This was fun, a warm, light, fluffy read in the vein of a Georgette Heyer historical romance with a bit of magic in it. Told entirely in letters back This was fun, a warm, light, fluffy read in the vein of a Georgette Heyer historical romance with a bit of magic in it. Told entirely in letters back and forth between the characters, the story still managed to move smoothly, and make me feel engaged in the romance.
Gavin is a younger son, sent to London by his parents ostensibly to take care of family affairs, but in a large part, to remove him from the orbit of his older brother John. John and his wife are at the family home, expecting a child, and John's bullying of Gavin has not totally gone unnoticed by his parents. With beloved spirited sister Gerry off in Bath, meek Gavin has no buffer against John and his wife. A trip to the city and a bit of responsibility might be good for him.
Gavin is the stay-at-home type, happiest in a library with a bunch of books. London is wasted on him, although he gradually finds how much he likes not being told what to do or how he is failing, every moment of the day. Then a letter from John puts him in such a bad mood he gets drunk at the one club he goes to, loses too much money at cards, and is humiliatingly rescued by a stranger.
Dashing man-about-town Charles Kentworthy should have no reason to seek Gavin out, beyond repayment of the debt. But day after day, Charles works himself into Gavin's life, determined to show him the wonders and pleasures of London. Gavin is bewildered, charmed, and overwhelmed. He writes to his sister about his confusion, and Gerry encourages him to take advantage of the life he has never had.
The magic worldbuilding is a bit thin on the ground, although it comes to play an important plot point. The question of coming of age (at thirty?) and chaperonage also has some inconsistencies. But the way being gay, straight, or bi is as simple as brown or blond hair color is refreshing. The presence of a non-binary character as an accepted, even expected, part of society is excellent.
Gavin's sweet self-doubting innocence is mostly appealing, not cloying. Charles and sister Gerry are fun. The whole thing is warm and cute, and left a smile on my face. I would return to this world for another fuzzy hug of a story....more
A tale of a man and a fae, who come together to solve a tangled web of both human and fae issues, and find love doing so. I have enjoyed the historicaA tale of a man and a fae, who come together to solve a tangled web of both human and fae issues, and find love doing so. I have enjoyed the historical stories of Sebastian Nothwell. This historical fantasy, set in 1867, has the same attention to historical detail and authentic feel in the extensive parts set in the human realm. And adds a lushly described fantasy world that held my attention in every detail.
In the fae lands, the Queen of the Court of the Silver Wheel at two points during each year crowns first her Oak King of Summer and then her Holly King of Winter. Each stands by her side for half a year, and then is destined to die at the hands of the next king. Their death determines the turning of the seasons - in 1816, the Holly King slew the Oak King who should have replaced them, and there was "The Year of No Summer" (a real historical event) until they finally died on that battlefield.
Shrike, known to all as Butcher to hide his true name, won a tournament but instead of a true reward he was named the next Oak King. That sets the span of his coming life at six months, for the Kings die true deaths and do not rise, however resilient the fae may be. When he sets out with a magic spell to find help to resist his fate, he is led to a simple human law clerk in a tiny office in London. Wren doesn't seem like a man who could stand against a fae queen's wishes, but Shrike trusts his magic.
And so begins the saga of human dangers-- to Wren, a gay man in an era that might hang him for it-- and Shrike, who strides unafraid day to day, but faces that looming destiny. Wren's employer, a very kind man to whom he owes everything, also has two young wards approaching their majority, both of whose wealth he controls. They are betrothed, and Felix is busy laying waste to his inheritance, with the hope of replenishing it with Flora's. Wren would declare a plague on both their houses, but his kind heart and his employer's even kinder one, get him tangled up in their affairs.
The story runs the two lines, in London and in the fae Realm, weaving in and out as Wren meets and later travels with Shrike, but always returns to his job and the problems of humans. I was never confused or irritated by the juxtaposition, and was eager to see what happened in both those plot threads. Wren and Shrike fall for each other fairly quickly, and the conflict is all external to the relationship, which I enjoy -- a theme of us against the world. Or in this case, worlds.
Shrike's strength and loyalty and Wren's ingenuity are a good match. The employer is perhaps too good to be true-- I half expected him to be revealed as some benevolent non-human entity (which perhaps speaks sadly for how I view humans) but his boundless kindness and affection were the tethers that kept Wren in the human world and were necessary to the plot.
The ending was satisfying and plausible, and I would happily read other forays into fantasy from this author....more
This is a fairly light story, despite the bad relationship Milo has escaped from. He left Miami and everyone he knew to restart his life, and he likesThis is a fairly light story, despite the bad relationship Milo has escaped from. He left Miami and everyone he knew to restart his life, and he likes his job as a resort dive instructor. He has a good friend in his immediate boss, even if the resort manager is not Milo's biggest fan. The island is more gay-tolerant than gay-friendly, but he's not on the lookout for a relationship anyway.
He encounters Logan, one of the more obnoxious and entitled guests he's met. But by the end of the first dive, he knows Logan has lied about his lack of experience and he's seen flashes of a far more likable personality. Logan is not who he seems, and, with his unfair hotness not muted by an actual toxic personality, Milo is definitely attracted. The way Logan flirts suggests he is too.
However keeping secrets is not the way to a man's heart.
This was a fun fast read. Logan's secret is pretty obvious to the reader from the start, but I empathized with Milo discovering it. Logan's caught in a bind, with loyalties to Milo and to his position. I was happy to see them find their way to a plausible HEA. ...more
Here we get to see Max, Nico's younger brother from Oyster. He's grown into a big burly young man, which takes a bit of reframing from the teen he wasHere we get to see Max, Nico's younger brother from Oyster. He's grown into a big burly young man, which takes a bit of reframing from the teen he was. His elective mutism has improved but he still struggles to find words and his personality is colored and informed by his autism. I appreciated his literal-mindedness (with the inability to recognize metaphors and jokes at times) and also his certainties, fixations, and kindness. He finds an attractive stranger who has tripped and hurt himself, who is unhappy and in need of care, and is sure he can provide that. His path to love is his own, (guided by an amusing reference) but it worked for me.
Caspian is part of a TV reality series duo. Once, it was him and his husband Leigh as the onscreen faces, and their best friend Jonas as producer. But a year and a half ago, Leigh cheated on Caspian with Jonas, and they got divorced. Now, contracts and money mean that there's still a market for "gay couple tackles new challenges" and so here they are at an island vineyard, still pretending to be together on camera. Off camera, Leigh has Jonas, but Caspian has no one. And Jonas is gloating and unkind, in his possession of Leigh and his control of the on-screen narrative. Caspian's coping strategies are maladaptive, but they work. Somewhat. In the sense that he's still on his feet, saying his lines, but miserable.
When Caspian trips and knocks himself out, and Max brings him into his small gatehouse home to warm up, for the first time, Caspian has a champion. One he doesn't feel he deserves, and doesn't always understand. But for the first time in a long time, there's someone in his corner who cares nothing at all for Leigh or the show or anything but Caspian. With Max, the bleak depression and need to self-harm recede, if only for a while.
This is opposites attract in a way that worked really well for me. The two men's strengths and weaknesses were an excellent complement to each other. Caspian's mental health struggles are dark at times. I wanted him to walk away from the show and all its pain, but his inability to let go of Leigh and his hurt could be explained by the economic realities that kept them so tied together. Leigh is self-centered and oblivious, making him no buffer at all for Jonas's petty cruelties to Caspian. (And I was disappointed we didn't see more of a justified comeuppance for those two, particularly Jonas, at the end.) I appreciated some positive and supportive women secondary characters.
The other two books had one gorgeous charm that this one didn't - the deep love of the island MC for the work they were doing. Here, although Max owns the vineyard, he is not involved with it and doesn't express an affection for it. Caspian comes to like the place and the work, but I didn't get quite the same vivid sense of place as the first tw0. That certainty of belonging was still muted at the end, which perhaps made this feel less settled at its closure.
I always enjoy Fearne Hill's writing style and this book was no exception. Her stories are immersive and a smooth, fast read. I like that her characters get therapy when needed, although IMO Caspian was barely beginning that journey and there was a bit of conflict of interest there. Max's love is a big stabilizing influence in Caspian's life, but is not presented as a cure for his mental health issues. I felt there was still a lot for these guys to figure out in how their lives were going to work at the end, but I also believed they were solid and would get there....more
Theo is a cute mess, conditioned to hide his personality and conform to his cold mother and grandmother, and emotionally absent father. He's theoreticTheo is a cute mess, conditioned to hide his personality and conform to his cold mother and grandmother, and emotionally absent father. He's theoretically the heir to his father's land and title, because his older brother disappeared years ago, and he loves his ancestral home. But his ideas and contributions get shot down by their unpleasant property manager, and he can't trust his parents to ever take his side.
Enter Col, a young stonemason working on the mansion roof. The two men meet when Col shoves Theo out of the way of a falling stone. With Col, Theo can let out all of his scattered, kind, funny, motormouth personality. Col is charmed and amused, and even when he loses the job, he hopes to continue to see Theo. But Col just got out of a bad relationship with a man who kept a wife and kids on the side. Col also has a brother in prison, with a secret that could lead to horrible publicity. Navigating his nasty ex, his lack of work, and protecting his brother takes a lot out of Col.
This book was highlighted by the ridiculous, funny charm of Theo. The warmth of Col just letting Theo run with his thoughts, and supporting him, was sweet. I had a few plot quibbles (notably a severe head injury with minimal consequences.) But the writing was smooth and the characters pulled me along through the story. ...more
This story is unusual, lyrical, and angsty. It balances the sun-drenched and quiet rural beauty of a small French island and the inner pain of CharlesThis story is unusual, lyrical, and angsty. It balances the sun-drenched and quiet rural beauty of a small French island and the inner pain of Charles who is taking a holiday there, to try to recover his mental health. Charles was overworking, stressed, and then lost his beloved mother to suicide. He also has synesthesia, a condition in which non-visual phenomena translate to visual colors. For Charles and his mother, that has been both a blessing and a curse.
Charles sees colors as part of his emotional landscape, sometimes to the point of hallucination. The blacks and grays that overwhelmed him as his mental health spiraled were a factor in his breakdown. Now, recuperating in a quiet beautiful spot, he sees a young salt farmer whose attractive head halos with silver. Florian is flirty and fun, strong and industrious, and loves his aging grandfather. Charles, whose last limited bisexual experiences were two decades earlier, is charmed, but uncertain.
Florian enjoys casual sex. He also loves his work and his land but is worried about a big business offering to buy out production of the island's salt-farming residents. They're strapped for cash, and the offer sounds good, but is it? A fling with an attractive stranger might be the thing to take his mind off his concerns, but from the start, Charles is not the casual type. He's elusive and fragile and Florian finds curiosity creeping in. He feels protective. He wants to understand Charles and chase the shadows from his eyes.
This book is opposites attract, and one quibble would be that I'm not sure why Florian was so taken with Charles from the start. But if you can accept that the heart wants what it wants, and attraction can be chemistry, then this is a lovely, slowly developing relationship with a strong nod to mental health issues. Charles's stability and recovery are a work in progress, and his real life is elsewhere waiting for him. He's getting better, beginning to open up to someone for the first time in a long while, but the shadows lurk in the background.
Florian is almost too perfect, especially at his young age. But his warmth and caring and protective soul are much-needed balance to the darkness of Charles's depression. I did love Florian.
I was a little unhappy with an artistic consent issue in the approach to the HEA. But the MC was okay with it, so I was too. I appreciated that this was another book where the character was not healed by love and had to do the work and the therapy to find his way. The language is very lush and evocative and visual, as fits the MC's synesthesia, and the island location comes vividly to life. I bought the next one, and I'm ready for more time on the island of Ré....more
A man whose whole life has been a litany of abuse comes home to the only guy he ever loved. But West's recovery is a long, long road.
The biggest thingA man whose whole life has been a litany of abuse comes home to the only guy he ever loved. But West's recovery is a long, long road.
The biggest thing I will give this book credit for is a deep dive into the idea that recovery - abuse, addiction, whatever - is rarely a linear process. Relapses are common, backsliding and crashes happen, and pretending everything is fine and you don't need help before it actually is fine can become a disaster. Also that love is no substitute for a lot of therapy. And that sometimes putting on your own oxygen mask first looks like a betrayal, but is the one thing that keeps you alive to go on.
The pacing here is a bit choppy and uneven, especially at the very end. West is such a focus that major issues for Jackson were just blown off, in what was committed to the page. We got shortchanged with seeing Jackson's life and trauma, and missed the finally-forward resolution for West as well. That really needed to be on page, to keep this from being only about the pain (and yes, I wanted a long book to be longer, although there was some earlier stuff that could have been trimmed.). We do get our HEA although IMO the final slightly fairytale quality didn't match the previous gritty realism.
There is also a lot of inner dialog and sometimes West's past felt overdone for the angst. But I did like the up and down progression of his recovery and we got to see that he was trying, even when failing. Some folks may have a problem with the way Jackson has to meet West 90% of the way versus 10% over and over, but that felt realistic. I never quite fell all the way for these guys but I was invested in West's recovery.
The early motives of the secondary characters, although vital to the plot, were hard to reconcile with who they were, and their lack of accountability later was annoying. They put money over a child's life, and that should have had more consequences. There's a little misogyny here, at least in Jackson's POV, especially at the rodeo, that felt unnecessary but didn't grate too much. So minor quibbles here and there, and a very 2 steps forward and 2 steps back plot, but it did manage to keep my attention through a whole lot of pages. Recommended for those who love a deep angsty dive into one character, recovery realism, and can accept that sometimes a person is fighting too much of their own pain to have empathy left, even for someone they love....more
This story of two hockey players at the end of their careers once again displays, as an underpinning, the damage societal homophobia does to people, iThis story of two hockey players at the end of their careers once again displays, as an underpinning, the damage societal homophobia does to people, including pro athletes. Aiden and Matt were in love ten years ago. For five years, playing on opposing teams, they had hoarded brief moments together, spent their summers wrapped up in each other, and played the best hockey they could. But when Matt got serious, Aiden got scared and broke things off. Coming out in the major hockey league wasn't something he could imagine doing.
That breakup damaged both of them, reverberating through their lives for the next decade as Matt got quickly married, then divorced. As Aiden retreated into a solitude wrapped entirely around hockey.
Then Aiden retired and realized that focusing your entire life on one thing was a disaster, when that one thing went away. He clings to his Routines, capital R, because they are the only thing getting him up in the morning, making him move, and eat, and pretend to sleep. But there's nothing but an empty hole in his life. He's in his thirties and although he has enough money to live a life of leisure, there's nothing he wants to do. The idea of decades like this is soul-killing.
One summer night, he accidentally runs into Matt who happens to be in New York. The sparks that fly between them are no less bright for an agonizing breakup and a decade apart. And later, Matt shows up at Aiden's house, an address he begged from a mutual friend. They need to talk. Instead, with almost no words, they go to bed. The sex is as good as it ever was, but then Aiden wants him gone and Matt leaves without anything resolved. Except the next night, he shows up again. Still no talking, though.
When Matt heads back home to Montreal, Aiden is left with the echoes of his empty life. Only worse for having had a few good moments in it. In a last ditch effort at survival, he packs a carry-on bag, and heads to Montreal with a one-way ticket. Because he has nothing left to lose.
And Matt takes him in. Welcomes him. The sex is incredible. Living together carries hints of how they were together, before Aiden screwed them up, before Matt took that emotional hit and barely survived it. They still aren't talking. They're both walking on eggshells, wondering what the hell they're doing. Wondering when it's all going to come crashing down.
And fall is approaching, when Matt will go back to work as Captain of the Montreal Royal. Doing the job Aiden loved and can't have. Leaving for weeks at a time on the longer road trips. The little bubble of almost normal they have is going to burst and the question is whether they can survive that, together or apart.
This book gives us the POVs of both men, both hurt from their long ago breakup, both dreaming of a better future but not sure how to get there. Aiden is deeply depressed, and afraid. Matt remembers the last time, when his whole life imploded, and isn't sure he can handle being left again. And Matt's bad knee adds an edge of uncertainty about how long he'll go on playing. What if he's traded? If they could only talk to each other, they'd do better, but they've been hiding for so long that bringing things out into the open feels impossible. Time and again, they derail that conversation with sex, hoping to say with their bodies what they can't with their words.
I was cheering for these guys, and wanted to shake them or lock them in a room together till they figured it out. Aidan's passivity was a function of his depression, but it was hard to watch. Aiden is probably undiagnosed autistic, and that also contributes to his difficulty connecting with people and expressing emotions. I liked that therapy was part of his process. There were some good secondary characters. And after all those pages of aching for these two men, although the wrap-up happened fast, I appreciated their HEA.
Another strong emotional story from this author....more
This is short, and wonderful - a little smidge of a story set at Christmas, as two 1991 enemy agents - one Soviet and one American, meet again. They hThis is short, and wonderful - a little smidge of a story set at Christmas, as two 1991 enemy agents - one Soviet and one American, meet again. They have competed for advantage, and fucked, several times in the past. The last time the American, George, saw his counterpart Nikolai, the Soviet was bleeding out from a gunshot. But a postcard with no return address told him Nikolai had survived.
George is searching for an abandoned chateau, supposedly containing letters that would provide blackmail leverage against a useful man. But when his car breaks down and he staggers through the snow to his destination, the "abandoned" chateau is hosting a wild costume Christmas party. And there, also chilled sitting by the fire, is Nikolai.
There's not much action here, but the characters are established in small moments, gestures and lines. The affection is believable, the warmth is real, there is silliness and true humor and a HEA. Perfect short Holiday fare. ...more
Cute, fluffy and light, driven by PE teacher Zeke's scatterbrained narration. He's determined to be cool around his favorite hockey player whose littlCute, fluffy and light, driven by PE teacher Zeke's scatterbrained narration. He's determined to be cool around his favorite hockey player whose little daughter has been enrolled at his school, but cool is not in Zeke's wheelhouse. I debated putting this as neuroatypical rep. Note there may be some secondhand embarrassment for some readers, watching Zeke fanboy, but I found it more endearing than annoying.
Spencer is a talented hockey player, but in this book we only see him through Zeke's eyes. That means we get more of the single dad and the introverted shy man whose whole focus outside the team has become his little daughter, and less of the hockey player despite Zeke being a superfan.
I found Zeke amusing, and enjoyed their developing rapport, with all the little obstacles life threw at them. A few things felt a bit overdone, but in general the book left me with a smile on my face. There's very little angst, but a fun, sweet relationship build, although the ending was a little abrupt. ...more
This book stands alone just fine (despite cameos from previous characters.) Heath is a total sunshine character, sweet and warm, dedicated to the animThis book stands alone just fine (despite cameos from previous characters.) Heath is a total sunshine character, sweet and warm, dedicated to the animals he cares for on the ranch, and not prone to self-pity despite a rough past. He can be naive and oblivious, but that adds to the fun of the story. He's devoted to his pet peacock, a rescue who has imprinted on him, and the spectacle of Heath sharing a treat with the bird brings him to Marko's notice.
Marko is the son of a man who committed significant financial crimes and stole money from a lot of people. In fact, he was an inadvertent part of those crimes, and only escaped prison by informing on his father. He has changed his name, taken his love of art as his new profession in a tattoo parlor, and has escaped from his past. But he's hunkered down, always afraid of being recognized and having folks who lost money to his father hound him. He's got no personal life, until he spots a gorgeous young man and his peacock, and something clicks for Marko.
This is somewhat slow burn, in part because of Heath's lack of self-awareness. It's lighter than it might have been, sweet and warm, and sometimes funny. It was also cool to see the Croatian diaspora community represented here, and I liked Marko's mother, a strong woman.
If you are looking for low angst warm reading, this may suit you well. ...more
We met Trick, the otter shifter, in the previous book in the series. I did a reread of the series before this one (not a hardship) and was glad, givenWe met Trick, the otter shifter, in the previous book in the series. I did a reread of the series before this one (not a hardship) and was glad, given the largeish cast of characters by now (as Alec is building his pack by wide acceptance of everyone around, and force of character.)
I admit, I was expecting (not having read the blurb with a favorite author) to see Trick matched up with our reticent police bear shifter, but instead we meet Sato - a merman like Marvin (the Alpha-mate) but different in that he's a warrior and not infertile. However Sato, like all male offspring of mermaids, was sent to his father to grow up among humans after the age of 10, and in that sudden ripping away of all he knew, to be placed with a man who'd given any affection he was capable of to the mermaid he'd never see again, Sato was desperately lonely. Enter young Patrick (Trick) - a friendly, irrepressible, affectionate boy next door, and Sato was hooked. From then on, there was no one for him except Patrick.
But Sato's warrior nature meant he was called home to the sea, no refusal possible. The two young men lost each other, between Sato's call, and Trick's desperate escape from his childhood home. After all this time, there is a lot of loss and fear and distrust built up between them. Unpacking what happened isn't easy.
It's a bit tempting to be annoyed with Trick, once he realizes what happened in the past. But that would be unfair, because trauma digs in deep claws that can't be easily pulled by logic. I felt for him and for bewildered Sato. I considered tagging this ace-spectrum, and might have tagged it neuroatypical, except this is more about species. Sato only wants Patrick and is confused about wider emotional relationships, but this may be a feature of Mermen, more of fated mates than of demisexuality.
There is a fair bit of humor mixed in this series, and this book is no exception (with mermaids who don't understand human culture well, in town for a marine conference.) There is also some angst, and less sex than the prior novels. That was fitting, given the two main characters. I liked the resolution, I do adore Alec and Marvin, and I would read another if our poor closeted, self-confused bear might get his book....more
This is the second book in the series, and absolutely has to be read after the first. Here we see Reece, our empath, caught in an ever-expanding net oThis is the second book in the series, and absolutely has to be read after the first. Here we see Reece, our empath, caught in an ever-expanding net of political maneuvering and risk. Luckily, he still has Evan, the Dead Man, working at his side (unless, until...). The romance that was only hinted at in book 1 takes big strides forward here, to my appreciation. We learn more about Reece's sister, about the way empaths have been manipulated and used as tools and scapegoats, and about Evan, including a couple of big reveals. We see Reece figuring out more of what he can do, with the risk of losing himself to anger always hovering.
The ending isn't IMO a true cliffhanger but it is far from a settled moment. Definitely not one for folks who need their HFNs. But it worked for me, and I can't wait for book 3.
One caveat - the plot leans heavily on corrupt politicians, manipulations, scapegoating, and government malfeasance. If you are working through the fear of what real life politics will bring in the next couple of years, this may occasionally cut a little close to the bone....more
This is a book for fans of the series and very much fits into that same mode (and I was glad I'd done a reread first, since there are a lot of returniThis is a book for fans of the series and very much fits into that same mode (and I was glad I'd done a reread first, since there are a lot of returning characters). It's angsty and full of past trauma (including SA), and present danger. The author writes damaged characters in a way that makes me want to see them battle their demons and survive. For those of us who wondered what happened to Jean Moreau after the end of the original series, here are our answers.
The plot is still improbable and the drama is intense, but there are times when I eat that kind of angst up. I read this one through without stopping. The romance was very tentative which was appropriate for all that Jean has gone through. I don't know if the author plans to give us more of these two guys, since plot-wise the big dangers have been wrapped by the end. But I would read it if she does....more