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Canopy

Liz Faraim (Goodreads Author)

4.06 · Rating details · 17 ratings · 14 reviews

Vivian Chastain is an adrenaline addicted veteran, transitioning to civilian life in Sacramento, California. She settles into a new routine while she finishes up college and works as a bartender, covering up her intense anxiety with fake bravado and swagger. All Vivian wants is peace and quiet, but her whole trajectory changes when she stumbles upon a heinous crime in prog ...more

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Published October 26th 2020 by NineStar Press

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Lesbian Fiction Military (F/F)

105 books — 29 voters

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· 17 ratings · 14 reviews

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Oct 27, 2020 Lex Kent rated it really liked it

Shelves: action, zlocked-cops-feds-pi-read-in-20, zlocked-debut-2020, f-f-ninestar-press, f-f-f, intrigue, military-or-vet, drama

3.75 Stars. This was quite the interesting read. I read a couple early reviews so I knew a little of what to expect, but this read still surprised me. I think I liked this book. In fact I think I liked it more than I thought I would, but it’s just not the easiest book to express my feelings on. I guess what it comes down to is that my interest is peaked and I will read more of this series. There were things that bothered me or that I didn’t like, but the overall feel and what the book is trying 3.75 Stars. This was quite the interesting read. I read a couple early reviews so I knew a little of what to expect, but this read still surprised me. I think I liked this book. In fact I think I liked it more than I thought I would, but it’s just not the easiest book to express my feelings on. I guess what it comes down to is that my interest is peaked and I will read more of this series. There were things that bothered me or that I didn’t like, but the overall feel and what the book is trying to do was appealing.

I think the best way to describe this would be with the drama tag. And while the book felt plot driven at times, I think this really is a character study. This book is all about the main character and everything she is going through and has been through. This is a first person story all about Vivian. Viv is ex-military, lesbian, and a bartender. Viv deals with PTSD, anxiety, and anger issues from being in the military, a mother who was unloving and anxiety inducing, and a brother who was her abuser. She has a lot going on and really needs help, but she’s also a total badass and a little morally grey at times. There is something about Viv that reminded me a little bit of Aud Torvingen. If you don’t know that name I’ll just say that I mean it as a complement since Nicola Griffith is pretty brilliant.

There is a potential love interest for Viv but I don’t know if I would call this a romance. Some of those elements are there, and yes, this does have a love story, but I didn’t find it romantic if that makes any sense. One part of it I found really odd was that there is a BDSM relationship, but the sex is fade to black. That was really surprising to me and might actually be a first. Usually when authors want to delve into BDSM they actually want to show it. I’m okay with sometimes reading fade to black in books but in this case I felt like the sex scenes missing were an odd choice and a missed opportunity.

I also have to mention that there is a poly relationship in this book. While I am no expert, I felt like calling the relationship poly was a little off. Only one character wanted an open relationship, and that person wasn’t very thoughtful or very communicative with the whole situation. In the end it seemed more like an open relationship and not a poly relationship. Again, I’m no expert but the whole thing didn’t really sit right with me.

As you might have guessed from reading Viv’s background, this book does deal with some tough subjects. This book is dramatic. On the good side, while there are hard parts, I didn’t find the whole feel of the book to be too heavy. There is a lot going on and even some excitement to keep the book moving forward. In fact, the book had a really nice pace until it hit a bump. There are some great twists and turns in this book that I felt were well done. Anyway, I don’t know what happened but after the well done part, the book really died and kind of limped along to the end. The reason I noticed so much was that the book was flying by until that part hit and just everything slowed way down. And then we get a cliffhanger to make us read book 2. I love series, I love connecting with characters over multiple books but cliffys are such a pain in the ass. I hope book two is coming out soon because if not my patience might be a little short causing my interest to wane.

Overall this was a book that is really different that had some parts I truly enjoyed. I’m a first person fan and I love a badass character who has some demons and might be a little morally grey. While I had issues with this book, I’m hoping most of them were just debut bumps and that Faraim will really hit her stride in book 2.

A copy was given to me for a honest review.
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Oct 25, 2020 Skip rated it really liked it

This one is a hard one to review - I couldn’t put it down, I read it one setting. It’s very well written, especially for a debut author. The subject matter is dealt with sensitively. It’s just over a four star book for me. Yet it’s hard for me to say I enjoyed it. It’s a tough read and perhaps that’s it for me, I appreciated rather than enjoyed, but it didn’t take anything away from the book - I’m fact I’m eagerly awaiting the next instalment.

Viv is ex-army, studying at College and making a livi ...more

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Oct 14, 2020 Sam rated it really liked it

A start of a new series and I don't know... The cover is stunning, the writing is excellent, but I don't know how I feel about the story. There’s a lot of emotional subjects that are (somewhat) dealt with in this book.

Vivian is an army vet who is dealing with PTSD, an abuse history, and anxiety. She covers this all up with fake bravado and swagger. When she is out on her motorcycle one day she stumbles upon a crime. After she fights off the criminal she gets home all back and blue with a target ...more

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Oct 30, 2020 Dee rated it liked it

Shelves: f-f, ninestar-press, not-for-me, struggled-to-finish, violence, cliff-hanger

Musings - Vivian - why mention your mothers distain for your tattoos and never mention them again? I would've liked to know exactly what tattoos cover you body and what they meant to you. And one would think your love interest would, at some point, inquiry about said ink. But nope. Nada.

Vivian - why insist your love interest show you her STI results before sleeping with her, and not insist she gets retested after she tells you she is now seeing Kate too? A person is only as clean as their last t ...more

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Oct 25, 2020 Lucy Jean rated it liked it

This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it, click here. *I received an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review*

3.5/5
(Note :Book contains references to childhood trauma, PTSD, dom/sub and a poly/ethical non monog relationship)

I was looking forward to reading this novel based off the blurb. Great cover art.

I enjoyed the characters overall. I felt I could really connect with them. Vivians flashbacks were well written and relevant to the storyline (however, it could have done with one or two less)

Sex scenes are fade to black. I feel there could ...more

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Feb 23, 2021 Morgan rated it liked it

Shelves: lesbian, lesbian-interest, lesbian-cop, thriller

This really isn't the type of book I would normally read and while there was quite a bit of this story that didn't gel with me (lead character included), I was having a difficult time putting this book down. It's very well written, but at the same time I can't say I really enjoyed it. Subject matter wise, this is all over the map--military, severe PTSD, childhood abuse, maiming/torture, assaults, sex trafficking, alcohol abuse, BDSM, polyamory, the backdrop of the Sacramento area and mountains. ...more

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Jan 02, 2021 Nicki Hill rated it it was amazing

This is a riveting tale of a young lesbian and her struggles to live and breath in a world that doesn't accept her as she is...A story of the survival from PTSD brought on by a troubled upbringing, a military stint that has stressed her already anxious life. Add to this a relationship with the police that has embroiled her into a legal mess. This is a must read for anyone living in Northern California and knows the ins and outs of those who are LGBTQ+. I can't wait to find out what happens to ba ...more

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Nov 22, 2020 AMHH rated it really liked it

Vivian (Viv) is contending with PTSD from her time in the military and a legacy of abuse at the hands of her mother and brother. She’s struggling, but making it as a bartender while finishing her degree at UCD. And then she meets Ang, who at first seems like a dream girlfriend but, it becomes increasingly clear, is an abuser of a different sort, one who gaslights Vivian and, it turns out, might not even be the stalwart law enforcement professional she initially appeared. Plus Viv has a sociopath ...more

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Nov 20, 2020 Maryann Kafka rated it it was amazing

This was not what I was expecting but I was thoroughly captivated and entertained by Liz Faraim’s debut novel “Canopy”!

Vivian Chastain learned how to be strong at a young age but it left her with insecurities that she hides. The minute she was able she left a dysfunctional home life: that had a mother, Bernadette, who didn’t know how to be a loving parent and brother Joey, who abused her without consequences.

Getting away from her home life, she joined the Army and met Jared. Her and Jared rema This was not what I was expecting but I was thoroughly captivated and entertained by Liz Faraim’s debut novel “Canopy”!

Vivian Chastain learned how to be strong at a young age but it left her with insecurities that she hides. The minute she was able she left a dysfunctional home life: that had a mother, Bernadette, who didn’t know how to be a loving parent and brother Joey, who abused her without consequences.

Getting away from her home life, she joined the Army and met Jared. Her and Jared remained friends through out the military and after. Jared would like to have more with Viv but she explains to Jared she’s gay and he isn’t her type. Jared reluctantly accepts her answer but Viv worries that she just could loose an important friendship. As time passes something strange changes their connection.

Viv just lives as normal as possible. She runs and struggles with PTSD, rides her motorcycle, and works at the bar, goes home and enjoys her time in nature. She’s not really thinking about a relationship or partner. Just on a days outing Viv gets into a melee and becomes a witness to a horrid crime. She meets her neighbor, Angela Sorensen first at the bar and then by chance through being a witness in the crime, as Angela is a police officer. They start a relationship that seems questionable and just doesn’t seem to fit Viv.

“Canopy” is not my usual type of story but Liz Faraim amazed me and I say “well done”. Liz Faraim takes this story on an interesting turn with mystery, suspense and an in-depth look at Viv’s life. Viv is a very interesting person. She deals with: anger issues, PTSD, self harm, violence and a home life that was abusive. Liz Faraim has a very unique way of writing that it just kept me wanting to read further.

I also liked Liz Faraim’s descriptions of the Sacramento area and so many beautiful places to visit in California. It adds another aspect to Viv’s character.

Debut, first time read and page turner for me from Liz Faraim. I am certainly watching for the next installment as “Canopy” definitely peaked my curiosity and I have to know what happens next to Vivian Chastain.
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Oct 31, 2020 Phoebe rated it really liked it

Shelves: f-f-romance, lgbt-fiction, lgbt-series, lgbt-sidekicks, mystery, polyromance, military-fiction

The genre tags for Canopy came from the publicist and I have to respectfully disagree. There are crimes in Liz Faraim’s novel, but this book is not so much a “crime” genre book. Nor is it a “thriller”. This book is...glimpse into the life of Vivian Chastain as she goes about her days.

Luckily for us she has some interesting days (laugh). Chastain is a veteran who is struggling with PTSD and is just trying to make it day by day without letting her anger lead her. Along the way we meet her best fri ...more

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Oct 18, 2020 Thieving Magpie rated it really liked it

To say that I was flying through this book would be the understatement. It has been a while since I've been reading a fem-love story and this book was absolutely perfect for bringing me back there. I love books featuring characters with a military background and the execution of this book and it's characters was absolutely amazing. There was not a thing I didn't like about it, except maybe the cliffhanger at the end and the fact that I have to wait for the next book, though. I loved that we had ...more

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Oct 28, 2020 Olivia rated it really liked it

The first words grab your attention, as you jump out of a plane in the first few sentences, dragging you into the action at first words. I found the flashbacks hard to digest initially, but once I got over it, it helps build up the story of the main protagonist, Vivian Chastain.

I found the characters flawed, as they were written, but this is to the credit of the author, as you take to the characters and accept them as they are. This helped endear me to them.

The story was well written, flowing ...more

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Oct 29, 2020 Chel rated it it was amazing

This novel was so deep, but also entertaining. I loved the character journey and learning about her history, the choices she made, and the way she kept going back to the wrong person. Vivian dealt with someone's selfishness towards her and so many people have dealt with selfish lovers, friends or family members over the years, so it's easy to relate to how she must be feeling. The characters are so richly portrayed that I felt I really got to know them, and because of the interesting twists alon ...more

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Jan 24, 2021 Cathie W rated it really liked it

An interesting book featuring a badass Army vet who stumbles upon a grisly crime in progress. Bad people are after her, but she’s not having it and winds up kicking ass rather than playing a victim. The story weaves her cop girlfriend into the fray, with odd twists and turns including her girlfriend’s penchant for polyamory. It’s a strangely bizarre but thoroughly entertaining story. I’m looking for to more twists and turns in the next book.

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