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Distance Learning
The quest for fame has kept Alex Palmer focused on her concert pianist career and nothing else. Seeking to spread her acclaim beyond her native Great Britain, she eagerly agrees to act as a last minute substitute performer at a star-studded Hollywood gala and is immediately drawn to starlet Joanne Davison.
Both women believe they have good reason to keep any hint of a relationship a secret, especially when long distances challenge its success. But tragedy pulls Jo to Alex’s side—and neither of them realize that together they are now a target for more dangerous things than gossip.
Lyn Dowland debuts with a roller coaster ride of dangerous longing and breathless romance.
Both women believe they have good reason to keep any hint of a relationship a secret, especially when long distances challenge its success. But tragedy pulls Jo to Alex’s side—and neither of them realize that together they are now a target for more dangerous things than gossip.
Lyn Dowland debuts with a roller coaster ride of dangerous longing and breathless romance.
224 pages, Paperback
First published September 17, 2013
1 person is currently reading
52 people want to read
About the author
Lyn Dowland
2 books1 followerLyn Dowland is a pseudonym. She is a professional musician living in the UK. Despite many poems, some short stories, an occasional magazine article and a couple of plays, written to amuse herself, Distance Learning is her first adventure into the world of novel writing.
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Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews
October 21, 2024
3.5
incredibly anti-climatic
incredibly anti-climatic
September 15, 2013
Nowadays we are all guilty of it. Celebrity crushes, fan mania...following or stalking our favourite singers, actors and authors though Facebook, Twitter, the Internet and all other forms of media!
I myself am guilty of being a ’huge’ fan of one particular UK actor and singer and follow any information I can on her religiously!
But I do value her right to privacy...her right to have what we all need...a private life.
I think that is why Lyn Dowland’s new book “Distance Learning” is satisfying and enjoyable on so many different levels.
Apparently the author herself is a professional musician - this is quite obvious - the story she creates around Alex’s concert pianist career is wonderfully atmospheric and believable - but then so are her descriptions of the Hollywood lifestyle and the star Joanne Davison...to whom Alex is so drawn.
Many British lesbian fiction authors, Ms Dowland included - bring an authenticity to their characters. This is a beautiful roller coaster ride! There is a beauty found in politeness, subtle conversations and delicate expressions of emotion. Jo’s pursuit of Alex has that gentleness, supportiveness.
They have more than their fair share of mountains to scale but do so with integrity amidst emerging passion.
I would highly recommend this book - not only because I loved the characters but also because it gives us an insight into the dangers and difficulties of “stardom”!
Can't wait for Lyn Dowland’s next book!
February 23, 2016
This book gets 4 stars from me because it is a great foundation to what could have been a wonderful book.
I don't know if it is my jetlag or just the book. But I found a number of the conversations between Alex and Jo just confusing. I never knew who was saying what in the conversations. Where one character started and the other finished. Also, I didnt like the fact that every other sentence started with "Ha!"
Give the book a try and see. Like I said, to me it is a great foundation for what could have been a wonderful book due to the storyline and great characters.
I don't know if it is my jetlag or just the book. But I found a number of the conversations between Alex and Jo just confusing. I never knew who was saying what in the conversations. Where one character started and the other finished. Also, I didnt like the fact that every other sentence started with "Ha!"
Give the book a try and see. Like I said, to me it is a great foundation for what could have been a wonderful book due to the storyline and great characters.
December 1, 2020
Unforseen connection amidst unfathomable chaos
“Nobody lets you down when you are on your own. You can do what you want, when you want, when you are on your own.”
+ • + • + • +
An unforseen connection is discovered amidst unfathomable chaos & unfamiliar conditions. With busy schedules, betrayals, secrets & scars is there time, room or ability to have a relationship much less try and make it work?
“Nobody lets you down when you are on your own. You can do what you want, when you want, when you are on your own.”
+ • + • + • +
An unforseen connection is discovered amidst unfathomable chaos & unfamiliar conditions. With busy schedules, betrayals, secrets & scars is there time, room or ability to have a relationship much less try and make it work?
September 6, 2014
"Distance Learning" is an exquisitely written and edited vanilla romance, featuring the extremely shy professional pianist Alex and the smooth-talking actor Jo.
Frankly, the above summarises the plot fairly neatly. Although the book satisfies, no one could deny that it is far more tightly focused on the characters rather than their surroundings. The plot fires and stutters forward off the back of unconnected events - being hired for a party, being assaulted in a home invasion, being attacked *again* in public - but these things felt peripheral. They were interesting and dramatic, but somehow in the background. This story is about Alex and Jo ( - primarily Alex), and not about their lives so much.
It is perhaps this focus on characters which drags the one great flaw in this work so prominently to light. These two characters allegedly fall in love over the course of this book. Indeed, their interactions in the final chapters are so cute that much of my puzzlement with the plot fell by the wayside. But before that... what do these two characters have in common? They never seem to have a conversation that isn't awkward, or caught up in one of Alex's fragile emotional states. I just kept feeling that these two people *shouldn't* like one another, that we knew nothing about them.
Regardless, this book is beautifully written and well deserves four stars.
Frankly, the above summarises the plot fairly neatly. Although the book satisfies, no one could deny that it is far more tightly focused on the characters rather than their surroundings. The plot fires and stutters forward off the back of unconnected events - being hired for a party, being assaulted in a home invasion, being attacked *again* in public - but these things felt peripheral. They were interesting and dramatic, but somehow in the background. This story is about Alex and Jo ( - primarily Alex), and not about their lives so much.
It is perhaps this focus on characters which drags the one great flaw in this work so prominently to light. These two characters allegedly fall in love over the course of this book. Indeed, their interactions in the final chapters are so cute that much of my puzzlement with the plot fell by the wayside. But before that... what do these two characters have in common? They never seem to have a conversation that isn't awkward, or caught up in one of Alex's fragile emotional states. I just kept feeling that these two people *shouldn't* like one another, that we knew nothing about them.
Regardless, this book is beautifully written and well deserves four stars.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
December 26, 2013
It was a good story, not much sex ;) (at least not very descriptive) but I liked how the characters and their lives develop and grow. Interesting insight on the pro and cons of stardom.
Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews