Friends are the family we choose for ourself

No matter who we are, how we define ourself or the way life throw us around, we need a family. Family is our history, the starting point of our future, and the backdrop to all the happenings of our lives.

Family are our blood relatives, our parents, aunts and uncles, brothers and sisters, cousins ... however far apart we may seem in distance, in age or how we choose to live our lives.

But family is not just about blood, it's really about who you are, and who you choose to settle with. Who you trust and who trusts you in return. Friends may just be the family that you trust the most because they are your friends, not a relative "just" by blood, but trusted because you earned that trust by being the best friend you possibly could.

In the world of lesfic, some has no choice in the matter of family. Blood relatives may die or choose to distance them self from a way of life not conforming to their beliefs. If you are an old hand in the world of lesfic you will know that we do find a good number of lesfic protagonists travelling a lonely journey through life in our neck of the wood, that is at least until they can find that elusive someone to share their lives with.

And a lonely journey through life might just have been where Kyri was headed had it not been for a chance meeting in the woods with a band of armed men and a lone Amazon fighting for her life. Yes ... I'm talking Amazon as in "woman clad in leather" - and not just for a fun night of dancing ! I know I don't usually go there, back to the ancient or the land of fantasy fiction, but why not ? If the writing is entertaining why let it pass you by ? 

If you're game then tag along as I travel with Kyri, who is almost at the end of her training as a master Fletcher (the), when she finds herself on a journey to a new beginning and perhaps in time a new family among the tribes of Amazons. For Kyri and the reader this is a journey into the Greek myths of women warriors and I promise the Amazons are fierce warriors as well as gentle lovers and true friends.

You might ask how Kyri - a young woman who has spend most of her life training with her father learning the craft of fletching arrows - will do among a band of marry sword wielding maidens but do not worry, Kyri has what it takes to make a place for herself among the Amazons. While she might not be a warrior at heart she will fight for her new family of friends even at the possible cost of her own life. Does it ring true ... i don't know .. who cares - I love the fact that Kyri masters not only the craft of fletching but is also above and beyond any Amazon as an Archer (the) a fact that Kyri will prove in battle as well as in the numerous tests put to her on her way to gain a place with her new Amazon family. 

Is this a romance ? ... well if you are the "love them and leave them" type of reader going for a fast "kill" then look elsewhere. The Fletcher is a slow paced start on a long journey of finding a new place in life and gaining a family of your own choice. If the myth of the Amazons are well known to you, you might find this to be a bit long winded but then just scroll on for a bit, and catch up with Kyri as she prepares for her initiation with the Amazons and catches the eye of the Queen. 

I can hardly remember where "The Fletcher" (1 part of the series) ends and "The Archer" (2 part of the series) takes over, but I do remember that the first and second instalment of the story of Kyri are paced differently. With "The Archer" Kelly Aten has decided to give us a more fast moving storyline where the daily life, battles and rituals of the Amazon tribe are interwoven with the romance needed to make this a true lesfic ;-) ... but if you are looking for LHEA be warned ! When I left Kyri and her Queen to write this post they where far from happy ! ... I'm not telling you why but I'll let you know that Kyri will need all her abilities and perhaps a little help form her friends to make it back into the arms of her Queen.  Right now Kyri's faith is entirely up to the bard - the third and final ? part of the story is still on Kelly Aten's writing desk - I for one hopes that she will soon find the time to lend Kyri a helping hand - she really needed it when I saw her last !  

Just want to let you know that The Fletcher and The Archer are available on Archive of Our Own in re-edited versions, and if you are hooked on the story of Kyri and her Queen then follow where Kelly Aten leads ... the third and last book in this series The Sagitarius This is hosted on The Academy of Bards and much easier to read than fic's on Archive of Our Own!

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".

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!

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).

... 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.

Listmania - When Children are part of the Equation

One might think that the limits of biology would interfere with the dream of Lesbian Motherhood, but fear not both in real life and fiction there are amble chance to pursue a happy family of Two Moms! 

No, no ...  I'm not going to take this blog in to the realm of RL, so if you are looking for advice on ... well you know what.... then try Google for answers. Ok - now that is settled, then lets move on and see what kind of impact kids have in the online world of lesfic.

We could start out with "The Ready Made Family".  You know the single mom with one or two kids on her hands. You might wonder how they got there .... answers are plenty full ... we could be looking at the girl who made a bad choice in life, which in turn landed her with a lovely offspring.....

If this storyline catches your eye you might want to visit with:

• Erin in and her twins  in RJ Nolan's Double Trouble
• Kyra and her 5 year old son Simon in Lois Kay's "Hearts Choice" or
• Julia and her 12 year old son Jesse in Bibibt's "The Starry Sky".

Among these "Hearts Choice" would be my current favorite for the mushy first half of the rather long storyline. Furthermore the story takes place in The Netherlands which makes for a refreshing new setting.

As you must be aware by now there are more than one way to acquire a child and one of the more far fetched, would be the one where an old friend decides to stop by your place and dump her lovely daughter on your doorstep before she leaves for Europe with her new boyfriend!

I cannot say that I have found a huge number of stories with this basic storyline, but Ali Vali's "A Rock for Remembrance" do fit the bill. So if you like to follow the lives of the filthy rich do look up Julian Lowe - the head of a large shipping empire -  and her acquired daughter Summer ..... and read about the romance between Julian and Summers kindergarten teacher Kiki.

Another story that fits the bill is "Meanwhile Back at the Ranch". This is the second installment in a series by J.W. Heart, so you might want to look up the prequel "Summer of Need" first. In "Meanwhile Back at the Ranch" you will find Trace who "gets dumped" with JT a little blond, green eyed girl and the task of looking after both her and her mothers ranch. In this story J.W. Heart gives us a fun storyline and likeable characters - so don't mind the kid - just go join the fun.

A variation of the theme of "getting dumped" with someone else's offspring can be found in LJ Maas "None So Blind". This time we are talking a wayward teen needing a change of environment and a woman who agrees to help out her life long crush by taking the girl in. This story is among my all time favorites. So if you have an interest in mushy romances, do look up this story even if you are not exactly looking for a child to be part of the storyline.

Sometimes "The Ready Made Family" comes with a twist and I for one love those "twist" to be humorous. If you just want a little light giggling, I would go for Zee's "Comic Book Life" where the comic book artist Remy gets to have fun with a "midget" or rather the daughter of Megan - Remy's lives long secret crush.

Should you however want an all out laugh I would suggest that you look up the latest Larisa story - Operation Drop Zone. This story is not only VERY long, but also a bit over the top in crazy humor, but I can guarantee that a kid - this time a "troll" - is very much part of the equation in this storyline. 

Until now we have been looking at "The Ready Made Families", but Children might be part of the Equation well before delivery. So I've been on the look out for stories where our protagonist gets to be part of the family from day one, and I have found several women, who seems to have made the most of the 9 month slot between conception and delivery!

I have put up a list of fic's with pregnant women on the Listmania page. If I should randomly pick one to raise your interest I would point to "Strings Attached" by Inyx. This story is sporting two straight women, room mates and best friends for years and both with a healthy interest in sex with men . You might guess how we come about getting pregnant, but getting into the delivery room and setting up family life might seem a tiny bit difficult, but you know how it is with the ladies, they are never as straight as they present themselves to be - at least in the Universe of Lesfic.

I have found it difficult do find stories with a happy couple who has set up house and then decides to pursue a family. Off the top op my head I can think of "A Place To Dance" by Ali Vali, and Syro's "I Wished You Loved Me Again", but maybe I just haven't  been paying attention to this theme ?

Anyway before you pursue a family you might want to read - IMPOTENT or Maybe not by Gracelan Chase, at least if you harbor an itch for writing. This time the happy family will meet a challenge that might break them up - it's just a PWP ;-)

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".

Looking at the World from above

There are many things that I would never do ....  One that comes readily to mind is this one - I would never attempt to do a free climb!

It's fun to go up on an indoor climbing wall, secured with rope and harness and with an able instructor at hand, but doing a free climb ? Please .... it would be tooooo taxing not to mention dangerous.

That said I do see the attraction of being able to control your body and mind in the way necessary to climb an almost vertical face of a boulder or cliff, and I do think that free climbing, mountaineering and the likes makes a great backdrop for a storyline.

So why not venture out with Rain for some free climbing ? Maybe you want to prepare yourself a little before you attempt your first free climb? You could join Theran Ryan for her free climbing courses with the master climber Kiera Aigner. If you are a novice Theran will lead the way as she is well prepared to take on the challenge of free climbing, but she might gain more than just a few new skills on the walls when she joins Kiera's courses. 

As for you - well you can enjoy a couple of crafty women and an introduction to free climbing, and even if the storyline is simplistic and the romance too shallow and much too fast moving for my taste - I did enjoyed the free climbing!

If you want to mix mystery and rock climbing you could try Manda Scott's "Stronger than Death" it's her third book in print of mysteries with the lesbian therapist Kellen Steward who lives in Glasgow, Scotland.

Once you have mastered the free climb you might want to put your feet a bit closer to the ground. You can still go up high, very high ... you might even attempt to reach the summit on Mount Everest, but if you choose to do so, you will need all the help you can get to succeed, and remember - as with the free climbing - you are putting your life in danger. 

If you have the wish to do the extraordinary then join Veronique "Ricky" Bouchard as she attemps to guide a group of wealthy climbers to The Top of the World and to get them securely back to base camp - something that might well cost Ricky her life. 

Bel-Wah's (aka Belle Reilly's) "High Intensity" is mostly the story of the Everest climbing team, the conflicts within the team and the disastrous climb, but you will find romance too - I just didn't find it real convincing. So if you choose to join Ricky for a chance to summit on Top of the World, do it for the right reason - to see the sight, to test your body and mind ... not to find romance. Remember - on a dangerous trek likes this one - love might make it hard for you to make the right choices and put you and those in your care at risk!

I found Bel-Wah's account of this disastrous climb to be close to Jon Krakauer's account of his summit in the spring of 1996 in his non-fiction account "Into thin air" - which is a real compelling read. Should you like to explore the topic further the author Rosie Thomas has a more general fictional approach to some of the same events on the expeditions described by Jon Krakauer in her novel "White".

Now for the easy stuff! Trekking on Mt. Kilimanjaro ..... you probably know where I'm going to lead you this time - on "The Road From Kilimanjaro" by KG MacGregor .... so I'm just going to say that this is where the less than perfectly fit women might want to go mountaineering. Even if it's not a walk in the park it seems to be doable and the romance ..... well lets just say that Mary Kate and Kristin do break the ice in the slow and believable fashion needed for a mushy romance.  

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.

Double Trouble by RJ Nolan

There is no such thing as immaculate conception ... I think ? Well let's not begin a religious discussion, can't we just agree that for most women this is true? So lets move on .... and think of the consequences ... no immaculate conception... hmm ... so if you happen to be a lesbian getting a couple of kids involves some planing ... right?

Well if you tag along with Kris and Jerry to the first baseball game of the season you might get a chance to catch the first act of the romance that will lead Kris from being single, lesbian and not looking to have neither a partner nor any children, to being part of a full blown family of 4 ... and I'll tell you that it didn't really call for any planing at all. Hmm .... maybe you could call it immaculate conception, but then again I don't think that this was exactly how the apostles would put it.

So if gaining a couple of kids didn't take any planning you might ask how it happened. Well I guess that I can give you a few of the ingredients. If you want to know how to mix them you'll have to read the story. 

First of you will have to get your hands on some beer or rather have a lot of it splashed over you and a good looking woman thrown on to your lap. Then you will have to get up your nerve and ask her out, and stick with it once she tell's you that she really can't go out tonight as she can't get a babysitter on such short notice!! This is where you will have to ask yourself if this is really a road you want to travel... I mean she has to be straight ... or what ?

Now don't judge a book by its cover, Erin is by no means straight, she just "happened" to get herself married and pregnant with Scott, which wasn't such a good choice after all. Furthermore Erin really do need to meet someone and Kris proves to fill out the role of "someone" as in a perspective lover, rather well. She loves Erin, her twins Christopher and Jenna, and they on the other hand, takes to Kate real fast. 

If you add a Grate Dane with a Harlequin colored coat going by the name of Willi, Alice and Richard, Erin's ex-in-laws and Jerry, Kris' long time friend, you have what it takes to make it happen ... the "getting a set of twin of you own" kind of thing, and it didn't even require the customary nine month of pregnancy, no Lamar classes, nausea .....  

It might sound easy, and it is, but it's also standard Lesfic based on a classic storyline with the necessary bumps on the road. This time the big bump happens to come along just as you think that this romance is in the bag, but with the help of a good friend and a persistent lover we do get the LHEA that we envisioned right from the start.

"Double Trouble" is a simple - perhaps a bit too simple - kind of romance, where our protagonists move quickly from a chance meeting, to dating and falling in love. Getting to second base takes a little time though. With a couple of kids tagging along it does involve some planing and an ex-mother in law to get to second, third and any other base you wish to visit with your woman!

If you choose to look up the story - do it for the family theme which plays a big part in this romance. Should you be on the look out for more stories on the theme of "a ready made family" you could try Zee's "Comic Book Life" it's romance and humor all in one or Ali Vali's "A Rock for Remembrance" (there is a sequel and another one) if you want to look into family life with the filthy rich.

"Double Trouble" was published by L-books in 2008. You can get it from Amazon both in paperback and as e-book (kindle).

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.

Jumping the Fence or The winner of the toaster oven is ...

There is always a line somewhere in life that you can cross. Sometimes it's an imaginary line and sometimes it is almost a physical border, an obstacle like perhaps a fence that you have to work hard to climb or make a great effort to jump. Once you make the decision to cross the line, jump the fence or maybe just straddle it, you make a change in your life!

In LesFic "Jumping the Fence" is a spectator sport ! 

We all get to watch while a couple of straight girls explore a friendship that grows closer until the time when the girls cross the line from friends to girlfriends, and we get invited when the straight woman falls for her lesbian friend and decide to jump the fence hopping that SHE will be there to catch her.

And you know what ? SHE is most likely there - if not - don't worry we are just being introduced to an angsty phase in the storyline. SHE will be there eventually and we will get the "Living Happily Ever After" ending that we cherish!

You will find an amble amount of online stories exploring the theme of "Jumping the Fence", but let me introduce you to some favorites.

If you prefer a couple of mature women in the storyline - you could go to the countryside and look up the farmer Elise in "The Harvest". Elise will soon be exploring a friendship with Carolyn, a professor of Women's Lit. spending the summer at a farm nearby. It's a great romance that will keep you interested while Elise contemplates her feelings for Carolyn, the out lesbian with a history of "love gone wrong", and fights for a place in Carolyn's heart - brace yourself for some angst!

Should you prefer a humorous setting do try "Miss-Match" it's a blind date story with a build-in possibility for some jumping of a fence. It involves a woman approaching the magical age of 30, a Jewish matchmaker and a lesbian woman looking for someone to love and share her life. It's a great romance!

Sometimes you have to get out of your every day life to be able to see that there are more roads to travel in life than the one you have been following until now. Travelling from the US to Kenya to trek to the top of Kilimanjaro is such a journey for Mary Kate, who leaves her boyfriend behind to explore a dream. It could have been the thin air on the way to the Summit, but really it's Kristin that proves to put a strain on Mary Kate's heart while she takes "The Road from Kilimanjaro". Don't tell me you've missed out on this one ? You have ? Well then waste no more time.....

If you are looking for some heavy breathing to go with the fence jumping then look up "Unlimited Sexual Favors", it's the first story in a series of three that will give you a vivid picture of how Wilder persuade her friend Darcy that she should switch sides. It might "just" be erotica, but it romantic after all!

Do you know how the sport of "fence jumping for pregnant women" is viewed by the medical world? I was always told that an expecting mother should take care not to carry too heavy a load - at least when she gets close to term. Maybe she also ought to refrain from jumping a high fence?? In the world of LesFic you will find an amble amount of pregnant women jumping the fence - and the babies turn out quit all right ! So I guess that it really is safe, even for an expecting mother, to do a bit of physical exercise !

You will find several online LesFic's sporting an expecting mother who decides, that this is the right time in life to look closer at the allures of her lesbian friend. If you have a lot of time on your hand then do try "All That Matters". In this story we follow friends turn into lovers, and the “sharing of a house” kind of living together turning into a relationship.

You could also try "Noemi" - this time it's the out lesbian who makes the move on her pregnant friend, but it's in no way an unwanted one! And to cover the third and last angle on the fence jumping with a big belly - try "Strings Attached". In this story you will find two straight friends who finally realizes that they ought to jump the fence - together.

As you might have realized there are plenty of stories to choose from if you want to watch the sport of fence jumping. You can look up some of these stories at the Listmania page under the theme - "And the winner of the toaster oven is ..."  I'll be sure to add to the list in the future - it's a great spectator sport.

Annual Academy of Bards Valentine Special

Have you checked out the stories posted at the Academy's Valentine's Special 2011?

If not you might want to do a sample of the sweets on offer - several well known pens from the online Universe of fan fiction have chipped in this year.

Insane Englishwoman has put together a classic lesfic themed short story "Those Who Cannot See". If you find the theme appealing you can find it fully explored by LJ Maas in "None so Blind" an old favourite of mine.

If you can handle a story with tissue alert look up Lois Cloarec Hart's "Love is" - I must admit that I found it too sad to finish but well written and touching.

Kim Pritekel will serve you with a hot helping - as usual - I might say. "The One You're Looking for" is not the best work from her pen - from the long list of Kim's solo work I think that I would pick "Again" as my favourite, but then again it has been awhile since I have been through the long list of Pritekel fic's.

SX Meager delivers a long time couple, a tiny dog and a park ranger that might be both the last drop of water for the cup to run full or the first drink of a fresh cup - "The near occasion of sin" will promise a new beginning for those willing to give love a chance.

My favourite this year is Artemis Callaghan's "Would like to meet". Just like Pritekel, Callaghan explores the theme of dating sites or lonely hearts ads - but I prefer the slow romancing that we are treated to from Callaghan's pen - it's sweet, but hey it's Valentine's right? But beware I might be biased - I'm a Callaghan fan - so you better go make up your own mind.

Fast Break by Mickey Minner

Welcome to Missoula Cougars tryout camp. If you want to secure a spot on the professional basketball team this is where you earn it - arrive early, work hard, listen to the coach and IF you have a real talent and know how to live up to your potential or ......... catch the eye of the owners niece  ... you might get a chance to play pro ball!

Ok - so talent are not the only thing that can will you on the team! But who said anything about playing fair? Even if Dawn gets a free ride with Mandy to the team roaster, there might still be a spot for the hard working point guard Sherry - if she doesn't mind working her butt off that is. 

And Sherry do have her a hell of a lot of work to do. Not only to secure a spot on the team, but to win the heart of The Cougar's head coach Pat, who seems reluctant to breach the moral clause of her contract by developing even a casual relationship with a player on her team.

Now do not despair - love is not a lost cause yet - where there's a will, there's a way. Sherry is  patient enough to wait out her chance and Pat, she is not really able to resist the attraction as she does needs someone to put her on a new path in life.

Do you take an interest in ball games, do you get a high from watching someone make an impossible basket or are you just really happy to watch others working their butt off while you lounge on the couch ?  If that's the case then join Sherry while she makes a play for a place on the Cougars team and in Pat's life.

If on the hand you are more into the mushy romance and don't care for the sweat and aching limps that follow in the wake of heavy workout - and we are not talking the horizontal kind - then maybe you should look for your fun elsewhere. 

The "ball part" of the storyline in "Fast Break" is entertaining enough if a little stereotype, but the romance is a bit lacking as the characters of Pat and Sherry are not really fleshed out and the attraction between them not supported. I guess that you can't win every time but needless to say The Cougars and Sherry do!

"Fast Break" was published by P.D.Publishing and is available through Amazon.

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.