A review by k_cao_xai
No Strings by Gerri Hill

emotional lighthearted relaxing
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? N/A
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? N/A
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? No

5.0

Oh yeah, we all know where this kind of relationship is going. 

Character Impressions: 

M. Z. Morgan
Out of respect for this lovable, fictional character, I won’t write down her full name since she hates what the M and Z stands for.

Morgan’s super sweet and she gets along with everyone in town. As the lone lesbian, a lot of the townsfolk push her to get to know Reese. She’s not shy about wanting sex and enjoying it. I loved every moment she was annoyed by Reese as well as the moments when Reese started to grow on her.

I absolutely adore how the closest Morgan gets to cursing is just saying, “Good grief.”

Reese Daniels
Our brooding, sexy chief of police who is forced to work at Lake City for a year. 

I really wish the reason she was sent to Lake City was anything else rather than what it was, but it doesn’t come up much after the first initial discussion, so there’s that. 

I loved how she starts the story as all business, kind of rude, and just plain hating everything about being stuck in a small town, but being bored out of her mind pushes her to find things to do; Morgan being on that list. Her teasing and banter with Morgan were pleasant to read, especially when Morgan becomes the reason Reese opens up to others and smiles more. 

Minor Characters: 

     Googan: Lake City deputy. Watches too many movies and I’m pretty sure deep down, he wants to be a spy. He absolutely hates Reese the moment she walks into the sheriff’s office to take charge. It’s funny seeing Reese put him in his place.
     Charlie: Head of the forest ranger department and Morgan’s boss. He treats Morgan like his own daughter. It’s nice to see how much he relies on her and doesn’t push her to do things, unlike the rest of the townsfolk.
     The Townsfolk of Lake City: There are a handful of minor characters who interact with the main leads. Tracy, the waitress. Berta, the town gossip. Tina, Morgan’s coworker and friend. Jonnie, the lone cabin man. Sloan, the bar and restaurant owner. A lot of these characters watch out for Morgan because she’s one of the few who wasn’t born and raised in town. They have their own lives going on, but they sure do love to gossip about Morgan’s sex life. Especially about Moaning Mona.

Story Impressions: 

There’s only a bit of angst towards the end so for the most part, it’s a pretty laidback story. It takes place over the course of a few months, so they don’t fall in love immediately. Even though the sex is on point, the scenes where they eat dinner and chat were the most romantic and sexy. 

The ending is a 10/10 for me. I love me some grand love confessions and I always enjoy an epilogue chapter to let me linger with the two leads for a while longer. 

Highlights: 

  • Highlight 1: A short read with smoking sex scenes between women who discover they like each other for more than just the sex. 
  • Highlight 2: The audiobook. By this point, Abby Craden is becoming synonymous with narrating lesbian audiobooks and I’m living for it. 
  • Highlight 3: Explicit sex scenes. 
  • Highlight 4: Morgan and Reese’s banter.
  • Highlight 5: Morgan and Reese’s attempts to keep their physical relationship a secret. 
  • Highlight 6: Morgan and Reese pining for each other.
  • Highlight 7: Just Morgan and Reese in general. 
  • Highlight 8: Main leads are together for 95% of the story. 

My Personal Tags About the Book: 

  • Happily-ever-after
  • Cop/forest ranger 
  • Mild angst 
  • Friends-with-benefits become lovers 
  • Grumpy/sunshine
  • Nosy townsfolks
  • Pining/longing