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Kindred Hearts
Charming rascal Tristan Northwood seems to have it an ancient name, a noble inheritance, a lovely wife, and a son he adores. Women love him, men admire him, and it seems there is nothing he can’t do, whether it’s seducing a society wife or winning a carriage race. Little does Society suspect that the name means nothing to him, the fortune is in his father’s controlling hands, and he has no interest in his wife except a very distant friendship. Society bores him, and he takes dares because he only feels alive when he’s dancing on the edge... until his wife’s brother comes home from the wars.
Decorated war hero Major Charles Mountjoy jerks Tris out of his despair by inspiring feelings of passion Tris had never suspected himself capable of. Almost as terrifying as those feelings for Charles are the signs Charles might return his affection—or, even worse, that Charles sees the man Tristan has been trying so valiantly to hide from the world
Decorated war hero Major Charles Mountjoy jerks Tris out of his despair by inspiring feelings of passion Tris had never suspected himself capable of. Almost as terrifying as those feelings for Charles are the signs Charles might return his affection—or, even worse, that Charles sees the man Tristan has been trying so valiantly to hide from the world
350 pages, Kindle Edition
First published May 1, 2011
42 people are currently reading
1826 people want to read
About the author
Rowan Speedwell
22 books402 followersAn unrepentant biblioholic, Rowan Speedwell spends half her time pretending to be a law librarian, half her time pretending to be a database manager, half her time pretending to be a fifteenth-century Aragonese noblewoman, half her time… wait a minute… hmm. Well, one thing she doesn't pretend to be is good at math. She is good at pretending, though.
In her copious spare time (hah) she does needlework, calligraphy and illumination, and makes jewelry. She has a master's degree in history from the University of Chicago, is a member of the Society for Creative Anachronism, and lives in a Chicago suburb with the obligatory Writer's Cat and way too many books.
In her copious spare time (hah) she does needlework, calligraphy and illumination, and makes jewelry. She has a master's degree in history from the University of Chicago, is a member of the Society for Creative Anachronism, and lives in a Chicago suburb with the obligatory Writer's Cat and way too many books.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 270 reviews
August 25, 2015
I may sound like a freak but one of the reasons I loved this book so much was the medical stuff!
Ok, I wouldn't have liked this book so much if it were a boring essay. I never read essays, period. Almost. But I surely enjoy m/m romances, and a good historical one is difficult to find. The science part is just anecdotical but I was thrilled when they talked about important historic discoveries or about German anatomy books (has that last thing really changed?).
Above all, I liked seeing how Surgeons and Physicians were still separated. It's an interesting part in History. Physicians looked down on Surgeons because they knew no Latin or Greek and studied nothing from books, as most of them were illiterate, so their experience was gained from real patients in battlefields and boats. On the other hand, Surgeons disregarded Physicians because they were theoretical pricks who very rarely touched a body and knew nothing about how to amputate a leg. Physicians had a higher status whereas Surgeons were just carpenters of bones. The funny thing is, when Physicians taught in the universities, they used to read a book while a different person with no theoretical basis opened the human body in the autopsies. As a result, students got into a mess and understood little to nothing about what they were seeing. Vesalio, a Belgian guy at the service of the Spanish Empire, more specifically, at the service of King Charles I and King Philip II of Spain, decided it was a nonsense, and introduced the fashion of only one person cutting the body while explaining their actions and adapting the book-ish information to real life. It was a real revolution that has survived to our days, but it was not until the 19th century when those two occupations of Surgeon and Physician converged in a single career, Medicine.
Charles wants to become a Physician, whereas Tristan feels a pull towards Surgery. Both sides of the same professional were represented here. And eventually they meet. I don't mean to read into it more than it's displayed but I almost considered them as metaphors.
Rowan Speedwell is more known amongst readers due to Finding Zach but I believe this one is much better. The story is slow-paced and felt quite realistic for me. Tristan is the only son of a distant noble and he wastes his life in liquor and ladies. He's known to be a misbegotten libertine and aristocracy puts up with him because he's a proper (and rich) gentleman when sober. Suddenly he is forced to marry and he decides to stop his roaming habits to fulfill his duty. But he doesn't find a romantic partner in his wife, something he definitely needs in his life, but a practical friendship. This precarious balance is turned upside down when her brother comes back from the continent, and every fiber of Tristan's body comes to life in a way he had never experienced before and defies all he believed in before then.
It's a read full of angst. First Tristan's barely mental healthy state, then Charles's threatening return to war against Napoleon, and in between lots of struggling for them to be together, a challenge that in that time was an obvious taboo, and one I like to dwell in. Forbidden issues are quite attractive and a historical romance always implies that.
I liked the angsty mood of the book. There was a turning point, though, when everything felt already seen. Not a sense of déjà vu exactly, just that those pages were only meant to fill the space in order for the book to be completed, because there was no much else to say once things were solved between them. On the whole, it's a pretty balanced book, so I don't really complain about that mentioned part, as I enjoyed it immensely.
Tristan and Charles are perfectly suitable for each other. Not only as love companions but as business partners and friends. Their moments together were convincing and beautiful, and there are a few sex scenes I still remember today. At first, Tristan is the one in need of help and Charles saves him from destruction. But towards the end these positions are reversed due to an unexpected event that changes their lives forever. I liked seeing how they support each other in order for them to be stronger and build a life together.
In conclusion, I thoroughly recommend the book.
Ok, I wouldn't have liked this book so much if it were a boring essay. I never read essays, period. Almost. But I surely enjoy m/m romances, and a good historical one is difficult to find. The science part is just anecdotical but I was thrilled when they talked about important historic discoveries or about German anatomy books (has that last thing really changed?).
Above all, I liked seeing how Surgeons and Physicians were still separated. It's an interesting part in History. Physicians looked down on Surgeons because they knew no Latin or Greek and studied nothing from books, as most of them were illiterate, so their experience was gained from real patients in battlefields and boats. On the other hand, Surgeons disregarded Physicians because they were theoretical pricks who very rarely touched a body and knew nothing about how to amputate a leg. Physicians had a higher status whereas Surgeons were just carpenters of bones. The funny thing is, when Physicians taught in the universities, they used to read a book while a different person with no theoretical basis opened the human body in the autopsies. As a result, students got into a mess and understood little to nothing about what they were seeing. Vesalio, a Belgian guy at the service of the Spanish Empire, more specifically, at the service of King Charles I and King Philip II of Spain, decided it was a nonsense, and introduced the fashion of only one person cutting the body while explaining their actions and adapting the book-ish information to real life. It was a real revolution that has survived to our days, but it was not until the 19th century when those two occupations of Surgeon and Physician converged in a single career, Medicine.
Charles wants to become a Physician, whereas Tristan feels a pull towards Surgery. Both sides of the same professional were represented here. And eventually they meet. I don't mean to read into it more than it's displayed but I almost considered them as metaphors.
Rowan Speedwell is more known amongst readers due to Finding Zach but I believe this one is much better. The story is slow-paced and felt quite realistic for me. Tristan is the only son of a distant noble and he wastes his life in liquor and ladies. He's known to be a misbegotten libertine and aristocracy puts up with him because he's a proper (and rich) gentleman when sober. Suddenly he is forced to marry and he decides to stop his roaming habits to fulfill his duty. But he doesn't find a romantic partner in his wife, something he definitely needs in his life, but a practical friendship. This precarious balance is turned upside down when her brother comes back from the continent, and every fiber of Tristan's body comes to life in a way he had never experienced before and defies all he believed in before then.
It's a read full of angst. First Tristan's barely mental healthy state, then Charles's threatening return to war against Napoleon, and in between lots of struggling for them to be together, a challenge that in that time was an obvious taboo, and one I like to dwell in. Forbidden issues are quite attractive and a historical romance always implies that.
I liked the angsty mood of the book. There was a turning point, though, when everything felt already seen. Not a sense of déjà vu exactly, just that those pages were only meant to fill the space in order for the book to be completed, because there was no much else to say once things were solved between them. On the whole, it's a pretty balanced book, so I don't really complain about that mentioned part, as I enjoyed it immensely.
Tristan and Charles are perfectly suitable for each other. Not only as love companions but as business partners and friends. Their moments together were convincing and beautiful, and there are a few sex scenes I still remember today. At first, Tristan is the one in need of help and Charles saves him from destruction. But towards the end these positions are reversed due to an unexpected event that changes their lives forever. I liked seeing how they support each other in order for them to be stronger and build a life together.
In conclusion, I thoroughly recommend the book.
September 9, 2015
Written March 28, 2015
3 1/2 Stars - Well-made drama with both sweetness and some nagging touching moments
It was time to give this historical M/M romance a chance. ~ Kindred Hearts was a recommendation from my sweet Spanish friend —the future physician— Sheziss (her 4 star review) last summer. (I can see why this was such a great one for you dear.)
I listened to the 12:50 hrs audiobook, well narrated by Paul Morey.
***********************************************************
London and Brussel 1810 - 1816...
Kindred Hearts is the love story about two men, the former party rascal Tristan Northwood and his lovely wife's beloved brother, Major Charles Mountjoy, a decorated by many admired man. (Wife, brother in law?!? )
This is also a quite long novel (true "novel" feeling here) with several parallel interesting and well-written topics as: relationship with relatives and especially a father, training and urge to become a doctor (or surgeon) 200 years ago, the difficulties and battles under the times around the Napoleon / Waterloo war. Add to that much romance stuff as lust, needs and trust and a fairly large group of characters.
Much about learning to like and accept yourself..
One of our MC's has a poor self-esteem when it comes to trust that others actually want to love him and in the end like him exactly as he is. A good topic but maybe a little teenage substance sense to often. ~ Maybe this story lost me there sometimes. It wasn't too sugary cheesy, but to be fair, very nice and perhaps a tiny bit too much whining for me now and then. I liked these characters but at times were both of them just to 'much'. Unwarranted jealousy and suspicion becomes a bit of an anxiety loaded YA / NA book for me. (Not my favorite genre.)
...In between was it very good though. Plus also to a good historical setting and feel.
***********************************************************
To sum up...
This began beaming amusing and really great, fell a bit flat in the middle, was maybe too lengthy for my taste, but bounced up towards the end. Overall, a good well made gay "Regency" romance. I think the narrator partially rescued this one for me.
I LIKE - yes, it was good enough
3 1/2 Stars - Well-made drama with both sweetness and some nagging touching moments
It was time to give this historical M/M romance a chance. ~ Kindred Hearts was a recommendation from my sweet Spanish friend —the future physician— Sheziss (her 4 star review) last summer. (I can see why this was such a great one for you dear.)
I listened to the 12:50 hrs audiobook, well narrated by Paul Morey.
***********************************************************
London and Brussel 1810 - 1816...
Kindred Hearts is the love story about two men, the former party rascal Tristan Northwood and his lovely wife's beloved brother, Major Charles Mountjoy, a decorated by many admired man. (Wife, brother in law?!? )
This is also a quite long novel (true "novel" feeling here) with several parallel interesting and well-written topics as: relationship with relatives and especially a father, training and urge to become a doctor (or surgeon) 200 years ago, the difficulties and battles under the times around the Napoleon / Waterloo war. Add to that much romance stuff as lust, needs and trust and a fairly large group of characters.
Much about learning to like and accept yourself..
One of our MC's has a poor self-esteem when it comes to trust that others actually want to love him and in the end like him exactly as he is. A good topic but maybe a little teenage substance sense to often. ~ Maybe this story lost me there sometimes. It wasn't too sugary cheesy, but to be fair, very nice and perhaps a tiny bit too much whining for me now and then. I liked these characters but at times were both of them just to 'much'. Unwarranted jealousy and suspicion becomes a bit of an anxiety loaded YA / NA book for me. (Not my favorite genre.)
...In between was it very good though. Plus also to a good historical setting and feel.
***********************************************************
To sum up...
This began beaming amusing and really great, fell a bit flat in the middle, was maybe too lengthy for my taste, but bounced up towards the end. Overall, a good well made gay "Regency" romance. I think the narrator partially rescued this one for me.
I LIKE - yes, it was good enough
December 19, 2013
4.5 stars Tristan is a young man rebelling against his wealthy and disapproving father by playing the libertine, until his father insists he marry. And after meeting his fiancée, Tristan realizes that she is restful and practical, and he goes through with the wedding. His wife is undemanding, calm and not romantic, and after a while she gives him a son who becomes the light of his life. And yet his days and nights feel empty and pointless. Until he meets her brother Charles, a cavalry officer and aide to the commander of the British forces in Europe. It only takes a brief span of time for Tristan to realize just what has been missing from his life and relationships so far. In that homophobic place and time, the result is not relief, but flat out panic.
Charles is a man who has long been aware that he is gay, and who has managed to hide it without denying it. He's had sex partners, and one short, real relationship that ended very badly. But he never expected to find himself falling for his sister's husband. And worse, he didn't expect to fall for a man so panicked by who he is and wants, that he's thinking of drastic measures to escape his situation. And across the Channel in Elba, Napoleon is not as done-for as everyone in England hopes...
I enjoyed this story a lot, both for the setting and the characters of the two men. I really appreciated the sister/wife Charlotte. Although she's phlegmatic to an almost incredible degree, she is a positive supporting female character who has a role to play in the book that is valuable for the MCs and not stereotypical. Her willing collaboration in their relationship makes it seem possible for the historical period, lending respectability.
There were a few moments I questioned, particularly dealing with risks of exposure they were willing to take. The correctness if the medicine they practiced was also a bit modern.
But for the most part I very much enjoyed both the historical adventure story and the romance.
Charles is a man who has long been aware that he is gay, and who has managed to hide it without denying it. He's had sex partners, and one short, real relationship that ended very badly. But he never expected to find himself falling for his sister's husband. And worse, he didn't expect to fall for a man so panicked by who he is and wants, that he's thinking of drastic measures to escape his situation. And across the Channel in Elba, Napoleon is not as done-for as everyone in England hopes...
I enjoyed this story a lot, both for the setting and the characters of the two men. I really appreciated the sister/wife Charlotte. Although she's phlegmatic to an almost incredible degree, she is a positive supporting female character who has a role to play in the book that is valuable for the MCs and not stereotypical. Her willing collaboration in their relationship makes it seem possible for the historical period, lending respectability.
There were a few moments I questioned, particularly dealing with risks of exposure they were willing to take. The correctness if the medicine they practiced was also a bit modern.
But for the most part I very much enjoyed both the historical adventure story and the romance.
December 14, 2012
this is 2.5*, but I can't bring myself to give this a full 3, and thus I guess I am one of the odd ones out. I decided to be honest and hope this won't end in some retribution-fest again either.
The 2.5 stars are for the--mostly--good to very good research effort which went into this book. I appreciate that, though there were niggles, like for instance the anachronisms in some of the medical information.
But excellent research isn't enough to outbalance everything. There were simply far too many old tired tropes and other errors/faults.
It started with the frigid/cold/indifferent wife, I hate that trope, Tristan was shown to be bisexual anyway, so why pander to prejudices?
In the course of the story these men then turn into teary teenage girls or hysterical women. Sorry, I do not buy it. Even in cultures having less of a taboo about tearing up guys this was far too much: the lovers, the father and in the end also half the regiment? I'm sure the author is aware of the dialogue between Lord Uxbridge and the Duke of Wellington (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lord_Uxb...) after his leg was shot off. That was the male ideal of the time!
Then there's OK-homo, way way too much of that! Everyone and their doggy were okay with homosexuals at a time period when a youth of 16 got prominently executed for being buggered and his lover as well--both in the army and in front of Old Bailey with half of London watching. The fine citizens of London practically tore apart men who were but suspected of being gay a couple of times and several famous mollyhouse cases took place during the Regency. Ending with bloodshed and death or grave shaming. So no, I do not think so. Not. On the heels of this came the old "everyone is gay" trope. Far too many of those for the logical mind.
There were basic writing problems, idiosyncrasies to some, faults to others, me included, like suddenly "happening" fortunate occasions, exposition in the dialogue and namedropping. Things are fine when there's actually plot taking place there, but just to show off historical knowledge?
More important, everyone knew everything and was fine by everything, few of the emotions you'd expect people to have in such a triangle ever got looked at closely. There were dizzying jumps in the timeframe and the book could have been a lot leaner.
The romance was almost nil, no UST, no real leading up, love at first sight with lots of artificial drama llama. It was partly as if the author wasn't sure where to go with her characters, real depression? Alcoholism? What now?
The sex was unsexy, often described like some manual, and the author unfortunately has taken that US American hatred of the epithet so much to the heart that there were 30 first names mentioned in a paragraph of 5 sentences (if that many). That didn't flow and these scenes except for some very short moments were not really sensual. The best sex scene between the men, erotic and also romantic was the first. Too bad it ended as it did. The scene with his wife left me shaking my head.
I was irked by this book I have to say, and unlike with another one I read recently I think there are writing and plotting reasons for that which are not a matter of mere taste. Which is why I will rate this. I initially bought it for the basic get up of a married bisexual man of that era who takes up with the brother of his wife. I'd hoped for an interesting and realistic look at such a menage.
Once again, the research is mostly impeccable and must have been very extensive. I laud the author for that. But in this case I'd have wished for more work on the plot and the characters instead.
As a result this book was merely okay.
The 2.5 stars are for the--mostly--good to very good research effort which went into this book. I appreciate that, though there were niggles, like for instance the anachronisms in some of the medical information.
But excellent research isn't enough to outbalance everything. There were simply far too many old tired tropes and other errors/faults.
It started with the frigid/cold/indifferent wife, I hate that trope, Tristan was shown to be bisexual anyway, so why pander to prejudices?
In the course of the story these men then turn into teary teenage girls or hysterical women. Sorry, I do not buy it. Even in cultures having less of a taboo about tearing up guys this was far too much: the lovers, the father and in the end also half the regiment? I'm sure the author is aware of the dialogue between Lord Uxbridge and the Duke of Wellington (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lord_Uxb...) after his leg was shot off. That was the male ideal of the time!
Then there's OK-homo, way way too much of that! Everyone and their doggy were okay with homosexuals at a time period when a youth of 16 got prominently executed for being buggered and his lover as well--both in the army and in front of Old Bailey with half of London watching. The fine citizens of London practically tore apart men who were but suspected of being gay a couple of times and several famous mollyhouse cases took place during the Regency. Ending with bloodshed and death or grave shaming. So no, I do not think so. Not. On the heels of this came the old "everyone is gay" trope. Far too many of those for the logical mind.
There were basic writing problems, idiosyncrasies to some, faults to others, me included, like suddenly "happening" fortunate occasions, exposition in the dialogue and namedropping. Things are fine when there's actually plot taking place there, but just to show off historical knowledge?
More important, everyone knew everything and was fine by everything, few of the emotions you'd expect people to have in such a triangle ever got looked at closely. There were dizzying jumps in the timeframe and the book could have been a lot leaner.
The romance was almost nil, no UST, no real leading up, love at first sight with lots of artificial drama llama. It was partly as if the author wasn't sure where to go with her characters, real depression? Alcoholism? What now?
The sex was unsexy, often described like some manual, and the author unfortunately has taken that US American hatred of the epithet so much to the heart that there were 30 first names mentioned in a paragraph of 5 sentences (if that many). That didn't flow and these scenes except for some very short moments were not really sensual. The best sex scene between the men, erotic and also romantic was the first. Too bad it ended as it did. The scene with his wife left me shaking my head.
I was irked by this book I have to say, and unlike with another one I read recently I think there are writing and plotting reasons for that which are not a matter of mere taste. Which is why I will rate this. I initially bought it for the basic get up of a married bisexual man of that era who takes up with the brother of his wife. I'd hoped for an interesting and realistic look at such a menage.
Once again, the research is mostly impeccable and must have been very extensive. I laud the author for that. But in this case I'd have wished for more work on the plot and the characters instead.
As a result this book was merely okay.
September 4, 2020
4 Stars! Loved this epic romance ❤️. Longer review at a later date.
August 30, 2015
BR with my best girl.
Very good Regency. I dinged it one star because it felt really long.
Very good Regency. I dinged it one star because it felt really long.
January 28, 2012
I just have to say it: This one shot its load a little too early and left me unfulfilled at the finish.
I know I know, that was terrible, but it was too good to pass up.
I don't really have the juice to write a full blown review right now. Full review (maybe) will follow.
For now, let me work on a stream of consciousness "review"ish thing...
1) It's a m/m historical set in the Regency. Ding ding ding! Sold!
2) There's lots of emo stuff from both Hs at different points in the story.
3) The relationship tension kind of disappeared by ~60% into the story, and the tension that did make an appearance later on seemed awfully contrived and a bit forced to me.
4) Really nice and vivid historical details of clothing, setting, and turns of phrases (including ).
5) I really liked the H's wife, who was NOT a raging scheming bitch. She made for a refreshing change from many of the female secondary characters in other m/m books.
6) There was lots of emo stuff, but it wasn't necessarily ANGSTY emo. I definitely expected more angst from the not-gay-until-now H.
7) Also was surprised by how many people seemed to know or suspect the nature of the relationship the two Hs had. Such knowledge and attendant reactions didn't seem historically "realistic." Then again, I haven't read any non-fiction on the subject, so maybe it is realistic. Dunno.
8) Very impressed with the editing for this smaller-press book. Only caught a couple of punctuation errors. Nothing super glaring or cringe-worthy.
That's about it. Pretty good overall, but didn't blow me away. ;)
We'll see if I feel like saying more when I recover from the shock that is Amazon's ridiculous "we're pulling all book data from your site, and you can't stop us! " Machiavellian maneuvering. *grumble grumble mutter sputter grumble*
I know I know, that was terrible, but it was too good to pass up.
I don't really have the juice to write a full blown review right now. Full review (maybe) will follow.
For now, let me work on a stream of consciousness "review"ish thing...
1) It's a m/m historical set in the Regency. Ding ding ding! Sold!
2) There's lots of emo stuff from both Hs at different points in the story.
3) The relationship tension kind of disappeared by ~60% into the story, and the tension that did make an appearance later on seemed awfully contrived and a bit forced to me.
4) Really nice and vivid historical details of clothing, setting, and turns of phrases (including ).
5) I really liked the H's wife, who was NOT a raging scheming bitch. She made for a refreshing change from many of the female secondary characters in other m/m books.
6) There was lots of emo stuff, but it wasn't necessarily ANGSTY emo. I definitely expected more angst from the not-gay-until-now H.
7) Also was surprised by how many people seemed to know or suspect the nature of the relationship the two Hs had. Such knowledge and attendant reactions didn't seem historically "realistic." Then again, I haven't read any non-fiction on the subject, so maybe it is realistic. Dunno.
8) Very impressed with the editing for this smaller-press book. Only caught a couple of punctuation errors. Nothing super glaring or cringe-worthy.
That's about it. Pretty good overall, but didn't blow me away. ;)
We'll see if I feel like saying more when I recover from the shock that is Amazon's ridiculous "we're pulling all book data from your site, and you can't stop us! " Machiavellian maneuvering. *grumble grumble mutter sputter grumble*
June 22, 2020
Now THAT was a thoroughly enjoyable historical romance! One man's journey from the edge of the cliff to acceptance of one's self and the other man's search for love finally being over. Rich on historical details the book tells a story of devotion, sacrifice, honor and personal growth. I adored Charlie and Lottie, the twins that frankly changed the course of Tristan's live even before he knew it himself. Tristan took a bit to warm up to because he was so conflicted and at time a total contradiction, but in the end he became a man he was always meant to be - steadfast, dependable and brave in the face of adversity.
The book sort of touches upon the most important moments of Tristan's life and the events that affected him and all the people that came and went with them as well as those that stayed. Although the book is told from dual POV that of Tristan and Charlie with short inclusions from secondary characters, Tristan is the cornerstone that the story revolves around. I enjoyed how much he had changed throughout the story. I liked Charlie's spirit and joie de vivre and Lottie's (Tristan's wife) pragmatism and understanding.
The intimate scenes were so passionate and so heartfelt. There was an overwhelming feeling of closeness between two men, the emotional connection that held through war, distance and pain. The dynamic between Charlie and Tristan was rather interesting while in the bedroom - there was a sort of power exchange at times but also giving in equal measure. So as to level of steam, I will say it was medium to high, beautifully and imaginatively written.
I highly recommend it. Steadily paced, authentic to time period, well researched and detailed, full of feelings both happy and sad, full of angst and passionate love between two honorable men who in the end find a quiet niche of happiness in the world that does not accept them as they are. Loved this book to bits!
The book sort of touches upon the most important moments of Tristan's life and the events that affected him and all the people that came and went with them as well as those that stayed. Although the book is told from dual POV that of Tristan and Charlie with short inclusions from secondary characters, Tristan is the cornerstone that the story revolves around. I enjoyed how much he had changed throughout the story. I liked Charlie's spirit and joie de vivre and Lottie's (Tristan's wife) pragmatism and understanding.
The intimate scenes were so passionate and so heartfelt. There was an overwhelming feeling of closeness between two men, the emotional connection that held through war, distance and pain. The dynamic between Charlie and Tristan was rather interesting while in the bedroom - there was a sort of power exchange at times but also giving in equal measure. So as to level of steam, I will say it was medium to high, beautifully and imaginatively written.
I highly recommend it. Steadily paced, authentic to time period, well researched and detailed, full of feelings both happy and sad, full of angst and passionate love between two honorable men who in the end find a quiet niche of happiness in the world that does not accept them as they are. Loved this book to bits!
January 8, 2015
A nice enough historical mm romance.
The beginning was promising but somewhere along the way I'd lost my focus. It could've been entirely my fault though. I wouldn't want to discourage other readers. And I did enjoy Paul Morey's narrating, as always.
***3.5 stars***
The beginning was promising but somewhere along the way I'd lost my focus. It could've been entirely my fault though. I wouldn't want to discourage other readers. And I did enjoy Paul Morey's narrating, as always.
***3.5 stars***
June 24, 2019
Overall book rating: 3.8
Audio Book: N/A
Book Cover: 4
I really enjoyed this one. It just came to a point where it felt a little “long-ish” somewhere? Not a bad thing, I could just see the drama-a-coming.
I did however feel fascinated by all the going on's of that era.
Not only the medical aspect. My word... those boys really had a fumble in the dark right? Really interesting as I’ve worked for an orthopedic surgeon in my day. I think it’s one of the things that kept me glued to the story.
I’m no buff when it comes to accuracy with all the social stuff going on but again, fascinating. I’m sure I don’t have to go into detail with that here if you read it you know.
I really liked Charlie. Loved him really. And Tris, at times. At times my heart broke for him and at times he really was like a spoiled child in a grown-up body. Not overly so thank heavens, so I still rooted for the poor man in the end.
I both liked and disliked Charlotte. Disliked because I she could see that Tris really just wanted love. He needed someone to love him, and she was just .... emotionless? For lack of better word?
She made up for it by other things she did though but I found her really a strange woman.
She had no qualms with the idea of the father of her children being in a relationship with her brother? Kinda weird. In my opinion. But it worked wonders for the boys, what better beard right?
All in all a good one. Really interesting, with the war and all as well.
Audio Book: N/A
Book Cover: 4
I really enjoyed this one. It just came to a point where it felt a little “long-ish” somewhere? Not a bad thing, I could just see the drama-a-coming.
I did however feel fascinated by all the going on's of that era.
Not only the medical aspect. My word... those boys really had a fumble in the dark right? Really interesting as I’ve worked for an orthopedic surgeon in my day. I think it’s one of the things that kept me glued to the story.
I’m no buff when it comes to accuracy with all the social stuff going on but again, fascinating. I’m sure I don’t have to go into detail with that here if you read it you know.
I really liked Charlie. Loved him really. And Tris, at times. At times my heart broke for him and at times he really was like a spoiled child in a grown-up body. Not overly so thank heavens, so I still rooted for the poor man in the end.
I both liked and disliked Charlotte. Disliked because I she could see that Tris really just wanted love. He needed someone to love him, and she was just .... emotionless? For lack of better word?
She made up for it by other things she did though but I found her really a strange woman.
She had no qualms with the idea of the father of her children being in a relationship with her brother? Kinda weird. In my opinion. But it worked wonders for the boys, what better beard right?
All in all a good one. Really interesting, with the war and all as well.
August 21, 2011
Why this book deserve 5 stars?
* The story is VERY good, and I never got bored or tired. It´s hard to write a historical romance, so thumbs up to the writer!
* The drama (even if I´ll talk more about it later) was perfect. I like the romance, with dramatic moments, and again more romance... it´s perfect, the balance between both.
* It´s a long book, but I dare you to read and search for useless parts. Every chapter is needed, to tell Tris and Charles love story.
Why I gave 3, not 5, stars?
For a personal reason... I was annoyed by all the crying
Again, it´s a personal motive, maybe you will not agree with me.
I think Tris and Charles should cry a little less! Both are such strong men, why all the crying? I have this problems, reading a strong and great male character crying like a baby... so well, that´s the only think that made me read it already thinking it could be, but it´s not a perfect love story.
So well, I know I should give 5 stars, saying just I´m for personal reasons didn't enjoy this story. But no, I think it´s the best way to say to this writer, and to all potential readers, one think:
AMAZING BOOK, perfect writing and VERY good historical romance but maybe Tristan and Charles should cry less, because some scenes ruined my mental image of the male men both should be.
* The story is VERY good, and I never got bored or tired. It´s hard to write a historical romance, so thumbs up to the writer!
* The drama (even if I´ll talk more about it later) was perfect. I like the romance, with dramatic moments, and again more romance... it´s perfect, the balance between both.
* It´s a long book, but I dare you to read and search for useless parts. Every chapter is needed, to tell Tris and Charles love story.
Why I gave 3, not 5, stars?
For a personal reason... I was annoyed by all the crying
Again, it´s a personal motive, maybe you will not agree with me.
I think Tris and Charles should cry a little less! Both are such strong men, why all the crying? I have this problems, reading a strong and great male character crying like a baby... so well, that´s the only think that made me read it already thinking it could be, but it´s not a perfect love story.
So well, I know I should give 5 stars, saying just I´m for personal reasons didn't enjoy this story. But no, I think it´s the best way to say to this writer, and to all potential readers, one think:
AMAZING BOOK, perfect writing and VERY good historical romance but maybe Tristan and Charles should cry less, because some scenes ruined my mental image of the male men both should be.
June 18, 2016
I read this first in 2012 when I had just started reading m/m and I gave it three stars. I think that mainly happened because back then I was embarrassed about reading any kind of romance at all. Yes, go on, judge me, I'm okay with that. BK (before kindle) I hardly read any romance at all, and I have to admit that I was being kind of an arrogant bitch about the genre as a whole (again, you may feel free to judge me) (okay, done yet?).
Anyhow, I had no solid data, no real comparison so in hindsight it seems that I may have judged some books unfairly, and this is one of them.
So, this is a very, very solid historical written with a lot of love for details (and to my untrained mind) a more than decent amount of research to back up the historical facts. I like the characters, the story is good and it was very entertaining.
There are minor niggles but they don't take anything away from my enjoyment of the book. Still, for a five star read I need more in the sense of emotional attachement on my part. Five stars means most of the times I want to read the book all over again immediately. And no, I don't feel that kind of love but it is still a very highly recommended book.
Anyhow, I had no solid data, no real comparison so in hindsight it seems that I may have judged some books unfairly, and this is one of them.
So, this is a very, very solid historical written with a lot of love for details (and to my untrained mind) a more than decent amount of research to back up the historical facts. I like the characters, the story is good and it was very entertaining.
There are minor niggles but they don't take anything away from my enjoyment of the book. Still, for a five star read I need more in the sense of emotional attachement on my part. Five stars means most of the times I want to read the book all over again immediately. And no, I don't feel that kind of love but it is still a very highly recommended book.
November 23, 2012
Beautiful. So wonderfully beautiful.
While I'm not a huge fan of historical romance, I do appreciate one that touches my heart. And this one was just perfect!! A little heartbreaking at times but ends with a wonderful HEA. Plus, I adored all the characters...especially the wife.
Definitely one of the best m/m historical romances that I've ever read.
While I'm not a huge fan of historical romance, I do appreciate one that touches my heart. And this one was just perfect!! A little heartbreaking at times but ends with a wonderful HEA. Plus, I adored all the characters...especially the wife.
Definitely one of the best m/m historical romances that I've ever read.
September 20, 2011
Started out really good. I like Regency and its rules and this was one of the better ones. Tristan was very likable and his desperation well done. And then, about 40% percent in, the MCs get together and turn into the worst kind of sniveling women. You could fill a swimming pool with the manly tears spilled in this book! Of course, we're spending about half the book nursing one or the other back to health, too. And yes, that includes the Grand Declarations of Love for Convalescing Characters. Sigh.
April 7, 2018
If you love M/M historical romances, you should enjoy this novel. The author did a good historical and medical research. The story includes all elements of the genre.
Personally, I liked it, although I found it on the whole a little bit lukewarm. That's why I give it 3½ stars.
Personally, I liked it, although I found it on the whole a little bit lukewarm. That's why I give it 3½ stars.
September 7, 2011
This has the feeling of a "proper" Regency, and as a comparison, if you liked the Regency work of Lee Rowan, G.S Wiley, or Bonnie Dee and Summer Devon you'll definitely like this. It has all the elements in place for a "nice" traditional Regency - an arranged marriage, a brooding rake, clubs and ballrooms etc etc--but it doesn't stick to the rules for too long thank goodness!
That's not to say it isn't flawed, but in this case the good definitely outweighs any faults--I can't go so far to say "the bad"--because the flaws are like little touches of inconsistency, like the faint taste of cabbage in your burgundy or something like that. It's not bad--at all--it's very enjoyable, but time and again I was jolted when the writer was doing something nice which many readers would really enjoy.
So, we have Tristan Northwood, a deeply unhappy man who drinks and tries to earn himself the reputation of a Rake. He has Father Issues which is very sad, because they are not really merited. His father--as many fathers would have done at the time, being left with a small boy he probably had very little to do with--had to concentrate on running a huge estate and didn't have time to spend time with his son. However Tristan, an only son and the heir to the Baronetcy, takes this hard and feels himself badly done by.
He's not a very good rake either. He doens't seduce and violate the innocent, he doesn't leave behind a string of broken hearts and hymens and desperate ex-virgins who then are left in a delicate position. He always sleeps with either the willing experienced lady or willing and bored married women and--thanks to very good advice given by his father, always uses protection and always makes sure his bed partners are satisfied first before allowing himself to climax. So, for a Rake, he's a Thoroughly Nice Chap.
The arranged marriage is a success, in as much as Charlotte (or Lottie) doesn't like all that marriage act stuff and the couple are as fond of each other as any couple who only met once before the wedding have a right to be.
This part of the book was a little bit too long for my liking, the gay love interest was mentioned a couple of times (Lottie's brother) and it was obvious that he was going to be The One to finally make Tristan realise he was looking for love in all the wrong places but the pre-marriage discussion and post marriage stuff took up about 20% of the book and I found I was a little restless, because I don't read a gay romance to read about hetero marriage and babies. However I should grow up, because this section was good, necessary for character development (in particular Lottie's) and the author was skilled enough to keep to her guns, and spend the time to start with book in the way she wanted to do.
I liked all the characters a lot, particularly Lottie who is absolutely deadly sensible--in a Charlotte Lucas kind of way. She knows what she wants and she doesn't want the moon, and in the long run it's probably better the way her marriage goes than marrying for love. I also liked that Tristan was such an arse at times, and wouldn't listen to reason, rather than just being changed in his character by lurve.
The research is well done and applied with a light touch, enough to ground us to the era without plastering on thick descriptions of carpets, carriages and chairs. There are touches such a Belcher handkerchief and references to Darby and Joan which are perfectly in tone, and some Heyer style slang, but not enough to make me want to punch anyone.
Some of the vernacular was a tad too modern for my taste, but it's very sporadic and it was probably Just Me Being Picky--things like "he washed up" which to an Englishman means something different from an American and "I wrote you" rather than "I wrote to you." Small things, picky things yes, but the quality of most of the book made them stand out like blemishes on a catwalk model. I wasn't absolutely sure about the medical details--it was clear the author had done her research on many things, her treatment of Waterloo seemed to be very solid--but considering that Waterloo is forty years or so before the revolution of medical care, with Nightingale's and Mary Seacole's reforms--the scenes of rather clean injured bodies and the careful use of lint etc seemed a little too advanced for this time and place.
The use of food, though. A recurring problem with historicals...Ham and Eggs and Toast and Tea for breakfast...Today, yes. 1815. No. Far too much tea all round, in a time when it was so prohibitively expensive it was locked away to keep the servants from touching it, one wouldn't have tea willy nilly as here.
I particularly liked the relationship between Tristan and his father, it wasn't an easy fix--and I particularly liked the way that Tristan remained quite staunchly anti his father for quite a long time, even though the rest of his family was aware that the old man actually adored his son, but had no idea how to show it.
I'm sorry to say though, there was far too much weeping for my taste. Even though Tristan keeps asserting that he "was never a watering pot before he met Charles" he tends to burst into tears a great deal, even after he got over his overwrought state. Charles, too becomes uber weepy at times, and I really can't manage two men in bed, weeping all over each other.
The other issue I had was the OK Homo. Everyone is OK about the Homo. Tristan's wife (understandable, perhaps as she already knew her brother was homosexual) the companion, all the servants. Even when they are discovered with their hands in each other's breeches by a fellow officer who is disgusted, angry and horrified--he is converted to their love by the realisation that they are devoted to each other. Too many people know, that would--in real life--have really led to problems.
The best parts of the book for me--and it's all pretty good, despite my tiny gripey gripes (they seem like bigger gripes than they are)--were actually the conversations that Charles had with his fellow soldiers and officers. They were solid, and utterly believable, peppered with news of the war and the machinations of Wellington and others. I think that if Ms Speedwell was to write a pure historical at any time, she'd do very well.
If you like this era, you'll certainly like this one a lot. Highly Recommended, despite my small niggles.
October 9, 2019
An overall interesting read.
I especially liked the characterisation of Tristan Northwood and his troubled personality. I wasn't entirely convinced, however, by the other MC, Charles Mountjoy who seemed to me too brave, too noble, too sensible.
Lottie Mountjoy was also rather puzzling, a strange mixture of detachment, modernity and something quite intangible and abstract - a certain meanness, I'd be tempted to call it - that didn't endear her character to me.
The historical research appears solid and generally nicely weaved into the plotline. I prefered the first part set in London and found the Belgian section at times overlong and at other times rushed.
The writing is consistently accurate.
I especially liked the characterisation of Tristan Northwood and his troubled personality. I wasn't entirely convinced, however, by the other MC, Charles Mountjoy who seemed to me too brave, too noble, too sensible.
Lottie Mountjoy was also rather puzzling, a strange mixture of detachment, modernity and something quite intangible and abstract - a certain meanness, I'd be tempted to call it - that didn't endear her character to me.
The historical research appears solid and generally nicely weaved into the plotline. I prefered the first part set in London and found the Belgian section at times overlong and at other times rushed.
The writing is consistently accurate.
dnf
April 29, 2022DNF at 43%. There was a lot of potentially interesting stuff in this book: Tristan's serious depression and his fear that he's a disappointment to everyone in his life, his turmoil over his awakening sexuality, Charles trying to find a new direction for his life after leaving the military.... Unfortunately, the author devoted about 10% of the pages I read to exploring those issues, and the remaining 90% to details and conversations that are interesting for their commitment to historical accuracy but do nothing to advance the core themes or the romantic tension that's purportedly the reason for this book.
Why use two separate scenes from the POV of Tristan's wife to inform the reader that she's uninterested in romantic love, when we could just as easily have learned the same thing from Tristan's POV and experienced the surprise and disappointment along with him? Why include five pages of dialogue with a character we've never met before and don't see again detailing all the options for Charles to become a doctor when we could have been shown his thoughts and feelings about what those options meant for his life instead? Why tell us that Tristan is so in love with Charles that he can't bear it, but not actually show those feelings developing on the page beyond cursory descriptions of physical attraction?
There's just too much dead weight in this book, and not nearly enough for the reader to connect with.
Why use two separate scenes from the POV of Tristan's wife to inform the reader that she's uninterested in romantic love, when we could just as easily have learned the same thing from Tristan's POV and experienced the surprise and disappointment along with him? Why include five pages of dialogue with a character we've never met before and don't see again detailing all the options for Charles to become a doctor when we could have been shown his thoughts and feelings about what those options meant for his life instead? Why tell us that Tristan is so in love with Charles that he can't bear it, but not actually show those feelings developing on the page beyond cursory descriptions of physical attraction?
There's just too much dead weight in this book, and not nearly enough for the reader to connect with.
March 11, 2017
Чтобы объективно воспринимать этот роман, пришлось старательно абстрагироваться от только что прочитанной Love, Like Water этого же автора. Похожи герои, динамика между ними, схема развития отношений.
Книга хороша сама по себе, но я получила бы больше удовольствия от прочтения, если бы не читала их подряд. Так что рекомендую этого автора читать дозированно.
Книга хороша сама по себе, но я получила бы больше удовольствия от прочтения, если бы не читала их подряд. Так что рекомендую этого автора читать дозированно.
September 20, 2011
I was in the mood for a good historical, and this one really delivered. In some ways, it's a traditional Regency, with a rakish hero and the associated angst involving fancy parties and rich peerage problems. There's even a clever woman. Our hero Tristan has pissed off his father one time too many and the consequence is that his father forces him to marry a spinster named Charlotte, who turns out to be quite delightful. Tristan isn't actually a particularly good rake; he never deflowers the innocent, most of his paramours are bored married ladies, he's responsible about birth control, and he always sees to the woman's pleasure first. He seems to have sex out of some kind of social obligation and not because of any especially strong desire. (Or, he's garnered a reputation for himself mostly to piss off his stern, disapproving father.) He makes it clear to his new wife that he doesn't intend to change his ways. His wife is cool with that, because she doesn't especially enjoy sex.
I'd feel bad with her if she weren't such a saint. She gives a speech to her brother Charlie later on in the novel in which she suggests that her husband might be into "your kind of love," because Tristan is clearly someone who needs to love and be loved. Charlotte is not especially interested in love and is perfectly happy staying home with her needlepoint while her husband boinks her brother. See? Saint. (Although, it's kind of refreshing for there to be a woman who is genuinely likable, as well as wise-cracking and funny, rather than a harpy, in an m/m novel. Still, she's perfectly okay with everything that happens between her husband and her brother and never bats an eyelash, which I found... unlikely?)
Because the novel's twist, of course, is that Charlie comes back from fighting against Napoleon in France, and he's a dashing war hero. His twin sister Charlotte knows perfectly well that he prefers the company of men in that way, and she doesn't have a problem with it. The first moment Charlie and Tristan set eyes on each other, it's over for both of them.
That's about when the book stops being a traditional Regency, and not just because there are two heroes. Charlie intends to remain a bachelor and go to medical school. And Tristan, by the time he meets Charlie, is despondent and suicidal, mostly because he feels useless and like he has no appreciable skills; he relies on alcohol to sleep every night. Charlie essentially rescues him and encourages Tristan to study medicine as well, which is how Tristan finds his calling as a surgeon. But not all is well, as Charlie gets called back to the front, and a good deal of the second half of the book deals with our heroes mired in the Battle of Waterloo. (The attention to historical detail—which I'm assuming is accurate, because my knowledge of the era is lacking—is wonderful here, with a lot of gruesome battlefield moments that, to me, elevate the book above being a mere polite comedy of errors, as most Regencies are, and turn it into a nice, angsty drama, which worked really well for me.
The foreshadowing before the second half of the book is a little heavy handed. That and Charlotte's saintliness prevent it from being a perfect novel. It's also long, and therefore was impossible to read in one sitting (which did not stop me from trying; I basically lost a whole day to this book). Still, it was a really fantastic read. Recommended to Regency fans.
I'd feel bad with her if she weren't such a saint. She gives a speech to her brother Charlie later on in the novel in which she suggests that her husband might be into "your kind of love," because Tristan is clearly someone who needs to love and be loved. Charlotte is not especially interested in love and is perfectly happy staying home with her needlepoint while her husband boinks her brother. See? Saint. (Although, it's kind of refreshing for there to be a woman who is genuinely likable, as well as wise-cracking and funny, rather than a harpy, in an m/m novel. Still, she's perfectly okay with everything that happens between her husband and her brother and never bats an eyelash, which I found... unlikely?)
Because the novel's twist, of course, is that Charlie comes back from fighting against Napoleon in France, and he's a dashing war hero. His twin sister Charlotte knows perfectly well that he prefers the company of men in that way, and she doesn't have a problem with it. The first moment Charlie and Tristan set eyes on each other, it's over for both of them.
That's about when the book stops being a traditional Regency, and not just because there are two heroes. Charlie intends to remain a bachelor and go to medical school. And Tristan, by the time he meets Charlie, is despondent and suicidal, mostly because he feels useless and like he has no appreciable skills; he relies on alcohol to sleep every night. Charlie essentially rescues him and encourages Tristan to study medicine as well, which is how Tristan finds his calling as a surgeon. But not all is well, as Charlie gets called back to the front, and a good deal of the second half of the book deals with our heroes mired in the Battle of Waterloo. (The attention to historical detail—which I'm assuming is accurate, because my knowledge of the era is lacking—is wonderful here, with a lot of gruesome battlefield moments that, to me, elevate the book above being a mere polite comedy of errors, as most Regencies are, and turn it into a nice, angsty drama, which worked really well for me.
The foreshadowing before the second half of the book is a little heavy handed. That and Charlotte's saintliness prevent it from being a perfect novel. It's also long, and therefore was impossible to read in one sitting (which did not stop me from trying; I basically lost a whole day to this book). Still, it was a really fantastic read. Recommended to Regency fans.
May 23, 2011
Such a gorgeous book! The writing is outstanding, and the characterizations are rich and three-dimensional. Set at the time of the Napoleonic Wars, the historical details are vivid and well-researched. I've added this to my "to re-read" shelf, knowing that I will come back to it again and again. Just a stunning story, and so well-executed.
MILD SPOILERS FOLLOW:
All of this happens before the book is 1/2 over! And that, in my opinion, is the beauty of this lovely novel. We learn about Tristan, feel his pain, understand where he's coming from, long before we ever meet Charles or even Lottie. The last half of the book focuses on the relationship between Tristan and Charles and their journey towards happiness as they recreate themselves. A nice added touch was the time Ms. Speedwell spent writing about the relationship between Tristan and his father, a man who genuinely loved his dead wife, and still mourns her loss, years later.
I cannot recommend this book too highly! A must for any lover of M/M historical romance. Definitely a gem.
MILD SPOILERS FOLLOW:
All of this happens before the book is 1/2 over! And that, in my opinion, is the beauty of this lovely novel. We learn about Tristan, feel his pain, understand where he's coming from, long before we ever meet Charles or even Lottie. The last half of the book focuses on the relationship between Tristan and Charles and their journey towards happiness as they recreate themselves. A nice added touch was the time Ms. Speedwell spent writing about the relationship between Tristan and his father, a man who genuinely loved his dead wife, and still mourns her loss, years later.
I cannot recommend this book too highly! A must for any lover of M/M historical romance. Definitely a gem.
August 16, 2024
This is one of my favorite ebooks. I love the different fases in Tristan's life and his development from bored lord to respected professional. And I love the life he managed to arrange with his paramour. And I love the balance, how they save and support each other by turn.
October 27, 2013
Fan-Freakin-Tastic!!! Wow, oh wow! This is by far the best historical M/M romance I’ve read. I absolutely adored everything about this book and just plain devoured it. I’m a history buff first and foremost and loved the addition of Napoleon’s nasty little second campaign. I completely adored Charlie, Trist, and Lottie as well. If I’m going to have some female parts in my M/M well I guess Lottie is the best option out there. ☺
Tristan Northwood lost his mother when he was young when they all came down with scarlet fever. Afterwards his demanding distant father raised him. Tristan has spent his adult life doing everything to piss his father off. If he can’t have his father’s respect well then he’ll at least have his hatred. He’s developed quite the name for himself as a rakehell and drunkard. Still he’s harming no one but himself. He won’t corrupt the innocent only choosing to sleep with married woman and doesn’t gamble. Then his father gives him an ultimatum; get married and produce an heir (and preferably a spare) or be cut off entirely.
Charlotte “Lottie” Mountjoy is Tristan’s father’s chosen bride. She’s agreeable. In fact she has little interest in interrupting Tristan’s lifestyle. She’ll do her duty and she hopes to enjoy a comfortable relationship with her husband, but she’s not looking nor dreaming of some romantic love affair. She’s quite content with her life in the country and her correspondences, especially those with her twin brother Major Charles Mountjoy.
Charles is a decorated war hero and on the Duke of Wellington’s personal staff. After the defeat of Napoleon he has finally returned home to London. He’s excited to renew his relationship with his sister and meet her husband of four years and their young son. Charlie is ready to sell his commission and settle into his life studying to become a doctor. He’s tired of the killing and ready to help people. Of course he’s developed a liking for his brother-in-law despite never having met him. The frequent letters from his sister have him convinced they’ll get on well together. Still he didn’t expect to be smacked in the fast with want the moment he laid eyes on Tris.
When this book started out it had all the feelings of a M/F romance, the arranged marriage and controlling parents. If I didn’t know what way it was supposed to go I would have been totally convinced I’d picked up the wrong book. Then I met Lottie. Ok, she’s awesome. She’s so blasé, so blunt and innocent in the most worldly way possible. Detached from her emotions in a strangely charming way. I loved the friendship that developed between Tristan and Lottie. They were never destined to fall in love, but they do love each other and the children they made together. She’s so eminently practical and non-judgmental. I think my only disappointment here is not getting to see the results of her matchmaking with her dear friend Ellen.
As for Tris and Charlie, other than the slightly over done insta-love…I just fell in love with these two. I was so torn apart for Tristan and the internal strife he was dealing with. Ms. Speedwell has such a beautiful handle on how lonely and unhappy someone can be when outwardly they may seem to have everything. Tristan’s life with the ton was so outwardly perfect but he had no one he felt loved him for who he was. I really believed his decline and his internal despair. Charlie is so perfectly the man he needs to understand what is going on with is internal strife.
It would have been so easy to make Charlie perfect. He’s a cavalry officer and so confident in his life and plans. I found the training he was doing as a doctor fascinating. But by the end of the story Ms. Speedwell spun things around so prettily revealing Charlie’s insecurities as well while at the same time bringing Tristan around to the man he should always be.
The way that Ms. Speedwell intricately wove the historical time frame in here and fit Charlie’s military career in so beautifully was fabulous! I was enchanted with the way things developed with the return of Napoleon and Charlie being called back into service. With Tristan determined to follow after I wondered how he was going to be woven into the story line as well. Of course I needn’t worry. Finally Tristan is forced to use the skills as a surgeon he’s been so enchanted with and really gives him the confidence to be the man he can be. I like that he’s not perfect, that while he has so much potential and brains to bring to bear as a surgeon not ever little thing is going to be exactly what he would dream. Those little imperfections somehow make this story even more incredible.
I wholeheartedly recommend this book to any one out there. I know some people don’t enjoy the historicals as much but for me this book transcends that. While it is clearly a historical romance (hello I’ve been raving about it’s place within the Napoleonic Wars) this is really just a human story of a bored and disconnected socialite finding himself through his relationship with the one man he never thought he could have. It’s just so bloody beautiful!!!
Tristan Northwood lost his mother when he was young when they all came down with scarlet fever. Afterwards his demanding distant father raised him. Tristan has spent his adult life doing everything to piss his father off. If he can’t have his father’s respect well then he’ll at least have his hatred. He’s developed quite the name for himself as a rakehell and drunkard. Still he’s harming no one but himself. He won’t corrupt the innocent only choosing to sleep with married woman and doesn’t gamble. Then his father gives him an ultimatum; get married and produce an heir (and preferably a spare) or be cut off entirely.
Charlotte “Lottie” Mountjoy is Tristan’s father’s chosen bride. She’s agreeable. In fact she has little interest in interrupting Tristan’s lifestyle. She’ll do her duty and she hopes to enjoy a comfortable relationship with her husband, but she’s not looking nor dreaming of some romantic love affair. She’s quite content with her life in the country and her correspondences, especially those with her twin brother Major Charles Mountjoy.
Charles is a decorated war hero and on the Duke of Wellington’s personal staff. After the defeat of Napoleon he has finally returned home to London. He’s excited to renew his relationship with his sister and meet her husband of four years and their young son. Charlie is ready to sell his commission and settle into his life studying to become a doctor. He’s tired of the killing and ready to help people. Of course he’s developed a liking for his brother-in-law despite never having met him. The frequent letters from his sister have him convinced they’ll get on well together. Still he didn’t expect to be smacked in the fast with want the moment he laid eyes on Tris.
When this book started out it had all the feelings of a M/F romance, the arranged marriage and controlling parents. If I didn’t know what way it was supposed to go I would have been totally convinced I’d picked up the wrong book. Then I met Lottie. Ok, she’s awesome. She’s so blasé, so blunt and innocent in the most worldly way possible. Detached from her emotions in a strangely charming way. I loved the friendship that developed between Tristan and Lottie. They were never destined to fall in love, but they do love each other and the children they made together. She’s so eminently practical and non-judgmental. I think my only disappointment here is not getting to see the results of her matchmaking with her dear friend Ellen.
As for Tris and Charlie, other than the slightly over done insta-love…I just fell in love with these two. I was so torn apart for Tristan and the internal strife he was dealing with. Ms. Speedwell has such a beautiful handle on how lonely and unhappy someone can be when outwardly they may seem to have everything. Tristan’s life with the ton was so outwardly perfect but he had no one he felt loved him for who he was. I really believed his decline and his internal despair. Charlie is so perfectly the man he needs to understand what is going on with is internal strife.
It would have been so easy to make Charlie perfect. He’s a cavalry officer and so confident in his life and plans. I found the training he was doing as a doctor fascinating. But by the end of the story Ms. Speedwell spun things around so prettily revealing Charlie’s insecurities as well while at the same time bringing Tristan around to the man he should always be.
The way that Ms. Speedwell intricately wove the historical time frame in here and fit Charlie’s military career in so beautifully was fabulous! I was enchanted with the way things developed with the return of Napoleon and Charlie being called back into service. With Tristan determined to follow after I wondered how he was going to be woven into the story line as well. Of course I needn’t worry. Finally Tristan is forced to use the skills as a surgeon he’s been so enchanted with and really gives him the confidence to be the man he can be. I like that he’s not perfect, that while he has so much potential and brains to bring to bear as a surgeon not ever little thing is going to be exactly what he would dream. Those little imperfections somehow make this story even more incredible.
I wholeheartedly recommend this book to any one out there. I know some people don’t enjoy the historicals as much but for me this book transcends that. While it is clearly a historical romance (hello I’ve been raving about it’s place within the Napoleonic Wars) this is really just a human story of a bored and disconnected socialite finding himself through his relationship with the one man he never thought he could have. It’s just so bloody beautiful!!!
September 2, 2018
It's always weird when I read a book, rate it, and forget to write the review because then I will sometimes come back to it soon enough that I remember the book well enough to review it but with enough time having elapsed that my rating view has changed. Take this book, for example. I clearly rated it 4 stars right after I read it, but now that I'm looking back on it, it seems like a 3 star book. I'm not going to change the rating, though, as I feel like it wouldn't be fair given that the overwhelming majority of my books are rated right after I read them and I don't go back and check to see if I changed my mind.
I don't know that the relationship between Tristan and Charles really did it for me. For a chunk of the book Tristan had severe mental health problems that he was leaning too heavily on Charles as a coping mechanism to deal with them, and I wasn't a fan of that. Romantic partners aren't a solution to mental health issues. They can't be, and they shouldn't be expected to be.
I did like how Tristan and his father's relationship developed over the book. I liked how their perceptions differed and how intentions differed from impact. I think that's something we really need to keep in mind for real life.
I was also interested in Charlotte in general. Was she asexual? Aromantic? Neurodivergent? But Charlotte was very much a side character and existed as a way to further Tristan and Charles's relationship. Her being never felt like her own, but rather a way to make it acceptable for married Tristan to be going off and having an affair with Charles.
But looking back on this review, it's pretty negative, and I didn't dislike it that much. I even rated it 4 stars right after I read it! It just had a bunch of issues.
I don't know that the relationship between Tristan and Charles really did it for me. For a chunk of the book Tristan had severe mental health problems that he was leaning too heavily on Charles as a coping mechanism to deal with them, and I wasn't a fan of that. Romantic partners aren't a solution to mental health issues. They can't be, and they shouldn't be expected to be.
I did like how Tristan and his father's relationship developed over the book. I liked how their perceptions differed and how intentions differed from impact. I think that's something we really need to keep in mind for real life.
I was also interested in Charlotte in general. Was she asexual? Aromantic? Neurodivergent? But Charlotte was very much a side character and existed as a way to further Tristan and Charles's relationship. Her being never felt like her own, but rather a way to make it acceptable for married Tristan to be going off and having an affair with Charles.
But looking back on this review, it's pretty negative, and I didn't dislike it that much. I even rated it 4 stars right after I read it! It just had a bunch of issues.
July 12, 2011
I originally bought this book b/c I loved Finding Zach so much, even though I don't read a lot of m/m historicals. But I am happy to say I loved Kindred Hearts and would definitely recommend it.
As much as it is a love story, this book is also really a story of Tristan and personal growth towards happiness throughout the book. When we first meet Tristan he is deeply unhappy, acting out and misbehaving but feeling miserable about himself all the while. Tristan lost his mother as a child and he and his father have struggled in their relationship. His father doesn't know how to relate to Tristan and show his love, and Tristan acts out to anger his father b/c he feels like he is always a disappointment. Finally fed up with Tristan's drinking, affairs, and wild antics, his father forces Tristan to marry or lose his allowance.
Tristan's wife Charlotte (Lottie) views her marriage with the same sense of practicality as she does everything else. She has no interest in a romantic relationship with Tristan, nor a physical one. They become very fond of one another and quite close, but it is friendship and not love. Lottie is quite content with this, but Tristan longs for love and begins to fall deeper and deeper into despair as his life continues to spiral downward.
Tristan and Charles don't meet until about 1/4 of the way through the book when Charles returns from his military duties to stay with the couple. He is attracted to Tristan but has no idea if Tristan shares his interest in men. Lottie knows Charles is gay and encourages his affections toward Tristan, even as Tristan spirals more out of control. It is only when the two finally get together that Tristan is able to turn himself around and begin to grow into a better person (I skipped a lot there about how they get together to avoid the spoilers).
I really liked how finally finding love really changes Tristan. He still struggles with confidence and feelings of low self-worth, but Charles really helps him find himself and figure out what kind of person he wants to be. The two men are very committed to one another and both help the other find happiness.
The one niggle I had with the story is the adultery. Charlotte is very supportive of the relationship and is very accepting of the men. She feels no jealousy and doesn't want Tristan for herself. However, I wish her explicit approval/acceptance of them had come before their first sexual encounter rather then after. I mean Charles is lusting after his twin sister's husband and never seems to even think about it as wrong. Again, Lottie is an interesting character and really is so completely content with the situation it is hard to feel wrong about it, but it still bugged me a bit.
In the end however, I thought this was a wonderful story that has really stayed with me. I loved Tristan and Charles and was so happy to see how their relationship helped Tristan to really find himself. Lottie was a riot and a very unusual character and the glimpses into the war and battle of Waterloo were really interesting. Overall I would definitely recommend.
For more reviews, see my blog Joyfully Jay.
As much as it is a love story, this book is also really a story of Tristan and personal growth towards happiness throughout the book. When we first meet Tristan he is deeply unhappy, acting out and misbehaving but feeling miserable about himself all the while. Tristan lost his mother as a child and he and his father have struggled in their relationship. His father doesn't know how to relate to Tristan and show his love, and Tristan acts out to anger his father b/c he feels like he is always a disappointment. Finally fed up with Tristan's drinking, affairs, and wild antics, his father forces Tristan to marry or lose his allowance.
Tristan's wife Charlotte (Lottie) views her marriage with the same sense of practicality as she does everything else. She has no interest in a romantic relationship with Tristan, nor a physical one. They become very fond of one another and quite close, but it is friendship and not love. Lottie is quite content with this, but Tristan longs for love and begins to fall deeper and deeper into despair as his life continues to spiral downward.
Tristan and Charles don't meet until about 1/4 of the way through the book when Charles returns from his military duties to stay with the couple. He is attracted to Tristan but has no idea if Tristan shares his interest in men. Lottie knows Charles is gay and encourages his affections toward Tristan, even as Tristan spirals more out of control. It is only when the two finally get together that Tristan is able to turn himself around and begin to grow into a better person (I skipped a lot there about how they get together to avoid the spoilers).
I really liked how finally finding love really changes Tristan. He still struggles with confidence and feelings of low self-worth, but Charles really helps him find himself and figure out what kind of person he wants to be. The two men are very committed to one another and both help the other find happiness.
The one niggle I had with the story is the adultery. Charlotte is very supportive of the relationship and is very accepting of the men. She feels no jealousy and doesn't want Tristan for herself. However, I wish her explicit approval/acceptance of them had come before their first sexual encounter rather then after. I mean Charles is lusting after his twin sister's husband and never seems to even think about it as wrong. Again, Lottie is an interesting character and really is so completely content with the situation it is hard to feel wrong about it, but it still bugged me a bit.
In the end however, I thought this was a wonderful story that has really stayed with me. I loved Tristan and Charles and was so happy to see how their relationship helped Tristan to really find himself. Lottie was a riot and a very unusual character and the glimpses into the war and battle of Waterloo were really interesting. Overall I would definitely recommend.
For more reviews, see my blog Joyfully Jay.
October 28, 2016
Romance-nya indah. Dan angsty sekali karena ini ada masalah psikologi juga, sampai habis berapa tissue buat buku ini. T____T
Dan salut buat riset author soal medisnya yg mendalam, karena hisrom lain atau novel genre lain yg kubaca biasanya rada malas buat riset soal bidang-bidang tertentu.
Kurasa ini historical romance m/m yg paling berkesan buatku, walaupun sebetulnya jumlah hisrom yg kubaca terbilang sedikit sekali (untuk m/f ga lewat dari 5 buku kayanya, untuk m/m kayanya juga belum sampai 5 buku), karena salah satu alasannya adalah aku bosan dengan trope bangsawan playboy tampan berduit bergelar x wallflower. Aku praktis hilang selera sama Harlequin setelah baca 5 bukunya yg isinya itu-itu saja topiknya, menarik sih memang pada waktu pertama kali mengenal Harlequin, tapi mungkin karena bukan fans fanatik Harlequin jadinya biarpun bagus eksekusinya, aku tak begitu selera sama hisrom m/f. Nah, kalo hisrom m/m menurutku jauh lebih menantang isinya karena gay itu tabu banget pada masa itu. Tapi bukan berarti aku jadi menggarap tiap hisrom m/m yg kutemukan tanpa menghiraukan premis. Variety bagiku itu penting sekali. Di situlah salah satu alasan kenapa aku sekarang fokus di m/m ketimbang m/f, karena begitu banyak genre dalam m/m ini, ga sekedar fantasi dan kontemporer saja, dari supernatural, paranormal, sci-fi, steampunk, historical, psychology, dystopia, dan genre-genre yg ada di m/f semuanya ada di m/m dan itu lahan subur buat digarap, apalagi banyak plot berkualitas dari m/m yg jika kubandingkan dengan m/f yg kubaca, jauh lebih berbobot dan berkesan, tapi sayangnya tidak populer dan tidak dikenal banyak orang cuma karena itu m/m.
Anyway, aku geleng-geleng kepala waktu baca review naysayer yg bilang cowok itu POKOKNYA tidak boleh nangis, APAPUN ALASANNYA. Cuma cewek yg boleh nangis dan baper katanya. What the fuck banget. Kasihan banget ga sih cowok tidak diijinkan nangis jika ada keluarganya yg meninggal atau si cowok sedang menderita, cuma karena dia COWOK gitu loh. Entahlah, different upbringing different principle and point of view juga. Adikku yg cowok sangat mudah menitikkan air mata, tapi aku tidak lantas menilai dia itu kecewek-cewekan dan lemah, menurutku justru itu kelebihannya. Justru aku lebih suka sama orang yg sensitif, baper, dan honest with their feelings, mudah bersimpati dan berempati dan tidak malu untuk menunjukkannya, ketimbang orang yg tidak sensitif dan tidak bisa berempati.
Dan salut buat riset author soal medisnya yg mendalam, karena hisrom lain atau novel genre lain yg kubaca biasanya rada malas buat riset soal bidang-bidang tertentu.
Kurasa ini historical romance m/m yg paling berkesan buatku, walaupun sebetulnya jumlah hisrom yg kubaca terbilang sedikit sekali (untuk m/f ga lewat dari 5 buku kayanya, untuk m/m kayanya juga belum sampai 5 buku), karena salah satu alasannya adalah aku bosan dengan trope bangsawan playboy tampan berduit bergelar x wallflower. Aku praktis hilang selera sama Harlequin setelah baca 5 bukunya yg isinya itu-itu saja topiknya, menarik sih memang pada waktu pertama kali mengenal Harlequin, tapi mungkin karena bukan fans fanatik Harlequin jadinya biarpun bagus eksekusinya, aku tak begitu selera sama hisrom m/f. Nah, kalo hisrom m/m menurutku jauh lebih menantang isinya karena gay itu tabu banget pada masa itu. Tapi bukan berarti aku jadi menggarap tiap hisrom m/m yg kutemukan tanpa menghiraukan premis. Variety bagiku itu penting sekali. Di situlah salah satu alasan kenapa aku sekarang fokus di m/m ketimbang m/f, karena begitu banyak genre dalam m/m ini, ga sekedar fantasi dan kontemporer saja, dari supernatural, paranormal, sci-fi, steampunk, historical, psychology, dystopia, dan genre-genre yg ada di m/f semuanya ada di m/m dan itu lahan subur buat digarap, apalagi banyak plot berkualitas dari m/m yg jika kubandingkan dengan m/f yg kubaca, jauh lebih berbobot dan berkesan, tapi sayangnya tidak populer dan tidak dikenal banyak orang cuma karena itu m/m.
Anyway, aku geleng-geleng kepala waktu baca review naysayer yg bilang cowok itu POKOKNYA tidak boleh nangis, APAPUN ALASANNYA. Cuma cewek yg boleh nangis dan baper katanya. What the fuck banget. Kasihan banget ga sih cowok tidak diijinkan nangis jika ada keluarganya yg meninggal atau si cowok sedang menderita, cuma karena dia COWOK gitu loh. Entahlah, different upbringing different principle and point of view juga. Adikku yg cowok sangat mudah menitikkan air mata, tapi aku tidak lantas menilai dia itu kecewek-cewekan dan lemah, menurutku justru itu kelebihannya. Justru aku lebih suka sama orang yg sensitif, baper, dan honest with their feelings, mudah bersimpati dan berempati dan tidak malu untuk menunjukkannya, ketimbang orang yg tidak sensitif dan tidak bisa berempati.
Crying is not weak. It's expressing how you feel like how you laugh when you're happy, or shout when you're mad. There's nothing wrong with it. It's just an emotion. It's because you care. So, go ahead and cry. It's okay to cry. We all are a little broken, imperfect human beings. Pretending to be strong is exhausting. When you need to cry, cry. There's no reason to hold back. Crying isn't a sign of weakness. It's a sign of having tried too hard to be strong for too long."
September 26, 2018
It took me one month to get through this book and I've been able to clear Goethe before finishing this book. The plot sounded great but then the book started and that's when it went to pot.
1. The romance. So, there was none. At all. Literally, the characters meet and then all of a sudden we're supposed to buy that they're in love? I couldn't get into it. It was just Tristan going "I'm not gay" and then a chapter later going, "'Kay, guess I am." The characters finally meet after what seems like forever and honestly there's no chemistry, no sexual tension, nothing. Also, there was really no development of the romance throughout this slog of a book. It was just, "Tristian, I love you." "Gays are bad but I love you too." And then Tristian sobs. And that's another thing--
2. The characters. Holy. Fuck. Tristan Northwood was the most annoying character I've ever met. He's depressed, an alcoholic and let's face it bisexual but he angsts about it for most of the book and then finally comes to terms with it but by then I've lost any interest. Oh, and another thing, if you took a drink every time it says some variation of "Tristan sobbed" you'd have alcohol poisoning. For God's sake, it was every single time him and Charles talk and it got annoying. Literally, a scene would be like this:
"CHARLES: "Hm, chicken's a little dry, don't you think Tris?"
TRISTIAN: "Oh, yes."
CHARLES: "We should do something about it."
Tristian sobbed because Charles has said 'we'."
That's another thing, Charles was boring so was Lottie. Everyone was just boring.
3. The writing itself was just so dull. The reason it took so long to read this book was that there was nothing interesting happening, like at all. I feel like if this book had started right when Tristan and Charles meet, it would've saved A LOT of time. Another drinking game, take a shot whenever someone goes, "Tristan Northwood is a womanizer, drunk, rake, etc..." Again, alcohol poisoning. If this book cut out the first few chapters, including the unnecessary prologue it would've been more enjoyable.
I wish this book had been better, I really do.
1. The romance. So, there was none. At all. Literally, the characters meet and then all of a sudden we're supposed to buy that they're in love? I couldn't get into it. It was just Tristan going "I'm not gay" and then a chapter later going, "'Kay, guess I am." The characters finally meet after what seems like forever and honestly there's no chemistry, no sexual tension, nothing. Also, there was really no development of the romance throughout this slog of a book. It was just, "Tristian, I love you." "Gays are bad but I love you too." And then Tristian sobs. And that's another thing--
2. The characters. Holy. Fuck. Tristan Northwood was the most annoying character I've ever met. He's depressed, an alcoholic and let's face it bisexual but he angsts about it for most of the book and then finally comes to terms with it but by then I've lost any interest. Oh, and another thing, if you took a drink every time it says some variation of "Tristan sobbed" you'd have alcohol poisoning. For God's sake, it was every single time him and Charles talk and it got annoying. Literally, a scene would be like this:
"CHARLES: "Hm, chicken's a little dry, don't you think Tris?"
TRISTIAN: "Oh, yes."
CHARLES: "We should do something about it."
Tristian sobbed because Charles has said 'we'."
That's another thing, Charles was boring so was Lottie. Everyone was just boring.
3. The writing itself was just so dull. The reason it took so long to read this book was that there was nothing interesting happening, like at all. I feel like if this book had started right when Tristan and Charles meet, it would've saved A LOT of time. Another drinking game, take a shot whenever someone goes, "Tristan Northwood is a womanizer, drunk, rake, etc..." Again, alcohol poisoning. If this book cut out the first few chapters, including the unnecessary prologue it would've been more enjoyable.
I wish this book had been better, I really do.
October 6, 2011
I have now said this twice in as many days...I don't like many historical romances. I read earlier this week Bitterwood and really enjoyed it so I turned around and tackled Kindred Hearts.
I have to say that I would eagerly read any historical written by Rowan Speedwell.
The plot, the setting, the characters was written with such meticulous care giving the story depth and life. The knowledge and care for the period that this was written in is evident on every page. The story is touching, engaging, gripping, and emotional. The cast of characters are rich and colorful. Even Lottie, who I was prepared to despise charmed me.
The love story between Tristan and Charles was wonderful and beautiful. Tristan stole my heart from the very beginning. Whether he was a womanizing drunk or the respectable gentleman, I couldn't help but love him and cry for him. I am going to be talking about this for days.
I have to say that I would eagerly read any historical written by Rowan Speedwell.
The plot, the setting, the characters was written with such meticulous care giving the story depth and life. The knowledge and care for the period that this was written in is evident on every page. The story is touching, engaging, gripping, and emotional. The cast of characters are rich and colorful. Even Lottie, who I was prepared to despise charmed me.
The love story between Tristan and Charles was wonderful and beautiful. Tristan stole my heart from the very beginning. Whether he was a womanizing drunk or the respectable gentleman, I couldn't help but love him and cry for him. I am going to be talking about this for days.
May 22, 2011
This was a fabulous read and since I don't usually get so hooked on historicals, that's saying a lot. I love the author's writing style and her characters always just pop for me and stay with me for a long time. Tristan was no different, whether portrayed as a sexually-heartless rogue or the sweet, needy man he was on the inside, I absolutely fell for him right off the bat.
The story worked well, the descriptions taking me right into the characters' heads and scenes and the characters themselves truly memorable. I'm usually not a fan of women in my m/m but Tristan's wife was remarkable and I adored her thoughtfulness and attitude when it came to her husband and his well-being. I loved Charles too - all his strength and determination, on top of the softness and support he showed Tristan. Together, the couple are now a fave of mine and they truly deserve all the happiness they came to achieve.
The story worked well, the descriptions taking me right into the characters' heads and scenes and the characters themselves truly memorable. I'm usually not a fan of women in my m/m but Tristan's wife was remarkable and I adored her thoughtfulness and attitude when it came to her husband and his well-being. I loved Charles too - all his strength and determination, on top of the softness and support he showed Tristan. Together, the couple are now a fave of mine and they truly deserve all the happiness they came to achieve.
February 15, 2014
This started off pretty strongly. It could get a bit repetitious at times, but I was fully engaged and invested in the story. However, the moment the two protagonists began their love affair, it seemed to devolve into a soppy melodrama. A repetitive melodrama. Both men suddenly became criers with Tristan leading the waterworks race. There were several places in which both of them rhapsodize about their love for the other, to each other or to anyone else, it seemed. The story dragged out, as well, and in places became predictable. There didn't seem to be any real climax due to several mini climaxes and this made the ending sorta peter out.
I can't be sure what happened other than the author is an amazing historical writer but a not-so-great romance writer. Or it may all just be my distaste for fluff stories that makes me disappointed with where this book went. Too bad for me.
I can't be sure what happened other than the author is an amazing historical writer but a not-so-great romance writer. Or it may all just be my distaste for fluff stories that makes me disappointed with where this book went. Too bad for me.
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