Mama Knows

by Cheri Crystal

At thirty-five, Rue is settled in her life. She lives at home so she can look after her aging mother, works as a farmhand, and scores with more ladies than the cowboys she hangs with. Why would she search for a place of her own, a permanent job, or a long-term relationship when she already has everything she needs?

But then her mother buys her a trip on a chartered singles’ tour in Europe for Christmas to broaden her horizons. On a bus with a bunch of chatty breeders, Rue is prepared for boredom.

To her surprise, the local culture and history—and a feisty gal named Billie—capture her interest. As she and Billy share a heated encounter on the ferry to France, Rue begins to think that maybe, just maybe, Mama really knows best.

Genres: Romance, Lesbian

36 pages, Kindle Edition

First published December 17, 2014

About the author

Attractions of the Heart, a 2010 Golden Crown Literary Winner for lesbian erotica. Across the Pond by Ylva Publishing is her first novel. In her spare time, Cheri enjoys swimming, hiking, viewing wildlife, cooking, jigsaw puzzles and spending quality time with family and friends. Visit www.chericrystal.com
http://ylva-publishing.co.uk/product/across-the-pond-by-cheri-crystal/
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00HZ4PIU6/ref=nav_timeline_asin?ie=UTF8&psc=1

Reviews

[Lexxi Kitty]

This is an oddly very annoying story. Weirdly preachy (in a 'they died for our freedom' kind of way), and oddly tell not show. It's a bloody trip to Europe and I'm getting 'I went to the zoo instead of shopping; we did the usual touristy things' . . . um, thanks for just telling me instead of showing any of that crap, right? Probably would have been super boring.

Or, for that matter, every bloody thing. Tell tell tell, hiding the 'show'. mmphs. 'I got on the jumbo jet and flirted and got the hot flight attendants number . . .' . . . thanks again for letting me know? You know, instead of showing any of that?

Gah. The main character is such a pain to read about.

Course part of my problem is I don't really understand 95% of what she's saying (like that whole bit about that one other lesbian in town, who avoids her). Or -

I was not in a chatty mood and most of the people on the coach looked so straight, I wondered how they sat down.

hahahaha - Everyone's so fucking sssstraight. They'd have trouble sitting. *next paragraph* I couldn't sleep because eveyrone was so giddy and singing gayly. Um, hmm. hehe.

I repeat 'gah this main character is such a pain to read about.' I no want to be with her any longer!!!

(to be fair, the 'tell tell tell' comment was made at 30% into the story. There was 'showing' going on after that; along with more telling).

I . . . what . . . I . . did the story reboot? Way way pages back the main character got some food to help her drunk ass out. She consumed them. Slept hours. Another lesbian got on board and tough butchy acted bitchy. Femme got the hint and sat elsewhere. Etc. etc. Then . . . some comments about being in line for a ferry and . . . she's now eating the food the kind straight woman had given her and then a sandwich? Did the story . . . this is why I asked if the story rebooted. WTF?

Oh. That's why it seemed like it rebooted. The chronology is all out of wack in this story. I'm . . this is such a fucking confusing story alignment.

And then she, the main character, sexually assaulted another woman. And . . . fuck it. My life is too short to continue readin this short story. So I'm done at 44% in.

Rating: no rating.

June 27 2017

[Lissa · Rating 2 out of 5]

Okay, I'll admit it - I bought the book for the cover, which is *delicious*. The story? Not so much. It's short and appears in the anthology Unwrap These Presents, which I am in the process of reading. I actually already read this story in that anthology, and it's one of my least favorites in the anthology to be honest.

It's just...not for me. I like the whole thing with Normandy, but it's serious instalove (I know that novellas tend to feature that, but it still doesn't mean that I like it), and it doesn't really do anything for me.

[HornFan2 · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was my first read from author Cheri Crystal, developed a interesting story using Christmas, then visiting Europe and leaving flowers on a WW2 grave. Liked both characters, Rue and Billy, they'd make for some good reading to read more about them and would try some of the authors other writing.

[Kat · Rating 4 out of 5]

Short story, but pretty much sweet.