An honest review thanks to NetGalley. This was a great book, and the plot was so original that I immediately fell in love with it. Murphy and Riley just fit and the second layer of their flirtations brought so much more to their relationship. If you are ready for a romance that is refreshingly different, this is the book for you.

Night Voice is a sweet story.

I absolutely loved this book. I was hooked from the first chapter and found that I was so engrossed that my working day was interfering with my reading .

The characters Murphy and Riley are great, you can feel the chemistry between the two, which leads to some hot scenes between them.

The story is well written and I dare you not to think Sable is one sexy person

I would recommend this book to everyone.

Stevie‘s review of Night Voice by CF Frizzell
Lesbian Romance published by Bold Strokes Books 17 Jan 17

I try to strike a good balance in my reading choices between authors I know will almost certainly give me a satisfying experience and new-too-me authors that I hope will do the same. The blurb of a book can play a big part in how I pick the latter, although sometimes just the general concept is enough for me to give something a try, as in this case. Way back in the mists of time, I remember a TV show by the name of Midnight Caller, which left me with a fascination for the world of US late night radio. So, when I found a new lesbian romance along a similar theme, it seemed to be made for me as a reader, especially since I’ve heard lots about Provincetown, where this story’s set.

Murphy Callahan is a DJ who goes by the name of Sable, and who keeps her real identity secret for reasons that never become entirely clear, although it’s obvious that she, and possibly some of her colleagues, believe this mystery gives her show increased ratings. Widowed three years earlier, Murphy resists her friends’ attempts to set her up with any of the many available women in Provincetown, but her resolve to remain single begins to waver after her car gets stuck in a snowdrift and she is rescued by local handywoman Riley Burke.

After that first meeting, Murphy and Riley begin to bump into each other all over town – sometimes literally – and go on a couple of dates. Murphy soon recognises Riley as a caller to the radio show whom she, as Sable, has been flirting with over the airwaves, but goes to a great deal of trouble to conceal the fact that she has a job at the station, much less exactly what she does. That deception really bugged me. It was unnecessary, in my opinion, and the lies Murphy told Riley about her career and ambitions turned me right off her. Not that Riley was entirely endearing at times either, although I did feel that there were points where Murphy over-reacted to some bad behaviour of Riley’s, only for Riley to behave even worse in retaliation.

The situation between the two women finally comes to a head when Murphy’s bosses insist that she DJs live at a fundraising event, albeit heavily disguised, and it seems that there’s no way she can continue to hide her double-life from Riley. Personally, I thought the situation had gone too far to be salvaged, but in Romancelandia, the unlikely frequently happens. So not an ending that sat well with me, and I couldn’t find it in myself to forgive either woman’s behaviour. A shame, since I did enjoy the setting and quite a few of the secondary characters appealed to me as well.

Grade: C

This is the second book I have read by the author. I enjoyed this one so much more than the first. I enjoyed the mystery of Sable while getting to know Murphy. I was willing to overlook the small things that should have given Sable away, and why a town couldn't figure it out. The entire book flowed well and I found myself not wanting to put it down. Riley was a great, but I always fall for the girls that work with their hands. I think this book is well worth the read. Glad I tried this book, because it really made me want to read future books by this author.

This was an entertaining read. I enjoyed both of the main characters and their push and pull (normally I'm not a fan of the back and forth, but for this book it worked well). The connection between the two was strong from the beginning which was a bonus. I loved that it took place in P-town. Overall great read!!

This is the first book of the author’s that I’ve read, and I very much enjoyed it. The main characters felt real and likeable. The connection between them was palpable and the slow build-up was a pleasure to read. The supporting characters were also well developed. The ending felt a little abrupt but I didn’t mind that too much. I liked the author’s writing style and will keep an eye out for her future works.

Is is my first book by Frizzell, and based on this I'd read others. It's a solid romance, but nothing extraordinary. The leads are likeable enough, but I did find that the reveal of their alter egos (both ways) was a bit too drawn out, Murphy certainly should have recognised Riley's voice earlier, and then should have just asked for permission to be able to reveal her identity to Riley once they were in a relationship. Other than that it's a nice enough read.

CF Frizzell has written a beautiful love story, a romantic tale that will have you cheering on Murphy and the lady who has stolen her heart. Three years after the death of her partner Bryce, Murphy still hasn’t moved on but buries herself in her job as the sexy radio host, Sable. Remaining anonymous is part of the gig and that is fine until one caller catches her attention and maybe her heart. In real life she finds herself drawn to builder, Riley but something is holding her back. There was just enough angst and plenty of hot sex in this excellent book to keep anyone hooked. Emotions ran high and how all of those involved communicated their feelings made for a very interesting read. I loved it.
I was given this ARC free by Netgalley and Bold Strokes Books in return for an honest review.

4.5 stars

Sable is the seductive confidante with a bedroom voice, capturing the attention of the lesbians in Provincetown. Anonymous, mysterious and fun, Sable is the voice with whom everyone shares their stories and their fantasies during her late night radio show. For Murphy Callahan, the voice of Sable, anonymity is key to her performance, and this is more than just a contract with the radio station. For Murphy, Sable is a way to hide from the grief of losing her partner to cancer three long years ago.

Local tradeswoman, Riley Burke, is a fan of the show, and like most of the lesbians in Provincetown, is a little bit in love with Sable. When Riley calls to talk on Nightline, she calls herself RB. As their on-air flirting starts getting heavier, the locals start to notice, and run a pool on when Sable and RB will get together.

However, it is all a bit more confusing for both Riley and Murphy, who meet in the flesh after Riley rescues Murphy from a blizzard. As their attraction to one another as Riley and Murphy develops, so does their attraction as Sable and RB on air.

Frizzell has provided one of the most seductive characters I’ve read for ages. Murphy is an interesting character trying to deal with grief and loss, but it is the addition of Sable that gives her a reason to be light and funny, and to deliver some seriously flirtatious dialogue. It makes the combination more complex, more interesting and much more fun to read. Riley/RB, by comparison, feels less developed, although she is still smart enough and strong enough to be a good foil for Murphy.

I don’t normally listen to talk-back radio, but I would if Sable was on air. It was a delight to read the dialogue as voiced by Sable, and Frizzell handles this really well. The individual callers come across as distinct from one another, and the topics covered each evening work within the context of the radio show as well as delivering plots points as needed.

Frizzell has done a good job of structuring a story full of comedy and loss, attraction and love. I really enjoyed this book. There were some surprises in the story, and I thoroughly enjoyed the interaction of the main characters. It was a well constructed and well written romance. I highly recommend it.

Advanced reading copy provided by NetGalley for an honest review.

genre: contemporary romance
length: 82,000 words, 41 chapters
main characters:
Murphy Callahan, 40, local radio talk show host, brunette with big brown eyes
Riley Burke, 39, local tradeswoman, butch with shaggy blond hair and vivid blue eyes
main theme: scared to enter into a new loving relationship after the death of a life partner
setting: Provincetown, Massachusetts
my opinion:
- a great slow burn romance with two interesting leads
- an epilogue was not a necessary but it would be very nice
- highly recommended to all romance fans
- will read more books by CF Frizzell as I liked her style
cover: very appealing, well related to the plot
book rating: 5 stars
eARC by Bold Strokes Books via NetGalley

I really wanted to like this book. Unfortunately, I couldn't get past the wooden dialogue.

This is my first book by C.F. Frizzell and I really enjoy her writing. The characters of Murphy & Riley have terrific chemistry. It's touching, sweet, funny & crafted beautifully after the death of a partner. The setting in Provincetown is the perfect backdrop.

My only hesitation is I'm not a big fan of reading about 'on air' talk radio segments. So some of the parts of the book, especially early on were a bit slow. However as the book picked up the pace turned out to be great and finally moved where I saw the main characters interacting together.

I wished the book had closed with a chapter or epilogue because it felt abrupt. There was so much talk about a second story to Murphy's beach house & deck I was surprised the author didn't include a nice closing sunset scene from a new balcony.

This is a nice romance and I was happy to discover this author. I will read her other works.

For lesbians in Provincetown, seductive Sable is more than just a bedroom voice on late-night radio. Through her talk show, Nightlight, she is a fun, anonymous friend and confidante, until one mysterious caller attracts her attention. Behind Sable’s “mask,” Murphy Callahan allows herself to enjoy the no-strings radio relationship—she’s mourned the death of her partner for three years—and ignores the growing attachment as their very public conversations push permissible limits.

But when local tradeswoman Riley Burke enters her life, Murphy faces a difficult choice: continue the safe, “night voice” fantasy or risk the reality of falling in love. If only she could have both…

Interesting premise, which was unevenly delivered in the final product. While I empathized greatly with the profound loss and self-doubt which drove Murphy's concealment in her secondary persona, I found Riley to be a rather hollow foil for her, especially as the person with whom she chose to form a new relationship after the death of her partner. Additionally, the ending felt too rapidly arrived at. There was, however, an undeniable spark between the two women that kept me committed throughout.