Uncommon Emotions

by Lynn Galli

As a turnaround specialist, Joslyn Simonini spends her days analyzing corporate profit margins and trying to keep her likeness from being turned into a voodoo doll by company employees. If she does her job well, they often lose theirs. So, it comes as a surprise when she finds herself being kissed one day at work. She's even more shocked to find out that the mysterious kissing bandit is a woman. Not in the habit of kissing women, Joslyn tries to brush off the unintentional mistake. But before long, she's forced to examine the rush of emotions that accompanied the kiss, especially when she meets Raven Malvolio. At first, she needs Raven to complete her analysis, but she doesn't expect to need the friendship that Raven offers. When those friendly feelings escalate to something more, Joslyn's confusion and underdeveloped emotional range might ruin her chance at a relationship that could surpass even her dreams. Uncommon Emotions takes a look at how someone can think she's happy with her life only to be surprised by the passion she's yet to feel.

Genres: Romance, Lesbian, LGBT, Lesbian Romance, Lesbian Fiction, Fiction, Queer

252 pages, Paperback

First published January 30, 2008

About the author

Lynn Galli calls the Pacific Northwest home even though she's never written any software code, built an airplane, worn socks with sandals, or slung coffee. For the most part, she enjoys her real job but absolutely lives for the time she gets to spend writing.

Reviews

[Anja · Rating 5 out of 5]

I've just finished and wow, what a wonderful feel-good story told in the 1st person narrative (I'm usually not very fond of that, but it was so well done, I can't complain at all ;) It's like a good friend tells you her story about life, love and fate. I really liked the characters and the story development, well, I can't think of anything I didn't like ;) Thumbs up!

[Val · Rating 4 out of 5]

I absolutely love Lynn Galli novels and this one is no exception. Sweet romance with some steamy scenes thrown in for good measure. I especially liked that the author allows us to see some of what happens in the future for this couple in an excellent epilogue. If you like F/F romance you won't want to miss this one.

[Marilyn · Rating 5 out of 5]

A very warmhearted feel-good book. It was a great beach read today.

[Farah · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great office romance. Both h/h were likeable, intriguing enough, their friendship turned romance linked really well with the other plot of the story.
Bought it during the sale for a dollar, the price is back to USD8 and unavailable on KU. My preferred h? Josalyn! No one can intimidate that woman. If you want to get into war of words with her on any topics, be prepared to loose. Recommended.

[Kathryn · Rating 5 out of 5]

5-

Uncommon Emotions is my all-time favorite lez book.

This story is a full-blown, beautiful love story between two beautiful Italian-American women, Joslyn Simonini and Raven Malvolio who, incidentally, I picture Raven as looking like model Xian Quon. There is a picture of Xian Quon I found on the Internet holding both hands up under her chin (I can not post it here, but she is Raven to me.) Joslyn is an efficiency expert hired to help the company where Raven is the CEO. Joslyn is the one to decide who will be let go and what changes need to be made to bring the company back around to being profitable. Needless-to-say, everyone hates and fears Joslyn. Everyone but Raven. There attraction and eventually love grows steadily throughout the book. I was so involved in their story I could NOT put the book down. I have read this book at least a dozen times since 2008 and I never re-read books.

[Serena · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoyed this one a lot!

I could try to write an extensive review describing every detail, but this book doesn’t need that. If you like lovable characters, great chemistry, hot love scenes and a real romantic vibe. This is a must read for you. It was a nice variety to read about a 30+ character that discovers she can fall in love with a woman, without the whole book focusing on “Oh my god! I’m in love with a WOMAN” It was nice to read that Joslyn was more confused about really falling in love for the first time at 37, then the fact that her love interest is a woman.

Don’t let the first person narrative scare you off. Because with this book it wasn’t a problem. At least not for me, and believe me after the last book I read that used a first person narrative, I thought I would never try it again. I think Miss Lynn Galli succeeds at describing a complete story even if it’s all told from a first person narrative.

It’s my first book by this author, but I’m sure it will not be my last. Because I think I have discovered an author which belongs to the better ones within this genre!

My rating is 4 stars. The only reason I have not given this book the full 5 stars is because the story isn’t really a groundbreaking one. It’s good, but not one that can really make a difference in a genre where many books are competing with each other.

[C. Mack · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is one of my favourites by this author and I've read it several times now and never get tired of it. A lovely romance with enough depth and character development, wound around a family business and new found sexual orientation, that keeps it engaging from start to finish.

[Best Lesfic Reviews · Rating 5 out of 5]

The opening scene? Funny, funny, funny. Moving further…totally got goosebumps with fluttering butterflies of emotion while reading about the growing attraction between the two MCs, Joslyn Simonini and Raven Malvolio.

Read the full review @https://bestlesficreviews.blogspot.co...

[Lorraine Rusnack · Rating 5 out of 5]

Joslyn has never really had any relationship where she was emotionally invested. Enter Raven Malvolio to turn her world upside down. His will experience a lot of firsts with Raven. They make great friends and more. This is a wonderful slow burn romance. A must read for any romantic at heart.

[Lyn Denison · Rating 5 out of 5]

A good read. I’m new to Lynn Galli’s books and really enjoy them. Good believable characters and plot lines. This is the second I’ve read and I’ll be reading more.

[Danni Mladenovic · Rating 4 out of 5]

This one is one my list of favorites... This book was among the first ones I read from this genre, and it hold a special place in my memory. I loved Raven and Joslyn... The ending turned out to be a bit too cheesy, but the whole plot and falling in love was so good and sweet and it made me feel butterflies in my stomach while reading it. :)
It's certainly my favorite from this author.

[C. Mack · Rating 5 out of 5]

Just re-read this after my first read 4 or 5 months ago and I'd forgotten how good it is. I highly recommend - great development of characters that adds depth and realism to this story about a first love.

[Stephanie · Rating 3 out of 5]

Sooo....it was pretty much what you would expect. A quick, enjoyable read with decently developed characters. Not the best....but certainly not the worst!

[Jamie (TheRebelliousReader) · Rating 4 out of 5]

4 stars. This book was a warm hug and it was just what I needed after Ask, Tell left me in my feelings. This was super lighthearted, humorous, and romantic. I liked the writing style quite a bit and I thought the characters were incredibly endearing.

Jos was a great character but she has a bit of a reputation of being cold at work because of how dedicated to her job she is. She’s a workaholic and extremely competent at what she does but I never got ‘cold’ from her. I found her to be incredibly charming and snarky. Raven was wonderful as well though she definitely drove me nuts during the dreaded third act breakup. Speaking of, that whole thing felt super forced especially since nothing came of it in the end. It was just a thing that happened to have some drama and I didn’t really like that. It all worked out in the end of course once Raven pulled her head out of her own ass. The ending was cute. I love Jos and Raven's chemistry.

Overall, this was such a feel good read and I definitely recommend it if you need a pick me up.

[Cab · Rating 4 out of 5]

I came across this book while randomly searching amazon.com for something to read. It popped up in my recommended items, for which I am extremely grateful. This is definitely one of the better romance novels I have read in quite some time. The characters are likeable, well thought out and have a three dimensional feel to them. I found that it was easy to identify with a number of the emotions that Joslyn has to come to grips with, but it was refreshing to witness the character moving through them without falling apart. Another major plus in my book is the fact that both women are strong, smart and successful in their own right.

I would highly recommend reading this story! In the meantime, I’ll be looking for other Lynn Galli stories.

Product Description from the Amazon.com website:
“As a turnaround specialist, Joslyn Simonini spends her days analyzing corporate profit margins and trying to keep her likeness from being turned into a voodoo doll by company employees. If she does her job well, they often lose theirs. So, it comes as a surprise when she finds herself being kissed one day at work. She’s even more shocked to find out that the mysterious kissing bandit is a woman.

Not in the habit of kissing women, Joslyn tries to brush off the unintentional mistake. But before long, she’s forced to examine the rush of emotions that accompanied the kiss, especially when she meets Raven Malvolio. At first, she needs Raven to complete her analysis, but she doesn’t expect to need the friendship that Raven offers. When those friendly feelings escalate to something more, Joslyn’s confusion and underdeveloped emotional range might ruin her chance at a relationship that could surpass even her dreams.

Uncommon Emotions takes a look at how someone can think she’s happy with her life only to be surprised by the passion she’s yet to feel.”

[poppp · Rating 4 out of 5]

It was a great ride. And also the mention of a couple of members of the Virginia clan was great. I agree with one of the other comments though, that the "issue" towards the end wasn't really necessary. And I don't think the author was able to play it out well too. It was a big thing and then the problem just went kinda poof. But other than that, really enjoyable! Great chemistry too!

[Diana P. · Rating 4 out of 5]

An enjoyable story with a nice plot that captures you from the beginning until the end, even though it has a first person narrative which is something I always consider a limitation when it comes to know the whole story. However in this case It was imperceptible thanks to the good job the author did throughout the book.

This story starts off very interesting and at the same time a bit slow but after some pages it takes a nice pace, even though some of the feelings involved in the development of the relationship seem a bit rushed I think it's a story that keeps you drawn to it and wanting to know what's going to happen.

The main characters were definitely appealing and the chemistry between them was really nice and captivating, the feelings they both had for each other were palpable in the story, allowing you to witness a beautiful romance full of passion and love.


I think the development of the main character seems a bit rushed in my opinion, I mean the way she (Joslyn) is suddenly straight and then she realizes she's attracted to women and suddenly she's completely in love with one (Raven). Which in some way could make perfect sense but what really didn't fit in my opinion is her personality. First off, she's never felt attracted to women which could means that she looks a bit feminine or at least that's how I visualized her in my mind at the beginning and even when she starts interacting with the other main character (Raven), but suddenly her behaviors became less feminine when she started having a relationship with Raven. I mean, Joslyn went from being a feminine straight woman who expected the men to take the lead to the one who is in charge of the relationship, plus with some butch attitudes and actions. Which is perfectly ok but the sudden change was quite unsettling, especially since Raven was the one who initially had a very strong vibe.  I though it was confusing because the description that was made from the beginning about Raven was of a very strong character, sweet but still less feminine than her and suddenly it was like they changed roles, so it was quite hard to create an image of both characters. In fact, near the end when it's Raven turn to narrate the story, the roles kind of change once again, so it was quite confusing to me, which made me think that when it comes to the part of the relationship itself the author approaches the narrative from a butch perspective. I know this shouldn't be a big deal and it actually isn't, but still when you're trying to picture a character in your mind you want to become one with them or at least get to know them so well that you can even predict some of their reactions, and in this book I definitely had a problem with that.

Both characters go thru a lovely romance that has some difficult moments as every couple but that in the end the love both had for the other was more important than any fear or difficulties.


In regard to the secondary characters, I think they were definitely relevant in this story since some of them were the the main reason that this relationship stumbled and almost has a bad ending. The rest of them contributed a nice vibe and even funny moments to the story making it feel fresh and interesting.

Something I liked about this story was the job the author did when referring to Joslyn's profession. I think the topics discussed about Joslyn's job were plausible and it certainly allows you to feel more engaged to the story.

About the sex/love scenes I think they were very well done, really hot and well described, letting you feel the vibe and chemistry and love they had for each other, which is something I think it's a relevant part in a romance.

All in all, this was a very nice book considering it was written in a first person narrative, which I rarely find appealing, however it gives you funny, sweet and hot moments. So, I give it 3.7 rounded up to 4. Recommended.

[The Reading Panda · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is a solid and sweet romance. If you are searching for a feel-good story without the cringeworthy insta-love, this is for you. The reader sees the development of friendship and deep feelings at an unhurried pace. Both Raven and Joslyn were lovable. They were both caring, loving, loyal, and honest. Often in romance fiction (especially ff romance) one of the protagonists is weak and less developed. I loved that this was not the case with Uncommon Emotions. I gave it 3 stars because the writing style was mediocre and the fluff at the end was a little over the top.

[gabisreads · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really love the main character of this one, Joslyn. She’s super no nonsense and not a shrieking violet. She knows what she wants but isn’t abrasive, rather coolly confident and rational.

If you’re looking for a quick, romantic & sapphic read this is the one. It’s very well-written with really great detail.

I like that at the end we get to see a chapter from Raven’s POV considering I was wanting it throughout the book. Really looking forward to reading more from this author.

[Celina · Rating 4 out of 5]

It was a really interesting read. The characters are well-written. The pace of the story is also good.

[Lexxi Kitty · Rating 4 out of 5]

My second book by Galli. Though the first one I'd put on my maybe's list. A year ago. Literally, well, a year and two days ago. There are so many potential good books out there that I sometimes take a longish while before I get around to gobbling them all up.

I knew going in that I'd be reading a sub-genre of lesbian fiction, of lesbian romances, that I didn't really like reading. I don't particularly like reading the 'straight woman' 'lesbian woman' hook up stories. Which this one was. Since Joslyn Simonini has spent the last 37 years thinking of herself as straight. For various reasons, confirming that Raven Malvolio is a lesbian took longer to occur. Mostly assumed from the beginning, though.

I'd read the first chapter, though, to sample the book. And I rather liked how everything seemed to be coming off. A woman drags Jos into a closet at her current client's offices and kisses her passionately. Only to find out she had grabbed the wrong woman. Jos found it a much nicer experience than she would have expected. So, her ideas of her own sexuality were already tripping down different confused paths before she ever even meet Raven.

I didn't know it when I read the sample chapter. Though, for some reason I kind of assumed it, and/or felt the book would be this way, but the book is almost entirely from the point of view of Joslyn. Which actually helped me even more in being able to enjoy this book and not fall into certain pathways that might have come up if I'd had both of the couple's thoughts throughout, and/or if this had been from Raven's point of view.

Strong, solid characterization. I rather liked both lead women, Joslyn and Raven. They are the most well developed, though I got a good sense of others as the story progressed.

Story-wise: except for one 'out of left field, let's have a conflict to have a conflict' plot point, I liked the story. That "conflict" point did seem rather contrived, though. I liked that it mostly wasn't a miscommunication situation, though. Too often this all too common plot device, conflict point, is based on somewhat lazy miscommunication. Not that the miscommunication is lazy, but that using that as the reason for conflict seems to happen so often, that it begins to feel lazy for a writer to fall back on it. So, I'm glad that the conflict point wasn't specifically a miscommunication issue.

Ack. I almost forgot one thing I normally do not mention: sex. If you are the kind to skim or skip the sex scenes, this is one book wherein it actually adds something to fully read these scenes. As in, adds to the characterization of the characters, to the plot, to the love relationship. Also, and a side point, I liked these scenes.

Well, this is the second new-to-me lesbian author I've found and enjoyed since June 29th when I read my first book by Galli, Full Court Pressure. Potentially four if the I add another book/story by the other two new-to-me lesbian authors I've read since them, and like those works.

[MJSam · Rating 4 out of 5]

It's a bit of a stretch to call this story part of the 'VA' series, as it's linked to those characters through brief cameos by Elise and Austy. Still this is my favourite of the series so far. I loved both characters and their interactions. Raven's hesitation to enter into a relationship with a 'straight' girl rang true, as did the reasons why she went ahead anyway. Also loved the family interactions, though Jos's family was more fun. This story also features a forced drama at the end that was a bit overdone, and not really in keeping with what I expected of Raven's character but it was fairly brief and wasn't enough to take away from my enjoyment of the book.

[Leavethesky · Rating 2 out of 5]

There's no real tension in this (besides the "I"m straight!" "Oh no, she's straight!" plot) and Raven, one of our lead characters, in particular isn't very well fleshed out. Galli's books have always felt a bit on the short side, but this feels more like a novella. Not her best. I think part of the problem is that this strays pretty far away from her Charlottesville group and all of the back story that immediately provides to readers in the know. It just feels light and certainly not worth the $9 I paid for it.

[Liz · Rating 3 out of 5]

So it's not the worst book in the world, but it's pure romance. I should've expected that, or at least read the synopsis before diving in, however, I didn't so... I was a little disappointed. There wasn't a lot driving the novel except for the main characters' obvious relationship trajectory. The prose was a little over the top and choppy in some places, it needed editing. Also, the words 'clitoris' and 'areola' are not sexy, stop that.

That being said, it was kind of sweet, and not too bad.

[M · Rating 4 out of 5]

I am so happy i bought this book. Lynn Galli is such a great writer. This book has a little of everything: good story, entertaining characters, wonderful humor, and a sweet romance that shows that you can find love when you least expect it, in a person you would have never suspected.

[Nikki · Rating 3 out of 5]

A pretty standard romance overall, and I'm beginning to get familiar with Galli's writing style and her little jabs of humor. I didn't enjoy it quite as much as Blessed Twice, but still good characters and one I'll likely re-read at some point.

[Jourdyn · Rating 4 out of 5]

Galli definitely has a formula. Her characters are similar, but also different enough to be able to look past the familiar plots. Her writing also makes it easy to forgive the formulaic tendencies. You get sucked in. :)

[Eva · Rating 1 out of 5]

I've almost did not finish this book.

The first part of the book is almost acceptable, if you manage to accept the fact that a straight woman in her mid thirties, could jump the fence in an instant, without any previous or second thoughts. But the second part has no plot whatsoever. Just boring.

[Mirtha Siblesz · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved it

I really like the way this writer develops her characters. There is always a nice build up to the way the story/characters develop along in a good progression with sweetness and humor. Well done!

[Marta · Rating 1 out of 5]

I'm sorry but this book was so unrealistic and predictable that I found it hard to read it till the end. I read lots of romances esp f/f and I know that most of them are quite simple, but this one was just too bad for me to enjoy :(