Watching Cars Go By—D.J. Fronimos & Elke Lacey

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The details…

  • Title: Watching Cars Go By
  • Authors: D.J. Fronimos & Elke Lacey
  • Publisher: JMS Books LLC
  • Publication date: November 11, 2020
  • Available formats: ebook, paperback 
  • File size: 3040 KB
  • Print length: 372 pages
  • Genre: romance 
  • Themes: relationships, marriage, divorce, parenting, friendships, women loving women, coming out later in life
  • Tropes: friends to lovers/roommates to lovers 

The blurb from the publisher…

Silke, an easy-going German who prefers dodging problems to facing them, follows her job to the US when her bossy, longtime partner Alex refuses to start a family. Once in Texas, the cute blonde, who fixes medical analyzers for a living, is hit on by coworker Ana, a voluptuous and sexy Latina, who falls head over heels for her.

Ana, formerly content with casual hook-ups, recognizes a good thing when she sees it and will do whatever it takes to win Silke. Still in love with Alex despite her shortcomings, Silke strings Ana along while at the same time getting increasingly chummy with her landlady, Lauren. The frumpy nurse is middle-aged and motherly, and best of all hetero, which makes her safe for Silke to hang out with. Or so she thinks.

A kiss initiated by Lauren changes everything and they eventually become lovers. But Lauren has always struggled with putting herself first, and when her husband and daughter return home for the holidays, she resumes her wife-and-mother persona. Ana, on the other hand, is not only free, she is ready to start a family now and doggedly continues to pursue Silke. Of course there’s also still Alex, sophisticated as ever and used to getting what she wants, which is to keep Silke.

Deceiving everybody and most of all herself, Silke procrastinates until being playful doesn’t cut it any longer. Can she take a stand and save the relationship with the one person who truly matters?

My thoughts…

This is a fun read! There were times when I actually caught myself laughing out loud while reading this. D.J. Fronimos & Elke Lacey bring a fresh, but experienced perspective to their writing and it is completely engaging. 

This is my first novel by these authors, and I must say that I found their writing style most pleasing. Just a few chapters in and one can easily see this is a true collaboration in every sense of the word. There is a fluidity to the writing that pulls one into the storytelling. The cadence of the words is sure and steady. However, what I found most appealing about this duo’s storytelling is their ability to keep it “real” on the page. Their keen observations about people and the relationships they find themselves entangled is wonderfully transcribed into resonating scenes.

This is a character driven story and these authors have done the proper leg work to create a narrative that works. The character development is strong and believable, making the storytelling relevant and relatable. Lauren and Silke are flawed, but their vulnerabilities reverberate within readers. They are likable women searching for true happiness and readers connect with that. Furthermore, their chemistry is nearly palpable, though Fronimos and Lacey do make them work for their happily ever after. It’s a masterful choice though as it builds tension and makes the romance even sweeter in the end.

Fronimos and Lacey’s use of secondary characters is commendable as well. Readers appreciate their contributions as they help to generate drama and external conflict. When they enter the page, things always seem to get more interesting. Mostly predominantly though, they help to prompt change in Lauren and Silke, and that’s essential for dynamic storytelling.

Final remarks…

I was completely absorbed by the characters and scenes in Watching Cars Go By. Fronimos and Lacey have a wonderful sense of humor and I found it hard to put this book down when life’s responsibilities tugged at my sleeve. They have the ability to create vivid, honest dialogue that tugs at one’s heart. This especially shines through with Lauren as she articulates her feelings and emotions to Silke. It’s splendid and spot on, and I loved it. Their romance is a winner and I would strongly encourage people to pick it up.

A note…

This storyline does contain relationship infidelity. It is incorporated into the narrative for plot purposes, and isn’t done gratuitously. However, I think readers should be aware in case one finds it offensive.

Strengths…

  • Humorous and heartfelt 
  • Entertaining 
  • Fantastic character development 
  • Well scripted dialogue 
  • Emotionally relatable 

This book can be purchased from…

A bit about D.J. Fronimos…

Debra J. “D.J.” Fronimos shares a five-acre ranch in central Texas with her partner and co-author Elke, two horses, and a spoiled blue heeler mix. When not writing, she works as an ultrasound technologist, and in her spare time sings in a women’s chorus that has won medals in annual regional competitions. She has a passion for traveling, especially road trips, and indulges it as often as possible, but hasn’t found a way to drive to Europe yet. Besides lesbian romance, D.J. has dabbled in lesbian erotica, travel essays, poetry, songwriting, and received an award for a professional medical paper. 

A bit about Elke Lakey…

Elke Lakey, born and raised in the Bavarian town of Augsburg, indulges her lifelong passion for horses by riding with the Tejas Rodeo Rough Riders, an award-winning precision drill team. Growing up her interests were horses, reading and making up stories, and medicine, not necessarily in that order, and she now works in the lab as a medical technologist. Elke has written play reviews and articles for two German fan magazines, and has published fan fiction in both magazines and anthologies. She now vastly enjoys creating lesbian fiction with her partner, D.J. Fronimos.

Connect with D.J. Fronimos…

Connect with Elke Lakey…

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