Love's Tender Warriors [Paperback]

Radclyffe (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: August 2004

Drew Clark, ex-Marine and martial arts master, is the new instructor at the Golden Tiger dojang. Intense and aloof, she hides dark secrets and unhealed wounds beneath her warrior's exterior. Sean Gray is the young psychologist and senior student who threatens to bring down the barriers Drew has erected around her heart. Battle hardened and world weary, Drew discovers that Sean wields a weapon she has no defense against--tenderness. Together, two women who have accepted loneliness as a way of life learn that love is worth fighting for, and a battle they cannot afford to lose.

--This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

Editorial Reviews

About the Author

Radclyffe is the cyberpersona of an author/surgeon who lives and writes in the Northeastern United States. She admits to a life-long love affair with fictional romances of all persuasions, and, after discovering lesbian fiction at the age of twelve, she has collected it, written it, and finally, one career later, published it. The common theme throughout her traditional romances and action/mystery series is a celebration of the power of love between strong, valiant women.

In addition to writing, her passions include the martial arts (she holds a black belt in Ju Jitsu and a brown belt in Aikido) and everything about the life she shares with her partner, Lee.

She states:

"When I began writing love stories about women more than two decades ago, I did it for several reasons. First, because I loved the process of giving form to the characters who populated my imagination and watching the written word materialize on paper (or on screen, as it happens these days). Secondly, there weren't many romances involving two women available anywhere, and I longed to see our stories told. Today, we are fortunate to have many fine writers sharing these works on the web and elsewhere. I am very grateful to be a part of that experience.

My web-posting experience began when I discovered fan fiction. The writing was excellent, the discussions lively, and the camaraderie supportive. This website is the result of that first encounter with the world of internet fiction. Through the generosity of many people who have posted my work on their web sites as well as the tremendous support of readers on the Rad-discussion list, I have discovered the incredible satisfaction of sharing what I write with others via both the web and print.

Yet another chapter in my adventure with writing fiction unfolded when, in 1999, Safe Harbor was accepted for publication by RAP books. I was soon immersed in the challenge of creating a published novel. Since that time I have learned to appreciate this final step in the creative process, and I hope to continue that experience well into the future." --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

Product Details

• Paperback: 216 pages
• Publisher: Bold Strokes Books (August 2004)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1933110023
• ISBN-13: 978-1933110028
• Product Dimensions: 8.4 x 5.5 x 0.6 inches
• Shipping Weight: 8.8 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.6 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (22 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #398,616 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Radclyffe, a retired surgeon and full time author-publisher, has published over thirty-five novels as well as dozens of short stories, has edited numerous anthologies, and, writing as L. L. Raand, has authored a paranormal romance series, The Midnight Hunters. She is a eight time Lambda Literary Award finalist in romance, mystery and erotica--winning in both romance (Distant Shores, Silent Thunder) and erotica (Erotic Interludes 2: Stolen Moments edited with Stacia Seaman and In Deep Waters 2: Cruising the Strip written with Karin Kallmaker). A member of the Saints and Sinners Literary Hall of Fame, she is also a 2010 RWA/FF&P Prism Award Winner for Secrets in the Stone, an Independent Publisher's award winner (IPPY), an Alice B. Readers' award Winner, and a finalist for the Benjamin Franklin award, the ForeWord Review Book of the Year award, and the 2010 Heart of Excellence Readers' Choice award. She is also the president of Bold Strokes Books, one of the world's largest independent LGBT publishing companies.

She states, "I began reading lesbian fiction at the age of twelve when I found a copy of Ann Bannon's Beebo Brinker. That book and others like it convinced me that I was not alone, that there were other women who felt like I did. Our literature provides support and validation and very often, a lifeline, for members of our community throughout the world. I am proud and honored to be able to publish the many fine authors at Bold Strokes Books and to contribute in some small way to the words that the celebrate LGBTQ experience."

You can visit Radclyffe at http://www.facebook.com/Radclyffe.BSB?ref=ts

Or buy her books direct from the publisher at www.boldstrokesbooks.com

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

46 of 46 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Love's power to heal the wounds we hide from the world, December 24, 2002

By 

Hiraeth (Philadelphia, PA United States) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Love's Tender Warriors (Paperback)

LOVE'S TENDER WARRIORS marks a stylistic departure from Radclyffe's most recent works of lesbian fiction (ABOVE ALL, HONOR and HONOR BOUND, about the relationship between the president's daughter and the Secret Service agent bound to protect her, and SHIELD OF JUSTICE, about a police detective and a psychiatrist whose lives become entangled). In these novels (which I wholeheartedly recommend), Radclyffe deftly weaves the strands of action and romance; but the reader never skips the plot to get to the "good stuff," because the plots are always character driven, and romance -- and sex -- suffuse every single scene. LTW is different: set against the backdrop of a Philadelphia dojang where the two central characters train in the martial arts, the novel is a meditation on the different ways human beings, battered and bruised by life, attempt to shield their hearts and minds and souls from future injury.

The result is a quartet of character sketches: Sean Gray -- the psychologist who absorbs the pain from those around her and who helps others heal, and who believes herself incapable of passionate emotional response; her identical twin sister, Susan -- who is terrified by the intensity of the emotions she feels, who is too wary to trust, expecting all relationships to fail; Drew Clark -- martial arts master and Marine, haunted by nightmares of her past that she believes must make her present need unattainable; and Ellen Tyler -- who, having waited fruitlessly for her lover's trust, lives in terror that the full-time life she so yearns for may be beyond her grasp.

Set against the year of Sean's training and preparation for her black-belt test, LOVE'S TENDER WARRIORS explores the many ways people cope with pain as well as the eternal and most essential power of love to heal those deep wounds we hide from the world. Like all of Radclyffe's stories, this one is beautifully written, erotically charged, and hot, hot hot: you'll cry, and you'll soar.

17 of 18 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Take a chance on Radclyffe!, May 8, 2003

By 

blondiechick (USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Love's Tender Warriors (Paperback)

Let?s face it, there are a lot of bad books being sold today, and like others I know, I?ve been burned not realizing I was plunking down a chunk of change for what was essentially a self-published, unedited book. Love?s Tender Warriors ? like Radclyffe?s other books ? does not fall into that category!

Not only are the characters sharply defined and able to converse in realistic dialog, and not only do they act and do things that make *sense,* this book is a professional?s work, and has obviously been professionally edited as well. (Compare this book to Around We Go, which had grammatical faults on nearly every page and missing punctuation ? an amateurish mess! Those who love the book say an editor should have caught when ?there? was used instead of ?their? but I think a writer ought to know the difference!) You can read samples of some of Radclyffe?s books here on Amazon and at her website and you?ll see for yourself.

From now on when I don?t recognize a publisher and I can?t read a sample somewhere, I?m not going to buy the book. But from now on I?ll buy Radclyffe?s books, and likely the other books from her publisher. They obviously care about the final product! Love?s Tender Warriors was a hot, entertaining, realistic book and a great way to spend my money and time!

8 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Hat's Off to Radclyffe, September 26, 2003

By A Customer

This review is from: Love's Tender Warriors (Paperback)

I like how Radclyffe blends every day issues that touch so many of our lives into a believable story with real women you feel like you could meet at the store. Not that they are ordinary, but they're *real.*

But like others of her books, there is just one note in the core relationship: Drew and Sean are drawn to each other immediately and only one thing separates them. It takes 250 pages to work through the one issue. It's realistically handled but if it weren't for a side plot with Sean's sister, this novel would have been 100 pages. In many ways, the side plot drove the action, not the main plot. Also, while Drew and Sean seem very real, there are a few characters who are just too wise, too calm, too good to be true.

It's a small quibble because basically this is an enjoyable solid romance easily worth the time and money. The sex scenes are warming, the dialogue engaging. I totally agree with another reviewer who says this is the work of a professional.