What do you think?
Rate this book
For a Lifetime
After suffering injuries while rescuing her niece in a devastating fire, High School Principal Renata Santos has convinced herself that love is something she’ll never experience again. Her self-esteem and self-image in tatters, she buries herself in her work.
Brianna Walsh hasn’t believed in love for ages. She’s spent years growing her Virtual Reality company and is eager to see her system implemented in a high school looking to improve their STEM test scores. She didn’t expect to feel such an attraction to the high school principal. And Renata can’t quite believe how her body and mind is awakened to the possibility of Brianna’s touch.
But the journey is emotional, and both women must decide whether to let go of the past before they can start the rest of their lives—together.
Brianna Walsh hasn’t believed in love for ages. She’s spent years growing her Virtual Reality company and is eager to see her system implemented in a high school looking to improve their STEM test scores. She didn’t expect to feel such an attraction to the high school principal. And Renata can’t quite believe how her body and mind is awakened to the possibility of Brianna’s touch.
But the journey is emotional, and both women must decide whether to let go of the past before they can start the rest of their lives—together.
254 pages, Paperback
Published August 17, 2023
About the author
Valerie Kapp
2 books8 followersValerie A. Kapp grew up in Richland, Pennsylvania, a small town surrounded by Amish farms and a community where your parents knew what you did that day before you got home for supper. She is the oldest of five, with four younger brothers, one deceased. She had a grandfather who was blind and an uncle who was severely developmentally delayed. So no wonder her career was helping people as a counselor, specializing in counseling with the deaf.
Valerie was an outstanding athlete, beginning in the summer community playground competitions leading to high school and college athletics. She was president of the student council in high school, in the band and other activities, and a football statistician. She played three sports in high school and college. She was voted captain in all three sports and selected to all-star, all-state, and national field hockey teams (before the NCAA). She also coached at the college and high school levels.
For forty years, she has lived in a suburb of Dayton, Ohio, where she is retired after working in the field of deafness, HIV/AIDS, and vocational rehabilitation. She ended her career as a research associate at Wright State University in the Substance Abuse Resources and Disability Issues (SARDI) program. In addition, she has served on the board of Trustees of the Deaf Community Resource Center in Dayton, Ohio, and as an adjunct instructor at Sinclair Community College Psychology and Interpreter Training Departments and Wright State University School of Medicine.
You can find Valerie riding her Harley motorcycle, golfing with her wife and friends, visiting New York City to see Broadway plays, or every Monday night at one of the houses of their Monday night social club, sharing a meal and laughter with ten other women.
Valerie self-published a non-fiction e-book titled, Woman as Leaders? YES, YOU CAN! A 6-Step Formula to Confidently and Powerfully Inspire Others to Follow You as a Leader. She is working on her second lesbian romance novel about a woman who lost her partner in 2009 from a heart attack at the age of sixty with no legal protection from an unaccepting family. The story moves into 2015 with the passage of the Marriage Equality Act and follows her journey to believe in love again.
You can contact Valerie at: alignmentleadership@gmail.com.
Valerie was an outstanding athlete, beginning in the summer community playground competitions leading to high school and college athletics. She was president of the student council in high school, in the band and other activities, and a football statistician. She played three sports in high school and college. She was voted captain in all three sports and selected to all-star, all-state, and national field hockey teams (before the NCAA). She also coached at the college and high school levels.
For forty years, she has lived in a suburb of Dayton, Ohio, where she is retired after working in the field of deafness, HIV/AIDS, and vocational rehabilitation. She ended her career as a research associate at Wright State University in the Substance Abuse Resources and Disability Issues (SARDI) program. In addition, she has served on the board of Trustees of the Deaf Community Resource Center in Dayton, Ohio, and as an adjunct instructor at Sinclair Community College Psychology and Interpreter Training Departments and Wright State University School of Medicine.
You can find Valerie riding her Harley motorcycle, golfing with her wife and friends, visiting New York City to see Broadway plays, or every Monday night at one of the houses of their Monday night social club, sharing a meal and laughter with ten other women.
Valerie self-published a non-fiction e-book titled, Woman as Leaders? YES, YOU CAN! A 6-Step Formula to Confidently and Powerfully Inspire Others to Follow You as a Leader. She is working on her second lesbian romance novel about a woman who lost her partner in 2009 from a heart attack at the age of sixty with no legal protection from an unaccepting family. The story moves into 2015 with the passage of the Marriage Equality Act and follows her journey to believe in love again.
You can contact Valerie at: alignmentleadership@gmail.com.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 19 of 19 reviews
January 31, 2024
For a Lifetime is a good mix of romance and angst with a dash of mystery. Ren Santos is a local High School principal who is solely devoted to her work and her sister’s family. The days of looking for her own love are in the past but she is genuinely happy. Then she meets Brianna Walsh the co-founder of a company looking to move Virtual Reality into education. A genuine interest sparks between them as they conduct business.
What I like best about the book is that it promises to be a curl up in your favorite chair type of Romance and it succeeds. I found myself invested and enjoyed the fact that the two main characters are successful, sexy women over 50 who seek both the emotional and physical sides of a relationship. Ren struggles at times because of scars from a fire which took place a few years before the story so there is a bit of back and forth hurt as Ren and Brianna learn to trust one another. I was hooked and I wanted to see if they could work out their problems and find their way to each other. I’m glad the author also wrote some heat in their romance which solidified the couple’s intimacy. I recommend this book if you like warm romances and characters fighting to overcome tragedies to find their love.
What I like best about the book is that it promises to be a curl up in your favorite chair type of Romance and it succeeds. I found myself invested and enjoyed the fact that the two main characters are successful, sexy women over 50 who seek both the emotional and physical sides of a relationship. Ren struggles at times because of scars from a fire which took place a few years before the story so there is a bit of back and forth hurt as Ren and Brianna learn to trust one another. I was hooked and I wanted to see if they could work out their problems and find their way to each other. I’m glad the author also wrote some heat in their romance which solidified the couple’s intimacy. I recommend this book if you like warm romances and characters fighting to overcome tragedies to find their love.
August 27, 2023
A very good debut novel. I really liked it and will definitely keep an eye on the author's future work.
4.25 stars
4.25 stars
September 3, 2023
Excellent!
A devastating fire, suffering injuries and nightmares haunt Renata (a high school principal) and she has herself withdrawn from socializing with new people . She can’t open up to another person, afraid of rejection. Renata has given up on love. That is, untill the president of a VR company walks in and the doubts and uncertainty set in. “For A Lifetime” is a great debut book, very well written and with real emotions. The main characters have amazing chemistry and are well-developed with depth and strenght. I loved the supporting cast and that the main characters are older women. This book is definitely worth reading and I’m curious to her future books.
A devastating fire, suffering injuries and nightmares haunt Renata (a high school principal) and she has herself withdrawn from socializing with new people . She can’t open up to another person, afraid of rejection. Renata has given up on love. That is, untill the president of a VR company walks in and the doubts and uncertainty set in. “For A Lifetime” is a great debut book, very well written and with real emotions. The main characters have amazing chemistry and are well-developed with depth and strenght. I loved the supporting cast and that the main characters are older women. This book is definitely worth reading and I’m curious to her future books.
December 25, 2023
A good book, a lot going on: medical recovery, stalker, trying to change things at school - a bit of an emotional rollacoaster, but well worth the read. recommended.
December 30, 2023
3.5 stars.
Liked this book well enough even though it wasn’t a light read. The main characters are both older, which as great. There are not many romances about women in their late fitfties and early sixties. I liked that they are active women who have dreams for their future and are prepared to invest in those dreams.
Liked this book well enough even though it wasn’t a light read. The main characters are both older, which as great. There are not many romances about women in their late fitfties and early sixties. I liked that they are active women who have dreams for their future and are prepared to invest in those dreams.
January 1, 2024
5 ★ | Warmth. Pure, unbridled warmth. Incredible. The character development was fucking exquisite. Pardon my French. Raw. Real emotions. Chemistry beautifully crafted. Pace is perfect. Not dragged out unnecessarily. Not rushed. Fuzzy feelings. Everywhere.
Highly anticipating her next release. Congratulations on such a well executed, heartwarming story. You have my respect (Impossible to earn).
Highly anticipating her next release. Congratulations on such a well executed, heartwarming story. You have my respect (Impossible to earn).
February 10, 2024
✔Sapphic Book Bingo Challenge 2024 🌈✨: Hidden Gems Board - Both Characters Over 40
4 stars. Not gonna lie, I was a bit iffy about this one in the beginning and I wasn’t sure I was going to like it. That’s mainly because of the writing. It wasn’t my favorite as I found it to be a bit clunky and awkward. I also felt like the stalking plot line was extremely pointless and I was correct because the conclusion of it was lackluster.
On the flip side the romance between Ren and Bri was lovely and I liked the angst in this. Ren has a lot of issues that she has to work through because she feels unworthy of love because a lot of her body is burned due to a house fire and her ex girlfriend dumped her. My heart hurt for her. She was constantly in her own way but I was glad that she had people around her that would not only help her but also hold her accountable when she was in the wrong. I loved that. Bri was extremely patient with Ren but she also knew how to draw some boundaries. The chemistry between them was great and I thought both women were great characters. I especially loved the development and growth that Ren went through. Overall, minus my hangups about the writing style this was a really good read. I’d check out Kapp’s next work.
{Challenges completed:
✔For Love of a Book: We Need a Cupid Challenge
✔The Lost Challenges: Year of the Dragon Challenge
✔The Lost Challenges: The Romantic Comedies
4 stars. Not gonna lie, I was a bit iffy about this one in the beginning and I wasn’t sure I was going to like it. That’s mainly because of the writing. It wasn’t my favorite as I found it to be a bit clunky and awkward. I also felt like the stalking plot line was extremely pointless and I was correct because the conclusion of it was lackluster.
On the flip side the romance between Ren and Bri was lovely and I liked the angst in this. Ren has a lot of issues that she has to work through because she feels unworthy of love because a lot of her body is burned due to a house fire and her ex girlfriend dumped her. My heart hurt for her. She was constantly in her own way but I was glad that she had people around her that would not only help her but also hold her accountable when she was in the wrong. I loved that. Bri was extremely patient with Ren but she also knew how to draw some boundaries. The chemistry between them was great and I thought both women were great characters. I especially loved the development and growth that Ren went through. Overall, minus my hangups about the writing style this was a really good read. I’d check out Kapp’s next work.
{Challenges completed:
✔For Love of a Book: We Need a Cupid Challenge
✔The Lost Challenges: Year of the Dragon Challenge
✔The Lost Challenges: The Romantic Comedies
November 2, 2023
More older ladies loving ladies please.
September 27, 2024
Oh this one just melted my heart. The journey that both these women go through to believe in themselves and trust that what is happening is REALLY happening, so beautiful.
It can be harder to trust others when you get older as life's lessons can really guard your heart and mess with your head...as well as the actions and choices of other people.
I very much loved both Bri's and Ren's growth through this. I also loved the love language as well. Very well written from a softer, older woman's perspective. Whether that was intentional or not, I very much appreciated the differences in how they spoke with eachother about their love.
This is easily one of my re-reads when i need to feel good.
Thank you Valerie for Bri and Ren's love story...for a lifetime <3
It can be harder to trust others when you get older as life's lessons can really guard your heart and mess with your head...as well as the actions and choices of other people.
I very much loved both Bri's and Ren's growth through this. I also loved the love language as well. Very well written from a softer, older woman's perspective. Whether that was intentional or not, I very much appreciated the differences in how they spoke with eachother about their love.
This is easily one of my re-reads when i need to feel good.
Thank you Valerie for Bri and Ren's love story...for a lifetime <3
April 1, 2024
This book has some examples of one of the things I dislike about representation. My expectation going in was that this is a story about older protagonists, has a POC main character, and is about overcoming trauma. The last bit was right on the money and the focus of the whole book aside from a weirdly shoehorned-in stalker plot. The other two are in name only.
If I removed the indicators of age from the main characters (one is in her fifties, the other her sixties) and the Latinx-sounding name, I suspect most readers would imagine thirty-year-olds at most (mostly because it would take a while to get to the career points they are in the book) and probably the default cis white women because neither of these things has any impact. From playing impromptu games of touch football to tastes in media or anything else, being older women or one of them being a person of color is completely irrelevant, which makes it feel like token inclusion and worth just not doing.
Anyway, that gripe aside, this was very surface level and the handling of conflict and relationships was immature, especially for people at the age they're meant to be. What I wanted was a story of women later in life recovering from trauma but also finding a new connection but the whole thing was mostly quite shallow and filled with childish lashing out and jumping to conclusions. I realise that the lashing out is due to trauma but it's not really addressed in any way except a single conversation and fast-forwarding through a few months of therapy, which only adds to the shallow feel of the whole thing.
For the above reasons, not really my kind of thing, sadly. I would instead recommend Paper Daffodils: A Dawn & Rosie Adventure instead, which has older main characters finding a connection later in life and goes into the sort of mindset and life one has when you're older.
If I removed the indicators of age from the main characters (one is in her fifties, the other her sixties) and the Latinx-sounding name, I suspect most readers would imagine thirty-year-olds at most (mostly because it would take a while to get to the career points they are in the book) and probably the default cis white women because neither of these things has any impact. From playing impromptu games of touch football to tastes in media or anything else, being older women or one of them being a person of color is completely irrelevant, which makes it feel like token inclusion and worth just not doing.
Anyway, that gripe aside, this was very surface level and the handling of conflict and relationships was immature, especially for people at the age they're meant to be. What I wanted was a story of women later in life recovering from trauma but also finding a new connection but the whole thing was mostly quite shallow and filled with childish lashing out and jumping to conclusions. I realise that the lashing out is due to trauma but it's not really addressed in any way except a single conversation and fast-forwarding through a few months of therapy, which only adds to the shallow feel of the whole thing.
For the above reasons, not really my kind of thing, sadly. I would instead recommend Paper Daffodils: A Dawn & Rosie Adventure instead, which has older main characters finding a connection later in life and goes into the sort of mindset and life one has when you're older.
August 23, 2023
FOR A LIFETIME
Valerie Kapp
Bella Books
New Release
Renata's nights were still haunted by the remnants of the devastating fire. She replayed the terrifying moments in her dreams, where she and her niece found themselves trapped in the inferno. Although Renata managed to rescue her niece, she suffered injuries that continued to plague her three years later. The aftermath of the accident still weighed heavily on her.
Amidst her struggles, Brianna emerged as a beacon of support in Renata's life. Brianna exuded confidence, sweetness, and genuine care, offering her unwavering presence for Renata whenever she needed it.
As Renata delved back into a support group, she began to confront the depths of her pain and trauma from the fire. It was here that she found solace and the opportunity to establish a beautiful, heartfelt connection with Brianna, as they both navigated the hardships together. Renata's love for her niece, Izzy, blossomed within this newfound support system.
What captivated me about this book was the way the author shed light on the struggles of addiction, particularly alcohol addiction. The story not only explored Renata's journey but also introduced David, a courageous soul, and his incredible wife. The ensemble of supporting characters added depth and richness to the narrative, showcasing the effortless chemistry and love that intertwined them all.
This was a story that celebrated the strength and resilience of older women who still possessed an unwavering zest for life. It inspired me to believe in myself, showcasing the power of self-discovery and the ability to uplift those around us. The author's portrayal was masterful, leaving me eager to explore more of their work. If you're looking for a beautiful, empowering story, I highly recommend checking out this gem, available now in Bella Books. The Release Date is August 31, 2023 on Amazon!
Valerie Kapp
Bella Books
New Release
Renata's nights were still haunted by the remnants of the devastating fire. She replayed the terrifying moments in her dreams, where she and her niece found themselves trapped in the inferno. Although Renata managed to rescue her niece, she suffered injuries that continued to plague her three years later. The aftermath of the accident still weighed heavily on her.
Amidst her struggles, Brianna emerged as a beacon of support in Renata's life. Brianna exuded confidence, sweetness, and genuine care, offering her unwavering presence for Renata whenever she needed it.
As Renata delved back into a support group, she began to confront the depths of her pain and trauma from the fire. It was here that she found solace and the opportunity to establish a beautiful, heartfelt connection with Brianna, as they both navigated the hardships together. Renata's love for her niece, Izzy, blossomed within this newfound support system.
What captivated me about this book was the way the author shed light on the struggles of addiction, particularly alcohol addiction. The story not only explored Renata's journey but also introduced David, a courageous soul, and his incredible wife. The ensemble of supporting characters added depth and richness to the narrative, showcasing the effortless chemistry and love that intertwined them all.
This was a story that celebrated the strength and resilience of older women who still possessed an unwavering zest for life. It inspired me to believe in myself, showcasing the power of self-discovery and the ability to uplift those around us. The author's portrayal was masterful, leaving me eager to explore more of their work. If you're looking for a beautiful, empowering story, I highly recommend checking out this gem, available now in Bella Books. The Release Date is August 31, 2023 on Amazon!
February 6, 2024
This was a book I wanted to like but couldn’t. I’m all for older women with complex histories and issues as protagonists, but the handling of this one was disappointing. I would’ve liked to get more insight into Renata’s frame of mind, thoughts and feelings but these were missing, even though the narrative is from her perspective.
It was also jarring that the characters’ physical location/posture/movement at any given point was unclear. For example, at one point Renata’s described sitting on a chair behind her desk, but the next moment she’s touching Bri’s arm as Bri stalks out of her office. There’s no explanation as to how she managed to reach Bri so quickly. At another point Renata is sitting facing Bri and a few lines later she’s turning towards her, without explaining when she’d turned away.
It was also jarring that the characters’ physical location/posture/movement at any given point was unclear. For example, at one point Renata’s described sitting on a chair behind her desk, but the next moment she’s touching Bri’s arm as Bri stalks out of her office. There’s no explanation as to how she managed to reach Bri so quickly. At another point Renata is sitting facing Bri and a few lines later she’s turning towards her, without explaining when she’d turned away.
December 7, 2025
Renata Santos is a High School Principal. Three years previously she was burned badly in a fire. When her then partner leaves because of her scarring she doesn’t believe she will ever find love. She meets Brianna Walsh when her Virtual Reality company pitches to their products to be used as a teaching tool in the high school. These are mature women, in their fifties and it is is fun and sweet to see them stumble in things like asking each other out. Renata has more going on as things can trigger panic attacks because of the fire. Brianna is wonderfully understanding but also wont stand to be mistreated. There is a side story going on about someone stalking Renata as well.
I enjoyed listening to the book from Hoopla. Only afterwards did I realize this was the author’s debut novel and I already read her second novel released earlier this year.
I enjoyed listening to the book from Hoopla. Only afterwards did I realize this was the author’s debut novel and I already read her second novel released earlier this year.
August 3, 2024
A story love story about us older lesbians, yes you can still find love and have a healthy sex life. This is a mature story with some lesbian representations that don't always include " washboard abs" and perky breasts. Don't get me wrong, there is nothing wrong with those things but some of us live in a real world and love all the real things that come with the love of an older woman. Thank you for the great story and representation.
September 13, 2023
very good
This book is a very good first published work. Enjoyed the characters. Working through trust issues showed the challenges to relationship building. Really liked older protagonists. This is a good read.
This book is a very good first published work. Enjoyed the characters. Working through trust issues showed the challenges to relationship building. Really liked older protagonists. This is a good read.
September 3, 2023
This book was so good. I’ve read it in one day. Couldn’t put it down.
October 27, 2023
A little awkward sometimes but overall cute!!
June 3, 2025
Such a good story
This book is sweet, sad, happy, and love-filled. This is the love of 2 women over 50+ of age overcoming tragedy and obsession. Highly recommend.
This book is sweet, sad, happy, and love-filled. This is the love of 2 women over 50+ of age overcoming tragedy and obsession. Highly recommend.
September 29, 2023
This book is very similar to the situation, the traumas of Nicole McMillan in Smoke and Fire by Julie Cannon. The stalker is really useless in the story, it adds nothing. Why this character?
Displaying 1 - 19 of 19 reviews