Binding: Paperback
Dewey Decimal Number: 813
EAN: 9781602820012
ISBN: 1602820015
Label: Bold Strokes Books
Manufacturer: Bold Strokes Books
Number Of Items: 1
Number Of Pages: 224
Publication Date: 2008-01-23
Publisher: Bold Strokes Books
Studio: Bold Strokes Books

Ashton Clarke, a local Casanova with a long history of falling into bed with a different woman every night, is perfectly content with her free and easy existence until she gives in to her best friend's request to spend an evening helping out at the local gay and lesbian youth center. There, Ash meets Carrie Fletcher, a women's studies professor who not only intrigues Ash but causes her to question the direction her life has taken. As if this disquieting attraction isn't aggravating enough, Ash is forced to deal with Carrie's teenage neighbor Tess, whose bad attitude and biting wit seem to complicate every situation. Ash doesn't want to be attracted to Carrie, who isn't looking for a relationship with anyone, and Tess is angry at the world, but especially, it seems, with Ash. Despite resistance on the part of all three women, it soon becomes obvious that the trio's destinies are hopelessly intertwined and the lessons in store will change all their lives.

Customer Rating:
Summary: Great Book!!!!!
Comment: Awesome book! I could not put this book down. Normally I'm the type of reader who likes to savor books and make them last for as long as possible, but I read this book in one night it was so good. Great characters and an enjoyable story make this book a must read.

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Customer Rating:
Summary: Brilliant New Author
Comment: I thoroughly loved reading Learning Curve. Although
this is the Author's first book, I can imagine that
it wont be the last one that graces my bookshelves. The Author displays an honest and true talent.
Her (Spangler's) description of the camping weekend took me back to my days in the Girl Scouts and I could almost imagine myself putting the tents up and singing around the campfire. Very engaging and accurate.
I particularly liked the fact that Spangler used the elderly lesbian as
the protector of the younger, misunderstood Tess.
The fact that this 'matriach' of the lesbian community was living a
perceived, well respected life amoung a community where religious
prejudice and misunderstanding is prevelant, was a simple, yet
empowering twist. I jumped with glee as I imagined the realisation in
Tess' mother's eyes.
The character and relationship development were realistic, intricate
and kept me on the edge of my seat.
My warm, happy and cosy endorphines flowed freely while I read along.

Devlyn

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Customer Rating:
Summary: Excellent!
Comment: I love this book quite a lot. I was so happy to find a romance novel with A. actual content, character development, and intellect B. a butch character! and C. a happy ending! There are so many lesbian romances, generally featuring two certifiable femmes, that end in a suicide or heartbreak of some kind. Learning Curve provides none of that, just honest romance with actual meaning and real characters. All things considered, this is an excellent first novel. I highly recommend this book to anyone!

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Customer Rating:
Summary: Not perfect, but contained enough goodness to provide entertainment; worth a read
Comment: There was a lot to like about this book. Overall, it probably belongs in the same category as Fully Involved, or perhaps Heart 2 Heart, a couple of the most recent books I've read and reviewed. The writing isn't inspired, but it's solid. The characterizations are pretty strong, and the characters themselves are interesting and sympathetic, even with the inclusion of the bratty teenager. I wasn't bored with the book, and the tension created between the main characters sparked satisfyingly.

It was the transition between scenes where the book was at its roughest. Often it seemed like a string of solid scenes and experiences strung together by the flimsiest of phrasing or excuse for transition. This sometimes gave the emotional proceeding a herky-jerky feel, like a roller coaster, but not created intentionally through character drama, but rather the author jumping between scene transitions and character changes. And for all the drama of why Carrie was resisting her impulses, it all seemed to get cleared up in the end with neither a whimper nor a bang, but rather it just mysteriously disappeared, which was kind of annoying since it had been such a big deal all book long. This was cause for some reader mental whip-lash.

As a whole, I enjoyed reading this book, though. It was a very typical example of the average to above-average offering in this genre. There were scenes that evoked and captured true emotion. I enjoyed the fairly skillful weaving of support characters in with the drama and motivations of the main characters. I like it when they have good friends to confide in. I like the angst a character goes through as they try to change the perceptions everyone has had of them. I could have used a bit more consistency with motivations, and inspiration in the prose. But I will definitely check out further offerings from this author.

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