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A Year in Paradise #3
March Madness
Welcome to Paradise Valley, where the locals thrive on the rural landscape, the quirky Oregonian living, and the history of the lesbian commune that founded it. Mixing small town attitudes with lesbian dating? Sounds like another day in Paradise. Joan Sheffield and Lorri Abrams have been partners for years, but their mission to have a baby has placed a damper on their love. After the most recent miscarriage, the couple has begun questioning the direction of their relationship. Yet Joan isn’t ready to give up. Her dreams of having the family she always wanted won’t end because of some heartbreak and bad luck. Yet as she regroups and prepares to try again, she comes up against an obstacle she least expected. Lorri. The partner who refuses to explain why she feels sick to her stomach every time the subject comes up. Joan doesn’t know the whole story about Lorri’s upbringing. Lorri would rather drown herself in college basketball tournaments than talk about her issues. It will take the advice of some trusted locals and one bad night to potentially save these two weary souls. Will the madness finally end?
115 pages, Kindle Edition
First published March 9, 2019
40 people are currently reading
53 people want to read
About the author
Hildred Billings
149 books317 followersHildred Billings is a Japanese and Religious Studies graduate who has spent her entire life knowing she would write for a living someday. She has lived in Japan multiple times in multiple locations, from the heights of the Japanese alps to the hectic Tokyo suburbs, with a life in Shikoku somewhere in there too.
Currently, Hildred lives in Oregon with her partner and two cats. When she's not commandeering the corner of the neighborhood coffee shop on hours on end (it's okay, she's on a first-name basis with the baristas) she's probably parked on the couch watching Bob's Burgers or screaming at a Zelda game. (Seriously, Link, why don't you move right?)
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Twitter: @hildred
Currently, Hildred lives in Oregon with her partner and two cats. When she's not commandeering the corner of the neighborhood coffee shop on hours on end (it's okay, she's on a first-name basis with the baristas) she's probably parked on the couch watching Bob's Burgers or screaming at a Zelda game. (Seriously, Link, why don't you move right?)
Newsletter: http://bit.ly/3rgEzLz
Facebook: https://bit.ly/3c7Lcf4
Instagram: https://bit.ly/3vPLpvd
Bookbub: http://bit.ly/3lDutn5
Twitter: @hildred
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Displaying 1 - 15 of 15 reviews
March 25, 2019
March Madness (A Year In Paradise Book 3) by Hildred Billings continues this author’s project to publish a new book every month and it will be like reading in real time. So in this novella it is in fact March 2019.
As before, book three will highlight the lives of two different members of small rural town Paradise Valley, Oregon. Joan Sheffield owner of the local craft store Crafts & Things has a fervent child wish. She longs to start a family with partner Lorri Abrams. They may not have loads of money in the bank but they both have a job, a little house they can call their own and each other. A child would really be the cherry on top, but after having two miscarriages in a row it begins to put a strain on their finances and relationship.
Lorri is a woman who doesn’t need a lot to be happy in life. She has her Joan, a 9 to 5 at the hardware store, and evenings with her mates watching basketball in the pub. Lorri has escaped an abusive childhood and the stress of watching Joan go through the wars while trying to get pregnant is creating a lot of doubts. Is she really parent material?
The chapters alternate between Lorri and Joan’s pov. To be honest I felt like we were transported to the 50ies. There was quite a traditional butch/femme dynamic with this couple. Joan was a little Suzie home maker, happy just to be a housewife, filling her days with cooking and keeping house and having her crafts. Lorri was such a dude in both thought and behavior. Hanging out with her friends at night, only interested in talking and thinking about the game.
I didn’t really connect with Joan or Lorri and for me this was the weakest month of the series so far.
f/f no explicit scenes
Themes: Oregon, the trials of baby making, do these couples still excist? It was like we went back in time 60 years, meh, Billings needs to step it up if I want to make it through the year.
3.4 stars
As before, book three will highlight the lives of two different members of small rural town Paradise Valley, Oregon. Joan Sheffield owner of the local craft store Crafts & Things has a fervent child wish. She longs to start a family with partner Lorri Abrams. They may not have loads of money in the bank but they both have a job, a little house they can call their own and each other. A child would really be the cherry on top, but after having two miscarriages in a row it begins to put a strain on their finances and relationship.
Lorri is a woman who doesn’t need a lot to be happy in life. She has her Joan, a 9 to 5 at the hardware store, and evenings with her mates watching basketball in the pub. Lorri has escaped an abusive childhood and the stress of watching Joan go through the wars while trying to get pregnant is creating a lot of doubts. Is she really parent material?
The chapters alternate between Lorri and Joan’s pov. To be honest I felt like we were transported to the 50ies. There was quite a traditional butch/femme dynamic with this couple. Joan was a little Suzie home maker, happy just to be a housewife, filling her days with cooking and keeping house and having her crafts. Lorri was such a dude in both thought and behavior. Hanging out with her friends at night, only interested in talking and thinking about the game.
I didn’t really connect with Joan or Lorri and for me this was the weakest month of the series so far.
f/f no explicit scenes
Themes: Oregon, the trials of baby making, do these couples still excist? It was like we went back in time 60 years, meh, Billings needs to step it up if I want to make it through the year.
3.4 stars
May 3, 2023
Didn’t grab me, disappointing as had enjoyed a couple of others in this series. Change of pace from others.
March 24, 2019
The stress of making babies....when a laboratory dish is involved.
Lori and Joan are trying to get pregnant with IVF. They have had bad luck with their first two tries but have big hopes for the third. Trying to conceive proves to be stressful for both women. Lori and Joan both come from troubled homes and Lori is worried about her parenting skill. It’s a nice story but I don’t know why the author makes the people from this small town talk like proper English is just a suggestion.
I liked this third book better than the second and as much as the first. I’m invested now and can’t wait for April’s book.
Lori and Joan are trying to get pregnant with IVF. They have had bad luck with their first two tries but have big hopes for the third. Trying to conceive proves to be stressful for both women. Lori and Joan both come from troubled homes and Lori is worried about her parenting skill. It’s a nice story but I don’t know why the author makes the people from this small town talk like proper English is just a suggestion.
I liked this third book better than the second and as much as the first. I’m invested now and can’t wait for April’s book.
October 12, 2020
This delicate subject was presented in a very realistic and emotional story. Joan and Lorri are a loving couple trying to start a family. This book gives you a insight of the difficulties that they go through.
March 22, 2025
I'm enjoying getting to know the residents of Paradise valley. Lorri and Joan are a nice couple and their story is good.
January 4, 2020
Feels like somethings missing
📍 “One of the good things was that it was worth being loyal to a good person. Making them happy. Sticking up for them. Joan was a good person. She deserved all the humble happiness she asked for.”
📍 “Lorri was trapped between her hypothetical children bringing her contentment, and wondering how she was gonna screw them up like her own parents did her in like some psychology project gone wrong.”
📍 “She understood people she loved being mad at her. They don’t even need a reason. I just get it. Because I’m the person you get mad at, and then I get mad at everyone else.”
+ • + • + • +
Although not as amazing as the first book was, this book was still enjoyable— even if its mostly due to the subject matter moreso than its delivery or success.
📍 “One of the good things was that it was worth being loyal to a good person. Making them happy. Sticking up for them. Joan was a good person. She deserved all the humble happiness she asked for.”
📍 “Lorri was trapped between her hypothetical children bringing her contentment, and wondering how she was gonna screw them up like her own parents did her in like some psychology project gone wrong.”
📍 “She understood people she loved being mad at her. They don’t even need a reason. I just get it. Because I’m the person you get mad at, and then I get mad at everyone else.”
+ • + • + • +
Although not as amazing as the first book was, this book was still enjoyable— even if its mostly due to the subject matter moreso than its delivery or success.
March 23, 2019
Touching story
March Madness is a touching story about the struggles of IVF treatment when it is unsuccessful. It forces Joan and Lorri to look at their upbringing while exposing some insecurities about becoming parents. This is a story of how two women, through trials and tribulations, look back on the reasons why the fell in love with one another and use that to reconnect to one another. It's also about how the people of Paradise can come to aid of others in their own way.
March Madness is a touching story about the struggles of IVF treatment when it is unsuccessful. It forces Joan and Lorri to look at their upbringing while exposing some insecurities about becoming parents. This is a story of how two women, through trials and tribulations, look back on the reasons why the fell in love with one another and use that to reconnect to one another. It's also about how the people of Paradise can come to aid of others in their own way.
June 3, 2019
Another decent entry in the "A Year in Paradise" series. This volume includes an update on Abby from the first book, which helps tie the individual volumes together into a more complete picture of Paradise Valley. The random jumps into rural dialect are still a little jarring. No new HEA and definitely a to-be-continued type ending. An okay read within the context of the rest of the series.
July 6, 2019
Storyline quite interesting
This book was an awesome read. Two women from different yet like backgrounds wanting children in their life. The fear of not being able to be a good parent that led to some not major but still serious problems in their life. Quite an interesting topic and one I enjoyed to the fullest.
This book was an awesome read. Two women from different yet like backgrounds wanting children in their life. The fear of not being able to be a good parent that led to some not major but still serious problems in their life. Quite an interesting topic and one I enjoyed to the fullest.
May 17, 2022
Decent read
I had a hard time with how they spoke, it make them sound like ignorant small town hicks, granted some people do talk like that but it is annoying to read.
Eventually I started filling in the correct words as I read. I would go crazy listening to it.
This book was ok otherwise.
I had a hard time with how they spoke, it make them sound like ignorant small town hicks, granted some people do talk like that but it is annoying to read.
Eventually I started filling in the correct words as I read. I would go crazy listening to it.
This book was ok otherwise.
January 2, 2026
2,5/5
I genuinely believe that Lorri doesn't love Joan ,like ,especially when it's her pov.Joan deserved better in every sense of the word.And I hated Lorri's friend group ,everytime they would meet they would act and talk like some dumb ass straight men ,it was uncomfortable
I genuinely believe that Lorri doesn't love Joan ,like ,especially when it's her pov.Joan deserved better in every sense of the word.And I hated Lorri's friend group ,everytime they would meet they would act and talk like some dumb ass straight men ,it was uncomfortable
August 9, 2019
A fun read! Good to see a couple that's been together for a while dealing with bumps along the road of their relationship
July 24, 2020
Great book
I loved this book. I liked how Lorrie finally opened up to her partner Joan and about what she was going thru. I really do hope they get what they want.
I loved this book. I liked how Lorrie finally opened up to her partner Joan and about what she was going thru. I really do hope they get what they want.
August 11, 2020
The ups and downs with the emotional impact of IVF. Doesn't always work, expensive. Not always a quick solution.
April 8, 2021
Cute
Trying to starts family isn't easy, just ask Lorries. She seems to be the partner with the hardest t accept the change of life with Joan. All will work out in the end...
Trying to starts family isn't easy, just ask Lorries. She seems to be the partner with the hardest t accept the change of life with Joan. All will work out in the end...
Displaying 1 - 15 of 15 reviews