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Playing with Matches
Dr Augusta Stuart has devoted her adult life to supporting the mental health of disadvantaged children. A lonely move to head a new clinic in San Antonio prompts her to realize she should do something to build her own romantic well-being too. Her foray into the widely variable world of Internet dating contradicts her hopes of finding a reasonable happy-ever-after partner, so she lets a friend set her up instead. That date, with the very contrary Callia Alexana, proves to be the most vexing of all. Their prickly debates are somehow as unexpectedly fascinating as playing with matches, and Gus is forced to consider what preconceptions she is willing to burn to find true love.
- GenresLesbian
231 pages, Kindle Edition
Published November 14, 2017
1 person is currently reading
27 people want to read
About the author
Lacey Schmidt
8 books17 followersI earned a doctorate in industrial-organizational psychology that has afforded me many opportunities to learn how all kinds of interesting people help make the world go around. Many of these heart-warming and heart-aching experiences continue to influence my writing. My previous fiction publications include a poetry book called The Nightshade Lexicon, short stories (Love’s Luck in the anthology It's in Her Kiss, Peaches for Honey in Christmas Medley, A Lone Star in The Texas Collection), and the lesbian romance novels A Walk Away, Catch to Release, and Playing With Matches published by Affinity Rainbow Publications. I have also published a creative non-fiction article in Bottom Dog Press' Unbroken Circle: Stories of Cultural Diversity in the South. Finally, I have written many peer-reviewed articles about the psychology of teamwork and leadership in extreme environments (i.e. NASA's spaceflight operations) and for Minerva Work Solutions' professional development guide, 50 Ways to Work Wiser. You can find me on Facebook, Twitter, Sound Cloud, or Google+ if you’re so inclined.
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Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews
December 4, 2017
An exciting read!
Gus is hired to build up a mental health clinic but far away from her family. There is little time for a personal life and she is tired of being lonely and alone. Gus has set herself up for online dating but with no luck at all. One debacle after the other follows and she has given up hope. The last thing she expected was to get involved with someone who seems far out of her league. An awkward date sent them off to a rocky start and with her she can't keep her foot out of her mouth. Gus makes harsh judgments and she sets of Cals temper in every possible way. They can't stand each other but under the surface there are strong suppressed feelings and neither is willing to admit it. Lots of things going on in this story and it keeps me completely engrossed. A story, compelling, emotional, full of life and with a wonderful cast of appealing characters. Well done!
Gus is hired to build up a mental health clinic but far away from her family. There is little time for a personal life and she is tired of being lonely and alone. Gus has set herself up for online dating but with no luck at all. One debacle after the other follows and she has given up hope. The last thing she expected was to get involved with someone who seems far out of her league. An awkward date sent them off to a rocky start and with her she can't keep her foot out of her mouth. Gus makes harsh judgments and she sets of Cals temper in every possible way. They can't stand each other but under the surface there are strong suppressed feelings and neither is willing to admit it. Lots of things going on in this story and it keeps me completely engrossed. A story, compelling, emotional, full of life and with a wonderful cast of appealing characters. Well done!
April 24, 2024
2 stars
Eh, I was confused by the dynamics. A bit of pride and prejudice style, but it went in circles of hot and cold, and I'd have had enough way sooner than either of the MCs. Considering one of them was a psychologist, the level of prejudice was disappointing, especially because I couldn't figure out where the hell she got even half of the impressions she somehow got (If it wasn't clear, I liked Cal a lot more than Gus, who just confused or annoyed me ninety percent of the time).
But to be fair, everyone was kinda dialled up to 110%. Every gesture, every emotion. Felt overwhelming. And what the hell powered Huron's brain, I don't know, but I'm afraid of it.
All in all, it was a non-stop whiplash from one extreme to another.
I didn't enjoy it, but the editing was fine.
Maybe the issue is my autistic brain, because a lot of people seem to like it. But I just can't recommend it with good conscience.
Eh, I was confused by the dynamics. A bit of pride and prejudice style, but it went in circles of hot and cold, and I'd have had enough way sooner than either of the MCs. Considering one of them was a psychologist, the level of prejudice was disappointing, especially because I couldn't figure out where the hell she got even half of the impressions she somehow got (If it wasn't clear, I liked Cal a lot more than Gus, who just confused or annoyed me ninety percent of the time).
But to be fair, everyone was kinda dialled up to 110%. Every gesture, every emotion. Felt overwhelming. And what the hell powered Huron's brain, I don't know, but I'm afraid of it.
All in all, it was a non-stop whiplash from one extreme to another.
I didn't enjoy it, but the editing was fine.
Maybe the issue is my autistic brain, because a lot of people seem to like it. But I just can't recommend it with good conscience.
May 5, 2022
Really enjoyed this - a real slow burner but that was fine. Well written, did well explaining the logistics that were a bit sticky but made the rest of the book better. Recommended.
February 16, 2018
Great romance
4 Stars
I thoroughly enjoyed this book.
It's a love story about Gus and Cal. Gus is a psychologist, New to Texas, who is hired to start up a clinic. She is lonely and figures online dating is a great way to meet friends and potential love interest. She quickly discovers that online dating is not all that fun, and agrees to be set up on a blind date by her new friend and colleague. This is where the book gets fun. She goes on a blind date with the sexy as hell Cal and the date is a disaster. Cal kinda gets the shit end of the stick because her day basically goes from bad to worse. She ends up getting bird shitted on and falling into a table of beer...at the restaurant where they are meeting, and Gus is oblivious to her plight. Gus is kinda bitchy to her because she assumes she's drunk and the both agree to say "screw it" and cancel the date. But of course they can't deny the attraction they feel towards each other. Thanks to the help of meddlesome friends, they keep getting thrown into social situations with each other and their attraction eventually blossoms into something much more.
The book had a hint of pending drama, but it didn't really touch too much on the subject. It just kinda dropped. There was a bombshell involving childhood molestation, and I was surprised at the story line and how it played out.
anyhow, it had a happy ending. I'd definitely recommend it.
4 Stars
I thoroughly enjoyed this book.
It's a love story about Gus and Cal. Gus is a psychologist, New to Texas, who is hired to start up a clinic. She is lonely and figures online dating is a great way to meet friends and potential love interest. She quickly discovers that online dating is not all that fun, and agrees to be set up on a blind date by her new friend and colleague. This is where the book gets fun. She goes on a blind date with the sexy as hell Cal and the date is a disaster. Cal kinda gets the shit end of the stick because her day basically goes from bad to worse. She ends up getting bird shitted on and falling into a table of beer...at the restaurant where they are meeting, and Gus is oblivious to her plight. Gus is kinda bitchy to her because she assumes she's drunk and the both agree to say "screw it" and cancel the date. But of course they can't deny the attraction they feel towards each other. Thanks to the help of meddlesome friends, they keep getting thrown into social situations with each other and their attraction eventually blossoms into something much more.
The book had a hint of pending drama, but it didn't really touch too much on the subject. It just kinda dropped. There was a bombshell involving childhood molestation, and I was surprised at the story line and how it played out.
anyhow, it had a happy ending. I'd definitely recommend it.
May 14, 2019
This one's got triggers, thank goodness it's not detailed though. Minor flashbacks only. In saying that, I really loved this book. The back and forth between Gus and Cal were hilarious to me and so fiery. Their chemistry jumped out of the pages I read. So much of Cal's social awkwardness and likes are similar to mine and I guess it made the book even more... meaningful, I guess, to me. I liked her outcome better though... when she spoke her truth. Getting that support, empathy and compassion from her best friends meant something.
Yeah... I know this was long, but seriously, I loved this book.
Yeah... I know this was long, but seriously, I loved this book.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
November 4, 2019
Cute slow-burning love story
Definitely not the story I was expecting after reading the description… but like, wow, was this a really, really, really good book!!
A really great book about the conflicted relationship's unstable development between two women, both scarred mentally & emotionally by their pasts' traumas & pains, but still managing to recognize what is really worth fighting over & what's important enough to reconsider to have a sustaining love in each other that overcomes, fulfills & endures.
Definitely not the story I was expecting after reading the description… but like, wow, was this a really, really, really good book!!
A really great book about the conflicted relationship's unstable development between two women, both scarred mentally & emotionally by their pasts' traumas & pains, but still managing to recognize what is really worth fighting over & what's important enough to reconsider to have a sustaining love in each other that overcomes, fulfills & endures.
Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews