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Romance #12
Homestead
Tess Rogers grew up in the midst of chaos and uncertainty, but she always knew one thing to be true—one day six hundred acres of prime farmland would be hers. Then she discovers not even that truth can be counted on. Tess's stepfather has kept important secrets, and Tess's dream of breeding a line of organic dairy cows suddenly goes up in a burst of smoke and flame.
R. Clayton Sutter is an expert at managing just about anything—money, businesses, and people. Getting NorthAm Fuel's newest shale refinery operational in the rolling hills of Upstate New York shouldn’t be much of a challenge, but then, she hadn't counted on dealing with vandalism, petitions, and a woman she’d never expected to see again—one who still haunts her dreams.
When Tess and Clay square off on opposite sides of the heated debate, past and present collide in a battle of wills and unbidden desire.
R. Clayton Sutter is an expert at managing just about anything—money, businesses, and people. Getting NorthAm Fuel's newest shale refinery operational in the rolling hills of Upstate New York shouldn’t be much of a challenge, but then, she hadn't counted on dealing with vandalism, petitions, and a woman she’d never expected to see again—one who still haunts her dreams.
When Tess and Clay square off on opposite sides of the heated debate, past and present collide in a battle of wills and unbidden desire.
264 pages, Kindle Edition
First published November 16, 2013
30 people are currently reading
346 people want to read
About the author
Radclyffe
142 books1,669 followersRadclyffe has written over forty-five romance and romantic intrigue novels, dozens of short stories, and, writing as L.L. Raand, has authored a paranormal romance series, The Midnight Hunters. She has also edited Best Lesbian Romance 2009 through 2015 as well as multiple other anthologies. She is an eight-time Lambda Literary Award finalist in romance, mystery, and erotica—winning in both romance and erotica. A member of the Saints and Sinners Literary Hall of Fame, she is also an RWA Prism, Lories, Beanpot, Aspen Gold, and Laurel Wreath winner in multiple mainstream romance categories. In 2014, she received the Dr. James Duggins Outstanding Mid-Career Novelist award from the Lambda Literary Foundation. In 2004, she founded Bold Strokes Books, an independent LGBTQ publishing company, and in 2013, she founded the Flax Mill Creek Writers Retreat offering writing workshops to authors in all stages of their careers.
She states, “I began reading lesbian fiction at the age of twelve when I found a copy of Ann Bannon’s Beebo Brinker. That book and others like it convinced me that I was not alone, that there were other women who felt like I did. Our literature provides support and validation and very often, a lifeline, for members of our community throughout the world. I am proud and honored to be able to publish the many fine authors at Bold Strokes Books and to contribute in some small way to the words that celebrate the LGBTQ experience.”
Radclyffe lives with her partner, Lee, in New York state.
She states, “I began reading lesbian fiction at the age of twelve when I found a copy of Ann Bannon’s Beebo Brinker. That book and others like it convinced me that I was not alone, that there were other women who felt like I did. Our literature provides support and validation and very often, a lifeline, for members of our community throughout the world. I am proud and honored to be able to publish the many fine authors at Bold Strokes Books and to contribute in some small way to the words that celebrate the LGBTQ experience.”
Radclyffe lives with her partner, Lee, in New York state.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 52 reviews
July 28, 2019
Yay for my recent finds through Audible’s Escape Package! This is one of them and glad I found it! (Although, do not start with this one Farah!).
Tess Rogers is a farmer tirelessly working to certify her dairy farm as organic in order to finalize a deal with a big yogurt company. Enter Clayton Sutter, VP of NorthAm Fuel and her father’s deal maker. NorthAm Fuel has the rights to tap one of the largest natural gas reservoirs in Upstate New York, but needs to reach an agreement with the farmers to get the drilling going. The farmers, Tess included, are concerned about the process and the chemicals used to extract the gas. The plot thickens when Tess realizes she already knows Clayton. They met fifteen years ago, the summer after high school when she was working in the cabins and Clayton pretended to be just another kid vacationing instead of the heiress she was. The love affair ended abruptly when Clayton left and never reached out to Tess again. Now they must work together through threats, old lies and everything that was left unsaid between them in order to reach a much needed compromise that will breathe much needed life into this farmland.
I was pleasantly surprised to see this is part of the ‘When Dreams Tremble’ universe. When Tess looks for her old friend and oh, she is a lawyer that does exactly what Tess needs at the moment, and the wife is an environmental and water expert...well, yes they do! It was actually established in the previous book. This is a very, very small part of the story, but it is a testament at how gifted Radclyffe is when she intertwines her characters. Provincetown and Justice, Justice and First Responders, Tomorrow’s Promise and Honor; always a pleasure to see all those links throughout her books.
As always, Radclyffe’s technical input into the story is fascinating. The gas extraction and farming processes, more so than medical ones for once, were on point and bring such credibility to the story. I have seen some dairy farms in action and it was great to hear accurate information and details that another author would have missed or simply skipped. This is why her stories are so layered and rich.
There is also the conflict with the town and the underhanded tactics employed when such money is at stake. This felt very much like something that could happen when the so called ‘progress’ infringes on farming or conservation. It is also apparent how Tess endures discrimination as a farm owner since the majority of these are own by male counterparts.
The rest is pure Radclyffe. Strong women, one handsome and broody, determined to sacrifice their own happiness for the other with or without the other’s consent, etc. If you are a Rad fan, then you will like this. For others, this may not be the place to start (put it down Farah).
This one was narrated by Abby Craden, in another fabulous performance!
Overall another solid romance by Radclyffe. 4 stars
Tess Rogers is a farmer tirelessly working to certify her dairy farm as organic in order to finalize a deal with a big yogurt company. Enter Clayton Sutter, VP of NorthAm Fuel and her father’s deal maker. NorthAm Fuel has the rights to tap one of the largest natural gas reservoirs in Upstate New York, but needs to reach an agreement with the farmers to get the drilling going. The farmers, Tess included, are concerned about the process and the chemicals used to extract the gas. The plot thickens when Tess realizes she already knows Clayton. They met fifteen years ago, the summer after high school when she was working in the cabins and Clayton pretended to be just another kid vacationing instead of the heiress she was. The love affair ended abruptly when Clayton left and never reached out to Tess again. Now they must work together through threats, old lies and everything that was left unsaid between them in order to reach a much needed compromise that will breathe much needed life into this farmland.
I was pleasantly surprised to see this is part of the ‘When Dreams Tremble’ universe. When Tess looks for her old friend and oh, she is a lawyer that does exactly what Tess needs at the moment, and the wife is an environmental and water expert...well, yes they do! It was actually established in the previous book. This is a very, very small part of the story, but it is a testament at how gifted Radclyffe is when she intertwines her characters. Provincetown and Justice, Justice and First Responders, Tomorrow’s Promise and Honor; always a pleasure to see all those links throughout her books.
As always, Radclyffe’s technical input into the story is fascinating. The gas extraction and farming processes, more so than medical ones for once, were on point and bring such credibility to the story. I have seen some dairy farms in action and it was great to hear accurate information and details that another author would have missed or simply skipped. This is why her stories are so layered and rich.
There is also the conflict with the town and the underhanded tactics employed when such money is at stake. This felt very much like something that could happen when the so called ‘progress’ infringes on farming or conservation. It is also apparent how Tess endures discrimination as a farm owner since the majority of these are own by male counterparts.
The rest is pure Radclyffe. Strong women, one handsome and broody, determined to sacrifice their own happiness for the other with or without the other’s consent, etc. If you are a Rad fan, then you will like this. For others, this may not be the place to start (put it down Farah).
This one was narrated by Abby Craden, in another fabulous performance!
Overall another solid romance by Radclyffe. 4 stars
May 18, 2019
I actually really enjoyed this book. It was an interesting play on Radcliffe’s usual plots. Old flames, one bitter with resentment, one still in love, brought back together through happenstance. The obvious differences between local farmers and big energy are brought to bear in this intriguing story. Not without Radclyffe’s usual flair for drama and excitement, the story was also pleasantly sprinkled with moments of romance and erotica as well. The characters are well developed as always, strong female roles as always. I would recommend this novel for any fan of this author.
September 29, 2020
I liked this a bit more than the read (I read the paperback a while back) and it's all due to Abby Craden's skill. Truly. She just makes things better. It had me until the last love scene (which she excels at) but I was rolling my eyes. Rad is a terrific storyteller and writer. I find that it's her love scenes in later works that take me out of the story. Too much emphasis on mechanics and the "outcome" rather than the connection and feelings. Otherwise, Rad is one of the best. I cut her slack because she's written a gazillion books. How do you keep love scenes fresh after publishing so many romances?! Still - they do leave me wanting.
May 15, 2016
I have already said somewhere that I prefer Radclyffe's early works, and reading Homestead just confirmed that. There is no real Radclyffe's magic in the book; no real chemistry between Clay and Tess. Everything is just routinely done and nothing more. Some things are not even fully resolved (Clay and her father, hit and run accident...). Disappointing. Two and a half stars, rounded up just for old times' sake.
February 11, 2021
Despite Radclyffe's massive influence on the lesfic industry, I recently realized I've read almost nothing by her. I mostly attributed this to police/security/military type books not being really my cup of tea- and it seems like most of her series' are of that nature. So when I saw a book that was mostly standard romance available on Audible Gold, I gave it a shot.
And I don't know if it was just me, but it seemed pretty lackluster. I was a little intrigued with knowing the backstory of the characters but very little else was interesting to me.
Despite Abby Craden's wonderful delivery as always, I found myself tuning out regularly and having to rewind to keep up with what was happening. The story just didn't grab me. I also have a distaste for fracking so that probably didn't help my opinion of the book.
Just overall a kinda lackluster and disappointing experience. I definitely appreciate Radclyffe's legacy and influence over the genre, but maybe her books aren't for me.
And I don't know if it was just me, but it seemed pretty lackluster. I was a little intrigued with knowing the backstory of the characters but very little else was interesting to me.
Despite Abby Craden's wonderful delivery as always, I found myself tuning out regularly and having to rewind to keep up with what was happening. The story just didn't grab me. I also have a distaste for fracking so that probably didn't help my opinion of the book.
Just overall a kinda lackluster and disappointing experience. I definitely appreciate Radclyffe's legacy and influence over the genre, but maybe her books aren't for me.
May 19, 2017
Not one of my favorites
I love her books but this one left too many issues open at the end and then just ended. It was nice to have tied to her other book with Leslie and Dev (Where Dreams Tremble or something like that). Great concept that left a lot to be desired in the end.
I love her books but this one left too many issues open at the end and then just ended. It was nice to have tied to her other book with Leslie and Dev (Where Dreams Tremble or something like that). Great concept that left a lot to be desired in the end.
August 25, 2017
Very good book
Radclyffe has done it again. Well developed plot. Clay and Tess were very sexy and their history was both passionate and poignant at best. They were teenagers when their world fell apart and stayed that way till they met again 15 years later. Their story picked up where they left off. Very well done!
Radclyffe has done it again. Well developed plot. Clay and Tess were very sexy and their history was both passionate and poignant at best. They were teenagers when their world fell apart and stayed that way till they met again 15 years later. Their story picked up where they left off. Very well done!
July 16, 2015
I seem to be reading a lot of books with hay in them lately. Tess is a dairy farmer who is trying to get her farm approved as an organic one. She's doing fine, although the lack of rain is starting to worry her as well as her neighbors.
Then Clay, an Energy VP comes into town with her father's company because that company are planning on fraking for energy under the farms that are just outside of town, including possibly on the farm next to Tess. And, of course, Tess and Clay have quite the history too. They had known each other at one point before they went to college and it didn't end well.
The plot is part romance of course, and there is some bit of a mystery too. Will Tess and Clay get back together or not, and who is trying to get Clay and her company out of the town in a sometimes violent way?
The writing of course was great. It's Radclyffe, she's a very solid writer and the book flowed really well.
But, I did have a couple of problems with the book. The first was that although there was such a great build up in the beginning and middle and then the end of the book seemed very, very rushed and then in a blink, it was over, but it didn't feel like it was over to me.
There was also the fact that at the beginning the whole Tess/Clay relationship seemed so widely hot and cold, which is true life, but in the context of the story seemed wrong. The whole Ella feint seemed totally off too (and I admit that I was rooting for Tess/Ella a little bit and I'd very much love to read a book about Ella on her own too).
Overall it was a solid book and for the most part I did like it. I just felt like the book stopped and didn't really end.
I got this advanced galley through Netgalley on behalf of Bold Strokes Books.
Then Clay, an Energy VP comes into town with her father's company because that company are planning on fraking for energy under the farms that are just outside of town, including possibly on the farm next to Tess. And, of course, Tess and Clay have quite the history too. They had known each other at one point before they went to college and it didn't end well.
The plot is part romance of course, and there is some bit of a mystery too. Will Tess and Clay get back together or not, and who is trying to get Clay and her company out of the town in a sometimes violent way?
The writing of course was great. It's Radclyffe, she's a very solid writer and the book flowed really well.
But, I did have a couple of problems with the book. The first was that although there was such a great build up in the beginning and middle and then the end of the book seemed very, very rushed and then in a blink, it was over, but it didn't feel like it was over to me.
There was also the fact that at the beginning the whole Tess/Clay relationship seemed so widely hot and cold, which is true life, but in the context of the story seemed wrong. The whole Ella feint seemed totally off too (and I admit that I was rooting for Tess/Ella a little bit and I'd very much love to read a book about Ella on her own too).
Overall it was a solid book and for the most part I did like it. I just felt like the book stopped and didn't really end.
I got this advanced galley through Netgalley on behalf of Bold Strokes Books.
February 6, 2014
I really liked the story and the characters but didn't like the end. It was too abrupt without closure to many of the issues introduced, I will always wonder how their search for gas will end and who hit Clay with the car. A couple of story lines were left hanging that would have added to the success of the book if they were also closed. My rating would be a 3,5 for the suspense in some parts.
November 19, 2013
Two teenage lovers come face to face more than fifteen years after having been separated. What was initially one amazing summer at the ‘lake’, that is Lake George NY, became home to a host of painful memories and a sense of abandonment. Adding to one of the main gal's trials and tribulations, there is an awful dry spell plaguing the farm country near the lake and then a second wave assault by NorthAm Fuels from the specter of their drills. Fracking might become a reality in this farm country. Uh-oh, the battle lines are drawn!
Tess Rodgers is trying to get her dairy farm qualified as ‘organic’. This is a long and difficult process, but it has always been one of Tess’s dreams. Tess has kind of accepted that she is married to her farm. It is a hard life, but it is what she wants to do. Also in her heart is the memory of a dynamic and dashing lover with whom she’d hoped to share her life but instead she left a painful hole. During the interactions and confrontations with NorthAm, Tess learns more than she ever wanted to know about her stepfather and her former lover from the ‘lake’. I really liked Tess as she now has an impressive backbone while not losing her heart or her desires!
Clay, R. Clayton Sutter, is Vice President of Operations for NorthAm Fuels and sole heir. She gets shunted to New York’s Hudson Valley to smooth and pave the way for an important drilling operation. Oh my, this assignment comes with way more subterfuge, physical assaults, and painful memories than she might have anticipated. Clay has most of the skills she needs to clear the way so NorthAm can establish a foothold. However, coming face to face with her teenage summer love could prove her undoing. Clay is a complicated, yet compassionate woman with some heavy-duty regrets. Things are never dull when Clay is on the scene!
Tess was badly treated by her stepfather and Clay by her father. Yet, they were able to step up to the plate producing impressive accomplishments in their individual lives. Now, there is an opportunity to mend some serious heartache, but the road to that success is strewn with obstacles. I really liked my time in Hudson Valley. I should mention the sex is totally hot! I recommend you make the trip to Tess’s stomping grounds currently invaded by Clay! Rather satisfying!
NOTE: This book was provided by Bold Strokes Books for the purpose of a review on Rainbow Book Reviews.
Tess Rodgers is trying to get her dairy farm qualified as ‘organic’. This is a long and difficult process, but it has always been one of Tess’s dreams. Tess has kind of accepted that she is married to her farm. It is a hard life, but it is what she wants to do. Also in her heart is the memory of a dynamic and dashing lover with whom she’d hoped to share her life but instead she left a painful hole. During the interactions and confrontations with NorthAm, Tess learns more than she ever wanted to know about her stepfather and her former lover from the ‘lake’. I really liked Tess as she now has an impressive backbone while not losing her heart or her desires!
Clay, R. Clayton Sutter, is Vice President of Operations for NorthAm Fuels and sole heir. She gets shunted to New York’s Hudson Valley to smooth and pave the way for an important drilling operation. Oh my, this assignment comes with way more subterfuge, physical assaults, and painful memories than she might have anticipated. Clay has most of the skills she needs to clear the way so NorthAm can establish a foothold. However, coming face to face with her teenage summer love could prove her undoing. Clay is a complicated, yet compassionate woman with some heavy-duty regrets. Things are never dull when Clay is on the scene!
Tess was badly treated by her stepfather and Clay by her father. Yet, they were able to step up to the plate producing impressive accomplishments in their individual lives. Now, there is an opportunity to mend some serious heartache, but the road to that success is strewn with obstacles. I really liked my time in Hudson Valley. I should mention the sex is totally hot! I recommend you make the trip to Tess’s stomping grounds currently invaded by Clay! Rather satisfying!
NOTE: This book was provided by Bold Strokes Books for the purpose of a review on Rainbow Book Reviews.
December 6, 2020
I love this second chance romance between Tess and Clay. Tess is a dairy farmer trying to preserve the land and animals she loves and Clay is with NorthAm Fuel trying to finish collecting fracking rights in the small town in New York. The two of them met as teens fresh out of high school and feel in love but secrets and a step father looking for a pay out forced them apart. Both are hurting over the past. I love them both and was rooting for them from the beginning. I was so happy when the truths of the past were revealed and when Tess and Clay were able to let go of hurts from the past and claim the love right in front of them.
Added bonus of getting to see Dev and Leslie again and see how the two of them are doing and what they’ve been up to.
Added bonus of getting to see Dev and Leslie again and see how the two of them are doing and what they’ve been up to.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
October 26, 2015
Nice Radclyffe book. Very assured and well written if not exactly ground breaking.
July 1, 2017
3 1/2 stars
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August 19, 2019There’s some weird pro-fracking undertones in the whole thing but overall not bad.
December 16, 2013
Homestead is about two girls (Tess, who actually feels like a real character, and Clay, who is more of your traditional Rugged Romance Hero) who fell in love as teenagers, but were forced apart through Circumstances Beyond Their Control. Many years later, they get forced into each others' presence in a half contrived but what do you expect it's a romance novel sort of way.
If you're looking for a quick, easy guilty pleasure read then this is a pretty good one. It's easy to follow. The major plot conflict - between organic farming and fracking, neither of which I knew anything about - could easily have become mired down in technicality, but managed to skirt the line between moderately interesting and not too intensive.
It's romance. If you're looking for detailed plot or particularly well drawn characters you're going to have to go elsewhere, but saying that, both of those things are done well enough that you can enjoy it without too much shame. Sex scenes are really not my thing, so I skipped 'em and can't say anything about them, other than they exist if you're into that.
The small town setting was probably the best thing about the book, other than the relationship between the two main characters. That and the farmland backdrop coloured the whole novel, and made it come to life in a way that was lacking a little in other places. In particular, the love triangle, which was pushed in a half hearted sort of fashion that just didn't sell me. It was a plot thread that was dropped and then picked up again too many times for it to be believable, which might have been an attempt at suspense that just ended up confusing me. But, I read it deathly hungover (which also may have contributed to my confusion let's be honest), and it made my day bearable.
The tension between fracking/farming was done really well. Both of their motivations were solid; it would have been easy to make the fracking people into the Big Corporation Bad Guys, but that doesn't happen. I felt that Clay honestly believed in what she was doing, and I really liked that Radclyffe went to the effort of making that believable.
It's a solid, pick-me-up of a romance novel and, if you're in the right mood for it, it's a pretty fun way to spend an hour or two of your life.
If you're looking for a quick, easy guilty pleasure read then this is a pretty good one. It's easy to follow. The major plot conflict - between organic farming and fracking, neither of which I knew anything about - could easily have become mired down in technicality, but managed to skirt the line between moderately interesting and not too intensive.
It's romance. If you're looking for detailed plot or particularly well drawn characters you're going to have to go elsewhere, but saying that, both of those things are done well enough that you can enjoy it without too much shame. Sex scenes are really not my thing, so I skipped 'em and can't say anything about them, other than they exist if you're into that.
The small town setting was probably the best thing about the book, other than the relationship between the two main characters. That and the farmland backdrop coloured the whole novel, and made it come to life in a way that was lacking a little in other places. In particular, the love triangle, which was pushed in a half hearted sort of fashion that just didn't sell me. It was a plot thread that was dropped and then picked up again too many times for it to be believable, which might have been an attempt at suspense that just ended up confusing me. But, I read it deathly hungover (which also may have contributed to my confusion let's be honest), and it made my day bearable.
The tension between fracking/farming was done really well. Both of their motivations were solid; it would have been easy to make the fracking people into the Big Corporation Bad Guys, but that doesn't happen. I felt that Clay honestly believed in what she was doing, and I really liked that Radclyffe went to the effort of making that believable.
It's a solid, pick-me-up of a romance novel and, if you're in the right mood for it, it's a pretty fun way to spend an hour or two of your life.
October 28, 2013
Tess and Clay had a summer romance when they were seventeen. Then Clay disappeared, and Tess was brokenhearted. Now, 10 years later, Tess is an organic farmer and Clay is the natural gas project leader determined to get the rights for fracking near Tess's farm. Lots of misconceptions and pushing each other away until they finally get together.
I'm kind of torn on this one. I enjoyed the sexual tension and the story was decent. I am skeptical, though, about an organic farmer saying okay to fracking anywhere NEAR her farm, because one accident could completely wipe out everything she's worked for. I also found Clay's reasoning for not contacting Tess to be really ridiculous. At the very least she could have called Leslie or Dev and asked them to pass on a message to Tess.
But I think my main problem is that romance novels rely, to a certain extent, on the characters acting like children. When I was younger, that kind of angst was appealing. But now, on the wrong side of 35, I just want adults to act like adults. You know that you have a history that needs sorting, so sit down, have a few beers, and talk it out. The tension and angst could have come from the Clay-Tess-Ella love triangle instead.
I'm kind of torn on this one. I enjoyed the sexual tension and the story was decent. I am skeptical, though, about an organic farmer saying okay to fracking anywhere NEAR her farm, because one accident could completely wipe out everything she's worked for. I also found Clay's reasoning for not contacting Tess to be really ridiculous. At the very least she could have called Leslie or Dev and asked them to pass on a message to Tess.
But I think my main problem is that romance novels rely, to a certain extent, on the characters acting like children. When I was younger, that kind of angst was appealing. But now, on the wrong side of 35, I just want adults to act like adults. You know that you have a history that needs sorting, so sit down, have a few beers, and talk it out. The tension and angst could have come from the Clay-Tess-Ella love triangle instead.
March 8, 2016
Excellent
I loved this book for reasons I'm not sure I can put into words. It was intriguing with the technical details because I know little about getting gas from the earth so I guess I learned a lot. But it was also about love and betrayal by the people closest to us. Great book, even better story. Read it with an open mind but also a open heart. You'll love it.
I loved this book for reasons I'm not sure I can put into words. It was intriguing with the technical details because I know little about getting gas from the earth so I guess I learned a lot. But it was also about love and betrayal by the people closest to us. Great book, even better story. Read it with an open mind but also a open heart. You'll love it.
November 4, 2013
As is always the case, with this reader anyway, the author did not disappoint. I enjoyed the story and was rooting for Clay and Tess all the way. As they say life is to short take all the happiness you can get while the getting is good.
May 17, 2016
Very heartfelt story, the intrigue at the beginning of the book was very tense. A worthy conclusion romance series. I look forward to a new book coming in July
April 19, 2020
Average Radclyffe, definitely not the worst. I wonder how the fracking issue would be handled today.
September 8, 2021
This is my first foray into Radclyffe writing, and I must say I'm disappointed. She follows the same tropes as other contemporary F/F writers: thin, beautiful lezzies, mischievous eyes, explosive sex scenes, but for these characters I wish she had shown as opposed to told me about their connection. (A good example of this is the intimate love scene; the characters are all about the sex, but not about the connection. And call me old fashioned, I prefer emotional intimacy over physical.) I think their relationship hinged on the (brief) past that they shared, but nothing about their story/history convinced me that it could have travelled that far into the future. (We're talking one summer fling equates to fifteen years of misery hereafter.) And I was eager to believe in it at first, but the story fizzles out.
The best parts of this book are the middle; the mystery of what happened between the two MCs, the love/hate that they felt for each other, the business that they had to stomach and deal with together. Those parts of this book were good, and I sincerely enjoyed them. But the ending, the "lies" keeping them apart, the way they finally come together again, all of that propel this book straight into "meh" territory.
I think Radclyffe should have transformed this tale from one of "second chance romance" to "closure." I just couldn't see the two women letting bygones be bygones and giving each other a shot. In the end I think they both needed to let go; sometimes the past is the past, and no matter how we romanticize or long for it, the future is all we get. And I'm not sure these women understand that. The story builds for this reconciliation, but forgiveness and understanding don't automatically equal the perfect romance. If the characters had realized that they weren't good together anymore--that they missed their chance--I think this book could have been a classic. As it is it's a cliché. 2/5
The best parts of this book are the middle; the mystery of what happened between the two MCs, the love/hate that they felt for each other, the business that they had to stomach and deal with together. Those parts of this book were good, and I sincerely enjoyed them. But the ending, the "lies" keeping them apart, the way they finally come together again, all of that propel this book straight into "meh" territory.
I think Radclyffe should have transformed this tale from one of "second chance romance" to "closure." I just couldn't see the two women letting bygones be bygones and giving each other a shot. In the end I think they both needed to let go; sometimes the past is the past, and no matter how we romanticize or long for it, the future is all we get. And I'm not sure these women understand that. The story builds for this reconciliation, but forgiveness and understanding don't automatically equal the perfect romance. If the characters had realized that they weren't good together anymore--that they missed their chance--I think this book could have been a classic. As it is it's a cliché. 2/5
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May 30, 2021Ok, so. Radclyffe was recommended by a friend as being great. So far, I'm not feeling it. This was my second book and was set in the same series so the characters show up in both books. I'm going to keep trying but I found the writing to be a bit cold and the characters shallow. The romantic tension was off. I'm fine with political views being expressed in a book but both had a pro-pollution agenda and that one pissed me off. Polluting business are being over regulated and are just trying to get by in one. Fracking is great for the economy of small towns. Hmmm, I call bullshit. I live in Wichita, KS and I experience earthquakes multiple times a year, typically. We used to say, "we have tornadoes but at least we don't have earthquakes like people in California". Now we have both and it was caused by fracking. Also, yes, it does stimulate the local economy. It also fucks up the drinking water and people have to have filtered or store bought water if they don't want to drink poison. The companies don't have to pay for repairing the damage to the environment when the leave. So, that one hits a nerve. It is about as relatable to me as someone trying to justify their racism. I'll try a different series before I make up my mind. It would be nice to enjoy these because the author is so prolific. That'd be a lot of lesbian.
February 5, 2018
This is a great love story, if what you love is fracking. Actually as a book it is pretty bad. The writing is ok, the plot underdeveloped and equal parts naive and far-fetched. The thing that kept me reading was the fracking. More specifically, the utter disbelief that someone went to the trouble to write a pro-fracking book thinly disguised as a lesbian romance. I just kept thinking that there had to be some twist somewhere. And there was! The twist was that rural people are all either evil or greedy as opposed to the deeply principled fracking company executives. Yuck. I feel dirty for even having read this book.
May 19, 2021
I've read many of Radclyffe's novels and this is not her best. The plot construction is clunky and there are many bits that are never woven into the whole. The HEA is not very believable. My biggest complaint was the sex dialog which consisted of many, many repetitions of "I love you, I want you, I need you, now fuck me." The 2 MCs are smart, capable women and I would imagine they could think of other things to say. Also - and I realize that opinions may differ - why does Radclyffe seem to want us to be in favor of fracking?
July 1, 2018
I really enjoyed this book. The plot was excellent, with the adversarial roles, and goals. The strained love story between Tess and Clay was classic 'Rad', with all the tension and drama I've come to expect in her novels. I've sort of steered away from the romance series, only because it's not really a series, but a bunch of disconnected love stories. After reading this, I may venture into these now.
May 17, 2021
Can I say I missed Abby Craden voice. Like this author but have come to enjoy her words coming to life with Abby's voice.
Enjoyed the storyline and would have wanted there to be more to it but it was a good ending. I hope to find another one of this authors story and have Abby be the one to read it to me.
Enjoyed the storyline and would have wanted there to be more to it but it was a good ending. I hope to find another one of this authors story and have Abby be the one to read it to me.
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September 2, 2024When in the country, read romance set in the country. I keep getting comments about how I "might find a cowboy while I'm out here and never leave" so I needed to reaffirm being queer.
Thank you to the student who overheard someone say that to me and whispered a correction to "cowgirl". I was the only one who heard it, but it was the best version of that interaction I've had so far.
Thank you to the student who overheard someone say that to me and whispered a correction to "cowgirl". I was the only one who heard it, but it was the best version of that interaction I've had so far.
May 13, 2017
This was a perfectly adequate lesbian romance novel.
October 25, 2020
I always love Radclyffe books.
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