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Crystal's Heart
Crystal Sheridan is a professional stripper, an alcoholic, a drug user, and homeless. Laura Taylor is a lesbian, professional writer, obsessive tidier, and control freak. Fate brings them together as improbably housemates. Can Laura and Crystal break through their carefully constructed walls against the past and learn to get along and start to embrace life again?
316 pages, Paperback
First published September 1, 2004
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 30 reviews
June 2, 2018
Just what I needed now, a good comfort read.
Definitely one of my favorite books ever.
Definitely one of my favorite books ever.
May 20, 2024
5-
WONDERFUL STORY!
Crystal Sheridan will break your heart with the story of her dreadful childhood and the love and support that Laura Taylor brings into her life starts her on a slow and steady healing and changes her life's direction forever.
I would normally have decreased the rating of this book due to all the errors and repetition but the story was just that good that I give it a full 5 stars.
WONDERFUL STORY!Crystal Sheridan will break your heart with the story of her dreadful childhood and the love and support that Laura Taylor brings into her life starts her on a slow and steady healing and changes her life's direction forever.
I would normally have decreased the rating of this book due to all the errors and repetition but the story was just that good that I give it a full 5 stars.
January 2, 2015
This is one of those books where after reading, it left you feeling warm and emotional. The plot is simple, just two person who cannot be more of a polar opposite, living under the same roof and slowly making each step towards being with each other.
I liked reading Laura as a character, her control freakishness, her absolute need to just have everything organized in the way she wanted. I almost want to laugh reading her reactions sometimes (because I have a friend who behaves exactly like that!). But I love how consistent and persistent she has been, and that's exactly what Crystal needed most in her life - being love, valued and having an anchor.
Reading the novel, I can't help hoping that there'll be another one on Jenny. She has such a big heart, and I truly hope she'll find someone who'll bring her happiness.
I liked reading Laura as a character, her control freakishness, her absolute need to just have everything organized in the way she wanted. I almost want to laugh reading her reactions sometimes (because I have a friend who behaves exactly like that!). But I love how consistent and persistent she has been, and that's exactly what Crystal needed most in her life - being love, valued and having an anchor.
Reading the novel, I can't help hoping that there'll be another one on Jenny. She has such a big heart, and I truly hope she'll find someone who'll bring her happiness.
August 1, 2022
Really good up to 95% but then hurried, short-changed and brick wall ending. Left me feeling uneasy - power and personal circumstances worried me.
June 4, 2019
Serious issues with strong and independent minded characters. Crystal Sheridan is a professional stripper, an alcoholic, a drug user, and homeless. Laura Taylor is a lesbian, professional writer, obsessive tidier, and control freak. I really appreciated the difference between Laura and Crystal. Getting to know the main characters and the supporting characters especially Jenny drew me in. Sometimes it is simply good to read a story where people want to help and impact change in the life of another person. Crystal is a damaged women dealing with an awful childhood. Laura is dealing with a break-up knowing that she was a part of the problem. There were some intense lines in the read that are deep and heartfelt. For example, "I don't want just a relationship with you. I want a life with you.
November 12, 2017
Started strong but ended overly sappy and cliche. First of all the extended baseball scenes went totally over my head since I don't know anything about the sport beyond the batter being the person who swings a bat. And I feel the abuse part was also downplayed too much, just because you have a couple of good people around doesn't make it automatically better. Reads like a bad case of savior complex.
March 19, 2019
Such a beautiful story and exactly what I was needing to read right now.
Crystal is a survivor. She fled her abusive father and her alcoholic mother and started out on her own. Life has been tough and not without many dangerous hurdles but when she moves in with Laura, an uptight, neurotic writer she realises life is about to throw her another one of those hurdles. Falling in love with your polar opposite is never going to be easy for these two but when is love ever easy…
This story was written from both Crystal and Laura’s point of view and what a view they have. I felt so much love for Crystal from the beginning. She’s had a hard and abusive life but has came out the other end a survivor. She numbs the pain with weed and booze but when her and Laura are together it’s like she doesn’t need them as bad as Laura acts as her distraction.
The connection between Laura and Crystal is a slow burn and I actually really enjoyed that part of it as anything else would not have been believable, especially as Crystal is a survivor so any romantic entanglements would need to be a slow pace.
I did find at times the chapters ran on a little bit and maybe had to much information in them instead of getting to the point. I also would have loved an epilogue, maybe set five to seven years in the future with a clearer picture of what Laura and Crystals life had become.
I have a lot of respect for these authors taking what is a raw subject for many and turning it into a pager turner with a happy ending. This book it’s definitely one I’d pick up again in the future.
4 stars
Crystal is a survivor. She fled her abusive father and her alcoholic mother and started out on her own. Life has been tough and not without many dangerous hurdles but when she moves in with Laura, an uptight, neurotic writer she realises life is about to throw her another one of those hurdles. Falling in love with your polar opposite is never going to be easy for these two but when is love ever easy…
This story was written from both Crystal and Laura’s point of view and what a view they have. I felt so much love for Crystal from the beginning. She’s had a hard and abusive life but has came out the other end a survivor. She numbs the pain with weed and booze but when her and Laura are together it’s like she doesn’t need them as bad as Laura acts as her distraction.
The connection between Laura and Crystal is a slow burn and I actually really enjoyed that part of it as anything else would not have been believable, especially as Crystal is a survivor so any romantic entanglements would need to be a slow pace.
I did find at times the chapters ran on a little bit and maybe had to much information in them instead of getting to the point. I also would have loved an epilogue, maybe set five to seven years in the future with a clearer picture of what Laura and Crystals life had become.
I have a lot of respect for these authors taking what is a raw subject for many and turning it into a pager turner with a happy ending. This book it’s definitely one I’d pick up again in the future.
4 stars
February 23, 2020
“Nothing will make this feel better,” Crystal said. “There’s this pain deep inside that never goes away. Sometimes it’s all I can think about.”
I wasn't expecting this book to hit me this hard. Crystal's backstory was so heartbreaking. Those "are you mad at me" even after all this time she was still afraid. I really wanted to give her a big hug. And had the urge to kill her bastard father at least ten times. So much bad stuff happened to her and she still had such a good heart and I love her for that. Crystal could be so precious at times, like at first she was so afraid of the ride and then wanted to go again and again, so pure. And she was such a adorable drunk.
“How am I supposed to feel?”
“I don’t care how you’re supposed to feel. I care about how you do feel.”
Laura and Crystal are polar opposites and shouldn't work yet they fit together so well. Constantly loving and supporting each other. Something Crystal never had in life. She needed constant reassurance and Laura provided that. Such a beautiful relationship they had. Towards the end, the book did drag on a bit but overall it was a great read.
I wasn't expecting this book to hit me this hard. Crystal's backstory was so heartbreaking. Those "are you mad at me" even after all this time she was still afraid. I really wanted to give her a big hug. And had the urge to kill her bastard father at least ten times. So much bad stuff happened to her and she still had such a good heart and I love her for that. Crystal could be so precious at times, like at first she was so afraid of the ride and then wanted to go again and again, so pure. And she was such a adorable drunk.
“How am I supposed to feel?”
“I don’t care how you’re supposed to feel. I care about how you do feel.”
Laura and Crystal are polar opposites and shouldn't work yet they fit together so well. Constantly loving and supporting each other. Something Crystal never had in life. She needed constant reassurance and Laura provided that. Such a beautiful relationship they had. Towards the end, the book did drag on a bit but overall it was a great read.
December 2, 2020
02/12/20 I reread this for the nth time. I was thinking about the book and realized I never put it on a bookshelf, so, I had to read it again so I could classify it. It still makes me suffer and I want so badly to help Crystal. It's a good book.
July 22, 2023
3,5/5
I loved this one,it was so enjoyable I had a heard time putting it down.This one felt like a reading a good slowburn fanfic.
But even so :
-I didn't liked the using of the slur especially from one of the main characters
-I don't think it was a wise choice the first time they kissed or slept together, it really wasn't a great time for Crystal
- I wish there was more talk about the past relationship between Jen and Laura
- I loved the way it took some time for Crystal to take time for her to open up and on her addiction
-I didn't really liked the ending tho, it felt unrealistic all that change
I loved this one,it was so enjoyable I had a heard time putting it down.This one felt like a reading a good slowburn fanfic.
But even so :
-I didn't liked the using of the slur especially from one of the main characters
-I don't think it was a wise choice the first time they kissed or slept together, it really wasn't a great time for Crystal
- I wish there was more talk about the past relationship between Jen and Laura
- I loved the way it took some time for Crystal to take time for her to open up and on her addiction
-I didn't really liked the ending tho, it felt unrealistic all that change
March 13, 2018
Excellent!
I loved Crystal’s Heart. Beautiful story. Crystal is a great main character. She had a great story of struggle and survival.
I loved Crystal’s Heart. Beautiful story. Crystal is a great main character. She had a great story of struggle and survival.
August 23, 2024
Slow burn and organic. Another book going into my faves pile from this (these) author(s).
February 18, 2012
This is one of those lesfic stories that grabs my heart every time I read it. I don't know how often I've read the online version of this story. Until it was rereleased recently you could not get a hold of the paperback unless you were willing to shell out 70 Dollars.
So now for the first time I've read the published version. There are some changes to the story as scenes were moved around and some, but really only very little things were added. Those changes only serve to make the story better, which I was relieved about.
I can't put my finger on what exactly it is about those characters that makes them so special to me, they just are. The story itself is a very average romance, the writing is ok but nothing remarkable. But oh, those characters... :)
It's one of the stories I can cite as examples when trying to explain that sometimes something in a story can spark a connection, even though the rest isn't much remarkable. For me, those instances often are connected to the characters, and when I care about them, I can ignore most of the rest to a certain degree.
So now for the first time I've read the published version. There are some changes to the story as scenes were moved around and some, but really only very little things were added. Those changes only serve to make the story better, which I was relieved about.
I can't put my finger on what exactly it is about those characters that makes them so special to me, they just are. The story itself is a very average romance, the writing is ok but nothing remarkable. But oh, those characters... :)
It's one of the stories I can cite as examples when trying to explain that sometimes something in a story can spark a connection, even though the rest isn't much remarkable. For me, those instances often are connected to the characters, and when I care about them, I can ignore most of the rest to a certain degree.
August 24, 2015
Really good book, I really liked it. The fact that their relationship goes slowly makes it awesome. I don't like when the MC relationship goes really fast. I liked Laura, she is soooo good for Crystal and I cried so much. I didn't want it to end, I wanted to read more about them.
June 17, 2017
This author writes stories that grab your emotions and demands you to pay attention to society...
After reading Graceful Waters I knew I had to find another of her book and I wasn't dissapointed. At first I felt it was impossible for me to understand and empathize with the strippers life or understand what can compel one to go and sell her body but as I read on...I did...I gave in to the understanding. That's the gift of this writer...the ability to express complex states of real life
After reading Graceful Waters I knew I had to find another of her book and I wasn't dissapointed. At first I felt it was impossible for me to understand and empathize with the strippers life or understand what can compel one to go and sell her body but as I read on...I did...I gave in to the understanding. That's the gift of this writer...the ability to express complex states of real life
November 30, 2019
Somewhere along the line the chemistry between the protagonists disappeared. Nonetheless it was still an enjoyable read.
January 16, 2024
how do i move on from them...
p.s. jenny se vc estiver solteira me liga eu tô disponível p vc gracinha rs
p.s. jenny se vc estiver solteira me liga eu tô disponível p vc gracinha rs
October 9, 2013
I read this book years ago, when it was newly published, and liked it then. Now it's been kind of haunting me for a few months and last night I started re-reading it!
What a treat!!! I can hardly put it down, and am quite sure this time I love it way more than Before!!
Thank you BL Miller and Verda Foster!
What a treat!!! I can hardly put it down, and am quite sure this time I love it way more than Before!!
Thank you BL Miller and Verda Foster!
April 3, 2015
Actual: 2.5
1 dimensional characters. Everything falls into place conveniently. Nauseating overuse of love declarations once they get together. Simplification of the therapy process... Agree with what another reviewer said above -- the second half falls flat after a reasonably intriguing first.
1 dimensional characters. Everything falls into place conveniently. Nauseating overuse of love declarations once they get together. Simplification of the therapy process... Agree with what another reviewer said above -- the second half falls flat after a reasonably intriguing first.
October 25, 2015
Crystal is a very good character, she makes the story worthwhile, especially in the part that sees her drugged it's hilarious. The other historys of BL Miller lack the simplicity, of funny everyday things.
March 26, 2016
Entertaining read, formulaic but the formula does the job. The eponymous character obviously carries the show and has much more work done on her than the other protagonist. It could have done with a bit of a lighter tone.
May 20, 2016
La historia es la misma historia de siempre. Dos opuestos que se atraen. Una que viene con un pasado/presente complicado y encuentra la redención en los brazos del amordesuvidaporsiempre. Para pasar el rato.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
October 9, 2010
Quite Lovely!
I Highly Recommend this Novel. It is a Fantastic Read which flows seamlessly from beginning to end. What a Wonderful writing style Bren has!
I Highly Recommend this Novel. It is a Fantastic Read which flows seamlessly from beginning to end. What a Wonderful writing style Bren has!
February 19, 2013
I thought it started out pretty well...but toward the end it started to miss the depth it had in the beginning
July 4, 2014
Amazing, loved every bit of it
September 7, 2015
Not the "best" but definitely one of the better ones out there. There were definitely areas that I felt should have been more explored. But, it was a nice read so no complaints.
August 28, 2016
Sigh ! I loved this book. I just want to take Crystal home and hug her to death ! Aunt Helen had me rolling on the floor.
January 30, 2017
No idea what to think about this book. I think I wish it was more unforgettable? Uneven perhaps is the best term.
August 5, 2024
What a Great read!
One of THE best sapphic books I've read! I've read a couple of books by this author, this one by far the best. B L Miller doesn't disappoint!
One of THE best sapphic books I've read! I've read a couple of books by this author, this one by far the best. B L Miller doesn't disappoint!
Displaying 1 - 30 of 30 reviews