Shadows in Time

by Laura Baumbach

Trying to avoid ruin and disgrace, young naive Neal Clifton, wealthy heir to a sizable Boston family fortune faces the illicit and dangerous complication of his first affair with man--a scheming, unscrupulous man with influence and power that reaches beyond the grave. Neal vows to never give into his own unnatural desires again but finds his only hope for escape in the hands (and arms) of stoic silversmith, Peter Wade. This story is part of the print anthology THE MYSTERIOUS.

Genres: M M Romance, Historical, Paranormal, Romance

86 pages, Nook

First published September 11, 2010

About the author

Laura Baumbach is the best-selling, multi-award winning, acclaimed author of short stories, novellas, novels and screenplays. Most recently, Mexican Heat, written in collaboration with Josh Lanyon, has been chosen as a FINALIST for Best Gay Romance in the 2009 Lambda Literary Awards, a FINALIST in the 2010 EPPIE Awards, and has received an Honorable Mention at the 2009 San Francisco Book Festival. Laura was nominated for Best GBLT Author 2008 in the LRC's Best Of Awards for 2008. Her adventure story The Lost Temple of Karttikeya won the 2008 EPPIE Award for Best GLBT novel. Her sequel to the best-selling novel A Bit of Rough, Roughhousing, was 2007 Reviewers' Choice Award Winner.

Reviews

[M'rella · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really liked Neal. Wish the story was longer.
Also need to mention that editing was bad - missing letters and words all over the place.
4 stars.

[Feliz · Rating 4 out of 5]

The characters in this story were very well done, particularly Neal with all his insecurities and guilty feelings. Given the timeframe of the story, it’s easily comprehensible how hard it must have been then for a young man to realize he has needs his contemporaries would think abominable. I can see how such a naive young man might fall for someone who promises to fulfill those dangerous needs, even though this someone isn’t the nicest person. And now, after he has endured humiliation and abuse, and finds another man who accepts him unconditionally, even though he’s saddled with a life – threatening curse? How could he avoid falling in love with such a person? The same is true for Peter, a man in his late thirties who has resigned to a solitary, lonely life rather than living a lie. Suddenly presented with a likeminded young man who isn’t only beautiful, but has a brain to go with his looks, how could he resist? What’s more, Neal comes to Peter with his father’s blessings. I could accept the instant bond they entered, even though it felt a bit rushed. Amos the yenta was amiably mischievous like a leprechaun, and I found the way he talked about his relationship with Neal’s father Jon very endearing. Ayana the servant was likewise taken right out of the realms of the lore, reminding of a motherly guardian angel with a very, very open mind, and the judge was as debauched and vicious as befits a man who’d sell his soul to the eternal enemy. They all came alive on the pages of this book, forming the cast to an entertaining, deliciously wicked, wonderfully oldfashioned ghost story.

I’d recommend this book to those who like ghosts and magic twists and fateful love and don’t mind looking at historical facts with a wink of an eye.

[Shadow Jubilee · Rating 2 out of 5]

2.5 stars

It was interesting. I didn't realize it'd have supernatural elements, but what the Judge's intentions were were pretty interesting. The sex between Peter and Neal was pretty hot. The plot was decent for a short story. I just didn't feel too invested or involved in the characters though.

[Misty · Rating 3 out of 5]

** 3.5 Stars **