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Dawn of Change
Susan Sterling wanted nothing more than to escape her life… and her marriage. The family’s secluded cabin in Kings Canyon National Park seemed the only place for her to find peace. But it took Shawn Weber coming into her life for her to find the courage to make changes. The budding friendship between the two women strengthens into an intense emotional bond, a bond that soon eclipses friendship.
Despite pressure from her family to reconcile with her husband, Susan can’t deny the feelings that Shawn stirs in her. Susan finds she’s willing to forsake her entire family for a chance at love with Shawn.
Despite pressure from her family to reconcile with her husband, Susan can’t deny the feelings that Shawn stirs in her. Susan finds she’s willing to forsake her entire family for a chance at love with Shawn.
231 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 2005
50 people are currently reading
721 people want to read
About the author
Gerri Hill
53 books1,549 followersGerri began writing lesbian romance as a way to amuse herself while snowed in one winter in the mountains of Colorado, and hasn’t looked back. Her first published work came in 2000 with One Summer Night. Many more romances have followed, with the occasional murder mystery in the mix.
Gerri’s love of nature and of being outdoors usually makes its way into her stories as her characters often find themselves in beautiful natural settings. When she isn’t writing, Gerri and her longtime partner, Diane, can be found at their home in East Texas, where their vegetable garden, orchard, and five acres of woods keep them busy. They share their lives with an ever-changing cast of furry friends.
Her favorite pastimes include camping, hiking, birdwatching (though she insists she doesn’t wear funny hats yet!), photography, and cooking. She collects things nature offers, like an unusual pinecone, colorful rocks, or an abandoned bird feather. Dawn is her favorite time of day, the moment right before sunrise...
"I love the morning... the beginning of a brand new day. Because even things that we know are unattainable flutter within our grasp. In the early morning—at that cusp of a new day—everything is possible."
Gerri’s love of nature and of being outdoors usually makes its way into her stories as her characters often find themselves in beautiful natural settings. When she isn’t writing, Gerri and her longtime partner, Diane, can be found at their home in East Texas, where their vegetable garden, orchard, and five acres of woods keep them busy. They share their lives with an ever-changing cast of furry friends.
Her favorite pastimes include camping, hiking, birdwatching (though she insists she doesn’t wear funny hats yet!), photography, and cooking. She collects things nature offers, like an unusual pinecone, colorful rocks, or an abandoned bird feather. Dawn is her favorite time of day, the moment right before sunrise...
"I love the morning... the beginning of a brand new day. Because even things that we know are unattainable flutter within our grasp. In the early morning—at that cusp of a new day—everything is possible."
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 93 reviews
November 20, 2019
Review of ‘Dawn of change’ by Gerri Hill,
Audiobook narrated by Abby Craden
When Susan Sterling discovers her husband cheating, she flees San Francisco to her family’s secluded cabin in Kings Canyon National Park. There she meets Shawn Weber who is an out lesbian and they start a friendship with a very strong connection. But somewhere along the way, Susan realises that her feelings for Shawn are deeper than a friendship. Will they take the leap and act on their feelings and risk to destroy their bond?
‘Dawn of change’ is another very good book by Gerri Hill in which her usual themes of romance and nature are mixed. This is such a character-driven story, not only considering the leads but also the secondary characters. Both mains are well written and their relationship is very well developed from a chance encounter to a strong bond. As usual, Ms. Hill knows how to heat things up in the chemistry department and the evolution of the characters’ relationship seems natural and realistic. The secondary characters are very important to the plot, especially Ruth, Susan’s sister and Lisa, her only daughter. Both are multilayered with distinctive personalities that add richness to the story.
I’ve read this book a few years ago and liked it but I have to admit that the audiobook is so much better. Abby Craden’s narration brings the story to life with such strong emotions and feelings that it’s a joy to listen. As I said before, there are a few important characters and Ms. Craden’s voices are all distinctive and recognisable. It’s something that I appreciate in this narrator. Her interpretation of the feelings that permeate this story is intense and spot-on and her performance of the well-written and naturally sounding dialogues are, as usual, perfect. Available with a Scribd subscription you get more than 6 hours’ length of enjoyment.
Overall, a very good lesbian coming out romance audiobook, 4.5 stars for the story, 5 stars for the narration. Rounded up to 5 stars.
See all my reviews at www.lezreviewbooks.com
Audiobook narrated by Abby Craden
When Susan Sterling discovers her husband cheating, she flees San Francisco to her family’s secluded cabin in Kings Canyon National Park. There she meets Shawn Weber who is an out lesbian and they start a friendship with a very strong connection. But somewhere along the way, Susan realises that her feelings for Shawn are deeper than a friendship. Will they take the leap and act on their feelings and risk to destroy their bond?
‘Dawn of change’ is another very good book by Gerri Hill in which her usual themes of romance and nature are mixed. This is such a character-driven story, not only considering the leads but also the secondary characters. Both mains are well written and their relationship is very well developed from a chance encounter to a strong bond. As usual, Ms. Hill knows how to heat things up in the chemistry department and the evolution of the characters’ relationship seems natural and realistic. The secondary characters are very important to the plot, especially Ruth, Susan’s sister and Lisa, her only daughter. Both are multilayered with distinctive personalities that add richness to the story.
I’ve read this book a few years ago and liked it but I have to admit that the audiobook is so much better. Abby Craden’s narration brings the story to life with such strong emotions and feelings that it’s a joy to listen. As I said before, there are a few important characters and Ms. Craden’s voices are all distinctive and recognisable. It’s something that I appreciate in this narrator. Her interpretation of the feelings that permeate this story is intense and spot-on and her performance of the well-written and naturally sounding dialogues are, as usual, perfect. Available with a Scribd subscription you get more than 6 hours’ length of enjoyment.
Overall, a very good lesbian coming out romance audiobook, 4.5 stars for the story, 5 stars for the narration. Rounded up to 5 stars.
See all my reviews at www.lezreviewbooks.com
November 4, 2020
Dawn of Change by Gerri Hill is your typical toaster oven romance. Susan finds her husband in flagrante with his very young assistant and in their marital bed of all places. She takes refuge in their deluxe family cabin in the mountains of Kings Canyon National Park where she meets Shawn and her dog Alex who go camping there every weekend.
We get a slow burn friends to lovers romance with a ridiculous amount of family interference in the form of her homophobic sister Ruth, who traipses up the mountain every weekend on impromptu visits. Husband Dave stays outside the story for the most part, but he makes a few appearances. Shawn is trying to be the noble butch all through the book, not acting on her growing lust for Susan. Susan however, at some point, practically begs Shawn to take her right now. They are either interrupted by yet another visit from family or Shawn taking a runner to San Francisco. Susan’s daughter Lisa is the only clear-headed adult in all of this.
A solid Gerri Hill romance, she knows how to write them. Abby Craden did a fab job with the narration. I expect nothing less from the goddess at this point. Hearing her breathy ‘please’ makes everything better. A big hurray for Hill's back catalogue being made into audio books.
Available on Scribd.
f/f
Themes: cigarettes, beer and camping, I am straight but gay for you, Ruth needed that bitch slap way earlier in the book, lawdy lawdy there’s some heavy traffic up that mountain.
4 Stars
We get a slow burn friends to lovers romance with a ridiculous amount of family interference in the form of her homophobic sister Ruth, who traipses up the mountain every weekend on impromptu visits. Husband Dave stays outside the story for the most part, but he makes a few appearances. Shawn is trying to be the noble butch all through the book, not acting on her growing lust for Susan. Susan however, at some point, practically begs Shawn to take her right now. They are either interrupted by yet another visit from family or Shawn taking a runner to San Francisco. Susan’s daughter Lisa is the only clear-headed adult in all of this.
A solid Gerri Hill romance, she knows how to write them. Abby Craden did a fab job with the narration. I expect nothing less from the goddess at this point. Hearing her breathy ‘please’ makes everything better. A big hurray for Hill's back catalogue being made into audio books.
Available on Scribd.
f/f
Themes: cigarettes, beer and camping, I am straight but gay for you, Ruth needed that bitch slap way earlier in the book, lawdy lawdy there’s some heavy traffic up that mountain.
4 Stars
May 17, 2018
4 stars. I quite liked this one rather typical toaster oven story. While the story is nothing new, Gerri Hill can write well. I enjoyed this more than some of the other books I've read by her.
December 26, 2024
4 Stars for Dawn of Change (audiobook) by Gerri Hill read by Abby Craden.
A woman flees to her family’s cabin when she catches her husband with another woman. She strikes up a friendship with a woman and that relationship gives her the resolve to divorce him and move on with her new friend.
A woman flees to her family’s cabin when she catches her husband with another woman. She strikes up a friendship with a woman and that relationship gives her the resolve to divorce him and move on with her new friend.
March 28, 2019
"Dawn of Change" was another Gerri Hill book that I had held off from reading even though I had it for a while because of the subject matter. Until now. Seemed like the timing was right this time around for me to explore this story as well (like "At Seventeen" which I had the same sentiment about reading it until recently), now that my perspective about certain issues has evolved. And as I expected, Hill did it again! Honestly, no matter what circumstances she creates for her characters in every story plot she weaves, it's the gift of words she possesses - deeply intuitive, perceptive expressions - crafted in the language of emotions and sentiments that penetrate the reader's psyche and soul, effectively bringing the stories and their respective characters to life. Genuine, authentic and real. That's what I've experienced from reading Hill's books irrespective of certain subject matters in the romance department (as affirmed by my recent mood to tackle the handful of romance books of hers left unread until now due to certain used-to-be-contentious topics that I didn't want to delve into previously). Well done, Ms. Hill!
"Dawn of Change" is a perfect example of a love story between two women - one a lesbian and the other one presumably straight, with no history of any sexual attraction toward women at all, not until The One appeared...at the most unexpected moment....
Full commentary here.... In Bugs' Own Words
"Dawn of Change" is a perfect example of a love story between two women - one a lesbian and the other one presumably straight, with no history of any sexual attraction toward women at all, not until The One appeared...at the most unexpected moment....
Full commentary here.... In Bugs' Own Words
August 16, 2021
4 Stars -audible - I really liked this low angst toaster oven romance
Who knows why one set of characters grab you and another doesn't? These guys I just really liked from page one. It's a simple toaster oven romance. Woman getting divorced after 20 years, meets a nice sporty camping lovin' butch and they become friends and then slow burn to more then friends. There is a tiny angst moment that resolves itself quickly. Abby's narration was spot on as always. And I just love to see someone so unhappy find their true "person" and realize they can be very happy indeed.
ps. a bit about this book made me laugh cuz it seemed like ever other meal was hamburgers. maybe Hill was on a diet and really wanting hamburgers and lived vicariously thru her characters? who knows.
Who knows why one set of characters grab you and another doesn't? These guys I just really liked from page one. It's a simple toaster oven romance. Woman getting divorced after 20 years, meets a nice sporty camping lovin' butch and they become friends and then slow burn to more then friends. There is a tiny angst moment that resolves itself quickly. Abby's narration was spot on as always. And I just love to see someone so unhappy find their true "person" and realize they can be very happy indeed.
ps. a bit about this book made me laugh cuz it seemed like ever other meal was hamburgers. maybe Hill was on a diet and really wanting hamburgers and lived vicariously thru her characters? who knows.
July 1, 2021
Toaster oven with actual communication 🙌. I love Gerri Hill books though and low angst as well.
November 19, 2019
Have I mentioned how much I love that all of Gerri Hill's back catalog is being released on audiobook?!? (Maybe once or three thousand times.) Seriously - as I listened to this it was like revisiting an old friend - I've had this book on my shelves since 2005. It all felt so perfectly warm and comfortable. Narrator Abby Craden is spot on with this one (as she is with most of Gerri's books.) She captures tenderness like no other. And when she whispers and moans - I swear I just melt. Gerri writes romance like no other. Beautiful, beautiful. Swoon, swoon. *sigh* I'll listen to this one again.
September 20, 2022
So good!! I’ve read this one a couple of times before. But now I listened to the audio and it gives it an extra layer. Abby Craden does such a great job!! I cried a couple of times because of the pain I felt while listening to some parts and laughed a couple of times. I am so glad that Gerri Hill’s older books are now on audio.
July 24, 2024
3,5 stars
I was more drawn to the "mother learns how to overcome her own preconceptions and how to support her daughter" part of the story than the main romance. Probably due to my age and life-experiences (or lack of them).
Well written.
Not Hill's best, but still decent.
I was more drawn to the "mother learns how to overcome her own preconceptions and how to support her daughter" part of the story than the main romance. Probably due to my age and life-experiences (or lack of them).
Well written.
Not Hill's best, but still decent.
April 25, 2024
I forgot I had read this book a while ago. Definitely not one of my favorites but ok. I didn't connect much with the characters and there were plenty of typos which also kept me from being as engaged as I would have liked to have been.
I would probably give it 2.5 stars but rounding down because Goodreads says 2 stars is "it was ok" and it was.
*4/24/24 - did a reread with my ears this time. It's a bit dated but I did enjoy it more with Abby Craden's narration. Rounded up to 3 this time.
I would probably give it 2.5 stars but rounding down because Goodreads says 2 stars is "it was ok" and it was.
*4/24/24 - did a reread with my ears this time. It's a bit dated but I did enjoy it more with Abby Craden's narration. Rounded up to 3 this time.
January 8, 2017
Another good read from Gerri Hill. Certainly her books are very similar in that there is romance with a bit of angst thrown in for good measure. I prefer her books with a crime/mystery element, but there will always be a place for these sweet, purely romance novels on my bookshelf.
December 12, 2022
I really enjoy this book. I’ve read it a handful of times over the years. It’s a relatively light and fluffy romance book that I like to read when I need a smile.
I love the MCs Shawn and Susan. They have a connection from the beginning. They met by chance and Shawn soon becomes the friend Susan desperately needed. Susan can talk to Shawn, tell her all the thoughts and feelings she is having about her marriage and her husband’s affair. Shawn is also able to open up to Susan and tell her about her parents and her troubled youth. I really enjoy the journey of their relationship. It’s natural and believable.
I also really enjoy Susan’s relationship with her daughter Lisa. The two are close and open with one another. They stand for and love one another. Shawn and Lisa also form an easy relationship. I like that Lisa could turn to and talk to Shawn about her developing feelings for her friend Sherry.
I love them!
I love the MCs Shawn and Susan. They have a connection from the beginning. They met by chance and Shawn soon becomes the friend Susan desperately needed. Susan can talk to Shawn, tell her all the thoughts and feelings she is having about her marriage and her husband’s affair. Shawn is also able to open up to Susan and tell her about her parents and her troubled youth. I really enjoy the journey of their relationship. It’s natural and believable.
I also really enjoy Susan’s relationship with her daughter Lisa. The two are close and open with one another. They stand for and love one another. Shawn and Lisa also form an easy relationship. I like that Lisa could turn to and talk to Shawn about her developing feelings for her friend Sherry.
I love them!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
September 27, 2021
I am steadily working through the older books that Hill has had Abby Craden remaster. This is for sure one of my favorites and maybe even one I would consider listening to again. This is a slow burn, friends to lovers romance. It is so sweet and really steamy once the love making starts. Parts of this book were infuriating. The family of the MC, Susan, were absolutely terrible. I found myself loving to hate them.
March 4, 2015
An entertaining and frustrating trip back in time, 2005 but I wonder if this book has an older publishing date. . The MC's are lovely, the conflict generously provided by Susan's evil country club sister Ruth, and a toaster oven win for the charming Shawn.
The times they are a changing. I hope hetero attitudes have as well.
The times they are a changing. I hope hetero attitudes have as well.
May 17, 2015
There is hope. There is hope. There is hope. All you have to do is let yourself believe. To find out what, start reading.
October 25, 2023
Gerri Hill + Abby Craden = Perfection!
Dawn of Change follows the story of Susan Sterling and Shawn Weber. Susan is hiding away at her family’s cabin after finding her husband in her bed with another woman. One day while out for a walk, she comes across a stranger and her adorable dog. Feeling isolated and lonely, she invites Shawn and her dog, Alex, over for dinner that night. And Alex has a very prominent role throughout this whole story, as he should. 😌
The two women quickly realize how much they enjoy each other’s company and begin spending most weekends together when Shawn is there camping. Unfortunately, several of their weekends get interrupted by Susan’s nosy and intrusive family who show up with no warning and constant judgment. Susan’s sister Ruth gets what's coming to her in the end though! 😏
I absolutely loved the relationship between Susan and Shawn. You can feel the sense of peace and comfort they find in each other, the ease with which they can open up and communicate even in ways they haven’t with anyone else before. The feelings of attraction come on slowly at first, but once both women realize their feelings have gone beyond friendship… All the mutual, silent pining! While they didn’t always talk through things in the moment, I appreciated the fact that they never let things fester for long. And when these two finally stop trying to fight it…🥵🥵
Susan never had an issue with Shawn being a lesbian, but did make some not great remarks to her as she was grappling with things. It was very on point with her character’s nature, history, and identity, though. The thing I could have done without was all the bigotry and hate coming from Susan’s family, and the fact that it took her almost the entire book to finally stand up for herself with them. There were so many nasty comments and so much nasty behavior from her family and it was a bit much at times. I adored Susan’s daughter Lisa, though!
This was a sweet and sexy story about starting over, finding yourself, and being open to love finding you - even when it comes in a way (and in a person) you never would have expected.
Dawn of Change follows the story of Susan Sterling and Shawn Weber. Susan is hiding away at her family’s cabin after finding her husband in her bed with another woman. One day while out for a walk, she comes across a stranger and her adorable dog. Feeling isolated and lonely, she invites Shawn and her dog, Alex, over for dinner that night. And Alex has a very prominent role throughout this whole story, as he should. 😌
The two women quickly realize how much they enjoy each other’s company and begin spending most weekends together when Shawn is there camping. Unfortunately, several of their weekends get interrupted by Susan’s nosy and intrusive family who show up with no warning and constant judgment. Susan’s sister Ruth gets what's coming to her in the end though! 😏
I absolutely loved the relationship between Susan and Shawn. You can feel the sense of peace and comfort they find in each other, the ease with which they can open up and communicate even in ways they haven’t with anyone else before. The feelings of attraction come on slowly at first, but once both women realize their feelings have gone beyond friendship… All the mutual, silent pining! While they didn’t always talk through things in the moment, I appreciated the fact that they never let things fester for long. And when these two finally stop trying to fight it…🥵🥵
Susan never had an issue with Shawn being a lesbian, but did make some not great remarks to her as she was grappling with things. It was very on point with her character’s nature, history, and identity, though. The thing I could have done without was all the bigotry and hate coming from Susan’s family, and the fact that it took her almost the entire book to finally stand up for herself with them. There were so many nasty comments and so much nasty behavior from her family and it was a bit much at times. I adored Susan’s daughter Lisa, though!
This was a sweet and sexy story about starting over, finding yourself, and being open to love finding you - even when it comes in a way (and in a person) you never would have expected.
March 20, 2025
This was fast-paced and fun enough but very old-fashioned. The age-old suspicions of the lesbian hanging around a newly divorced woman, the homophobia in every other sentence Ruth utters, it all got a bit old so reduced my enjoyment. A reasonable enough and straightforward romance.
May 13, 2011
This is not a Pulitzer-prize winning novel, but I couldn't put it down. I read it from cover to cover in what amounted to a single day. Nice story-line and great ending.
October 6, 2014
Loved this simple but charming book.
A classic toaster oven story.
A classic toaster oven story.
January 2, 2022
5/10
umm
i realized just today that i literally keep reading gerri hill’s books only because abby craden’s the narrator.
this is okay-ish??
i liked lisa?? if that was the daughter's name and her story maybe might've been more fun.
other than that i really didn't like anyone.
the mcs were meh and the other characters were awful.
wouldn't recommend getting a paperback or spending a lot of money but if you're doing something and you need an audiobook in the background this one's alright.
umm
i realized just today that i literally keep reading gerri hill’s books only because abby craden’s the narrator.
this is okay-ish??
i liked lisa?? if that was the daughter's name and her story maybe might've been more fun.
other than that i really didn't like anyone.
the mcs were meh and the other characters were awful.
wouldn't recommend getting a paperback or spending a lot of money but if you're doing something and you need an audiobook in the background this one's alright.
June 27, 2019
I can't quite believe I haven't written a review of this book yet. I have honestly lost count of how many times I've read it. The pages are worn and I keep a rubber band around the book in the bookshelf just to make sure none of the pages fall out. I read it four times while I was on a 4 day vacation!
It is very rare for me to find a romance author who can hold my attention. Perhaps I'm a bit old school, but I prefer a slow burn that lets my imagination fill in the blanks. And while there are a handful of authors who can do this (and do it well), Gerri Hill seems to nail it every time. "Dawn of Change" is my favorite book by this extraordinarily talented writer and is one of my top 5 all time favorite stories. I'm going to try not to spoil anything.
Though the story is somewhat predictable, I believe that the best part of a story, especially a story that isn't meant to be a mystery or a thriller, is in the journey. And Ms. Hill is an expert guide.
The blurb sums up the overall story pretty well and while I certainly don't know exactly what Ms. Hill intended, I think there is much more going on in this book. And my favorite parts have little to do with the romance (though that is a big favorite).
What I love so much about this book is the ongoing theme of change. I know, that's not really surprising. Susan's transformation from the beginning to the end of the book is extraordinary. From her relationships to her look to her outlook on life. It's a pleasure to watch. She starts this story as the scorned yet dutiful wife, mother and daughter and evolves into something no one, including herself, recognizes. It's so encouraging and empowering, especially for anyone who has felt trapped by expectation. As I said, the course of her story is predictable, but watching it happen is truly a pleasure.
Shawn is a little bit different. Her evolution is more subtle than Susan's, but no less enchanting. It's difficult to see how a woman so grounded could have anywhere else to go. But bit by bit as the friendship develops, the reader learns about what has shaped Shawn. The dichotomy between these two characters is actually quite intriguing. While Susan is looking at the pieces of her shattered world and learning to take control of her life, Shawn finds that she needs to relinquish her own control in order to finally live.
The supporting characters in this are some of my favorites and are also evolving. While Lisa is her mother's staunchest supporter (besides Shawn), she too is on a journey of discovery. Susan's mother and sister are stuck up, hopelessly clueless elitists who can't fathom the changes they see in Susan and try their best to bring her back into the fold. Though Ruth, Susan's sister, doesn't appear to have the capacity to understand anything but what she's always known, Gayle, her mother, actually becomes rather likable. It's through these supporting characters that you see where Susan really came from and how significant her journey really is.
There really is nothing bad about this book. It is a sweet romance that overcomes some seemingly insurmountable obstacles, the biggest ones being the women themselves. I honestly feel like I'm reading about real people. It's organic and natural. Nothing is forced or awkward or just jumps out making the reader wonder, "Where did that come from?" or "How did that happen?" It just works. Everything about this story works.
I've seen other people call this story a "typical toaster over" story. Maybe it is. But it certainly doesn't detract from the story telling. It's a beautiful tale that will make you laugh, make you think, make you wonder, make you sad, make you angry, make you cheer...it will make you feel. And maybe that's all that really needs to be said about this book. It will make you feel. And isn't that the best thing about reading?
Thank you, Ms. Hill for one of the books I know I will read many, many more times and never get tired of it.
It is very rare for me to find a romance author who can hold my attention. Perhaps I'm a bit old school, but I prefer a slow burn that lets my imagination fill in the blanks. And while there are a handful of authors who can do this (and do it well), Gerri Hill seems to nail it every time. "Dawn of Change" is my favorite book by this extraordinarily talented writer and is one of my top 5 all time favorite stories. I'm going to try not to spoil anything.
Though the story is somewhat predictable, I believe that the best part of a story, especially a story that isn't meant to be a mystery or a thriller, is in the journey. And Ms. Hill is an expert guide.
The blurb sums up the overall story pretty well and while I certainly don't know exactly what Ms. Hill intended, I think there is much more going on in this book. And my favorite parts have little to do with the romance (though that is a big favorite).
What I love so much about this book is the ongoing theme of change. I know, that's not really surprising. Susan's transformation from the beginning to the end of the book is extraordinary. From her relationships to her look to her outlook on life. It's a pleasure to watch. She starts this story as the scorned yet dutiful wife, mother and daughter and evolves into something no one, including herself, recognizes. It's so encouraging and empowering, especially for anyone who has felt trapped by expectation. As I said, the course of her story is predictable, but watching it happen is truly a pleasure.
Shawn is a little bit different. Her evolution is more subtle than Susan's, but no less enchanting. It's difficult to see how a woman so grounded could have anywhere else to go. But bit by bit as the friendship develops, the reader learns about what has shaped Shawn. The dichotomy between these two characters is actually quite intriguing. While Susan is looking at the pieces of her shattered world and learning to take control of her life, Shawn finds that she needs to relinquish her own control in order to finally live.
The supporting characters in this are some of my favorites and are also evolving. While Lisa is her mother's staunchest supporter (besides Shawn), she too is on a journey of discovery. Susan's mother and sister are stuck up, hopelessly clueless elitists who can't fathom the changes they see in Susan and try their best to bring her back into the fold. Though Ruth, Susan's sister, doesn't appear to have the capacity to understand anything but what she's always known, Gayle, her mother, actually becomes rather likable. It's through these supporting characters that you see where Susan really came from and how significant her journey really is.
There really is nothing bad about this book. It is a sweet romance that overcomes some seemingly insurmountable obstacles, the biggest ones being the women themselves. I honestly feel like I'm reading about real people. It's organic and natural. Nothing is forced or awkward or just jumps out making the reader wonder, "Where did that come from?" or "How did that happen?" It just works. Everything about this story works.
I've seen other people call this story a "typical toaster over" story. Maybe it is. But it certainly doesn't detract from the story telling. It's a beautiful tale that will make you laugh, make you think, make you wonder, make you sad, make you angry, make you cheer...it will make you feel. And maybe that's all that really needs to be said about this book. It will make you feel. And isn't that the best thing about reading?
Thank you, Ms. Hill for one of the books I know I will read many, many more times and never get tired of it.
September 24, 2017
How should I begin?
Firstly, this has been in my want-to-read for a while, but I never got to it because I didn't want the drama. Plain and simple. I use books to get to a happy place, not to dig a deeper grave.
I was wrong. This book was not what I was expecting. I found myself laughing, intrigued, delighted, and smiling. It wasn't over the top though. Everything that happened, was plausible, and I never sat there and thought "oh, come on!". It was truly a wonderful read.
The two leads and supporting characters were great. I didn't feel uncomfortable about Dave, and I was expecting it to get really uncomfortable, perhaps even violent, but it wasn't. I loved this.
The two main characters are very sweet women, and they make sense, even when they don't.
I will definitely read this again in the future.
Firstly, this has been in my want-to-read for a while, but I never got to it because I didn't want the drama. Plain and simple. I use books to get to a happy place, not to dig a deeper grave.
I was wrong. This book was not what I was expecting. I found myself laughing, intrigued, delighted, and smiling. It wasn't over the top though. Everything that happened, was plausible, and I never sat there and thought "oh, come on!". It was truly a wonderful read.
The two leads and supporting characters were great. I didn't feel uncomfortable about Dave, and I was expecting it to get really uncomfortable, perhaps even violent, but it wasn't. I loved this.
The two main characters are very sweet women, and they make sense, even when they don't.
I will definitely read this again in the future.
May 29, 2020
Its never too late to find your own happiness
“I don’t know if I’m going to wake up and think I’ve lost my mind or if I’m going to wake up and think finally, I’ve found what’s been missing all these years.”
“It takes two to make a relationship work, but it just takes one to destroy it when one becomes disinterested.”
“Don’t you dare come into my life, make me feel like this about you, make me want you . . . and then say forget about it. Don’t you dare do that to me.”
+ • + • + • +
An entertaining & enjoyable story with some intriguing & interesting likeable characters, several hot scenes. An easy, light reading kind of book.
“I don’t know if I’m going to wake up and think I’ve lost my mind or if I’m going to wake up and think finally, I’ve found what’s been missing all these years.”
“It takes two to make a relationship work, but it just takes one to destroy it when one becomes disinterested.”
“Don’t you dare come into my life, make me feel like this about you, make me want you . . . and then say forget about it. Don’t you dare do that to me.”
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An entertaining & enjoyable story with some intriguing & interesting likeable characters, several hot scenes. An easy, light reading kind of book.
January 13, 2025
This was published 25 years ago so I guess for the time it was more relevant and went with the opinions/prejudices of that time, BUT.. At least 90% of this book was homophobic and the old 'lesbians will attack you with their homosexuality and turn everyone gay' rubbish. There's a lot of negativity in it around being gay and why you 'become gay', but again I understand it is likely due to the age of the book. There were also some really triggering conversations that just seemed to have been thrown in without much thought or preparation for the reader, including severe SA, DV, other abuse and suicide.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
March 4, 2022
I liked it because of Shawn, Lisa, Alex, Ruth and Mother! but it wasn't my favourite because of Susan. And then there's Dave, argh! I don't like it when in a relationship between lesbians there is a man involved. I felt the same way with Hunter series but I loved Tori and Sam so much so I overlooked "Robert".
Shawn's story was just so heartbreaking. And then Lisa, for a moment I thought Gerri was going to write her as the daughter who fell in love with her mother's lover!! Oh God!!! Nooooo!!!
Ruth was a pain in the ace!!!
Shawn's story was just so heartbreaking. And then Lisa, for a moment I thought Gerri was going to write her as the daughter who fell in love with her mother's lover!! Oh God!!! Nooooo!!!
Ruth was a pain in the ace!!!
March 22, 2020
Oh, I wanted to kill that Ruth! I loved the dialogue in this one, very engaging. The plot was pretty much cookie cutter, but that didn't matter so much because the interaction between the characters was realistic, sometimes funny, sometimes sweet, sometimes maddening. A good way to spend a few hours.
February 25, 2021
I gave this book 5 stars because I could SO relate to the characters....in particular Susan. My ex husband too, cheated on me and I have a cottage I escaped to as well. Now if only I could run into a Shawn and develop the type of relationship they had....oh my stars.
December 4, 2015
Another nice story from Gerri Hill. Really enjoyed it.
May 20, 2017
Simply worth it
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