VERITAS: There were a couple nice insights about how academics tend to mix their lives with their work. Interesting career for our heroine's tiny, Escalade-driving mother and a well done relationship between the two of them. Overall the murder story was incidental to the romance and both were a bit formulaic. Also the cover picture has nothing to do with the real murder scene and that is a sloppy detail which annoys me and makes me wonder did the artist even read the book or just make the bad decision to go for a "college murder" look and hope to get away with it?
TRUTH BEHIND THE MASK: A Sci-fic novel with a crime ridden city protected by the vigilante sentinals. Well done back story and interesting plot. I liked this one for its emphasis on family. The heroine's "parents" are her older sister and her sister's lesbian partner who were thrown into those roles at a young age. Some very nice banter between Pagan and Erith. And its always a pleasure to see women who are smart with technology.
NIGHTSHADE: This book was a delight. One heroine is the undervalued daughter of the "Butcher of the Plains" a rather unpleasant despot of a desert realm. The other is the "backwards," as in lesbian, daughter of a more benevolent king and queen of a lush kingdom. There is of course a sub plot of political machinations but the main emphasis is the increasing attraction of Jessa and Darcy. The author manages to convey their longing and delight in each other very well. I'm thinking this is the first in a series because, although our lovers get together and foil the plans for Jessa's arranged marriage, the whole question of the assassination of the king and the subplots amongst the conspirators is never answered. Hopefully, there is a sequel to look forward to.
BATTLE SCARS: There is nothing a lesbian likes more, at least in romance novels, than a woman with issues/baggage who is in need of helping/healing/rescuing. In real life, most people would run like hell from all the warning signs but that is why they call this stuff fiction. To be fair though, this one is well done. Ray is dealing with her Iraq war PTSD with the help of her therapy assistance dog. Dogs need vets and in this case, she a hottie who needs to learn to love again. The book does show how people can resist their own healing, just how much work it can be and how your self esteem can take a beating. Also loved this book for the secondary characters, the dogs. Being a new dog owner, I can attest to the impact those furry companions can have on one's outlook on life. I thought this book was very well done for the genre.
