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Love & Romance -
Master Author List
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Meet You There by BlueDragon
Recommended by: Taleweaver - 03.16.03
Classification: OF: Love/Romance, Mystery/Thriller
Sex/Violence Content: Alt
Length: Short Story - Complete
“Meet You There” is a combination love story, mixed in with a suspense tale. The result is a whiz-banger of a story that’s just long enough to read before dinner, and a very memorable one at that! Carol and Sharon have finally achieved the American dream. A house, a cat and a mortgage. But as they’re settling into their new home, they notice an odd light and voices they can’t quite place. For years, they are allowed a peek into … something else… They cannot explain the voices, or why their own lives parallel what happens to the voices. They see it all as their own private show, and they go on to make a very happy life for themselves, thankyouverymuch.
But the day that Carol watches herself commit suicide in the bathroom mirror is the day her life turns upside down. She is shaken to her toes and only in the nick of time does she figure out why those voices sounded so familiar, and why their lives so closely matched that of the voices. “Meet You There” is a story that I’ve read over and over, and I’ve always admired the ending. It stays with you long after you’ve left the computer, and is very unforgettable. It’s one of my favourites.
http://dragonsquillandink.com/original_fiction/meetyou.html
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First Lady by Blayne Cooper and T. Novan
Recommended by: JLynn - 03.16.03
Classification: OF: Love/Romance, Political/War
Sex/Violence Content: Alt
Length: Novel - Complete
If you've been visiting this site for a while you'll have to have noticed that my name rarely shows up as a reviewer. There's a reason for this. First, I'm a lazy ass. Second, I'm a tough audience, and if I'm going to bother posting a review you can damn well count on the fact that I seriously felt moved to do so.
When "Madame President" originally premiered I heard quite a lot of talk about it and when I finally read it, I figured out why. These two ladies had created a pair of strong, competent, complex characters with depth and value and thrown them together in a manner ensuring the eruption of sparks for a variety of different and compelling reasons.
Now, with the long-awaited follow-up in "First Lady", Cooper and Novan bring us deeper into the characters' lives, lifting the curtain on the inner life of the President, giving us to appreciate more fully the weight of such power and responsibility and its inevitable effects on one's personal life. Devlyn Marlowe, a supremely dedicated public servant, struggles to find the balance between the chaos of managing U.S. interests and some soul-harrowing choices, and finding time to develop her relationship with Lauren, get married, raise her kids, and schedule two minutes just so she can breathe. By contrast, Lauren Strayer, on the verge of becoming First Lady, is forced to deal with numerous stresses herself, including the press, her estranged father, Dev's instant family, the upcoming wedding, her responsibilities as biographer, and some pervasive personal demons relating to her now deceased mother. Truly, the emotional cauldron these two authors have mixed is fraught with drama, reversals, and intensity that ensnares your attention and demands it totally until you reach the very last chapter.
Always maintaining the inside edge of plausibility, Cooper and Novan find moments of humour to share with us, lightening the mood on occasion and offering the reader a full spectrum of emotions to experience with the characters. I alternately bit my lip or chuckled outright as I read "First Lady" through two sittings (bring food! bring coffee!) and loved it as much as I loved their first offering. Most especially, I loved the little pepperings of real history and personal political commentary they added regarding recent political events. The subtle and not-so-subtle jabs were thoroughly enjoyed.
"First Lady" is definitely worthy of your time. Personally, I've added it to my own private list of stories I can happily re-read and hope you'll discover you feel the same. Go now, read it, and be sure to thank the authors!
http://midgit.co.uk/advocatefl.htm
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Romance or Something Like It by Gerri Hill
Recommended by: AngelRad - 02.23.03
Classification: Love & Romance
Sex/Violence Content: Alt
Length: Short Story, 46 pages - Complete
I'll freely admit that I'm a romantic, right down to my marshmallow center. I blame it on the mind-warping effects of too many fairy tales at a tender age. Or maybe it was just an overexposure to Disney movies, but who can really say? Not that I'm complaining. I won't apologize for consistently choosing a nice happily-ever-after over something more edgy and realistic. And if you're like me, you'll read this story and say "Aha!" You see, I'm a big believer in love at first sight. This the perfect story for you if you're as starry-eyed as me. I'll quote the main character:
Jamie laughed. "I don't think so. I want to meet someone, look into her eyes, and fall hopelessly in love. And know, right then . . . right there, that she's the one."
Of course Jamie does find her Princess Charming and then fate takes over. All is not bliss, at first. There are obstacles to true love, of course; mistaken identities, insecurities, and a best friend who's also looking for love. But don't fret. Characters that share this kind of chemistry will inevitably find a supremely steamy and very gratifying happily-ever-after.
http://merwolf.com/academy/valentine14/gerrihill_romance.html
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First Date by Seana James
Recommended by: Valkyrie - 06.09.02
Classification: Love & Romance
Sex/Violence Content: Alt/PG-13
Length: Short Story - Complete
I love Seana James' writing. It's light-hearted, clever, with flawless grammar and spelling. This story follows Jo, a barrista at Chuck's Coffee Olé, and a new customers at the drive-thru espresso stand. Taking place over a period of nine weeks, the story reveals how the characters get to know each other and wind up - yes, as the title might imply - on their first date. It's a fairly short story - short and sweet, as the saying goes - and it will definitely leave a smile on your face.
http://merwolf.com/academy/fanfic/s/seanajames_firstdate.html
A Change in Season by JLynn
Recommended by: Ann Braxton - 03.16.03
Classification: Love & Romance
Sex/Violence Content: Alt
Length: Short Story, 33 pages - Complete
JLynn, weaver of this charming story, summarizes in a nutshell how “the frozen landscape of a New York Christmas literally throws Elen out of her old life into the warm arms of Gwen.” It is a gem that warms the heart, being so filled with grace. It can be read over and over because there is much to reflect on and because of the beauty of the writing. This comes through at the very beginning as the City’s transformation under a blanket of snow is equated with what is happening with the people’s mood. Elen’s mood.
“Tufts of snow touched her nose, tickled her skin, like tiny, playful children. Elen smiled to herself, watching as the faces of those approaching her showed similar expressions of transformation. Like the city itself, its people were softening.”
“Elen felt something in herself thaw...”
“Smiling was easier and suddenly everyone felt like a neighbor.”
But it is a rare magical moment for Elen before she returns to the office and its pressure, anxiety, tension; for the city, before the dirt and dinginess erase its “clean, white slate.” Thus, the snow covers the city’s “shortcomings” and the snow and festive lights and colors lighten Elen’s cold and lonely existence for one blessed moment.
A felicitous mishap throws Elen for a loop in the form of Gwen. Gwen who rescued her own soul just in time and was able to reach out and help Elen with her discovery that losing one’s humanity is too large a price to pay for success in the world she had chosen.
It’s very satisfying to read about strong women who are motivated to change, who are honest with themselves and principled. Lucky are the ones who achieve self-knowledge and are able to recover their “positive intentions” and thus avoid sliding into the swamp of inhumanity which is the state of too many dwelling in the corporate world of today.
One more taste of JLynn’s talent for drawing intriguing images. Gwen and Elen are stranded by the Christmas eve snowstorm at the firm and are in Elen’s office. She is on the telephone, Gwen standing nearby unbuttoning her overcoat. Elen has never seen Gwen without the coat.
“The gradual transformation from restrained propriety to unbound and alluring femininity parching Elen’s throat. The coat’s panels hung open, revealing a hint of shape beneath its dark exterior, a slow unveiling, a soft and distracting mystery to be unriddled.”
There is angst and seriousness but also light moments and humor as when Gwen tells Elen she has altered the season out of all proportion for her; she’ll never think of candy canes in the same way again. You will have to read to find out what that’s all about ‘cause I ain’t tellin’. Do enjoy.
http://merwolf.com/academy/fanfic/j/jlynn_achangeinseason.html
A Change in Season by JLynn
Recommended by: Valkyrie - 03.30.03
Classification: Love & Romance
Sex/Violence Content: Alt
Length: Short Story, 33 pages - Complete
“The first snowfall in New York is always a magical event,”… and so are JLynn’s stories.
In “A Change in Season,” Elen Foss is working as a legal secretary for a cutthroat law firm and a jackass boss while studying to pass the bar herself. Gwen is the doorwoman to the building where she works. A slip on the outside steps lands Elen in Gwen’s arms, an event that starts her on a journey of self-introspection… and eventually love.
Gwen is cheerful, witty, and the one bright spot in Elen’s otherwise dreary, work-filled days. Elen, naturally, is drawn to Gwen’s humor and thoughtfulness, quite the contrast to the rest of her work environment. While I thought this story started off a bit slowly, it picked up speed nicely once the two get trapped in Elen’s office building during a Christmas snowstorm. In some ways, the slow start made it more believable in the end, because the relationship between Elen and Gwen developed at a realistic pace, with tantalizing snippets of conversation reaching a climax when they actually have time to sit down together to talk.
And do other things, as well… Mind you, I should have been warned by the dedication to Xenalicious, but I was totally unprepared for the… um, I think I shall simply call it the “candy cane scene.” One minute we’re following Elen as she explores her existential crisis and then… Wow. None of JLynn’s other stories had scenes like that. If I had known, I certainly would not have tried to read this at work before our Monday morning staff meeting.
Just picture my eyes growing wider and wider as it became apparent where the scene was heading. Thank you, JLynn, for totally spoiling the innocence of Christmas candy for me forever! While I teasingly focus on this one scene, the story is not just about the romance between Elen and Gwen. It’s also about choices and changing one’s direction in life. Gwen serves as the catalyst for Elen’s realization that she needs to do something before she becomes like the other uncaring automatons at her law firm. “A Change in Season” is really a good metaphor for a change of heart.
http://merwolf.com/academy/fanfic/j/jlynn_achangeinseason.html
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Learning to Trust by Jules Matthews
Recommended by: Valkyrie - 08.03.03
Classification: OF: Love/Romance, X:WP Uber
Sex/Violence Content: Alt
Length: Novel - Complete
Dr. Jace Xanthos is the director of Academic Support Services at a Massachusetts college. Jane Weston is her assistant director and best (and only) friend. In a slightly nepotistic move (unknown and unapproved by her boss), Jane hires her niece, grad student Taryn Murphy, to be Jace’s personal assistant. Throw in the fact that Taryn is living with Marti-the-accountant, and you basically have the initial setup for this romance.
“Learning to Trust” is a wonderful story. It’s not set in some exotic location or time period. It doesn’t have main characters with secret connections to the mob or some other spectacular “Sword of Damocles” from a deep, dark past hanging over one of their heads driving the action of the plot. It’s about very realistic people, with very realistic personalities, dealing with very realistic problems. Jace and Taryn both have their own set of problems (some of them quite unpleasant), but during the course of the story they somehow manage to work through them in order to find themselves and each other. In many respects, it’s a journey of self-discovery for them both.
I truly enjoyed spending time with these characters, watching them grow and evolve. The story is well paced and extremely well written. Fans of Matthews’ story “Download” () may also be pleased that JJ and Cory have strong supporting roles in “Learning to Trust.” I don’t hesitate to recommend this story to anyone who likes a good, character-based lesbian romance.
http://ils.merwolf.com/academy/fanfic/j/julesmatthews_trust1.html
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First Lady by Blayne Cooper and T. Novan
Recommended by: JLynn - 03.16.03
Classification: OF: Love/Romance, Political/War
Sex/Violence Content: Alt
Length: Novel - Complete
If you've been visiting this site for a while you'll have to have noticed that my name rarely shows up as a reviewer. There's a reason for this. First, I'm a lazy ass. Second, I'm a tough audience, and if I'm going to bother posting a review you can damn well count on the fact that I seriously felt moved to do so.
When "Madame President" originally premiered I heard quite a lot of talk about it and when I finally read it, I figured out why. These two ladies had created a pair of strong, competent, complex characters with depth and value and thrown them together in a manner ensuring the eruption of sparks for a variety of different and compelling reasons.
Now, with the long-awaited follow-up in "First Lady", Cooper and Novan bring us deeper into the characters' lives, lifting the curtain on the inner life of the President, giving us to appreciate more fully the weight of such power and responsibility and its inevitable effects on one's personal life. Devlyn Marlowe, a supremely dedicated public servant, struggles to find the balance between the chaos of managing U.S. interests and some soul-harrowing choices, and finding time to develop her relationship with Lauren, get married, raise her kids, and schedule two minutes just so she can breathe. By contrast, Lauren Strayer, on the verge of becoming First Lady, is forced to deal with numerous stresses herself, including the press, her estranged father, Dev's instant family, the upcoming wedding, her responsibilities as biographer, and some pervasive personal demons relating to her now deceased mother. Truly, the emotional cauldron these two authors have mixed is fraught with drama, reversals, and intensity that ensnares your attention and demands it totally until you reach the very last chapter.
Always maintaining the inside edge of plausibility, Cooper and Novan find moments of humour to share with us, lightening the mood on occasion and offering the reader a full spectrum of emotions to experience with the characters. I alternately bit my lip or chuckled outright as I read "First Lady" through two sittings (bring food! bring coffee!) and loved it as much as I loved their first offering. Most especially, I loved the little pepperings of real history and personal political commentary they added regarding recent political events. The subtle and not-so-subtle jabs were thoroughly enjoyed.
"First Lady" is definitely worthy of your time. Personally, I've added it to my own private list of stories I can happily re-read and hope you'll discover you feel the same. Go now, read it, and be sure to thank the authors!
http://midgit.co.uk/advocatefl.htm
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Soul's Rescue By Patty S.
Recommended by: Valkyrie - 03.30.03
Classification: Love & Romance/Uber
Sex/Violence Content: Alt
Length: Short Story - Complete
In this short story, Talia has come to Cincinnati for a job interview when she is trapped in an elevator by a falling beam. Kelly works for the Cincinnati Fire Department and comes to Talia's rescue…at least, as much of a rescue as she can provide given the severity of Talia's injuries and the circumstances of the accident. I liked this story because it was well written, technically accurate (Patty obviously knows the fire service), and a great portrayal of soulmates meeting for the first time under dramatic circumstances. Oh, and, yeah, I am a sucker for hurt/comfort stories, and this was a good one.
http://www.merwolf.com/academy/fanfic/p/pattys_soulsrescue.html
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If You're Gone by Xenickz
Recommended by: Xenalicious - 11.08.02
Classification: Love & Romance
Sex/Violence Content: Alt/PG-13
Length: Short Story, 36 pages - Complete
You know, if there is one thing I hate more than tepid beer and stale nachos, then it's well-written fiction of the romantic kind. I hate it. I hate it with a passion that supersedes all else.
I do. I swear on my gerbil's grave.
Some of yous might be scratching your nether regions right about now, wondering "But, why? Why, in the name of all that's holy, would Xenalicious say such a thing?" Well, I'll tell you. Sigh...
I hate it (and it took me a *number* of Freudian shrink visits to discover this about myself) because ... because - man, this is hard. Gimme a minute here, ok?
...
Okay. It would appear that my sexually decadent youth and a perpetually flippant lifestyle actually reflect a deep rooted need for... cuddling. There. It's out.
I'm a cuddle bug. And a big sap at that, too.
As you may imagine, this is a novel fact to most of my most dedicated followers (including all them women who tattooed my cell phone number on their unmentionables), so I do not like to advertise my vulnerable (and cuddly) side.
Alas, recommending a story such as this inevitably makes it disturbingly clear just what a "I sobbed while watching Steel Magnolias" pushover I really am. This is a great story, don't get me wrong. Wonderfully written. Very poignant. Happy ending. But so, so, sooooooooooooo romantic! (swoon)
I mean, Cole and Beth are your regular uber soulmate prototypes, but they teach us a very touching lesson that sometimes love alone is not enough. Unlike most other alt uber stories, this one doesn't go along the lines of "I came after I saw, I came again, and then we got hitched and lived happily
after". Emotion brought out is as genuine as it is moving and the writing is highly evocative.
So, enjoy, and let the author know how much you liked it. Me? Oh, I'll be all right. I just need to find Mr. Cuddles and go curl up for a moment... (Side note - what does it say about the fact that all the lesbians I know give their stuffed animals *men's* names?)
http://xenafiction.net/scrolls/xenickz_iyg1.hts
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Dear Booger by Zuke
Recommended by: Valkyrie - 06.30.02
Classification: Love & Romance
Sex/Violence Content: Alt/PG-13
Length: Short Story, 24 pages - Complete
I never thought I'd enjoy a story with the word "Booger" in the title, but I decided I needed to check it out anyway, and I'm glad I did. This story is told in a series of letters written by Jaz Pierce to her twin brother "Booger" while she's on vacation in Hawaii. Unfortunately, all is not well in the Aloha State. In Jaz's own words:
Well, it's just another day in Paradise - literally! Though I have to admit right up front that there are a few raisins in the rice pudding, if you know what I mean. Don't get me wrong, you are still the best brother in the world and I'm having a great time.
But, there are just one or two little issues. I bet you don't need to get the old ouija board out to know that the Ice Princess with the cute, turned-up nose is the biggest issue of all (OK, the only issue). Her name, by the way, is Olivia Barrett. I know this because she spent the morning making phone calls from beside the pool - which happens to be right outside my cottage. All of the calls started with, "This is Olivia Barrett…" in a way that said, "you sure as shit better know who I am and do as I say or I'll make your life a misery." Stuck up bitch.
That's just a sample of Zuke's writing style throughout, nicely setting up the antagonism between Jaz and Olivia. The rest of the tale is a wild romp through the next six days of Jaz's vacation while Jaz and Olivia get to know each other a little better, with rather amusing results. This is kind of a rollercoaster of a story, but even with several groans along the way, it was a fun ride.
http://www.ausxip.com/fanfic22/dear_booger.htm
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