First: Sensual Lesbian Stories of New Beginnings

by Cheyenne Blue (Editor), Annabeth Leong (Contributor), Harper Bliss (Contributor)

Dive into these fifteen sizzling tales of lesbian love and romance and experience the wonder, the joy, and the magic of new beginnings.

A woman sees her lover for the first time after years of blindness. For the first time in her life, a top trusts her girlfriend enough to let her take control. A connection forged in a bar in New Mexico encourages a breast cancer survivor to take a lover. Stories of new love and first lesbian encounters intermingle with other emotional and physical firsts, and the excitement of new experiences: an around the world flight, the thrill of a carnival, and even the first time to see the sea.

With fantastic stories by favorite writers such as Sacchi Green, Harper Bliss, Annabeth Leong, Allison Wonderland, and Jeremy Edwards, the variety in this anthology means there is something for everyone.

Table of contents
Roses and Thorns by Annabeth Leong
The Opposite of Darkness by Harper Bliss
The Talkies by Jeremy Edwards
Before the Bus Comes by Tamsin Flowers
Whole Again by Brenda Murphy
Pulling by Sacchi Green
The First Peonies by Ivy Newman
Repossession by Emily L. Byrne
That Summer by Vanessa de Sade
Amelia by Cheyenne Blue
Ghost of She by Jillian Boyd
The Sum of Our Parts by Andi Marquette
Soar Spot by Allison Wonderland
Sea by Rosie Bower
Dissolving by Cela Winter

Genres: Erotica, Anthologies, Adult

160 pages, ebook

First published September 7, 2015

About the author

G’day and welcome. I’m Cheyenne Blue. I write big-hearted sapphic romance with strong women, mainly set in Australia.

My eleventh romance, Not for a Moment is out on 8 March. It's a fake romance, single mum, roommate romance with a cute kid and a big slice of family drama.

I hope you enjoy all of my sapphic romances featuring strong women finding love.

You can find out more about me on my website cheyenneblue.com, Facebook or on Twitter @Iamcheyenneblue

Reviews

[Nikki "The Crazie Betty" V. · Rating 5 out of 5]

LOVED THIS ANTHOLOGY!

Ladylit publishing is amazing and the authors that submit work for their anthologies are wonderful! I've learned about so many other authors I've enjoyed simply because of the anthologies Ladylit releases. I've given a very short review on each story below but just know that I enjoyed them ALL!

Roses and Thorns by Annabeth Leong: This was one of my favorites of the anthology. I really enjoy boxing so this story was multi-faceted for me.

The Opposite of Darkness by Harper Bliss: Oh my God! This story was so emotional right off the bat. With Harper's main character having lost her sight 7 years ago, she is just getting ready to have the bandages removed from a procedure that will give her sight again. And she'll see her partner for the first time EVER! Absolutely wonderful.

The Talkies by Jeremy Edwards: Another favorite for me! Again, it's partially because of the subject. I just LOVE the idea of a silent actress trying to break into the talkies for the first time.

Before the Bus Comes by Tamsin Flowers: This was such a hot story! Plus I loved the "twist" at the end. "Do you think we did it right?" LOL!

Whole Again by Brenda Murphy: I did enjoy this story but it was more for the social aspects of it. The judging of other people because they're "different" and the realization of who you are and owning up to it, even in the face of adversity.

Pulling by Sacchi Green: Yep, another favorite. I loved Green's description of the girl that is working the game booth and how all the guys are ogling over her, I couldn't help but smile and laugh a few times just because as the reader, we know she's interested in women. So seeing the boys get all huffy wondering why they aren't getting attention, is hilarious to me! I was highly entertained by this one!

The First Peonies by Ivy Newman: I so felt for the main character in this one and was very happy with the way it ended. I wasn't as into this one as some of the others, but still quite good.

Repossession by Emily L. Byrne: Honestly, not one of my favorites in this collection. It was very steamy and hot but I had a hard time with the seemingly manipulative nature of the banker.

That Summer by Vanessa de Sade: Basically a short story version of a coming of age tale. Very good and very sensuous.

Amelia by Cheyenne Blue: SHOUT OUT TO CHEYENNE! This story was my absolute favorite in the entire collection! I absolutely loved that she took famous woman and pilot, Amelia Earhart, and put her destiny into the hands of the unknown. I'm going to forever pretend that this is actually what happened to her because, honestly, just breath taking and so wonderful! I probably could've read a full length novel of this one.

Ghost of She by Jillian Boyd: This one was kind of sad for the most part and not until the end do we feel a glimmer of hope. Granted, all of us will understand the MC's plight as we've all gone through painful, haunting, break-ups.

The Sum of Our Parts by Andi Marquette: Another absolutely beautiful story! So full of emotions and sensuality. I think it's great to see MCs who aren't the "typical" version of the hot woman everyone is after. This is so real and so well done.

Soar Spot by Allison Wonderland: I love Allison Wonderland but this story was one of least favorites of the anthology. Not that it wasn't wonderful! (heh heh, I made a pun) but it just didn't quite hold up to the intensity of some of the other stories.

Sea by Rosie Bower: This was another good story but I couldn't help myself from wondering if the other woman was actually some siren trying to get the MC to plunge to her icy death in the sea! That wasn't the case, lol! And turned out to be quite the erotic scene, and an almost hazy fantasy dream world kind of story.

Dissolving by Cela Winter: I thoroughly enjoyed this story of powerful top learning how to let go and be a bottom for once. Very entertaining!

ARC provided by publisher in exchange for my honest review.

[Ameliah Faith · Rating 5 out of 5]

Incredible

No one does anthologies as well as Lady Lit! Cheyenne Blue brings us the latest edition. There are fifteen stories in this tomb. Many of the authors I was familiar with but there were a few that are new to me. None of the stories are less than really good. These stories were beautifully written with good flow and interesting characters. The book ran me through a gauntlet of emotions. I laughed, cried and there were a whole lot of Awwww moments not to mention the sizzling sexy bits! I could not put this book down, it was so wonderful that I inhaled it as quickly as I could. I know I will be re-reading this book often! Below I will give you a glimpse at the stories.

There was a surprise for me in the book. One of the stories was written by a man. I tend to avoid lesfic and especially erotica written by a man. I figure they can't possibly know what women feel and have no business writing about it. Besides everyone knows what guys think of two girls getting it on, right. I was not going to read it but Ms. Harper Bliss of Ladylit encouraged reassured me that it fit in and belonged in the book. I thought about it and remembered This IS a Ladylit production and they have never put out less than fantastic...Besides, don't I trust Harper and Cheyenne? Well, I begrudgingly admit that “The Talkies” did indeed belong here. Mr Edwards write with poise and tact, this is very tastefully story and it was just as good as the women. SO on that note I am very sorry Mr Edwards and Ms Bliss. Thank you for giving me MY first with this story.

Roses and Thorns by Annabeth Leong – Ruth is a woman who needs to find her inner strength. This takes her to a boxing gym where she finds not just inner peace but outer as well. Her lover Arlene did not understand at first but when she does...WOW!

The Opposite of Darkness by Harper Bliss - If there is one thing I can always count on it is Ms Bliss' ability to touch my heart in some way. This story is no different. This tale is romantic, seductive, intense and so sweet. Its a delight to all my senses.

The Talkies by Jeremy Edwards – I loved the plot, two women in the 1920s – 30s (I'm guessing) one an actress about to do her first talking film and a reporter who admired her very much! There are great descriptions of things I never knew existed. This is very understated and coy and the sexy bits are better and more classy then I would have believed.

Before the Bus Comes by Tasmin Flowers – After talking with her friends about death and regrets, Red decides that what she would regret is making love to a woman. Enter Lara and a hot sexy scene.

Whole Again by Brenda Murphy – This is a wonderful sweet story about a cook who was injured in the war and a cute waitress who caught her eye. It is so beautiful!

Pulling by Sachhi Green – Holy moly is this a HOT one!!! Ree is at the fair showing off her team of horses. Carla is working at one of the game booth. When they meet....um, yeah...definitely on of my favourites in the book!

The First Peonies by Ivy Newman – Oh I do love this one. Holly is a loner who doesn't do relationships but when she sees Mira dancing in the bar, something inside her changes...this is beautiful and haunting. The details really make this story so precious.

Repossession by Emily Byrne – This is the story of a newly single woman whose house is being foreclosed on and the banker who came to get the keys from her but manages to set her free in the process.

That Summer by Vanessa De Sade – A tender coming of age story. Very poetic and sweetly descriptive. A great read.

Amelia by Cheyenne Blue – Ms Blue is a magician with a pen. This is an enchanting tale of Amelia Earhart after she crashes and disappears. It is quite delicious and sensual!

Ghost of She by Jillian Boyd – This is a great tale of a woman haunted by her first who abandoned her after many years together and the woman who wants to be her second chance. This is really, really good.

The Sum of Our Parts by Andi Marquette – Another great tale by Ms Marquette. This is a tenderly written short with a pair of real women, (one a breast cancer survivor). they are not just characters on a page. Truly touching.

Soar Spot by Allison Wonderland. This story was more sedate and serious than anything I've read by Ms Wonderland. It is the story of two women coming together after escaping from domestic violence. It is very well done.

Sea by Rosie Bower – This is a unique narration about two very different women by the sea. It is truly inspired.

Dissolving by Cela Winter – This is a great story about being able to let go and trust your partner. Its hot and sweet and real.

Thank you so much for bringing these stories to me Ms. Blue!!

[Sophie❤️ · Rating 5 out of 5]

An interesting cross section of " first time" stories. Some will get the blood pounding more than others but I enjoyed them all!

[Lisabet Sarai · Rating 5 out of 5]

Let me begin by admitting I’m biased. Ideally, a reviewer should approach her task with no preconceived opinions about a book (although I suspect that’s rare in practice), but when I pick up a book with Cheyenne Blue’s name on the cover, I expect it to be great. Given my prior experience with Cheyenne’s work, I can’t help myself. Of course, this sort of bias can be a double-edged sword. If the book turns out to be less than stellar, I might subject it to harsher criticism than a random volume from an unfamiliar author or editor.

In the case of First, I’m pleased to report that my expectations were more than satisfied. This impressively diverse collection rings all sorts of changes on the theme of first times and new beginnings. In “The Opposite of Darkness” by Harper Bliss, a formerly blind woman sees her long-time lover for the first time. Jeremy Edwards’s “The Talkies” chronicles a nervous silent film star moving into the new world of voice. Annabeth Leong’s “Roses and Thorns” portrays a female boxer’s first public fight, a contest that alters the emotional balance in her relationship with her butch partner. Rosie Bower’s gorgeously lyrical “Sea” depicts a woman’s first encounter with the ocean, in all its vast mystery. In “Whole Again”, Brenda Murphy takes readers into the cynical heart of a butch amputee veteran, a short order cook in a greasy spoon diner who lets down her guard just enough to take a lover for the first time since her leg was blown off.

New beginnings shine in Emily Byrne’s gritty and humorous “Repossession”. A woman divorcing from her wife is forced to deal with the bossy female bank officer who’s come to claim their jointly-owned house. Ms. Lydia Chang just happens to be an old fling, which makes the whole transition both harder and hotter.

Cheyenne Blue’s wonderful contribution, “Amelia”, imagines the famous aviator crash landing on a remote island in the Pacific, where she embarks on a new life with a fellow castaway. In this tale, the lush jungles and crystal lagoons of Amelia’s haven mirror the simple beauty of her connection with the supple, coffee-skinned Lae.

Jillian Boyd’s “Ghost of She” vividly portrays the reality of a broken heart, as well as the sweet, subtle process of its healing, while in Ivy Newman’s “The First Peonies”, the protagonist finally risks something more than a one night stand.

In Sacchi Green’s “Pulling”, the newness is understated. The heroine, a cowgirl over six feet tall, is drawn to a femme carny. This story is darn near perfect, from its razor-sharp characterization to its spot-on dialogue:

----

Her back was turned while she unclipped balloon fragments from the backboard. She’d shot me a little smile when I arrived, but there was something tentative about it, wary. Or maybe even nervous. I kind of liked the idea of making her nervous.

“So what does it take,” I asked, pressing right up against her ass and putting my hands on her hips, “for a big old farm girl to distract you?”

She turned right around into my arms and did a slow grind against me. “It’s been a while since I got that lucky,” she said against my chin. “What do you generally have in mind when you pick up slutty carnival hucksters?”

“Once I pick ‘em up,” I said, digging my hands into her round asscheeks and raising her so that her breasts rested above mine, “my mind doesn’t have all that much to do with it.” Which was pretty much true. “But I’ve been known to offer to buy a girl dinner. To keep her strength up.”

----

You can tell the sparks are going to fly. (And believe me, they do!)

Despite all this variety, it happens that two of my favorite stories focus on first-time lesbian experiences. The tales could hardly be more different. In “Before the Bus Comes”, Tamsin Flowers serves up a clever, tongue-in-cheek treatment of a woman determined to experience the F/F intimacy she’s always fantasized about—because you never know when you’re going to get run over by a bus. In contrast, Vanessa de Sade’s “That Summer” offers a dreamy recollection of a long-gone summer when the precocious, bookish narrator first discovered she loved women. The story glows from within, a much-polished jewel gleaming in the sunlight of memory.

Let me say, by the way, that the literary quality of the stories in First in no way detracts from their erotic charge. Some stories are raw. Some are tender. Some are playful. Every one celebrates the succulent richness of female flesh in all its lush variety. In fact, this confluence of craft and heat would make this collection the perfect gift for someone new to lesbian erotica—a delicious first taste of all the flavors the genre can offer.

[Kent · Rating 5 out of 5]

I Like the introduction. Well written.

Roses and Thorns by Annabeth Leong was kinda HOT.

The Opposite of Darkness by Harper Bliss was a good story, but I would have liked to read Erica's description of watching Lauren climaxing for the first time.

The Talkies by Jeremy Edwards - I didn't really enjoy this story. The wording was just a bit too formal for me.

Before the Bus Comes by Tamsin Flowers was VERY HOT!

Whole Again by Brenda Murphy was a beautiful story.

Pulling by Sacchi Green was a fun story.

The First Peonies by Ivy Newman was a good story.

Repossession by Emily L. Byrne was well written and a good story, but very sad.

That Summer by Vanessa De Sade - I loved this story. I also love the quote from The Well of Loneliness "give us also the right to our existence!"

Amelia by Cheyenne Blue - Mystery solved.. Well done.

Ghost of She by Jillian Boyd was a wonderful story.

The Sum Of Our Parts by Andi Marquette was an excellent story.

Soar Spot by Alison Wonderland was okay.

Sea by Rosie Bower was a good story.

Dissolving by Cela Winter was a fun way to end the adventure of this anthology.

Overall this was a wonderful anthology. I thoroughly enjoyed most of the stories and will be reading them again. I will be checking out the other works from several of the authors that I hadn't heard of before this anthology.

[Judy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Well what an introduction, just loved that and now I am ready to dive into some amazing stories
ROSES AND THORNS......Loved it. This first story sure lacks a punch, sorry for the terrible pun. Full on and fast paced. I feel exhausted from first the fight then the sex. Loved it
THE OPPOSITE OF DARKNESS............Truly a sensory feast. A definite 5 star + rating.
THE TALKIES...........a step back to a time of movies coming into their own. An actress with a lively character and a member of the press who is attractive to her. A hot little piece. I was pleasantly surprised at how much I enjoyed this one since I knew it was written by a man. Hot hot hot.
BEFORE THE BUS COMES.............another fast ride with some fast learners. If you are out there going to clubs and dancing the night away person you will certainly enjoy this one.
WHOLE AGAIN.........really nice, story with emotion, nice.
PULLING........oh this is always my weakness. Great story, words flowing to create pictures, and then add horses. This time huge big horses pulling massive loads. Oh I Loved it absolutely
THE FIRST PEONIES..........
REPOSSESSION.........
THAT SUMMER...........
AMELIA...........
GHOST OF SHE.........
SUM OF OUR PARTS............
SOAR SPOTS................
SEA............
DISSOLVING..........

So many fabulous stories and styles all together in a sexy smorgasbord

[Helen · Rating 3 out of 5]

I tried desperately to get into the stories. Some held my interest and others just bored me. I think it's the endings. They leave me wondering. I got about half way through and could not read anymore.

[D · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is a quite delightful collection of 15 F/F romance stories. Although they are by different authors, you will enjoy them all. XOXOXOs to the editor, Cheyenne Blue, for selecting them and also for writing Amelia:)

[Margaret · Rating 3 out of 5]

Detailed score: 2.75

The linking theme of this anthology (firsts) drew me in and was conceptualised in creative ways by the various authors. In fact, I think some of the authors tried to apply the theme almost too cleverly, to the detriment of the storytelling - hence my score. There were three stories that particularly drew me in and left me wanting more [Before the Bus Comes - Tamsin Flowers, The Sum of Our Parts - Andi Marquette and first timer Ivy Newman with The First Peonies.] However there were an equal number of stories that I gave up on half way through as I just could not get into them and the remainder left me mildly interested at best. The contributions from Cheyenne Blue and Harper Bliss were solid and well-crated, as one might expect from authors of their experience, however their contributions are nowhere near my favourites of their work.

Overall this anthology is fine...but there are similar and better out there.

[FionaH · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good mix of stories and authors. Enjoyed the stories by Annabeth Leong, Jeremy Edwards and Cheyenne Blue the best, and adored "Sea" by Rosie Bower. Overall a great anthology.