In this issue, Lori L. Lake reviews: Honor Guards by Radclyffe The Cost of Commitment by Lynn Ames Gloria's Inn by Robin Alexander The World Celaeno Chose by Jane Fletcher Lori L. Lake, is the author of Different Dress, Gun Shy, Under The Gun, Ricochet In Time, and Stepping Out is also a reviewer for Midwest Book Review, The Independent Gay Writer, The Gay Read, and Just About Write, and Golden Crown Literary Society’s The Crown.

Honor Guards By Radclyffe Bold Strokes Books, Philadelphia, PA, www.boldstrokesbooks.com 2004/$18.99/322 pgs/ ISBN: 1933110015 In this, the fourth novel in the “Honor” series, author Radclyffe continues the story of the relationship between Blair Powell, the daughter of the president of the United States, and Cameron “Cam” Roberts, the Secret Service agent assigned to protect her. As with each of the previous books, HONOR GUARDS picks up where the last novel (LOVE AND HONOR) left off. When the novel opens, Blair has already given an interview to a reporter revealing her sexual orientation and her lover’s identity, and she and Cam are waiting for the story to be printed and for the media blitz that is sure to follow. In the brief time before that happens, they are able to be together as lovers, luxuriating in one another’s arms and trying to block out the rest of the world to focus on their relationship. But little do they know that behind the scenes, malignant forces are at work, including a conspiracy to assassinate Blair. Radclyffe has set this book from August 16, 2001 and onward toward the inevitability of the 9/11 attacks. Interspersing the two lover’s daily struggles with politics, privacy, and the paparazzi are brief details of the conspiracy to unseat the government by way of terrorism. Every step of the way, from the racy love scenes to the daily security worries weighing heavy on Cam’s shoulders, the reader is aware of the oncoming disasters, even as we root for Blair and Cam to cement their relationship once and for all. A secondary plot line involving Secret Service agent Paula Stark and FBI agent, Renee Savard, is interwoven into the story. Renee is still recovering from wounds suffered during a previous attempt on Blair’s life, and Paula continues to be part of Cam’s team protecting the president’s daughter. Their relationship unfolds sweetly and delightfully, and Paula plays a critical role in the exciting events that unfold. As usual with Radclyffe’s books, the sex scenes are hot, the twists and turns of the plot are engrossing, and the action scenes build slowly and explode effectively. Best of all, at the end of this fourth book in the series, the reader is left wanting more, and there is definitely room for another novel. Highly recommended. The Cost of Commitment By Lynn Ames Intaglio Publications, PO Box 357474, Gainesville, Florida 32635, www.intagliopub.com 2004/$18.50/295 pgs/ ISBN: 1933113022 When last we saw Katherine “Kate” Kyle and her partner Jamison “Jay” Parker in the previous book, THE PRICE OF FAME, they had united to pull through a scandal of epic proportions. Kate had been outed and had lost her TV anchor job, but Jay was still in the closet. Now, in this sequel, Kate has become the Director of Public Information for the New York state correctional system. She takes some flak for being lesbian, but her relationship with Jay is still not known by anyone outside their circle of friends. Jay has continued with her journalism career, and at first all seems well, but very quickly it becomes clear that rocky times are ahead. Not only are there dastardly forces at work behind the scenes that are undermining Kate and her job, but Jay cannot depend on her anonymity being guarded. Then there is a struggle for power at the highest levels of the state and federal government, and certain individuals are willing to sabotage or quite literally dispose of Kate to gain political advantage. Neither Kate nor Jay know how devious and destructive those forces will be, but even though it gradually dawns upon Kate that she is being more than undermined, she is not prepared for the lengths to which desperate men will go. It will take all her physical and emotional strength to get through the disaster that occurs—and Jay will be tested, too. Author Lynn Ames maintains the excitement of the two women’s growing relationship while making sure that the romance and hot love scenes don’t derail the action side of the plot. An exciting romantic thriller, THE COST OF COMMITMENT will keep you awake late into the night wondering how Jay and Kate can possibly get out of the mess they find themselves in. Entertaining right up to the last page. Gloria’s Inn By Robin Alexander Intaglio Publications, PO Box 357474, Gainesville, Florida 32635, www.intagliopub.com 2004/$17.50/190 pgs/ ISBN: 1933113014 When Hayden Tate’s aunt Gloria dies and leaves her niece half interest in an island inn in the Bahamas, Hayden is ready for a change. She’s ready to leave her lawn and landscaping business behind, especially since her girlfriend has dumped her for a woman who Hayden says looks like a Saints linebacker. Hayden tells us, “I gave that woman the best year and a half of my life, and she did this to me. Not to mention that she took half my wardrobe and most of my CD collection with her when she left” (p. 14). In retaliation, Hayden plays one last naughty trick on the ex by leaving her a special “treat” in her car. (I can still smell the odor of cat excrement.) In her defense Hayden says, “I know what I did was disgusting and childish, but the woman broke my heart. Not to mention she was in possession of my entire Melissa Etheridge collection. That alone was grounds enough” (p. 14). Just the first few pages of this book will tell the reader that the narrator has a wacky sense of humor and that what’s in store is going to be a funny romp. And indeed it is. The descriptions and events of the book made me laugh out loud at times. Hayden flies in to Cat Island, meets the co-owner, Adrienne, and promptly falls for the tall woman. Adrienne has a few secrets she’d rather not reveal—like the fact that at times she happens to hear other people’s thoughts. This makes for some pretty funny stuff. Before Hayden and Adrienne have even started to get to know one another, a load of guests—women who come for a holiday together every year—show up, and it’s gangbusters. I don’t want to give away too much of the plot, but this one’s a romance and a comedy and a drama - with some snakes and scary intrigue thrown in for thrills and chills. Entertaining and recommended for anyone wanting a light-hearted and humorous read. The World Celaeno Chose By Jane Fletcher The Dimsdale Press, BCM Box 4687, London, WC1N 3XX 1999/$16.95/350 Pages/ ISBN: 0952362538 In the Temple in the city of Fairfield, a young woman named Lynn does the important work of helping women reproduce. She is a sort of psychic DNA-knitting doctor/priest called an imprinter. Imprinters are chosen very young for their psychic abilities and are taken from the families to serve Celaeno, the great goddess of the people. Everything about Lynn’s world is focused on prayer, imprinting, and the teachings of Celaeno. The imprinting skill she shares brings in a fortune in “offerings” (required by the Church) from eager women desperate for children.. There is no separation of Church and State; they are one and the same. After a couple of decades of this mind-numbing, psychologically draining work, the book opens with Lynn in a state of depression. Once a month during a religious ritual on the steps of the Temple, she sees the outdoors. Otherwise, she is locked into the tomb-like environment of the Temple, never to have a lover, never to have freedom, never to know anything but this life of service. She is basically held captive, a prisoner of her own abilities—until the day Sister Smith, from the larger Temple in Landfall, appears and wrangles with the authorities to take the talented imprinter far away to the larger, more powerful Temple. Lynn is excited to make the long journey during which, perhaps for the last time, she can enjoy the forests, the freedom to walk on the woodland paths and see the moon, and the cool air at night. A squadron of Rangers, including Lt. Kimberly Ramon, is quickly assigned to escort the Sisters and Lynn on the long journey over the mountains and to the south. And this is where the adventure begins. For the first time since childhood, Lynn is among real and interesting women, and she is quite taken with Ramon, who has her own secrets and griefs. “As much as anything, Lynn enjoyed the honest, open banter, although the jokes were frequently bawdy. To Lynn’s mind they were fair less offensive than the conversation of the sisters; the intimidation by pious quotes, the political backstabbing disguised in religious platitudes. The soldiers spoke of a world Lynn would never know, but it didn’t matter. Their stories were like breathing fresh air after years of choking in incense” (p. 90). The soldiers are also brave, and when they are attacked on the journey, everything about the trip changes. Lynn’s ability to envision herself as a free woman begins to grow. But can she shake free of the grip of the Church? How far will the powers-that-be go in order to keep her to themselves? This fundamentalist society, operating based upon bits and pieces of lore, abridged history, inaccurate facts, and misguided good intentions, is all the more frightening because it is peopled only by women. In Fletcher’s world of Celaeno, it’s not men with the compulsion to render matters of life into simplistic and often bone-crushing black and white; women can be and are just as dangerous. With rich, glorious prose, Jane Fletcher has created a spell-binding world and a variety of fascinating and multi-dimensional characters. The world is so compelling that I couldn’t help but wish I could quite literally go there! Lynn’s quest, as well as that of Kim Ramon, makes for exciting reading. At its heart, the book is an adventure/quest, but it is also a mystery. Who are these people? Where did they come from? What happened to the men, if, indeed, there ever were any? The back story of the previous 533 years is unraveled slowly, but surely, for the reader so that by the end of the book, all is revealed. THE WORLD CELAENO CHOSE is absorbing and engrossing tale-telling of the highest order, and the really exciting thing is that although this novel is complete and “finished,” the door is left open to explore more of this world, which the author has apparently done in subsequent books. I can’t wait to read the next Celaeno volumes, and this book is a keeper that I will re-read again and again. I highly recommend it.

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