Title:
The Doors We OpenAuthor: Donna Jay
Publication Date: February 23, 2023
Genres: Romance
Protagonist Gender: Female
Sexuality: Lesbian
Donna Jay is, hands down, one of my favorite authors of lesbian romance. She always tells a wonderful story, populated by realistic characters, and she does so with both emotional and physical intimacy. In reading her books, you feel what these characters are feeling, but you also feel for them.
While The Doors We Open isn't a direct sequel to The Secrets we Keep or The People we Trust, it is connected to them by Libellule's, the exclusive club for women looking to indulge their fantasies with other women. It's here that Eloise meets Savannah, but what was only meant to be a one-time celebration of her newfound freedom threatens to grow into something more - an awkward prospect for two women who aren't looking for relationships.
Donna sets the mood beautifully in that first erotic encounter, balancing sexuality against sensuality, and confidence against awkwardness. There's a lot of erotic power to the scene, but there's a lot of personality too. We get to know a little something about these women, and we see a dynamic there that we can't help but want to see develop. For all their professionalism and confidentiality, Eloise and Savannah have serious chemistry. We know it won't be their only meeting, and we're eager to discover how and when they'll meet again.
In many ways, this is a book about contrasts - characters, themes, relationships, and more. There's an erotic flair beneath the sweet romance, which is surrounded by heartfelt family drama, and that in turn carries its shadows of grief and loss. I don't want to oversell that, because this is a happy, hopeful story, but the reality of our pasts and how the choices we made shape who we've become is important to the story.
I felt such a kinship for Eloise, such sympathy for her whole life experience. She's a strong, selfless woman, and how she comes out as a lesbian after a broken marriage is admirable. I'm not sure I could find such courage or self-confidence in myself. Savannah is admirable as well, for different reasons, but where I felt kinship for Eloise, Savannah elicited heart-racing desire. Whether it's as a Mistress, friend, or lover, she has a way of taking charge and . . . well, not necessarily controlling, but perhaps leading the moment. I could my heart and soul to her.
The Doors We Open doesn't overstay its welcome trying to tie up every single loose end, but rather leaves the story at a natural conclusion for Eloise and Savannah. I'm sure some readers may be left with questions about Eloise's ex-husband, but this isn't his story, and his fate has no bearing on that of the women with whom we've fallen in love. It's a beautiful book, and one I highly recommend.
Rating: ♀ ♀ ♀ ♀ ♀
My sincere thanks to the author for sending me an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
