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My Lady Lipstick
Anita Topaz, Queen of the Bodice Rippers, is deliberately a woman of mystery. But pressure is mounting for Anita to reveal herself to her clamoring public. It’s scrutiny that writer Paris Ellison can’t allow, especially since the glamorous “Anita” is a work of pure fiction.
Lady Diana Beckinsale excels at disappearing into a good role. Especially if that role gets her close to certain objects she desires. When Diana proposes the perfect solution to Paris’s predicament, Paris is less than enthusiastic. She can’t let someone as unsettling and observant as Diana get too close.
But Diana is persistent. After all, if she and the handsome, secretive Paris both get what they want out of an unorthodox arrangement, then it’s a win-win for them both.
My Lady Lipstick is high stakes on a merry-go-round of lies—it’s all fun and games until somebody loses her heart.
Genre: Romance
Editor: Katherine V. Forrest
Cover Designer: Judith Fellows
Lady Diana Beckinsale excels at disappearing into a good role. Especially if that role gets her close to certain objects she desires. When Diana proposes the perfect solution to Paris’s predicament, Paris is less than enthusiastic. She can’t let someone as unsettling and observant as Diana get too close.
But Diana is persistent. After all, if she and the handsome, secretive Paris both get what they want out of an unorthodox arrangement, then it’s a win-win for them both.
My Lady Lipstick is high stakes on a merry-go-round of lies—it’s all fun and games until somebody loses her heart.
Genre: Romance
Editor: Katherine V. Forrest
Cover Designer: Judith Fellows
268 pages, Paperback
First published February 15, 2018
28 people are currently reading
237 people want to read
About the author
Karin Kallmaker
79 books708 followersKarin Kallmaker has been exclusively devoted to lesbian fiction since the publication of her first novel in 1989. As an author published by the storied Naiad Press, she worked with Barbara Grier and Donna McBride, and has been fortunate to be mentored by a number of editors, including Katherine V. Forrest.
In addition to multiple Lambda Literary Awards, she has been featured as a Stonewall Library and Archives Distinguished Author. Other accolades include the Ann Bannon Popular Choice and other awards for her writing, as well as the selection as a Trailblazer by the Golden Crown Literary Society. She is best known for novels such as Painted Moon, Simply the Best, Touchwood, The Kiss that Counted and Captain of Industry.
The California native is the mother of two and lives with her wife in the Bay Area. You can catch her blogs at Romance and Chocolate: https://kallmaker.com/blog/. Find her on social media by searching for "Kallmaker" - there's only one.
In addition to multiple Lambda Literary Awards, she has been featured as a Stonewall Library and Archives Distinguished Author. Other accolades include the Ann Bannon Popular Choice and other awards for her writing, as well as the selection as a Trailblazer by the Golden Crown Literary Society. She is best known for novels such as Painted Moon, Simply the Best, Touchwood, The Kiss that Counted and Captain of Industry.
The California native is the mother of two and lives with her wife in the Bay Area. You can catch her blogs at Romance and Chocolate: https://kallmaker.com/blog/. Find her on social media by searching for "Kallmaker" - there's only one.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 56 reviews
February 11, 2018
I had not read a Kallmaker book since 2016, so I was excited to get my hands on this one. While I have not read a ton of Kallmaker’s works, every book I have read I have enjoyed. She has been around the lesfic world for a long time and it shows in how well she writes. I’m happy to say this was another enjoyable romance.
Paris is an author who writes bodes rippers under the penname Anita Topaz. Paris suffers from really bad anxiety so she has never made any public appearances. In fact she is so off the grid only a few trusted people know her secret. When her publishing house is bought by a new company, Paris is facing pressure to become the face behind her books. Diana is in Massachusetts, undercover, at an acting company. She travels the world looking for items she believes should be returned to their rightful owners or museums. When she finds out Paris’ publishing house is now owned by a man that has such an artifact, she hatches a scheme to recover it. Will Diana go through with her plans even if her feelings for Paris evolve?
This book had a really nice feel to it. A little bit of light humor, warmth, but also tackled the subject of anxiety quite well. I think whenever authors can accurately portray something that is real to us as readers, it always impresses me. I’ve dealt with panic attacks when I was younger and still have to fight anxiety on occasion. I’m content with how she approached this topic. It was realistic, but not heavy; this is a lighthearted romance after all.
I was also really happy with the pace of the book. I would say the book is slightly longer than average, but it never really lagged for me. I never felt bored, and really enjoyed the actual concept of the book. While we may have read similar parts before in other books, the story on the whole was different enough that it felt new to me.
When it came to the romance, at first I thought maybe the characters had jumped into bed a little fast. But with how the rest of the story unfolded, I was okay with it. There was no rushing to say “I Love you”. I actually really appreciate that as it seems to happen too often lately in lesfic romances. The romance instead felt like it progressed really organically. Not including the one angsty part, I actually felt the romance was one of the more realistic romances I have read in a while. My only one complaint, I just wish there was a tad more chemistry between the main characters. I absolutely believed the attraction; I just needs a tad more spark.
This was absolutely the right romance at the right time for me. I enjoyed this read and I hope others do as much as I did. If you are a Kallmaker fan, I believe you will be happy with this read. Also want to mention, Lisa from Warming Trend was a secondary character in this book. If you enjoyed that book, it might be another reason to pick this one up.
An ARC was given to me by Bella, for a honest review.
Paris is an author who writes bodes rippers under the penname Anita Topaz. Paris suffers from really bad anxiety so she has never made any public appearances. In fact she is so off the grid only a few trusted people know her secret. When her publishing house is bought by a new company, Paris is facing pressure to become the face behind her books. Diana is in Massachusetts, undercover, at an acting company. She travels the world looking for items she believes should be returned to their rightful owners or museums. When she finds out Paris’ publishing house is now owned by a man that has such an artifact, she hatches a scheme to recover it. Will Diana go through with her plans even if her feelings for Paris evolve?
This book had a really nice feel to it. A little bit of light humor, warmth, but also tackled the subject of anxiety quite well. I think whenever authors can accurately portray something that is real to us as readers, it always impresses me. I’ve dealt with panic attacks when I was younger and still have to fight anxiety on occasion. I’m content with how she approached this topic. It was realistic, but not heavy; this is a lighthearted romance after all.
I was also really happy with the pace of the book. I would say the book is slightly longer than average, but it never really lagged for me. I never felt bored, and really enjoyed the actual concept of the book. While we may have read similar parts before in other books, the story on the whole was different enough that it felt new to me.
When it came to the romance, at first I thought maybe the characters had jumped into bed a little fast. But with how the rest of the story unfolded, I was okay with it. There was no rushing to say “I Love you”. I actually really appreciate that as it seems to happen too often lately in lesfic romances. The romance instead felt like it progressed really organically. Not including the one angsty part, I actually felt the romance was one of the more realistic romances I have read in a while. My only one complaint, I just wish there was a tad more chemistry between the main characters. I absolutely believed the attraction; I just needs a tad more spark.
This was absolutely the right romance at the right time for me. I enjoyed this read and I hope others do as much as I did. If you are a Kallmaker fan, I believe you will be happy with this read. Also want to mention, Lisa from Warming Trend was a secondary character in this book. If you enjoyed that book, it might be another reason to pick this one up.
An ARC was given to me by Bella, for a honest review.
December 27, 2018
I like Karin Kallmaker's style of writing, but did not pick up to read any of her book for several years now. The last I had read of hers was Warming Trend. It is interesting that the secondary character Lisa from that book is also a secondary character in My Lady Lipstick. It was obviously a sign I should read it. And I am glad I did because there are a lot of good things about this, relatively longer than the average (~90,000 words) for this genre, contemporary romance novel.
The protagonists are rather unusual -- Paris Ellison aka Anita Topaz (~30), a successful but totally reclusive handsome butch American writer of bodice rippers with anxiety disorder and traumatic past, and Lady Diana Beckinsale aka Fiona Mahoney (27), a lovely petite and feminine, but strong and persistent British noblewoman, an occasional actress and ex-gymnast with sports injuries, back pain and daddy issues involved in some undercover and illegal activities of her own choosing.
With this two likable characters, some great secondary characters and her usual mature writing style, Kallmaker told us a very interesting story of deception, loneliness, vulnerability, broken dreams (and bones), family... and, of course, love.
In short, My Lady Lipstick is a well-written story that I really liked and can easily recommend. If you have never read any of Karin Kallmaker's books (she has written nearly thirty novels; what are you waiting for!?), this one can be a good start.
4 stars
Feb 13, 2018
*A review copy of this book was provided by the publisher.*
The protagonists are rather unusual -- Paris Ellison aka Anita Topaz (~30), a successful but totally reclusive handsome butch American writer of bodice rippers with anxiety disorder and traumatic past, and Lady Diana Beckinsale aka Fiona Mahoney (27), a lovely petite and feminine, but strong and persistent British noblewoman, an occasional actress and ex-gymnast with sports injuries, back pain and daddy issues involved in some undercover and illegal activities of her own choosing.
With this two likable characters, some great secondary characters and her usual mature writing style, Kallmaker told us a very interesting story of deception, loneliness, vulnerability, broken dreams (and bones), family... and, of course, love.
In short, My Lady Lipstick is a well-written story that I really liked and can easily recommend. If you have never read any of Karin Kallmaker's books (she has written nearly thirty novels; what are you waiting for!?), this one can be a good start.
4 stars
Feb 13, 2018
*A review copy of this book was provided by the publisher.*
May 19, 2018
"My Lady Lipstick" is an entertaining and fluffy read that felt similar to watching a chick flick f/f romance. Except that's not completely accurate because most f/f films I've had the displeasure of viewing were awful...and this is not.
It isn't, however, too deep and it certainly has an air of going with the flow of the plot without asking too many questions. The plot and characters actions, far fetched as they seem, are plausible at least within the setting that Kallmaker creates.
The pace moves quickly enough, the characters are distinct, the dialogue is good, and many times I appreciated the prose.
The story is definitely all romance but I found it to be in a fairy-tale-esque and an "awww" kind of way instead of a hot and heavy read. As I said. Fluffy.
There's a mash-up of topical elements with a true to life #GamerGate situation and a Harvey Weinstein-like character interlaced with the story. Despite that and the fact that both leads have some tragic events in their past the read has a positive vibe. And for gamers who like lesfic, I think this would be appealing in that the lead character, Paris, sees life events similar to an RPG.
For ethnic diversity, Paris is black, Diana is British and part of her family is Indian. Paris also suffers from a lifelong anxiety disorder and Diana has a chronic physical injury which add in some interesting story aspects.
High 3 stars.
It isn't, however, too deep and it certainly has an air of going with the flow of the plot without asking too many questions. The plot and characters actions, far fetched as they seem, are plausible at least within the setting that Kallmaker creates.
The pace moves quickly enough, the characters are distinct, the dialogue is good, and many times I appreciated the prose.
The story is definitely all romance but I found it to be in a fairy-tale-esque and an "awww" kind of way instead of a hot and heavy read. As I said. Fluffy.
There's a mash-up of topical elements with a true to life #GamerGate situation and a Harvey Weinstein-like character interlaced with the story. Despite that and the fact that both leads have some tragic events in their past the read has a positive vibe. And for gamers who like lesfic, I think this would be appealing in that the lead character, Paris, sees life events similar to an RPG.
For ethnic diversity, Paris is black, Diana is British and part of her family is Indian. Paris also suffers from a lifelong anxiety disorder and Diana has a chronic physical injury which add in some interesting story aspects.
High 3 stars.
March 18, 2019
Well, that was a surprise. It's not often that I don't like a Kallmaker novel but this is one of them. Paris Ellison, gamer and former game writer, has anxiety disorder, bakes brownies for the local bar and writes bodice rippers under the name of Anita Topaz. She's scruffy, a little butch and pretty much keeps to herself. Her publisher has recently changed management and they want to meet Anita Topaz and get her to talk in public which she really, really doesn't want to do. Then she meets actress Diana in the bar who happens to pick up a letter that Paris dropped on her way in. Speed reading the letter, Diana has an idea.
By 20% I still wasn't invested in the story and seriously considered quitting but I soldiered on. I found I couldn't believe in Paris as a representation. I struggled to remember her name because, for me, it really didn't suit her. Ellis was a better fit. Her anxiety disorder seemed to be more of a past experience rather than something she was still struggling with. I could envision a Paris or Ellis as a video gamer writer/blogger/player but I couldn't see her has a writer of heterosexual bodice rippers (smart or not), not given the rest of her characteristics.
Diana was a mysterious character for so long that when I finally had an idea of who she was, I no longer trusted her to be who she finally said she was. I didn't see Paris and Diana as having any chemistry so that didn't work for me either.
I'm very much the outlier on this one and my review, as always, is my personal response to the novel.
By 20% I still wasn't invested in the story and seriously considered quitting but I soldiered on. I found I couldn't believe in Paris as a representation. I struggled to remember her name because, for me, it really didn't suit her. Ellis was a better fit. Her anxiety disorder seemed to be more of a past experience rather than something she was still struggling with. I could envision a Paris or Ellis as a video gamer writer/blogger/player but I couldn't see her has a writer of heterosexual bodice rippers (smart or not), not given the rest of her characteristics.
Diana was a mysterious character for so long that when I finally had an idea of who she was, I no longer trusted her to be who she finally said she was. I didn't see Paris and Diana as having any chemistry so that didn't work for me either.
I'm very much the outlier on this one and my review, as always, is my personal response to the novel.
March 23, 2018
This was a very pleasant read, with very interesting characters. Very, very interesting. And, you know, toaster oven is one of my absolute favorite flavors!
June 26, 2018
This is only my 4th Kallmaker book. Crazy I know but for some odd reason I never took an interest in her books. To be fair when I first glanced at this cover I thought "why is goodreads recommending I read a book with Paris Hilton on the cover?" Imagine my surprise when one of the main characters, who has become very dear to me, is actually named Paris!
The reason for me liking this character so much is mainly because she suffers from something that I know all too well. Panic attacks. In fact 2 weeks ago when I wasn't posting any reviews at all was because I was experiencing them for almost 3 whole days in short bursts. It's difficult to explain to someone what you feel and experience when it happens but Kallmaker did a tremendous job doing so.
The second thing that I really liked was how Paris would equate challenges in life with that of quests in video games. I never thought of that as a coping mechanism. Then again I also used to dream about Ganondorf when I was obsessed with playing Zelda: Ocarina of time. That creep truly freaked 13 year old me out but it was a nice throwback.
As for Diana, I still don't really know what to think of her. I liked her well enough but she was too much of a chameleon for me to truly appreciate I guess. I definitely would have liked a chapter or 2 more to experience her and Paris as a couple.
I didn't think I would like this book as much as I did but I guess it's true what they say about books and judging them by their covers. Overall rating is a 3,75*
The reason for me liking this character so much is mainly because she suffers from something that I know all too well. Panic attacks. In fact 2 weeks ago when I wasn't posting any reviews at all was because I was experiencing them for almost 3 whole days in short bursts. It's difficult to explain to someone what you feel and experience when it happens but Kallmaker did a tremendous job doing so.
The second thing that I really liked was how Paris would equate challenges in life with that of quests in video games. I never thought of that as a coping mechanism. Then again I also used to dream about Ganondorf when I was obsessed with playing Zelda: Ocarina of time. That creep truly freaked 13 year old me out but it was a nice throwback.
As for Diana, I still don't really know what to think of her. I liked her well enough but she was too much of a chameleon for me to truly appreciate I guess. I definitely would have liked a chapter or 2 more to experience her and Paris as a couple.
I didn't think I would like this book as much as I did but I guess it's true what they say about books and judging them by their covers. Overall rating is a 3,75*
March 16, 2020
Anita Topaz is a writer of Bodice Rippers who conceals her real identity with high secrecy. When the new owner of her publishing house suggests that she should do public appearances, her social anxiety escalates. After meeting Lady Diana Beckinsale, a master of disguise, Diana suggests that she could impersonate Anita to alleviate her stress over public interactions but that sounds like a very bad idea… And what happens if in the process someone loses their heart?
This is a light and entertaining novel by Karin Kallmaker with an opposites-attract romance thrown for good measure. It’s funny, light and sometimes downright absurd but, somehow it works really well. Both main characters are well written, multilayered and realistic, one as an anxiety sufferer, anti-social writer and the other as a devious, enigmatic actress with her own agenda. On the surface, they are completely opposite but as they interact with each other, it’s quite obvious that they are both afraid of the same things and have similar longings.
I’ve heard good things about this novel but didn’t read it so I’ve decided to listen to the audiobook read by Abby Craden, one of my favourite lesfic narrators. Just when I thought that Ms. Craden’s talent couldn’t surprise me anymore, she proved me wrong. Her skill to do different accents, not only by geography but also social class is amazing. I lived in England and currently live in Ireland so I’m very familiar with the local accents and I have to say that Ms. Craden performed them outstandingly.
Additionally, this isn’t an easy book to narrate as Diana’s character changes like a chameleon, impersonating different people as her deceiving game requires. Just her character demands three or four different accents and all of them were spot-on. Her British posh accent was my favourite. Apart from Diana, this novel has an extensive cast that includes Americans, Irish and British characters, male and female. This is such a demanding book that very few people could have pulled it off, I’m glad that Ms. Craden tackled it. If you are looking for a light and entertaining opposites-attract audiobook, you won’t be disappointed. 4 stars for the story, 5 stars for the narration. Overall, 4.5 stars
Available for free with a Scribd subscription. Duration: 7 hrs and 47 mins
This is a light and entertaining novel by Karin Kallmaker with an opposites-attract romance thrown for good measure. It’s funny, light and sometimes downright absurd but, somehow it works really well. Both main characters are well written, multilayered and realistic, one as an anxiety sufferer, anti-social writer and the other as a devious, enigmatic actress with her own agenda. On the surface, they are completely opposite but as they interact with each other, it’s quite obvious that they are both afraid of the same things and have similar longings.
I’ve heard good things about this novel but didn’t read it so I’ve decided to listen to the audiobook read by Abby Craden, one of my favourite lesfic narrators. Just when I thought that Ms. Craden’s talent couldn’t surprise me anymore, she proved me wrong. Her skill to do different accents, not only by geography but also social class is amazing. I lived in England and currently live in Ireland so I’m very familiar with the local accents and I have to say that Ms. Craden performed them outstandingly.
Additionally, this isn’t an easy book to narrate as Diana’s character changes like a chameleon, impersonating different people as her deceiving game requires. Just her character demands three or four different accents and all of them were spot-on. Her British posh accent was my favourite. Apart from Diana, this novel has an extensive cast that includes Americans, Irish and British characters, male and female. This is such a demanding book that very few people could have pulled it off, I’m glad that Ms. Craden tackled it. If you are looking for a light and entertaining opposites-attract audiobook, you won’t be disappointed. 4 stars for the story, 5 stars for the narration. Overall, 4.5 stars
Available for free with a Scribd subscription. Duration: 7 hrs and 47 mins
May 13, 2018
After having read 22 Karin Kallmaker books (and loving all of them), I buy every new publication without even reading the blurb. She is one of those constant stars in lesfic I never doubt.
#23 is no different. My Lady Lipstick is a classic feel good rom-rom that ticks all the boxes. I shared this one with Book Club Buddie D. and after having spent an anxious week reading to her about this gruesome serial killer (21 weeks by R. A. LaShea), we really needed to unwind. It turned out to be the perfect choice.
My Lady Lipstick is not a heavy book but both characters deal with the aftermath of a life-altering event. For Paris it’s her crippling anxiety that makes life extremely challenging. Nevertheless, she had carved out a good career in gaming but saw it all go up in smoke after speaking her mind about the way women were treated in both games and the industry itself. After the bullying and death threats became all too real she had no choice but to leave that life behind and go completely off grid.
Diana had sacrificed everything to become an Olympic gymnast but saw that dream crumble into dust when she had a career ending accident on the high beam. Like Paris, she had to re-invent herself. Both women present a different persona to the world but do it in very different ways. That much becomes clear as their paths cross in a sports café in Boston.
Kallmaker has written a classic in the making and romance lovers will surely gobble this up.
f/f
Themes: who are you really?, living with severe anxiety, great dialogue, not too much angst, a quality read, but then noblesse oblige and all that.
4.7 stars
#23 is no different. My Lady Lipstick is a classic feel good rom-rom that ticks all the boxes. I shared this one with Book Club Buddie D. and after having spent an anxious week reading to her about this gruesome serial killer (21 weeks by R. A. LaShea), we really needed to unwind. It turned out to be the perfect choice.
My Lady Lipstick is not a heavy book but both characters deal with the aftermath of a life-altering event. For Paris it’s her crippling anxiety that makes life extremely challenging. Nevertheless, she had carved out a good career in gaming but saw it all go up in smoke after speaking her mind about the way women were treated in both games and the industry itself. After the bullying and death threats became all too real she had no choice but to leave that life behind and go completely off grid.
Diana had sacrificed everything to become an Olympic gymnast but saw that dream crumble into dust when she had a career ending accident on the high beam. Like Paris, she had to re-invent herself. Both women present a different persona to the world but do it in very different ways. That much becomes clear as their paths cross in a sports café in Boston.
Kallmaker has written a classic in the making and romance lovers will surely gobble this up.
f/f
Themes: who are you really?, living with severe anxiety, great dialogue, not too much angst, a quality read, but then noblesse oblige and all that.
4.7 stars
May 15, 2018
3.9 stars. It's a solid read. The characters were engaging, the story interesting and the language used was richer than other books I've read recently. Overall a good read.
What grinds my gears is "the evil gamers" narrative that is used here. In what world does it make sense to take one of the most accepting and inclusive communities around and make them the bad guys? I certainly can't recall any other examples. I wish less people got caught in the lies of opportunists.
But other than that it's a truly good book.
What grinds my gears is "the evil gamers" narrative that is used here. In what world does it make sense to take one of the most accepting and inclusive communities around and make them the bad guys? I certainly can't recall any other examples. I wish less people got caught in the lies of opportunists.
But other than that it's a truly good book.
February 18, 2018
I’ve read a lot of Kallmaker books, but for some reason, I don’t remember her being funny. This book amused me a lot and I’m really glad it was my next pick after reading something that was somewhat depressing.
Paris and Diana are great characters, but in completely different ways. They were both likable, but I was more intrigued by Diana. Paris, the awkward, anxiety ridden introvert meets Diana, the gregarious, outgoing ‘actress.’ Funny times ensue. The humor here isn't necessarily hilarious or overly-witty, more just happy, feel-good funny like any good rom-com. The kind that elicits a small giggle and makes your mouth curve into a grin effortlessly because your heart feels good.
Kallmaker did a great job of having completely different characters mirror one another; on a surface level, Paris and Diana are absolutely nothing alike, but emotionally they both have a lot of insecurities and fears. One has basically become a hermit to hide from life, while the other is constantly moving around and playing a caricature to avoid life.
While I’ve read characters similar to Paris (writer, gamer geek, introvert, anxiety issues), I can’t say I’ve ever read a character quite like Diana. She was new to me in a very fun way. She has a lot of friggin’ layers. We all wear different hats in different situations, but Diana gives this a whole new meaning, as she wears a different hat in EVERY situation…she is a chameleon and never true to others. Until she met Paris, she probably wasn’t even true to herself and was just doing whatever her ‘role’ asked of her until it was time to move on to the next. We watch her become vulnerable and it's a pleasant experience.
Overall, I loved this book. I go up and down and all around with Kallmaker. Some of her stories I have loved, some I have thought were just ok, and some I could have done without. ‘My Lady Lipstick’ is and does exactly what a rom-com should be and do. It is well written, comes with minimal drama, and provides easy smiles.
Off topic: I’m glad we have a butch here whose name is Paris and not Alex or Chris or Sam. All perfectly lovely names, but way overused in lesfic for stereotypically, self identified butch characters. JMHO.
Paris and Diana are great characters, but in completely different ways. They were both likable, but I was more intrigued by Diana. Paris, the awkward, anxiety ridden introvert meets Diana, the gregarious, outgoing ‘actress.’ Funny times ensue. The humor here isn't necessarily hilarious or overly-witty, more just happy, feel-good funny like any good rom-com. The kind that elicits a small giggle and makes your mouth curve into a grin effortlessly because your heart feels good.
Kallmaker did a great job of having completely different characters mirror one another; on a surface level, Paris and Diana are absolutely nothing alike, but emotionally they both have a lot of insecurities and fears. One has basically become a hermit to hide from life, while the other is constantly moving around and playing a caricature to avoid life.
While I’ve read characters similar to Paris (writer, gamer geek, introvert, anxiety issues), I can’t say I’ve ever read a character quite like Diana. She was new to me in a very fun way. She has a lot of friggin’ layers. We all wear different hats in different situations, but Diana gives this a whole new meaning, as she wears a different hat in EVERY situation…she is a chameleon and never true to others. Until she met Paris, she probably wasn’t even true to herself and was just doing whatever her ‘role’ asked of her until it was time to move on to the next. We watch her become vulnerable and it's a pleasant experience.
Overall, I loved this book. I go up and down and all around with Kallmaker. Some of her stories I have loved, some I have thought were just ok, and some I could have done without. ‘My Lady Lipstick’ is and does exactly what a rom-com should be and do. It is well written, comes with minimal drama, and provides easy smiles.
Off topic: I’m glad we have a butch here whose name is Paris and not Alex or Chris or Sam. All perfectly lovely names, but way overused in lesfic for stereotypically, self identified butch characters. JMHO.
June 21, 2018
Paris and Diana are very much an “opposites attract” couple. Diana loves the limelight as much as Paris hates it, especially because she makes sure she controls it every step of the way. She’s also as femme as Paris is butch, and it’s beautiful to watch her appreciate every ounce of Paris’s butchness, especially as she finds herself surprised to be attracted to a woman for the first time. They have a fabulous chemistry that builds from their first meeting, and even Paris’s occasional exasperation with Diana is an adorable extension of that.
Full review: @bellabooks http://www.curvemag.com/Reviews/My-La...
Full review: @bellabooks http://www.curvemag.com/Reviews/My-La...
July 18, 2018
A nice romance, just as you would expect from Karin Kallmaker. I am going to plan to read this again in a few months, because life interfered with my reading time causing me to take a week off and losing a little of the flow.
February 15, 2019
I hadn't read Karin Kallmaker for a long time and I didn't know how much I missed her as an author until I read her again. The book is attractive, fun, romantic, and the plot is silly, but the good kind of silly, nothing believable, but it keeps you reading and waiting to see what else happens.
May 12, 2019
I know this will be shocking, but, I must admit, this is the first book I've read by this author. For reasons. I've been aware of the author for a long while but . . . . good grief. Apparently I have read something by this author before - though my opening still works, the other thingie I'd read was a short story. Right, where was I? This is another of those recent Bella Books sale books I picked up - I'm currently 2 for 2 - rather liked two of the two books I've read so far of the . . . I think it was 10 I bought last weekend.
This one here mixes certain things, tropes, ideas that I've seen before. Social anxiety/panic attacks; nerdy-gamer type who 'got into trouble' for expressing their mind openly in front of horrible misogynist twits; a writer who doesn't like the outdoors (well, the public), etc. etc. This is probably the best I've seen these specific topics handled.
Right, so. Paris Ellison was always awkward as a kid, though she had a loving mother who showed her certain tricks to survive. So, she did, mostly. Dove into gaming. Got a job in gaming. Blogged about how she was just tired, weary, annoyed about all these games that have both the good and bad guys randomly (or not so randomly) kill women (and/or do more to these women). Her life was ripped apart - she had to flee her job, girlfriend, home, everything to be able to breath again. That was a while ago, but she still fears.
She was mostly 'okay' recently, though, but her publisher (oh, right, she became a highly successful published author of 'bodice ripper' historical romances (though, initially, her books were tagged with something like 'smart bodice rippers' or something like that) was acquired by another. And this new publishing house, mostly the marketers, but more than just them, are really not Paris' type of people. In that they want her, or, as they know her, Anita Topaz, to do stuff. Publicly, like interviews and the like. There's no way in hell she's going to do that - but they can't seem to take the hint. Now there's this letter about meeting the big boss, all expenses paid, also seeing a play and . . . stuff. A letter Paris still hasn't answered. And a letter that leads to the other main character in this book.
For, you see, while in a particular bar Paris pops into every so often (to deliver baked goods to sell, to the bar owner), the letter got detached from Paris and ended up in the hands of Diana Beckinsale. Who sees the letter as an opportunity. Especially as she gets to know more about Paris and her social issues. Diana, you see, spotted just who this new owner of Paris' publishing house is - someone Diana has 'targeted'.
Diana Beckinsale is not the name most in the area know her by. She's another of these people with other names (like Paris and Anita). Paris uses Anita because she's scared of being found. Diana uses other names because . . . she's a thief and something of a con-artist (though she says she uses more than one name because she's an actress - it's her stage name (except she doesn't use the same name so . . . ). Diana, for reasons, tracks down 'stolen artifacts' (they are not always stolen) and 'returns them to their rightful owners' by stealing that item (and only that item). The new owner has a particular hammer Diana wants to redistribute.
Diana and Paris do not meet cute/badly/otherwise. They just happen to meet. Paris finds Diana attractive (to a flustered amount), while Diana . . . is not aware of women in that way (she doesn't fancy men, she barely tolerates them) - though she grows to an awareness . . . much later (there's reasons why she's advanced to the age she has without knowing who and what she might romantically like - her development was delayed by gymnastics). They meet, they part ways. They meet again with Diana in disguise to convince Paris to allow her to play the role of Anita. Paris turns her down. They part again. This is not a fast and furious romance.
Eventually the big decision must be made - by Paris regarding her publisher. So . . . she works herself up and goes. Only to find that someone has taken her place, is pretending to be her. Diana as Anita. Found out in the worst possible way - in the conference room a meeting is supposed to occur . . . and is already occurring when Paris walks in.
One thing leads to another and Paris and Diana are forced to work together. Even to the point of sharing the same huge multiple bedroom hotel suite. Paris still has some desires for Diana. Diana is beginning to become aware of women, or specifically Paris.
Stuff happens. Quite enjoyable book all-around. Must try something else by this author.
Rating: 4.60
May 11 2019
This one here mixes certain things, tropes, ideas that I've seen before. Social anxiety/panic attacks; nerdy-gamer type who 'got into trouble' for expressing their mind openly in front of horrible misogynist twits; a writer who doesn't like the outdoors (well, the public), etc. etc. This is probably the best I've seen these specific topics handled.
Right, so. Paris Ellison was always awkward as a kid, though she had a loving mother who showed her certain tricks to survive. So, she did, mostly. Dove into gaming. Got a job in gaming. Blogged about how she was just tired, weary, annoyed about all these games that have both the good and bad guys randomly (or not so randomly) kill women (and/or do more to these women). Her life was ripped apart - she had to flee her job, girlfriend, home, everything to be able to breath again. That was a while ago, but she still fears.
She was mostly 'okay' recently, though, but her publisher (oh, right, she became a highly successful published author of 'bodice ripper' historical romances (though, initially, her books were tagged with something like 'smart bodice rippers' or something like that) was acquired by another. And this new publishing house, mostly the marketers, but more than just them, are really not Paris' type of people. In that they want her, or, as they know her, Anita Topaz, to do stuff. Publicly, like interviews and the like. There's no way in hell she's going to do that - but they can't seem to take the hint. Now there's this letter about meeting the big boss, all expenses paid, also seeing a play and . . . stuff. A letter Paris still hasn't answered. And a letter that leads to the other main character in this book.
For, you see, while in a particular bar Paris pops into every so often (to deliver baked goods to sell, to the bar owner), the letter got detached from Paris and ended up in the hands of Diana Beckinsale. Who sees the letter as an opportunity. Especially as she gets to know more about Paris and her social issues. Diana, you see, spotted just who this new owner of Paris' publishing house is - someone Diana has 'targeted'.
Diana Beckinsale is not the name most in the area know her by. She's another of these people with other names (like Paris and Anita). Paris uses Anita because she's scared of being found. Diana uses other names because . . . she's a thief and something of a con-artist (though she says she uses more than one name because she's an actress - it's her stage name (except she doesn't use the same name so . . . ). Diana, for reasons, tracks down 'stolen artifacts' (they are not always stolen) and 'returns them to their rightful owners' by stealing that item (and only that item). The new owner has a particular hammer Diana wants to redistribute.
Diana and Paris do not meet cute/badly/otherwise. They just happen to meet. Paris finds Diana attractive (to a flustered amount), while Diana . . . is not aware of women in that way (she doesn't fancy men, she barely tolerates them) - though she grows to an awareness . . . much later (there's reasons why she's advanced to the age she has without knowing who and what she might romantically like - her development was delayed by gymnastics). They meet, they part ways. They meet again with Diana in disguise to convince Paris to allow her to play the role of Anita. Paris turns her down. They part again. This is not a fast and furious romance.
Eventually the big decision must be made - by Paris regarding her publisher. So . . . she works herself up and goes. Only to find that someone has taken her place, is pretending to be her. Diana as Anita. Found out in the worst possible way - in the conference room a meeting is supposed to occur . . . and is already occurring when Paris walks in.
One thing leads to another and Paris and Diana are forced to work together. Even to the point of sharing the same huge multiple bedroom hotel suite. Paris still has some desires for Diana. Diana is beginning to become aware of women, or specifically Paris.
Stuff happens. Quite enjoyable book all-around. Must try something else by this author.
Rating: 4.60
May 11 2019
December 13, 2022
I’ve recently been in one of those safe bet moods when it comes to listening to audiobooks. With so much going on, I want to know that the story will be great and that the narrator will nail it. Hence, My Lady Lipstick falls perfectly into those categories nicely.
Karin Kallmaker consistently gives us excellent characters and original storylines, and Abby Craden is well, Abby Craden.
Paris bakes to ease her anxiety and writes under a pen name to keep her anonymity. She has reasons for wanting to stay out of the spotlight, but when her publishing company requests her presence for a meeting, she’s worried her butch look won’t live up to the public's expectations about Anita Topez, the writer.
Around the same time, Diana is in town with her own agenda, and after the two women meet, and Diana inadvertently discovers that Paris is Anita, their stories end up intertwining with both needing something from the other. Along the way, the chemistry they share ignites, and neither can help but fall for the other.
The completely different lives the two women live, combined with their homes being in different countries, makes the prospect of a viable relationship less than likely. For Paris, though, running from her past has meant she keeps on missing out on the important things in life, so she has to decide what it is she really wants.
Paris is introverted and spends a lot of time in her own head, and as the story develops the reader gets to experience her realization that she can be the person she once was, combined with whom she has become. Diana, the more outgoing of the two, has to come to terms with the fact that she can be in a relationship and still do the things she is passionate about. It’s refreshing to see very low angst where there potentially could have been a heap.
Kallmaker ’s writing is intriguing and fresh. Craden narrates like she always does – perfectly. If you are, after a book that is mysterious, sexy and fast-paced, make sure you check this one out.
Karin Kallmaker consistently gives us excellent characters and original storylines, and Abby Craden is well, Abby Craden.
Paris bakes to ease her anxiety and writes under a pen name to keep her anonymity. She has reasons for wanting to stay out of the spotlight, but when her publishing company requests her presence for a meeting, she’s worried her butch look won’t live up to the public's expectations about Anita Topez, the writer.
Around the same time, Diana is in town with her own agenda, and after the two women meet, and Diana inadvertently discovers that Paris is Anita, their stories end up intertwining with both needing something from the other. Along the way, the chemistry they share ignites, and neither can help but fall for the other.
The completely different lives the two women live, combined with their homes being in different countries, makes the prospect of a viable relationship less than likely. For Paris, though, running from her past has meant she keeps on missing out on the important things in life, so she has to decide what it is she really wants.
Paris is introverted and spends a lot of time in her own head, and as the story develops the reader gets to experience her realization that she can be the person she once was, combined with whom she has become. Diana, the more outgoing of the two, has to come to terms with the fact that she can be in a relationship and still do the things she is passionate about. It’s refreshing to see very low angst where there potentially could have been a heap.
Kallmaker ’s writing is intriguing and fresh. Craden narrates like she always does – perfectly. If you are, after a book that is mysterious, sexy and fast-paced, make sure you check this one out.
February 23, 2018
I devoured this contemporary romance over the course of three days. Aside from sleep and work obligations, little kept me from the engaging story line and wonderful characters. Since I just finished this at lunch, I'm still gathering my thoughts. Full review to come!
August 7, 2018
My lady lipstick
After having read a few 3 star novels it feels great to read something by Karin Kallmaker, she like all my favourite authors, are pretty much guaranteed to dish out a great story with relatable and likeable characters in a writing style that screams her talent and experience. I have to say though this story did have me perplexed at the start and overall had lots of new elements in the storyline that I couldn't immediately predict, something that I'm finding is a rarer treat at the moment.
Really enjoyed it and can recommend it easily.
After having read a few 3 star novels it feels great to read something by Karin Kallmaker, she like all my favourite authors, are pretty much guaranteed to dish out a great story with relatable and likeable characters in a writing style that screams her talent and experience. I have to say though this story did have me perplexed at the start and overall had lots of new elements in the storyline that I couldn't immediately predict, something that I'm finding is a rarer treat at the moment.
Really enjoyed it and can recommend it easily.
March 13, 2018
Paris is a geek with a history in Gaming that went terribly wrong and left her riddled with anxiety and hiding from the world. She turned her creative skills to writing intelligent bodice rippers under the pseudonym Anita Topaz, and has become a best-selling author. All is well until the new owners of the publishing house want Anita to appear in public to promote her latest book, and Paris is left between a rock and a hard place, wanting the sales but terrified of the limelight.
Enter stage left Fiona, or is it Diana, struggling actress who fate throws into Paris’ path. Diana has enough layers for the proverbial cake, and picking up the letter asking Anita to come to New York for a meeting gives her the idea for her next role. The ensuing tale is a mix of rom-com, romance and almost slapstick drama, leading both women into complex acts of misdirection and disguise.
Karin Kallmaker writes exceedingly good romances, and this one is a masterful mixture of a fun tale, delightful characters and her wicked sense of humour. It isn’t full of laugh out loud moments, but the more subtle wit that raises a smile at the play on words and the sarcastic banter. Add in Shakespearean character flaws along with the essential growth of our leading ladies and we have a classic.
The main characters are intriguing. Paris, broken and scared from a horrendous cyber-attack that literally threatened her life, is a classic soft butch gaming geek with a chronic anxiety disorder that makes her like a constant battle. Her learned and carefully constructed mechanisms of coping and deflecting make for an interesting read. As she tries to come out of her shell the clash with the extremely confident, outgoing Lady Diana Beckinsale is bound to cause sparks. Diane has her own issues, hiding from her life by combining her jet set lifestyle with part time acting and her more nefarious activities. As they say, opposites attract, compliment and sometimes combine to make more than the sum of the parts.
The romance is of the sex first fall in love later variety and Ms Kallmaker is an expert at the balance between fine drawn attraction, growing emotion and full on sex-appeal. The writing is excellent, tight and clean, and of course perfectly edited. The whole is a perfectly wrapped bundle of enjoyment for anyone who likes a good romance.
Enter stage left Fiona, or is it Diana, struggling actress who fate throws into Paris’ path. Diana has enough layers for the proverbial cake, and picking up the letter asking Anita to come to New York for a meeting gives her the idea for her next role. The ensuing tale is a mix of rom-com, romance and almost slapstick drama, leading both women into complex acts of misdirection and disguise.
Karin Kallmaker writes exceedingly good romances, and this one is a masterful mixture of a fun tale, delightful characters and her wicked sense of humour. It isn’t full of laugh out loud moments, but the more subtle wit that raises a smile at the play on words and the sarcastic banter. Add in Shakespearean character flaws along with the essential growth of our leading ladies and we have a classic.
The main characters are intriguing. Paris, broken and scared from a horrendous cyber-attack that literally threatened her life, is a classic soft butch gaming geek with a chronic anxiety disorder that makes her like a constant battle. Her learned and carefully constructed mechanisms of coping and deflecting make for an interesting read. As she tries to come out of her shell the clash with the extremely confident, outgoing Lady Diana Beckinsale is bound to cause sparks. Diane has her own issues, hiding from her life by combining her jet set lifestyle with part time acting and her more nefarious activities. As they say, opposites attract, compliment and sometimes combine to make more than the sum of the parts.
The romance is of the sex first fall in love later variety and Ms Kallmaker is an expert at the balance between fine drawn attraction, growing emotion and full on sex-appeal. The writing is excellent, tight and clean, and of course perfectly edited. The whole is a perfectly wrapped bundle of enjoyment for anyone who likes a good romance.
September 3, 2021
I have always enjoyed reading one of Karin Kallmaker's books and this is no exception. The characters are complex and interesting. Paris has hidden herself away due to issues in her past and Diana is like a chameleon. They are so different and yet they come together so well. A little intrigue mixed with romance. It was a fun story that kept me guessing.
September 16, 2021
If you’re like me, the cover and the title set certain…expectations. Honestly, the only reason I picked it up was for (what I thought would be) an intriguing story of a Madam and her ladies of the night—read by Abby Craden. I was wrong.
This book caught me totally off guard, but I probably won’t read it again since the constant stream of surprising details was what really made the story enjoyable. 4.33 stars
This book caught me totally off guard, but I probably won’t read it again since the constant stream of surprising details was what really made the story enjoyable. 4.33 stars
March 3, 2018
It reads like a fluffy romance but it has dept to it as well. Beautiful descriptions, well rounded characters. And I love the fact that one of the mains has anxiety that is so well written.
November 12, 2018
I really enjoyed My Lady Lipstick. I haven’t read many books by Karin Kallmaker but when I do they always give me that warm and fuzzy feeling.
Paris writes Bodice Ripper novels under the pseudonym, Anita Topaz. She keeps her identity a secret and doesn’t even look anything like the stock photo on the back of her book. Her publishing house is pushing her to make some press appearances and she wants to avoid those at all costs. When she meets actress Diana she’s immediately taken with her but Diana has a big secret… Could this be the end to their mutual attraction? Or could it make things more interesting?
This book was a little different than what I was expecting and I think that was what I loved about it most. Diana’s underlying game of subterfuge was quite exciting to read about however, the star of the show was Paris, I finished the book with a rather big crush on her. She was quiet, sweet and a little butch with a big heart. Honestly, she was the whole delicious package.
There where definitely points in the book I felt the plot was going a little too slow, but this was made up by the moments Paris and Diana had together that melt my heart. My favourite part of the book was the last four chapters… major swoon. I read them again I loved them so much.
This book has definitely made me want to read more from Karin Kallmaker in the future so look out for upcoming reviews of the other novels in her catalogue.
4 stars
Paris writes Bodice Ripper novels under the pseudonym, Anita Topaz. She keeps her identity a secret and doesn’t even look anything like the stock photo on the back of her book. Her publishing house is pushing her to make some press appearances and she wants to avoid those at all costs. When she meets actress Diana she’s immediately taken with her but Diana has a big secret… Could this be the end to their mutual attraction? Or could it make things more interesting?
This book was a little different than what I was expecting and I think that was what I loved about it most. Diana’s underlying game of subterfuge was quite exciting to read about however, the star of the show was Paris, I finished the book with a rather big crush on her. She was quiet, sweet and a little butch with a big heart. Honestly, she was the whole delicious package.
There where definitely points in the book I felt the plot was going a little too slow, but this was made up by the moments Paris and Diana had together that melt my heart. My favourite part of the book was the last four chapters… major swoon. I read them again I loved them so much.
This book has definitely made me want to read more from Karin Kallmaker in the future so look out for upcoming reviews of the other novels in her catalogue.
4 stars
June 30, 2019
Not sure what the title or cover had to do with the book. Am going to ponder my rating for a bit.
Update - 3.5 Stars
Kallmaker is an accomplished author - so the book itself is well written. The pacing is good and there's a fair bit going on to keep the plot moving forward - this is a romance, but the characters are actively engaged in a number of subplots that keep things fresh and introduces some well rounded secondary characters.
The characters are interesting and don't necessarily fit the stereotypical mold of lesfic MCs but they still still are world class at whatever they try their hand at (gaming development, writing romances, gymnastics, thievery) and that sometimes makes it a bit harder to connect with them. The plot is fun but a bit far fetched in some parts - Paris is torn on how to deal with a publisher who is insisting she attend a conference and become more active in marketing and publicity. Enter Diane, a thief masquerading as an actress (or actress who masquerades as a thief) who is looking for a way to infiltrate said publisher's offices and purloin an artifact. Perfect match? Yes - but things don't play out the way you would expect and that keeps things fresh and rather fun. Kallmaker touches on some serious issues but doesn't delve too deeply, so I often felt that they were glossed over. The romance works well - there's some chemistry between the two, but the "break up" was a bit too angsty and Diane was a bit of a blockhead - but it worked well enough and it also gave both characters a chance to grow and develop further.
Paris is a gamer game designer who was targeted by the online community for speaking out against the depiction of women in games and is now an accomplished het romance writer under a pseudonym. Butch, compulsive brownie maker, writer of bodice rippers, living with anxiety, and adamant to have no digital footprint - she's not your stereotypical MC in lesfic, and that works really well to create a compelling character because she is so different. I liked the way that Kallmaker dealt with Paris' anxiety - that it was something that has always been part of her life and always will and she's developed ways to deal with it. The threats and online harassment she experienced did worsen things, but she was smart enough to retreat and reset her life and there was no magical fix. I was really happy to see how Paris was presented as affected by an anxiety disorder, but that didn't stop her from making decisions and taking actions like suiting up and heading to New York despite her worry and fear of the repercussions.
Diane was a bit harder to connect with until the latter half of the book - most likely as she was always playing a character as a means to an end for the first part of the book . A former gymnast, titled aristocrat from a wealthy family that travels the world as an actress while she dabbles in a bit of moral thievery to return artifacts to their rightful owners/ cultures. She's a bit of a superwoman - but Kallmaker does flesh her out a bit as she struggles with the long lasting after affects of her gymnastic career - including the chronic pain of injuries and the impacts of a slower maturity due to the rigours of competitive gymnastic. I also liked the scenes with her family - it provided a wonderful backdrop to further develop Diane as she interacts with her family. I also appreciated that on Diane's part, she accepts this as part of who Paris is and Diane's acceptance of it and her not trying to "fix it" or push Paris to overcome it.
For some reason I wanted to like this book more than I did. It was fun with good characters and a well paced plot -but it didn't wow me as much as I hoped. In writing up my thoughts, I'm finding I may have liked this more than I initially thought. I'm going to push this one up to 3.5.
I will say again - the cover and the title mystify me. Neither match the actual book and I have to say both kept me from purchasing this book - I only picked this one up as I'm working my way through the GCLS finalist books as part of a challenge.
Update - 3.5 Stars
Kallmaker is an accomplished author - so the book itself is well written. The pacing is good and there's a fair bit going on to keep the plot moving forward - this is a romance, but the characters are actively engaged in a number of subplots that keep things fresh and introduces some well rounded secondary characters.
The characters are interesting and don't necessarily fit the stereotypical mold of lesfic MCs but they still still are world class at whatever they try their hand at (gaming development, writing romances, gymnastics, thievery) and that sometimes makes it a bit harder to connect with them. The plot is fun but a bit far fetched in some parts - Paris is torn on how to deal with a publisher who is insisting she attend a conference and become more active in marketing and publicity. Enter Diane, a thief masquerading as an actress (or actress who masquerades as a thief) who is looking for a way to infiltrate said publisher's offices and purloin an artifact. Perfect match? Yes - but things don't play out the way you would expect and that keeps things fresh and rather fun. Kallmaker touches on some serious issues but doesn't delve too deeply, so I often felt that they were glossed over. The romance works well - there's some chemistry between the two, but the "break up" was a bit too angsty and Diane was a bit of a blockhead - but it worked well enough and it also gave both characters a chance to grow and develop further.
Paris is a gamer game designer who was targeted by the online community for speaking out against the depiction of women in games and is now an accomplished het romance writer under a pseudonym. Butch, compulsive brownie maker, writer of bodice rippers, living with anxiety, and adamant to have no digital footprint - she's not your stereotypical MC in lesfic, and that works really well to create a compelling character because she is so different. I liked the way that Kallmaker dealt with Paris' anxiety - that it was something that has always been part of her life and always will and she's developed ways to deal with it. The threats and online harassment she experienced did worsen things, but she was smart enough to retreat and reset her life and there was no magical fix. I was really happy to see how Paris was presented as affected by an anxiety disorder, but that didn't stop her from making decisions and taking actions like suiting up and heading to New York despite her worry and fear of the repercussions.
Diane was a bit harder to connect with until the latter half of the book - most likely as she was always playing a character as a means to an end for the first part of the book . A former gymnast, titled aristocrat from a wealthy family that travels the world as an actress while she dabbles in a bit of moral thievery to return artifacts to their rightful owners/ cultures. She's a bit of a superwoman - but Kallmaker does flesh her out a bit as she struggles with the long lasting after affects of her gymnastic career - including the chronic pain of injuries and the impacts of a slower maturity due to the rigours of competitive gymnastic. I also liked the scenes with her family - it provided a wonderful backdrop to further develop Diane as she interacts with her family. I also appreciated that on Diane's part, she accepts this as part of who Paris is and Diane's acceptance of it and her not trying to "fix it" or push Paris to overcome it.
For some reason I wanted to like this book more than I did. It was fun with good characters and a well paced plot -but it didn't wow me as much as I hoped. In writing up my thoughts, I'm finding I may have liked this more than I initially thought. I'm going to push this one up to 3.5.
I will say again - the cover and the title mystify me. Neither match the actual book and I have to say both kept me from purchasing this book - I only picked this one up as I'm working my way through the GCLS finalist books as part of a challenge.
September 15, 2024
There was no mask to hide behind. Loving this was who she was. An unsuspected and brilliant truth.
3.5 stars. Not Kallmaker's best, but a really fun and engrossing romance nevertheless. Whatever I was expecting when I saw the cover and picked up the book, I did not get. (To be honest, I barely looked at the blurb, I just knew I liked the author and the narrator so I picked it up.) Paris is a pretty famous but very reclusive romance novelist, who was previous targeted by a vicious hate campaign while working in the games industry. She now keeps to herself and uses a nom de plume. Diana is a stage actor and a thief who works to liberate certain items and artefacts. They meet by chance, and they could prove to be exactly what the other person needs to solve a specific problem. But Paris has a lot of reservations.
Paris' part of the story, with her work in the games industry and the hate campaign against her, is clearly inspired by Gamergate and what happened with Anita Sarkeesian, and that was really interesting. I've never seen anything like it in a romance novel, and it's always kinda nice when my two biggest hobbies meet up in some form or fashion. Some of the dialogue around games was really clunky, and the way Paris viewed a lot about her life in gaming terms was a little cheesy, but not necessarily in a bad way. You could tell the author did her research and wanted to use it. And I do like the idea of Paris conceptualising hurdles in her life using video games, sorta using that as a way to wrangle her anxiety. Diana's background and story is also really interesting. Gymnast, actress, thief... those are a lot of hats to wear, and I guess one of my critiques is that the story feels to short to really contain all of them. With everything that there was to learn and explore about their characters and their backstories, this could have definitely been a lot longer. The book feels like it's going to have a heist element to it, and it doesn't quuuuite deliver on that. I wish that it had. There could have been some really interesting things done with their time in New York, and we just sorta flew past it. The story also feels rushed in terms of the romance. Diana thinks of herself as straight, and her time spent with Paris is her first inkling that she might not be. Her road from 'questioning' to 'lesbian' was so short, and if the book had been longer and a little slower, I think it would have been so much more satisfying.
Despite all of those nit-picks, I had such a good time with this. It just felt FUN. At times a bit wacky and OTT, but in ways I found easy to forgive. A couple of reviews have said it feels like a movie, and I have to agree. A bit of a romp, what with how easily characters seemed to go along and adjust to certain thing. (I still think Diana needed to do more grovelling for what she did a third of the way in; Paris forgave her way too easily.) While I did think the romance started a bit too abruptly, I did love the way their chemistry was written, how their feelings were expressed. It's one of the things Kallmaker does best. They clicked together really sweetly.
Listened to the audiobook as read by Abby Craden; lovely as always. Even if it wasn't everything I wanted it to be, I really enjoyed my time with this one.
Content warnings:
“Gymnasts don’t jump unless they know where they’re going to land.” Her hand slid slowly down Paris’s chest. “If I can find the courage to jump, I know exactly where I intend to land.”
June 10, 2020
I almost gave up on this audiobook about half way through, but stuck it out because A - I would be content to listen to Abby Craden read the back of a cereal box, and B - in spite of not loving the story, I was curious about how it would end. Thankfully the second half was much more enjoyable. Initially Diana was a real enigma. I had no idea what she was about. She speaks in multiple accents which throws a listener off because you wonder is it her, or is Abby struggling with voicing her character. In her narrations, Abby does really well with most accents but others (English, Australian) can be iffy at times. Later on, when more is revealed about Diana and her "real" accent emerges, it was less distracting and made for much better listening. The story initially seemed a bit convoluted but when I realized what was happening, that wasn't the case at all. It was actually kind of an intriguing idea. I liked Paris's character - a romance novelist who uses a pen name and leads an almost hermit-like existence to keep herself out of the spotlight. Her reasons for that are interesting and I admired how she dealt with the struggles in her life and grew throughout the story. Once the two MCs really get to know one another is when this book hits its stride. Unfortunately, I don't know if everyone would have the patience to wait it out. Though it's not something I would listen to again, I'm glad that I stayed with it. 3.5 stars.
April 18, 2020
3.5 stars. I have not read a lot of Kallmakers books, but I enjoyed reading this one. This is a nice fluffy romance about Paris aka Anita Topiaz, a successful writer, and Lady Diana who steals/retrieves items to return them to their rightful owners. They meet when Diana is undercover on a job and Diana soon realizes that Paris is Anita Topaz. Paris is an extreme introvert dealing with anxiety, whereas her pen name Anita Topaz appears to be extremely glamorous, this brings Paris in a difficult situation and Diana offers a solution. Rather unwillingly from Paris’ side they end up working together.
The story line is nice with some twists and even though it is light it does touch up on some heavier topics like anxiety. This was nicely done, it gives good insight in the topic and added depth to the character without it becoming very angsty. The characters itself were likeable and believable as was the romance. The romance is a clear butch (Paris) femme (Diana) relationship with enough good chemistry.
So, if you’re looking for a nice easy romance that is well written, I can definitely recommend reading this book
The story line is nice with some twists and even though it is light it does touch up on some heavier topics like anxiety. This was nicely done, it gives good insight in the topic and added depth to the character without it becoming very angsty. The characters itself were likeable and believable as was the romance. The romance is a clear butch (Paris) femme (Diana) relationship with enough good chemistry.
So, if you’re looking for a nice easy romance that is well written, I can definitely recommend reading this book
September 2, 2019
I’ve come to expect great things from Karin Kallmaker and this one does not disappoint. I loved the backstory of Paris Ellison, the male dominated world of online gaming. Lady Diana Beckinsale has an interesting backstory as well. There’s a little intrigue and a very nice love story.
September 17, 2018
Loved Paris's character but didn't love the book. Too much angst and duplicity for me. Those things were very much the point, but not my cup of tea.
November 6, 2018
I always enjoy stories by this very talented author! She certainly knows how to craft a tale that will keep me anchored to my bed or my chair at home. This story is awesome in its unique romantic twist of two contrary characters who meet under very unusual circumstances. Diana is the life of the party and she is able to socialize with ease and grace. On the other hand, Paris is a person who enjoys her own company. I had a few chuckles well at the witty banter both characters shared. Trust me, you don’t want to miss out on reading this lovely story!
March 4, 2019
Another thought-provoking, intelligent book by Karin Kallmaker. Fantastic characters, great chemistry, interesting storyline. Couldn't put this one down.
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