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Steampunk World
And I Am Happy
Will is a terrible valet. Until he came to the house of war hero and respected MP Charles Howard, he was more of a rich man's convenience than a valet. No one predicts he will keep the position for long but Charles Howard is not at all what Will expects. A reserved, insecure man who hides his pain from the public, Charlie--as Will secretly thinks of him--believes that no one, especially his pretty valet, would want him. Will longs to convince him otherwise but even if Charlie were the type to dally with a servant, Will is a valet, a man, with a scandalous past, and Charlie is a famous figure.
In a late Victorian England where cars exist, if only for the rich, and telephones are a symbol of wealth, a progressive spirit has led to the appearance of acceptance. But though certain laws have been repealed it doesn't mean people's attitudes have changed or that class differences don't still exist. Will is content to serve his gentleman with no expectations of anything more. He only wants his master to be happy. Will makes Charlie smile but master and servant is all they can ever be, or is it?
Words: 21,110
In a late Victorian England where cars exist, if only for the rich, and telephones are a symbol of wealth, a progressive spirit has led to the appearance of acceptance. But though certain laws have been repealed it doesn't mean people's attitudes have changed or that class differences don't still exist. Will is content to serve his gentleman with no expectations of anything more. He only wants his master to be happy. Will makes Charlie smile but master and servant is all they can ever be, or is it?
Words: 21,110
72 pages, ebook
First published November 7, 2013
19 people are currently reading
99 people want to read
About the author
R. Cooper
81 books1,000 followersI'm R. Cooper, a somewhat absentminded, often distracted, writer of queer romance. I'm probably most known for the Being(s) in Love series and The Suitable 'Verse stories. Also the occasional story about witches or firefighters in love.
You can visit my website for updates or sign up for my newsletter . My newsletter is free! And comes out once a month or once every two months or so.
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If you just want book release updates, I have a BookBub profile.
Also, I now have a Storygraph where I will try to track my reading in an organized fashion.
You can visit my website for updates or sign up for my newsletter . My newsletter is free! And comes out once a month or once every two months or so.
Otherwise... have some social media links if you want updates and whatever the hell else I am talking about.
Tumblr
BlueSky
**With Meta's current policies, I do not use FB or Insta or Threads for anything but the bare minimum.**
Instagram and Threads
You can also support me on Patreon if you like
If you just want book release updates, I have a BookBub profile.
Also, I now have a Storygraph where I will try to track my reading in an organized fashion.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 37 reviews
March 12, 2025
Me, every time I finish a novella by the brilliant R. Cooper: AND I AM HAPPY.
This was delicious and full of longing. R. Cooper's writing speaks to me.
I'll directly start "Play it again, Charlie" since "And I am Happy " is an alternate universe version of that full length novel and I'm not yet ready to let go of Charlie and Will.
I'll also have to check out the novella "With Everything I Have" about another couple set in the same universe as "And I Am Happy".
This was delicious and full of longing. R. Cooper's writing speaks to me.
I'll directly start "Play it again, Charlie" since "And I am Happy " is an alternate universe version of that full length novel and I'm not yet ready to let go of Charlie and Will.
I'll also have to check out the novella "With Everything I Have" about another couple set in the same universe as "And I Am Happy".
October 27, 2023
3 stars
Soft and sweet story between a mediocre valet and his gentleman, with lots of injury caretaking.
I was really enjoying this in the beginning but I have to admit I found it kind of fizzled out towards the end as my confusions and questions about the circumstances started to mount.
It was never really explained how Will came into Charlie's employ, only that he was selected by his sisters. Now, perhaps Charlie's sisters knew about Will's past as a kept boy and hired him for that, except that Ann states that she knows Charlie wouldn't engage sexually with a staff member. Unless Will's previous employers were lying about his skills (possible), they must have known that he was a terrible valet, so why hire him? I don't know why but I just couldn't get over that detail.
I was actually not convinced that Ann disliked Will at all. I think she wanted them to be together all along, and I wish we'd seen the outcome of them deciding to be lovers.
I was also a little bit thrown by the setting and it took me a while to remember that this was a steampunk AU, where same-sex couples seemingly aren't outlawed. I feel like the author could've gone a lot harder on the steampunk aspect as it wasn't until halfway through that I was reminded of it.
All that said, there were a lot of moments in this that I enjoyed, and I did like the writing style. The scene where Charlie reads to Will while he takes care of Charlie's prosthetic leg was wonderful. I also liked all of Charlie's small tells, the biscuits, the shaving, the pining.
Soft and sweet story between a mediocre valet and his gentleman, with lots of injury caretaking.
I was really enjoying this in the beginning but I have to admit I found it kind of fizzled out towards the end as my confusions and questions about the circumstances started to mount.
It was never really explained how Will came into Charlie's employ, only that he was selected by his sisters. Now, perhaps Charlie's sisters knew about Will's past as a kept boy and hired him for that, except that Ann states that she knows Charlie wouldn't engage sexually with a staff member. Unless Will's previous employers were lying about his skills (possible), they must have known that he was a terrible valet, so why hire him? I don't know why but I just couldn't get over that detail.
I was actually not convinced that Ann disliked Will at all. I think she wanted them to be together all along, and I wish we'd seen the outcome of them deciding to be lovers.
I was also a little bit thrown by the setting and it took me a while to remember that this was a steampunk AU, where same-sex couples seemingly aren't outlawed. I feel like the author could've gone a lot harder on the steampunk aspect as it wasn't until halfway through that I was reminded of it.
All that said, there were a lot of moments in this that I enjoyed, and I did like the writing style. The scene where Charlie reads to Will while he takes care of Charlie's prosthetic leg was wonderful. I also liked all of Charlie's small tells, the biscuits, the shaving, the pining.
February 14, 2014
Hmm...where to start?
Will was a kept boy but when his previous master didn't want him anymore he came to work for Charlie.
It took me a while to figure out this was set in an AU and has a touch of steampunk.
Charlie is a double amputee and has a lot of pain and a broken heart.
Will loved his gentleman, as he often refers to him, but he knows his master will not dally with a servant.
Since this is set where there are telephones and cars but gas lamps and no technology and gay marriage is allowed but not encouraged among different classes.
Will has very little self esteem, he knows he is not a good valet but he desperately loves his master and wants to please him and ease his pain.
“He was not a scholar or politician. He had done nothing to stand out in his gentleman's eyes. He was an outspoken, aging bit of crumpet acting as a valet, only tolerated because of his master's good nature.”
And Charlie has a good heart and it's been stomped on ( it's alluded to but not explained) and his physical limitations keep him from thinking Will could really want him.
It's also written in this author's unique voice, which on this book didn't quite work as well for me as in her other works.
Her A Boy and His Dragon (Being is still one of my favorite books, but this one just didn't touch me as much as I wanted, and the D/s elements were maybe just too much, and with the at times for me confusing story telling.
Will was a kept boy but when his previous master didn't want him anymore he came to work for Charlie.
It took me a while to figure out this was set in an AU and has a touch of steampunk.
Charlie is a double amputee and has a lot of pain and a broken heart.
Will loved his gentleman, as he often refers to him, but he knows his master will not dally with a servant.
Since this is set where there are telephones and cars but gas lamps and no technology and gay marriage is allowed but not encouraged among different classes.
Will has very little self esteem, he knows he is not a good valet but he desperately loves his master and wants to please him and ease his pain.
“He was not a scholar or politician. He had done nothing to stand out in his gentleman's eyes. He was an outspoken, aging bit of crumpet acting as a valet, only tolerated because of his master's good nature.”
And Charlie has a good heart and it's been stomped on ( it's alluded to but not explained) and his physical limitations keep him from thinking Will could really want him.
It's also written in this author's unique voice, which on this book didn't quite work as well for me as in her other works.
Her A Boy and His Dragon (Being is still one of my favorite books, but this one just didn't touch me as much as I wanted, and the D/s elements were maybe just too much, and with the at times for me confusing story telling.
July 17, 2025
This is a steampunk AU version of Play It Again, Charlie, except this one is told from Will's POV where he is Charlie's valet and Charlie is a war veteran. We get some of the same angst and unrequited feelings that the original book gave, the meddling sisters play a prominent role, and there is even a mention of Sebastian and Peter from With Everything I Have.
September 28, 2021
3.5 stars.
I'm a sucker for valet/master stories so this was right up my alley. There was some great mutual pining, and Will's backstory of having been a kept boy and not being a very good valet created an interesting premise.
I liked the hints of world-building we got, but the dialogue could have used some work. The scene with the sisters stood out in particular, where the dialogue made me feel like I was supposed to understand a lot of unsaid implications that went right over my head, possibly because I wasn't sure of the social rules in this alternate-history steampunk world/society.
I'm a sucker for valet/master stories so this was right up my alley. There was some great mutual pining, and Will's backstory of having been a kept boy and not being a very good valet created an interesting premise.
I liked the hints of world-building we got, but the dialogue could have used some work. The scene with the sisters stood out in particular, where the dialogue made me feel like I was supposed to understand a lot of unsaid implications that went right over my head, possibly because I wasn't sure of the social rules in this alternate-history steampunk world/society.
January 3, 2014
One of the problems of this M/M short story is that the story actually needed a novella if not a short novel.
Set in an alternative Victorian England with unobtrusive steampunk elements, it is interesting in its portrayal of two men desperately loving each other while believing their love unrequited.
The psychological potential of such a situation is enourmous especially because disability, sense of self and class differences are also part of the conflict.
Unfortunately pacing is not as accurate as such a difficult psychological mess would require. Many potential climaxes are wasted.
The BDSM element is dealt with too cursorily not to feel unnecessary.
Set in an alternative Victorian England with unobtrusive steampunk elements, it is interesting in its portrayal of two men desperately loving each other while believing their love unrequited.
The psychological potential of such a situation is enourmous especially because disability, sense of self and class differences are also part of the conflict.
Unfortunately pacing is not as accurate as such a difficult psychological mess would require. Many potential climaxes are wasted.
The BDSM element is dealt with too cursorily not to feel unnecessary.
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May 9, 2020This is an interesting collection of elements.
We have the slow-burn, unspoken mutual longing of two people who think they're making their feelings obvious enough but are mistaken, a trope Cooper excels at. Situationally, it works particularly well here because the characters are master and servant, so there is power imbalance prohibits both of them from speaking directly.
Charles, the master, has been rejected before, and since then suffered a serious injury that left him with a prosthetic arm and leg, and persistent pain, so he doesn't feel like he has attraction. Will is used to being a "valet" winkwinknudgenudge and knows he sucks at being an actual manservant. He's not as a young and pretty as he used to be and his former master/lover kicked him to the curb.
The setting for all this is Alt-historical. There are cars and gaslamps, but also advanced steampunky devices: Charlie's arms and leg are robotic, responding in some way to his thoughts. This element is not much developed. There's clearly been a different political and military history, and equal rights are more advanced than they would have been the Edwardian(?) times. Women seem to have careers and gay relationships are disapproved of but not illegal. I felt like maybe I was supposed to be familiar with this world from a different book?
There's a small but developed supporting cast: Charlie's dynamic sisters, who want to help but sometimes go about it clumsily, an intelligent woman friend who may be interested in Charlie.
We have the slow-burn, unspoken mutual longing of two people who think they're making their feelings obvious enough but are mistaken, a trope Cooper excels at. Situationally, it works particularly well here because the characters are master and servant, so there is power imbalance prohibits both of them from speaking directly.
Charles, the master, has been rejected before, and since then suffered a serious injury that left him with a prosthetic arm and leg, and persistent pain, so he doesn't feel like he has attraction. Will is used to being a "valet" winkwinknudgenudge and knows he sucks at being an actual manservant. He's not as a young and pretty as he used to be and his former master/lover kicked him to the curb.
The setting for all this is Alt-historical. There are cars and gaslamps, but also advanced steampunky devices: Charlie's arms and leg are robotic, responding in some way to his thoughts. This element is not much developed. There's clearly been a different political and military history, and equal rights are more advanced than they would have been the Edwardian(?) times. Women seem to have careers and gay relationships are disapproved of but not illegal. I felt like maybe I was supposed to be familiar with this world from a different book?
There's a small but developed supporting cast: Charlie's dynamic sisters, who want to help but sometimes go about it clumsily, an intelligent woman friend who may be interested in Charlie.
July 9, 2025
So this is an AU retelling of Play It Again, Charlie? I didn't read that one, though. In a way, it felt like stand-alone short. But there were too many repetitive words that felt jarring to me and maybe because it was a short one, it didn't feel fully explored. Will's previous work. Will's relationship with Charlie. Plus all the D/s tone.
May 25, 2025
A neat short story about mild d/s, war wounds, emotional wounds, family, lost abilities, pining (so much pining), fantasy history, fantasy prosthetics for the time, awareness of one's station and responsibilities versus pining... Really, there's lot in here for its number of pages. Plus, I found it charming. The characterizations are master-class.
February 26, 2020
A Lovely Slow Burner!
A former male companion, now valet, Will yearns for his gentleman Sir Charles, a battle broken/heartbroken man. This is a literary piece, a descriptive of the day to day interactions, the emotions and angst of the MCs, but of mostly Will’s love for Sir Charles. A beautiful slow burn short story. Enjoyable!
A former male companion, now valet, Will yearns for his gentleman Sir Charles, a battle broken/heartbroken man. This is a literary piece, a descriptive of the day to day interactions, the emotions and angst of the MCs, but of mostly Will’s love for Sir Charles. A beautiful slow burn short story. Enjoyable!
December 16, 2017
A beautiful short story of William a valet for Charles a war veteran and MP, he has loved him for a long time but has been unable to voice this as his first try was rebuffed so he keeps his feelings to himself.
A heart wrenching story full of passion and longing.
A heart wrenching story full of passion and longing.
June 15, 2025
Lovely. A quick read that is historical fiction/steampunk with a disabled MMC. Free on Amazon today.
February 7, 2025
A very touching tale but with a faint undertone of angst that makes it rather sad and unsettling at times. Set in late Victorian era but with a kind of steampunk vibe. It's at times slow moving but never boring, rather it's painful and then sweet then frustrating and that's what makes it a darn good read.
November 23, 2014
I enjoyed this alternate version of Charlie and Will, characters from Play It Again, Charlie.
It's a free read, but be prepared for multiple proofreading errors.
It's a free read, but be prepared for multiple proofreading errors.
May 14, 2018
Cute, free read in a steampunk universe. I'm glad that . Will low self-esteem was a bit annoying and repetitive though. I loved more other books by this author.
December 11, 2013
A slow building and sweet romance which I wish could have been much longer.
July 22, 2019
This was a finish it and go right back to the beginning to read it again book. I read it out of sequence with the original book, which I'm currently reading, but it stands alone.
December 19, 2020
This was a greatly enjoyable read!
July 5, 2025
3.5 stars.
mutual pining 🙌
mutual pining 🙌
June 8, 2025
Aww this was another sweet little gem of a novella from R. Cooper. I love this steampunk-lite atmosphere, and love the conceit that in this 19th century-esque world, men being with men is not against the law.
It’s a retelling of another of the author’s other works, taking those characters and putting them in an alternate universe. I haven’t yet read the original book (Play It Again, Charlie), but after reading this, I certainly shall!
This is a boss-servant romance, with Will being a former...courtesan?...he’s “served” several men as a valet/bed partner, but it’s not like that with him and Charles, Charlie, a talented and well off politician (MP) whose empowering speeches and passion for justice are going to change the world for the better, and whose service in the war cost him an arm and a leg.
Will has slowly fallen in love with his new employer, who makes no demands on his person, respects and appreciates his service...and is so far beyond Will’s touch he might as well love the moon. Will is a very mediocre valet (according to Will) and knows he is far below his beloved master in class and grace and worthiness. But he just quietly loves him and takes care of him every day.
Of course, Charlie is a man who sees a man’s true worth in his actions and sincerity, so, you can guess that he’s come to value Will above all others...! Seriously, these two are just adorable as they go through their nightly routines and dance around each other, and all that UST is sizzling out of the buttoned-up suits and proper manners. It’s delicious.
More...story would have been great. More communication, more exploration of both men’s pasts and potential future. More worldbuilding. I just wanted More! But the romance is sweet and I ate it up, and that's what I wanted most.
HFN/HEA. Master/servant (valet), upstairs/downstairs sensibility. Former...whatever you’d call an escort in this world and wealthy war-hero/politician. No others in the timeline, totally safe for me, though I could have done without so many references to Will’s former job situationships. But mostly delightful. Highly recommended.
It’s a retelling of another of the author’s other works, taking those characters and putting them in an alternate universe. I haven’t yet read the original book (Play It Again, Charlie), but after reading this, I certainly shall!
This is a boss-servant romance, with Will being a former...courtesan?...he’s “served” several men as a valet/bed partner, but it’s not like that with him and Charles, Charlie, a talented and well off politician (MP) whose empowering speeches and passion for justice are going to change the world for the better, and whose service in the war cost him an arm and a leg.
Will has slowly fallen in love with his new employer, who makes no demands on his person, respects and appreciates his service...and is so far beyond Will’s touch he might as well love the moon. Will is a very mediocre valet (according to Will) and knows he is far below his beloved master in class and grace and worthiness. But he just quietly loves him and takes care of him every day.
Of course, Charlie is a man who sees a man’s true worth in his actions and sincerity, so, you can guess that he’s come to value Will above all others...! Seriously, these two are just adorable as they go through their nightly routines and dance around each other, and all that UST is sizzling out of the buttoned-up suits and proper manners. It’s delicious.
More...story would have been great. More communication, more exploration of both men’s pasts and potential future. More worldbuilding. I just wanted More! But the romance is sweet and I ate it up, and that's what I wanted most.
HFN/HEA. Master/servant (valet), upstairs/downstairs sensibility. Former...whatever you’d call an escort in this world and wealthy war-hero/politician. No others in the timeline, totally safe for me, though I could have done without so many references to Will’s former job situationships. But mostly delightful. Highly recommended.
December 28, 2020
3.5 stars
A valet who doesn’t know how to serve, a master who refuses to impose… it seems the recipe for disaster, and yet, they match each other perfectly…
In an alternative universe reminiscent of Victorian England but where steampunk devices are common, a congressman and his valet dance a delicate ballet around each other. They both doubt their value and their worth. Will used to be a companion, and he does not know much about how to be a “proper” valet. Charles was a soldier, and now he is badly injured and ashamed of his body. Through half truths and misunderstandings, these two wound men find their way to each other.
I quite enjoyed it, but I have the impression this is a fragment of some longer, convoluted story I would love to read… Just in case. (*wink, wink)
Sweet
A valet who doesn’t know how to serve, a master who refuses to impose… it seems the recipe for disaster, and yet, they match each other perfectly…
In an alternative universe reminiscent of Victorian England but where steampunk devices are common, a congressman and his valet dance a delicate ballet around each other. They both doubt their value and their worth. Will used to be a companion, and he does not know much about how to be a “proper” valet. Charles was a soldier, and now he is badly injured and ashamed of his body. Through half truths and misunderstandings, these two wound men find their way to each other.
I quite enjoyed it, but I have the impression this is a fragment of some longer, convoluted story I would love to read… Just in case. (*wink, wink)
Sweet
September 6, 2025
This is the shit I love to read from R Cooper. The book is about an aristocratic lord with war injuries including a robotic arm and leg, and his sweet devoted valet who has been in love with him since he was hired and wants to jump his bones and would do anything for him, but has to keep his feelings under wraps. Little does he know his Lord feels the same but doesn't want to put the valet in an uncomfortable position or take advantage of him. Lots of close proximity, lots of touching and denied feelings (it's little angsty that way). And the valet really takes care of his lord, helps him bathe, helps him get into and out of bed, serves his meals, etc... Needless to say romance was romancing, I was so sad it ended, but I'm glad I happened upon this gem ♥️
October 23, 2018
Meh! Unimpressive and tedious. Page after page after page of Will knocking himself while referring to his “gentleman” and “master.” Those two words grew old very very fast. Even towards the end when it became “Charlie, master” I was expecting a little BDSM. Charlie was a wounded war hero of whatever universe this is upper crust and a distinguished statesman. Yet in spite of his reknowned oratory skills, he could never have a normal conversation with Will and tell him how he really feels.
This is a sloooooow burn. So slow it’s distracting.
This is a sloooooow burn. So slow it’s distracting.
May 23, 2023
This is a short AU of Cooper's longer novel Play It Again Charlie, and honestly I like it better. Maybe that's because I am a complete sucker for historical settings, but it might also be because I like Will's perspective better. I read this before PIAC accidentally, so if contemporary is not your thing than feel free to read this one instead and don't worry that it won't make sense because you haven't read the novel. It stands perfectly well on its own, with just the right amount of that delicious R. Cooper pining and burgeoning desire. Compulsively readable, and re-readable.
January 19, 2024
This was alright, it was cute- definitely -but I think it was too fast and too short...
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January 28, 2025
3.5 stars rounded up. I often REALLY enjoy this author's short stories, so had high expectations for this one. It fell a little short for me, though, and I think that was because so much of Will's feelings, wants, and needs were alluded to without really being addressed. Which, admittedly, is kind of this author's style. In this case, though, while I did enjoy the story and this alternate historical reality, I was left a little unsatisfied by the HFN.
January 20, 2026
I apparently read the previous version of this story ("Play it again, Charlie") but I have no recollection of it. This one is a MM romance set in England in the past. It involves a wounded former soldier and his valet. Will the valet has a hopeless crush on his master Charlie, but the master seems indifferent. Charlie also has three sisters who meddle in his life.
Not much happens until the end.
Typos: "Laid" is used twice for "lay."
Not much happens until the end.
Typos: "Laid" is used twice for "lay."
May 17, 2020
The steampunk angle on this confused me — gas lights, telephones, the war in Afghanistan, valets and heavy metal prosthetics with whirring gears and sensitivity nerve control — too many historical periods at once for this poor head. Don’t get me wrong, I love steampunk, but I just didn’t get the significance it in this story.
October 26, 2020
A valet of not many talents, wanted only for his body by his former masters, falls in love with his gentleman, a quiet war hero with a broken heart and body. A short story about an eager to please sub and an insecure, lonely and gentle man.
January 25, 2021
3.5 stars
Steampunk, slow burn, & such lovely prose, need I say more?
Steampunk, slow burn, & such lovely prose, need I say more?
Displaying 1 - 30 of 37 reviews