Alex McKenzie is settled into a comfortable life in her beloved hometown of Stockbridge, MA. Everything Alex thought she knew about life and about herself changes the moment Cate Conrad blows into town. Alex falls head over heels in love with the free-spirited artist and sailor but Cate's complicated past makes it impossible for her to commit. Devastated, Alex tries to heal her heart by hiking the famed Appalachian Trail while Cate takes to the water. Can Alex and Cate find their way back to each other?
Professional Reviews
5 Stars from Readers' Favorite
Lucy J. Madison's contemporary lesbian romance novel, In the Direction of the Sun, is filled with action, adventure and gorgeous nature descriptions as Alex and Cate learn to live without each other. I'm an avid fan of Appalachian Trail memoirs and fiction, and loved experiencing the trail through Alex’s eyes. I also agreed wholeheartedly with her that it should be an experience savored fully, and that 10 miles a day made for a much richer experience than the grueling 16-20 mile days many through-hikers undertake. The evening she spends with some friendly fellow hikers, which is when she finally gets her own trail name, Moonstruck, is brilliantly described and is a turning point for Alex in her Appalachian Trail metamorphosis. With each step she takes, you can sense her evolution into a strong, introspective and confident woman. Madison's story moves back and forth in time to show the reader the full history of each of her main characters, as well as including the letters each writes to the other. Along the way, you can sense how each was affected by the romance, and how the time spent afterwards, combined with their analyses of what was special and what went wrong, contribute to their transformations into their best selves.
Madison lets her characters pull no punches -- we see the rage, frustration, and aggression Alex expresses on being rejected and can sense Cate's fear of rejection and commitment which has closed her off to the possibility of a loving relationship. All the while, each of them is aware of the passage of time as the thirty-somethings come to realize their existence in this life is a finite thing. Her nature descriptions of Cate’s sailing adventures and Alex’s Appalachian Trail hike are first-rate and make this a must-read for anyone interested in adventure fiction. In the Direction of the Sun is a brilliant character study and an engaging and powerful romance. It’s most highly recommended.
Lesbian Literature Icon Jewelle Gomez
“The emotions flying between the two women who tell their story here is as dramatic as the Appalachian Trail and as tumultuous as the Atlantic Ocean. These natural elements are a perfect backdrop for the revelations of love which both repel and engage them.”
Lesbian Author Shelley Thrasher
"In the Direction of the Sun, by Lucy Madison, provides the reader with a kaleidoscope of colorful views. Shifting scenes between the mountains and the sea, the past and the present, she never lets us lose focus on the emotional intensity of two women who passionately love one another."
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