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A Delicate Refusal

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England, 1914. Two friends, brought together by circumstance and a mutual attraction that threatens to be torn apart by fears, family secrets and mysterious afflictions, face an even bigger adversary in the face and form of a world war. As World War I begins, England tries to maintain its "splendid isolation" policy, but the British people are quietly enduring their own misgivings, facing their own fears and wondering how long they can bear witness to carnage without a response. Into this milieu of intrigue and uncertainty, two women begin a most unusual love affair. Theirs is a love sustained by hope and encouraged by letters, but threatened by their own private fears and the worldwide anxieties covering the earth like a dark shroud. As all of Europe drives itself to the brink of destruction, can an uncommon love survive the concussive blasts of doubt and deceit, of estrangement and misunderstanding? Who lives to love? Who lurks in the background watching the affair from the distance of deja vu? And who presents "a delicate refusal" to become a tragic hero? From T.T. Thomas, author of The Blondness of Honey, Golden Crown Literary Society Finalist, Historical Romance category, comes the latest novel, A Delicate Refusal (June 2013).

293 pages, Paperback

First published July 4, 2013

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About the author

T.T. Thomas

19 books32 followers
My latest novel is out! Number 5 Babyn Yar Street: A World War II Novel—Ukraine.

Ektarina (Rina) Stepankova and Sofia Shevchenko, university students in 1941 Kyiv, have their whole lives ahead of them. The best friends look so much alike they could be twins—tall, blonde, sparkling blue eyes, alluring smiles.

But only Rina is Jewish.

Number 5 Babyn Yar Street is Rina’s story—a breathtaking, passionate, and suspenseful story of survival during the Nazi invasion of Kyiv in September, 1941. Where Sofia is slightly boy crazy, Rina is more reserved, shy, studious. That’s part of what her Russian history professor, Illia, finds attractive.

As the young women begin a university summer session in the 1500-year-old city, a new threat looms large. Over the centuries, Kyiv has gone from prominence to obscurity and back again, but nothing can prepare its inhabitants for the German war machine’s advance.

Within the first week of the invasion, Nazi forces rounded up over 33,000 Jews, took them to Babyn Yar ravine and murdered them in two days. Only a handful survived.

The women and their families maneuver a hostile and confusing Kyiv as the Soviet Red Army retreats and the Nazis advance. Staying fed, sheltered and invisible is hard. And nobody fully trusts anyone outside of family…even then—can one be certain?

In the shock and soul-crushing sorrow of brutality and inhumanity, Rina finds out that the price of freedom cannot be negotiated with the oppressors, and the reward of love is life.

I have a feeling that if you read Chaptere 1, you'll pretty much read the whole book nonstop!


Prior to Number 5 Babyn Yar, something a little (a lot) different from me. A project that began 6-7 years ago found the lockdown and lots of encouragement and became Dante Club and the Problem with Jane. I've written 6 Historicals, and I wanted a little lighter fare. Well, here we are!

It’s a bit late for Dante Club to wonder: Was it wise to accept an AI bodyguard from his ex-lover, the brilliant Dr. Celia Fang? But, Jane seriously needs an attitude fix. When you moonlight as the Robin Hood of assassins, you probably should have planned ahead. Awkward!

Almost nobody knows that Dante Club, a highly sought-after intelligence agency consultant, secretly moonlights as a reluctant assassin. Fueled by grief and a thirst for revenge, Dante takes on a contract to eliminate the man he believes is responsible for the death of his sister and niece.

Fate and the NSA intervene, giving Dante and his investigative team the cohesion they need for an assignment that takes them into the complex matrix of international organized crime. Humanity collides with homicide on the dark, enigmatic streets of Los Angeles, where the line between morality and immorality is as thin and sharp as a fresh razor in a pile of cocaine.

And then the stars come out in Hollywood.

Hope you have the fun reading that I had writing.

I will resume historicals with the January release of The Kensington Cat, a WW II, multi-generational historical/suspense themed story. The title of the book is the name of a (fictional) bookstore in Kensington that's been around for nearly 100 years——except when it got bombed out during The Blitz. Now it's got a new owner, and the connections of the modern generation to the war, the bookstore and one another is the stuff of surprise, wonder and, dare we say it, destiny.
______


House of Bliss. At the Intersection of Obsession and True Love lies humanity.

London, 1905 When ladies of the night begin showing up dead in the dark and bawdy alleys of Covent Garden, the victims are wearing House of Bliss corsets made by Sabrina Blissdon. Now the police want to know how and why Blissdon, the bohemian but successful upmarket corsetière, appears to be dressing the dead.

Sabrina does know a few working women, from a time when she found comfort and solace with a couple of the occupants of a

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Displaying 1 - 11 of 11 reviews
Profile Image for Victoria Avilan.
Author 8 books29 followers
May 26, 2015
A Seductive Dance

A delicate refusal is a seductive dance performed expertly by the old art of letter writing, letters who read like erotic poetry.

The setting transports the reader back to the time before WW1. Newsflashes at the ending of most chapters set the historical background without intruding on the romance.

The story's integrity is maintained to its end with admirable restraint. The story is rich with twists, surprises, "OMG" moments, and enough hot lesbian erotica to last a century.

Ms. Thomas has surely done her thorough historical research. Characters and their complex lives are well fleshed out and brilliant phrasing such as: "The letters spread across the envelope like fingers across breasts," will carry you through this beautifully told novel.
Profile Image for Ann Herendeen.
Author 16 books19 followers
July 15, 2013
Exuberant, Serious Romance

T. T. Thomas's latest novel, A Delicate Refusal, is her best (so far). Thomas, a prolific writer of short stories, novellas and novels, clearly enjoys working in the long form, and her pleasure shows in the mood and craft of this moving and engrossing story—a romance, but also a study of the way in which love and physical passion, especially of the female persuasion, can both exhilarate and terrify us.

The setting is England in 1914, on the edge of WWI. That's the "serious" part. Thomas is a fine comic stylist, but here she's going for something with a darker edge, and it works beautifully. Most chapters begin with a quotation from a history or memoir, and the effect is to build in readers the kind of horrified anticipation that many people must have experienced at the time. As a character says: "If we don't go to war, the war will come to us … nothing else will be the same. Expect rationing, women doing men's work, wounds and debilitations no one in your generation has seen before, families torn apart, and much more."

Befitting the mood, Thomas's writing is unexpectedly poetic in places, as in this passage describing a hot morning in London on the eve of world war:
"London was like that, though. Full of character, like a tall, proud old man who never airs out his suits, uses a bit too much pomade on his hair, has a prominent stain on his old school silk tie and who has that scent of the nearly dead that the still-living can emit in a desperate, last-ditch sweat to beat the odds."

Which leads me to the "exuberant" part. ADR is a romance, however atypical, and Thomas is never, thankfully, content to tell a love story in somber hues or shades of gray (sorry). The central couple, Rosemary Parker Pryce and Victoria Anne Cabot-Jones, have been injured in an accident after a night of passion. Rosemary has lost her sight; Victoria is paralyzed. Their relationship must continue in letters only. But with Thomas's light touch, none of this is depressing.

As the book begins, Rosemary hires Miss January (Jan) Jameson, still single at thirty-four, to be her secretary, after determining that she has the appropriate checkered past to be both sympathetic and discreet in her task of composing steamy lesbian love letters. And now the hilarity and passion begin, as Jan outdoes herself. While there are no explicit sex scenes, some of the letters Jan composes, from guidelines given by her less effusive employer, should have readers squirming with excitement.

There are too many remarkable aspects of this novel to discuss them all without committing spoilers. But top of my list is the idea, repeated several times among the main and subsidiary plots, that genuine love of any kind is a powerful and potentially dangerous force. Thwarted love or love that cannot be lived openly damages people, leading to paralysis, both psychological and physical. It's an example of Thomas's charity as a writer that she allows a male character, Winston Cabot-Jones, Victoria Anne's husband, to express the sense of loss that unrequited love brings: "He had seen true love, though not for him. He had witnessed deep passion, though not for him."

Another refreshing development is that all of the characters involved in romances are middle-aged or older. True love and happy marriages, whether between man and woman or two women, are something that can begin at any age, and the force that binds two people together is as strong at the end of life as at the beginning.

Finally, there is Thomas's sense of humor that gives us dialogue sparkling with wit and outrageous silliness that has the surrealism of real life. My favorite line in the novel is Rosemary's shout in a crowded upscale restaurant: "I don't care! I don't care who knows! I love a dead woman and I always will!" As with any quotation taken out of context, I will add that you had to be there.

And that's what any five-star review is about: Be there. Read A Delicate Refusal for an exciting, moving love story and a fascinating look at hundred-year-old history that feels as real as now.
Profile Image for JLNicky.
131 reviews5 followers
September 9, 2013
A Delicate Refusal

The cover of the book is a very good indication of the story within, a feminine hand holding a pen over parchment writing love, signified by the rose. It’s a lovely cover.

I enjoyed this book very much. It unravels the intrigue of romance of many different levels, between women, past loves, loss, enduring love, and family love. All of these different scenarios move and build together thru a soon to be war engulfed country. With bits and pieces of different characters sojourns the story begins to build into the darkness of war but into the light of true love. I found TT Thomas' novel lovely and it made me feel hopeful that even in adversity love could still be found. As a reader, primarily I found an affinity with January Jameson. She struck me as outwardly innocent of the big picture about true love but knowledgeable about the possibilities, since early on in the story we find she was involved with someone. But there are so many other characters to discover.

The story takes place in 1914 England, pre-WWI and the author throws all of those Commonwealth estate names that separate the common from the wealth. It’s clear that some have more and although the characters in this book do not treat others without unkindly, there is still a separation. However, moving much further into the book, as the war begins to arrive we see that the wealthy and common are synchronous in nature, wanting to survive.

I like the way the story is broken up into each character’s take on things, although this is definitely written in 3rd person. Initially, I didn’t capture who was who but it didn’t take long. I know they are individually labeled at the beginning but who reads that? I liked January’s name and persona right away. Her mother was a bit weak in the beginning but was soon flushed out. I guessed Sir Whitmore’s role about half way in. Winston Cabot-Jones was true to form as a grasping husband and yet unable to control his strong willed wife.

I really liked the character building that took place. TT was spot on for some of the characters. I could fully see them and understand. I especially enjoyed Pryce since she seemed the most direct and out spoken of the lot.

I found the illnesses of both Pryce and Victoria as coincidentally strange and it took me a while to understand but, hopefully that’s not really giving away a spoiler or anything. The buildup to the love between the two women is half romantic and half comedy. TT Thomas has a strong comic style of writing that fits perfectly with the era of her book. I continuously felt January reading the letters would somehow combust but she never did. I laughed at the chess set counting maneuver.

Hmm, reading back over my review I noticed I jumped around. This is a book that builds a romance between two lovers. Their hearts and words affect many. I tried to read it slow to enjoy the nuance and slow build but I wanted to see what happened next. If I was to censure this book in any way it was because the main characters were supposed to be Pryce and Victoria writing love letters but the focus changes often and many different individual shine in the spotlight taking me out of the romance and bringing me into the changing tone of the English mesh of the upcoming war. I suppose that was on purpose but I wanted many more love letters. I guess I like a more linear book but it was totally worth the read.
Profile Image for K.J. Charles.
Author 65 books12.3k followers
Read
February 24, 2015
I enjoyed this. Overlapping stories of secrets, love affairs and tangled lies in a very well researched just-pre-WW1 setting. Had an Edwardian melodrama quality to it that I found pleasingly period-appropriate.
Profile Image for Brittany (Lady Red).
265 reviews27 followers
July 30, 2020
Honestly I was disappointed in this. I really enjoyed the MCs but the husband was a straw man. Imagine telling people your wife was dead when she wasn’t and expecting people to just believe you.
220 reviews
July 8, 2013
Heiress Rosemary Parker Pryce is completely, utterly and madly in love with Victoria Anne Cabot-Jones. There is just one smallish problem with this, Victoria is married to David Cabot-Jones and he is not about to give her up any time soon.

Rosemary and Victoria both have health problems to contend with, so written correspondence is the only way to keep their love alive. Unfortunately, Rosemary’s eyesight isn’t good, so she employs January (Jan) Jameson to read and write her letters for her. The antics and outcome that ensues from this arrangement takes the reader on a roller coaster ride of ups and downs, twists and turns with a lot of hilarity along the way.

As with all of TT Thomas’s books, I anticipated this one with eagerness and excitement. TT Thomas writes excellent, historically authentic, fictionalized novels of the highest standards. The fact that she writes in the lesbian fiction world is a true blessing.

This book is a thoroughly well written, exciting, romantic page turner from the very first page through to it’s dramatic conclusion. Oh, and just for good measure, it’s steaming hot in places too. But not in the usual way of a romance book. To find out my meaning, (no spoilers from me) you’ll have to read the book.

All the characters are fully formed, multifaceted and play well together. From the scenic descriptions of England as the country is on the verge of WW1 in 1914, I could immerse myself completely in the story and live it with them. A true sign of a talented writer. The tensions and fears that were running high at that time were radiating off the pages in waves. Coupled with the enticing dialogue which includes hidden family secrets, affairs of the heart and the meaning of a delicate refusal, this book is dynamite.

This is a book that once started simply has to be finished. I couldn’t get through the book fast enough. For being naughty and doing this work of art an injustice, I had to read it a second time. A treat indeed. The second time I savored the story. Decadent and a true pleasure to read without the pressures of having to know what comes next.

I’m not sure if TT Thomas has anything else planned for these two ladies and their friends, but I would certainly love to read more about them.

Profile Image for Danny Jacobs.
125 reviews
January 22, 2016
Very nice story line and I loved the characters feeling like I can draw the characters from people i know in real life; the writing style was magnificent especially with the letters but I admit when the characters were talking i was going insane with all the stops and pauses. There were twists I liked but it felt like they would go back and forth constantly because it was time for the finalizing of the first twist after like three twists I lost interest. The last four chapters redeemed it and was a great ending. My only other pet peeve was all the damn tea throughout the book, I know Brits love their tea but damn; I cheered when I read the first mention of coffee on page 62! I would recommend this book but only to those who have an interest in the subject matter/ time it took place.
Profile Image for AGC.
319 reviews17 followers
August 1, 2015
Excellent story, well written, well researched and the characters were multidimensional. T.T. Thomas stands head and shoulders above most authors of lesbian fiction.
Profile Image for Erin Books.
152 reviews6 followers
March 14, 2015
The dialogue felt so stilted to me. I couldn't quite get past that.
Profile Image for Elisa Rolle.
Author 107 books238 followers
November 1, 2015
2013 Rainbow Awards Honorable Mention (5* from at least 1 judge)
Displaying 1 - 11 of 11 reviews

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