I count myself as a Nicole Con fan but I found the parralled story lines difficult to follow and very confusing for the first few chapters. It was in fact two different novels but in this book neither one was given full justice. Lilian (A.K.A. Byron) is a writer who falls in love Cynara. That portion of the story is really only a written version of Ms. Con's artsy film "Cynara". So familiar it was distracting from the other story line of Spencer, an modern day filmaker who deals with work, life and loves. The stories at times seem excesivly fluffed which frustrated me a bit. BUT...the sex scenes were hot! Yes, there are some very well written erotic scenes that made this book worth sticking with.

Oh...what a wonderful read -- a good long read -- like Gone With the Wind -- with a lot of complexities and intricacies so you really get drawn in and regardless of whether you're in the more contemporary story or in the historical story(Paris in the 20's is my personal favorite) the love scenes are VERY EROTIC. This is marketed to the lesbian community but it's really a mainstream book. I think I'll buy it for my straight girl friends for X-mas. Good old fashioned get-swept-up-in-it-read!! If you liked Tipping the Velvet, you'll love this.

She Walks In Beauty is a deliciously captivating book! I couldn't put it down! This story will take you across centuries, continents and a great expanse of emotion. It's a wonderful journey of self discovery. Great Characters! I highly recommend it!

I gave this book 2 stars more out of nostalgia then anything. It is chalk full of florally pros that border on the boring. I am not sure what came first the movie or the book however I found both of them to be severely lacking. The characters are hard to like especially Claire and by the end of the book I didn't much care if they got together or not.

If you enjoyed the movie, you're going to like the book better. There was a lot to the story that Conn was forced to edit out of the movie to shorten the running time. Once you read the book, you wish that Conn could have afforded to keep the movie the length she intended. The book also explains some things that seem disjointed in the movie. Claire's struggle to decide what exactly it is she wants in her life is interesting. Noel's reluctance to get involved with a "straight" woman is understandable. The story isn't as much about seduction as it it inevitability. It would be nice to have a follow up to see how this pair ended up later.

This book is my favorite lesbian novel. Nicole Conn tells this story well. If you're a romantic at heart, you'll love this story. The movie is a must see. It's not for everyone, but I think it is well worth it.

This book was one of the worst books I've ever read

This is what I call an a good old-fashioned page turner. It's a hot and sexy romantic read, but has the pace of a mystery..because it is a mystery...someone dies in the beginning of the novel and you don't know who it is until the very end. I couldn't put it down...forced myself not to go the back to find out the ending. The love scenes were FABULOUS!!! I've read Nicole Conn's other books and she has a way with romance -- not corny-- but sophisticated. I can't wait to read "She Walks in Beauty."

Once I picked it up I coul not put it down. I feel this book is a must read for any lesbian and open-minded person in recovery from an addiction of any kind.