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Faltering
In the 1950's, Sylvie grew up following Lara Elgin around her home in Natchitoches, Louisiana, while Hattie, Sylvie's mother worked as the Elgin family's maid. Her naive fantasies found Lara's, seemingly charmed, life to be the ideal of every wish that filled her imagination. To Sylvie, Lara appeared everything she aspired to be, beautiful, wealthy, and loved. As Sylvie grows into adulthood, and her admiration for Lara turns to love, she realizes the vast class, cultural, and financial differences separating the two women, and the difficulty of ever being seen as Lara's equal in that world. Through this, her love for Lara is constant, as both women strive, often faltering, in their attempts to build a life together.
- GenresHistorical
227 pages, Kindle Edition
Published November 26, 2017
15 people are currently reading
37 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 15 of 15 reviews
March 27, 2018
I have mixed feelings about this book. The head games were really too much, but I just couldn’t stop reading. It reminds me a bit of lesbian pulp fiction. Partially because of the time period, but even more so throughout the entire book you think, this is going to have bad ending, while hoping you’re totally wrong. Lara was a really complex character, at times she was so frustrating and annoying, then I’d have compassion for her. This book definitely held my interest.
December 27, 2017
Maybe 2.5 stars. Too many head games. Wasn't really into it. Definitely *not* her typical body of work. Her other 3 books are brilliant. Not sure what happened here.
December 26, 2018
I couldn’t get onboard with the head games and the characters but the book kept me reading and the characters didn’t seem out of place for the time and place they were set. Overall, it was good story told even if the particulars didn’t appeal to me.
April 23, 2025
4 stars. This was wild and kinda uncomfortable due to how manipulative Lara was. I felt bad for Sylvie more than anything. Lara had her wrapped around her finger and I don’t think this worked as a romance, it was way too toxic but it was a good look into obsession and what happens when you don’t set boundaries with people. I didn’t buy into the sudden HEA but I guess since Sylvie was happy with it than whatever. This book was good but I was expecting something completely different from it based on the synopsis but it did have me gripped. I was never bored while reading this and I did like the writing so four stars I guess. Idk, I'm conflicted.
December 28, 2017
This story is a powerful piece of historical fiction that takes place inside my own lifetime, with the exception of the scenes when Sylvie was 14. Having grown up in the Midwest instead of the south, the world presented wasn't the same one I grew up in, but I did have a relative living in a same sex relationship in the south during much of that time and wondered how she and her partner dealt with exactly the kind of unwelcoming atmosphere depicted in this story. They always seemed happy the few times I saw them in my youth, so I suppose they were resilient enough to let the negativity roll off their backs.
The thirteen year course of the relationship between Lara and Sylvie, from the point where Sylvie begins working for Lara as a maid to the point where they finally are able to be together, is tumultuous and painful, but well written. It covers a time period of US history that is similarly tumultuous, but also one of considerable progress. During that time, twenty-two US states and one US territory joined Illinois in removing the sodomy laws mentioned in the story from their criminal codes. Interestingly enough, two of the states the couple lived in briefly during their time together, Illinois (1962) and New Mexico (1975), had removed them by the time they were living in those states in the story. (I wondered if that was intentional on the part of the author. Colorado would have been another option that could have been along the way.)
The characters are complex compelling. If I had one complaint, it would be that Lara is occasionally difficult to like, making it hard to understand why Sylvie puts up with her. Then again, Sylvie did run from her repeatedly as well... All in all, the relationship between the two women is wonderfully depicted. The book is hard to put down.
The thirteen year course of the relationship between Lara and Sylvie, from the point where Sylvie begins working for Lara as a maid to the point where they finally are able to be together, is tumultuous and painful, but well written. It covers a time period of US history that is similarly tumultuous, but also one of considerable progress. During that time, twenty-two US states and one US territory joined Illinois in removing the sodomy laws mentioned in the story from their criminal codes. Interestingly enough, two of the states the couple lived in briefly during their time together, Illinois (1962) and New Mexico (1975), had removed them by the time they were living in those states in the story. (I wondered if that was intentional on the part of the author. Colorado would have been another option that could have been along the way.)
The characters are complex compelling. If I had one complaint, it would be that Lara is occasionally difficult to like, making it hard to understand why Sylvie puts up with her. Then again, Sylvie did run from her repeatedly as well... All in all, the relationship between the two women is wonderfully depicted. The book is hard to put down.
March 5, 2018
Very good book.
Not often but occasionally a writer in this genre truly stands out. Breaks the mold of interchangeable names on the, more or less same book. Rarely does the book differ enough to rate a mention as one that stands alone instead of in a group. Usually it is the independent authors that dare to go a different route, but not many of them. Same book different writer. Jennifer Lyndon is different. She writes different. Her characters are not perfect. They are not always trustworthy and they make mistakes. In other words they live not merely exist. They come to life. At times one does not even like the character. This book is a perfect example of that. Is it the perfect status quo? No. That is what makes this book good and this writer even better. I certainly do not mean to offend any author, but take a chance every once in awhile and be willing to go off the grid. A very good book and highly recommended as is every book by this author.
Not often but occasionally a writer in this genre truly stands out. Breaks the mold of interchangeable names on the, more or less same book. Rarely does the book differ enough to rate a mention as one that stands alone instead of in a group. Usually it is the independent authors that dare to go a different route, but not many of them. Same book different writer. Jennifer Lyndon is different. She writes different. Her characters are not perfect. They are not always trustworthy and they make mistakes. In other words they live not merely exist. They come to life. At times one does not even like the character. This book is a perfect example of that. Is it the perfect status quo? No. That is what makes this book good and this writer even better. I certainly do not mean to offend any author, but take a chance every once in awhile and be willing to go off the grid. A very good book and highly recommended as is every book by this author.
June 21, 2020
Fast paced
I’m a fan of Jennifer Lyndon’s Infatuation. I compare all other lgbt romance novels to Infatuation, including her other works. In this novel, I can see the same writing style, same pace in timeline from beginning to much later in life, and similar situations with how the relationships unfold. Based on her other work, her face paced writing, and to the point is what one should expect.
I’d you want great detail, it gives you detail in short moments and quickly loves on to months to years later. The pace worked in this novel. Lyndon’s sci-fi novel’s pace was excruciating, but this pace worked for the overall story. It was enjoyable and a pleasant read. I liked the characters and their complications were intense and drown out. I couldn’t imagine a real person staying through it. Overall, I enjoyed it and am glad I read it.
I’m a fan of Jennifer Lyndon’s Infatuation. I compare all other lgbt romance novels to Infatuation, including her other works. In this novel, I can see the same writing style, same pace in timeline from beginning to much later in life, and similar situations with how the relationships unfold. Based on her other work, her face paced writing, and to the point is what one should expect.
I’d you want great detail, it gives you detail in short moments and quickly loves on to months to years later. The pace worked in this novel. Lyndon’s sci-fi novel’s pace was excruciating, but this pace worked for the overall story. It was enjoyable and a pleasant read. I liked the characters and their complications were intense and drown out. I couldn’t imagine a real person staying through it. Overall, I enjoyed it and am glad I read it.
February 4, 2019
This is Lydon's second book that I've read so far. It was somehow captivating for me the first 20% of the book, and as for the rest, it became almost like a child play. There were so many big elements that Lyndon was missing: chemistry between the two characters, reasons for sudden twist of the plot, and not to mention one of her characters was entirely manipulative and the other one who appeared to be independent for her own good also gave herself away later on. This shouldn't be the version of someone who stands strong and firm on her ground.
Three stars because of the first 20% of the book only.
Three stars because of the first 20% of the book only.
August 26, 2018
Phew
This is the second book book I’ve read the first An Infatuation was some while ago both are quite long books and both equally captivating so much so that both were read in one go!!! The story covers 50 or so years based in the south and what is expected of people separated by both the class and colour divide add to that falling in love it sounds complex but it’s well written and you can’t help but fall in love with Lara and Sylvie’s story. A great read for a miserable rainy British summer day
This is the second book book I’ve read the first An Infatuation was some while ago both are quite long books and both equally captivating so much so that both were read in one go!!! The story covers 50 or so years based in the south and what is expected of people separated by both the class and colour divide add to that falling in love it sounds complex but it’s well written and you can’t help but fall in love with Lara and Sylvie’s story. A great read for a miserable rainy British summer day
February 18, 2018
Fantastic read!!!!
This is the third book I've read by Jennifer Lyndon and she never fails to disappoint. The passion and heartache of these two women was so strong, I found myself getting lost. I started reading with the intention of doing housework, which never happened. If you read the first chapter, prepare to enjoy the entire book.
This is the third book I've read by Jennifer Lyndon and she never fails to disappoint. The passion and heartache of these two women was so strong, I found myself getting lost. I started reading with the intention of doing housework, which never happened. If you read the first chapter, prepare to enjoy the entire book.
August 23, 2021
I am a bit of a "hard grader" but I gave 4 stars because this book held me captivated from page one. I just had to learn how these two complex MC's ever could work it out. It is mostly set in the late seventies and early eighties, a time I identify with very strongly, and I think the author did an excellent job of capturing the highs and lows of those times. Yes, you could actually see gay people on the streets of SF, but the rest of the country was lagging far behind! And in the South, even when I lived there in the nineties, you just hid and lied. About half way through I started recalling a classic film called The Great Lie, with Bette Davis and Mary Astor, which had a similar melodramatic chain of events, and I could see Davis and Astor in the roles of Lara and Sylvie. The title came to make sense, as well, as the reader will literally "falter" all through the book, constantly waiting for the other shoe to drop.
January 7, 2018
AMAZING!
I was first hooked to this author when I read An Infatuation. So, when I saw she had released this one I had to read it. I couldn’t put it down and finished in one sitting. I laughed...I cried...it made you feel so many things. I am almost sad it’s over!
I was first hooked to this author when I read An Infatuation. So, when I saw she had released this one I had to read it. I couldn’t put it down and finished in one sitting. I laughed...I cried...it made you feel so many things. I am almost sad it’s over!
April 9, 2018
I loved loved loved it
Jennifer Lyndon is just awesome. You kno w exactly how each character feels, the pain, the isolation and the love. Growin g up in this era I knew how they felt.
Can't wait for another book by her.
Jennifer Lyndon is just awesome. You kno w exactly how each character feels, the pain, the isolation and the love. Growin g up in this era I knew how they felt.
Can't wait for another book by her.
December 25, 2017
Beautiful
A really sweet story. I enjoyed this author's work so much and I was not disappointed with this one at all.
A really sweet story. I enjoyed this author's work so much and I was not disappointed with this one at all.
July 19, 2024
This book is not for people who are looking for something light-hearted and sweet. The story follows Sylvie as she navigates the struggles of growing up mixed race and poor in the south in the 80's. Sylvie's mother is a house keeper for the other MC, Lara, family. Sylvie and Lara form a bond that starts in childhood and eventually blossoms into love. Both Sylvie and Lara have real hang-ups when it comes to being in love with each other. This leads to a lot of angst throughout the story. The conflicting feelings allow this story to feel authentic. You may not always like both MC's but their actions make sense and are justifiable. Again this is not fluffy story, it is filled with heartbreak after heartbreak.
Displaying 1 - 15 of 15 reviews