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A review by georgiewhoissarahdrew
Lord Lynster Discovers by Adella J. Harris
3.0
2.5 stars
A perfectly acceptable m/m HR. Period detail is - for the most part - sensitive and the plot (butler works to save his beloved master from being accused of treason) is not standard issue - this is a good thing! The HEA is plausible enough; workmanlike writing (though never exciting).
What I particularly liked was the focus on the detail of servants' lives, the understanding of mourning customs, and a female character in an m/m book who is pleasant, intelligent and useful (albeit in a secondary role).
However, the suspense plot is more than a little improbable: no one calls the coroner in the case of a suspicious death, the "evidence" of possible guilt is more or less non-existent, there's no sense of real menace or threat. The book's also let down by the lack of chemistry between the MCs, who seem more hung up on a single brief kiss over a decade ago than on touching or talking in real-time. By the half-way point, Lord Lynster has spent more page-time talking to his solicitor than to his lover. And after that Daniel is imprisoned, which makes communication even more difficult.
Most period m/m fiction struggles to reconcile an HEA with the dangers of gay love at the time, so the live-in servant lover is a common solution. For a really good example of how to do this thoughtfully, try [b:A Gentleman's Position|25893424|A Gentleman's Position (Society of Gentlemen, #3)|K.J. Charles|https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1444981863s/25893424.jpg|45775597] by K.J. Charles.
Adella J. Harris appears to be publishing 6 books more or less simultaneously, so I can't tell whether this is her first or not. I will try another in the series to see whether her style matures and becomes more individual, with greater characterisation.
I received a free, advance copy of this book from the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for my unbiased review.
A perfectly acceptable m/m HR. Period detail is - for the most part - sensitive and the plot (butler works to save his beloved master from being accused of treason) is not standard issue - this is a good thing! The HEA is plausible enough; workmanlike writing (though never exciting).
What I particularly liked was the focus on the detail of servants' lives, the understanding of mourning customs, and a female character in an m/m book who is pleasant, intelligent and useful (albeit in a secondary role).
However, the suspense plot is more than a little improbable: no one calls the coroner in the case of a suspicious death, the "evidence" of possible guilt is more or less non-existent, there's no sense of real menace or threat. The book's also let down by the lack of chemistry between the MCs, who seem more hung up on a single brief kiss over a decade ago than on touching or talking in real-time. By the half-way point, Lord Lynster has spent more page-time talking to his solicitor than to his lover. And after that
Most period m/m fiction struggles to reconcile an HEA with the dangers of gay love at the time, so the live-in servant lover is a common solution. For a really good example of how to do this thoughtfully, try [b:A Gentleman's Position|25893424|A Gentleman's Position (Society of Gentlemen, #3)|K.J. Charles|https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1444981863s/25893424.jpg|45775597] by K.J. Charles.
Adella J. Harris appears to be publishing 6 books more or less simultaneously, so I can't tell whether this is her first or not. I will try another in the series to see whether her style matures and becomes more individual, with greater characterisation.
I received a free, advance copy of this book from the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for my unbiased review.