'Netgalley ARC provided by The Publisher in exchange for an unbiased review'

A complicated story of there is no 'happily ever after' and a 'tortured soul.' Ronica Black presents a powerful story of profound loss and second chances where she has crafted a fast-paced,impossibly steamy storyline that will immerse readers in a taboo world and also where love,pain,pleasure,flaws and perfection intersect as a matter of course. One of the main character's problems/fears and issues were believably motivated and even her dialogue were honest and compelling because having her mental illness written into this storyline was a bonus for readers. It is also well written and has a well rounded diverse cast of supporting characters in addition the book is a red-hot witty page turner that i predict will keep most readers up all night with all its emotionally engaging and authentic words. Ms.Black definitely delivers the heat in this new book and i do encourage everyone to read this wonderful book!

I love Ronica Black's work and not surprisingly this book is very well written. The characters are multi-dimensional and the premise is interesting. However, there's a huge amount of angst and emotional baggage. While the book starts off promising, the second half descends into a series of misunderstandings and tons of drama. It was a little too intense for me.

I was unable to review this book because of a conflict in my schedule. Sorry for any inconvenience this has caused the publisher or the author of the work. Thank you for giving me the opportunity to review for you and I look forward to reviewing for you in the future.

I haven’t read a lot of Black’s novels. This is my third novel by the author. I really enjoyed this one though. I think it will motivate me to pick up some of her other books. This is a book that will stick with you a while after you read it. The book isn’t the fluffy romance you read on the weekend. It is a romance, and a good one at that, but it has depth which is not always included in the genre. If you enjoy a well written lesbian romance with a lot of angst this could be the perfect read for you. It did bother me the ex girlfriend just wouldn’t go away. Why? Is this type of ex real? I do not have one of these, but the crazy exes show up in lesbian romance novels more than I would like. Most of the book is really good, and I may pick it up again someday.

I have read Ronica Black before and she is an excellent craftswoman and storyteller, but in this case this book wasn't for me. I did not warm to the main characters and at times found them irritating. That is a problem for me as I need to find some universal trait that allows me to identify with one of the protagonists but neither Johnny nor Elaine felt "real" to me. It isn't a fault of the writing per se as they are well drawn, it was just that nothing seemed to connect somehow. I will look out for the next book by Ms Black as this isn't a misfire as such, it just isn't for me.

I was given a copy of the book by Netgalley in return for an honest review.

I really struggled to get in to this book. I have read Black before and found her an excellent story teller and I really liked her writing style. It wasn't the style that I found hard I guess it was the story. The story was really deep. Now don't get me wrong I'm not shallow but this was deeper than the deep end.


The story is about a young artist named Johnnie. She has lost her feeling for art and is emotionally stunted at the moment. She needs to feel to draw basically. She is very tuned in to other people and rarely go's out or socialise. Elaine is what is called a practitioner who helps people reconnect with their feelings. But I would say she needed help as well as she is still coming to terms with the loss of her wife. A practitioner is a therapist of sorts. They help people with a multitude of problems including sex. But they never touch the client. It is all done through suggestion.


It is a complicated story but although I struggled with it I did not regret reading it. I gave it 3 stars mainly because at the beginning I was very confused what the practitioners role actually was. This sorts itself out eventually. Yes I would recommend this book but please be aware it is a deep read and very intense.


*ARC provided by publisher via NetGalley*


https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/1996684776


https://www.amazon.co.uk/review/RQ3D3DCL4R6GA/ref=pe_1572281_66412651_cm_rv_eml_rv0_rv

An honest review thanks to NetGalley. This book was wonderful! The beginning easily drew me in and made me curious and wanting for more. As the book progressed the pain and problems both the main characters faced came to a head, and the need to heal was overwhelming. The characters could not get together because of their pasts and the pain that they kept inside for way too long. This was a great read and helped see the depression and healing process between the two characters.

This has been an interesting book about a troubled artist and some kind of therapist in need of therapy herself. The thread related to the practitioner counseling is really not the main subject, as I said before the counselor has her own problems to sort. The story goes through the struggling of both protagonists for overcome their fears and anxieties caused by past traumas of diferent kind. For one of them is the lost of her loved wife and for the other one is some familiar repulsion, although it was not very clear explained along the book, only picking here and there you can make an idea of what Johnnie has endured. Both can't help themselves feeling attracted to one another and the world seems to put their bit so they end up together. There is some angst and struggling and sorting feelings and fighting and some abusive behaviour but it has not bothered me as usually does.

I was excited to read this novel as I’m a huge fan of the author. I think there are few lesbian authors out there that can write a seduction scene better than Ronica Black, and this book again shows her strengths. Right from the first scene where the two main characters meet is a tension and sensual dance that’s fully on display. I think what’s really impressive with this book is that it doesn’t even go far sexually until waaaay after that scene but you still feel like it’s gotten hot in the room.

The two characters also have a deepness about them that I wasn’t expecting. Both of them are tortured for different reasons but it draws them to each other while also keeping them apart. It was lovely to see how you can recognize a sadness in someone that mirrors yourself, connect to it on every level, find attraction in it, but also realize you can never be until that sadness is healed in both of you. The characters were full bodied and I connected to both of them.

One small criticism is that at times toward then end they seemed to run in to each other in only a way characters in a book would. I found it a little unbelievable and wish they had come back to each other in a more organic way. I won’t say anything else on the subject as I don’t want to spoil it for anyone.

Recommendation: Buy it

he beginning of this novel captured my attention from the rather luscious description of a pint of Guinness. I cannot tell a lie, I almost immediately wanted to be drinking it. It was Johnnie's struggle as an artist which drew me in next. Bored, and depressed I suppose you could say something in her called out to me because haven't most people experienced some kind of slump at some point in their lives?

The first scene with the practitioner also pulled me in, making me sit up and pay attention to what was happening on the digital page. The relationship was like a low simmering fire, frequently doused by either Johnnie's personal angst, or Elaine's.

The loss Elaine felt was palatable, and the edge of frustration that every other character seemed to exhibit in my mind, in reference to her loss made me slightly protective of her because people deal with loss in their own time.

I only wish that some scenes had not been so over the top, when it came to the Johnnie, Monica, Elaine, and Gail. Not to mention Kyle who I expected, from the way she was written to become slightly unhinged at any moment.

Either way this book was an overall enjoyable read and one which I would recommend to people wanting characters who practically breathe off the page.

This book had a very interesting premise, one that I had been looking forward to delving into for months-therapeutic assistance (in the form of a pseudo artistic muse, Elaine) helping a woman rediscover her creative voice. I imagined a sort of sexual surrogacy/client bond that would explode into something greater. That was not what I encountered in the book-the two protagonists were not depicted in a way that convinced of the value of their bond. The dynamic seemed forced and after her loss, I wanted more for Elaine. Johnnie's self absorption, while understandable at first, wore by the midway point of the work. Still, with memories of surprise stunners like "The Midnight Room," I will still return to Ms. Black next publication.

3 1/2 Stars. I always keep an eye out for books, that Black writes. Out of all of her books I have read so far, I have liked all of them, and this was not an exception. This is not a run of the mill romance. I would consider this a drama-romance, heavy on the drama, a bit lighter on the actually romance. It is one of the things I like about Black, she writes books that are different.

The story is about Johnnie, an artist, with a lot of emotional baggage. She also is what I would consider an Empath, as she can feel the energies and emotions, coming off of people. This causes her to avoid crowds, and rather stay home or at her studio, where it is safe. Johnnie's art has stalled. She has not created in a while and is drinking too much. Her best friend is worried, and suggested she goes and sees a practitioner. A practitioner is a type of therapist, that helps people with all sorts of stuff, including sex. But they are not prostitutes, they don't touch clients. Johnnie has not had sex, or really been touched in four years. When she meet her practitioner Elaine, sparks fly. However, Elaine has baggage of her own. Her wife died five years ago, and she is still grieving and missing her constantly. Elaine, turns to one night stands, not wanting the guilt of falling in love again. Can Johnnie and Elaine, have a chance together, or will people and the past, keep them apart?

This is not a light fluffy read at all. In fact, I even teared up on a few occasions. Both characters are dealing with a ton of emotional baggage. This book has a lot of drama, and angst. I almost started to wonder if it had too much angst for me, but I'm happy with how the book ended.

Both characters are likeable, but at times Johnnie could drive me a little nuts. She always wants to please and help people, so she became a bit of a doormat. I just wanted to scream at her to tell people to leave her the hell alone, especially the ex. Ex girlfriends in lesfic, are almost always the worst.

This book also has some spirituality in it. Johnnie is friends with a medicine man, and I liked the sweat lodge scenes. My one real issue with this book, is I think after all the angst and things keeping them apart... when they did come together, it was a little too easily. I liked the ending, I just wish there was a little bit more.

If you are looking for a drama-romance, with a good amount of angst, than this book is for you. I like books that are a little bit different, and this fits that bill. I like Black as an author, and will keep reading her books.

An ARC was given to me by BSB, for a honest review.

This book left me with mixed feelings... At first I thought it was an erotic novel, in the way it started but it ended up not being one - it also wasn't really a romantic novel. I'm not quite sure in what genre it would be considered as but that is not necessarily a problem.
A problem i had with the book was that I didn't really think that the two main characters had any chemistry or worked together. It was also strange that seemingly every woman Johnnie knew, wanted to date her. That seemed kind of unrealistic to me and her whole character didn't really work me. Elena's character was more realistic in her grieving process but her attraction to Johnnie was kind of strange. They stated that they were attracted to each other but slept with everybody but with each other.
The story made me keep reading it but in the end it left me more underwhelmed.

This was an engaging read. It's well written with realistic detail. Though it's a rather emotional read due to the premise of the book, the writing is flawless and the story is gripping. The main characters have issues (who doesn't) which is where the strong attraction between them arrises. Reading about Johnnie and Elaine can be overwhelming but it's a good read. It was nice to read a new book from Ronica Black.

This has been an interesting book about a troubled artist and some kind of therapist in need of therapy herself. The thread related to the practitioner counseling is really not the main subject, as I said before the counselor has her own problems to sort. The story goes through the struggling of both protagonists for overcome their fears and anxieties caused by past traumas of diferent kind. For one of them is the lost of her loved wife and for the other one is some familiar repulsion, although it was not very clear explained along the book, only picking here and there you can make an idea of what Johnnie has endured. Both can't help themselves feeling attracted to one another and the world seems to put their bit so they end up together. There is some angst and struggling and sorting feelings and fighting and some abusive behaviour but it has not bothered me as usually does.

I was actually amazed with the first 2/3 of the book! I loved it so much that it almost seemed unreal how good it was written style-wise... The sentences were formed amazingly, the feelings were almost palpable, there is an overwhelming sadness that envelops you while reading about the feelings of Johnnie and Elaine. It's so deep and it makes you grieve for those two souls...
However, I'm giving it 3 stars because in my humble opinion, there should've been a bit more romance in it... It's too much angst, to much dealing with the past reminiscence, a too little focus on the present feelings.

I thought I knew the definition of intense, but it turns out the definition pales in comparison to experiencing it firsthand while reading The Practitioner. The intensity of the attraction between Elaine and Johnnie is a spinning vortex of feelings and emotion right from the start, and it has them running away from each other, repeatedly. Both women have their reasons to feel reluctant about getting too close and we spend a lot of time in each character's personal hell as to why that fear is so razor sharp. Character development is rarely this good, nor is the journey towards something spectacular and meaningful. By the end of this marvelous story I felt like my emotions had been bludgeoned in my worry and concern for these two amazing women to find their happy ending. Truly, this a journey worth taking.

<a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/32073030-the-practitioner" style="float: left; padding-right: 20px"><img border="0" alt="The Practitioner" src="https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1486137030m/32073030.jpg" /></a><a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/32073030-the-practitioner">The Practitioner</a> by <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/449016.Ronica_Black">Ronica Black</a><br/>
My rating: <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/1996948187">4 of 5 stars</a><br /><br />
I rec'd an ARC from NetGalley/Bold Strokes Books in exchange for an honest review. No synopsis necessary. Main characters Johnnie (artist) and Elaine (the practitioner) interact in this angst filled romance. The premise was both intriguing and unusual so I started reading without expectations. There were points when I re-read sections to better grasp the situation then continued on, so hooked emotionally that I read this book in one session. Ms. Black's books are never boring and once again she hit the mark for me.
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<a href="https://www.goodreads.com/review/list/31134832-gail">View all my reviews</a>