I'm having Withdrawal Trouble Tonight

I've been spending the weekend with old friends.  A couple I've known for some time but haven't visited with recently even though they live within easy travel distance. 

When we first met they where not a couple, they were  professor and ph.d. student, professionals relying on each other for work related assistance and guidance.

A bit of time, a lot of patience and quite a number of misunderstandings later they got their act together and caught up with the underlying attraction that they both felt for each other. Their love story are one of those which remains clear in my memory even years later not least for the fact that it took place in Leipzig, Germany which is not you everyday LesFic setting.

Like Lori and Rio I might ask "Do You Know Your Uber" and let you make a guess as to which story I'm referring to, but I'm not going to let you wait for the link to one of the most well written and longest online LesFics I know, I'll let you have the link to "Campus" by Anik LaChev right away.

Campus is not only the story of Elaine and Johanna - professor and ph.d. student, out lesbian and "recovering" lesbian deep in the closet with all the angst of "She Loves Me, She Loves Me Not", it is also the story of campus politics, and of living in a world where you can't be sure from one year to the next if you will be out of a job and forced to travel to new places to pursue you academic career, just because another department made a move for you funding.

What I really find intriguing about Campus though is Anik LaChevs ability to juggle two simultaneous romantic storylines and a large gallery of supporting characters, but most of all I'm in awe of her ability to get the storyline across to the reader. Campus is a really mushy romance - the way I like them best. 

If you take your romance long and angsty then you might also like the medical romance/drama "Jungle Fever". You can find my review if you look under the tag for Anik LaChev. I think that I might look in on Maca and Esther as a way of getting over the fact that I finished "Campus" tonight. On the other hand maybe I should just sweat it out - I surly won't have time to travel the distance with these ladies tonight and Monday is looming ahead ....

Tempus Fugit by Mavis Applewater

Sometimes time flies at other times it is at a complete standstill, sometimes you wont give anyone the time of day, at other times you'll make time with that special someone, and sometimes you will realize that now is the time when you have to bare your heart and ask for what you want the most....

You might want to pick up Mavis Applewaters "Tempus Fugit" if you want to see where I'm going with this untimely babbling, and if you like a romance on the theme of "a love that never dies" then don't  miss this one - it's the ultimate theme story .

Now lets see where to start ... with a couple of red and white Chevy Bell Air convertibles ? With a bit of pom-pom shaking in the high school cheerleading squad ? At the local burger joint where all the cool teenagers hang out .... I might add that we are talking 1956 here so this is as hot as it gets ... well not quite - it is after all Mavis who penned this  !

I could also start out with Laurie and Ginny, newcomers in town, tall, identical twins, blond, gorgeous, bright, rich ... every high school boy's wet dream .... I think? Well pretty soon you'll see that neither girl is really into boys or at least not exclusively.

If I give you the blond twins I guess I also have to throw in a red head .... so here you go. You or rather Laurie and Ginny can have Ellen our all American high school senior who is working hard to prepare for college life ... hopefully at Smiths come next fall.

So where do we go from here ? Well we could go parking at the local teenage groping ground in the woods or go to the passion-pit (the drive-in-movie theater). As far as I can tell there is really no difference - the groping hands works well everywhere. The big question is who is going to run off with the girl? Well you'll have to go look for yourself if you want to find out.

I can assure you that nothing is settled with the first kiss or any of those to follow. Life is going to throw the girls out on a bumpy road, but through all the 13 years that "Tempus Fugit" covers there is one - or maybe I should say - two constants, the continual meeting and parting of Ellen and the love of her life. The question is if there is ever going to come a time and place where either the one or the other women will bare her heart and ask for what she really wants .... "will you stay"?

This story is well written with a broad story line that gives you both well developed characters and a supporting gallery of family and friends who lends credibility to the story. The story has been published so it seems that I'm not the only one who found it worth a read. 

This link takes you to an early version of Mavis Applewaters authors page on The Academy. If you scroll down the page you'll find links to all of the 14 parts of "Tempus Fugit" - you will need this to get to part 11. If you wonder how I came by this early version of the author page, please look up "Tools of the Trade" and the explanation on "How to find what has been lost".

Charlie has forwarded a link to Mavis's authors page on PDA Fiction through the WayBackMachine. You can download the Tempus Fugit in a number of ebook formats. If you need help converting to another format than those offered please look up "Tools of the Trade" and the explanation on "How to make an eBooks in a format of your choice".

Rumors by BadSquirrel

"All our dreams can come true, if we have the courage to pursue them." Walt Disney

 

This would be an ample introduction to one of my favourite online stories if one was to believe that old Walt had been looking into the universe of fan fiction of the alternative kind. 

“Rumors” is a quality read of moderate length with a gallery of lovable characters in a heart touching romantic storyline. Furthermore the story is well edited which – as you know – is not always the case in the universe of fan fiction.

The story centres on Hannah who is the proud owner of her own business “Doggy Styles" – no it’s not a sex club, it’s in fact a dog grooming business! 

Life, or rather Brenda, Hannah’s former lover of 6 years, has made Hannah a bit hesitant when it comes to love but when her friends Freddie and Jay introduces her to Jill, Hanna decides that she would like to get to know her better.

OK – so far just the average romance, but it picks up when Kelly is slowly introduced into the storyline. Kelly is fun, sweet and totally “not real life” but who cares it’s romance - right! 

Kelly is very butch, with her short spiky hair, well toned body, her line of work as a mechanic and her comfortable clothing style. Totally not someone that Hannah would find interesting. On the other hand there is an attraction and it’s definitely not one sided. Kelly seems to have a dream of her own and that dream includes Hannah and Kelly clearly has the courage to pursue her dream when given the chance. 

I’ll not get into the encounters between Hannah and Kelly. You ought to read “Rumors” and let the characters tell you the story of their life – it’s both sweet and funny. Don’t worry there are the necessary bumps on the road for Hannah and Kelly. Just so that you have to wonder if they will make it to a happy ending!

If you like this story you could look into the other stories by BadSquirrel on The Athenaeum. The stories are all well written, but none of them as sweet as "Rumor" and beware of “The Dark Side of the Moon” - it’s a bit steamy for my taste (BDSM).

None So Blind by LJ Maas

When you have a bit of spare time on your hand put the kettle on and make your favorite drink, pull up a chair and get comfortable. Are you ready to relax with a romantic read ? Oh I  forgot,  if you have a gf around maybe you ought to tell her that you have some reading to do ...  but do you have to tell her that you aim for some recreational reading ?

Lying or omitting bits of information often creates a lot of misunderstandings in a relationship, and I'm not one to suggest that you start down that path, even though it seems that it's a sure way to create a classic romantic lesfic read ! One that LJ Maas masters with great efficiency in "None So Blind".

When your are ready then press the link above and prepare to meet our favorite blond; Torrey Gray a freshman coming to stay in the TAU ALPHA ZETA house on the campus of the University of Main and her new roommate, the brooding raven haired biker babe and college senior; Taylor Kent. You might say that Torrey and Taylor is as different as night and day, but it just takes one look - as green eyes meet blue - and we are all convinced that the ladies can find common ground.

At College Torrey and Taylor becomes inseparable friends, a friendship based on omission of the one truth that Taylor thinks will break them apart. You might be able to guess what truth that might be?

The story of Torrey and Taylor goes back and forth in time between their college years together and the present day living very far apart. Today Torrey is an author struggling with a sort of writers block and a single mother to her teenage daughter Jessie, who is going through a difficult phase in life. At the same time Taylor spends her life out in sunny California having a successful career as an artist, but missing something or rather someone important in her life.

What can possible push the women down the path towards a happy ending ? Jessie ! The one thing that will bridge the differences and misunderstandings between Torrey and Taylor seems to be their shared wish to help Jessie on with her life. And when Torrey reach out to her friend for help, Taylor is happy to take Jessie in for a while.

This is a classic lesfic based on the assumption that two women are able to keep their hearts desire a secret from each other for years! If you can accept that fact, you will most likely enjoy the story of Torrey and Taylor, their daughter Jessie and the long road they have to travel from friends to lovers. It's a great romance that has made it on to my list of favorite reads a long time ago - if you like a mushy and classic romance you really should give this one a try.

A Place to Dance by Ali Vali aka A. Valdivia

Some people come into our lives and quickly go. Some stay for awhile and leave footprints on our hearts. And we are never, ever the same. For Jolly such was the case with Mimi and if you are at all inclined to look into the life of a woman who needs a bit of time to discover that the love of her life is sitting right in front of her – and has been for a while – well, then look in on Jolly.

As you probably know, there are many ways to express your love, even the love that you don’t know that you harbour deep in your heart. Jolly expresses her love by the craft of her hands and makes beautiful wooden furniture for Mimi. 

Besides turning out furniture for Mimi, Jolly spends her time as an architect and master house builder. At this time in her life, she is getting a kick out of building just the right house, in the perfect spot, for Christina, a local gallery owner. And what’s more natural than to go from building a house for a good looking lady to dating her? In a romance, that’s just a matter of a couple of pages on your screen. 

OK that’s got to be enough to get you interested and I don’t want give you the whole story in just a few lines. If you are keen on romances of the alternative nature then go look it up. I promise it’s not a waste of time. “A Place To Dance” is a quality read based on a well developed storyline with a good mix of likable characters and good editing.

Endgame by Meghan O'Brien

Romantic (fan) fiction of the alternative nature is often just a bit of light reading, for girls who love to be girls*, but sometimes you’ll stumble on a romance with a setting which is too disturbing to carry the label ”light” even if its basically just another entertaining romance. Fortunately only a few of these “not so light” fic’s turns out to be real sad or depressing. Mostly the setting is just used as a way to give some background or motivation for the storyline and actions of the protagonists.

“Endgame” is based on the story of a rape and one of the scarier ones at that, but the rape it self is only the backdrop of the storyline and even when reference is made to the act its not too explicitly described. The story is mostly just a touching romance where the emotional development within and between the protagonists is the sole focus of the tale. One might say that the story is a bit one dimensional, but if you read enough (fan) fiction you get used to the fact that the romance and the road to "hot sex" or the “living happily ever after” is the goal that we never loses sight off.

If you can handle the setting you could joiner the party at Max and Lories place and see if Delaney has any luck with her pickup line; “"I'm really embarrassed to admit it, but I was standing over there," I pointed with my finger, "in the corner, alone, wishing I didn't feel so out of place and awkward. As much as it shames me to ask, I was wondering if you'd pretend to socialize with me for a minute or two until someone rescues you?". Delaney has a lot of practice at picking up woman, but no inclination to look for a relationship lasting longer than a night of hot sex – preferably with her in a dominating role.

Hannah on the other hand is the woman her friends think of as “the girl who was raped”, but Hannah feel’s that she has moved on and she is looking for something or someone that will give her the fresh start, let her regain her place in life and feel strong again. In the eyes of Max and Lorie, Delaney is not quiet what Hannah needs, and they are not subtle about telling Delaney to go look for her fun elsewhere, but Delaney really can’t get around to letting go of Hannah and their slowly developing friendship in the weeks after the party.

Well if you read the story you can make up your own mind as to Delaney’s personality – is she the single minded womanizer or just someone who as never found love before?

I guess that I should tell you that the writer has included a sample of Delaneys’s sexual encounters that portrait her as a sexual predator. If you are of a positive mind you could say that this helps to paint a picture of Delaneys personality, to me it’s a bit out of place in the storyline, but maybe the writer needed to let go of some hot steam.

* The quote “The best of light reading, for girls who love to be girls” was attributed to Jeanette Winterson on the cover of a lesbian romance from an English publishing house named Silver Moon Books years ago. I basically borrowed the wording and changed it a bit, but I want to own up to the fact that it’s really not my words at all.

Caution: Under Construction by Vertigo

I’ve been telling myself that I should under no circumstances do a review of Vertigo’s “Under Construction”. What will the readers think of me if I admit that I actually did enjoy the story, even if something like half of it consists of long and graphical description of sex of the f/f nature?

So what happened – well I did one of many rereads of the story and I decided that the romance is so well crafted that you should not miss out on it, just because the author goes a bit overboard in the sex drive of the ladies involved.

Sheridan is the ultimate butch woman with her strong muscular body, her daytime job as a construction worker, and a reputation as a slick player to protect. But inside the tough exterior you will find a woman with a soft heart, and maybe you will even find it – her heart I mean - before Sheridan realises that she has one. With all her fast and furious sexual encounters at the dance club, she doesn’t really see herself as someone with a girlfriend, or as someone who could fall in love, but at the age of 31, I guess it’s just a matter of time, even for Sheridan.

Keefer is a tall gorgeous brunette who is in need of rescuing, not only from her cheating girlfriend, Danni, but also from her shy self. Sheridan doesn't have a white horse or shining armour but she does have a little black Corvette, and with her newfound “white knight” tendencies she takes it upon herself to punch Danni in the nose for cheating on Keefer – or something like that.

And that’s how the story of Keefer and Sheridan begins. It’s a long story so you will have ample time to get acquainted with the ladies and to follow their gradual move from friends to lovers, and to see how Sheridan coops with her own growing. If you are a lover of dogs you might even have a bit of fun with Fifi, Pharaoh and Zeus – they are a bit of a wild bunch.

For me it all sums up to a nice romance with agreeable characters, a good “supporting cast” that gets to play along in the “side wings” of the plot, and a lot of sex. Fortunately the author has an ability to pen a number of variations on the theme of sex. Otherwise it would have become a bit dull to read page upon page on this rather one-tracked topic. If you are not keen on the sex parts, you should just skip the story – it’s going to take you too much time to scroll through them.

Enjoy !

The Harvest by G.E.Birch

Are you ever in a mushy mood, like on a rainy Sunday afternoon, feeling sorry for yourself because the weekend is almost over and another workweek is looming ahead? What will make you feel better - a cup of tea, a hot shower … well, if you have a soft spot for a heartfelt romance like I do, maybe “The Harvest” will.

I can’t really tell you much about the storyline as it's almost pure and simple: the story of how to women meet and strike up a friendship that leads to so much more. There is no drama, no complex plot to follow or thorny road to walk for the characters or you. It’s really just a sweet love story, moving slowly along, with a slight bump on the road that makes you read faster, just to make sure that this is a “classic” romance, with a happy ending.

So how do I know that you will like the story – well, I don’t – I just know that I did, and if you are anything like the romance freak I am, then I’m positive that you will find this worth your while.

The setting is what I would define as all American, as in Illinois way out in the countryside where the farmers – including Elise - grow the crops that keep us fed. Carolyn is the out lesbian from Chicago that strikes up a friendship with Elise, while spending her summer on the neighbouring farm. The supporting cast of friends and family are there, but not very dominant in the storyline, they are all a nice and accepting bunch. The story has a few smaller mishaps in timing, editing and such, but nothing that really takes away the joy of reading it.

The Phantom by Larisa

If you can make a girl laugh and her heart beat fast – you can make her do anything! But I guess that Callaway didn’t know that when she took out Branson with her Tazer gun. Dressed all in black and out to stop the company that is cutting down the lush countryside she loves, Callaway meets head on with the big, and rather strong, construction worker who’s waiting for “The Phantom”, that has been causing her company trouble.

We are out somewhere in rural America for once and we are meeting up with a bunch of butch women with their hearts in the right places, and it’s a lot of fun. But let me give you a bit more of the storyline. After having Branson pass out on her, Callaway brings her back to her farmhouse and strikes a deal with her, she will get Branson to see the value of the country life she is about to destroy, if she’ll just stay on the farm for one week.

And Branson is in for the experience of her life. Days at the farm start really early in the morning and there are lots of chores to do but, on the other hand, the food is nice and the company is really great. Somewhere along the way the big butch construction worker turns into a softie, trying to ease the hard farm life for her newfound friend, and Callaway - well she just gets really used to having company on the farm. So a path towards romance is at hand, but don’t worry there is lots of drama and tons of fun for the girls on the way, and they get to share it with a couple of good friends.

All in all, a sure recipe for a time well spend should you chose to read the “The Phantom”, but I’ve got to say that there is one thing that I just don’t get, and that’s the fascination with women standing up to pee. Sure, it would be practical when you are outdoors, but please spare me all the practicalities and the trial and error thing.

Enjoy your story time!

The Road from Kilimanjaro by KG MacGregor

It’s not standing on the summit of Mt. Kilimanjaro that will change your perspective on life; it’s the trek it takes to get there that makes the difference. This is a coming out story set against the backdrop of the holiday adventure of a life time. Mary Kate travels alone to Africa to join a travel party for the trek to the summit of Mt. Kilimanjaro. This will not only give her a break from her small town life, but also a chance to ponder the future with her boyfriend, Bobby.

As Mary Kate is alone, she is paired for the trek with Kristin, who is also a single traveler in need of a break from a life. The girls hit it off from the start and a playful banter between them accompanies the week long trek towards the summit. If it’s not an attraction that draws Mary Kate to Kristin, it’s got to be Kristin’s willingness to share the toilet paper, which she brought with her! 

I won’t disclose any more of the storyline, I think you should go look in on the girls while they freeze their butts off on that mountain knowing that the statistics show that only half of their party will make it to the summit.

This story is the closest I’m going to get to any kind of traveling in Africa or trekking on a real mountain for that matter, so the setting is a plus to this classical romance. Furthermore, the story has well developed characters, a good supporting cast, and funny dialog in places. If I’m to point to something negative, it’s the fact that I would have liked just that extra 20 or so pages to give the story a more fulfilling ending. Maybe KG MacGregor has added that to the revised version available in print from Bella Books under the title “Worth Every Step”.

Perhaps you already know KG MacGregor as this author penned the stories of Anna and Lily (Shaken, Stirred, Strained), which has been reviewed at this site. If you haven’t looked in on Anna and Lily yet, you ought to do so as the quality of these stories are way better than a lot of other on line fiction available.

Enjoy your story time!

America's Sweetheart by Catherine Burke

Something old, something new, something borrowed, something blue – no sorry we’re definitely not preparing for a marriage ceremony or the likes - not for the first couple of hundred pages anyway. But we are in for a story along one of the oldest – but I guess eternal – storylines, the one of love lost and found. Furthermore we do have a new setting for the story, as we are touching on a sports theme and ,for once, it’s not basketball or softball but women’s soccer and in the US of all places. If you want borrowed I guess you’ll have to look closely at the characters and see for yourself if they are original or not.

And as for blue, well I would say that Gwen is blue. The All American Sweetheart was left by her lover of 3 years – Keegan – just as they and the American women's soccer team was to begin the Olympic Games – no explanation whatsoever. Five years later after the finish of her career in soccer and on her way to a new life in the sports commentating business, Gwen is still thinking of Keegan… and who wouldn’t be as she seems like the perfect girl – don’t they all?!

Still clueless about the reason why Keegan left her, Gwen has moved on with her life and then again, not really. She hasn’t found a satisfying relationship but hides in a semi-closet with her friend Bob - a star hockey player - as a cover. The two of them put on a good show of dating and being in love, but when Bob is traded to a club in Michigan, Gwen’s life is thrown up in the air.

In Michigan, Keegan lives alone and has just decided to get back intothe business of dating, which is just a little bit surprising as she is also 12 weeks pregnant, but I guess that a ready made full family packages could appeal to some. This is the situation when Gwen rides into town to do a publicity event and decides to get in touch with Keegan. From here you are on your own … keep your eyes on the ball and follow through.

I found “America's Sweetheart” a good read, regardless of the fact that the author goes a bit overboard in describing the wickedness of Gwen’s mother. I know it’s fiction but sometimes a storyline is better of with a sort of understated drama and angst instead of the grand fireworks. The story of how Gwen connects with Keegan again is well crafted, and a nice gallery of family and friends supplies little twists and side stories that lend substance to the novel. So, all in all, a story worth your time.

I’ve followed up on the author to see if she posted another fic, and she did. Catherine Burke just recently finished posting "With All of My Heart" at The Athenaeum but, please, don’t waste your time on the new story until it’s been through a serious bunch of beta readers who can help smooth out the rough spots in the storyline and do a lot of much needed editing. In my opinion this story was just posted too soon, as I do believe that the author has the skills to turn out a good romance yet again.