Like Trinity was able to strongly identify with Morgan, I was able to strongly identify with Emilie, the main character in this novel.                                                                          I enjoyed the book so much that I’m now in the process of reading “Risking-Me” which is a sequel to “Silent Goodbyes”. Here’s the review:  All Things Lesbian Review of Silent Goodbyes by C.C. Saint-Clair. Editorial by Admin – Friday, December 31, 2004

Lesbian fiction is a genre that I so rarely have the luxury of time to read these days, but I was pleasantly touched by C.C. Saint-Clair’s Silent Goodbyes. I found myself quickly turning the pages of this book partly set onboard a yacht sailing the Whitsunday Islands, somewhere off Australia, and was unable to put this romantic novel down. Saint-Clair gives us a realistic and honest portrayal of what it feels like to be in a lesbian relationship that is gradually unraveling. We experience the feelings and thoughts of Emilie first-hand as she begins to fall out of love with her lover, an experience that many of us have unfortunately had.

The story primarily takes place in the mind of Emilie, a 46-year-old introverted, anxiety-ridden English teacher. As an introverted-borderline-anti-social person myself, I could really relate to the character of Emilie and appreciate the little nuances that go on in her mind. This is a very “mental” novel that exposes many of the little intricacies that subconsciously go on in a woman’s mind as she interacts with and observes others. It was startling to see such common, unconscious thoughts so skilfully put on paper as Saint-Clair does in this lesbian book.

In this romantic lesbian story, readers are observers of the steady process that takes place in the gradual break-down of a long-term relationship.

We experience Emilie’s emotional disappointments with her partner over time as the feel-good moments between the couple begin to dwindle. Emilie makes love to Solange, feeling that it is for the last time, a goodbye, on the bow of Star Gazer, a thirty-five-footer.

In this highly erotic scene, the reader is given a treat of the senses as Emilie fantasizes about making love with Solange under the moonlight. It is easy for the reader to feel as if she were actually taking part in the slow, delicious foreplay that takes place on the gently rocking yacht at sea. When Emilie does actually prepare to approach her lover, there is no doubt as to what will soon take place between the two women. This highly sensual scene is just one of many in this wonderfully romantic novel.

The reader travels along with Emilie’s thoughts and emotions as she ventures towards a new sensual, erotic beginning with a colleague. We have the delight of experiencing first-hand the delicious passion, romance, sexual desire and longing that are so common in a passionate, new romantic lesbian relationship. We are also “there” with Emilie up close and personal as she learns to deal with her insecurities and self-consciousness that are so common in a budding new romantic lesbian relationship.

C.C. Saint-Clair has a wonderful gift of capturing introspective thoughts and sensual, erotic moments in lesbian literature. The reader is able to intimately feel both the pleasure and the emotional pain that are common in many relationships. I have been delighted to be introduced to the work of this lesbian author in Silent Goodbyes and am enthusiastically looking forward to reading Risking-Me, which is kind of a sequel.

This novel has become one of my favorite lesbian books and my copy will live on my bookshelf where it will be available for a re-read at any time when I’m in the mood for a great romantic story. C.C. Saint-Clair has so kindly made a free downloadable version of Silent Goodbyes available on her website. Personally, I prefer to read the paperback book format that can easily be carried along anywhere.
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Rhonda
Webmaster
All Things Lesbian

I thought Solange was quite a pain in the …. but I had a gf who was just as erratic as her – so I totally understood what Emilie was going through. But then again, I just loved the way Em fell in love with Roberta and their tender connection. So real to life, I couldn’t help sighing because … i’ve been there myself. Who hasn’t?

That’s the strength of CC’s writing, I think, that ability to write ficition that’s so real and … involving of the senses. So … yeah Admin, I agree with you,Silent goodbyes is a great book
S’gayzer
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Star gazing: great for the soul. Work hard – play hard – love hard: all great for the body.

I’ve been watching this forum for a couple of weeks already and it looks like all of C.C. Saint-clair’s ATL readers have said their peace. All except me.
Going by dates, it looks like you posted the 1st comment on Saint-clair. What a good idea, as this section of the forum is by far one of the most solid in terms of maturity and relevance of posts.

My favourite moment in Silent Goodbyes is one of the boat scenes. The moon is low on its axis, the night is dark. No other boats are anchored nearby and Emilie imagines how she would make love to Solange if she walked up to her, where she is, lost in her own thought at the bow. But I’ve been toying with a bit of a review that I thought I might just post somewhere, but that was last year – and I still haven’t posted it anywhere and admittedly, I borrowed a couple of lines from other stuff that people have already written about her, but most of it is mine.

Far From Maddy is C.C. Saint-Clair’s sixth novel and, in this novel as in all others, the sensuality of her writing captures both the sensual romanticism and the socio-political realism that underpin all her storylines – It’s all about the choices we make, as women of all ages, the risks we take, the emotional baggage we drag around, and whatever (un)resolved personal issues we have – in Saint-Clair’s plots, it all bubbles up to the surface.

On the eve of twenty-two-year-old Jo’s intended move in with her lover, Maddy, in urban, working-class Australia, Jo simply vanishes. So begins the strange tale of her self-determined disappearance and Maddy’s desperate search to find her.

In her hand, Maddy still held the bracelet found there amongst Jo’s belongings. She straightened her shoulders to allow more air to fill her lungs. The leather knot that she had tied on the underside of Jo’s wrist that night, some three months earlier, was still intact, tight and secure, but one of its ends was severed from the braid. Maddy brought the band to her lips. The sweaty saltiness of it against her nose, the tiny patch of salty leather under the tip of her tongue hit her like a door in the middle of a sleepwalker’s path. Jo’s face, bigger than life, exploded behind her eyes.

 Jo, with her grunge hair cut that spilled, shiny and black over her pale forehead, over her grey eyes. Jo’s aquiline nose. Jo’s smile that creased the corners of her mouth instead of turning them upwards. Every detail was there, too large, too alive, far too unreal for Maddy to accommodate inside her heart.

Dazed but with the automated motions of the undead, Maddy had eventually driven back towards Brisbane.
[In case it’s legally needed here here’s the copyright thing] Copyright © by C.C.Saint-Clair 2003

The focus of Far From Maddy is the impact on a young girl’s psyche of emotional abuse at the hand of a loving but unhinged mother who resorts to self-administered euthanasia. And that’s combined with the current urban issue of young people who prefer to live rough in the streets rather than struggle inside dysfunctional families and pretend and compromise just for the sake of a bed and 4 walls around them when they’re asleep.

Young people, some enough to still be kids, others barely out of their teens, like Jo, choose homelessness as a life option and Saint-Clair is alerting us to the reality that their choice isn’t really a choice at all. Their decision to live in the streets, parks and bus shelters stems from quiet desperation. Too many of our disenfranchised youth have run out of choices. And in Far From Maddy, it’s a young dyke’s life that’s at risk.

Saint-Clair’s unique writing style – layered sensuality blended with gritty realism, vividly describes the complex, emotional and psychological landscape that lurks just below the surface, and yet, Saint-Clair’s novels still fall in the category of sensual lesbian romance novels.

The only “problem” with Far From Maddy, if you’re a fan of Saint-Clair’s makes-you-wet-on impact sexy scenes, is that there aren’t as many of her trademark moments of hot electric lust, as in all her other novels. One reason, I guess, is that Jo, Maddy’s lover, is AWOL for most of the novel.

So this explains that though Christen would’ve certainly welcomed more, much more of Maddy’s time and touch.

If other forum users are not familiar with Saint-clair’s site but they like a lot of quality free extracts – sexy, sensual, erotic and relevant to our queer culture – there’s a lot to browse.
That’s if you manage to get past the amazing torso on her homepage. Extremely sensual, barely wrapped in sheer shades of electric lavender and pink
Nice sharing with you Admin and cheers to you all,

FreeFall_________________
Life’s but a game of pinball. We are the ball. Once ejected into the world, we bounce from pillar to post, sometimes cushioned, sometimes not. The sure thing is that sooner or later, we end up in the hole – so wrote c.c. saint-clair

Lol! Yeah, Solange was a major pain! Definitely a “high maintenance” kind of woman. It was really interesting to watch the “mental” progression of the relationship. I really enjoyed “being there” when Emilie was falling in love with Roberta. It can be a scary thing to fall in love – but so addicting at the same time. Call me a romance junkie, I guess
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Rhonda
Webmaster
All Things Lesbian – Directory For The Global Lesbian Community

C.C. has more than managed her goal, then, if we can’t even get past her website. I wonder how many licks it takes to get to the center of https://www.ccsaint-clair.com/ ………….. For those of you who are too young to remember, that’s a take-off on the old 60’s commercial, “How many licks does it take to get to the center of a Tootsie-Roll Tootsie Pop? Let’s find out….”

We are SO gay…. Just wanted to share that observation with you girls.
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* Pam Harrison
* https://www.outinlouisville.com/Arts/ *
Writer’s Software and Resources
* https://www.realm-of-shade.com/House_of_Muses/ *

I like the reference to the tootsie pop! As for her website. Yes…i too have been stuck there watching and pondering the screen for a second or two….ok maybe a minute or two. ha ha She is very effective with her website and writing. Dang that woman is talented!

-NotAshamed-
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Newsflash- I’m a lesbian. Yeah bet you didn’t know!

The tootsie roll pop was very popular in the US (i am not sure of any other countries) There used to be a commercial on tv with an owl saying “how many licks does it take to get to the center of the tootsie roll pop?” Then he would lick it and count 1…2…3 and then you would hear a big crunch from him biting down on the lollypop because he couldn’t wait to get to the center. It is one of my favorite commercials from when i was young. It was on a lot in the ’80s

Trinity
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Check it out. Lesbian artist fighting with pride! www.geocities.com/trishave03/mainpage.html and www.trinitypass.com