Showing posts with label trilogy. Show all posts
Showing posts with label trilogy. Show all posts

Monday, August 26, 2024

Box Set Release: TOWN BRONZE Regency Box Set Trilogy by Ellie Thomas

Town Bronze Regency Box Set Trilogy

by Ellie Thomas

Publisher: JMS Books

Release Date: August 10, 2024

Genre: Historical Regency M/M Romance

Tropes: Hurt/comfort, Younger/older

Themes: Cross-dressing, Spanking, Coming of age, Society of men

Heat Rating: 3 flames    

Length: 66 677  words

It Is the complete trilogy in a box set and does not end on a cliffhanger.

Goodreads

Buy Links

Universal Book Link   |   Publisher

Amazon US   |   Amazon UK

This Regency box set comprises the three Town Bronze novellas by Ellie Thomas; Town Bronze, Pantaloons and Petticoats and Impeccable Credentials, with three young men, each unexpectedly finding love.

Blurb

All three novellas in Ellie Thomas’ Regency Town Bronze series are gathered together in this box set. A trio of young gentlemen, former university friends, Jasper, Barney and Julian, are set loose in Regency London to pursue carefree pleasure. Instead, they find unexpected romance and follow their individual paths to true love. Contains the stories: 

Town Bronze: In 1812, Jasper Goodhew departs from sleepy Somerset for his first London season, anticipating fun, frolics and drunken debauchery. But to his consternation, he finds that a spanking from the firm hand of a particular older man sets him ablaze.

Can Jasper and Sir Mortimer Cleverly overlook their unorthodox introduction to become friends? Or is Jasper unable to resist his deepest instincts?

Pantaloons and Petticoats: In the autumn of 1812, Barney Marshall is a carefree young man, able to afford every variety of entertainment in Regency London while remaining heart-whole and fancy-free. All that changes after a passionate encounter with Rose, who by day is Ross, a clerk at Coutts Bank. Can Barney persuade Rose to trust him? And might their connection blossom into love?

Impeccable Credentials: In the autumn of 1812, aristocrat Julian Buchanan faces a crisis. He must choose between the trappings of his privileged life or the man he loves. Will Julian submit to his father’s decree and marry to further the family name? Or can he find the strength to break free?

Excerpt

Excerpt from Town Bronze

The next part of Jasper’s evening passed in patchy coherence. The older gentlemen departed with dignity almost immediately after Jasper's inadvertent blunder. With his wine glass replenished more than once by a luscious attendant, Jasper almost forgot about the impact of that searing gaze.  

He was vaguely aware of some of his companions departing with young ladies. Others were content to remain, drink deep, and dandle a damsel on their laps. Minutes or hours progressed in a pleasant haze until Jasper reached the point where he had drunk himself sober. 

Relatively clear-headed and suddenly thirsty, Jasper rose on remarkably steady legs to fetch a glass of water from the drinks tray on the capacious sideboard.

This gave him a clear view of the entrance hallway. The vestibule was empty, apart from the three gentlemen earlier expelled from the drawing room by an excess of wit. 

The gentleman with the remarkable hair was shaking the hands of his companions with a few congenial words. In that instant of seeming sobriety, it was terribly important for Jasper to make amends. He couldn’t have fathomed if this was due to his basic good manners and general inoffensiveness when not as drunk as a wheelbarrow. Or perhaps he was prompted by the infinite unimaginable possibilities in those haunting eyes.

He entered the hall as the gentleman escorted his companions towards the exit. Jasper stood uncertainly in front of the central staircase, awaiting his opportunity. Once his companions had departed, the remaining gentleman approached a further another doorway off the hall.

“Excuse me,” Jasper said, belatedly adding, “Sir.”

The gentleman turned, raising an inquisitorial dark brow that made him no less forbidding. 

During Jasper’s formal education, he occasionally got into trouble. To be fair, these incidents occurred either from absent-mindedness or when he tagged along in the wake of more exuberant and imaginative students. Any resulting discipline, a removal of privileges or corporal punishment, was a matter of course and not taken personally. His sporadic visits to the principal’s study were desultory and instantly forgotten by the disciplinarian and the culprit. 

This charged confrontation was entirely different. Jasper was unnerved by the swooping feeling in his belly as he faced his unknown foe. The older man drew closer but remained silent, his face expressionless, that implacable glare holding a sense of threat and thrill.

“I think I was somewhat discourteous earlier, and I wanted to say I was sorry. I didn’t mean to be rude. We were all getting rather carried away and had too much to drink. I know it was a bit much, and we were rather close to the mark concerning you and your friends. But I suppose you were young once too, eh?”

Jasper tried and failed to raise a placating smile. The gentleman didn’t move a muscle and stared at Jasper as though regarding a failed scientific experiment.

"I mean to say, I was a bit bosky, and I wasn’t thinking straight. Anyone with decent eyesight could tell that’s your natural hair. You’re nowhere near old enough to be wearing a wig. You’d have to be in your dotage. And you’re not. Naturally. No one would think you’re wearing a cauliflower of the wig variety, and it doesn’t remotely resemble an actual cauliflower. I don’t know why I said that. You have very nice hair.”

Jasper’s ramble stuttered to a stop. Without softening his expression, the gentleman said, “You were insolent.”

Jasper blinked. He suddenly grasped his opponent was slightly the taller and his lean build held latent strength. He felt paralysed, like a snake to its charmer, in thrall to the depths of that gaze.

“I think you deserve to be punished.”

Jasper gulped.

The gentleman’s voice was persuasive. “You’ve earned a good thrashing.”

In a husky tone Jasper didn’t recognise as his own, he said, “I’ll let you be the judge of that. I’ll do anything you require.”

That eyebrow rose again. A glint of humour lit those night-dark eyes.

“Anything?”

“Yes. No. I don’t know.”

About the Author  

Ellie Thomas lives by the sea. She comes from a teaching background and goes for long seaside walks where she daydreams about history. She is a voracious reader, especially about anything historical. She mainly writes historical gay romance.

Ellie also writes historical erotic romance as L. E. Thomas.

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Tuesday, February 6, 2024

New Release-Excerpt & Giveaway: JACE by N. Boeyer (Summerset Shore University #1)

Jace RB Banner

JACE
By N. Boeyer

Jace Cover

Summerset Shore University, Book 1

Tyler

Tyler, a calm and gentle soul, is set out for great things both on and off the field. As the star quarterback of Summerset Shore University’s esteemed football team, he is NFL-bound. With the perfect girlfriend by his side and a tight-knit group of friends who share his love for the game, Tyler is set for a life of success and fulfillment.

Until a new voice speaks up.

Jace

Jace, an enigmatic exchange student from Amsterdam, arrives at SSU with a bang, quickly making a name for himself as the new lead singer of the university’s favorite band.But there’s one thing that he didn’t have in Europe and hopes to find here.A family. A place to call home. Deep down he carries a profound sense of loneliness, yearning to discover a place to call his own.

While Tyler King would rather be enjoying life quietly from the sidelines, Jace Janssen is drawn to the spotlight like a moth to a flame. Their paths, destined to intertwine, will take them on a journey that they never saw coming.

Jace wants something he doesn't dare to hope for, while Tyler hopes for something he doesn't even know he wants.

JACE is the first book in a full-length MM trilogy romance and tells the story of a bi-awakening. It’s a strangers-to-friends-to-lovers, medium-burn, high-steam sports and rock star romance.

If you love banter, don’t mind the occasional duck wandering around in the story, and are a sucker for long love stories revolving around the same couple—including shenanigans from their loving, idiotic friends—then don’t hesitate to pick this up!

Universal Link

Add on Goodreads

IG Sized Jace Teaser 4


Excerpt

And oh f*ck I'm gonna hate myself for this, but it takes all my willpower to roll off of him again and keep my hands to myself, rubbing them in my face. I can't. I f*cking can't. I won't f*ck this up.

“What’s wrong?” Ty asks, now the one who is popped up on his elbow, hand on my stomach.

I peek between my fingers,

“I wasn’t expecting you,” I admit.

"I know." He smiles down at me, fingers now trailing curiously over my upper body, his eyes following his own movements with interest, leaving a trail of goosebumps in its wake. "You were supposed to be an error, but I'm thinking that maybe you're an upgrade."

And oh f*ck, if I don't melt into the mattress, smiling dopily up at him, I'm sure I look like a stoner.

But he kisses me anyway. He’s kissing me again, and I push a hand in his hair, moaning at the touch of his lips.

He leaves it at that, not deepening it further, and I hold his head just that fraction longer, nudging his nose with mine, which rewards me with that soft gasp again.

"So, talk some more, right?" He rasps.

I nod. “Yeah. Should be wise, right?”

“So hit me.”

I inhale a breath to center myself and do as he says. “Do you really want me?”

“Yes.” No hesitation. “Do you want me?”

“For quite some time now, yeah.” I admit, cheeks burning. “Are you not confused about anything?”

He shakes his head. "Not anymore. Last week? A bit. But now?" He gives me a nose nudge this time before he nuzzles his face in my neck. "Yeah, pretty damn sure."

I can only smile at the ceiling, but I have to ask the most important question before this can go any further. "I'm not– I mean I want to know if I– F*ck."

I avert my gaze, but he lifts his head again and makes me face him, his hand now on my throat, making me drown in those molten eyes. "Ask me."

So I let it out, that one stupid thing that's on repeat in my brain. "I need to know if it's foolish to hope."

He furrows his dark brows. “To hope for what?”

“To hope for you.”

He almost looks crushed at that, but that damn determination creeps back in almost instantly. “It’s not. At least I hope it’s not.”

IG Sized Jace Teaser 3


Enter the Giveaway:

To celebrate the release of Jace, N. Boeyer is giving away Paperback copies of the release (sent from The Netherlands)!

Enter the Rafflecopter giveaway for your chance to win!

A Rafflecopter Giveaway

IG Sized Jace Teaser 5


N. Boeyer Author logo

About the Author:

N. Boeyer grew up in a tiny country called The Netherlands. She has been bilingual since she couldn’t wait for the Dutch translations of the Harry Potter books, so she taught herself English. This resulted in her pursuing an English education from the age of twelve, and writing stories followed shortly thereafter. Since she was a teenager, it has been her dream to be a writer, and a writer she has always been at heart.

It took her a while to accept that the pretty boys who talk way too much in her head needed a voice, and her love for gay romance grew bigger with every written word and chapter. She has finally found the guts to share her boys with the world and hopes someone out there will love them as much as she does.

Facebook Group - Instagram - Facebook - TikTok - Goodreads


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Friday, January 5, 2024

Cover Reveal & Giveaway: JACE by N. Boeyer (Summerset Shore University #1)

Jace CR Banner

JACE
By N. Boeyer

Jace Cover

Summerset Shore University, Book 1

Tyler

Tyler, a calm and gentle soul, is set out for great things both on and off the field. As the star quarterback of Summerset Shore University’s esteemed football team, he is NFL-bound. With the perfect girlfriend by his side and a tight-knit group of friends who share his love for the game, Tyler is set for a life of success and fulfillment.

Until a new voice speaks up.

Jace

Jace, an enigmatic exchange student from Amsterdam, arrives at SSU with a bang, quickly making a name for himself as the new lead singer of the university’s favorite band.But there’s one thing that he didn’t have in Europe and hopes to find here.A family. A place to call home. Deep down he carries a profound sense of loneliness, yearning to discover a place to call his own.

While Tyler King would rather be enjoying life quietly from the sidelines, Jace Janssen is drawn to the spotlight like a moth to a flame. Their paths, destined to intertwine, will take them on a journey that they never saw coming.

Jace wants something he doesn't dare to hope for, while Tyler hopes for something he doesn't even know he wants.

JACE is the first book in a full-length MM trilogy romance and tells the story of a bi-awakening. It’s a strangers-to-friends-to-lovers, medium-burn, high-steam sports and rock star romance.

If you love banter, don’t mind the occasional duck wandering around in the story, and are a sucker for long love stories revolving around the same couple—including shenanigans from their loving, idiotic friends—then don’t hesitate to pick this up!

Pre-Order Link

Add on Goodreads

IG Sized Jace CR 1


Enter the Giveaway:

To celebrate the Cover Reveal & upcoming release of Jace, N. Boeyer is giving away 2 e-copies of the upcoming release!

Enter the Rafflecopter giveaway for your chance to win!

A Rafflecopter Giveaway

Jace Paperback


N. Boeyer Author logo

About the Author

N. Boeyer grew up in a tiny country called The Netherlands. She has been bilingual since she couldn’t wait for the Dutch translations of the Harry Potter books, so she taught herself English. This resulted in her pursuing an English education from the age of twelve, and writing stories followed shortly thereafter. Since she was a teenager, it has been her dream to be a writer, and a writer she has always been at heart.

It took her a while to accept that the pretty boys who talk way too much in her head needed a voice, and her love for gay romance grew bigger with every written word and chapter. She has finally found the guts to share her boys with the world and hopes someone out there will love them as much as she does.

Facebook Group - Instagram - Facebook - TikTok - Goodreads


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Wednesday, June 28, 2023

Series Tour: THE LONE FAMILY by Ace Fawn - Includes Excerpt!

SERIES TOUR - THE LONE FAMILY by ACE FAWN

SERIES DESCRIPTION

The Lone Family is a dark and gritty M/M mafia romance series featuring the enemies to lovers trope and the forced proximity trope between dangerous men in the criminal underworld. 

This steamy trilogy is best read in order.

Genre: Contemporary M/M Dark Romance

Overall Heat Rating for the series: 5 flames


BOOK DETAILS

BOOK 1

He’ll rebel at every chance he gets, even if it means sleeping with the enemy. 

His Playmate

(A dark M/M enemies to lovers mafia romance)

Author and Publisher: Ace Fawn

Cover Artist: The Book Brander

Length:  21 054 words/90 pages

Release Date: February 1, 2023

Tropes: Enemies to Lovers, Forced Proximity

Themes: Mafia, Gangster, Kidnapping, BDSM, Age Gap

It is a standalone story and does not end on a cliffhanger.

Goodreads

Buy Links - Available in Kindle Unlimited

Amazon US  |  Amazon UK

Blurb

One mistake has twisted Diego Montosa’s world into darkness.

He kidnapped Wolf Lone’s only son, and the same thing has now happened to him.

Diego has been taken captive by an irresistible yakuza boss, broken down, and turned into his personal plaything …

Wolf is ruthless, subjecting his new pet to painful punishments and addictive pleasures. But Diego is a vicious young gang leader and will rebel at every chance he gets … even if it means sleeping with the enemy.

Content Warning: This book contains BDSM, spanking, impact play, dubious consent, collaring, restraints, age-gap relationships, kidnapping, and violence. Reader discretion is advised.

BOOK 2

His Bodyguard

Author and Publisher: Ace Fawn

Cover Artist: The Book Brander

Length: 21 014 words/89 pages

Release Date: March 1, 2023

Genre: Contemporary M/M Dark Romance

Tropes:  Bodyguard Crush, Forced Proximity

Themes: Mafia, Forbidden Love, Age Gap

It is a standalone story and does not end on a cliffhanger.

Goodreads

Buy Links - Available in Kindle Unlimited

Amazon US  |  Amazon UK

Blurb

Levi never wanted a bodyguard, but when he has a run-in with the police, his father hires a bodyguard to keep him out of trouble. Nick is handsome and protective, and Levi develops a crush on him. But Levi isn’t allowed to date his bodyguard, let alone sleep with him.

Nick isn’t supposed to be attracted to the boss’s son. They have to keep their relationship professional, and Nick can’t let his feelings get in the way of his duties. But when Levi kisses him, Nick doesn’t want to hold back anymore.

One thing leads to another, and Levi gets Nick into his bed. They must keep their forbidden affair a secret, but that’s not easy to do when Levi has already let Nick into his heart and isn’t willing to let him go … even if they get caught.

BOOK 3

His Challenger

Author and Publisher: Ace Fawn

Length: 19 130 words/82 pages

Release Date: March 31, 2023

Tropes: Enemies to Lovers, Forced Proximity, Found Family

Themes: Mafia, Kidnapping, Age Gap

It is a standalone story and does not end on a cliffhanger

Goodreads

Buy Links - Available in Kindle Unlimited

Amazon US  |  Amazon UK

Blurb

Trained to be a lethal assassin since he was a child, Mathew is assigned one final test from his boss: to kill his brother, Diego. But when Mathew fails the mission and is caught, he is held captive by the enemy for questioning.

All Rex needs to do is make sure Mathew doesn’t escape. But Mathew fights back and proves he is a force to be reckoned with. Rex is consumed by a strong desire to dominate Mathew and to make the enemy his own. Rex must stay in control, but the longer he and Mathew are alone together, the harder it is for Rex to resist the sexy assassin.

Dangerous men, especially killers, are not supposed to love each other. Mathew knows he shouldn’t be attracted to the enemy, but he develops a hunger for his captor that he hasn’t experienced before … and Mathew can’t deny himself any longer.

Trigger Warning: This book contains explicit sexual content, spanking, age-gap relationships, kidnapping, dubious consent, self-harm/attempted suicide, and violence. Reader discretion is advised.

Excerpt from His Playmate

Diego was stopped from leaving Wolf’s bed by a handcuff around his wrist. He had sat leaning against the headrest for the entire day, his body throbbing and his feet aching.

The warmly lit bedroom was large with a connecting bathroom and walk-in wardrobe. It had wide-paned windows that looked out into the darkness. Diego chewed on his lower lip, growing agitated. A cigarette would be nice, especially out on the balcony in the cool night air.

This was some sort of mental torture. Wolf was treating Diego like he was nothing more than a captive. Diego didn’t have much energy left; Wolf was purposely weakening him. Wolf was forcing Diego to be reliant on him. Diego didn’t like being dependent on anyone because it made him powerless. As much as Diego hated to acknowledge it, Wolf had dominated him, and Diego had already submitted.

The door opened, and Wolf walked into the bedroom, a riding crop in hand. Diego couldn’t stop his body from involuntarily tensing, and he narrowed his eyes at the weapon.

“And I thought you had forgotten about me,” Diego said, his tone sarcastic.

“How could I? You’re all I think about,” Wolf said, mocking him.

Diego rolled his eyes. “Get lost.”

Wolf stopped by the bed, never taking his gaze off Diego as he asked, “Did you think about what you’ve done?”

Diego glared at him, but he didn’t say anything. He had tried not to focus on what had happened because losing brought him a great deal of shame. But the memories of what he’d experienced at Wolf’s hands kept filling his mind anyway. Diego had realized that Wolf was always a step ahead of him.

“Diego …”

“Yes, I have,” Diego said bitterly.

“Are you going to strike at me again?” Wolf asked.

“No.”

Wolf looked pleased. “Good. If I’d known the cane would make you submit, I would have used it on you earlier, pet.”

A spike of heat shot through Diego’s body and pooled in his groin. Diego had slept with plenty of men in the past, but no one had taken ownership over him the way that Wolf did. Diego had gotten used to taking care of himself and being independent. The thought of losing his freedom was terrifying. His captor was a threat in more ways than just punishments. “Stop calling me that.”

“You seem to like it,” Wolf said.

There was a small part of Diego that did like it. Because of the way Wolf said it … his voice deep and smooth. The word seemed to roll off of Wolf’s tongue naturally. There was a hint of something in Wolf’s tone when he called Diego his pet, and it wasn’t hate. But it was his enemy saying it to him, and Diego knew that he shouldn’t want to belong to Wolf.

Diego kept eye contact with Wolf, and it was starting to stir up a feeling of vulnerability in him. Here Diego was, naked and chained to a bed, his captor looming over him with a dark smile on his lips and a riding crop in his hand. No one had done this to Diego before, and that unnerved him

About the Author 

Ace Fawn writes sometimes dark and always steamy contemporary M/M romance featuring mafia and billionaires.

An avid reader of M/M romance, she loves books about D/s relationships, the enemies-to-lovers trope, and the forced proximity trope, and tends to involve these themes in her own writing.

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Tuesday, April 7, 2020

New Release-Review & Excerpt: YOU OR NO ONE by Olivier Bosman (Doggerland Trilogy #1)



You Or No One
by Olivier Bosman

Publisher: Rocket Man Press
Cover Artist: A Pradipta
Genre: Contemporary M/M Romance
Tropes: Royalty/ Fairytale
Themes: Opposites Attract/Fish Out of Water/Cinderella Story
Heat Rating: 2 flames
Length: 42 000 words
It is the first part of the Doggerland trilogy



Buy Links




Is the world ready for an openly gay king and his prince consort?

Blurb

Joel is happy, confident and working class.

Eric is shy, insecure and a member of one of the oldest aristocratic families in Europe.

When they meet in university sparks fly.

They say opposites attract, but when Joel discovers that Eric is the crown prince and future king of Doggerland, he starts having doubts.

They want to get married. They think their greatest battle will be convincing the King and the Prime Minister to give their consent. But estranged relatives coming out of the woodwork, intrusive tabloid press, and the traditional, stifling lifestyle of the aristocracy conspire against them.

Are Joel and Eric secure enough in themselves and each other to overcome a world which is not as tolerant as they thought?


Excerpt

I got up early that morning. I entered the breakfast room five minutes after it opened. I wanted to beat Eric to it. I wanted to be the one to tell him to f*ck off when he pulled up a chair at my table. I sat at my table at five past, sipping coffee and nibbling on a croissant. I was engrossed by that croissant. How did they make them so delicious? I was busy dissecting the different pastry layers when a voice suddenly spoke to me.

"Mother never taught you not to play with your food?"

It was Eric, towering over me. His rosy face looked freshly scrubbed, his hair tightly combed, his white silk shirt freshly ironed, his beige chinos pressed. Before I could do anything to prevent it, he pulled up a chair and sat down before me.

"Where is Petra?" I asked.

"She’s gone to her friend’s hen do. Probably won’t see her again till Christmas."

He lifted his arm and clicked his fingers at the waiter. "Coffee, please. Black. And... um... eggs. Scrambled." Then he shooed the waiter away with his hand.

How rude, I thought. This was a side of Eric I hadn’t seen before.

"How was your little drive yesterday?" I made no attempt at hiding the bitterness in my voice.

"It was good. We drove along the coast and had a long good chat."

"What about?"

"About you, as it happens."

"Me?"

He sat up and cleared his throat. "I... um... I want to ask you a question. I wanted to ask you last night in your room. But you were sleeping."

"What do you want to ask?"

He hesitated for a few beats. Then he blurted it out. "Would you like to marry me?"

Well! I don’t need to tell you that I was shocked. I gaped at him silently. Perplexed.

"This isn’t a proposal, you understand,” he added hurriedly. “I’m not asking you to marry me. Not yet. I can’t without the permission of my father and my government. But I’m asking you whether marrying me is something you would consider."

"Are you serious?"

"Yes. I had a long chat about it with Petra. She said she talked to you last night. She likes you. She said you’d make a good partner for me."

"But we only talked for about ten minutes."

"Well, she’s a good judge of character. She saw the same good qualities in you as I did."

"What good qualities?"

"Your confidence. Your self-assuredness."

"But I have no confidence."

"Of course you do. I mean, look at you. You’re poor, you’re Welsh, you’re not particularly good looking, and yet you’re sitting here in the smartest hotel in Brighton as if you had every right to do so."

"Wow! You really know how to sweep a boy off his feet!"

"No, you don’t understand. These are things that I like about you."

"That I’m not particularly good looking?"

"What I meant was..." He shook his head. "This conversation isn’t going at all the way I planned it. What I mean was that you’re grounded. You’re down to earth. You don’t care what people think of you. Otherwise you wouldn’t be wearing that."

"What?"

"That hoodie. This is the Pavillion Hotel, not a hip-hop bar in Brooklyn."

"Do you want me take it off?"

"No. You don’t understand. I like that about you. I like that you snubbed the nice clothes I bought for you and chose to wear your council estate gear instead. I like that you come down for breakfast without even bothering to comb your hair. I like your ordinariness. Your earthiness. You’re a working class kid with the balls and intelligence to break out of your environment and compete with us rich kids. And you outshine us. Not with your clothes, or your wit, or your family name, but by being yourself. That’s what I like about you. And that’s what I want standing beside me when I’m king. Petra thinks so too, and she’s an excellent judge of character."

I was flabbergasted. Never had I felt so insulted and complimented at the same time! I’d read Petra wrong.

"Well?" Eric asked.

"What?" I’d long forgotten what the original question was. I was still reeling from his speech. You outshine us. That was the nicest thing anyone had ever said to me.

"Would you consider marrying me?" he said. "Or rather, what I’m asking is whether you’d be willing to be my right hand man. We’d be the first gay royal couple in history. We’d do all those things that you talked about in the car. Be ambassadors to gay rights and so forth. But it won’t be easy. We’ll be hated by many. There’ll be insults, ridicule, maybe even death threats. And that’s only if our marriage is approved by King and parliament, which will be a whole battle in itself. But one I’m willing to fight if you are by my side. So what do you think? Will you consider it? Will you be the next Prince Consort of Doggerland? Will you be my husband?"

Carra's Review

I’m a sucker for romances involving members of royalty, so I naturally gravitated to this title.  You should know going in that as the first book of a trilogy, much is left open-ended and the main characters of Joel and Eric do not reach their HEA in this installment.  The story ends on a cliffhanger, and you’ll need to wait for the next book (or two) before you’ll find resolution.

I found Joel and Eric to be likable enough, though some of Eric’s quirks when he deals with other people (particularly those in service roles) are a little irritating—something Joel notes as well.  I thought that the progression of their relationship was not a natural one; there wasn’t enough relationship development, and they seemed to jump from a few hookups (because I wouldn’t really count them as true dates) to wanting to say “I do” without knowing hardly anything about each other.  It seems unlikely that Joel would be so willing to commit to a life as the consort of a prince—and eventually a king—without truly getting to know one another.

The writing didn’t flow as smoothly as I would have liked, having a bit of a choppy feel to it.  I also felt like we only got to know the characters on their surface; we didn’t really get an in-depth look at them which made it harder for me to connect and become invested in them as people.  They felt more hard-edged and some of the things they would say or do seemed out of character for them, even given as little as we get to know about them.

For all that though, I do wonder where things will go from the point the author leaves us hanging, since the situation Joel and Eric find themselves in is a sudden predicament and their future is even more uncertain than Eric had made it when he and Joel had their own confrontation.

You really won’t find a lot of physical intimacy detailed in this story, it’s more of a tell-after-the-fact then an in-the-moment thing, but the subject matter and adult language would still make this book one for readers 18+.  Also remember that being the first book of a trilogy with no resolution yet, you’ll want to commit to all three books before you start.

*this review is based on an advanced copy and only focuses on the story itself, not the technical aspects of the book*


About the Author 


Born to Dutch parents and raised in Colombia and England, I am a rootless wanderer with itchy feet. I've spent the last few years living and working in The Netherlands, Czech Republic, Sudan and Bulgaria, but I have every confidence that I will now finally be able to settle down among the olive groves of Andalucia. 

I am an avid reader and film fan (in fact, my study is overflowing with my various dvd collections!) 

I did an MA in creative writing for film and television at the University of Sheffield. After a failed attempt at making a career as a screenwriter, I turned to the theater and wrote and produced a play called ´Death Takes a Lover´ (which has since been turned into the first D.S.Billings Victorian Mystery). The play was performed on the London Fringe to great critical acclaim.

I am currently living in Spain where I make ends meet by teaching English.