#No. 3 Hale Grenade

[mayberrycryptid]

pix credit is @tailsticks on instagram. please keep credit if reblogging!

Mr. Pickles agrees - March 10th should be Hawaii Five-0 Day!!!

Which means we have roughly 100 days until we celebrate Steve’s birthday AND our awesome show! 🤙🍤❤️🤙🍤

I’m gonna throw out some ideas and see what the Hawaii Five-Ohana wants to do?

also, also - I’m either super organized or a complete mess (my disabilty comes with its own randomizer chart. yay!!!) so I will do my best to keep posting reminders—but y’all have been warned😂😂😂

I know other fandoms have re-watch parties. We could watch the pilot and one other episode? I have NO idea how other fandoms do this, so if anybody knows how this works…

I do have digital copies of all the episodes. I could put the pilot and the ‘top ten’ episodes in google drive. Then we could take a survey of what the second episode for the rewatch party will be? would that work?

if so, then I need a list of what y’all think the top ten episodes (besides the pilot) are!

Would y’all like to do a bingo card challenge? I could post bingo cards in January, so people have plenty of time to make stuff!

If so, then what about saying anything goes for the bingo challenge—fic, art, photos, vids, etc. What do y’all think?

Another thing that might be fun is all of us doing ‘3 recs and 10 things’ posts that day:

3 recs for cool H50 fan stuff (3 great fanvids, 3 favorite fanfics, etc)

10 things from show (10 funny moments, 10 whump moments, 10 ohana moments, etc)

again, what does the Hawaii Five-Ohana think? would that be a fun but easy way to celebrate 3-10?

things we really need: Some March 10th graphics and pix, cheerleaders and rebloggers, and enthusiasm! and maybe a Camaro😁

sadly, I can think of no way to gift every amazing person is this fandom their very own buttercream grenade-shaped cake. Although I guess we could pass the salt…

any other ideas or things or challenges? Something you think would be fun or cool to do?

Lets throw our fandom — and Steve —the biggest birthday ever!!!!🥳🎂🥳🎂🥳

I tagged as many H50 blogs both past and present as I could but tumblr only allows 50 blogs so…

@five-wow @stephmcx @cowandcalf @alohaspaceman @kristen9999 @hawaiifiveoh @teruel-a-witch @ellena-asg @baci2244 @trickster-archangel @bgharison @comfortfromyourpain @stellagioia @mcdannowave @mcdannoangelwolf @ankhsunamun @redgoldblue @anastablack @gatorasmus @incorrect-mcdanno @rahiodead @cowboymitchell @jacksadventuresinwriting @allh50allthetime @h50europe @h50bigbang @h50bamf @itsmrvlxh50 @fyeahstevemcgarrett @acceptanceispending @bubblegumorthemoon @indiguus @mahalohanaloha @power-bottom-steve @danny-williams @twoonezero @merlin-wolfgang-trades-hale @bee1968-ch @the-itzy-bitzy-spider @confessionofashopaholic-blog @simplyn2deep @murphyhatesme @angels-c @chaosrising451 @grindy-cog @ilikemcdanno @annanight @mymcdanno @iolani-palace @peggyswilliams

[king-for-a-weekend]

Tag game

I was tagged by @silent-cha0s to list my 10 favorite cover songs. Thank you!! This was fun ^^

1 - Animals, by Ice Nine Kills (originally by Maroon 5)

2 - Nihilist Blues, by Annisokay (originally by BMTH)

3 - Ordinary World, by RED (originally by Duran Duran)

4 - Sound of Silence, by Disturbed (originally by Simon and Garfunkel)

5 - You Belong With Me, by For All Those Sleeping (originally by Taylor Swift)

6 - Torn, by Hands Like Houses ("originally" by Natalie Imbruglia)

7 - Grenade, by Memphis May Fire (originally by Bruno Mars)

8 - Somebody That You Used To Know, by Mayday Parade & Vic Fuentes (originally by Gotye)

9 - Separate Ways (Worlds Apart), by Daughtry & Lzzy Hale (originally by Journey)

10- Give In To Me, by Three Days Grace (originally by Michael Jackson)

There were a few I could add or change, and the order isn't really any in particular :P

I tag: @let-the-sun-rain-down-on-meee @resurrect-the-sun @thats-the-teen-spirit @adhd-affliction @heartofannie @spacepotato13 @anchorghost @deathtomisery @death-is-not-my-enemy @misquideadghost

[magneticmage]

Was going to try and write some meta/general thoughts about all the crafting items (specifically health polutices/lyrium potions/stamina draughts, poisons, traps, and runes) across the various mainline Dragon Age games (Origins, Awakening, II, Inquisition) and then I remembered the Wiki makes it really hard for me to tell what the ingredients are for some of the Awakening Items. Had some trouble with the Runes for DA2 but (I think) that was more about simply spending the money to buy the Runes themselves than any particular making of them (beyond maybe hunting down the ingredients in a side quest that covers all 3 acts)?

Why do they use icons instead of the names for said ingredients? The icons are too tiny to be in any way visually distinct for me!

Sigh. Guess I should probably just solve it by booting by the actual games but that feels like A Lot of effort right now.

In case anyone is interested (unlikely but thank you if you do), here are the items listed below the cut that I am lacking their ingredient lists for;

Fair warning, it is A LOT

~Polutices, Potions, and Draughts~

Superb Health Polutices

Master Health Polutices

Superb Lyrium Potion

Master Lyrium Potion

Lesser Stamina Draught

Stamina Draught

Greater Stamina Draught

Potent Stamina Draught

Superb Stamina Draught

Master Stamina Draught

~Poisons, Weapon Coatings, and Bombs/Grenades~

Elemental Coating

Dispel Coating

Elemental Grenade

Dispel Grenade

~Traps~

Elemental Trap

Dispel Trap

Gravity Trap

Misdirection Cloud Trap

~Rune Etchings~

(Weapons Runes: Hale, Slow, Paralysis, Cold Iron, Silverite, Dweomer)

Novice, Journeyman, Expert, Master, Grandmaster, Masterpiece, and Paragon levels

(Weapon Runes; Frost, Lightning, Flame)

Novice, Journeyman, Expert, Master, Grandmaster, Masterpiece, and Paragon levels

(Hybrid Runes)

Intensifying Rune

Menacing Rune

Momentum Rune

Elemental Rune

(Armor Runes, Hybrid Runes)

Evasion Rune

Endurance Rune

Amplification Rune

Diligence Rune

[shiftyskip]

Joseph “Joe” David Liebgott

The Real Joseph Liebgott:

Joseph David Liebgott was born in Lansing, Michigan in May 17, 1915 to Joseph (Josef) Liebgott Sr and Mary. Joseph Liebgott Sr was of German descent, but he was born in Beresztocz, Hungary. Joe’s mother was Yugoslavian, but was reported as born in either Yugoslavia or Hungary I am not sure which one because records show both. On his father’s side his grandparents were Yugoslavian as well. On his mother’s sider, they seem to be from Hungary. His mother immigrated in 1909, Lieb’s father immigrated in 1912.

Below is a picture believed to be his parents. 

 He was the oldest of his siblings. He has four sisters: Mary, Elizabeth, Anna, and Barbara, and one brother, Stephen/Steffen . Both of his parents spoke German, which would later help him during the war. His father worked in the auto industry before they moved. 

His family soon moved to California around 1927 and his dad became a barber. He was the oldest of his siblings, one brother and four sisters. He was extremely protective of his younger sisters

Liebgott and his siblings attended Catholic schools. This is where learned how to box and played soccer.

After high school, Liebgott drove a taxi around San Francisco. This career was temporary and he soon attended barber college.

He was also previously married before the war. He was married in July 31, 1933  to  a woman named Frances. They had one child, David Albert together on February 27, 1934. But the couple soon divorced within a year, and he was living with his family again by 1940, where he was working on a forestry project. Meanwhile his ex-wife and son moved into her family. Here is Joe and Frances:

He eventually became a barber and this was his career when he enlisted at the age of 26. Liebgott chose the paratroopers to be able to make more money to be able to put a down payment on his parents’ house. 

Included is a photo of Joe and his mother

He has a Jewish service card, registered under his mother’s name. But his family denied he was Jewish, stating he was a German Roman Catholic. I’ll attach it below (filtered for safety). 

In his draft card he is listed as 5 feet and 5 inches tall and was 109 pounds. He had blue-grey eyes and brown hair.

Malarkey remembers meeting Liebgott on his way to Toccoa where they became part of the original Toccoa men. Liebgott was trained under the harsh command of Herbert Sobel.

Liebgott didn’t talk much about the war, so there will be little but other’s words to put here. This is a photo from 1945 in France.

Right before the jump out of the airplane, he put his barber skills to use and gave a few of the men Mohawks. 

He would jump out of the airplanes with the rest of the men on June 6, 1944. He received the bronze star for his bravery at Brecourt Manor, where he worked with Winters and several other men, Compton, Guarenere, Wynn, Lipton, Toye, Malarkey, and Ranney to destroy a German Battery firing on Utah Beach on the day of the D-Day Invasion.

He cut off the finger of a German that he had bayoneted and took the man’s ring near Carentan. At Carentan, Ed Tipper was seriously wounded after clearing out a house with Liebgott. Liebgott grabbed Tipper, yelled for a medic, and told Tipper that he’d be okay. Welsh and Lieb dragged Tipper into the street until Welsh could get him back to the aid station.

After Brecourt, Compton recalls a painful memory with Liebgott in his book, Call of Duty, Compton and Liebgott were patrolling along hedges at dusk. Across the way, in another set of hedges were two men. Both were dressed in German ponchos, one was holding a German gun. Assuming that these men were in fact German, he and Liebgott shot the men. Come to find out, when they checked their dog tags, they were not Germans. They were Americans. They had just killed fellow soldiers in friendly fire.

October 5, 1944. Winters sent a few Youmen out on patrol to take an outpost near a windmill. Liebgott and a few other men (James Alley among them) went with Sgt. Youmen. They sent one man ahead, to look out over the dike. The man spotted German machine guns. German voices approached the remaining boys. Lieb called out for the Youman, as we was trailing behind, only to have grenades thrown at him and the other men. Liebgott got minor wounds while James Alley received 32 shrapnel wounds in his left side, stretching from his face down. They’d run into a company of SS.

Liebgott was known for being rough with prisoners, the fighting that followed the injuries wit the SS company was a prime example of this. After Winters led his patrol to attack these Germans, in which during the fighting they lost William Dukeman, 7 Germans surrendered. The most famous story of Liebgott is as follows, in Dick Winter’s words.

As Winters explains in his book, “Tech/5 Joseph D. Liebgott had been slightly wounded in the arm, but he was ambulatory so I assigned him the mission of escorting seven German prisoners to the rear. Liebgott had earned the reputation of being one of Easy’s best combat soldiers, but we had all heard stories that he was very rough on prisoners. Liebgott was one of Easy Company’s “killers,” so I deemed  it appropriate to take a bit of caution. When he heard me say, “Take the prisoners back to the battalion command post,” he replied. “Oh, boy! I’ll take care of them.” In his exuberance, Liebgott stood up and paced back and forth and he was obviously very nervous and concerned. I stopped him in his tracks. “There are seven prisoners and I want seven prisoners turned over to battalion.” Liebgott was highly incensed and started to throw a tantrum.Somewhat unsure of how he would react, I then dropped my M-1 to my hip, threw off my safety, and said, Liebgott, drop all your ammunition and empty your rifle.” There was much grumbling and swearing, but he did as I had ordered. “Now,” I said, “you can put one round in your rifle. If you drop a prisoner, the rest will jump you.””

Liebgott got all 7 prisoners back.  

Joe would recover in a hospital in England with Webster, but he was back before Bastogne. Here is the record for that: 

Name:Joseph D Liebgott Race:White, includes Mexican (White) Rank:Enlisted Man Admission Age:29 Birth Date:abt 1915 Admission Date:Oct 1944 Discharge Date:Nov 1944 Military Branch:Infantry, Parachute Troops or Units Diagnosis:FirstLocation: Ulna, generally; CausativeAgent: Artillery Shell, Fragments, Afoot or unspecified Type of Injury:Casualty, battle Injured in Line of Duty:In line of duty Type of Discharge:Duty Length of service:2 Year(s), 6 Month(s)

In Bastogne, Winters made him a runner to get away from the tension and constant stress of fighting.  One story of his service was outside of Foy is the battle of Noville, he and Earl Hale ducked into a barn and took 6 SS officers prisoner. Outside the barn, a shell exploded. One of the SS officers took this as an opportunity and jumped Hale. He slit Hale’s throat. Liebgott instantly shot and killed the officer. He then killed the others. Hale survived miracuously. 

At some point, before the end of the war, Liebgott became first platoon’s interpreter-radioman. This was because he could speak some German. But Webster claimed in his book that the German’s didn’t understand his Yiddish. 

He was with Webster when they took Hitler’s Nest. They spent their time drinking Hitler’s alcohol together with a few other men. He was living with Headquarters Company while there.  

Of course, the war came to an end and everyone who wanted to was discharged.

Over the course of the war, Lieb was injured 3 times and won 3 purple hearts. He refused one because the wound was “just a scratch”. He would receive partial disability for his wounds.

When he returned home, he disappeared for two years. Eventually he was found living in  Yuma, California. He didn’t come to reunions, even when offered multiple times. His father simply told the vets “not to mess with him”. 

After the war, Liebgott was a barber for a short time. He married again to a woman named Peggy in 1949. They had eight kids together. Making Lieb’s total children come to nine, although he was mostly involved with the last eight. They lived on a barber’s salary, not leaving much room for fun activities but everyone had their basic needs met. He often  only had one day a week off and would take his kids to a Long Beach pike, where they would visit an amusement park. 

Liebgott liked to bet on the ponies at the racetrack. Every other sunday, him and his boss would take the boss’ airplane down to Mexico.

He is believed to have never contacted anyone from his days in Easy Company. He just wanted to get away from the war. 

The Liebgotts divorced in  April of 1969. She remarried, but he never did. He was described as really quiet by his granddaughter. 

She states, in Marcus Brotherton’s book Company of Heroes (pages 120-121) “His hands looked like a man who worked with his hands, sunspots all over. He absolutely loved his grandkids. he had false teeth that he flipped out of his mouth and smiled, threatening to kiss us with his gums. He was a tickler. He never held babies over his shoulder...because he wanted them to see everything....He didn’t have a lot of money - I’m pretty sure all he had was his veteran’s benefits...He made all of the bikes for the grandkids by scouring thrift stores for dilapidated bikes. He stripped the bikes down to their frame, fixed and assembled them as good as new. He let each grandchild pick the color of new paint for his or her bike....I always knew the specific foods we were going to eat at his house. He had bite-sized candy bars and store brand soda-pop. There was no drinking water in his house. He always lived in rental houses...” 

He was very neat, and keep his house and appearance orderly. However, he was always working in the garage, so the house had black smudges from the dirt on his hands. 

However, Liebgott was not perfect. While he hated the Nazis, he was also seen as a bigot, maybe even harsher. Rhonda explained that he threw the n word around like it wasn’t a big deal. He blamed the wrong goings of the world on different ethnic groups. Rhonda started seeing a guy from El Salvador, he asked if her partner “even spoke English?”

As he grew older, Lieb got sicker. He eventually lost the use of one of his legs from a hernia. He was confined to a chair and hated any new technology. He was stuck in a wheelchair, angry when he would hit a cabinet. 

Lieb did not talk about his military career until towards his end. He would spend time with his son Jim, watching tv talking about the war during a war movie.  He would talk about the war when he was mad, possibly angry at himself for doing a lot of killing and other things that people his age shouldn’t have to do.

In 1992, Liebgott developed a tumor in his neck, near his windpipe that would cause a lot of pain. Jim took him to the hospital on Father’s Day. Shortly later, on June 28, 1992 Liebgott died. He was against a funeral and just wanted to be cremated, so his family did as he wished. They still have his ashes and letters and the Toccoa book. 

[zayamoone-old]

TF2 Mage AU

A Team Fortress 2 AU where magic exists and I change the storyline.

Hi! I don’t post here often, so I thought I’d change that by posting something that’s been occupying my thoughts for a while: a TF2 mage AU! When I discovered that a mage AU didn’t exist (at least, not any that I could find), I just had to take it upon myself to make one of my own. So, here are all of the ideas I currently have for the AU! Note that (eventually) this will become a written story. How long that will take, I have no clue. I still need a plot (if you have any plot ideas please please let me know; I’m desperate).

Basic Premise/World Info

The premise of the AU is, obviously, that mages exist. When people reach a certain age, they are allowed to start learning a single type of magic. There are many different magic types, ranging from elemental magic to dark magic. When a mage reaches a certain skill level, they are given a Familiar. They do not get to pick their Familiar- their Familiar picks them. They then keep their Familiar as a pet. The Familiar’s state of health, life span, and mood are synced with their owners (so for example, when their owner is sick the Familiar is sick, when the owner is sad the Familiar is sad, when the owner dies the Familiar dies, etc.). There are some people who choose not to take up a type of magic. These people are creatively referred to as Nomages, and in some cultures are looked down upon (though the same could be said about Mages).

Some things to clear up about the altered side of the AU are 1) The BLU team does not exist; I never saw a need for the two teams, and having them both just leads to basic and generally overused plot lines, 2) Australium doesn’t exist!! No immortality crap, 3) Gray Mann is the younger brother of Redmond and Blutarch (Red and Blu are still twins) and does not have a ridiculous story of him being able to talk since birth and being raised by eagles and whatnot, and 4) Saxton Hale is not very important to the plot. In fact, he’s actually dead in this AU. I wasn’t going to include him at all because I don’t like him and I couldn’t figure out how to fit him in, but a friend of mine actually had a cool idea for him being dead that I’ll elaborate on later.

Anyways, with all that out of the way, it’s time to introduce the characters!

Characters (headcanons and other details will be saved for asks)

Offense Classes (Elemental Mages)

Scout

Name: Jeremy Andrews

Gender: Male

Sexuality: Straight

POB: Boston, Massachusetts, USA

Age: 27

Magic Type: Wind

Uses his magic to move faster, jump higher, and knock back enemies. I’d imagine he’d also use it to propel himself past or over enemies to land in front of or on top of them.

Decided to learn wind magic for basically the canon reason: he wanted to get the upper hand in fights, and also wanted to manage to beat his brothers to fights. So, instead of Speed magic, he decided to take up Wind magic since not only did it make him faster, but it is a great tool for fighting.

Soldier

Name: Jane Doe

Gender: Male

Sexuality: Pansexual, he really has no preference

POB: Minneapolis, Missouri, USA

Age: 50

Magic Type: Earth

Uses his magic to reach high places and throw literal boulders at people; basically a replacement for his RPG.

Took up earth magic to thereotically assist him in WWII (because if he’s a mage, they’d have to accept him, right?). He also found being able to throw destructive boulders to be incredibly helpful in any fight.

Pyro

Name: ???

Gender: Nobody knows, everybody just refers to them as a they or an it.

Sexuality: Aromantic asexual

POB: ???

Age: ???

Magic Type: Fire

Fire.

Idk what to tell you man they just really like fire.

Doesn’t have the optical mask; they see everything as it really is, but their behavior towards fire and death and destruction remains the same. They still like unicorns and rainbows.

Defense Classes (Trait Mages)

Engineer

Name: Dell Conagher

Gender: Male

Sexuality: Mostly straight, but he leans both ways. Ultimately, he doesn’t care much about relationships.

POB: Bee Cave, Texas, USA

Age: 43

Magic Type: N/A (Nomage)

Doesn’t see a need to learn magic, he already has enough skill in the engineering field.

Was mainly hired because his family worked for the Admin’s family for decades. And also because, y’know, he’s one of the smartest people on the planet.

Heavy

Name: Mikhail 'Misha' Morozov

Gender: Male

Sexuality: Bisexual

POB: Dzhugdzhur Mountains, Khabarovsk Krai, USSR

Age: 57

Magic Type: Strength

Uses his magic to make himself inhumanly strong whenever he so chooses. This means he can switch from oh so gentle to strong enough to crush bone in seconds.

Took up Strength magic after he escaped the gulag to better protect his family, should the need arise.

Demoman

Name: Tavish DeGroot

Gender: Male

Sexuality: Straight

POB: Ullapool, Scotland

Age: 49

Magic Type: Leaping

His magic basically just lets him jump really high (higher than Scout can go with his magic). This lets him shoot/throw grenades/bombs from more effective and destructive distances.

Mostly took up Leaping magic just to get his mom off his back about him learning magic. His father was a Leaping Mage, so Demo simply followed in his footsteps.

Support Classes (Arcane Mages)

Medic

Name: Dr. Ludwig Humboldt

Gender: Male

Sexuality: Gay

POB: Stuttgart, Germany

Age: 45

Magic Type: Necromancy

Familiar: Archimedes - Dove

Uses his magic to revive people, heal people, and communicate with the dead.

Took up the controversial art of necromancy to aid in his job. This eventually cost him his medical license.

Ngl I'm super excited to write Necromancer Medic I'm really happy with this concept help

Sniper

Name: Mick Mundy

Gender: Male

Sexuality: Straight

POB: Whyalla, Australia

Age: 28

Magic Type: Shadow

Familiar: Hunter - Australian Shepard

Uses his magic to teleport into and transform into shadows. This is helpful for sneaking in between watchtowers and passing people unseen.

Began learning Shadow magic before he was even a sniper. He has always been an introvert and wanted to be able to get through crowds unseen and hide from people without being found.

Despite his young age, he already has a Familiar. He's just that much of a professional.

Is actually from Australia and the Mundys are his birth parents.

Spy

Name: Eugène Baudelaire

Gender: Male

Sexuality: Straight

POB: Bordeaux, France

Age: 46

Magic Type: Mind

Familiar: Jacques - Birman

Uses his magic to read minds, bend wills, and use telepathy. These abilities all have some limits, but they are incredibly useful nonetheless.

Always enjoyed being sneaky and deceitful as a child, and as he got older he started learning Mind magic. This combined with his cunning nature and Dell's cloaking technology makes him one of the most stealthy and dangerous men in existence.

Although he denies it, he loves Jacques more than anything or anybody else. He'll often let the cat curl up on his lap while he's reading a magazine in his smoking room.

Other Characters

The Administrator

Name: Helen Callaway

Gender: Female

Sexuality: Aromantic asexual. People are horrid.

POB: Bristol, UK

Age: 56

Magic Type: N/A (Nomage)

Runs Team Fortress and uses them for her own needs.

A family friend of the Manns who took over TF after all the Mann brothers were m y s t e r i o u s l y murdered.

Miss Pauling

Name: Allison Pauling

Gender: Female

Sexuality: Closeted lesbian

POB: Like. America or something. (Madison, Wisconsin for now idk)

Age: 31

Magic Type: N/A (Nomage)

A close friend and long-time assitant to the Admin. Eagerly helps her run TF.

Redmond Mann

Gender: Male

Sexuality: Straight

POB: England or somewhere, idfk. The Manns are British or something right?

Age: 89

Magic Type: Fire

Before his and Blutarch's death, he ran the RED team. After his death, the remains of his team consisted of only Pyro, Engie, Demo, and Spy.

Never used his magic. They only reason he learned Fire magic was to try to get the upper hand on his twin.

Blutarch Mann

Gender: Male

Sexuality: Straight

POB: Ditto

Age: 89

Magic Type: Ice

Ran the BLU team before he died and the two teams were merged. After his death, his team consisted of only Scout, Soldier, Heavy, Medic, and Sniper. Since he had more people on his team at the end, he counts this as a win for him.

Also never used his magic. Learned Ice magic also to try to get the upper hand as his brother. Their magic types basically cancelled each other out, so this was not helpful in the slightest.

Gray Mann

Gender: Male

Sexuality: Straight, but couldn't care less

POB: Ditto

Age: 84

Magic Type: Shadow

Familiar: Delta - Bald Eagle

After he murdered his older brothers, he took over TF Industries and merged RED and BLU to create Team Fortress.

Took up Shadow magic in preparation for the day he would get what he wanted. It also comes in handy for literally anything illegal.

Saxton Hale

Gender: Male

Sexuality: Straight

POB: A U S T R A L I A .

Age: 37

Magic Type: Strength

Ran TF Industries in its early days alongside the Mann twins before he died.

Learned Strength magic to better wrestle animals. That's it.

Idolized by literally only Soldier. Everybody else is like "Yeah no that guy was an idiot."

Wow. That was a lot to write, and I did it all in one sitting. It is late. I am losing the ability to comprehend any thoughts.

So anyways, I'd love to hear your guys' thoughts on this!! It's a heavy WIP, so I'd appreciate feedback and suggestions ;) Also, please feel free to submit asks about the AU!! It'd help a lot with its development! Also, plot ideas would be MUCH appreciated. Literally the only thing that ever prevents me from writing is my inability to come up with a plot. So if you have literally ANY ideas, please do submit them via an ask! I'd love to hear them, no matter how stupid you think they may be!

That's all for now! I'll post writing and art for the AU whenever I get around to that. Stay tuned, and please do send me your thoughts! I'll see you all later ✨

[meet-the-decoy]

Hey Decoy! What exactly is your role on the battle field?

MEET THE DECOY

Description

It isn't hard to see that she is the fairest one on the team. Decoy isn't afraid to use her feminine touch to her advantage and being on a team with mostly men has it's perks. But don't be fooled, this girl isn't as sweet as she looks. She's a babe with quite a bite.

Primary

Stock

- Duel pistols: (ammo 12/36 each)

Craft

- Boxing glove gun: (ammo N/A)

Gives Decoy the ability to punch an opponent with as much force as a Heavy.

- Pole vault: (ammo N/A)

Gives Decoy a 20% boost on acrobatics.

-Mini canon: (ammo 20) 

Is similar to Soldier's rocket launcher. Each shot takes several seconds to reload but gives critical damage to enemies. Slows down agility.

Uncrate

- Chainsaw: (ammo N/A)

Gives critical damage at close range. Won't be able to preform acrobatics as a result.

- Bear trap: (ammo N/A)

Traps enemies for several seconds while giving mini crits. Can only be used once every 30 seconds.

- Water pistols: (ammo 100 each)

Counteracts Pyro fires. This weapon extinguishes teammates that are ablaze as well as sapping the enemy Engineer's buildings.

Secondary

Stock

- Hand grenades: (ammo 20)

Craft

- Fireworks: (ammo 20)

This weapon creates flash bangs and blinds the enemy for several seconds and can also light enemies on fire depending on range.

- Taser: (ammo N/A)

Electrifies enemies and paralyzes them for up to 3 seconds. Effects enemies differently. Has a cool down time of 3 seconds.

- Sling shot: (ammo 20)

Let's Decoy launch grenades just as far as a Demoman, letting her throw them farther then she originally could. It can also be used to launch health kits to teammates.

- Water Balloons: (ammo 20)

Extinguishes teammates who are on fire. It also washes way Jarate from teammates who may be covered in it.

Uncrate

- Throwing knives: (ammo 12)

Allows Decoy to trick stab like a Spy but at longer distances. Can be used during acrobatics.

- Playing cards: (ammo 3 decks)

Cards can slice enemies to inflict damage. Cards can be boomeranged back to be reused if thrown correctly.

- Grappling hook: (ammo N/A)

Gives Decoy the ability to get to higher nesting spots with ease. Boosts acrobatics by 5%. Grapple can be shot at enemies to finish off kills.

Melee

Stock

- Bullwhip: (ammo N/A)

Craft

- Chain: (ammo N/A)

Gives critical damage to enemies. Slows down acrobatics by 15% as a result.

- Spider net: (ammo 8)

Bounds enemies for several seconds. This also leaves the enemy vulnerable and more likely to receive critical damage.

- Roller skates: (ammo N/A)

Allows Decoy to match the speed of that of a Scout. Decoy won't be able to preform acrobatics as a result.

- Megaphone: (ammo N/A)

Amplifys Decoy's vocals and lures enemies easier.

Uncrate

- Lipstick: (ammo N/A)

Ables Decoy to give a teammate ÜberCharge for 3 seconds by kissing them. This weapon also restores a teammates health by 50%. Gives critical damage to enemies.

- Mirror: (ammo N/A)

Blinds the enemy for 3 seconds by shining light in the enemy's eyes. This weapon is most effective on Snipers.

- Ribbon wand: (ammo N/A)

Steals 15% of an enemy's ammo. Ammo can be given to other teammates or can be used personally.

- Perfume: (ammo N/A)

Amplifys Decoy's lures. Perfume can also be used to disorient enemies for several seconds. No man can resist the smell of flowers and gunpowder.

PDA

Primary

- Acrobatics

Secondary

- Vocal

Special Taunts

• Song Bird

This taunt makes enemies vision blur whenever they get to close to her singing. This makes the enemy vulnerable and more likely to receive critical hits.

• Damsel in Distress

This taunt gives Decoy the ability to make enemies hurt their own teammates. Every shot that hits a teammate will lower their health depending on distance different variables. Can only be used once every 3 minutes.

• Blowing Kisses

This taunt has the Decoy blow a kiss at the enemy. Whoever the kiss lands on receives critical damage. If the kiss lands on a teammate, it restores their health by 15%.

• Love Me, Love Me Not

This taunt has Decoy pick pedals off of a flower. If a heart appears, then the enemy walks free. If a broken heart appears then the enemy receives critical damage. This taunt gives a 50/50 chance each time it is used.

• Love Potion No.9

Can be slipped into any food or beverage. Once consumed, the enemy cannot hurt Decoy up to 10 seconds. This taunt can only be used 3 times during a match.

• Milkshake

In this taunt, Decoy pulls out a tray and proceeds to make and serve milkshakes to anyone who takes them. Decoy serves any flavor of milkshake to her teammates to boost their health level much like Heavy's Sandvich, but is far sweeter.

Achievements

• Master Maiden: Achieve over 50 'Blowing Kisses' taunt kills.

• Golden Gal: Seduce kill each class in one round.

• Lucky Lady: Dodge 5 airblasted rockets using acrobatics.

• Flirting with Death: Lure a Scout over 100 times

• Here to Save The Day: Protect a struggling teammate more than 5 times in one round.

• The Angelic Acrobat: Save a teammate over 20 times by throwing back a Demoman's grenade using acrobatics.

• Dangerous Dame: Seduce kill 500 times.

• Kiss it Better: Heal over 75 teammates using 'Blowing Kisses' taunt or by using Lipstick melee.

Domination Lines

SCOUT

"So you're the fastest man alive, huh? Is that why you can't get a date?"

"Why so red tough guy?"

"I like a guy who can make me laugh."

"Hey, my eyes are up here scooter."

"Your ass must be pretty jealous of all the shit that comes out of your mouth."

SOLDIER

"If I threw a stick, you’d leave, right?"

"Everyone’s entitled to act stupid once in awhile, but you really abuse the privilege."

"You look good with black and blue."

"Are you always such an idiot, or do you just show off when I’m around?"

"I was hoping for a battle of wits but it would be wrong to attack someone who’s totally unarmed."

PYRO

"I AM a woman, what's your excuse?"

"Still think your on fire?"

"What in the hell? What are you supposed to be?"

"Did things get really hot in here, or is it just me?"

"Earth is full. Go home."

ENGINEER

"Whoopsie, did I do that?"

"Look at the cute little toys! Can I play with one?"

"You only annoy me when you’re breathing, really."

"Your birth certificate is an apology to your parents from the hospital."

"How impressive! You can put your foot in your mouth and your head up your ass at the same time!"

HEAVY

"So... do you name your guns because you can't get a real date or?..."

"Oh wow, this must be pretty embarrassing for you."

"Are your compensating for something?"

"Jesus christ, You’re so fat you could sell shade."

"You are the human version of period cramps."

DEMOMAN

"Sorry, but you won't be able to drink away the alcoholism."

"I'm gonna hit you so hard, you'll lose your accent."

"*sad crying that turns into cruel laughter*"

"You’ll never be the man your mom is."

"Nice onesie, does it come in men's?"

"Aww, Do you need me to kiss your boo-boo better?"

MEDIC

"Excuse me nurse, could you take a look at this for me?"

"They took your license away for a reason doctor."

"Oh! I like your dress!"

"If laughter is the best medicine, your face must be curing the world."

SNIPER

"That's disgusting."

"Isn’t there a bullet somewhere you could be jumping in front of?"

"Just because you have a dick doesn’t mean you need to act like one."

"I’ve been called worse by better."

"There’s no doubt about it. Your father should have pulled out earlier."

SPY

"Is that a knife in your pocket, or are you just happy to see me?"

"Hey croissant, your fly’s undone."

"If you’re going to be two-faced, at least make one of them pretty."

"Acting like a prick doesn’t make yours grow bigger."

"Je n'ai jamais pensé rencontrer un homme sans couilles."

DECOY

"You're not cute sweetheart."

"See, this is why the men don't take us seriously."

"Nice outfit. I bet if you stood on a street corner, you’d make some money."

"Don’t hate me because I’m beautiful. Hate me because your boyfriend thinks so."

"I’ve seen your kind before…but last time, I had to pay admission.

Backstory

Decoy (Delilah Lou Rose) was born April 1st, 1941 in a backstage tent and grew up as a acrobatic clown in the Canadian Circus.

She was brought to the Administrator's attention when she slaughtered a total of 12 men with ease during a break in and attempted assault. A meeting with Saxton Hale eventually led to a job offer. Needing the money, she takes a job with the Gravel wars, thinking it was a show. Once she realizes that it is in fact not a show, but a place where men kill each other, it's too late.

Delilah Lou became a new class called the Decoy, where she would lure unsuspecting men to their death. It wasn't long before she fell in love with the job and grew strong friendships with her coworkers.

[maskydoolovesmasseffect]

Mass Effect Tag

Wellio, I’ve been tagged by @berryshiara. Passing this on to @grummel83

Gunna answer my questions now. Y’all feel free to tell me what you think of these answers. ​

I’m a fan since: 2008. I was just out of high school and still not over KoTOR. I was fresh in the army and got to talking to some other dude fresh to the army about video games. He asked me if I played Mass Effect. I said no. By the next day I just about totally forgot about him, then he suddenly appeared out of nowhere sat in front of me in the chow hall and pulled a copy of ME1 for Xbox 360 out his pocket like he was a magician doing a magic trick (ACU pockets are huge.)

Anyway turns out that guy was a romance option and I must have picked the right dialogue options. I’m still with him, too.

Favorite game of the series:

Mass Effect 2. It seemed like that’s the one where choices mattered most and you really got to know your squaddies. Also MAJOR gameplay improvements over the first game. And that game gave me the most freedom to do basically whatever I wanted and wasnt afraid to give me consequences for it.

MShep or FShep:

FShep. Nothing against MShep, but for me the real Shep is FShep. Can’t beat Jennifer Hale’s voice. 

Earthborn, Colonist, or Spacer:

Colonist. I like having the background of knowing just how dangerous the galaxy can be and how the Alliance can’t be everywhere at once so sometimes you need to manage your best on your own.

Biotics or Tech:

Both.

Paragon or Renegade:

Paragon, mostly. I tried being renegade but some of the actions are just so pointlessly dickish, or even outright unhinged in a way that would make it impossible to believe the Alliance would ever promote Shepard as an officer or even keep her in the Alliance at all, especially in the first game.

That said, there are times where a renegade action is more expedient and practical than a paragon one, like in 2 when you stab a dude in the back to prevent him from repairing an enemy gunship, so even with a paragon playthrough, my Shepard will have no issues taking that opportunity. She’s already seconds away from betraying all those guys anyway.  

Paragon in treatment of others, renegade in combat pragmatism.

Favorite Class:

I play as infiltrator and vanguard.

Infiltrator is great for using a sniping and opening loot, and then for going invisible, and if I remember right AI hacking too. That’s cool and I wish there were more genuine opportunities for stealth.

Nowadays I play as Vanguard in my playthroughs mainly just so my Shepard can be canonically biotic for story reasons. From 2 on when looting no longer needs a special skill and I get to charge around the map. I don’t really care much about using biotics (that’s what the squadies are for) but the movement is super useful (when Shepard actually does the thing instead of just standing out in the open soaking up bullets until the ability decides to actually work.)

Favorite Companion:

Garrus. I like to set him up in sniper positions. When he actually STAYS where I put him instead of running straight up to enemies to try to snipe them at point blank, he’s great.

Also his quips in 2 on are pretty entertaining.

Least Favorite Companion:

Garrus, Oh my god. Go back to the sniper position where I put you. Leave tanking to krogan; you do not have the HP for this.

Also Kaidan in ME1. He can not shoot to save his life - literally.  

My Squad Selection:

For all ME1 playthroughs after my first one, Ashley and Kaidan, just of their comments and because... well... I only have so much time with them.

Apart from that I mainly just pick my team based on who’s likely to have the most interesting commentary on whatever the mission happens to be, squad balance be damned. 

Favorite In-Game Romance:

Garrus X Shepard is my favorite love story. They are just so adorable together and always supportive even when they disagree.

But my cannon romance is Kaidan X Shepard for the drama and angst.

Favorite NPC:

In ME1 there’s this random Turian on Noveria who randomly has like a New York accent and I absolutely adore him. He plays basically no part in the story other than some minor information but he’s just so pleasant to speak to.

“If you need anything, I’ll be here.”

Favorite Antagonist:

Morinth, the Ardat-Yakshi daughter of Samara. Yes, she’s a murderous vampire who will absolutely kill you given the chance... but like, it’s a medical condition. And I really can’t help but feel for ardat-yakshi in general when their only options are to spend their whole lives on the run from justicars out to execute them, or waste their entire 1000 year lifespan imprisoned in a monetary unable to experience the world at all. Yeah, Morinth is evil, but Ardat-Yakshi don’t exactly have a good deal.

Favorite Loyalty Mission:

Grunt’s loyalty mission is the best. I get to help my baby boy, reunite with Wrex, enjoy krogan society being fleshed out, have a kickass battle against a thresher maw, and get a breeding request. It’s nice to have a quest that isn’t about family drama and genuinely gets a happy end.

Favorite Mission:

Despite Citadel DLC requiring everyone to have a deathgrip on an idiot ball, and also basically gloss over some really dark stuff, the whole clone storyline with the whole crew is an absolute ride all the way though, with lots of interesting and unique scenarios, a ton of replay-value, and funny party banter that feels like it came straight out of a Marvel movie.

Favorite DLC:

Again, Citadel DLC. Not only did it come with the story above, it also had all those interactions with past and present crewmates, including a memorial for Thane (finally!), a cool apartment to hang out in, a party, an arcade, and an awesome battle arena. It really added a TON. Also, it’s nice to see Bioware figure out that DLC needs characters - I’m remembering back in the DLC to ME 1 the party never had a single thing to say, no matter what was going on. The fun and wacky Citadel DLC is a far cry from the serious and somewhat dark space opera Mass Effect started as, but as the final DLC capping off the end of the series, it gets to do a silly victory lap (and get the taste of the ending out of our mouths.)

Control, Synthesis, Or Destroy:

No.

Favorite Weapon:

Sniper rifles, whatever I have that’s fast and has high damage output. Also that one pistol that shoots tiny energy grenades. Pew pew.

Yeah I wasn’t really big into the weapons so much. I’m here to get my story on. 

Favorite Place:

The presidium on the Citadel. It bothered me a lot when I couldn’t explore it in the second game. I know it would have been terribly impractical, but as the presidium is just a huge ring, it would have been cool to be able to explore the whole thing, going past all the little park areas, shops, monuments and so on until you loop aaaaall the way back around to where you started. Like, how cool would it be if the ring had a running track? Maybe C-sec  academy trainees would be spotted jogging together along it in formation. And can you imagine grabbing a coffee (I was going to make up a space-related name for Starbucks but it’s already STARbucks...) and taking a nice stroll along the water before finding a nice bench to alien-watch from? Other locations in the game are like great places to explore and do gameplay stuff, but the presidium seems like a nice place to just be.

Favorite Quote:

"Stand in the ashes of a trillion dead souls and ask the ghosts if honor matters. The silence is your answer." - Javik.

This is such a fucking raw damn line. It makes me think a lot about Cerberus. When ME3 wasn’t out yet, I thought maybe the plan was Shepard would at some point choose a side, Alliance for paragons and Cerberus for renegades. It would have been so cool to have morality not merely be good vs evil, but idealism vs that ruthless calculus Garrus mentioned. How fucking raw would it be if Cerberus wasn’t just generically evil for no reason and suddenly indoctrinated but really were embodying that ruthless calculus, determined to defeat the reapers at any and all cost. Maybe Cerberus actions’ were more likely to do terrible things for the sake of ultimate victory, doing whatever it took, whereas the Alliance would be less willing to make the terrible choices and ultimately be less likely to succeed.

Now obviously, that’s not what happened, as it would have required Bioware to basically make two entirely separate games. But that line from Javik makes me think of that concept, and a universe where like Dragon Age party members can approve or disapprove of actions not merely as good or evil but along the lines of their personal values. I think Javik would sit at victory at all cost.

Also that one mission in 2 where some random NPC catches Shepard sneaking around and is all like ‘what are you doing here?’ and Shepard is like ‘What am I doing here? What are you doing here? Get out here before it blows!’ and the guy’s freaking out like WTF and she says ‘RUN!’ then laughs to herself as he flees from an imaginary bomb. Shep you troll. 

The thing I like the least about the entire franchise:

The misogyny and objectification that crept its way in, epically from the second game on. Really didn’t like those ass-shot camera angles, or female characters being slut-shamed in-universe for the clothes the designers made them wear. Yikes. 

But the biggest yikes for me in that regard is actually the reveal in 3 that the prothians guided asari development. That was fine and all, but the part that bothered me was the characters commenting “ooooh, so that’s why asari are so advanced,” as it was ever any kind of mystery before that exact moment. For one thing, asari aren’t really shown as being more advanced than anyone else, apart from having discovered the citadel first, and for second, why wouldn’t asari be advanced? All the way from ME1 it’s established that 1: Asari live for a really long time, and 2: can instant transmit information directly from brain to brain. That means they have long lifetime in which to accumulate knowledge and experience, and also can easily spread and preserve that knowledge without even the need for books. That ALONE should put them ahead. And even with all that, they only barely beat the salarians to discovering the Citadel first. But no one asks for an explanation for why salarians, who live only a few decades and can’t do mental data-transfer, are so advanced. No, only the success of the all-women race needs explaining. It was just one moment but it still bugs me. 

Also the general loss of realism after the second game. First game everyone gets armor, including full-face helmets automatically on in environments that need it. After that, people can apparently just wander the battlefield half-naked and even somehow survive in a total vacuum if they just put a plastic cup (that isn’t even connected to anything) over their mouth and nose. In the first game they at least made up some reasonable-sounding science fiction explanation for things, but after that it’s like F-it everything is just space magic now. 

Oh, and those repetitive unlocking stuff minigames. I use a mod to just skip those. 

[nerdishpursuits]

Sapphic Romance Books - a short list

as requested by @chuckzacharylevi

I’ve been powering through roughly 350 + wlw books over the last couple of years. So I made a quick list of what have become absolute favorites of mine - and the list is only growing: Ann MacMan, Gill McKnight , Anna Burke, Radclyffe, E.J.Noyes, Lee Winter, Jess Lea, Karin Kallmaker, Roslyn Sinclair, Clare Ashton, Caren J. Werlinger, Virginia Hale, Geri Hill, Georgia Beers, Jae, A.L. Brooks, Rae D. Magdon, Andi Marquette, Emma Nichols, Magnolia Robbins, Lily Hammond, Lola Keeley, Fiona Zedde, Harper Bliss etc. are household names in lesbian romance. And damn if I’m not addicted ...

I recommend going through their list of novels (either on their respective publishing houses or Amazon) and see what catches your eye. There’s much to explore and a lot of talent out there. This ain’t even the tip of the iceberg.

That being said, in no particular order, a quick list of some of my favorite wlw books:

1. Goldenseal (Garoul Series Book 1)

by Gill McKnight  (Gill McKnight has quickly become one of my go-to wlw writers. And her Garoul series an all-time favorite. The Garouls are a warewolf clan and the series has each book focusing on one of its members. - I have a really hard time picking a favorite. I really can’t decide between Leone, Ren, Marie Luc or Jolie. I’ll just have to love them all equally. The descriptions are lavish, the story so well woven it inescapably pulls you under its spell) When Amy Fortune returns to her childhood home, she discovers something sinister in the air—but is former lover Leone Garoul stalking her or protecting her? Amy Fortune and Leone Garoul were teenage lovers. Now, years later, Amy returns to Little Dip, the Garoul home valley to help her aunt finish a botanical project. Except Little Dip is no longer the happy place of Amy’s childhood memories. There’s something sinister in the woods. And why hasn’t Leone moved on? Why does she still dog Amy’s every move? As more and more of the Garoul family arrive for a special hunting weekend, parts of the puzzle come together and Amy’s fears escalate as she moves closer to the truth—and the secret that has eluded her since childhood.

  2. The Lily and the Crown

by Roslyn Sinclair  (one easily discovers the plot but the novel is so well written and the characters so engaging it’s impossible not to love Ari and her mysterious companion. You know it’s gonna happen, and when it does it doesn’t lose its spark but just keeps on building and expanding)

Ariana “Ari” Geiker lives an isolated life on an imperial space station commanded by her father. The skilled, young botanist rarely leaves her living quarters, where she maintains an elaborate garden. When an imperious older woman is captured from a pirate ship and given to her as a slave, Ariana’s perfectly ordered life is thrown into chaos. Her nameless slave is watchful, intelligent, dangerous, and sexy, and seems to know an awful lot about tactics, star charts, and the dread, marauding pirate queen, Mir. What happens when the slave also reveals an expertise in seduction to her innocent mistress? The Lily and the Crown is a lesbian romance about daring to risk your heart with someone you shouldn’t.

3. The X Ingredient

by Roslyn Sinclair (this books is sizzling and the chemistry between Laurie & Diana is off the charts. It was only a matter of time until the pin was pulled out of the grenade; and DAMN did it go off, when it finally did. All of this paired up with incredibly good writing and you’ve got yourself that highly sought-after X Ingredient)

A smart, sexy lesbian romance about facing the truth about your desires…and risking everything. Laurie Holcombe is out of a job, out of luck, and out of time. When a prestigious law firm hires her as an assistant to one of its senior partners, it feels like she might finally get back on her feet. All she has to do is put up with the whims of her infuriatingly icy boss, Diana. How hard could that be? Diana Parker is Atlanta’s top lawyer and isn’t afraid to let everyone know it. She’s driven, ruthless, demanding, and stuck in a failing marriage. Too bad she can’t run her personal life as well as she runs her ordered office. When a young assistant shows up with bright blue eyes, a cute Southern accent, and a streak of pink hair, Diana’s sure she’s all wrong for the job. And yet something seems to be pulling her and Laurie Holcombe together, drawing them into a secret, thrilling dance that’s far too dangerous for a boss and employee. Can they make rules for this powerful attraction, a way to keep each other at arm’s length? But how do you resist the irresistible?

4. The Dark Wife

by S.E. Diemer, Sarah Diemer (the retelling of the myth of Hades & Persepohone I never new I needed. Just one thing. Hades? LET ME LOVE YOU. She’s so utterly enchanting in her soft melancholy and she’s SO DAMN SOFT AND KIND & UTTERLY BEWITCHING *sighs in gay*)

Three thousand years ago, a god told a lie. Now, only a goddess can tell the truth. Persephone has everything a daughter of Zeus could want--except for freedom. She lives on the green earth with her mother, Demeter, growing up beneath the ever-watchful eyes of the gods and goddesses on Mount Olympus. But when Persephone meets the enigmatic Hades, she experiences something new: choice. Zeus calls Hades "lord" of the dead as a joke. In truth, Hades is the goddess of the underworld, and no friend of Zeus. She offers Persephone sanctuary in her land of the dead, so the young goddess may escape her Olympian destiny. But Persephone finds more than freedom in the underworld. She finds love, and herself. The Dark Wife is a YA novel, a lesbian revisionist retelling of the Persephone and Hades myth.  It won the 2012 Golden Crown Literary Award for Speculative Fiction.

5. The Goodmans

by Clare Ashton (just a taste of Clare Ashton. I’ve read various books of hers and I’ve yet to be disappointed.  They’re all worth checking out. This bffs to lovers is heaps of fun with some good family drama and good ol’ British humor thrown into the mix. Abby and Jude are made for each other and I never expected to LOVE Maggie and Juliette SO DAMN MUCH)

 The lovely doctor Abby Hart lives in her dream cottage in the quintessential English border town of Ludbury, home to the Goodmans. Maggie Goodman, all fire and passion, is like another mother to her, amiable Richard a rock and 60s-child Celia is the grandmother she never had. But Abby has a secret. Best friend Jude Goodman is the love of her life, and very, very straight. Even if Jude had ever given a woman a second glance, there’d also be the small problem of Maggie – she would definitely not approve. But secrets have a habit of sneaking out, and Abby’s not the only one with something to hide. Life is just about to get very interesting for the Goodmans. Things are not what they used to be, but could they be even better? “If you ever wanted to know how straight women become lesbians, how lesbians fall in love, make love and almost ruin love, The Goodmans is the book for you!” – TT Thomas

6. Sword of the Guardian

by Merry Shannon (a woman disguised as the princess’ bodyguard. Hello chemistry. Hello Sapphic drama. Absolutely LOVED)

A shocking assassination creates an unconventional bond between a princess and her guardian in a kingdom filled with political intrigue, danger and unexpected romance. Princess Shasta Soltranis enjoys a pampered life of court dances, elaborate finery, and the occasional secret fencing match with her twin brother, Daric. But in the midst of a birthday celebration, her world shatters when a mysterious assassin takes her brother's life. Shasta, the only remaining heir to the throne, narrowly escapes the assassin's blade thanks to the intervention of a traveling acrobat named Talon. With the threat of another attempt on Shasta's life imminent, her father declares that the young hero will be come the Princess's bodyguard. But what Shasta doesn't know is that her new guardian has a very well-kept secret: he is actually a she. Talon and Shasta soon grow closer than anyone, especially her father, could have predicted. Will the truth of her guardian's secret change their relationship forever?

  7 Proxima Five

by Missouri Vaun (lesbian Fantasy with distant planets, reluctant lead and brooding hero ... melt, my heart, melt. Missouri Vaun is another author with whom one cannot go wrong)

  Geologist Dr. Leah Warren wakes after extended cryogenic hibernation to discover she’s crash-landed on a foreign planet. The sole survivor of her crew, she struggles to piece together what went wrong. Leah ventures from the ship in search of signs of life only to be captured by desert raiders. Keegan, a clan warrior, discovers Leah, weak and barely alive. Her kindness and affection for Leah seem in direct conflict with her tough and emotionally remote façade, and Leah’s attraction for the reserved warrior grows. Unfortunately, Tiago, the clan’s volatile chieftain, is a tyrant who wants Leah for himself. Keegan will have to relinquish Leah or challenge Tiago. Will love give Keegan the strength to defeat him?

8. Darkness Falls (The Darkness Trilogy Book 1)

by KC Luck (the intriguing and passionate stories of 4 women during apocalyptic times. Will pull you in and won’t let go)

  If the lights go out forever, can love survive? When four women from different walks of life are brought together by fate to witness the end of the world as they know it, each must find a way to survive against the odds as well as learn to rely on each other.   Jackie Scott wields incredible influence as a magazine executive in Seattle. As she plans a smashing party for her fortieth birthday, everything is precisely as she wants it. But when a solar storm lights up the night sky in a dazzling display, it not only ruins the party but destroys power around the planet and Jackie must turn for help from the one woman she has tried so hard not to want … Taylor.   Taylor Barnes is an Army veteran new to Seattle and wants nothing more than to find some peace and quiet working as a rent-a-cop in a corporate high-rise. When she is asked to attend the birthday party of the building's powerful and sexy CEO, she can hardly say no. Little did she realize every skill she ever learned would be put to the test to save the woman she can't seem to stop thinking about … Jackie.   Anna Patten is a nurse practitioner who has returned one last time to the town she ran away from to pack up the house where she grew up. Trying to avoid any drama, she cannot get away fast enough, or so she tells herself while her heart wonders about her high school crush. When fate lands them together in Seattle at a birthday party, suddenly Anna must lean on the woman she once left behind … Lexi.   Lexi Scott has built a simple life of writing novels and remodeling her farmhouse, but when she runs into a long-lost friend, her world is turned upside down. It's not until she attends her sister Jackie's birthday party that she is forced to not only face the apocalypse but now she must decide if she is willing to risk her heart again to save the only woman she ever loved ... Anna.   The end of the world is only the beginning.

   9. The Beast That Never Was

by Caren J. Werlinger (this author has some of the best prose I’ve come across in wlw writing. And this is a wonderful retelling of Beauty & the Beast with that Sapphic twist)

  What if Beauty was the Beast? Lise’s father is dead, and the life of plenty and freedom that she has known as the daughter of the King’s Huntsman is gone. She must now live a life of duty to her mother and sisters, helping them to cope in their altered circumstances. But where her mother would have her wed a childhood friend to secure their future, Lise knows that is not what she longs for. When she meets a mysterious woman in the forest, Lise feels the stirrings of emotions she cannot give voice to, but with this woman, she doesn’t have to say anything—Senna knows. Cursed, hunted, and feared, Senna has been forced to wander from place to place for more years than she cares to remember. She gave up hope long ago that there could ever be an end to her isolation. Odd sightings in the forest—monsters of legend come to life, old enemies back from the past, fearsome beasts on the prowl—begin to frighten the people of Lise’s village. Somehow, all of these things are connected to Senna. As the villagers’ fear grows, so does their hatred. Senna prepares to flee, accepting what has become her fate, but Lise isn’t ready to give up her one chance for happiness. Soon, only Lise stands between the villagers and the woman she has grown to love.

Werlinger has a beautiful, flowing prose. I also really loved Neither Present Time (hands down, one of my favorite Werlinger books), In This Small Spot (thought provoking and equally beautiful and painful - the ending gutted me but I still find this book a wonderful read), Invisible, as Music (this novel has no smut or anything but it’s so beautifully written and heartwarming), When the Stars Sang (would be the kind of community I’d love to live in tbh), She Sings of Old, Unhappy, Far-off Things (yet another example of how well-crafted prose just flows)

10. The Secret Chord

by Virginia Hale (another prose that wouldn’t let me go until I finished the damn book in one sitting. Such good writing. Such a good story. Chemistry abounds. Conflict of mind and heart and a damn good resolution)

  When Kate York accepted a temporary position as the music teacher at her former Catholic boarding school, St. Joan of Arc, she expected to deal with rowdy adolescents, strict nuns, and memories of her intense friendship with her old roommate, Tilly Wattle. The last thing Kate expected, however, was for Tilly to show up as the substitute teacher. The last time the two had seen each other, Tilly had her heart set on joining the sisterhood of nuns that had raised her as an orphan. Tilly longed for a simple life devoting herself to God while Kate longed for a simple life devoting herself to Tilly. Now, twelve years since she forced herself to say goodbye, Kate realizes that she never really got over her sweet, beautiful friend—or the secret kisses they shared as girls. In her heart of hearts Kate believes that Tilly can match her passion with equal intensity. When Tilly steadfastly refuses to talk about their past, what choice does Kate have but to try to control her own longings and concentrate on renewing their friendship? But what if Kate isn’t the only one desperate to hide her true feelings…

11. Hart & Stocker

by Max Ellendale, Victoria Miller, Deadra Krieger (I’ve a thing for hot, broody lesbian farmers and their vet partners that won’t take no for an answer. Damn, do I love this book to pieces)

  It's not every day that Willa receives distress calls for sick horses owned by dead people. As one of two veterinarians in the rural area of Washington State, she responds to the summons for two reasons; she's worried for the unknown animal, and sheer curiosity over the alleged revenant. While on this mission, Willa crosses paths with Dax, a rough around the edges U.S. Marshal tasked with caring for her fallen father's farm. Dax is a woman of few words, but Willa can see beyond the silence into the rich soul that she aches to learn more about. Tangled with uncertainty, Willa's desires urge her into Dax's personal space, and what unfolds between the lavender fields brings both women something unexpected.

12. The Wolf's Consort

by Max Ellendale, Victoria Miller, Deadra Krieger (Currently reading. Current obsession. Zara Weston is such a mysterious, reluctant softy. Just. UGH. Useless lesbian. And Kay is SO perfect for her. Soulmates indeed. Also, a new take on shape-shifters that I very much enjoyed)

When reporter Mack Parker accepted the task of an exclusive article about suspicious activity at a local hospital, she never expected to stumble into a preternatural world hidden in plain sight. A near-death rescue launches Mack into the arms of Zara Weston; a grumpy, reclusive police officer who impedes Mack's investigation at the brink of every discovery. Her officious, vigilant demeanor forces Mack to take matters into her own hands. Can the reporter slip under the radar of the meddlesome cop to uncover the truth? Or will their crossed paths bring them closer to each other and to the dangerous world of werecreatures and vampires that haunts the fringes of society? **The Wolf's Consort is a Legacy Series tie-in novel that can be read as a stand-alone.**

 13. Breaking Down Her Walls

by Erin Zak ( where do I sign up to work as a ranch hand for a brooding, but SO SO SOFT AND BEAUTIFUL, lesbian farmer? Do I have a type? I have a type. GIMME)

  Leaving is what Julia Finch does best. When a meeting with her birth parents goes horribly wrong, Julia escapes on a hastily planned road trip and winds up breaking down in a Colorado town so small the cows outnumber the people. Completely out of her element, she takes a temporary job as a ranch hand at Bennett Ranch. She only has to survive long enough to get her car fixed, and then she’s out of there for good. Her bad luck continues when she meets the ranch owner, Elena Bennett. Elena is unhappy, abrasive, and annoyingly breathtaking. But the longer Julia stays, the more the ranch starts to feel like home, and her feelings for Elena become impossible to ignore. She’s spent years building her defenses high and running from her past. Could a love worth staying for be the key to breaking down her walls?

14. Blurred Lines (Cops and Docs Book 1)

by KD Williamson (this series has utterly captivated me. Getting to slowly discover Nora through Kelli’s eyes has been an immensely satisfying journey. Not to mention Nora’s own character development. Such a treat)

  Kelli MacCabe is a no nonsense detective with a tough exterior. Only a select few know her as a loyal, loving friend. Committed to her family, her friends, and her job, Kelli puts her needs behind everyone else’s. As a surgeon, Nora Whitmore is used to being in control. The hospital is her life and leaves room for little else. Respected by her colleagues, but misunderstood by the residents, Nora takes what she needs and keeps everyone at arm’s length. In the process, she creates unexpected enemies. Tragedy brings them together. As chaos grows around them, the lines between them begin to blur. Despite being from different worlds, friendship grows between them, turning quickly to attraction. Will these two strong, independent women find a way to deal with their individual baggage? Or will they be overcome by it?

15. The Red Files (On The Record Book 1)

by Lee Winter (One of my absolute favorite series. One cannot go wrong with Lee Winter. It would be impossible. She’s a master at her craft and we her humble, and delighted, readers)

  Ambitious Daily Sentinel journalist Lauren King is chafing on LA’s vapid social circuit, reporting on glam, A-list parties while sparring with her rival—the formidable, icy Catherine Ayers. Ayers is an ex-Washington DC political correspondent who suffered a humiliating fall from grace, and her acerbic tongue keeps everyone at bay. Everyone, that is, except knockabout Iowa girl King, who is undaunted, unimpressed and gives as good as she gets. One night a curious story unfolds before their eyes: One business launch, 34 prostitutes and a pallet of missing pink champagne. What on earth does it mean? King and Ayers join forces but they might find a lot more than just a passion for news on the dusty road to Nevada.

16. Requiem for Immortals (The Law Game Book 1) 

by Lee Winter (AASDFGHJKL ... oh, and ... ASDFGHJKLL ... SCREAMS IN GAY)

  What would make the most dangerous ice queen of them all, ruthless underworld assassin Requiem, hesitate? Professional cellist Natalya Tsvetnenko moves seamlessly among the elite where she fills the souls of symphony patrons with beauty even as she takes the lives of the corrupt of Australia’s ruthless underworld. The cold, exacting assassin is hired to kill a woman who seems so innocent that Natalya can’t understand why anyone would want her dead. As she gets to know her target, she can’t work out why she even cares. This powerful, enemies-to-lovers lesbian thriller has compelling characters and twists galore.

17. Breaking Character

by Lee Winter (a celeb romance, in style. The way one has come to expect from Lee Winter. SO SO GOOD)

  Life has become a farcical mess for icy British A-lister Elizabeth Thornton. America’s most-hated villain stars in a top-rated TV medical drama that she hates. Now, she’s been romantically linked to her perky, new co-star, Summer, due to the young woman’s clumsiness. As a closeted actress, that’s the last thing Elizabeth needs. If she could just get her dream movie role, life would be so much better. The only problem is that the eccentric French film-maker offering it insists on meeting her “girlfriend”, Summer, first.Summer Hayes is devastated when her co-star shuns her for accidentally sparking rumors they’re lovers. Now the so-called British Bitch has the audacity to ask Summer to pretend to be her girlfriend to get her a role? Elizabeth doesn’t even like Summer! Oh, how she’d love to tell her no. And Summer definitely would if it wasn’t for the fact she’s maybe a tiny bit in love with the impossible woman.A lesbian celebrity romance about gaining love, losing masks, and trying to stick to the script.

18. Alone

by E. J. Noyes (E.J. Noyes is hands-down one of favorites of favorites. I figured the plot pretty early on but the book is SO DAMN ENGROSSING you cannot put it down and just plow on relentlessly)

  Half a million dollars will be Celeste Thorne’s reward for spending four years of her life in total isolation. No faces. No voices. No way to leave. Since Celeste has never really worried about being alone, the generous paycheck she’ll receive for her participation in the solitary psychological experiment seems like easy money. When she finds an injured hiker in the woods bordering her living compound, her strictly governed world is thrown into disarray. But even as she struggles with the morality of breaking the rules of the experiment, Celeste can’t deny her growing attraction to the kind and enigmatic Olivia Soldano. Still, how much can you really trust a stranger? And how much can you trust yourself when you know all the faces you’ve seen and voices you’ve heard for the past three years have only been your imagination? But what’s real? Celeste’s reality may lie somewhere between the absolute truth and a carefully constructed deception.

19. A Curious Woman: Murder Under the Gum Trees

by Jess Lea (one of the most charming mysteries I’ve ever read. Bess is an utter delight and Margaret is a stormy, wonderful enigma one cannot help being charmed by - a thawing ice queen that will utterly melt you)

  A funny, fabulous, cozy mystery filled with quirkiness and a sweet serve of lesbian romance. Bess Campbell has escaped to the windswept Australian coastal town of Port Bannir, determined to begin her life again. She is loving her fresh start, thanks to her fun job running a hip gallery, her territorial chickens, and a lot of self-help books to find her new, better self. Port Bannir local Margaret Gale runs an austere maritime museum, and rules her staff with an iron fist. She has no time for that crazy modern gallery or upbeat, earnest Bess sweeping around town on her hipster bicycle. After a heated dispute over an antique collectible dildo, there’s little hope Margaret and Bess will ever see eye to eye.

But when Port Bannir is rocked by a senseless murder, both women find themselves implicated. Can they work together to expose the truth––or will the truth prove far too dangerous?

  20. Fated Love 

by Radclyffe (probably Radclyffe’s most celebrated romance. One thing’s for certain. One cannot go wrong with a Radclyffe novel. It’s good writing, good editing, good everything. She is one of the most prolific wlw writers out there - sure, after a while it might seem a tad formulaic but it’s one recipe that’s tested and proven. It’s always good writing and there’s this tug & pull between her characters that’s totally swoon worthy)

  What do you do when your carefully planned life takes a wrong turn into hell? When Quinn Maguire, a dashing young trauma surgeon, unaccountably accepts a position as an ER physician, her new boss, Honor Blake, suspects that Quinn is hiding a dark secret. While the two declare an uneasy truce in an effort to work together, both struggle with mutual, and unexpected, attraction. Honor, however, has more than one reason to resist her growing feelings for the attractive newcomer—not the least of which is that her heart belongs to the woman whose wedding ring she wears. Amidst the chaos and drama of a busy emergency room, Quinn and Honor must contend not only with the fragile nature of life, but also with the mysteries of the heart and the irresistible forces of fate.

21. Innocent Hearts

by Radclyffe (might just be my favorite from this author. I’ve a soft spot for this book and series - maybe because it was the first book I ever read by Radclyffe. I mean ... Jessie Forbes is ... so.effin.extra and such a useless lesbian ... I can’t. And when you read a Radclyffe book? It’s all about dem GAY FEELS)

In 1860's Montana Territory, Kate Beecher, a young woman from Boston, faces the hardships and hard choices of life on the frontier. Just eighteen and quietly struggling against the social constraints of the era, Kate meets a woman who fires first her imagination, and then her dreams. Jessie Forbes, a fiercely independent rancher, finds in Kate the passion she never knew she had been missing. This is the story of their struggle to love in a land, and time, as cruel as it was beautiful.

22. Wild

Meghan O'Brien (not one book by this author doesn’t sizzle. And this one’s no exception. All of her books are HOT AS HELL but this one’s my favorite. And Selene is just .... *swoons and sighs*)

  The only thing that frightens shapeshifter Selene Rhodes more than the full moon is the idea of falling in love. Selene Rhodes has lived her whole life with a terrible secret: not only can she take the form of any animal at will, but once a month the full moon transforms her into a fierce wolf-creature without a human conscience. Managing her condition means living by a strict routine, and more importantly, abstaining from intimate relationships with human beings. Selene is convinced that love and friendship can only bring her pain. Forensic pathologist Eve Thomas is well-acquainted with the pain of romantic love. Swearing off relationships after having her heart broken by a cheating ex, Eve throws herself into her work: catching murderers. When Selene comes to her aid after an attack by a masked man in Golden Gate Park, Eve is shocked by how powerfully she is drawn to her mysterious savior. Shaken by her own feelings for Eve, Selene is even more terrified to realize she isn’t even close to being the scariest monster stalking San Francisco. There is someone out in the city who is killing for pleasure, and his next target is the one woman he thinks might be able to stop him: Eve.

  23. Beowulf for Cretins: A Love Story

by Ann McMan (when it comes to masterful storytelling McMan is a goddess. Probably my absolute favorite. She sets the bar so high it’s hard to settle for anything less. She’s that damn good. And this book? I could feel my IQ increasing. You. Never. Go. Wrong with Ann McMan books)

English professor and aspiring novelist, Grace Warner spends her days teaching four sections of "Beowulf for Cretins" to bored and disinterested students at one of New England's “hidden ivy” colleges. Not long after she is dumped by her longtime girlfriend, Grace meets the engaging and mysterious Abbie on a cross-country flight. Sparks fly on and off the plane as the two strangers give in to one night of reckless passion with no strings attached, and no contact information exchanged.

Back home at St. Albans, the college rocks Grace's world when it announces the appointment of a new president, the first woman in its 165-year history. Cue Abbie—and cue Grace's collision course with a neurotic dog named Grendel, a fractious rival for tenure, and a woman called Ochre, in what very well might be Grace's last real shot at happiness.

This full-length novel reimagines and expands on the short story, “Falling From Grace,” which was originally published in the award-winning story collection, Sidecar by Ann McMan.

24. Jericho (A Jericho Novel)

Ann McMan (it’s simple. One does not read wlw novels and misses out on the Jericho series. It would be a sacrilege. It would be unspeakable. THIS. IS. AN. ABSOLUTE. MUST - as is every Ann McMan book out there)

  Librarian Syd Murphy flees the carnage of a failed marriage by accepting an eighteen-month position in Jericho, a small town in the Appalachian Mountains of Virginia. Her plans to hide out and heal her wounds fall by the wayside as she gets drawn into the daily lives of the quirky locals. When Syd gets a flat tire and is rescued by the town physician, Maddie Stevenson, the two women form a fast friendship—but almost immediately begin struggling with a mutual attraction. And, if that’s not enough, Syd is straight and going through a divorce—and Maddie somehow forgets to mention her sexual orientation to her new best friend. Almost everyone who crosses their paths believes it’s only a matter of time until they figure it out, but sometimes, it takes a while to see the obvious. Together, Syd and Maddie learn that life and love can have as many twists and turns as a winding mountain road.

Also not to miss out on: Dust, Galileo, Hoosier Daddy, Backcast

25. A Royal Romance

by Jenny Frame (something about this novel. who doesn’t love a good royal family novel - especially when the heir is a swoon worthy, soft, lesbian and voila;  you end up with this delightful, charming story)

  Georgina, Princess of Wales, has always known her destiny, but she never expected duty to call so soon. When her father dies suddenly, she is called back from her Royal Navy post to assume the crown. While the people acclaim their new Queen, Great Britain’s first openly gay monarch, all George feels is the isolation of her station. Beatrice Elliot’s staunch anti-monarchist views have always been a point of gentle contention with her working class, royalty-loving parents. When Bea—director of a hospice charity—must spend six months working with Queen Georgina, her charity’s new patron, sparks fly and passion blooms. But is love enough to bridge the gap between Bethnal Green and Buckingham Palace?

26. Just My Luck

by Andrea Bramhall (It’s impossible not to love Genna. Like. Utterly impossible. You’ll root for her from start to finish. You’ll laugh and cry and be angry on her behalf and with her. Just. *HUGS GENNA*)

  Genna Collins works a dead end job, loves her family, her girlfriend, and her friends. When she wins the biggest Euromillions jackpot on record everything changes…and not always for the best.

When Abi Kitson fell in love she always knew it would go unrequited. The woman of her dreams was so close yet seemingly untouchable for so many reasons. Reasons like – they are best friends, or the big age gap, or the ‘other’ woman, nevermind Abi’s own baggage.   And even when those reasons crumble it seems luck just isn’t on her side. It’s a learning curve for both of them. But what if money really can’t buy you everything you want? What if the answers aren’t hidden in a big, fat bank balance? What if happiness is right in front of them? They just have to reach out…

27. Popcorn Love

bu KL Hughes (we all know chrmdpoet, in the Clexa fandom, don’t we. this is one of her published novels. not. to. be. missed. It delivers, and then some)

  A prominent figure amongst New York City’s fashion elite, Elena Vega is a successful businesswoman and single mother to an adorable three-year-old son, Lucas. Her love life, however, is lacking, as those closest to her keep pointing out. At the persistent urging of her closest friend, Elena reluctantly agrees to a string of blind dates if she can find a suitable babysitter for Lucas. Enter Allison Sawyer, a free-spirited senior at New York University. Elena is intrigued by Allison’s ability to push her out of her element, and the young woman’s instant and easy connection with a normally shy Lucas quickly earns Allison the job. After each blind date, Elena returns home to complain to Allison about her lacking suitors. As they bond, Elena begins to realize that the person possessing all the qualities she most desires might just be the woman who has been in front of her the entire time. The vast difference between the two women’s social statuses, however, may be an obstacle not easily overcome.

28. Forbidden: Love Knows No Boundaries

by Emma Nichols (hello heartstrings, you’ve been tugged. Listen. I love Iman to pieces alright?)

  What is there to celebrate when you turn 32, you’re still desperately single and thousands of miles away from home? As Ashley contemplates her life, a lesbian stuck in the middle of the Syrian oil fields surrounded by more men than there is sand, a blast from the past brings with it the opportunity to rekindle old flames. But what of the local chef, Iman? As she awakens to her sexuality, in a country where such love is forbidden, will her heart’s yearning be satisfied or forever denied? Dive into 'Forbidden', a lesbian romance, set in exotic pre-war Syria, from Emma Nichols, author of the bestselling The Vincenti Series: Finding You, Remember Us and The Hangover.

29. The Way Home

by Lily Hammond (SO SO CHARMING. Set in New Zealand. Another author who constantly delivers. Such good prose!!! I’ve read her every book and find the writing almost lyrical in its beauty. One of my favorite historical romances)

  In 1941 May Lewis is looking for a fresh start. Leaving the city and an old love affair behind, she buys a medical practice in a small country town. Here she hopes to find peace, friendships, and the sort of medical practice she’s always dreamed of, where she knows all her patients by name.

What she discovers is the possibility of a new, deep love with Eadie McClintock, a young woman struggling to raise her baby nephew while hiding her brother from the men determined to send him off to the war. Shunned by the town, however, Eadie refuses to have anything to do with May – for the new doctor’s own good.

Which leaves May with an impossible task. How can she win the trust of the town when they are so set against the one person May wants to be closest to?

 30. Madeleine: A lesbian historical romance

by Emma Nichols (more heartstrings being tugged. plus. vintagey lesbians. love)

  Madeleine isn’t like other grieving war widows. Claudette isn’t like other young French women. As their lives collide, Madeleine and Claude will discover a depth of connection and desire they never knew could exist. Can their love flourish in post-WW2 France or will their past derail their future?

31. Ask, Tell 

by E. J. Noyes (the Ask, Tell series is one I’d recommend time and again. It’s forever one of my all-time favorites and I look forward to rereading it time and again. It’s THAT GOOD. Sabine and Rebecca are forever ingrained in my mind and heart and this 3 book series is a roller coaster ride to remember. Cannot recommend it enough. Also. Rebecca Keane might just be one of the most swoon-worthiest characters ever. I’d wife her if I could. I so would *cries in gay*)

  Where can you turn when you’re caught in a crossfire of war and passion? Captain Sabine Fleischer is a skilled and dedicated U.S. Army surgeon deployed to a combat hospital in Afghanistan. She is also one of the thousands of troops who are forced to serve in silence because of the military’s anti-gay policy of “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell (DADT).” Usually driven and focused, Sabine finds that battles raging both inside and outside the perimeter walls are making it more and more difficult for her to deal with her emotions. Dealing with loss and mortality, lack of privacy, sleep deprivation, loneliness and the isolation forced on her by “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” are all taking their toll. Plus, her long-term relationship with a civilian back home is quickly becoming another casualty of war. Colonel Rebecca Keane is an enigmatic career officer who runs the surgical unit like clockwork. Well liked and respected by those who work with and under her, she walks a fine line to preserve the military’s chain of command while connecting with those under her care and supervision. Sabine knows the Colonel is way off-limits, but can’t help fantasizing about her. Especially when she starts picking up unspoken cues—a stolen glance, a secret smile, an “accidental” brush of hands. Or is it just wishful thinking? After all, Rebecca’s wedding ring shines almost as brightly as her deep blue eyes…

32. Ask Me Again 

by E.J. Noyes (the first book the series set such high standards I was afraid the sequel would disappoint; surprise instead: the second installment is even better and I really LOVED delving into Rebecca’s pov as well - I loved her before but grew to absolutely adore her in this book; I cannot sing enough praises for these books, I really can’t)

What do you do when the source of all your problems is the one thing you don’t know how to fix? With Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell nothing more than an unpleasant memory, US Army surgeon Sabine Fleischer is ready to move on with her life—if she can just figure out how to move past her PTSD. Fresh from her first deployment since surviving a vehicle attack in Afghanistan, Sabine is finding the things she’s tried so hard to push aside aren’t as easy to ignore as she’d hoped. Sabine’s girlfriend and ex-commanding officer Rebecca Keane is happily settled into her new job running a trauma department in a civilian hospital. Life with Sabine is everything Rebecca ever wanted. But when Sabine’s PTSD reappears worse than before, she’s left struggling with her own guilt. There’s no doubt that both Sabine and Rebecca want the same thing. But how do you help the most important person in your life when they don’t want to need your help? Ask Me Again is the must-read sequel to the best-selling Ask, Tell.

33. If the Shoe Fits

by E.J Noyes (3rd installment in the Ask, Tell series and another stellar addition. while it doesn’t focus on Sabine and Rebecca, but Sabine’s sister Jana, it’s just as gripping as the first two books; one of the best trilogies I’ve ever had the pleasure of reading)

Jana Fleischer loves her life—wonderful family, best sister in the world, awesome soon to be sister-in-law, fabulous job, and a never-ending stream of men to chew through and spit out. So what if everyone says she’s too picky and she’s never had a real relationship? When a chance meeting with Brooke Donnelly leaves Jana literally and figuratively off-balance, it doesn’t take long for her initial annoyance to turn into the first sparks of friendship. Jana always thought she was happy with her life, but the more time she spends with Brooke, the more she realizes something is missing. And maybe not just in the friendship department. But how do you make that leap when you’ve never even considered kissing a woman, and have spent your whole life avoiding romantic commitments? Being brave, taking the first step, and admitting she wants to try to make things work with Brooke is only the beginning. Whether it’s the beginning of a disaster—or everything Jana hadn’t realized she wanted—depends on if Brooke can also be brave enough…

 34. Backwards to Oregon

by Jae (another prolific author in the wlw romance genre; this novel is her flag- bearer and an utter fan favorite. There’s no way you won’t succumb to its charm ... it’s timeless)

  A single mother and a woman living as a man find love on the Oregon Trail in this best-selling lesbian historical romance.

“Luke” Hamilton has always been sure that she’d never marry. She accepted that she would spend her life alone when she chose to live her life disguised as a man. After working in a brothel for three years, Nora Macauley has lost all illusions about love. She no longer hopes for a man who will sweep her off her feet and take her away to begin a new, respectable life. But now they find themselves married and on the way to Oregon in a covered wagon, with two thousand miles ahead of them.

35. Too Close To Touch

by Georgia Beers (my very first Georgia Beers novel, it holds a very dear spot in my heart; this author’s work is amazing and she has titles to boost under her belt; just ... enjoy a good Georgia Beers ‘n cheers)

  Life gets complicated when love turns out to be nothing like you expected - and the woman you want is too close to touch. Gretchen Kaiser is a workaholic corporate honcho with issues – she’s got daddy issues, she’s got female-executive-in-a-man’s-world issues, and she’s got one night stand issues. What she doesn’t have are love issues. She isn’t looking for it, she doesn’t feel she needs it, and she doesn’t expect to find it…certainly not right under her nose. Kylie O’Brien is the kind of girl who believes in true love and is willing to wait until it shows up at her door. Her best friend Mick would sweep her off her feet given the chance, but Mick doesn’t make Kylie feel the way true love should. And now Kylie has to worry about her new boss – Gretchen Kaiser’s icy reserve makes life as her administrative assistant a challenge. It doesn’t matter one damn bit that Gretchen is extremely attractive with a voice as rich and smooth as melted chocolate. It absolutely doesn’t…

36. Timeless

by Rachel Spangler (spangler is another highly respected and well-beloved wlw author; good editing, good prose and stories that quickly become favorites)

  What would you change about your past if you had the chance? What if you didn't have a choice? Stevie Geller doesn't do conflict. She likes her job as a successful novelist and playwright because it allows her to peacefully ensconce herself in her New York City loft, avoid human interactions, and leave personal drama for the page and stage. When her agent asks her to return to her hometown of Darlington, Illinois, to accept an award, she agrees only because he promises the process will be quick and easy. One panic attack and concussion later, Stevie is forced to confront her past in ways that seem to defy reality. As if befriending a social outcast and confronting high school bullies weren't enough, she also finds herself falling for a closeted teacher. Along the way, Stevie must decide if some things are worth fighting for. In her rush to escape the past, will she leave behind a better future, or are some conflicts really timeless?

37. Love's Abiding Spirit

by Syd Parker, Syd Parker (what really stayed with me after having read this book was the chemistry between the characters; it just reeled me in and I had a hard time taking a break from reading)

  If there is one thing songwriter Soren Lockhart has learned in her thirty—six years, it’s that life is full of ups and downs. When her wife and the mother of their daughter Olivia, decides she no longer wants to live together as a lesbian couple, Soren’s world comes crashing down. In the two years since her divorce, Soren hasn’t even touched her guitar, much to her agent’s dismay. In a last ditch effort to snap Soren back to reality, her agent invites her to her vacation home in Savannah, Georgia for some rest and relaxation and hopefully to kick her back into gear. In a totally rash and unexpected move, Soren purchases a fixer—upper and decides to move to Savannah in an attempt to get a fresh start away from a past that still hurts. Merritt Tanner is struggling with her own unsettling life. She’s in a relationship that is plagued by a past she rather forget. Her partner’s infidelity has taken its toll on her and rather than move on, she continues to blame herself and fools herself into believing if she just stays, she will be able to fix things between her and her girlfriend Kate. When the two women meet, Merritt quickly learns that a power beyond her control is silently pushing them together. She tries to fight it, but realizes Soren won’t accept no for an answer. Set against the backdrop of one of America’s most popular ghost cities, this is a story of love that spreads across two generations.

 38. Forbidden Melody

by Magnolia Robbins (this is among my first forays into wlw novels and I love it now just as much I did the first time I read it; I still remember scenes with vivid clarity, the chemistry between Emma and Juia so all-consuming and overpowering, the music coming alive from the pages in a lavish symphony of the heart)

  Emma Harvey is a brilliant and gifted young pianist, accepted into one of the most prestigious music conservatories in the country and prepared to do whatever it takes to accomplish her dreams of playing professionally. With a renowned jazz musician for a father and a world-famous mentor growing up, she is convinced her path is easy. Until her world is suddenly silenced when she loses her hearing. Juliet Hamilton is a prodigy violinist. First chair for nearly fifteen years in the New York Philharmonic and a professor at the conservatory, she is engulfed in her career with no time for distractions. Especially not a beautiful young graduate student with a spirited personality that challenges her every step. When Emma and Juliet’s paths cross in the classroom, their connection is undeniable. When their music comes together, it is unstoppable. The bond they begin to form threatens to challenge more than just their opinions of music. Friendships, ethics, and careers are tested as Emma and Juliet find themselves lost in a concerto of fiery passion and heartbreak.

  40. At Seventeen

by Gerri Hill (my very first Gerri Hill novel; another wlw household name, this author has books aplenty and they’re so.damn.good. this novel is no exception and I loved ever single moment I spent with Madison and Shannon; their trials and tribulations, their heartache and triumphs and always, always their one constant: their timeless love for one another)

  Madison Lansford and Shannon Fletcher met when they were ten years old. Madison—daughter of wealthy parents and Shannon, daughter of their live-in maid and cook—became fast friends, yet both knew their place in life. There was never a doubt that they would become lovers . . . there was also never a doubt that Madison would marry and maintain her social standing in the community.  Little by little, they grew apart, their love affair ending with Madison’s marriage and pregnancy. Now, years later, Shannon returns to her old hometown to care for her ailing mother. Can they rebuild their friendship? Or will their new-found closeness bring back memories of their long-lost love? Travel through the years with Shannon and Madison and watch their love unfold as they move from teens to young women and into adulthood.

41. The Club

by A.L. Brooks (by now I’ve pretty much read every A.L Brooks novel, except her latest release - which is on my list. This book is hot, it’s raw, it’s painful and uplifting as the author waves her way through the lives of various women who visit The Club; it’s fine erotica but also delivers an emotional punch to remember)

  Welcome to The Club—leave your inhibitions at the door and indulge in an evening of anonymous, woman-on-woman action in a sizzling, award-winning lesbian erotica that includes characters over fifty, plus-sized women, coming-out stories, and toe-curling fun. For many of the women who visit The Club, no-strings excitement is exactly what they are looking for and what they get. For others, however, with emotions running high, one night of sex changes their lives in ways they couldn’t have imagined.  For Lou, her weekly visits enable her to set aside her shyness and loneliness and feel intimacy, however briefly. Kath, who cares for her mother at home, finds The Club a welcome escape from her everyday toil; while Max needs distraction from her troubled relationship, even as she tries to tell herself she isn’t really cheating. Tania and Jacky find an outlet for a tricky block in their sex life. Cassie and Nina, two bar staff at The Club, find themselves staying on after hours. And, Stephanie, struggling with her sexuality, finds her life changing in so many ways once she plucks up courage to enter. The lives of these women intersect, merge, and mingle, and watching over them all is Mandy—the owner, whose own ghosts play a pivotal role in the existence of The Club.

42. Miles Apart

by A.L. Brooks (the first A.L. Brooks book I read - it turned me into a devoted reader; I absolutely adore this novel and it’s one I delight in reading time and again - Alex and Justine are one of my favorite couples)

  Which mistakes can never be fixed? Would you fight for a five-year relationship after your lover’s had a drunken one-night stand? A slow-burn lesbian workplace romance that asks what you’d do when love isn’t always easy, neat, or simple. The past twelve months have seen Alex and her girlfriend, Terri, slowly drift apart. The awful revelation of Terri’s one drunken night of betrayal shows Alex just how far apart they are. The more they fight, the less Alex even wants to try. On a business trip to Canada, Alex meets Justine and, over the course of one pivotal evening, a connection is formed that shatters everything Alex thought she knew about herself. Returning to London, she’s faced with choices that will irrevocably change her life. Now her heart is torn between loyalty to the old and new beginnings in a long-distant relationship. An uplifting, beautiful novel that has heat, honesty, messy lives, and real-life women.

44. Spirit of the Dance

by Mardi Alexander (australian author with a knack for wildlife and animals - her books are set in either the untamed outback or the hustle and bustle of aussie city life - and always, her love for animals is upfront and center; it’s aussie slang, lesbian romance and the uplifting presence of animals - a perfect recipe)

  Major Sorla Reardon, wounded in Iraq, returns home to the family farm in Australia to heal both her body and her soul. She pushes herself to rebuild her family’s legacy while battling the PTSD that threatens to overwhelm her. Local saddler and horse trainer Riley Johnson knows that to get along in a small town, one simply has to make the best of what life hands out. Riley’s philosophy is to keep life as uncomplicated as possible. And falling in love with Sorla is as complicated as it gets. As Sorla’s dream is realized, Riley’s predictable, safe world begins to unravel. Secrets are revealed as prejudice and ignorance run wild. Having only ever walked through life alone, Riley must now learn to trust another, as danger dances ever closer.

45. The Music and the Mirror

by Lola Keeley  (keeley’s first published novel and she has only upped her ante ever since; however, this novel is memorable in so many ways and the chemistry between the leads simply leaps off the page)

  When new dancer Anna isn’t nervous as hell around her ice queen ballet mentor Victoria, she’s falling in love with the beautiful and powerful woman. This age-gap, workplace lesbian romance is a sizzling, award-winning page-turner, whether you’re into ballet or not. Anna is the newest member of an elite ballet company. Her first class with her mysterious idol, Victoria, almost ruins her career before it starts. When she shows she might be a potential star, Victoria chooses Anna to launch a new season around. Now Anna must face down jealousy, sabotage, and injury, not to mention navigate the circus of friends and lovers within the company. The pressure builds as she knows she must pour everything she has into opening night and prove to her rivals and herself that Victoria’s faith in her is not misplaced. In the process, Anna discovers that she and the daring, beautiful Victoria have a lot more than a talent for ballet in common, and that not every thrilling dance can be found on stage.

I’m also really looking forward to her newest book, A Roll in the Hay

46. Summer Winds

by Andrews, Austin  (recently read this book and since I confessed to my weakness when it comes to farms and lesbians? I was hook, line and sinker; I never expected to love it so much but the very moment Cash stepped out of her Jeep and into Maggie’s life I was a goner, like the useless lesbian that I am; not that Maggie can claim any different)

  Widow Maggie Tanner needs a ranch hand to work her thousand acres of Kansas hayfields. Young Cash Tate takes the job—a summer break from the city and her girlfriend troubles. Cash is irritated by and enamored of this self-sufficient rancher woman who refuses to treat her as an equal, and she vows to earn her respect. While Cash struggles to win a place in Maggie’s heart, Maggie fights her unwelcome desire to take Cash into her arms. Not one to give in to forces of nature, particularly when they’re female and fifteen years her junior, Maggie is determined to suppress her feelings. But one soft summer night, with the prairie breezes swirling over her skin like the breath of an impatient lover, Maggie Tanner has to decide whether to deny her yearnings or ride the wind.

47 Times Like These

by Ana McKenzie  (I’ve been a fan of Lily Hammond for a while now and have read every one of her books; this one she wrote under a pen name and since I’m absolutely charmed by her prose I just had to read this novel ... devoured it in one sitting; who needs sleep when there are books this good)

  Best-selling author Lily Hammond writing contemporary romance as Ana McKenzie! Merren Hardy is delighted when her thirst for new experiences turns into a holiday job for an attractive older woman. She's more than happy to be muse, model, assistant, and lover - especially lover - for brilliant and successful Bianca Graves. After all, Merren's smart with a big-picture view of the world and a practical streak wide enough to deal with Bianca's difficulties. She's a problem-solver. Except there's one problem Merren's never had to solve before - what happens when you fall in love with a woman who can't see you properly? Bianca's an artist losing her sight, desperate to find a way to continue painting and keep her career and sense of identity. She needs more than a muse, more than a young woman to model for her. She needs someone to reach out and touch her when everything's going dark - and help her find the way back to her life. Which surely means Merren's too young, too different, worlds apart in experience. Bianca knows a summer fling at such a difficult time is one thing - but it can't go any further. As it turns out, however - there's more than one way to be blind.

48 Then & Now

by Monica McCallan  (angst in spades but it hurts SO GOOD. the tag o’ war between estranged Lilly and Bennett is utterly bittersweet and as the books smoothly transitions between timelines the pain is worth every single word; the ending more than makes up for it and character growth is supremely satisfying)

  Lily Connor has focused all her energy into becoming a successful wedding planner, and after five years, she’s on the precipice of taking on more responsibility at Southerland Wedding Company. When the chance finally presents itself, it comes with a complication she couldn’t have dreamt up in her worst nightmares. With the bride and groom away for a month, Lily needs to work with the bride’s best friend, Bennett Burke, a woman she never thought she’d see again. It was only for a few months, a study abroad experience that felt plucked from those same dreams turned nightmares, but Bennett is back, and Lily wants nothing to do with her. Bennett broke her heart the first time, and Lily swore she’d never let something like that happen again. Working together can’t be avoided, but falling in love? Lily needs to stop that at all costs, even if it comes at the sake of her own happiness.

49. The Candidate

by Tracey Richardson  (I’m gonna blame my newly-awakened interest in wlw & politics on centuriesofexistence’s In love and war and politics. This series is a good, solid read and this first installment of the 3-novels-series remains my favorite - the second one focuses too much on Jane’s sister imho; and the third one is but a taste of things I hope to come)

  Presidential candidate Jane Kincaid--gorgeous, dynamic and extremely driven--is taking the country by storm, passionately outlining her blueprint for America. Voters quickly fall in love with her... and so, unwittingly, does Secret Service Agent Alexandria Warner. Their mutual attraction begins to take on a fiery life of its own, and soon Jane fears that their intense feelings for each other are a tinder box that could destroy the landscape of her career... and alter the history of the country. Jane had always expected the road to the White House would exact a high personal toll. She just never knew how high... until she's forced to choose between her heart and her political destiny.

50. A Taste of Sin (How Sweet It Is Book 1)

by Fiona Zedde (the how sweet it is book series is comprised of 4 novels so far - and it features some of the best smut I’ve read tbh; it’s really heavy on the erotica but really well balanced out by the plot and character development; Fiona Zedde certainly has a style of her own and never shies away from telling a story the way she wants to)

  Desiree Nichols has never been afraid of doing things the hard way. In high school, she was an out lesbian who faced down any bullies who dared challenge her. She jumped in with both feet when she unexpectedly fell for a boy in college. And years later, she didn’t hesitate to race back home to Miami, freshly dumped, to help her family in the wake of her mother’s cancer diagnosis. While supporting her mother through the cancer crisis, Dez gets a little help of her own from the girls she grew up with—a group of hedonistic honeys whose love for pleasure runs as deeply as hers. With them by her side, she buries her pain in wild Miami parties and even wilder women. The last thing she expects is to fall for her twin brother’s best friend, a woman her brother is already head over heels in love with. Who says going back home has to be boring? Number 1 in the How Sweet It Is series by the Lambda Literary Award finalist author of Bliss and Every Dark Desire. Start from the beginning with A Taste of Sin, Hungry for It, Return to Me (a short sequel to Hungry for It), then Insatiable Appetites. All (except for Return to Me) are standalone, full-length novels featuring different couples in the group of Miami-based friends.

52. Hungry for It (How Sweet It Is Book 2)    

by Fiona Zedde    (hands-down my favorite in this series; the first book didn’t really flesh out Remi but damn if it doesn’t make up for it with this 2nd, and then 3rd, installment; Remi and Claudia have become my favorite couple in the series; again, this is heavy on the graphic erotica but it never feels gratuitous; the author walks that fine line with absolute grace and creates something equally steamy and compelling) Rémi’s had a crush on her best friend's mother since she knew what lust was. Claudia is everything she wants in a lover but doesn't think she deserves - sophisticated, brilliant, and a woman of substance. But Rémi has resigned herself to only lusting from afar. Instead of reaching out for what she really wants, Rémi takes the easy pleasure offered by the many women she meets around Miami and at her exclusive jazz club, burying her desire for Claudia in their willing bodies and shutting down the part of herself that craves more. It works for a while. But when a dangerous business rival starts making trouble for Rémi, she finds herself unexpectedly turning to Claudia for comfort. The heat that flares between the two women quickly becomes too explosive for either of them to ignore. Soon, their nights are devoted to pleasure - sex, food, and the sweetness of discovering each other in new ways. But Rémi knows very well they are loving on borrowed time. Because once her best friend finds out what she's been doing, and who, it will put more than just their friendship at stake.                                        

53. everafter (Everafter Series Book 1)

by Nell Stark, Trinity Tam  (lesbian vampires and warewolves si another genre I really love and this series has lured me in and pulled me under; really love the prose)

  How far would you go to save your lover’s soul? When medical student Valentine Darrow is bitten by a Vampire on her way home to propose to her lover, Alexa Newland, her life becomes a nightmare. She is consumed—both by a craving for human blood, and by an obsession to find her attacker and bring him to justice. Alexa is determined to be everything that Valentine needs, but when Val's appetite outstrips Alexa's ability to nourish her, Alexa risks her life to save her lover. Will Valentine be able to control her thirst—for blood and for vengeance? And can Valentine and Alexa's relationship endure against seemingly impossible odds?

54. When Dreams Tremble

by Radclyffe (not a formulaic Radclyffe novel; I absolutely loved getting to know the characters history together and how they eventually healed and learned to grow together; it’s a second chance novel with all its ups and downs and everything in between)

  Leslie Harris's visit to her upstate New York lakeside family home after a decade of triumphs and disappointment resembles a nightmare more than the quiet vacation she'd herod for. The unexpected appearance of much-changed town ero girl Devon Weber, with whom Leslie shares a secret that haunts them both, rekindles an old heart ache—and reminds Leslie of just why she left. Even though her attraction to Dev comes roaring back, the one thing Leslie doesn't want is to pick up where they left off, especially not when she already has just the life she wants—a rewarding high-power law practice, a condo in Manhattan, and a lover who satisfies her without demanding the intimacy Leslie avoids. Unfortunately, environmental biologist Devon Weber doesn't play by Leslie's rules. Two women whose lives turned out far differently than they'd once imagined discover that sometimes the shape of the future can only be found in the past-and love is strongest When Dreams Tremble.

54. The Lady's Guide to Celestial Mechanics

by Olivia Waite (period drama lesbians and a prose so beautiful and immersive it’s quite impossible not to fall under its thrall; I was bewitched and then some)

As Lucy Muchelney watches her ex-lover’s sham of a wedding, she wishes herself anywhere else. It isn’t until she finds a letter from the Countess of Moth, looking for someone to translate a groundbreaking French astronomy text, that she knows where to go. Showing up at the Countess’ London home, she hoped to find a challenge, not a woman who takes her breath away.

Catherine St Day looks forward to a quiet widowhood once her late husband’s scientific legacy is fulfilled. She expected to hand off the translation and wash her hands of the project—instead, she is intrigued by the young woman who turns up at her door, begging to be allowed to do the work, and she agrees to let Lucy stay. But as Catherine finds herself longing for Lucy, everything she believes about herself and her life is tested.

While Lucy spends her days interpreting the complicated French text, she spends her nights falling in love with the alluring Catherine. But sabotage and old wounds threaten to sever the threads that bind them. Can Lucy and Catherine find the strength to stay together or are they doomed to be star-crossed lovers?

 55. Aurora's Angel: A dark fantasy romance

by Emily Noon  (definitely something different than the usual shape-shifter stories and a fantasy world that left me craving to know more about its lore; feels like it could have been a tad shorter in places but at the end of it all, it does feel like one has taken every step of the journey with Aurora and Evie. And speaking of Aurora: let.me.love.you. I’d happily read more and more of her. She’s such a fascinating character. This has definitely been an interesting concept the author come up with)

  Lambda Literary Awards 2020 Finalist - Aurora's Angel is a blend of action, adventure and slow-burn romance centered around shapeshifters, set in a vivid fantasy world. A broken-winged angel trying to get home. Her escort a nocturnal huntress with a bloody past. It will be a dangerous journey – monsters are everywhere and the truly dangerous ones hide in plain sight. Alone since her father’s brutal murder, Aurora has spent years hunting his killers. Battle-weary she’s ready to start over where no one knows who or what she is – she just has one last mission. Everything is going to plan until she discovers the beautiful winged girl caged underground. Her decision to rescue Evie and to help her get home safely, despite avians being infamous for selling out shifters like Aurora to cutters and black-market flesh dealers, will put her on a perilous path. As the women travel together their attraction grows but Aurora is guarding her lonely heart almost as much as her dangerous secrets and Evie is struggling to accept how important Aurora has become to her. When their enemies conspire to kill them, they may be each other’s only hope. Aurora is powerful but she’s also emotionally scarred and it will be up to Evie to save her from herself and to fight for them or innocent people will die along with the guilty ones and Aurora will disappear from Evie’s life forever.

  56. Love's Masquerade

by Radclyffe  (as I mentioned before, Radclyffe has published a lot of novels; I’m recommending some of my faves - but I’ve yet to go through her entire list of books; goals, right there; p.s. I was utterly charmed by Haydon in this book)

  Plunged into the often indistinguishable realms of fiction, fantasy, and hidden desires, Auden Frost discovers a shifting landscape that will force her to question everything she has believed to be true about herself and the nature of love. It began one winter morning when Auden set out to interview for a much-needed position as an editor in the nonfiction division of Palmer Publishing.

Haydon Palmer, however, the powerful young head of the company, offers Auden something far different—something that ultimately forces them both to confront their deepest fears and utmost desires. Unable to resist Hays's challenge and unaware of the charismatic woman's closely-guarded secrets, Auden soon finds herself on a journey that will transform both their lives.

57. Love's Melody Lost

by Radclyffe  (another all-time fave; Graham Yardley is extra af. and also withdrawn, brooding and a useless lesbian; this novel has a Gothic romance feel to it and it’s one of Radclyffe’s most read novels. The melodrama is full on, there’s angst and two souls who become so intertwined they cannot live without one each other. The build-up is relentless, the longing visceral.There’s this haunted atmosphere that waves its web and Graham is as reclusive and arrogant as the monster in Beauty and the Beast while dealing with the oppressive trauma of a genius who is lost without the magic of her creative spirit. I really couldn’t put it down; might not be everyone cup of tea but I got lost in it)

  A secretive artist with a haunted past and a young woman escaping a life that proved to be a lie find their destinies entwined. Victim of a terrible accident, famed composer and pianist Graham Yardley loses her sight, her heart and her soul. Wealth and fame mean nothing after the devastating loss of her beloved music; her life is reduced to silence, darkness and bitter regret. In a bleak mansion atop windswept cliffs, the blind woman withdraws from the world, her once consuming passions now a source of anguish and fear. Then Anna, a lost woman seeking a place in the world, comes into her life and awakens feelings she thought were dead forever. A fragile melody of love is played between these damaged souls, a song made sweeter and stronger by the day... but will their blossoming romance be destroyed by an outsider's greed or will it succumb to the discord of Graham's tormented heart? Can she find happiness with Anna, caught up in the fiery overtures and darkly gothic strains of... Love's Melody Lost.

58. Living

by Lise Gold  (really well-written celeb wlw romance; deals with depression and healing and learning to live again, learning to love; low on the angst and a very satisfying read)

  During her morning exercise, yoga instructor Cam Saunders finds herself rescuing a young woman who has walked into the sea, seemingly intent on taking her own life. When the woman in question turns out to be a famous actress, Cam promises to keep her secret safe. Six months later, America’s sweetheart Ella Temperley is working hard to get her life back on track, grieving the loss of her twin sister and fighting a deep depression. Despite her fame, she feels alone in the world and keeps thinking of the woman she owes her life to. After Ella shows up in Cam’s life again, the two become closer than they ever imagined possible. But what happens when friendship turns into attraction? Living is a slow-burn coming-out romance about loss, love and life.

59. Who'd Have Thought

by G Benson (Kindle Edition)  (takes the fake-relationship trope and turns it into one hell of a story; really great slow-burn romance, immensely satisfying and well-rounded characters one loves rooting for)

  Top neurosurgeon Samantha Thomson needs to get married fast and is tightlipped as to why. And with over $200,000 on offer to tie the knot, no questions asked, cash-strapped ER nurse Hayden Pérez isn’t about to demand answers.

The deal is only for a year of marriage, but Hayden’s going into it knowing it will be a nightmare. Sam is complicated, rude, kind of cold, and someone Hayden barely tolerates at work, let alone wants to marry. The hardest part is that Hayden has to convince everyone around them that they’re madly in love and that racing down the aisle together is all they’ve ever wanted. What could possibly go wrong?

60. Madam President

by Blayne Cooper, T Novan   (this is a classic by now; it has heart, it has humor, it has sizzling chemistry between the leads; an immensely satisfying read)

  Devlyn Marlowe, the first woman President of the United States, has just been elected. Breaking with the tradition of hiring a political writer to chronicle her administration, President Marlowe selects one Lauren Strayer, a professional biographer with a reputation for absolute honesty. There's a slight problem with Devlyn's plan, though. Lauren wants nothing to do with what she sees as a political hack job. It takes some serious persuading, but the Commander-in-chief is an eloquent negotiator, and Lauren reluctantly agrees to take the job, provided she truly has editorial freedom. So, armed with her computer, her incredibly ugly Pug and fair bit of trepidation, Lauren finds herself in residence at 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue. There, amidst the harrowing and demanding life of the First Family, Lauren begins to understand and eventually love the complex woman who is both leader of a great nation and loving single parent to three rambunctious children.

61. Christabel

by Karin Kallmaker (Kindle Edition)  (Kallmaker is a wlw veteran for a reason; her list of novels is impressive and she delivers and delivers. This story of soulmates destined to find each other time and again and the obstacles they must overcome to be together)

  Deeper than the city streets, the subways, even the dry riverbeds that no longer flow, are the roots of a tree that remembers love and tragedy... Financier Dina Rowland's assignment is to make fashion designer Leo Goranson a lot of money. But the more she knows of him, the more repugnant his personal life is to her. Not the least inconsequential is his unbreakable hold on his greatest asset: supermodel Christabel. One touch and the power--and responsibility--of Dina's long-hidden heritage threatens to crumble the careful plans she has made for her life. Christa knows there is no escaping her tormentor, but she has a plan to deny him what he ultimately wants from her. The past can't be changed. Having long accepted her fate she is unprepared for the wild feelings that Dina's eyes arouse in her. There is passion, certainly, but also the rarest feeling of all to her: hope.

I also really loved Wild Things by Kallmaker

Scholar and award-winning author Faith Fitzgerald has every reason to be happy: a wealthy, charming man who adores her and a family cheering her marriage prospects. But from the moment she meets Eric's sister, Sydney Van Allen, she knows her safe, predictable feelings for him are a shadow of what could be. Openly lesbian and running for Senator, Sydney can only succeed if she can live down her wild past. That means no liaisons, especially with the achingly alluring woman on her brother's arm who looks at her with confusion--and desire.

62. Chasing Stars (The Superheroine Collection Book 3)

by Alex K. Thorne  (nerdy and sexy and perfect. there’s something about a thawing ice-queen that’s just irresistible)

For superhero Swiftwing, crime fighting isn’t her biggest battle. Nor is it having to meet the demanding whims of Hollywood screen goddess Gwen Knight as her mild-mannered assistant, Ava.

It’s doing all that, while tracking a giant alien bug, being asked to fake date her world-famous boss, and realizing that she might be coming down with a pesky case of feelings.

A fun, sweet, and sexy lesbian romance about the masks we all wear.

63. Breaking Legacies     

by Zoe Reed   (lesbian fantasy novel, on my ever growing to-read list; it has really great reviews and I’m looking forward to reading it)

In a land impoverished by a war that started before she was born, Kiena has provided for her mother and brother by becoming one of the best hunters in the kingdom. But when a lifelong friend with connections recommends her to the king to track down a runaway princess, her life gets turned upside down. Finding the princess is easy. Deciding what to do in a conflicting mess of politics and emotions… not so much. 

64. Nottingham

by Anna Burke  (the only legend of Robin Robyn Hood I’ll ever accept from now on; any other version has become obsolete; I can’t express how much I LOVE this book and how I didn’t want it to end)

After a fateful hunting accident sends her on the run from the law, Robyn finds herself deep in the heart of Sherwood Forest. All she really wants to do is provide for her family and stay out of trouble, but when the damnable Sheriff of Nottingham levies the largest tax in the history of England, she's forced to take matters into her own hands. Relying on the help of her merry band of misfits and the Sheriff’s intriguing—and off-limits—daughter, Marian, Robyn must find a way to pull off the biggest heist Sherwood has ever seen.

With both heart and freedom at stake, just how much is she willing to risk to ensure the safety of the ones she loves?

Nottingham is a delightful romp rife with bois bearing bows, transmen wielding quarterstaffs, noble ladies loving ladies bawdy bisexual musicians, naughty nonbinary outlaws, and saucy sapphic nuns—in other words, Robyn Hood like you've never seen her before.

65. Thorn

by Anna Burke  (masterful retelling of Beauty & the Beast; once your start, you won’t be able to put it down) On a cold day deep in the heart of winter, Rowan’s father returns from an ill-fated hunting trip bearing a single, white rose. The rose is followed by the Huntress, a figure out of legend. Tall, cruel, and achingly beautiful, she brings Rowan back with her to a mountain fastness populated solely by the creatures of the hunt. Rowan, who once scorned the villagers for their superstitions, now finds herself at the heart of a curse with roots as deep as the mountains, ruled by an old magic that is as insidious as the touch of the winter rose. Torn between her family loyalties, her guilty relief at escaping her betrothal to the charming but arrogant Avery Lockland, and her complicated feelings for the Huntress, Rowan must find a way to break the curse before it destroys everything she loves. There is only one problem—if she can find a way to lift the curse, she will have to return to the life she left behind. And the only thing more unbearable than endless winter is facing a lifetime of springs without the Huntress.Thorn was named to the American Library Association's 2020 Over the Rainbow Fiction Longlist.

66. Compass Rose by Anna Burke   (recommended to me by @anonbemetoo ; haven’t read it yet but it’s Anna Burke - and my fellow reader loved it; so I’ve no doubt I’ll love it too) In the year 2513, the only thing higher than the seas is what’s at stake for those who sail them. Rose was born facing due north, with an inherent perception of cardinal points flowing through her veins. Her uncanny sense of direction earns her a coveted place among the Archipelago Fleet elite, but it also attracts the attention of Admiral Comita, who sends her on a secret mission deep into pirate territory. Accompanied by a ragtag crew of mercenaries and under the command of Miranda, a captain as bloodthirsty as she is alluring, Rose discovers the hard way that even the best sense of direction won’t be enough to keep her alive if she can’t learn to navigate something far more dangerous than the turbulent seas. Aboard the mercenary ship, Man o’ War, Rose learns quickly that trusting the wrong person can get you killed—and Miranda’s crew have no intention of making things easy for her—especially Miranda’s trusted first mate, Orca, who is as stubborn as she is brutal.

67. A Lesson in Love (The Village Romance Series Book 3)

by Harper Bliss  (there’s just something about a wlw romance set in the charming Cotswolds; and Harper Bliss is yet another writer whose writing is gripping and immersive and she writes some of the best age-gap romances)

Helen Swift is almost fifty and tired of her day job as a professor at Oxford University. She prefers to write cozy mysteries under a well-hidden pen name in her Cotswolds cottage. She’s also far too busy to even consider romance. Posh girl, Victoria ‘Rory’ Carlisle, is over the moon when she snags Helen as her DPhil supervisor, and not only because of Professor Swift’s academic prowess. Rory takes an instant shine to Helen, who is far from charmed by her advances. Can Rory make a dent in the wall that Helen has built around herself? And does Helen even have the time for such an inappropriate dalliance? Best-selling lesbian fiction author Harper Bliss is back with one of her trademark age-gap romances! It’s part of The Village Romance series which features books by lesfic favourites T.B. Markinson (A Shot at Love), and Clare Lydon (A Taste of Love).

68. Don't Call Me Hero 

by Eliza Lentzki  (Cassidy Miller and Julia Desjardin both have issues, their connection is intense but complicated, their struggles real and painful; Cassidy  is a bit too trusting, Julia barricades herself in her ivory tower and is used to calling the shots ... it’s messy and turbulent and told from Cassidy’s pov but damn if Julia Desjardin doesn’t steal the show; really loved how along the way,  they slowly tear down each others walls to tap into that sought-after tenderness, understanding and safety)

It’s been over a year since Cassidy Miller retired from the United States Marine Corps, but try telling that to her nightmares. She knew that coming back after eight years in a war zone wouldn’t be easy, but she’d underestimated the real difficulties of transitioning back to civilian life. War is hell, but the aftermath is endless. Looking for a fresh start, she’s left her friends and career in Minneapolis to be a police officer in northern Minnesota. It’s in the tiny town of Embarrass where she learns more about Julia Desjardin. The city prosecutor is cool, professional, and untouchable. But she and Cassidy have history, and Cassidy isn’t going to let her easily forget that. For all their surface differences, Cassidy and Julia have more in common than they first realized—both are reluctant to hand over their pasts to be judged and studied. But it might take someone just as damaged as the other to help each cope with the skeletons in their respective closets.

The next 4 novels are all my to-read list but I haven’t delved into them yet - you mentioned you loved dystopian, apocalyptic novels so I added them to this list as well

69. This is How You Lose the Time War: an epic time-travelling love story                                                                                                                                      by  Amal El-Mohtar

Among the ashes of a dying world, an agent of the Commandant finds a letter. It reads: Burn before reading.

Thus begins an unlikely correspondence between two rival agents hellbent on securing the best possible future for their warring factions. Now, what began as a taunt, a battlefield boast, grows into something more. Something epic. Something romantic. Something that could change the past and the future.

Except the discovery of their bond would mean death for each of them. There's still a war going on, after all. And someone has to win that war. That's how war works. Right?

70. Apophis: A Love Story for the End of the World 

by Eliza Lentzki

  From a very young age, Samantha Poulsen knew she was different from other girls - the unrequited crush on her best friend, Andrea, was just the tip of the iceberg.  But when the earth's temperature plummets and you and your family are just looking to survive, things like finding a girlfriend and being in love become trivial fantasies. Scientists first spotted the asteroid in the year 2004.  They named it 99942 Apophis after the deification of darkness.  When the asteroid struck the planet, it set off a chain of events that few expected – the first Ice Age in nearly 12,500 years.   The flowers were the first things to die.  Beautiful things of little practical value had no place in the new world that emerged because of the Frost.  Now, two years after Apophis’s impact, survival is all that matters.  But when Sam's family rescues a man and his daughter - a beautiful woman named Nora who reignites all those previously banished, trivial emotions - Sam might be convinced that there’s still a place for beauty in this new world.

71. 2 Degrees 

by Bev Prescott

In the year 2092, climate change has transformed the face of Earth. Storms, disease, famine, thirst and war show no mercy on the living. Sharon Clausen, a self-reliant farmer, has a secret apple tree—a tree that keeps Sharon and her wife, Eve, fed. The only other people who know of her secret, or so she thinks, is Dr. Ryan, a long-time confidant, and his wife, Areva. Once a month, Sharon and Eve travel from Maine to Boston to trade apples with Dr. Ryan for Eve’s leukemia treatment. Everything suddenly changes when Eve is kidnapped and the Ryan’s are murdered. Sharon learns that her best kept secrets are known and coveted by a man known as the Strelitzia—a coldly practical villain. Sharon sets out on a harrowing journey across North America to rescue Eve. Along the way, she teams up with an Inuit refugee boy, a stray dog named Erik the Red, an eccentric former school teacher, a jujitsu master, an Argentinian opera star, and a brilliant scientist who leads an alliance of eclectic people known as the Qaunik. Together, this ragtag group battle horrific storms, an unrelenting desert, terrifying criminal gangs, feral humans, and the Strelitzia. In the end, Sharon must face her greatest challenge—risk all that she loves for something much greater than herself.

73. Survival Instincts: A Dystopian Novel 

by May Dawney

Civilization ended long before Lynn Tanner was born. Wild animals roam the streets, but mankind is still the biggest threat to a woman alone in the ruins of a world reclaimed by nature. Lynn survives by sleeping with one eye open at all times and trusting no one but her dog.

When she is forced to go on a dangerous journey through the concrete jungle of New York City, Lynn does all she can to scheme her way to safety. Her guard, Dani Wilson, won’t be played that easily, however. As their lives become entwined, Lynn finds herself developing feelings for Dani and is forced to find the answer to the question that scares her most: is staying alone really the best way to survive?

Fast-paced and full of adventure, Survival Instincts introduces a post-war dystopian world where the only person you can rely on is yourself…unless you fall in love.

74. All That Matters by Susan X.  Meagher  (first thing about Susan X. Meagher novels is that they’re not ... meager ... they’re roughly around 500 pages and you really get your money’s worth; Blair I grew to love as the story progressed - initially I didn’t care for her all that much but Kylie? Kylie Mackenzie is just irresistible and I wanted to build that woman a statue; I really appreciated the fact that these characters actually communicate like full-grown adults and there is no angst for the sake of angst; the first 30% of the book or so deals with Blair’s marriage falling apart and I could have done without some aspects of that, but Blair and Kylie settling into their ‘’partnership’‘ more than made up for it. By the end of it all I was happily engrossed and there were some plot twists I didn’t see coming - a most satisfying read and a book I’d happily recommend)

Life is going damned well for Blair Spencer. She’s a very successful real estate agent, happily married to a man who encourages her to live the independent life she loves—and they’re actively working to have a baby. The wrench in the works is that Blair favors adoption, while her husband David desperately wants to have a biological child. The fates are against them, and they finally seek the help of a group of reproductive specialists. One of the doctors, a surgeon named Kylie Mackenzie, eventually becomes a good friend to Blair. And she needs all of the friends she can get when things start to go horribly wrong at home. As her marriage teeters on the brink of collapse, she relies more and more on Kylie’s friendship. Kylie’s happily gay; Blair’s happily straight. But the way they structure their relationship leads friends and family to privately question whether the pair is setting themselves up for heartache. They eventually come to a crossroads, which could either destroy their friendship or turn it into what each of them has been seeking. The question is whether each woman can change her view of herself and her needs. The answer is all that matters.

75. Switching Gears

by Rhavensfyre  (well-written, well-paced, both steamy and introspective; the first novel I read by this author and it won’t be the last) A year after Micah Connolly walked out of Olivia Holden's life, Olivia see's her on the streets of New York, giving her a much needed second chance. The problem? Micah's not the same person she was a year ago.

A lot has happened to Micah since then, she's no longer the quiet intern Olivia remembers. She's now darker, edgier, and carrying around a secret blacker than the leathers she prefers to wear. Olivia thought she preferred being the one in charge, until this new Micah shows her another path.

Micah feels broken, dealing with her life the only way she knows how, she's begged off romance for more physical outlets...until Olivia finds her again and they start a passionate and challenging relationship that will only work if both of them are willing to redefine their lives. Passionate, sensual and transformative, this novel isn't your standard romance. Micah is tormented, dealing with her past has made her put up some serious barriers that have served her well, but now prevent her from completely giving in to the one woman she can't stay away from.  

Secrets have to be told, and the risk is great...but if Olivia and Micah can find their way, the rewards will be well worth it.

76. The Second Sister 

by Rae D. Magdon  (if you’ve read any of Rae’s Clexa fanfic you know her writing is superb and there’s no way you won’t be completely immersed in her writing)

ELEANOR OF SANDLEFORD'S entire world is shaken when her father marries the mysterious, reclusive Lady Kingsclere to gain her noble title. Ripped away from the only home she has ever known, Ellie is forced to live at Baxstresse Manor with her two new stepsisters, Luciana and Belladonna. Luciana is sadistic, but Belladonna is the woman who truly haunts her. When her father dies and her new stepmother goes suddenly mad, Ellie is cheated out of her inheritance and forced to become a servant. With the help of a shy maid, a friendly cook, a talking cat, and her mysterious second stepsister, Ellie must stop Luciana from using an ancient sorcerer’s chain to bewitch the handsome Prince Brendan and take over the entire kingdom of Seria.

77. The Bureau of Holiday Affairs 

by Andi Marquette  (to my delight I realized this author is the author of one of my favorite Clexa fanfics - Bang Shui - so I knew right from the start I was going to love love l o v e this book; just perfect) Executive Robin Preston has dedicated her life to climbing the corporate ladder, using whatever means necessary. In the shark-infested culture at Frost Enterprises, anything goes, and Robin is a master at the game. On the verge of a major promotion, Robin receives a strange visit from Agent Elizabeth Tolson of the Bureau of Holiday Affairs, who informs Robin that, though Robin may be a lost cause, the Bureau has scheduled her for intervention. Robin will receive three visitors in the two weeks before Christmas, who will escort her on visits to her past, present, and future. Robin will be forced to face not only who she’s become, but the parts of herself she left behind, when she was an art major in college and in love with fellow art student Jill Chen, in whom Robin found a kindred spirit—until Jill broke if off with her. In order for Robin to change her ways, she’ll need to reclaim who she was and open her heart again, to a past she thought she left behind. The Bureau clearly has its work cut out for it, but Agent Tolson relishes a challenge, and she’s put together just the team for Robin’s case. They may have to cut a few corners and go outside a few lines, but Agent Tolson has a perfect salvage record and she’s not about to let that change. The question is, will Robin?

78. Off Screen 

by J.A. Armstrong (this is a 9 book series - that may sound daunting but neither book is very long and time flies while reading; this author has a style that has simply captured me and I Iove returning to her work time and again; she’s published quite a few short novels and longer series and they’re all a satisfying read; I also recommend her Journey of Exploration series - which is a series of stand-alone short stories focusing on different couples coming into their own. One of my favorites is Discovering Morgan) To the world looking in, actress Emma Bronson has it all; fame, talent, wealth, and beauty. But, Emma spends most of her nights alone wondering how her life became so secluded. Surrounded by people constantly, she remains lonely.

Skeptical of people’s true motives, and guarded in her personal attachments; it seems the one thing Emma craves most in life is destined to allude her; love.

Addison Blake is a charming and witty aspiring writer. She sees life as an endless adventure full of possibility and prides herself on taking chances. When Addison accidentally collides with Emma; sparks immediately ignite.

Friendship and companionship are rivaled by an attraction that neither woman has ever experienced. But, Addison seems reluctant to pursue a romantic relationship with the popular television star, challenging Emma to finally demolish all of her self-imposed walls.

Off Screen is the story of two women’s discovery of love and passion and the courage to embrace both.

79. The Library by the River 

by Debra Flores  (this is very first wlw novel I read; might as well warn you from the start it doesn’t have a happy ever after; but I still remember it as an impactful read, the writing just pulling me in and staying with me long after I finished reading, much like the story itself. The ending was terribly bittersweet and oh ... my heart)

It was an ordinary rainy day in March of 1985, the day Beth walked in to an ordinary library and met Sarah, the woman that would change her life forever. At a time when the AIDS epidemic was well underway, when society still labeled homosexuality as an illness, something to be hidden away, whispered about, but not talked about aloud, there were certainly obstacles in their way. Even so, obstacles or not, Beth is twenty and Sarah is twenty-eight, they're young, and in love, they can handle whatever comes their way. Or so they think. The one thing they may not be able to overcome is Kim. Beth's jealous best friend. She doesn't see Sarah the way Beth does, far from it, she sees her as nothing more than a problem that needs to be taken care of. An impediment to the relationship she knows she and Beth are meant to have. Volatile and hot-headed, yes, but is Kim actually capable of tearing them apart? And at what cost? In the end it'll be more than Beth could ever have imagined.   A story of love, and of terrible loss. And a story of hope. Another book of hers that I LOVED is One Day You'll Leave Me (this one has a hea and the entire plot was something unexpected and one that I enjoyed immensely)

Karen Stephens is an ordinary woman living an ordinary life in the year 2010. Until the day she hears an unfamiliar song that moves her in a way she cannot understand or explain. Judy Paige was also an ordinary young woman, who lived an ordinary life, up until the day she sang her song One Day You'll Leave Me at a show in the year 1964. When Karen's curiosity about the song turns into an obsession about the woman who sang it, she's drawn to the town of Leyfant, Texas. The town in which Judy Paige was born and raised. It's there that Karen is approached by a man who calls himself Mr. Smith. A man who asks Karen a simple question. "Would you like to meet her?" The question is simple, but the answer is not. Because Judy Paige has been dead for almost twenty years. What would you be willing to give up for the person you love? Your life? Your memories? Everybody and everything you've ever known?

80. Nights of Silk and Sapphire 

by Amber Jabobs (the entire concept of this book drew me in from the very start and with its lavish depictions of the Jaharri desert and the culture of its people - it’s well written and feels like a Sapphic Arabian Nights, although none of the characters there could really hold a candle to Zafirah and how mesmerizing she is) Abducted from a land of wealth and privilege, Dae is chained to a slaver’s caravan crossing the vast Jaharri desert. It is a strange world of blistering sun, rolling dunes, and wind-carved plains, ruled by the Scion Zafirah Al’Intisar, a powerful and mysterious woman with seductive eyes of sapphire blue. When Zafirah liberates the caravan the rescue Dae prayed for is not as it seems; Zafirah’s carnal appetite is legendary. Dae is taken into Zafirah’s harem, a decadent world of excess and sexual freedom. At first, Dae struggles with desires she has never before experienced, but as love and lust collide these two women slowly forge a bond as one learns to listen to her heart, and the other to the call of her awakening body.

81. And Playing the Role of Herself

by K.E. Lane  (this book really hooked me from the very start - the chemistry between the leads is overpowering and downright addictive; would make for one good movie / show ... just can’t get enough of Caid and Robyn)

Actress Caidence Harris is living her dreams after landing a leading role among the star-studded, veteran cast of 9th Precinct, a hot new police drama shot on location in glitzy LA. Her sometimes-costar Robyn Ward is magnetic, glamorous, and devastatingly beautiful, the quintessential A-List celebrity on the fast-track to super-stardom. When the two meet on the set of 9th Precinct, Caid is instantly infatuated but settles for friendship, positive that Robyn is both unavailable and uninterested. Soon Caid sees that all is not as it appears, but can she take a chance and risk her heart when the outcome is so uncertain? The leading ladies and the supporting cast of this debut novel by newcomer K.E Lane will charm you, entertain you, and leave you with a smile on your face, eager for Ms. Lane's next offering. 82. From the Boots Up + From the Hat Down by Andi Marquette  (I LOVE this series SO MUCH I’m getting these in paperback. It’s one of my go-to comfort reads and Meg and Gina wave their spell time and again. I could not get enough of them and while the first book is more of a novella, setting the pieces on the board, getting the game started and having you totally invested in the MCs, the second book takes it to another level. It’s a toaster-over slow-burn at its finest and one of the best second-chance romances I’ve ever had the pleasure of reading ... spoiler alert, the scene at Gina’s family reunion? I get all emotional just thinking about it. I JUST LOVE THESE BOOKS SO MUCH, DAMMIT) Meg Tallmadge has more than enough on her plate. She’s finishing up a college degree, getting ready to apply to vet school, and working another summer with her dad, Stan, on the family ranch in southern Wyoming. He’s managed to get the Los Angeles Times to send a reporter out to do a story on the Diamond Rock, which doubles as a dude ranch. Meg knows the ranch needs all the publicity it can get to bring in more customers, but she’s not looking forward to babysitting a reporter for a week. When the originally scheduled reporter can’t make it, Meg worries that they won’t get a story at all, which is worse than dealing with a city slicker for a few days. Fortunately for Stan and the ranch, the Times finds a replacement, and Meg prepares to be under scrutiny, under the gun, and the perfect hostess. She knows what this opportunity means to her father, and she’s hoping that if it goes well, it’ll ease some of the distance between them that resulted when she came out a few months earlier. What Meg’s not prepared for — and never expected — is the reporter herself and the effect she has on her. In spite of what she feels, Meg can’t risk the fallout that could result from overstepping a professional boundary. But as the week draws to a close, it becomes clear that not taking a chance could be the biggest risk of all. ______________

Meg Tallmadge is a veterinarian at a clinic in Laramie, Wyoming. She’s got a great job, great friends, deep ties to the family ranch, and big plans for her vet future. Sure, there are bumps in the road, like her mom’s continued denial about who Meg is and her painful and infuriating attempts to make Meg a “proper” woman. Then there’s Meg’s recent breakup with a girlfriend, which has her wondering why she can’t seem to open up to relationships. But Meg knows that life is messy, and sometimes all you can do is get through and shake it off. What she can’t seem to shake off, however, is her past. It’s been almost ten years to the day since she met the love of her life, and about eight since she let her go. Meg has a hard time admitting that maybe she didn’t really let go, and that maybe some things you never really get over, no matter how hard you try. But her past is half a world away, caught up in her own life, relationship, and journalism career, and Meg isn’t one to chase the ghosts of past relationships. Even if they send you a birthday card and nudge what you thought were the closed-off parts of your heart. After all, second chances are the stuff of fantasies and movies where the good guy always gets a happy ending. You can’t count on something like that. Or can you?

83. Fruit of the Golden Vine + The Diplomat by Sophia French  (LISTEN. THESE BOOKS ARE PURE POETRY. The writing is spellbinding and utterly enchanting and it will whisk you away to faraway realms to dream with eyes wide-open. I cannot recommend this author enough. Her books are such an immersive experience, I cannot wait for her come forth with a new title) Middle sister Adelina has remained aloof and amused by the string of suitors for her elder sister’s hand—and dowry. But when the swaggering Rafael arrives with an equally eye-catching, bold sister of his own, Adelina’s pulse stirs at last. Aware from the first that she has caught the lovely Adelina’s interest, Silvana yearns to court her openly, but she and her brother are not what they seem. Moonlit nights in the summer gardens may lead to kisses and whispers of love, but she knows that the lady’s heart will be lost forever if the truth is discovered.

________ Royal Envoy Rema is determined to broker a successful marriage between her master, Emperor Ormun, and a young princess of neighboring Danosha. The Danoshans need protection and Ormun wants their unwavering loyalty. The sanctity of a royal wedding would resolve many diplomatic issues. Upon arriving in the Danoshan court, Rema does not discover a biddable young princess in awe of the high honor being accorded to her and her family. Princess Elise instead proves a woman of many surprises. As her acquaintance with Elise grows, Rema’s arguments for the common sense of the marriage sound weak even to her own ears. Her duty is clear, and what belongs to her master cannot ever be hers… 84. Starting from Scratch  by Georgia Beers (has just catapulted to the head of my favorite Georgia Beers titles. This one has grabbed me from the get-go, relentlessly so and simply swept me way, inescapably. The chemistry between the MCs is off the charts, the dialogue is superb and witty to boot, the supporting character a delight and it will be hard to put it down once you’ve started) 85. The Thing About Tilly

by G. Benson (this one has buried itself deep; I ran the gamut of emotions: I laughed, I cried, I wanted to scream and then I MELTED. It’s an exquisite  read with raw, vivid sentences that sweep and loop and ruin you, only to then softly cradle your heart all the way to a gentle rocking. It grabs and takes hold and clutches. This is one of those books one simply needs to talk about, like it’s imperative to do so)

Two best friends. Buried feelings. A secret holding them apart.Two friends since university, each holding something back. Tilly’s been running from her secrets for far too long. Evie, carrying a buried flame for Tilly since they met, has always been there to welcome Tilly back with open arms. That is, after all, what one does for a friend. When Evie unexpectedly falls pregnant, she’s left with a lot of hard decisions to make. That includes choices about Tilly and the way she's been disappearing on her randomly for over a decade. Tilly wants nothing more than to be there for Evie, who's been her anchor to return to time and time again. But what does supporting her look like when sticking around becomes an important part of that? A romance about growing up—whatever that means—and realising that even if it hurts, sometimes change is for the best. 86. Crossing Into Brooklyn by JA Armstrong (I’ve been a fan of this author’s writing since finding her ‘‘Off Screen’‘ series. She writes some of the best dialogue I’ve ever read and it’s what always drives the story forward. You feel as if you’re in the character’s heads, everything is so vivid and raw and engrossing. This is her latest offering and DAMN, I LOVE IT TO PIECES. Alongside Discovering Morgan and Off Screen, one of my faves of hers) Carter Riordan believes in Once Upon a Time. She spends her days creating fantastical realms full of magic, elves, and other mythical creatures. It’s not unusual for her characters to find true love. But Carter has lost faith in finding her Happily Ever After. Aside from her doubts about finding real-life love, Carter’s greatest nemesis is the chaos on her desk and in her computer files. Her best friend, Ali, thinks she has the solution: hire Brooklyn Brady to “organize” Carter’s life. Carter is skeptical. Brooklyn’s picture and her online profile pique Carter’s curiosity, and she agrees to meet Brooklyn in New York. A coffee meeting followed by a marathon dinner pave the way for a working relationship between Carter and Brooklyn. Brooklyn Brady quickly captures more than Carter’s interest. Leaving old wounds in the past and taking a chance with someone new isn’t in Carter’s plans. Brooklyn’s unassuming nature, her intelligence, humility, and her honesty test the limits of Carter’s resolve. The question for Carter is whether she can allow Brooklyn to clear more than the chaos from her desk. Can Brooklyn resolve the turmoil in Carter’s heart? Will Crossing Into Brooklyn finally help Carter find her Happily Ever After? 87. When You Least Expect It by Haley Cass (currently one of the most celebrated wlw writers and with good damn reason. Reading a Haley Cass book is a MUST. And holy gay gods, does she deliver. I know when I pick up one of her novels, sleep is forfeit. And so be it, for I dare not part with it until I’ve read the very last word. Who needs sleep when there’s Haley Cass books to read. I mean ... I should be grateful there’s only 3 so far, lest I’d be looking as if I’d only slept 1 hour, instead of my regular, healthy, 4. And this book right here has been a white-night to remember. Henceforth, I’ll never hear the word ‘‘baby” and not think of this novel. The mere thought of that scene has me SWOONING) Caroline Parker knows three things to be true. First, she is going to be Boston's most sought after divorce attorney by thirty-five. Second, given how terrible her romantic track record is, falling in love isn't in the cards for her. And third, Christmas only brings her bad luck - being broken up with not once, not twice, but three times during the holidays is proof enough of that. When she runs into Hannah Dalton on Christmas Eve, she has no reason to believe her luck will change. After all, though Hannah is probably the most gorgeous woman she’s ever seen, she’s also straight. And married to Caroline’s work rival. While being hired by Hannah throws her for a loop, winning a divorce case and sticking it to her ex-colleague should be enough of a thrill. But as the months slip by, bringing her closer to both Hannah and her adorable daughter Abbie, the lines between attorney and client begin to blur. And she could have never predicted just how much she wants them to.

88. Those Who Wait  + Forever and A Day: a Those Who Wait story by Haley Cass (Goodbye sleep. I’ll miss you. Ain’t enough words to scream in gay about this series. But I’m sure I’ll come back later and fangirl all over my keyboard, flailing and singing its praises. Also, Charlotte Thompson? Please and thank you)

[skriak]

Resistance: Fall of Man GAME REVIEW (PlayStation 3)

For better or worse, Sony has a history of trying new things. The PS2 in particular had such an overwhelming market dominance during the 6th console generation that Sony had all kinds of weird franchises going. Some of them never went anywhere, but others survived to fight the next console war. Ratchet and Clank was one of the success stories, from the now-famous Insomniac (recent developers of the PS4 Spider-Man game), and after a few instalments of action platforming they decided to mix things up.

Resistance is a first-person shooter and easily one of the better-known PS3 launch titles, though it has to be said that the PS3 had a notoriously shaky early life. Truth be told, MotorStorm is the only other launch game I remember with any clarity. So Resistance had a bit of a reputation boost by virtue of not having a lot of competition, but that doesn't mean it's bad. I've seen reviews that call it either a killer app or a massive disappointment. In reality, I think it's somewhere in the middle.

Far and away what stands out most is the setting. Resistance takes place in an alternate 1950s where the Russian Revolution never happened because the Tunguska Event of 1908 turned out to be carrying some kind of horrific virus. Russia went into lockdown for many years without anyone else knowing why, only for an army of mutated former Russians to suddenly swarm over the walls and overrun Europe and Asia. Being islands, Britain and Ireland hold out for a while until the monsters dig their own Eurostar tunnel. You play an exceptionally boring American soldier who's flown into York (the old one) without adequate briefing just as the invasion gets underway.

I really like this kind of alternate history setup, as evidenced by my covetous love for Wolfenstein: The New Order, and Resistance takes its wacky concept very seriously. England is a surprisingly uncommon setting for a game as well, especially outside of London, and it's cool to see a war-ravaged depiction of places like Manchester and Nottingham. This is the kind of game that might be overly reliant on text logs to flesh out its world, but I was always genuinely excited to find out details like America's militant isolationism (what else is new?) or the sad story of a squad hunted by unknown assailants. The Chimera are the real stars, especially since the human characters are pretty disposable, and throughout the story they become increasingly well-entrenched until it's clear that Britain has fallen and the Chimera have the home team advantage.

So the tone is as far removed from Ratchet and Clank's cartoon antics as it could possibly be, but the gameplay still bears some resemblance under all the grey and brown. Insomniac are famous for their crazy weaponry and even Resistance's starter carbine has a grenade launcher. All the guns have a secondary fire that helps give them a distinct place in your arsenal, rather than being fairly interchangeable like the rifles in Killzone, and Insomniac didn't miss the opportunity for weird alien guns. The Bullseye is inaccurate but the secondary fire marks a target which your shots will then home in on. The Auger can shoot through walls and the secondary drops a shield for you to hide behind. Even better, you can carry all the guns at once (which is something Resistance 2 sadly fucked up), so at any time you can bring up the selection wheel as the situation demands.

The Chimera are notoriously bullet-spongey, unfortunately. In particular they have this one animation where they *start* to fall over before standing up again, which is pretty infuriating. Death can come very swiftly on the harder modes, despite the health system which regenerates up to each quarter of the bar, so I personally didn't feel any shame playing on easy mode just to compensate for the more annoying design quirks. Until you know the levels it's quite common for a hybrid to sneak up and pepper your arse with lasers.

Still, at least the game runs well. It actually runs noticably smoother than Resistance 3, since a lot of later seventh-gen games sacrifice frame rate for graphics. Resistance 1 isn't much of a looker these days but it holds up better than something like Killzone 2 because it doesn't feel as if the PS3 is about to catch fire.

Unfortunately, some of that performance is probably due to the mid-game slump; halfway through the level design starts to rely on underground corridors without even a pretence of exploration. This is one of the main symptoms of Resistance's launchgameitus. It doesn't help that the story loses a lot of steam at the same time. But then there are some vehicle segments which almost have the opposite problem, particularly when you're driving around a lovingly-rendered but fairly empty Cheddar Gorge. This middle third is when I'd probably have gotten flustered with the occasional cheap death if I hadn't played on easy mode. Still, things definitely pick up when the military decide to make a final push into London (it's always fucking London) so they can attack the Death Star's thermal exhaust port.

Resistance is your classic launch title: a middle-of-the-road game which seemed better when everyone had a limited selection of choices and no money after paying Sony's extortionate price for a big black sandwich toaster. I probably wouldn't have been so forgiving if I hadn't played it in that context, but I can forgive a game for a lot if it tries something interesting. While the sequels upped the scale and tightened up the gameplay, the original Resistance has an atmosphere of mystery that was never quite matched. The Chimera are a threatening and unnerving presence, especially when we learn details like how those big metal bits in their backs are cooling equipment that keeps their hyperactive metabolisms from burning out. The contrast of mid-1900s quaintness with high-tech alien technology is also really effective, and despite being a completely stock protagonist I did feel a bit of Nathan Hale's awe and trepidation when standing in the shadow of an snow-covered London crawling with mutant abominations.

Resistance is series that never quite lived up to its full potential. Still, getting murdered by alien sharpshooters on the underground is still more pleasant than actually commuting in London.

(3/5)

Availability: Resistance 1 and 2 only seem to be playable on PS3, but physical copies are extremely cheap so don't be suckered into paying a tenner for the digital version. Otherwise you can get Resistance 3 on the PS4 store, either as a single purchase or as part of PlayStation Now. The latter service only lets you stream it, as opposed to downloading, but it's perfectly playable so long as you have good internet. I actually like Playstation Now quite a lot because the service got a big price cut (since Microsoft's Game Pass was kicking its arse) and you can download a hundred or so games, but the rest are stream-only. It'd be nice to get some modern ports but it doesn't seem likely unless the franchise makes a comeback.

[k2kid]

In a post entitled “The narrow escapes that some fellows have are nothing short of marvellous”: A Letter from the Front the, then, Private Caldwell relates in some detail a battle between the 18th Battalion, C.E.F. and it opposite German numbers:

“Our last term in the front line was rather exciting. Our bomb throwers had been aggravating the Germans all one night and they began to retaliate just before dawn. In all they must have sent over 150 rifle grenades and ball bombs on a frontage of 100 yards. Our gun was right in the midst of it, but fortunately none of the crew was injured. The parapet was blown flat in two places, but was speedily built up again that night.”

This rather robust method of conflict offered a glimpse into the variety of weapons used at the Western Front during the First World War.

Recently I acquired “Trench: A History of Trench Warfare on the Western Front” by Dr. Stephen Bull. From it two photographs of rifle grenades used by the B.E.F. and the German Army offer a further insight to the method and application of this weapon system.

British Expeditionary Force

Caption for “Trench”: Smoking his pipe 2nd Lieutenant L.J. Barley, 1st Cameronians, watches as a rifle grenade is prepared for firing at Grand Flamengrie Farm, Bois Grenier sector, February 1915. The wooden firing stand is simply constructed, but allows steady shots at a consistent angle. The grenade is a ‘No 3’ Hale type which had a range of about 160 yards and usually burst into about 175 fragments. Best results were achieved with several rifle bombers firing in salvo, of, failing this, a series of rapid shots to saturate an area. (IWM Q51587)

This image shows what appears to be a local adaptation and offers a rudimentary method of aiming a rifle grenade since the base of the rifle butt is not affixed to any manner of fixed or adjustable base. It appears that the rifle bomber sat in a scrape, or funk hole, at the rear of the trench. Using another soldier to sight and estimate the fall of the grenades the base would be rotated right or left and the rifle’s angle adjust up or down to affect the trajectory of the grenade, which determined its range.

Detail of bracket from IWM Q51587.

Detail of strap from IWM Q51587.

It is possible that the design and contruction of the rifle grenade firing stand was standardized. The general “finished” look of the wood used to construct the stand; the strapping resting on the base-board by the seat of the operator (its purpose is uknown); and the metal bracket at the juction of the vertical stand and the angled length of wood, in particular, has a manufactured look to it.

The No. 3 Hale rifle grenade had its production halted in January 1915 and was replaced by the improved No. 20.

German Imperial Army

Caption from “Trenches”: Men of the 12th Grenadier Regiment prepare to fire model 1914 rifle grenades from a rifle mounted in a steel launching stand in a front line position c. 1916. The man nearest the camera has an S98/05 nA bayonet on his belt, complete with Troddel, or company knot. (IWM Q23932)

The German application of the stand is more compact, and potentially more precise to aim and launch. The photograph is rich in detail, though it appears staged. Note that the soldier accepting the next rifle grenade has yet to launch the grenade in the rifle. Further, the box of grenades on the trench floor need to be attached to the rod before it can be loaded and there is no evidence of any rods in the picture. They would be “ready” for use, as are the grenades to which they attach.

The soldier crewing the weapon has a lanyard in his right-hand used to fire the rifle and from the angle of the photograph it is impossible to see how the stand is affixed into it position. This would prevent its movement and allow consisent aimed shots without the repeated need to oberve and “zero in” the weapon. The grenade being used is a Karabingranate M 1914 with range limiter cupola attached at the bottom of the grenade (it is obscuring the soldier’s fingers of his left hand).

Note the differences in trench construction in the two photographs. The German trench is better organized and revetted, where as, the rear of the British trench has not been revetted and is subject to in-falling of the earth through the effects of wind, rain, and the affects of shelling.

Conclusion

These two photographs illustrate the application of rifle grenades on the Western Front during the First World War and how two armies applied solutions of firing fixtures to improve the aim and consitency of that aim during the use of rifle grenades. These fixtures were designed for static trench warfare and not active advancing or defence during a strategic withdrawal.

Though we cannot know how the soldiers of the 18th Battalion C.E.F. applied the tactical use of rifle grenades with any certainty one can see that efforts were made by both sides to make this weapon more accurate.

Rifle Grenades Revisted In a post entitled "The narrow escapes that some fellows have are nothing short of marvellous": A Letter from the Front the, then, Private Caldwell relates in some detail a battle between the 18th Battalion, C.E.F.

[kaycha1989]

The Right Partner

My Hero Academia Fanfic

Characters: Katsuki Bakugou, OC

Rating: Mature

Chapter 11

Kia and Bakugou found themselves at the center of the media’s attention. The two of them had apprehended three villains that were wanted throughout Japan for all kinds of crimes. Answering all the questions that they could, it took them the better part of an hour before they escaped back to their agency.

Returning to the garage, Bakugou parked his motorcycle back where it belonged. Kia removed her arms from his waist as he put the kickstand down.

“Sweet ride!” Kia said, stepping down to admire the motorcycle. The bike reflected the design of his costume with the tank patterned like his grenade gauntlets. “I wonder if I could get mine brought over here.”

“You will have to get permits for the bike and go through tests to get your driver’s license.” Bakugou informed her.

“Yeah, I know, it will probably be too much of a hassle and a lot of paperwork,” Kia groaned. Turning to her partner, she gave him a mischievous smile. “Maybe you will let me drive sometime?”

“Keep dreaming,” Bakugou smirked.

“It was worth a shot. Oh well, I don’t mind riding behind you. It will be easier to stay together if I ride with you anyway,” Kia thought out loud.

“Sure,” Bakugou replied, turning to leave the garage. Kia put her helmet back on the shelf before following her partner back to their office.

They had just reached the second floor when Best Jeanist came walking down the hallway towards them. “Good job today you two. You handled the situation well,” he said as they met.

“Thank you, sir,” Kia replied. Bakugou merely stood there waiting for Jeanist to finish.

“I’ve been contacted by the editor of a magazine called Hero Today, they want to do an article on the two of you,” Best Jeanist told them.

“Really? When?” Kia asked.

“I’ve arranged for you to go over to their offices tomorrow morning. You will need to be in costume,” Jeanist informed them. “They want to do an interview and take some photos, so you will probably be gone all morning. I will have Nina email you the address.”

“Cool, B, our first interview as a team!” Kia said turning to her partner.

“Great,” Bakugou said with a huff.

“What is your problem? Interviews are a good way to get noticed by the public. It is one part of becoming the number one hero,” Kia said.

“The problem is Bakugou doesn’t have a very good reputation with interviews,” Jeanist replied, giving said hero the stare down.

“I can see that,” Kia said. “You won’t have to worry about it now though.”

“Really? How come?” Bakugou asked skeptically.

“Because you have me,” Kia said with a smile. “Let’s get to the office and I will give you some pointers.”

“I don’t need any help,” Bakugou growled as he stomped off towards their office.

“Sure you don’t, tough guy,” Kia said, following after him.

Jeanist watched the two heroes walk away arguing. Looks like she can put up with his attitude, hopefully she can help him with the interview, he thought as he headed back to his own office.

%%%%%

Entering their office, Bakugou sat down at his desk to get started on the paperwork for the day. Kia sat down on the front of his desk.

“So what problems do you have with interviews exactly? I can’t see you as someone who doesn’t like being in the spotlight and you are too smart for reporters to take advantage of you.” Kia asked.

Bakugou sighed and turned to face her, “You aren’t going to let this go, are you?”

“Nope, This doesn’t just affect your reputation, but mine as well. If you want to be a top hero, you have to be able to have successful interviews,” Kia reasoned.

“It isn’t that I don’t like interviews. Reporters tick me off and they often twist what I say or ask too many dumb questions,” Bakugou said.

“Sounds like they have figured out how to push your buttons and make you lose your temper,” Kia said. Turning towards Bakugou, she continued, “Well one thing I’m guessing you need to work on is how you say things. Make sure you don’t use inappropriate or vulgar language.”

“You want me to smile at the camera and act all bubbly?” Bakugou said sarcastically.

Kia snorted in laughter before she replied, “Although it would be hilarious to watch, no… you need to be yourself while keeping up appearances. You are a total badass and that will be one of your selling points as a number one hero.”

Surprised at his partner’s words, Bakugou smirked, “You think I’m a badass?”

“Yeah, yeah… don’t let it get to your head,” Kia replied, rolling her eyes. “Your ego is big enough. We don’t need it to get any bigger, or your head will explode.”

Bakugou chuckled. “Can’t help it if I’m the best, Sunshine,” he said, standing up to look Kia in the eyes.

“The best at what? Scaring little children?” Kia countered.  

“Ouch, and they say I’m the harsh one,” Bakugou challenged.

“Nope, you are the loud, angry one.” Kia grinned back. Looking up at the clock, she realized her appointment with the building manager was soon. “I have to get going, but we can talk more about it when I get back. I’m going to YouTube some of your past interviews so I can see what I’m working with,” Kia said as she made her way to the door.

“What about all this damn paperwork?” Bakugou glared as he watched his partner leave.

“I will do my part when I get back, just email me what you get done or leave the forms on my desk. I will see ya later!” Kia said as she left.

Grumbling to himself, Bakugou sat back down, pulling a new incident report out of his desk. “So she thinks I’m a badass,” he said with a small smile.

%%%%%

Kia arrived at the apartment complex 10 minutes early. The building wasn’t very far from the agency and Kia would be able to run to work in the mornings. It was a large relatively new looking building that was eight stories tall and each apartment had its own balcony.

Walking into the lobby, she could see mailboxes at the back of the building with elevators on either side. Two people stood at the front desk. One was a young man in a uniform and the other an older woman in a suit. The woman turned to see Kia walking over towards them.

“Hello, you must be Kia Hales. I’m Yoko Hiroyumi the building manager,” the woman introduced herself with a bow.

“Thank you for taking time to meet with me,” Kia bowed back.

“Why don’t we get started? The apartment is on the top floor,” Hiroyumi said, gesturing towards the elevators.

Kia made her way over to the elevators as Manager Hiroyumi told her about the building’s main floor. “The mailboxes are in the back of the building and it is usually delivered by 12:30 pm every day.” Pushing the button for the elevator Hiroyumi continued. “The building’s layout is pretty simple. The bottom two floors have mostly single bedroom apartments and the next four floors have multi-bedroom apartments for families. The top two floors have two bedroom apartments that we usually rent out to local heroes.  There is a special elevator for those two floors to accommodate heroes that are on call.”

The elevator doors opened as it reached the top floor. Kia stepped out into the quiet hallway. “It is at the end of the hall on the right,” Hiroyumi said leading the way. “We don’t place name plates on these floors for the privacy of the heroes that live here,” the manager said, pulling a key from her pocket and opening the door. “We also do our best to keep the media out of the building.”

Kia stepped through the door and into the hallway which led into a living room. The apartment had an open floor plan with the living room extending into a small dining room and decent sized kitchen. Another hallway led from the kitchen to a laundry room, bathroom, and two bedrooms.

“It seems a little big for just me,” Kia said looking around the bedrooms.

“Some like to use the second room as an office or spare room in case friends or family visit. The whole apartment is also sound proofed for your convince,” Manager Hiroyumi informed her.

Kia headed out on the balcony next. The view was nice. Looking around, Kia realized that it was connected to the balcony next door, with the two being separated by a gate.

“The young man next door keeps to himself and he works late a lot, so we rarely see him,” Hiroyumi said, noticing Kia looking at the gate. “Which is too bad… he is really quite handsome,” she finished, fanning herself.

“The whole place is really amazing,” Kia smiled “I’ll take it. When can I move in?”

%%%%%

Bakugou glanced at the time. Kia had been gone for almost two hours. When the hell is she going to get back? he thought. Turning back to his computer, he opened his email to send Kia copies of the report he filled out. Searching through the agency’s address book, he found her company email and sent the report.

Leaning back in his chair, Bakugou stretched looking at the clock once more. Where did she say she was going again? he wondered when a message popped up in his inbox. Sitting up he opened the message to see a reply from Kia.

Thanks B, I will be back to the agency around 3:00 pm. I’m just finishing up a couple things.

-Sunshine

Bakugou chuckled at her use of his nickname for her. Closing the mail, he checked the time again. She said she would be back around three, so that gave him about an hour. He could head out on patrol without her or wait for her to get back, but what would he do while he waited? All the paperwork was done except for Kia’s half of the reports. He decided that maybe he should look into his partner more.

Opening a browser window, Bakugou typed Kia’s hero name into the search engine. A YouTube link popped up and he clicked on it. The video title said the clip was from a concert in America that quite a few heroes participated in to raise money for a bunch of charities.

As the clip started playing it showed Kia in a purple version of her costume except it was sleeveless with black wristbands and black heels. Her hair was let down and curled with black clips holding it out of her face. Judging from the date on the clip she must have been in her final year of high school. She had an electric guitar in her hands and a mic headset on. Four other young women stood on stage with her, each one with a different instrument except the one in the middle. They all started playing as the one in the lead began to sing. Kia and the girl playing the bass walked forward and began signing back up and dancing with the lead singer. They were pretty good and the crowd cheered. They sang the cover of a song called “Every Time We Touch” by Cascada.

Bakugou couldn’t help but notice Kia wasn’t really into the song even though she never missed a chord or step. The smile on her face didn’t reach her eyes. When the song ended, the bassist step forward to sing lead and then the keyboardist and the drummer sang lead to other songs after that. All of them where cheesy love songs that made Bakugou want to pop in his ear buds and crank his playlist up. He had expected Kia to step up and sing one of the offending songs but the curtains closed and the clip ended.

The title of the next clip, Wildside Kills It at Charity Concert, caught Bakugou’s eye so he clicked on it. This time Kia was front and center on the stage with a different set of heroes playing instruments. The drummer gave off a count to start before he started playing the song. The other heroes started playing rock music as Kia stepped up to the mic and started singing, “When Legends Rise” by Godsmack.

Bakugou found himself liking the music and Kia put on a good show that left the audience screaming for an encore. The clip continued to show the encore when there was a knock at the door. Pausing the video, Bakugou called out, “Who the hell is it?”

“Yo, Bakugou,” Kirishima greeted him as he walked through the door. He was in his hero costume so Bakugou figured he was here on official business.

“What do you want?” Bakugou asked his friend.

“I was running some stuff over for Fatgum and figured I would stop by,” Kirishima said, looking over to Kia’s desk. “You didn’t run her off already, did you?”

“No, dumb shit, she is out for a while,” Bakugou growled.

“Aww, when will she get back?” Kirishima asked.

“Around three,” Bakugou answered.

“Damn I have to be back to the agency at three,” Kirishima sighed after looking at the clock, “Oh well, I will have to catch her another time. What are you working on?” he asked, walking around Bakugou’s desk. “Doing some research on your partner, huh?” Kirishima said after seeing what was in the browser.

“Looks like I’m stuck with her, so might as well,” Bakugou replied.

Kirishima couldn’t help but notice his friend didn’t seem disappointed in the least. “Well, if you are researching her, check this out,” he said, reaching over to open another window. Kirishima typed Wildside and model into the search engine. He clicked on one of the websites and the home page of a modeling agency came on the screen. Clicking on the models tab he found exactly what he was looking for and clicked on Kia’s name. A portfolio of images came on screen. She modeled a lot of sportswear and everyday clothes.

“Hold on a second,” Kirishima said as he searched through the images until he came to one of Kia in an evening dress.

It was a red and black low cut halter-top that hugged her every curve with jewels sewn in to draw a person’s gaze to all the right places. One long leg was exposed by a slit that went clear up to her hip, showing off the matching red and black heels. Her hair was done up in ringlets while dark eyeshadow and bright red lipstick completed the look. She was beautiful.

“She is a total ten, yeah?” Kirishima asked smirking at the look on his friend’s face.

“Who is a ten?” Best Jeanist asked from the door.

Startled, Kirishima and Bakugou both jumped at Jeanist’s sudden question.

“Uh, we were just looking at some modeling pictures of Wildside,” Kirishima said sheepishly.

“She isn’t here?” Jeanist asked.

“No, she said she had something to do today and will be back around three,” Bakugou said, still in a daze.

Moving around to join the two younger men, Jeanist looked at the pictures they had on screen. “Spotlight told me he had convinced her to do some modeling. I was actually hoping she would do some for our agency as well. Now I see what he means about her lacking confidence,” Jeanist said studying the image.

“What do you mean?” Kirishima asked confused.

“She looks very beautiful, but her expression is off. It is more than just good looks and pretty clothes that make a good model,” Jeanist replied.

“I still don’t get it,” Kirishima said, more confused.

“She isn’t comfortable in that getup. Her smile is forced and she feels uneasy,” Bakugou interrupted, “She doesn’t usually show much skin. It looks like it might be photo shopped too.” Kirishima and Jeanist looked at Bakugou surprised. They were not expecting the hero to interject like that.

“Exactly,” Jeanist said. “How do you know it is photo shopped?”

“Her wrists aren’t covered,” Bakugou replied like that was supposed to explain everything.

“The scars,” Jeanist realized clicking the next image which was a view of the dress from the back, “I see what you mean. In this image she looks even tenser. It would make sense why her expression is off. Spotlight told me she didn’t do well with backless apparel.”

“Backless?” Bakugou said then he realized. “You mean she has scars on her back?”

Ch 1 | Ch 2 | Ch 3 | Ch 4 | Ch 5 | Ch 6 | Ch 7 | Ch 8 | Ch 9 | Ch 10 | Ch 11

Ch 12 | Ch 13 | Ch 14 | Ch 15 | Ch 16 | Ch 17 | Ch 18 | Ch 19 | Ch 20 

[wunderphibia]

Style ;3

I know its you Ari…

Still… My playlist for Style isn’t that happy. I like broken hearts and friendzones, so prepare the feels ^^

Studio Killers -  Jenny

Daniela Andrade - La Vie En Rose

Haley Reinhart- Can’t Help Falling in Love

Michael Bublé - Everything

Rick Hale & Breea Guttery -  Fly Me to the Moon/Lucky

The Script -  The Man Who Can’t Be Moved

Jasmine Thompson  -  Hey There Delilah

Michelle Williams - Tightrope

Bruno Mars - Grenade

Gnash -  I hate u I love u

Regina Spektor - Two Birds

Shawn Mendes - Stitches

Clean Bandit - Rather Be

Avicii - Waiting For Love

Avicii - Without You

Martin Garrix & Bebe Rexha - In The Name Of Love

Lily Allen - Somewhere Only We Know

Excuse me for the order lol, it’s not so linear as I would like it to be :)

[livinginlandmarketing]

The union that represents Cal Fire firefighters in the Riverside County Unit has filed a workplace-safety complaint with the Division of Occupational Safety and Health, or Cal/OSHA, alleging that unusual levels of physical fatigue and mental stress have set in because of excessive overtime worked due to inadequate staffing.

Even during normal times, state firefighters are required to work significant amounts of overtime, especially during the height of fire season, when they fill in for coworkers who have been assigned to brush fires out of the area for days or weeks at a time.

Capt. Peter Boctor stands next to his ladder truck at Cal Fire Station 90 in Perris on Tuesday, March 9, 2021. (Photo by Watchara Phomicinda, The Press-Enterprise/SCNG)

Capt. Peter Boctor makes a phone call as he works in his office at Cal Fire Station 90 in Perris on Tuesday, March 9, 2021. (Photo by Watchara Phomicinda, The Press-Enterprise/SCNG)

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Capt. Peter Boctor stands next to his ladder truck at Cal Fire Station 90 in Perris on Tuesday, March 9, 2021. (Photo by Watchara Phomicinda, The Press-Enterprise/SCNG)

Capt. Peter Boctor sits in his room, a space where he goes to escape from the physical and mental demands that firefighters endure during the COVID-19 pandemic at Cal Fire Station 90 in Perris on Tuesday, March 9, 2021. (Photo by Watchara Phomicinda, The Press-Enterprise/SCNG)

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But during the pandemic, 559 Riverside County Unit firefighters have been in quarantine at some point — some multiple times — said Capt. Peter Boctor, the deputy vice president of the statewide union’s Riverside district, making the situation worse.

“In 2020, due to the effects of COVID-19,” the complaint says, “the already existing staff shortages reached a crisis level. The union respectfully requests that DOSH conduct an immediate investigation into these unsafe conditions.”

Tim Edwards, the president of Local 2881, the unit that represents state firefighters, engineers, captains, battalion chiefs and other positions, including more than 1,000 in Riverside County, said the solution is to hire more firefighters.

Boctor, who works out of Station 90 in Perris, said he feels that crisis in his aching joints and hears it in his crew’s discussions of suicide and troubled marriages, which are always concerns among public-safety employees nationwide. He tries to triage the mental pain by counseling them, with limited success.

“It’s incredible to see the defeat in my guys’ faces every week,” Boctor said.

Cal Fire responds to brush fires on state-owned land. Also, some counties such as Riverside contract with Cal Fire for municipal firefighting and paramedic services in unincorporated areas. And some cities, such as Perris, Moreno Valley and Temecula in Riverside County, also contract with Cal Fire for those same services.

It is up to each county and city to decide how many firefighters they want to pay for to staff their stations. The state engines average 3.1 firefighters over the course of a 3-days-on, 4-days-off shift, Boctor said. County engines average 2.67, Perris engines average 2.67 at Station 101 and 3.1 at Station 90, and Temecula engines average 4.0.

The city of Riverside, which operates its own fire department, averages 4.0 firefighters on its engines at most stations, said Capt. Brian Guzzetta, a department spokesman.

Lower staffing levels mean more firefighters are required to work overtime when someone is sick or on vacation.

Edwards said the county has been understaffed for years.

“The county has to stop trying to make a fire department work with the least amount of staffing possible,” Edwards said. “Firefighters are not super men and women and they need a break. It has to be addressed.”

  County spokeswoman Brooke Federico referred questions about staffing choices to the state. County supervisors Kevin Jeffries and Karen Spiegel did not return messages seeking comment.

Stephen Hale, a spokesman for the city of Perris, said in a statement, “The city’s funding meets Riverside County’s required staffing standards.”

In Temecula, having four firefighters on an engine allows for quicker attacks on fires by the first crew to arrive because it meets the minimum safety standard of two firefighters inside a building and two outside, Assistant City Manager Greg Butler said.

The city can afford that staffing level after voters passed a 1-cent addition to the city sales tax in 2016, he said.

It’s unclear how successful the complaint to Cal/OSHA will be. Spokesman Luke Brown said Cal/OSHA does not confirm active investigations. He said generally speaking, a state safety standard would have to be violated for an investigation to begin.

From 2016 to 2019, according to the complaint, Riverside Unit firefighters worked the equivalent of more than 3,600 days of mandatory overtime per year to cover staff shortages. In 2020, that figure soared to 5,355.

Boctor said he worked 18 days in a row in December, finally putting up his family’s Christmas tree on Dec. 24.

The captain said one crew member’s marriage “grenaded” in a span of two months.

For now, Boctor said, he hasn’t seen firefighters’ struggles affect their service to the public.

“The way we are heading now, I absolutely 100% agree that something catastrophic will happen if we continue on the road we are on,” he said.

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-on March 14, 2021 at 11:08PM by Brian Rokos

[mona-stay]

Back Home - Peter Hale (requested)

  Request by anonymous on Tumblr Prompt y/n McCall is back in beacon hills to help her brother Pairing Peter hale x reader Warnings swearing Story

You left beacon hills when your mother and father split up. You went with your dad to New York while Scott stayed in beacon hills with your mother. You visited during holidays but not as much as you would have liked.

You had come back home after hearing your mother was in the hospital after the shooting at the house. During the trip home you had been stopped and your father arrested.

Looking up at your family home your stomach twisted at the sight of the bordered up windows, bullet holes in the door. you went to use your key but the was another padlock added to the busted door. you sneaked round the back like you used too as a kid breaking into the back door. stepping into the kitchen you closed the door feeling a hand on your shoulder.

Grabbing the mystery hand twisting it hard. you flipped the heavy aslant over pulling a knife out if your belt holding it to the dark haired mans neck. "y/n no stop he's a friend" your brothers best friend shouted. running in the kitchen, followed by another man. "stiles" you say confused still pinning the guy down. "y/n what are you doing here" he asked as you let the man up. "well its my house I really don't think I need a reason but you could tell me what your doing here and who these are" you snap back at stiles. " Y/n this is Derek and peter hale, friends of mine and Scott's" stiles says. Derek the man you had thrown to the floor stirred at you his eyes still frowning you gave a small apologetic smile. The other man Peter looked at you with a flirtatious smirk, his eyes looked you up and down. You blushed before sending him a wink.

"well my mum has been shot, dad his locked up in beacon hills jail and the is half a town armed to the eyeballs who want my brother dead! Where did you think I was gonna be? I'm here to help" you say. Stiles nods realising how bad things had become now you listed it. "and where it's my twin brother?" you asked your hands on your hips. "behind you" Scott sad making you spin hugging him tight.

After a catch up and an update on how your mother was doing Scott had tried to get you to leave town but it was short lived he knew stubborn how you can be. Soon a call came from Gerard Argent telling Scott half of his friends was in danger.

***

peter watched the new girl in awe he hadn't seen anyone get the better of Derek in a long time, not like that anyway. he couldn't help but laugh when she put stiles in his place. most of he couldn't help notice how incredibly beautiful she was. The way she spoke to the pack with no fear was a turn on to peter. "no, no way I'm I staying here out the way Scott no!" she called making Peter smile. He watched the argument play out between brother and sister Scott not winning. "if they find out your my twin sister and back home they will come after you y/n" the alpha shouted back flashing his eyes in anger, only making the y/h/c girl laugh. "don't you see the fact they don't know who I am is an advantage to us" she a answered back. Scott groaned looked round for Derek's opinion "what do you think?" Derek shrugged his shoulders "she's your sister mate" he answered. Stiles shook his head agreeing with Scott she should leave town and stay out the fight.

"well I think she should join our fight, she clearly wants to and is going to join of you agree to it or not Scott, and besides she did put Derek in his ass, none of us, Well expect for me can do that!" Peter said smugly not taking his eyes of the you.

After a lot of decisions the plans were made. Scott, stiles, Derek and Lydia was going to the school to stop the Anuk-Ite. Theo and Malia was going to help Liam, Mason and Cory. Leaving you and Peter to go and save Jackson. "I'll go with him" you say pointing at Peter to everyone's surprise, "no, why would you want to go with him" Scott said "yes I am because he's the only one who wants me here!" you argue back as Peter folded his arms smugly.

You had a plan and being human unknown to the hunters as Scott's twin sister, you thought you had the best chance of getting in there armoury. Finally Scott agreed then threatened Scott if he let anything happen to you he'd kill him.

In the car Peter faced the road but watched you out the corner of his eyes. You was messing around in your bag taking out rope and needles filled with purple fluid. "So this plan of yours to get us in" Peter started slowly now a little worried not knowing what you had in mind. "I'm I going to like it and is going to get me killed?" he asked.

You smirked at him "will you like it" you tilled your head like you was thinking "probably not! Get you killed not unless you do as I say and pull of some good acting" you teased lightly laughing. Peter pulled up a little away from the bunker, "so are you going to tell me what were doing?" he said not taking his eyes of the syringe. "this is water, and a purple colouring. I'm going to make them think it's diluted wolfsbane and your my victim. I'm the girl who captured Peter Hale!" you smile at him, making him laugh more. "now put these in we don't have much time" throwing him a set if handcuffs.

Peter took them "I can think of another way to use these" he flirted doing as he was told slipping them on both wrists. "You pull this off and maybe we can talk about it later" you winked as you walked to the door banging on it "I'm starting to think this is a bad idea" he whispered as you covered his face with a hood. "shut up and stick to the plan" you say as the small flap on the door opens.

You see half a man's face looking at you, "what do you want" the voice on the other side of the door shouted. "I'm here to see Tamara Monroe" you said boldly. "she's not here right now come back" the voice said again shutting the hatch. You banged on the door again it opened "look I said" the man started but you pushed open the door. "I don't think you understand me. I'm here to see Monroe because I have Peter Hale alive" you say pulling the hood from his head.

Peter roared flashing his fangs and eyes. You took a needle out of your pocket, stabbing Peter in the neck with it. He fell against you almost passing out, you was impressed the plan was working. The man let you in helping carry Peter, we took him to a room toeing him to an electric fence.  looking round the room not seeing Jackson, "I'll see what I can find out and distract him, I want to carefully look for Jackson if you don't meet in ten minutes" you whisper knowing only Peter would hear me.

You followed the man who told you his name was Kevin, and met up with another 3 guys. You all went into a little room with a tiny kitchen area and big seats it looked like a break room. It had been 10 minutes and Peter hadn't gave you a sign he'd found Jackson. "is the a toilet round here I can use?" you asked. They all looked at each other unsure before pointing you in to the bathroom.

***

Peter waited to hear you get far enough away to snap his cuffs. He listened for Jackson's heartbeat, following the sound. He found Jackson tied to an electric fence, he new it was on he could hear the low hum coming from it.

Jackson looked weak, but when he saw Peter coming toward him his eyes went wide shaking and mumbling under the duct tape over his mouth. What Peter didn't see was a guard behind the door lining it with mountain ash.

Peter pulled the duct tape from Jackson's lips but it was too late for Jackson to say behind you. The man hit Peter in the ribs with an electric kosh sending him to the floor.

***

You waited a few minutes before pulling out a sleeping fog grenade from your handbag and tossing it into the room. You could hear the men inside running to the door but the smoke was too powerful you heard the thumps of the unconscious bodies hitting the floor.

You ran to the room you had left Peter in, seeing it empty only your handcuffs remained on the floor. You spin looking round thinking of where he and Jackson could be. You rounded at corner hearing screams come from Peter and you guessed Jackson. Inside the was a man turning the dial to the fence Peter was chained to. Rolling your eyes not even questioning how he'd be caught, you sneak into the room.

Jackson's eyes widened when he saw you, putting a finger to your lips shushing him. Looking at a shelf next to you, you see a rifle picking it up you took a few steps then hit the guard over the head with the butt of the gun.

Jackson smirked "y/n McCall, aren't you a sight for saw eyes" You turned off the power off  "it's been to long Whittemore" you say hugging him. Peter smiled at you, "and to think your brother doubted you" he said impressed still looking at the man on the floor. "well I did say I can handle myself" you playful teased back untying his hands "more then handle that was badass" Peter says using his free hand to move a fallen piece of your hair.

"not to interrupt your flirting but can we find Ethan now" Jackson asked. You and Peter looked at each other with a smirk heading out the door with Jackson. Had you really been that obvious you liked the older man, You all headed down the corridors looking in different rooms for him. Jackson found him tied up and weak, you watched as he pulled off the chains. Ethan and Jackson were talking about Jackson having a tail searing a kisses once Ethan was on his feet.

"can we hurry up and get out of here now" you said worrying you'd been there way too long. You and Peter was the first out the door when an alarm sounded, slammed the door automatically shut with Jackson and Ethan still inside. You banged on the door calling their names when Peter grabbed you dragging you into another room as the corridor started to fill with smoke.

Peter took his jacket off covering the gap under the door with it, leaning against the wall breathless. His attention quickly went to y/n when he saw you freaking out muttering to yourself. "this is my fault, where all gonna die because of me" Peter sensed the anxiety, heart your heart beat change and now your hands shake in fear. He got up holding your hands in his bringing them to his chest. "look at me y/n" peter said boldly. "this is not your fault"

You tried to pull your hands away but he was too strong. "if I had listened to Scott we wouldn't be here, it's my plan that got us trapped and most likely get us killed" your voice breaking nearly the end as you held back the tears. Peter held both your hands in one of his as other cupped your face lifting it so he could look you in the eyes. "y/n, no, one is getting killed. Jackson and Ethan are still alive I can hear them banging trying to open their door" you smiled knowing they was okay. "your plan was working if anyone is to blame its me for getting caught."

You wished you could believe him, you really did but panic had already set in and you struggled to breathe. You hadn't had a panic attack in years but could already feel the signs. Peter noticed to he tried calming you "y/n look at me it's going to be okay just breath" he said but you pushed past him towards the door wheezing and panting.

Peter stood blocking the door knowing of you opened the door the wolfs bane smoke would weaken or possibly kill him. He needed to do something anything to help you to breathe and stop your panic attack. He grabbed your cheeks in his hand crashing his lips to yours, in the suddenness of his actions you kissed him back almost forgetting moments ago you couldn't breathe. Peter pulled his head back looking at you "wh.. What was that" you say touching your lip.

Peter smiled "I was told it worked for my friends when stiles had a panic attack so I thought I'd try it" he smirked. "thanks" you whispered out still looking at Peter's lips close to yours, his breath fanning your face making you want to lean in and kiss him again.

A bang from outside the room made you both break part looking at each other worried. Peter put his ear to the door "it's Jackson still trying to get out" he said talking about the banging noise. He turned round when he heard a ripping sound, you had torn the bottom of your top making a mask to cover your mouth and nose. Peter looked at you confused rising an eyebrow "I'm getting us out of here" you told him, your confidence back. "I'm human the smoke won't affect me like you, I'm gonna find a way to clear the corridor and get us out of this place" you said with your hand on the door handle. Before Peter could do say anything you left the room.

You passed the room Jackson and Ethan was trapped in telling them you was finding a way out. After a looking round for a while you found a room with lots of computer screens in. You looked at them seeing Jackson and Ethan and the door you knew Peter was behind. The 4 men you had knocked out with a grenade where all still on the floor. You a man walking down a hallway you tried to work out where he was when you heard him outside the door. You hid in the room watching as he ran in coughing from the smoke.

He put his gun on the desk and went straight to a cupboard getting a gas mask from it. You stood from you hiding place you grabbed the gun making him look at you with his hands up. "I need that mask for me and some friends so drop it" you order him. After he puts it down to tell him to go to the desk throwing him a set of hand cuffs making him cuff himself to the bolted down desk.

Once you felt he couldn't break free you grabbed the mask from the floor putting the tank on your back. Looking in the cabinet getting 3 more out. The was heavier than you thought they would be dragging them along the floor. You went to peter first hanging him one. "you truly are amazing" he said when you walked in the door "when this is all over I'm taking you out" he said putting the tank on his back like you had.

You stepped outside Peter kicked in the door trapping Jackson and Ethan, you handed them both a mask each as you started to leave. The 4 men in the break like room had woken and came out as you turned the corner. Jackson and Ethan ran at them Jackson using his kanima venom to paralysed them as you and Peter ran past them.

The drive back to your house was quite Jackson and Ethan talking low to each other, you and Peter stealing small glances. Inside you all told Scott and the rest of the group what had happened and heard how the rest of the group defeated the Anuk-Ite. You could feel Peter's eyes on you the whole time, thankful he hadn't told anyone about your mini panic attack back in the armoury. "well seeing as no one is in danger I'm n going to visit mum" you told Scott. Peter followed you out "so what we said back there I really do wanna take you out y/n, I like you and need to get to know you more" he said his cheeks a little flushed "also you did make a promise about doing something more fun with handcuffs" he flirted. You took a step closer "good because I think I'm starting to like you to" you said putting your hands on his chest "Its a date". He held you with one hand on your lower back and the other on your neck bring you in closer. When Peter kissed you it wasn't like the one earlier this was more passionate lustful and loving. When you broke apart Peter offered to drive you to the hospital, you looked up at the house then to peter more then happy to be back home. 

[alhaitham-shrine]

@aperfectexampleofsarcasm had to go and tag me in a gtkm thing SO i guess I’ll do that instead of sleeping. I like doing shit like this :’’)

and I’ll tag @ratfuxk @relativelyjilly and @dyerink and that’s. all I’ve got

how tall are you: I tell everyone I’m 5′11″ but honestly? I think I’m 5′9″?? I’ve got absurdly long legs (at a lil over 3 feet) so it gives me the illusion of being taller

what color are your eyes: uhhhhh, blue? but also a bit green in the right light? once they were very gray and i had a five minute identity crisis

do you wear contacts and/or glasses: according to the optometrist, yes? but one, they’re just reading glasses and two, I forget that I own them so I won’t wear them until the migraines get too bad cause I’m stupid

do you wear braces: not anymore, thank fuck!! I have a permanent retainer along the back of my bottom teeth, though. 

what’s your fashion style: occasionally feminine, mostly fuckboy? I dress in a manner that makes it hard to determine my gender/sexuality/age?? most of my shirts used to belong to my dad and I’ll wear skinny jeans in 110+ degree Fahrenheit weather. also i only own one pair of tennis shoes that i rarely wear because 90% of the time it’s black combat boots. and one pair of cowboy boots

when were you born: september 22, 1999! on that day in history the US spy Nathan Hale was hanged by the British in 1776 :D

how old are you: 18 but i feel like a 1950s housewife high on drugs. that’s not an age but like. yknoww

do you have any siblings: I have one half-sister that I know, then two other half-siblings that I’ve never met

what school/college do you go to: no school or college for this idiot, I’m disappointing everyone I know and avoiding school for as long as I possibly can

what kind of student are you: I was the sort that never did any work until the last minute and half the time I found ways to convince other people to do a lot of it for me. I was never dumb, and I excelled fairly well in history/english/theatre, but like math and science shit? I was really bad at it, so I’d work my way around that by befriending the nerds. I also refused to read a lot of books for english throughout high school simply because they were all shit but i also never read the cliff’s notes so to be honest? i have no idea how i passed. i’m a fast typer so in some classes when the teacher was asking questions i’d already have answers and shit queue’d up? all the teachers liked me but the asshole teachers? I was their Favorite because I, too, am a sarcastic little shit like them. (specifically my government teacher, advanced english teacher, and that final theatre teacher i had)

what are your favorite subjects: psychology, government and economics, theatre, english, almost any home econ class, and i already said theatre but like. ESPECIALLY theatre.

what are your favorite movies: The Labyrinth, Jumanji, Stardust, Sinbad: Legend of the Seven Seas, Hercules, Deadpool, Burlesque, Silent Hill, Grease, and I don’t know if I’d consider it a favorite but I watched Leap! today, twice, and cried both times so. 

what are your pastimes: reading, writing (fiction and poetry), listening to an absurd number of podcasts, daydreaming, cleaning, drawing eyes on everything, drinking coffee, uhhhhhh. spinning really fast until the circles until the world is still a blur even when i’m standing still.

do you have many regrets: if there’s any one person out there that has no regrets, they’re probably a shitty 2D excuse of a person. 

what is your dream job: I want to be a NYT bestselling author, that’s the job I want more than anything in the world, but there are a few other things that all equally come a close second so.

I want to get my doctorate in psychology, and I wanna work with either criminals or teenagers.

I want to make either short films or podcasts? I haven’t decided yet, but I’m too visual of a person to not take advantage of at least one of those.

I want to do more with theatre. I don’t think acting is something I could do, at least not anytime soon, but. I have so many stories to tell and, like with the films/podcasts, I’d love to just do one thing onstage. I love set building and the idea of choreographing every move to mean something it just. i love theatre

and, lastly, I want to just travel. I think I’d do this with any of these jobs, but I wanna go everywhere I can possibly go

would you like to get married: I mean in theory, yes? but I’ve never been provided with very good examples of healthy marriages so I don’t think that’s something I’ll be comfortable with for. a long time. BUT THAT BEING SAID, weddings? I love the idea. If I could just have a wedding without the actual marriage that’d be fantastic. I’ve been planning it out for so long I just. ignored the part where I needed a partner (basically I just wanna wear a fancy ass dress and be adored and eat cake??)

do you want kids? if so how many: I adamantly refuse to give birth to any living, sentient thing. My family doesn’t seem to grasp this but I hhhhhate the idea of giving birth. It absolutely horrifies me, and also? I just don’t like small children. I’ve got the patience of a hand grenade when it comes to small kids cause like. they can’t read?? I literally do not remember how the fuck i learned how to read one day i was illiterate and then suddenly i had a college reading level in third grade???? i can’t handle kids they’re just so. egh. BUT I’m okay with older kids? and also they’re the ones less likely to be adopted from the foster system so like. I wouldn’t mind, one day when I’m older, fostering older kids? 

how many countries have you visited: I have not left Texas/Oklahoma since I was seven years old. someone please save me

what was your scariest dream: oh where do I start?

the dream where the rocking horse flies from Alice in Wonderland ripped the skin from my face? (I was five)

the one where I watched three witches perform an autopsy on my mom? (I was five)

the one where I continued to dig a bloody gouge into the side of my face and no one bothered to question it? (recent dream!)

I have been visited infrequently by a very large ant since I was about six?? but these were less dreams and more vivid hallucinations? the first time it happened i woke up in the middle of the night and watched this ant crawl across my body? and then another time in broad daylight i watched it crawl through a large dollhouse like it lived there? but it left when my friend returned?? 

do you have a boyfriend/girlfriend/significant other: i don’t know? i mean i guess not, not really? it’s weird and complicated, but it’s all good!! complicated is my middle name :’’)

put your playlist on shuffle and without skipping the first 15 songs: i have like a million playlists so I’ll just put the first song of each!

"When You Loved Me Least” by Michl

“Fine!” by Mal Blum

“Never Wanted to Dance” by Mindless Self Indulgence

“More Than Survive” from Be More Chill

“Girls” by Marina and the Diamonds

“All I Want” by Kodaline

“Traveling Song” by Ryn Weaver

“The End of All Things” by PATD

“Neptune” by Sleeping At Last

“Maps” by Keaton Henson

“Smother” by Daughter

“Fear of the Water” by SYML

“warm glow” by Hippo Campus

“Sleepover” by Hayley Kiyoko

“Whoa Whoa Whoa” by Watsky 

[red-5]

You and Me, Hale (Pt. 3)

Summary: The pack digs for answers in the aftermath of the mysterious attack.

Pairings: Derek x OC

Warnings: 

Shara’s body was limp as Derek placed her on the forgotten air mattress, head lolling back into the pillows and limbs dangling over the edge. She whimpered softly as he repositioned her, tucking the blanket up around her shoulders and smoothing the hair back from where it clung to the sweat across her forehead. As he predicted, she slipped into unconsciousness soon after she returned to herself, and his heart clenched as her face twisted in discomfort even as she slept. They had truly left her no haven to retreat to in escape from the horrors they had inflicted on her.

He stood reluctantly, fighting the urge to thread his fingers through hers. Given the chance, he would stay by her side for as long as it took, hold her hand as exhaustion took hold of her body, cradle her to his chest when the tears came, guide her through her remissions until they no longer haunted her waking mind, but now, he needed answers. Answers that could be the only key to her recovery. Striding from the room before he gave himself the opportunity to change his mind, he beelined for Deaton’s office, gripping the handle and pulling the door open with a whoosh.

The five pairs of panic-stricken eyes that snapped to him as he stepped through the threshold halted him in his tracks. He didn’t speak, offered no words of consolation that the ordeal was, in fact, over, he simply stared back with tired eyes until the tension drained from the room.

“How is she?” Scott rasped, looking every bit as worn down as he felt.

Derek didn’t take his eyes off Deaton as he responded.

“Unconscious,” he monotoned, folding his arms across his chest. “You said you knew what those things were.”

It wasn’t a question, it was a statement spoken in a border-line accusatory tone as he fought to keep his exhaustion from melting into agitation. The druid sighed in response, fingers twitching at the edge of the yellowed pages of the leather-bound book that sat open in front of him.

“I said I had an idea.”

The whisper of fear in his voice did not go unnoticed by Derek.

“You want to share with the rest of the class?” Stiles drawled from his position slumped against the wall, not at all bothering to hide his weariness as he half-heartedly dodged the smack Lydia aimed at the side of his head.

“Fine.” Derek ground out, unable to keep the irritation from his voice. “What do you think they were?”

Deaton stared back at him, face a mask of stone as the seconds dragged on. Finally, he took a breath, steeling himself as he pushed the book forward.

Green eyes dropped to the open page, dancing across the ancient text that accompanied a drawing of a sinister, hooded figure. A chill ran up his spine, whether from the image or the new-found familiarity it brought with it, he wasn’t sure.

“What am I looking at?”

The inquiry was met with more tense silence, but the angry quip died in his throat as he watched Deaton struggle.

“That,” the vet choked in a thick voice, “is a wraith.”

Derek looked at him in shock, ignoring Peter’s exaggerated eye-roll.

“A wraith?”

“A myth, you mean.” Peter interjected though a disbelieving laugh.

Derek shot him a withering look as Stiles leapt to his feet, a fresh fire burning in his eyes.

“Were you not in that room?” He shouted, gesturing wildly. “Did you not see what the rest of us saw? After everything that’s happened, I’m willing to go out on a little faith here.”

The way the scrawny teenager held the werewolves’ hard glare was admirable, but not enough to keep Derek’s last bit of patience from dissolving.

“Enough!” He snapped, eyes passing between the two before settling on the pages sprawled out on the desk in front of him. “If this thing is what you say it is, wh…what exactly do- “

“They were human, once.” Deaton cut him off when he saw where the inquiry was headed. “Witches, warlocks, sorcerers, twisted and corrupted by dark magic. Now they are shells of their former selves. Figments of smoke and shadow, trapped in a realm of eternal darkness.”

A far away looked passed over his eyes as he spoke, and he suddenly looked much older than he was.

“And…the lights?” Scott prodded gently when a beat of silence stretched into seconds, snapping him out of his trance.

“It acts as a doorway, a portal from their world to ours allowing them to cross over and take shape. Think of it like your shadow. It is only able to materialize in the presence of light.”

“Okay, but you killed them…right? With that…supernatural…hand grenade…thing…that you did…” Stiles trailed with a grimace.

“No,” Deaton said solemnly. “They are no longer living and therefore can’t be killed. That was a ward- “

“What kind of ward?” Derek pressed.

Deaton’s eyes snapped back to him.

“Pteridium Aquilinum,” he said simply. “Commonly known as ‘Bracken.’”

“A houseplant?”

“Peter…” Derek warned, eyeing him warily.

“No.” Peter spat firmly. “You’re telling us that we’re being hunted by a myth that can’t be killed and our only defense is a fucking plant- “

“A Scottish fern, actually.” Deaton corrected, unaffected by the daggers Peter glared in his direction. “Used in abundance across the Highlands- “

“As a pest repellant- “

“That was cultivated by ancient Druids and has been accepted as payment by Scottish landlords for hundreds of years. What is it that you think there were trying to keep out?”

Peter’s mouth snapped shut, eyes still gleaming menacingly.

“The Highlands are steeped in superstition. Some that I wouldn’t be so quick to dismiss if I were you.”

A tense silence once again fell over the group as the weight of his words sunk in.

“So, what do we do?” Scott asked after a moment, and Derek vaguely wondered if his eternal optimism ever got as exhausting as he thought it would.

“We find who summoned them.”

“Wait, what?” Stiles asked in a strained voice. “Summoned?”

“Yes.” Deaton sighed. “As terrifying as they are, they are only puppets. They can’t manifest unless they are being controlled.”

“Oh. Great.”

Stiles slumped back against the wall, sliding down until his backside connected with the cold tile.

“I had a contact in Edinburgh, an… informant. An ear to the ground, so to speak. Six months ago, he mentioned something about ‘dead earth.’ Forests, valleys, entire ecosystems being… drained overnight. The CDC has been chasing their tails trying to find a parasite.”

Derek raised an impatient eyebrow.

“And?”

“And,” Deaton returned, making his displeasure at the interruption plain. “Dark magic, true dark magic, requires life energy to feed on to gain power.”

“Life that a forest full of trees, plants, and animals can provide.” Derek added as he nodded in understanding.

“I never had any reason to suspect… until now.”

“We can call him -”

“He’s dead. Murdered, a month later.”

Derek blinked.

“Do you know who killed him?”

“I did.”

All attention turned to the small voice in the doorway.

“Shara?”

Her lithe frame seemed so fragile slumped in the doorway, the massive sweater she wore swallowing her up and sliding off one shoulder as she fidgeted. She shied away when Derek reached for her, and he fought against the pang of hurt that shot through his chest.

“You remember?”

“I- “

Her voice cracked as she drew in a shuddering breath, wringing her hands together.

“I don’t remember much… about the people who… I’ve tried… “

She trailed off, blinking the redness from her eyes as she swallowed the lump in her throat.

“But, the one thing… whenever they… whenever they assigned me a mark, it was like… an obsession. Their scent, their image, it was all I could think about until… “

She sniffed, angrily wiping her nose on her sleeve before continuing.

“It was efficient. But… “

A single stray tear trailed down her face as she found Derek’s eyes.

“I remember... all of them. But it’s… It’s not enough…”

“Starshine…”

“No, Derek, I’m tired of hiding. I can’t do this anymore, I cant- I can’t- “

Her hands flew to her hair, fisting in the tangled strands as her face screwed together.

“I can’t remember…”

“Shara… “ He stepped forward, gently taking hold of her wrists to detangle her fingers from their attempt to pull her hair out. “We’ll figure this out, you’re not alone.”

“How?” She didn’t fight him, but her eyes held defiance. “How, Derek? You saw what they’re capable of, and I’ve brought them right to you. I need to go, I’m putting all of your lives in danger- “

“Shara.” Derek said firmly, tightening his grip in her wrists. “I’m… We’re here because we want to be here. We’re not going anywhere.”

Nods and affirmations filled the room, but the turmoil remained behind her eyes.

“Then what do you propose we do?”

His eyes softened as he dropped his gaze to her hands, rough and calloused and not at all the hands he remembered. He felt what little energy he had left drain from his body as his voiced dropped to a whisper.

“I don’t know.”

The hard lines on her face faded as she allowed her fingers to relax against his. He felt all the eyes in the room on him, but as fiercely as he wanted to reassure her, speak the words that would put all their minds at ease even for a short while, his mind remained blank. Peter took a casual step forward with his hands on his hips.

“There is one thing we can try.”

Scott tried his best not to look as terrified as he felt when the werewolf turned his gaze to him.

“You’re sure about this?” Derek asked in a strained voice as Shara settled down into the chair placed in the center of the back room.

“Yes,” she stressed for the thousandth time, shedding her oversized grey zip-up.

Scott appeared beside her, face hesitant but shoulders set firmly. Derek eyed him before giving him a nod, turning his attention back to her.

“I’ll be right outside.”

“Go,” she insisted.

With a deep breath and one last nod, he conceded, standing to turn swiftly on his heel.

“Derek.” He looked over his shoulder as she called out to him. “Don’t come back in here until it’s done. No matter what you hear.”

Every fiber of his being called out for him to object, but the hard look she gave him silenced any protest before it formed. His eyes darted back and forth between her and Scott’s apologetic face before he wordlessly turned to exit the room, closing the door behind him and begrudgingly taking his place beside Deaton behind the glass. She had outright refused to allow any more people in the room than those that were absolutely necessary.

“Are we sure this is a good…” Stiles trailed off at the glare Derek pointed at him.

“It’s the only one we have.” Despite the doubt bubbling in his stomach, his voice was strong and steady.

Scott huffed a steadying breath, raising his hand to ghost his fingertips along the back of her neck.

“Ready?”

She gave a firm nod, straightening in her seat and setting her shoulders.

“This… is going to hurt. “ He warned tentatively.

She stared ahead, bloodshot caramel eyes unblinking as she answered.

“No. It won’t”

Derek watched the young Alpha struggle for a moment, meeting his gaze for a fleeting moment before he turned back to the task at hand.

“Okay. Here we go.”

With a flex of his wrist, his claws extended, digging deep into her flesh as blood seeped out of the fresh wounds. She hissed, teeth clenched, and eyes screwed shut as Scott gasped, eyes rolling back into his head. Derek felt every muscle in his body tense, fingernails digging painfully into his palms to resist the urge to break through the glass.

His back was against the wall, thrashing arms held by three separate pairs of hands before it registered that the blood curdling scream came from Scott’s mouth, not hers.

He broke free of their bruising grip as Scott flailed away from her as if he had been burned, bursting into the room as she slumped over her knees to retch onto the floor.

“Shara?”

Her body shook violently as he steadied her, flesh hot and blazing under his hands.

“I don’t want- “

She fought through several breaths before she was able to continue.

“I can’t do that again.”

“No.”

Derek’s eyes snapped to Scott’s at the sound of his strangled voice as if he had forgotten there was anyone else in the room. His face had been completely drained of color, beads of sweat trickling down his neck, leaning heavily on Stiles and Deaton as he gulped down mouthfuls of oxygen in a desperate attempt to gain control of his breathing.

“We never have to do that again.”

Through everything the misfit pack had been through, every attack mounted on Beacon Hills, every new enemy they faced, the one thing he always admired about the young werewolf was his unshakable spirit. He barely recognized the terrified boy currently unable to stand on his own after the mere seconds he spent in Shara’s head.

“Scott,” he strained, hating the sound of his own voice as he tightened his grip on the trembling woman in his arms. “What did you see?”

Scott didn’t look at him, didn’t acknowledge his presence, eyes locked with Shara’s as his eyes flooded with unshed tears. His mouth gaped open as he searched for the strength to speak.

“I’m so sorry.”