Sculpting Anna

by Venus Reising

After enduring a soul-crushing loss, Professor Lexy Strayer might be ready to love again. But she’s determined that when she takes that step it won't be with one of her students. Anna Stevens, back in the classroom after ten years away, is interested, interesting and oh so appealing, but when she makes a tentative advance, Lexy rebuffs her. Not with a student.

Jennifer Gardiner has no such scruples. She teaches in the English Department too—when she’s not cranking out gory murder mysteries or jumping in bed with anything that has breasts and a pulse. Jennifer would be happy to take her friend’s place with Anna, but for the moment she’s too busy with a new adjunct instructor, the sexy and secretive Andrea Cole, a big fan of Jennifer’s writing...and her other talents.

Lexy’s brain knows exactly what she should do, but her hands haven’t gotten the message. Every nude she sculpts at her weekly art class looks like Anna. Maybe Anna would be willing to give her another chance?

Then Jennifer's exes start to turn up dead in ways that copy her novels. As if things aren't complicated enough…

Genres: Mystery, LGBT

206 pages, Paperback

First published June 16, 2015

About the author

Venus Reising is the alter ego of a writing duo out of Orlando, Florida. The literary twosome is one-half professor, with poetry and criticism published in numerous journals, including Ascent Aspirations, Falling Star and Atlantic Literary Review, and one-half working artist turned pre-med student, who has, at least for now, traded her canvas for a periodic table. The Venus women would much rather interrogate characters and complicate plots than do just about anything else.

Reviews

[Isha Cooper · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was the first book I won in the Goodreads giveaway, so, I was very excited to read it. It was an interesting book to read and at the start I thought the plot and the concept had a lot of potential. Unfortunately I felt that the second half of the book was rushed and everything just happened really fast and very sudden. That being said I did enjoy reading most of it even though there were some boring parts. 3/5 stars

[Nolly Frances Sepulveda · Rating 5 out of 5]

I absolutely love it! The way the story unfolds and the main characters kept me riveted to the pages. This is definitely a book I would recommend to those who like Who Dunnit mysteries. I liked the characters of Lexy and Anna and the introduction of Cayden. I'm hoping there will be more to the story, as the characters were quite interesting and i actually grinned at the end. Great job!!!

[Lori McFadden · Rating 5 out of 5]

There are so many predictable lesbian romances out there--following the same girl meets girl, girl gets girl formula. This is NOT one of those! It's unique in plot and pacing. The story is told in pieces--sort of like a movie. And as the scenes change, you get more of the mystery. The end was awesome!

[Elisa Rolle · Rating 5 out of 5]

Sculpting Anna by Venus Reising: http://reviews-and-ramblings.dreamwid... 2015 Rainbow Awards Honorable Mention (5* from at least 1 judge)

[Sharon]

I read this book in less than a day (15 hrs really) I couldn't put it down although sometimes I had to re-read a sentence or restart a paragraph/chapter to catch on to which character I was reading about at that time. It's like two books/two separate stories in one. I really still liked this book but the ending just made me sad. Jennifer rubbed me the wrong way from the beginning but I loved Lexy and Anna.
When Andy first came on the scene I was suspicious of her but her circumstances and where she ended up made me really sad because the poor woman didn't know whether she was coming or going. Star on the other hand made me angry because she is nothing but a coward.
So, what happened to the other two murders? Are they just going to be left unsolved? What happens when the murderer gets upset again? Is there going to be a part 2 to this book?