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Deuce
When Jay Reid was in her twenties, she had it all. A professional tennis career, Charlotte, the love of her life and a new baby. It ended far too soon when Charlotte’s research vessel, RV Caspian, was lost at sea, leaving Jay to raise their child alone. But Charlotte was, in fact, the sole survivor of the RV Caspian. Rescued by a local fisherman, with no memory of her life before, she lives on the Faroe Islands as Katrin Nielsen. Seeing a beached seal one day triggers her memory and slowly her other identity comes back to her. She returns to England to try to reclaim her life with Jay and their child.Twenty-three years is a long time. Is the love they once shared strong enough to be rekindled or have too many years passed eroding all hope of a happy ever after?
241 pages, Paperback
Published February 1, 2019
6 people are currently reading
22 people want to read
About the author
Jen Silver
23 books24 followersJen lives near Hebden Bridge in West Yorkshire with her long-term partner whom she married in December 2014. She has always enjoyed reading an eclectic range of genres including sci-fi, fantasy, historical fiction and lesbian fiction. As well as reading and writing, other activities include golf, archery, and taking part in archaeological digs. Jen's debut novel, Starting Over, was published by Affinity in October 2014.
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Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews
May 27, 2019
Jay Reid was a tennis star with a promising career, a loving partner, and their baby. When Charlotte disappeared while at a sea expedition, she left Jay alone to raise up their child. She was rescued by a fisherman and lived in the Faroe Islands with no recollection of her previous life. Twenty-three years later, an event triggers her memory and Charlotte goes back to England to reunite with Jay and their child. But after such a long time, will Charlotte and Jay be able to get back what they had?
'Deuce' is a love story but also a tale about bereavement, soul mates, family, and acceptance. It goes beyond the typical lesbian romance formula to focus not only on the main couple but also on the lives of the different people around them. It is loosely based on the selkie legends of Scotland and Faroe Islands, in which the seal people or 'selkies' shed their skins and come ashore to mix with humans to eventually return to the sea and leave them heartbroken. As in those legendary stories, this novel explores the unique bond between soul mates and the permanency of love.
This book is written in third person from multiple points of view except for Charlotte's pov which is written in first person. In the beginning, the amount of characters perspectives can be confusing, but eventually, the reader discovers the value of each one of the stories. Ms. Silver deals with the issue of gender reassignment, transphobia and family acceptance, which are as important in the plot as the romance itself. Kudos to the author to raise those issues in a respectful and delicate way.
Even though the amnesia plot and the inability of people to grieve and let go after twenty years have the potential to become melodramatic quickly, I'm glad that Ms. Silver treated these issues realistically and took her time to rebuild the family's bond. It made the wait so much worth it and pleasurable to read.
Overall, a very good tale about bereavement, soul mates, family, and acceptance. 4 stars.
ARC provided by the author in exchange for an honest review.
'Deuce' is a love story but also a tale about bereavement, soul mates, family, and acceptance. It goes beyond the typical lesbian romance formula to focus not only on the main couple but also on the lives of the different people around them. It is loosely based on the selkie legends of Scotland and Faroe Islands, in which the seal people or 'selkies' shed their skins and come ashore to mix with humans to eventually return to the sea and leave them heartbroken. As in those legendary stories, this novel explores the unique bond between soul mates and the permanency of love.
This book is written in third person from multiple points of view except for Charlotte's pov which is written in first person. In the beginning, the amount of characters perspectives can be confusing, but eventually, the reader discovers the value of each one of the stories. Ms. Silver deals with the issue of gender reassignment, transphobia and family acceptance, which are as important in the plot as the romance itself. Kudos to the author to raise those issues in a respectful and delicate way.
Even though the amnesia plot and the inability of people to grieve and let go after twenty years have the potential to become melodramatic quickly, I'm glad that Ms. Silver treated these issues realistically and took her time to rebuild the family's bond. It made the wait so much worth it and pleasurable to read.
Overall, a very good tale about bereavement, soul mates, family, and acceptance. 4 stars.
ARC provided by the author in exchange for an honest review.
February 28, 2019
Bravo. Standing ovation. I believe Jen Silver is one of the most underrated lesfic authors of our time. I can’t decide if this book or Changing Perspectives is my favorite. What makes this story exceptional is not the unique way she spun the plot of lost memory and reconnection, but how well Ms. Silver develops her characters. Bits and pieces slip out to create a picture of relationships that are complicated, imperfect, messy, etc. because that is who we are as human beings. She doesn’t do a data dump to draw these complicated, richly defined three dimensional characters, but tells the story in her unique style. Ms. Silver is a master at character development. One of the best out there in my humble opinion. Finally, I love how she used both 1st person and 3rd person in telling the story. I worked for me. Brilliant story. Highly recommended.
February 9, 2019
Great Story!
This was a great story! Jay, Charley, Tess, Josh, and Konrad were all wonderful characters all on their own accord. I have to admit, I was hooked in the story from the very start to the very end. The struggle Charley went through because of Josh and when she tried to tell Konrad about it he was not even phased by it demonstrating how not in touch she was with society from when she had disappeared 23 years earlier. The poignancy each character demonstrates and it all evolves around Charley and how important she was to all of them. Very well done!
This was a great story! Jay, Charley, Tess, Josh, and Konrad were all wonderful characters all on their own accord. I have to admit, I was hooked in the story from the very start to the very end. The struggle Charley went through because of Josh and when she tried to tell Konrad about it he was not even phased by it demonstrating how not in touch she was with society from when she had disappeared 23 years earlier. The poignancy each character demonstrates and it all evolves around Charley and how important she was to all of them. Very well done!
April 7, 2021
An intriguing and lovely story!
Jay’s life hasn’t exactly gone to plan, she no longer has her tennis career and when the past comes back out of the blue she is relieved but anxious as to how Charlotte will react to all that happened, and may happen between them now. Charlotte, her missing lover who was lost at sea has returned, but now it’s not only Jay’s life that has been turned upside down. Tess, Amanda, and other family members all find themselves impacted by Charlotte returns.
I was very intrigued by this story as soon as I started. There were a number of lives that entwined and were to be impacted by Charlotte’s return and I loved how Jen interwove them all. It was such a mystery what had happened to Charlotte but all these connections meant her memory had never been forgotten, especially not by Jay.
There were so many moments in this book that were important (and one tiny reference I adored, so if you know me and you’ve read the book I bet you can guess what it was). Jen explores a lot in Charlotte and Jay’s story, not only the consequences of the past coming back up and invading your life again, literally turning it upside down, but the impact of decisions the characters made in their time apart, and the impact upon other people’s lives. Every piece of the puzzle in this story had the characters reacting differently.
I think Charlotte’s character, the main focus of the story no matter which character’s point of view we were experiencing was most important. In one way or another she was about to change life for everyone connected to her and Jay, not just herself. Given all Charlotte had been through since being lost, she handled everything very well. A lot had changed and trying to remember things as they were and embracing them now must have been very difficult. It was the fact she still hoped Jay would have feelings for her that got to me, because when she remembered all she and Jay had before, I hoped just as much they could find it again.
Jen has covered a lot in this story, and by giving the point of view of many of the characters built up a story where we really got to engage with the effects Charlotte’s return had. The entwined stories added a lot of drama, and had me not only thinking about a whole host of important things and issues, but also contemplating them from every character’s point of view too.
I really enjoyed Deuce. It was a different kind of story, very much focusing on self-discovery, being true to yourself, and embracing differences. So I highly recommend this story and hope anyone reading it really enjoys it because it is just one of those stories that makes you believe in happy ever after.
Jay’s life hasn’t exactly gone to plan, she no longer has her tennis career and when the past comes back out of the blue she is relieved but anxious as to how Charlotte will react to all that happened, and may happen between them now. Charlotte, her missing lover who was lost at sea has returned, but now it’s not only Jay’s life that has been turned upside down. Tess, Amanda, and other family members all find themselves impacted by Charlotte returns.
I was very intrigued by this story as soon as I started. There were a number of lives that entwined and were to be impacted by Charlotte’s return and I loved how Jen interwove them all. It was such a mystery what had happened to Charlotte but all these connections meant her memory had never been forgotten, especially not by Jay.
There were so many moments in this book that were important (and one tiny reference I adored, so if you know me and you’ve read the book I bet you can guess what it was). Jen explores a lot in Charlotte and Jay’s story, not only the consequences of the past coming back up and invading your life again, literally turning it upside down, but the impact of decisions the characters made in their time apart, and the impact upon other people’s lives. Every piece of the puzzle in this story had the characters reacting differently.
I think Charlotte’s character, the main focus of the story no matter which character’s point of view we were experiencing was most important. In one way or another she was about to change life for everyone connected to her and Jay, not just herself. Given all Charlotte had been through since being lost, she handled everything very well. A lot had changed and trying to remember things as they were and embracing them now must have been very difficult. It was the fact she still hoped Jay would have feelings for her that got to me, because when she remembered all she and Jay had before, I hoped just as much they could find it again.
Jen has covered a lot in this story, and by giving the point of view of many of the characters built up a story where we really got to engage with the effects Charlotte’s return had. The entwined stories added a lot of drama, and had me not only thinking about a whole host of important things and issues, but also contemplating them from every character’s point of view too.
I really enjoyed Deuce. It was a different kind of story, very much focusing on self-discovery, being true to yourself, and embracing differences. So I highly recommend this story and hope anyone reading it really enjoys it because it is just one of those stories that makes you believe in happy ever after.
March 23, 2019
The synopsis has already drawn me in. Story is smooth flowing and I finished the book in one seating. Book is great if you don’t think too deeply into it, and it’s too short.
December 29, 2019
Wow a new premise for me. Intrigued from the start. Many layers of complication that may impede the happy ending. I felt a few details pushed me too far - like “a pitch invasion after a Wimbledon win (had court been used it might have grated less tho I struggled with the image.) There were many unlikely elements to this and a few plot devices that felt helecoptered in and a few 2 dimensional secondary characters. This is not a documentary so some lack of realism can be forgiven, therefor none of this stopped my reading. It started well. I stuck with it. 3 stars. Would have been 4 if a bit more detail and a bit more depth of character.
April 11, 2019
Excellent!
I loved Deuce. What a great story. I loved the way the book unfolded. The way the family was all existing separately, then joining up. Great. This would make an excellent audiobook.
I loved Deuce. What a great story. I loved the way the book unfolded. The way the family was all existing separately, then joining up. Great. This would make an excellent audiobook.
September 27, 2019
Recommend this book
I really enjoyed this book and recommend this book. I really enjoy this authors books and this book is no exception. Really good character development characters are well developed and likable. A story of family and lost love returned. Thanks
I really enjoyed this book and recommend this book. I really enjoy this authors books and this book is no exception. Really good character development characters are well developed and likable. A story of family and lost love returned. Thanks
April 25, 2019
Can you survive on memories? Jay has so many memories of her soulmate, Charley. Lost at sea, when her research vessel sinks, Charley is gone forever. Jay moves on with her life surviving her loss with the help of family. She’s ready to marry, but is it the right thing to do? A cast of characters will lead you through Jay’s journey back to finding love. This is a really good story! I’m so glad Jen wrote it. I read this in one sitting, unable to put it down. I couldn’t wait to find out what would happen next! Take a rainy afternoon to read this book, I know you’ll enjoy it!
Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews