Reviews and Awards
and Other Achievements
Thank you to every single person who talks up books. Word of mouth matters today as much as it ever has. People’s opinions matter more than search algorithms!
Readers often ask what they can do to help lesfic. Posting just a few words about any book is incredibly helpful for both authors and other readers. A good place to start is with how that book made you feel.
- One of the few books about a older woman with a younger woman. Both sensitive and serious as well as filled with humor.
- Seeds of Fire Finalist for a 2002 Lambda Literary Award for LGBT Fantasy.
- The Distinguished Author program brings authors to the Library and Archives located in Fort Lauderdale, to standing room only audiences.
- The emotions flowed through the narration as clearly as if Etter was the girl telling me her story.
- 2011 Trailblazer Award from the Golden Crown Literary Society Previous Trailblazers include Ann Bannon, Sarah Aldridge, Jane Rule, Katherine V. Forrest, Lee Lynch, Barbara Wilson, Judy Grahn, Dorothy Allison, Pat Parker, and Ellen Hart. The Trailblazer Award is given to a lesbian writer for lifetime achievement, in recognition of the contributions she has made to the field of lesbian literature. Karin credits one of her proudest and most breathtaking moments as being when Lee Lynch said her name at the 2012 Phoenix Convention.
- "Irene is a very strong character, once she realizes she can be." - Jude in the Stars
- Never has a fictional character’s Happily Ever After delighted me more.
- Great romance between two women who are each hiding from their lives in different ways and for different reasons. Five stars!
- Strong character portraits, interesting and informative plots, and engaging storytelling.
- A delightful, gentle tale of an unexpected connection...
- I love the interactions between Irene and the coin which for an ‘inanimate’ object has a wonderful sense of humour.
- It's my favourite that I've read by Karin Kallmaker and I can't recommend it highly enough.
- If you're looking for a great book with which to curl up, find Unforgettable.
- It simply reads “In Appreciation” The Alice B. Award for Lifetime Achievement comes from a group of dedicated readers in Arizona who every year name veteran writers and debut authors as Medalists and Lavender Award Certificates winners respectively. Other medalists include KG MacGregor, Radclyffe, Cate Culpepper, Katherine V. Forrest, Ann Allen Shockley, Sheila Ortiz-Taylor, Ellen Hart, Peggy J. Herring, Gerri Hill and Claire McNab.
- Infatti, più che alla storia d’amore tra le due protagoniste, si dà grande spazio alla loro storia personale, a ciò che le porterà a incontrarsi – solo nella seconda metà del romanzo.
- As a journalist, and an environmental one at that with a degree in science, this novel grabbed me hook, line and sinker... The love story was beautiful and inspiring...
- Limited and often harsh options of unattached women were starkly depicted but carried gently in an almost sensuous prose...
- I Heart SapphFic readers have voted Knight of Night the Historical Romance of the Month!
- Captain of Industry is subtle and engaging, a Kallmaker love story with the kind of angst to which we can probably all relate.
- The growing attraction and feelings the women experience are delicately delineated with a fine touch...
- Romantic, funny, thoughtful, and hot...
- It’s worth reading the notes at the end of the book to learn a little more about Kallmaker’s inspiration and a rumination on the beginning of lesbian fiction.
- All the Wrong Places Finalist at the 2006 Golden Crown Literary Society Awards: Best Lesbian Romance.
- This story is unique, full of magic and adventure, love and nature and spirituality.
- In Deep Waters Volume 2: Cruising the Strip Winner of the 2008 Lambda Literary Award for Best LGBT Erotica. Co-authored with Radclyffe.
- ...Tous ces ingrédients mis ensemble en font un livre qui se lit facilement, et qui, encore une fois, fait rêver.
- I couldn't wait to see what happened & would wake up during the night to read more.
- Above Temptation Finalist for the 2010 Lambda Literary Awards: Best Lesbian Romance.
- A gem of a read, a gift to all voracious readers from a splendidly gifted imagination.
- Great writing, smart story with fascinating, unusual, and well developed characters. People you would like to know.
- Substitute for Love may just be the best Kallmaker I've read in a long time, and given her extraordinary talent, that's saying something.
- Both author and narrator are such professionals, they made this audiobook a great experience. Highly recommended.
- A real gift for characterization and realistically humorous dialogue.
- Pure Pleasure!
- I’ve always been impressed with her writing but this novella was even better than I expected.
- Die Happy-End-Garantin schafft es spielend, mit Hilfe von Freundschaft
- One of Karin Kallmaker's best and most engrossing books yet!
- It was very moving!
- A great job of blending humor with the realities of life, like smeared makeup when you want to be sexy and limbs that fall asleep...
- A wonderfully written story of redemption, finding trust, and love conquers all.
- Masterful storytelling that doesn’t get in the way of generating incredible heat.
- Be sure to pick this one up!
- The dialogue, particularly in conversations between Milla and Tyna, works so well, capturing the first blush of attraction.
- Great spirit of Christmas story.
- 5 stars! So, so satisfying and cathartic to see that they were allowed to have their happy ending!
- A fine balance between romance and reality . . . intimate scenes are beautifully appropriate for the period.
- The filmmaking details were fascinating to me... The behind-the-scenes added to the story without getting in the way.
- Deep and layered with meaning. ...The result is an unexpectedly haunting tale told in image-drenched language that stays with you long after the story is over.
- Castle Wrath is the fun, erotic horror lesbian rewrite of Northanger Abbey that we never knew we needed.
- The lesbian hybrid of Joyce Carol Oates and Danielle Steele.
- It is definitely a romance and if you haven’t read Ms Kallmaker’s Coin of Love series you are missing out.
- All the Wrong Places Finalist in two categories for the 2005 Lambda Literary Awards: Best Lesbian Romance and Best LGBT Erotica.
- Very good narration for an excellent novella. 4.5 stars.
- I loved the big nod to the early pioneers of lesbian fiction Ann Bannon and Marijane Meaker who were beacons to those searching for more.
- The emotions and powers at work raised the hair on the back of my neck at times!
- Smart story with fascinating, unusual, and well developed characters... Of course Abby Craden always gives an unbelievably enjoyable narrative.
- Extremely well written in classic Kallmaker style, with a great supporting cast of friends and colleagues and a fascinating exploration on the social scene these women inhabit...
- Kallmaker quietly but effectively sets the stage... Recommended.
- “Some magic both in and out of relationships, some amusing twists on both magic and Druidism, and totally enjoyable for those who have a more esoteric bent. Great fun to read!” – Golden Threads
- Assemblyman Mark Leno commends, "your dedication to enriching our lives with your use of the written word, broadening LGBT awareness, and being an inspiration..."
- This story has twists and yet is so believable. Kallmaker knows how to keep your interest. HIGHLY RECOMMENDED!
- I can’t talk about my favourite aspect of the book without blowing a massive spoiler. Just know that it’s SO GOOD.
- Tell tale warmth, vulnerability, and charm that are so recognizable of this author.
- A wonderful book...truly outstanding.
- They prevailed with good old fashioned lesbian camaraderie and intelligence.
- An exciting story which might give the reader the courage to make whatever changes must be made in her life. Look for this engrossing book!
- I thoroughly enjoyed the antics, deception, and tension between Jamie and Val.
- Exquisite writing, extremely fiery sex, great characterisation despite the length and a totally enjoyable read.
- Finders Keepers is a rare gem that should be treasured and revisited regularly.
- A classic Kallmaker romance - Painted Moon is as steamy as readers like it to be. The story is a good one, the characters are realistic.
- Tara and Sheena from the Lesbian Review devote this episode of The Lesbian Talk Show to Just Like that by Karin Kallmaker.
- I enjoyed the dialogue as well as the minor characters in the story.
- The premise for the story is interesting and imaginative... Refreshing!
- Being a descendant of First Generation Americans, I am impressed by this attention to detail.
- The young, hot-headed Teresa and the tormented Rayann pull us in immediately...
- Above Temptation Winner of 2010 Favorite Adventure Book as voted by member of the Lesbian Fiction Readers Choice Awards.
- Las historias apasionantes, divertidas y escritas con la ma maestría y talento de estas escritoras increíbles.
- Kallmaker's pandemic book, but it wasn't heavy, even if there were echoes of the despair and darkness of that period. Highly recommended!
- This had my dopamine, seratonin and oxytocin levels creeping higher and higher...
- A marvelous story of two head-strong women.
- The future you planned, the family and friends are gone and what’s left can be packed into a small suitcase. This is Lily’s world. But she takes advantage of her positives...
- A gift to all voracious readers from a splendidly gifted imagination.
- The best kind of romance. It has lesbians, just enough angst and a delightful wit and writing style.
- Karin Kallmaker heats up the lesbian romance genre...
- The broken relationship between Eve and Ani will have the reader on tenterhooks until the end.
- I expect a lot from Kallmaker and she delivered a good romance with interesting characters and a plot line that left me mulling it over for days.
- As close to perfection as I have ever read...
- Unforgettable is vintage lesbian romance, continuing Kallmaker's string of well-written, thoughtful stories about women surviving difficult times and coming into their own.
- Both characters are expertly drawn and easy to love. I appreciated that Kallmaker made one a wonderfully complex and relatable butch.
- This is a romance and a serious book that examines a wide range of issues of the day ... without detracting from the story and the characters.
- Abby Craden’s fine narration brings it all together. The extra two short stories in this anniversary edition tie a lovely bow on the ending.
- A great summer, holiday read, what with all the glorious, delish culinary delights, exotic or otherwise, fun pastimes and all! California dreamin’, eh?
- Humorous insights into how we conduct relationships and truths we can take with us into 'real life.'
- This is a beautiful romance, a story of two people who are so destined to be together that no matter how big the gulf between them they can find a way to overcome it.
- It was as if she knew me, and created the character of Shay right out of my life.
- This one's a mouth-watering delight.
- Kallmaker has created a moody, epic, romantic, passionate novel...
- She tells stories that can be read over and over again with characters that linger in your thoughts.
- What a story!