No Boundaries

by Donna K. Ford

Andi Massey lives a secluded life in rural Tennessee. Since a brutal attack, she has avoided emotional connections. She is certain she has nothing left to offer anyone, but secretly wishes her life could be different. Gwen Palmer has never been afraid to go after what she wants. Betrayed and tired of meaningless sex, she leaves her roots in the big city, seeking the quiet and peace of the mountains. The last thing she wants is another emotionally distant relationship. Andi and Gwen find that small town life has a way of bringing them together whether they like it or not. But all may be lost when Andi comes face-to-face with her past and the man who has vowed to destroy everything she loves. Can Andi and Gwen overcome their past hurts and fears—as well as present dangers—and accept love without boundaries?

Genres: Romance, Lesbian Romance, Lesbian, Adult

277 pages, Kindle Edition

First published May 6, 2014

About the author

Donna K. Ford is a licensed professional counselor who spends her professional time assisting people in their recovery from substance addictions. She holds an associate degree in criminal justice, a BS in psychology, and an MS in community agency counseling. When not trying to save the world, she spends her time in the mountains of east Tennessee enjoying the lakes, rivers, and hiking trails near her home. Reading, writing, and enjoying conversation with good friends are the gifts that keep her grounded. Healing Hearts is her debut into the world of writing lesbian fiction.

Reviews

[Eva Müller · Rating 1 out of 5]

I made it 12% into this. Let me sum up what happened up to that point:

Andi: I have moved in this little town in the middle of nowhere because of a Traumatic Experience(TM) in my past. I will not go into further detail about this, yet.
Gwen: I am just moving in this little town in the middle of nowhere because back home bad things happened in my last relationship and my girlfriend betrayed my horribly. I will also talk about how I didn't really look for anything serious and had lots of one-night-stands. How does this fit together? Who cares?
Gwen moves in. Gwen has a huge dog. Andi is going for a walk and passes Glen's house where the dog, who is just hunting a squirrel knocks her down.
Gwen: Oh shit. I am so sorry. Just let me see if you've got any bad injuries and treat the scratches you got from falling down.

Gwen's and Andi's hands touch. The touch is so awesome that a horde of unicorns materializes, three rainbows appear in the sky, violins start playing and Andi almost orgasms.
Gwen and Andi: Wow!
Gwen: I am really sorry about my dog. Also I would like to make it up to you and invite you to a drink or something like that.
Andi: OH NO! I CANNOT HAVE CLOSENESS WITH ANYBODY BECAUSE OF REASONS! I must act like a jerk and tell her that I don't want to have anything to do with her!
Gwen: WTF? Look, I'm sorry if I did anything wrong but that was really only meant as an apology and because I don't know anybody here and would like to meet people.
Andi: Oh that was all so hot but I only bring bad things to people I'm close to and I cannot risk this. I will act like a jerk again.
Gwen: WTF? Well, all-right, if you don't want to just go.

*~*

Andi and Gwen meet again.
Gwen: Hi, I still have not quite grasped the meaning of the word 'No' and so I will try to apologize again and ask you out again.
Andi: Fuck off! (Even though it hurts to say that! LOOK AT ME SUFFERING!)
Gwen: So you're not interested, then?
Andi: I will tell you to fuck off again, while I'm secretly angsting like crazy because of reasons I still don't want to explain.


Then there's a strange community-thing where basically the whole town meets up and clears out some of the trash from the streets/forest/nature. A wild cardboard-cutout appears!
CC: Hello! I'm vaguely related to one of the people who life here. I will now go and hit on Gwen.
Gwen: Oh. I totally wanted to leave the life of one-night stands behind me and search for twu luv, so I'm not going to react to her flirting.

Andi: OH NO! That is CC! She will jump on anybody who's not fast enough and now she's hitting on Gwen! Oh why does watching that hurt so much? Oh woe is me!
Gwen: literally 5 minutes ago I said I wasn't interested but now I have suddenly changed my mind and won't do anything to discourage her from flirting with me.
Andi: Oh woe is me!

Almost the right name

Of course CC and Gwen end up in the same trash-collecting group and Andi has to be the leader. They go somewhere, everybody gets a whistle, they should blow if they run in any trouble.
Andi: Angsting
A whistle is blown
Andi: OH MY GOD!!! MY SPIDEY SENSES ARE TELLING ME THAT THIS HAS TO COME FROM GWEN! Oh she is probably dead or dying somewhere! Oh I should have taken more care. The fact that it could be something like a twisted ankle where she would need help but is not in any mortal danger won't even cross my mind (or that I could have come from somebody else)
But of course it is Gwen, well it's Gwen blowing the whistle because CC stepped on some bees and got stung.

CC: AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA
Andi: Are you allergic to bees?
CC: AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA
Andi: Calm down, are you allergic?
CC: eh...no actually. It just really hurts.
Andi: OMG GWEN YOU ALSO GOT STUNG
Gwen: Oh. Right.
Andi: OMG ARE YOU ALLERGIC? LET ME RIP OF YOUR SHIRT AND CARE FOR THE STITCHES
Gwen: *hyperventilating*
Andi: OH NO YOU ARE ALLERGIC
Gwen: Nope, it's just you touched me and I'm one step away from an orgasm
CC: Is anybody still thinking about me?

*~*a bit later*~*
Gwen: Oh no! You were stung as well! And it's swollen quite a lot! Are you allergic?
Andi: Only a bit. It will pass soon.
Gwen: OH MY GOD. ANDI IS ALLERGIC TO BEES BUT SHE STILL WENT THERE AND SAVED US. SHE TOTALLY RISKED HER LIFE FOR US. ANDI IS SO AWESOME!



And that, dear reader, was the moment I stopped. I came here because I had been promised a mystery/crime story, not a love-story puked out by a drama-lama. Yes, the book was marked as mystery & romance and it's not the first time I'm reading a crime-story that is very heavy on the romance but the first time I read so far and barely got a hint from the crime/mystery plot (the blurb promises that Andi's Traumatic Past (TM) will catch up with her but if I hadn't been told that I would probably not have guessed it) but only the cheapest and most ridiculous drama-for-the-sake-of-drama love-story clichés.
Thanks but no thanks.


ARC from Netgalley, received in exchange for a honest review.

[Pin · Rating 3 out of 5]

I like this one better than the author's first effort Healing Hearts, but there is still a lot to improve. However, it is essential that the progress is visible, though a more firmly editing would not hurt.

[Anja · Rating 4 out of 5]

At first we meet Andi who is tortured by the demons of her past and who hides away in a small town somewhere in Tennessee. When she meets Gwen, she tries to fight her feelings for her in the beginning (which is quiet hard because of Gwen's persistence). As the story evolves we learn why she doesn't want to get involved with anyone (but I don't want to tell). I really liked the main characters Andi and Gwen and the quirky little town of Norris. Thumbs up!

[Jenni Frencham · Rating 4 out of 5]

Ford, Donna. No Boundaries. Bold Strokes Books. 2014. $16.95. 256p. SC 978-1-62639-060-7.

Gwen has just moved to rural Tennessee to start her life over again. She and her dog need a fresh start away from the mistakes of her past. Andi lives in the same small town, where she, too, is hiding from a difficult past. The locals are used to Andi’s reclusive ways, and naturally become curious when she and Gwen start spending time together. Gwen and Andi are attracted to each other from the start, but Andi keeps pushing Gwen away, and when her secret past comes back to haunt her, she has to decide whether to tell Gwen the truth about her past or to spare her the pain and break up with her.

This is a romance novel with a fairly standard plot: person #1 and person #2 are perfect for each other, but at least one of them is hiding a secret, and when it finally comes out, they both have to decide what to do about it. There isn’t a lot of action to this story; it’s the relationship between Andi and Gwen that carries the story along. The characters are very real and well-defined, and a willing suspension of disbelief allows the reader to agree that two lesbians could both flee to the same rural town in Tennessee. This book would make an excellent addition to a public library’s romance novel collection, and is recommended as a beach or poolside read for fans of Karin Kallmaker’s writing.

[Julie · Rating 4 out of 5]

I received a free ARC of No Boundaries from Bold Strokes Books via Netgalley in exchange of an honest review


Andi Massey lives a secluded life in rural Tennessee. Since a brutal attack, she has avoided emotional connections. She is certain she has nothing left to offer anyone, but secretly wishes her life could be different.

Gwen Palmer has never been afraid to go after what she wants. Betrayed and tired of meaningless sex, she leaves her roots in the big city, seeking the quiet and peace of the mountains. The last thing she wants is another emotionally distant relationship.

Andi and Gwen find that small town life has a way of bringing them together whether they like it or not. But all may be lost when Andi comes face-to-face with her past and the man who has vowed to destroy everything she loves. Can Andi and Gwen overcome their past hurts and fears—as well as present dangers—and accept love without boundaries?

I really enjoyed this book it was a book that had me interested from the first page to the last it is a book that I will be happy to recommend and one that I would be happy to read more than onnce

I love the two main Characters Andi and Gwen Donna K. Ford did a great job and I will be happy to read other books by this Author bring on the next book.

['Nathan Burgoine · Rating 5 out of 5]

I've said this before, and I'm sure I'll say it many a time again, but I love stories about second chances, and especially stories about those who are wounded and fighting for a chance to feel whole. To say that Donna K. Ford hits those notes at just the right pitch would be understating.

In No Boundaries, we meet Andi and Gwen - two women who feel an attraction to each other from the first awkward moment they cross paths. Andi retreated to this small town three years ago, and is still haunted by the tortures of the past. Gwen has just arrived, and she, too, has just walked away from a past that has left her confidence shaken. Neither woman is looking for something - in fact, both are trying to do the opposite, but Gwen realizes there's potential for something deep and honest with Andi.

And Andi pushes Gwen away.

What Ford does so well in this book is present two women who have been hurt without making them seem weak. They are wounded, yes, but they are both of them trying to make a new life for themselves. That Andi's solution is to cut everyone and anything out of her life that might grow close to her is the main mystery of the story (and the ultimate revelations both chill the reader and evoke a deep empathy), and the reader is often left as mystified as Gwen. This isn't a bad thing at all - the worry of "will they or won't they" tension is tightened a little bit more at a time.

Can you outrun a past and start over? It might be possible. But what if that past refuses to leave you alone? Andi's worst nightmares return, and soon she has more to worry about than whether or not to try to love again - she very well could end up dead.

A mystery, a tense thriller, and on top of that a hot romance to boot, No Boundaries gives the reader a whole package.

I'll be looking for more Ford.

[MaxDisaster · Rating 2 out of 5]

2 stars max. It was kinda weird. Both the story and the writing style. The plot wasn't really bad, but the advertised "big thing from past" happend at ~70% of the book.
And I started to lose interest around the 30% mark. Around 50% I decided to stop reading and just put "kill" in search bar to find out when is the big twist happening (70%).

[Elisa Rolle · Rating 5 out of 5]

2014 Rainbow Awards Honorable Mention (5* from at least 1 judge)

[Jo Watkins · Rating 5 out of 5]

Gritty Love story

Another gritty love story,there's always plenty of action in Donna's books which deals with some very hard experiences of life.They are always thought provoking and sometimes quite difficult emotionally but it's actually nice sometimes to read a book which gets you thinking ans shows the world's not always light and fluffy but there's always a happy ending

[Velvet Lounger · Rating 3 out of 5]

Andi Massey is clearly a damaged soul, severely traumatized by something in her past, she has retreated to a small town where nobody knows her history and she keeps everybody at emotional distance.

Gwen Palmer finds herself dumped by the woman she loved and out of work as a consequence. Despite resistance from friends and family she decides to start again as far away from the city as she can get. She has been hurt once too often by women who use her and is tired of one-night stands and short-term relationships.

Within hours of Gwen arriving at her new home she and Andi are literally thrown together when Gwen’s giant mastiff bowls Andi over. Their attraction is obvious. Gwen is not afraid to go after what she wants, but Andi is determined to resist the attraction. Can Gwen wear down Andi’s resistance? Will her self-confidence survive the mixed messages? Or will Andi's fear of the past prevent them exploring any future together?

---------

No Boundaries is an interesting tale that combines many elements of the traditional LesFic romance with the suspense of a traumatised past and the fear of an endangered future. The plot is well thought through, cleverly weaving characters mentioned in passing into the plot and maintaining the suspense. Ms Ford keeps us on tender hooks about exactly what happened to Andi until the very last minute and cleverly replaces one waiting game for another.

The romance between Andi and Gwen is charming as we see the insecurities of the outwardly confident Gwen battling the self-imposed outward isolation of Andi. Their combined histories make for an interesting and challenging romance.

The characters of Andi and Gwen are delightful, as are favorites such as Mrs Peterson and the small cast we eventually get to meet from Andi’s past. Ms Ford creates real people whose doubts and fears, wishes and regrets, have a structural integrity that enables us to identify and bond with them.

There were places in the book where I could have wished for slightly tighter editing when the occasional repetition of words and frequent repetition of names distracted from the dialogue and action.

This was a good story, a lovely romance and a book that I enjoyed. I will certainly be looking out for more from this author.

[Linda (un)Conventional Bookworms · Rating 3 out of 5]

*I received a free ARC of No Boundaries from Bold Strokes Books via Netgalley in exchange of an honest review*


Compelling story, but the writing could have been a little tighter.

This and all my other reviews are originally posted on my blog (un)Conventional Bookviews

[Nolly Frances Sepulveda · Rating 4 out of 5]

I thought it was well written and the characters believable, no super women here just normal women trying to get on with their lives after traumatic events. Really good book with likable characters.

[willowdog · Rating 2 out of 5]

Lesbians, pack up your bags and head to small town Norris, where behind every corner is a lesbian with a secret. Too stereotypical...down to the renovation of home.

[isa Simonet · Rating 5 out of 5]

A great book as usual. Donna K Ford is a great writer.