Virgin Territory

by Kenna White

Elise Grayson has it all. Money, looks, a comfortable home in an upscale Boston neighborhood, and the social status her family has long enjoyed. She has everything she's ever wanted. Almost. Elise's private life is her one failure. So focused on building her professional life, Elise has left little time for anything else . . . including her girlfriend whose infidelity comes as a bolt out of the blue.

Jan Chase needs a new job and new surroundings—a place where no one will ask questions or judge her ability. Driving a limousine for Boston's privileged elite seems like the perfect answer. Being a chauffeur is something Jan is tailor-made for. At least until she meets Elise Grayson.

Now that their worlds have collided, it seems that neither of the two women is capable of stopping it. And who's to say that either of them really wants to?

Contains mature themes.

Genres: Audiobook, Romance, Disability, Lesbian, LGBT, Lesbian Fiction, Contemporary

Audible Audio

Published July 26, 2022

About the author

Award winner, Kenna White, has been a best-selling romance author with Bella Books since 2004. She was born in a small town in Southwest Missouri, but has lived from the Colorado Rocky Mountains to New England. Splitting time between Puget Sound and the Ozarks where bare feet, faded jeans and lazy streams fill her life, she enjoys her writing, traveling, substitute teaching, making dollhouse miniatures and life's simpler pleasures.

Reviews

[Nolly Frances Sepulveda · Rating 4 out of 5]

I've always enjoyed this Author's work and this story was no exception. Her characters are relatable and though I know most romance stories end with a happy ending, I still cheer their progress in getting there and sometimes I wish I could reach within the pages and smack them upside their heads. Jan and Elise start off as employer and employee who find themselves becoming friends though they come from different social backgrounds and that friendship helps them both to deal with their insecurities and form a beautiful bond. Good story.

[Tierney Moore · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really enjoyed 90% of this. The slowburn client to friends to lovers is sweet and low angst but holds the interest very well throughout. Especially when performed by Abby Craden. It's the ending that I'm guessing has this rated around 4 and not higher by readers. Too rushed with "I love yous" chucked in and barely acknowledged (unless I missed it??) as the ending, with plenty of important plot arc to climax and resolve, piles along over too few pages towards the relationship arc resolution.

Forewarned is forearmed, so if you know that's the issue here, be assured that everything before the last 15% or so is fun and worthwhile :)

[Netgyrl (Laura) · Rating 2 out of 5]

2.5 - ⭐️ I liked it at first, but as the book went on, I realized it wasn’t a huge fan of one of the main characters, Elise. Something about her just rubs me the wrong way.

I learned I’m not a fan of the term of endearment “sweetie“. Blech.

This book contained some of the most boring, dry love scenes I’ve ever read. Lacking in any spice or emotion.

I have mixed feelings about the resolution of the conflict at the end as well. There was some boundary crossing that made me feel icky.

Borrowed from my library via the Libby app

[Marilyn · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was the oldest book on my TBR list, and I'm glad I decided to start at the bottom of my list for once. This was an enjoyable read with characters with unusual occupations. I also give props to White for writing a main character with a disfiguring disability. It's refreshing to not have physical perfection in a character.

[Val · Rating 4 out of 5]

Typical Kenna White novel which is to say it's wonderful. I didn't give five stars because it isn't a change the world kind of book. But I still love the simple romances and will continue to read this author. She always has a happy ending.

[Linda · Rating 3 out of 5]

Not bad... Blurb was interesting enough to pique my interest.

3.5⭐️ (7/10)

[Guerunche · Rating 4 out of 5]

I'm happy to have discovered Kenna White's books now that they've been released on audio. Originally published in 2016, this is a rare book that features a main character with a disability - luxury limousine driver Jan Chase. While I won't spoil the hows and whys of how that occurred, hers is an interesting journey.

This is a romance, and while I'm in love with commercial construction executive Elise Grayson's character, this is more of a story about Jan's navigation through a change in her life she's neither accepted nor come to terms with. How can she make herself vulnerable to anyone again after feeling like she's no longer whole?

This story has a variety of appealing supporting characters, especially Jan's family. Abby Craden does a terrific job with the narration, capturing Jan's pride and vulnerability, as well as Elise's strength of character.

I enjoyed it and am looking forward to experiencing more of White's work!

[Kexx · Rating 4 out of 5]

Pah! Brick wall ending alert!! Would it really be too much for Kenna to write 3 or 4 more pages? Not impressed - remove a star at once. I'd tell you how good it was but totally bummed by the speed of the ending.

[Heinerway · Rating 3 out of 5]

Nice and sweet. Oh yes, very nice and very sweet.

[Angelina · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5 Stars

[Kat · Rating 5 out of 5]

well, I love all books of Kenna and this one is not any different. Funny if you like writer, you read all books in lighting speed, which makes you sad when you are done! Really wonderful story .....

[Heather · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was an interesting story that was brought to life by this wonderful narrator. Ms Craden has a way of separating each character with their own nuances and vocal range, main and side characters alike! I loved how Elise was a bit snobbish but when she was wrong, she owned it and apologized. Jan was so dapper and kind and I loved how they kind of became friends and seamlessly figured out how to be in each other’s very different lives.

[Mirtha Siblesz · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a great story!

Really liked this story! The way the characters were developed was really well done! Dealing with the issues of intimacy with someone that has a physical disability was done in a tasteful,and thoughtful manner. I really liked Elise and Jan. Elise's strength of character when she found out about Ginger's infidelities was a pleasure to read. Jan's struggle with her self confidence and Elise's reassurances that she love Jan was very special. A well written book. Well done!!!!!!

[Margaret L. Hedman · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this book.

What a great book! The story and the characters are great. Once of the most moving parts is when Elise is talking to her mother in her office. She sees a side of her parents she knew nothing about. Excellent book.

[cathey dejager · Rating 5 out of 5]

Inspiring

This story was encouraging to the end as soon as you realize the problem you needed to read on to know how the author was going to get beyond the circumstances they ending was great.

[sandra lee gardiner · Rating 5 out of 5]

A Sweet love story

A beautifully created love story that brought tears of joy and sadness I thoroughly recommend this book if you want a well written story

[Gayle · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very enjoyable read. If you're looking for a good lesbian romance without too much drama and just a great journey for the characters this is for you.

[El · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was a surprise find during Disability Pride month. Well, I mean, Jan just has swagger no matter what anyone says - and it shines. It's a bummer that her own insecurities dim things down a bit. It feels like an opposite response to how Hazel in A Heart Full of Hope lives with her disability and allows her whole self show up in a relationship. I love the play on chemistry between the two MCs, and seeing their worlds clash by sharing local haunts. The intimate, but not really spicy moments in the woods are special as well. And of course, things are great until their social class status and family dynamics play in heavily. I love the touch of culture we experience from Jan's family throughout the book. I look forward to listening to this story play out again.

[Shannon Luchies · Rating 3 out of 5]

Elise, a business woman, has had a hard time finding a good driver. When Jan Chase drives her, they initially don't get along, but Jan wins her over via competency and consideration.

As they get closer Elise finds out her longtime girlfriend has been cheating on her, both with Ginger's boss and in their friend group. Jan ends up being a rock for her, and they become friends.

(I did kind of feel it was a bit extreme that Elise basically dumped her circle of friends. Or at least they don't get mentioned again.)

Jan opens up about her injury and the PTSD that forced her to quit piloting, and the two start seriously dating...

A solid 3 out of 5. Good read, but didn't blow me away.

[Kathy · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a very enjoyable story of Elise, an affluent business woman, and her limo driver, Jan, who had been a pilot until an unforeseeable accident took her leg. Coming from two very different social backgrounds, I enjoyed the slow building friendship that turned into more and the dialogue between them that developed organically. I loved how tastefully this author handled intimacy with someone with a leg amputation. I really enjoyed Jan's loving, supportive family and I loved the conversation Elise had when her mother told her about her own relationship with her father. It's a wonderful book with such a loving narration by Abby Craden!

[Miriam Janssen · Rating 3 out of 5]

I like most of the books of Kenna White. She shows a lot of compassion for her characters. That is really relaxing in a world where we are so opinionated and inexcusable. This story has some great dialogues with a lot of humor. But the developing relationship between the MC's walked just too much along the facts instead of really diving into the emotions. The story is worth 3,5 stars. I decided to give it 3 instead of 4.

[wren4777 · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved it. A very traditional romance, as is typical for White's novels, but without any of the unnecessary angst they usually have. Jan and Elise are the kinds of people I'd totally hang out with in real life, and that's one of the highest praises I can give to an author's writing.

Still could have done with an epilogue, though. ;)

[isa Simonet · Rating 5 out of 5]

Love this book, love the writing and the stories of Kenna White. Simple but always interresting characters, that we can love. And always stories that take place slowly but towards their peak. In short, a very beautiful love story. Thank you K. White. I highly recommend this book.

[Desi · Rating 4 out of 5]

I think the book was very cute and it was nice to see they put in some serious issues.
The story was bit too fast paced for my liking but other than that the story was relatable, funny & sometimes sad which makes for a perfect novel

[Laura · Rating 4 out of 5]

An enjoyable sapphic romance set in Massachusetts.

Bonus points:
•Western Mass representation. (Indian Orchard, near Springfield.)
•One of the leads is disabled.

The audiobook offers another fine performance by Abby Craden.

[MissAlice · Rating 5 out of 5]

Went with the Audible for this one. Narrator is perfection, as always. Loved the story of these two chuckleheads finding one another, family support, putting at least one best foot forward. It was a quick ending but I was ok with that. Story got to where it needed to be for the sweet HEA.

[Jen Keyer · Rating 3 out of 5]

Glad to finally see representation for amputations and those who suffer from accidents, which is most people. Limb loss awareness is needed. As someone who is married to an amputee the things she struggles with where discussed and I enjoyed that. I think my audiobook was incorrect.

[Amari Jones · Rating 2 out of 5]

I won’t lie, this book could’ve made a bigger impact. The characters and storyline were interesting enough, but something about the plot and pacing was off for me. I felt a lot more could’ve happened. The writing was nice though and I’ll try this author again.

[KayVonLee · Rating 3 out of 5]

The story was okay, alongside some of the character development which could have been better in my view. Was a quick & easy read.

[Rey Hawke · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5