The Lines of Happiness

Happiness #1

by Venetia Di Pierro

Fleeing Melbourne and her broken relationship, Gloria Grant still has one ace up her sleeve—a job offer to work with traumatized horses in Wyoming. But instead of blissful mountain air and fulfilling ranch work, she finds a family ruined by tragedy and a ranch owner who refuses to let Gloria near her horses.  
After a tragic event, Lo Ballantyne has no interest in riding her horses any longer. And she certainly doesn’t want to let anyone close—especially not a stranger from Australia. But when Gloria stubbornly refuses to leave, her free spirit and the natural beauty around them begin to break through Lo’s walls.   Though Gloria tries to bury her feelings for Lo she knows she sees her own desire reflected in Lo’s eyes. The sensible thing to do is let her go. But Gloria rarely does the sensible thing…

Genres: LGBT, Lesbian

234 pages, Kindle Edition

Published April 19, 2022

About the author

Venetia Di Pierro grew up in the city of Melbourne in Victoria, Australia. She belongs to writers’ groups and book clubs and has a writing and publishing degree. She currently works in the corporate world and wrote The Lines of Happiness in the car on her lunch breaks. She laughs easily, especially at herself, and believes what you set your mind to you can achieve. She can usually be found reading, writing, running, or spending time with friends and family. She thinks the most important thing in the world is love and living every day to the fullest. She lives with her son and daughter, overflowing bookshelves and a few too many pot plants.
Photo credit: Nick Walters (www.nickwalters.com.au)

Reviews

[Della B · Rating 5 out of 5]

Running away from a marriage proposal by her longtime boyfriend, Gloria Grant leaves Melbourne for the United States without telling a soul. She has been offered a job working with traumatized horses on a ranch in Wyoming. What she finds is a ranch owner steeped in personal grief who does not want Gloria near her horses. Without any other options Gloria stays on the ranch to do her job.

I sank down into The Lines of Happiness and allowed myself to wallow in the fullness of the language. The story of grief, loss and discovering love in an unlikely place is exquisitely written. It reminds me of the elegance of Jane Rule’s writing in her novel Desert of the Heart.
Di Pierro must be blessed with a third eye as her novel speaks of life, grief and love in meaningful poignancy and perception.

Underneath it all, The Lines of Happiness is a haunting love story slowly evolving from the devastation bequeathed one family. It is not a typical romance novel encompassing endless activities and interactions between the main characters. The Lines of Happiness is a deep dive into our motivations and self awareness as we fall in love. Something I am sure most of us have forgotten over time. This is an essential reminder.

I received an advanced review copy from Bella Books through NetGalley. I am leaving this review voluntarily.

[Jo reece · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is my first book by this author and I will keep my eyes peeled for further releases.
If you want a romance, this book isn't for you. The lines of happiness are about getting through the dark days after losing a child. Learning to carry on, to live again and to love again. The author made you ‘feel’ through her writing, the description of the ranch, town and how she approached mental health and trauma was done with sensitivity and depth.
I don't want to leave a spoiler, but if you do read this story, you will find yourself wishing Gloria and Dolores would just sort their attraction to one another out. Has the book goes on, we watch a beautiful bond develop.

I've given The lines of happiness a 3.7/5

[Sam · Rating 3 out of 5]

I absolutely didn’t get what I was expecting from this book.
After reading the book I came back to read the blurb, twice actually, I figured I must have misunderstood. Maybe I did and in that case I still don’t understand. This book is not what the blurb makes it out to be, at least not to me.

The book is set in 1999.
We have a character, Gloria, who is fleeing from all her problems, literally. And another, Dolores (who goes by many other names), who has become sort of a recluse ghost. I don’t see how they match, how they “catch” feelings. What I do understand is that this story is about loss, tragic loss and making decisions. I’m not going to spoil this story because I do think there will be people for whom this story resonates, but it isn’t me, certainly not with some of the things that happen. Even with how seemingly minor they are.

This book has a happy ending but it left me feeling a little hollow and sad I suppose. The overall feeling I have left after reading this book is disappointment, it just didn’t work for me. Please read other reviews.

*ARC received in exchange for a voluntary and honest review*

[Betty · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Lines of Happiness by Venetia Di Pierro is a lovely romance with a different feel to the story. It is more a psychological tale than action based, even though the book takes place on a ranch in Wyoming. There’s also a fair amount of angst running through the story.

Gloria Grant is running away from a broken relationship when she accepts a job to work with traumatized horses at a ranch owned by Lo Ballantyne. She is actually hired by Lo’s husband without her knowledge, and Lo is not pleased when Gloria shows up at the ranch. The accident that has caused the horses’ trauma has caused even more grief for Lo, and she wants nothing to do with the horses or the woman hired to help them. Gloria ends up staying, though, and a bond gradually forms between the two.

I got caught up in this story quickly, and just had to keep reading until the end. I really wanted to know how Gloria and Lo could work through the grief as well as other complications. Could they become friends? Could that friendship develop into something more even with all the pitfalls? I had to know the answers to these questions.

The characters make this tale something special. Both the main and secondary characters are well-developed. I became quite invested in Lo and Gloria especially. They made the novel a must read for me.

If you are into deeply serious, thought-provoking love stories, then pick up this book. You won’t be disappointed.

I received an ARC from NetGalley and Bella Books for an honest review.

Rainbow Reflections: https://rainbowreflections.home.blog/

[Ashlee · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book starts out with Gloria running from her home after her boyfriend Mike proposes. Unsure of what she wants but sure that she doesn’t want the future Mike is asking for she finds herself in Wyoming, hired to help two dressage horses get back out into competitive riding. The horses’ owner, Lo, has other ideas though and puts some roadblocks up for Gloria. Their friendship comes about slowly as they both realize Lo’s husband Peter is trying to push them both into the future he wants. Lo has become a recluse at her ranch after losing her only child in an accident, her love of horses pushed away as she waits for time to pass, hoping it will heal her wounds. Gloria’s appearance on the ranch pushes Lo just a bit outside of her comfort zone to move forward. The romance in this book is quiet and slow, much like life on the remote ranch seems to be. Gloria and Lo gravitate towards each other not knowing what draws them in but sure that they want to be together. I enjoyed reading this but you do have to be in a certain mood for the depressive dialogue and nature of this book. I liked seeing their friendship bloom out of the initial misunderstandings of Gloria’s arrival. There is no grand moment or crescendo, just quiet friendship that blooms into something more without anyone realizing. Great book for a quiet afternoon of reading.

[Henriette · Rating 5 out of 5]

Lush and poignant are the two words which come immediately to mind to describe this debut novel. The writing itself is lush, luxurious and brimming with wonderful, exquisite language, images, rural landscapes and rural life, horses and emotional depth. A real little gem of a book lovingly edited and polished. The story is poignant with loss, trauma, grief and coming to terms with it: we watch from the outside Dolores journey – a slow journey which is by no means easy and the better for it. There is true depth in this thorough exploration. For Gloria it is a coming of age and being a “mid-wife” for Dolores’ journey. There is a slow growth of a kernel of more, of new horizons but it doesn’t take away from the main story. The author doesn’t succumb to the quick and easy “solutions” and stays away from the temptation of “love heals all”.

PS.: The second book „Happiness is a Shade of Blue“ complements and concludes the story of Dolores and Gloria.

ARC received from the publisher with no obligations.

[Aleana · Rating 4 out of 5]

I received an ARC copy of this book from the Publisher via Netgalley and voluntarily leaving my review.

Gloria is running from her life because she unsure what she wants her future to be. She winds up in Wyoming where she gets a job. Lo doesn’t have time for Gloria she still in mourning after losing her child and has become recluse she fine solace with her horses hoping it will help her heal. Gloria and Lo starts to slowly form a friendship that becomes more something they both didn’t realize was happening. This was a good read it’s deal with grief and what you want out of life.

[Kaye · Rating 4 out of 5]

Gloria Grant arrives in Wyoming with a job to work with horses on a mountain ranch. Delores Ballantyne didn’t know her husband Peter hired Gloria and gives her less than a warm welcome. Delores is depressed and being reclusive after suffering a tragic loss. She doesn’t want Gloria near her or the horses she is ignoring. But Gloria pitches in with the two ranch hands in caring for the ranch and the horses. Slowly, sometimes very slowly Delores walls come down a little at a time allowing her to talk and spend time with Gloria. Gloria is unsure what to do with her crush feelings she has towards Delores. And when her veterinarian fiancé/boyfriend of several years show us from Melbourne to bring Gloria home their time together is ending.

If you are a horse person you are going to like this more than me. I like horses, my next door neighbors have them, but true horse people appreciate and elevate the ability of horses to know a person and help in healing. (I’m a dog person.) I like this story and truly felt for the Delores personal tragedy. But parts of this book moved very slowly for me. It is probably realistic for how withdrawn Delores is but at times I just wanted something to happen. I loved when the two main women would talk to each other but those moments are only here and there. Instead there is working with the horses along with other ranch hands and lots of inner thoughts. The book is set 1998 and my guess is that is to explain the choice of closeted living. The story could be contemporary and the author doesn’t explain or show why the time period is important otherwise.

One thing that really bothered me was giving them similar names. Gloria is sometimes called Lo at home and Glo-worm by her boyfriend. Delores is known as Lo through most of the book but also Lola, Dolly, Doll-Lo. I know it is cute that they could have similar nick names but it is confusing. Anytime I took an extra moment to have to think who is actually speaking it took me out of being immersed in the story. It is a minor thing but it was very distracting to me.

This is a very slow-burn, only a few kisses shared, romance. It is beautifully descriptive of the horses, land and inner feelings. But I felt I was told some of the story more than shown. I never see Gloria stand up for herself to her fiancé. Her decisions are told after the fact as narrative. I recommend reading especially if you enjoy books about grief and healing. Thank you to NetGalley and Bella Books for an eARC in exchange for an honest review.

[Cheryl · Rating 5 out of 5]

Omg, what can I say...this was a really good and different story. I really liked it. It is sooo different and sooo interesting.
It is somewhat slow but importantly so. It is so emotional and upliftly at the same time. About half way through I started reading faster. I had to know how this was going to end up. And then everything seemed to go the wrong way...eek. It is definitely emotional and a roller coaster ride...but well worth the ride.
No sex scenes but your heart will be pounding....promise.
This author really knows how to take her time and build a story. The dialog is natural and very insightful. Descriptions are clear, important and not overdone.
This is the first book I have read by this author and I will definitely look for other of her books.
I was given this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

[Jen · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5 stars. Very little romance but I thought this was a well written and interesting story overall.

[Bookista · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book was very different from the usual lesfic romance novels, that I usually read. Set in the Wyoming mountains in the late 90s it tells the story of Gloria, an Australian horse trainer / dressage expert running from her problems back in Melbourne and Delores the ranch owner who is overcome by grief and guilt due to the loss of her child. The scene is set with Gloria hired to work at the ranch but Dolores wanting her gone.

First off I have to comment on the writing, it really was an enjoyable experience. The words used to describe the Wyoming mountains, the horses, the atmosphere are just beautiful - almost lyrical. I think the writing is what drew me in and kept me interested till the end.

I like horses and stories with horses in them, so the whole training story arc was something that I really enjoyed. I also liked how Gloria and Delores connected with each other, Gloria slowly pushing Delores out of her comfort zone mirrored nicely what she was trying to do with the horses as well.

There is a lot of description about what the two main characters are struggling with, a lot of inner thoughts, but the book really shines when the two interact with each other. Unfortunately though I thought there wasn’t enough of those moments, but the back half of the book picks things up and the romance portion kicks in. Yep, so this is a slow burn alright and the burnout is quite chaste in the end.

Another reviewer pointed out the flurry of names used in this book for the two main characters and I had a laugh about this while 💯 agreeing. Lo and Glo were the two I had the most trouble with. It’s hard enough keeping track of the many “she” and “her” in lesbian fiction without adding similarity in names to the mix! ☺️

Overall, I did like reading this book, but I would have liked to see more of the romance component. If you like evocative descriptions of the Wyoming wilderness, love horses and the emotional intelligence these equine beauties bring to a story, along with a very light touch of romance then this book will absolutely work for you. 3.75🌟s

Thank you NetGalley and Bella Books for an eARC in exchange for an honest review.

[Rosi · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book has not been a standard or typical romance, I doubt that it can be qualified as romance at all, which does not mean that it has not been interesting. But it definitely hasn't been a romance in my opinion. That's why my not totally positive review.

The story reflects the inner struggle of two women who, due to different circumstances, are going through a low moment. Dolores because she has suffered a tremendous emotional blow that has made her an inmate within herself, she barely leaves her room inside the ranch where she raised and trained horses for dressage. Gloria arrives at the ranch hired by Dolores' husband, to see if she can retrieve the horses and, incidentally, help Dolores out of her shell. Gloria comes from Australia and she herself intends to take this opportunity to separate herself from a sentimental situation for which she was not prepared.

Dolores does not react very well to Gloria's arrival at the ranch, but neither does she reject her completely, let's say that she tolerates her and gradually agrees to open up to her, although this opening is mutual, the two women becoming the therapy they are needing at the moment.
For me, the book has too many parts in which the author extends too much in trying to show the feelings and thoughts, mostly of Gloria, since as far as Dolores is concerned, her afflictions are offered to us through other protagonists or facts. There are no concrete situations, everything is facts of the past, unclosed wounds, and a lot of pain.

Pain and Glory, this is the Spanish translation of the names of the two protagonists and reflect quite well the path they travel through this story.

Publisher Bella Books was kind enough to provide me with an advanced reading copy via Netgalley for my honest review

[Teddy · Rating 3 out of 5]

Where to begin? Perhaps with the language, which set the tone for this beautiful but haunted love story. Di Pierro paints a vivid picture of the wide open spaces of Wyoming. She deftly captures Dolores’ grief after losing her young son (which appropriately weighs on her the whole book), and Gloria’s trepidation marrying a man she can’t quite fault. I was swept away in the language of love and loss.

However, the love story itself was gruelingly slow. Most of the story was about Gloria’s experience with the horses, and Dolores’ depression following her son’s death. The dialogue was stilted and often took me out of the story. I could understand the draw between the women as friends but didn’t believe the romantic chemistry, and I actually think this would have been stronger as a story about friendship only. I do think the author handled the existence of the women’s respective partners well. The story takes place in 1998 so there’s no e-communication or LGBT representation that would set the women up for a relationship. That said, their romance was still gruelingly slow. Did I say that already? It was beautiful but slow. Not slow burn, just slow, like a romance from another time.

Short Summary: Stuck in an imperfect relationship with a perfect man, Gloria flees to the wide open spaces of Wyoming for a job training horses. She doesn’t expect to find a broken woman there too. Can the two heal each other, or will they remain in companionable silence?

Thanks to Netgalley and Bella Books. ARC provided in exchange for an honest review.

[Leslie · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5 stars rounded up.

Thanks to NetGalley and Bella Books for the digital galley of this book.

Gloria Grant leaves everything behind in Melbourne, fleeing a relationship she can’t commit for a job offer working with traumatized horses. When she arrives, she finds that Lo Ballantyne, the owner of the ranch, definitely doesn’t want her there and demands she turn around and head right back to Australia. Lo’s husband hired Gloria without Lo’s knowledge or permission, and Lo has no desire to see or ride the horses again. Her grief is so strong that most days, she’s lucky to make it out of her room. Gloria and Lo build a tentative friendship, but when Gloria feels more, she knows the smart thing to do is to leave Lo alone.

I enjoyed this sweet and tender book about loss, grief, and learning to live again. At one point, Lo observes that she’s hiding and Gloria is running, and they both have things to heal from. Their romance is a super slow burn, enemies to lovers, and it’s squeaky clean. You won’t find any hot sex scenes here; in fact, there aren’t any at all. Gloria and Lo’s growing relationship is far more emotional than physical, but the physical attraction is still there. The backdrop of the sprawling Wyoming countryside is beautiful, and it’s a must read for horse-lovers. It gave me a little bit of Horse Whisperer vibes, but you know, with lesbians. It’s out now wherever you get your books.

[MissAlice · Rating 4 out of 5]

With one main running across the globe to escape her life and the other running away from reality you end up in the crosshairs of two large times of transition in the MC's lives. With all the running about it was exciting to see them finally run straight into one another. They continue to push and pull one another as they orbit around trials of the heart.

Grief is like salt. If you toss it into some water, it dissolves and changes that water- it takes some serious boiling heat to extract that salt and you'll never get it all out. Ever drink some ocean water? That's how I view grief, just as hard to swallow. This book shakes up all the feels when you watch the main as she struggles to just live her day to day. It's a great book, a bit forced when it came to the main's falling for one another and their subsequent actions to pursue a new life, but definitely a beautiful nod to the growth that occurs after the drought of loss.

I received a free ARC from NetGalley in exchange for my honest review.

[Beth · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book is so beautifully written. The scenes are set perfectly and you feel like you are in the gorgeous mountains of Wyoming surrounded by horses. This isn’t your typical romance and is in fact quite sad in places. The main story is Lo trying to hide away from her grief which results in her becoming a ghost in her own life. Gloria is supposed to be helping fix the horses but gets drawn into helping Lo. The romance side is slow and it’s more of a blossoming friendship first. Both characters can be frustrating and I questioned so many of their actions, but I was rooting for them. There are so many other lovable characters that really add to the story as well. It was a quick read that I ended up finishing in a day and it really takes you on a roller coaster of emotions. I did however struggle to keep a grasp on how many different names Lo seemed to be referred to.

I received a copy of the ebook via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review

[❦ Sapphic Books ❦ · Rating 4 out of 5]

Venetia Di Pierro wrote a beautiful story about loss, grief and finding love and hope when you’re close to giving up.

Gloria and Lo are both strong women, each one carrying their own burden - Gloria’s running away from her boyfriend and Lo‘s dealing with the loss of her child. When Gloria arrives on the mountain ranch, she’s met by Lo who refuses to let her work with the horses. Slowly the hostility between them disappears as Gloria is fighting to stay and forcing Lo out of her self isolation. A friendship with the possibility of more blossoms.

I wouldn’t call this book a romance, it’s something much deeper, much more than that. It’s not easygoing, it’s full of heartbreak, misery, but despite all there’s still hope.

[Tara H · Rating 5 out of 5]

I generally love books set in gorgeous, rural environments so the ranch in Wyoming was perfect for me! I adored the evocative descriptions of the horses, outdoor lifestyle and the landscape, the language is wonderful, and truly almost felt like I was there, immersed in the stunning countryside.
Also I quite liked that it is set in a different era (late '90s), I felt it really added another dimension to the book.
I also really enjoyed the slow-burning romance between the two main protagonists, i.e. how their friendship evolved somewhat gradually. The story is a bit sad but very hauntingly beautiful.
Would recommend for sensitive souls who appreciate lyrical writing, slow-burning love stories and gorgeous settings.

[Vita L. Licari · Rating 5 out of 5]

A beautiful gem from my TBR shelves. Two damaged women, one running from her life in Australia the other suffering from the devastating loss of her child find a bond and a love.
But first, they've to get to know each other and trust one another. Gloria is a dressage rider/trainer from Australia that has been offered the chance to train 2 expensive dressage horses in Wyoming. She's running from her long term boyfriend who asked her to marry him, but she feels trapped. So, she ups and leaves for the US. Dolores - Lo lost her 6 yr old son in a freak accideb6while horseback riding. She has withdrawn from everything.
This is such a great story! The complexities of the human psychic are immense. You are taken for an interesting ride with this story. A FAVORITE! Worth more than 5 stars!

[Claire · Rating 4 out of 5]

A wonderfully told, delicate story of grief and healing, of both people and horses following an unspeakable tragedy. I liked the characters who develop slowly before our eyes in the way that we would get to know people. We get more inner dialogue from Australian Gloria who has run away from her life in Australia to help with the horses but also helps the grieving Dolores. I enjoyed the space to take time with language and experience deeper emotions in this book.

With thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

[Michael Wells · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a different love story. Gloria has run away from her husband. in Australia and found a job training horses at a ranch in Wyoming. Delores is the owner of the ranch along with her husband Peter. Tragedy has struck Delores who is a lawyer when her son Terrance was killed on a horse ride.
The plot of the story is where you find happiness and who with. There is drama, love and caring in the story and I recommend this book to romance readers.
I just reviewed The Lines of Happiness by Venetia Di Pierro. #TheLinesofHappiness #NetGalley

[Kay · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoyed the book and thought the author did a great job. without giving too much away. Lo is depressed and mourning the loss of her son Terrence. Gloria is running away from her fiancé and the life she has in Australia by accepting a job in Wyoming. Over time both women develop a friendship. There's no grand romance in this book. LOL, I enjoyed the scenery and the horses. I recommend 4 stars.

Thank you, Bella Books, and NetGalley for this ARC.

[Ginger · Rating 5 out of 5]

An oddly uncomfortable but realistic story of finding love unexpectedly.

Auztralian Gloria leaves her live in boyfriend in the middle of night and flies to Wyoming as the best way to avoid confrontation.

American Lo is a shell of her former self since her only chi.d has died.

Two broken women work their way through grief, self doubt and dead end relationships to become friends and fall in love.

Realistic portrayal of a straight women falling in love e with a friend.

[nutmeg · Rating 4 out of 5]

“You don’t do love, it just happens.”

The Lines Of Happiness is a beautiful but poignant tale that speaks of loss, bravery in the arduous seasons of healing and a lasting encounter with love when it’s least unexpected.

Gloria had to leave Australia. Landing a job in a Wyoming ranch were her means of escape except that Lo, the withdrawn ranch owner did not expect or need her. With nowhere else to go, Gloria needed the job and despite Lo’s initial reticence, something about the other made them take small steps and crept towards acceptance and healing together.

The writing was easy on the mind’s eye. It was vibrant, vivid and the author made it real easy to picture the ranch, nature, the animals and every character in the book. Although the ladies took a relatively long time to acknowledge and act on their feelings, it was plausible in a small town setting in the late 90s.

I just reviewed The Lines Of Happiness by Venetia Di Pierro. Thank you NetGalley and Bella Books for the ARC.

[wilson · Rating 3 out of 5]

2.5/5

hoarse gorl

[Laura]

Loved this book at first, then abandoned. The blurb sounded great, but I forgot to read the tags.