As La Vista Turns

January 23, 2017
In this touching contemporary romance, fifth in Ripper’s Queers of La Vista series (after One Life to Lose), Zane Jaffe struggles to build the family she has envisioned, facing heartbreaking setbacks but also unexpected joys. Zane, a 30-something real estate agent in the fictional California town of La Vista, has been trying to conceive for the past year, using donor sperm. She doesn’t really want a partner, but to satisfy her best friend Jaq’s concerns, she and her friend Mildred are pretending to date. Zane’s realization that she wants to be in a real relationship with Mildred puts all her careful plans into disarray. Meanwhile, after the arrest of the murderer who’d been targeting queer and trans people in La Vista, Zane decides to organize a wake in hopes of bringing closure to the community. The story showcases that carefully crafted community, deftly highlighting its diversity and interconnectedness. Loving guidance from her friends corrects Zane’s frustrating tendency to get in her own way and leads up to a gratifying conclusion.

February 15, 2017

Though the guy responsible for a series of local killings has been caught, the community that frequents the neighborhood watering hole Club Fred is still fearful and grieving. What's needed, of course, is a wake to help the community heal, and that's just what Zane Jaffe is determined to help pull off--in addition to trying to get pregnant, decide on a sperm donor, and deal with her growing feelings for her BFF Mildred, aka "Dred." Filled with familiar characters, smart dialog, and realistic situations, this humor-rich story has an authentic ring to it and should appeal to readers across the board. VERDICT The universal bonds of community, family, and love shine bright in this upbeat and insightful romance that is the perfect wrap-up to a popular and engaging series. The romance is complete here, but readers might want to start with the earlier books in the series. Ripper (One Life To Lose) lives in California.

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