BOOK REVIEW:
As this story begins, we are introduced to Claudia and Kate, sitting in a diner, barely acknowledging each other's presence. The women have been together for nine years but lately they are hanging on by a thread. The story is told from Kate's perspective and she details the wide range of emotions she experiences at the potential end of her relationship. She grasps at any shred of information that might shed light on where they went wrong, on how they let things get so bad.

For over two years, the women have been participating in a monthly adventure get-together, the Lesbian Adventure Club. Each month is assigned to a couple, who are responsible for arranging the 'adventure' for the evening. Kate has started to use the monthly outings as a guide by which to measure her relationship's longevity ~ each adventure marks another month that they have successfully managed to stay together.

The latest adventure has been planned by Ginny and Kris, who have been together for twenty-four years, and are matriarchal role models for the others. The couples joining Claudia and Kate on the adventure are Laura and Holly, Susan and Maggie, and Alison and Lisa, each at different points in their relationships. The current month's quest involves eight clues that will guide the women, working as couples, on a scavenger hunt. They must first figure out the item based on the clue, retrieve or photograph it, and return to home base to check in, win points, and receive the next clue. The hunt will be complete the next morning when the overall winner will be announced.

As Claudia and Kate work through each clue, they also begin to hunt for the reasons why their relationship has been so strained. It is obvious that they love one another, but they have been suffering from a lack of communication. Claudia is pulling away from Kate, who squanders while trying to figure out what she did wrong so that it can be fixed before they lose each other forever. Over the course of the evening, the women find a way to work together, and with the help of their friends, begin the process of healing and reconnecting.

Scavengers was a total surprise, catching me completely unaware and sending me on a wild ride. I have to admit that I was a little unsure as I started reading the first chapter, wondering where the 'adventure' was coming from as the story starts out so serious. Thankfully, I quickly learned that I was just beginning a phenomenal story, following the 'Dykes Who Dare' on their adventure.

The scavenger hunt is a wonderful set up, and a metaphor for the journey that Claudia and Kate are on. Although the plot follows the hunt through each clue, the story really focuses on the characters themselves. We gain a great deal of insight into Kate and Claudia, as well as beginning the introduction to the other characters. The premise of the book is such a wonderful setup, allowing for one couple to be the main focus of the story and still integrating the others.

It is obvious that a lot of thought went into the planning for the scavenger hunt clues, but the details don't overpower the story in any way. They are fun, playful, and several times I found myself trying to 'solve' the clues before the characters. Here is just one example of the enticing language of the clues:

here it is where we shall State:
the food for zeus ' little nymph ~ the big fat cow;
sacred to aphrodite ~ bird 's foot 'round her head;
the lures of monarch lagoon, but not the tackle

Yeah, I know it doesn't really make any sense at first glance. One of my favorite aspects of the story was discovering the clues along with the characters. (And as a side note, those bold letters and the capitalization aren't a mistake.) As each clue is revealed, I found myself flipping back to reread the language and catch all the nuances that are hidden within the text. They are absolutely brilliant and make for a very interesting scavenger hunt!

The story is filled with powerful emotions that are both captivating and moving. I can't remember the last time a story had me both rolling on the floor laughing for minutes at a time and getting misty eyed. The story is overflowing with witty humor that keeps it moving quickly ~ until, of course, I reached passages that were so funny I had to read them over and over again. You know you are in for a treat when a story includes a 'Famous Mad Cow Burger,' 'The Great Dildo War,' and a 'Wrap Around Lover Doll.' If that doesn't entice you to buy this story, I don't know what will! At the same time, the more serious moments are handled beautifully and the interactions between Kate and Claudia are heart-warming and tender.

I can't possibly do this story justice in a single review, as there are so many wonderful moments that I could be quoting for pages on end. I cannot recommend this story more highly for all readers! Possibly the best news of all is that the second book, Ledge Walkers, has already been released and the third book, Savages, is in the works. I will definitely be keeping a close eye on this series and can't wait to read the next story!

Reviewed by Emily for Rainbow Reviews