Katherine MarloweReseñas

Quick, cute read with little substance or realism, but it has a HEA that'll warm your bones.

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.

This seemed a rather academic romance, as most of the book is spent with the two characters discussing the philosophy of love in detail, obviously influenced by Plato's [b:The Symposium|81779|The Symposium|Plato|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1520522475l/81779._SY75_.jpg|1488719] which the two main characters are reading. I enjoyed how the plot allowed a kind of exploration of several aspects of Regency England's ideas on sex - the characters visit a brothel, an orphanage/workhouse, a molly house, a play, church, a party, the countryside, etc. in efforts to prove to one another whether or not love actually exists and how to define it. There's also a lot of actual poetry which I enjoyed.
Of course, over all this, they end up falling in love with each other. It's a very slow burn romance between two engaging characters with a HEA.

Marlowe's writing seems to be hit or miss for me, and this one was a miss. It really drags through these little interactions and drama of the side characters that have little to do with the story other than aggravate the MC. As many other reviewers said, it also seems pretty historically inaccurate about the interactions between servants and servants with their employers. There's also little romance here, just a teenage-style infatuation that didn't appeal to me and wasn't even the main plot point in the book. If you want to read about the hijinks of an rich, naïve Georgian eccentric and the trouble he puts literally everyone he knows through, then you might enjoy this but otherwise I'd give it a miss.

I'm such a sucker for regency stories...

First off. That cover doesn't match the story. At least that's how it feels to me. It looks way more... fiery (?) than the story itself. That one is supercute! All the fluff! Low key drama and a lot of 'don't lords and ladies have stuff to do?' moments but ultimately just a fun read!

p.s. I'm always a bit amused to see someone saying: ' that's historically inaccurate!'. Please go to this site: People of Color in European Art History. Because you wouldn't want to be historically inaccurate. Or you know just assume you don't know everything even though you studied history, I did and still I was blown away by this site. Since then... I got a lot more careful in saying 'that's not true!'. Well unless it's about virgins. For some reason I can't stop pointing out wat is true or not...

the story had his moments. but the relationship between the two main characters wasn't very believable. hmm I don't think I ever wrote that before. jasper was a total dick and algernon was... oblivious? bit like a puppy who gets scolded and then comes back for more cuddles?

anyhoo I didn't enjoy this one as much as the authors other stories.

Cute as hell. Just what I needed. The world is a shitty place but this story made it a bit less shitty.

Clement Adair is an excellent personal valet. So it's no surprise he has his eyes set on becoming a butler. When the household he's working in splits, he expects his promotion will go along with it. To his dismay, however, he is moving with his employer, but he is staying in the same role. Not happy with the prospect of being stuck as a valet on a small country estate, Clement plans to resign as soon as things are settled and return to London to seek a new path.

What Clement doesn't count on, however, is meeting Hugo Ogden, the estate's stable groom. Hugo is fascinating to Clement in ways in hadn't expected. And he finds himself wanting to get to know the man much better. Which can't really happen if he gets on the next train to London and never looks back.

There's more going on in the household, though, that needs Clement's attention. His employer's constantly changing hobbies keep him more than occupied. The fact that the household butler is nearly incompetent gives him extra duties. And someone keeps playing pranks on said butler--who is quick to give Clement the blame. Can Clement help get the household in order in time to figure out what he wants with Hugo? Or should he really just leave all of the disorder behind?

--

Let me start by saying this book is simply wonderful. That's really the best way I can sum it up at this point. The plot, the characters, and the storytelling make for a masterful book. It was quite difficult to put it down when I needed to get back to work. :)

Many times in regency-type historical romances, we see the relationship between two members of the aristocracy or one aristocrat and a member of the serving class. A story that focuses on two members of the serving class is a bit more rare, in my experience. So this is certainly refreshing for that fact alone.

What's more is the cast of characters that rest in the background (if you could really call it that). They bring this wonderful world to life in some very vivid ways. And the humor and entertainment value of these characters is also great. Considering the relationship is slow to get started, they certainly serve to keep the reader interested while Clement and Hugo take their sweet time in finding their way.

This is a definite strong recommendation from me!

[Disclaimer: I received a copy of this book from the author in exchange for an honest review.]

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.]

Algernon Clarke is destitute; the debtors' prison is calling his name. But when a railroad executive, Mr. Sutton, shows up and tells him he's the heir to an abandoned estate, he thinks he's found the solution to his problems. Algernon has no problem letting the railroad set up across the land of Wealdhant Manor as long as it means his fortunes turn around. What he doesn't count on is Jasper Waltham, the groundskeeper of the manor, who is very invested in the estate and the well-being of the people living on it. "Lord Jasper"--as the people call him--is unwilling to see the railroad disrupt the lives of those around him, and he is extremely skeptical of Algernon's claim to the estate. Can the two of them find the space to live on the same land despite one man's protective nature and the other's lack of connection to the place? And when a spark of attraction springs up between them, how will they reconcile that with their competing interests?

Don't buy into the thinking that history can't be fun. Yes, this is historical fiction, but it's still historical and it's still fun. Both Algernon and Jasper are endearing in their own ways, but then you put them together and, well, it just gets even better. It can often be hard when we're forced to choose between multiple things that we want, especially when we're convinced those things are mutually exclusive. But the reality is that they don't always have to be, and sometimes we can find a way to get around the obstacles and have more than we ever dreamed. And such is the story of Algernon and Jasper.

Highly recommended for fans of historical m/m romance--especially those who especially enjoy regency stories...

[Disclaimer: I received a copy of this book from the author in exchange for an honest review.]