Customer Reviews

Imagining Reality

5 star:		(12)
4 star:		(7)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

Lynn Galli's second book was just as good as her first. This time, we see the VA friends in their hometown setting...Jessie, Lauren, Quinn, Willa, etc, with visits by Austy and Elise.

Galli does a great job, narrating from Jessie's viewpoint, and then shifting the viewpoint to describe events that happen to the other characters.

Jessie seems to be a player, and as we get to know her, we find out she's a deep, caring person of great convictions. Even many of her friends are unaware of her multiple layers. Only Quinn really has insight into her because they've been the best of friends for years.

You'll enjoy this book as events unfold and characters grow and develop. Galli stated this will probably be the last book featuring these characters. I wish she'd reconsider. I'd love to see a book on how Quinn and Willa began their relationship. I know Galli doesn't want to be handcuffed writing only about these characters; they should be good for at least one more book, though.

Very nice sex scenes add to the dramatic tension. And you'll wish you had a group of friends as tight as these VA gals. Oh, if you go to Galli's website, you can read about her future books, and the "missing chapters" from her first book. THAT in itself was worthwhile.

Lynn, thanks for creating these characters and sharing them with us.

Lynn Galli's second book follows the stories of two characters from her first. My favorite, Jessie, was complex enough as a secondary character in Wasted Heart, but she's outright intriguing as a lead character in this one. Like so many people who've had the same friends for a long time, she's stuck with an image that no longer seems to fit her. Trying to break free of that image takes her through a jumble of emotions and heartbreaking situations that will have you rooting audibly throughout the story. Her friend, Lauren, provides a nice contrast whenever her viewpoint comes up, adding to the fun of this book. We get to follow her plight while trying to find romance, help her friends, and deal with her clients in a career that should fall outside of her comfort zone. This is one of those books that will have you thinking you know where the story's headed only to be surprised by each plot turn.

I am still playing catch-up with this author - in that I just found her books a few months ago and ordered all 4. I just finished this one and again was not disappointed - like the two others I have read so far this author gives great depth to her characters, she dedicates each book to 2 characters and their 'growth' but also brings in the supporting cast. This author has such great wit and given this books genre (romance) the author balances the self realization of characters with a great dose of wit-makes me wonder just which of these characters is most like the author (smile). Highly recommend this book, and the others from this author...looking forward to more!

I really loved this second book about the Virginia gang of friends who don't all live in VA anymore but are still closely linked.

I don't think you really have to read the first one to appreciate this book , but by reading both you really get a sense of the dynamics of this little group.

It's a little weird when the book switches from the first person view of Jessie to a third person view, but hang in there. It's worth it for some great scenes and a really emotional story.

I'd have liked to see a little more at the end to see how the group dealt with the changes in some of the friends. Might have been fun.

This marvelous follow up book, IMAGINING REALITY. Lynn Galli is a wonderful writer and the characters in these two books, are so real, so alive, so believable. I love these two. First we follow Austy and Elise fall in love and meet Austy's Virginia friends. Then in this book we follow the Virginia friends back in Charlottesville. As readers we get to watch Lauren and Jessie in this one fall in love. What emotions, wonderful heartfelt stuff, and hot scenes too. Ms. Galli, keep writing about the Virginia friends, wonderful, wonderful. HIGHLY RECOMMENDED

Really enjoyed this book. Quite different from Wasted Heart, but that's what I look for in authors. Definitely worth buying and reading!!!

Let me start off by saying I'm a huge fan of Lynn Galli's work. She actually knows how to compose a sentence and develop a great romance novel. I have read all of Ms. Galli's novels thus far, and all of them are great books, but this one is definitely my favorite.

The main characters, Jesse and Lauren, were both introduced in Wasted Heart, but here, they are fleshed out a bit more and given further exposition. I especially liked how Galli switches between the two characters point of view, although at first, the change from first person to 3rd person took some getting used to. In the end, I think it worked though. If you read Wasted Heart, then you are familiar with Jesse and Lauren as friends to the character of Austy. Jesse was set up as the "Shane" type cast, i.e. super lesbian vixen. Lauren is the more conservative, practical lawyer archetype.

In this story, Jesse and Lauren are still good friends, but suddenly through out the story, they become aware of their own growing mutual attraction for each other. This the heart of the story, how these two long time friends become lovers, and finally partners.

Overall - the story works, the characters are well thought out and developed. My only complaint is the first time the two friends become intimate. It is pretty much completely skipped over by Galli. Although, there are further scenes that go into detail regarding that particular aspect - and they are more then adequate - it was a bit odd to have this first love scene ignored. To me, the FIRST time these two friends actually consummate their relationship seems like a central aspect of the story. But for some reason, Galli decides to skip it and tackle the aftermath instead. It can be seen as an interesting twist, I suppose, but I would have preferred to read the build up and actualization of the two woman's love. Owell. Other then this one con, I highly recommend this descriptive and satisfying romance, it is much more then the average lesbian erotic read. Good stuff. :)

I couldn't put it down. Now, I'm not much for reading but once I started reading this book I couldn't stop. It was very well writen and had a relatable storyline. Granted I am a little biased, I love all of Lynn Galli's books and am waiting for her next, but this one is my favorite. I would recommend this book to anyone who enjoys a good romance.

This is an interesting story about the interactions among a group of friends in a mid-sized college town. The author does a good job of drawing the personalities of a wide variety of people. The writing style is unusual. Switching back and forth between first person and third person viewpoint could cause a rough ride for the reader, but I think she manages to pull it off successfully. The result is that the reader gains more insight into the main protagonists than would be possible by sticking to just one point of view.

We pretty much know where the story is going just from reading the back cover. Jessie Ximena is considered a player, happy with the casual dating scene and the single life. Her close friend Lauren Aleric wants to find Ms. Right and settle into a permanent relationship. The book describes their journey of learning about each other's innermost wishes, dreams, nightmares, and hopes for the future. It's convincing and nicely done.

One thing I especially like is the substantive plot. When I can summarize everything that happens in a few sentences, which unfortunately is the case with a number of new books these days, I feel kind of let down. This book isn't another "plotless wonder." Watching how the characters react to events around them shows the reader what they're made of. It's much more effective that just telling about it via a series of static conversations between characters.

The last few pages of the book are short excerpts from the author's forthcoming book ("Uncommon Emotions") and the predecessor to this one ("Wasted Heart"). I definitely plan to read both.

I found the tone of Lynn Galli's second book to be completely different from her first, but still very enjoyable. It was sweet and romantic, not what I was expecting from a story about Jessie. That's one of the reasons why I liked it so much. The switch back and forth from Jessie to Lauren's point of view gives us even more insight into this eclectic group of friends. Getting more of Austy and Elise was worth the price alone.

I agree with the other reviewers who say that at least one more book should be eeked out of these Virginia friends (more, if the author is up for it). Maybe if we all gang up on her, we'll pressure her into giving us another story.