Passion's Bright Fury

Once again, Radclyffe has written absolutely beautiful, and brilliant prose. This woman must have a vivid imagination, or has lived each of these experiences. I am sufficiently addicted! In this book, Saxon Sinclair is a surgeon, much like the character of Tory King, in the Provincetown Tales. Saxon is totally focused on her work, and hates intrusion. Then Jude Castle, a film-maker commissioned to film a documentary, invades the hospital where Saxon works and immediately sets up shop with her cameras and spotlights. Dr. Sinclair protests and thinks that cameras have no place in a trauma unit. Jude thinks Dr. Sinclair is the most arrogant witch she has ever metand just wants to do her job and get out of there. With the sparks, comes attraction and as Jude watches the skillful and graceful Dr. Sinclair in action, she becomes attracted to her and the sexual tension builds until you can't stand it. (Radclyffe is good at building sexual tension) Finally they hook up and the way Radclyffe writes the sex scenes-Whoa! I loved this book and I love the way Radclyffe writes. I am hooked!

Beautiful, brilliant surgeon Saxon Sinclaire is more than angry at her superiors. In an effort to drum up publicity for their hospital, they have agreed to allow a film crew to do a documentary on the first year of a surgical intern. In this case, it's one of Sax's interns. In her first meeting with producer/director Jude Castle, Sax is rude and only marginally cooperative. The two women are constantly at odds, but they also feel an almost irrational attraction. Sax is a private woman with coal black hair and eyes so blue, they're almost purple. She lives for (and practically at) the trauma unit at the hospital. Ever private, romance is something she never thought she'd experience... That is, until she goes over the edge with Jude. Jude, with bright red hair and emerald green eyes, is also married to her career. Her director of photography is frustrated with her for not giving romance a chance. She is undeniably drawn to Sax, while also being infinitely frustrated by the stubborn woman. Jude is torn between the solid, casual relationship she already has with Lori and the potential passion she could experience with Sax. A series of stressful events leads the women on a collision course to their future together. Both are ultimately surprised and delighted by how things turn out. Radclyffe is a master at writing lesbian fiction. This book is somewhere between an R and an NC-17 rating. As always, her characters are incredibly well-developed and just a little more than real. Sax and Jude are just a little better than perfect specimens who have well-hidden, yet severe insecurities. In watching them overcome their personal, internal battles, it's impossible to stay distanced from the characters. The reader can't help but feel emotionally charged while the author drives this roller coaster. `Passion's Bright Fury' is certainly one of Radclyffe's best stand-alone books (i.e., not part of a series) and is very highly recommended by this reader.

Saxon Sinclair is a brilliant trauma chief is told she will allow a documentary filmmaker, Jude Castle, into her trauma unit. The sparks fly between the two women. Whether you read Radclyffe's series books or you read one of her stand-alone romances, you can not go wrong. I have been reading lesbian fiction for many years, and can honestly say that I have never come across a writer that has so affected me. Her characters are strong, intelligent, and romantic. Naysayers will say that Radclyffe's characters are too perfect almost never flawed - either in looks or character. That may be true, but aren't you tired of the genre's penchant for ordinary? Radclyffe's characters are always enchanting, intoxicating, enticing, and intense. The stories, particularly in the series books, are all first class. Most of her series books are page-turners. And in two of the books, I actually turned to the last page to make sure that the main characters survived - something I never do. Radclyffe let us believe, at least for the duration of each of her books, that the grand passion, the true love, the happy-ever-after are all possible. She lets us believe that being a strong, intelligent woman does not mean that we will be alone and/or isolated. The only caveat I have is to read the series books in order. And if you enjoy watching a writer grow, then read the non-series books in the order they were written and watch Radclyffe's talent grow before your very eyes.

What do I love about this medical drama--besides everything? There are so many things but I would have to say how utterly romantic it is--and I am not even talking about the sizzling sex. The way Sax and Jude look into each other's eyes, the way the color of their eyes change depending on their moods, the way their body language speaks volumes filling in where the dialogue leaves off, and the way I get so caught up in the action that I don't even realize that the world around me exists. Radclyffe is adept at creating a complete picture while allowing the reader's imagination to fill in the rest. It is a fine balance between telling too much and too little. I think Rad gets it just right. I have a couple of references but I don't want to cite text and include spoilers. You will have to trust me on this. I am so drawn to these characters that I want to be with them, be like them, live their lives... Have you ever seen a person grinning from ear to ear on a treadmill going almost four miles per hour, oblivious to the sweat pouring down her neck and into her eyes, and all the noise of an active family all around her? Well that was me when I was reading "Passion's Bright Fury." And I thought I couldn't put "Safe Harbor" down. "Passion's Bright Fury" is a five plus star read and should not under any circumstances be missed.

As I make my way through Radclyffe's books I find myself enjoying nearly every page. There really are only a few lesbian writers out there who deliver such solid, consistent entertainment. Radclyffe has a niche all her own within the romance world, with characters who are knowledgable, valiant and exceptionally moral. The women in Passion's Bright Fury are saved from being unbelievable paragons by their powerful attraction to other women, which humanizes them, well, for the most part. We may not be these women, or even know women like them, but we really do hope women like them exist somewhere!Radclyffe is also a professional and there is no sloppy prose or unnecessary scenes to slow down solid, action-packed pacing. When it comes to the action-romance the list of good, consistent writers is short indeed, and Radclyffe, for me, sits very near the top, if not in the #1 slot. Given how great her action pacing is, I am hoping she someday turns her talents to fantasy or sci-fi.