Finding Home

What a delightful Sunday afternoon reading! I really like Georgia Beers' books, with the exception of Thy Neighbor's Wife, and this one delivered as well. I think her strength is coming up with realistic scenarios and filling them with believable characters. I enjoy that so much in contrast to far fetched plots and super-human women that sometimes inhabit lesfic. Her writing is solid, dialogs well written with a feeling of authenticity, for lack of a better word, to them. All of that is true for this book as well. I was a bit 'scared' when I read that a dog had such a bit part in the book, but that as well is really well written.

I really loved this book. It took me a day and a half to finish it because I was so glued to the story. If you are looking for a cute, well written lesbian love story this is it!

If you don't look very carefully at the cover of Finding Home, you'll miss the picture on the cover of the most important character. He's at the bottom of the page, in the middle, right behind the author's name, walking down the path. That's him, Bentley, or Chino, depending on who you ask, and that is the fact the story rotates around. Sarah Buchanan's life is a mess. Her long time partner left her over a year ago for a man, but not without leveling a parting shot that Sarah was a control freak who spent too much time at work. Sarah has come to realize there might be some truth to that and her answer is to sink herself into a liquor stupor every night when she gets home because she just can't move on. The one bright point in her life is Bentley, her beloved dog, who adores her and represents her only contact with the world outside of her office besides her family. When her company offers her an opportunity to go overseas for three months, it seems like exactly what she needs to force a change in her situation. Sarah hesitates only because of Bentley, but finally decides to go when her family promises to take good care of him. Natalie Fox is warm, outgoing, disorganized and loved by all, except that she can't put herself out there to get a girlfriend. Something just keeps holding her back despite the prodding of her best friend Andrea and the Italian couple who own the coffee shop where she works and who treat her like a daughter. Natalie thinks she has adjusted to living her life alone until the day she finds a starved, frightened dog by the dumpster and takes him in. Chino becomes the focal point of her life and she can't imagine how she existed without him, which is why she's not quick to turn him over when Sarah returns home, discovers Bentley has run away while she was gone and is now living with someone else. What do you do when two women love the same animal? Can people of such different personalities try to bend their lives to accommodate his needs? Is it possible that two lonely women can find the answers to what they both have been looking for all for the love of a dog? Georgia Beers has written a romance that can only be called charming. It tells a pretty standard story of women meeting and developing a relationship. The real gem in the book is Bentley. He is what moves the story forward. His interactions with the two women are used to reveal their personalities and how they relate to him causes the plot points to unfold. Without the presence of the dog, this would just be a routine story. He makes it sparkle. Georgia Beers' fans will like this book for all of the usual reasons, but dog lovers will have an extra treat to reward them.

Totally fun read. Terrific opening line! 38 year old Sarah lives in beautiful Rochester NY. A year later, she has not gotten over her girl friend of several years leaving her. Her company sends her overseas to gorgeous New Zealand for three months. When she gets back is when all the trouble starts and all her troubles are resolved. 31 year old Natalie has been Sarah's barista for some time but until events bring them crashing together it doesn't appear they will make a connection. Wonderful humor throughout this novel and at almost 250 pages this is a substantial read. Don't miss the author's other novels: Turning the Page Fresh Tracks - Lambda Literary Award Winner Too Close to Touch Thy Neighbor's Wife Mine

Georgia Beers has hit a home run with this one. I've read all her books, and loved them, and noticed a steady growth of skill and confidence. But with this one, it got me with the dog. You'll never meet a more adorable supporting character than Bentley. I loved this book. I love that Beers' characters are just ordinary people doing ordinary things, like screwing up their lives, trying to untangle them, trying to be smart and do the right thing. Rushing to work every day, getting caught up in a career and a failed relationship, Sarah is on track. She has a plan. She likes things neat and under control and organized, so she can rush into work everyday and rush home after staying late at her office. Natalie had a career, before she gave it up to push coffee and pastries at an Italian bakery. Because her "career" job just wasn't fulfilling. She has a pink streak in her hair. Natalie never thought of it as revealing a lack of character or maturity, though some people might assume that. Sarah certainly does, and underestimating Natalie goes a long way toward making this an interesting book to read. And then there's Bentley, the dog. I could write about how vital and well-drawn the minor characters are, but I'd rather just tell you that you'll love Bentley. And I'll add that this book will make you laugh. It will make you sniffle. And it will cause you to to reflect a bit on your own life and whether you're focusing enough on the important things, because, like Natalie says, you don't want to be haunted by too many "what ifs" in your life. You say you don't like romance novels, that they're all the same? Read this one, and you'll see that a well-written romance can be simply delightful.