#readingbinge

So, I went on a reading binge. But not just any reading binge, with all the books I already have in a big pile to read (I dug some more out of the black hole storage shed about a month ago) and those I’ve got on my kindle (yes, I use one), with all the fanfic I have read in the last year, I got a craving for a novel length sapphic story.

I started with The Senator’s Wife by Jen Lyon which I enjoyed and then read the other two books in the series (Caught Sleeping and Whistleblower). All in all they were pretty good stories and partially satisfied my craving.

Needless to say, once you read one on kindle, all kinds of recommendations start showing up (oh what kindle must think of me ;.). I downloaded the novels to the kindle (which offers a free “sample” option so that you can read a chapter or so to see if you will like it) because it was easier to carry with me on my trip to France, the doctor’s office and such.

So far I’ve read (exclusive of samples) 11 sapphic novels and 1 sapphic novella in the last 2 months. Some of these I really loved, some were interesting and entertaining and some not so much.

I have seen similarities in almost all of the novels such as there is one character that just somehow has selfless love down to an art. I always fall in love with those characters. I am also always quite surprised at how two people (the characters in the story) can just jump into bed and then assume there is a relationship. Some of these were slow burn and a lot of them were age gap and/or from two different worlds (cultures) which sometimes worked and sometimes took a suspension of belief to just go with it.

Number One

My favorite novel so far is, and I will say up front I am not fond of the title as I feel it is a hook to get sapphies to read it (ugh), Strap In by Lou Morgan. But, wow, I can’t believe this was the author’s first novel. Very well constructed story and fantastically well fleshed out characters. In spite of the title, I loved the first chapter where a woman is in a bar and well…read it, it’s fun (sample it on kindle perhaps). Yes there are spicy love scenes that do not feel like sex that is just bolted into the story but rather they are a very important integral part of the story (a fresh switch from fanfic, at least for me). And, real life(tm) is taking place. Unlike The Senator’s Wife, the love story “rings true”. So much of what is portrayed and said in the story really resonated with me as much of it was thoughts I have or had already. And all of it was well said and well portrayed. I’ve already re-read this novel (I will not reveal how many times ;.). I don’t like to spoil the stories I talk about but I will say this is the best self-realization novel I’ve ever read.

Number Two

My second favorite novel so far is The Unfinished Line by Jen Lyon (same author that wrote The Senator’s Wife trilogy). I actually read this novel before I read Strap In (ugh, that title). I won’t spoil the story but it is a two people from different worlds story but was much more believable than The Senator’s Wife. I love Dillon the triathlete. I will reveal that this story made me cry, I do think that needs to be said. I’m very glad the author wrote this story to raise awareness and I am also glad that there were a couple more chapters to read at the end (that’s all I am saying).