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The Retreat
'The Retreat' - A Kind of Lesbian Romance.
By Jane Retzig
Jo and Ed are unlikely best friends.
He is the only son of wealthy parents. She was born on 'the wrong side of the tracks'. He loves sport, messing around with cars, and drinking. She's ambitious and hardworking.
They are, in fact, a perfect team.
They've stood by each other for almost thirty years.
They've built a successful business together.
There's just one problem.
Jo is having an affair with Ed's wife.
And now someone knows their secret.
It's Christmas Eve 2014.
And nothing is ever going to be the same again...
By Jane Retzig
Jo and Ed are unlikely best friends.
He is the only son of wealthy parents. She was born on 'the wrong side of the tracks'. He loves sport, messing around with cars, and drinking. She's ambitious and hardworking.
They are, in fact, a perfect team.
They've stood by each other for almost thirty years.
They've built a successful business together.
There's just one problem.
Jo is having an affair with Ed's wife.
And now someone knows their secret.
It's Christmas Eve 2014.
And nothing is ever going to be the same again...
263 pages, Kindle Edition
First published October 30, 2015
14 people are currently reading
50 people want to read
About the author
Jane Retzig
11 books37 followersHi, my name is Jane Retzig and I really hope you enjoy my books.
I've been a huge fan of lesbian fiction ever since I discovered that I loved women, and in the 1980's and 90's I could regularly be found in 'Silver Moon' and 'Gay's the Word' Bookshops in London, happily working my way through the shelves of lesbian writing there.
My first novel 'Boundaries' was published in paperback in 1994 by 'The Dimsdale Press', a tiny and slightly quirky Lesbian Small Press who also published novels by popular lesbian fiction authors Jane Fletcher and Christina Smythe. Everything at 'Dimsdale' was done on a shoe-string. My launch party consisted of a cup of cappuccino at Bar Italia in Soho, and I frequently ended up carrying huge box-loads of books around London on public transport to cut down on distribution costs.
It was good fun. And over that first year, I was delighted to see 'Boundaries' reach the 'Lesbian Fiction Bestsellers' lists in independent bookstores across the UK. My second book, 'The Legacy', a novella, was published in 1995 and also sold well.
Sadly, changes in the economy and book market in the UK meant that many of our much-loved independent bookstores closed in the late 90's, so 'Dimsdale' lost most of their major outlets and reluctantly ceased trading, leaving me without a publisher.
Life intervened for me at that point too and I took a fairly prolonged break from writing. Then the e-book revolution tempted me out of retirement. I re-issued 'Boundaries' in April 2013. 'The Photograph' (October 2013) was my first new book to be published this century... which makes me sound really ancient!!!
Since then, I've issued a further eight novels. 'The Full Legacy' was a full length re-write of 'The Legacy', which I always thought was too short to do full justice to the characters.
'The Wrong Woman Quartet' was initially inspired by bullying experienced by myself and a group of my close friends, but became a four book series following the lives and loves of the central characters.
'The Retreat', was a novel about two best friends who fall in love with the same woman.
'A Tale of Two Sisters' was set in the two heatwave summers of 1976 and 2018.
And 'Alstrom', my final novel is a second chance at love/homecoming story about a reclusive rock singer.
All my books are available in kindle, paperback and audio. And the music of Alstrom is also available via all major streaming services.
I think that's just about all. Except to say a huge THANK YOU to everyone who's taken the time to write to me or post reviews. It's always great to hear from you. I really do value your comments and feedback.
Thank you
And Happy Reading!
Jane (janeretzig@gmail.com)
I've been a huge fan of lesbian fiction ever since I discovered that I loved women, and in the 1980's and 90's I could regularly be found in 'Silver Moon' and 'Gay's the Word' Bookshops in London, happily working my way through the shelves of lesbian writing there.
My first novel 'Boundaries' was published in paperback in 1994 by 'The Dimsdale Press', a tiny and slightly quirky Lesbian Small Press who also published novels by popular lesbian fiction authors Jane Fletcher and Christina Smythe. Everything at 'Dimsdale' was done on a shoe-string. My launch party consisted of a cup of cappuccino at Bar Italia in Soho, and I frequently ended up carrying huge box-loads of books around London on public transport to cut down on distribution costs.
It was good fun. And over that first year, I was delighted to see 'Boundaries' reach the 'Lesbian Fiction Bestsellers' lists in independent bookstores across the UK. My second book, 'The Legacy', a novella, was published in 1995 and also sold well.
Sadly, changes in the economy and book market in the UK meant that many of our much-loved independent bookstores closed in the late 90's, so 'Dimsdale' lost most of their major outlets and reluctantly ceased trading, leaving me without a publisher.
Life intervened for me at that point too and I took a fairly prolonged break from writing. Then the e-book revolution tempted me out of retirement. I re-issued 'Boundaries' in April 2013. 'The Photograph' (October 2013) was my first new book to be published this century... which makes me sound really ancient!!!
Since then, I've issued a further eight novels. 'The Full Legacy' was a full length re-write of 'The Legacy', which I always thought was too short to do full justice to the characters.
'The Wrong Woman Quartet' was initially inspired by bullying experienced by myself and a group of my close friends, but became a four book series following the lives and loves of the central characters.
'The Retreat', was a novel about two best friends who fall in love with the same woman.
'A Tale of Two Sisters' was set in the two heatwave summers of 1976 and 2018.
And 'Alstrom', my final novel is a second chance at love/homecoming story about a reclusive rock singer.
All my books are available in kindle, paperback and audio. And the music of Alstrom is also available via all major streaming services.
I think that's just about all. Except to say a huge THANK YOU to everyone who's taken the time to write to me or post reviews. It's always great to hear from you. I really do value your comments and feedback.
Thank you
And Happy Reading!
Jane (janeretzig@gmail.com)
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Displaying 1 - 11 of 11 reviews
December 1, 2016
More like: A Kind of Depressing story. Death, Lies, Affair, Alcoholic A$$hole, Spousal Rape..... by the end when the two main characters get their happy ending I was too pissed, disgusted and angry to appreciate it.
September 28, 2016
Original story of forbidden love in the modern day. You end up caring deeply about these characters, even the much maligned Ed, and I came away wondering how everyone was getting on. It's got the lot: laughter, tears, drama & tension. Thumbs up from me.
October 5, 2016
Detailed score: 3.0
They're right about it being 'a kind of' romance. This was all angst, no payoff. There is enough bleak in the real world, I don't want it in my lesroms too! Plus it has one of my pet hates; it just ends. I found myself flicking back and forward wondering if the book maybe hadn't downloaded properly or something!
Most of the characters are well drawn - I liked how we got quick leaps into the headspace of other characters, including support characters, although it would have been helpful if these leaps were distinguised better through text markers.
The characters were interesting and well drawn so I'd read another book by this author... as long as someone else read it first and told me if it was actually a romance!!
They're right about it being 'a kind of' romance. This was all angst, no payoff. There is enough bleak in the real world, I don't want it in my lesroms too! Plus it has one of my pet hates; it just ends. I found myself flicking back and forward wondering if the book maybe hadn't downloaded properly or something!
Most of the characters are well drawn - I liked how we got quick leaps into the headspace of other characters, including support characters, although it would have been helpful if these leaps were distinguised better through text markers.
The characters were interesting and well drawn so I'd read another book by this author... as long as someone else read it first and told me if it was actually a romance!!
November 28, 2015
Once again the author has created a work of depth and I was drawn into each character. The descriptions and references really brought the setting alive and I felt immersed and once the romance took off, I was unable to put it down. There is much to celebrate and much to be sad about in this portrait of human emotion. The author clearly has a deep understanding of the workings of the human psyche - highly recommended.
October 24, 2016
This is the 3rd book of this author that I’ve read and I seem to just resonate with how she writes.
A kind of a lesbian romance is right. This is more about a love story that involves affairs of the heart in the messiest sense. If this were labeled romance, readers would have all kinds of issues with this book, however, it’s not-- so going into it I knew it would be different.
It’s always nice to read a romance. Two people fall in love, have some issues that they have to work out, but then the come together and it’s so feel good.
In real life our hearts don’t always understand the established social constructs as to who we should and should not fall in love with as well as if we should/should not act on those feelings. Sometimes in real life romantic feelings are messy and complicated and we don’t always make the best decisions.
This is that book. I loved it because even though some things happen that kind of pushed my buttons, the author did an amazing job of getting into the heads of all the characters involved. We get the back story of each character, what they have lived, how they’ve related to each other and it’s a story that happens over many years.
Also, none of the characters are without flaws. They are all complex and we get to see in detail how the feelings of each changed and also how their feelings for each other affected how they acted and made the decisions they made.
In the end though, it’s left off as a feel good. I actually wanted more. I was rooting for them even though they acted in a way I thought could have been avoided if they were honest. As a drama it’s very well written.
Kudos to the narrator, she was amazing.
A kind of a lesbian romance is right. This is more about a love story that involves affairs of the heart in the messiest sense. If this were labeled romance, readers would have all kinds of issues with this book, however, it’s not-- so going into it I knew it would be different.
It’s always nice to read a romance. Two people fall in love, have some issues that they have to work out, but then the come together and it’s so feel good.
In real life our hearts don’t always understand the established social constructs as to who we should and should not fall in love with as well as if we should/should not act on those feelings. Sometimes in real life romantic feelings are messy and complicated and we don’t always make the best decisions.
This is that book. I loved it because even though some things happen that kind of pushed my buttons, the author did an amazing job of getting into the heads of all the characters involved. We get the back story of each character, what they have lived, how they’ve related to each other and it’s a story that happens over many years.
Also, none of the characters are without flaws. They are all complex and we get to see in detail how the feelings of each changed and also how their feelings for each other affected how they acted and made the decisions they made.
In the end though, it’s left off as a feel good. I actually wanted more. I was rooting for them even though they acted in a way I thought could have been avoided if they were honest. As a drama it’s very well written.
Kudos to the narrator, she was amazing.
February 9, 2017
I enjoyed this book very much. One of the reasons is, that it reveals a deep understanding of the characters. As you read, you understand how it feels to grow apart from your husband, to fall helplessly for his best friend. You understand the emotional struggles of the best friend and you root for it all to end well.
The story is mainly told through flashbacks, which I find is an interesting way to reveal the story bit by bit. It also gives a much deeper insight into the motivation of the characters, as we tend to reflect heavier on our actions, when looking back on them. However the book is not without action and suspense, so hold fast for an emotional roller-coaster.
The story is mainly told through flashbacks, which I find is an interesting way to reveal the story bit by bit. It also gives a much deeper insight into the motivation of the characters, as we tend to reflect heavier on our actions, when looking back on them. However the book is not without action and suspense, so hold fast for an emotional roller-coaster.
November 21, 2021
Interesting story and so well written
I’m not always a fan of storylines that stray into being unfaithful and the beginning had me a little queasy. I even started to wonder whether I would really finish this book - but I’m so glad I decided to stick with it.
I think the title is so spot on - a kind of lesbian romance - because what you get in this story is not the usual linear let’s discover each other hearts and smiles story. Instead you are thrown into a scene where a time-bomb is just waiting to go off and through a series of masterfully narrated flashback and current day scenes you are brought up to speed on how this whole thing came about. The characters are fantastic with so many shades of gray - it’s going to take me a few days to process all of this. I’m so impressed with the writing style of Jane Retzig - I’ll be adding her other books to my TBR list.
Highly recommend this read! 5 stars.
I’m not always a fan of storylines that stray into being unfaithful and the beginning had me a little queasy. I even started to wonder whether I would really finish this book - but I’m so glad I decided to stick with it.
I think the title is so spot on - a kind of lesbian romance - because what you get in this story is not the usual linear let’s discover each other hearts and smiles story. Instead you are thrown into a scene where a time-bomb is just waiting to go off and through a series of masterfully narrated flashback and current day scenes you are brought up to speed on how this whole thing came about. The characters are fantastic with so many shades of gray - it’s going to take me a few days to process all of this. I’m so impressed with the writing style of Jane Retzig - I’ll be adding her other books to my TBR list.
Highly recommend this read! 5 stars.
May 30, 2025
How to cope with loving a straight woman
Read it & weep I did
They were both breathless when they first met. Life took them in different directions but finally they faced the truth together.
Their journeys were cold & hard but their love could not be denied
What a wonderful Love story
Read it & weep I did
They were both breathless when they first met. Life took them in different directions but finally they faced the truth together.
Their journeys were cold & hard but their love could not be denied
What a wonderful Love story
May 19, 2020
A good story, despite being short for a novel. There' a lesson here... don't judge other people, you never know the full story. And also, true love win over everything, the difficult thing might be recognise it.
June 25, 2017
The well rounded characters and realistic setting of Yorkshire really work well in this novel. Even the flash backs, which is a device often hit-and-miss for me, subtly capture the time period - but still focus always on character.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
January 31, 2017
Great first read!
Not what I was expecting, but then so few novels are! I experienced a range of emotions with the story and the characters! Give it a go if you can!
Not what I was expecting, but then so few novels are! I experienced a range of emotions with the story and the characters! Give it a go if you can!
Displaying 1 - 11 of 11 reviews