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Henson, Pene

September 11, 2017 by admin

WORK TITLE: Storm Season
WORK NOTES:
PSEUDONYM(S):
BIRTHDATE:
WEBSITE: https://penehenson.com/
CITY: Sydney
STATE: NW
COUNTRY: Australia
NATIONALITY: Australian

https://penehenson.com/books/about/ * http://happyeverafter.usatoday.com/2016/07/08/becky-condit-recommended-romance-into-the-blue-pene-henson/

Posted in 408 | Comments Off on Henson, Pene

PERSONAL

Married; children: two sons.

EDUCATION:

Holds degrees in chemistry and law.

ADDRESS

Home - Sydney, New South Wales, Australia.

CAREER

Poet and intellectual property lawyer.

WRITINGS

Into the Blue (novel), Interlude Press July 7, 2016
Storm Season (novel), Interlude Press February 2, 2017

SIDELIGHTS

Pene Henson is a poet, intellectual property lawyer, writer of queer romance, and advocate for the LGBTQ community. She grew up in Great Britain, earned degrees in chemistry and law, worked as a lawyer in New York City and San Francisco in the United States, and settled in Sydney, Australia with her wife and two sons. Her novels Into the Blue and Storm Season and other writings reflect her enjoyment watching the ocean, considering surfers and footballers, listening to indie bands, and reading about science and outer space.

Into the Blue

The pan sexual romance Into the Blue, published in 2016, follows Oahu surfers and best friends since childhood Tai Talagi and Ollie Birskstrom as they try out for the Surfing World Championship Tour. Ollie, who is hesitant to compete after an injury, is encouraged to participate by Tai who believes in him. Their competition takes them to pristine beaches and Tai wonders if adding intimacy to their relationship will spoil their friendship. When they return home, they cobble together a life with fellow roommates in a run-down beach house called Blue House: Ollie’s teenage brother, Jaime, whom he is raising after the death of their mother; and Susan and Hannah. Sexuality is explored through the housemates who represent homosexuality, bisexuality, asexuality, and heterosexuality. In a review on his website, Dale Cameron Lowry observed: “Henson’s writing is simple, straightforward, and wonderfully lyrical. …Her prose has a wonderful musicality that propels the reader through even the emotionally toughest scenes.”

“This book was wonderful in that it was a simple story about friendship evolving into something more,” noted a writer on the Just Love: Queer Book Reviews Website. According to Becky Condit online at Happy Ever After: “I very much enjoyed this book and its highly satisfying ending. I recommend it to anyone intrigued by the gradations of sexuality and most especially to readers of romance who love a story of passion that may take a rocky road to love but gets there in the end.” While a Publishers Weekly writer wished Tai’s Samoan heritage was explored in more detail, nevertheless commented: “The plausibility of the miscommunications and the realism of the young men’s relationship and personalities are exceptional.”

Storm Season

Henson’s next book is the 2017 Storm Season. Set in the New South Wales outback, Australia, the story follows music and fashion journalist Lien Hong who is not enjoying the great outdoors during a camping trip with her friends who rented a cabin on their way to a music festival. Lien gets separated from her friends, her cell phone doesn’t work, and she’s scared. Wilderness ranger Claudia Sokolov heads out to find her just as a bad storm hits. Claudia finds Lien and while they wait in Claudia’s ranger cabin for the bad weather to subside, the two women become close even though they have little in common. But can they continue their relationship after adversity brought them together? “Henson explores an interesting lesbian relationship that begins as an ‘opposites attract’ storyline but cants into a journey of two women truly finding each other after they decide to be true to themselves,” said a writer in Kirkus Reviews.

A Publishers Weekly contributor commented on the way Lien intrudes on Claudia’s life, declaring what she thinks Claudia really wants, and called the book an expose on psychological abuse. The contributor said that readers familiar with this type of relationship “will flinch away from any notion that such mistreatment could lead to a mutually happy ending.” On the other hand, Tara Scott said online at the Lesbian Review: “I loved the romance, the characters and their respective arcs, the way the author writes friendship, and the sex writing is perfect for this book. Everything worked for me.”

BIOCRIT

PERIODICALS

Kirkus Reviews, January 1, 2017, review of Storm Season.
Publishers Weekly, May 23, 2016, review of Into the Blue, p. 54; January 2, 2017, review of Storm Season, p. 45.

ONLINE

Dale Cameron Lowry, https://dalecameronlowry.com/ (July 7, 2016), review of Into the Blue.
Happy Ever After, http://happyeverafter.usatoday.com/ (July 8, 2016), Becky Condit, review of Into the Blue.
Just Love: Queer Book Reviews, https://justlovereviews.com/ (August 24, 2016), review of Into the Blue.
Lesbian Review, http://www.thelesbianreview.com/ (July 6, 2017), Tara Scott, review of Storm Season.
Pene Henson Website, https://penehenson.com (October 1, 2017), author profile.*

N/A

Into the Blue - July 7, 2016 Interlude Press, https://www.amazon.com/Into-Blue-Pene-Henson/dp/1941530842
Storm Season - February 2, 2017 Interlude Press, https://www.amazon.com/Storm-Season-Pene-Henson/dp/194505316X

Pene Henson - https://penehenson.com/books/about/
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PENE HENSON
WRITING ABOUT LOVE, BIG WAVES AND ENDLESS SKIES
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Photo by Laura Simonsen

Pene Henson writes queer romance. Her first novel INTO THE BLUE was published in July 2016. Her second novel STORM SEASON comes from Interlude Press in February 2017.

After time in New York and San Francisco, Pene has been back in Sydney, Australia for the past ten years. She lives with her wife and their two unstoppable children. She squeezes writing into painfully early mornings and late nights.

Her writing draws from time watching the ocean, from reading about outer space, from fandom, from considering surfers and footballers and indie bands and science and the prettiest places in the world. She’s interested in how unfamiliar places change people’s hearts.

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Pene Henson
Biography
Pene Henson has been many things—minister’s wife, barefoot beach-town kid, New York City lawyer, British boarding school matron, baseball team manager, singer in a rock band, church choir member, queer party girl, and soccer mum. A resident of Sydney, Australia, and immersed in Sydney’s LGBTQIA community, she spends her non-writing time playing and watching sports, camping and boating and gazing at the ocean.

She’s raising two unexpectedly exceptional boys with her gorgeous wife. She has degrees in chemistry and in law, and works in intellectual property law, contemplating other people’s inventions.

She is a published poet who has long been an active writer in online communities. Into the Blue is her first novel.
Where to find Pene Henson online
Website: http://penehenson.com
Twitter: @penehenson
Blog: http://penehenson.tumblr.com

Where to buy in print
http://interludepress.com

Books
Storm Season by Pene Henson
Price: $6.99 USD. Words: 64,450. Language: English. Published: February 2, 2017 by Interlude Press. Categories: Fiction » Romance » Contemporary, Fiction » Gay & lesbian fiction » Lesbian
When Sydney It-Girl Lien Hong finds herself stranded and alone in the stormy New South Wales outback, her rescue comes in the form of wilderness ranger Claudia Sokolov, whose isolated cabin and soulful singing voice bely a complicated history. While they wait out the weather, the women find an undeniable connection that long outlasts the storm.
Into the Blue by Pene Henson
Price: $6.99 USD. Words: 70,310. Language: English. Published: July 7, 2016 by Interlude Press. Categories: Fiction » Gay & lesbian fiction » Gay, Fiction » Romance » New adult
Tai Talagi and Ollie Birkstrom have been inseparable since they met as kids surfing the North Shore. Tai’s spent years setting aside his feelings for Ollie, but when Ollie’s pro surfing dreams come to life, their steady world shifts. Is the relationship worth risking everything for a chance at something terrifying and beautiful and altogether new?

Pene Henson's tag cloud
australian outback contemporary romance friends to lovers gay romance hawaii interracial romance lesbian fiction lesbian romance lgbtq romance musician new adult romance sports romance surf romance surfing sydney
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Print Marked Items
Henson, Pene: STORM SEASON
Kirkus Reviews.
(Jan. 1, 2017):
COPYRIGHT 2017 Kirkus Media LLC
http://www.kirkusreviews.com/
Full Text:
Henson, Pene STORM SEASON Interlude Press (Adult Fiction) $15.99 2, 2 ISBN: 978-1-945053-16-0
When an injured Sydney journalist is stranded in a storm during a camping trip, she winds up spending a few days at
the cabin of a wilderness ranger, leading her on a surprising journey of romance and introspection.Music and fashion
journalist Lien Hong isn't looking forward to a holiday camping trip with her friends. Her career--and perhaps her
identity?--is a little too tied to social media, and being in the middle of nowhere for days is not her idea of a good time.
But she's up for a challenge, and she has an adorable, if impractical, wardrobe. Unfortunately, almost as soon as she
gets to the campground, she takes a little stroll and winds up lost, injured, and with a broken smartphone just as a storm
is rolling in. Rescued by Claudia, a ranger, the two become stranded in Claudia's cabin when the roads are washed out.
At first embarrassed and flustered, Lien begins to feel relaxed in Claudia's home and welcomes the forcibly unplugged
atmosphere. One evening when Claudia is playing her guitar and singing, Lien realizes she is also Claudie, the lead
singer of Grand Echo, a popular up-and-coming band from a few years ago that simply disappeared. The two embark
on a summer fling, but Lien is disappointed when Claudia makes it clear she's not interested in keeping in touch. Lien
heads back to her life in Sydney but finds her time away has changed her, and she feels restless. Meanwhile, their time
together has inspired Claudia to face her past and pursue music again, and when she moves back to Sydney, she and
Lien must decide if they have a future together. Henson explores an interesting lesbian relationship that begins as an
"opposites attract" storyline but cants into a journey of two women truly finding each other after they decide to be true
to themselves. The present-tense narration can be distracting, and the pacing slows occasionally, but overall this is a
unique and engaging romance. An appealing love story.
Source Citation (MLA 8th
Edition)
"Henson, Pene: STORM SEASON." Kirkus Reviews, 1 Jan. 2017. General OneFile, go.galegroup.com/ps/i.do?
p=ITOF&sw=w&u=schlager&v=2.1&id=GALE%7CA475357497&it=r&asid=1e818553735a3619d300f6a6b3d5136d.
Accessed 1 Oct. 2017.
Gale Document Number: GALE|A475357497

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Romance & erotica
Rose Fox
Publishers Weekly.
263.51 (Dec. 12, 2016): p101.
COPYRIGHT 2016 PWxyz, LLC
http://www.publishersweekly.com/
Full Text:
Contemporary romances fill the spring 2017 list, including sweet smalltown love stories and intense romantic thrillers
with a thread of danger.
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TOP 10
Come Sundown
Nora Roberts. St. Martin's, June 6
Romantic suspense doyen Roberts heads out west with this story set in Montana, where a series of murders and a heap
of complicated family drama leave a ranch owner on edge and turning to her newest ranch hand for help and support.
The Five-Minute Marriage
Joan Aiken. Sourcebooks Casablanca, Mar. 7
This Regency romance from the late Aiken (best known for the Wolves of Willoughby Chase series for teens) earned
rave reviews in 1978. This repackaging is long overdue.
The Girl Who Knew Too Much
Amanda Quick. Berkley, May 9
Quick brings her talent for romantic mystery to this novel set on the 1930s California coast, bringing togethera rookie
reporter and a stage magician.
If Not for You
Debbie Macomber. Ballantine, Mar. 21
Perennial bestseller Macomber's latest contemporary is a delightful opposites-attract story about Beth, a sheltered
young woman finally taking charge of her life, and Sam, a gruff mechanic with a heart of gold.
Indigo Lake
Jodi Thomas. HQN, July 25
Sunrise Crossing, Thomas's first contemporary set in Crossroads,Tex., was named one of PW's best books of 2016. The
sequel promises plenty more heartstring-tugging.
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The Lilac Bouquet
Carolyn Brown. Montlake Romance, Mar. 28
Brown, best known for her cowboy romances, takes a turn toward contemporary women's fiction with this tale of
romantic hopes and family baggage in the American South.
Love Runs Deep
Gail Chianese. Kensington/Lyrical, Feb. 21
Chianese's contemporary has an unusual setting: a naval submarine, where one of the first female submarine crew
members must contend with both her lust for a fellow sailor and someone's efforts to sabotage her career.
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Silver Silence
Nalini Singh. Berkley, June 13
Having wrapped up the main arc of her long-running Psy-Changeling paranormal romance series, Singh opens a new
chapter with this trilogy launch.
Sweet Tea and Sympathy
Molly Harper. S&S/Gallery, May 30
Harper takes a break from paranormal romance with this rollicking contemporary set in smalltown Georgia, where an
elite event planner from Chicago causes something of a ruckus when she hooks the town's most eligible bachelor.
Unstrung
Laura Spinella. Montlake Romance, Feb. 21
In Spinella's gripping contemporary, a symphony violinist and her financier husband must find a way to repair their
marriage after he uses her mother's home as collateral in a business deal.
ROMANCE & EROTICA
BALLANTINE
The Chosen: A Novel of the Black Dagger Brotherhood by J.R. Ward (Apr. 4, hardcover, $28, ISBN 978-0451-47519-
0) continues Ward's bestselling series with a dramatic tale of a troubled vampire warrior and the woman who holds his
secrets.
If Not for You by Debbie Macomber (Mar. 21, hardcover, $27, ISBN 978-0553-39196-1). In this opposites-attract
contemporary, a sheltered young woman finally gets away from her conservative parents, only to meet a gruff mechanic
who's everything they warned her about.
Some Kind of Hero: A Troubleshooters Novel by Suzanne Brockmann (July 11, hardcover, $27, ISBN 978-0-345-
54382-0). A former Navy SEAL and a resourceful writer, both single parents, team up to save the SEAL's missing teen
daughter, and find unexpected romance along the way.
BERKLEY
The Girl Who Knew Too Much by Amanda Quick (May 9, hardcover, $27, ISBN 978-0-399-17447-6). On the 1930s
California coast, a murder mystery brings together a rookie reporter with a nose for the truth and a magician whose
stage illusions are far from his only secrets.
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Silver Silence by Nalini Singh (June 13, hardcover, $27, ISBN 978-1-10198779-7) begins a new story arc in her superpopular
Psy-Changeling paranormal series, pairing a tightly controlled Psy and a reckless alpha male Changeling.
BOLD STROKES
Fury's Bridge by Brey Willows (Mar. 14, trade paper, $16.95, ISBN 978-162639-841-2). The Greek gods are
transplanted to present-day California in this romantic thriller, which matches avenging fury Alectho and an ordinary
philosophy professor.
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Royal Rebel by Jenny Frame (May loytrade paper, $16.95, ISBN 978-1-62639 893-1) is a charming story of an
alternate England where Queen George's queen consort matchmakes between a misbehaving princess and the director
of a hospice charity.
CARINA
His Alone by Alexa Riley (Mar. 28, mass market, $7.99, ISBN 978-0-37300453-9). Paige is trying to outrun her past,
but she keeps getting distracted by Ryan, a sexy heartthrob she can't resist--and her boss.
DELL
Blackthorne's Bride: A Bitter Creek Novel by Joan Johnston (July 25, mass market, $7.99, ISBN 978-0-399-177743). A
rogue nobleman, a rescued lady, and revenge undone by romance all play a part in this American west historical novel
of passion and deception.
DUTTON
Finding Gideon by Eric Jerome Dickey (Apr. 18, hardcover, $27, ISBN 978-1-101-98549-6). Bestseller Dickey brings
his trademark sexy flair to an international thriller full of sex and mayhem.
FOREVER
Starlight Bridge by Debbie Mason (Feb. 28, mass market, $7.99, ISBN 978-1-4555-3722-8) is the second book in her
latest contemporary series. 75,000-copy announced first printing.
GRAND CENTRAL
The Nearness of You by Dorothy Garlock (July 11, hardcover, $26, ISBN 978-1-4555-2735-9) is a tender contemporary
about finding home, whether it's a special place or an even more special person. 10,000-copy announced first printing.
HARLEQUIN/KIMANI
A Pleasing Temptation by Deborah Fletcher Mello (Mar. 21, mass market, $6.50, ISBN 978-0-373-86493-5). A
passionate affair threatens to explode into drama when an entrepreneur discovers that her lover is the owner of a strip
club she's been financing--and is also one of its top performers.
HQN
After the Dark by Cynthia Eden (Mar. 28, mass market, $7.99, ISBN 978-0-373-80192-3) launches a romantic thriller
series with an intense story about a disgraced FBI profiler who must save her reputation by stopping a sadistic killer.
150,000-copy announced first printing.
Indigo Lake by Jodi Thomas (July 25, hardcover, $26.99, ISBN 978-0-37380404-7) is a contemporary novel set in
Crossroads, Tex. (the sequel to Sunrise Crossing, one of PWs 2016 Best Books), uniting two long-feuding families
through the power of love.
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The Secrets of the Tulip Sisters by Susan Mallery (July 11, hardcover, $25.99, ISBN 978-0-373-80276-0). Sisters Kelly
and Olivia Van Gilder had their hearts broken by brothers Griffith and Ryan Martin. When the four of them reunite,
sparks fly again. 250,000-copy announced first printing.
INTERLUDE
And It Came to Pass by Laura Stone (May 18, trade paper, $15.99, ISBN 9781-945053-15-3). Two young Mormon
missionaries find themselves questioning their faith as they fall in love with each other.
Beneath the Stars by Lynn Charles (Feb. 16, trade paper, $17.99, ISBN 978-1-945053-17-7). Returning home to care
for his ailing father, a designer on the brink of success meets a fire chief and a young boy who change his life.
Storm Season by Pene Henson (Feb. 2, trade paper, $15.99, ISBN 978-1-945053-16-0). When Sydney socialite Lien
Hong is lost and injured at a music festival in the New South Wales outback, wilderness ranger Claudia Sokolov comes
to her rescue.
KENSINGTON
A Mother's Love by Charlotte Hubbard (Mar. 28, hardcover, $16.95, ISBN 978-1-4967-0844-1). In Hubbard's
contemporary Amish standalone, complicated family and business ties leave widow Rose Raber and community
newcomer Matthias Wagler struggling to find a path to love and happiness.
KENSINGTON/DAFINA
Complications by Devon Scott (Apr. 25, mass market, $7.99, ISBN 978-14967-0244-9). Three friends in Washington,
D.C., embark on individual romantic escapades that lead them in very unexpected directions.
Dangerous Consequences by Lisa Renee Johnson (Apr. 25, trade paper, $9.95, ISBN 978-1-4967-0794-9). A
psychologist and a neurosurgeon must defend their marriage against a dangerous stalker who wants to destroy it, in
Johnson's debut, a contemporary romantic thriller.
KENSINGTON/LYRICAL
His Rip-Roarin' Bride by Martha Hix (Mar. 28, e-book, $1.99, ISBN 9781-60183-938-1). Packing a six-shooter, LisaAnn
Wilkins roars into Lubbock, Tex., determined to take out the man who killed her best friend. But a shootout at the
local saloon lands her in the custody of Sheriff Wes Alington--and the real trouble begins.
Love Runs Deep by Gail Chianese (Feb. 21, e-book, $3.99, ISBN 978-1-51610029-3). Active duty is no time for
romance, but when two naval officers find themselves in close quarters on a submarine, the temptation to fraternize is
hard to resist.
KENSINGTON/ LYRICAL SHINE
Crossing Hearts by Rebecca Crowley (Mar. 21, e-book, $3.99, ISBN 978-15161-0262-4). Chilean soccer legend Rio
Vidal is driven to define a role on his new team in Atlanta, Ga. But he must also adapt to a new culture--and for that he
needs the help of his translator, Eva Torres.
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KENSINGTON/ZEBRA
Dangerous Behavior by Nancy Bush (Apr. 25, mass market, $7.99, ISBN 978-1-4201-4289-1). Julia St. James Ford has
washed up on a beach with no memory of how she got there or how her husband, Joe, died. The police rule the case an
accident. But Joe's brother, Sam--Jules's rescuer and her first love--suspects otherwise.
A Family Affair by Fern Michaels (Mar. 28, mass market, $7.99, ISBN 978-1-4201-3017-1). After wealthy prince
Malik and down-to-earth dancer Trisha embark on a whirlwind romance, she struggles to adjust to her opulent new
lifestyle while helping family members who've fallen on hard times.
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The Most Dangerous Duke in London by Madeline Hunter (May 30, mass market, $7.99, ISBN 978-1-42014390-4)
opens a Regency-era trilogy about scandalous dukes looking for brilliant brides.
LOVESWEPT
Love Story by Lauren Layne (Feb. 14, e-book, $4.99, ISBN 978-1-101-968888). Over the course of a cross-country
road trip, feuding childhood sweethearts get a second chance at love.
MIRA
Falling Darkness by Karen Harper (Apr. 25, hardcover, $26.99, ISBN 978-07783-3060-8). A forensic psychologist is
helping the man she loves flee from a criminal mastermind. When their plane crashes, they and a handful of other
survivors are left with a whole new set of problems.
MONTLAKE ROMANCE
Claiming Grace by Susan Stoker (Mar. 14, trade paper, $12.95, ISBN 978-1-50394243-1). Stoker's first Ace Security
romantic thriller reunites childhood sweethearts. Logan is about to found a business with his brothers; Grace is
struggling to escape her controlling family. They must find ways to help each other if they're to rekindle their love.
The Lilac Bouquet by Carolyn Brown (Mar. 28, trade paper, $12.95, ISBN 9781-5039-4355-1). An ancient family feud
comes to a head when a woman determined to afford her dream wedding takes a lucrative job for a reclusive elderly
man who's still carrying a torch for her great-grandmother.
Unstrung by Laura Spinella (Feb. 21, trade paper, $12.95, ISBN 978-1-50393735-2). In this complex, layered tale of
love and loss, a symphony violinist must come to terms with the decisions that have shaped her life while grappling
with tensions in her marriage and a ghost from her past.
POCKET STAR
Intercepting the Chef by Rachel Goodman (May 2, e-book, $1.99, ISBN 978-1-5011-5892-6) opens a sports-themed
series with a romance between a football player who owns a restaurant and the beautiful chef who works for him.
The Last Resort by R.S. Kovach (Mar. 20, e-book, $1.99, ISBN 978-1-50114565-0). High-powered corporate executive
and show-jumper Alejandra Barros breaks her wrist and heads to a Colorado resort ranch to recuperate. As she falls in
love with ranch hand Hank Mathis, she begins to question her priorities and fast-paced way of life.
PRIDE
Borderline by T.A. Chase (May 1, trade paper, $9.95, ISBN 978-1-78651897-2). Mac Guzman, Texas Ranger, is lead
detective on a serial killer case rocking the city of Houston. He's willing to take help from anyone, especially handsome
FBI profiler Tanner Wallace.
S&S/GALLERY
The Darkest Corner by Liliana Hart (May 23, mass market, $7.99, ISBN 9781-5011-5003-6). Hart opens the
Gravediggers romantic suspense series with an intense connection between a black-ops fighter who's undercover as a
funeral home assistant and the smalltown mortician he ends up working for.
Sweet Tea and Sympathy by Molly Harper (May 30, mass market, $7.99, ISBN 978-1-5011-5122-4). In this sweet
Southern romance, an elite event planner from Chicago winds up in a small Georgia town and makes waves when she
starts dating one of the town's most eligible bachelors.
SHADOW MOUNTAIN
The Vicar's Daughter by Josi S. Kilpack (Apr. 4, trade paper, $15.99, ISBN 978-1-62972-280-1). Cassie's ambitions are
hampered by her shy, emotionally fragile older sister, Lenora, who must marry before Cassie's parents will allow Cassie
to come out in society, so Cassie hatches a plan to kindle a love affair between Lenora and handsome Mr. Glenside, a
newcomer to their small village. 15,000-copy announced first printing.
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SOURCEBOOKS CASABLANCA
The Five-Minute Marriage by Joan Aiken (Mar. 7, mass market, $8.99, ISBN 978-1-49264124-7). In this repackaged
1978 Regency romance from renowned author Aiken, the daughter of an impoverished socialite enters into what's
supposed to be a fake marriage with her cousin in order to get money from her tightfisted uncle--but the marriage is real
and the consequences rapidly cascade.
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One More Kiss by Samantha Chase (Feb. 7, mass market, $7.99, ISBN 978-14926-1640-5). After bombing on
Broadway, a rock star seeking redemption finds love in his hometown with his best friend's kid sister in this low-key
contemporary series launch.
Reckless Hearts by Heather Van Fleet (Feb. 7, mass market, $7.99, ISBN 978-1-4926-3716-5). Debut author Van Fleet
sets up a series with this sweet tale of three tough Marines raising a baby, which gets complicated when one of them
falls for their new nanny.
Wanted and Wired by Vivien Jackson (Apr. 4, mass market, $7.99, ISBN 9781-4926-4816-1). In this postapocalyptic
science fiction romance, when a by-the-books hit goes wrong, bounty hunter Mari finds herself and her mysterious
handler, Heron, on the run. Their lives depend on their trust for each other, even as they both hide secrets.
ST. MARTIN'S
The Bad Luck Bride by Janna MacGregor (May 2, mass market, $7.99, ISBN 978-1-250-11612-3). In MacGregor's
Regency-era debut, a man out for vengeance forces his target's fiancee, who's supposedly cursed, to marry him instead.
Soon their forced proximity causes surprising changes in their relationship.
Come Sundown by Nora Roberts (June 6, hardcover, $27.99, ISBN 978-1250-12307-7). A Montana ranch owner and
her newest ranch hand turn to each other for help and support when women in the region are murdered and the ranch
owner's long-lost aunt suddenly reappears.
How to Tame a Beast in Seven Days by Kerrelyn Sparks (Mar. 7, mass market, $7.99, ISBN 978-1-250-10821-0). This
fantasy romance series launch from bestseller Sparks opens on the Isle of Moonj where Luciana has grown up hidden
away because of her magical powers. Her life is upended when she enters an arranged marriage with a man who can
harness lightning.
72 Hours by Bella Jewel (Apr. 4, mass market, $7.99, ISBN 9781-250-10834-0). Digital bestseller Jewel debuts in print
with a romantic thriller about two desperate people trying to escape a murderer's horrifying scheme.
ST. MARTIN S GRIFFIN
The Billionaires: 100 Shades of Sin by Calista Fox (Apr. 4, trade paper, $15.99, ISBN 978-1-250-09640-1). * In Fox's
smoldering menage romance, three childhood best friends reunite as adults and realize they don't have to make
impossible choices--they can just say yes.
The Deep End by Kristen Ashley (Mar. 7, trade paper, $15.99, ISBN 9781-250-12111-0). At the elite Honey club,
powerful men give in to their desire to submit to dominant women. Ashley's series launch follows one such pair as their
kink connection develops into romance.
TOTALLY BOUND
No Strings Attached by Julia Kanno (Apr. 1, trade paper, $9.95, ISBN 978-1-78651-889-7). A harried mother
unexpectedly falls for a handsome young rock star when she and her teen daughter win tickets and backstage passes to
one of his shows.
Temporary Home by Aliyah Burke (July 1, trade paper, $9.95, ISBN 978-178651-914-6). A former Marine opens her
home to a fellow jarhead who's visiting his ailing mentor. Before long, they're falling in love and having risky thoughts
about making their temporary arrangement permanent.
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Fox, Rose. "Romance & erotica." Publishers Weekly, 12 Dec. 2016, p. 101+. General OneFile,
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p=ITOF&sw=w&u=schlager&v=2.1&id=GALE%7CA475225020&it=r&asid=c52f52253ad0feaf8fc3ec833d5e1959.
Accessed 1 Oct. 2017.
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"Henson, Pene: STORM SEASON." Kirkus Reviews, 1 Jan. 2017. General OneFile, go.galegroup.com/ps/i.do?p=ITOF&sw=w&u=schlager&v=2.1&id=GALE%7CA475357497&it=r. Accessed 1 Oct. 2017. "Storm Season." Publishers Weekly, 2 Jan. 2017, p. 45. General OneFile, go.galegroup.com/ps/i.do? p=ITOF&sw=w&u=schlager&v=2.1&id=GALE%7CA478696519&it=r. Accessed 1 Oct. 2017. "Into the Blue." Publishers Weekly, 23 May 2016, p. 54. General OneFile, go.galegroup.com/ps/i.do? p=ITOF&sw=w&u=schlager&v=2.1&id=GALE%7CA453722500&it=r. Accessed 1 Oct. 2017. Fox, Rose. "Romance & erotica." Publishers Weekly, 12 Dec. 2016, p. 101+. General OneFile, go.galegroup.com/ps/i.do?p=ITOF&sw=w&u=schlager&v=2.1&id=GALE%7CA475225020&it=r. Accessed 1 Oct. 2017.

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Love and Lust rec: ‘Into the Blue’ by Pene Henson
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By: Becky Condit | July 8, 2016 12:00 pm
Into the Blue by Pene Henson

Into the Blue by Pene Henson

What it’s about (courtesy Interlude Press):

Tai Talagi and Ollie Birkstrom have been inseparable since they met as kids, surfing the North Shore of Oahu. Now they live with their best friends and Ollie’s kid brother in a pulled-together family, all of them piled into a run-down beach house. They share cooking, bills, and the saltwater running in their veins. They might have no money, they might argue, they might be in dead end jobs, but they live in Hawaii so it’s always summer. There’s always time for one last wave.

Tai’s spent years shutting down any feelings for Ollie. They’re friends. Their family depends on them. But with Ollie off on his first world tour, with Ollie’s dreams of a pro surfing career finally within reach, their steady world shifts. Is it worth risking their friendship, their family, their dreams for a chance at something terrifying and beautiful and altogether new?

Why you should read it: Into the Blue is the debut novel by Pene Henson, and it is stunning. There are several main characters, but in terms of a romance, the two main characters are Ollie and Tai.

Ollie is the talented surfer who suffered an injury that kept him out of the competitive arena for a while and is just now ready to get back into it. At least, he would like to have that opportunity, but now he must earn it on more than just his reputation. It takes his friend Tai to get him out there and work for it. Ollie’s father was never in the picture and his mother died, leaving him the parent/brother of teenage Jaime.

Tai lives in Hawaii in the Blue House he shares with Ollie, Susan, Hannah and Jaime. He is a Samoan with a very large extended family who are scattered all across the Pacific. He is a surfer but not at the level of Ollie. Tai’s talent is in shaping surfboards. He looks, touches and makes each individual board into a unique tool for himself but primarily for Ollie. When Ollie earns a place on the world tour, Tai goes with him.

Not only is this a story about the world of competitive professional surfing, but it’s a romance. Tai and Ollie have been best friends since they first met when they were 13. Now that they are grown, they begin to explore their friendship and whether adding sex will complicate things irrevocably.

Among the five residents of Blue House are a homosexual, a demisexual, an asexual, a bisexual and a heterosexual. They are never labeled as such, but as you read you will recognize them. With that mix the romance in this book is as complicated and messy as it can possibly be, but since it is a romance the required HEA is always there, sometimes just out of reach. Ms. Henson maneuvers the relationships just like the tide. There is an ebb and flow to the pull Ollie and Tai feel for each other but try so hard to deny. When the bond finally breaks, it is time for both of them to man up and have an actual conversation about what they want. As Susan says, over and over, “Talk to him!”

I very much enjoyed this book and its highly satisfying ending. I recommend it to anyone intrigued by the gradations of sexuality and most especially to readers of romance who love a story of passion that may take a rocky road to love but gets there in the end. Pene Henson is an author to put on your watch list, because if her first novel is this good, imagine what we can look forward to.

Becky Condit is a widow, mother of three and grandmother of 10 who reads all kinds of books, but her go-to comfort books are erotic romances. A romance novel coupled with just-out-of-the-oven chocolate-chip cookies and a glass of cold milk is her idea of heaven. She reads and reviews more than 250 books a year, so you won’t often find her without her Kindle in hand, but when you do, she’ll probably be gardening, doing needle crafts, working in her upholstery workshop and spending time with her family.

MORE ON HEA: Read more of Becky’s romance recs

m/m romance, Recommended reads, Top stories

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Storm Season by Pene Henson: Book Review
July 6, 2017 Tara ScottInterlude Press, Pene Henson
Storm Season by Pene HensonStorm Season by Pene Henson is a lovely romance that snuck up on me. I’m almost tempted to tell you to read nothing about it and just go dive into the book, but that wouldn’t make for a very good review.

Lien Hong is so not into camping, and yet she’s let her friends talk her into it anyway. A party girl from Sydney who writes about music and fashion, she has no idea how to pack for the trip, even if she’s looking forward to the music festival they’ll be attending halfway through it. When she wanders off on their first night and injures herself just as a storm rolls in, she’s lucky to be rescued by a wilderness ranger who takes Lien into her cabin and lets her wait out the weather.

Claudia Sokolov left Sydney and its music scene for good reason and has enjoyed her three years of solitude. She has no desire to share her cabin with anyone, but the storm has given her and Lien no choice until the washed out road clears up. The more they get to know each other, the more something seems to be there. Can their connection make it as Lien goes back to Sydney?

The Characters
The character work is really strong in Storm Season, especially when it comes to Claudie and Lien. Both women think they know who they are and what they want, but meeting each other helps shed light on what’s really important and nudges them to pursue the things that will truly make them happy. This means that by the end of the book, each woman is a better fit for the other because they’ve grown in ways that are good for themselves and not just what will shape them to better fit a relationship together.

There are some interesting side characters between all of Claudie and Lien’s friends. I was especially happy to see Beau, Lien’s roommate who is a trans man. The author was very careful with how she handled him and I was pleased to see him headed towards his own angst-free happily ever after.

The Writing Style
The writing in this book is gorgeous and atmospheric, and the third person present tense had me gripped all the way through. The pacing is careful, yet not slow, deftly guiding us through Lien and Claudie’s growth. Storm Season is a character driven story, and a satisfying one at that, because I never found myself longing for more to the plot.

Also, Cheyenne Blue told me in a comment on The Lesbian Review Book Club that it’s a very Australian book. As a Canadian I can’t really identify that, but I trust her and so should you!

The Pros
I loved the romance, the characters and their respective arcs, the way the author writes friendship, and the sex writing is perfect for this book. Everything worked for me.

The Cons
Some people won’t like the fact that Lien is seeing someone when she leaves for her trip and is with Claudie at her cabin, even if Lien isn’t exclusive with that woman. It’s an integral part of her character growth, though, so if you can stand to read that, do give it a try.

taras favourite lesbian booksThe Conclusion
Storm Season is the first book I’ve read from Pene Henson and I hope she writes many more lesfic stories, because I absolutely adored this one. Pick it up when you have a few hours free and want to sink into some luscious writing, because this book is amazing.

Excerpt from Storm Season by Pene Henson
In bed, Lien is careful to lie at the edge with her body straight up and down.

“You don’t seem particularly comfortable,” says Claudia. Her voice is amused.

“I am. It’s fine. I’m good.”

“I’ll get some ice for you to put on your knee again.”

“Oh. Thank you.” Lien keeps still.

Minutes later Claudie hands over the ice, which is wrapped in a tea towel. Lien wraps her knee and lies down.

“I appreciate it,” she says. “You’ve done so much for me.”

When Claudie climbs into bed, she leaves a large space in between them as though it might hurt to brush up against Lien in the night. Lien tries not to be offended. She was doing the same thing.

“Thank you for sharing your bed with me,” Lien says. Manners are doubly important when sharing a bed with the superhero ranger who rescued you.

“Not a problem.”

Lien smiles into the dark. It’s not as if she and Claudie bonded all day. They chatted; they worked side by side. They cooked. Claudie played music. They admired the view. It wasn’t a remarkable day, really. But Lien is beginning to know Claudie. And knowing Claudie matters to Lien.

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Bits and Bobs
ISBN number: 9781945053160
Publisher: Interlude Press
Pene Henson Online
Website
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Note: I received a free review copy of Storm Season by Pene Henson. No money was exchanged for this review. I will always review books as honestly as possible and on occasion I refuse to review books.

Storm Season Book Cover Title: Storm Season
Author: Pene Henson
Genre: Fiction
Publisher: Interlude Press
Release Date: February 2, 2017
Pages: 226
When Sydney It-Girl Lien Hong finds herself stranded and alone in the stormy New South Wales outback, her rescue comes in the form of wilderness ranger Claudia Sokolov, whose isolated cabin and soulful singing voice bely a complicated history. While they wait out the weather, the women find an undeniable connection that long outlasts the storm.

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TARA SCOTT

REVIEWER AT THE LESBIAN REVIEW
Tara Scott lives in Calgary, Canada with her family. If you don't find her with her Kindle in her hand, she's probably busy talking about what she's currently reading.
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Book Review: Into the Blue by Pene Henson
July 7, 2016
Summary

Tai Talagi and Ollie Birkstrom have been inseparable since they met as kids, surfing the North Shore of Oahu. Now they live with their best friends and Ollie’s kid brother in a pulled-together family, all of them piled into a run-down beach house. They share cooking, bills, and the saltwater running in their veins. They might have no money, they might argue, they might be in dead end jobs, but they live in Hawaii so it’s always summer. There’s always time for one last wave.

Tai’s spent years shutting down any feelings for Ollie. They’re friends. Their family depends on them. But with Ollie off on his first world tour, with Ollie’s dreams of a pro surfing career finally within reach, their steady world shifts. Is it worth risking their friendship, their family, their dreams for a chance at something terrifying and beautiful and altogether new?

Review

I know next to nothing about surfing. I don’t live near an ocean, and my most recent exposure to surfing culture was watching Jonah Markowitz’s Shelter after it came out on DVD. (Watch it if you haven’t; it’s incredible.)

But it wasn’t hard for me to get into this book, which touches on a lot of themes that resonate with me: friendship, chosen family, and figuring out what you want in life. Tai meets Ollie when they’re thirteen, and they soon become best friends held close by their shared love of the surf. Tai is immediately smitten, and by sixteen he realizes he’s in love, but he never really considers that he might have a chance with Ollie, who only has eyes for the ocean. When they’re eighteen, Ollie’s mom dies, and his younger brother Jaime gets sent to a relative for foster care. But she doesn’t know how to deal with the troubled young teen. So Ollie, Tai, and two of their good friends from high school agree to live together and help Ollie raise Jaime. (It took me a while to figure out whether I was supposed to pronounce Jaime’s name the Spanish or Portuguese way, but given that one of the friends always calls him “James” and there’s significant Portuguese history in Hawaii, I finally decided on the Portuguese version.)

Tai dates and fools around with other guys, but his love for Ollie always simmers right under the surface. Meanwhile Ollie, distracted by his responsibilities and depressed from an injury that kept him out of surfing competition, has no room in his life for romance.

That is, until Ollie decides to take a risk and compete again. Suddenly he finds his heart wants to take a risk, too.

Henson’s writing is simple, straightforward, and wonderfully lyrical. If you’ve read Madeline Miller’s Song of Achilles, you will know the kind of thing I am talking about: short words and simple phrasing that don’t seem like they should be beautiful, and yet they are. Her prose has a wonderful musicality that propels the reader through even the emotionally toughest scenes. And though I am a surfing ignoramus, her straightforward descriptions helped me understand most of what was going on out on the water.

Readers looking for exceptionally written new adult romance with diverse, well-drawn characters will love riding the waves of this kindhearted romance.

Buy links:

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Book Review by Pixie: Into the Blue, by Pene Henson
AUGUST 24, 2017 / PIXIEMARIE
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Into the Blue by Pene Henson

Into the Blue, by Pene Henson
Publisher: Interlude Press
Release Date: July 7, 2016

Rating: 4 out of 5 stars

summary

Tai Talagi and Ollie Birkstrom have been inseparable since they met as kids surfing the North Shore of Oahu. Now they live with their best friends and Ollie’s kid brother in a pulled-together family, all of them piled into a run-down beach house. They share cooking, bills, and the saltwater running in their veins.

Tai’s spent years shutting down any feelings for Ollie. They’re friends. Their family depends on them. But with Ollie off on his first world tour and his dreams of a pro surfing career finally within reach, their steady world shifts. Is the relationship worth risking their friendship, their family, their dreams, for a chance at something terrifying and beautiful and altogether new?

tropes-tags

M/M Pairing
Gay Character
Demisexual Character*
Contemporary
Sports Romance (Surfing)
Friends to Lovers
Interracial Romance

(* not confirmed on-page)

This book has actually been out since 2016 and, for whatever reason, I am late to hearing about it. I’m actually glad I waited for all the hype to subside because I think, having held off on reading it, I went in with no expectations.

This book is a perfect book for the end of summer. I don’t know about anyone else, but I start summer ramped, up having been a virtual shut-in for close to half a year. I was ready to read all the angst-and-conflict and ‘books that cause emotional trauma and keep me up at night’. Then by about August I’m exhausted and cried out, and just need something joyful– which can be hard to find in M/M.

This book was wonderful in that it was a simple story about friendship evolving into something more. I found it believable in the sense that the two main characters have a lifelong friendship and, through necessity– Ollie is raising his younger brother and Tai provides support not only with that but also in pursuit of his surfing dreams– have formed their own self-made family, which includes two friends who also live with them.

This book is also excellent in that it has strong gay, demisexual (implied), asexual and bisexual representation. The only reason I am taking away a star is because it did take me awhile to get into the story. Not sure why, because I loved everything about it, but it did end up being a slow read for me.

more-from-author

Pene Henson has gone from British boarding schools to New York City law firms. She now lives in Sydney, Australia, where she is an intellectual property lawyer and published poet who is deeply immersed in the city’s LGBTQIA community. She spends her spare time enjoying the outdoors and gazing at the ocean with her gorgeous wife and two unexpectedly exceptional sons. Into the Blue is her first novel.

You can purchase Into the Blue from:
Publisher
Amazon
Kobo
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I received a copy of this novel in exchange for a fair and honest review.

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book review
AUTHOR: PENE HENSON, BOOK REVIEW, GENRE: ROMANCE, ORIENTATION: DEMISEXUAL, ORIENTATION: GAY, PAIRING: M/M, PUBLISHER: INTERLUDE PRESS, RATING: 4/5, TAG: ASEXUAL CHARACTER, TAG: BISEXUAL CHARACTER, TAG: FRIENDS TO LOVERS, TAG: INTERRACIAL, TAG: SPORTS
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← Book Review by Rita: The Shore Thing, by A. R. BarleyBook Review by Gillian: Uncommon Ground, by Kelly Jensen →
2 thoughts on “Book Review by Pixie: Into the Blue, by Pene Henson”

Ariadna
AUGUST 24, 2017 AT 12:25 PM
I got this book during a sale because I’d heard positive reviews. Now I’m gonna have to put it higher on my immediate TBR list. 😉

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pixiemarie
AUGUST 24, 2017 AT 2:11 PM
I would recommend it for when you need something to pull you out of a funk. You know how sometimes too many back to back angsty dark reads can get to a person. Let me know what you think when you read it.

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Book Review: Storm Season by Pene Henson
Posted on February 7, 2017
storm-season

Blurb: The great outdoors isn’t so great for Sydney It-Girl Lien Hong. It’s too dark, too quiet, and there are spiders in the toilet of the cabin she is sharing with friends on the way to a New South Wales music festival. To make matters worse, she’s been separated from her companions and taken a bad fall.

With a storm approaching, her rescue comes in the form of a striking wilderness ranger named Claudia Sokolov, whose isolated cabin, soulful voice and collection of guitars bely a complicated history. While they wait out the weather, the women find an undeniable connection—one that puts them both on new trajectories that last long after the storm has cleared.

*I was provided with a copy by Interlude Press in return for an honest review*

Add on Goodreads

Purchase at: Interlude Press / Amazon / Smashwords / Barnes and Noble / iTunes / Book Depository / Kobo / IndieBound

5 Stars

I have been so eagerly waiting for this novel for months. Henson’s previous novel, Into the Blue is a deep favorite of mine – both because she made me fall for the characters so easily, but because I am absolutely in love with her craft.

Storm Season is a gorgeous work of art. Here we have a plot that could easily devolve into a series of cliché tropes. Rather, Henson takes these themes and tropes: women who seem to be opposites at first glance; stranded in a cabin during a storm; the transformative power of particular human interactions, and makes them unique and believable and fresh.

Henson’s writing style is deceptively simple. She often employs short sentences, descriptions in what could easily be staccato or disjointed moment. Rather, she uses this skillfully to draw the reader in. It has the effect of stripping a layer of separation between the story and the reader. We are drawn into an intimacy with the story, whether it’s a description of the Australian bush or of two women falling for each other.

When we meet them, Claudie and Lien appear to be complete opposites. Henson takes us through discovering them, and them discovering themselves and each other, skillfully enough that we slide into the realization that these women are similar in so many ways; that circumstance (and Henson’s craft) foiled them in particular ways when we met them, but that at their hearts, they are beautifully compatible.

I don’t want to spoil the turn the story takes in it’s second half, but know that it is executed perfectly. By this point in the story, Henson has taken us beyond simply longing for Claudie and Lien to be together. We’re rooting for them as individuals who are growing just as much.

As with Henson’s previous novel, this book has a lovely diverse cast that is obviously thoughtfully included for the sake of story. These clearly would be Lien and Claudie’s people. This is a representation of a slice of life, and it easily, without fanfare, reflects diversity in life. Love it.

Also, someone please donate money to my “I must go to Australia right now”, fund. Because a lifelong wish because an intense, burning need while reading this book. I fell in love with the landscape and people in this book. One day, hopefully, I’ll get to do it in real life. For now, I’ll revisit this book over and over, savoring every word.

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This entry was posted in book recommendation, book review, F/f Fiction, f/f Romance, interlude press, Into the Blue, lgbtqia fiction, lqbtq fiction, lqbtq romance, pene henson, review by Jude Sierra. Bookmark the permalink.
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July 7, 2016
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by Parker Williams
Into the Blue By Pene Henson
Into the Blue By Pene Henson
Into The Blue 1600px FRONT (Smashwords, Amazon)

Author Name: Pene Henson

Book Name: Into the Blue

Release Date: July 7, 2016

Blurb:

Tai Talagi and Ollie Birkstrom have been inseparable since they met as kids surfing the North Shore. Now they live with their best friends in a pulled-together family, sharing life and the saltwater in their veins. Tai’s spent years setting aside his feelings for Ollie, but when Ollie’s pro surfing aspirations come to fruition, their steady world shifts. Is the relationship worth risking everything for a chance at something terrifying and beautiful and altogether new?

Pages or Words: 236 pages, 72,600 words

Categories: Contemporary, Gay Fiction, M/M Romance, New Adult, Romance

Excerpt:

Across from them, one of the Brazilians plays guitar. Ollie doesn’t recognize the song even when a couple of others sing along. The beach is wider and the sand finer than on the North Shore, but every beach is a little like home. Ollie misses the Blue House; he misses the surf and the palms and the shoreline he knows so well. He misses Jaime and Sunny and Hannah. Still, though he’s as far from home as he’s ever been, Ollie’s comfortable. These are his people, too. He leans back on his arms and looks up into the dark.

He’s watched the night sky since he was a little kid, but down here in the Southern Hemisphere he doesn’t recognize the hundreds upon hundreds of stars. The Southern Cross is up there. Ollie tries to orient himself.

Tai shifts toward him, then looks up and follows Ollie’s gaze. The warmth of Tai’s body settles into Ollie’s heart, grounds him. Ollie leans into him a little, and their arms brush to the elbow. The contact simmers in the air between them.

Unexpectedly, Ollie knows what he wants. “Come back to the hotel,” he says quietly to Tai. He pitches his voice low. It hums across the tiny space between them. No one else can hear him over the pounding surf and the sound of the music. It’s easy to be bold in the dark of a beach where Ollie’s never been before. He’s shocked by that same boldness.

Interview:

VBT: INTO THE BLUE – PENE HENSON

Today I’m very lucky to be interviewing Pene Henson, author of INTO THE BLUE. Hi Pene, thank you for agreeing to this interview. Tell us a little about yourself, your background, and your current book.

AUTHOR QUESTIONS #4

Do you buy a book because of the cover, the blurb, or something else?
Hmm. A lovely and unusual book cover will definitely make me pick up a book. For me that usually means a cover with extraordinary scenery, sunny content or a very careful minimalist design. Of course, I won’t buy a book just because the cover image is appealing. And I’ve bought books whose cover doesn’t appeal to me at all. It’s the author, the general subject matter and a quick reading of the first few pages that make me stay.

What does ‘romance’ mean to you?
In my real life, romance is as much habit and pragmatism as it is adoration and giggling at one another. Combine all that with kindness and respect and fighting over how to raise the children or whether anyone bought kitty litter and you have my romantic life.

I don’t look for that habit and pragmatism and kitty litter in fictional romance. I look for falling in love and stomachs twisting and hearts stopping. I love that stuff.

But my favourite fictional romance has a realism too. One that’s about human character and imperfection and kindness and the dangers and joys of intimacy. I love a dizzying first kiss that perfectly encapsulates these particular characters in this particular place. I love a forever after that deals with the fact that neither character is suddenly perfectly in tune with the other.

What are your current projects?
I’m writing an f/f romance novel set up and down the east coast of Australia. The book has thunderstorms, indie rock music and the vintage clothing circuit.

What is the most difficult part of writing for you?
At the moment it’s sheer timing. I have a full time job, two children and now that winter’s almost here, forcing myself to write at 4:30am is losing its shine. Beyond that I struggle with forward momentum when I’m not happy with the words I’ve already written. I dream of flying through sixty thousand words and correcting them all at the end, but thus far I’ve only ever been able to over-edit the beginning again and again.

Tell us something about yourself that would surprise people.
My first favourite books were fantasy books. But I barely read any fantasy these days because I don’t know what would align with those first favourites: Ursula Le Guin’s Earthsea, Susan Cooper’s Dark is Rising and Mary Stewart’s Merlin Trilogy. I loved that it wasn’t simple, but good was so deeply good in those books. Now I’m far more keen on stories set in our own world. But I still like a deep goodness in characters.

Buy the book:

Interlude Press Web Store: http://store.interludepress.com/collections/into-the-blue-by-pene-henson
Amazon: http://amzn.to/29gJvfv
Barnes and Noble: http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/into-the-blue-pene-henson/1123818321?ean=9781941530849
Apple iBooks Store: https://itunes.apple.com/us/book/into-the-blue/id1114833401?mt=11
Smashwords: https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/637136
Book Depository: http://www.bookdepository.com/Into-the-Blue/9781941530849/?a_aid=InterludePress
Indiebound: http://www.indiebound.org/book/9781941530849?aff=Interludepress

Meet the author:

Pene Henson has gone from British boarding schools to New York City law firms. She now lives in Sydney, Australia, where she is an intellectual property lawyer and published poet who is deeply immersed in the city’s LGBTQIA community. She spends her spare time enjoying the outdoors and gazing at the ocean with her gorgeous wife and two unexpectedly exceptional sons. Into the Blue is her first novel.

Where to find the author:

Facebook Author Page: https://www.facebook.com/penewrites/?fref=ts

Twitter: https://twitter.com/penehenson

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/14918436.Pene_Henson

Blog: www.PeneHenson.com

Goodreads Link: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/28764284-into-the-blue

Publisher: Interlude Press

Cover Artist: C.B. Messer

Tour Dates & Stops:

7-Jul: Havan Fellows, Louise Lyons, Parker Williams

8-Jul: Outrageous Heroes, Unquietly Me, Dawn’s Reading Nook

11-Jul: Love Bytes, Kirsty Loves Books, Bayou Book Junkie

12-Jul: Wicked Faerie’s Tales and Reviews, MM Good Book Reviews, Butterfly-O-Meter

13-Jul: Oh My Shelves, Boys on the Brink Reviews

14-Jul: Molly Lolly, Happily Ever Chapter

15-Jul: Scattered Thoughts & Rogue Words, Sinfully Addicted to All Male Romance, Prism Book Alliance

18-Jul: MM Book Escape, Making It Happen, Velvet Panic, BFD Book Blog

19-Jul: Book Lovers 4Ever, My Fiction Nook, V’s Reads

20-Jul: A.M. Leibowitz, Alpha Book Club

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by Parker Williams

Parker writes m/m fiction where happily ever afters will require work to reach. He loves broken characters, hurt and healing, pain and comfort.

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