{"id":12220,"date":"2019-08-24T00:00:05","date_gmt":"2019-08-23T22:00:05","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/thelesbianreview.com\/?p=12220"},"modified":"2023-06-13T17:48:30","modified_gmt":"2023-06-13T15:48:30","slug":"because-i-said-so-karin-kallmaker","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/thelesbianreview.com\/because-i-said-so-karin-kallmaker\/","title":{"rendered":"Because I Said So by Karin Kallmaker: Book Review"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"Because<\/a>Because I Said So by Karin Kallmaker<\/b><\/span> is a book I\u2019ve been anticipating for a while. I\u2019m happy to say it didn\u2019t disappoint!<\/span><\/p>\n

Kesa Sapiro is so close to her goal that she can almost taste it. With a few more orders under her belt, she\u2019ll finally be able to afford a studio space for her business creating couture for celebrities. Not only will she get most of her apartment space back, she\u2019ll also be able to ask clients to come to her so she can spend less time on LA\u2019s pain-in-the-ass freeways. <\/span><\/p>\n

Kesa\u2019s dream looks like it might hit a snag when her nineteen-year-old sister, Josie, announces she\u2019s getting married even though she\u2019s been dating Paz for less than a month. Having raised Josie since their parents died when Kesa was 19 and Josie was 7, Kesa throws the hammer down and refuses to let Josie get married.<\/span><\/p>\n

Shannon Dealan has been a mother figure to Paz for a few years and she\u2019s equally shocked when he comes home and announces he\u2019s getting married at the ripe old age of twenty. Paz\u2019s past makes Shannon protective and a little worried about strangers, but she doesn\u2019t want to alienate him by trying to forbid him from getting married. <\/span><\/p>\n

Josie and Paz think it might be easier to convince Kesa and Shannon that they\u2019re ready to get married if they can all sit down together and talk. Things don\u2019t go exactly as planned during that first meeting and that\u2019s when the story gets really interesting.<\/span><\/p>\n

The Characters<\/b><\/span><\/h3>\n

Shannon is the easiest character to like and connect with right from the get-go because she\u2019s warmer and more laid back. Kesa is so focused on her career and gets in so many tense conversations with Josie that I found it a little harder to connect with her at first. That said, the more I learned about Kesa, the more I liked her. I loved their journey to their happy ending and, unfortunately, I can\u2019t really say anything else without spoilers.<\/span><\/p>\n

Fans of Jennifer Lamont and her wife, Suzanne Mason, will be happy to know they\u2019re supporting characters in Because I Said So. If you haven\u2019t read Captain of Industry, you\u2019ll still be able to follow everything in this one just fine, because I still haven\u2019t read it yet (I know<\/i>! I\u2019m sorry!) and I had no issues.<\/span><\/p>\n

The Writing Style<\/b><\/span><\/h3>\n

I mean, it\u2019s a romance by Karin Kallmaker. Of course the writing is excellent. I powered through this one and may have stayed up past my bedtime to finish it.<\/span><\/p>\n

The Pros<\/b><\/span><\/h3>\n

Everything!<\/span><\/p>\n

But seriously, in addition to everything (excellent characters, writing, pacing, romance), one thing worth calling out is the exploration of family relationships, both of blood and of choice. Josie and Kesa\u2019s relationship is as fraught as Paz and Shannon\u2019s is positive. Kallmaker does a great job interrogating these dynamics and showing how positive growth can still happen at any age and\/or stage in a relationship. <\/span><\/p>\n

The Cons<\/b><\/span><\/h3>\n

This book is so good and the cover doesn\u2019t do it any justice because it\u2019s just too busy, pulling in too many elements. Please give it a try anyway, because it truly is worth the time.<\/span><\/p>\n

Also, which I hinted at above, I can\u2019t talk about my favourite aspect of the book without blowing a massive spoiler. Just know that it\u2019s SO GOOD.<\/span><\/p>\n

\"taras<\/a>The Conclusion<\/b><\/span><\/h3>\n

Readers looking for a layered romance full of complicated feelings and a perfect ending will want to pick up this one. It might just be my favourite book from Kallmaker and it\u2019s one I\u2019ll come back to again.<\/span><\/p>\n

Excerpt from <\/b><\/span>Because I Said So by Karin Kallmaker<\/b><\/span><\/h2>\n

She could only make out the outline of the woman sitting on the other side of Josie\u2019s boyfriend. That must be the guardian, Kesa thought. The window reflected a blur of shoulder-length dark blond hair, and the arm on the table was ivory in the artificial light.<\/span><\/p>\n

They were all so relaxed, as if this was an ordinary family event.<\/span><\/p>\n

The boyfriend leaned back in his chair and Kesa could suddenly see the other woman\u2019s profile: a long nose and wide smile as she teased the young man about something. Her laugh was slightly husky and seemed to come to her easily.<\/span><\/p>\n

Josie saw her then and the animation drained from her face. She rose to awkwardly hug Kesa, saying, \u201cYou\u2019re late.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

This can\u2019t be happening, Kesa thought. She let go of Josie when she realized Josie might feel her shaking. \u201cTraffic and parking. I thought I allowed enough time.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

The young man had risen as well and extended his hand. \u201cYou must be Kesa. I\u2019m Paz.\u201d His grip was firm, confident. Not a boy. A man.<\/span><\/p>\n

This can\u2019t be happening.<\/i><\/b><\/span><\/p>\n

He gestured at the woman seated next to him. She began to rise, and Kesa managed to say, \u201cDon\u2019t get up on my account.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Words failed her at that point. After a moment the other woman extended her hand across the table. \u201cShannon.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Get This Book On Amazon<\/b><\/span><\/h3>\n

(this link works for Amazon US, Germany, and Canada)<\/i><\/span><\/p>\n

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[tweetthis]I just read this review for Because I Said So by Karin Kallmaker[\/tweetthis]<\/span><\/p>\n

Bits and Bobs<\/b><\/span><\/h3>\n