Tag: GLBT Historical Romance

The Layered Mask by Sue Brown

Title:  Layered Mask

Series:   The Masquerade Trilogy 01

Reviewer’s note:  This trilogy is comprised of three stand alone novella.  I have labeled them in chronological order only for clarity.

Author:  Sue Brown

Genre:   Historical – Regency

Length: Novella

Publisher:  Silver Publishing (February 3, 2012)

Heat Level:  Moderate – Explicit

Heart Rating:  ♥♥♥♥♥5Hearts

Blurb:  Threatened by his father with disinheritance, Lord Edwin Nash arrives in London for one season to find a wife. While there, Nash discovers he is the lamb, the sacrifice of the society matrons, to be shackled to one of the girls by the end of the season.

During a masquerade ball, Nash hides from the ladies vying for his attention. He is discovered by Lord Thomas Downe, the Duke of Lynwood. Nash is horrified when Thomas calmly tells him that he knows the secret that Nash had hidden for years and that he sees through the mask that Edwin presents to the rest of the world.

What will happen when the time comes for Edwin to return home with a suitable bride?

Product Link: https://spsilverpublishing.com/product_book_info/new-release-c-1/the-layered-mask-ebook-p-730

Reviewer:   Portia

Review:  Lord Downe is not quite a confirmed bachelor.  As heir to one of England’s oldest and richest titles, he knows that some day he will have to find a wife and “do his duty.”  Edwin has never partaken of manlove, but he knows women do nothing to spark his carnal nature.  He also knows that as his father’s only son, he must “do his duty.”

This is definitely historical romance done right.  Sue Brown brings the madness of the ton to life brilliantly, as she has Downe courting Edwin.  And whether he knew it or not…that is exactly what he was doing.  Morning rides, secret conversations, and stolen kisses, all lead up to some hot bedroom action.

Due to their stations in life, neither man is free to follow his heart.  But, neither are they willing to let each other go.  I found it fascinating to learn how a man found ways to be together in a time when loving another man could get you killed.

This story is beautifully crafted.  There were a few tense moments there at the end, where all hope seemed lost.  But, the final solution was brilliant (if not a tad convenient.)  Highly recommend.

Suffer the Little Children by Tracy Rowan

Title: Suffer the Little Children

Author: Tracy Rowan

Genre: Historical (1890), Sleuth, Private Detective

Length: Novel (175pgs)

Publisher: Torquere Press (26th January 2011)

Heat Level: Moderate

Heart Rating: ♥♥♥♥♥4 ½Hearts

Reviewer: Pixie

Blurb: When Victorian private investigator Nick Romney’s step-father, an Anglican bishop, is murdered, Nick refuses to get involved. At the urging of his family, though, Nick and his lover Davy step in to investigate. Together they uncover the truth of the bishop’s involvement in the dark and horrifying world of child prostitution, the reason why he was killed, and the shocking identity of the murderer.

Purchase Link: http://www.torquerebooks.com/index.php?main_page=product_info&products_id=3033

Free Short Stories on author’s website: http://www.tracyrowan.org/

Review: Nick Romney (Rom) and David Malvern (Fitz or Fitzhugh or even sometimes Davy) have been partners in life and work for ten years.  They have worked a case and are enjoying some down time in Paris when a telegram arrives. It’s a blast from the past for Nick and it opens up a new investigation that delves into the seediest secrets of London.

When I first read the title and blurb I was really dreading reading it.  it’s about a Bishop (church), it’s about child prostitution and it’s a private detective, so I was expecting it to be dark and dour with horrifying details and a church cover up while they sang the dead man’s praises; all the while two upper-class men bumbled about interfering in police business and making a mess of things… what I got was a well-crafted story that reminds me a lot of Sherlock and Watson (the originals not that silly new T.V. program).  Taking you back in time to a simpler more exciting sleuthing experience.  And while child prostitution is in there it isn’t gone into in too much detail and the murder is the main focus, along with Nick and Davy’s relationship.

In this well written story, Davy is the Narrator so it’s all from his POV.  But it is so well done that we get a good feel for the characters and the descriptions are really detailed.  Davy also gives us a few flash backs as to how the two met, one of their first cases, secrets from Nick’s past and talks he had with his father. This story isn’t dark and dour; in fact in some places it is humorous. The investigation is the main reason I enjoyed this book, simple methods of solving a crime, lucking for clues and discovering secrets… there is nothing like a good sleuth to show people how it’s done.

Now let’s not forget about the relationship which, even though there are only a couple of slight sex scenes doesn’t take away from the fact that these two men love each other very much.  It’s there in the trust and intimacy, the way they act with each other and support each other.  It just shines through. Davy’s family surprised me in the way that they accepted Nick with open arms when they figured out their true relationship, but their support when secrets from Nick’s past come out is brilliant.

My recommendation? Wow, hmmm…being honest… if you love sleuths like Sherlock, Poirot and Miss Marple, if you want a relationship that has endured and is still romantic, if you want a true murder/mystery and a story that can delve into the worst without all the details then this is for you.  I, for one, will be hoping that Tracy Rowan will publish more stories about Nick and Davy’s sleuthing adventures.

 

 

Undefeated Love by John Simpson

Title: Undefeated Love

 Author: John Simpson

 Genre: Historical (1929-1938) European Pre-WWII

 Length: Novel (237pgs)

 Publisher: Total E-Bound (2nd May 2011)

 Heat Level: Moderate

 Heart Rating: ♥♥♥♥4Hearts

 Reviewer: Pixie

 Blurb: Can love survive the horrors of a dictatorship and a concentration camp?

Two young men fall in love just as the Nazi Party is coming into power in Germany. One man is talked into becoming involved with the S.A., and then the SS while his lover looks on horrified. When their love is discovered, both men become the victims of the institution that one of them helped protect.

Reader Advisory: This book contains scenes of dubious consent, Violence and Torture.

Purchase Link: http://www.total-e-bound.com/product.asp?strParents=&CAT_ID=&P_ID=1196

Review: Kurt is a 22-year-old apprentice baker when he is approached and asked to join the SA.  He refuses only to be approached again 6 months later. Stefan is a 19-year-old trainee in a machine shop when he meets Kurt.  It isn’t long before both men’s lives are entwined and not always for the better.

I must admit that this isn’t the first gay concentration camp romance that I have read but it is the first from the SS point of view. Kurt is swept along by circumstance and before he knows it, he is in a situation that he can’t get out of.  and what’s worse is that he has dragged his lover into it. Stefan knows it is a mistake for Kurt to take a job with the SA but his lover won’t listen to reason and by the time he does it is too late.

I really enjoyed this story and while reading this book I was so glad for John Simpson’s writing style because even though it is detailed and quite graphic, because of the way he tells it as though standing from a slight distance I was able to stomach some of the scenes with only a grimace of distaste and was able to focus on the love story and not on the horrific treatment that they received.

Watching what these two men had to endure to survive is heart-breaking. Watching what both these men allowed to happen to themselves to protect the other is terrible and the treatment that they suffered just because they were gay made me want to vomit (it was really, really harrowing). The only thing that held these men together was the love that they had for each other and it was truly humbling to see a love like that. It is not quite historically accurate but its fiction and I read fiction, the time line is right and that’s all I care about.

I will recommend this to those who want a true enduring love story amidst a harrowing setting.

My Fair Vampire by S. L. Danielson and Julie Lynn Hayes

Title: My Fair Vampire

Author: S.L. Danielson & Julie Lynn Hayes

Genre: Historical (1904), Vampire

Length: Novel (186pgs)

Publisher: Silver Publishing (8th October 2011)

Heat Level: Moderate

Heart Rating: ♥♥♥♥3 ½Hearts

Reviewer: Pixie

Blurb: It’s 1904 and ‘Meet me in St. Louis.’ is the watchword of the day. William Deming is excited to be covering the event for his newspaper, the Utah Gazette. Arriving in St. Louis, he takes a room at a boarding house near to the big event. That’s where he meets Misha Rumiantseva, the nephew of the owner. William finds himself instantly drawn to the beautiful and very pale young man, but he has to be cautious–gay men cannot be forward about their attractions, society is not quite so open-minded about such things.

A spark has been struck between them which cannot be denied, and they meet in secret at the World’s Fair, losing themselves among the many fairgoers. But William begins to learn that all is not as it appears to be with Misha. He cannot find him during the day, and he can’t get answers from his aunt as to his whereabouts. William tries to control his jealousy when he learns that there have been others before him. But things get out of hand when one of Misha’s former lovers is found dead at the World’s Fair–and Misha is accused of his murder!

Can William prove the innocence of his lover? Or will this be an affair which lasts only as long as the World’s Fair itself? Is love strong enough to conquer prejudice and the jealousy of a lover spurned? Will William be sorry that he ever came to the World’s Fair?

CONTENT ADVISORY: This title includes scenes of rape/near rape.

Purchase Link: https://spsilverpublishing.com/product_book_info/glbt-paranormal-c-53_56/my-fair-vampire-ebook-p-640

Review: Misha lives his life as quietly as he can with the help of his aunt when a new boarder catches his eye. William has been sent to do a story on the first World Fair when his eye is caught by Misha and he decides that maybe he can do the story and still have some fun.

This is a well thought out story that has a good outline and plot. Misha has a somewhat lonely existence and he begins to long for something different. William is just covering the World Fair and falls into a dalliance with Misha. These two men seem to be a good fit for each other and fell for each other quickly and they were quite passionate towards each other.

I liked the slight mystery and the danger, but I thought that things fell into place too easily. The start of the book was a bit hard to get into but as it progressed it seemed less stiff.  It seemed contrived at times and there was one point that I really found hard to believe. I mean out of all those thousands of people they just decided it was Misha…for no reason at all.

I will recommend this to those who love historical, vampires, gentle sex and angst.