Take Only Pictures

by Laina Villeneuve

A summer assignment in California’s high country is even more attractive when Gloria Fisher crosses paths with Kristine Owens. Playful wit, tight jeans, cowgirl boots—the sparks are real. She might even be sad when the affair ends. And they always end.
Kristine is back in the saddle to deal with unfinished business from her last summer guiding horseback tours at Mammoth Lakes. A dalliance with an attractive blonde biologist isn’t in her plans. She can only hope the thin air is why she feels so weak.
Only a fool takes two things for granted—Mother Nature, and the ways of a woman’s heart.

Genres: Romance, LGBT, Lesbian, Animals, Outdoors, Horses, LGBT Romance

264 pages, Paperback

First published July 15, 2014

About the author

Laina Villeneuve admits that her real-life courtship would read like a blatant plot manipulation. But it all worked out in the end and she and her wife live in Southern California with their three children. An English professor with a passion for lesbian fiction, she also has a lifelong love for horses.

Reviews

[MaxDisaster · Rating 3 out of 5]

3 stars
Fairly decent I guess. I just couldn't really get into it and the fact that Nard got away effectively scott-free pisses me off.

[Lex Kent · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is my second book by Villeneuve, and I enjoyed both of them equally. While I thought the romance was a bit better in The Right Thing Easy, I found the overall story-arc of this book to be better.
A wildlife bear expert meets a cowgirl, who is trying to overcome her past. One of them is looking for a summer fling, the other feels a relationship is not on her list. Will they fight their feelings, or fall in love in the wilderness?
The romance was decent, but a little fast moving for my liking. I did enjoy both characters quite a bit. This book deals with an attempted rape. While I don't enjoy reading about rape, I can see why the author had it in the book. While this didn't define one of the MC's it was the reason for many of her actions, and her need to be strong enough to confront that part of her past.
I really enjoyed the setting, and the bears added a bit of excitement to the book.
I'm looking forward to reading more of Villeneuve's books in the future.

[Amy · Rating 4 out of 5]

I recently reread this book as an intro into another of Villeneuve's books. I remember liking it the first time I read it, but at the time, there weren't any other books out by the author, and so I failed to keep checking the name. On my revisit, I remember again, the beauty of the mountains and the trails that made up the scenery of the book. And the rekindled love of horses with the descriptions of the trail rides. Gloria seems like she's self-contained; she's strong, knows what she wants to do, is happy and passionate about her work, and occasionally engages in casual sex or a fling if she feels she needs some company. Kristine seems a bit lost. This is the first time in years that she's come back as a packer for this outfitting company. She's just finished college and had to move back in with her parents as she searches for a job in the field she loves, photography. She's come back to the trail to not only help her brother out, but also to face her past. Neither woman is looking for anything serious, and neither woman can help the attraction she feels for the other. As the season progresses, the two get closer and closer, but both wonder if this is anything real, or, if like the unwritten law of the backcountry, they should move through the landscape of their relationship taking only pictures as souvenirs. It was interesting to see how devastating the incident that caused Kristine to flee all those years ago really was. She lost her self-confidence, her belief in herself, her sense of who she was. And when the confrontation with her past finally occurs, it was awesome to see how an older Kristine handled it. I also liked that when both women finally admitted to deeper feelings, they had to deal with separation. A really enjoyable story.

[Jasmine · Rating 5 out of 5]

Reading a book as perfect as this one is the ultimate feeling of satisfaction. There was never a moment of wishing for something more because it hit every single note in my book. The drama was perfectly balanced with the romance. The story perfectly paced. The characters perfectly flawed and incredibly real.

Plus I have a thing for cowgirls- tight jeans, the boots, the swagger and even the ridiculous belt buckle. This book was all guilty pleasure but at the same time it was also drama filled and it touched on some sensitive and emotional themes, and was all wrapped up in a gorgeous setting painted by the authors talented way with words. Yum, both Gloria and Kristine were hot stuff and their chemistry just jumped off the page. But they were both also talented and smart and a little nerdy and I just loved it!

I bought this ages ago and finally got the chance to read this, in front of a roaring fire, looking out over a lake. It was the perfect complement to this book. You just can't beat it! If you want to take your this book to the next level I highly suggest it!

[Ayse · Rating 3 out of 5]

One thing that so far has bothered me was the interaction between Gloria and Mitchell -- he refused to back off until she said she was gay. Aren't straight girls allowed to be uninterested in guys? Why is the only legitimate reason for not being interested in a random guy who hits on you that you are not interested in men at all? It makes no sense to me and I am sad to see such a sentiment in this book. It perpetuates the myth that all straight women are basically available to any man, that persistence will eventually be successful, and no doesn't really mean no. It is the perpetuation of such attitudes that, in the extreme, lead to terrible things like corrective rapes and abusers and stalkers who kill their victims.

Other than that issue, having read to the end I ultimately enjoyed the book, but was left a little dissatisfied -- the ending seemed too pat and too easy given all the difficulties. And contrary to all kristine's fears, everyone was really supportive of her and her choices, even the job was easy. It was confusing through most of the book why she didn't tell anyone about Nard's behavior and I was glad for an explanation, even though it was a little weak.

[Val · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoyed this book immensely just like her other novel I read. It's a bit formulaic and you always know where it's going but sometimes that's a draw for me. Simple love story with a happy ending. Thumbs up for feel good books.

[Heidi · Rating 4 out of 5]

What's not to like about a cowgirl with tight jeans, boots and a big belt buckle? Nicely told story.

[Kaye · Rating 3 out of 5]

Gloria Fisher has a PHD and is a wildlife specialist doing research in the high county of California. There she meets Kristine Owens who is trying to get work for her photography after recently getting her MFA. In the mean time she is spending the summer running horses and mules with her brother for a company that takes people into the wilderness. They meet when Gloria comes from the Parks department to warn of bears and their changing habits in the area.

I liked Gloria but had a harder time with Kristine. I reject her whole premise for being there. She has returned to the same job she had years before where she was verbally sexually harassed and physically attacked. For some reason she has to do this because she feels everyone sees her as a quitter. None of that worked for me, but others liked the story more. I did like the romance and the realistic ending.

[Jen · Rating 4 out of 5]

Entertaining & sweet with a touch of adventure story

“Take only pictures; Leave only footprints. Dating can be like that. You don’t disrupt the habitat. You take your memories and leave as little trace as possible.”
+ • + • + • +

I loved following the journey of Gloria & Kristine & their relationship!!! Their connection was very realistic in the tentativeness, evasiveness, hesitancy, uncertainty, wantings & hopings in their pursuit of love. Along with the adventure & action of the backcountry with a pack guide & a bear researcher, this story entertains, excites & excels.

[Celenia S · Rating 4 out of 5]

First book by this author. Really enjoyed the book. Loved the setting and the story line.
Cowgirl trying to set out her own path and follow her dreams. Loved that both MCs were strong Indepenent women.

[Miranda · Rating 5 out of 5]

I don't know why it took me so long to read this book but for whatever reason I kept putting it off. And I am so sorry that I did because it was truly what I needed to get me out of the reading funk that I have found myself in recently!

[Henriette · Rating 4 out of 5]

cowgirls, nature and a good story

[Robin · Rating 5 out of 5]

Really well written book. I could feel the emotion from the characters and was emotionally invested from beginning to end.

[Cautionary · Rating 2 out of 5]

Trigger Warning: Sexual Assault

[Liz · Rating 5 out of 5]

The outdoors setting offers opportunities for interesting drama, in addition to the romance. The two main characters are likable and complex. (I don't think this is a spoiler, but...)The backpacker in me appreciates the description of the trails, and I have to say I appreciate that it matters to the drama to follow good hiking protocols.

[Gabrielle · Rating 3 out of 5]

hmm..too draggy for my taste..and half the time i got lost with all the 'stock' talk.

[~ * K E L L I E * ~ · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.5 stars