He was just another disapproving voice in a long line of disapproving voices. Grace learned at an early age not to trust, not to reach out, not to believe. She'd do her time at Sapling Hill and move on with her life. She didn't need anyone.Joanna Carey, senior instructor at Sapling Hill, wasn't looking for anything more than completing one more year at the facility and getting that much closer to her private dream--a small cabin on a quiet lake. She was touch, smart, and she had a plan for her life.When tough instructor Carey meets angry and disillusioned Grace Waters, neither is prepared for what comes next. Stubborn and angry Grace meets her match in Carey, the strong and disciplined woman who is determined to help Grace help herself. What Carey is not expecting is that Grace will break through her defenses. Together, they will change each other's lives in ways that neither thought possible.

    She muddles through daily routines, her only respite coming in the form of a harmless crush on Rebecca Greenway. Claire believes that the sexy restaurant manager is safely unavailable. But when Rebecca shows signs of interest, Claire's past unravels, revealing an immeasurable love and a dark secret. .an outstanding contribution to lesbian fiction. Author Margaret A. Helms deftly alternates past and present events in the life of Claire Blevins to build an enthralling and intriguing story. Her rich prose, compelling plot, lively pace, and strongly-drawn characters make The Fifth Stage an outstanding contribution to lesbian fiction. -- Nann Dunne, editor and publisher of Just About Write (www.justaboutwrite.com), author of The War Between the Hearts, and other stories.

    "Right Off the Bat" is a monologue by a 12-year old girl whose lesbian mothers have been gay-bashed. "Eggs McMenopause" tells the story of how a sleep-deprived butch finds a unique solution to the trials and tribulations of menopause. In "The Babka Sisters," a women's studies student interviews a nursing home resident and hears a tale the woman has never told anyone: the story of the girl she fell in love with in high school. And in "Mothers of Invention," a couple tests their relationship when one woman decides she wants to have a baby and the other woman does not. Newman's stories covers a dazzling array of themes pertaining to contem-porary lesbian life, including long-term relationships, one-night stands, family-of-origin angst, motherhood, friendships with gay men, AIDS, breast cancer, aging, loss and bisexuality. Many of these stories explore Jewish identity as well. Each story in this collection is told with Newman's trademark wit, honesty, talent and compassion.LeslA(c)a Newman's literary awards include fellowships from the National Endowment for the Arts and the -Massachusetts Artists Foundation. Six of her books have been Lambda Literary Award finalists. A native New Yorker, she currently lives in western Massachusetts.

    Add to that the most unusual brother anyone could hope and you start to understand why Vampires, Mummies and the Holy Ghost are some of the things Kendal fears the most.

    Carter gives voice to her layered truths of being femme, lesbian, black and latina in a society that sees her and thinks straight and African-American. From her Dominican roots (and all the complex history that goes with it), C.C. unfolds her girlhood attempts at assimilation and her adult acceptance of the power of her sexuality and her body's gifts. Body Language portrays C.C.'s voyage to womanhood, and she proves to be the best translator for the trip. This wonderful collection of C.C.'s performance work was well worth the wait. - Lisa Moore, Lambda LIterary Award Winner, Redbone Press

    Apparently you liked it because you bought a kazillion copies of the first volume. So here is another collection of scorching true stories by women who had the mind-blowing good luck to be another woman's first.Nicole Foster is the editor of "Electric," "Skin Deep," "Body Check," "Wet," and of course, "Awakening the Virgin."

    This is critical; we read to find our reflection, to validate our emotions, history, experiences and dreams. Moon Creek Road will do that for the Jewish women who read it and will engage other lesbians because of its depth, creativity, and emotional exploration of lesbian relationships.About the Author:Elana Dykewomon is a feminist author who lives in Oakland, California. Her historical fiction novel, Beyond the Pale (Press Gang Publishers, Vancouver, 1998) was the winner of the 1998 Lambda Literary Award and was a 1998 Finalist for the Ferro-Grumley Award and the American Library Association Gay/Lesbian/Bisexual Book Award.

    far from home. China: Petra Vossler is sent by her father to evaluate Quin Venizelos, their Canadian company's successful, yet mysterious, division manager of the Far East. Quin personifies the business clich that knowledge is power, but when Petra arrives in Hong Kong, Quin learns that unrequited attraction is powerful, too. East meets West as these two strong, opinionated women clash and unexpected romance flares. Kenya: Alex and Sarah are lovers who parted ways many years ago. Alex finds the courage to travel across the world to try to rekindle the love she once had with Sarah. In wild Africa amidst exotic cultures, Alex and Sarah struggle to find trust and commitment as they are unwittingly lured into a deadly plot of political intrigue. South Africa: Laurie and Danielle are old friends divided by time and South Africa's turbulent politics. Now, many years later, Lauri returns to South Africa as a reporter, and asks Danny to show her the new South Africa. Laurie hopes to win Danny's heart, but Danny is held back by her strict religious upbringing. The trip explodes into violent passions when Danny must deal with a dangerous poacher to save the woman she has come to love. Pack lightly. Everything you need for a memorable trip is here, in the pages of Journeys.

    Into her life enters Sara D'Amico, who once was a successful actress in Hollywood but now is living a reclusive life with her brother and nephew.

    Amanda smothered her moans as, hugging the saddle to her bulging breasts, she crushed her parted lips deeply against the hide. Amanda Silk suspects that she is being cheated out of her late aunt's legacy. Determined to discover the true value of Sternwood Grange, she enters its private world disguised as a maid. The stern regime is oppressively strict and Amanda soon comes to appreciate the sharp pleasures and sweet torments of punishment. Menial tasks are soon replaced by more delicious duties - drawing Amanda deep into the dark delights of dominance and discipline.

    The only distractions are her neighbour Mr E in his wilderness garden with the giant albino rabbit Alfred the Great, and a woman called Dan who dresses in beige and makes Lorna's heart leap with every encounter. But it won't be long before Dan's strange behaviour makes Lorna suspect her of a most peculiar crime.

    Lake captures how change and loss influence the course of lives: a mother and daughter have an age-old fight; a frightened woman attempts to deal with an abusive lover; a father tries to understand his lesbian daughter's retreat from him; an athlete who misses her chance—or does she? Lovingly crafted, the collection has been described as a series of mini-novels where themes of alienation and loss, particularly for characters who are gay or lesbian, are woven throughout. Lake is right on about the anguish and confusion of characters caught in the middle of circumstances, usually of someone else's making. Still, each character steps out with hope and determination. In the words of Jean Stewart: "Beyond the mechanics of good storytelling, a sturdy vulnerability surfaces in every one of these short stories. Lori Lake must possess, simply as part of her inherent nature, a loving heart. It gleams out from these stories, even the sad ones, like a lamp in a lighthouse—maybe far away sometimes, maybe just a passing, slanting flash in the dark—but there to be seen all the same. It makes for a bittersweet journey."

    Never is this more true than in a family.In this popular sequel to Connecting Hearts, Denise and Randa learn that finding the other half of one's soul is only the beginning. Life has a way of presenting a combination of surprises and challenges. What will the two women learn about their family connections? How will their discoveries affect them? Will these new connections drive them apart or serve to make their bond stronger?

    Now she works for an online medical information hotline. She is still helping people, but from a safe distance. DJ is a reclusive poet who lives in England with her aunt, Sara. When Sara's health takes a turn for the worse, DJ begins a desperate search for information and hope. She finds much more than she expected when her search leads her to Randa Martin. In the shadow of Sara's debilitating illness, a friendship forms and two hearts connect.

    This is the question that hums beneath "The Wrestling Party," whether Bett is exploring the youth-worshiping tendencies of a riot grrrl music -festival or telling the tale of a disabled boy's passion for Tara Lapinsky or giving advice to "stalker chicks." Bett's life becomes unhinged in an attempt to finally get it right when she has a crush on Anikka, a nightclub regular with a Swiss/German accent who is sexually submissive (as in "TheVillage Voice" personals-submissive). Bett's crush lands her half naked and covered in oil while wrestling a dozen women in her garage. Still unable to win over Anikka, she enlists the help of David, an obnoxious Scottish writer who assists in bringing the relationship with Anikka to its hilarious and startling finale."The Wrestling Party" is a raucous mixture of cultural criticism, erotic tell-all, and in-the-field journalism that reads like a novel you can't put down. In an era marked by social isolation and paint-by-numbers politics, Bett's stories offer us a glimpse of who we are beyond the constraints of cool correctness. Like wrestling, conflict in Bett's -nimble hands is transformed into beauty and violence, into something altogether more complicated and tender.Bett Williams is the author of "Girl Walking Backwards." Her writing has appeared in "Out" and extensively on LesbiaNation.com.