In this
issue, Kathi Isserman reviews five books:• Down the Rabbit Hole • Force of Nature • Hunter's Way (page 14)
• In Too Deep (page 14) • Life's Little Edge (page 14)
Force of Nature is also review by Lori L. Lake this issue (page 15)
Kathi lives with her partner and two very spoiled cats outside Washington DC. When not reading all kinds of books, she can be found on the golf course attempting to hit that little white ball. If you would like to work directly with Kathi on future book reviews, please contact her, here.
  Down the Rabbit Hole by Lynne Jamneck ISBN: 1594930120 Bella Books, Inc., 2005 Paperback/ $12.95, 191 pages Genre: Lesbian Intrigue/Mystery Review by Kathi Isserman Down the Rabbit Hole is an exciting mystery from first time novelist Lynne Jamneck. This fast action story keeps us guessing until the last pages. In what I hope will be the first of many Samantha Skellar mysteries, Skellar is an FBI agent in Seattle who is being stalked. The stalker is primarily using Sam’s home computer to send threatening messages. To rid her computer of this virus, Sam seeks out Lucy Spoon, an aloof confident computer expert. But Lucy has secrets of her own. While dealing with the unknown stalker, Samantha and her FBI partner Robert Munroe also have encountered a series of grisly murders that seem to be connected, but contain slight variations. They may have a serial killer on their hands, but is it connected to Sam’s stalker? Jamneck conveys this story convincingly from Samantha’s perspective. She has created a strong, brave, but flawed character in FBI agent Samantha Skellar and the first person works well because of this. The dialogue is smooth. The FBI/serial killer information is thorough but not overwhelming. While there are romantic overtones, Down the Rabbit Hole is primarily a mystery and Jamneck does not stray from this, producing a thrilling page turner. Because she has developed a killer that leaves no clues, the author engages our imagination totally, and every time there is new evidence, we are left speculating anew as to who is behind these murders. In Down the Rabbit Hole, surprises occur along the way and the ending leaves us wanting more Samantha Skellar mysteries. I highly recommend this well written mystery. |
 Force of Nature by Kim Baldwin ISBN: 1-933110-23-6 Bold Strokes Books, 2005 Paperback/ $15.95, 235 pages Genre: Fiction/ Lesbian Action/Romance By Kathi Isserman Heroes can be defined as women who do extraordinary acts in the face of danger and sometimes heroes are women who overcome adversity in their own lives. Kim Baldwin’s Force of Nature encompasses both kinds of heroes. Force of Nature begins with explosive action. Gable McCoy is working as a volunteer firefighter when she is caught outdoors with a twister barreling towards her. She narrowly escapes and when she emerges from the tornado, the scene all around her is devastation. This is when Gable meets Erin Richards who is trapped in her basement shower with no house left above her, just the remains of one. Gable spends a long night on the other side of the bathroom door comforting Erin as they wait for more help. Erin and Gable become fast friends after their shared experience. As they turn into best friends, Gable finds that she has more than friendly feelings toward Erin who has recently emerged from a bad marriage. Throughout this gripping story Gable fights these feelings until she can no longer contain her powerful emotions towards Erin. As I read Force of Nature non-stop from beginning to end, the story had me on the edge of my seat with the multiple action scenes of firestorms and heroic rescues. They are descriptive, visual, and I could even feel and smell the twister coming. Throughout these search and rescue efforts, Baldwin shows Gable’s continuing struggle to deny her attraction to Erin. Gable’s aching desire and her attempts to hide her sexual orientation from Erin, for fear of losing their friendship, are convincing. Force of Nature has rapid-fire search and rescue scenes, and Baldwin gives the reader good insight into firefighting throughout the story. She blends the romance into the plot so it complements rather than detracts from the action while building Gable’s angst so that we as the reader suffer along with Gable as she hides her torturous secret. The ending is potent and heroic while giving us sweet release. With Force of Nature Kim Baldwin has created another compelling read filled with multiple conflicts that interconnect well. With only her second novel, she is fast becoming a force as a lesbian fiction author. |