Customer Reviews

An Inexpressible State of Grace

5 star:		(6)
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3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(1)
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After fifteen years, talented attorney Ashleigh Ash Moores marriage is on the skids, and increasingly, she finds herself thinking of her only other love, a woman who broke her heart in college. Ash usually finds solace in her work, but when shes assigned a high profile corporate case that could make or break her career track to law partner, she doesnt count on the attraction she feels for the clients in-house counsel, sexy, intelligent Renee Silver. Then Ash receives legal papers from her long-lost father concerning the estate of her grandmother, and long buried family secrets begin to emerge. To top things off, she unexpectedly uncovers evidence of corporate ethics violations, which could put her in danger. Whom can she trust? Which secrets from the past will come out, and what about the powerful pull she feels toward Renee?

With deft characterizations, an engrossing plot, and a marvelous sense about the volatility of secrets, Cameron Abbott has crafted an terrific follow-up to her first novel, To The Edge. Because of the authors narrative skill, this fine sophomore novel will go directly to the head of the class. ~Lori L. Lake, author of Different Dress, Stepping Out, Gun Shy, Under The Gun, and Ricochet In Time, and reviewer for Midwest Book Review, The Independent Gay Writer, The Gay Read, and Just About Write.

Cameron Abbott?s sophomore novel, ?An inexpressible State of Grace,? is the only novel of hers that I have read so far. I was pleasantly surprised by her writing style. I find, too often, that many lesbian romances lack any other points of interest. Abbott masterfully intertwines four plot lines giving each one enough time and development to stand on its own while allowing them to interact with each other, to form an overall narrative arc through out the story. The differences between plot and story aren?t made in a haphazard way like many immature authors. The montage of scenes expertly paints protagonist Ashleigh Moore?s past over the reader?s perception of the present world she is living in.

Unlike another reviewer I found the details of Ashleigh?s professional life to add a depth and reality to Ashleigh?s world. An integral part of Ashleigh?s identity is tied up in her professional life; it effects the way she interacts with her family, her father in particular, and it is responsible for introducing her to her love interest. Ashleigh?s method of reacting to the world is, in every way, the work of a legal mind. As Abbott is a lawyer, readers might compliment her for writing what she knows, rather than failing to truly understand the way other people think.

This book was a joy to read. I utterly enjoyed following Ashleigh as she discovered and finally confronted the truth about herself, learned the causes behind her family?s dynamic, fell in love with Renee, and confronted the ethical failings of people professionally close to her. I highly recommend this book.

Abbott?s passion for what she does is beautifully apparent in the way that she writes; enjoy it.

Among the club of lesbian authors who can actually write, this author is one of a small handful whose books feel original. This time she concentrates more on the legal plot than some readers looking for the usual romance-by-numbers might like. But I thought the depth in this area really added to the story and made the characters more real. This is a good story with plenty more to offer than the predictable slumber party before the happy ending formula.

If all books of this genre were this well written, I wouldn't feel the need to throw some of them away. Great writing and a great book.

This is a really great book. It's not the light romance that most of lesbian books are, although there is a lovestory in it. But it has much more depth then just a lovestory. And I love the way she writes. It's so easy to read. This book gives you great value for your money.
And I can't imagine that it won't be nominated for a Lambda-book-award.

I loved her first book but this one is even better!!! I love the way she writes. She's just great!!! I got into the characters immediately; not every author can get you to do that. I highly recommend this book.

I was really really looking forward to reading this second novel of Cameron Abbott's and was really disappointed. (Ms. Abbott's first novel was 'To the Edge.') The storyline and characters are almost identical as the ones in her first novel (To the Edge). However, in this second book, the characters were much less likable and romantic/sexual. I turned this book into my local gay bookstore for a store credit as soon as I could.

I would NOT recommend this book and I hope Ms. Abbott's next book has more likable characters and does not get into the nitty gritty of 'the law' and concentrates more on developing the romantic relationship between her characters. I usually have this same gripe (the lack of developed characters) when i read mysery novels, which is why I hardly read them anymore.