This was an okay read. I generally highlight memorable phrases or moments while reading, but that was not the case with Uncommon Emotions. Alllthooough, being hauled into a dark supply room and slapped with a languorous kiss from the softest lips would most definitely be the highlight of a memorable day for me. Sigh, I should be so lucky. Moving on, the chemistry between Joslyn and Raven is there, but it takes some time to surface. Like others have mentioned, the conflict between the two women left me scratching my head. The author painted Joslyn and Raven as being such strong, independent, and loyal women, but yet she puts them in a conflict that’s beneath both their characters. Perhaps that’s the point: strong, independent, and loyal women are not immune to being pigheaded (more so Raven than Joslyn). Then again, I could be grasping at straws and the conflict is simply contrived.

Overall, a good read, but not one I will reread. Note: This is probably the first book where I feel more connected to the supporting characters than the main characters. Go figure! Hugs and smooches to Giovanni and Amalia, and Zina, “You go girl with ‘yo beautiful black self!” ( )

As long as Lynn Galli is always writing, I'll be a happy reader! Her books never fail to please...wonderful characters, lovely romance, nice pacing. It's all there!:) ( )

My second book by Galli. Though the first one I'd put on my maybe's list. A year ago. Literally, well, a year and two days ago. There are so many potential good books out there that I sometimes take a longish while before I get around to gobbling them all up.

I knew going in that I'd be reading a sub-genre of lesbian fiction, of lesbian romances, that I didn't really like reading. I don't particularly like reading the 'straight woman' 'lesbian woman' hook up stories. Which this one was. Since Joslyn Simonini has spent the last 37 years thinking of herself as straight. For various reasons, confirming that Raven Malvolio is a lesbian took longer to occur. Mostly assumed from the beginning, though.

I'd read the first chapter, though, to sample the book. And I rather liked how everything seemed to be coming off. A woman drags Jos into a closet at her current client's offices and kisses her passionately. Only to find out she had grabbed the wrong woman. Jos found it a much nicer experience than she would have expected. So, her ideas of her own sexuality were already tripping down different confused paths before she ever even meet Raven.

I didn't know it when I read the sample chapter. Though, for some reason I kind of assumed it, and/or felt the book would be this way, but the book is almost entirely from the point of view of Joslyn. Which actually helped me even more in being able to enjoy this book and not fall into certain pathways that might have come up if I'd had both of the couple's thoughts throughout, and/or if this had been from Raven's point of view.

Strong, solid characterization. I rather liked both lead women, Joslyn and Raven. They are the most well developed, though I got a good sense of others as the story progressed.

Story-wise: except for one 'out of left field, let's have a conflict to have a conflict' plot point, I liked the story. That "conflict" point did seem rather contrived, though. I liked that it mostly wasn't a miscommunication situation, though. Too often this all too common plot device, conflict point, is based on somewhat lazy miscommunication. Not that the miscommunication is lazy, but that using that as the reason for conflict seems to happen so often, that it begins to feel lazy for a writer to fall back on it. So, I'm glad that the conflict point wasn't specifically a miscommunication issue.

Ack. I almost forgot one thing I normally do not mention: sex. If you are the kind to skim or skip the sex scenes, this is one book wherein it actually adds something to fully read these scenes. As in, adds to the characterization of the characters, to the plot, to the love relationship. Also, and a side point, I liked these scenes.

Well, this is the second new-to-me lesbian author I've found and enjoyed since June 29th when I read my first book by Galli, Full Court Pressure. Potentially four if the I add another book/story by the other two new-to-me lesbian authors I've read since them, and like those works. ( )