Where are YOU when YOU're gone ....

I know that You are ..... around. I see the traces that You leave behind, I hear the faint sound of Your footsteps, I sense the scent that is YOU ... everywhere. I know that if I speed up, get there early... I'll ..... if only I can close the gap in time between us, I'll catch up with You ... with us.... with my life ...

I Miss You and Our Time, Our place in Time, the Good Times ... did we live on Borrowed Time or did Our Time just run out?

I like it when writers takes the time to tell their stories. Take time to unfold the before, the after and the "in between". I hate getting dropped right in the middle of "it". I hate just being walked into a darkish bar to get picked up by someone looking for sex ... the next thing you know or rather feel, are rougish hands "feeling" you up ... uhhh not for me. 

I want the "real thing" ... the slow awakening of feelings, the surprise at finding love where you least thought it possible, the impossibility of acting on your feelings and the surprise, joy and happiness when the ball finally gets rolling and the first kiss land on your waiting lips.... 

You want to go on a ramble for that .... the stories with a before, an in between and a living happily ever after ? ... I'm warning those of you familiar with this blog I'm going to ramble along well known paths, if you like walking along memory lane then come along.

I thought that we might start our ramble in Scotland this time.  A place with a long storyline, just as is the case with "Licit Cusp" by Weebod. I know the title is ... well i's not really inviting, but never mind that. I'm with Weebod for the loooong storyline and the slow unfolding of attraction.

So pick up “Licit Cusp” and get acquainted with Shona MacLeod. Shona is from the small Hebridean island of North Uist. A small society where a hard and religious man like Shona's father has amble chance to keep his children on a tight reign. The question is - can he keep his hold on Shona once she moves to Edinburg and start her life as a student of history and an employee at “The Railwaymen's Club”, a local bar, run by the slightly older woman Toni ... do take the time to see where life will lead Shona and Toni.

Now if Weebod is your thing you should move on to "Conflict of Interest". This is classic uber with a small blond and a tall dark haired woman ... yes their eyes have the  perfect colour too! This time we are talking "heart" vs. "money" as Elish - leader of the local community centre - and Aisling - daughter of the owner of the shopping complex where the community centre is situated - crosses paths in business and love.

Lets stay with Weebod for one last fling ... this time with "The Player". The basic theme of the story is the conflict of interest between “the player” Gillian or Gill who lives her life charming and bedding all available women, never stopping to consider to call for a second date, and Emma the woman that finally breaks through Gill's amour, but don’t want to risk her heart on someone who might not be faithful.

Look up a list of Weebod's stories on Athenaeum. You'll see that Weebod has started a new series of short stories under the title "Stories From The Cities Series". I'm really happy to see that Weebod's pen is still active. 

So where have you been spending your F/F Fanfiction time while I've been ... well just busy with..... other worth while interests ?

Ramble - a walk through The Top 100 of 2010

Why don't you walk with me as I explore the Top 100 list at The Athenaeum ? You might find a gem that you have overlooked or maybe an old favourite that you want to read again.

Before we start our walk you might want to read up on the site we are going to visit. So I will just give you some numbers to chew on. The Athenaeum list 6759 works from 1538 authors, with 485 of those works available in eBook format - impressive or what ? In 2010 a total of 2.847.848 links where followed to stories archived at the site or externally at other sites. The 100 links most often followed in 2010 ? Well if you want to know ... follow me.

Normally I would work my way to the top and save the best bit for last, but lets be daring today! The 2010 Story of The Year is ..... (a long drum roll can be heard) ...."Denial" by Omega13. This is a  loooong lesfic drama with a lot of angst, and I must admit that I never got through the story, probably because I found that it took to long to get to the LHEA ending. The core of the storyline is an attraction between Celeste and her brothers fiancée Amy. The story is very well rated at The Athemaeum. 

As the fitness freaks among you will know walking down hill is much more taxing than the walk up hill, so lets make this a slow stroll down from The Story of The Year to number 4 "Dark Side of The Moon" by my favourite pen BadSquirrel. Who by the way seems to have her first published fic in the works ! If you are into the gender bending and BDSM stuff this is a story for you. It is well written, but to me - a bit over the top. Should the BDSM theme be something you are interested in exploring through other fic's, you can find a few stories listed at the "Listmania" page. 

At spot number 11 you will find Fingersmith's new romance/drama "Critical" a well written story involving a restaurant owner, a food critic and an obsession that creates a bit of drama. It did remind me slightly of Creme Brulee's "Cooking on High" with a notorious chef that get's herself involved with "the help" and in a fight with a powerful man. I'm very fond of Creme Brulee's writing, but it seems that this pen no longer posts fic's on line - maybe someone know if Creme Brulee has published books under another name ??

My all time favourite fic "Rumors" by BadSquirrel came in 17 in 2010. This is much better than the 48th spot the story earned in 2009. Maybe some of you have followed my advice to look up this story ? If not - then put on your running shoes and go go go ... I have posted a review if you want an introduction to the storyline.

The short PWP  "IMPOTENT or maybe not" by Gracelan Chase came in as number 18 with the story of how to cure writers block. If you want erotica with a romantic twist you can also look up Vertigo's "Caution: Under Construction" or MJ and Cephalgia's "Unlimited Sexual Favours".

Of cause Mavis Applewater also made it to the list in 2010. This time as number 20. "Finding My Way" is my favourite story from Mavis' pen. If you want a well put together romantic storyline do not miss this one - look up my review if you want an introduction. "Campus" from Anik LaChev will take you into a similar University setting, but you will have to be a bit nifty with the Wayback Machine to locate the story as it has been taken off line for publication. With a bit of editing (it's a very long read) it will make a great book.

If you have not read any of Weebod's stories I think that you ought to give "Conflict of Interests" a try. It holds a broad, well developed storyline, some interesting characters,  and romance and angst in the right places. The story made it to place 24 on the Top 100. Should you fancy this pen do back up a few steps and look up number 6 on the list. Weebod's "The Player" is a romance mixed with a bit of field hockey .. you know hockey played on grass not ice. 

I am getting a bit tired from walking down hill so I think I will take a break and leave you at place 30 with A.K.Naten's "Turning Tides" so you can go visit a business tycoon with a habit of playing games of dominance with the women she finds attractive. Look up my review if you want further introduction. Alex Tryst's "Adventures of a Super Dyke" has a somewhat similar theme, but the storyline is not quite my style.

Maybe I will pick up the Top 100 list later. In the meantime do explore on your own - the list hold links to several good reads.

Game, Set and Match by Ali Vali aka A. Valdivia

For some the World Cup (football / soccer) is the focus of attention right now, others might spend time watching the Wimbledon tennis tournament and some - like I - am waiting for the cyclist of The Tour de France to get on their bikes and pedal out of Rotterdam in The Netherlands on July 3rd.

If you get tired of watching the sports on TV, you might want to take a little time with a (fan) fic touching on a sport theme. So I invite you to pick your favourite game on the list below and to relax while you “watch” the ladies work out!

How about starting off with a game of field hockey ? If you like this game or if you are just curious as to what it’s all about, you might look up “The Player” and join Gil and Emma while they play the game and get to know each other – review.

Should field hockey not be to you liking, you could look in on "America's Sweetheart" by Catherine Burke a sweet romance written on the backdrop of women’s soccer in the US (review).

If golf is your sport – you can stop by “The Deal” by M. Ryan (review) in this story you’ll be treated to an almost play by play run through of the game, while you follow Kaz’s in the world of News.

“The road from Kilimanjaro” (review) might be somewhat off a strict sports theme, but if you are not too keen on chasing after a ball you might like to go hiking up the mountain slops of Mt. Kilimanjaro or journey along on a safari with KG MacGregor, while Mary Kate and Kristine get acquainted or perhaps you would rather join Ryan and Jamie on a bike ride in the “Beginning” of their rather long relationship in SX Meagher’s ”I Found My Heart in San Francisco” series – by the way - you’ll find plenty of sports played out in this series as Ryan is a real sports jock (review).

“Blue Calm” by Larisa will give you a touch of the atmosphere on the beaches of Hawaii while Tucker learns to navigate the waves on a surfboard and Dunk takes her last win in the Pipe Master Competition (review).

Finally I’ll leave you on Centre Court with Parker King and her racket as she whacks the ball and let it fly past the player on the other side of the net to win the women’s singles final in Wimbledon. Parker is the “bad girl” of the tennis world – dating and discarding women as “just another notch in my lipstick case” (That’s a new one … I think?) and it’ll take a transatlantic flight and a disastrous - but funny - meeting with a blond pilot to changes Parkers lifestyle.

Emily - the blond pilot in question - on the other hand takes her love life serious. Returning from a three weeks stretch of transatlantic flights she meets Gail - her partner of three years – for a short vacation at a rented beach house to reconnect, but this is just another disaster waiting to happen as Gail’s long time habit of drinking becomes unbearable.

Luckily enough it turns out that Parker resides next door to the beach house that Emily rents and I guess that that is all the invitation needed to start Parker and Emily off on the road toward friendship and perhaps, who knows something more. Hey don’t get too excited – you’ll have to watch the ladies work through some misunderstandings before they can walk the path laid out, but that’s just the way it is in romantic fiction !

Ali Vali has penned a number of stories among these “A place to dance” which is the one I like best, but “Game, Set and Match” is a nice romance with a sprinkle of drama and a bit of funny dialogue that’ll keep you well entertained. Just bear in mind that Ali Vali has a tendency to be a little lax with the editing, which might be slightly confusing at times.

In case you are wondering - I do know that you can find a ton of (fan) fic’s on the theme of women’s basketball. I might get around to do a list of basketball fics later – perhaps when the indoor season knocks on the door again.

Licit Cusp by Weebod

I’ve been following a discussion on the blog ”Woman and Words” about how a good lesfic should end. The question posed was whether we - the readers - needed lesfic to have a “Happily Ever After” ending. Well for me the answer is easy. I’m into romantic fictions - at least when I’m on line - and I do want a happy end of sorts, but I can easily do without an “I do”, a kiss and a hug between the protagonists is enough. As you know this condition is almost always met in the on line universe of f/f romances – if not, I for one won’t mention the story at this site, should I be unfortunate enough to have spend time reading it – uuhhhh what a waste ;-).

I thought that this review could focus a bit on the HEA type of fiction which in my opinion includes the move from attraction, being in love to the more complicated everyday life of a relationship with the ups and downs. A number of this type fiction has been reviewed at this site. My favourite would be the “Anna and Lily stories” by KG MacGregor “Shaken”, “Stirred”, “Strained” a lovely series of stories that take the time to develop the characters and give the romance a substance that serves well as the basis for the ups and downs of the relationship, that I for one deem to be a HEA.

Another favourite of this type would be “All that matters” by S X Meagher in this story we follow friends turn into lovers, and the “sharing of a house” kind of living together turning into a relationship. No worries there are so much more to this looooong story that just these bits, so I’m certain you will enjoy it, even if you know by now it is also one of those stories, that I deem to have a HEA ending.

To put something new into this mix of stories that you properly already know, I’ll pass the Weebod story “Licit Cusp” on to you, this is a sweet story of a first love, that seem to be the love of a lifetime – definitely a HEA ending.

In “Licit Cusp” we get to meet the young Shona MacLeod, who has moved from the small Hebridean island of North Uist to Edinburg to study history at the university. Edinburg is not only far away from North Uist in terms of geography, but also in the way of life. North Uist is a small society and Shona’s father is a hard and religious man, who keeps his four children on a tight rein.

The move to Edinburg gives Shona the opportunity to experience new sides of life, to grow up and gain her independence. Taking up a job in “The Railwaymen's Club” a local bar, run by the slightly older Toni, is a corner stone in the process for Shona, as Toni proves not only to be a good friend, but also a woman who can show her new way’s of life, and as you can imagine life have some love in store for Shona and Toni.

The story gives us the opportunity to follow a few years in the lives of Shona and Toni and that of their friends and family. It’s a nice and mellow, well written tale, without much angst and heartache. A good read in my opinion. You could say that Toni is perhaps too good to be true, but who cares - it’s not real life, and I guess some of us might take the hint from this leading lady, and look if we are sufficiently supportive of our partner, spouse, gf, lover or what ever you might call your “leading lady” - should you happen to have one of those.

The Player by Weebod

I usually keep an eye out for new stories by following the ramblings of the ladies on “Uber Ect.” who are kind enough to put together a list of updates available from a number of sites and that on a daily basis – it’s real helpful. This week I had a lovely surprise - a new story by a favourite writer – that’s not something that happens every day!

I reviewed the story “Conflict of Interest” by Weebod back in November – if you read that, you will know that Weebod has a fluent pen and this is proven once again in this romance. This time Weebod introduces us to a cast of women thrown together through the sport of field hockey. I’m afraid field hockey is not a game that I’m familiar with, but it looks cool except for the mouth guard that’s not so hot, but I guess it’s there for a reason.

The basic theme of the story is the conflict of interest between “the player” Gillian or Gill who lives her life charming and bedding all available women, never stopping to consider to call someone for a second date, and Emma the woman that finally breaks through her amour, but don’t want to risk her heart on someone who might not be faithful.

The story is delivered in an every day setting with the routines of work, training, games and time to hang out with friends. It’s a nice setting which gives room to a slow development of especially the character of Gill.

I really did like the story - it's a good read, but I think that there is a few points where the romance between Gill and Emma would have benefited from bestowing the girls with a bit of restrain, which would have left them with a time to talk about their feelings and where they wanted the relationship to go. This might have lent a bit more depth to the romantic bits of the storyline.

The story seemed to be well edited, but there is one thing though that the beta missed, it’s a little kink in the storyline – let’s see if you can find it - I’ll give you a hint it’s about a girl and where she is from.

Conflict of Interest by Weebod

A gorgeous, not very tall blonde with lovely green eyes and a dark haired woman with blue eyes, standing almost six feet tall? Do you know where we are heading – if not, you really have to redo some of your fan fiction reading! A pair of girls like this seems to be in ample supply on the fan fiction sites. If you want these girls in an original setting, you could go read about them in Weebod’s “Conflict of Interest”.

As for conflicts of interests, we are talking community centre vs. big money in the form of the owner of the local shopping complex out to make a deal that involves the community centre, and on the love scene we have Elish – leader of the community centre - who is just a little too quick in judging the actions of her friend Aisling – daughter of the owner of the shopping complex.

But before we get to the conflict part of the storyline, we have a chance to see how Elish and Aisling meet and get acquainted, with a bit of help from a number of friends that seem to think they are right for each other.

“Conflict of Interest” is a well developed tale with a solid storyline and a number of characters along with sub plots that gives the story some substance. The main attraction though is – as always - the developing friendship and romance between the leading women.

On my first reading of this story, I put it in the category of “ok story worth reading, but I won’t be going back a second time”. I came across it again the other day and took time to revisit part of it and decided that a complete reread was in order. So if you are in need of a little something to pass the time – try your hand at this.

Oh and by the way – the story takes place in Ireland and Scotland which is refreshing, it’s just like trying a new flavour of ice cream or something – it tickles your taste buds a little and maybe keeps you slightly more focused.

Don’t worry, I’ll take my leave now so you can get on with your reading. I just want to leave you with a little something to chew on; ”Her look was finished off with a pair of tan leather flip-flops. El wondered if Aisling's toes were claustrophobic, she had never seen them enclosed.” … this never crossed my mind, but I guess that toes have feelings too!