A romance novel that actually gives me hope for the entire genre. I've looked a other reviews before writing this one, and noticed criticisms of how the characters handled the relationship--things about messy emotions, and how everyone wasn't all on the same page about what would happen when the third was added. I actually prefer it that way: it adds an element of realism, rather than this perfect happy fantasyland where everything is perfect and shiny and everybody reads everybody else's mind and it's great, etc.
In the interest of full disclosure: I read this immediately after "Logan's Redemption", so it may possibly have made me more keen on this than I otherwise would have been.
Still, I liked the relationship between Elizabeth and Sarah, how it's cute, playful, and sexy all at the same time, how they each broaden their horizons with one another (trips to the Lover's Lane for the "things with straps" that Elizabeth wants Sarah to wear; the items in Sarah's "hope chest" which she uses on Elizabeth), and the realism of the lovemaking (at least between the two females). There's no transcendental orgasm, there's no enlightenment, there's just stuff happening, and it's very nice stuff they both enjoy (e.g. that first time with the strap on). Speaking of the strap-on, I loved that little throwaway line about "the one who wore it had to be the one to clean it", acknowledging that sex isn't all fun-times, and that there's work to be done both before-and-after sometimes.
I was less impressed with the book when they added their third, because then you got to transcendental orgasm land, with a "very well endowed" man, and all these tropes. But even this part had more going for it than the damn Logan book--I actually enjoyed the feelings of jealously/conflict/unsureness, because it (to me) would seem unnatural to have them be any other way.
I also loved the ending where Dude (David? --let's be honest, he's only here to be a walking cock) and Sarah ended up hooking up, and Elizabeth was left out. It's bitterwseet (she found something good, but it didn't last, and now she must move on/she, in a way, had a hand in the downfall of her relationship, although adding Dude was only one factor among a few--such as her going back away to college at the end of the summer, which would have seriously complicated things even without Dude) and I love it for that. The ending very much fits the book, and where it's been going, and I'm Terrible, and love Terrible bitterwseet things...yet some part of me still wishes that Elizabeth and Sarah could have stayed together, could have made it work. I'm honestly not sure it's possible, since their relationship was mostly sexual, and had only a little depth beyond that (although not to say it's as shallow, as say Logan and Dorianna, damn their eyes), but on the other hand, they were having so much fun together, it's sad to see the whole thing come to an end.
I'm not sure what's keeping me from giving this a 5 star review: the threesome which was meh compared to the relationship between the two girls (but still not actually bad)? the fact that I might die of shame if I 5-starred a romance novel? ...probably the latter, honestly. So, I might come back and change this later.
It deserves to be upvoted, and get more attention anyway...
Hell. Five stars it is.