John Wiltshire (2)

John Wilshire is an intriguing author. At first I thought, mmm, interesting, one of these m/m novels written by a man, someone who's served in the British Army for 22 years. But no, the name is called a "pen name and fictional persona" in the Amazon blurb. The author has decided to use what to all intents and purposes is a completely male name. I don't think I've come across that before among the many authors I've now read in this sub-genre. To use a pen name that is both a male and female name is common enough and I'm a bit cynical about why one would attempt some ambiguity like that. But that's a long way from taking on a male persona. More power to her though. She has her reasons.

Wiltshire has created two unforgettable characters - in Ben and Nikolas - and adventures - surviving a plane crash into a lake in Siberia and a band of brutal, dehumanised gulag escapees - it's not your usual romance novel setting.

But holy cow, crikey! the MCs love affair is possibly the most powerfully written of all the relationships I've lived through since I took up this hobby a few years ago, ie reading romance. The cut and thrust of their duelling personalities, the pull and push of their tender and not so tender love making, their care for each other and their courage in coming to the other's aid. It's non-stop - how they live entirely for each other even while they are busy in the world, with their "projects". Whew!

Unfortunately, my library didn't have #2 in the series, so I jumped from #1 to #3, and while I'll read #2 as soon as it comes my way, I was surprised how seamless it was to pick up Ben and Nikolas's story. Their relationship has come so far since the first book.

They'd known each other four years by the time book #1 started, at Nikolas and his wife Philippa's country house, with those memorable scenes of them horseback riding. Nikolas was so aloof and arrogant, with flashes of cruelty.

Now Ben has excavated the man from within the calculated, opaque and mysterious Nikolas persona. Nikolas is in love with Ben! It was always true but he was never going to reveal it. Also we see Nikolas fall back to his Alexei persona to lead survivors away from the extreme terror of their Siberian nightmare.

OMG, Gary Furlong! Heard him many times but here! he is beyond good in bringing Nikolas and Ben to life.… (más)

Good title!

Had forgotten what a good narrator Gary Furlong is. He masters Nikolas' accents. At least it seems so to me, without knowing a Danish English accent except from Borgen! Also, the book won a 2021 SOVAS award.

This is a long, slightly confusing novel (9 hours on audio) - understandable in some ways, since, who is Sir Nikolas Mikkelsen? he hardly knows himself, he's worn so many aliases. That is where the novel ends, but there is a sequel, maybe more than one - fortunately, as the novel is shocking, absorbing, intriguing, and has plenty of tension of both the sexual and thriller kind. Turns out there are at least 9 in the series, yeh! and 16 of Wiltshire's books on Audible.

Ben Rider is a gifted soldier, ex-SAS - and he's been having what seems to be an abusive sexual affair with his boss, Sir Nikolas Mikkelsen for four years, when we meet the two after Ben has experienced the horrific death of his friend/lover in a house fire.

Never heard of author John Wiltshire before this, despite regularly reading lists of recommended MM Romance reads. I think I chose this based on the cover and the rating, ie 4.1 on Hoopla - though my usual cut-off is 4.2! Ha ha.

Library Thing has this snippet about the author: John is an ex-army officer who currently lives in South Island New Zealand. He's been writing for many years and has a number of novels published. Much of his fiction is based in England, particularly Devon, where he grew up. When John isn't writing, he can usually be found at the beach, surfing.

Goodreads has this: John Wiltshire is the fictional persona of the author of the More Heat Than The Sun series. After spending twenty-two years in the military perfecting the art of looking busy whilst secretly writing, John left as a senior officer
when a hastily dug tunnel was ready for use. Now living in New Zealand (at least until enough money can be raised to leave) John has no plans to return to the army. Unless the world situation gets considerably worse, that is.

Love Is a Stranger deserves a solid four rating, ie 4.5, for the intrigue and intensity.… (más)