Reviews and Awards
and Other Achievements
Thank you to every single person who talks up books. Word of mouth matters today as much as it ever has. People’s opinions matter more than search algorithms!
Readers often ask what they can do to help lesfic. Posting just a few words about any book is incredibly helpful for both authors and other readers. A good place to start is with how that book made you feel.
- Great writing, smart story with fascinating, unusual, and well developed characters. People you would like to know.
- Tell tale warmth, vulnerability, and charm that are so recognizable of this author.
- The premise for the story is interesting and imaginative... Refreshing!
- This tale of love lost and love found makes you cry and laugh at the same time.
- This cute novel held me enthralled wondering who cake designer Sugar Sorenson would end up with...
- Autant le dire tout de suite, j’ai adoré ce livre que j’ai dévoré en quelques heures ce week-end.
- Winner - Best Lesbian Short Stories, GCLS Goldies
- There is a warmth to the author's reading that works perfectly for this story.
- Once Upon a Dyke: New Exploits of Fairy Tale Lesbians This collection of four novellas was a finalist at the 2004 Lambda Literary Awards for LGBT Fantasy. The book contains an earlier, shorter version of “A Fish Out of Water.”
- I was so elated I wanted to celebrate their Happily-Ever-After when I finished reading it! Phew! What a thrilling, intoxicating ride, indeed!
- ...A winsome heroine, hot sex, and an interesting plot.
- Die Happy-End-Garantin schafft es spielend, mit Hilfe von Freundschaft
- The best kind of romance. It has lesbians, just enough angst and a delightful wit and writing style.
- This one's a mouth-watering delight.
- One of my favourites! Charming and wonderfully written.
- ...Well written, romantic and comparable to Curious Wine, which I also loved.
- My Lady Lipstick has a well-written plot with innovative character drama and a love story that doesn’t disappoint. The romance sparkles, the characters are enchanting...
- If you're looking for a great book with which to curl up, find Unforgettable.
- While every story is a little different, some overlap with the same apartment dwellers, lending continuity to the collection so it acts like a novel...
- Get this book when you want to find romance in amongst the dumpster fire world in which we live.
- Overall, I really enjoyed the read, so much so that the epilogue brought a tear to my eye. It was just so cute.
- It’s clear this is a relationship each of them is going to integrate into her real life… A fun, relaxing, sexy story.
- Wind in Her Hair voted I Heart SapphFic Historical Romance of the Month!
- ...Drama and joy, glitz and glamour and plenty of gossip... So get yourself some popcorn and press play!
- Added to my 're-read' pile!
- Kallmaker has created a moody, epic, romantic, passionate novel...
- Just the right amount of tension to make the nerve endings buzz.
- This is a romance ... that showcases real, internal struggles instead of a sequence of external obstacles neatly resolved before the happy ending.
- It’s worth reading the notes at the end of the book to learn a little more about Kallmaker’s inspiration and a rumination on the beginning of lesbian fiction.
- This is a very interesting book, as much for the story as because of who wrote it. There’s not a single second of doubt that this is a Kallmaker book. Her style is everywhere.
- This, friends, is good reading.
- This quick smooth read will leave plenty of time to search your jar of change to find your own ancient coin of love.
- They prevailed with good old fashioned lesbian camaraderie and intelligence.
- All the Wrong Places Finalist in two categories for the 2005 Lambda Literary Awards: Best Lesbian Romance and Best LGBT Erotica.
- The Kiss that Counted Winner of the 2008 Lambda Literary Award for Best Lesbian Romance.
- “I started with And Now a Word…or Two, and ate the whole thing, buttercream rose and all, savoring every bite.” – Carol Rosenfeld for Lambda Book Report
- A new look at prejudice and a different view of pride all painted with the dark purple of a fruity Shiraz.
- Sugar Winner for Best Lesbian Romance “Goldie” at the Golden Crown Literary Society 2005 awards ceremony.
- 5 stars! So, so satisfying and cathartic to see that they were allowed to have their happy ending!
- Love can conquer anything, even time and always evil. That's the message of this book, which I could not put down.
- This story is unique, full of magic and adventure, love and nature and spirituality.
- A delicious romance with just a hint of intrigue ... Uncommonly realistic!
- Karin Kallmaker...delivers a perfectly plotted and paced contemporary romance. She’s a true master of the craft, and this book is not to be missed.
- A diabolical plot and how two friends, Lisa and Tan, work with Ani and Eve to clear Ani's name.
- A wonderful book...truly outstanding.
- Because I Said So wins Best Lesbian Romance - Short Novel at the 2020 Goldie Awards.
- Bibliophile's Bounty! Night Vision Top Five of the Year!
- Both author and narrator are such professionals, they made this audiobook a great experience. Highly recommended.
- Just Like That Finalist for the 2005 Lambda Literary Awards: Best Lesbian Romance.
- This is a beautiful romance, a story of two people who are so destined to be together that no matter how big the gulf between them they can find a way to overcome it.
- The growing attraction and feelings the women experience are delicately delineated with a fine touch...
- It is definitely a romance and if you haven’t read Ms Kallmaker’s Coin of Love series you are missing out.
- Kallmaker's writing gets better and better, her observations on the life lesbian more and more astute. Painted Moon is a very good romance novel with lots of extras.
- Ah ! l'amour... Une histoire qui commence par la fin, pour mieux faire goûter au suspens... Encore de quoi faire rêver les lesbiennes!
- A fun and sexy read to put you (or someone else) in the mood!
- Christmas cheer, community, healing and attraction, even love.
- ...Tous ces ingrédients mis ensemble en font un livre qui se lit facilement, et qui, encore une fois, fait rêver.
- The story was great, I adore the MCs and the narration by Abby Craden, as always, was superb!
- A delightful, gentle tale of an unexpected connection...
- Very good narration for an excellent novella. 4.5 stars.
- A tale of romance, with just enough hot sex to keep it interesting.
- Beautiful and unforgettable story of love and hope.
- Full of suspense and mystery, deeply moving characters and storytelling... The perfect book.
- "A well-written story that I really liked and can easily recommend." - Pin
- Nikki sings her way into Artie’s heart and music plays a key element to their interactions.
- I love a book where the women are strong and commanding. It was a GREAT read and I couldn't put it down.
- If you’re at all into reinterpretations of classic literature or have been wondering what Karin Kallmaker’s writing is like, I highly recommend Just Like That.
- There's no doubt that Painted Moon will take you on an emotional roller coaster, but you will certainly enjoy the ride... Beautifully sensitive.
- A fine balance between romance and reality . . . intimate scenes are beautifully appropriate for the period.
- A classic Kallmaker romance - Painted Moon is as steamy as readers like it to be. The story is a good one, the characters are realistic.
- A sheer pleasure and joy to read.... An exceptionally strong and convincing story.
- Never has a fictional character’s Happily Ever After delighted me more.
- Tall in the Saddle: New Exploits of Western Lesbians This collection of four novellas was a finalist at the 2008 Golden Crown Literary Society Awards for Lesbian Erotica. The book contains an earlier, shorter version of “Cowboys and Kisses.”
- The kind of indestructible and talented woman we all dream we could be - much like Molly Bolt in Rubyfruit Jungle.
- Such a lovely story... You can't stop till the end!
- One of the finest!
- This is a book with heart, and it took a wee bit of mine.
- What a story!
- 25th Anniversary Edition: One of Sheena's Favourite Lesbian Books
- A sweet — but not saccharine — story...
- The cinnamon bread pudding recipe worked!
- I enjoyed the dialogue as well as the minor characters in the story.
- Abby Craden’s fine narration brings it all together. The extra two short stories in this anniversary edition tie a lovely bow on the ending.
- These stories are great as stand alone and as surprise returns of characters I had read before.
- This winning combination gives us fantasy, romance and smut throughout.
- Velvet in Venice had a beautiful ending, just what we need these days.
- Loved this book, it has a great twist, it is well told and loved the characters... Abby Craden as usual made this book even better.
- Being a descendant of First Generation Americans, I am impressed by this attention to detail.
- ...Reality-based & entertaining story about the conflicts & consequences when faced with choosing which you're most willing to sacrifice— the life of your dreams or the love of your life?
- The dialogue, particularly in conversations between Milla and Tyna, works so well, capturing the first blush of attraction.
- ...A look into the struggle women faced in the American West during the nineteenth century, and Karin has written it as masterfully as expected.
- In Deep Waters Volume 1: Cruising the Seas Winner of a Goldie award for Best Lesbian Erotica at the Golden Crown Literary Society’s 2008 Awards Ceremony. Co-authored with Radclyffe.
- The dialogue is probably the best I have read by this author and she excels at snappy dialogue.
- This lesbian classic audiobook is a good way to immerse yourself in the past and be happy for what we’ve got now.
- Good things to say about staying true to yourself...
- Roller Coaster Finalist at the 2012 Golden Crown Literary Society Awards for Lesbian Romance.
- For as much as I thought I disliked both women for different reasons, Kallmaker sucked me in with deeper character analysis that left me cheering them both on in the last few chapters.
- Libera me se lit d'une traite et démontre avec bonheur que roman sentimental ne rime pas forcément avec Arlequin.