The Sacred Shore

I have so enjoyed this series, I look forward to the next, and the next.... Interesting plot, interesting characters, all realistic to me, and I've read a lot of fiction. It stands out because of the setting, the 'love' that emerges, and of course the hotter moments, which are also fairly true to form, and not overly glamorized as in so many lesbian books. I enjoy the series, this one was very excellent. Take a chance!

I had the pleasure of reading two fantastic books last week. It seemed bizarre that both were the third installment in their respective series. However, considering these were by two of my favorite authors, I should have expected it. (You'll have to see my other reviews to find out what the other book was.) The Moon Island series -- Passion Bay, Saving Grace, and The Sacred Shore -- follows the enduring relationship between a femme, albino American named Annabel and a butch New Zealander named Cody. They own, live on, and operate a women-only resort on Moon Island. Each new installment introduces new challenges and new characters who develop relationships, both romantic and plutonic. Sacred Shore tells the story of Merris and Olivia. Merris has recently divorced her partner due to infidelity. However, Merris begins to realize she played a large part in the relationship's death. Olivia has sworn off women after losing the "love" of her long-time girlfriend, Hunter. These women have a lot in common, including a mutual friend who helps them "see the light." They finally open up while at Moon Island. The back cover suggests Dr. Glenn Howick and post-grad student Riley Mason are major characters in the book. However, they are only a small part of the overall storyline. Glenn has a well-hidden secret and can't let herself fall in love, but it's already too late as Riley has very strong feelings for the doctor. On the other hand, the back cover barely mentions Melanie and doesn't mention Chris at all. These latter characters are a large part of the story. Melanie has ALS (Lou Gherig's Disease, terminal) and will die soon. She also has a very young daughter, conceived via a sperm bank, who needs a family. Chris finds herself drawn to the straight Melanie, and this helps her deal with the loss of her own long-time partner, Elaine. This book was full of emotional material. One can't help but fall in love with the characters and root for their personal growth and relationship success. I can't wait for Book 4 - A Guarded Heart - to come out later this year. Fulton keeps getting better with every one she writes.

I like all of this author's books and her writing style is really exceptional. I love the descriptions of Moon Island. I want to go there! And hugs to Ms. Fulton for writing a story that gives the reader a strong women's spirituality theme as well as all the other juicy, fun bits you get in the perfect lesbian romance. The sub-plot about the goddess and the beliefs of the island women was really incredible. I loved how this tied all the different characters together in different ways. A beautiful story.

In my opinion, The Sacred Shore makes this one of the best lesbian romance series ever. Jennifer Fulton treats her readers like we're intelligent, and doesn't inflict tired formulas and cliched writing on us. I wish I could say the same about all lesbian authors. The characters are wonderful. Olivia is heartbroken after ending a relationship with a famous singer. Wait till you meet this jerk. Don't we all know someone just like her! Olivia is trying to emerge from a crushed state lots of women will identify with. Merris falls crazy in love with her but wonders if that love will ever be returned. Ms. Fulton always writes in a sharp style with wit and humor - this time her dry humor balances out moments of deep sorrow that are very moving. Also, I laughed my ass off over some of the sub-plots, especially Riley, a UCLA student with a huge crush on her professor Dr. Glenn Howick, another unforgettable character. Unlike a lot of romances that fizzle out half way, this one just gets better and better, and the ending is incredibly powerful and not like anything I have ever read before in a lesbian romance. As you can tell, I loved this book.