"Hindsight" by Lois Kay

I say that these two cute cupcakes are meant to be together! On the other hand sometimes fate or perhaps - in hindsight - a bad choice will decide a different future not only for a "couple of cup cakes" but more likely for a cute pair of lovers.

If you want to explore the matter of "bad decisions" a bit closer you might tag along as I tell you about my latest venture into the world of F/F Fanfiction. This time I went out with Lois Kay. Lois has a nice backlog of stories with "Hearts Choice" being my favourite by her pen.

Before we put on our clogs and starts prowling hospital floors looking for Hannah - yes we are looking to find doctors and nurses this time .. yumi (!) - we might just take a minute to explore the topic of bad choices. I guess some us have a vivid recollection of a date gone wrong, time wasted looking for love in the wrong places or how we mistook a smile, a dance or a kiss for more than just a casual interest. Some might even have managed to do the U-haul thing just to find that living together gives the word  INCOMPATIBLE a new meaning!

If you are experienced in the world of LesFic you know that the authors have us - or rather the protagonists - take more than just a slight detour on the route towards LHEA. LesFic gives the matter of making bad choices a new meaning all together! Now I'm not saying that Hannah made a bad choice when she started going out with Rachel back when she waited tables to pay her way through nursing school or that Rachel wasn't serious about their relationship while she went to medschool or did her residency, but four years ago Rachel did make the choice to leave Hannah with no farewell and certainly no reasonable explanation, she just disappeared!

So where does that leave Hannah ...? Well I found her in the home of her Granny, who seems to have picked her up and put her back on her feet these last four years since Rachel left. As you might have guessed by now Lois is not telling us the story of how Hannah got herself back together and took up life looking for love in the arms of a woman more loving and caring that Rachel.

This is the story of Rachel returning to her home town and ... well yes taking up work at the same hospital as Hannah, and running into Hannah ... and ... nah I wont tell, but I'll let you know that if you are looking for a mushy romantic tale of how two women pick up the love that even a bad choice can't kill, then put your feet up and enjoy this read.

"Hindsight" is a tale of love, family looking out for each other and for some family members maybe even looking a little too closely in on each others love interest. Yes I aim to make you wonder ! But I'll let you know that once the mushy love turns solid, you'll be treated to a bit of a thriller - not quite my ball game - but I found the mix enjoyable enough.

I should perhaps point out that Lois is not one to invite her readers into the bedroom of her protagonists, so if you are looking for love with a spicy flavour, I suggest that you look elsewhere. A visit with CK and Branson in Larisa's "The Phantom" might be to your liking. It's not a read big on mushy romance, but a great mix of romance and humour all the same. This is among my absolute favourite Larisa stories and Larisa is high on my list of all time favourite Fanfiction writers - so I say if you haven't been to CK's farm then don't hesitated...  run along and see if you can catch a ride with Branson, she has a pair of fast wheels at least when the destination is LOVE !

If You Can Carry a Tune

If you can carry a tune you might be one to sing those awfully sad songs of love lost ... at least on a rainy day? Or like Erin with her "Haunted Past" (**) you might just hear the echo of a sad tune while you nurse a drink meant to sooth the heartache .... but I guess you know that a drink will not get Erin anywhere but closer to the memory of the terrible day when Gillian left her. Knowing Larisa we won't have to watch Erin waste away though, but we may have to watch the ladies dance around a bit before they kiss and make up.

Now grab a coffee while I find something with a good tune for you to read ..... how about Kim Pritekel's "Twilight"(**). In this story there is music to be found, as in the popular singer and songwriter Christine who is badly in need of a helping hand to get her act back together and find a little happiness ... and she might just find what she needs in Willow a nurse, wife and soon to be expecting mother ... yes you might say that Kim Pritekel has her work cut out for her if she wants the ladies to be more than friends. If you choose to sing along with Christine and Willow then settle in for a long read - it's a catching one with hurt and comfort, drama and romance and a well defined cast of characters. I would say that "Twilight" is among Pritekel's most well tuned stories.

Sometimes the tunes you play will get you fame and a truckload of money but most often it might not even put bread on the table or a roof over your head. Take Sam for instance she lives her life in her car going where the next job is most likely to be found. One day Sam finds herself stranded in the small town of "Piperton" (**) and her ability to play the piano and sing a tune the shortest way to a bit of cash. Even if her tunes ain't getting her a world of fame, Sam's soft songs of lost love is what gets her a new chance in life .... the attention of Janie. I'll leave you to explore the route that Sam and Janie travel on your own.

When we leave Piperton I suggest we explore one of the less talked about F/F fiction sites "Sapphic Voices" lets do so by listening in on Storm and her Stormtroopers soon to be Stormclouds in F.J.Davey's "Images"(**). This is music meeting the world of business and an unnourished heart finding love in a new and unexpected place. It's also a chance for you to explore the overseas .... well I guess that really is a question of where you have set up home ... but to me Australia and Zimbabwe is definitely out of everyday reach. So if you are willing to take a chance with the popular tunes of the Sixties, Eighties and even Nineties then follow along and see how the fierce temper and hot looks of lead singer Storm sparks when met with Kathryn's smooth businesslike manners and cool distance. The question is if there will ever be more than just sparks flying .... and I might warn you it's not just you and me looking in on Storm and Kathryn we got another a pair of eyes, a pair of too interested eyes, following the moves. So watch out !

I'm going to leave you to the music of your own choice but on my way out I'll set up a list of stories sporting protagonists who have a connection to the music scene. The stories might not quite match the above mentioned in quality but you might still find something that matches the rhythm of your heart:

• Sidney's Serenade by JL Nickey 
• Two Part Harmony by Colleen
• The Sister by Zuke
• Magic of the Heart by CJ Harte
• Whips and Chains by Larisa

If you have stories you want to add to the list please let me know!

The Tribe of The Big Round Bellies

Once the Wedding Vows has been taken care of the next thing your woman will start hinting is that it is time for you to start a family.

You might try to suggest a dog would be a perfect match - how about helping out a lovely creature from the animal shelter? Well if that does not work out I guess that you have to start reading up on immaculate conception or perhaps just get your ass down to the local hardware store ... or wherever you go to get your cooking utensils ... 'cos you will be needing a Turkey Baster!

On the other hand when I think about it all the fan fic's I've read featuring a pregnant woman I can't say that I've ever come across any Turkey Basters or the likes, so I guess that there are other ways to get the deed done?!  

Now settle down and let me run through the stories with a pregnant protagonist and let's see if there are any turkeys running loose.

Usually the conception in question is quite natural - if I may say so - as in Man and Woman get close and rather personal. Now don't shoot me - I'm only en innocent bystander telling you what I've read (!) If you don't believe me then look up "Strings Attached" by Inyx. I don't think that it gets more natural than an awful lot of alcohol and an one night stand! With Inyx it's the getting up close and personal with your room mate / (girl)friend of seven years that might prove a bit difficult. Look up the review if you want to know the details.

You still don't believe me ? Ok then try "An Innocent Heart" by Heike Freudenmann and G. S. Binkley. This time it's not an one night stand but a steady - but soon-to-be ex-boyfriend -  that does the deed and puts Kim in a family way! So where do we go from here ? Will Kim be "doing the right thing" and make up with her ex or can she pursue a life as a single mother.... I think that her childhood friend Robin will help her make up her mind - look up a review here.

Luckily enough even devious boyfriends like Tucker Dane's Steve in Larisa's "Blue Calm", who sets out to get Tucker to marry him by getting her pregnant by "accident", can put into motion a change that will give us a lovely f/f romance and the start of a happy family of two mothers. Well in the case of Tuckers new love - Duncan - you might wonder if it's just the luck of genes of if she herself - Duncan that is - "fathered" the child 'cos Tuckers baby daughter looks an awful lot like our Dunk!

If you are "into" devious boyfriends you could also look up Terri, who ends up staying with the wealthy Noemi while she carries her child to term, and if you want to know how that happened and if Terri is going to move on when the baby is borne, you'll have to look up Katia Ruiz's story "Noemi" for your self.

I can think of just one more story where the expecting mother got pregnant the natural way and that's "When We Met" by B. Soiree. As I remember its an awful long story that takes you through the hardship of pregnancy and setting up family life with a newborn baby, but don't worry there is still a little time for romance now and then.     

Now if you are looking to get pregnant with a little help from a very good friend and a doctor you could look up "A Place to Dance" by Ali Vali. This time "the getting pregnant thing" is very well planed, but there is still the small question of putting the news to your partner.... It's really not as odd as it might sound and "A Place to Dance" is a favourite of mine so don't hesitate to look it up if you have the urge for a good romance.  

While we are on the question of favourites I might as well mention "All That Matters" by SX Meager. I know that this is another very long story, but that can't be helped as SX Meager is the master of the long winded romance. Should you have the time then look in on the life of Blair and her husband David who is out looking to have a bit of help with the "getting pregnant thing", which lands Blair with a divorce and on the road to become a single mother (!) ... you might ask how that happens and as you can imagine I won't tell you! I will however let you know that Blair has a very supportive - and surprise - lesbian friend Kylie who lends the pregnant Blair a helping hand when she leaves David. Look up the women while Blair is carrying her child to term and see if Blair is lucky enough to score the "girlfriend" job with Kylie.

You still haven't got enough of all the round bellies getting bigger and bigger and .. ? ... ok then look up Keegan and follow her as she is carrying her child to term as a single mother... hm you want some romantic action as well - don't worry Keegans former girlfriend Gwen is around and she is trying hard to persuade Keegan that what she should take a chance on love, and I ask you who can say no to an offer like that when it's put forward by "America's Sweetheart" ?

If you think that children are a great part of the equation of love and romance then look up the list of stories that I've put together in Listmania or my ramble on this topic. 

Do you know KG MacGregor?

I bet you know KG MacGregor either for her published stories or like me by way of her online work. If you follow this blog regularly you will already know that I'm quite fond of MacGregor's "The Road from Kilimanjaro". It's a strong number 9 on my "Top 10s".

If you took my advice the other day and ventured out with Anna and Lilly by way of KG MacGregors "Shaken Series, you are already well acquainted with MacGregors online work.

In case you have had enough stories from this pen then go enjoy yourself somewhere else ... how about looking up the culinary skills of "A Butch In The Kitchen"? I think that the Strawberry Shortcake Cookies looks good enough to deserve a try, but then again I do have a thing for strawberries ! They spell S U M M E R to me, and I would really like to get me a bit of sun! It is not for the tan though, I'm just real tired of riding my bike in the rain or in below zero temperatures.

If real life is not toooo much for you then go read Randi Millers account of love "The Long Kiss Goodbye" - I take it you do know that LesFic is really, really far from a true account of romance ?

Should real life be too hard on your romantic heart then tag along as I walk you through my favourite MacGregor stories.

Let's start with "A Little Something" - a short story on how an impossible love might prove possible after all ... it's just a matter of whom takes the first step! Step into the world of advertising and see how Ellen and Shannon decide to take not one but two major chances in life. Just remember that it's not always that easy to find and hold on to love! Well if we are to judge by KG MacGregor's stories the "finding love" might not be so hard - it's the holding on to it that's complicated. Do you want me to prove it ?

Well ok ... lets look in on the Paula the Night Shift Manager at The Weller Regent Hotel in Orlando. If you ask me Paula takes the concept of “making the guests happy” to a new level when she starts  flirting with Wynne - a frequent traveller and marketing manager from Baltimore - who likes to stay at the Weller Regent when in Orlando. Paula and Wynne moves easily from an innocent flirt towards friendship and well you know .... love seems to be just around the corner when RL happens! Do you want to know if the women are ever "Getting it Right" ? Then follow the link - it will be well worth your reading time.

Let's move further down the line of MacGregor stories..... how about looking in on Leo ? She is the reason that all grandmothers have portraits of pretty, smiling 3rd graders on their mantelpieces. Leo is the photographer who makes the miracles happen and catches that perfect expression, but even if Leo is a good catch herself, love has not been know to stand in line at her door. So you might ask why you should spend your reading time with Leo? Don't be so impatient - you know that love is going to find us all at one time or another ... ok sometimes a little shove in the right direction will help to move things along. Look up "Expectations" if you want to know how Leo happens to find love and "Remembrances" if you want to know how things turn out for Leo in the long run.

"Expectations" and a "Little Something" are contributions by MacGregor to The Academy's romantic Valentines Series. If you are fond of a short romantic storyline you could also take some time with "Crush" and "Community Service". I'm sure that Community Service will put a smile on your face.

The last MacGregor fic that I'll mention is "The House on Sandstone". This is a story of young love that never dies - if this is your favourite storyline then look up other stories like this in Listmania. This time it's a kiss in the supply closet in the chemistry class that proves to be the defining moment in time for Justine and Carly, but even if the feeling is mutual at the crunch time - it'll take 25 years to go beyond that kiss! The House on Sandstone has a well developed storyline and a broad cast of characters that will keep you well entertained with all the little happenings of family life as a backdrop to romance.

Enjoy your reading time with KG MacGregor!

Cephalgia aka Val Brown and MJ aka MJ Walker

"Cephalgia" .... a nice little something to mush on in your favourite chair on a Sunday,  a headache, a writer .... perhaps a little of all three ? In the world of F/F Fan Fiction the pen name Cephalgia and the duo of Cephalgia and MJ promises a romantic read. If you tag along I will introduce you.

Lets start with Cephalgia on her own - you will find several little reads by Cephalgia's pen to pass some time and if you want to do so with a smile you could try "The Trouble with Ancients". This is about Alli who happens to take a much needed vacation by way of Great North Tours' bus trip "A Fabulous Singles Excursion to San Francisco" ... only she did not realize that those Singles was seniors as in old ladies ... well that is except for the driver Ty!

While we are on the subject of vacation you could look up Cephalgia's PWP series about Holly, as in 28 year old brunette on the trip of her dreams to ... London, and Gina, as in raven haired beauty and London Innkeeper. You can tag along as the girls get intimately acquainted in "The British Invasion" and work on feeding the flames ignited in "Body English". If you choose to continue you can see if they work out their differences in "Her Majesty's Pleasure" and how they tackle a visit from the up and coming Mother-in-law. 

However pleasurable this vacation in London might turn out for Holly I still think that it's lacking as far as the mushy romance goes, as you might have guessed I am inclined towards a bit of romantic reason for jumping between the sheets ... even if its a raven haired beauty beckoning.

If you want your PWP with a bit of romance you could mix Cephalgia with MJ and join them when they tell you the story about Wilder and her long time friend Darcy who decides to take an almost scientific approach to establishing whether sex with a woman is more pleasurable than with a man.

OK this might not sound like at teaser for a romantic PWP, but if you throw in a bit of "in love with her best friend" and "never going to tell her" then you might see where this is leading. So try on  "Unlimited Sexual Favours" for size and if you like it follow up with "More Unlimited Sexual Favours" and "The Return of Unlimited Sexual Favours". This is a sure way to put a smile on your face while you watch girls turn from friends to lovers.

Should you want a storyline with less emphasis on the activities between the sheets, you could look up “The Heart of the Matter” by Cephalgia. This is a story centred around Davey, a little boy with a heart disorder, and his mother Crystal, who lives her life wondering just when their visits to the hospital is the fatal one for Davey. Into this little family enters Lauren an ICU nurse who makes Crystal and her son the subject of her master thesis and in the process gains a family. It's a sweet and well written story of romance between the lesbian nurse and her new found - perhaps not so - straight friend.

I know that was a little close to RL .... well perhaps not the romantic part, but the worrying about life and death of loved ones. So maybe we should lift the spirits a bit ... how about a visit to the beach, how about getting acquainted with a lovely blond, how about graphing a new business opportunity when it presents it self and how about turning your life around to catch up with love. Meet Toni who is lounging in her beach chair until she catches a hat, and meet Rae, who is working hard to set up a juice bar. The girls will take you through "The Dregs of Summer", and setting up shop on the beach during "Endless Summer". It is all just a bit of fun, but we wanted to lighten up the spirits a bit didn't we - well at least I did.

Now are you ready for RL again ? If so join me online for a chat session on the benefits of garlic chest rubs at Brightwoood Pharmaceutical's website. Manning the website is Randa a US nurse working from home while she awaits the fairy tale romance of true love. Now I promised RL so be warned this is not just romance and a bumpy road to LHEA, it's also an account of living with a close relative with deteriorating health due to sclerosis.

Through the Brightwoood website Randa meets Denise an acclaimed English poet in need of advise on how to help her aunt Sara who has just been diagnosed with sclerosis. What begins as a professional online relationship slowly turn to friendship and sharing in the care of Sara. I will leave you guess where this will lead the women! Connecting Hearts is co-written by Cephalgia and MJ and so is the sequel Family Connections, a story I haven't had time to read.

Now I guess I should leave you to your reading - if you just have time for on or two stories in your busy social calendar I suggest that you pick "The Heart of the Matter" for the well written storyline and "Unlimited Sexual Favours" for the humour and romance.

Several of Val Brown and MJ Walkers stories has been published by Blue Feather Books.  

... and the winner is....

This time a round I picked a winner .... and no I am not talking about picking out the right number in the lottery  ... that would have been nice though ! But I did vote for the story "Nevermore" as winner of the 26. Bard Challenge at The Academy of Bards and it seems that several fanfiction readers agreed with me on the merits of this little tale of impossible love come true.

If you joined me in trying to guess the pen of each of the stories you might have picked Ann McMan was the writer of the winning tale ...  like I did. She has a very distinctive pen ... I for one is a fan! But I am sorry to say that I got all the rest of the names of writers wrong.

And while we are on the subject of Ms. McMan I will leave you with a link to her website. At the site she has posted an essay that I have not found at other sites.

Radclyffe!

Radclyffe ? Well I am not thinking Radclyffe Hall, the author of the old-time classic lesbian novel "The Well of Loneliness" but Radclyffe aka Len Barot, author of numerous LesFic's published by Bold Strokes Books the publishing company that Len Barot heads.

To follow up on my post the on Radclyffe's "Honor series" I thought we could take a stroll through some Radclyffe fic's .... maybe you've missed a good read?

Soft butch - or what ?

My first Radclyffe "experience" was "Loves Melody Lost" a story about Graham a famous composer and pianist who has lost her "melody" after a car accident that also blinded her. As you might have guessed Graham is an unhappy soul who will need special attention to get back in step with her music and learn to trust in love. And she will get the attention she needs from her new live-in house manager Anna, but do you think that she will take kindly to the loving care that Anna provides?

I found this early story by Radclyffe a bit too stereotype for my taste as I think Graham's butch character is presented as more of a transgender character than lesbian, but then again I am really not proficient in determining the correct labels to fix on anyone's orientation - so I might be wrong on this. And should transgender be your thing - then I guess it really doesn't matter at all.

While we are on the subject of stereotypes, labels and such I thought that I might make a statement "I do not like imposed labels" - and no that is really not a phrase that I came up with. It is from "The Bookish Butch", but I hope she will let me borrow it as it fits nicely with the way I feel about labels ..... if I want one - a label that is - I will stick it on my forehead myself!

Anyway let's forget about labels .... but before moving on we might just have a bit of fun with the clichés that goes with the labels that we might choose for ourself. Try this link ! I know that I posted the link to the YouTube video from "ThatsWhatSheSaid" before, but maybe you missed it ? 

I hear you shout for me to move on down the Radclyffe trail so here we go .... If you trust in my ability to judge a good romance from a bad, you might want to take a look at some of the published Radclyffe fic's. My all time Radclyffe favorite is "Turn Back Time", but then again I am biased when it comes to a romance set in the medical world - I just love "White Coats, Warm Hands and Wondrous Hearts".

"Turn Back Time" is a great mix of the stressed professional lives of young doctors trying to make a career for themselvs in the competitive environment of the teaching hospitals, family life as in a single mother mixing work with rising a child, and the promises of what life could be like, if you let love happen.

In "Turn Back Time" you will encounter Radclyffe's signature soft butch character - hard on the outside, but soft as melting butter on the inside. All you have to do is brake through the shield that guards her  heart and show her love! Ain't that just sweet ?

If we stay in the medical world, which is not hard to do with Radclyffe - who seems to have had her own career as a surgeon - you might want to look up "Passion's Bright Fury". The soft butch is on the hunt again, this time in the form of the formidable Saxon Sinclair who never seems to rest, but really she just needs someone to rest her tired soul with. You can read a review here at the site - just use the author tag for Radclyffe. You will find "Passions' Bright Fury" available both online and in a published version by Bold Strokes Books.

I you want to move from soft butch to a life on the dark side of passion you might want to follow Radclyffe into the "Shadowland", but if BDSM is not you thing then pass it over. I found this story to be way too dark for my taste. Should you however want to try your hand at BDSM "on dry-land" so to speak, you could look up BadSquirrels "The Dark Side Of The Moon". The tone of this story is much "softer". On the other hand the BDSM-universe related in the storyline feels very much constructed, but then again one can't really complain ... it is fiction after all .... is it not? You can find a few other fic's with a BDSM theme on Listmania, if you want to explore this topic further.

Whatever you choose for your Afternoon Delight it is guaranteed to include romance and the promise of LHEA.

Sorry it seems that I lost the Radclyffe trail somewhere along the line ....... I'll try to find my way back .... some other time.

The Honor Series by Radclyffe

I guess its common knowledge that Radclyffe can turn out a very readable romantic tale with a nice twist of drama and some hot moves by a pair of good looking ladies. Among the leading ladies we are always sure to find Radclyffes signature butch woman with a "soft" core. A tender heart needing the right kind of persuasion to be able to overcome past hurt and love again.

The "Honor Series" is classic Radclyffe! So if you are fit and able to blend in with the crowed then tag along when I join Agent Cameron Roberts on her new assignment as commander of the Secret Service detail responsible for the security of Blair Powell, the daughter of the US president.

Do you think that this kind of "baby-sitting" assignment is worthy of a senior agent from the Investigative Division like Cam?  Judging by the look on Cam's face it's a defined NO, but then again sometimes you just have to follow orders and this IS an order. So before long we will get to watch the first meeting of Cam and Blair - the woman Cam must be willing to give her life to protect.

One would presume that a woman in Blair's position would be cooperating with her security team, but Blair is like a caged animal constantly challenging her confinement, resenting her inability to live a life free from strangers following and observing her every move.

So we have a possible explosion on our hands here, but don't worry Cam is just the Woman to handle even a highly provocative and non-cooperating lady like Blair, and to get her team to work with her in creating the necessary security.

You might ask what possible way for a romantic match Radclyffe can find with these two protagonists, but you won't have to wonder for long. The tension between Blair and the commander of her security team is not just created by Blair's repressed anger against her inability to live her own life - an instant  attraction helps to heighten the tension considerably.

The Honor series is romance - as in exploring the possibility of more than just smoulding looks between two good looking ladies both with a reluctance to risk their hearts. The Honor Series is Erotica - as in two ladies who can't keep their hands to themselves. And The Honor Series is drama - as in a stalker, car bombing and sniper attacks. All in all a potent mix - even if I think that the story would have benefited from a bit more talk and a little less of the very passionate embraces between the leading ladies.  

The Honor Series is seven books in total - all published by Bold Strokes Books, but the first three in the series is available online - "Above All Honor", "Honor Bound" and "Love and Honor".

Ramble - on this and that

As you might have noticed I'm not really doing any reading at the moment! Well that's not entirely true, I do read stuff but either I'm just jumping from one "old" and well proven online story to another or I'm enjoying myself with general fiction which does not really fit the theme of this blog.  

So this time I'm just going to give you a mix of whatever comes to mind....

Have you been following the news on The Royal Academy of Bards ? If not then perhaps you ought to look up the entry for the 11th of August and learn which bards was voted into the Academy's Hall of Fame this summer. If you need a suggestion on what to read you can look up the list of the stories voted into the Hall of Fame as well.

I'm happy to see that Ann McMan and her story "Jerico" was voted into The Hall of Fame. It's a fun, mushy romance with a killer dialogue, but I guess that you know that by now ? 

McMan's latest story "Dust" made it to the Hall of Fame as well. This is a quite different type of story, a sort of "political thriller" with a romantic twist, not the mushy romance type of story that I'm so fond of ;-) 

"Dust" is what Evan stirrers up when she goes hunting for the dirty parts of an up and coming politicians life before the party decides on the backing of the candidate. This time she finds not only dirty secrets but also an estranged, but very good looking - lesbian - wife, lurking in the side wings of the up and coming senator's life.

This is LesFic so YES Evan and the senators wife do get to know one another "up close and personal", but somehow I keep looking back ...is this for "real" of just a trick for Evan to get close to the information that she is looking for or for the senators wife to keep a close tap on what Evan is digging up?? If you like LesFic thrillers don't miss this one - it's very well written. A tight and precise language and a well structured storyline even if it drops of a bit at the end.

You can find both "Jerico" and "Dust on the Academy and on Ann McMan's website. "Jericho" and  "Dust" might be the last free fic's from McMan's pen - it seems that she has made it into print with her first book. This is great as she really do turn out stories with a good quality of writing.

While we are on the theme of Hall of Fame Stories lets take a stroll back in time at The Academy's Hall of Fame - maybe you have missed out on a really great read. Come along if you need a bit of guidance.

2010 was the year that one of my favorite romances with humor entered The Hall of Fame. If you have missed "Miss-Match" do not hesitated to look it up - its everything you need in a LesFic - jumping the fence, coming out, a blind date, women looking for the one to spend their life, and everything in a mix of great dialoge and a well put together storyline with likeable characters.

While we are on the subject of A.C.Henley - one of the two co-writers of Miss-Match - I might as well tell you that she also penned "One-Two-Oh" a little story of cowgirls and on how come every lesbian within a 500-mile zone decides to show up on Rose's doorsteps, even though she really only has eyes for Charlotte. 

From The Hall of Fame Voting in the year 2010 you might also like Zee's "Comic Book Life" this time you'll get a story based on the concept of "young love that never dies" mixed with a bit of fun and a child that you have to keep your eyes on.

I'm not going to walk through every Hall of Fame voting with you - you can do so on you own, but I might just point out a few other favorites that have earned a place in The Hall of Fame though the years.

Artemis Callaghan's "Something so Close to Love" received the necessary votes to enter The Hall in 2008. I do like Callaghan's writing and "Something so Close to Love" has characters with more depth than the usual online fic. There is a review somewhere on this blog - if you want to know more before you commit yourself to a reading.

The first year that The Hall of Fame voting took place some of the best uber writers was voted into The Hall ... Radclyffe, SX Meager, Missy Good, LJ Maas, Ali Vali and KG MacGregorer. Among the stories chosen for The Hall of Fame that year is another long time favorite of mine "None So Blind" - it doesn't get more romantic than that. You can look up the review on the blog by looking up the reviews on stories by LJ Maas.

Should you want to take a break from the world of words maybe you can relax with some pic's - no, not interested ? Well what if I told you that we are talking "America the Beautiful" by Elle ? As a teaser I'll give you Hillery Swank.

Elle says: "We searched from coast to coast to find the loveliest celebrity native of each state in the union (plus the District of Columbia!)".

If this is not the kind of pic's you fancy you can always look up the latest show from "The Big Picture at Boston.com". Beware - it's not always pretty !

For pretty and adventurous pic's I always visit National Geographic. Last time I stopped by I met with "The Rower". Did you know that it takes 2.5 mio. oarstroks to cross The Pacific ?

Have fun !

Unbreakable by Advocate aka Blayne Cooper

Do you remember the girls you grew up with? Your best friends from High school? Your roommates from College? Gwen, Kathy, Audrey, Nina and Jackie - do remember one another, but not really for all the good times they spend together through their shared childhood, but rather for the way the friendship ended. If it wasn't for Gwen, neither Kathy, Nina, Jackie nor Audrey would have thought to keep their childhood promises of meeting up again at the age of 40.

But Gwen have a powerful reason to gather her former friends around her. She is being blackmailed with a secret that only they know, and an invitation to a weekend at a local B&B for her birthday is the perfect Agatha Christie like setting needed to lure the blackmailer out into the open.

Do you see the black clouds gathering over the B&B? Fell the thunder lurking, expect the interruption of the power and a B&B covered in darkness ..... a fierce lightning breaking the darkened rooms only to reveal a still body laying on the living room carpet ? You might, but if that's what you want why not look up "And then there were non" by Christie it might just give you the old fashioned drama you want. 

"Unbreakable" on the other hand will present you with the story of the lives of the 5 women - past and present. If you are here for the romance try to focus on Jackie and Nina, they have a story of their own to tell, one that follows the classic lines of dealing with the feelings between best friends that might run just a bit deeper than friendship.

This is a multi layered story of childhood, friendship, growing up, breaking apart and getting a second chance. The story weavers back and forth in time between the present days and the past, between the stories of the group of friends and the lives of each of the women. It's a pretty complex and well put together storyline, even if the drama does not really ring true. If you are here for the mushy romance kind of fic please note that the romance is not really as central to the storyline in "Unbreakable" as in you standard variety romance, but it is kind of sweet non the less.

If you haven't read any of Advocate's work before then don't hesitate to try this one out, it is really well written and with a humorous twist now and again. Should you like humour and this pen then do look up "The Story of Me" it's quite fun.

The story has been published by Spinster Ink and it is available as a Kindle ebook.

Tomorrow's Promise by Radclyffe

Withley's Island is the home of the young and idle summer crowd. The sons and daughters of wealthy families, ready to party the summer away. Among those wild party animals you will find Tanner. A reckless driver, a fast drinker and the wealthy heir to the Whitley fortune. A restless soul unable to find peace within herself, forever trying to outrun her feeling and escape life with her reckless behaviour.

Do you want to meet Tanner? - I say NO, not really let her keep herself busy - doing nothing except passing time. Who cares ? Well sometimes the most unlikely people do that care.

But Withley's Island is more than just a big beach party. To Adrienne, who has travelled 3.000 miles to enjoy a temporary stay,  the Island is a safe haven, a sanctuary far away from family and friends, far away from anyone who knows.... NO, I don't think that I should tell you Adrienne's secret, it is after all the reason she has come to the island, to escape the talk and the looks form those who knows. So let's give her a chance to regain her strength without the knowing glances.

One island, two battered souls..... what are the chances that they will collide - once... well it's possible, twice ... ok not unlikely, but three times... I say its Lesfic! So don't be surprised when you find Tanner and Adrienne engaged in a kiss on the beach.

But don't worry the romance is not bagged and sealed by one kiss however brilliant it was. So this is the story of Tanner, the woman who never seems to be able to settle with anything or anyone, pursuing Adrienne, the woman with a secret too hurtful to disclose to anyone, even the woman who holds her heart.

Did I get you interested ? Hope so - "Tomorrow's Promise" is a nice romance of the Radclyffe variety. A couple of good looking women, instant attraction, despair as in big bumps on the road towards a LHEA ending. The formula is simple, but well proven and with Radclyffe's pen well written too. So if you are  looking for a little something to pass your time this story will serve you well.

An Audience with the Sidewalk Saviour by K. Alexander

Would it not be great if ordinary people had the power to heal? To undo the wrong and make the World a better place for all.

If not all, but some had the power, would they be obliged to use this power to the benefit of all or could they choose to use the power at their own discretion ? Would it make a difference if there was a limit to the number of times the power could be used or if the use of the power came with a price ?

Should you want to explore this topic then look up "An Audience with the Sidewalk Saviour" by K. Alexander. This brings you in touch with India Waits. India was raised by nuns, who was non too keen on India exercising her natural healing powers. So I guess that it's not really surprising that India has locked away her real powers and get by in life as a natural health practitioner. That is until one day she is pushed forward by her friend Warren to help a young woman who lies bleeding on the foot walk, shot while queuing for the movie theater.

After having her real powers to heal exposed to the world at large India's life changes, she is rejected by her friends, who question her reasons to keep her powers of healing a secret, and she is haunted by the press.

If you choose to follow along with India while she paves a new path in life for herself be prepared for the unexpected. This is an original story in the true sense of the word, it does not follow the classic pattern of Lesfic, but don't worry you will get your romance along the way - just not so easily as in the mainstream LesFic fic's.

"An Audience with ...." is not my standard treat as it mix romance and drama with "supernatural" powers, which are not quite my cup of tea, but the quality of the writing and not least the dialog between India and her friend Jude is refreshing and a treat in it self.

K. Alexander is still active in the online Universe of fan fiction and I do hope that we will have more stories from her pen in the future. Should you have missed her story "Love Bites" and you could do with a bit of humor and a crunchy dialog - try it out - it's great fun.

In The Light of Day by Cheyne aka Cheyne Curry

There is more ways than one to come out and Riley chooses a  spectacular one if you consider giving a living and breathing lesbian a lap dance at you cousins bachelorette party coming out. I know that it might just be the tequila speaking, but maybe, just maybe, this is more than just an alcohol induced idea of a little fun? 

At least that what Kya implies to Riley when she wakes up naked in Kya's bed the morning after. "But…I don't even know what to do with a woman…" Riley protests, "So you said last night. I can assure you that you have a creative imagination and you take instruction very well" is Kya's answer.

Now there is no reason to make fun of the process of realising you are gay and coming out, but I don't mind the subject to be treated in a humorous way and that is what Cheyne is doing here. If you can accept the fact that tequila - and one night in the arms of a lesbian super lover - can make a here to unsuspecting straight woman a convinced lesbian, that is.  

"In The Light of Day" is the first in a series of four stories that make up the complete tale of Riley's coming out to herself and her family. Do look up at least the first and the last story if you want a chance to put a little smile on your face. 

You can follow these links to the series "In The Light of Day", "Chance and Choice", "Decision" and "From This Day Forward". 

If you think that bachelorette parties are just the place to test the waters on you sexuality, you might want to check out the "Hen Night", "Wedding Reception", "Honeymoon" and "Devorcee" from the pen of Artemis Callaghan. This is a favourite of mine. 

Shell Game by Zipplic

How do you define your reading habits ?  By the fandoms you subscribe to, the pairings you prefer, the bards you read, the categories that your favorite stories belong with? Are you into the "classics", do you find SiFi or futuristic stories entertaining, is Greece in Ancient times or France in the Middle Age your thing ? Do you prefer your protagonists to be of color, to be blond or raven haired, feminine or butch, to carry a weapon and handle horses with ease, to wear a  business suit and throw money around ?  

Well maybe you do not define your reading habits! And why should we do that anyway? By defining, categorizing, putting a name to and whatever we do when we label things - or people for that matter - we take a risk. The risk of missing the chance to try something new and - surprise - find that we like it! 

I don't do the classics or SiFi, I prefer uber or original stories in a modern setting with a little drama, some - but not too much angst - and a lot of romance! And if someone will mix in a bit of humor, I am likely to enjoy just about any well written story with a coherent storyline. Lots of f/f on line stories fit this bill - so I am well entertained, but ...... maybe I'm missing out on some enjoyable reads?

The other day I ventured out on a new trail into yet unexplored territory ;-) The world of pirate queens ! I have never done that before - and I might not do it again - but I really enjoyed my little outing with Zipplic and the story "Shell Game". It is about ... a pirate queen (surprise) and a woman who is held captive on her pirate ship, but then again the pirate queen does not really act like a pirate, the captive is the only one who seems to think that she is held captive and the ship ..... well it's more like a small trader than any pirate ship I ever came across. It's not too much of a romance, even if the pirate queen and her volunteer captive do pair up along the way, but it's something else - it's a humours way of viewing a BDSM relationship and the mechanisms of control. 

Read "Shell Game" for the humor and the crispy dialog. It doesn't really matter that we have to put on our sea legs for the ride! 

If you visit the Zipplic's author page at The Athenaeum you can get this story as an eBook download. 

V1:A Valentine's Day Odyssey by Ann McMan

"The eagle has landed. Goldilocks headed to big house to catch Mama Bear with fingers in porridge bowl.".. hmm are you thinking; hey they are putting a man on the moon ! Old fairy tale ? or Lesfic ! 

Yep - lesfic it is and if you have learned your basic lesfic lessons well, you will be expecting angst as in a spouse trying to have a little fun "on the side" and the wife trying to catch her in the act, but I would not put my money on that interpretation in the case of Ann McMan. She does not seem to get high on the real angst themes. Her focus is on the dialog and she can craft a whole story around her killer dialog.

What you get in "A Valentine's Day Odyssey" is not a whole story, but a short sequel to McMan's  "Jericho" and you can guess the essence of the storyline by the title. I will leave you to explore it on your own. 

This sequel is not a further exploration of the original storyline of "Jericho", it is more like an extra set of scenes with the original set of characters. So if you are looking for a continuation of "Jericho" this is not it, but read it anyway - if only for the great dialog. As for the storyline it did seem to come to a somewhat abrupt stop like when you are on a deadline and have to cut your work short as time is running out. Maybe Valentines came too soon for McMan this year ? 

Anyway I for one would love to have more fic's from the pen of Ann McMan her writing is witty and catching, and she gives us great vines to drink while we enjoy her storytelling skills  ;-) 

If you have not read "Jericho" yet I would suggest that you do before venturing out on a Valentine date with Maddie and Syd - you can look up my review if you want a little appetizer to the storyline.

Graceful Waters by B L Miller and Verda Foster

Grab a couple of earplugs and follow me up to The Sapling Hill Rehabilitation Facility the all-girls boot camp where the 17 years old Grace is going to spend the next 5 month getting a last chance to turn her life around.

The earplugs? Well if you are going to spend more than 10 minutes with the girls and their shouting instructors you are going to need them, but you better listen carefully to all the shouting or you will no doubt have to DROP AND GIVE ME TEN - push ups that is - for disobeying an order.

Instructor Carey runs a tight camp and not a lot is left for the girls to decide on their own, they follow a gruelling daily schedule of classes, exercises and mentoring sessions aimed at giving them an alternative to drugs, teenage pregnancies, crime .... a life at the bottom of the pit.

Is this a successful recipe to turn around a teenage life ? Do we become better people if we get shackled, gaged, shouted at or ordered around ? I do not know, but somehow I doubt it. Fortunately Instructor Carey is more than a shouting monster. She is a woman with a heart and able to do more than just discipline the wayward teen. Carey will give the guidance, love and support needed to straighten out the girl Grace, who is on edge with the world.

If you wonder where to look for the romance do not worry you will find it. You just have to have patience - and a lot of it - like Grace.

“Graceful Waters” has a well developed storyline, and a couple of well fleshed out characters that will help keep you entertained - if you do not mind all the shouting, the rules and discipline that is.

This is a work from the pen of B.L.Miller and Verda Foster. Unfortunately it’s not readily available on line any more as B.L.Miller chose to take the story off line due to plagiarism as in people posting the story under their own names on line! I do not understand why anyone would want to do that, but that is probably due to my lack of imagination.

Anyway I included a link to the story through the Wayback Machine, but you never now if that link will be working in the long run. The story was published by Intaligo Publications in 2004 and Amazon still has it in stock.

Primal Touch by Amber

(I did wonder what a white tiger looked like - so I went looking!)

Ashley is out to hunt for the white tiger in the wilderness of the Indian jungle, armed with a reputation as one of the best nature and wildlife photographers and her camera. She will go to any length to capture the image of the rare animal.

Beside her ability to shoot remarkable pictures Ashley is a striking blond, green eyed woman - so you might as well start looking around for that tall blue eyed creature who must be lurking around somewhere. She is there, but blends in remarkably well in her tiger like camouflage, and moves through the jungle without leaving a trace as she watches - among other things - the intriguing blond photographer.

Yes you are absolutely right - you have landed yourself in the middle of a modern Tazan or rather Jungle-Jane like story of a western woman having turned into a creature of the jungle, living among and with the wild animals. Our tiger-woman goes by the name of Leandra Thornton, she used to be a poacher, but a run in with a white tiger changed her outlook on life and she has spend the last four years in the jungle, hunting poachers to protect the wildlife. The BIG question is if Leandra will stay in the jungle or if she might be persuaded by a small blond by the name of Ashley to venture back into the real world.

The story is entertaining and well written even if the topic of "Jungle-Jane" might be a bit over the top for me. "Primal Touch" is a light romantic read with a humorous twist and a bit of drama.  The humour is especially profound in the last two parts of the story that takes place after Ashley and Leandra has left the jungle and mix with Ashley's family back home in the US. It's fun to watch Leandra getting back in touch with a modern lifestyle - when was the last time you had to tell you gf "No growling, no snarling, and no destroying the merchandise" before you let her loose in the mall with your credit card?

Between a Memory and a Dream by L.A.Tucker

Meatloaf is great for Thursdays, chicken and biscuits will go over well on a Wednesday, Tuesdays well ... how about a Swiss steak, if you throw in some fried fish on Friday and an Italian sampler platter as a Saturday special you have got yourself the new menu of The Duck Inn. 

If you can stomach the meatloaf and a romance that is a tad long in the making find yourself a quiet corner at the back of the bar at The Duck Inn and watch out for the inn owner Duck and her tenant Marie.

Duck is a woman caught up by her parents failing health. First she nursed her mother until she died and now she has taken over their inn and the job of looking after her father. With a declining business and a less than fit father, Duck has little if no life outside the inn.

Something needs to change! And even if she does not know it Marie is the woman who will help turn things around for Duck .... and herself. Marie keeps busy with an unusual number of little odd jobs like dog grooming, pet sitting, teaching ballroom dancing, cooking and banjo playing just to mention a few. Her coming and goings through the bar at the inn is followed closely by at least one set of very interested eyes. 

If you are a trained lesfic reader you will know that the largest obstacle to finding true love is the misconceptions that our protagonists live by - and in the case of Duck and Marie they each take the misunderstandings to heart and live in the firm belief that their feelings for each other is not reciprocated.

Both you and I know better - so just sit back and wait for the one special serving of meatloaf that will end all the misunderstandings.

This is a short story with a singular focus on Duck and Marie, the long covered looks they send each other and their non existing communication, but it's sweet - so if you "do" sweet and you can live without a roll in the hay go look it up.

Wall of Silence by GabGold aka Gabrielle Goldsby

Do you know the chocolate treats that contain a little surprise gift for children to play with? On the outside the treats are just a little something for a sweet tooth and inside is a toy - a double treat! Sometimes it’s rather hard to tell what the children want the most - the chocolate or the surprise inside.

How about you - what do you want a detective novel or a romance, a hand to hold or a hand holding a gun? What if you could have both - a five-foot four chick with a career with the LAPD and a murder or two to solve and a lady bar bouncer with a hard ass ready to hold her hand?

If you want a double treat you could look up GabGolds “Walls of Silence” it’s probably a first draft of the published novel from Bold Strokes Books by the same title by Gabrielle Goldsby.

Foster Everett is your LAPD detective on a downwards spiral - not quiet able to stomach the facts of life that she encounters in her job, not sleeping well, tending to be a bit on the aggressive side and at odds with her boss - are that not the case with all detectives?

The downwards spiral starts turning real fast when Foster kills a suspect on the job - something that her partner Smitty covers up, but that do not help Foster come to terms with having ended a mans life.

On the other hand feeling bad can do Foster a bit of good on the romantic side - something she really has not focused on for a long time ... if ever. The reason? Well it's tall, it’s not too talkative and has a fabulous muscular body - all in all a rather attractive package. Her name is Riley and she is the bouncer at the local women’s bar “The House of Secrets” where Foster picks up a tap when she starts a habit of hard drinking.

Somehow Riley assigns herself the job of looking out for Foster, even if Foster do give of strong signs of “leave me alone I’m a hard ass”, and good for both women and us, as this is a sure road towards a bit of mushy romance in the world of crime.

The characters of Foster and Riley are well developed, likeable and they do fit quite nicely with both the drama and the romantic parts of the storyline. The mix of drama and romance give the ladies room to display both their strong sides and their softer spots, which ads to the characters.

The drama part of the storyline is a bit complicated to follow. It’s not your every day murder case, but a double-crossing kind of mystery that our detective Foster have to solve at the risk of her own life and the safety of Riley, but it seems to be well woven together.

If I have to complain about something its the fact that the romantic and drama bits of the storyline are not quit interwoven. Its more like two stories in one - just like the chocolate treat. You do not get the one without the other, but they are - all the same - two different things.

Anyway if you want your romance with a bit of drama or perhaps the other way around ,do not hesitate to look up “Walls of Silence”, it’s entertaining either way.

The Foundlings by GabGold aka Gabrielle Goldsby

Do you have your mothers eyes ? Are your hair the same color as your fathers ? Are your nose just slightly crooked like your sisters ? Looking just that little bit alike is part of what makes us feel that we belong in our family. What if you looked different from everyone around you not only you family, but also your friends, coworkers, classmates, countrymen ... ? Would it make you feel different, alienated, an outsider?

Fox is living outside society, she looks different with her red hair and green eyes, she lives like a hunter, a job the tribe would normally expect a man to do, and she craves the heart of a woman named Kia for her mate. Fox never chose to be alone, but fate decided it for her, and now she needs to win Kia’s heart to end her loneliness. (Hmm I might be overdoing it a bit, but hey its fiction so who cares ... right?)

Kia has the most stunning blue eyes and she is big, much bigger than her parents and the other members of her tribe, so she carries herself slightly hunched to compensate. Kia is a Foundling taken in by the childless leader of the tribe when she was found abandoned by her people, now she is of the age when her future mate must be found.

Even if Kia is different and stands out among her people she is still wanted not only by Fox but also by Black Wolf, but her future mate will be determined not by her or her father but by hunters luck - the hunter who makes the first kill on the winter hunt will have Kia.

Do not ask me to place this story either in time no geography, you will have to decide that for yourself, but I will tell you that it’s a cold place - so I guess that we must be looking north.

So this is it really - two women who stand out among their people, thrown together by hunters luck and the insistent wishing of a lonely heart, now all they have to do is to find a way to each others hearts.

This is really just a sweet little story of one woman trying to win another woman’s heart, which is just slightly complicated as neither of the women are quiet sure how things might work between two women .... now do not worry, they will find out eventually, but it’s an entertaining courtship to follow and if you are just a little soft at heart you might get caught up by the storyline and the ladies.

Even if it’s a much shorter and less elaborated story it did remind me a bit of “Drifter" by D and “Tiopa Ki Lacota” by Redhawk (review).