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Something to Believe
Sometimes “The One” comes along more than once in a lifetime.
When Lauren Keegan met Cassie Burkett on a Yangtze River cruise, they immediately clicked. Cruise over, they kept in touch, and rapidly became close friends. The following year they’re reunited for a visit which ends with a spontaneous kiss that surprises them both. That one kiss destroys their friendship, sending them back to their lives—and their partners—heartsick and remorseful.
Ten years later everything—and nothing—has changed. While the path is now clear for them to reignite the old flame, the time still seems all wrong. Cassie is unable to break through the emotional walls separating her from both her estranged son and her rediscovered love, while Lauren is overcome with revelations about her late partner that shatter her belief in destiny and romance.
Challenged by the past and besieged in the present, the only thing going for them is the one thing they’ve denied all these years: love.
With an unforgettable journey through China as backdrop for a story of fated love, Robbi McCoy (Waltzing at Midnight, Not Every River) returns with a decade-spanning romance that explores first impressions, second chances and perhaps third time’s the charm.
When Lauren Keegan met Cassie Burkett on a Yangtze River cruise, they immediately clicked. Cruise over, they kept in touch, and rapidly became close friends. The following year they’re reunited for a visit which ends with a spontaneous kiss that surprises them both. That one kiss destroys their friendship, sending them back to their lives—and their partners—heartsick and remorseful.
Ten years later everything—and nothing—has changed. While the path is now clear for them to reignite the old flame, the time still seems all wrong. Cassie is unable to break through the emotional walls separating her from both her estranged son and her rediscovered love, while Lauren is overcome with revelations about her late partner that shatter her belief in destiny and romance.
Challenged by the past and besieged in the present, the only thing going for them is the one thing they’ve denied all these years: love.
With an unforgettable journey through China as backdrop for a story of fated love, Robbi McCoy (Waltzing at Midnight, Not Every River) returns with a decade-spanning romance that explores first impressions, second chances and perhaps third time’s the charm.
288 pages, Paperback
First published December 13, 2010
2 people are currently reading
81 people want to read
About the author
Robbi McCoy
16 books42 followersFrom the author's website:
I was born and live in Northern California equidistant between the Pacific Ocean and the Sierra Nevada mountains. In addition to writing, I enjoy hiking, gardening, cooking, and theater. I am employed by a major west coast distribution company as a computer specialist and web designer.
Having dreamt of being a writer from a very young age, I have published poems, short stories, and numerous nonfiction articles on topics ranging from cooking to computer science. In 2001, I compiled, edited and published Late Bloomers: Awakening to Lesbianism After Forty, a collection of coming-out stories. Combining my love of writing with my favorite outdoor activity, hiking, I co-authored a hiking guide in 2005 with my life partner. This was published by Gem Guides Books.
In 2008, after a hiatus of over a decade, I returned to my first love, fiction, and wrote a lesbian romance novel, which was accepted for publication by Bella Books. I hope to turn this new success into a long-term second career.
I was born and live in Northern California equidistant between the Pacific Ocean and the Sierra Nevada mountains. In addition to writing, I enjoy hiking, gardening, cooking, and theater. I am employed by a major west coast distribution company as a computer specialist and web designer.
Having dreamt of being a writer from a very young age, I have published poems, short stories, and numerous nonfiction articles on topics ranging from cooking to computer science. In 2001, I compiled, edited and published Late Bloomers: Awakening to Lesbianism After Forty, a collection of coming-out stories. Combining my love of writing with my favorite outdoor activity, hiking, I co-authored a hiking guide in 2005 with my life partner. This was published by Gem Guides Books.
In 2008, after a hiatus of over a decade, I returned to my first love, fiction, and wrote a lesbian romance novel, which was accepted for publication by Bella Books. I hope to turn this new success into a long-term second career.
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Displaying 1 - 15 of 15 reviews
October 8, 2011
Just finished reading STB. Wow! This book is spectacular in every way: Descriptions of places, landscapes, cultural customs, cuisine...leave nothing to the imagination! As I was reading I just felt part of the story. I must say I learned things about other cultures I didn't know existed. And that's something I'm always grateful for -I'm always open to learn something new.
The characters: Fantastic!. My favourite: Faith, undoubtedly! Without neglecting Lauren/Cassey, of course. But Faith was the one who touched me beyond words. I like her philosophy of life. Love so much her positive attitude towards life.
This story so touching and emotional in many ways is for reading and dwell on it more than once, and that's what I pretend to do. I highly recommed...
The characters: Fantastic!. My favourite: Faith, undoubtedly! Without neglecting Lauren/Cassey, of course. But Faith was the one who touched me beyond words. I like her philosophy of life. Love so much her positive attitude towards life.
This story so touching and emotional in many ways is for reading and dwell on it more than once, and that's what I pretend to do. I highly recommed...
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April 22, 2023A solid read about two women who are already in relationships with other people when they fall in love with each other. We meet all four women in chapter one and dip into each of their point of views, which made it a bit hard to keep them all straight in the beginning, but it was still a good read.
July 17, 2011
I've loved every one of Robbi McCoy's novels but this one takes the prize, so far! It's a "serious" novel with a lot of fun, feeling and wisdom. What I like most about Robbi Mc Coy's writing is that it's so absolutely "no nonsense" - if that makes sense? Her novels feel like "true" stories and the reader (this one anyway) feels she's right inside the story!!
June 29, 2013
This does not use the usual tropes of lesbian Romance. There’s no contrived misunderstanding keeping the lovers apart. The tension is largely internal—these couples don’t fight (at least that we see). It addresses the very real question: Is it possible to love more than one person at a time and is that OK? It’s not about polyamory, though; they don’t act on these feelings beyond first base (or less). It’s about mature women (in their 30s to 40s)—Yay!—in real relationships and how they struggle. There’s no lacking in Lauren’s relationship that encourages her to stray, it’s just that mysterious bond that apparently can form more than once at a time. You could argue that if her love for Faith was so strong, so fulfilled, that she wouldn’t allow romantic emotions to form for Cassie. It just wouldn’t happen. But everyone’s different. This story rings true. There’s also an undercurrent of belief systems (hence the title). Maybe it’s fate. Very interesting and it’s sticking with me. It makes you think about the ones that got away
September 18, 2017
Oh my goodness! This is so not like the typical lesbian theme book. It focused much on emotions, relationship and their values. I cried reading Faith's letter to Lauryn and I learnt so much cultural history that I am now interested in looking up books on such genre. This was an awesome awesome book and will be placed in my best collection category and certainly I will reread it some months or years to come.
July 1, 2013
Warm and tender story of lasting love, love lost and love found again.
June 12, 2023
Yeah so I just cried buckets reading this. Could hardly see the ending through my tears. A beautifully moving story of love and grief. I read this in one sitting.
I adored how little unnecessary drama there was. This just felt so real and raw. Showing how you can absolutely have more than one “true love” in your life and that it doesn’t mean you loved one less.
I would love to make this into a film someday. I could only hope to capture the beauty that this story shows. There is such a steady tone throughout the whole thing, it’s explorative it’s curious it’s informative.
Lesbian love is beautiful love. I had a wonderful time reading this. I hope somebody loves me as much as Lauren loved Faith and Cassie, and I hope I love them the same. I’m inspired, and my standards are raised. <3
I adored how little unnecessary drama there was. This just felt so real and raw. Showing how you can absolutely have more than one “true love” in your life and that it doesn’t mean you loved one less.
I would love to make this into a film someday. I could only hope to capture the beauty that this story shows. There is such a steady tone throughout the whole thing, it’s explorative it’s curious it’s informative.
Lesbian love is beautiful love. I had a wonderful time reading this. I hope somebody loves me as much as Lauren loved Faith and Cassie, and I hope I love them the same. I’m inspired, and my standards are raised. <3
June 7, 2024
Second chances, finding love again when older, losing a partner, true love. A little bit of everything but well done, well developed and perfectly believable.
January 22, 2014
It had some lovely story elements with characters that had potential to be interesting. The book was definitely a nice departure from typical lesbian novels that are mostly built around explicit physical relations or coming out.
I felt like it lacked the necessary character definition and general relational dimensions to justify the relationships. That was especially odd for a book with a premise of being about adult relationships.
There was robust, passionate description of the settings, music, careers, hobbies and food encountered along the story; but that detail did not extend to or match the rest of the novel. Thus, it felt a bit juvenile, abrupt, slightly contrived and inconsistent for me to rate it higher.
It is an easy, fast read, not especially immersive beyond a few setting descriptions.
I felt like it lacked the necessary character definition and general relational dimensions to justify the relationships. That was especially odd for a book with a premise of being about adult relationships.
There was robust, passionate description of the settings, music, careers, hobbies and food encountered along the story; but that detail did not extend to or match the rest of the novel. Thus, it felt a bit juvenile, abrupt, slightly contrived and inconsistent for me to rate it higher.
It is an easy, fast read, not especially immersive beyond a few setting descriptions.
December 29, 2013
It was hard for me to get into the book at first, but it gradually started to piece together, to the point that I fell in love with the main characters. Especially Faith, what a woman she was! I would have enjoyed her speculations about life. And Cassie, she sounded like a very fine woman.
I wish there was more to Cassie and Lauren's relationship. I don't know, some parts felt kind of dull to me. Or seemed to go too fast. Though I will say I thoroughly enjoyed the second half of the book and I've learned a little bit of history myself.
I would have really loved to visit the Yangtze river.
I wish there was more to Cassie and Lauren's relationship. I don't know, some parts felt kind of dull to me. Or seemed to go too fast. Though I will say I thoroughly enjoyed the second half of the book and I've learned a little bit of history myself.
I would have really loved to visit the Yangtze river.
December 23, 2012
First book from R Mccoy and I am inlove with this book! Such a Creative and wonderful story of Friendship, relationship grief, real geographical facts, happiness and overall LOVE. Many life lessons and even love lessons to find in this book. "Something to Believe In" by R McCoy has every aspect of a story; humorous, drama, action and even educational! I PERSONALLY LOVE THIS BOOK! Relates so much to me!
July 18, 2013
Really liked this one. Really, really.
I adored the characters, the story moved me (to tears even, yes, I enjoy crying on public transport, why?), the writing surpassed the usual level of the lesfic genre by far. It was no distraction from just falling into the story and enjoying the ride.
I adored the characters, the story moved me (to tears even, yes, I enjoy crying on public transport, why?), the writing surpassed the usual level of the lesfic genre by far. It was no distraction from just falling into the story and enjoying the ride.
January 22, 2015
There is an unexpected twist at the end which is very touching. Robbi McCoy is very good at making you see the scenery through her words. The part where they are taking a private tour up to see the burials is very atmospheric. A very good read and one for keeps.
May 6, 2012
Loved this book. A nice twist.
July 15, 2015
I liked this just a bit more than I usually like LezFic romances. It seemed a little teeny bit more deeper than usual, and I really, really liked Eric, one of the secondary characters.
Displaying 1 - 15 of 15 reviews