is giving me a real appreciation for how an author over time really hones their style.

[Lara · Rating 5 out of 5]

Classical music is a backdrop to this wonderful novel about self-discovery. Romance writer Carolyn has lost that ever-loving feeling, and sets out to rediscover it with a trip to Europe. Disaster happens and her lifelong bestie Alison, who is also her agent, encourages her to recover on a vacation. She goes back to Europe, but decides to focus on the music of a tour of world-famous orchestras. Nicolas Frost is a rising young conductor taking the music world by storm - yet has a secret that could cut off that rise before it even begins.
Seeds of a love-triangle are averted as Carolyn breaks things off with Nick before finally clearing up the misunderstanding with Alison. Happily ever after. And a bit of glass-ceiling shattering in the music world is a nice chaser (epilogue).

[Scarlet · Rating 4 out of 5]

Found in a charity bookshop, this got me out of a reading slump. It’s just a fun gay romp through Europe with a happy ending! I didn’t have to think too hard, and i finished it in a day, what more could a girl want to end her Easter hols. I get that it’s a little outdated, but so are most romances from the 90s, and while I’ve definitely read better written books, I haven’t had this much fun in ages

[Nancy Manahan · Rating 5 out of 5]

A Symphonic Music Lover's Dream

In addition to great characters, exquisite European settings, and wonderful writing, this love story with the fabulous cover boasts some of the most powerful orchestral conducting scenes I've ever read. Kallmaker understands classical music.

[Islai · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.7/5

[Claire · Rating 4 out of 5]

Read aloud with JRB, hilarity ensued.

[Jude · Rating 5 out of 5]

Always

Once again, Karin Kallmaker delivered. The story was wonderful, the main characters intriguing. A thoroughly enjoyable story and I can't wait to read her next one.

[Kayla Brahm · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is a very interesting take on a romance novel. There is very little contact between the 2 MCs throughout the whole story. Both MC's end up having meaningful relationships with other people. I would have disliked this book if Kallmaker didn't make me care for Nick the way she did. I did really enjoy the journey that Carolyn embark on within herself. I really wish the ending was stronger. I was really looking forward to the reunion between Allison and Carolyn, but the way the truth comes out is really lack luster. Also, once it comes out the book basically ends.

[Jan · Rating 2 out of 5]

Meh... I found myself skipping large sections of this book, particularly scenes involving with spelling bee lady ( adults only spell words out when they are having cryptic conversations around young children and when they are about to take dogs/cats to the veterinarian.) The One True Pairing turned out to be the least interesting combination in the story. Also, KFC is not sexy time food. Just saying.

[Lira · Rating 3 out of 5]

While I really enjoyed the story I am sad to say I didn't like the ending. I preferred the middle story and hoped that would pan out as the real story. Is that vague enough to not give anything away? Lol! As always I love Karin's writing.

[Anna · Rating 2 out of 5]

2.5 stars. I've read this one twice now and it's still not my thing.

[Monica · Rating 4 out of 5]

A good, typical Kallmaker novel. Read it in one afternoon. I liked it, but nothing to rave about either.

[Hannah S · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really enjoy this book, though I always feel that I need to learn more about the music world when I've finished.

[Dide · Rating 3 out of 5]

The second Kallmaker book that didn't make at least a 4 star for me. While I loved Carolyn's romantic adventure with Nic infact I was rooting for them I felt terribly dissapointed that the author still saw need to end the book as carolyn&alison. I just felt it utterly unnecessary and an unnecessary extension of the storyline