Review: what a gem
Rating: 5 out of 5
Date: 03 12, 2014
From the beautiful cover... from the first page to last... I was completely immersed.  Not a wasted word.Short stories aren't generally my first choice in reading, particularly those as short as this 26 pager.  I usually find myself dissatisfied by some level of incompletion or lack of development.  Not here.  It was whole as is.  And while I was interested enough in these characters to wish it were a novel... it wasn't because I felt this was missing something.  I loved it.This one introduces us to 24ish Edith in mid 1920s Canada... a young woman silently grappling with her repressed sexual desires yet slowly resigning to the possibility of spinsterhood.  In a Prohibition-era world... Edith has little access to the racier elements of her time period-- like speakeasies and flapper fashion.  She's a good girl with expected routines and undoubtedly on her way to being much like her mother.  Very atmospheric in terms of the time period... well done.When 22ish, handsome and androgynous Clark suddenly appears as the neighbor's estranged relative, Edith is intrigued.  And Clark knows it.  Clark is transgendered (FTM), sharply dressed in men's clothing, and passes as a man.  No one knows his secret.  Although Edith slowly notes subtle gender details about Clark's identity... she is utterly drawn to him and willing to explore the possibilities.  He invites her into the forbidden world of her era.  It's fascinating to think about how someone with Clark's gender identity made his way in this time period.Part of my attraction to this story is just how unusual the theme was for me on the page.  I just don't come across too many stories depicting transgendered characters.  That, combined with just how well it's written made it a real gem for me.  The sensuality was palpable and the bits of sex very hot.  Love the chemistry.  I really wish this were a novel.  What's more, this is exactly the kind of story with a transgendered character I want to read.  It's not pornographic, depressing, violent, or focused on straight/gay community discrimination.  Not unrealistic either.  But I loved the positive and sensual presence here.  There needs to be more stories like this!The cover is exactly how I imagine these characters might look.... well, I thought Edith was rather conservative, but given flapper attire and make up, that would totally be her!! lol.  Love it!!