Gerri Hill delivers very satisfying romances with every book, and Behind the Pine Curtain is no exception. While the story is somewhat predictable, she delves into serious themes while giving the reader a thoroughly enjoyable read. Hill’s character and theme development remain the strengths of her storytelling.

In Behind the Pine Curtain, Kay’s best friend Jackie returns home after 15 years, when her father dies, to attend his funeral. At 18, Jackie fled Pine Springs Texas after her parents kicked her out when she confessed to being a lesbian. Jackie never looked back, ending all ties with Kay and the rest of Pine Springs, assuming the entire town felt the same way as her parents did. When Jackie come backs, she has to deal with these unresolved feelings, including her childhood crush on her straight friend Kay.

The reader gets to know both Kay and Jackie through strong and illuminating dialogue. Jackie’s courage and strength are revealed as we are exposed to her past and as she comes to terms with the present. At the same time Kay questions her uneven history with men especially her abusive ex-husband and begins to see Jackie as the solid foundation in her life. While the theme of sexual discovery is one Hill repeats in most of her romances, her expressive and poignant telling prevent the reader from becoming indifferent. Each story captures us anew. In Behind the Pine Curtain, Hill’s words envelop us so we become a part of Kay and Jackie’s love story. We are totally absorbed, and we cannot help but feel what they experience.