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Rachel Spangler
Rachel Spangler
has avoided getting a real job by staying in school for way too long,
and she has loved (almost) every minute of it. She holds degrees in
politics and government, women’s studies, and English, and recently
completed
a master’s degree in college student personnel administration from
Illinois
State University. Throughout her college experience, she has been
actively involved with PFLAG, PRIDE, FMLA, and Safe Schools, all of
which influenced various aspects of her first novel, Learning Curve.
Rachel and her
partner, Susan, recently moved to western New York, where during the
winter they make the most of the lake effect snow on local ski slopes.
In the summer, they love to travel and watch their beloved St. Louis
Cardinals. Regardless of the season, she always makes time for a good
romance, whether she’s reading it, writing it, or living it.
Book Reviews
Interviews
Learning Curve
(January 2008)
It's
never too late to learn about love...even when the lessons turn
your world upside down.
Ashton Clarke, a
local Casanova with a long history of falling into bed with a different
woman every night, is perfectly content with her free and easy existence
until she gives in to her best friend’s request to spend an evening helping
out at the local gay and lesbian youth center. There, Ash meets Carrie
Fletcher, a women’s studies professor who not only intrigues Ash but causes
her to question the direction her life has taken.
As if this disquieting
attraction isn’t aggravating enough, Ash is forced to deal with Carrie’s
teenage neighbor Tess, whose bad attitude and biting wit seem to complicate
every situation.
Ash doesn’t want to be attracted to Carrie, who isn’t
looking for a relationship with anyone, and Tess is angry at the world, but
especially, it seems, with Ash. Despite resistance on the part of all three
women, it soon becomes obvious that the trio’s destinies are hopelessly
intertwined and the lessons in store will change all their lives.
Trails Merge
(December 2008)
Every skier knows that anything can happen when trails merge
without warning.
After a
devastating ultimatum from her lover, Campbell Carson returns to
her childhood home, Bear Run Ski Resort, seeking her family’s
unconditional solace and support. Parker Riley escapes to the
mountain after the high-powered world of Chicago’s political
machine leaves her questioning her judgment in both life and love.
Despite their initial wariness, the women find their budding
friendship snowballing toward romance. The idyllic mountain resort
is the perfect setting for them to learn to rebuild trust, and
perhaps to find a second chance at love. However, when Parker’s
past resurfaces, Campbell is forced to face her own hard truths. As
barely healed wounds reopen, the unexpected obstacles in their path
threaten any hope for a future together.
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