What do you think?
Rate this book
Always Believe
Lieutenant Colonel Greyson Walsden returns to her hometown of Gloucester after a fulfilling career as an Army doctor. She takes a position as a general practitioner while pursuing ordination as an Anglican priest. Overworked and naturally reserved, she doesn’t have time or patience for socializing, let alone for falling in love.
For Angela Arlingham, life as she knows it is over. God played a cruel trick on her by robbing her of her daughter, Sybil, and Angela refuses to believe in Him any longer. When she meets Greyson Walsden, she’s impressed by the handsome doctor, but struggling with her loss makes falling in love with a priest all but impossible.
As circumstances throw them together again and again, the choice to follow their hearts may be the most difficult one of all.
For Angela Arlingham, life as she knows it is over. God played a cruel trick on her by robbing her of her daughter, Sybil, and Angela refuses to believe in Him any longer. When she meets Greyson Walsden, she’s impressed by the handsome doctor, but struggling with her loss makes falling in love with a priest all but impossible.
As circumstances throw them together again and again, the choice to follow their hearts may be the most difficult one of all.
- GenresContemporary Romance
190 pages, Kindle Edition
Published April 1, 2021
9 people are currently reading
30 people want to read
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 17 of 17 reviews
April 11, 2021
This book is well written, but unfortunately it didn’t fit my tastes very well, so the enjoyment factor was not very high for me.
Greyson is a retired army doctor who is now a GP and working on becoming a priest. She meets Angela for the first time at the funeral of Angela’s daughter. Angela, grieving deeply, has no faith in a higher being whatsoever and their first interaction did not go very well. Both characters have so much baggage and are so complex that it takes a long time before slowly a friendship develops, but is a romance possible with their differing views on life (and afterlife)?
The book is written in the third person from the POVs of Greyson and Angela. As I mentioned the book is well structured and the writing was good, I especially appreciated that it doesn’t follow a standard formula that is seen so often in wlw romances. There is no standard conflict after a period of happiness, in fact they clash so often there are many conflicts but it didn’t feel forced. The character development is very well and I found their romance interesting, but I felt the romance was not the main focus of the book. The book appeared to be more focused on Greyson and her past and future and the choices she has to make.
The blurb already gives away that Greyson wants to become a priest, so I knew the book deals with religion. However, I did not realize how much. I don’t mind reading about religion, but it was the oppressive atmosphere that I did not like. The conforming to the rules of organized religion. Greyson’s thoughts on it were interesting though. How she does not like some of the rules or even think they are the right ones, but making the difference between her faith and the rules made by men on how belief should be carried out. The same thing frustrated me as well, as some of these rules create such a disbalance and just make me pull my hair out and it was hard for me to read how Greyson appeared to accept these imbalances.
The other thing I struggled with was the fact that I didn’t understand Greyson very well during the first half of the book and because of that I didn’t like her all that much. Becoming a priest is her calling, but at the same time I felt on numerous occasions that she doesn’t want to become a priest and might even be ashamed of it, which was all so confusing. Slowly you’re getting the pieces of the puzzle, and as the book continued I did start to understand her better, but it took a long time.
All in all, this is not a bad book, it just wasn’t for me. If you don’t mind reading about religious debates and struggles you might enjoy this book a lot better than I did.
I received an ARC from the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
Greyson is a retired army doctor who is now a GP and working on becoming a priest. She meets Angela for the first time at the funeral of Angela’s daughter. Angela, grieving deeply, has no faith in a higher being whatsoever and their first interaction did not go very well. Both characters have so much baggage and are so complex that it takes a long time before slowly a friendship develops, but is a romance possible with their differing views on life (and afterlife)?
The book is written in the third person from the POVs of Greyson and Angela. As I mentioned the book is well structured and the writing was good, I especially appreciated that it doesn’t follow a standard formula that is seen so often in wlw romances. There is no standard conflict after a period of happiness, in fact they clash so often there are many conflicts but it didn’t feel forced. The character development is very well and I found their romance interesting, but I felt the romance was not the main focus of the book. The book appeared to be more focused on Greyson and her past and future and the choices she has to make.
The blurb already gives away that Greyson wants to become a priest, so I knew the book deals with religion. However, I did not realize how much. I don’t mind reading about religion, but it was the oppressive atmosphere that I did not like. The conforming to the rules of organized religion. Greyson’s thoughts on it were interesting though. How she does not like some of the rules or even think they are the right ones, but making the difference between her faith and the rules made by men on how belief should be carried out. The same thing frustrated me as well, as some of these rules create such a disbalance and just make me pull my hair out and it was hard for me to read how Greyson appeared to accept these imbalances.
The other thing I struggled with was the fact that I didn’t understand Greyson very well during the first half of the book and because of that I didn’t like her all that much. Becoming a priest is her calling, but at the same time I felt on numerous occasions that she doesn’t want to become a priest and might even be ashamed of it, which was all so confusing. Slowly you’re getting the pieces of the puzzle, and as the book continued I did start to understand her better, but it took a long time.
All in all, this is not a bad book, it just wasn’t for me. If you don’t mind reading about religious debates and struggles you might enjoy this book a lot better than I did.
I received an ARC from the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
April 5, 2021
My review of Always Believe by Aimée is going to be a mixed bag. This is a well-written novel about two women who are both going through some major changes and trauma when they meet. The story takes us through their lives as they face these challenges and gradually get to know and fall in love with each other.
The story is extremely angst heavy, which I was expecting after I read the blurb. Losing a young child would be shattering to any parent, and that is what has just happened to Angela Arlingham at the beginning of the novel. Greyson Waldsen, the other main character is in the midst of major life changes which include adding the job of Vicar to her already busy life as a medical doctor, and this is on top of just ending her employment in the armed forces.
The romance between the two is very slow to happen in the story, and it seems like it will never happen for several reasons. When it finally does happen, it is a really sweet romance.
My biggest problem with the story involves Greyson. I just couldn’t understand her. I did understand her need to leave the armed forces where she served as a doctor. Being a doctor is a calling that requires a major investment of a person’s time and energy. Being a Vicar is also very time consuming. Both can be emotionally draining. Even if Greyson only works part time as a doctor, doing both would be almost overwhelming. I also had trouble understanding her desire to be a part of a religious organization that doesn’t accept her sexual orientation, and expects her to be celibate as long as she is a Vicar even though straight Vicars are allowed to marry. I realize that last problem has to do with my own personal beliefs. Others may not have the same problem.
I do need to give a few warnings for this book. The story talks about the death of Angela’s young daughter and how it affects Angela. There is also a lot of talk about organized religion which some LGBTQ+ folks may have some problems with.
I’m giving this book a 3.5 star rating. If the warnings above don’t affect you, and you like a slow, angst filled romance, this might be a good read for you.
I received an ARC from NetGalley and Bold Strokes Books for an honest review.
The story is extremely angst heavy, which I was expecting after I read the blurb. Losing a young child would be shattering to any parent, and that is what has just happened to Angela Arlingham at the beginning of the novel. Greyson Waldsen, the other main character is in the midst of major life changes which include adding the job of Vicar to her already busy life as a medical doctor, and this is on top of just ending her employment in the armed forces.
The romance between the two is very slow to happen in the story, and it seems like it will never happen for several reasons. When it finally does happen, it is a really sweet romance.
My biggest problem with the story involves Greyson. I just couldn’t understand her. I did understand her need to leave the armed forces where she served as a doctor. Being a doctor is a calling that requires a major investment of a person’s time and energy. Being a Vicar is also very time consuming. Both can be emotionally draining. Even if Greyson only works part time as a doctor, doing both would be almost overwhelming. I also had trouble understanding her desire to be a part of a religious organization that doesn’t accept her sexual orientation, and expects her to be celibate as long as she is a Vicar even though straight Vicars are allowed to marry. I realize that last problem has to do with my own personal beliefs. Others may not have the same problem.
I do need to give a few warnings for this book. The story talks about the death of Angela’s young daughter and how it affects Angela. There is also a lot of talk about organized religion which some LGBTQ+ folks may have some problems with.
I’m giving this book a 3.5 star rating. If the warnings above don’t affect you, and you like a slow, angst filled romance, this might be a good read for you.
I received an ARC from NetGalley and Bold Strokes Books for an honest review.
March 28, 2021
After a bumpy start - mainly caused by my own feelings about organised religion, I found this to be better than I had anticipated from the initial chapters. My initial misgivings were due to the fact I either didn’t read the blurb properly, or I hadn’t anticipated so much discussion about God, but either way, the more I got into the story, the more I was able to just think about the characters and their feelings.
Greyson was an officer and doctor in the British army for a long time, before deciding to take a step away from the forces and follow her calling by becoming a vicar.
We first meet Angela at the funeral of her daughter. She’s the headteacher of a local school, and is reluctant to have anything to do with the church.
This is another one for me that’s difficult to review without giving too much away. I was uncomfortable with the discussions of the church, but I was also uncomfortable with the way that Greyson’s feelings about herself caused her to be deceptive to everyone else in her life in one way or another.
The book deals with a lot of really difficult topics, and for the most part I thought Aimée did that well, providing different viewpoints, and a book that I think is quite different from the usual fare, but this just wasn’t for me.
I received an e-ARC via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
Greyson was an officer and doctor in the British army for a long time, before deciding to take a step away from the forces and follow her calling by becoming a vicar.
We first meet Angela at the funeral of her daughter. She’s the headteacher of a local school, and is reluctant to have anything to do with the church.
This is another one for me that’s difficult to review without giving too much away. I was uncomfortable with the discussions of the church, but I was also uncomfortable with the way that Greyson’s feelings about herself caused her to be deceptive to everyone else in her life in one way or another.
The book deals with a lot of really difficult topics, and for the most part I thought Aimée did that well, providing different viewpoints, and a book that I think is quite different from the usual fare, but this just wasn’t for me.
I received an e-ARC via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
April 7, 2022
Great unique story!
A general practitioner, a priest, a headmistress, heavy topics, followinging rules, an unbearable loss and a lot of emotions and mixed feelings. I love the originality of this story and the complexity of the characters. Always Believe is a captivating story with a beautiful ending.
A general practitioner, a priest, a headmistress, heavy topics, followinging rules, an unbearable loss and a lot of emotions and mixed feelings. I love the originality of this story and the complexity of the characters. Always Believe is a captivating story with a beautiful ending.
March 16, 2021
2.5 stars, but this want for me at all.
Greyson returns home after years of serving as an army doctor. The 50 something woman is overworked as a GP in her hometown while she is also working toward becoming a priest. This new job venture come about after some mysterious calling she had and she is now reluctantly following. Greyson is still in training when Angela comes to her church for her daughter’s funeral. Being the socially awkward person Grey is she sticks her foot in her mouth when she is trying to offer the much younger woman her condolences. What follows are a couple of chance meetings and lots of information about the Church of England. Grey, scarred by her army past and Angela dealing with the grief of losing her daughter find some sort of solace with each other, but they do fight the more romantic feelings.
I had such a hard time connecting with either character it was a rather unpleasant read for me, top that off with so much religious stuff I almost DNF this one. My guess is that there is something in here for someone, but there wasn’t for me. I even had a hard time deciding if the writing style was off or if it was the story, in the end I think it’s a mix of both.
*ARC received in exchange for a voluntary and honest review*
Greyson returns home after years of serving as an army doctor. The 50 something woman is overworked as a GP in her hometown while she is also working toward becoming a priest. This new job venture come about after some mysterious calling she had and she is now reluctantly following. Greyson is still in training when Angela comes to her church for her daughter’s funeral. Being the socially awkward person Grey is she sticks her foot in her mouth when she is trying to offer the much younger woman her condolences. What follows are a couple of chance meetings and lots of information about the Church of England. Grey, scarred by her army past and Angela dealing with the grief of losing her daughter find some sort of solace with each other, but they do fight the more romantic feelings.
I had such a hard time connecting with either character it was a rather unpleasant read for me, top that off with so much religious stuff I almost DNF this one. My guess is that there is something in here for someone, but there wasn’t for me. I even had a hard time deciding if the writing style was off or if it was the story, in the end I think it’s a mix of both.
*ARC received in exchange for a voluntary and honest review*
March 21, 2021
3.75 stars rounded up to 4 stars
Greyson (Grey) has returned back home after having a career as a Military Doctor in the British Forces. She is in her fifties and in my opinion, she is a complex character. She is currently a GP and waiting to be ordained into the priesthood. Angela is a mother grieving the death of her daughter and has decided that God doesn’t exist (I have to admit, I have the same thoughts as her about religion).
I am mostly on the fence with this one. Some of the book I liked other parts I felt were just OK. I’m not a religious person but I really liked Grey as a person. As stated previously, I think she is a very complex person and also I found her to be an interesting person. She reminds me of myself in some of the things she does. I don’t know what it was, but, I just felt drawn to her as a person. As for Angela, one minute I liked her the next she would do something and I would want to slap her. I felt she was hot and cold with Grey. I liked some of the storyline, I liked the characters (Grey more than Angela), I thought the pacing was a little slower than I like and I would say the chemistry was near non-existent. They were more like friends with benefits than lovers.
This is another new author for me. I will check out her other work in the future.
I received an ARC copy of the book from the publisher via Netgalley and voluntarily leaving my review.
Greyson (Grey) has returned back home after having a career as a Military Doctor in the British Forces. She is in her fifties and in my opinion, she is a complex character. She is currently a GP and waiting to be ordained into the priesthood. Angela is a mother grieving the death of her daughter and has decided that God doesn’t exist (I have to admit, I have the same thoughts as her about religion).
I am mostly on the fence with this one. Some of the book I liked other parts I felt were just OK. I’m not a religious person but I really liked Grey as a person. As stated previously, I think she is a very complex person and also I found her to be an interesting person. She reminds me of myself in some of the things she does. I don’t know what it was, but, I just felt drawn to her as a person. As for Angela, one minute I liked her the next she would do something and I would want to slap her. I felt she was hot and cold with Grey. I liked some of the storyline, I liked the characters (Grey more than Angela), I thought the pacing was a little slower than I like and I would say the chemistry was near non-existent. They were more like friends with benefits than lovers.
This is another new author for me. I will check out her other work in the future.
I received an ARC copy of the book from the publisher via Netgalley and voluntarily leaving my review.
April 13, 2021
Don't know really, but just couldn't go with it- some strong characters that just didn't gell. A lot of very strong themes - too many? - made this book too wordy for me. Bottom line: didn't pass the reality test. Sorry. And I did try to like it!!
June 6, 2021
This book wasn’t initially in my radar, but when my library got a copy I decided to give it a shot. I’m glad I did. This was a solid 3.25 for me. The author has a good flow and her style made this book an easy read. The ending felt a little rushed, and somehow all the issues were righted with the snap of a finger, which is why I rounded down. But make no mistake, I look forward to more from this author.
March 14, 2021
Slow burn, women's fiction, f/f romance. The book's main character is Greyson Walsden (Grey). She is in her 50s, British and served as a military doctor before returning home. She believes she has received a call to serve God and the story begins shortly before she takes her final vows to become a Vicar with The Church of England. Her character is serious and studious. As a lesbian in military service she has gone through the risk of immediate discharge and the times of don't ask don't tell. Now serving God in the church it puts her almost in the same situation. Angela Arlingham no longer believes in God. She first meets Grey at the funeral service for her only child. As their paths keep crossing an undeniable friendship occurs.
I categorize this more as (women's) fiction because it covers so many issues. Grey's follows authority but believes she is as God created her. She follows her call to serve but doesn't find comfort in prayer that she seeks. Trigger topics include: grief, spousal abuse, rape, substance abuse, bullying, distant parents etc. The friendship between Grey and Angela is also hampered by Grey's surliness. Neither of these MCs are in a happy place in their lives. But you see the relationship develop slowly which turns to romance.
I am giving it three stars because it is well written and thoughtful. But I didn't connect with the MCs or feel joy at their coming together. Thank you to NetGalley and Bold Strokes Book, Inc. for an ARC ebook in exchange for a honest review.
I categorize this more as (women's) fiction because it covers so many issues. Grey's follows authority but believes she is as God created her. She follows her call to serve but doesn't find comfort in prayer that she seeks. Trigger topics include: grief, spousal abuse, rape, substance abuse, bullying, distant parents etc. The friendship between Grey and Angela is also hampered by Grey's surliness. Neither of these MCs are in a happy place in their lives. But you see the relationship develop slowly which turns to romance.
I am giving it three stars because it is well written and thoughtful. But I didn't connect with the MCs or feel joy at their coming together. Thank you to NetGalley and Bold Strokes Book, Inc. for an ARC ebook in exchange for a honest review.
May 13, 2021
After reading Always Believe I have mixed feelings. One one hand I thought it was decent and on the other hand it was very angst heavy. In many ways I can understand it. You have Greyson Walsden a former surgeon in the Military who has now decided to give up her career in the military and her given profession to be a member of the cloth. You really don't know why she has made this decision until later in the book. Then you have Angela Arlingham who doesn't believe in God after losing her mother many years ago and now losing her young daughter. The idea that they can find love despite these circumstances is very angsty. The entire romance is a roller coaster ride. There are so many aspect that affect this romance even happening and that is what made this harder to read. I believe taking out a few of these aspects would have made it a more enjoyable read.
3 Stars.
This arc was provided by netgalley and the publisher for an honest review.
3 Stars.
This arc was provided by netgalley and the publisher for an honest review.
December 19, 2022
This has not been just a romance, as romance was a bit slow, the background of the story is more a personal transition from one vocation to another with the addition that the person who opts for this great change in her life at the same time she faces the possibility of a romantic relationship that makes her doubt even more about the enormous step she is going to take.
Grayson is a lieutenant colonel in the English army, she is a doctor, has spent her entire career practicing in foreign destinations and even in the Persian Gulf, has been married to another doctor, has discovered her homosexuality in the army and has had to abide by the politics from don't ask don't tell, she has divorced her husband and now intends to graduate and resume her civil life as vicar of the English church. Quite complicated, as I summarize it here, it is the same as how I discovered it in the book, concise and without many details in some aspects.
The other protagonist, Angela, has not had an easy life either, she has just suffered a great drama in her life, which has left her almost in a catatonic state and part of her anger directs her towards God himself. So when Grayson and Angela meet, things cannot be easy for them to understand each other.
The story goes about how they meet in this initial distressing circumstance, but the development of their relationship is slow and with ups and downs, so it can be difficult to stay interested in this book at times. Nor does it have many incentives or in the interactions they have with each other. There is too much pain in the beginning that it takes a lot to dissipate along the way.
It is a complex story, with significant and perhaps controversial themes. It is not an easy romance.
The publisher Bold Strokes Books was kind enough to provide me with an advanced reading copy via Netgalley for my honest review
Grayson is a lieutenant colonel in the English army, she is a doctor, has spent her entire career practicing in foreign destinations and even in the Persian Gulf, has been married to another doctor, has discovered her homosexuality in the army and has had to abide by the politics from don't ask don't tell, she has divorced her husband and now intends to graduate and resume her civil life as vicar of the English church. Quite complicated, as I summarize it here, it is the same as how I discovered it in the book, concise and without many details in some aspects.
The other protagonist, Angela, has not had an easy life either, she has just suffered a great drama in her life, which has left her almost in a catatonic state and part of her anger directs her towards God himself. So when Grayson and Angela meet, things cannot be easy for them to understand each other.
The story goes about how they meet in this initial distressing circumstance, but the development of their relationship is slow and with ups and downs, so it can be difficult to stay interested in this book at times. Nor does it have many incentives or in the interactions they have with each other. There is too much pain in the beginning that it takes a lot to dissipate along the way.
It is a complex story, with significant and perhaps controversial themes. It is not an easy romance.
The publisher Bold Strokes Books was kind enough to provide me with an advanced reading copy via Netgalley for my honest review
December 28, 2021
This wasn't a terribly interesting book to me. It's extremely slow-moving and more of a personal spiritual journey story than anything else. Big emphasis on spiritual and organized religion. Most of the story is told via internal monologue and thoughts versus interactions between characters. There is a heavy-handed attempt to get the two main characters together, but they don't have that chemistry between them and their dialogue is unnatural. The editing could have also used some work as there were inconsistencies in descriptors throughout (i.e. one character refers to herself throughout the entire book as "fifty-something" but then it was stated that she was forty-six).
April 11, 2021
🏳️🌈👩❤👩📚⚢👩⚕✝️👩🏫👩❤💋👩📖👭🏳️🌈
A friend of mine recently offered me "Always Believe " by Aimée… I want to thank her ‘cause, being a bookworm, I love dicovering new authors (to me) … And this novel, which is not perfect (I’ll explain) is still a nice discovery for me.
My rating : 3.5⭐
The story is set in Gloucester, in the UK and focuses mainly on fiftyish Greyson Walsden, a former Army doctor turned GP and soon-to-be vicar & more lightly on (thirty something ??) Angela Arlingham a mourning single mother, angry atheist and headmistress of St. Hilda’s, a secondary girls’ boarding school. They first met at the end of Sybil (Angela’s daughter)’s funeral and, then, circumstances throw them together again and again …
I found there was an original and interesting premise in there but I’ve been slightly disappointed. Oh, no don’t worry, it’s not because of the lack of quality, as a matter of fact, it’s a well-written book and the author’s style suits me … It’s because I have the feeling that, sadly, this already quite short novel was initially longer but has sustained some cuts … Which is a shame given the complexity of both MCs and the gravity of some topics mentioned in the story & the fact that, IMO, they decrease a lot the quality of the book which is right now a good but just "full of potential" one instead of a great one. And this abridged edition of the novel doesn’t help either the author’s otherwise good work & talent. Seriously, it’s like we have to read a list of samples of what the author can do, but nothing really substantial is coming after that "sampling" … and I find this quite frustrating! Personally I would have loved to know way much more about both MCs because they are really intriguing characters who would have deserved more time to be known & understood better and, so , more appreciated …
The actual shortness of the book and its highly standardized format don’t do any favor to neither the story nor the author’s talent if you ask me. I mean by that, that there’s not enough room to have a proper character development ‘cause right now, when Greyson is concerned (remember, she’s a fiftyish woman so she lived an already fullfilled life) there’s still a lot about her that we don’t know by the end of the book. And when it comes to Angela, we could think she’s more like a very strong secondary character whereas she’s supposed to be the 2nd MC … Having a longer novel and a better character development would have given even more depth to the story & help us (= the readers) to know the MCs better, feel for them and, so, understand them … => Why was it that difficult for MC Greyson to accept her calling & embrace her new profession, one that she chose but still struggled with for years and seemed to be ashamed of ??? Why did she have to keep her journey to priesthood such a deep (and seemingly dark) secret ??? Despite all the difficulties what really gave her the courage and dedication to go through this life-changing decision ??? Having more info about her background would have probably answered to that.
And about the MCs missing each other and falling in love with each other would have been better and more convincing if they had more shared time …Don’t get me wrong, their love is touching but by reading more scenes about them learning to know each other, it would have made things more credible, for example when Angela was, let’s say it, mad at Greyson for not telling her about the priesthood as her soon-to-be profession or during the now traditional (and highly tiresome) black moment…
There were also a few details that bothered me but regarding this author, despite my slight disappointment while discovering her work, I’ll definitely give her another shot. Because I like her writing style and the richness of her vocabulary & I really hope to see, someday, a way more complete and revised / extended edition of "Always Believe" released…
🏳️🌈👩❤👩📚⚢👩⚕✝️👩🏫👩❤💋👩📖👭🏳️🌈
A friend of mine recently offered me "Always Believe " by Aimée… I want to thank her ‘cause, being a bookworm, I love dicovering new authors (to me) … And this novel, which is not perfect (I’ll explain) is still a nice discovery for me.
My rating : 3.5⭐
The story is set in Gloucester, in the UK and focuses mainly on fiftyish Greyson Walsden, a former Army doctor turned GP and soon-to-be vicar & more lightly on (thirty something ??) Angela Arlingham a mourning single mother, angry atheist and headmistress of St. Hilda’s, a secondary girls’ boarding school. They first met at the end of Sybil (Angela’s daughter)’s funeral and, then, circumstances throw them together again and again …
I found there was an original and interesting premise in there but I’ve been slightly disappointed. Oh, no don’t worry, it’s not because of the lack of quality, as a matter of fact, it’s a well-written book and the author’s style suits me … It’s because I have the feeling that, sadly, this already quite short novel was initially longer but has sustained some cuts … Which is a shame given the complexity of both MCs and the gravity of some topics mentioned in the story & the fact that, IMO, they decrease a lot the quality of the book which is right now a good but just "full of potential" one instead of a great one. And this abridged edition of the novel doesn’t help either the author’s otherwise good work & talent. Seriously, it’s like we have to read a list of samples of what the author can do, but nothing really substantial is coming after that "sampling" … and I find this quite frustrating! Personally I would have loved to know way much more about both MCs because they are really intriguing characters who would have deserved more time to be known & understood better and, so , more appreciated …
The actual shortness of the book and its highly standardized format don’t do any favor to neither the story nor the author’s talent if you ask me. I mean by that, that there’s not enough room to have a proper character development ‘cause right now, when Greyson is concerned (remember, she’s a fiftyish woman so she lived an already fullfilled life) there’s still a lot about her that we don’t know by the end of the book. And when it comes to Angela, we could think she’s more like a very strong secondary character whereas she’s supposed to be the 2nd MC … Having a longer novel and a better character development would have given even more depth to the story & help us (= the readers) to know the MCs better, feel for them and, so, understand them … => Why was it that difficult for MC Greyson to accept her calling & embrace her new profession, one that she chose but still struggled with for years and seemed to be ashamed of ??? Why did she have to keep her journey to priesthood such a deep (and seemingly dark) secret ??? Despite all the difficulties what really gave her the courage and dedication to go through this life-changing decision ??? Having more info about her background would have probably answered to that.
And about the MCs missing each other and falling in love with each other would have been better and more convincing if they had more shared time …Don’t get me wrong, their love is touching but by reading more scenes about them learning to know each other, it would have made things more credible, for example when Angela was, let’s say it, mad at Greyson for not telling her about the priesthood as her soon-to-be profession or during the now traditional (and highly tiresome) black moment…
There were also a few details that bothered me but regarding this author, despite my slight disappointment while discovering her work, I’ll definitely give her another shot. Because I like her writing style and the richness of her vocabulary & I really hope to see, someday, a way more complete and revised / extended edition of "Always Believe" released…
🏳️🌈👩❤👩📚⚢👩⚕✝️👩🏫👩❤💋👩📖👭🏳️🌈
August 19, 2021
4.5
Searching for wlw fiction is so often disappointing, with so many writers setting their stories in high school, university/college or Hollywood/media type settings none of which hold any interest for me as an older, professional woman looking for a good, complex story to get my teeth into. This book resonated very strongly with me. I agree with other reviewers that it is not an "easy" read, but if that's what you want, I suggest you look elsewhere. The book deals with several fairly meaty topics- the grief over losing a child and the attempt to reconcile a career in the Church of England with being a lesbian being the two main ones, and there is a lot of angst along the way. I have to admit that I felt more of a kinship with Greyson than with Angela, due to recent personal experience, and I fully understand the agony that gay people endure faced with the homophobia of organised religion. However, I enjoyed the thrusts and parries of their developing friendship, the fact that both were older women with lives behind them, that love was slow to surface but that the chemistry was right. I felt that Aimée had good control of the narrative, which flowed smoothly despite the roller coaster events and setbacks. This was not a "typical" love story in the traditional sense: it posed challenges for the characters that seemed at times unsurmountable; neither did their respective characters always behave as the reader might want them to. I felt a lot of impatience with Greyson who seemed too much of a shrinking violet at times, and if I have marked this down to 4.5, it is largely because of that frustration. I felt that someone who had so successfully managed a career as an Army surgeon in very difficult locations should have a bit more backbone - I get that the writer is trying to draw the distinction between Greyson's professional competence and her personal reticence, but I felt that it was rather overdone. Aside from this, "Always Believe" is a good, solid read for someone looking for more than superficial romance, and with questions which will linger long after the book is finished.
Searching for wlw fiction is so often disappointing, with so many writers setting their stories in high school, university/college or Hollywood/media type settings none of which hold any interest for me as an older, professional woman looking for a good, complex story to get my teeth into. This book resonated very strongly with me. I agree with other reviewers that it is not an "easy" read, but if that's what you want, I suggest you look elsewhere. The book deals with several fairly meaty topics- the grief over losing a child and the attempt to reconcile a career in the Church of England with being a lesbian being the two main ones, and there is a lot of angst along the way. I have to admit that I felt more of a kinship with Greyson than with Angela, due to recent personal experience, and I fully understand the agony that gay people endure faced with the homophobia of organised religion. However, I enjoyed the thrusts and parries of their developing friendship, the fact that both were older women with lives behind them, that love was slow to surface but that the chemistry was right. I felt that Aimée had good control of the narrative, which flowed smoothly despite the roller coaster events and setbacks. This was not a "typical" love story in the traditional sense: it posed challenges for the characters that seemed at times unsurmountable; neither did their respective characters always behave as the reader might want them to. I felt a lot of impatience with Greyson who seemed too much of a shrinking violet at times, and if I have marked this down to 4.5, it is largely because of that frustration. I felt that someone who had so successfully managed a career as an Army surgeon in very difficult locations should have a bit more backbone - I get that the writer is trying to draw the distinction between Greyson's professional competence and her personal reticence, but I felt that it was rather overdone. Aside from this, "Always Believe" is a good, solid read for someone looking for more than superficial romance, and with questions which will linger long after the book is finished.
May 29, 2021
I thought the book was well written and dealt with some issues spot on. Greyson is a retired officer of the British Forces and a doctor who returns home to take care of her mom. Did I mention, She's also a Vicar (Priest).
Angela is the head mistress of a local school. She's currently grieving the lost her daughter who committed suicide. She's in a very dark place and does not believe in God.
Angela and Greyson first encounter was at the funeral. Over time they develop a friendship which turns into something else.
I thought Greyson was a very complex character who also had some self doubt about the avenue she was currently taking. I kept wondering why, she chose a path that frowned upon her sexual orientation. I enjoyed this book and thought it was a good read. I would recommend. 4 stars.
I received an ARC from the publisher Bold Strokes Books via NetGalley for my honest opinion.
Angela is the head mistress of a local school. She's currently grieving the lost her daughter who committed suicide. She's in a very dark place and does not believe in God.
Angela and Greyson first encounter was at the funeral. Over time they develop a friendship which turns into something else.
I thought Greyson was a very complex character who also had some self doubt about the avenue she was currently taking. I kept wondering why, she chose a path that frowned upon her sexual orientation. I enjoyed this book and thought it was a good read. I would recommend. 4 stars.
I received an ARC from the publisher Bold Strokes Books via NetGalley for my honest opinion.
April 16, 2021
Beautiful story
Beautiful story with so many emotions and so many deep feelings. A different story with strong women from different backgrounds and with so many challenging paths in-front of them.
Beautiful story with so many emotions and so many deep feelings. A different story with strong women from different backgrounds and with so many challenging paths in-front of them.
May 5, 2021
3 stars
A well written, slow Les/bi romance that explores faith, sexuality, grief, & vocation. I liked this book and sincerely appreciate the themes, but nothing about it particularly gripped me.
[What I liked:]
•The themes definitely resonated with me as a queer Christian who has personally worked through similar issues as Grey did. It’s a hard thing to write about. This book approached the unfairness of church policies realistically without white washing, but I sincerely appreciate that it didn’t dwell on self hatred due to internalized homophobia; but rather explored Grey’s journey to reconciling a desire to follow church authority even though it conflicted with her personal conviction that God accepted her sexuality.
•Grey is a satisfyingly complex character. I liked learning about how her family, her military service, her past relationships, & her faith shaped her as a person. I also found her exploration of understanding how her two vocations—as a doctor and as a clergy person—fit into her life; that was a great character development arc I think.
•The romance was well developed, & I think realistic (no insta-love). First getting to know one another, then the uncertain, awkward stage of not knowing if feelings are returned, to honestly communicating feelings & starting to build a stable LTR.
•The two MC’s lives intersected in several ways, yet it didn’t feel annoyingly contrived or coincidental the ways they found their lives inter connecting; it felt more like they were both parts of the same larger community, & I like how natural that felt.
•There are lots of great side characters, including Grey’s coworkers, Emily, Julie, & Paul.
[What I didn’t like as much:]
•Grey’s tensions with Paul never felt resolved. Idk, but that felt glossed over how they started being friendly again. I couldn’t tell if Paul was just being fake nice to be polite, or what.
•I never really grew to like Angela as a character. I mean I totally get why she was an angry person—she had so much pain she was still working through. But there was nothing else about her that interested me. I would have appreciated more character development for her.
CW: off page sexual assault, discussion of domestic violence, suicide, off page bullying, external homophobia
[I received an ARC ebook copy from NetGalley in exchange for my honest review. Thank you for the book!]
A well written, slow Les/bi romance that explores faith, sexuality, grief, & vocation. I liked this book and sincerely appreciate the themes, but nothing about it particularly gripped me.
[What I liked:]
•The themes definitely resonated with me as a queer Christian who has personally worked through similar issues as Grey did. It’s a hard thing to write about. This book approached the unfairness of church policies realistically without white washing, but I sincerely appreciate that it didn’t dwell on self hatred due to internalized homophobia; but rather explored Grey’s journey to reconciling a desire to follow church authority even though it conflicted with her personal conviction that God accepted her sexuality.
•Grey is a satisfyingly complex character. I liked learning about how her family, her military service, her past relationships, & her faith shaped her as a person. I also found her exploration of understanding how her two vocations—as a doctor and as a clergy person—fit into her life; that was a great character development arc I think.
•The romance was well developed, & I think realistic (no insta-love). First getting to know one another, then the uncertain, awkward stage of not knowing if feelings are returned, to honestly communicating feelings & starting to build a stable LTR.
•The two MC’s lives intersected in several ways, yet it didn’t feel annoyingly contrived or coincidental the ways they found their lives inter connecting; it felt more like they were both parts of the same larger community, & I like how natural that felt.
•There are lots of great side characters, including Grey’s coworkers, Emily, Julie, & Paul.
[What I didn’t like as much:]
•Grey’s tensions with Paul never felt resolved. Idk, but that felt glossed over how they started being friendly again. I couldn’t tell if Paul was just being fake nice to be polite, or what.
•I never really grew to like Angela as a character. I mean I totally get why she was an angry person—she had so much pain she was still working through. But there was nothing else about her that interested me. I would have appreciated more character development for her.
CW: off page sexual assault, discussion of domestic violence, suicide, off page bullying, external homophobia
[I received an ARC ebook copy from NetGalley in exchange for my honest review. Thank you for the book!]
Displaying 1 - 17 of 17 reviews