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Finding Ms. Write
Twelve authors of lesbian fiction bring you a collection of romantic short stories about “book people”—heroines who are somehow involved in the publishing industry. From a novelist with the world’s biggest crush on her editor to a beta reader connecting with her cabinmate on a cruise, from a woman seeking rare books who finds love instead to a bookstore owner who’s drawn to the shy writer sitting by the shop’s window every day, this anthology is full of stories guaranteed to have a happy ending. Step into our world of books and enjoy a glimpse into the lives of writers who are chasing deadlines…and finding love. Includes stories by A.L. Brooks, Anastasia Vitsky, Chris Zett, Cori Kane, Elaine Burnes, Hazel Yeats, Jacelle Scott, Jae, Jove Belle, Kathy Brodland, Lea Daley, and Melissa Grace.
238 pages, ebook
First published June 15, 2016
9 people are currently reading
425 people want to read
About the author
Jae
119 books3,731 followersJae is the author of twenty-six award-winning romances between women. She lives in the sunniest city of Germany, near the French and Swiss borders. The writing bug bit her at the age of eleven.
She used to work as a psychologist but gave up her day job in 2013 to become a full-time writer and a part-time editor. As far as she’s concerned, it’s the best job in the world.
When she’s not writing, she is an avid reader of sapphic books, indulges her ice cream and office supply addictions, and watches way too many crime shows.
She used to work as a psychologist but gave up her day job in 2013 to become a full-time writer and a part-time editor. As far as she’s concerned, it’s the best job in the world.
When she’s not writing, she is an avid reader of sapphic books, indulges her ice cream and office supply addictions, and watches way too many crime shows.
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Displaying 1 - 17 of 17 reviews
February 7, 2017
Consignment
by Elaine Burnes
New England, Bookstore, writer, bookstore owner
A bookstore owner and a writer hook up. Certain angst develops when the bookstore owner realizes what a writer can do if you piss them off (though different writer than one dating). Makes her afraid.
Okay story.
Rating: 3.7
November 5 2016
Cherry Park Pulp by Jove Belle
New York (I think), 1950, writer
It's 1950 (I think, based on a line that it's been five years since the war ended) and a housewife has a book club. Her husband is cheating on her with one of her a) neighbors; b) friends, but the housewife doesn't really care because she's actually a lesbian. Oh, and secretly she's a successful lesbian writer (as in she's released lesbian pulp under a pen name).
Barb's book club has a shocking suggestion - the books lately have been boring, let's read lesbian pulp. Barb's somewhat panic-y that somehow they'll learn that she's a published author of lesbian books and somewhat distracted by Muriel - one of her friend's nieces who is 'obviously' a) a lesbian and b) flirting with her.
Several book club meetings go by. They've read several lesbian books. Muriel's flirtations increase with each meeting until . . . fumbling occurs. More stuff happens. The, abrupt, end.
Interesting story but it was kind of abrupt.
Rating: 3.45
December 28 2016
Books, Renovations, and a Vespa by Melissa Grace
An editor attempts to do edits while renovations are going on at her house (where she also happens to work). One of the people who wander over to work on the place is a woman named Jo. Jo and Virginia Wolf (the editor) flirt and do flirting like stuff.
Rating: 2
December 31 2016
Kindred Spirits by Lea Daley
Grief, partner died, age-older-grey-hair
A story about two women whose partner's died (separately and by different means). One, whose partner passed away a while ago, attempts to help the other whose partner died six months ago.
A year or more passes.
A really nice, lovely story.
Rating: 4.98
January 13 2017
Between the Lines by A.L. Brooks
London, Publishing Company
Creepy stalkerish vibe. Made me physically ill.
A woman works in a publishing company in London. She gets warned when she starts working there about a real ‘player’. That player openly, shortly thereafter, asks the main woman out. She – the main woman is horrified and shuns her. Attempts to date another woman though there is no spark.
Begins receiving notes – like inside her locked locker, in her purse, etc. That’s the creepy stalkerish vibe part. That’s just . . . wrong. Icky. Horrifying. Gross.
Rating: 0.005
January 14 2017
Romance on a Side Note by Chris Zett
Book finder; mystery; family
Short, sweet. About an elderly lady looking for her long lost pen pal & the woman helping her look (from the POV of the helper) - hmms.
A woman works as a book finder – wandering book sales and the like, looking for specific books people want found. While at a library sale she gets knocked down by a woman screaming ‘mine!’ Did she really get involved in a fight at a library book sale? Or . . did she not? Turns out the woman who knocked her down is using a walker and claims she isn’t used to it – blames it on the accident.
And, it turns out, that woman was looking for a specific book. One she and another person wrote notes to each other in. When both, well at least one, was a kid – her family moved suddenly so she wasn’t able to let the other know. It’s been a really long time now, but she’d like the book again and heard of the sale.
The book finder, without being asked to do it, and on her own, begins a search. Along the way she bumps into a friendly librarian who she gets help from. And a little bit of flirting as well.
Neat story.
Rating: 3.9
January 15 2017
Wrote Trip by Cori Kane
Age: 20s; Age: 30s; roadtrip; slice of life; age difference, Author/writer
Nice snippet, liked the characters. Ended abruptly. Not an actual full story.
Ooh – I was going to go with ‘no idea what this one is about, can’t recall it now’ but I believe this one is the hitchhiker one – woman in her thirties driving along – she has one last book in a trilogy to write but she just can’t get into it, so she needs a trip, a vacation from it all. Along the way she spots a woman on the side of the road and impulsively stops to pick her up – she has found that driving by herself on a roadtrip to be super boring.
Neat enough snippet – the two, the 20 year old hitchhiker, and the 30 year old author, have a nice little conversation. With flirting.
Rating: 4.12
January 15 2017
Orphans' Christmas by Kathy Brodland
Age: 50s; Age: 60s; Holiday; Christmas
Nice story about retired people having a Christmas meal together.
Now this one I remember – I just don’t know what all else to write – one couple holds a Christmas meal for ‘orphans’ – people who are ‘celebrating’ Christmas by themselves. Including the main character. This is an older group of people – grey hair, the weight of years (and fat), the busted leg, the wheelchairs, etc.
Rating: 3.77
January 15 2017
Vegan Delights by Hazel Yeats
Neighbors flirt with each other, write each other erotic stories involving themselves.
And that’s basically all I remember. And I only remember that because I’m reading it in front of my eyeballs. I really have no recollection of this story. And my helpful little snippet isn’t telling me anything – isn’t getting me any recall of the story. Mmphs.
Rating: 3.22
January 15 2017
Cruise by Jacelle Scott
Cruise, Age . . . grey hair
Two women go on a cruise – share the same room. But they didn’t know each other beforehand – they just got ‘shared accommodation’ rooms on the cruise to nowhere cruise-ship.
My snippet I wrote in my status updates isn’t really fair – ‘well that one was kind of creepy’. I meant that in how I kind of didn’t like either character, and how condescending one was and . . well, stuff.
Rating: 3.15
January 18 2017
Sex Sells by Jae
Writer, Editor
A woman is in public talking on the phone – specifically with her editor. She’s thinking of how to kill someone (then saying so loudly – again in public). Editor mentions something about how those books that include romance tend to sell a lot more copies than books like what the author currently writes (mysteries). They discuss this. Then fumbling over what a ‘date’ means.
Neat story. I want more stories involving these two characters. I like them. Sadly this is more of a snippet than anything else. It’s not even really a full short story. More of a snippet.
Rating: 4.15
January 18 2017
Faux Pas by Anastasia Vitsky
Humor, BDSM, Writer
A wife of a writer tries to distract her wife by wearing new underwear (one of which says ‘spank me’ on them), then asking her BDSM author wife to spank her. The wife is distracted, confused, and not realizing what’s going on (not that she isn’t turned on by her wife, she just isn’t getting the message).
Leads to much fumbling around and humor. I read something recently that mentioned how the reviewer liked how the people in the sexual acts seemed ‘real’ in what they were reading (a cracking knee as a person stands, etc.), well here we have something similar. ‘Realness’. I might have given a slightly higher rating if there wasn’t ‘surprise’ BDSM sprung on people.
Rating: 4.20
January 18 2017
Overall
Consignment by Elaine Burnes - 3.7
Cherry Park Pulp by Jove Belle - 3.45
Books, Renovations, and a Vespa by Melissa Grace - 2
Kindred Spirits by Lea Daley - 4.98
Between the Lines by A.L. Brooks - 0.005
Romance on a Side Note by Chris Zett - 3.9
Wrote Trip by Cori Kane - 4.12
Orphans' Christmas by Kathy Brodland - 3.77
Vegan Delights by Hazel Yeats - 3.22
Cruise by Jacelle Scott – 3.15
Sex Sells by Jae – 4.15
Faux Pas by Anastasia Vitsky – 4.20
Overall rating: 3.38708
New England, Bookstore, writer, bookstore owner
A bookstore owner and a writer hook up. Certain angst develops when the bookstore owner realizes what a writer can do if you piss them off (though different writer than one dating). Makes her afraid.
Okay story.
Rating: 3.7
November 5 2016
Cherry Park Pulp by Jove Belle
New York (I think), 1950, writer
It's 1950 (I think, based on a line that it's been five years since the war ended) and a housewife has a book club. Her husband is cheating on her with one of her a) neighbors; b) friends, but the housewife doesn't really care because she's actually a lesbian. Oh, and secretly she's a successful lesbian writer (as in she's released lesbian pulp under a pen name).
Barb's book club has a shocking suggestion - the books lately have been boring, let's read lesbian pulp. Barb's somewhat panic-y that somehow they'll learn that she's a published author of lesbian books and somewhat distracted by Muriel - one of her friend's nieces who is 'obviously' a) a lesbian and b) flirting with her.
Several book club meetings go by. They've read several lesbian books. Muriel's flirtations increase with each meeting until . . . fumbling occurs. More stuff happens. The, abrupt, end.
Interesting story but it was kind of abrupt.
Rating: 3.45
December 28 2016
Books, Renovations, and a Vespa by Melissa Grace
An editor attempts to do edits while renovations are going on at her house (where she also happens to work). One of the people who wander over to work on the place is a woman named Jo. Jo and Virginia Wolf (the editor) flirt and do flirting like stuff.
Rating: 2
December 31 2016
Kindred Spirits by Lea Daley
Grief, partner died, age-older-grey-hair
A story about two women whose partner's died (separately and by different means). One, whose partner passed away a while ago, attempts to help the other whose partner died six months ago.
A year or more passes.
A really nice, lovely story.
Rating: 4.98
January 13 2017
Between the Lines by A.L. Brooks
London, Publishing Company
Creepy stalkerish vibe. Made me physically ill.
A woman works in a publishing company in London. She gets warned when she starts working there about a real ‘player’. That player openly, shortly thereafter, asks the main woman out. She – the main woman is horrified and shuns her. Attempts to date another woman though there is no spark.
Begins receiving notes – like inside her locked locker, in her purse, etc. That’s the creepy stalkerish vibe part. That’s just . . . wrong. Icky. Horrifying. Gross.
Rating: 0.005
January 14 2017
Romance on a Side Note by Chris Zett
Book finder; mystery; family
Short, sweet. About an elderly lady looking for her long lost pen pal & the woman helping her look (from the POV of the helper) - hmms.
A woman works as a book finder – wandering book sales and the like, looking for specific books people want found. While at a library sale she gets knocked down by a woman screaming ‘mine!’ Did she really get involved in a fight at a library book sale? Or . . did she not? Turns out the woman who knocked her down is using a walker and claims she isn’t used to it – blames it on the accident.
And, it turns out, that woman was looking for a specific book. One she and another person wrote notes to each other in. When both, well at least one, was a kid – her family moved suddenly so she wasn’t able to let the other know. It’s been a really long time now, but she’d like the book again and heard of the sale.
The book finder, without being asked to do it, and on her own, begins a search. Along the way she bumps into a friendly librarian who she gets help from. And a little bit of flirting as well.
Neat story.
Rating: 3.9
January 15 2017
Wrote Trip by Cori Kane
Age: 20s; Age: 30s; roadtrip; slice of life; age difference, Author/writer
Nice snippet, liked the characters. Ended abruptly. Not an actual full story.
Ooh – I was going to go with ‘no idea what this one is about, can’t recall it now’ but I believe this one is the hitchhiker one – woman in her thirties driving along – she has one last book in a trilogy to write but she just can’t get into it, so she needs a trip, a vacation from it all. Along the way she spots a woman on the side of the road and impulsively stops to pick her up – she has found that driving by herself on a roadtrip to be super boring.
Neat enough snippet – the two, the 20 year old hitchhiker, and the 30 year old author, have a nice little conversation. With flirting.
Rating: 4.12
January 15 2017
Orphans' Christmas by Kathy Brodland
Age: 50s; Age: 60s; Holiday; Christmas
Nice story about retired people having a Christmas meal together.
Now this one I remember – I just don’t know what all else to write – one couple holds a Christmas meal for ‘orphans’ – people who are ‘celebrating’ Christmas by themselves. Including the main character. This is an older group of people – grey hair, the weight of years (and fat), the busted leg, the wheelchairs, etc.
Rating: 3.77
January 15 2017
Vegan Delights by Hazel Yeats
Neighbors flirt with each other, write each other erotic stories involving themselves.
And that’s basically all I remember. And I only remember that because I’m reading it in front of my eyeballs. I really have no recollection of this story. And my helpful little snippet isn’t telling me anything – isn’t getting me any recall of the story. Mmphs.
Rating: 3.22
January 15 2017
Cruise by Jacelle Scott
Cruise, Age . . . grey hair
Two women go on a cruise – share the same room. But they didn’t know each other beforehand – they just got ‘shared accommodation’ rooms on the cruise to nowhere cruise-ship.
My snippet I wrote in my status updates isn’t really fair – ‘well that one was kind of creepy’. I meant that in how I kind of didn’t like either character, and how condescending one was and . . well, stuff.
Rating: 3.15
January 18 2017
Sex Sells by Jae
Writer, Editor
A woman is in public talking on the phone – specifically with her editor. She’s thinking of how to kill someone (then saying so loudly – again in public). Editor mentions something about how those books that include romance tend to sell a lot more copies than books like what the author currently writes (mysteries). They discuss this. Then fumbling over what a ‘date’ means.
Neat story. I want more stories involving these two characters. I like them. Sadly this is more of a snippet than anything else. It’s not even really a full short story. More of a snippet.
Rating: 4.15
January 18 2017
Faux Pas by Anastasia Vitsky
Humor, BDSM, Writer
A wife of a writer tries to distract her wife by wearing new underwear (one of which says ‘spank me’ on them), then asking her BDSM author wife to spank her. The wife is distracted, confused, and not realizing what’s going on (not that she isn’t turned on by her wife, she just isn’t getting the message).
Leads to much fumbling around and humor. I read something recently that mentioned how the reviewer liked how the people in the sexual acts seemed ‘real’ in what they were reading (a cracking knee as a person stands, etc.), well here we have something similar. ‘Realness’. I might have given a slightly higher rating if there wasn’t ‘surprise’ BDSM sprung on people.
Rating: 4.20
January 18 2017
Overall
Consignment by Elaine Burnes - 3.7
Cherry Park Pulp by Jove Belle - 3.45
Books, Renovations, and a Vespa by Melissa Grace - 2
Kindred Spirits by Lea Daley - 4.98
Between the Lines by A.L. Brooks - 0.005
Romance on a Side Note by Chris Zett - 3.9
Wrote Trip by Cori Kane - 4.12
Orphans' Christmas by Kathy Brodland - 3.77
Vegan Delights by Hazel Yeats - 3.22
Cruise by Jacelle Scott – 3.15
Sex Sells by Jae – 4.15
Faux Pas by Anastasia Vitsky – 4.20
Overall rating: 3.38708
July 30, 2016
I tend to have a love/hate relationship with short story collections. Typically they'll have two stories I love, another two or three I love, a few I hate, and then a range of "meh" in between. Not so with Finding Ms. Write. It's a solid collection of books I liked or loved. No "meh" or stories I hated anywhere in there.
Full review here: http://www.thelesbianreview.com/findi...
Full review here: http://www.thelesbianreview.com/findi...
November 5, 2018
I lovedsome of the stories. Elaine Byrnes, A.L. Brooks, Chris Zett, Cori Kane, Hazel Yeats, Jae and Anastasia Vitsky were my favorites.
April 16, 2017
Finding Ms. Write is a collection of short lesbian fiction about "book people" -- publishers, authors, bookstore owners, editors, etc. One thing that made this volume stand out for me as a little unusual, in a good way, was that several of the stories feature much older women than I am used to encountering as the protagonists in published lesbian fiction, so this is definitely something to signal boost for readers seeking that out. I'm sure elder erasure is a factor across genders and orientations in romance in general.
Here are the stories that pleased me enough to be featured in this review (since my reviews are mostly endorsements and recommendations rather than spending space on negative impressions.)
"Cherry Park Pulp" by Jove Belle stars a 1950's housewife closeted not only about her lesbianism, but about her secret career as a published writer of lesbian pulp. Imagine her shock when her mostly straight book club suggests reading lesbian pulp as their next pick! Will she be able to maintain her privacy? Will she get up the courage to leave her philandering husband and return to the happy lesbian life she had during WWII when all the boys were away? (Spoiler: of course. I don't truck in hopeless queer tropes. Y'all know me better than that.)
"Romance on a Side Note" by Chris Zett is just the kind of feel-good cheese that reminds me of L. M. Montgomery's non-Anne short stories and appeals to all my self-indulgent impulses. The protagonist is trying to find an old woman's mysterious long-lost friend with whom she used to write notes back and forth in a library book, and in the process starts a flirtation with the librarian.
"Wrote Trip" by Cori Kane isn't so much a romance as a flirtation, or the beginning of a romance, or maybe just nothing at all but still fun for the participants. A writer absolutely desperate for new surroundings and a break from her projects picks up a girl hitchhiking home from college after the boy driving her left her on the side of the road, and they have a lot of chemistry. I like to think the girl winds up as inspiration for the protagonist's writing rather than an actual girlfriend. A muse--and given that she makes a suggestion that might have unblocked her, maybe that's what Kane was going for.
"Orphans' Christmas" by Kari Broadland stars a woman over sixty who walks with a cane, and although I'm caneless it had the kind of cane details I was recently advised to add to my own cane-using characters so it's possible the author may know what she's talking about. (Another character in the story uses a wheelchair, by the way.) It's the very sweet story of a Christmas party full of lesbians, mostly on the older side, some of whom have nowhere else to go because of various breakups or widowings. The story ends in sweet f/f romance after Christmas party activities like one of those present-stealing games. If you're the kind of person who likes "bunch of queer people are each other's framily at a gathering" warm fuzzy stories, this is the place you want to start.
"Cruise" by Jacelle Scott almost seems like literary fiction to me rather than romance, especially because the pair of women who meet on the cruise agree beforehand and afterward that they're not a couple, but more making love as an affirmation of life: one of them is ill in a way that isn't truly showing up yet and the other is grieving a dead girlfriend. It's an interesting, contemplative kind of piece, and like many of the other stories, the ladies are not young.
I like the plot and construction of "Sex Sells" byJae -- what happens when you finally get to the part of the conversation where you and the editor you have a crush on might finally be asking each other out, but the phone dies? This is handled in an unexpected way that put a smile on my face.
"Kindred Spirits" by Lea Daley is a good, solid story even though it didn't resonate as much for me personally as the other ones I mentioned above. Lesbian widows with dogs, bonding slowly and thoroughly toward their HEA. Some beautiful quotes: "The sun should have gone dark with Erin's death. The flowers should have failed." Given that this was literally my IRL reaction to Dachau when I visited as a teenager, I found these to be good words.
By the way... the final paragraph of "Books, Renovations, and a Vespa" -- really, Ylva? *adjusts glasses like Ikari Gendo*
Here are the stories that pleased me enough to be featured in this review (since my reviews are mostly endorsements and recommendations rather than spending space on negative impressions.)
"Cherry Park Pulp" by Jove Belle stars a 1950's housewife closeted not only about her lesbianism, but about her secret career as a published writer of lesbian pulp. Imagine her shock when her mostly straight book club suggests reading lesbian pulp as their next pick! Will she be able to maintain her privacy? Will she get up the courage to leave her philandering husband and return to the happy lesbian life she had during WWII when all the boys were away? (Spoiler: of course. I don't truck in hopeless queer tropes. Y'all know me better than that.)
"Romance on a Side Note" by Chris Zett is just the kind of feel-good cheese that reminds me of L. M. Montgomery's non-Anne short stories and appeals to all my self-indulgent impulses. The protagonist is trying to find an old woman's mysterious long-lost friend with whom she used to write notes back and forth in a library book, and in the process starts a flirtation with the librarian.
"Wrote Trip" by Cori Kane isn't so much a romance as a flirtation, or the beginning of a romance, or maybe just nothing at all but still fun for the participants. A writer absolutely desperate for new surroundings and a break from her projects picks up a girl hitchhiking home from college after the boy driving her left her on the side of the road, and they have a lot of chemistry. I like to think the girl winds up as inspiration for the protagonist's writing rather than an actual girlfriend. A muse--and given that she makes a suggestion that might have unblocked her, maybe that's what Kane was going for.
"Orphans' Christmas" by Kari Broadland stars a woman over sixty who walks with a cane, and although I'm caneless it had the kind of cane details I was recently advised to add to my own cane-using characters so it's possible the author may know what she's talking about. (Another character in the story uses a wheelchair, by the way.) It's the very sweet story of a Christmas party full of lesbians, mostly on the older side, some of whom have nowhere else to go because of various breakups or widowings. The story ends in sweet f/f romance after Christmas party activities like one of those present-stealing games. If you're the kind of person who likes "bunch of queer people are each other's framily at a gathering" warm fuzzy stories, this is the place you want to start.
"Cruise" by Jacelle Scott almost seems like literary fiction to me rather than romance, especially because the pair of women who meet on the cruise agree beforehand and afterward that they're not a couple, but more making love as an affirmation of life: one of them is ill in a way that isn't truly showing up yet and the other is grieving a dead girlfriend. It's an interesting, contemplative kind of piece, and like many of the other stories, the ladies are not young.
I like the plot and construction of "Sex Sells" byJae -- what happens when you finally get to the part of the conversation where you and the editor you have a crush on might finally be asking each other out, but the phone dies? This is handled in an unexpected way that put a smile on my face.
"Kindred Spirits" by Lea Daley is a good, solid story even though it didn't resonate as much for me personally as the other ones I mentioned above. Lesbian widows with dogs, bonding slowly and thoroughly toward their HEA. Some beautiful quotes: "The sun should have gone dark with Erin's death. The flowers should have failed." Given that this was literally my IRL reaction to Dachau when I visited as a teenager, I found these to be good words.
By the way... the final paragraph of "Books, Renovations, and a Vespa" -- really, Ylva? *adjusts glasses like Ikari Gendo*
July 22, 2016
This is an amusing, fun and charming set of short stories written by an array of lesbian authors, some well known, others less so. The tone is light and the content entertaining, all based, of course, around writers, editors and publishers.
From a night of passion with a stranger on a cruise to a long-term partner trying out new things, the stories are a mix of fantasy and reality. There are also a mixture of age and experience, from young professionals to older women and established couple’s, which makes for a refreshing change.
The stories have various appeals, this isn’t erotica, it's romance, and varies from soft explicit to fade to black. Having been to Con I do feel we ned a follow up from a certain author/editor...
I found them well written and enjoyable reads, if you like romance and enjoy short stories this is definitely for you.
From a night of passion with a stranger on a cruise to a long-term partner trying out new things, the stories are a mix of fantasy and reality. There are also a mixture of age and experience, from young professionals to older women and established couple’s, which makes for a refreshing change.
The stories have various appeals, this isn’t erotica, it's romance, and varies from soft explicit to fade to black. Having been to Con I do feel we ned a follow up from a certain author/editor...
I found them well written and enjoyable reads, if you like romance and enjoy short stories this is definitely for you.
August 24, 2016
Diese und weitere Rezensionen findet ihr auf meinem Blog Anima Libri - Buchseele
Rezensionsexemplar, zur Verfügung gestellt vom Verlag im Austausch für eine ehrliche Rezension ♥
This review is half English/half German, just scroll over the parts that aren't in your preferred language and please excuse my sometimes somewhat horrible English :D
This anthology is made up by twelve stories about all kinds of bookish people finding love. As with pretty much every short story collection there were some stories I really liked and some that just weren't my kind of story:
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Die Anthologie "Finding Ms. Write" aus dem Ylva Verlag enthält zwölf mehr oder minder romantische Geschichten rund um "Buchmenschen" - Autorinnen, Leserinnen, Herausgeberinnen, Buchhändlerinnen, Bibliothekarinnen und sonst allem, was es so an Literatur liebenden Frauen geben mag. Wie bei so ziemlich jeder Anthologie haben mir die Geschichten sehr unterschiedlich gut gefallen, einige waren wirklich super, andere so gar nicht meins:
Elaine Burnes: Consignment
A promising start for this collection: A shy author spends her days in the cafe of a bookstore and connects to the store owner when she gives her her book to read. But disaster strikes in the form of a vengeful diva author.
I liked this first story, it was written well, with likable characters even though the drama seemed a bit over the top.
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Die Kurzgeschichtensammlung startet direkt ganz vielversprechend: Eine Autorin verbringt ihre Tage im Cafe einer Buchhandlung und gerät in den Fokus der Buchhändlerin, nachdem sie dieser ein Exemplar ihres ersten Romans gibt. Doch die Buchhändlerin macht zeitgleich alles andere als positive Erfahrungen mit einer rachsüchtigen Diva-Autorin.
Ich fand, dass diese erste Geschichte ganz gut geschrieben war, das Drama wirkte zwar ein bisschen übersteigert, aber insgesamt ist Elaine Burnes' "Consignment" ein toller Einstieg in "Finding Ms. Write" mit sehr sympathischen Charakteren.
★ ★ ★ ★
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Jove Belle: Cherry Park Pulp
My personal favorite! A group of 50s housewives gathering to read a genre that to one of them isn't as foreign as it should be: lesbian pulp fiction. Add connections to the publishing business thanks to an old college friend, a straying husband and a distracting new book club member to the mix and you have "Cherry Park Pulp".
I liked the setting and thought it was quite fascinating, the protagonist was surprisingly well developed for a short story and the plot intriguing, ending at exactly the point at which Bard's adventure actually begins.
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Mein absoluter Favorit! Ein Hausfrauen-Buchclub in den 50ern versucht sich an einer besonders pikanten Art von Genre: Lesbian Pulp Fiction. Was der Rest des Buchclubs nicht weiß, ist dass von ihnen - einer alten Freundin aus Collegezeiten sei Dank - bereits ausführliche Erfahrungen mit diesem Genre hat - außerdem hat sie einen fremdgehenden Ehemann und gar nicht ladyhafte Gefühle für das neuste Mitglied des Buchclubs.
Ich fand das Setting dieser Kurzgeschichte faszinierend, die Charaktere trotz des eingeschränkten Formats sehr gut ausgearbeitet und auch die Handlung sehr gut - offenes Ende inklusive, denn eigentlich endet die Geschichte genau da, wo Barbs Abenteuer anfängt.
★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★
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Melissa Grace: Books, Renovations, and a Vespa
This story about an editor who wants some custom bookshelves in her bedroom and find a sexy surprise in the contractor showing up to do the work just wasn't my kind of story.
I'm not really into very erotic stories. Romances yes, some sex okay, but please not too much. And this story actually was just twenty something pages full of choppy, badly timed story leading up to a not so sexy sex scene.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Okay, das war gar nicht meins. Eine Lektorin lässt das Haus, das sie von ihrer Großmutter geerbt hat, renovieren und sich ein maßgefertigtes Bücherregal im Schlafzimmer anlegen. Während die Handwerker, die sich um die Küche kümmern sollen, eine totale Katastrophe sind, ist die Tischlerin, die die Bücherregale anfertigt, eine sexy Überraschung.
Ich bin kein großer Fan von besonders erotischen Stories. Romantik ja, Sex meinetwegen, aber bitte nur in Maßen. Und diese Geschichte hatte ein schreckliches Tempo und war seltsam sprunghaft, die ersten gut 20 Seiten waren eigentlich nur Einleitung für die nicht so sexy Sexszene.
★ ★
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Lea Daley: Kindred Spirits
Not my topic: Two widows meet in a bookstore and over the course of several month what started as a selfless attempt to help a fellow griever turns into more.
Lots of dialogue that was just plain boring to me because I couldn't connect to the topic. Also the whole thing was kind of dry and drawn out.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Diese Geschichte war einfach nicht mein Thema: Zwei Frauen treffen sich in der Trauer-Selbsthilfe-Abteilung eines Buchladens, für die eine ist der Verlust etwas frischer als für die andere, sie kommen ins Gespräch. Was anfangs als selbstlose Hilfestellung für die frisch verwitwete Bekanntschaft beginnt, entwickelt sich über Monate hinweg langsam zu mehr...
Wie gesagt, nicht mein Thema. Sehr viele Zeitsprünge, denn die Geschichte deckt gefühlte Ewigkeiten ab, viele Dialoge, deren Inhalte mich einfach nicht interessiert haben, wodurch die ganze Geschichte recht zäh und langatmig wirkte.
★ ★
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
A.L. Brooks: Between the Lines
Some kind of publishing office or something: Three women and some fancy love notes.
This was a cutish thing, written quite well but it just couldn't hold my fascination - also it was super obvious.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Irgendeine Art von Verlagsbüro oder ähnliches: Drei Frauen und ein paar romantische, anonyme Liebesbriefe. Ist jetzt eine der Frauen ein Stalker oder hat unerwiderte Gefühle für die andere? Oder offenbart eine von ihnen ungeahnte Tiefen?
Eine ganz niedliche Geschichte, die auch nicht schlecht geschrieben war, mich aber einfach nicht fesseln konnte - was wohl nicht zuletzt daran liegt, dass sie doch ziemlich offensichtlich ist...
★ ★ ★
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Chris Zett: Romance on a Side Note
Sooo sweet! The story of a children's book classic that connects two women who never met but shared a pretty intimate friendship some sixty years ago and are now reconnected thanks to a rare book finder who enlists the help of a cute librarian.
I just loved the idea and the story was very well written, with super cute characters - in my opinion one of the best stories in this collection!
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Sooo süß! Eine tolle Geschichte, in dessen Zentrum ein altes Buch steht, das direkt zwei Paare zusammen bringt: Zum einen zwei Frauen, die sich nie getroffen haben, vor über sechzig Jahren aber durch eine enge Freundschaft verbunden waren und zum anderen eine junge Frau, die normalerweise seltene Bücher für ihre Kunden sucht, jetzt aber mit Hilfe einer sympathischen Bibliothekarin der Beziehung der beiden älteren Damen auf die Sprünge helfen will.
Ich fand die Idee hinter der Geschichte einfach total klasse und die Geschichte ist wirklich gut geschrieben, mit super sympathischen Charakteren. Meiner Meinung nach ganz klar eins der Highlights in dieser Sammlung!
★ ★ ★ ★ ★
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Cori Kane: Wrote Trip
A struggling author on a road trip to nowhere picks up a college girl 14 years her minor who turns out to be her biggest fan - and maybe her new muse?
I simply didn't care. Like the protagonist's road trip the whole story seemed to go nowhere and neither the plot nor the writing or the characters could move me to care even one bit about this story.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Eine Autorin mit Schreibblockade, die sich auf einen Roadtrip Richtung Nirgendwo aufmacht und dabei eine 14 Jahre jüngere Collegestudentin aufgabelt, die sich als ihr größter Fan herausstellt - und vielleicht auch ihre neue Muse?
Die Geschichte war mir einfach egal. Genau wie der Roadtrip der Protagonistin schien auch die Geschichte ziemlich ziellos zu sein und weder die Handlung, noch der Schreibstil oder die Charaktere haben mich auch nur ansatzweise für diese Kurzgeschichte begeistern können.
★
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Kathy Brodland: Orphans' Christmas
Rather cute story about a sixty something author and a retired policewoman who both lost someone but seem to be on the way to finding love again after being snowed in at a holiday dinner
While the story was okay, it just didn't really interest me, I didn't connect with the characters, so while I liked the plot idea and the whole thing was written well, it certainly won't become a favorite of mine.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Ganz niedliche Geschichte über eine Autorin in den sechzigern und eine ehemalige Polizistin, die beide jemanden verloren haben, jetzt allerdings drauf und dran zu sein scheinen, die Liebe wieder zu entdecken, nachdem sie beim Festtagsessen eingeschneit wurden.
Obwohl die Geschichte völlig okay war, hat sie mich einfach nicht interessiert, ich konnte mit den Charakteren nicht wirklich etwas anfangen und obwohl die Geschichte ganz gut geschrieben war, gehört sie eindeutig nicht zu meinen Favoriten.
★ ★ ★
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Hazel Yeats: Vegan Delights
A wannabe journalist and author writing a oh so subtle erotic story about herself and her neighbour? Don't know but the characters just didn't work for me and the whole story inside the story was kinda awkward.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Eine Möchtegernjournalistin und -autorin, die eine ach so subtile Erotikgeschichte über sich selbst und ihre Nachbarin schreibst und sie dann ihrer Nachbarin, die irgendwie im Catering ist und veganes Zeug macht, um die zweifelhafte Autorin zu beeindrucken - oder so.
Wie gesagt, kein Fan von Erotikgedöhns und das war auch noch grässlich geschrieben - also die Geschichte in der Geschichte. Der Rest war zwar ganz okay geschrieben, aber die Figuren blass und absolut nicht mein Ding.
★
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Jacelle Scott: Cruise
Aaand another one about dead love but also Alzheimer's and casual sex and I really don't know. The Child of Prague also plays a role. Or something.
This whole thing was kind of so what? and I have no idea what to make of story number ten.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Und noch eine Geschichte über verstorbene und verlorene Liebe aber auch Alzheimer und Gelegenheitssex und keine Ahnung. Das Prager Jesulein spielt auch mit.
Die ganze Geschichte war so ein anhaltender "WTF?!"-Moment und ich habe überhaupt keine Ahnung, ob das irgendeinen Sinn haben sollte oder was ich so wirklich davon halten soll. Mein Ding war es nicht.
★
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Jae: Sex Sells
A cute story about a murder mystery / crime novel writer looking for new and inventive ways of killing her characters. When her editor, who she also uses to discuss murder research ideas, suggests she should branch out and add some romance to her stories whole new research options open up.
Liked this one, it was short but sweet, well written and pretty entertaining with a very amusing dialogue.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Eine nette Geschichte über eine Krimiautorin auf der Suche nach neuen und ausgefallenen Arten ihre Charaktere umzubringen. Als ihre Herausgeberin, mit der sie auch ihre Mordmethodenrecherche diskutiert, ihr vorschlägt doch mal ein bisschen Romantik in ihre Geschichten einzubauen, eröffnen sich ganz neue Recherchemöglichkeiten.
Ich mochte die Geschichte, sie war zwar relativ kurz, dafür aber echt süß, gut geschrieben und recht unterhaltsam mit einem sehr amüsanten Dialog.
★ ★ ★ ★
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Anastasia Vitsky: Faux Pas
A married couple, one a writer of erotic novels, the other one trying to bring something new into their sex life...
Not my thing! I thought the story, though kind of hilarious at times, was pretty awkward and I just didn't connect with either of the characters. Also the point of view switches between them and seems somewhat confused at times.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Ein Ehepaar bestehend aus einer Erotikautorin und ihrer Ehefrau, die gerne neuen Schwung ins gemeinsame Sexleben bringen möchte...
Nicht mein Ding! Die Geschichte war hier und da zwar recht lustig, insgesamt aber eher seltsam und ich konnte mit keiner der beiden Protagonistinnen wirklich etwas anfangen. Außerdem waren die Perspektivwechsel zwischen ihnen teilweise etwas verwirrend.
★ ★
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
All in all... Well, there were some stories I really liked, some that just didn't have a plot that enticed me and a surprisingly great number of stories that had protagonists I just couldn't connect to, mostly because of age and live situation - the story of sixty something widows finding love again might be cute but just doesn't do anything for me. BUT this short story collection being as diverse in age as this is actually a positive thing, I think. The overall great variety in story topics actually is a great thing and I think this anthology is worth a read for anyone who loves all things bookish and lesbian romance.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Alles in allem... Naja, es gab einige Geschichten, die ich wirklich mochte, einige, deren Handlung mich einfach nicht fesseln konnte und eine überraschend große Nummer an Geschichten, mit deren Protagonisten ich einfach nichts anfangen konnte, hauptsächlich dank Alter oder Lebenssituation - die Geschichte einer sechzigjährigen Witwe, die eine neue Liebe findet, mag ja ganz nett sein, ist aber nicht wirklich mein Ding. ABER ich finde eigentlich auch, dass genau diese Diversität in Sachen Alter und die allgemein große Themenvielfalt eindeutige Pluspunkte für diese Kurzgeschichtensammlung sind, weshalb ich sie auch für alle empfehlen würde, die Bücher, Buchmenschen und lesbische Romanzen lieben
Rezensionsexemplar, zur Verfügung gestellt vom Verlag im Austausch für eine ehrliche Rezension ♥
This review is half English/half German, just scroll over the parts that aren't in your preferred language and please excuse my sometimes somewhat horrible English :D
This anthology is made up by twelve stories about all kinds of bookish people finding love. As with pretty much every short story collection there were some stories I really liked and some that just weren't my kind of story:
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Die Anthologie "Finding Ms. Write" aus dem Ylva Verlag enthält zwölf mehr oder minder romantische Geschichten rund um "Buchmenschen" - Autorinnen, Leserinnen, Herausgeberinnen, Buchhändlerinnen, Bibliothekarinnen und sonst allem, was es so an Literatur liebenden Frauen geben mag. Wie bei so ziemlich jeder Anthologie haben mir die Geschichten sehr unterschiedlich gut gefallen, einige waren wirklich super, andere so gar nicht meins:
Elaine Burnes: Consignment
A promising start for this collection: A shy author spends her days in the cafe of a bookstore and connects to the store owner when she gives her her book to read. But disaster strikes in the form of a vengeful diva author.
I liked this first story, it was written well, with likable characters even though the drama seemed a bit over the top.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Die Kurzgeschichtensammlung startet direkt ganz vielversprechend: Eine Autorin verbringt ihre Tage im Cafe einer Buchhandlung und gerät in den Fokus der Buchhändlerin, nachdem sie dieser ein Exemplar ihres ersten Romans gibt. Doch die Buchhändlerin macht zeitgleich alles andere als positive Erfahrungen mit einer rachsüchtigen Diva-Autorin.
Ich fand, dass diese erste Geschichte ganz gut geschrieben war, das Drama wirkte zwar ein bisschen übersteigert, aber insgesamt ist Elaine Burnes' "Consignment" ein toller Einstieg in "Finding Ms. Write" mit sehr sympathischen Charakteren.
★ ★ ★ ★
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Jove Belle: Cherry Park Pulp
My personal favorite! A group of 50s housewives gathering to read a genre that to one of them isn't as foreign as it should be: lesbian pulp fiction. Add connections to the publishing business thanks to an old college friend, a straying husband and a distracting new book club member to the mix and you have "Cherry Park Pulp".
I liked the setting and thought it was quite fascinating, the protagonist was surprisingly well developed for a short story and the plot intriguing, ending at exactly the point at which Bard's adventure actually begins.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Mein absoluter Favorit! Ein Hausfrauen-Buchclub in den 50ern versucht sich an einer besonders pikanten Art von Genre: Lesbian Pulp Fiction. Was der Rest des Buchclubs nicht weiß, ist dass von ihnen - einer alten Freundin aus Collegezeiten sei Dank - bereits ausführliche Erfahrungen mit diesem Genre hat - außerdem hat sie einen fremdgehenden Ehemann und gar nicht ladyhafte Gefühle für das neuste Mitglied des Buchclubs.
Ich fand das Setting dieser Kurzgeschichte faszinierend, die Charaktere trotz des eingeschränkten Formats sehr gut ausgearbeitet und auch die Handlung sehr gut - offenes Ende inklusive, denn eigentlich endet die Geschichte genau da, wo Barbs Abenteuer anfängt.
★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Melissa Grace: Books, Renovations, and a Vespa
This story about an editor who wants some custom bookshelves in her bedroom and find a sexy surprise in the contractor showing up to do the work just wasn't my kind of story.
I'm not really into very erotic stories. Romances yes, some sex okay, but please not too much. And this story actually was just twenty something pages full of choppy, badly timed story leading up to a not so sexy sex scene.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Okay, das war gar nicht meins. Eine Lektorin lässt das Haus, das sie von ihrer Großmutter geerbt hat, renovieren und sich ein maßgefertigtes Bücherregal im Schlafzimmer anlegen. Während die Handwerker, die sich um die Küche kümmern sollen, eine totale Katastrophe sind, ist die Tischlerin, die die Bücherregale anfertigt, eine sexy Überraschung.
Ich bin kein großer Fan von besonders erotischen Stories. Romantik ja, Sex meinetwegen, aber bitte nur in Maßen. Und diese Geschichte hatte ein schreckliches Tempo und war seltsam sprunghaft, die ersten gut 20 Seiten waren eigentlich nur Einleitung für die nicht so sexy Sexszene.
★ ★
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Lea Daley: Kindred Spirits
Not my topic: Two widows meet in a bookstore and over the course of several month what started as a selfless attempt to help a fellow griever turns into more.
Lots of dialogue that was just plain boring to me because I couldn't connect to the topic. Also the whole thing was kind of dry and drawn out.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Diese Geschichte war einfach nicht mein Thema: Zwei Frauen treffen sich in der Trauer-Selbsthilfe-Abteilung eines Buchladens, für die eine ist der Verlust etwas frischer als für die andere, sie kommen ins Gespräch. Was anfangs als selbstlose Hilfestellung für die frisch verwitwete Bekanntschaft beginnt, entwickelt sich über Monate hinweg langsam zu mehr...
Wie gesagt, nicht mein Thema. Sehr viele Zeitsprünge, denn die Geschichte deckt gefühlte Ewigkeiten ab, viele Dialoge, deren Inhalte mich einfach nicht interessiert haben, wodurch die ganze Geschichte recht zäh und langatmig wirkte.
★ ★
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
A.L. Brooks: Between the Lines
Some kind of publishing office or something: Three women and some fancy love notes.
This was a cutish thing, written quite well but it just couldn't hold my fascination - also it was super obvious.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Irgendeine Art von Verlagsbüro oder ähnliches: Drei Frauen und ein paar romantische, anonyme Liebesbriefe. Ist jetzt eine der Frauen ein Stalker oder hat unerwiderte Gefühle für die andere? Oder offenbart eine von ihnen ungeahnte Tiefen?
Eine ganz niedliche Geschichte, die auch nicht schlecht geschrieben war, mich aber einfach nicht fesseln konnte - was wohl nicht zuletzt daran liegt, dass sie doch ziemlich offensichtlich ist...
★ ★ ★
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Chris Zett: Romance on a Side Note
Sooo sweet! The story of a children's book classic that connects two women who never met but shared a pretty intimate friendship some sixty years ago and are now reconnected thanks to a rare book finder who enlists the help of a cute librarian.
I just loved the idea and the story was very well written, with super cute characters - in my opinion one of the best stories in this collection!
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Sooo süß! Eine tolle Geschichte, in dessen Zentrum ein altes Buch steht, das direkt zwei Paare zusammen bringt: Zum einen zwei Frauen, die sich nie getroffen haben, vor über sechzig Jahren aber durch eine enge Freundschaft verbunden waren und zum anderen eine junge Frau, die normalerweise seltene Bücher für ihre Kunden sucht, jetzt aber mit Hilfe einer sympathischen Bibliothekarin der Beziehung der beiden älteren Damen auf die Sprünge helfen will.
Ich fand die Idee hinter der Geschichte einfach total klasse und die Geschichte ist wirklich gut geschrieben, mit super sympathischen Charakteren. Meiner Meinung nach ganz klar eins der Highlights in dieser Sammlung!
★ ★ ★ ★ ★
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Cori Kane: Wrote Trip
A struggling author on a road trip to nowhere picks up a college girl 14 years her minor who turns out to be her biggest fan - and maybe her new muse?
I simply didn't care. Like the protagonist's road trip the whole story seemed to go nowhere and neither the plot nor the writing or the characters could move me to care even one bit about this story.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Eine Autorin mit Schreibblockade, die sich auf einen Roadtrip Richtung Nirgendwo aufmacht und dabei eine 14 Jahre jüngere Collegestudentin aufgabelt, die sich als ihr größter Fan herausstellt - und vielleicht auch ihre neue Muse?
Die Geschichte war mir einfach egal. Genau wie der Roadtrip der Protagonistin schien auch die Geschichte ziemlich ziellos zu sein und weder die Handlung, noch der Schreibstil oder die Charaktere haben mich auch nur ansatzweise für diese Kurzgeschichte begeistern können.
★
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Kathy Brodland: Orphans' Christmas
Rather cute story about a sixty something author and a retired policewoman who both lost someone but seem to be on the way to finding love again after being snowed in at a holiday dinner
While the story was okay, it just didn't really interest me, I didn't connect with the characters, so while I liked the plot idea and the whole thing was written well, it certainly won't become a favorite of mine.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Ganz niedliche Geschichte über eine Autorin in den sechzigern und eine ehemalige Polizistin, die beide jemanden verloren haben, jetzt allerdings drauf und dran zu sein scheinen, die Liebe wieder zu entdecken, nachdem sie beim Festtagsessen eingeschneit wurden.
Obwohl die Geschichte völlig okay war, hat sie mich einfach nicht interessiert, ich konnte mit den Charakteren nicht wirklich etwas anfangen und obwohl die Geschichte ganz gut geschrieben war, gehört sie eindeutig nicht zu meinen Favoriten.
★ ★ ★
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Hazel Yeats: Vegan Delights
A wannabe journalist and author writing a oh so subtle erotic story about herself and her neighbour? Don't know but the characters just didn't work for me and the whole story inside the story was kinda awkward.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Eine Möchtegernjournalistin und -autorin, die eine ach so subtile Erotikgeschichte über sich selbst und ihre Nachbarin schreibst und sie dann ihrer Nachbarin, die irgendwie im Catering ist und veganes Zeug macht, um die zweifelhafte Autorin zu beeindrucken - oder so.
Wie gesagt, kein Fan von Erotikgedöhns und das war auch noch grässlich geschrieben - also die Geschichte in der Geschichte. Der Rest war zwar ganz okay geschrieben, aber die Figuren blass und absolut nicht mein Ding.
★
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Jacelle Scott: Cruise
Aaand another one about dead love but also Alzheimer's and casual sex and I really don't know. The Child of Prague also plays a role. Or something.
This whole thing was kind of so what? and I have no idea what to make of story number ten.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Und noch eine Geschichte über verstorbene und verlorene Liebe aber auch Alzheimer und Gelegenheitssex und keine Ahnung. Das Prager Jesulein spielt auch mit.
Die ganze Geschichte war so ein anhaltender "WTF?!"-Moment und ich habe überhaupt keine Ahnung, ob das irgendeinen Sinn haben sollte oder was ich so wirklich davon halten soll. Mein Ding war es nicht.
★
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Jae: Sex Sells
A cute story about a murder mystery / crime novel writer looking for new and inventive ways of killing her characters. When her editor, who she also uses to discuss murder research ideas, suggests she should branch out and add some romance to her stories whole new research options open up.
Liked this one, it was short but sweet, well written and pretty entertaining with a very amusing dialogue.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Eine nette Geschichte über eine Krimiautorin auf der Suche nach neuen und ausgefallenen Arten ihre Charaktere umzubringen. Als ihre Herausgeberin, mit der sie auch ihre Mordmethodenrecherche diskutiert, ihr vorschlägt doch mal ein bisschen Romantik in ihre Geschichten einzubauen, eröffnen sich ganz neue Recherchemöglichkeiten.
Ich mochte die Geschichte, sie war zwar relativ kurz, dafür aber echt süß, gut geschrieben und recht unterhaltsam mit einem sehr amüsanten Dialog.
★ ★ ★ ★
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Anastasia Vitsky: Faux Pas
A married couple, one a writer of erotic novels, the other one trying to bring something new into their sex life...
Not my thing! I thought the story, though kind of hilarious at times, was pretty awkward and I just didn't connect with either of the characters. Also the point of view switches between them and seems somewhat confused at times.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Ein Ehepaar bestehend aus einer Erotikautorin und ihrer Ehefrau, die gerne neuen Schwung ins gemeinsame Sexleben bringen möchte...
Nicht mein Ding! Die Geschichte war hier und da zwar recht lustig, insgesamt aber eher seltsam und ich konnte mit keiner der beiden Protagonistinnen wirklich etwas anfangen. Außerdem waren die Perspektivwechsel zwischen ihnen teilweise etwas verwirrend.
★ ★
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
All in all... Well, there were some stories I really liked, some that just didn't have a plot that enticed me and a surprisingly great number of stories that had protagonists I just couldn't connect to, mostly because of age and live situation - the story of sixty something widows finding love again might be cute but just doesn't do anything for me. BUT this short story collection being as diverse in age as this is actually a positive thing, I think. The overall great variety in story topics actually is a great thing and I think this anthology is worth a read for anyone who loves all things bookish and lesbian romance.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Alles in allem... Naja, es gab einige Geschichten, die ich wirklich mochte, einige, deren Handlung mich einfach nicht fesseln konnte und eine überraschend große Nummer an Geschichten, mit deren Protagonisten ich einfach nichts anfangen konnte, hauptsächlich dank Alter oder Lebenssituation - die Geschichte einer sechzigjährigen Witwe, die eine neue Liebe findet, mag ja ganz nett sein, ist aber nicht wirklich mein Ding. ABER ich finde eigentlich auch, dass genau diese Diversität in Sachen Alter und die allgemein große Themenvielfalt eindeutige Pluspunkte für diese Kurzgeschichtensammlung sind, weshalb ich sie auch für alle empfehlen würde, die Bücher, Buchmenschen und lesbische Romanzen lieben
November 2, 2016
Consignment by Elaine Burnes — 5 Stars
Good beginning story for this anthology!
The story line was strong and distinct, the characters were fun and entertaining which kept me wanting more. (Owning a bookstore has always been a personal dream of mine so was happy to read about the fun side of it for a change.)
The characters are very unique which was nice and each seemed to come to life as I continued reading.
This book was a refreshing tale of love and personal battles we are go through.
Will definitely tell others to check out this author!
Books, Renovations, and a Vespa by Melissa Grace — 4 Stars
Great story with just enough humor to keep it lighthearted.
The characters are perfect and love the description of each one.
To me it correctly describes life as someone who has hired home improvement experts. Many ups and downs.
The relationship went along as smooth as butter which I liked a lot!
Kindred Spirits by Lea Daley — 5 Stars
Loved this! Although I found myself holding back the tears, I couldn’t stop reading.
I especially loved how involved real life situations that many have gone through but few write about!
The characters are wonderful and well defined. So it was easy to keep track of who is who.
I don’t want to give away anything but I especially loved how 2 characters that in most stories would have been made minimal and kept in the background are front and center in a lot of the story – as it would be in reality.
Definitely recommend this author and can’t wait to read more from them.
Between the Lines by A.L. Brooks — 5 Stars
Simply put, what a great read this was and was totally surprised with the twist at the end!
Sometimes the background characters get lost in the story, but happily that didn’t happen in this one.
A nice smooth story line until the twist which was wonderful.
Totally will recommend this.
Romance on a Side Note by Chris Zett — 5 Stars
A totally captivating story! I literally couldn’t put it own until I found out who JS was! A wonderful surprise it was.
The only part of this story that I didn’t love was its length, and that it had to end.
Would love to read the full length novel if it exists or is ever written.
No double I will be highly recommending this book to all!
Wrote Trip by Cori Kane — 3 Stars
A super quick read that literally covers about 4-6 hours of time.
Wasn’t really able to connect with either character, but did love the emotion behind Pat’s character – the description of the writer’s block was really well done.
Quick read, sometime to pass the time without too much thought of drama.
Orphans’ Christmas by Kathy Brodland – 4 Stars
Great Christmas theme story that showed that friends can be a great family as well. Frankie and Edit were good characters that I was rooting for.
I really love how the story/characters were all in their 50s and 60s. It shows that you can still find love at that age.
Vegan Delights by Hazel Yeats – 5 Stars
This started out strange for me. I really thought the story was going to be about Kate and Carol with how they were acting. But then Lara actually came into the story and WOW! I don’t want to give anything away but favorite book of the one’s I’ve read!
Cruise by Jacelle Scott — 4 Stars
This was a super good/sad story for me. I had hopes that it would end one way, but it went a complete 180 of that.
Lou and Cathy were great characters that were easy to connect with in an emotional level.
Overall, good story would read again.
Sex Sells by Jae — 5 Stars
Starts out with a bang and had me going till the end. With how the story started, I wasn’t sure what I was getting into, but still loved it.
Great characters, great story line and didn’t want it to end!
Faux Pas by Anastasia Vitsky – 5 Stars
Funny story – I don’t recommend reading this in the doctors waiting room because I couldn’t stop giggling.
Gia was super sweet and Ally was a trip.
Overall a great story and a perfect ending to the collection.
Reviewed by Crystal Marie & Blog Mama for Crystal’s Many Reviewers
*Copy provided for review*
Good beginning story for this anthology!
The story line was strong and distinct, the characters were fun and entertaining which kept me wanting more. (Owning a bookstore has always been a personal dream of mine so was happy to read about the fun side of it for a change.)
The characters are very unique which was nice and each seemed to come to life as I continued reading.
This book was a refreshing tale of love and personal battles we are go through.
Will definitely tell others to check out this author!
Books, Renovations, and a Vespa by Melissa Grace — 4 Stars
Great story with just enough humor to keep it lighthearted.
The characters are perfect and love the description of each one.
To me it correctly describes life as someone who has hired home improvement experts. Many ups and downs.
The relationship went along as smooth as butter which I liked a lot!
Kindred Spirits by Lea Daley — 5 Stars
Loved this! Although I found myself holding back the tears, I couldn’t stop reading.
I especially loved how involved real life situations that many have gone through but few write about!
The characters are wonderful and well defined. So it was easy to keep track of who is who.
I don’t want to give away anything but I especially loved how 2 characters that in most stories would have been made minimal and kept in the background are front and center in a lot of the story – as it would be in reality.
Definitely recommend this author and can’t wait to read more from them.
Between the Lines by A.L. Brooks — 5 Stars
Simply put, what a great read this was and was totally surprised with the twist at the end!
Sometimes the background characters get lost in the story, but happily that didn’t happen in this one.
A nice smooth story line until the twist which was wonderful.
Totally will recommend this.
Romance on a Side Note by Chris Zett — 5 Stars
A totally captivating story! I literally couldn’t put it own until I found out who JS was! A wonderful surprise it was.
The only part of this story that I didn’t love was its length, and that it had to end.
Would love to read the full length novel if it exists or is ever written.
No double I will be highly recommending this book to all!
Wrote Trip by Cori Kane — 3 Stars
A super quick read that literally covers about 4-6 hours of time.
Wasn’t really able to connect with either character, but did love the emotion behind Pat’s character – the description of the writer’s block was really well done.
Quick read, sometime to pass the time without too much thought of drama.
Orphans’ Christmas by Kathy Brodland – 4 Stars
Great Christmas theme story that showed that friends can be a great family as well. Frankie and Edit were good characters that I was rooting for.
I really love how the story/characters were all in their 50s and 60s. It shows that you can still find love at that age.
Vegan Delights by Hazel Yeats – 5 Stars
This started out strange for me. I really thought the story was going to be about Kate and Carol with how they were acting. But then Lara actually came into the story and WOW! I don’t want to give anything away but favorite book of the one’s I’ve read!
Cruise by Jacelle Scott — 4 Stars
This was a super good/sad story for me. I had hopes that it would end one way, but it went a complete 180 of that.
Lou and Cathy were great characters that were easy to connect with in an emotional level.
Overall, good story would read again.
Sex Sells by Jae — 5 Stars
Starts out with a bang and had me going till the end. With how the story started, I wasn’t sure what I was getting into, but still loved it.
Great characters, great story line and didn’t want it to end!
Faux Pas by Anastasia Vitsky – 5 Stars
Funny story – I don’t recommend reading this in the doctors waiting room because I couldn’t stop giggling.
Gia was super sweet and Ally was a trip.
Overall a great story and a perfect ending to the collection.
Reviewed by Crystal Marie & Blog Mama for Crystal’s Many Reviewers
*Copy provided for review*
October 1, 2017
While I'm not a big fan of short stories, I loved this collection about women who love women and words. In an anthology I usually find I love a few stories, some I skip after the first page and others are just okay. However I read every one of these stories and enjoyed them all, there are a couple I won't read again, but that is due to personal taste. It has a good mix and each story is different, yet they all have something very important in common - they're well written and well edited.
Personally my two favourites stories were Between the Lines by A.L. Brooks and Sex Sells by Jae. I would of loved to read more on these characters (that is always my problem with short stories) but I felt happy and satisfied with how things ended. They were both everything I look for in a romance... a well written story about the attraction between two women. I love watching characters develop and learn to accept themselves and others.
It was really great to read a book full of stories about women who love reading as much as I do. I'm hoping for a second Ms. Write book.
I'd recommend this to anyone who enjoys romance and short stories. It's also the perfect book anyone who wants to read a complete story in one sitting but Is short on time.
Personally my two favourites stories were Between the Lines by A.L. Brooks and Sex Sells by Jae. I would of loved to read more on these characters (that is always my problem with short stories) but I felt happy and satisfied with how things ended. They were both everything I look for in a romance... a well written story about the attraction between two women. I love watching characters develop and learn to accept themselves and others.
It was really great to read a book full of stories about women who love reading as much as I do. I'm hoping for a second Ms. Write book.
I'd recommend this to anyone who enjoys romance and short stories. It's also the perfect book anyone who wants to read a complete story in one sitting but Is short on time.
October 22, 2017
Consignment by Elaine Burnes was pretty nice.
Cherry Park Pulp by Jove Belle I skipped because it didn't seem like my thing.
Books, Renovations, and a Vespa by Melissa Grace was fine until the very last paragraph. I don't appreciate being told in the last paragraph that it was all in the main character's head.
Kindred Spirits by Lea Daley I skipped.
Between the Lines by A.L. Brooks is not okay. Stalker love interest? No thanks.
Romance On a Side Note by Chris Zett was cute.
Wrote Trip by Cori Kane should have been longer. I would have liked to read more.
Orphans’ Christmas by Kathy Brodland was okay.
Vegan Delights by Hazel Yeats was a bit ridiculous.
Cruise by Jacelle Scott was okay.
Sex Sells by Jae was okay too.
Faux Pas by Anastasia Vitsky was funny and sweet.
Cherry Park Pulp by Jove Belle I skipped because it didn't seem like my thing.
Books, Renovations, and a Vespa by Melissa Grace was fine until the very last paragraph. I don't appreciate being told in the last paragraph that it was all in the main character's head.
Kindred Spirits by Lea Daley I skipped.
Between the Lines by A.L. Brooks is not okay. Stalker love interest? No thanks.
Romance On a Side Note by Chris Zett was cute.
Wrote Trip by Cori Kane should have been longer. I would have liked to read more.
Orphans’ Christmas by Kathy Brodland was okay.
Vegan Delights by Hazel Yeats was a bit ridiculous.
Cruise by Jacelle Scott was okay.
Sex Sells by Jae was okay too.
Faux Pas by Anastasia Vitsky was funny and sweet.
August 14, 2020
As with any anthology, some stories are better than others. In the case of Finding Ms. Write, I cannot say I disliked any of them. I did not emotionally connect with one or two, while others I thought could have been a little longer to better explore the characters and the themes. But all of them were enjoyable reads. An excellent anthology!
November 13, 2021
Really nice anthology of romantic stories. All different but pleasing. Introduced me to different writers. I enjoyed this book immensely. Highly reccomend.
June 17, 2016
A really fun read! I was impressed by the variety of the stories on the theme of women, books and romance. A meet-cute in a bookstore ... a closeted '50s housewife trying not to let on that she's already familiar with the lesbian pulp novels her bookclub is experimenting with ... childhood sweethearts who bonded over a shared copy of Little Women reuniting decades later thanks to the efforts of a rare book finder and a helpful librarian ... two widows working through their grief and beginning to move on together ... an author picking up her biggest fan as a hitchhiker while she's fighting writer's block ... and more, but I wouldn't want to give it all away.
(I received a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review)
(I received a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review)
July 30, 2016
Expertly written this book has gotten me back to enjoying reading for pleasure. I will definitely read more books written by all the authors included in Finding Ms Write.
I would recommend reading all the stories for each story reveals a different transition in each of our lives. I especially enjoyed the writings of JAE and Jove Belle. Thank all of you for sharing your individual writing talents. This book is a definite, yes to recommend.
I would recommend reading all the stories for each story reveals a different transition in each of our lives. I especially enjoyed the writings of JAE and Jove Belle. Thank all of you for sharing your individual writing talents. This book is a definite, yes to recommend.
November 1, 2016
This is a solid collection of short stories. Often with collections like this the quality is more inconsistent. I enjoyed each and every one of these stories.
*I received this book from Ylva publishing in exchange for an HONEST review*
*I received this book from Ylva publishing in exchange for an HONEST review*
July 13, 2016
A sample of excellent writers of quality fiction makes reading enjoyable, a fun treat to sample a variety of women authors who deliver important societal views in individually unique ways.
May 9, 2017
A mixed bag, as collections like this typically are. Some were fantastic, especially the ones about older women, like Kindred Spirits (my favorite of them all) or Orphans’ Christmas. Some of them, like Books, Renovations, and a Vespa or Vegan Delights, were bad enough that I made the decision to skim them, since I have a stack of books to get to a finite time in which to get to them. Overall, though, an enjoyable collection.
April 23, 2017
Finding Ms. Write is an anthology of 12 f/f contemporary romance stories and I thought it a perfect way to discover some new authors without breaking my bank. *LOL* You see, most of the f/f authors that are recommended by folks publish with publishers that A) never seem to go on sale and B) sell their novels for $13 a piece. Not conducive to exploring a genre. And quite honestly, Bold Strokes Books and Ylva Publishing should take a look at that if they want to expand beyond their comfy genre niche. I love romance of all sorts, but quite honestly, they don't make it easy.
So, on to the book. The stories were well-written and somewhat engaging for the most part, but what struck me was that they all seemed to have main characters who had either been dumped/widowed/deserted in some way. Is this a big f/f trope? The anthology didn't seem to be going for that - it's supposed to be about the publishing industry - but it seemed that every last one of these ladies had some tragedy in their past.
For the most part, all the romances are very sweet. Not much steam or heat happening, which disappointed me. I like my romances to have some physical oomph to them. There was just an element of blandness to many of the tales and characters. Maybe blandness is not the right word... I don't know. I just found most of them too calm for me maybe. On the plus side, the majority of the characters weren't wet behind the ears kidlets under the age of 25. It was refreshing to read about mature women - except jeez, did they all have to have lost a love?
One thing really irritated me though... I really don't need to be reading a romance story about a main character who has early on-set Alzheimer's to deal with.
In conclusion, I will say that Finding Ms. Write was a nice read, filled with nice stories about nice people. Nice.
So, on to the book. The stories were well-written and somewhat engaging for the most part, but what struck me was that they all seemed to have main characters who had either been dumped/widowed/deserted in some way. Is this a big f/f trope? The anthology didn't seem to be going for that - it's supposed to be about the publishing industry - but it seemed that every last one of these ladies had some tragedy in their past.
For the most part, all the romances are very sweet. Not much steam or heat happening, which disappointed me. I like my romances to have some physical oomph to them. There was just an element of blandness to many of the tales and characters. Maybe blandness is not the right word... I don't know. I just found most of them too calm for me maybe. On the plus side, the majority of the characters weren't wet behind the ears kidlets under the age of 25. It was refreshing to read about mature women - except jeez, did they all have to have lost a love?
One thing really irritated me though... I really don't need to be reading a romance story about a main character who has early on-set Alzheimer's to deal with.
In conclusion, I will say that Finding Ms. Write was a nice read, filled with nice stories about nice people. Nice.
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