Rare and Beautiful Things

by Giselle Fox

The rarest prize might be buried deep … or hiding in plain sight.
Amber Greyell knows a lot about jaguars. A virgin at 32, the willowy, redheaded PhD finds romance far more baffling. So when she meets gorgeous, athletic shipwreck diver Nikki Sharpe off the coast of Belize, her curiosity is mixed with a strong dose of caution.
Nikki can’t help being intrigued by Amber’s innocence and intellect. When the pair discover a long-lost journal preserved in a sunken ship, the unexpected story in its pages sets them on their own journey toward intimacy.
But Amber doesn’t want to get her heart broken by a woman who won’t be around for long. Can Nikki overcome Amber’s doubts and show her there’s more than one kind of hidden treasure?

Genres: Romance, Lesbian Romance, LGBT, Lesbian, Fiction, Ebooks, Action

185 pages, Kindle Edition

First published October 4, 2016

About the author

Sure, I do other stuff but mostly I’m a writer. I get up early in the morning and work at my kitchen table with a steaming hot cup of tea. Sometimes I listen to brain.fm to help me focus. Sometimes I use a timer and write in sprints. Sometimes I don’t do any of that and listen to the chatter of the birds in my back yard while I dive into a scene. Whatever I do, I sit my ass in the chair every day and write.
I have a wife. She’s the inspiration for all of my sexy heroines. She’s the crème de la crème. She’s my favorite love story. She’s my queen.
I’m also a mother. I have a son that I adore more than anything in the world. He’s the best thing I ever did, by far, and his amazing sense of fun and adventure keeps me wanting to explore.
I’m a musician. I used to play in a band. I’m a computer geek, I love cooking, tasting delicious craft beers and being outside. I love where I live, on the beautiful West Coast of Canada where it’s temperate in all sorts of ways.
Giselle Fox is my pen name. Having a pen name puts a little separation between real life and fiction. And since my stories are always spicy, that separation is a good thing. Giselle is the creative part of me. She gets me out of bed every morning, she cracks the whip when I want to flake out on the couch and watch Netflix. She makes me pay attention to people and circumstances and ask questions so I can write. Having an alter ego is great. You should try it, if you haven’t already.

Reviews

[Book Worm · Rating 4 out of 5]

4 stars - beautiful and poetic, adventurous and romantic

First of all - the cover does not do the book justice. I can only remotely see the connection between content and picture. The two main characters are very exceptional: one is Amber who does research on panthers and is, in essence, a geek - solitary, not very good at small talk, super bright and still a virgin with 32; the other is Nikki, a diver looking for lost treasure under water - she's represented as a player, gorgeous, adventurous, with a mermaid tattoo. These two meet and somehow their stories become intertwined through the journal they find in the wreck of a ship. The story this journal tells becomes more than just the story of a lesbian living more than 100 years ago. It becomes a metaphor for their blossoming love.
There are so many beautiful pictures in this book (painted with words) I wonder why none of them made it to the cover.

Exceptional about this book is the way the past intertwines with the present and the way the author was able to create beautiful imagery with her words.
If you enjoy a romantic and poetic read - then grab this book.

[Corrie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Book Club Buddie D. and I were in the mood for something warm and fluffy and that was exactly what we got with Rare and Beautiful Things. Giselle Fox is a very competent writer, I always like reading her stories and this book had been lingering on my kindle for way too long. This is a feel-good romance with minimal angst and lots of erotic attraction in an exotic location.

Extra bonus points for the diary fragments of Marie (and her Pearl). They were swoon worthy.

f/f explicit

Themes: Belize, sunken treasure, a beautiful 1908 love story, big jungle cats

5 stars

[Pin · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is an entertaining romance with a nice touch of adventure and mystery, interesting main characters and a sweet love story. The scenery of Belize is described nicely. I will continue to read books by this author.
3.5 stars, rounded up

[Joc · Rating 5 out of 5]

Each time I read a book by Fox, I'm surprised. The story line is never as simple as the blurb suggests, the characters never quite fit into a neat little stereotype box and her writing is more beautiful and complex than I expect to find in a romance.

Written from Amber's point of view, she sees Nikki while on a boat off the coast of Belize. Nikki is gorgeous, athletic and a diver of sunken treasure. Amber is conservative, shy, intelligent and has no idea what to do when Nikki flirts with her. She has no confidence in her own appeal and struggles to believe that Nikki is attracted to her.

First person point of view often creates a distance between me and all of the other characters but I didn't find that here. I felt I got to know Nikki as well as I did Amber. Their connection is beautiful and erotic, which was another surprise considering their first kiss wasn't until halfway in.
This was a wonderful read and lifted me out of my 'meh' mood.

[Michele · Rating 5 out of 5]

Really one of the better written lesbian novels I have read in a while. I've gotten so used to the mediocre writers in this genre, that I tend to do the celebration run/dance to the rocky movie theme when I come across a really well written one. Hence the rocky theme run/dance that occurred upon completion of this book.

[Corporate Slave · Rating 1 out of 5]

For starters I can’t ever ever handle body parts turned into nicknames! Ever..
I started this one with such high hopes but I guess it wasn’t for me :(
I just had so many moments when I was thinking : “is it my flu or the antibiotics I’m on or is it the book I’m reading ? Am I hallucinating? Is this really happening ?”

[hubsie · Rating 3 out of 5]

I'm feeling a bit at a loss of creativity today, and can't seem to find any quirky witticisms to go with this review. Maybe due to the late wedding I attended yesterday? Overall this was a good, light read but nothing all that unique. I enjoyed the setting and jaguar/shipwreck diving aspects and really liked the story of Marie and "Pearl." You have to suspend reality with this book, there's a lot of "really??" moments. The two MCs played a long game of cat and mouse, many innuendos that were over the top. The sex scenes were super detailed and quite steamy, though the author's choice of words for certain lady bits had me rolling my eyes. So cheesy. Anyway, a good read, not one I would care to revisit but entertaining enough.

[Linda · Rating 4 out of 5]

One very entertaining and sexy read. I liked it

[Alexis · Rating 4 out of 5]

A cute, sexy and entertaining read.

Having fallen head over heels with Giselle Fox's series Claire and the lady billionaire I decided to try her other books as well. This book, while starting off slow, quickly had me turning page after page.

It tells the story of quiet and geeky Amber and player Nikki who meet each other in Belize and eventually fall in love. However what had me truly hooked was the story of Marie and Pearl. Yes there are 2 romantic story lines in this book, though their story played out about a century earlier.

There was nothing very remarkable about this story but it was an enjoyable read anyway. I actually liked this more than Slow Burn in Tuscany. It get's a 3.75* rating.

[Angie Engles · Rating 4 out of 5]

As much as I like Rare and Beautiful Things (and I do, if for no other reason than it is sweet and sincere and deals with an aspect of romantic relations not often dealt with in lesfic) I cannot help but feel something (hard to pinpoint, but still very much there) is missing. Great and endearing characters, wonderful touches of emotion and vulnerability and solid writing all make this a strong good read. For me (and I am a fan more of romantic and emotional love scenes than of physically oriented ones) I think it comes down to just wanting it to be longer and to have more plot revolve around both what Nikki and Amber do for a living. They have fascinating jobs and it would just be really neat to find out more about them :)

[Kexx · Rating 4 out of 5]

Always worried when a story within a story emerges - don't get me going about dreams!! - but it was well done and relevant. Kept me entertained and the characters were real. Good stuff.

[Karen · Rating 4 out of 5]

I read this one about a week ago and I am not just getting a chance to give a quick review. This is an amazon kindle unlimited book and it for sure worth the read. It really is such a cute story about the nerdy girl and the popular girl. Normally it's the nerdy one falling for the popular girl. Well Fox gives the version where popular girl finds nerdy girl hot. I think by the middle of the book, I started to think the same way. :-). Anyway, this was a good read and I give it 3.75 stars.

[Marie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Really enjoyed this one. Finally something new. Different. Being a "weirdo" can be relatable as well, maybe more so for me.

[IanWAA · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really enjoyed it, especially the diary/journal. But whet happend to the panther why was she in the territory of the other panther.

[Stephanie · Rating 4 out of 5]

The second book I've read by this author. I read the first one Slow Burn in Tuscany because it was on Kindle Unlimited and nothing else caught my eye. I thoroughly, surprisingly enjoyed it. So when I saw this I was quicker to give it a chance. I don't know why but adding "A Lesbian Romance" in the title just continues to turn me off. The cheesy quality maybe? Anyway...I really, really liked this book. There were jungle and pirates and a story within a story....I found it all quite enjoyable. It was quite predictable but none the less a good read. The addition of the mystery of the story within the story added a nice element as well as some interesting secondary characters. I found the chemistry between the mains enjoyable...a definite opposites attract situation.

This was a solid 3.5 but I rounded up because the author successfully incorporated so many of the things I love into this complex story!

[AnnMaree Of Oz · Rating 5 out of 5]

A truly gorgeous book that will uplift your soul.

I really don't think I can do this justice in reviewing. Beautiful prose, amazing connection, a bit of adventure and history. Just charming and magical!

[Heinerway · Rating 3 out of 5]

A very sweet story about a geeky biologist meeting a hot and sexy treasure diver in an exotic setting. As a plus they find a diary that tells the story of Pearl and Marie a century earlier. Nice.

[bootsandcats · Rating 5 out of 5]

Okay honestly, have I been living under a rock?! This was my first Giselle Fox book and it's stunning! She writes beautifully and god the chemistry between Nikki and Amber were off. The. Charts. Their banter was lovely and witty. Amber's voice was clinical but extremely endearing (also, am I the only one who laughed out loud at her ocelot joke? It was hilarious). I also loved the historical component of the story and it just goes to show how talented Fox is to be able to write such different personalities and tone. It's also got that adventure/swashbuckling escapism deliciousness.

[Jessica Nguyen · Rating 5 out of 5]

It's sweet and fun! I love stories about nerdy with socially awkward behavior :D. Though the story is a bit shallow, I wouldn't mind since I need a little sweet read once in a while! 4.5 stars

[Hello · Rating 5 out of 5]

Slow Burn in Tuscany by Giselle Fox is one of my favorite romance novels but Rare and Beautiful Things just knocked it down a spot. I don't know what else to say about this author that I haven't already said in my review for Tuscany. I'm so glad I took a chance on her though because she's become one of my absolute favorite romance authors. There are authors who write very well, then there are authors who write very well and very beautifully. I can't can't can't get over her writing. There's just something about it that gets me hooked and won't let go. If I had to read from one author for the rest of my life, she would be it. This book had such a cute story. It's already been mentioned but it is definitely swoon-worthy and will totally melt your heart. There were parts that made me tear up because, hello, did I mention her beautiful writing? Amber, one of the main characters, is so innocent it's adorable and endearing. I don't think I've come across a character like that in lesfic, so that was kind of a nice change. She's the total opposite of Nikki, whom I also loved. This novel actually has a second story, one from the lost journal, woven into it that sort of parallels Amber and Nikki's story. It's definitely on my list of books to reread. Check out her series Claire and the Lady Billionaire and her other romance novel Slow Burn in Tuscany if you haven't already yet, then come and sit with me while we wait for her next release. By the way, the sex? Hot, hot, hot. She's one of the best when it comes to writing sex scenes.

[Doreen · Rating 5 out of 5]

A Rare and Beautiful lesbian novel.

I am very impressed by the multilayered storytelling in this book. How lovely it is to watch Amber and Nikki fall in love. Told in Amber's strong and brilliant voice, these women give themselves to each other much the way that they hunt for hidden treasure or study an apex predator. At times, their journey together floundered in fears of the past or in anxiety about the future. Looking back to discover the story of Marie and Pearl, it comes across as a cautionary tale for their own love affair. Looking forward, there doesn't seem to be any space for Amber and Nikki to stay together.

I really like this writer. I've enjoyed previously published work. Rare and Beautiful Things is a lesbian novel of both style and substance. I am so glad that I read it.

[Yahli Rot · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a 5-stars book, no doubt. I would give it 10 if it was allowed (Amber's words, not mine).
The characters are so wonderful, unique. The writing in this book is the best I've read in a while. The storyline is not what I expected, but in the best way possible. The only bad thing about this book is that it's too short.

[C. Mack · Rating 5 out of 5]

A beautiful romance that entwines two stories. Great level of depth that really absorbs you into the story and kept me reading well after I should have gone to bed...suffering from a reading hangover this morning; too little sleep and dreams that relived the story and the characters therein. Love it when a book does that, even if it does make me a little more grouchy in the morning!

[Kathryn · Rating 4 out of 5]

Beautifully written. Loved the duo love stories.

I found only two typos in this book. That's amazing!

[Dani (Dani Reviews Things) · Rating 2 out of 5]

I must be the blackest of black sheep with this book, as almost all of the reviews on Goodreads are 4 or 5 stars. Everyone raves about the characters and how sweet the romance is. Me? I think this gif sums it up.



Three years ago, Nikki and Amber met on a boat, felt an initial attraction, and then quickly parted ways because Amber got freaked out by another woman paying Nikki attention. Skip to present-day, and Amber’s in Belize studying jaguars when, lo and behold, Nikki shows up with her dive team. Nikki doesn’t hide that she wants to get all up in Amber’s business, and Amber is awkward and scientific about it all, not letting it happen despite acknowledging that she is experiencing arousal.

This was not sexy. I get it; Amber is a virgin scientist, but that doesn’t mean she needs to be a robot. Oh, but she must be awakened, and then she’ll be a wild animal. Of course. Neither character had depth. Amber was just a scientist, so she naturally had to be awkward. Nikki was a diver, so her athleticism naturally came with assertiveness and sex appeal. Of course. There was the teensiest bit of chemistry, but it was mostly meh, and what was there was ruined by the cheesy naming of the clit as “pearl”. Ugh. (Another term they kept repeating? “Apex predator”. I get it, jaguars are apex predators. Just call them jaguars instead of trying to push home that the one character is a scientist.)

The story. Was there meant to be substance to that plot? Was I supposed to feel excited or enthralled? At most, I felt some mild curiosity about the contents of the journal, but I actually guessed what it would be from the blurb, to be honest. And wow, were the journal entries stilted.

There wasn’t any world building, either. As readers, we must put together what we can based on the stereotypical photos you might find of rainforests and beaches and waterfalls. I got no sense of the spaces, no ambiance, when we entered any of the buildings, or even on the beach. How far were things from each other? What was the weather like? Were there any background noises? Nothing.

It was all so flat. The dialogue, the personalities, the story, the setting, the romance. I'm not sure what kept me reading it other than that it was relatively short and that I was hoping it would get better. I don’t know. Maybe I’m missing something, but there are much better lesbian romances out there.This review was originally posted on Love in a time of Feminism

[Elisa Rolle · Rating 5 out of 5]

2017 Rainbow Awards Honorable Mention: Rare and Beautiful Things Giselle Fox
1)Really liked this story.  The plot, characters and setting were all well written.  Liked the developing relationship between Nikki and Amber.  Definitely recommend this romance story to others.
2) This was a wonderful story and I really enjoyed it. Even though I had figured out a majority of plot it was wonderful to read and experience everything as the characters did.  I've been to Belize and I'm a Scuba Diver so these details and how the setting was depicted were perfect.  The writer has clearly done the research needed to make this real and believable especially with the scuba diving sections. The author crafted a story in such a way to completely get me sucked in. I could easily visualize all the locations and the settings, which made me as a reader very happy. The character arcs were exactly what I expected and wanted. It really worked. The way this story was written really worked for me I had no problems with writing or how it was written. I want to sit down with Amber and Niki and get to know them better over dinner and maybe trade some dive stories.

[Sonya · Rating 3 out of 5]

Jeeeeezzzz...

Starts out titillating.... devolves into lots and lots of angsty, suffocating dithering that went on far too long for my taste (with a some what interesting side plot). Finally (oh blessed relief) it comes to life - gets fun, exciting and interesting (not just the sex) - ends with a pretty cool epilogue.

[CassTrusty · Rating 5 out of 5]

Awesome

I honestly really loved this book. The story was amazing, the romance was adorable, and the characters were different and interesting. It was a pretty easy read and I would definitely recommend it.

[Marian Snowe · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was a wonderful novel with complex, interesting characters and a plot I really loved. There's not much that makes me happier in a book than a thread of historical lesbian mystery that runs through the modern-day romance!

[Lisa · Rating 1 out of 5]

I literally don't know how this became popular, I couldn't even make it past the first chapter. So many things to say about why, but honestly, I've already wasted too much time and energy just acknowledging its existence. Hire an editor.