Moonstone

By: Jaime Clevenger

Narrated by: Lori Prince

Moving back to her hometown was never at the top of Joy Henderson's to-do list. With a successful career in San Francisco and plenty of opportunity for casual relationships, the last thing Joy wants is to return to the small town she'd planned her whole life to escape. But family obligations pull her back home, and it isn't long before Joy runs into someone she's always dreamed of seeing again - the first girl she ever imagined kissing. Kelsey West.

Olympic dreams are a thing of the past for Kelsey. Now an out-of-work swim coach recovering from a bad relationship, she's back home only long enough to get her life together. When she learns that Joy Henderson, the high-school crush she never forgot, is also back in town, she can't help but wonder if there's a chance to rewrite the past.

Time has changed their hometown. Time has changed Kelsey and Joy. But when it comes to two women who have never trusted love - has time changed them enough?

©2016 Jaime Clevenger (P)2021 Tantor

Not my fav

Well written and excellent performance but story was a miss for me. I finished but took some effort. I never understand the whole open relationship thing, so maybe that’s why it was a miss for me.

Finding Resilience And Claiming Life!

This story reminds me that we often don't get what we want because we don’t ask for it or feel that we deserve it. There are variations of this theory but simply put, part of what composes this thing we call attraction is based on who we can learn from and grow with in life. These two characters exemplify this idea brilliantly and, once again, the author doesn't feel sensational in her prose, but as someone speaking from the heart. The exploration of one character being in an open relationship during part of the story also feels authentic, which is different from some romance novels that skim the fun surface and leave out the more realistic questions and logistics. Yes, for romance enthusiasts, there is hot sex and love-making too. There is also recognition that a simpler life can be more profound than urban drama. I like to imagine that these characters love long and well! Wonder narration and a book worth more than a credit! Good listen!

I liked it, but...

I liked the story, but somewhere along the way, towards the end, it went off the rails. this isn't my first book by the author, and I've loved her other stories. This one started off great, then the end went kind of all over the place. I mean Joy had her issues, but she was at least honest about the open relationship. Kelsey was a female version of a jock that had it all in high school, and spiraled. Joy didn't deserve half of what she got from her. Like, what was with all the disappearing acts? Crazy!

Not my fav

Love this author but this one was eh for me. I found one of the characters annoying, too annoying. That led to me thinking why does Joy even love her. Also less hot sex than her average story. Love your stuff, keep writing.

A Deeply Emotional and Charnging Novel

Moonshine is a marvelous navel that confronts a wide variety of human conflict challenges.
An inter-racial love affair.
Drug abuse and addiction.
Teen aged angst.
Open relationships vs monogamy.
And more.
I want to compliment Ms. Clevenger on her effort to handle these very emotional topics, an if course Lori Prince on her talented performance.
My only criticism is that the ending seemed to be rather abrupt.
When your read the words “4 years later”, it usually means that all the strings have been tied together and the future is as resolved as best as possible. In this case I felt that more could be added, but that is just my feeling.
Thanks again for your marvelous team work,
Libra ❤️👍

Love Jaime’s stories, missed the sex

Jaime usually has some great, hot and heavy sex in her books, this one was a little light. lol
Great story though with an honest look at the long lasting effects of addiction.
And this, THIS book brings diversity to lesbian fiction to drive the story, not as a stunt.

Looking for a deposit romance?

Meet Kelsey and Joy, high school classmates and swim team members. They got as far as holding hands once. Flash forward ten years. They meet again in the small town of Rosita by the water, now one an optician and the other a software sales person. Kelsey is by her own admission “a mess” after every abortive attempt to make a connection, And I’d have to agree. Then there’s the deceit and lying about a drug problem. In fact, the author seems more fascinated by the interaction of drug problems on romantic relationship than On the relationships themselves. Then meet Kelsey’s ex-lover, a full blown total suicidal drug head, willing to take anything. Joy seems to have this limitless patience with all of this that is difficult to understand. Yes, they’re together at the end, but just barely.

not a bad love story

love this narrator but the story could have been better. two women who have been in love with each other for years and when they finally get together the intimate scenes were boring and rushed.

Moonstone

Some stories read like a romcom movie. This one reads like a soap opera. It's a very slow burn with lots of angst and drama.

Kelsey and Joy secretly crushed on each other in high school, but neither of them made a move. Now, years later, they meet up again, back in their small town, with a possible second chance. Here's where it gets complicated - both these ladies have baggage. You can sense their attraction to each other, but I didn't think either of them were in a place to get into a relationship.

Maybe that was the point of the book...not every romance makes sense, or is easy. These two just seemed wrong for each other, yet they made it work.

Good story, but….

Good story but it’s about addiction and domestic violence. It’s subtle and that is what makes it good and sad. This is a book where you think about Kelsey and hope she stays sober and that Joy has the patience for her.