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Waking Up Gray
Can you start your life over at forty? Lizbeth Jackson was about to find out. She found her first gray hair on the morning of her trip to Ocracoke Island, off the coast of North Carolina. Lizbeth was beginning a three-month sabbatical, on the scenic coastal island, in order to finish her Master's thesis in Linguistic Anthropology. She plans to study the Carolina Brogue spoken there. What she ends up studying is her lesbian neighbor across the street and the uncontrollable pull Lizbeth feels toward her. Lizbeth Jackson is about to find out what life has to offer, after waking up gray.
328 pages, Paperback
First published April 19, 2011
34 people are currently reading
392 people want to read
About the author
R.E. Bradshaw
26 books241 followersHow did a girl from the Outer Banks of North Carolina end up writing contemporary women's fiction in Oklahoma? Well, there has to be a woman involved. Bradshaw began her writing career in 2010, after leaving Theatre and teaching. Since then, her novels ranging from the popular romance, Waking Up Gray, to the Lambda Literary Award Finalists, thriller Rainey Nights and mystery Molly: House on Fire, have remained among Amazon’s bestsellers in lesbian fiction. All of Bradshaw’s books, thus far, are set in her beloved home state of North Carolina. She was transplanted from the coast to the Heartland by the love of her life, an Oklahoma girl, with whom she celebrate twenty-five years in June 2013. They have a son, Jon, and share their home with two dogs and two cats.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 35 reviews
May 31, 2021
I am still deciding how I feel about this book. I was engaged with the story, but it wasn't quite what I was expecting. 3.8 stars. I really loved the setting and Gray's grandmother Fanny.
February 11, 2019
I really enjoyed this one! It wasn’t what I was expecting. I was pleasantly surprised.
April 25, 2017
Mehhh! The premise that all the women on the island, married or single, are hot for the local studly butch is really getting old and very unbelievable. I would not read this again.
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April 22, 2023I had a bit of trouble getting into the story because there was some "telling" of character backstory and omniscient descriptions at the beginning, but once I got past that, it was an entertaining read.
July 9, 2015
Full disclosure. I'm a diehard fan of Ms. Bradshaw (and anything involving N.C.), but this was not her best effort. It honestly pains me to say that! I was so hooked at the beginning! Great character set-up, loved the description and history of this remote place, Ocracoke Island. Miss Fanny's character...priceless. Molly the attorney...great. I just couldn't get past Gray. She was so emotionally immature, stereotypically impulsive, and indiscriminate in terms of her sexual appetites. Don't get me wrong, I'm all about butch roles-- truly-- just not hot-headed, 40 yo adolescent ones. I got the attraction part, missed the substance. By default, and because someone had to be the adult, Lizbeth fell into more of a matronly role. Total buzzkill. Didn't light me up the way I count on Ms. Bradshaw's excellent writing to do. All said though, I still am, and will always remain, a supportive fan.
August 30, 2019
Waking Up Gray, is another wonderful addition to the list of R.E. Bradshaw's books. The previous four books have been little gems, but Waking Up Gray just has that extra final polish on it that made it a joy to read. The best compliment I can give to show how much I enjoyed it, is that as soon as I finished, I immediately read it again.
Lizbeth Jackson is on the final stretch of starting a new life at 40. She's spent the last five years, after divorcing a cheating husband, studying Linguistic Anthropology and will soon graduate with a Master's Degree as soon as she finishes her thesis paper. She intends to study the Carolina Brogue on Ocracoke Island, where she spent her childhood holidays. The first day there she meets Fanny, who lives across the road with her granddaughter, Gray. Lizbeth is shocked to find herself unexpectedly attracted to the flirtatious Gray and can't help but flirt back. It doesn't take long for Lizbeth to fall deeper and deeper for Gray, once she gets over being attracted to another female. Gray, despite her reputation for only having casual flings, seems to want more from their budding relationship, if only she can overcome the ghost of her past.
I loved everything about this book. The characters are all enjoyable, Fanny is the wise, funny old grandmother everyone wishes they had to give them advice, Lizbeth's daughter Mazie is funny and accepting and knows her mother well, there's even an appearance from Molly Kincaid, the well-known lesbian attorney who we know from a couple of other Bradshaw books. The attraction between Gray and Lizbeth is sizzling hot, the romance builds wonderfully, with just a little miss-communication and angst to make you appreciate the romance all the more. And as always with Bradshaw's books, the landscape itself plays a role in the story. Even though I've never been anywhere near the US, I feel like I've traveled along with the characters through the Outer Banks of North Carolina. Along with her other books, Waking Up Gray definitely makes it onto my re-read list.
Lizbeth Jackson is on the final stretch of starting a new life at 40. She's spent the last five years, after divorcing a cheating husband, studying Linguistic Anthropology and will soon graduate with a Master's Degree as soon as she finishes her thesis paper. She intends to study the Carolina Brogue on Ocracoke Island, where she spent her childhood holidays. The first day there she meets Fanny, who lives across the road with her granddaughter, Gray. Lizbeth is shocked to find herself unexpectedly attracted to the flirtatious Gray and can't help but flirt back. It doesn't take long for Lizbeth to fall deeper and deeper for Gray, once she gets over being attracted to another female. Gray, despite her reputation for only having casual flings, seems to want more from their budding relationship, if only she can overcome the ghost of her past.
I loved everything about this book. The characters are all enjoyable, Fanny is the wise, funny old grandmother everyone wishes they had to give them advice, Lizbeth's daughter Mazie is funny and accepting and knows her mother well, there's even an appearance from Molly Kincaid, the well-known lesbian attorney who we know from a couple of other Bradshaw books. The attraction between Gray and Lizbeth is sizzling hot, the romance builds wonderfully, with just a little miss-communication and angst to make you appreciate the romance all the more. And as always with Bradshaw's books, the landscape itself plays a role in the story. Even though I've never been anywhere near the US, I feel like I've traveled along with the characters through the Outer Banks of North Carolina. Along with her other books, Waking Up Gray definitely makes it onto my re-read list.
September 13, 2013
I can’t remember how I first “met” R. E. “Decky” Bradshaw on line. I’m pretty sure it was at a podcast of lesbian fiction, probably in 2011, but I can no longer find traces of that event.
All I remember is her magical, rich, descriptive words transporting me back to the Outer Banks of North Carolina, where I spent not enough time during my North Carolina college years. I was hooked, and I purchased Waking Up Gray and devoured it.
“Rich” is the word that keeps popping up – not only for the landscape in which her fiction immerses the reader, but for the texture and complexity of the characters and their relationships. For me, this is lesbian romantic fiction at its best: Real, ordinary people, living out their lives, finding true love, struggling (for some) with sexual identity issues, and claiming their passions.
I’ve followed her on Facebook and dropped in on her blog occasionally since then, so I’ve come to have some sense of how her history feeds her marvelous stories. A product of those Outer Banks, she describes herself as a reckless tomboy in her childhood, getting into endless scrapes, both with and without her brother. I’d love to know how much of Gray’s character is unadulterated Decky – lots, I’m guessing, an electrifying counterpoint to the more sedate and scholarly Lizbeth, who’s never kissed a girl.
The romance between Gray and Lizbeth unfolds with just the right doses of madly-falling-in-love and heartbreaking misunderstandings, and is punctuated by the dangers of a tropical storm bearing down, as they so often do, on the Outer Banks. This review wouldn’t be complete without a shout-out for Decky’s wry sense of humor, complete with impeccable timing and keen observation skills. Laugh-out-loud moments were too numerous to count, which is also true for her blog and Facebook posts.
I loved everything about this book and award it five stars. If you buy it, I’m sure you’ll be back for more from this award winning lesfic author.
All I remember is her magical, rich, descriptive words transporting me back to the Outer Banks of North Carolina, where I spent not enough time during my North Carolina college years. I was hooked, and I purchased Waking Up Gray and devoured it.
“Rich” is the word that keeps popping up – not only for the landscape in which her fiction immerses the reader, but for the texture and complexity of the characters and their relationships. For me, this is lesbian romantic fiction at its best: Real, ordinary people, living out their lives, finding true love, struggling (for some) with sexual identity issues, and claiming their passions.
I’ve followed her on Facebook and dropped in on her blog occasionally since then, so I’ve come to have some sense of how her history feeds her marvelous stories. A product of those Outer Banks, she describes herself as a reckless tomboy in her childhood, getting into endless scrapes, both with and without her brother. I’d love to know how much of Gray’s character is unadulterated Decky – lots, I’m guessing, an electrifying counterpoint to the more sedate and scholarly Lizbeth, who’s never kissed a girl.
The romance between Gray and Lizbeth unfolds with just the right doses of madly-falling-in-love and heartbreaking misunderstandings, and is punctuated by the dangers of a tropical storm bearing down, as they so often do, on the Outer Banks. This review wouldn’t be complete without a shout-out for Decky’s wry sense of humor, complete with impeccable timing and keen observation skills. Laugh-out-loud moments were too numerous to count, which is also true for her blog and Facebook posts.
I loved everything about this book and award it five stars. If you buy it, I’m sure you’ll be back for more from this award winning lesfic author.
October 29, 2012
A Wonderful Read...
I am working my way to reading all the books by R. E. Bradshaw and so far I loved them. I particularly like the interlacing of characters from previous books and hope this continues. You don't need to read them in order they do stand alone, I just love the writing style of each book, the main characters are great but the friends are often really quite special.
We Brits get all funny at the mention of the word Fanny but I have to say there is a lot of Fanny to love about this book. I absolutely love Aunt Fanny! Her views on the Bible her practical way of dealing with life, her food (I felt hungry all the way through this book)… I found her to be the jewel in the crown on so many levels. If you like to highlight you will be in your element with this old women! It breaks my heart that she is quite old… but I would still ask her out for a date… She genuinely has funny bones!
The dialect is wonderful and took me right back to days listening to my very old Cockney and Scottish Relatives chatting away over endless cups of tea. I was with this book all the way through and it was blinking marvellous!
Rarely is an author so good that just to touch the cover makes me smile, Waking up Gray is one of my forever favourites. The banter that passes between people who just fit well together, works for me.
I have had a great 2012 reading R. E. Bradshaw books… the Rainey Bell Mysteries I will read again and again… Off now to purchase - Before it Stains for my Birthday! Thanks Ms. Bradshaw you’re a Jem!
I am working my way to reading all the books by R. E. Bradshaw and so far I loved them. I particularly like the interlacing of characters from previous books and hope this continues. You don't need to read them in order they do stand alone, I just love the writing style of each book, the main characters are great but the friends are often really quite special.
We Brits get all funny at the mention of the word Fanny but I have to say there is a lot of Fanny to love about this book. I absolutely love Aunt Fanny! Her views on the Bible her practical way of dealing with life, her food (I felt hungry all the way through this book)… I found her to be the jewel in the crown on so many levels. If you like to highlight you will be in your element with this old women! It breaks my heart that she is quite old… but I would still ask her out for a date… She genuinely has funny bones!
The dialect is wonderful and took me right back to days listening to my very old Cockney and Scottish Relatives chatting away over endless cups of tea. I was with this book all the way through and it was blinking marvellous!
Rarely is an author so good that just to touch the cover makes me smile, Waking up Gray is one of my forever favourites. The banter that passes between people who just fit well together, works for me.
I have had a great 2012 reading R. E. Bradshaw books… the Rainey Bell Mysteries I will read again and again… Off now to purchase - Before it Stains for my Birthday! Thanks Ms. Bradshaw you’re a Jem!
July 13, 2018
If you love drama then you will certainly love this book. Personally, I felt it a tad much and in some cases immature especially for the ages of the couples involved. I loved Fanny's character... Her depiction makes me wish I had a Grandma or Grandaunt like her.
Also I must add that the story felt unnecessarily too long... There were many early chapters that ought to have ended the story and that kind of bored me. It deserves a little more than the 3stars I gave it, more like 3.5
Also I must add that the story felt unnecessarily too long... There were many early chapters that ought to have ended the story and that kind of bored me. It deserves a little more than the 3stars I gave it, more like 3.5
July 8, 2012
Lizbeth, divorcee with a grown up daughter, heads for Hatteras Island to research the local dialect for her master’s degree. Hatteras Island is where her family used to vacation in the summer in her childhood and she has rented her great aunt’s cottage for the duration.
When she is invited across the road to meet her neighbour Fanny she is introduced to her granddaughter Gray. Lizbeth is surprised to find out that Gray is her age and that she is attracted to her.
What follows is a beautiful mellow slow burning romance, where both women come to terms with Lizbeth’s past then Gray’s past.
Fabulous cameo role for Molly Kincaid who with Lizbeth’s daughter Mazie try to help, and sometimes inadvertently hinder but the star of the book has to be Fanny :-)
The island and it’s people form an exquisite backdrop as Bradshaw explores the shades of sexuality, the power of attraction, the difference between love and lust and the barriers we erect to protect us from being hurt.
Will Gray let Lizbeth through her barriers and can Lizbeth trust Gray to stop being a wampus cat and stay loyal to her ?
When she is invited across the road to meet her neighbour Fanny she is introduced to her granddaughter Gray. Lizbeth is surprised to find out that Gray is her age and that she is attracted to her.
What follows is a beautiful mellow slow burning romance, where both women come to terms with Lizbeth’s past then Gray’s past.
Fabulous cameo role for Molly Kincaid who with Lizbeth’s daughter Mazie try to help, and sometimes inadvertently hinder but the star of the book has to be Fanny :-)
The island and it’s people form an exquisite backdrop as Bradshaw explores the shades of sexuality, the power of attraction, the difference between love and lust and the barriers we erect to protect us from being hurt.
Will Gray let Lizbeth through her barriers and can Lizbeth trust Gray to stop being a wampus cat and stay loyal to her ?
July 18, 2011
Beautifully written, romantic tale involving a couple of women who had both given up on love years before. The beginning was a little slow moving, as quite a bit of time was spent introducing us to the characters and to the local environs. Once the story picked up, it was intriguing and exciting. The author used the environment and weather to give the story a well-rounded and in-depth feeling to the emotions and actions of the main characters. The main characters were well-defined and the secondary characters added a layer that very successfully aided in moving the story along.
May 5, 2016
I'm totally in love with this book writer. She is awesome and her books have been great to read!
August 11, 2015
Typical romance. The two main characters are exceptionally cute for their age, especially Gray the charming little ol'butch (I kept imagining a younger version of Ellen).
March 16, 2020
I was thoroughly entertained by this story. It was written beautifully with great character development, backgrounds, and fine detail towards the setting surrounding this love story. I want to visit there.
Lizbeth started out as an easy breezy type character, almost mundane. Then we slowly discovered that she had a jealous streak where an immature little brat would emerge. It was entertaining for fiction, but if this were real life, it would have been quite off-putting. I understood that she was confused because she had just divorced her no-good-lying-cheating-bastard-husband of many decades, and was now finding herself lusting after a woman. A butch woman. A butch lesbian who had a reputation for being a player, or in Lizbeth's words, 'Casanova'. Throwing caution to the wind and for once living life for herself, Lizbeth fell into the arms and bed of Gray, the sexy stud next door.
Gray was a dreamboat. She was tall, blonde, toned, dashing with a bright smile and twinkly blue eyes to match. Dangerous. We learn that the charming butch was nursing a broken heart from a previous relationship. Gray and Lizbeth find out that they had something in common and that was trust issues due to infidelity from past partners. However, that didn't stop them from falling into bed with one another, and it was hot. Once the story kicked it into gear, that's when the real drama started. From exe's returning to profess their undying love to tropical storms threatening to wash everyone away on the island to boat crashes and idiot drunkards with a broken heart sinking in the blue lagoon.
This was a highly dramatic story with highly strung emotional women to boot. Women like that in real life drive me crazy because they react on impulse then act before getting the whole story before taking off in a mad rush just to be dramatic. It's infuriating. All-in-all, I really did enjoy this book. It had me laughing, shying away, and even on the edge of my seat wondering if that stud horse was going to make it. ;)
Lizbeth started out as an easy breezy type character, almost mundane. Then we slowly discovered that she had a jealous streak where an immature little brat would emerge. It was entertaining for fiction, but if this were real life, it would have been quite off-putting. I understood that she was confused because she had just divorced her no-good-lying-cheating-bastard-husband of many decades, and was now finding herself lusting after a woman. A butch woman. A butch lesbian who had a reputation for being a player, or in Lizbeth's words, 'Casanova'. Throwing caution to the wind and for once living life for herself, Lizbeth fell into the arms and bed of Gray, the sexy stud next door.
Gray was a dreamboat. She was tall, blonde, toned, dashing with a bright smile and twinkly blue eyes to match. Dangerous. We learn that the charming butch was nursing a broken heart from a previous relationship. Gray and Lizbeth find out that they had something in common and that was trust issues due to infidelity from past partners. However, that didn't stop them from falling into bed with one another, and it was hot. Once the story kicked it into gear, that's when the real drama started. From exe's returning to profess their undying love to tropical storms threatening to wash everyone away on the island to boat crashes and idiot drunkards with a broken heart sinking in the blue lagoon.
This was a highly dramatic story with highly strung emotional women to boot. Women like that in real life drive me crazy because they react on impulse then act before getting the whole story before taking off in a mad rush just to be dramatic. It's infuriating. All-in-all, I really did enjoy this book. It had me laughing, shying away, and even on the edge of my seat wondering if that stud horse was going to make it. ;)
September 22, 2022
Having just moved to NC I enjoyed the vivid and beautiful descriptions of the outer banks. This is a wonderful story about two woman finding a second chance at love learning to open their hearts and trust again.
I love that they got together early in the books and we get to watch them grow. I love books that don't wait till the last 20% of a book to get the MC's together. I prefer to watch them grow together.
Highly recommend this one
I love that they got together early in the books and we get to watch them grow. I love books that don't wait till the last 20% of a book to get the MC's together. I prefer to watch them grow together.
Highly recommend this one
June 15, 2025
The book was very cheesy to the point where it was a little unrealistic, but it was cute. Definitely an easy reader. I didn't really like how quickly their relationship progressed and how in love and committed they were after just 2 weeks, I get that us lesbians U-haul, but damn. As everyone says, Fanny's character was great.
October 10, 2017
Awesome , warm, loving, left wanting more!
It was a comforting good read as I could not put it down. Full of all the emotions all people experience not just a community. Loved the truthfulness of feelings!
It was a comforting good read as I could not put it down. Full of all the emotions all people experience not just a community. Loved the truthfulness of feelings!
August 21, 2020
Good read
I really enjoyed reading this book..This actually my second time reading it, because I enjoyed it so much the first time😍😘
I really enjoyed reading this book..This actually my second time reading it, because I enjoyed it so much the first time😍😘
September 7, 2022
So cool. Not expected. Love is love. Great location, characters, plot and beautiful love story.
August 17, 2011
I can't believe the amount of feelings that have rushed through me while reading this marvelous book. The reader is presented with two women who seem to come from different worlds (and as a matter of fact they do apparently) but in the end share such unpleasant experiences from their pasts. Once they meet in the incredible North Carolina, so well described by the author, it's their time to handle the feelings that rush them, the amazing attraction that have for one another and the fact that they have shut their hearts to love by the fear of going through painful situations again.
It's their task to decide whether they can take a leap of faith for a new life together or else they will be too afraid to look directly into the eyes of life. Such a breathtaking novel, very well portrayed in the nature of a little island in North Carolina. Such a good choice for a pleasant and non-stopping read.
It's their task to decide whether they can take a leap of faith for a new life together or else they will be too afraid to look directly into the eyes of life. Such a breathtaking novel, very well portrayed in the nature of a little island in North Carolina. Such a good choice for a pleasant and non-stopping read.
November 8, 2015
I really enjoyed this book although it could have used some better editing. I would have liked to have the author spend more time on the hurricane, that part of the story had all kinds of possibilities. The book could easily been longer, many issues were brought up, but they were glossed over rather than digging deep to solve them. Over all the book was good, and the author is getting better with each book she writes.
May 1, 2011
They say never judge a book by the cover, but look at that one! Though the first chapter or so was a bit uncomfortable, more editing needed? Gray, Lizbeth and Miss Fanny took control of the story and drew me in. I felt I learned about a part of the country I must visit someday. I look forward to reading more by R. E. Bradshaw.
November 27, 2011
Like many romances, a lot of the barriers to a good outcome could have been avoided if the parties involved would just talk to each other instead of leaping to conclusions, but the characters were vivid and individual, the setting clearly described and unusual, and the lovers well-matched. A fun read.
May 14, 2012
I love R E Bradshaw's writing. Her characters are well rounded and settings beautifully described. I particularly like the fact that her main characters are mature women and thus easy for me to relate to. Waking up Gray is the story of two women finding love again when they least expected it. Very enjoyable read.
March 8, 2015
Entertaining read, sweet romance with witty dialogue and likable characters.
I've read a few of Ms.Bradshaw's other books and she is a good at delivering
interesting romances while avoiding the typical cliches you usually find on this
genre...
If you are into Lesfic give this one a try, I think you'd like it!
I've read a few of Ms.Bradshaw's other books and she is a good at delivering
interesting romances while avoiding the typical cliches you usually find on this
genre...
If you are into Lesfic give this one a try, I think you'd like it!
July 25, 2012
Loved this book. The characters were real and three dimensional. Fanny was a particular favourite. A wonderful story of discovery and sexual awakening that left me sighing with contentment at the end.
November 17, 2013
This writer knows how to tell a story. I found the characters to be genuine and the story paced perfect. I love the main 2 characters Lizbeth and Gray. I gave the story 5 stars, but anything by Bradshaw is a 6 in my book!
November 12, 2011
Another great romantic story by Bradshaw. I can't wait for more books from her. A bit slow in the beginning but it turned out to be a fantastic story about taking chances.
November 22, 2011
I love this book. I have read it like 3 times already
April 14, 2012
It was okay. I would read it again.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 35 reviews