Thrust

By: Rachel Spangler

Narrated by: Ann Shanks Etter

Fencing prodigy Jess Kidman has always been ahead of her peers. At the age of 13, she made the varsity team, won a state championship, came out, and fell head over heels in love with her team captain, Lauren Standish. After being gently rebuffed by the high school senior, young Jess vowed she would return for her some day when their age difference became irrelevant and her own accomplishments made her not merely an equal, but an Olympian. Ten years later, Jess makes good on her promise, but when she arrives back in Buffalo a few months before the big games, she’s intrigued to find that the woman she’s always dreamed of could also be exactly the coach she needs to win gold.

Lauren, however, isn’t the bubbly team captain she’d been at 18. After a stellar collegiate career of her own, circumstances forced her to put her dreams on the shelf and return to Buffalo. She’d made peace with a quiet life spent running a Rust Belt fencing club and coaching kids when Team USA’s hottest young fencer waltzes back into her life. As much as Lauren finds Jess’ confidence and athleticism alluring, she also sees the hotheaded superstar as a threat to the carefully controlled world rebuilt in the wake of the traumatic loss she is desperate to avoid reliving. Never one to turn her back on a friend in need, Lauren agrees to coach Jess on the condition that they focus only on the swordplay and not the sharp point of attraction threatening to sever the bonds of her professionalism.

The two women set to work preparing for the biggest event, but as tension mounts in the lead-up to the Olympic Games, the pressure and the passion building between them also grows, leaving both to wonder if Jess is trying to win the gold, or win the girl.

©2021 Rachel L. Spangler (P)2021 Rachel L Spangler

Great Book; Horrid Narration

I’m a sucker for lesbians, sports/athletes, and love. I enjoyed this story. The narration, however, was horrid. Since I paid for the audiobook, I suffered through it, but, I have to tell you, it took all I had to do it.

Excellent!

I loved Thrust. I loved the book when I read it. Loved the audio just as much. Welcome to the little known world of fencing.

Ok

I love Rachel's books, however I do not like this narrator. I got through the book, it took me 3 weeks because I disliked the narrator. The story itself was solid, with relatable characters. I won't be buying anymore books narrated by Ann.

On guard

Great book. Well written with great dialogue. Good storyline and low angst. Has some spice. Lots of swords and sparing. Great 2nd chance, HEA story.

Fencing romance

Every story has a beginning, middle and end. This was no exception. A beginning started a decade before with the two protagonists out of synch, a middle which was a reunion through a love of fencing and an ending which you will have to find out by reading this novel.