Better Together by Pat Cronin

Mac Brandenton’s best friend Kristy is dying from a brain tumor. She has a bucket list of things she wants to do before she gets too sick. To help her complete her list, she ropes in Mac to help her. Mac has never travelled abroad or even been very adventurous. All that is about to change.

First up on Kristy’s list is a month long trip to Paris and varying other European destinations. Mac has no idea how this trip with Kristy is about to change her life forever.

Kristy and Mac meet up with Kristy’s Dutch friend Lenie. Lenie has promised them a tour of Paris. From the outset the sparks of attraction are sizzling between Mac and Lenie, enthusiastically encouraged by Kristy. But, what will happen at the end of their vacation when Kristy and Mac have to return home? Can a fledgling relationship survive the long distance between the two love struck women?

When Mac returns home, she faces some major changes in her life, the most pressing being Kristy’s worsening cancer. Will Mac be able to count on Lenie through thick and thin? After all, they know they are better together than apart.

First and foremost, I have to say this book is not all doom and gloom. Yes, there is a lot of pain and angst, but it is well balanced out with love and laughter too.

Each of these characters is well developed, multi-faceted and a delight to get to know. There are four main characters, Mac, Kristy, Jace and Lenie. Although the story centers mainly around them, it also brings in to play a lot of the secondary characters too. All essential to the story and adding their own stamps on it.

I liked that the story is set in both America and Europe. It was nice to ‘virtually‘ travel around and see the scenery.

Pat Cronin has written Kristy’s story with compassion and understanding, it’s perfectly logical that someone so young would want to do so much before they die. Also the way people reacted to Kristy’s illness was spot on from my personal experiences.

I enjoyed Jace’s story too. It integrated well into the Kristy, Mac, Lenie story and added some grit as well as humor.

The love story between Mac and Lenie was passionate and not without it’s ups and downs. The path of true love rarely runs smoothly though.

There were a few odd typos, but nothing that pulled me out of the story. I look forward to reading more from this author soon.

 

Finding Her Way by Riley Jefferson

Jerrica Kerrison has a fantastic job as an accountant at a top Boston company, owns her own townhouse and drives a sports car. The one thing she doesn’t have and desperately wants is love. Jerrica is wary though. She’s had an abusive marriage and her first relationship with a woman was a disaster. Will Jerrica ever find the love she so badly needs? More to the point, will Jerrica ever allow herself to open up to the concept of love after being hurt?

Madison Jeffrey’s PR job in the the south has kept her away from family pressures, that is, until her boss relocates to New England. Madison now has no choice but to face up to her family, in particular, the sister who hates her.

When Jerrica and Madison first meet, they are both immediately attracted to one another. Eventually, they spend a fantastic, passionate, love filled night together. But, the following morning, Jerrica runs from Madison without saying goodbye and disappears. Madison is confused and hurt by her behavior. Why would Jerrica do that when they were so well suited and getting along so well?

So many questions needing to be answered. Both Jerrica and Madison are hiding secrets from the past. Only by confronting their pasts and their fears can they each move on, but will they see sense? Or will they miss out on the opportunity of true love forever? If only Jerrica can come to terms with opening her heart to receive love and Madison can believe she is deserving of love, things could be smooth sailing for them both.

 

This is Riley Jefferson’s debut book. The book is well written and clips along at a steady pace. Both main characters, Jerrica and Madison, are multidimensional and the secondary characters really add to the story, especially Lauren, Jerrica’s assistant. Riley wrote about the characters so well that I felt their emotions radiating from the page, which in turn made me want to slap some and hug others. I won’t add in any spoilers, that wouldn’t be fair. I did find parts of the story a touch unbelievable, but then again, it is fiction and not based on fact.

There are sex scenes that are well placed, tastefully written and hot, which added just the right amount of spice to the romance without overshadowing it.

I thought the ending was a little abrupt, although there isn’t a cliff-hanger. I would like to know more of Jerrica and Madison’s future, if they have one. A sequel would be welcomed.

 

FUTUREDYKE by Lea Daley

Leslie Burke had a brain tumor. She was faced with two choices. Stay where she was and face a certain death, or opt for cryosleep and wake up sometime in the near future cured. Leslie chose cryosleep.

When Leslie wakes up, she is shocked and dismayed to find herself more than four thousand years in the future. Revived people, refugees like Leslie, are barely tolerated outcasts in this world, Jashari.

Leslie tries her hardest to accept her new world, but she is lonely and has a lot to learn. The one thing she discovers that hasn’t changed in her new world is the human penchant for avarice and hypocrisy.

When Leslie discovers she is being scrutinized by the Jashari ruling Council, she sets out to find out the reason why they should be so interested in her.

But, who can she trust? Who is friend and who is foe? Leslie is even doubting her own heart. How can she be attracted to Aimée? After all, Aimée isn’t even totally human. But, in a new world with a healthy life in front of her, does it really matter who she loves?

This is the second book I’ve read by Lea Daley. Her first book was excellent, very well written and I was looking forward to reading more from her. She has absolutely excelled herself with FutureDyke. Not only is this book well written and edited, it is a page turner right the way through. Lea has shown that she is capable of writing in varied genres. This book is science fiction at it’s very best.

Lea has created a whole new world, a world set in the future with a new language and new technology. It is interesting to see this world of Jashari through the eyes of an earthling as Leslie learns to cope four thousand years in the future from her own past. The plot is tight and fast paced. Full of twists and turns. Just when I thought things were levelling out, the plot would veer off in a totally different direction. A real roller-coaster ride. Jashari and it’s people are so well described, I managed to immerse myself totally in the story and live alongside Leslie and Aimée.

These characters are all fully developed and multidimensional, each one playing an important role in the progression of the story. Nothing is left unexplained or left as loose ends and the world of Jashari is described and shown extremely well.

There are many heart-stopping moments, but there is fun and laughter too. Whether you like Sci/fi or not, this story is outstanding. I’ve added it to my re-read pile for a second, leisurely read.

 

Her by Lisa Ron

Fox Owens, knows there is ‘the one’, her soul mate, waiting out there for her  somewhere. She simply has to find her. Easier said than done. Fox has almost given up hope, until she sees ‘HER’. She’s sitting across from her in a restaurant, with a man. She knows immediately that her search is over.

Penny is married to a self centered, controlling man. Although she’s not happy, Penny knows she won’t be able to leave her husband easily. He will never let her go, not without a fight.

Will Fox get the woman of her dreams? Will Penny fall in love with Fox? Will they be able to share their lives? Or will it simply be too difficult and they part forever?

This is Lisa Ron’s debut book. But, it certainly doesn’t read like it. The book is well written, the story is nicely paced and engaging from the beginning through to the end.

Whether you believe in soul mates or not, this story gives food for thought. Is it possible at a glance to know you have met your one and only, your HER? What if your HER belongs to someone else? Will she feel the same about you? If she does, is it possible to have a life together? This story answers all these questions and more for Fox and Penny and is a roller coaster ride of ups and downs. I couldn’t turn the pages fast enough to find out how their story ended. Then I had to re-read it a bit slower to assimilate the story in it’s entirety.

Both Fox and Penny are well developed and multidimensional characters, although they have their own flaws and secrets, it’s good to watch them grow stronger as the story progresses. There is a wonderful cast of secondary characters, Megan, Fox’s best friend and her girlfriend Tree are great. David, Fox’s gay roommate plays a big part too. They are just as much a big part of the story as Fox and Penny.

This is more than another simple romance, there is a depth to this story that pulled me in from the beginning, but at the same time is a comfortable and easy read.

I’ll be looking out for more from Lisa Ron in the future. She is off to a flying start in the world of lesfic.