Lesbian Fiction Book Reviews

Some of the lesbian fiction books that I've reviewed or recommended, in no particular order. As I have time, I'll add review notes to this lens to give more information.

Fried Green Tomatoes at the Whistle Stop Cafe: A Novel by Fannie Flagg.

 Water Mark (Micky Knight Mysteries) by J.M. Redmann.

Waking Up Gray by R.E. "Decky" Bradshaw.

Blind Leading the Blind by Susan Landis-Steward.

Come and Go by Lee Harlem Robinson the main character and the pen name of Hannelore Arbyn.

Inner Secrets by Suzie Carr.

Jericho by Ann McMan.

In September of 2011, I reviewed the works of Author Gerri Hill who has a great knack for combining lesbian romance and a good mystery into her novels. Of her 19 books (to date), her early fiction novels were all about lesbian romance. Most of her more recent stuff has been of the combo romance/mystery variety. One thing about me - a love a good whodunit and, if you can through in a little romance/sex without making that become the story, then I'm all for it!

Here is a selection of what, I feel, are her best romance/mystery works:

       
   

Rubyfruit Jungle by Rita Mae Brown.

Tipping the Velvet: A Novel by Sarah Waters.

Stone Butch Blues: A Novel by Leslie Feinberg.

Miss Timmins' School for Girls: A Novel by Nayana Currimbhoy.

Port Mortuary by Patricia Cornwell.

By the Howling by Olivia Stowe.

I reviewed the works of Jamaican born lesbian author Fiona Zedde in August of 2011. Fiona writes both straight romantic fiction and lesbian romantic fiction. Her characters are primarily of Jamaican or African American descent, making her one of the few authors to create works featuring lesbians of color. Her most recent book, Dangerous Pleasures, involves a bisexual story line.

I like Zedde's books because she is great at setting a scene. Her skill with creating imagery makes you feel like your there. Since many of her books are set in her native Jamaica, "there" is a very nice place to be!

                    

Stilettos and Steel by Jeri Estes. A great work of fiction based on Jeri's own, personal story.

Hunter's Pursuit the first novel by longtime femslash writer Kim Baldwin.

Appalachian Justice by Melinda Clayton.

Glitter Girl by Erin Quinn O'briant.

Sing You Home: A Novel by Jodi Picoult.

And Playing the Role of Herself by K.E. Lane.

On July 25th of 2011 I reviewed the lesbian oriented fiction works of out lesbian authorMelissa Good.

As I posted on my blog, "Melissa Good cut her teeth with femslash and is now considered one of the pre-eminent writers of the genre. Although femslash existed prior to Good, it was her fan fiction focused on the undertones in the Xena Warrior Princess television series that brought her to prominence in the fanverse."

She parlayed her fan fiction success into her novel, Tropical Storm which featured a modern day couple based on the Xena and Gabrielle model. Her characters are named Dar and Kerry. They have appeared in several works since the first publication of Tropical Storm.

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The Well of Loneliness by Radclyffe Hall.

The Lost Women of Lost Lake (Jane Lawless Mysteries) the latest in the Jane Lawless series by Ellen Hart.

High Dive by Cynthia Tyler.

Landing by Emma Donoghue.

Inseparable: Desire Between Women in Literature by Emma Donoghue.  This title is not "technically" fiction. It's a sort of reference book that's all about women couples that appear literature with a focus beginning in Victorian works. I highly recommend this for the lesbian fiction reader who would like a fresh look at some old favorites.

Since I've been keeping track of highly reader rated lesbian fiction that's currently popular for the Amazon Kindle, one book has been holding steady in the top 5. It was released in paperback 3.5 years ago. It's the first book in the When Women Were Warriors trilogy by author Catherine M. Wilson. For the Kindle, Book One is free. Readers are so enamored of book one and find that they want to continue to follow the story line, that many purchase Books Two and Three. Book Three has recently (May of 2012) cracked the top 10 for the Kindle.