Cat Rising

Cat Rising #1

by Cynn Chadwick

Everything's falling into place for Cat Hood. Her book has been published, her big-city agent's making big plans, and the whole town of Galway, North Carolina thinks she's a celebrity. So why does she feel like something's missing? She's got Lily, her lifelong best friend, and the carpentry business they share, a '59 Harley Duo Glide, a German Shepherd named Mike, and a long-lost brother who comes back to the mountains with a pregnant wife. And the woman of Cat's dreams just walked into her life - the relationship she's been waiting for. So what is she waiting for?

Genres: Lesbian Fiction, Fiction, LGBT, Lesbian Romance

248 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 2002

About the author

Cynn Chadwick was born and raised in New Jersey but has lived in the South for over twenty years. Earning both an MA in literature and an MFA in fiction at Goddard College in Vermont, Chadwick is currently a lecturer in the Creative Writing Program at the University of North Carolina at Asheville. Prior to earning her degrees, she worked for one of the first women in the United States to become a master carpenter, an experience that continues to inform her writing.

Reviews

[MEC · Rating 4 out of 5]

More literary than lesfic, Cat Rising revolves around Cat Hood, a carpenter living in a small/rural town who has just published her first book of short stories. The catalyst of being published is the start of a number of changes and decisions in her life. There is no action, mystery, intrigue, or simmering romance - just Cat and her friends and family, redefining their relationsips and lives. This is the kind of story where it's the journey rather than the destination that is the focus, and I enjoyed it quite a bit. The glimpses into Cat's childhood, especially with her grandmother, gave this a very authentic feel and although some people said in their reviews that there was no character development, I think it was all about character. There's a great amount of humour, usually involving Cat's best friend Lil - who was endearing and annoying (just like any lifetime friend).

[Bett · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book has the best first paragraph of any novel I've read. It is a story about opening doors, and being afraid to walk through them, the changes that occur in one's life. It is also very funny and touching. Chadwick creates a little universe.

[Alma · Rating 4 out of 5]

I've thoroughly enjoyed this series. The writing is engaging with a quirky underlying sense of humor and the characters charming. I hope to see more from this author soon. Kudos and a heart felt thank you to Ms. Chadwick.

[Chick · Rating 3 out of 5]

The first in a series of 3. Mediocre.