For the Love of April French: An LGBTQ+ Contemporary Romance Novel

Newly wealthy after a tech startup buyout and recovering from a devastating divorce, Dennis Martin leaves Seattle behind to start over in Austin, Texas, the home of his lifelong best friend. Invited to join his buddy’s kink community centering around bar and nightclub Frankie’s, he has an immediate attraction to beguiling trans sub April French. As Frankie’s unofficial event organizer and community mom, April cares deeply for her community but after her own devastating divorce, hasn’t managed to find a Dom that wants to keep her. Having only transitioned a few years earlier, thirtysomething April is self conscious about not passing, and is constantly navigating career and personal challenges as a trans woman living in a red state. Dennis and April start a casual play arrangement, but Dennis knows he wants more and is determined to get what he wants. With Dennis being Black, and April being a pansexual trans woman, they had some conversations about the privilege and oppression they both experience in different ways as well as their personal safety in certain situations and I thought that aspect of the book was really well done. I also love the way the kink was portrayed. Both characters had had bad experiences with kink in their marriages and Dennis especially didn’t want to make any mistakes with April. Dennis has a bit of a doll play kink (he likes dressing her up and treating her like a living doll) and that was fun to read about. I loved Dennis and April. I really loved…

What stands out for me is the honesty I see in the people in the story. Except for the millionaire trope, the story felt more real because the people were flawed. It wasn't always grammatically on point and it wasn't always great reading but the story carried itself over those minor flaws. Thank you for writing a story for people like us!