Assorted Flavours, Just Like That, and Misplaced People
  Assorted Flavours: A Collection of
Lesbian Short Stories by Lois Cloarec Hart ISBN: 0975436627 P.D. Publishing Inc Paperback/ $19.99 ebook $8.99/2005 312 pages Genre: Lesbian Fiction Review by Kathi Isserman Lois Cloarec Hart’s Assorted Flavours: A Collection of Lesbian Short Stories is a delightful and engaging read that illustrates the author’s talent and range. The ten stories are well written with enough variety for any reader who enjoys terrific fiction. The fairy tale, Rude, gives us a woman with special powers who goes a little too far with them and it backfires. The story recognizes that what one person may deem a good cause, another may not. It is truly a fairy tale with a moral, but is never preachy. Grandmother’s Cup is a touching story of how a mother and daughter’s love for each other can overcome prejudice. It is a coming out story that brings together rejection, cruelty and finally acceptance and love. Hart, in just a few pages, makes this turnaround believable. Walking After Midnight includes ghosts and spirits with a setting in a cemetery that creates an eerie effect. This story has a few pleasant surprises that keep the reader totally involved. The final story, Lion and Lamb, is exceptional, inventive, has a sensual erotic ending, and is my personal favorite. Jac and Vic, two best friends, make a bet that within a month Jac can bed Vic’s co-worker Christi, who is engaged to be married. The story takes some turns along the way. Jac wants out of the bet, but Vic won’t let her. Hart develops convincing characters and a credible plot quickly in Lion and Lamb to hold our attention until the final pages, which is no small feat. Any one of these stories could be expanded into a novel. Hart gives the reader a delicious taste of her genius for telling charming stories. Each one reveals a love story wrapped with a different setting, time or plot. I highly recommend Assorted Flavours for anyone who takes pleasure in reading wonderful fiction. |
 Just Like That by Karin Kallmaker ISBN: 1594930252 Bella Books, Inc PO Box 10543 Tallahassee, FL 32302 Paperback/ $12.95/2005 205pages Genre: Fiction/Lesbian Romance Review by Kathi Isserman After 17 romances, the reader knows how a Karin Kallmaker book will end, but it is so much fun getting there, and Just Like That is no exception. Syrah Ardani returns from Europe to find that her father has turned their Napa Valley winery and vineyards into a corporation that is now in receivership. Toni Blanchard is a corporate guru who has been hired by the courts to rescue Ardani Vineyards for the creditors by whatever means necessary. While Toni is working for the creditors, she subconsciously is trying to help the Ardanis save their winery. She truly likes Syrah’s father, but is also attracted to Syrah. After a recent break-up with a lover who was shallow and using her for her money, Toni doesn’t want any more entanglements, but her heart isn’t willing to cooperate. Kallmaker creates a funny, enchanting and heartfelt love story with Just Like That. She sets up the story well by delving into Toni’s and Syrah’s histories so that we understand the characters and their motivations better. Within this, she depicts vividly Toni’s harsh break-up with her ex-lover Mira. The scene is so well written that I could feel how hurt and livid Toni was. The scene is a turning point for Toni as it establishes the tone for her future encounters with Syrah. We can appreciate why Toni is drawn to the quiet countryside of Napa, California and the charms of the Ardanis and how the New Yorker is transformed by this. The heart of the story lies in the half-truths and misunderstandings between Toni and Syrah. They judge each other by their current actions, and what others say about them rather than really getting to know each other without outside influences. Time and again, Kallmaker has shown her expertise at portraying conflict and the accompanying trust issues that prevent her main characters from realizing what is in their hearts. We experience Toni’s and Syrah’s angst along with them. In Just Like That, the reader is treated to prose that is pure poetry. Kallmaker compares love to grapes growing into wine. She composes this beautifully and captures our hearts as well. |
 Misplaced People by C.G. Devize ISBN: 1933113308 Intaglio Publications Paperback/ $8.50/2005 408 pages Genre: Lesbian Mystery Review by Kathi Isserman Misplaced People by C.G. Devize begins slowly in what I thought would be a laid back romantic mystery, but I was in for quite the adventure with this electrifying romantic thriller. Striker West is an American living in London and working as a porter in a hospital. There she encounters Morien, who is a comatose patient, whom Striker reads fairy tales to in her free time. Striker becomes infatuated with Morien, and when Morien is released, continues to pursue her. Soon after they formally meet, both get caught up in arson, drug dealing and murder because of a work project that Morien is secretly investigating. Striker and Morien, in an effort to outrun these ruthless criminals, end up at Morien’s childhood home in Wales. Thinking that all is over after a major drug bust, the two relax somewhat, but the chase continues, and they barely escape with their lives. Devize tosses formula out the door with a thoroughly engrossing plot and unusual characters. The descriptions of the events and crimes are so chilling that they gave this reader goose bumps. While Striker is obsessed with getting romantically involved with Morien in the beginning, she soon puts that aside in fear of their lives. This is when the story really gets going, and we cannot turn the pages fast enough. The graphic scenes of London and Wales drop the reader right into the action. We feel like we too are outrunning these cold-blooded thugs, but can’t escape. Near the end, just to elevate our blood pressure even more, the author throws in a stunning turn of events. With Misplaced People, I had to be a little patient. Striker is not very likable in the beginning when she is stalking Morien and having unrealistic romantic fantasies about her, but as her character develops, and the action kicks in, we see the rough around the edges character transform. Once I was drawn in, I was captivated, and I could not put the book down. I highly recommend this book. It was well worth my time. |