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this Issue of Curve:
Vol. 18#9
Our shelves are sagging under the weight of all the fabulous books we haven't been able to squeeze onto our pages. From women's travel tomes to lesbian romances and great biographies, these are the books you'll want to stock your backpack with this month.
NON FICTION
Field Guide to Happiness, Dr. Barbara Ann Kipfer (Lyons Press): Kipfer is the author of more than 30 books, including the bestselling14,000 Things to Be Happy About. The over achiever author holds PhDs in Linguistics and Archaeology, a MA in Buddhist Studies, and a BS in physical education. She’s Managing Editor/Chief Lexicographer for Dictionary.com, Thesaurus.com, and Reference.com. Her latest book offers easy-to-use tools and techniques for helping readers ‘choose’ happiness, using lists, mind maps, and journals to set and reach goals. (lyonspress.com)
Sexual Decoys: Gender, Race and War in Imperial Democracy, by Zillah Eisenstein (Palgrave Macmillan): An accomplished author and Ithaca College professor, Eisenstein dissects the manipulation and abuse of women’s rights rhetoric as support for war and imperialism. A brilliant exposure of the gendered politics of the war on terror, privatized democracy, Hurricane Katrina and other hot topics in both domestic and international news, Sexual Decoys asks the politicians of our era—both male and female—to answer for their exploitation of feminist discourse. (zedbooks.co.uk) — Catherine Plato
The Non-Runner’s Marathon Guide for Women, Dawn Dias (Seal Press): Beyond being a life-altering experience and complete physical makeover, training for and completing a marathon can be a great way to support AIDS or breast cancer research. If you’ve always dreamed of doing it but the prospect of a 26-plus mile race is making you feel a little skittish, this book is the perfect starting-point resource, complete with nutrition advice, training schedules and fundraising suggestions. Accomplished athletes will might not gain much from Dias’ advice, but if you’re a beginner, you’ll love this light-hearted alternative to some of the more intimidating running books out there. (sealpress.com) — Catherine Plato
The Anti 9 to 5 Guide: Practical Career Advice for Women Who Think Outside the Cube, Michelle Goodman (Seal Press): Most dykes would prefer not to work for the man, but jumping off into the lovely, terrifying world of Ramen noodles and tax write-offs (read: self employment) can be intimidating. Whether you want to go full-throttle and start your own business or just make your weekly work-from-home day a bit more effective, Goodman supplies practical advice for making a clean break from the cubicle prison. Both an inspirational view of greener pastures and an indispensable resource for questions on insurance and start-up costs, the Anti 9 to 5 Guide is a great first step to scoring the job of your dreams, or improving the one you have. (sealpress.com) — Catherine Plato
The Threesome Handbook: A Practical Guide to Sleeping with 3, Vicki Vantoch (Thunder’s Mouth Press): The tri-curious will appreciate this dyke-friendly, smart yet silly guide to getting it on à trois. Moving past the two-drunk-femmes-on-a-fumbling-dude stereotype to real advice for men, women and couples of all orientations, sex historian and journalist Vantoch tackles delicate questions (share the bed with a friend or with a stranger?), dispenses practical advice (consider hiring a pro sex worker; avoid threesomes with devout Catholics) and assesses potential threesome partners by zodiac sign. I especially loved the list of locations for meeting interested third wheels—South Beach is a given, but who knew Goa, India was such a hotspot of perversion? Alongside fun and dirty diagrams of hot positions, Vantoch also includes essential info on topics like safe sex, jealousy and personal responsibility. Recommended reading for anyone who’s curious but feeling clueless. (perseusbooksgroup.com) — Catherine Plato
Oh Boy!: Masculinities and Popular Music, ed. Freya Jarman-Ivens (Routledge): Pop music scholars (including transgender studies scholar Judith Halberstam) weigh in on masculinity and gender in modern music in this collection of essays. Topics range from the legendary theatrics of glam rocker Freddie Mercury to the cultural implications of proper mosh pit etiquette. While there’s nothing specifically lesbian happening here, anyone with an interest in gender studies in pop culture will enjoy the 12 carefully selected writings. Jarman-Ivens includes a diverse range of voices and backgrounds, keeping the collection readable while academic. (routledge.com) — Catherine Plato
The Normal Personality: A New Way of Thinking About People, Steven Reiss (Cambridge University Press): Good news: You’re normal. Despite the fact that every lesbian you know is on Prozac or in therapy, Reiss insists most of us aren’t crazy. Instead, he contends that an over reliance on Freudian analysis led modern psychopathology to evaluate normal personal problems using constructs developed from studies of mental illness. Rather than unconscious mental forces originating in childhood, Reiss points to 16 basic human desires lead that lead to personal issues. Not immune from the natural human intolerance of people expressing significantly different values; Reiss argues, psychologists and psychiatrists often confuse individuality with abnormality and over-diagnose disorders. (Cambridge.org)
Itsy Bitsy Yoga for Toddlers and Preschoolers: 8-Minute Routines to Help Your Child Grow Smarter, Be Happier, and Behave Better, Helen Garabedian (Da Capo Press):If you’re parenting a toddler, the title alone may convince you to buy it. After all, what kind of parent wouldn’t want to make their kid smarter, happier and better behaved in 8-minutes? Wait, there’s more! Named the “Baby Yoga Expert” by Newsweek, Garabedian has launched a baby yoga empire and claims yoga can help resolve your child’s frequent tantrums, short sleep schedule, unwillingness to listen, inability to follow directions, and low self-esteem. What are you waiting for? Teach your kid the downward dog and start enjoying life! (dacapopress.com)
Skater Girl: A Girl's Guide to Skateboarding, Patty Segovia and Rebecca Heller (Ulysses Press): Written for young girls, but can be used by anyone interested in taking up skating this guide tells you everything you’ll need to get started, from picking out the right board and clothing to pulling off cool tricks, all without loosing your teeth or breaking your back. Segovia is founder of the All Girl Skate Jam while Heller authored Surf like a Girl. (ulyssespress.com)
Schadenfreude, Baby!: A Delicious Look at the Misfortune of Others (and the Pleasure It Brings Us), Laura Lee (The Lyons Press): Since The Simpsons’ Lisa introduced Americans to the German term schadenfreude—pleasure taken in someone else’s misfortune—it has become entrenched in our pop culture. Lee, author of ten books, including The Pocket Encyclopedia of Aggravation and The 100 Most Dangerous Things in Life, lets us relive some of our shadenfreude favorite moments, like Paris Hilton going to prison and Dick Cheney’s shooting incident. (LyonPress.com)
The Vegetable Dishes I Can't Live Without, Mollie Katzen (Hyperion): In 1978 Katzen released The Moosewood Cookbook, a hippy inspired vegetarian cooking bible with homey and comforting hand-written and illustrated pages and surprising staying power. In 2007 it was induced into the Cookbook Hall of Fame and has been listed as one of the ten best selling cookbooks of all time by The New York Times. In celebration of the 30 year anniversary, Katzen releases another 100 veggie-based recipes, and tips to increase the amount of vegtables in your diet. (hyperionbooks.com)
Dangerous Woman: The Graphic Biography of Emma Goldman, Sharon Rudahl (The New Press): In college I got eyestrain reading thick tomes about the incomparable anarchist, anti-war activist Emma Goldman for my Peace Studies classes. Damn college kids of today have this engaging comic book style biography to flip through while using the bathroom. Bastards. (thenewpress.com)
Are There Closets in Heaven?, Carol Curoe and Robert Curoe (Syren Book Company): In this moving father-daughter story of unconditional love, Carol and Robert Curoe detail their emotional navigation and reconciliation of sexual identity, the Catholic faith as well as familial and societal acceptance. Told through letters and interviews, their account proves essential reading, a vital resource for all families, and an important addition to the existing cannon of GLBT studies. (syrenbooks.com) — Mary Foulk
Waiting for the Call, Jacqueline Taylor (The University of Michigan Press): In this inspiring memoir, Jacqueline Taylor chronicles her journey from a strict, evangelical upbringing to present life with her partner and their beautiful, adopted daughters. She strives to reconcile her spiritual beginnings, the influence of her father who was a Southern Baptist preacher, with the identity she has forged and that she cherishes. She shares the lessons she has learned in uniting her faith, her self, her love. (press.umich.edu) — Mary Foulk
Joan Crawford: Hollywood Martyr, David Bret (Da Capo Press): Ever since seeing Mommie Dearest, I have been obsessed with Joan Crawford. What a fascinating life and what an intriguing portrait by biographer David Bret. From her climb to Oscar-winning success, to her many love affairs, including three marriages to men rumored to be gay/bisexual, to her legendary battles with Bette Davis as well as with two of her children, whom she disinherited, Bret provides vivid details and revelations about the legendary actress, well worth a read by old and new fans alike. (dacapopress.com) — Mary Foulk
The Best Birth, Sarah McMoyler, R.N., with Armin Brott (Da Capo Press): There’s such intense pressure in today’s society and culture to have the “perfect birth,” most commonly defined as a natural, unmedicated birth. While natural is the ideal for many families, it isn’t for others. The McMoyler method is a welcome, more modern alternative to Bradley and Lamaze. Described as “reality-based preparation,” it advocates, “No guilt, no failure, no politics, no agenda—know your options.” This clear, easy-to-use guide provides extensive tools, resources and knowledge to ensure what is most important about childbirth: the health, safety and well being of the mother and child. (dacapopress.com) — Mary Foulk
The Letters of Allen Ginsberg, Ed. Bill Morgan (Da Capo Press): Worshippers of Howl and the Beat Generation will revel in this impressive collection of correspondence between Ginsberg and myriad other luminaries, including Jack Kerouac, William S. Burroughs, Lawrence Ferlinghetti, e. e. cummings, and Ken Kesey. Compiled by Ginsberg’s literary archivist, Bill Morgan, the letters span the 1940s until Ginsberg’s death in 1997. They are extraordinary in their quality, in their content, and in their revelations about his personal and poetic desires, his struggles and success. (dacapopress.com) — Mary Foulk
The New Essential Guide to Lesbian Conception, Pregnancy, and Birth, Stephanie Brill (Alyson Books): When my partner and I embarked upon our path to pregnancy, we found The Essential Guide to be a phenomenal and vital resource. Essentially, it was our parenting Bible, heavily underlined, extensive marginal notes on every worn, reread page. I was thrilled when I learned about The New Essential Guide, which is even more replete with up-to-date information on the latest breakthroughs in fertility technology and protocols. Sharing her years of professional and personal expertise in working with queer families, Stephanie Brill is a wonderful writer, teacher and guide. (www.alyson.com) — Mary Foulk
The Day I Stopped Being Pretty, Rodney Lofton (Strebor/Atria Books): In this poignant memoir, Rodney Lofton shares his truths about living with HIV, about overcoming the adversity of racism and homophobia, and about learning to love himself rather than seeking acceptance in others. The day he received his diagnosis was the day “he stopped being pretty.” Providing an empathetic face and valiant voice to those living with HIV and AIDS, Lofton offers an inspiring message of hope and triumph. (streborbooks.com) — Mary Foulk
Smotherhood, Amanda Lamb (Globe Pequot Press): In her witty and raw collection of essays, Amanda Lamb muses on her endless struggle to find balance and to manage the maddening tensions of marriage/partnership, motherhood, and work. Her “here’s the deal” honesty is refreshing. Basically, she boils it down to this: parenting will kick your ass and kids will drive you crazy, but their love will make you better. (globepequot.com) — Mary Foulk
Gone Today, Here Tomorrow, Randall Neece (Alyson Books): In the midst of a successful Hollywood career and passionate long-term partnership, Randall Neece was given a grave diagnosis of AIDS. It was the 1980s and medical treatments were limited. The prognosis was bleak. Through faith, commitment, and an absolute rage to live, Randy is still alive, living each day, courageously building upon the next. His story is beautifully told, with such captivating wit and wisdom. His is a real triumph of the human will and spirit. (www.alyson.com) — Mary Foulk
PHOTOGRAPHY BOOKS
Hellen Van Meene: New Work, Hellen Van Meene (Schirmer/Mosel): Addressing teen sexuality in a way that can’t possibly be considered exploitive because it’s so disturbing, Meene’s photographs focus on pregnant teens who still look like children themselves. (schirmer-mosel.com)
Heroines, Bettina Rheims (Schirmer/Mosel): Rheims first made a name for herself photographing strippers in the 1980s. In Heroines, she photographs women, stripping away make up and clothing to show true beauty and strength. A pull out centerfold features the trio from Le Tigre, including JD in all of her butchy glory. Need we say more? (schirmer-mosel.com)
WARM: A Feminist Art Collective in Minnesota, Joanna Inglot (University of Minnesota Press): The first history of Women's Art Registry of Minnesota, a group of artists in the 1970s who helped spark the national feminist art movement. Hundreds of women have belonged to the organization and exhibited in it’s spaces but the book only features work of twelve artists who reflect the variety of media used including printmaking, textiles, graphic design, and installation art. (upress.umn.edu)
The Best of Helmut Newton: Selections From His Photographic Work, Helmut Newton (Schirmer/Mosel): 100 of the best photos from pop icon photographer Newton span several decades and include explorations of the female form, and portraits of famous actresses and powerful politicians. A remarkable image of nude Grace Jones worth the price alone. (schirmer-mosel.com)
TRAVEL GUIDES
Alaska Off the Beaten Path, 6th edition, Deb Vanasse (Insiders' Guide): This guide offers no mention of LGBT travelers and no enticing photographs, but if you are making a second or third visit to Alaska and want to experience new outdoor or winter adventures, Alaskan Vanasse’s guide may be what you’re looking for. (insiders.guide.com)
Insiders' Guide to Kansas City, 3rd Edition, Katie Van Luchene (Insiders' Guide): A columnist for Kansas City Home Design and Kansas City magazines, Luchene provides a guide to Kansas City especially useful for those thinking of relocating. (insiders.guide.com)
Santa Barbara and the Central Coast: California’s Riviera (Hill Guides), Kathleen and Gerald Hill (Globe Pequot Press): If you want to tour Santa Barbara area wineries this is a great guide, listing nearly every single winery. Appendixes feature lists: lodging with prices and phone numbers, and an indispensable guide to factory outlet stores, which indicates which credit cards each takes. (globepequot.com)
Victoria and Vancouver Island: A Personal Tour of an Almost Perfect Eden 6th edition (Hill Guides), Kathleen and Gerald Hill (Insiders' Guide): The authors report that Victoria is a very tolerant city and nearly all businesses gay friendly, but don’t expect to find specific gay resources. The section titled “Significant Others,” refers not to same-sex partners but places of interest outside the downtown “mecca.” Sometimes the authors come across a little patronizing. In their how not to look like a tourist section, they suggest not discarding your trash in the streets. (insiders.guide.com)
Iceland (Bradt Travel Guide), Andrew Evans (Bradt): Hurrah! Evans includes a short but welcome section directed to queer travelers. Iceland law protects LGBT citizens from discrimination and allows legal marriage, but Evans admits there is no gay ‘scene’ and few exclusively queer venues. He also warns that public displays of affection—between couples of any orientation—are frowned on. Still, there’s lots to see, gorgeous landscapes and attractions like the witchcraft museum. (bradtguides.com)
Yemen (Bradt Travel Guide), Daniel McLaughlin (Bradt): The Queen of Sheba once ruled this land of gorgeous beaches, villages and temples carved from the sides of cliffs. Reason enough to peruse the photos and descriptions of this book. (bradtguides.com)
Bad Karma: Confessions of a Reckless Traveller in Southeast Asia, Tamara Sheward (Academy Chicago Publishers): Aussie Sheward and her best friend, El rack up bad karma journeying across Southeast Asia, swilling beer and belittling local customs and other travelers, before stumbling into a lesson on humility in Cambodia's Killing Fields. (academychicago.com)
YOUNG ADULT
Letters in the Attic, Bonnie Shimko (Academy Chicago Publishers): What a wonderfully crafted and lyrically told coming of age story! Bonnie Shimko so eloquently describes Lizzy McMann’s navigation of adolescence, a crush on her best friend Eva, her parents’ divorce and mother’s subsequent search for a second chance at love. This is truly a poetic rendering of what it means to realize and comprehend familial secrets, layering, and inheritance. Definitely a page-turner and must read. (academychicago.com) — Mary Foulk
FICTION
Beauty Talk and Monsters, Masha Tupitsyn (Semiotext(e)): The first short story in Masha Tupitsyn’s dazzling debut collection opens with a quote from Kathy Acker about how we’re living in an age of corruption, but somehow the book’s glitzy cover, which depicts an anonymous, damp face ingesting strings of glassy jewels, reminds me of just how seductive that epoch has been. Tupitsyn’s stories don’t just play off the vexed icons and troubled narratives of cinema; they inhabit them like some sort of demonic possession (or maybe it’s the movies that possess us). The result is an array of genre-bending tales that add up to some pretty fierce cultural critiques: “It’s true, I wouldn’t want to be strangled the way the women in Frenzy are. But it’s not like I don’t know how it feels.…Does DNA have karma? Do movies?” (semiotexte.com) — Julia Bloch
Cruel Poetry (Serpeants Tail): Renata, Jules, Richard and Francisco’s sexual and emotional lives are torn open in Cruel Poetry, the steamy and suspenseful novel by Vicki Hendricks. The sexually insatiable Renata strolls through the clubs and bars of Miami Beach with her Burmese python, Pepe, and captivates everyone she encounters. Richard, one of her customers, Jules, her female neighbor, and Francisco, her partner, are all in love with her. For a while things seem like they can stay that way but when Richard the poet’s teaching job goes on the line because of his inappropriate behavior, and murder becomes just another meaningless word for the two luscious ladies, everything falls apart and cannot be held together long with all the sex, vodka and drugs in the world. Chapters alternate between the minds of Renata, Jules and Richard, and read like a constant confession. Hendricks’ prose is the stuff of pure old-fashioned noir and titillating erotica wrapped into a too-hard-to-put-down novel. (serpentstail.com) — Jenna V. Loceff
Flight Risk, Kim Baldwin (Bold Strokes Books): Sexual tension runs through this tale of two women brought together by circumstance. Blayne Keller is a travel agent who witnesses a mafia murder and is thrust into the Federal Witness Protection Program to protect her. Agent Alexi Nikolos’ job is to keep Blayne alive, but passion complicates the matter as the two try to keep their objectives clear. The mob is determined to keep Blayne from testifying and ensnares another federal agent to play informant on her and Alexi, making it even more difficult to ensure their safety from the mafia and the continuation of their budding relationship. —Teresa Coates
Such a Pretty Face, Gabrielle Goldsby (Bold Strokes Books): Mia Sanchez thought her four-year relationship with Brenda Montalba was just beginning when Brenda informed her that it was over. She was leaving town and now it was time for Mia to face her issues and do something with herself. Alone and embarrassed, Mia decides that this overwhelming sadness isn’t the way to do it; she wants revenge, not sympathy. Not surprisingly, this path leads not only to getting even, but to getting laid. She finds a new lover and new happiness in this contemporary romance novel. —Teresa Coates
Every Dark Desire, Fiona Zedde (Kensington Books): I have enjoyed all of Zedde's books, but her third and newest novel is her most daring and bold. Vampire stories are highly popular in mainstream fiction and are becoming more so among lesbian fiction. In this highly erotic novel, main character Naomi McElroy of Jamaica unknowingly becomes a vampire because she can't control her passion and wantonly gives into a stranger one night who happens to be a vampire. Her “life” changes drastically after this encounter. This easy to read story graphically depicts the loss of humanity and loss of control engendered by unrestrained sexual hunger. The book is decadent and delightful—a must read for romance lovers. (kensingtonbooks.com) — Kathi Isserman
Sex for America: Politically Inspired Erotica Stephen Elliott, Editor (Harper Perennial): This anthology is an intimate coupling of eroticism and political beliefs and features authors like Michele Tea, Alison Tyler, Charlie Anders and Mistress Morgan; and includes a fabulous retelling of the Dick Cheney duck hunting accident as revenge of a jilted lover. The editor, Stephen Elliot is author of the political memoir Looking Forward to It, the novel Happy Baby, and the story collection My Girlfriend Comes to the City and Beats Me Up. (harperperennial.com)
Selective Memory, Jennifer L. Jordan (Spinsters Ink): In the sixth Kristin Ashe mystery, a 2007 Lammy finalist, the author's storytelling is the most complex, intriguing and meticulous to date. Private Investigator Ashe is hired to help Alexandra Madigen regain her memory after a debilitating car accident. The novel is interspersed with Madigen's memories, but Ashe does not know her client's memory is returning. She continues to unravel the truth by uncovering Madigen’s bizarre past. This strange double life as both a stalker and a victim cleverly unfolds through italicized paragraphs that move the plot along effectively. While the mystery reads slowly at times, it does a convincing job of showing how obsession can rule one's life. The story is disturbing, but one that readers will not be able to put down. (spinstersink.com) — Kathi Isserman
Rules For Hearts, Sara Ryan (Viking Juvenile): A follow up to the young adult novel Empress of the World (2001), Rules catches up with Battle Hall Davies, now 18 and spending the summer before college with a houseful of quirky actors and bohemians of limited finances, fluid sexualities and complicated relationships in Portland, OR. One housemate just happens to be Battie’s runaway brother. Their reunion and conflicted relationship is the primary focus, but there’s also Battie’s lesbian relationship with Meryl. The novel celebrates the complexities inherent in becoming an adult. (penguin.com)
American Goth, JD Glass (Bold Strokes Books): While American Goth comes after Glass’ Punk and Zen and Red Light, it illuminates new elements to the saga that will have you rereading the previous work. Damaged warrior Samantha Cray—Sammy Blade—lost her mother, her father and the only woman she thinks she’ll ever love—all before she’s old enough to drink. Thankfully, Glass always allows her characters to overcome the trials and tribulations she submits them to. (boldstrokesbooks.com)
Branded Ann, Merry Shannon (Bold Strokes Books): Shannon’s first novel, Sword of the Guardian won a Golden Crown Literary Award. She’s got another winner here with a lesbian pirate story populated by captivating, intense and multi-dimensional characters like the cold and blood thirsty heroine Branded Ann. (boldstrokesbooks.com)
Deal with the Devil, Ali Vali (Bold Strokes Books): In this third installment of the romantic thriller saga revolving around the unusual heroine/crime boss Cain Casey and unfolds on the streets of New Orleans that have inspired much of Vali’s writing. The Cain Casey series is interwoven with mystery, intrigue and romance. (boldstrokesbooks.com)
Wild Girls, Diana Souhami (St. Martin’s Griffin): There’s nothing more electrifying than reading about an epic lesbian love connection. I recall my college days pouring over the Sapphic letters of Gertrude and Alice, Virginia and Vita. Such titillating rapture! Wild Girls details the passionate and tumultuous relationship between Natalie Barney and Romaine Brooks, wealthy American heiresses, one an artist, the other a writer. They met in Paris in 1915 and their love affair spanned more than 50 years. Drawing from the couple’s letters, papers, and paintings, Diana Souhami crafts a riveting tale. (stmartins.com) —Mary Foulk
Daughters of the North, Sarah Hall (Harper Perennial): The author had me at word one. Sarah Hall’s disturbing dystopian novel, a haunting commentary on women’s reproductive freedom and gender inequality (as well as ecological disaster and the resonance of conflict), compliments well the works of Margaret Atwood, Ursula K. Le Guin, and P.D. James. I was reminded of The Handmaid’s Tale and The Children of Men. Her apocalyptic world seems much too real and close for comfort. The novel poses the question: to what lengths will citizens, women more specifically, go to oppose their oppressors and the related mechanisms of control? (harperperrenial.com) — Mary Foulk
Deeper, Ronica Black (Bold Strokes Books): Mystery and romance commingle
in this follow up to Black’s Lambda Literary Award Finalist In Too Deep, former homicide detective Erin McKenzie gets pulled back into a murder and her fiancé Elizabeth Adams is a prime suspect. (boldstrokesbooks.com)
Finding Home, Georgia Beers (Bold Strokes Books): Lambda Literary award winning author, Beers has mastered the formula for romance. She crafts multi-dimensional characters and in Finding home, she trains that skill on a dog name Bentley, and in doing so creates a dog that will ring true to those with furry family members—just enough anthropomorphizing to make him authentic without slipping into that circle of hell reserved for feline detectives (see Puss 'n Cahoots). (boldstrokesbooks.com)
Heartland, Julie Cannon (Bold Strokes Books): Country romance turns combustible. Author Cannon doesn’t shy away from explicit and graphic sex scenes. (boldstrokesbooks.com)
Heart of the Matter, KI Thompson (Bold Strokes Books): Thompson’s debut novel, House of Clouds, was a surprisingly readable historical romance set during the Civil War. Her sophomore work, Heart, is a present day romance revolving around a professor and a TV newscaster brought together by an auto accident that forces them to contend with the transitory nature of physical beauty. We expect to see much more of this fine author. (boldstrokesbooks.com)
Hotel Liaison, JLee Meyer (Bold Strokes Books): Don’t let the lackluster title dissuade you, Meyer’s fourth book is one of her best, teaming with well drawn, multidimensional, multi-generational female characters. At the heart of the story there is a romance between a women’s studies prof and a hotel owner, but there is also mystery and political intrigue woven in. As an added bonus, a character from one of Meyer’s previous books drops into this rich story, all the more reason we’re thrilled to hear this may be the launch of a new series. (boldstrokesbooks.com)
Learning Curve, Rachel Spangler (Bold Strokes Books): This romance is Spangler’s first novel and her inexperience is noticeable in abbreviated transitions and abrupt plot resolutions. Still, her potential shines through, particularly her ability to tap into the angst that accompanies any attempt to alter the perceptions of others. (boldstrokesbooks.com)
Shadow of the Knife, Jane Fletcher (Bold Strokes Books): The fifth installment in Fletcher’s sci/fi Celaeno Series examines the price paid for honor and for the choices the characters make. An award-winning author, Fletcher continues to hone her craft as time goes on. (boldstrokesbooks.com)
To Protect and Serve, VK Powell (Bold Strokes Books): In her debut novel, Powell draws on a thirty-year career in law enforcement to create realistic characters in this romantic intrigue that revolves around a lieutenant in a Vice/Narcotics Division fighting to bring down a drug lord. Her extensive insight into law enforcement procedures occasionally leads Powell to assume understanding that some readers may not have.
(boldstrokesbooks.com)
Looker: A Novel, Stanley Bennett Clay (Atria): Clay has won three NAACP Theatre Awards and is the author of two previous books, including In Search of Pretty Young Black Men. Although the primary story of this engaging novel is a budding romance between two men who’ve been friends since high school, it evolves during the murder trial of a lesbian killed her rapist. (simonsays.com)
From May to December, Pat MacEnulty (Serpent's Tail): Four women from divergent pasts come together in unusual ways at a Florida prison and each confront and forgive their own pasts. An assistant professor at Johnson & Wales University, MacEnulty—author of the thriller Time to Say Goodbye has taught creative writing in jails and prisons, and received a number and awards for her writing. From May started as a dissertation lesbian author Shelia Ortiz Taylor encouraged MacEnulty to make it more. (serpentstail.com)
Puss 'n Cahoots: A Mrs. Murphy Mystery, Rita Mae Brown & Sneaky Pie Brown (Bantam): Lesbians love their cats. Even so, it takes a very special (or possibly insane) lesbian to explode the normal boundaries of cat/pet-parent relationships and begin writing a series of murder mysteries with their beloved feline. While I’m not a fan of cat crafted mysteries, I have to admit that Brown is undeniably the genre’s most skilled author. She has to be, to not only keep an imaginary partnership going for 15 (fifteen!) installments, but land on the New York Times best-selling books list by doing so. Their latest mystery revolves around racehorses. (randomhouse.com)
The Purrfect Murder (A Mrs. Murphy Mystery), Rita Mae Brown & Sneaky Pie Brown (Bantam) The feline and female writing duo return for their 16th Mrs. Murphy mystery set in the world of charity fundraising. And you thought cats only had nine lives. (randomhouse.com)
Code of Conduct, Rich Merritt (Kensington): This gripping debut novel tackles the U. S. military’s “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” policy and the dual, guarded lives that queer Marines must live to serve their country. The author, a former Marine, tells a fascinating story of love, loyalty, duty to country and to self. Best known for his memoir, Secrets of a Gay Marine Porn Star, Merritt continues to argue for the rights of GLB military personnel to serve openly and honestly. (kensingtonbooks.com) — Mary Foulk
For Now, For Always, Marianne K. Martin (Bywater Books): A popular lesbian romance author and the recipient of a Lambda Literary Award, Marianne Martin knows well how to write a tender and lyrical love story. Her most recent effort, For Now, For Always, tells the story of Renee Parker, a young woman who sacrifices her self and future to raise her four younger siblings. When she meets the lovely Olivia Dumont, a woman who seems a familial threat to her sisters and brothers and of whom they do not approve, she must make a crucial decision regarding what is best for her heart. (bywaterbooks.com) — Mary Foulk
Word of Honor, Radclyffe (Bold Strokes Books): I have a tendency to blush when nervous or excited. It’s definitely gotten me into trouble in the past. Let’s just say I was beet red when reading the first few pages of this latest installment in the Honor series. Whew! Protagonists Secret Service Agent Cameron Roberts and First Daughter Blair Powell are sexy, sexy and Radclyffe continues to develop their heat as well as entice us with her romantic literary endeavors. (boldstrokesbooks.com) — Mary Foulk
Hotel Liaison, JLee Meyer (Bold Strokes Books): An associate professor at Berkeley, Lauren Hoffman strives to make tenure. Her path, however, is threatened by the distractions of a fading relationship with a senior colleague and the hope of a new attraction. Will she risk her future and her heart to fulfill long dormant desires? (boldstrokesbooks.com) — Mary Foulk
Away from the Dawn, Kate Sweeney (Intaglio Publications): I’m a sucker for vampire thrillers. I’ll never forget the first time I saw The Hunger, that incredibly steamy sex scene between Catherine Deneuve and Susan Sarandon. I remember thinking, “Bite me, bite me!” The first few pages of Away from the Dawn drew me in. I was intrigued by Sebastian, a seductive vampire in search of love, lust, and a life among mortals. Will she succeed in her sensual, bloodthirsty quest? (intagliopub.com) — Mary Foulk
Finding Home, Georgia Beers (Bold Strokes Books): When Sarah’s partner of many years leaves her for a man, she is more than devastated. How will she recover from the loss? A new job opportunity and a chance encounter related to her lost dog lead her down an unexpected path, one in which she may find lasting love. (boldstrokesbooks.com) — Mary Foulk
The Lonely Hearts Club, Radclyffe (Bold Strokes Books): Radclyffe knows full well that lesbians and their exes equal the ultimate drama. I should add, lesbians who try to remain friends with their exes equals the ultimate drama. In The Lonely Hearts, she chronicles the love lives of three friends, power dykes who navigate their past intimacies and secrets, their present challenges and rivalries, their ongoing search for romantic fantasy and fulfillment. (boldstrokesbooks.com) — Mary Foulk
Love on Vacation, Lisa Girolami (Bold Strokes Books): This romantic fantasy offers an enthralling view into Hollywood fame, fortune and power. Kate Nyland is a Tinseltown powerbroker with a hot girlfriend, A-list actress Hannah Corrant. Kate seemingly has it all or does she? When she begins production on a new film, she meets the gorgeous and sensual Dawn Brock, igniting a spark Kate just can’t ignore. What will happen when Hannah arrives on set? (boldstrokesbooks.com) — Mary Foulk
A Place to Rest, Erin Dutton (Bold Strokes Books): A seeker with a short attention span, Sawyer Drake moves readily from job to job, woman to woman. When her mother asks her to help run the family’s restaurant, a destiny and burden Sawyer never wanted, she reluctantly agrees. When she meets the stunning new pastry chef, Jori Diamantina, Sawyer literally stops in her tracks. Perhaps, all the running has finally led her home. (boldstrokesbooks.com) — Mary Foulk
Learning Curve, Rachel Spangler (Bold Strokes Books): Ever content to find “Miss Right Now,” Ashton Clarke swoons with confusion when she meets Carrie Fletcher, a women’s studies professor and intoxicating challenge to her wild and wicked ways. Has the self-professed Casanova and well-researched expert on women finally met her match? Your homework assignment, read on. (boldstrokesbooks.com) — Mary Foulk
Edge of Darkness, Jove Bell (Bold Strokes Books): A sassy and hardened investigator for a prestigious insurance company, Diana Collins is no stranger to danger. In her latest case, she is challenged to understand further the nuances of right and wrong, of accountability. Lead into a dark dysfunctional world and sordid subculture of sex, power, and death, Diana must struggle to protect her self as well as her blossoming romance with Cami Michaelson, her nephew’s kindergarten teacher and the light of her life. (boldstrokesbooks.com) — Mary Foulk
Thirteen Hours, Meghan O’Brien (Bold Strokes Books): Admit it. You know you have a stripper fantasy. What hot and horny queer girl doesn’t? And Meghan O’Brien knows this about me, I mean, you. Dana Watts is a lonely workaholic who is so not looking for love or lust. She burns with the need to get laid but is way too absorbed in her professional projects. When a friend sends her a sexy strip-o-gram to try and loosen her up, Dana is more than appalled. An attempt to escort the sultry Laurel out of the building leads to an elevator encounter and the ride of a lifetime. (boldstrokesbooks.com) — Mary Foulk
Naked Heart, Jennifer Fulton (Bold Strokes Books): Who doesn’t relish a sexy, erotic thriller? Jennifer Fulton takes us on a wild and wet tease of a ride. Ex-CIA agent Penn Harte has been hired to blackmail Unity Vaughan, CEO of a cutting edge biotech. Unity’s rivals want a hostile takeover and they’ll stop at nothing to ensure their success, including use of Penn’s seductive prowess. Read more to discover just whose position(s) will be compromised and how. (boldstrokesbooks.com) — Mary Foulk
Falling Star, Gill McKnight (Bold Strokes Books): Angst, conflict, sex and humor. This 186 page novel has all of this and more packed into a tightly written and believable romance. Solley Rayner’s marriage is falling apart so she and her children escape to her sister Janie’s beach house. Solley hopes for a little relaxation so she can pull together the pieces of her life. Professional stuntwoman and lesbian stud, Gin Ito blows into town as part of a film crew that is working on a blockbuster movie with Janie’s partner, Marsha. Since Gin is spending most of her free time hanging around the house, she offers to take Solley’s children off her hands for a few hours so Solley can get the down time she so desperately needs. Jed and Della fall head over heels in love with the fun-loving stuntwoman, but Solley thinks she is irresponsible. And this is where the real fun begins. McKnight has penned a sweet and tender romance, balancing the intimacy and sexual tension just right. The conflict is well drawn, and she adds a great dose of humor to make this novel a light and easy read. Falling Star is perfect summer reading. (www.boldstrokesbooks.com) — Kathi Isserman
Warrior’s Valor, Gun Brooke (Bold Strokes Books): This third installment in the Supreme Constellations sci-fi adventure series focuses on the searing personal and professional tensions between environmental activist Dwyn Izontro and law enforcement officer Emeron D’Artansis. Despite a deep disdain for one another, their raw and instinctive attraction is irrefutable. When circumstances force them to collaborate on a mission that could affect the fate of millions, will they be able to put aside their differences and harness the powerful force between them? (boldstrokesbooks.com) — Mary Foulk
In Deep Waters 2: Cruising the Strip, Radclyffe and Karin Kallmaker (Bold Strokes Books): A magnetic collaboration, these award winning authors join creative forces again to bring us the scorching sequel to best-seller In Deep Waters 1: Cruising the Seas. Vegas is the setting this time and all bets are off in these storied games of chance, passion, and love. (boldstrokesbooks.com) — Mary Foulk
My Brain Hurts, Liz Baillie (Microcosm Publishing): I think I’m in love with Liz, her graphic novel and brilliant designs, her acutely aware portraits of NYC teenagers in search of identity, meaning and acceptance. Such rich complexities that she so beautifully mines with empathetic wit and wonder. Call me an ardent fan, a near stalker admirer—I can’t wait for the next installments, to see how the stories continue. (microcosmpublishing.com) — Mary Foulk
POETRY
No Bliss Like This, Ed. Jill Hollis (Carroll & Graf): This incredibly comprehensive anthology makes the perfect bedtime companion for the casual and the serious reader of poetry. You’ll find old favorites like Emily Dickinson’s “My Life Closed Twice Before Its Close” and sections from Elizabeth Barrett Browning’s Sonnets from the Portuguese, but you’ll also find lesser-known gems, like “This Mortal Lease” by Edith Wharton and one Elizabeth Taylor (1685–1720), who laments in her “Song,” “My wearied Heart, like Noah’s Dove, / In vain has sought for rest; / Finding no hope to fix my Love, / Returns into my Breast.” (perseusbooksgroup.com) — Julia Bloch
Wild Mercy: Tarot Inspired Musings, Elizabeth Cunningham (Creatrix Books): Poetry inspired by Tarot cards, from The Creatrix publishing company was founded to give voice to the Goddess. In my favorite poem, about parents, “Failed Gods” Cunningham writes, “They throw their children out of Eden/to cover their own shame.”
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