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gillianw's review
4.0
3.5 stars
A sweet m/m historical romance set in a past where being gay was more frowned upon than punishable by death. Not a lot of angst or tension (and what little there is is resolved fairly quickly and easily), just nice, easy read.
A sweet m/m historical romance set in a past where being gay was more frowned upon than punishable by death. Not a lot of angst or tension (and what little there is is resolved fairly quickly and easily), just nice, easy read.
slushysands's review
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Loveable characters? Yes
4.0
suflet's review
4.0
A lovely romance
This was an excellent and sweet and engaging story and I would highly recommend it!
SPOILERS AHEAD
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but I really did not find Me. Everett's reason for kind of ghosting Percival to be at all compelling. Having had your heart toyed with and broken is really, truly not an excuse for doing it to do someone else. He claims he didn't know he was hurting Percival so much by cutting him off emotionally which...is itself a red flag! It's so weird because up until that point I absolutely adored Everett and the hard left at the end seemed very out of character.
Oh well. I still super enjoyed the book and will be reading all the rest of the author's books.
This was an excellent and sweet and engaging story and I would highly recommend it!
SPOILERS AHEAD
.
.
.
.
.
.
but I really did not find Me. Everett's reason for kind of ghosting Percival to be at all compelling. Having had your heart toyed with and broken is really, truly not an excuse for doing it to do someone else. He claims he didn't know he was hurting Percival so much by cutting him off emotionally which...is itself a red flag! It's so weird because up until that point I absolutely adored Everett and the hard left at the end seemed very out of character.
Oh well. I still super enjoyed the book and will be reading all the rest of the author's books.
daniellesalwaysreading's review
3.0
This was a parallel of a female/male regency romance with a very small amount of steam. I never liked just a little bit of steam. I did enjoy the characters and the story but it was not what I was looking for. But I think it would be a great first time m/m romance. However, this is not my first rodeo ;)
crtsjffrsn's review against another edition
4.0
Percival Valentine enjoys his role in overseeing the provincial town of Linston, but that doesn't mean he doesn't look forward to the promise of something new brought by his new neighbors from London. They are all three rather intriguing, and while Percival makes an attempt at courting the lady of the trio, Miss Bolton, he finds he must come to terms with the distraction that is Mr. Everett. Percival isn't sure he should give in to his feelings--after all, he barely knows Mr. Everett, does he not?--but the mystery that is the man just might prove too alluring. But what is lingering below the surface? And what of the rumors of Mr. Everett's bad behavior before he left London? Percival will certainly find out.
What a fun and lighthearted read! I absolutely loved the style in which this was written. I found myself easily imagining seeing this on the stage, just like one of those familiar British comedies, dare I say something right along the lines of Wilde. The language, the social norms of the time, and the people themselves are so well-rounded and clearly well-researched and constructed, that it's difficult not to get lost in the story right along with them.
One of the things I enjoy about well-written historical m/m stories is that I feel like they present us with a forgotten history. We know that LGBT people existed in history, but their stories were often hidden in the attic and those that were more open weren't recorded (save a few very tragic stories that we are left with). While we won't likely know for certain all of the stories that were lost, we can try to imagine what would have and could have been within the lines of what we do know about the people of the times and how they lived. And I think this is definitely one of those stories...
[Disclaimer: I received a copy of this book from the author in exchange for an honest review.]
What a fun and lighthearted read! I absolutely loved the style in which this was written. I found myself easily imagining seeing this on the stage, just like one of those familiar British comedies, dare I say something right along the lines of Wilde. The language, the social norms of the time, and the people themselves are so well-rounded and clearly well-researched and constructed, that it's difficult not to get lost in the story right along with them.
One of the things I enjoy about well-written historical m/m stories is that I feel like they present us with a forgotten history. We know that LGBT people existed in history, but their stories were often hidden in the attic and those that were more open weren't recorded (save a few very tragic stories that we are left with). While we won't likely know for certain all of the stories that were lost, we can try to imagine what would have and could have been within the lines of what we do know about the people of the times and how they lived. And I think this is definitely one of those stories...
[Disclaimer: I received a copy of this book from the author in exchange for an honest review.]
suze_1624's review
3.0
Enjoyed reading this, quite well paced and easy to read - 3.5*
It was more light hearted regency to me - not sure things would have gone quite so easily for Percival and Mr Everett.
I liked the interactions between all 4 main characters, though Mr Bolton remains a bit of a mystery in terms of who he is.
Miss Bolton is a meddlesome minx in the best Regency tradition! A great character.
Percival would have been the eternal bachelor of the village I'm sure without the arrival of the three summer visitors and how they work it going forward would be interesting.
Mr Everett's secret came to mind quite quickly though it takes a while for it to be confirmed.
It was more light hearted regency to me - not sure things would have gone quite so easily for Percival and Mr Everett.
I liked the interactions between all 4 main characters, though Mr Bolton remains a bit of a mystery in terms of who he is.
Miss Bolton is a meddlesome minx in the best Regency tradition! A great character.
Percival would have been the eternal bachelor of the village I'm sure without the arrival of the three summer visitors and how they work it going forward would be interesting.
Mr Everett's secret came to mind quite quickly though it takes a while for it to be confirmed.
writer595's review
hopeful
inspiring
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
5.0
A thoroughly delightful, well-written novella. Tastefully explores M/M attraction in a way that feels authentic to the period and to humans in any age.
brittaniethekid's review
5.0
This book had everything I look for in a Regency romance. The slow burn of the courtship was perfect and all the characters felt realistic and integral. Unlike the previous book I read by Marlowe, this plot made more sense and the reveal at the end wasn't obvious to me so it was a fun twist. Definitely recommend if you're in the mood for a light yet fiery MM historical romance.
nightpeaches's review
4.0
This was such a sweet read, I just adored seeing these two fumble their way around their attraction to each other. I really liked the side characters and how supportive they were, but most of all I loved Percival who was such a sweetheart. Bonus points for all the blushing, it made me happy every time it happened.