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Defective
Yolanda is a talented DJ and a devoted mom. She's also straight, despite frequent assumptions otherwise. When a friend has a gig at a gay bar one night, Yolanda goes along. But she's not comfortable - especially after Whitney, her beautiful ex-Marine coworker, asks her to dance. Whitney enjoys her job as a flair bartender, and her support dog helps her deal with the scars still left from her time in the service. She can’t resist Yolanda's dark good looks, so she’s willing to be patient in the face of her friend’s resistance. But even though Whitney's open about her sexuality, she has secrets of her own that she can't bear to expose. Will Yolanda finally admit the attraction between them? And if she does, can her acceptance heal Whitney's hidden shame?
- GenresLesbian
233 pages, Kindle Edition
Published September 13, 2017
32 people are currently reading
40 people want to read
About the author
Maria Jackson
13 books19 followersAuthor also writes as:
Abraham Steele
A.R. Steele
Librarian note:
There is more than one author in the GoodReads database with this name
Abraham Steele
A.R. Steele
Librarian note:
There is more than one author in the GoodReads database with this name
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Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews
September 29, 2017
I found this to be an okay (and sometimes better than okay) read with the 2nd half of the book being an improvement over the first.
This has kind of a strange plot in that Yolanda, one of the leads, is in the closet to herself while everyone else in her life is basically holding up a neon sign to her stating that she's lesbian and they support her. She spends the first 1/3 of the book being pissed about this and, for me, she almost came across as a caricature because she was fairly two dimensional and so quick to anger. In the story, by the way, she's 26 and a single mother to a four year old.
Whitney is the other lead and comes across with much more depth. She's a war veteran rebuilding her life after suffering some trauma. The book definitely goes into feels and a pity party of one while at the same time isn't too dark...if that makes any sense.
Yolanda and Whitney have a decent amount of chemistry but I disliked Yolanda in the beginning and don't see why Whitney is attracted to her. Yolanda is a more developed and sympathetic character later in the story, though. They actually do end up making a cute couple for each other.
Ultimately, the read is a feel good, almost to a sappy degree by the end, romance. I thought the "I'm not a lesbian" mantra and the self-pity stuff was a little too much but the story was interesting enough to keep me engaged, as well.
3.5 stars
This has kind of a strange plot in that Yolanda, one of the leads, is in the closet to herself while everyone else in her life is basically holding up a neon sign to her stating that she's lesbian and they support her. She spends the first 1/3 of the book being pissed about this and, for me, she almost came across as a caricature because she was fairly two dimensional and so quick to anger. In the story, by the way, she's 26 and a single mother to a four year old.
Whitney is the other lead and comes across with much more depth. She's a war veteran rebuilding her life after suffering some trauma. The book definitely goes into feels and a pity party of one while at the same time isn't too dark...if that makes any sense.
Yolanda and Whitney have a decent amount of chemistry but I disliked Yolanda in the beginning and don't see why Whitney is attracted to her. Yolanda is a more developed and sympathetic character later in the story, though. They actually do end up making a cute couple for each other.
Ultimately, the read is a feel good, almost to a sappy degree by the end, romance. I thought the "I'm not a lesbian" mantra and the self-pity stuff was a little too much but the story was interesting enough to keep me engaged, as well.
3.5 stars
September 23, 2025
A good book, if simplistic - and that’s not a criticism. At odds with themselves, the two main characters mend each other before themselves. Recommended.
January 8, 2018
I gave this book a 3.25 stars. The writing was pretty solid but I had a hard time liking the characters. There was a lot of self-hate and denial all the way around, too much negativity for me to really be on board with the good feels when they came. Everyone has their things they don't like in fiction and that is the only reason the author didn't get a 3.5 from me. Personal preference.
All in all, it's not a bad read and it's a little off the beaten path as far as the plot goes. I liked that aspect a lot. I haven't read any of Maria Jackson's works previous, but I'd definitely be willing to read another. :)
All in all, it's not a bad read and it's a little off the beaten path as far as the plot goes. I liked that aspect a lot. I haven't read any of Maria Jackson's works previous, but I'd definitely be willing to read another. :)
October 6, 2017
3.5 stars! One of the better f/f romance novels I've read.
June 16, 2020
Great Story!
There was so much to love about this story and yet some things to hate. I loved the chemistry between Whitney and Yolanda. The friends of each of them also made this story. Learning about your sexuality is tough but ignoring what is right in front of you with indignation when friends and loved ones were trying to be supportive is another. I liked the flow of the story and is was fast paced. I loved that both women needed the other to help them get pass themselves to what others saw in them.
There was so much to love about this story and yet some things to hate. I loved the chemistry between Whitney and Yolanda. The friends of each of them also made this story. Learning about your sexuality is tough but ignoring what is right in front of you with indignation when friends and loved ones were trying to be supportive is another. I liked the flow of the story and is was fast paced. I loved that both women needed the other to help them get pass themselves to what others saw in them.
October 2, 2017
Good
This is a good reading. Whitney is a veteran, a gorgeous ex marine now a bartender, who was injured and lost her leg. Yolanda is a DJ with a daughter in denial of her sexuality. They work together and attracted to each other.
This is a good reading. Whitney is a veteran, a gorgeous ex marine now a bartender, who was injured and lost her leg. Yolanda is a DJ with a daughter in denial of her sexuality. They work together and attracted to each other.
January 6, 2020
Sweet book
Very sweet book.One a hero and lost her leg because of it,but that is not all she is. She has fears and hopes. Another girl that was afraid to admit and hated everyone saying she was into girls. These two finally let their guard down and fall In love.
Very sweet book.One a hero and lost her leg because of it,but that is not all she is. She has fears and hopes. Another girl that was afraid to admit and hated everyone saying she was into girls. These two finally let their guard down and fall In love.
December 31, 2017
Good book
This was an interesting story. It was different to see a supportive family and friends with the lesbian in denial.
This was an interesting story. It was different to see a supportive family and friends with the lesbian in denial.
Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews