Bosom Friends: Lesbian Historical Fiction

Review: The Last Nude, by Ellis Avery

2012-02-06T16:34:00.000-08:00

Reviewed by Gwen Mayo

     The Last Nude is a complex story splashed across the lifespan of painter Tamara de Lempicka. I didn’t know much about de Lempicka when I started reading the book and had only vague ideas of what it was like to live in Paris during the Jazz Age. Ellis Avery did a great job of making the city and the era come alive. The wealth and decadence of the age along with the underlying tensions of turbulent political winds mingle with the passions of Tamara and her model Rafaela.
     Rafaela is beautifully captured as the love interest of Tamara de Lempicka. Little is known of the model’s life, leaving Avery free to create her background. I could easily believe that Rafaela was a half Catholic, half Jewish runaway determined to escape an arranged marriage.
     Tamara also comes alive on the page, but the result isn’t pleasant. After looking at a few short biographies of Tamara de Lempicka, it is clear that in life she was known to be rather disagreeable. She certainly leaves much to be desired as a protagonist. Tamara is arrogant, proud, stubborn, and unscrupulous. Rafaela is no match for her. The unequal relationship between the women and Tamara’s willingness to do anything for the sake of her art left me cold.
      Overall the book is a tantalizing look at an era that was soon to be lost to the Great Depression and World War II. It is worth the read for the glimpse it gives us at a world few can remember. The characters are complicated, well developed, and interesting. Avery does a nice mix of historical and fictional, glitter and grit, sensual and harsh. Every page offered something new to the reader.
     Ellis Avery has created a memorable work that I am happy to recommend She does a credible job of explaining the reasons behind Tamara de Lempika’s more egregious acts. Just remember there is a huge gap between understanding and liking de Lempika, and don’t come to the work expecting to find a protagonist the average reader would identify with.

Review: The Swashbuckler, by Lee Lynch

2012-01-01T00:00:00.000-08:00

Reviewed by Morgayne
     In her book The Swashbuckler, Lee Lynch writes a beautiful story about pre-Stonewall Lesbians and Gays in New York. Her characters come alive in Provincetown and on the streets of Greenwich Village where people went who didn’t fit in anywhere else. There we are privy to the various substrata of diversity including the extreme role-playing of the Butch/Femme lesbians, lesbian hippies and gay men who want to find boyfriends. Lynch’s brilliant use of the language unique to each of these subcultures paints a vivid picture for our voyeuristic pleasure and her prose are dynamically philosophical and admirably poetic.
     She brings her 4’11” swashbuckling protagonist, Frenchy Tonneau, to life on a Saturday night swaggering and diddy-bopping her way to a bar on Greenwich Avenue. It was a walk that angered straights and provoked threats, but it was her own natural walk. Frenchy’s entire life is about being gay. At twenty-one, she is a stone butch who isn’t the marrying kind and who lights femme’s cigarettes and opens their doors. She wears her hair in a pompadour which she combs into a ducks ass at the nape of her neck. Yeah, she was a bulldyke, and every Saturday night she loved being a bulldyke in a bulldyke’s world (p.2).
     At the end of each Saturday night Frenchy has to submit to the restraints of society by combing out the pompadour and taming her natural walk before she gets to her subway stop. The Bronx is home to Frenchy and her widowed mother who is unaware of her daughter’s sexual preference. Looking in the mirror French hates what she sees. Gone is her bold arrogant look that brings women to her arm, replaced by a wary expression. Frenchy works in a grocery store and she fears she’ll lose her job if they know her personal truth, so only on Saturday night does she live as her authentic self.
     After so aptly painting a picture of Frenchy’s reality, Lynch confounds us by introducing us to an unwed mother, Mercedes, who, like Frenchy is Butch. The idea of imagining two Butches together is like imagining two straight men together, it just doesn’t work, but Lynch makes us believe it, delights us when she has them fall in love. Here Lynch becomes the philosopher who easily alters the dynamics of the “set in stone” butch world. Mercedes says, “I see all of a sudden that every butch is a femme; every femme is a butch.” In the end we learn that love trumps any well-played role.
     The Swashbuckler was well written and fun to read. I have to say I’m more than a little enamored with Lynch’s story-telling ability. The bars where Frenchy met her friends and picked up women came to life. The political implications of being openly lesbian in the 1960’s and ‘70s left me afraid at times for the women in this story. Having been stationed in the Army in Texas in the 1970’s I completely related to Lynch’s tale because I faced the danger of my own dyke walk. And like Frenchy my courage came not in being unafraid; but rather in facing the fear everyday and honoring my natural walk anyway. Don’t miss reading this classic novel!

REVIEW: MISS McGHEE by Bett Norris

2011-12-28T00:00:00.000-08:00

MISS McGHEE

By Bett Norris

Reviewed by: Elaine Hardman

20th Century Novel
     MISS McGHEE was written about a time of social, political and racial unrest in America. It is so clear through this book what life for African Americans in the South during that time was like, that it brings you to tears. You will cry, not only for the African Americans during that time, but for any whites that dared to try to help them. Ms. Norris has written in words only someone who lived in the South can truly bring to life. She makes us proud of the small groups that tried to give aid to their friends and family that weren't white, she makes us ashamed and disgusted at the racist people who saw fit to be a part of the Klan. Being born in '53, I lived through much of the period this book covers without realizing how utterly lacking in basic human kindness many people were.
     Along side of this part of the story, is a beautiful and poignant love story between two women spanning 17 years. On April 5, 1948, 28-year-old Mary McGhee came to Myrtlewood, Al to take over the lumber mill that had fallen into severe neglect after the death of Thomas Dubose. Mary had been running from her feelings for other women since the day her father had beaten her for catching her with her 15-year-old best friend, Elizabeth. He had broken her nose and several ribs then put her on a one-way train out of the next town to get rid of his "pervert" daughter. She ended up several years later running Sam Stewart's oil business in TX until he caught her in bed with his daughter, Sammie. He set her up with this job and a substantial amount of "hush" money and put her on a train to Alabama.
     Lila Jackson had been used to make a deal with Thomas Dubose by her father. At 18 she was sold to be a wife to Dubose's son, Tommie. Tommie was a sweet, gentle boy of maybe 12 in the body of a grown man. Dubose told her that he would take care of her and leave everything to her if she would care for Tommie as well as she could. She was happy until Mr. Dubose died, then the town treated her as if she were as simple as Tommie or a conniving theif, they could not seem to decide. Since she had no idea how to take care of the mill, she contacted Sam Stewart, a friend of Dubose, and he sent Miss McGhee.
     This is not a girl-gets-girl, "Happily-ever-after" story. These two women disagree and argue, in the beginning, they are polar opposites. Mary is strong-willed, opinionated, bossy, controlling and oddly enough, very, very cautious. She starts out by helping in the racial war, but does so anonymously by slipping money, cars, building supplies, etc. to the black families "under the hill". She loves Lila completely, but will barely be seen in public with her for fear she will start rumors.
     Lila, on the other hand, is a free-spirit, wild and gregarious as well as, totally and completely in love for the first time in her almost 23 year life. She cannot imagine anyone having a problem with two people loving each other. To begin with she is racist herself with the exception of her housekeeper and cook, Annie. When she first came to live at the Debose family home, Annie had been so good to her.
     I really could not put this book down. I felt fear, sadness, anger and most of all entertainment in Lila's antics to irritate Mary. You will not be disappointed in this book, whether you are a love story fan or not, the historical side of this book is also well worth reading.

Review: Slave to Innocence by Emma Lai

2011-12-22T13:12:00.000-08:00

Slave to Innocence

By Emma Lai

Kindle 2011

[Review by Peggy Ullman Bell, Author: Sappho Sings]

     In three words: Slave to Innocence is sizzling, salacious and short
     It is also not anything you want to read when anyone else is around to
see your expressions or to interrupt the heat of your imagination as you
visualize the intriguing scenes.
     If I were to object to or criticize anything it would be the title of
the series for which this story is the explosive opening salvo. "Sins of
Sybaris" strikes a sour note for me as who am I or you to judge what is
or is not sinful. Everything within this piece is/was acceptable
behavior for its time and setting. I prefer to leave the damning
judgements to those less accepting of context than I.

CALL FOR SUBMISSIONS FOR A GLBTQ HOLIDAY ANTHOLOGY

2011-12-11T14:46:00.000-08:00

Please share with your writing groups!!

CALL FOR SUBMISSIONS FOR A GLBTQ HOLIDAY ANTHOLOGY

Imagine your favorite holiday stories. Chances are good the protagonists are a man and a woman, possibly even with children. But where are the stories that feature men together, or women together, that will also warm our hearts at this special season?

That's where you come in. We're collecting holiday stories for two anthologies, one featuring male protagonists/couples/families (i.e. gay) s, the other featuring female protagonists/couples/families (i.e. lesbian), and we'd like to hear from you!

Your story should run between 2,000 and 4,000 words, contain no erotica, and be in a winter holiday setting. The only requirement is that it be historical fiction. We're looking for tomorrow's classics in time for next year's holiday season!

Pay will depend on securing a publisher and will be negotiated at that time for accepted stories. Deadline is June 15, 2012, but the earlier, the better. Send Word docs to Jeannette de Beauvoir at angevine@aya.yale.ed u .

Review: Nightwood, by Djuna Barnes

2011-11-19T12:01:00.000-08:00

Reviewed by Morgayne

Although dark and often disturbing, Djuna Barnes’ Nightwood is considered a LGBT classic. Having seen it referenced in a number of academic non-fiction sources over the years it had been on my reading list for some time. I found Barnes’ poetic prose to be hypnotic and her character profiles were often breathtaking. Given the beauty of her writing, the privilege of crossing it off said list did not come easy as I also found it difficult to read and even harder to understand at times.

Nightwood is the story of the relationship between Nora Flood who works at the circus and Robin Vote who has recently left her husband and son. When Robin meets and moves in with Nora “every item in their home attest(s) to their mutual love” p. 61. Together they are a study in passion and yet Robin is drawn inexplicably to the seedy, night-world of Paris in the late 1920’s. Her driven need to wander and embrace other creatures of the night tragically wounds Nora who is emotionally entwined with her. Barnes perfectly understands the ghostly presence of a lover who is no longer there. “As an amputated hand cannot be disowned Robin was an amputation that Nora could not renounce p. 65.”

Nora is unable to let Robin go long after her lover has left and is living with Jenny Petherbridge, the emotional “squatter”. As an emotional “squatter” Jenny couldn’t fall in love “so she appropriated the most passionate love that she knew, Nora’s for Robin p. 75”. Nora finds herself roaming the shadowy streets in search of Robin and because she cannot understand the night she goes to see Dr. Matthew O’Connor who refers to himself as the god of darkness p. 134. The doctor is a disreputable scoundrel and steals from his patients as they lay sleeping. Nora asks him to tell her everything he knows about the night. But nothing he says helps her and later when he sees her out alone he says, “There goes the dismantled—love has fallen off her wall.”

Clearly, the author has a gift for skillfully stringing together strikingly-crafted characters with brilliant language and observations. Nevertheless, Nightwood was difficult to read largely because it was dark on so many levels. Historically it is set between World War I and World War II during a time when it was scary to be Jewish. Secondly, Barnes’ characters are drawn to the night time. But its not just about the clock, according to the doctor, it’s about “those who turn the day into night, the young, the drug addict…the lover who watches all night long in fear and anguish. They can never live the life of the day p. 101.” Her characters are twisted and tortured. Along with the levels of darkness, Barnes repeatedly uses unexplained French phrases and sometimes entire sentences and trying to decipher their meaning was cumbersome as well.

Although it is less than two hundred pages, Nightwood is a great human tragedy. Just a hundred and eighty pages, the weight of the characters far exceeds that of the story line. In the end it is still a romance and yet we are left wondering what happened with Nora and Robin. Djuna Barnes says it best, “Nora will leave that girl some day; but though those two are buried at opposite ends of the earth one dog will find them both.”

Frankly I did enjoy her scattered use of the word ‘gay’ during a time in history when it meant joyful. It speaks well of the author that I took the time to read Nightwood, twice, simply so that I could understand it. After all, this is a classic and we owe it to ourselves to seek out, whenever possible, lesbians in historical literature. I found a sense of personal pride having struggled through this challenging but rewarding novel.

Review: Sword of The Guardian, by Merry Shannon

2011-10-09T22:58:00.000-07:00

Sword of the Guardian

By Merry Shannon

Bold Strokes Books

978-1-93311-036-3

Reviewed by Athena Sampaio

Sword of the Guardian is a gripping fantasy novel that is sure to keep you hooked from beginning to end. Talon is a young woman who watched her family being torn by a terrible tragedy when she was a little girl. In order to save herself and her two sisters, she pretends to be a boy when they are found and sold to a band of acrobats. Years later, they are presenting in the royal court of Ithyria, where Talon still maintains her true gender hidden. However, things go terribly wrong when an assassin tries to destroy the royal family. Talon witnesses the Prince being murdered, and is severely wounded while saving the Princess’ life. As a result, the King blackmails the reluctant heroine into becoming the Princess’ royal guardian. Talon has no choice but to agree to protect the pampered and spoiled Princess, for her sister’s lives are in the balance.

Shasta Talia Soltranis of Rane is the Princess of Ithyria. After her twin brother is murdered, she becomes the heir to the throne. Suddenly her carefree life is taken from her, and she finds herself stuck with new and daunting responsibilities. Not only that but she now has to endure being shadowed every moment of every day, and night, by a young bodyguard. Can Shasta own up to her responsibilities and grow up to be the leader her people desperately needs? What about her new mysterious guardian? Can she truly trust he is who he says he is? She’ll have to, if she wishes to become Queen of Ithyria one day, for danger lurks closer than anyone suspects.

I am very surprised at how emotionally challenging this book turned out to be. I was thoroughly intrigued by the vividness of the plot and completely into these amazingly realistic characters. The story certainly starts off with a bag with conspiracies and murder being thrown smack in the reader’s face. From page one I was hooked into this story, breathlessly following the plot and the characters as they unraveled before my eyes. While this powerful beginning was certainly effective in engaging me into the novel, the slow pace of the next few chapters caught me off guard. Princess Shasta’s antics and the evolution of her relationship with Talon kept me involved and interested, but there were times when I found myself getting restless to see some action again.

While true action does not happen for a while, I was pleased at the turn the plot takes about a third into the story. Suddenly there’s a definite foreboding tone to the story, a new tension and mystery in the air which brilliantly coincides with Shasta’s increasing awareness of herself and her new role. Add to that, Talon and Shasta gradually start growing closer and developing a surprisingly loving relationship as Talon struggles with her increasing awareness of Shasta and her sexuality. Ms. Shannon does an excellent job in keeping the suspense alive during the slower phase of the story by making the threat of Shasta’s life, and the conspiracy brewing within the court, very real and very present in the plot. All that without mentioning the white elephant in the room: Talon is not a man, but a woman pretending to be a man. That knowledge added a new layer to the tension already present as I eagerly waited for the moment when the cat would finally come out of the bag.

Romantically speaking, Sword of the Guardian is one of the most alluring love stories I’ve ever read. The characters of Shasta and Talon are so lively, and their romance is so captivating, it truly broke my heart to see their story end. The fact that we have access to them as individuals from a young age (especially in Shasta’s case) allowed for a deeper connection to their characters that is hard to find nowadays. Seeing them grow as individuals alongside their growth as a couple was truly a treat. Historically speaking, this book is more a fantasy tale than a historical one. The world and the people depicted are fictional, and the secondary characters of the Priestesses add a mystical feel to the story. However, the dynamics of the royal court are very real and recognizable to any historical fiction fan. In addition, little details like the presence of chambermaids and servants, the primitive bathing habits, the lack of technology and slang writing, all make this book as historically accurate as it is possible within this fantastical realm.

REVIEW: Fingersmith, by Sarah Waters

2011-10-05T14:02:00.000-07:00

Reviewed by Nan Hawthorne

A tale of double cross and triple cross set in the mid-1800s in England, this novel is told in first person by two different women, Sue and Maud, alternately, very effectively stripping each swindle layer by layer.

Sue comes from a criminal background, the unofficially adopted daughter of Mrs. Suxby, the mater familias of a household of pickpockets (fingersmiths) and receivers of stolen goods. Gentleman, a con man, enlists Sue in a caper to gain the hand in marriage of an isolated heiress. For the first third of the noel you learn from Sue of the strategy of the con and of her mostly willing participation. She is willing because she comes from a world where everyone is a potential mark. Her unwillingness comes in when she falls in love with Maud. In the next third, narrated by Maud herself, the reader finds out that it is actually she and Gentleman who are swindling Sue! The reasons are at first quite obscure. A troubling aspect of Maud's life comes to light, that her unpleasant uncle has been using her to transcribe and read pornography since she was thirteen. The last third is back to Sue and her efforts to find out why Gentleman and Maud tricked her and to get revenge. Nothing is as it seems until the very last pages of the book.

This is a taut and perplexing psychological tale that strips the characters' morals and motivations bare. Neither young woman has any reason to think there are such things as love and decency in the world, so it is a struggle to resist goodness rather than the opposite for them all. I can guarantee you you will be shocked by all that is revealed eventually.

Pay attention to the imagery of eyes, mirrors, and keys. Never assume anyone is quite whom or what you think. If you are a Waters reader, you probably already expected that.

The novel like all of Waters' novels is beautifully written, exquisitely paced, and historically accurate down to the merest detail.

Review: Chsristie and the Hellcat, by Baarbara Davies

2011-09-30T16:51:00.000-07:00

Reviewed by Nan Hawthorne

history nerds beware! This book, while not complete fantasy, plays fast and loose with one aspect of history, and that is the likelihood that only the Holy Rollers would take exception to a frankly lesbian sheriff's deputy and her live-n lover in the Old West and that said deputy is a knife-throwing, pistol-shooting phenomenon that would make Wyatt Earp envious feel seriously threatened. It's a nice dream, but it didn't happen. But then again, that's far from the point of this novel. The point of this novel is that it is WAY FUN.

The novel is divided up into what cries out for a TV mini-series, another nive dream. It starts with Zee Brodie, an ex-outlaw, meeting and falling for sweet old fashioned girl Christy when she brings an outlaw to town to take him to jail by railroad. It is is hate at first sight, but only on Christy's part and she gets over it pronto, pardner. But not until after she has got herself engaged to a real jerk. The courtship, complete with a brothel of highly supportive whores and mostly open-minded neighbors, not to mention sheriff, and the desire by the Jerk to foil things for everyone, is the backbone of the rest of the novel, which is actually a series of stories that could stand alone.

Zee is fun and a big softy for a cross dresser and Christie a bit of a snappish wife character. I could have done without her constant gripes, but the two manage to live as man and wife even though everyone knows they are both women. The stories concern a train robbery, a trip to Phoenix with a cross dressing theater couple from England, efforts to stop old Jerk from ruining Christy's brother's life,
and the exposing of a Holy Roller's sons stash of porn and liquor. Throughout Zee performs remarkable feats of gun play, the sort of shooting three men with a single bullet thing that help support my contention that the book is not meant to be anything but good old rip roarin' fun.

The author's occasional slips into British-isms, such as the "marrying squire", just add a little bit of extra charm.

Review: Hidden Truths, by Jae

2011-09-19T19:22:00.000-07:00

Hidden Truths

By Jae

Reviewed by Nan Hawthorne

Sequel to Backwards to Oregon (See all Lesbian Fiction Books) See Bosom Friends review

At the end of Jae's Backwards to Oregon Luke, Nora, Amy and natty have reached Oregon where Luke has dreamed of establishing a horse ranch with her wife and her two daughters at her side.

It is now seventeen years later. The horse ranch in Baker Prairie is a success and Luke and her ranch hands are about to set out for Fort Boise with horses to sell to the U.S. Cavalry. Before they reach home they will have had to face horse thieves, bullies and corruption.

As if this isn't enough, Luke has left Amy behind in charge of the ranch. Amy is young and female, which does not sit well with the rest of the ranch hands who do not know their boss Luke is also a woman. Neither do Amy and Natty who have always called her Papa. Amy feels she has to prove herself worthy of Luke's trust. That's troubling enough without having to cope with her own budding lesbian proclivities, which, since her mother and Luke have never come out to her, seem strange and unnatural.

Into this tense situation comes Hendrika, intended as the ranch foreman's mail order bride, in Oreg an under false pretenses. The woman who was supposed to come west has died and Hendrika, with no other options, has assumed her identity. Amy quickly starts to fall in love with her.

"Hidden truths" is exactly what you have in abundance. Luke continues to hide tha she is a woman. She and Nora continue to hide they are not really man and wife. Amy hides her lesbianism and her love for Hendrika. Hendrika hides behind a false identity. Phin, the man she was to marry, hides that he is in love with Natty who likewise hides that she is in love with Phin. Onto the scene come Tess, Nora's old employer in a brothel, another thing Nora is hiding, who is now in a relationship with Frankie, the two hiding little but that they are a couple.

The critical question is, what will happen if Luke and Nora finally tell their daughters the truth about their parents? It seems that for Amy's sake they must, How can they expect her to accept her sexuality when they have kept theirs hidden all these years?

The result is a riveting story of hidden truths and the consequences of hiding them. Jae, the author, pulls no punches. Hurt and trauma are the result of revelations, no candy-coating here. You will find well drawn characters who run the spectrum in their experience of womanhood, love and strengths. It is also simply a joy to get to spend some more time with Luke and Nora after falling in love with them in the first book.

Review: Renegade by Cheyne Curry

2011-09-07T18:48:00.000-07:00

Renegade by Cheyne Curry

Review by Elaine Hardman

I bought Renegade because I had heard a lot about the description, “dirty cop ends up time-traveling to 1879 to get away from the mobsters trying to kill her. The story of redemption when Trace finds out what truly matters in life and who.” It did much more than live up to the hype. It is both side-splitting funny (when she tries to saddle the horse for the first time was my favorite) and terribly sad This is the best book of lesbian historical fiction I have ever read, both entertaining and it covers some of the things one does not think about when thinking about going back in time. Trace keeps running into problems she doesn’t know how to handle and much of the time, Rachel cannot figure out why Trace does not know how to do something or doesn’t know information that she should know. Her explanations for things often cause Rachel, as well as other people to scratch their heads. Very well-defined characters and the love story is sweet and well-written and you grow attached to both the women. I would really recommend this book for anyone who loves “old west” historical fiction, even if you are not a lesbian. I personally think this book would make a great movie.

Review: Tipping the Velvet, by Sarah Waters

2011-09-04T00:06:00.000-07:00

Tipping the Velvet: A Novel

Sarah Waters

Reviewed by Nan Hawthorne

This novel grabbed me instantly, though I must confess that says as much about me and my tastes as it does the novel. Nevertheless, it kept me grabbed and it was as much the writing, the coverage of social progress and history as it was my own predilections.

Nan (yes, my own name) leaves her small Kent town when she meets and falls for Kitty, a music hall entertainer who dressed and performs as a young man. In due time, Nan joins the act in similar fashion, and she and Kitty become lovers. Unfortunately Kitty does not identify as a lesbian and is rather touchy about the fact, refusing to spend any time with other women who so identify. Nan leaves her and finds herself living as a male prostitute since her tricks never know she is not a boy. In yet another bit of irony, nan is picked up by a wealthy woman who wants her to be her boy, her lover, and in many ways, her trick dog. Breaking away from the rich woman, Nan finally comes across a woman she met once who is involved with radical causes, including the budding socialist movement, and finds, at last, real community with other women like herself and where she can live honestly.

There are so many threads of great interest in this novel. One, of course, is how Nan acts on her impulses and expects others will accept her for it. What her lovers, family and society accept from her is often surprising, particularly when she finds she can make a and see her living having sex with men who want to have sex with other men who accept her as such.

Another is how Nan's self of herself is bounded about by her lovers' willingness to accept that identity in themselves. When she sees Kitty again after many years Kitty is as closeted as ever.

I fond the historical view of lesbian life and how the radical movements of the 1890s impacted it quite fascinating. This is the pre-Russian Revolution era socialism, touching on some of the national socialist movements, such as Irish socialism, I had encountered before.

The look at music hall culture is unique. So is the view of social mores in the "Gay Nineties" of legend.

The novel itself is paced exquisitely, the character development natural and unforced.

OK, the predilection... I find women who dress and live as men fascinating, and that could be me or another woman, doesn't matter. That Nan in this novel both masquerades and lives as if she was a man, that just made it that much more intriguing and satisfying for me.

Call for Submissions of GLBT Flash Fiction

2011-09-01T12:03:00.000-07:00

Submissions

Stories are uploaded to the site on a continuous basis.

We encourage new writers to submit their work and established writers to use our forum for experimental fiction. We require that you agree to our terms and conditions and your submission of a piece of work to us will constitute an acceptance of those terms and conditions (listed below) by you. Unfortunately, we cannot pay for publication.We accept the following types of submissions with strict adherence to the word limits. Please note that a reasonably short title is not included in the word count (a title for a very short ficlet should be no more than two words and for a microfic, one word.)

Ficlets (under 1000 words)
Short poems (under 500 words)
Related artwork

Please note this is not a forum for pornography.

Submissions will be welcomed on any theme and in any genre, provided there is a GLBT connection, and multiple submissions may be accepted but please don’t have more than three active submissions at any time.

Terms & Conditions

By submitting work you agree to accept the following terms & conditions:

Your story stands alone
Is GLBT themed or friendly
Is not fanfic
Contains no pornography (eroticism is fine); racism; excessive gore; or other obscenity
Is written in English
Must not be part of a larger work unless it can stand alone
Has been edited and proofed. The only editing we will do will be minor proofing. If, in the opinion of the editors, the story requires further editing it will not be accepted.
Has not been previously published elsewhere, in any format, with the exception of your own blog or website or work-shopped in an internet discussion group
You assign us First Electronic Rights for a period of three months from the date your work appears on our site. If your work is published elsewhere before it appears here you must advise us and withdraw your submission
After three months, your work will remain accessible on our site. If you wish it removed from our site you need to advise us in the submission form below, or by e-mail
The decision on whether to publish is made by our Editors and is final.

PLEASE POST YOUR SUBMISSIONS IN THE FORM HERE

Please Include the following information in the body of your submission

Name/Pen name
email address for us to contact you
Website or email address to post online if you would like to add them as a contact
Number of words in submission
Short biography (25 words max)

By sending this email, you agree to the Terms and Conditions listed above. You certify any enclosed biography to be true and accurate, and authorise its publication.

Now... let's get some lesbian historical fiction submitted!

Review: Sappho's Leap: A Novel, by Erica Jong

2011-08-28T14:08:00.000-07:00

Sappho's Leap: A Novel

Erica Jong

Review reprinted from "Fictional Appearances By.." by Brandy Purdy

Told in the first person, this book begins with Sappho, the celebrated songstress, acclaimed as “The Tenth Muse” standing on the brink of eternity, on the edge of the cliff she is contemplating jumping from, a precipice renowned for curing those who leap from it of hopeless love. Some survive the leap, others perish, it is all in the hands of the gods.

For those who enjoy intelligent novels containing elements of adventure, romance, fantasy, and philosophy, this may well be just the book for you, though I recommend brushing up on your Greek mythology first if your school days are far behind you.

A devotee of the Goddess of Love, Aphrodite, Sappho, a rather plain young woman with blue-black hair and a slightly twisted spine, falls passionately in love with the golden-haired poet Alcaeus, though he professes that he prefers boys. She joins his plot to overthrow the cruel dictator and as a result is parted from her lover and exiled from her native Isle of Lesbos on pain of death should she return and married to a drunken fool in the hope that the life of a traditional Greek housewife busy with the loom and larder, supervising the slaves and childrearing will keep her out of trouble. But Sappho finds fame as a singer, which gets her out of the house, and a new love when her daughter, Cleis, her “golden flower” is born from a seed already planted by Alcaeus before Sappho's marriage.

Anxious for her daughter’s future, she consults various oracles and, though her passion for the absent Alcaeus still runs strong, she becomes infatuated with the beautiful Egyptian priestess Isis. The two often make love in the priestess’s sarcophagus to “experience a foretaste of immortality.” Horrified by her behavior, Sappho’s visiting mother kidnaps baby Cleis and takes her back to Lesbos where Sappho cannot go without risking her life.

The rest of the book unfurls like a richly embroidered tapestry illustrating a grand, perilous, and passionate odyssey that takes Sappho to Delphi to consult the famed oracle, then on to Egypt where she is befriended by the famed writer of fables Aesop who helps her liberate her foolish brothers who have become literally enslaved by the wiles of a notorious courtesan, and then to the Land of the Amazons where she is commanded to be a female Homer and write an epic of their history. She loses several years wandering in Hades, the Land of the Dead, seeing the pale ghosts of her father, baby brother, and others she has known, and emerges to become a reluctant priestess of a failed Utopian paradise comprised of Amazon maidens and Egyptian sailors and their offspring.

After encounters with various gods, goddesses, and legendary beings, including the centaurs, the lovers are eventually reunited, but the course of true love never did run smooth. And when at last Sappho returns to Lesbos and meets her daughter, now grown to womanhood and a mother herself, ashamed of the song that has made her famous as her mother’s “golden flower” she finds the great love she has to give her only child rejected. Sappho tries but cannot give up her songs as her daughter wants and settle down into the quietly respectable life of a gray-haired grandmother, and live down her wild days and put them far behind her, and events, including slander, suicide, and an affair with a beautiful eternally young ferryman named Phaon with an “indefatigable phallus” eventually lead her to climb the Leucadian cliffs. Will she leap? And more importantly, will she live, or is Sappho fated to survive only in her songs?

A note for those concerned about such things--Although Sappho's name is today synonymous with lesbianism, in this novel Sappho is unabashedly what we would today call bisexual, which was common in the ancient world. There are some sex scenes but they are brief and not explicit catalogs of every touch, kiss, and caress, so any open-minded reader should not be repelled. though some orgies with rather brutal and disgusting behavior are briefly mentioned to illustrate the depravity of visitors to the courtesan Rhodopis's palace. This is a novel with some erotic elements but not a work of erotica.

Review: Brigid's Charge, Cynthia Lamb

2011-08-17T14:00:00.000-07:00

Brigid's Charge
Cynthia Lamb

Reviewed by Elaine Hardman

As this was part of the Bosom Friends List, and was listed as a Lesbian Historical Fiction book, I was surprised to find that it is, in fact, more fantasy and witchcraft than lesbian or historical. Since she has written it in the Olde English of Colonial America, it makes it harder to follow, although it also makes it more authentic.

I would not have chosen this book as a book to read for entertainment because I prefer the books that are more about the love aspect between two women and the problems or obstacles that they have to overcome. In this book, the lesbian aspect of the story was very much secondary to the Old Religion rites and rituals of the witches. That being said, it is well-written and the characters, which I understand were based on people who mostly really lived, are well-rounded and true to their calling.

The story begins in England with Deborah Smith, who is being pulled between her mother, a Christian and her Granna, a witch. Her Granna has taught her the ways of the "Old Religion" and when she dies, they send her to the New World to marry a Quaker, Japhet Leeds. She goes on to birth 12 children to Japhet, without any being lost. When she finds herself pregnant with child number 13, the tongues begin to wag. At the birth of this child she has the other "healers", Erin (who Deborah loves), Anna (who is not a witch, but is a healer), the two younger witch trainees (Erin's daughter, Ana and Deborah's daughter, Deb), but also Johannah who has been a wet nurse and servant to Deborah. Even though Johannah has had visions herself, she believes they are all from the Devil and that Erin and Deborah are doing the Devil's work. When the little girl is born with the cord wrapped around her neck twice and cannot be saved, Johanna claims that the baby turned into a demon. Johannah turns on Deborah and Erin and asks that they be put to death for witchcraft.

They say that all legend is based somewhat on fact, but I do not believe that it is that cut and dried. I believe that the baby was probably deformed and maybe even a parasitic twin, but do not believe that it was, in fact a Demon.

You can leave this paragraph off if you like, but I am a Christian and do not like that most all the Christians in the book were villified, I do believe that God is neither male nor female and calling to God or Godess probably does not matter, I cannot feel that being a witch is OK. I do not believe that God hates gays or that gays cannot go to Heaven and there are a lot of people who will have to explain themselves someday, but I do think that some things are not right. For this reason, I could not recommend this book.

(Elaine Hardman is a Christian and Lesbian.)

Lesbian Historical Fiction on Kindle

2011-08-10T20:15:00.000-07:00

These works of lesbian historical fiction from The list here on Bosom Friends are available on kindle in the US. Many of these will also be available in Kindle format in the UK. Books marked with an asterisk * have been reviewed on this site. People who rely on text-to-speech should note that some of these may not have that feature enabled.

Kindle Books

Affinity by Sarah Waters *
All True Lovers by Sarah Aldridge – 1930′s America
And Those Who Trespass Against Us by Helen Macpherson – 1872 Australia
Backwards to Oregon by Jae - Pioneer America *
Beloved Pilgrim by Nan Hawthorne – Crusade of 1101 *
Bittersweetby Nevada Barr – 1800s America
Branded Ann by Merry Shannon – Piracy *
Brigid’s Charge by Cynthia Lamb – 1700 America
Christie and the Hellcat by Barbara Davies – 1880′s Western
Dakota, or What's a Heaven For? by Brenda K. Marshall - American pioneers
Fall On Your Knees by Anne Marie MacDonald – 1920′s
Fingersmith by Sarah Waters
Foundlings: Lesbian and Gay Historical Emotion before Stonewall (Series Q) Christopher Nealon - 20th century
Fried Green Tomatoes at the Whistlestop Cafe by Fannie Flagg - 1930′s America onwards
Hidden Truths, by Jae - sequel to Backwards to Oregon, Oreon Trail 1850s
House of Clouds (Bold Strokes Victory Editions) by K I Thompson – American Civil War
Innocent Hearts by Radclyffe – America
Ladylegger by Carol McKenzie – 1920′s America
Land Beyond Maps by Maida Tilchen – 1930′s Americas
Last Train Home by Blayne Cooper – 1880′s America
Lizzie by Evan Hunter - 1890 *
Mademoiselle de Maupin (in French) by Theophile Gautier – 19th Century France
Miss McGhee by Bett Norris – 1948
Patience and Sarah by Isabel Miller and Emma Donoghue – Pioneer America *
Promising Hearts by Radclyffe – 1860′s Western
Quicksand and Passing by Nella Larsen – 1920′s
Rebeccah and the Highwayman by Barbara Davies – 1700′s England *
Reiko’s Garden by Brenda Adcock – WWII
Sappho Sings by Peggy Ullman Bell *
Sistine Heresy by Justine Saracen – Renaissance Italy K *
Snow Flower and the Secret Fan by Lisa See – 19th century China ? *
Southern Rose by Mary Winter – American Civil War *
Summer Will Show by Sylvia Townsend Warner – 1848 Europe
Tempus Fugit by Mavis Applewater – 1950′s and 60′s America
The Color Purple by Alice Walker – 1930s
The Empress by Lucius Parhelion – 190/20′s
The Grass Widow by Nanci Little – 1870′s Kansas
The Night Watch by Sarah Waters - WWII
The Remarkable Journey of Miss Tranby Quirke by Elizabeth Ridley – 1900′s London
The River by Ria Goff – 1940′s Hollywood
The Sealed Letter by Emma Donoghue – 1864 England
The Secret of Lighthouse Pointe by Patty G. Henderson - 19th century New England *
Time Well Bent: Queer Alternative Histories- multiperiod speculative historical fictionK
Tipping the Velvet by Sarah Waters – Victorian England
War on the Margins by Libby Cone – WWI
Winterkill by Joyce K Walsh – 1932

Please help us correct any errors.

Review: Dakota, Or What's A Heaven For? by Brenda K. Maarshall

2011-08-07T16:40:00.000-07:00

Dakota, Or What's A Heaven For?

Brenda K. Maarshall

Reviewed by Morgayne

Frances Houghton lived in the late nineteenth century when women did not broadcast, bray or bully. So, what to do in the wild west of the unsettled Dakota Territory where men are not gentle nor the object of Frances’s desire? In Dakota or What’s a Heaven For, Brenda K. Marshall’s protagonist, Frances married Percy Bingham, the least offensive man she could abide in order to arrange for a life with his sister.

On the shoulders of this epoch novel is the story of the building of the North Pacific Railroad and the settling and farming of the land adjacent. Her father-in-law is one of the big players along with JB Powers and a man named McKenzie. The lives and schemes of these NPR executives along with frontier politicians and bonanza farmers eclipse the love story between Frances and her sister-in-law Anne, such as it is. Sixty percent of the story passes before Frances dares more than a perfunctory bedtime kiss. Anne Bingham, a whisper of woman whose voice is no louder than the rustle of the undergarments beneath her skirt, flees the house following that kiss.

This is a really well written historical novel and Marshall’s great use of dialect faithfully portrays the NPR executives, and the farmers many of whom are Norwegian and Jewish. Among them we meet a very minor character named Lil Carl who is the bunkhouse cook and not exactly what s/he seems. From the group of

Norwegians comes the delightful voice of Kristen Knudson. Kristen goes to work for the Bingham’s following her father’s death. Her story and Frances’s eventually overlap with Kristen rescuing Frances and her son Houghton.

In the first few pages, Frances explains that she is familiar with the leanness that a woman allows herself to be satisfied. It was, “necessary, she supposed, for women whose role it would be to secure a husband precisely to produce his heirs, for women who would be happiest the less they knew of happiness. It was a meagerness that she could not abide.” And yet Frances did abide the meagerness causing the reader to abide it as well in this story of discovery and unrequited love.

Frankly I was disappointed with this novel and the paucity of estrogen which nearly precluded me from labeling it as lesbian historical fiction. Frances was an ignored and abused wife ninety percent of the story and a widow and mother the remainder. In the Dakota Territory where women were allowed to own property, I expected a stronger female presence and a more developed lesbian story.

Bosom Friends' Books On Kindle

2011-08-04T15:53:00.000-07:00

These books from The List are presently available on Kindle in the United Statws. An asterisk (*) before the title indicates a review here on Bosom Friends.

Check The List (tabs above) for links to these books and many more in both US ans UK.

*Affinity by Sarah Waters

All True Lovers by Sarah Aldridge – 1930′s America
And Those Who Trespass Against Us by Helen Macpherson – 1872 Australia
*Backwards to Oregon by Jae - Pioneer America
*Beloved Pilgrim by Nan Hawthorne – Crusade of 1101
Bittersweetby Nevada Barr – 1800s America
Branded Ann by Merry Shannon – Piracy
Brigid’s Charge by Cynthia Lamb – 1700 America
Christie and the Hellcat by Barbara Davies – 1880′s Western
*Dakota, or What's a Heaven For? by Brenda K. Marshall - American pioneers
Fall On Your Knees by Anne Marie MacDonald – 1920′s
Fingersmith by Sarah Waters
Fried Green Tomatoes at the Whistlestop Cafe by Fannie Flagg - 1930′s America onwards
Hidden Truths, by Jae - sequel to Backwards to Oregon, Oreon Trail 1850s
House of Clouds (Bold Strokes Victory Editions) by K I Thompson – American Civil War
Innocent Hearts by Radclyffe – America
Ladylegger by Carol McKenzie – 1920′s America
Land Beyond Maps by Maida Tilchen – 1930′s Americas
Last Train Home by Blayne Cooper – 1880′s America
*Lizzie by Evan Hunter - 1890
Miss McGhee by Bett Norris – 1948
*Patience and Sarah by Isabel Miller and Emma Donoghue – Pioneer America
Promising Hearts by Radclyffe – 1860′s Western
Quicksand and Passing by Nella Larsen – 1920′s
*Rebeccah and the Highwayman by Barbara Davies – 1700′s England
Reiko’s Garden by Brenda Adcock – WWII
*Sappho Sings by Peggy Ullman Bell REVIEW
*Sistine Heresy by Justine Saracen – Renaissance Italy
*Snow Flower and the Secret Fan by Lisa See – 19th century China
*Southern Rose by Mary Winter – American Civil War
Summer Will Show by Sylvia Townsend Warner – 1848 Europe
Tempus Fugit by Mavis Applewater – 1950′s and 60′s America
*The Boleyn Wife by Brandy Purdy – Tudors (as The Tudor Wife)
The Color Purple by Alice Walker – 1930s
The Empress by Lucius Parhelion – 190/20′s
The Grass Widow by Nanci Little – 1870′s Kansas
The Night Watch by Sarah Waters - WWII
The Remarkable Journey of Miss Tranby Quirke by Elizabeth Ridley – 1900′s London
The River by Ria Goff – 1940′s Hollywood
The Sealed Letter by Emma Donoghue – 1864 England
*The Secret of Lighthouse Pointe by Patty G. Henderson - 19th century New England
Tipping the Velvet by Sarah Waters – Victorian England
War on the Margins by Libby Cone – WWI
Winterkill by Joyce K Walsh – 1932

This book is on Kindle in French only:
Mademoiselle de Maupin by Theophile Gautier – 19th Century France

The following book is available on audio from Audible.com.

Life Mask by Emma Donoghue

Review:The Secret of Lighthouse Pointe, by Patty G. Henderson

2011-07-27T10:41:00.000-07:00

The Secret of Lighthouse Pointe

Patty G. Henderson

Reviewed by Gwen Mayo

I love historical novels, so it was a delight to be offered the chance to review a Gothic romantic suspense novel, set in a spooky old New England house, complete with a decrepit lighthouse. However, I couldn't post a review of this one without making the following disclaimer. Patty G. Henderson and I are both members of the online Sisters in Crime (Guppies) chapter and occasionally interact on the chapter's email list. That said, the following is, in my opinion, a fair and honest review of The Secret of Lighthouse Pointe.

From the first page I was caught up in the desperation of her heroine. Patty G. Henderson excels in writing great characters. Constance Beechum is a penniless young woman teetering on the brink of suicide after being dismissed from her job. The arrival of a letter from her uncle is the call to adventure that saves her from herself. He has arranged a job for her.

Elizabeth Gerard, the dying matriarch of the family, is in need of a nurse. Accepting the job plunges Constance into the shady world of the Gerard family. It is no secret that the Gerard brothers want their mother dead. They view Constance as an impediment to their inheritance and plot to get her out of the house. Constance must confront their open hostility to her presence in the household, cope with unwelcome advances from both the Gerard brothers, and try to make Elizabeth’s last days easier. The job is complicated by her attraction to Elizabeth’s mysterious tenant, George Kane.

Patty G. Henderson has well honed skill as a storyteller. Her pacing kept me turning pages. The plot turns on dark, sometimes sinister, secrets. The Secret of Lighthouse Pointe captures the mood of the dark brooding family and its decaying fortunes very well. The only place where Henderson fails is that in 1812 one could not send a telegram. Fortunately, the error occurred near the end of the book and did not stop me from enjoying an overall excellent read.

Review:Backwards To Oregon, by Jae

2011-07-25T16:44:00.000-07:00

Backwards To Oregon

Jae

Reviewed by Nan Hawthorne

Luke Hamilton is a woman living as a man. S/he has just left the army to head down the Oregon Trail with a wagon train and claim the land the territory will give any man… and notice I said "man"... so s/he can begin a horse farm. S/he meets and asks a prostitute named Nora to marry him... her.. oh heck, let’s just stick to the biological. Her. Though I admit I don’t much like calling Luke what she would not call herself.. him.

Nora accepts Luke’s proposal not knowing Luke is a woman. How this is possible is that Luke from the start tells her she is proposing only a business partnership, not a real marriage with conjugal rights and all that. She explains she needs someone to help out with the wagon, though her real reason is that having a wife and child, Nora’s daughter Amy, helps her maintain her cover of being a man.

Most of the novel is about the journey and the negotiations Luke and Nora make between them to live harmoniously together. I don’t think it's much of a spoiler to say that Nora does eventually find out Luke is a woman, so the question changes from “Will she find out?” to “What will she do about it?” When Nora turns out to be pregnant by one of her brothel customers the plot just thickens, though for the two women it is less of an issue than Luke’s obvious growing attraction to Nora.

The story is told in a combination of short vignettes and more involved subplots along the Oregon Trail. You can almost see a list of the possible plot twists of any pioneer journey story being checked off: a child’s illness, a life-threatening accident , fear of Indians, tensions within the wagon train, childbirth in the wild, deprivation, weariness, despondency, hunger and so forth. But it works. Beautifully. It actually made me want to follow the trail myself, to see what they were up against.

Jae, the author, is a psychologist, and she says right off the bat that she writes to explore how individuals grow and overcome fears and learn to trust. You can follow the evolution of Nora and Luke, as well as a couple other characters. This could be tiresome if the characters were standard, but they are not in this novel. Luke is fully realized, complex, credible, appealing, and natural, and so is Nora. You learn why they are the way they are, not only in how their personalities originated but also what influences either helped them or held them back. Luke was on her own from the age of twelve and took on a male identity to survive. There is a wonderful line that says, perhaps not in so many words, that the clothing and personality she has adopted are now the only way she can be herself. That resonated with me since my own Elisabeth says much the same thing in Beloved Pilgrim. Nora was betrayed by a man and thrown out by her parents, needing to fall back on joining a brothel just so she and her daughter would survive. She has had the worst experience of men being exposed only to the worst among them, so it is no wonder she accepts Luke as a means to an end and constantly judges her actions and intentions based on her jaundiced view of men.

This is a love story. It is developed excruciatingly and deliciously slowly. It is easier to understand how Luke comes to love Nora, but how will Nora handle Luke’s being a woman? how can she possibly actually love her.

Another thing I liked about this story is watching how, in their separate ways, Luke and Nora come to an understanding that being female does not mean you are weak. Luke learns about women’s strength by watching the pioneer women work and cope with hardship. Nora is challenged in her assumptions about what it is to be a woman when first Luke treats her with respect and support and then when she discovers this person she thought was a strong man is really a strong woman.

In short, I just loved this novel. It is intelligent, well conceived and developed, full of heart but sparing with sentiment. That English is not Jae’s native language surprised me.. there is no way to tell reading her work. I am so happy to learn that there is a sequel, Hidden Truths. I thank Jae for making sure both books are text to speech enabled on Kindle so I could have the wonderful experience of getting to know and love Luke and Nora.

Review: Lizzie, A Novel, by Evan Hunter

2011-07-19T00:00:00.000-07:00

Lizzie

Evan Hunter

Reviewed by Brandy Purdy

This novel by Evan Hunter a.k.a. Ed McBain tells the story of a little known event from the life of Lizzie Borden, her Grand Tour of Europe in 1890, two years before the axe murders of her father and stepmother that assured her place, to this day, in the annals of infamy, crime, and history.

Factual details about Lizzie's Grand Tour are scarce, so it is fertile ground for a novelist to weave a tale around. In this novel, Lizzie falls under the spell of a free-spirited English woman and lets her latent lesbian tendencies surface and blossom under this worldly and sophisticated woman's expert tutelage.

The story is told in alternating chapters that move back and forth between Lizzie's Grand Tour and dramatized but actual testimony from the murder trial in 1892-93 leading up to Lizzie's return to dull, dreary, prim, narrow-minded Fall River, Massachusetts after the excitement of Victorian London, Paris, and the Riviera, and, of course, her sexual awakening. The later chapters detail the murders of Andrew and Abby Borden and the motive for them, about which I will say nothing so as not to spoil it for anyone who might want to read the book. I personally felt that the insertion of the trial testimony, though interesting in its own right, disrupted the flow of the story, but that is merely my personal opinion.

For anyone interested in the Lizzie Borden case this fictional account will doubtless make interesting reading.

Reprinted with permission from Brandy Purdy's News and Views.

Review: Affinity,. by Sarah Waters

2011-07-16T00:00:00.000-07:00

Affinity

Sarah Waters

Margaret tried to kill herself after her father died and the friend with whom she was in love married her brother. Her overprotective mother is dubious when an old friend of her husband suggest that Margaret might find volunteering as "a lady visitor" at the prison where he works healing. The women's prison and its inmates are a revelation to her, but none more than Selena, a spiritualist convicted of assaulting a young woman who had come to her for help with depression. Margaret befriends Selena, becomes obsessed with her, and Selena seems to return the regard. Ultimately Margaret agrees to help Selena escape prison. The odd thing is that Margaret is willing to believe that Selena has powers that will allow her to dematerialize in prison and come through a "spiritual cord" to her.

The use of dual first person in this novel is effective because it is in the form of two separate journals, Margaret's and Selena's from before she was imprisoned. Since everything that happens is reported immediately after its occurrence, the reader is fed the story gradually, so impressions and deceptions are credible. It is not a matter of someone telling the story sometime later, which always makes one wonder how they can be so objective about earlier events knowing the conclusion of the matter. In Margaret's journal you hear her reasoning for accepting what she does, while with Selena's the reader gets an unfiltered look into what happened in her life but without much insight on the part of the young woman. Thanks to this you will find yourself going back to reread earlier parts and reinterpreting them in light of later knowledge.

That is as close as I am going to come to a spoiler. All I will add is a recommendation to look at every prop as a symbol. Especially look at symbolism around clothing.

Besides being a wonderfully written and terribly chilling story, this novel offers a look at the prison system in Victorian England, one that is run on religious principles, harsh and far from enlightened thought. The women inmates and their lives are complex and range from pathetic to outright repulsive, but the prison matrons are no better. Margaret can be credited with the self knowledge that because of her class her attempted suicide makes her a candidate not for prison but for medical help..

This is an intelligent, thoughtful and compelling novel that will haunt you for a long time.

Review: Sistine Heresy, by Justine Saracen

2011-07-11T00:00:00.000-07:00

Sistine Heresy
Justine Saracen

Reviewed by Nan Hawthorne

With a couple unnecessary celebrity walk-ons and and unclear point, this novel is nonetheless enjoyable if you just read for the story.

Adriana is the widow and former mistress of two notorious Borgia men, Juan and Cesare respectively. The death of the two men's father, Pope Alexander, whose papal see was rife with corruption and lasciviousness, provides an entre for the Inquisition after its tour de force in Spain. The characters in this Renaissance Italian novel are, besides Adriana, the artist Michelangelo, castrato Domenico, and a young cross dressing artist in love with Adriana named Raphaella. The two sins the Inquisitor hates most are sodomy and the use of pagan images in art and ideas in science and philosophy. Our quartet is rife with both and the threat to them is constant. In the meantime, Michelangelo is painting the ceiling of the Sistine Chapel.

Read simply as the love stories of Adriana and Raphaella and of Michelangelo and Domenico this novel is quite satisfying, set against a familiar setting of Rome just as the Reformation is starting elsewhere. The trouble is that it's all supposed to lead up to the "Sistine heresy", and the final resolution just doesn't live up to its promise. Throwing in Martin Luther and Leonardo Davinci's felt gratuitous to me. Otherwise the conflicts within and between the characters lack a coherrence the novel seems to promise. With all of Adriana's hearkening back to her earlier life, perhaps a longer novel, starting much earlier, would have given the author enough time to let us really see what was going on with the characters. What remains is one sad and frustrating love story and one rather delayed but sweet one.

Review: Rebeccah and the Highwayman, by Barbara Davies

2011-07-09T00:00:00.000-07:00

Rebeccah and the Highwayman

By Barbara Davies

Reviewed by Nan hawthorne

This book is about as fun as a book can get! The only flaw I found was also a solution for a lack I find in all books, sso I can't really call it a flaw.

Kate is a highwayman... or should I say "person of highway"? She is infamous under the name Blue-eyed Nick and is celebrated for her daring adventures. Rebeccah and her mother and sister, traveling back to London after visiting family, are well aware of "Nick's" legend so they know what to expect when he waylays them. But Rebeccah did not expect riveting blue eyes and kindness, both of which haunt her long after the incident. For her part, kate, who knows the allure of love forr a woman, finds herself remembering spirited green eyes. In the meantime Rebeccah's sister has set the hounds on "Nick", that is, she has hired a man to hunt the highwayman down and arrest him. A couple more encounters with Kate and Rebeccah is becoming aware that she is in love and when Nick is proven to be Kate, she must make sense of love for a woman. Can Rebeccah keep Kate out of the clutches of the hangman, and if so, is there a way they can find to live together as lovers in a society that will not tolerate "the love that dare not speak its name"?

I found Kate terribly sexy and appealing, the female swashbuckler of my dreeams. Davies, the author, pulls off an entirely believable heroine in Kate. Rebeccah for her part is just enough of a nonconformist to make choices another woman of her time might balk at. The story is exciting, titillating, and full of authentic historical material. A lovely cameo by Sarah Churchill, the Duchess of Marlborough, is a real treat.

The "flaw" I alluded to is that the plot hurtles to a crisis then must retreat into more mundane concerns, but that, whiel a bit hard on the pace of the book, answers a few dozen questions for the reader about what happens next and how do they work out the problems, so I was content.

I read constantly, usually for reviewss, and I can tell you this novel was far from a chore, rather a delight.

Review: Tiopa Ki Lakota, by D. Jordan Redhawk

2011-07-05T10:04:00.000-07:00

Tiopa Ki Lakota

D. Jordan Redhawk

Reviewed by Morgayne

Tiopa Ki Lakota is the most wonderfully told story of a Lakota shaman and warrior. Anpo is eight when the tribal shaman has a vision about her and tells Anpo’s father that his daughter is two-spirited. Neither female nor male, Anpo will be a shaman and warrior as well as a bridge for her people in many ways and a highly-respected member of her Lakota tribe.

D. Jordan Redhawk is so overwhelmingly detailed and accurate in her portrayal of the culture of Anpo’s Lakota people from 1761 until 1783 that reading became a virtual reality. Anpo’s vision of tatanka ska stirred in me and together we hunted her sacred white buffalo on the Great Plains. Along with Anpo I felt the complete and utter freedom to be one’s self, no questions asked, when the tribe watched her run shirtless with the little boys. And when Anpo found the woman of her vision I rejoiced with the members of her village.

With the introduction of Kathleen McGlashan Stevens to the story there is a sharp juxtaposition of Native American and white ways. It would be an act of xenogeny as well as hypocrisy to judge the Lakota and other Native American tribes in this novel based on their ownership of slaves. Nevertheless my stomach clenched when the warrior from a nearby tribe took Kathleen captive from her and her husband’s homestead near the Ohio River.

Kathleen finally comes to Anpo as a slave won on a wager and is fair to say that she is liberated. Her liberation is from an unkind slave owner as well as her white family’s expectation of her to be married to a man and it explains her cherished position as Anpo’s wife. Kathleen is free to love her woman and as a woman of the tribe it is her valued job to take care of Anpo.

Ketlin, as Anpo and her tribe call Kathleen, adds a rich, Irish counterpoint to the story with her internal dialogue. Lass, she says to herself, if I make it back home how am I going to explain being married to a woman? But she admits to herself that she cannot get enough of Anpo. This is the tenderest of love stories set in the most unlikely time and in the most unlikely place.

The writing style of the novel is eloquent and resonant of both the Irish settlers to America and the Lakota. Dialogue throughout is rich in Lakota and there is a small glossary in the back that helps with translation and pronunciation. Rather than being annoyed when I flipped back occasionally I found it really useful and it enhanced the experience, sort of like chop sticks with Chinese takeout.

If your little dyke longed to play a more pc version of cowgirls and Indians this is the book for you. As Anpo and Ketlin walk the dirt paths of their tent village wrapped in buffalo robes demonstrating their love and commitment to one another they are viewed by their tribal members and recognized as a family and valued by their society. Catharsis in a novel! I highly recommend it.

Review: Appalachian Justice, by Melinda Clayton

2011-06-29T12:47:00.000-07:00

Appalachian Justice

Melinda Clayton

Reviewed by Gwen Mayo

Appalachian Justice is a powerful story. It is Billy May Platte’s story, told mostly in her voice, and filled with the beauty and hardship of her mountain home. Her voice is strong enough to give the story rich texture, but to an ear unaccustomed to the Appalachian mountain dialect it might be difficult to follow. This book is not an easy read, but I encourage readers to make the effort. The characters alone make it a worthwhile story.

Aside from the Appalachian dialect, which will seem like another language to some readers, the book poses other challenges to the reader. Perspective shifts are frequent and sometimes last only a paragraph, and Clayton employs abrupt changes of time and place. Appalachian Justice travels regularly between 2010 and 1975, sometimes going back to the end of World War II. It is often violent. The book slices open the harsh realities of child abuse, rape, prejudice, suicide, and the closed lipped silence of those who know the truth. It is a critical story of home and finding our way there.

Melinda Clayton also does an excellent job bringing even minor characters alive on the page. Her main characters have astonishing depth. The honesty of her protagonist lingers in the mind long after the book is finished, as does the venom of her tobacco spitting antagonist. Clayton has created a villain that makes cold chills run down the spine. Rarely have I seen a character that could get under my skin like this one. Therein lies another one of the difficulties of the book. Appalachian Justice grabbed me by the emotions and did not let go. It took me back to my own childhood, growing up in Eastern Kentucky and reminded me of painful truths about being lesbian in a rural community.

The mountain twang of Clayton’s protagonist rises off the page like the notes of a dulcimer, wrapping the reader in crisp mountain air. Billy May’s story is essentially a love story, but it is also a story of courage and compassion, loss and redemption, and of an impoverished mountain town searching for its lost soul. Appalachian Justice pries into the dark recesses of small town life in a way that is uncomfortably personal. I could easily follow Billy May’s speech, but didn’t always like where her words took me.

Review: Loving My Lady, by Penelope Friday

2011-06-24T00:00:00.000-07:00

Cornwall

Loving My Lady

Penelope Friday

Torquere Press
978-7-77060-665-6

Reviewed by Athena Sampaio:,

Set in Regency England, Loving My Lady is the story of young Cordelia Brownlow and Lady Juliet Dennyson, Cordelia’s cousin by marriage. When Cordelia’s father dies, she despairs at the amount of debts he leaves behind. Her only answer is to sell her family house, Ashworth, and risk being homeless until she can find a place to live. Her salvation comes from Lady Juliet when she offers to buy Ashworth and keep Cordelia as a companion. What should be the answer to her prayers, however, becomes the road to a tumultuous future instead.

Lady Juliet teaches Cordelia all the delights two women can offer each other, in and out of bed. The only problem is Cordelia finds herself falling in love with her Lady, and she soon starts to yearn for Lady Juliet’s love in return. Except, when they are not engaged with each other, Lady Juliet seems more interested in teaching Cordelia how to seduce and scorn men instead. But what Cordelia doesn’t know is that Juliet’s seemingly cold and uncaring manner is in fact hiding terrible secrets from her past that could devastate their future together.

I have mixed feelings about this book. On one hand, I simply loved it. There is so much emotion in this story, sometimes raw in its intensity, sometimes honed and subtle, and as I was reading I could do nothing but feel everything it offers right along with the characters. I would rejoice over Cordelia’s triumphs, just as I would despair over Juliet’s heartbreaks. The plot in itself is incredibly captivating, and the story is so well-written that I was soon completely immerged in it. Cordelia and Juliet are lively and real, and they truly breathe life into this Regency tale. In fact, all of the characters have very specific and important roles that propel the story forward.

On the other hand, I was incredibly frustrated with this book as well. The beginning moved so fast, I found no space to enjoy Cordelia and Juliet meeting each other, nor did I see them flirt and dance around their tentative romance like Cordelia suggests happened. That lack of development this early really hurt their relationship throughout the story, because from then on I never really felt truly connected to them as a couple. On the contrary, I was more invested in them as individuals instead. Also, I feel the plot as a whole is not as developed as it could be. There were just too many questions left unanswered all throughout, and wondering about them distracted me from enjoying the story. For instance, I could not stop thinking about how improbable Juliet’s excuse to have Cordelia as her companion is. From what I gathered, Cordelia and Juliet had never met before the day Juliet moved in. So, how is Juliet being so confident about desiring Cordelia without having ever met her even possible?

However, as the story progressed, the pacing slowed down enough to allow important details to be made available to the reader. Aside from the heartbreaking story that surrounds Juliet and her past, I truly loved how we get a clear sense of Juliet’s character, of her inner thoughts and feelings, from just Cordelia’s second-hand observations. Even though the story is from Cordelia’s first person narration, I felt like I knew Juliet almost as intimately as I knew Cordelia. That clear sense of characterization combined with a flawless narration and a realistic dialogue are all evidence of the powerful writing this book has. Yet, there were tiny factors that still irked me throughout the story. Though I am thankful this book challenged my way of thinking and brought powerful and conflicting emotions to the forefront, I couldn’t help but feel the plot could have been more developed, more full of action and reaction, especially when taking into consideration how emotionally complex Juliet’s and her brother Robert’s pasts are. I didn’t like just being told about the conflicts through dialogue, regardless of how well delivered it was. And I just wasn’t convinced at how quickly and how “cleanly” everything was resolved and presented to the reader.

In short, Loving My Lady is an emotionally charged book that truly challenges the senses. Cordelia and Juliet are two strong and passionate characters, the plot is intricate and entrancing, and the writing is superb. Though the pace is off, and some parts of the story are glossed over and some questions are left unanswered, I really enjoyed reading about these two great characters and their journey. As it stands now, I believe this book is not nearly as powerful or as impressionable as it has the potential to be. However, it is without a doubt a beautiful love story.

Review: The Boleyn Wife, by Brandy E. Purdy

2011-06-20T00:00:00.000-07:00

The Boleyn Wife

Brandy E. Purdy

Reprinted from That's All She Read, by Nan Hawthorne.

This is not a lesbian book per se, but the interpretation of the historical figures, Anne of Cleves and Catherine Howard, the fourth and fifth wives of Henry VIII, as well as the Evergreen Gallants, is worth a read for anyone interested in GLBT people in history.

I am not a big fan of the Tudors, in spite of being distantly related on my father's side to the Boleyns. Part of the reason I am not a fan is that there are just too darn many books about them, and they are rarely any different from the others. That is one reason I liked this book. IIt simply was refreshingly different, focused on characters/historical figures on the periphery of the usual stories, and was less of a fashion show than most Tudor books.

It is the story of Anne Boleyn's sister in law Jane. Jane married the man of her dreams, George Boleyn, and promptly probed that you can't demand love. You have to inspire it. George, whose sexuality ran to both men and women, might have been able to tolerate Jane if she had just not been so entirely unpleasant, jealous, and far from fun-loving and a needy clinging wife. She, of course, thought he was just overly attached to Anne, his sister. Perhaps, but a little self examination would have told her that she could have been part of Anne's milieu and at least enjoyed George’s, Anne's and the other Gallants' companionship.
Unfortunately for everyone and I mean everyone, Jane's lack of insight and understanding proved lethal. Her jealousy led her to jump on the bandwagon when Henry listened to rumors that Anne was promiscuous. She accused her own husband of incest with his sister, hoping it would just scare him back into her bed, not get him beheaded. It almost didn't, but his integrity and loyalty to his sister caused him to cook his own goose at his treason trial. We all know the outcome. Anne, George, the Evergreen Gallants (Anne's clique) and a poor innocent minstrel were all executed on Tower Hill.

Fast forward one wife, namely Jane Seymour, the mousy little thing that produced a sickly heir then died from doing so. Next is the classic bait and switch marriage of Anna of Cleves to Henry VIII, who found her nothing like her portrait. He simply divorced her, no hard feelings, and no thunder rolled around the throne this time. (Reference to a Sir Thomas Wyatt poem.) Henry turns his attentions on a Lolita in a farthingale, Catherine Howard, and this time around Jane Boleyn goes the other way with the relationship. Instead of lying about the queen being promiscuous, she lies about the queen not being promiscuous and even helps her make her deadly assignations. This time when the queen gets her head cut off, so does Jane.
The novel has some problems, it's true. The sneaking about and listening to private intercourse of both varieties spreads a little thin, but this is inevitable with first person narratives. The narrator, usually a woman, in these novels has to have a reason she knows what is going on, and it's gotta be sneaking around, messengers running back and forth day and night, or psychic visitations -- unless you think of someone to write about who has an excuse to be everywhere at once. It ain't easy. As long as publishers insist on first person female, this sort of thing is unavoidable. The other thing I found unlikely was Jane's trust with Thomas Cromwell, a truly minor point.

The strengths of this novel, whether in its old incarnation or the expanded editions available now, more than outweigh these minor concerns. First of all, it is a fun, somewhat tongue in cheek purposefully outrageous book at times, and I found that, as I write above, admirable. Unlike too many Tudor novels it is not worshipful. It is my far from humble opinion that all those bloggers and Amazon review writers who are incensed at the sexuality in the book are the very people who are selling the literally thousands of copies, particularly in the UK. If you don't like rampant sex in a novel, then don't read books that have it. That means never read a single book I write, as I love adding sex to my hero's lives. Further, this novel shows the Tudor court for both its sinister and silly side, vividly and lavishly, and for that I am grateful.

Seriously there is one theme in this book that quite touched me, and that is the courage and fidelity of the men who surrounded Anne Boleyn, all the men but Henry, that is. George Boleyn, Sir Francis Westin, Sir Thomas Wyatt, and the others, all could have turned state's evidence on Anne, but they chose to stick by her, to tell the truth, to accept the political reality that this integrity would not be used in their defense. The execution scenes of these men are heartbreaking. I was deeply touched, and frankly haunted by the scenes ever after. This is what this book is all about. It is about what loyalty and friendship really are, and how it happens because of the goodness and affection of the people involved and for no other reason.

I have the advantage writing this review so late in the game to be able to comment on some of the bizarre criticisms of the book. A few crackpots accuse Purdy and her publishers of trying to pull a fast one by having the book published at one time or another under three different titles. Hello! This is a commonplace in book publishing. Why people get so bent out of shape about this is beyond me. All it demonstrates is the lack of knowledge of and crackpotness of the critics who focus on this issue.

I look forward to Purdy's next books. I just adored The Confession of Piers Gaveston. I am sad it has not yet been picked up by a mainstream publisher. Purdy, by the way, gave me the digital copy of the book as a gift and also for this review. I have since bought it and it is in a place of honor on my bookshelf.

Review: Sappho Sings, by Peggy Ullman Bell

2011-06-15T13:09:00.000-07:00

Sappho Sings

Peggy Ullman Bell

Reviewed by Nan Hawthorne

The historical Sappho, about whom we sadly know so little, was known in her time as The Poetess, and fittingly Peggy Ullman Bell has made this fictional biography a work full of beauty and poetry. The novel is strewn with verse by Sappho herself and by her literary descendants, like Byron and Swinburne, each piece perfect for where it resides along the garden path of the story. This is a lovely, sensitive interpretation of the poet's life, and the included poetry makes it a veritable garden of delights.

Sappho, or Psappha as she would have called herself in her own tongue, is a young girl who has just lost her unfeeling mother who becomes caught up in political turmoil with her libertine betrothed, Alkaios, with whom she is exiled. They are separated by shipwreck, Psappha is rescued by a Sicilian merchant who later marries her. After his death she returns to Lesbos to create a school of arts for privileged maidens. Her obsession with one particular young maiden, Atthis, disrupts her life and relationships but contributes mightily to her stock of brilliant poems. Just as Psappha reunites with her dearest love, the African queen Gongyla, she receives an invitation to become part of an elite convocation of poets, the first woman ever to be so honored. It is on the voyage to accept the honor that Psappha confronts her apotheosis.

The character of Psappha herself can be hard to love. She is prone to extremes of actions and emotions. She can't hold her tongue when she ought to, she allows herself too much rope in how she deals with others, and she can be self-involved. Her defiance of the Tyrant of Lesbos gets her and Alkaios exiled. Her disapproval of the Sicilian merchant's "harem" isolates her from those with whom she could ally. Her reaction to her husband's death is "How could the gods do this to me?" rather than "to him?" When she wants something, whether Atthis the dancer or her sexy young fisherman, she disregards everyone else's feelings. But I liked this interpretation of Sappho. She was real, full of heart and color, and not an idealized Famous Lesbian.

Other characters were as complex and vivid. Gongyla is strong, exotic and steadfast, though she has her own submerged grief. Psappha's daughter Klies is the mirror image of herself but directed away from Psappha so she gets a taste of her own self-absorption. Atthis, the innocent young dancer, turns out to be pure poison. I was especially drawn to Lycos, the gay hairdresser/bookkeeper, who never let Psappha get away with any crap. His relationship with the lovable wastrel Alkaios is a painful one, but they ally to bring Psappha what she wants most in the world.

And this alliance is part of a central theme, Psappha's frustration with a growing limitation on women's freedom. Though ostensibly free on Lesbos, she nevertheless is chided for going out in public. She detests the new tradition of "harems", even though her husband only uses the one he inherited from his father to give women someplace safe and healthy to live. Psappha must contend with men to maintain her freedom, bitterly reflecting that no matter how esteemed she is as a poet and teacher in the world, she is still denied partnership with men as an equal.

Interestingly Peggy Ullman Bell portrays Psappha in sexual relationships with both women and men. This fits the history or at least the tradition. Psappha is simply sexual, taking what she wants and needs where it is best found, whether her sexually adept husband , her passionate Gongyla, her hot young fisherman, or her sweet gentle Alkaios. Whatever her sexuality, however, it is her love for the remarkable Gongyla that occupies her heart and her love of women that brings the poetry.

Peggy Ullman Bell brings us a realized interpretation of what the Tenth Muse, Sappho, may have been like and she does it with lyrical skill of her own, complemented with the bittersweet words of some romantic poets clearly that are the Poetess's heirs.

I bought this novel for my Kindle 3, and I thank the author for enabling text to speech so I could experience it in all its beauty.

Review: Time Well Bent: Queer Alternative Histories, Connie Wilkkins, Editor

2011-06-14T00:00:00.000-07:00

Time Well Bent: Queer Alternative Histories

Connie Wilkins, Editor

Reprinted from That's All She Read, by Nan Hawthorne

I am convinced that historical fiction is how you take a series of recorded events and illustrate them to make them real by speculating how it may have been for the people who lived through it. One of my favorite examples is Anel Viz's Memoirs of Colonel Gérard Vreilhac where the experience of living in Paris during the storming of the Bastille but in another part of the city may have been like: how did you find out about it? what did you think? Were you afraid? Did you have a loved one you worried about? Nothing about the sequence of the notable events will give you that insight. That's where the historical novelist comes in, lending his or her empathy, imagination and intelligence to color an otherwise gray set of facts.

How more poignant then that whole communities of people are rarely represented in historical fiction? I am, of course, talking about gays and lesbians here. I remember reading an Amazon review of Brandy Purdy's The Boleyn Wife where the reader was shocked and dismayed at the portrayal of the gay members of the Evergreen Gallants. How much worse was it to be one of those fellows, or others if they were not gay, and knowing that simply because you loved and desired a person of your gender could result in your being torn apart and killed. This anthology of "what if" stories about gay and lesbian people, historical, interpreted or fictional, seeks to address that gap in our understanding of the human race and its history. Here, finally, that overlooked insight into what had so much impact on so many lives.

"What if" -- that is what every story in this multi-period selection of historical short stories asks. What if T. E. Lawrence could come to grips with his sexuality and realize that he was most effective and fulfilled while helping the people of the Arabic world? What if Thomas Jefferson had insisted the right to marry as one wished was in the Bill of Rights? What if Isabella had known and loved a Moorish woman when she was young and as a result not pushed for the expulsion of non-Catholics from Spain? What if, instead of Marlowe, the man killed in Deptford was William Shakespeare, and Shakespeare's plays after that were written by Marlowe- and Shakespeare's twin sister Judith? Those are the famous examples, but the book is full of more ordinary people. What if the woman chemist who parachuted into World War II Brittany had been responsible for the infamous explosion that destroyed a bridge and the Nazi munitions stored there? What if some Dutch mariners discovered that Coleridge's Xanadu was very real?

These stories are fun, insightful, challenging and sometimes quite moving. Of the last, my choice is Emily Salter's A Happier Year, in which a bereaved man seeks out E. M. Forster in the years after World War I because the author's novel allowed him to have a short period of utter contentment with the lover who died on the battlefield. That Lawrence might find contentment and completion made this old fan happy with At Reading Station, Changing Trains by C.A. Gardner. And don't tell me you can resist wanting to know Sandra Barret 's take on what happened to the Lost Colony of Roanoke!

The stories are:
A Wind Sharp As Obsidian by Rita Oakes
The Final Voyage Of The Hesperus by Steven Adamson
Roanoke by Sandra Barret
A Marriage Of Choice by Dale Chase
The High Cost For Tamarind by Steve Berman
A Spear Against The Sky by M P Ericson
Sod ’Em by Barry Lowe
Morisca by Erin Mackay
Great Reckonings, Little Rooms by Catherine Lundoff
Barbaric Splendor by Simon Sheppard
Opening Night by Lisabet Sarai
A Happier Year by Emily Salter
The Heart Of The Storm by Connie Wilkins
At Reading Station, Changing Trains by C.A. Gardner

Not every story is A+ material, but they are nevertheless compelling. Along with Wilkins' astute introduction they combine to make speculative historical fiction, one of my favorite genres -- though isn't all historical fiction speculative? -- more complete and inclusive... and full of life, love, and hope.

I purchased this book of short stories on Smashwords and read them on my Kindle 3.

Review: Southern Rose, by Mary Winter

2011-06-11T00:00:00.000-07:00

Southern Rose

Mary Winter

Pink Petal Books

Reviewed by Nan Hawthorne

Part of the appeal of historical fiction when it comes to GLBT novels is seeing how people find love and fulfillment in a time even more unfriendly to their happiness than now. When they overcome the odds set against them, it is just that much more gratifying to see love take root and grow. That is very much the case with the two women, Agnes and Rose, in Mary Winter’s Southern Rose, a lesbian erotic novel.

The setting is new Hope, Missouri, and the Civil War rages in the background. Rose is a widow who lost both her beloved husband and her child to scarlet fever no more than a year earlier. She has come to live with Agnes, a seamstress, in order to take a job as the town’s schoolteacher. She does not suspect the truth about Agnes, that in fact she is no respectable married woman but a former prostitute whose husband is a gay man who married Agnes to give her what she needed in polite society, a cover story. He is away at war, so the two women are thrown alone together. Each has had experience of love of another woman, though Agnes’s is much more sophisticated. When Rose nervously asks her landlady whether she gets “urges”, Agnes takes her to her room and shows her her wooden dildo collection. You can guess where that leads.

Of course, though this is clearly erotica, there is a story other than the ensuing sex. This is where the historical element shines. Beyond the two women’s inevitable inner conflict about whether she will think this, or whether the other will respond, and whether each is imagining the other’s interest, you have the social pressure that what each is doing is “wrong” and could be dangerous. The level of tension that results can be painful. What pulls the women together in spite of all that is stacked against their union is the compulsion of desire and ultimately true love. Agnes for instance is terrified to let anyone know, especially Rose, about her past. Will Rose be disgusted? Will she reject Agnes once she knows?

An interesting aspect of the two women’s relationship is the play of who’s stronger and who's the more innocent. At first it seems that Agnes, the worldly wise, is the rock. Then Rose, all Southern womanhood turns out to be the “steel magnolia”. Though not so street smart as Agnes, Rose turns out to be the sensible one when it comes to dealing with society.

The story takes place over just a few days, liberally supplied with erotic scenes that are explicit and poetic at the same time. The sense of the era is provided with brief effective observations, such as how a woman could not own property in her own right unless she inherited it from a late husband. Winter offers contrast between the outside world and the two women’s intimacy rather charmingly with the many layers of clothing that a respectable woman must wear no matter the weather, and it is the topic of appropriate dress for a widow that provides the resolution of the story.

If there was anything I found unpleasant in this short novel is that each woman in her own way shows a selfish disregard for the men in their lives when each expresses satisfaction that the guy died, making this new relationship possible. Agnes thinks about whether the official looking letter from the army will prove to be the news that will free her to pursue Rose. Rose tells Agnes that her late husband’s death is fine since it freed her to love Agnes. I was not comfortable with the throw away notion of these men’s lives. It communicated a coldness and lack of empathy on the part of the women to me. They may of course have felt this way, but if so, I liked the two women the less for it.

Though the author supplied me with the Kindle edition of the novel, I decided to buy it myself to support her. A review of Southern Rose appeared here on Bosom Friends before the two originators split and the other one’s reviews were removed. I promised Winter a new review, so I thought I owed her a sale. I appreciate that Winter and her publisher enabled text to speech on the Kindle edition so I could read it.

Review: The Sea Captain and the Lady, by Vada Foster

2011-06-08T00:00:00.000-07:00

The Sea Captain and the Lady

Vada Foster

Intaglio Publications
978-1-93311-389-0

Reviewed by Athena Sampaio

Colleen Edwards lost her entire family, save for her father Captain Charles Edwards, in an epidemic. A passionate young woman, she gives up her life as a common English lady to join her father in his travels at sea on his ship, the Betsy Ann. During one of their errands, they port in Nassau, a town in the Caribbean, where Colleen meets Abigail Hume. Abby’s family had been residing in Nassau after the King of England appointed her father as governor of the Bahamas. A young widow, Abby has been escaping suitors for most of her young life until she is convinced she will never marry again. She meets Colleen, and it is love at first sight. But they have to hide their feelings for each other, and meet in secret whenever Colleen is in the mainland, for she knows her parents would marry her off if they ever find out she is in love with another woman.

Their secret romance is cut short when Abby is kidnapped by the infamous pirate Jack Rackham. Colleen and her father set off to save her, but while in pursuit Charles is mortally wounded. Colleen decides to continue on her own, assuming the identity of her deceased brother in order to become the captain her father’s ship. Will Colleen be successful in her ruse and save the woman she loves in time? And if she does, how will they manage to free themselves from Abby’s family to be together and live their love in peace?
The Sea Captain and the Lady is a captivating story about a forbidden love, set in a time where the Caribbean was marked by danger and instability. Ms. Foster does an amazing job at capturing the tension most people felt living under those circumstances. The story starts with Colleen’s fear and pain at watching her family die, and anger at her inability to save them. Such an intense and heartbreaking beginning foreshadows the high emotions yet to come, and establishes right away the integrity and bravery that are so fundamental in Colleen. I really enjoyed knowing both Colleen and Abby as individuals before seeing them as a couple, and I believe the richness and strength of these characters comes from that in depth knowledge we get. However, while the actual moment Colleen and Abby meet is sweet and charming, the actual story seems to jump in leaps and bounds when it comes to their actual romance. From the moment they first saw each other, the plot starts moving so fast, I hardly got to enjoy the process of their falling in love with each other. That portion of the story is actually quite confusing, for it took me a while to figure out, and then believe, that months had gone by during which they grew close.

Then the story leaves the protagonists aside for a couple of chapters in order to introduce the pirates that will kidnap Abby later on. I liked reading about Anne and Mary, and their roles in both the pirate ship and Abby’s life. But, was that really necessary? All that reading about Anne and Mary did was make me a little annoyed at having to “set aside” Abby and Colleen; and when I actually started enjoying and caring about these two lady pirates, they just vanish. Why introduce two characters in such vivid detail, have the narration be from their point-of-view, to then just have them disappear from the story save for a final mention at the end? Even though they were fairly important in Abby’s capture and so forth, they weren’t essential in the grand scheme of things. Moreover, their story was so well written and thought out, that I was actually a little angry that this happened; I felt cheated out from a great storyline. To be honest, I would have preferred that the section used for them had been used to evolve Abby’s and Colleen’s courting better.

Though the plot got a little rocky in the middle, things get back on track later on. The book goes back to the slower and more developed pace from the beginning, and we follow Abby and Colleen consistently and thoroughly. I loved the surprises the ending brings, and I reveled reading about their beautiful story overall. I believe the plot covers too much, and leaves out important aspects that could make these two powerful women truly excel. Yet, I do recommend this book to all fans of historical romance out there, and I fervently hope that Ms. Foster will someday write the story that Anne and Mary deserve.

Review: The Seduction of Moxie, by Colette Moody

2011-06-05T00:00:00.000-07:00

The Seduction of Moxie

Colette Moody

Bold Strokes Books
978-1-60282-408-9

Reviewed by Athena Sampaio:

Moxie Valette is a buxom singer from a small town in Nebraska. She goes to New York after she’s discovered by an agent named Cotton McCann, who believes Moxie has enough talent to make his name. One night, Moxie is presenting at a speakeasy where Broadway actress Violet London and her sex-crazed, droll, and queer friends, Wilhelmina and Julian, are celebrating Violet’s career and upcoming move to star at a movie in Hollywood. Violet is an out and proud lesbian, and the moment she laid her eyes on Moxie, and her ears heard Moxie’s sultry voice, she was bewitched. Only problem is, up until the moment she meets Violet, Moxie believes she’s straight. That, and more, changes after an alcohol induced night filled with debauchery, laughter, sex, and self-discovery.

After such life-altering events, some real and some imaginary, shake Moxie’s foundation, Violet leaves for LA without the chance for a proper good-bye. Their connection, too strong to be simply forgotten, continues across the country, and as each month goes by, the intense feelings these two women feel for each other grows stronger and hotter. Until Moxie is surprised by the opportunity to go to LA with Violet, and what’s supposed to be a quiet and romantic train ride between the two of them turns into another chaotic and hysterical event that includes a tight-assed agent, a disgraced and vengeful friend, a naïve roommate, and several special appearances by real stars of today’s Hollywood. It is a journey that promises to bring LA to its knees.

Violet meeting Moxie is truly one of the funniest things I have ever read. That entire interaction, not just between Violet and Moxie, but also including Violet’s friends, was so masterfully written I had no trouble believing it all happened over a single night. What’s more, the events of that night were indeed intense enough to allow a close and intimate connection to grow between Moxie and Violet. Everything in the ridiculous circumstances this group of people found themselves in portrayed the essence of what the 1930’s was all about with unearthly accuracy.

Though the true power of this book lies with its witty and mirthful dialogue which never failed to deliver spot on humor and appropriate seriousness in due places, characterization is what truly breathed life into this story. As main characters, Violet and Moxie excel as a couple finding true love in a time where nothing is certain due to the changes of an era that was essential to this country’s growth as a nation. They incorporated everything that’s beautiful about sex, comedy, and friendship. I do think there was a slight unbalance in character development between Violet and Moxie. Since both are the main characters, and point-of-view alternates between them fairly equally, I think we should, as readers, know them equally as well. Instead, there are more details about Moxie’s life, and more of her direct impressions and musings, than Violet’s. Violet is such an impressionable character, I couldn’t help but hunger for more information and more depth from her.

The secondary characters are incredible additions to the plot as well, for they supported and emphasized the humorous sexuality this book has. My favorite joke is Wilhelmina’s use of the word “douchebag” and how that carried on throughout rest of the story. Long story short, The Seduction of Moxie, is a well-balanced and well-paced story that brings to life people that I would have loved to meet. I was entranced by this novel, and I was sorry to see it end.

Review: The Sublime and Spirited Voyage of Original Sin, by Colette Moody

2011-06-02T12:43:00.000-07:00

The Sublime and Spirited Voyage of Original Sin

Colette Moody

Bold Strokes Books
978-1-60282-054-8

Reviewed by Athena Sampaio:

It is year 1702, and the high seas are known for the dangerous pirates lurking in constant search for easy prey. This band of pirates, commanded by “Madman” Malvern is no different, with a few exceptions. The current captain is a woman. Prisoners are on board willingly. And every fight seems to start because of a woman. Good thing one particular woman also breaks the norm and brings some wicked luck to the Original Sin’s crew…

Gayle Malvern takes over the mantle of caption of the ship Original Sin from her father after he is mortally wounded from a gunshot. Desperate to get him help, she orders some of her men to abduct a doctor from the mainland. Only they mistake one for the town’s seamstress, Celia Pierce, who is also the actual doctor’s beautiful fiancée. Aboard the ship, she embarks on what soon promises to be the wildest ride of her life. While Celia is thrilled with the adventures and dangers of life at sea exploring the Caribbean, Gayle is captivated by Celia herself. Except Celia won’t let Gayle near her, not without a little more work at persuasion than Gayle’s presented. Soon enough, however, Gayle will realize that, among mysterious gypsies and premonitions, angry and unrelenting prostitutes, wanton damsels in distress, and merciless mercenaries, she won’t have the time or energy to pursue Celia the way she really desires.

I absolutely loved, loved, loved this book. I cannot express how surprised I was to find out this is actually Ms. Moody’s first novel. For her debut work, this is pretty close to a masterpiece. The Sublime and Spirited Voyage of Original Sin has everything that is good and romantic about a pirate novel without losing touch with realism. I had so much fun reading this book, laughing at every little thing, and blushing at every turn of a page at the brazen sensuality it displays. Gayle and Celia are two of the most incredible female protagonists I have encountered in a while. I loved everything about Gayle’s character – her charisma, her explicit mirth, her courage, her ability to flirt and play while baring the responsibilities of a captain – all of it embodies the perfect lady pirate, and believing three women were completely enamored with her was no hardship. Celia also makes a very powerful main character; her fiery temper and strong nature rivals Gayle’s, and her more subtle and more naïve humor was a nice contrast to Gayle’s more unrefined approach.

The secondary characters were not quite as strong as the two protagonists. While they made nice additions to the plot, and helped propel the story forward, they were a bit two-dimensional when compared to Gayle and Celia. For instance, James and Anne make the common picture of two comical siblings, one dominant and one more submissive, that go to extreme measures to get what they want. Celia’s father is a total hoot, and I was sorry to see how little he appears in the story, though I loved his role towards the ending. And Gayle’s father is more of a presence, an image that Gayle loves and respects, and though that certainly fits with her role in the story, I would have liked to see more of this man that Gayle looks up to.

All in all, this is a very enjoyable book, one that will stay with me for a long time to come. The dialogue is humorous, and some parts are almost melodic, they are so catching. The narration paints a vivid and accurate picture of life in the Caribbean seas in the midst of the Navigation Empire, and they both blend and flow really well. This is truly an effortless read, one that will satisfy and charm the senses.

Review: Beloved Pilgrim, by Nan Hawthorne

2011-05-31T12:25:00.000-07:00

Reviewed by Gwen Mayo

Beloved Pilgrim is an engaging historical coming of age story set during the disastrous Crusade of 1101. Elisabeth, the hero/heroine of the story, is a young noblewoman, more inclined to wield a sword than an embroidery needle. She chafes against the constraints of social expectations of her position and longs for the freedom her twin brother enjoys. Sixteen-year-old Elisabeth is forced into a marriage to a much older knight. She barely knows the husband her father has chosen for her. The brute has no regard for her feelings or well-being, and makes it clear on their wedding night that his desire is for her dowry and a noble wife to produce his progeny.

Shortly after her marriage, her mother passes away. Elisabeth’s grief stricken father departs for the Holy Land, leaving the estate in her brother Elias’ hands. Elias longs to join his father on crusade, but falls ill and dies before he can depart. Elisabeth is left to suffer the abuse of a husband she loathes. Desperation drives her to assume her brother’s identity and run away.

Elisabeth/Elias is aided in her disguise by her brother’s squire and lover. Together, they face the challenges and trials of traveling as knight and squire on holy crusade. Beloved Pilgrim is a complex story of love and loss, honor and duty, and more importantly, of the differences in individuals that show us the commonalities of the human condition.

Hawthorne weaves the tale of Elisabeth’s adventures with historical accuracy, excellent detail, and respect for all the factions involved. We laugh and cry with characters that come alive on the page. Her work confronts the deprivations, hardships, and violence of an army on the march. She ably handles the difficulty of posing as a woman traveling in the world of men and wonder and excitement of a young knight seeing the exotic Byzantine Empire for the first time.

Gwen Mayo is a history junkie. Circle of Dishonor, her debut novel, is set during the turbulent political upheaval of post Civil War Kentucky, at a time when vigilantes and secret societies wielded power, and murder was more common in Kentucky than it was in anywhere else in the United States. She is a graduate of the University of Kentucky, a member of the Short Mystery Fiction Society, Sisters in Crime, the Historical Novel Society and Golden Crown Literary Society. Her stories have appeared in anthologies, at online short fiction sites, and in micro-fiction collections.

What Makes a Book Review Useful?

2011-05-25T20:39:00.000-07:00

What Makes a Book Review Useful?: "I started That's All She Read as much to have a log of everything I read as to share my perspective with other readers ..."

Please take a look at this article, make your poll choices, and voice your perspective in Comments.

Le Moulin Rouge - A Short Story by Kaitlin Krhounek

2011-05-19T16:27:00.000-07:00

The year was 1891, and it was Will's first night in Paris. Having heard of the great Bohemian Revolution, he decided that he would take his art to France. A London transplant, he was here to start anew, to make something of himself.

Having already secured lodgings in Montmartre, he took his time wandering the streets, trying to gain his bearings. He was entirely naive to the seedy underbelly of the city, and only when he was propositioned several times by so called "ladies of the night", did he realize what he'd gotten himself into. Will was originally from a small town, its main claim to fame being its fishing industry. He'd only spent a few months in the outskirts of London before crossing the water, leaving him and his bright blue eyes wide with unknowing.

As darkness settled over the city, he found himself in a strangely lit section of town. There was an eerie glow that seemed to permeate the light fog, but he couldn't tell where it was coming from. But once Will realized that he was unsure of the way back, he got nervous, and followed the eerie light, hoping to find some sort of solace at its origin. Only problem was, he barely spoke a word of French.

His harried pace caused him to nearly fall flat upon his face as he attempted to navigate the cobblestone streets. It was only when he reached the source of the bright light, did he find that his trousers, uneven as they were, had become soaked at the bottoms from stumbling through shallow puddles. Cursing softly under his breath as he noticed this, his eyes cast their gaze upwards toward the blinding source of the light; a giant red windmill. The words 'MOULIN ROUGE' shown brightly in twinkling lights. Something he'd seen very few times even in London. He figured there had to be someone inside who spoke English that could help him.

So with a hard swallow to work past the lump in his throat, he took a deep breath and pushed the heavy doors of the Moulin Rouge open. Once inside he was greeted with bright red, plush tapestries lining hallways that fanned out to either side of him. The din inside was monstrous, as well as the bustling of well dressed men and scantily clad women. 'What in the world…?' he thought to himself. They all seemed to be headed further into the establishment, whatever it was, so he followed the crowd.

Another set of doors opened up onto an outdoor garden. There were cafe style tables set about, more electric lights, and a giant stucco elephant. The young Englishman was bewildered. His lack of language skills and small stature were a detriment in finding aid. No one heard his pleas for assistance, nor did he pick up any traces of English above the raucous noise and booming music. Aside from the huge elephant, which threw him for a loop entirely, there seemed to be another set of doors on the opposite end, leading elsewhere. Without any other option, he headed toward the source of the music.

Through this set of doors, his eyes were set upon a huge dance hall. At one end there was a band pit and a stage. At the center was the dance floor and surrounding it were tables, filled with men laughing and drinking. The bar was to his left and as he tried to concentrate on any one thing, he was nearly run down by several over zealous gentlemen. The band was in full swing and the dance floor was packed with more of the same gentlemen and barely clothed women. Only when he gleaned the sight of a man slipping one of the women money, did he realize what he'd stumbled into; a brothel. His face the picture of shock: slaw jawed, eyes wide, and pale pallor, he was dumbfounded. How'd he manage to stumble into a brothel without knowing? But shaking off the realization, he tried to focus on finding what he'd come in for in the first place. Help.

Having been shoved off to the side, he found himself near an empty table for two as he attempted to flag down one of the women drink servers. This however, was a mistake. Soon as his hand rose in attention, he was plunked down in the chair, a flurry of activity bombarding him as he was served. Before he knew it, there was a crystal glass filled half way with a strange green liquid, a plate with sugar cubes, and an odd looking spoon with holes in it. "Ma'am?" he asked meekly to anyone who would listen.

The woman that heard him was clad in only a corset and a large ruffled skirt, heels, and ripped stockings. Leaning down to his ear, she gave him an eyeful of her cleavage. The grin on her overly made up face was almost frightening as she asked, "Oui?"

With cheeks as red as apples, he averted his eyes and stuttered out, "I-I'm looking for help…can you understand me?"

Her brows rose in question, before she sighed and shook her head. Without another word she left his side at the table and disappeared into the crowd. Leaving Will even more lost than he'd previously been. Trying to look after her, he managed to see between the throngs of men as they passed that she'd stopped next to the bar and was speaking with another of the women. Their gazes found him through the crowd as the other one gave a nod to her counterpart.

Smile fixed in place, this new woman sauntered her way over to his table and knelt beside him, "How can I help you, Monsieur?"

Relief washed over Will like a crashing wave as he heard her perfect English. "Thank the Lord; I’ve been trying to find someone to help me. I was trying to find my way back to my lodgings," he gushed out at once.

"Aw, why not stay and enjoy your drink for now Sir?"

"I…well…" he looked down at the green liquid in the glass before him. He'd have to pay for it anyway, so he figured he might as well drink it. "…What is it?"

The woman let out a throaty laugh, which by the look of her extremely tight and worn corset must have truly been a labor.

"It is Pernod Fils." She received a blank stare. "La Fee Verte?" Still blank. "Have you never heard of absinthe before?"

"Oh! Absinthe!" he blushed profusely again, terribly embarrassed yet again by his ignorance.

The woman smiled at him, genuinely this time. Someone with this man's innocence was a rare find in her line of work. "May I show you?"

Will only nodded, too nervous to speak again. His eyes took in the woman's wardrobe, which wasn't much different than the last woman's. Same type of ruffled skirt, different colors and far more tattered, as well as the corset and heels. Except she was pretty. Beautiful even. Long brunette hair held up in a bun, exposing her delicate neck and shoulders with an unobstructed view of her bosom. She was shorter, and something about her piqued Will's interest. He couldn’t name or understand it and that caused him to be even shyer than embarrassed, if that was at all possible.

With a smile and nod, she stood and took the slotted spoon and placed it on top of the rim of the glass. She placed a cube of sugar on top of it, then took up a metal pitcher than had already been sitting on the table and slowly began to pour what appeared to be cold water over it. The cube of sugar dissolved under the water and into the glass, creating a strangely cloudy appearance to the once green liquor. Will had certainly heard of the drink, but had never seen nor tasted it. He only knew that many artists like him claimed to be inspired by it.

"And now you may drink…Careful now, it's strong for such a mild man," she gave him a playful wink. It caused him yet another blush. Assuming that was the end of her duties, she began to turn away from the table to get back to serving.

"Wait, Miss?" he spoke up before she could get out of earshot.

Turning, she raised a brow at him, "Yes?"

"W-would you mind giving me your name? So I may find you for assistance again?" he conceded.

"It's Emeraude," she smiled sympathetically before taking her leave of him.

Will felt better now that he’d found a person who spoke English. But he was admittedly not much of a drinker. And from what he'd heard in passing about absinthe…well, he wasn't quite sure he could handle it. Though, what was the old saying? When in Rome, do as the Romans do? With a shrug, he picked up the glass and brought it to his nose; immediately the scent of licorice burned his nostrils. He was excited by this as licorice was a favorite of his and downed the drink in one gulp. He sputtered and gagged, but not wanting to make a fool of himself further, he choked it down. Once he'd swallowed, he sat red faced, trying to catch his breath.

In just minutes, he began to feel the effects of the drink take hold. His head began to spin and he felt light. No, Will could not hold his liquor. And as he tried to get up and seek out Emeraude, he fumbled and stuttered, quite intoxicated. As he didn't realize his drink was nearly seventy percent alcohol. He did succeed in finding her, after two near calamities and narrowly avoiding causing an all out brawl.

"Em-Emeraude, c-can you help me?" he slurred. He assumed she remembered that he needed help finding his way back to his lodgings, so he dug in his pockets for the money to pay her for the drink.

"Oh, well yes," she forced a smile. Emeraude took his proffered money, which was far more than the drink cost, assuming he was acquiring her services. After tucking the money away in her corset, she nodded and motioned for him to follow. Disappointed in a way that this shy, naive gentleman would require her. He seemed far too innocent for that. But she had a job to do, and no doubt she would find him simple to please. So she led the way out of the dance hall, back through the garden, and into the main building of the Moulin Rouge.

Here she led him through the winding red velvet hallways and past rows of doors. Most of which were closed, until she came upon an open door, and ushered him inside the tiny room. It's only furnishings consisted of a metal frame bed with a dirty, stained mattress, and a dressing table. Once he was inside, she closed the door softly behind them and slipped the lock into place.

"Please, have a seat and let me make you more comfortable," she gestured to the bed.

"W-what are we…can you just…?" he sputtered as he sat, unable to keep upright.

Emeraude stepped in front of him with that same look of endearment, and knelt down, placing a finger to his lips. "Shhh. Do not worry, I will get you on your way soon enough," she attempted to placate him, taking her finger away. "What is your name Monsieur?"

"…W-Will…" he lulled.

"Well Master Will, please allow me to freshen up," she smiled and stood then, going over to the dressing table. There were a few items of make up laid out, and a bottle of perfume. As she began to touch up her appearance, she looked at him more closely in the mirror.

He was very small in stature and very young for the usual clientele that frequented the cabaret. She assumed him to be no more than twenty years of age. Upon closer inspection, she noticed how ill fitting his suit was. His jacket hung off him in awkward places, shoes and trousers were well past worn and his shirt was stained a dull yellow. His bow tie was too large for his neck and even his top hat was too big, slipping past his eyes nearly every time he moved his head. His features were delicate, rather feminine, and his blue eyes were gentle. These were traits far away from the usual men she encountered and far more handsome. Not that it really mattered, she'd be paid regardless. Under normal circumstances, this was the kind of man she might want to court her. There was just something about him she couldn't quite put her finger on...

Once she was finished freshening her make up and perfume, she came back to stand before him. "Now, why don't you lie down?" she removed his top hat to reveal short, boyish dirty blonde hair.

"But…I...” he mumbled. She gently pushed him backward on the bed, before coming to straddle his waist. Everything seemed to have taken on a snowy glow for him then, and he felt warm. He imagined it was what it might feel like if he'd ever had a mother to hold him close and keep him safe.

"Don't worry Master Will. I am well experienced." With that, she leant down and pressed her lips to his gently, genuinely surprised by their softness.

If Will had been sober, his whole world would have spun off its axis then. He did not respond at first, but after some gentle prodding, and further kissing, he found himself kissing her back. Within a few moments he felt as though the fog in his head was lifting. Almost as if he was waking from a dream. Could this be a dream? A lucid dream perhaps? Will didn’t know but the majority of him didn’t care. It felt so wonderful. His eyes fluttered closed against the room’s light that now seemed harsh.

'There,' she thought to herself. Finally she got him to relax beneath her as she kissed him, running her small hands over his chest. Slowly, she moved her kisses to his jaw and neck, nipping gently as she moved her hands down to undo his trousers.

Will had let him self go in that moment; rapturously enthralled in the fantasy that was unraveling before him. So Emeraude continued to undress him from the waist down. She was used to getting straight to business, and no longer minded. But as she worked her way past his undergarments, she found something rather odd. Taking the excess cloth in her hand, she pulled and out came a wadded up handkerchief. "What in the…?" she exclaimed out loud.

Picking his head up, Will looked down, abruptly awoken from his dream; or nightmare as it were, and realized just what she had done. His eyes dilated in horror as he pushed her off and scrambled to stand up, holding his trousers to his body. "Please..you must…"

Emeraude was knocked to the floor in shock. What had she seen? Or rather, what didn't she see? "Wait..I…you..you're a…" realization slowly began to dawn on her.

"NO! Please, I mean, yes. Just, please stay calm! I can explain!" he panicked. A dull ache now took the place of the pleasure that had only moments ago filled his senses.

Will wasn't a man, he was a woman! "Oh my word!" she exclaimed softly.

"Wait, wait, please don't call the authorities! I…I'm sorry, I didn’t mean for this…I..you have to believe me!"

On her feet now, the courtesan stepped backward blindly and fell onto the seat of the dressing table in stunned silence. Will's face was streaked with tears and sheer horror.

"Please, you're not going to call the authorities are you?!" he, or rather, she begged.

Emeraude merely shook her head, too shocked to form words as everything fell into place.

"J-just please, let me explain…" Will took a seat on the edge of the bed carefully, intentionally so as not to frighten the other woman any further. "I came here from London. I was a servant, I wanted to be more. I thought that if I impersonated a man, I could do that. My name is Wilhelmina, but I call myself Will now. Please, you mustn't tell anyone. I could be killed," she pleaded.

Em, as most others called her, only nodded in understanding. She would never have thought of such a cunning plan, but deeply understood the need to be something else. Something more. For the lots they had been dealt in life were poor ones, and the more she thought about it, she could not blame Will for trying to better her suit.

"Are you…alright? Will you keep my secret?" Wilhelmina desperately needed to know whether or not her secret would be safe with Emeraude. If she was found impersonating a man, working his jobs, she could be jailed. Or worse. If anyone else knew she would be ruined.

"Yes," Em said softly. Realizing now why she'd felt a connection with 'him' before. It was strange. She knew others who worked the hall that catered to women as well as men, but she'd never been one of them. She'd never even really given it a thought; until now.

"Really? You will?" Will asked eagerly, wanting desperately to believe her.

"Yes, really. I…I understand your desire to better your life. I long for it as well. I must admit that I rather admire you for it…" she replied.

It felt as though a weight had been lifted from Will's shoulders then. Her secret was safe, she was safe. Her shoulders began to quiver then, and tears started to stream down her cheeks once more.

Emeraude was confused and concerned. She instinctively got up and sat beside Will, wrapping an arm around her shoulders. "Shhh. Why do you cry so? You're safe here," she soothed.

"I..I'm…s-safe," she sobbed out before immediately being embraced by the other woman.

"It's okay…shhh…" Em rubbed a hand over her back and held her as she cried. Realizing what had just happened had to be extremely stressful; to say the least. As Will started to calm, she coached her to take some deep breaths and pulled back. Their bodies were close, faces just inches apart. As Emeraude's soft hazel eyes stared into the blue ones before her, her hand came up to gently brush away the remaining tears with her thumb from Will's cheeks. The world seemed to slow then, and only the sound of their breathing could be heard as the women leaned into each other to lock lips once again.

The kiss was tentative at first, but grew deeper as the seconds passed. The two women took comfort in one another and slowly found themselves lying down. Em was the first to pull away from the kiss, and looked questioningly into Will's eyes as she began to undo the buttons of her shirt.

Will's heart was beating a mile a minute, but as Emeraude looked into her eyes, she found safety there and nodded gently. Em gave a small smile then and opened the front of the shirt to reveal a criss-crossing of fabric bound around her chest. She realized now that she saw the whole 'package', so to speak, just how much Will had done and given up to better her life. She knew she'd never have that kind of strength, and gave the other woman that much more credit as she stared down at her, almost lovingly. They resumed kissing then, slowly and ever so steadily building their passion.

Em helped Will to sit up as she pushed the shirt from her shoulders and off. Tossing the stained remnants of the other’s façade away, she reached around to undo the binding and unwrapped it from her chest. Will's small but pert breasts were revealed and her nipples hardened when exposed to the cool air of the room. Em's eyes dilated as she slowly reached out to cup one gently. Leaning into her touch, Will moaned softly.

Neither woman was entirely sure what to do, Wilhelmina even less than Emeraude because she had never made love before. She decided to go on instinct and began kissing the brunette again. After a long moment Em pulled away. She turned slightly and asked, "Help me?" gesturing to her corset lacing. She turned around and Will shyly leaned forward and began to undo the intricate lacing of the corset. As a servant she never wore a corset and was silently thankful for that.

Once Em's corset had been removed, both women finished undressing. Their clothes lay in a pile next to the make shift bed and this time Will decided to take the lead. She lay down gently on top of Emeraude, breath catching in her throat as their bare skin touched. Their breathing had become labored and was the only sound audible in the room, not even the loud raucous from the dance hall bothered them.

Tentatively, Will began kissing Emeraude again as she allowed her hands to wander down the other woman's body. Em had a perfect hour glass shape even without her corset and Will relished tracing her soft curves. She was taken aback by the beauty that was before her. It took courage she didn't know she had, but she lent down to take one of her lover's nipples into her mouth. Em moaned, back arching in response. Her hands came down to tangle in Will's short hair. Normally she took no pleasure in her customers, but none of that mattered now.

Will lightly placed kisses between Em's breasts to take the other nipple into her mouth, tracing it with her tongue. The courtesan's chest heaved with each breath she took; she never knew sex could be like this. Pulling Will up gently, she kissed her first real partner with unbridled passion. Will groaned into the kiss and pressed as close as was possible to Emeraude. With the heat they generated, a sheen of sweat became visible on Will's exposed back.

"Oh Will, please," Em begged. Breaking from the kiss, the less experienced of the two women nodded and with bated breath moved one hand down to touch her lover's core. Em bucked her hips, urging her lover on. Will moaned, feeling just how wet the other woman was for her. "I need you inside me, please…" Emeraude pleaded. Carefully, Will obeyed, gently sliding one finger inside Em's womanhood.

Emeraude cried out and nearly frightened Will. But slowly, she began to work up a rhythm; adding a second digit. Watching her own fingers disappear within her lover's folds was an astonishing sight.

"Will…" Em panted. Will looked up at her lover's flushed face and carefully moved up her body.

"Am I hurting you?" she asked, brows furrowed in concern, slowing her movements.

"No! No…I just...want to see your face," Em laughed softly.

Will smiled in return and continued her ministrations. Em threw her head back, giving the other woman room to place gentle, soft kisses upon her neck's exposed flesh. Her body writhed beneath Will's as she moaned; close.

Wanting to be even closer, the less experienced woman slid an arm beneath Em's back and pulled her against her body. Em wrapped her arms around Will's shoulders, breathing heavily next to her lover's ear; it was beginning to drive Will mad. With even more determination, Will pushed her lover to the edge, unintentionally brushing her clit with each stroke.

Emeraude came then, screaming Will's name, nails digging into her back. Will groaned in response and carefully laid Em back on the bed, gently pulling her hand away. Both women lay panting, attempting to catch their breath as they came down from their high.

Some time later, laying in each others arms in the afterglow, Em mused, "I wish I could be as free as you, Will. To never again have to sell my body just to eat…" Will was quiet for a long time. Wondering if she was asleep, Emeraude asked softly, "Will, are you awake?"

"Yes," she answered, though the quiet continued. She was lost in thought before being coaxed back to the present as Em traced the soft contours of her body.

"May I ask you something?" Em felt her lover nod, "What was your life like? Back in England?"

Exhaling a deep breath, Will adjusted herself in bed so she could sit up while holding Em. "I was an orphan. I grew up in a workhouse, Warminster Union in Wiltshire. I have no recollection of my mother. And I know not how I came to be there. I was twelve years of age when I was bought by a wealthy family in Sussex."

Emeraude began placing light butterfly kisses along Will's collar bone. She was listening, it was just difficult to resist. She could not remember the last time she was with a lover that she actually wanted to be with. She'd forgotten how wonderful it could be. This however distracted the other woman somewhat.

"Mmm…Ah," she coughed, regaining her composure. "My master, Thomas Wright, was the owner of a large building firm. He was a stern, uncaring man. I was one of three others who worked his house. His wife was slight, and constantly ill. All but one of his children had died during birth. So it was our task to take care of her while he was away. This oft was for weeks at a time. The work was not difficult, but with little to eat and no education, we were worth little. My contract was to be upheld until I turned eighteen. When the time came I was given three pounds and sent on my way."

Em stopped her kisses to listen more intently, head resting upon Will's chest. She herself could remember nothing until a year or two before she came to the Moulin Rouge. She thought it best that way.

Will paused for a moment before resuming her story, "It was after that when I began my journey to London. All the things I had heard of the city as a child had captivated me. I had hoped to find my salvation."

"Was it not what you hoped it to be?" Em asked gently.

With a wry smile Will shook her head, "No, no it was not. I had no trade skill, nor could I read or write. I was but a young girl in a city that threatened to sweep me away. I still am…" she gave a light laugh. "I was forced to take another position as a servant; this time for a small investment banker. He was fair and I had a roof over my head. For the next year and a half I saved what money I could. As soon as I had acquired enough to buy my passage to France, I cut my own hair and bought men's garments."

"What gave you the idea to live as a man? And what brought you to choose Paris? Surely there are other, less dangerous places you could have chosen."

"While I was in London I saw advertisements for music hall performers. One act caught my eye in particular. It was a woman impersonating a man. And how gay it was! That was when I began to think of it. If one woman could do it for entertainment, why couldn't I? Women's work has always been in the home, without a husband and a family of my own, I knew I could never have more." Will quieted then. She had never been in love, nor had any man courted her. That fact made wanting a family of her own painful. For she felt it would never come.

Em noticed the sadness in those blue eyes then and pulled her closer. She yearned to see Will happy. This melancholy broke her heart. Reaching a hand up to caress the curve of her lover's jaw, she placed a light kiss upon her lips. Before she could say something Will began again, "I chose Paris after hearing of the Bohemian Revolution. It gave me hope that someone like me, unique, could make something of myself. Devote the rest of my life to art, painting perhaps…" Her tone was despondent, eyes cast to the floor as though searching for something she would never find.

"Oh Will! You've no idea how much I envy you! To make such decisions, the courage you have! How can you be so sad? You have your freedom," Emeraude was inexplicably compelled to make her see.

A small smile tugged at Wilhelmina's lips then, and Em's responding confused frown made it grow. "My life has not been made any simpler. But you are right. I am free…" A long moment passed before she spoke again. "I was thinking...you could be too…"

"Could be what?"

"As free as I."

"How?" Em's brows knit together in confusion. Surely she could not imitate what Will had done.

"You could stay with me. I would work; we could have our own home. You would be free to do as you pleased. I could surely make enough to keep us both comfortable…Of course; you could leave whenever you wished. I would not keep you."

A long moment passed "…do you mean that?" Emeraude asked in a low voice. Unwilling to let her self believe such a dream could come true.

"Yes."

Em sat up to look Will in the eyes then; and found nothing but sincerity there. A smile formed on her lips as she felt her heart swell in her chest. Will was the most amazing person she'd ever met, regardless of gender or the offer. Yes, going with Will was most agreeable. But she could find no words to express what she felt for the other woman in that moment, so she settled for a breath taking kiss. Confirming that they both would be free. Together.

"Bosom Friends"

2011-05-10T13:09:00.000-07:00

If you have wondered at the name of this blog, wonder no more. We all remember this friendship.

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Review: The Warrior's Path, by Catherine M. Wilson - When Women Were Warriors, Book I

2011-05-08T13:59:00.000-07:00

The Warrior's Path
Catherine M. Wilson

When Women Were Warriors, Book I

I have been fascinated by attempts to write novels about societies where women and men are equals, but until I read this novel I had never actually found one that satisfied me. When, back in the Pleistocene era, I was in college, I had the good luck to be offered a special topics class on women writers of science fiction. Before I had read all the novels, I had come to the conclusion that no author could imagine a society where a sort of cultural rape was in the inevitable future. We've come some way since those were all written, but Wilson's is the first one I have read where the men and women characters work alongside one another and the men are not made the bad guys. How refreshing! And how important if we want to get away from the destructive side of the gender clash.

Tamras is a young woman who travels to the stronghold of the Lady Maren to join the household where her own mother was a warrior. The Lady asks her to agree to become the companion of Maara, a warrior who came to the household from an uncertain past and whom the others in the household distrust. Maara reluctantly allows Tamras to stay, but it is not until Maara is brought back heavily wounded from fighting with the warriors against cattle raiders and Tamras nurses her back to health that Maara truly accepts her. Maara begins to teach her far more than a companion learns, more like an apprentice. Maara's ways are different but Tamras soon learns their value. Underlying their warrior/apprentice relationship run a current of Tamras trying to learn more about the mysterious warrior and her odd behavior, including sleepwalking characterized by violent episodes. The leader of the warriors, Vintel, through her enmity with Maara, is a constant threat to both Tmras and the warrior. Through Tamras's trust and utter devotion, others come to accept Maara, especially after Maara brings intelligence that saves them all. Another underlying current is Tamras's friendship with another of the companions, Sparrow. She is also a loner, having once been a slave. The two young women become sexually involved causing some friction with their two warriors, Maara and Vintel. There love scenes are sweet and satisfying to read.

This is a refreshingly told story with characters both familiar and just different enough to keep your interest. Though no specific era and location are given, it works, partly because the first person narration makes that more credible and partly because this allows the reader to think about the society that is the setting without and coloration from historical tribes or epochs. I decided to call this speculative historical fiction, though the author says many call it fantasy, because the setting is just too real and natural to fall under that rubric.

In this culture both women and men are warriors. The matriarchy is firmly in place and women make up the tribal council, but it is definitely not a he vs. she tale. I firmly believe we need books like this to offer an alternative to the lies we have been told for thousands of years about men's and women's natural roles and abilities. Too much of what has written along these lines feeds into a tense detente between the genders. Since both the histories of women in general and gays and lesbians is virtually nonexistent or fraught with bias and misrepresentation, it may fall to historical novelists to provide the next best thing. How much better if the "history" doesn't fall into myths just as destructive as the negative ones that predominate?

Archetypes are my specialty, so I looked for them here as in every novel. The women characters are wonderfully diverse. The Lady is the mother figure, but far from stereotyped, as she does not hesitate to use manipulation and dishonesty to protect her tribe. Maara is the maverick, the outsider, while Vintel is the swaggering, aggressive fighter, a role usually reserved to a man. Namet is the practical, insightful and merciful healer, though not officially, the actual healer being more in service to the group than the individual. I especially enjoyed Gnith, the crone of crones, the discounted aged woman who spends all her time on the hearth observing and commenting with the wry humor and detachment of someone no longer entirely in this world.

If I have any regret about this first book of the trilogy it is that the tension with Vintel is overlooked in the final transformative event. I really felt that this antagonist had to have had something to say or a chance to look annoyed or roll her eyes.

I fully intend to read the full trilogy. The print copy is on Amazon , but I bought the ebook from Smashwords. This meant I could listen to the novel on my Kindle 3, for which I am grateful.

Review by Nan Hawthorne

LGBT Book Review Sites

2011-05-08T13:55:00.000-07:00

Additions and corrections please!

American Library Association GLBT Reviews

Bosom Friends : Lesbian Historical Fiction

Gay & Lesbian Review

GLBT Book Reviews/CoffeeTime

GLBT Bookshelf

Kool Queer Lit

Lambda Literary

Lesbrary, The

Out In Print Book Reviews

Queer Book Reviews

Publishing Triangle - no longer publishing, but links to all reviews intact.

Rainbow Reviews

Speak Its Name

TwoLips Reviews

Announcing: Beloved Pilgrim, by Nan Hawthorne

2011-05-08T13:46:00.000-07:00

Beloved Pilgrim

Nan Hawthorne

Elisabeth von Winterkirche chooses to live and fight as a man in the doomed Crusade of 1101. On her journey she learns many things, that honor is not always where you expect to find it and that love can come in the form of another woman.

Print and, soon, Kindle editions available at Amazon.com and Amazon.co.uk. Ebook also at Smashwords.com.

Beloved Pilgrim Official Book Trailer

Beloved Pilgrim Facebook Page

Radclyffe Hall, Lesbian Novelist

2011-05-08T13:33:00.000-07:00

randombios.blogspot.comOriginally posted on June 11, 2010.

Radclyffe Hall was a British poet and novelists best known for her open lesbianism and celebrated affairs with well-known women of her day. She was born in Dorset in 1880 and educated at King's College in London. She described herself as "a congenital invert", a term coined by Havelock Ellis in his work on human sexuality.

Her early adulthood was spent pursuing various women who ultimately left her for marriage. Then in 1907 she met amateur singer and darling of the arts crowd Mabel Batten. They made a home together until Mabel's death in 1916. Hall had fallen in love with Batten's cousin, Una Trowbridge, a sculptor, wife of an admiral and mother of a small girl. They lived together in London until Hall's death in 1943. Hall had several affairs that Trowbridge had to endure, but the the couple never broke up. I remember reading a biography of Hall and Trowbridge that claimed that Trowbridge suffered from "a condition often afflicting lesbians" and to this day I have no idea what the author meant. It is believed that one of Hall's famous paramours was the singer Ethel Waters

Hall wrote poetry but is better known for her novels. Many are light comedy, poking fun at the mores of the time.

The Forge (1924)
The Unlit Lamp (1924)
A Saturday Life (1925)
Adam's Breed (1926)
The Well of Loneliness (1928)
The Master of the House (1932)
Miss Ogilvy Finds Herself (1926)
The Sixth Beatitude (William Heineman Ltd, London, 1936)

Her best known novel is The Well of Loneliness, an icon in lesbian culture. It is the only one with overtly lesbian characters and deals with a mascoline woman not unlike Hall herself. Though the protagonist is troubled and lonely, the novel depicts lesbians in a positive manner and asks for tolerance of "inverts". The novel is not sexually explicit but was nevertheless the subject of an obscenity trial in the UK and was only permitted to be released in the US after a long court battle. A lampoon of the novel published anonymously during this period not only ridiculed the books critics but also Hall and the book. One illustration depicted Hall nailed like Christ to a cross. Hall was so traumatized she could never speak of it and wrote her next novel, The Master of the House, on a religious theme.

Hall died of colon cancer in 1943.

Books about Radclyffe hall:

Lady Una Troubridge, The Life And Death Of Radclyffe Hall
Diana Souhami , Trials of Radclyffe Hall
Richard Dellamora , Radclyffe Hall: A Life in the Writing (Haney Foundation Series)
Radclyffe Hall, Your John: The Love Letters of Radclyffe Hall (Cutting Edge: Lesbian Life & Literature)
Sally Cline, Radclyffe Hall: A Woman Called John

Vera Brittain, Radclyffe Hall: a case of obscenity?

Originally published at Random Biographies.

(Nan Hawthorne is the author of Loving the Goddess Within: Sex Magick for Women and Beloved Pilgrim and other books.

Review: Snow Flower and Secret Fan, by Lisa See

2011-05-08T13:14:00.000-07:00

This post was originally added on Novemeber 8, 2009.

Snow Flower and Secret Fan

Lisa See

In nineteenth-century China, in a remote Hunan county, a girl named Lily, at the tender age of seven, is paired with a laotong, “old same,” in an emotional match that will last a lifetime. The laotong, Snow Flower, introduces herself by sending Lily a silk fan on which she’s painted a poem in nu shu, a unique language that Chinese women created in order to communicate in secret, away from the influence of men. As the years pass, Lily and Snow Flower send messages on fans, compose stories on handkerchiefs, reaching out of isolation to share their hopes, dreams, and accomplishments. Together, they endure the agony of foot-binding, and reflect upon their arranged marriages, shared loneliness, and the joys and tragedies of motherhood. The two find solace, developing a bond that keeps their spirits alive. But when a misunderstanding arises, their deep friendship suddenly threatens to tear apart.

Review by Leslie H. Nicoll

This is a beautiful, well-written book that tells the story of women’s lives, friendships, and the bonds we form—bonds that last a lifetime, even if we try to break them.

The story takes place in rural China in the 1800s. The narrator is Lily, who, when the story opens, is eighty years old and the matriarch of her family. She reflects back on her life, the good points and bad, the difficulties and struggles, and mostly, on her laotong or ‘old same,’ Snow Flower.

Women’s lives in China at that time were very strictly regulated. They existed primarily for one reason: to bear sons. They had a childhood up until the age of six or seven, at which time their mothers began binding their feet. They moved into the upper chamber—the women’s room—where they would spend the rest of their lives, first in their natal home and eventually in their husband’s home, once a male child had been produced. They spent their days doing chores, embroidering, singing, looking out of a single, barred window, while hobbling around on broken feet. It was a hard and difficult life.

Girls and women never went to school and thus were uneducated and illiterate. However, a few women developed a secret language—nu shu—which they used to communicate with their other female friends and loved ones. Their messages were sent on embroidered handkerchiefs and shoes and written in beautiful messages on special pieces of paper, such as the secret fan that Lily and Snow Flower used throughout their lives as their sacred bond.

A woman’s worth and marriageability were determined by the size of her tiny, bound feet, her “golden lilies.” When Lily was six, the matchmaker announced that she had particularly perfect feet for binding and thus her fate would be slightly different. Instead of being bound to a group of women—beloved sisters—she would have only one woman for her lifelong bond. This was Snow Flower, her laotong, or old same.

It is from this beginning that the story unfolds. Lily is, for many years of her life, trusting and naïve. When she marries at age 17, she begins to learn the truth of her laotong. More truths are revealed over the years. While Snow Flower has always been her one true friend, her old same, Lily begins to question that. As the hardships pile up, she questions even more, and with a misinterpreted nu shu message, even breaks off their relationship for a period of years, to her eventual regret. While she tries to make amends, in a way it is too little, too late. Lily’s curse is that she lives to be eighty in a country and time when most women die at age forty, so she has many, many years to reflect on her mistakes and unkindness. Looking at it from the big picture perspective it is heartbreaking although from a day-to-day point of view, which is how Lily lives her life and how the story is told, could she have done otherwise?

Two key themes keep reoccurring and drive much of the story: foot binding and nu shu. Both are true. Foot binding is known and has a well documented history. Nu shu is less so. Apparently it developed in the rural county in which this story takes place. Women practiced it secretly and passed it on to their daughters, nieces, bound sisters and old sames. Knowledge of nu shu was suppressed and during the Cultural Revolution, items containing nu shu writing were destroyed. The author, through a chance occurrence (detailed in a postscript) learned about nu shu, saw first hand a few remaining nu shu relics, and from that, this story was born.

Overall, this is a beautifully written, lyrical tale. It tells the story of how women love and support each other and how, unfortunately, sometimes we are not good to each other. That, of course, is not unique to female relationships. But for women living in the time and culture of this story, these bonds were necessary for survival and in that context, Lily failed her laotong. And that is the greatest tragedy of all.

Highly recommended.

Visit the author's website.

Available in multiple formats (print, audio, ebook) from various retailers, including

Review: Snow Moon Rising, by Lori L. Lake

2011-05-08T13:05:00.000-07:00

Originally posted on October 22, 2009.

Snow Moon Rising

Lori L. Lake

Mischka Gallo, a proud Roma woman, knows horses, dancing, and travel. Every day since her birth, she and her extended family have been on the road in their vardo wagons meandering mostly through Poland and Germany. She learned early to ignore the taunts and insults of all those who call her people "Gypsies" and do not understand their close-knit society and way of life. Pauline "Pippi" Stanek has lived a settled life in a small German town along the eastern border of Poland and Germany. In her mid-teens, she meets Mischka and her family through her brother, Emil Stanek, a World War I soldier who went AWOL and was adopted by Mischka's troupe. Mischka and Pippi become fast friends, and they keep in touch over the years. But then, the Second World War heats up, and all of Europe is in turmoil.

Mischka Gallo and her Roma family travel through Poland and Germany. She learned early to ignore the insults of those who call her people “Gypsies.” Pauline “Pippi” Stanek has lived a settled life in a small German border town. In her mid-teens, she meets Mischka through her brother, Emil Stanek, a World War I soldier who went AWOL and was adopted by Mischka’s troupe.

Mischka and Pippi become fast friends . . . but then WWII begins, “undesirables” are sent to labor camps, and the Nazis will not stop until they get every Gypsy, Jew, dissident, and homosexual. On the run and separated from her family, Mischka can hardly comprehend the obstacles that face her. When she is captured, she must use all her wits just to stay alive. Can Mischka survive through the hell of the war in Europe and find her family? In a world beset by war, two women on either side of the conflagration breach the divide - and save one another.

Snow Moon Rising is a stunning novel of two women’s enduring love and friendship across family, clan, and cultural barriers. It’s a novel of desperation and honor, hope and fear, at a time when the world was split into a million pieces.

Review: Patience and Sarah, by Isabel Miller

2011-05-08T12:54:00.000-07:00

Originally posted on October 1, 2009.

Patience & Sarah (Little Sister's Classics)

Isabel Miller

Two young women find unexpected love in Greene County, New York, in the early 1800s. Patience White, a genteel painter, and Sarah Dowling, who has adopted the role of her father's son to work on the farm, realize quickly that their neighbors will never accept their partnership. They choose to leave to settle on their own land and make a life of their own on the frontier.

Originally titled A Place for Us, Isabel Miller's sweet romance is the first book I thought of when we talked about creating a sister list to Speak Its Name. I read this book not that long after it was published in 1972. Originally self-published, it garnered the recognition of the American Library Association, winning its first award for gay fiction. A romance with a lot of class, it has also won the hearts of a couple generations at least of readers.

Patience White is a painter living with relatives in Greene County, New York, in the early 19th century. She knows she is destined to be the family's maiden aunt, a burden. Then she meets Sarah Dowling, a woman who dresses rather like a boy having had to take that role as her father's farmhand. Their love affair starts tentatively, shyly, but it is not long before Sarah finds herself in Patience's bed.

Their love grows, but so does suspicion among relatives and neighbors. The women soon realize they must set out to make a life for themselves on the frontier. Sarah disguises herself as a boy, and the two head west to find a homestead and build a house -- and a life for themselves where they can live and love without threat.

This is a gentle romance, growing naturally from the couple's first hesitant longing. It's a good story, the well worn and well loved tale of young people seeking independence and autonomy. As a lover of historical fiction, I appreciated the tale of the young women's journey to find their place, the hardships they overcame, and the hard work and joy of making their own home. The relationship is not shallow, but instead encompasses all the care and consolation true loving can offer.

My one regret about the book was the adoption of gender roles by Patience and Sarah. Sarah is decidedly the tom boy and even has to live as a boy for the pair's protection. Unfortunately, the role is extended into their bed where Sarah is definitely the initiator. When they find their place, Sarah becomes the farmer and Patience the farmer's wife in terms of responsibility. I would have preferred that she and Patience could share more.

I was interested to learn that the novel has been made into a chamber opera with music by Paula M. Kimper and libretto by Wende Persons. You can find information on it here.

Reviewed by Nan Hawthorne.
More about the author

What's On the List?

2011-05-08T12:46:00.000-07:00

Originally posted on May 11, 2009

Hello all!

We have had a gratifyingly enthusiastic initial response to this idea of listing historical novels that include lesbian themes. You will find the list of books as a link on the right, The List. It will change almost daily as long as I am learning about books that fit the bill.

A few we have so far include a fictionalize biography of Sappho, a retelling of Guenevere and Lancelot where the latter i s a woman, a few tales of lesbian love in the Victorian period, and a novel that takes its lovers from the pogroms of Eastern Euyrope to the swetshops of early 20th century America.

A couple of people suggested Radclyffe ghal's Well of Loneliness. Correct me if I am mistaken, but I believe that was not historical when it was written. I will have to provide you with my definition of what historical fiction is... here are a few thoughts.. please comment or correct.

The book must take place in a period before which it was written.
The book must contain a clearly lesbian theme, and not just have peripheral lesbian characters.
Saying that last, I myself would like to include books with significant lesbian characters. I am just not sure yet how to define that. For instance, one Sister Fidlema mystery has a lesbian as the murderer. She is portrayed negatively throughout the book not identified as lesbian until the very end. Would you include it?
The book must be either a novel or a book of short stories. No nonfiction, no poetry.

I have several books to add. One is Alice Walker's The Color Purple. The Confession of Piers Gaveston author Brandy Purdy is a cornucopia of information about historical novels, so of course I found several book suggestions from her in my inbox this morning. (By the way, her books are terrific.. and her upcoming Boleyn Wife will be added to this list as well.)

I really appreciate those of you who have sent in titles.. who also include4d a brief blurb about the plot. Keep it up! And please forward this request to anyone you think can help.

Nan Hawthorne

Author: Beloved Pilgrim, the strory of a woman who chooses to live and fight as a man in the doomed Crusade of 1101.

New Home for Bosom Friends

2011-05-08T12:32:00.000-07:00

Please change your listing for Bosom Friends: Lesbian Historical Fiction to:

http://lesbianhistoricalfiction.blogspot.com/

Thank you!