Because I Said So

Written by Karin Kallmaker

Narrated by Abby Craden

Kesa Sapiro had to grow up fast. With her parents gone and a little sister to protect, Kesa has spent over a decade of her life trying to keep a roof over their heads. She's learned the hard way that love is a luxury and that the price is way too high. When her sister Josie announces she wants to marry a boy she's known for less than a month, Kesa immediately forbids it.

Shannon Dealan is floored when her son-by-choice says he wants to get married to a girl he's just met. Shannon has real reason to scrutinize any strangers who come into Paz's life. She's not about to let him do anything stupid-and that includes believing in love at first sight. She knows too well there's no such thing.

Hoping to soften the objections of their jaded, overbearing elders, Josie and Paz arrange for them to meet and discuss the future like civilized adults . . . but absolutely nothing goes as planned.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Tantor Media, Inc
• Release date: Jan 14, 2020
• ISBN: 9781541436206

Karin Kallmaker

Karin Kallmaker's novels span lesbian romance, lesbian erotica and lesbian science-fiction/fantasy. More than five dozen short stories have appeared in anthologies and standalone collections. Her writing career began with the venerable Naiad Press, continues with Bella Books and includes more than two dozen novels in print. In 2008, she joined Bella Books as the press's first Editorial Director. When she isn't writing books she is thinking about books.In previous lives, Karin worked as a non-profit accountant for a senior housing association and a low-income housing lender, and had a brief stint as a document processor on an oil refinery. She is the mother of two teenagers and lives in the San Francisco Bay Area with her partner. She is descended from Lady Godiva, a fact which she will tell anyone who will listen,and she likes her chocolate real and her iPod loud.Lambda Literary AwardsWinner, three Lambda Literary Awards for The Kiss that Counted and Maybe Next Time in Lesbian Romance and In Deep Waters 2 in Lesbian Erotica, with multiple additional shortlist nods for Lesbian Romance, Lesbian Erotica and LGBT Science-Fiction Fantasy works.GCLS Goldie AwardsWinner of the Ann Bannon Popular Choice Award for The Kiss that Counted, the 2011 Trailblazer Award, with another six awards won for Frosting on the Cake 2: Second Helpings, Above Temptation, Just Like That and Sugar in Lesbian Romance and 18th & Castro and In Deep Waters 1 for Lesbian Erotica, along with numerous finalists.BookmarksRichards LaBonte - Kallmaker transcends cliche with vivid characterization, logical plotting, and plenty of deep research...Friends and FamilyHer characters are so real you can't help but picture them in your mind...Lambda Book ReportCarol LeMasters - The best romances don't simply evade issues; they offer us another way of dealing with them. After all, the issues with which these women struggle--homophobia, mortality, barriers of age and class--are ones we all encounter. More than enjoyable diversions, they can offer humorous insights into how we conduct relationships and truths we can take with us into "real life." Situations may be cliché but not the authors' treatment of them, and no matter how far-fetched the circumstances, the characters' emotional experiences ring true.

Reviews for Because I Said So

[Marc Schlesinger · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

Good story but this authors stories alway have a weak ending like she can't end it fast enough.

[Jaja Hular · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

I skipped most part of it since there’s no hype to it but i love that Kesa is Filipino

[Rosemary J. Stanek · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

As always Abby Craden delivered an excellent narration. The story, while introducing me to a bits of Philippino culture, and the dealings of the US Marshals Service, simply did not enthrall me.

[judeinthesky · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

There’s a reason why Karin Kallmaker has been hailed as the queen of lesbian romance. While this might not be her best book (or at least not my favorite), it definitely more than does the job.Because I Said So is a second chance romance. Four years after an intense three days that ended for the wrong reasons, Kesa and Shannon meet again as Kesa’s younger sister (whom Kesa has been taking care of since their parents’ death) and Paz, whose unofficial guardian Shannon has been for a few years, plan to marry.There’s a lot to like in this book, but the best is, as often with Kallmaker, both the characters and their jobs. I know it might sound strange, but the way she seems to research her MCs occupation makes their day to day life feel real. It has impressed me since my first Kallmaker book more than 20 years ago, and it still does. Both MCs and the small community of secondary cast are really good (I wish they existed and invited me to dinner, there’s a lot of food in this book and it all sounds yummy), and I loved the Jennifer Lamont cameo.I received an ARC from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.