Corners of the Heart

Grey's cliched contemporary romance, a first novel, is typical of the genre but with two differences: the lovers are lesbians, and the issue of homophobia is central. Katya Michaels, an English professor, and her adopted son, Sam, are living quietly outside the small town of Deer Falls, N.Y., when two people shake up their lives in unexpected ways. The first is a painter and general handywoman named Chris Benet. The attraction between Chris and Katya is immediate, but unhappiness in each woman's past makes it difficult for them to move beyond flirtation. The second is a caller who threatens Katya over the phone (``if I can't have you, I'll take that little blond boy). Katya complains to the local police, who show remarkably little interest, despite the fact that two lesbians were recently murdered outside of town and two others were attacked right in Deer Falls. When Sam has a life-threatening accident--and Chris makes a heroic rescue--the women soon find evidence the danger was deliberately caused. No veteran romance reader can doubt that Katya, Chris and Sam will live happily ever after, just as soon as they dispose of that dastardly homophobic villain. (July)