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Laure
It was everything college graduate Joshua Huggins could have dreamed and more. A new job on a big Southern estate named
Laure, a generous salary, and the perfect boss, Adrien Brette, a scion of deep-rooted Mobile society, older, stunningly handsome, and just a little mysterious. But the mystery may be darker than Joshua imagined. Something ominous is stalking Laure. Adrien lives in seclusion, and his sister hides under the care of a strange nurse. Even Adrien’s aunt and her boyfriend are strangely protective.
Despite all the barriers Adrien puts up, he’s still the most compelling man Joshua has ever met, and the younger man can’t help following his heart. Even though Adrien can’t return his love. Even though the truth of Adrien’s wife’s death could destroy everyone at Laure.
Now, Joshua must choose between sacrificing the honor and naïveté Adrien so adores, or losing everything he’s come to love. Among the Spanish moss and azalea blossoms of Laure, the past is never dead...
Gay / Contemporary
240 pages, Kindle Edition
First published January 13, 2013
2 people are currently reading
72 people want to read
About the author
T.D. McKinney
18 books65 followersT. D. McKinney was born with eclectic tastes. Author, artist, web designer - those tastes show in the careers she's chosen.
Growing up on the American Gulf Coast, she gained a great appreciation for all things Southern and a fascination with what the community around her termed the War of Northern Aggression. Frequent trips to New Orleans to visit relatives instilled an early love for that city and for the Cajun culture. One of her earliest memories is viewing Mardi Gras parades when she was three years old. She freely admits that at the tender age of six she fell in love with both Barnabas Collins of Dark Shadows’ fame and Jonny Quest’s scientist-father, Benton. Sherlock Holmes followed soon after as one of the great abiding interests of her life. A long time fan of science fiction and horror, she met her husband while selling art at a science fiction convention.
These early influences doubtless explain a great deal about the author and her writings. There is very little she doesn’t find interesting whether it’s art, music, history, vampires, web design, or forensic science. Everything is there to be explored, investigated, and attempted at least once. This trait often carries over into her writing. She loves exploring characters that are not afraid to take a risk or step outside the constraints of society or family. And if the character doesn’t want to take that chance, she likes creating situations that require they do so.
T. D. lives in the Dallas-Fort Worth area of north Texas with her husband and young daughter. With so many careers, she keeps quite busy. In her spare time, she shares her husband’s interest in vampires, the internet, science fiction, collecting swords, and all things Japanese.
Growing up on the American Gulf Coast, she gained a great appreciation for all things Southern and a fascination with what the community around her termed the War of Northern Aggression. Frequent trips to New Orleans to visit relatives instilled an early love for that city and for the Cajun culture. One of her earliest memories is viewing Mardi Gras parades when she was three years old. She freely admits that at the tender age of six she fell in love with both Barnabas Collins of Dark Shadows’ fame and Jonny Quest’s scientist-father, Benton. Sherlock Holmes followed soon after as one of the great abiding interests of her life. A long time fan of science fiction and horror, she met her husband while selling art at a science fiction convention.
These early influences doubtless explain a great deal about the author and her writings. There is very little she doesn’t find interesting whether it’s art, music, history, vampires, web design, or forensic science. Everything is there to be explored, investigated, and attempted at least once. This trait often carries over into her writing. She loves exploring characters that are not afraid to take a risk or step outside the constraints of society or family. And if the character doesn’t want to take that chance, she likes creating situations that require they do so.
T. D. lives in the Dallas-Fort Worth area of north Texas with her husband and young daughter. With so many careers, she keeps quite busy. In her spare time, she shares her husband’s interest in vampires, the internet, science fiction, collecting swords, and all things Japanese.
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Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews
February 10, 2013
A Hearts On Fire Review
THREE & A HALF STARS--"Laure" by T.D. McKinney & Terry Wylis is an ode to Gothic romances, MM style. There's passion, romance, intrigue, an unsolved murder, taboo, mental illness and one hot as hell, Swede (I see you, Eric. *licks lips*) mixed into this story that will keep a reader interested enough to solve all the dark secrets out. Set up in the lush Mobile, Alabama background 23-year old Joshua Huggins has recently graduated and in need of employment. He might have lucked out by getting a live-in personal/administrative assistant position with the uber rich, tall, dark and mysterious, Adrien Brette.
Adrien is a 42 year old widower, semi-retired and the epitome of a Southern gentlemen and lives on the grand estate named Laure. He's damaged and broods to the nth degree. And Joshua laps it up.
From the moment the two men meet, Joshua is overwhelmed by all that is Adrien. So much so I am surprised this was not titled, Adrien. Joshua thinks Adrien is the end all of everything and since I get the Gothic shtick, I am not going to rate as harshly with Joshua's worship of the man.
Don't get me wrong, I do not dislike either character, I just felt Joshua didn't offer any resistance. He pretty much dropped to his knees the moment he met Adrien. Adrien set the tone, the pace, the boundaries for their relationship but he was not thoroughly dominant as I would have preferred. I think the story has legs but would have been stellar if there was some sense of internal struggle on Joshua's part. Adrien and Joshua's chemistry came across and it was intense at times but it wasn't at a constant boil, it went from lukewarm to medium heat, to warm but never hot.
I enjoyed the secondary characters: Aunt Cam & her boy toy (hot Swede) provided comic relief, Adrien's sister provided angst and Adrien's brother-in-law (the villain). Everyone was well fleshed out and added to the depth of the story.
The ending lost a little steam but not so much that I was disappointed. The secrets are brought to light, murder mystery solved, Adrien broods no more. I could tell there was two different authors and I think I like one more than the other, I'd have to read their works separately to see who I favored. There's sweet romance slathered all throughout "Laure" so fans of sugar will really enjoy. Surprisingly it didn't get corny.
The story is a throwback to classics but didn't reach its full potential.
Would I read more from this team? Probably.
THREE & A HALF STARS--"Laure" by T.D. McKinney & Terry Wylis is an ode to Gothic romances, MM style. There's passion, romance, intrigue, an unsolved murder, taboo, mental illness and one hot as hell, Swede (I see you, Eric. *licks lips*) mixed into this story that will keep a reader interested enough to solve all the dark secrets out. Set up in the lush Mobile, Alabama background 23-year old Joshua Huggins has recently graduated and in need of employment. He might have lucked out by getting a live-in personal/administrative assistant position with the uber rich, tall, dark and mysterious, Adrien Brette.
Adrien is a 42 year old widower, semi-retired and the epitome of a Southern gentlemen and lives on the grand estate named Laure. He's damaged and broods to the nth degree. And Joshua laps it up.
From the moment the two men meet, Joshua is overwhelmed by all that is Adrien. So much so I am surprised this was not titled, Adrien. Joshua thinks Adrien is the end all of everything and since I get the Gothic shtick, I am not going to rate as harshly with Joshua's worship of the man.
Don't get me wrong, I do not dislike either character, I just felt Joshua didn't offer any resistance. He pretty much dropped to his knees the moment he met Adrien. Adrien set the tone, the pace, the boundaries for their relationship but he was not thoroughly dominant as I would have preferred. I think the story has legs but would have been stellar if there was some sense of internal struggle on Joshua's part. Adrien and Joshua's chemistry came across and it was intense at times but it wasn't at a constant boil, it went from lukewarm to medium heat, to warm but never hot.
I enjoyed the secondary characters: Aunt Cam & her boy toy (hot Swede) provided comic relief, Adrien's sister provided angst and Adrien's brother-in-law (the villain). Everyone was well fleshed out and added to the depth of the story.
The ending lost a little steam but not so much that I was disappointed. The secrets are brought to light, murder mystery solved, Adrien broods no more. I could tell there was two different authors and I think I like one more than the other, I'd have to read their works separately to see who I favored. There's sweet romance slathered all throughout "Laure" so fans of sugar will really enjoy. Surprisingly it didn't get corny.
The story is a throwback to classics but didn't reach its full potential.
Would I read more from this team? Probably.
January 16, 2013
Laure is a book I cannot recommend enough. And, when you realize I hate first person stories with a passion, that’s really saying something indeed. If you love classic Gothic romances in the vein of Daphne du Maurier’s Rebecca, than you’ll definitely love Laure.
January 13, 2013
3.5 stars
There where a few things I loved and some parts that weren't so flash, it was different and maybe not exactly how I thought it would work out in the end.
There where a few things I loved and some parts that weren't so flash, it was different and maybe not exactly how I thought it would work out in the end.
March 17, 2014
There is the word "Wow" circling around my head right now. I'm sure I could easily use the words like amazing or excellent, too. I'll describe this story as a perfect true romance. I'm always a sucker for real love story, which can be emotionally experienced by a reader. And here I felt it completely, all emotions from Joshua were deeply real. His ongoing emotions for Adrien were described from the start. At first Joshua is a lovestruck puppy, we can even describe him as being in awe over Adrien. But soon all his emotions develop into real true love. I loved it!
I'm definitely Recommending it on!
I'm definitely Recommending it on!
April 20, 2016
Still pondering the ending on this one. Some parts I liked some of it I'm just not so sure about. Overall it was an enjoyable read not quite as enjoyable as the Southern Beaus series, but still worthwhile.
Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews