Walking the Labyrinth

The Calgary Chronicles #3

by Lois Cloarec Hart

In this gentle, slow-burn, lesbian romance set in a small town in Canada, a grieving, over-fifty security expert finds she still has a lot of living—and loving—left to do. Is there life after loss? Lee Glenn doesn’t think so. Crushed by grief after the death of her wife, the co-owner of a private security company retreats from the world. But love doesn’t give up easily. Lee’s old friend and business partner convinces her to take on what seems to be a minor, personal-protection detail job. The assignment whisks her far from home to rural Saskatchewan, where she is pulled from her darkness and pain by the fascinating characters around her. Wrong-Way Wally is a shunned, small-town oracle, who counts as his best friend, Gaëlle, a woman who seems to have a deep personal connection to life beyond life. Lee is shocked to find herself attracted to Gaëlle, despite the woman’s exotic beliefs.But opening yourself to love also means the possibility of pain, too. Will Lee have the courage to try again after so much loss? An uplifting, profound story of awakening.

Genres: Lesbian, Romance, Religion, LGBT, Lesbian Fiction, Queer, Fiction

286 pages, Paperback

First published June 11, 2013

About the author

From the publisher's website: Born and raised in British Columbia, Canada, Lois Cloarec Hart grew up as an avid reader but didn’t begin writing until much later in life. Several years after joining the Canadian Armed Forces, she received a degree in Honours History from Royal Military College and on graduation switched occupations from air traffic control to military intelligence. Having married a CAF fighter pilot while in college, Lois went on to spend another five years as an Intelligence Officer before leaving the military to care for her husband, who was ill with chronic progressive Multiple Sclerosis and passed away in 2001. She began writing while caring for her husband in his final years and had her first book, Coming Home, published in 2001. It was through that initial publishing process that Lois met the woman she would marry in April 2007. She now commutes annually between her northern home in Calgary and her wife’s southern home in Atlanta.

Lois is the author of four novels, Coming Home, Broken Faith, Kicker’s Journey, Walking the Labyrinth, and a collection of short stories, Assorted Flavours. Her novel Kicker’s Journey won the 2010 Independent Publisher Book Award bronze medal, 2010 Golden Crown Literary Awards, 2010 Rainbow Romance Writer’s Award for Excellence, and 2009 Lesbian Fiction Readers Choice Award for historical fiction. Broken Faith (revised second edition) will be published in print and e-formats in winter 2013 and Coming Home (revised third edition) in spring 2014.

Reviews

[Terry Baker · Rating 5 out of 5]

Co-owner of a private security company, Lee Glenn, is grieving for her wife Dana. She can’t see any end to her suffering. Her life is over, just as surely as Dana’s is. A year later and Lee is still locked away from her family, friends and colleagues, hiding out in her basement rooms. Lee’s family and friends intervene with a message from beyond the grave, giving Lee the shake up she needed.

Lee is back at work and beginning to turn her life around. She isn’t convinced she can just pick up her life again and carry on. But Lee’s business partner, Willem, knows different.

At Willem’s urging, Lee takes on a private protection job, which takes her away from the memories of her loss, to the beginning of a new life.

Lee meets many different people along the way. Probably the strangest person she meets is Wrong-Way Wally. A harmless, colorful oracle, who is shunned by most of the small town because of his way out speech and way of life. It appears the only person who can understand and translate Wally’s predictions is Gaëlle, his life long best friend.

Gaëlle herself appears at first to Lee to be strange. She seems to have a connection to the afterlife. Although Lee pushes aside Gaëlle’s beliefs as hooey, is it possible there is some truth in them?

Lee becomes attracted to Gaëlle, but will she allow herself to open up to the possibility of love again? What if loving again should cause even more pain? Will Lee have the courage to stay for the course and find out? Or will she run back home to her safe, but lonely, miserable existence?

I thoroughly enjoyed this beautifully written story. I liked that the two main characters, Lee and Gaëlle, are multidimensional, mature in age and there is an actual story here as well as a romance. Once I began the story, there was no putting it down. The book is a page turner from start to finish. Lee and Gaëlle are backed up with some unforgettable characters throughout. All playing their parts to perfection to progress the story forward.

There are a lot of emotions running high throughout. Highs and lows of love and love lost and prejudices. But amongst all the emotions, there is hope, a light at the end of the tunnel, the end of anguish and loneliness. That’s if Lee will allow herself to be open to the possibility and taking a chance of loving a second time, if it’s offered. It’s this journey that makes the book into the exciting and enjoyable story it is.

I can’t say my beliefs are those of Gaëlle and Wally, but it made for very interesting reading and added an enjoyable aspect to the book.

I’ve added Lois Cloarec Hart to my list of authors to watch out for. I like her style of writing and look forward to more soon.

[Carolyn McBride · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoyed this book a great deal. The beginning of the tale started exactly where it needed to, deep in the grieving process that Lee is wallowing in one a year of the loss of her wife. Through a deathbed-requested intervention, Lee's friends and family pull her back into the land of the living, and she is convinced to take on a personal protection detail through her company. Through the case, Lee meets Gaelle and despite their differences in beliefs, they become good friends. Eventually, there is romance, but I have to say, I liked how long they took to get there. It was refreshing.
I had no problem with their many discussions of spirituality and what happens after death. I thought that added an often-ignored layer missing from so many lesfic romances these days, a discussion of substance. Without giving too much away, I thought the conflict was realistic, as well as Lee's response to it. Overall, this was a multi-layered story that you think you can predict, but there are a few surprises in store.
And that cover is a thing of beauty!

Highly recommended.

[Tempe Luvs Books · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this slow burn friendship-turned-romance story between a gay woman, Lee, grieving over the death of her wife, and a heterosexual woman, Gaëlle, who had lost her husband years before. Gaëlle was a very spiritually open person who gradually opened Lee’s mind to so many things about life and beyond. A favorite moment for me was when Gaëlle asked Lee where she thought her wife was now. Lee’s frank response was that she was in the cemetery. Lee was shocked when Gaëlle shared her feelings of how our loved ones, in spirit, are indeed with us and we will see them again. This was personal to me as, after a personal loss, I read and studied a lot about this, and connected and became friends with many others who shared similar beliefs.
What Gaëlle shared was not just about death, but of how we live our lives, view life and learn to love again.
This was such a beautiful story and I’m fortunate that I was guided to this author by Jae.

[MissAlice · Rating 5 out of 5]

I failed to realize this was the third of a three part series when I decided to listen to the audiobook, but ya know what? Don't care. THIS BOOK IS AMAZING regardless of where I'm joining the journey.

I ugly cried hard when the reading of a certain letter from a certain wifey appeared. I rolled my eyes hard when the antics of a spoiled woman caused drama. I squinched up my face when that dark heart spewed ugliness at a wedding. My heart grew a bit bigger when the labyrinth helped to free up a heavy soul. I slapped my forehead way too hard when the MC hightailed it when truths were brought to light. And that HEA? I swooned. I just. The combination of the narrators rich, soulful voice with the beautiful story ... I cannot recommend this book more highly.

[Cheri · Rating 3 out of 5]

If I could, I'd go a bit higher than 3 stars but not enough to round up to 4. I did like the book but there were a few things that pulled me out of the story.

I enjoyed the older protagonists and the mysticism that was involved in the story. I think if you're looking for a romance with these things, you should give Walking the Labyrinth a shot.

If you want more of my thoughts on it, you can read my full review at C-Spot Reviews.

http://reviews.c-spot.net

[CaseyTheCanadianLesbrarian · Rating 3 out of 5]

BC-born and Calgary-based Lois Cloarec Hart’s novel Walking the Labyrinth is the first romance I’ve ever read. As someone who usually reads so-called literary fiction (not that I don’t have more than a healthy amount of criticism of the standards by which a piece of writing is considered “literary” and or not), I was a bit wary of delving into this genre. I was trying to keep my expectations reasonable. I didn’t want to approach the book with the same kind of lens I usually do. I was trying to be a different kind of reader, for a little while, anyway. Despite some critiques I’m going to make later in the review, I have to say this novel made me like it despite myself. It has emotional impact, there’s no question about that.

What did I like about it? First of all, the protagonist is a butch woman named Lee in her sixties who lives in Calgary. I’m probably never going to read another book featuring a character like her. Who writes lesbian romance novels about women in their sixties? Lois Cloarec Hart, apparently...

See the rest of my review on my blog: http://caseythecanadianlesbrarian.wor...

[Cab · Rating 3 out of 5]

This did not feel like a typical romance, which is probably why I liked it. I was sucked in immediately and really wanted to finish it. It felt less like a romance and more of a spiritual awakening/grieving process that was not heavy handed. I'm sure I will look to see if this author has other books out there.

[Jenna Hebbard · Rating 5 out of 5]

WONDERFUL BOOK. HIGHLY RECOMMEND

[Lady Avalon · Rating 4 out of 5]

3,5 rounded up to 4.

[Kennedy · Rating 4 out of 5]

What an interesting direction book 3 of the series takes. The story picks up where the reader kinda thought it would, Dana has passed away from cancer and Lee is grieving deeply and her friends come to her aid. After some discussion, her friend and business partner Willem encourages her to take a protective detail in rural Saskatchewan. Once that situation is resolved, Lee stays and continues to get to know Gaelle. I was really swept up in the author's take on life and life after death. Lee, Wally and Gaelle are interesting characters because they are multidimensional, mature, and provide the take on life that either the reader is open to hearing or not. This reader was glad to listen to the audio book because it allowed me to better envision what was being shared. I did not get caught up in whether I believed or agreed with the information, it just made me think and in my opinion, that is a good thing.

[Andrea · Rating 3 out of 5]

I received an ARC from Ylva.

I read the other two books in this series too and this one was my least favorite. I thought it was a bit disappointing that the characters from the previous books didn’t make a lot of appearances and with the topic on hand I thought it would be for sure that Jan would be more involved since she lost her husband too. I also have to admit that from the first book on I didn’t really care for Lee’s character and so a whole book about her just wasn’t for me, even though the story itself was interesting and made me think about afterlife and death.

[Sebi · Rating 2 out of 5]

Disappointed. This was quite a boring book… and the romance was the most rushed out of any of the lesbian romance books I’ve ever read. Literally straight after their FIRST kiss, the main characters say I love you, and because of how late in the book they finally get together, there’s not even time for a sex scene, not that that has to be the focal point, but surely that should happen a few times before people declare they love each other and are willing to move in together?! Talk about U-haul stereotype at its most extreme👀

[Maaike F · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book completely took me by surprise! It ended up on my list of recommendations after listening to several erotica romance novels. At first, it took me a bit to get into the story, but once I was in the story moved me so deeply that it brought me to tears several times. Not because there was sadness, but because it truly moved me. A beautiful story that made me think and want to talk about it with others.

[Gail · Rating 4 out of 5]

I've read a couple of Hart's books but the Calgary series really made me think and I found myself feeling very emotional. Having just finished #3 in the series I highly recommend all the books to anyone who wants to take a journey that has both highs and lows but makes you feel uplifted in the end.

[Debbie Hoskins · Rating 5 out of 5]

A beautiful and gentle lesbian romance between two older women in their sixties. I plan to relisten. After mourning the death of her wife and falling into depression, Lee, a co-owner of a security company is confronted by her friends to return to the land of the living. She takes the challenge by returning to work and living healthier. She takes a body guard job accompanying a woman to where she grew up in a remote part of Saskatchewan. Lee meets the woman’s mother, who according to Lee is full of “hooey” because of her metaphysical beliefs. She warms to the mother and remains in the home even though the body guard job has ended. As Lee helps finish the building of a labyrinth by adding paving stones, she becomes open to metaphysical beliefs and love. I recommend this to anyone who loves labyrinths and lesbian fiction. No sex scenes.

[Danika at The Lesbrary · Rating 3 out of 5]

My full review is posted here: http://lesbrary.com/sponsored-review-...

[Jessica · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great book. I couldn't put it down, it was so good. Awesome novel Hart!

[Elisa Rolle · Rating 5 out of 5]

2013 Rainbow Awards Honorable Mention (5* from at least 1 judge)