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Behind Locked Doors
Edward Taylor is a man torn between his honourable façade and his forbidden carnal desires. Outwardly a proper Victorian family man, Edward secretly craves pain and lusts after men. Isaac Sinclair is a struggling writer forced by poverty to supplement his income with less savory pursuits, including discreetly inflicting “professional punishments” upon wealthy gentlemen. When Edward catches Isaac in an act of petty theft, the chance meeting seems to offer an ideal opportunity for both men. Neither man, however, is prepared for the escalation of social and personal risk occasioned by falling in love. (M/M)
185 pages, Kindle Edition
First published February 17, 2015
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 37 reviews
February 19, 2015
There is something about historical kink that just works for me. Maybe it's the language of the era. Maybe it's the outfits. I'm not sure but it's a potent cocktail when you combine a Victorian setting, kink and finessed prose that'll have me sitting at that bar for quite some time, long past closing. This era engenders that desperate sort of romance probably due to all the intrinsic repression and standardized morality. Behind Locked Doors is a true romance between Edward and Isaac that remains true to the time period wherein being deviant in any way, shape, form or fashion nearly always resulted in ostracism.
Edward has married a charismatic, outgoing and feisty French girl whom he loves as a friend. Unfortunately, their marriage has robbed her of vibrancy largely due to the fact that Edward is gay and avoids her for the most part, thereby making intimacy problematic. Edward blames himself for her unhappiness, but society dictates that he maintain the ruse. Still, he has needs that supersede his sexual desires.
Edward is a bit of a masochist, has been since he was a boy in school manufacturing ways to get disciplined. Isaac is a professional dominant and a chance meeting three years ago brought them together, but they do not have a sexual relationship initially. I actually found their relationship quite refreshing. The lack of sex coupled with the repression made for a very romantic love story. Edward has constructed an image of arrogance to keep others at bay and avoid relationships that could reveal his deviance. This facade leaves him isolated and socially awkward, but serves his purposes. Isaac has learned to see the real Edward beneath the veneer.
Edward's a complex character, one a liked and disliked in nearly equal measures. He is very forthright save for the infidelity which I respected, but I didn't respect his relationship with his 6 year old son. He's somehow gotten it into his head that Peter doesn't like or love him and has given up hope of developing a loving relationship with him. On more than one occasion I found myself muttering, "he's 6, you git! Of course he loves you. You're his father." then rolling my eyes. There was also something about his characterization that didn't sit well with me and perhaps it's just my interpretation, but there was a subtle intimation that Edward is uncomfortable in any sort of commanding role which struck me as a distorted and somewhat disingenuous view of a submissive.
Isaac's characterization was lovely, though. I thoroughly enjoyed how bubbly and outgoing he was paired with how controlling and quietly commanding he was within the context of a scene; it was like a light switch. He's also very intuitive and relies on his instincts where Edward is concerned which propels their relationship forward from professional to personal.
Their story struck a chord with me, but I'm a sucker for these types of stories as I said initially. I know the cheating will be off-putting for many as will the fact that Behind Locked Doors is non-linear. There are flashbacks that encompass Edward and Marie's meeting as well as the 3 years of Edward's relationship with Isaac. At times I had difficulty keeping track of the time jumps, but not often. By and large, I sank into this world that Kinsley has created. Plus, there were stockings and garters, not traditional MANTIES but I'll take it.
Inappropriate MANTIES pic-Blog only
An ARC was provided in exchange for an honest review.
"It's not only that I want. I want it all. I want to fall asleep and wake up with you. I want to be able to call you mine in public. I want to be able to write about my love for you because I have the words in my head but it is forbidden that I put them to paper."
Edward has married a charismatic, outgoing and feisty French girl whom he loves as a friend. Unfortunately, their marriage has robbed her of vibrancy largely due to the fact that Edward is gay and avoids her for the most part, thereby making intimacy problematic. Edward blames himself for her unhappiness, but society dictates that he maintain the ruse. Still, he has needs that supersede his sexual desires.
Edward is a bit of a masochist, has been since he was a boy in school manufacturing ways to get disciplined. Isaac is a professional dominant and a chance meeting three years ago brought them together, but they do not have a sexual relationship initially. I actually found their relationship quite refreshing. The lack of sex coupled with the repression made for a very romantic love story. Edward has constructed an image of arrogance to keep others at bay and avoid relationships that could reveal his deviance. This facade leaves him isolated and socially awkward, but serves his purposes. Isaac has learned to see the real Edward beneath the veneer.
Edward's a complex character, one a liked and disliked in nearly equal measures. He is very forthright save for the infidelity which I respected, but I didn't respect his relationship with his 6 year old son. He's somehow gotten it into his head that Peter doesn't like or love him and has given up hope of developing a loving relationship with him. On more than one occasion I found myself muttering, "he's 6, you git! Of course he loves you. You're his father." then rolling my eyes. There was also something about his characterization that didn't sit well with me and perhaps it's just my interpretation, but there was a subtle intimation that Edward is uncomfortable in any sort of commanding role which struck me as a distorted and somewhat disingenuous view of a submissive.
Isaac's characterization was lovely, though. I thoroughly enjoyed how bubbly and outgoing he was paired with how controlling and quietly commanding he was within the context of a scene; it was like a light switch. He's also very intuitive and relies on his instincts where Edward is concerned which propels their relationship forward from professional to personal.
Their story struck a chord with me, but I'm a sucker for these types of stories as I said initially. I know the cheating will be off-putting for many as will the fact that Behind Locked Doors is non-linear. There are flashbacks that encompass Edward and Marie's meeting as well as the 3 years of Edward's relationship with Isaac. At times I had difficulty keeping track of the time jumps, but not often. By and large, I sank into this world that Kinsley has created. Plus, there were stockings and garters, not traditional MANTIES but I'll take it.
Inappropriate MANTIES pic-Blog only
An ARC was provided in exchange for an honest review.
February 20, 2015
Behind Locked Doors is a book that took me completely by surprise! I went into this thinking I was going to get a depraved M/M, BDSM, kink fest enhanced by the debauchery of an era that keeps all that is taboo bolted securely behind locked doors.
What I got was something completely different. This is a love story with a gentleness to it that was really quite endearing. Whilst BDSM is an inherent part of Edward and Isaac’s relationship it’s not what I would call hard core, for me it was definitely on the lighter side and more of a kink, with Edwards need for punishment and control being the foundation of their professional relationship and I like how they were able to switch that side on and off as their true relationship developed later in the book.
For more of this review please visit the blog, where you can also read an excerpt.
December 15, 2015
I am so confused about what I think of this book. There are so many things that have annoyed me, but a little voice in my head was able to justify them is one way or another. So Edward was sort of a massive bastard, Marie was just such a better person, which made it hard to sympathise with him at times. The going back and forth in the first half of the book to Isaac and Edwards first times were annoying, I feel like the sexual tension and romantic build up is lost when the couple starts off together and we're then given flash backs.
But the thing is, the present tense story was really good and I wanted to read more of it. I liked how it was sort of a traditional mistress story with Edward giving money to Isaac to support him and Isaac being ok with being a 'kept man'. The sex and discipline scenes were scorching HOT!! There were stockings, lace, canes and collars and while the HEA was predictable it was lovely to read. Honestly I probably won't re-read this, but I'll definitely re-read some of those scenes from time to time.
But the thing is, the present tense story was really good and I wanted to read more of it. I liked how it was sort of a traditional mistress story with Edward giving money to Isaac to support him and Isaac being ok with being a 'kept man'. The sex and discipline scenes were scorching HOT!! There were stockings, lace, canes and collars and while the HEA was predictable it was lovely to read. Honestly I probably won't re-read this, but I'll definitely re-read some of those scenes from time to time.
February 20, 2015
3.5 Stars
Slightly longer review http://ontopdownunderbookreviews.com/...
Behind Locked Doors is set in Victorian London, approximately around the latter part of the 1800's into the early 1900's - it is hard to pin down as the book is quite non-linear.
Edward is same-sex attracted, likes being dominated - he enjoyed the cane at school and made sure to get into trouble often so he could experience it. At boys boarding school he also got to fool around with other same-sex attracted boys. Now he is married to a French woman, Marie, who he met on his "gay adventures" in Paris when he was twenty three and she eighteen. He wasn't looking for a wife, made friends with the exuberant, charming and forthright Marie, and decided she would be the right person to marry for respectabilities sake. Edward is the bastard child of a well-to-do businessman and was taken in by him and his actual wife. I presumed it was because his father only had a daughter with his actual wife and Edward was the son he could educate and raise to take over the family business.
Edward deliberately keeps himself aloof from others in his class for the very fact that he's a bastard, he's same-sex attracted, he has desires that others would not understand. He also feels trapped between the upper and lower classes. So he feigns a greater snobbery than the others to keep them at arms length. When he meets Isaac, Isaac is stealing loaves of bread and Edward likes what he sees in him so he kind of blackmails him into taking him on for his predilections to be met. It isn't really blackmail as Isaac already renders this service, working with submissive men, and Edward is another to add to his client base. Initially. Yes, he's a writer hoping for a break, but he is also a dominant master for men who don't want to risk a brothel and the punishment that could come their way if caught - just think Oscar Wilde. So Isaac's flat is a much safer setting, and he's discreet.
Isaac was not so easy to get a handle on as the book was really through Edward's eyes, so I didn't learn a lot about Isaac. What I knew of him I liked. He was more concerned about Peter, Edward's son, than Edward, for the most part, and he grounded him. The relationship with Edward was sexy, the domination nothing brutal but exactly what Edward needed - caning, spanking, being tied up, orgasm delay, oral play, and more as the relationship developed. In terms of a sexy read, mission accomplished - including the kink of silk stockings on Isaac... and Edward's reaction to them, always a winner for me.
While I enjoyed, for the most part, Behind Locked Doors, there were a couple of things I found hard to hurdle.
I wasn't keen on the non-linear format here - - current, eight years earlier, current, six years earlier, one and a half years earlier, current etc
I didn't like Edward - without any thought - introducing his wife, Marie, to his lover, Isaac, when they were at the theatre. Bad enough you are in a loveless marriage without being introduced to someone, even unwittingly, who your husband is having an affair with. And when you do find out, people are hurt so much more by a face to a name.
I did not like the way Edward, the adult, felt his son didn't like/ love him. Your six year old loves you. Trust me, even the most abusive parents are loved by their six year old child/ren. That Peter, his son, caught his father kissing Isaac, and he warned him, gave him glares on occasion, about not speaking of it was appalling. I understand the times, I understand the setting, I understand the circumstances, and empathised. However, to make a child keep a secret from the other parent, to allow it to be seen when you are minding your child in the first place, is quite selfish and did not endear Edward to me. He was so bogged down by the hell that was his life, wanting to be with Isaac, he often overlooked his role as a parent. Not all the time, he worried about Peter going to boarding school and being bullied, perhaps having his 'desires,' but he wasn't top-notch father material.
Fifty pounds is mentioned on several occasions as Isaac's fee. In the Victorian era, fifty pounds was a large income. A skilled professional in that period would have been paid around three hundred to seven hundred pounds for the entire year - but I am no historian. It was never mentioned if fifty pounds was a session, that would have been pretty unlikely, but it would have allowed him to live in nice accommodation as opposed to his poor, cold dungeon of a flat. He had a number of gentlemen callers, at fifty pounds a year (if that's what it was) from each would have enabled Isaac to be set up, so that confused me no matter which way I looked at it.
The fee is fifty pounds. Isaac had purred into his ear around the corner from the bakery shop. Regardless of what punishment you like, or special requests. My only rule is no buggering.
Here Edward had felt a rush of heat shoot through him, as Isaac's breath brushed his ear. The fee is fifty pounds.
Overall, Nicholas Kinsley has written an interesting and erotic historical BDSM romance. The style of writing lent itself to the era quite nicely. He made the lead characters men of their times. It is easy to criticise some aspects but it was a difficult time for anyone wanting to love someone of the same gender and the author tapped into that feel. I look forward to more from him in the future.
ARC supplied by the author in return for a honest review.
Slightly longer review http://ontopdownunderbookreviews.com/...
Behind Locked Doors is set in Victorian London, approximately around the latter part of the 1800's into the early 1900's - it is hard to pin down as the book is quite non-linear.
Edward is same-sex attracted, likes being dominated - he enjoyed the cane at school and made sure to get into trouble often so he could experience it. At boys boarding school he also got to fool around with other same-sex attracted boys. Now he is married to a French woman, Marie, who he met on his "gay adventures" in Paris when he was twenty three and she eighteen. He wasn't looking for a wife, made friends with the exuberant, charming and forthright Marie, and decided she would be the right person to marry for respectabilities sake. Edward is the bastard child of a well-to-do businessman and was taken in by him and his actual wife. I presumed it was because his father only had a daughter with his actual wife and Edward was the son he could educate and raise to take over the family business.
Edward deliberately keeps himself aloof from others in his class for the very fact that he's a bastard, he's same-sex attracted, he has desires that others would not understand. He also feels trapped between the upper and lower classes. So he feigns a greater snobbery than the others to keep them at arms length. When he meets Isaac, Isaac is stealing loaves of bread and Edward likes what he sees in him so he kind of blackmails him into taking him on for his predilections to be met. It isn't really blackmail as Isaac already renders this service, working with submissive men, and Edward is another to add to his client base. Initially. Yes, he's a writer hoping for a break, but he is also a dominant master for men who don't want to risk a brothel and the punishment that could come their way if caught - just think Oscar Wilde. So Isaac's flat is a much safer setting, and he's discreet.
Isaac was not so easy to get a handle on as the book was really through Edward's eyes, so I didn't learn a lot about Isaac. What I knew of him I liked. He was more concerned about Peter, Edward's son, than Edward, for the most part, and he grounded him. The relationship with Edward was sexy, the domination nothing brutal but exactly what Edward needed - caning, spanking, being tied up, orgasm delay, oral play, and more as the relationship developed. In terms of a sexy read, mission accomplished - including the kink of silk stockings on Isaac... and Edward's reaction to them, always a winner for me.
While I enjoyed, for the most part, Behind Locked Doors, there were a couple of things I found hard to hurdle.
I wasn't keen on the non-linear format here - - current, eight years earlier, current, six years earlier, one and a half years earlier, current etc
I didn't like Edward - without any thought - introducing his wife, Marie, to his lover, Isaac, when they were at the theatre. Bad enough you are in a loveless marriage without being introduced to someone, even unwittingly, who your husband is having an affair with. And when you do find out, people are hurt so much more by a face to a name.
I did not like the way Edward, the adult, felt his son didn't like/ love him. Your six year old loves you. Trust me, even the most abusive parents are loved by their six year old child/ren. That Peter, his son, caught his father kissing Isaac, and he warned him, gave him glares on occasion, about not speaking of it was appalling. I understand the times, I understand the setting, I understand the circumstances, and empathised. However, to make a child keep a secret from the other parent, to allow it to be seen when you are minding your child in the first place, is quite selfish and did not endear Edward to me. He was so bogged down by the hell that was his life, wanting to be with Isaac, he often overlooked his role as a parent. Not all the time, he worried about Peter going to boarding school and being bullied, perhaps having his 'desires,' but he wasn't top-notch father material.
Fifty pounds is mentioned on several occasions as Isaac's fee. In the Victorian era, fifty pounds was a large income. A skilled professional in that period would have been paid around three hundred to seven hundred pounds for the entire year - but I am no historian. It was never mentioned if fifty pounds was a session, that would have been pretty unlikely, but it would have allowed him to live in nice accommodation as opposed to his poor, cold dungeon of a flat. He had a number of gentlemen callers, at fifty pounds a year (if that's what it was) from each would have enabled Isaac to be set up, so that confused me no matter which way I looked at it.
The fee is fifty pounds. Isaac had purred into his ear around the corner from the bakery shop. Regardless of what punishment you like, or special requests. My only rule is no buggering.
Here Edward had felt a rush of heat shoot through him, as Isaac's breath brushed his ear. The fee is fifty pounds.
Overall, Nicholas Kinsley has written an interesting and erotic historical BDSM romance. The style of writing lent itself to the era quite nicely. He made the lead characters men of their times. It is easy to criticise some aspects but it was a difficult time for anyone wanting to love someone of the same gender and the author tapped into that feel. I look forward to more from him in the future.
ARC supplied by the author in return for a honest review.
March 5, 2015
Historical romance books are not my reading thing but I take each book as it comes. And as this book came, I liked it. Shared the reading with my partner and he liked it. He said no less than 4 stars. So 4 stars then.
I'll do a proper review over the weekend because the author was good enough to give me a copy to read and there's plenty of yeap, he tapped that to review.
Good story. Good sex. Good writer. Hard book to write a review for. http://cockyreviews.com/behind-locked...
I'll do a proper review over the weekend because the author was good enough to give me a copy to read and there's plenty of yeap, he tapped that to review.
Good story. Good sex. Good writer. Hard book to write a review for. http://cockyreviews.com/behind-locked...
May 22, 2015
What a lovely book! It's not all unicorns & glitter but it's definitely a love story for the time. Historicals are books that I will run screaming in the other direction when they cross my path. I went into this book hoping for some good kinky fun and what I got was soooo sooo many feels.
Great Job to the author for sucking me in and keeping me glued to my kindle until I finished!
Great Job to the author for sucking me in and keeping me glued to my kindle until I finished!
February 19, 2016
Very enjoyable!
May 31, 2016
3.5 stars
London in the 1880'ies. Edward is desperately unhappy in his marriage to Marie, when he comes upon Isaac, an impoverished writer who supplements his income by 'disciplining' men for money.
This story explores their clandestine relationship for several years whilst Edward desperately tries to keep up appearances with a family he doesn't want, a son who doesn't like him and a wife who wants another child.
The beginning of the story is told through flashbacks and they did feel a bit confusing at times, maybe because I didn't read the story in one sitting. At first I felt I would have liked one continuous story, to see their relationship develop, but as I reflected upon it, I actually think that it did work nicely, that I got flashes to see to see the steps that led them to where they were now.
We do get sort of a happy ending, as happy as anything can be, when we are stuck in an era where sodomy is a crime and one of our MCs are a married man, but I still feel conflicted about this even after closing the book.
I somehow felt that Marie deserved more. She was a brilliant character, and hats off to the author for avoiding the obvious of casting her in the role of villain. She wasn't. They were all victims.
All in all a nice story, with well rounded characters, that made you think. Recommended.
London in the 1880'ies. Edward is desperately unhappy in his marriage to Marie, when he comes upon Isaac, an impoverished writer who supplements his income by 'disciplining' men for money.
This story explores their clandestine relationship for several years whilst Edward desperately tries to keep up appearances with a family he doesn't want, a son who doesn't like him and a wife who wants another child.
The beginning of the story is told through flashbacks and they did feel a bit confusing at times, maybe because I didn't read the story in one sitting. At first I felt I would have liked one continuous story, to see their relationship develop, but as I reflected upon it, I actually think that it did work nicely, that I got flashes to see to see the steps that led them to where they were now.
We do get sort of a happy ending, as happy as anything can be, when we are stuck in an era where sodomy is a crime and one of our MCs are a married man, but I still feel conflicted about this even after closing the book.
I somehow felt that Marie deserved more. She was a brilliant character, and hats off to the author for avoiding the obvious of casting her in the role of villain. She wasn't. They were all victims.
All in all a nice story, with well rounded characters, that made you think. Recommended.
December 19, 2022
DNF @ 22%
Okay, I'm rage quitting this one, despite the writing style, historical details and BDSM being really enjoyable. There are so many things that should have been in the blurb so I would have known to avoid this book.
The first thing that should have been made clear is that the act of petty theft that gets the MCs involved in each other's lives doesn't happen at the start of the book. Instead, the book starts with the MCs already having a BDSM relationship where Edward regularly visits and pays Isaac to dominate him and then the author jumps back and forth through time in a series of annoying flashbacks that show how the MCs met and various other events in Edward's life. I really dislike it when authors use flashbacks to convey information that they can't figure out how to incorporate into the narrative otherwise.
The second and MOST IMPORTANT thing that should have been made clear is that Edward is married to a woman, who has no idea he's gay and he's spent their entire marriage cheating on her. The author makes reference to Edward being a 'proper Victorian family man' but I didn't realize this meant he's married or that he's been cheating on his wife for their entire marriage. Of course, Edward justifies his cheating with that disgusting excuse that many MM romance writers like to use: he's gay and because society hates homosexuality, that justifies him manipulating women and treating his wife like crap. This book was published in 2015 and authors need to stop with this ridiculousness.
Speaking of his wife - I disliked that the majority of what I read focused on Edward's problems with his wife and son instead of his relationship with Isaac. This isn't what I want when I read an MM romance.
In addition, Edward was extremely unlikeable. The man is throwing himself a never ending pity party because he's gay and he also has submissive BDSM desires and he uses that self-pity to justify treating other people like crap. He also feels sorry for himself because he's not from an aristocratic family. Oh, don't worry - his family is extremely rich (they own factories) and they're very well off, but that's not good enough for poor, deprived Edward. But what annoyed me most about the man is that he's very jealous and resentful of his wife and his six year old son. Why? Because Edward is one of those socially awkward losers who spends his time being angry at confident/happy people instead of focusing on trying to address his lack of social skills. He married his wife because she's pretty and he liked her confidence, but he quickly started to hate her when he realized that she has zero respect for him and think he's a weak, pathetic fool (which he is). He's also jealous of his happy, intelligent young son because the boy gets along very well with his governess and Edward hates seeing other people be happy.
I love grumpy characters who hate the world, but only if they have that attitude as a form of self-defense and they're hiding a heart of gold. Edward was just a pathetic, whiny and unlikeable man who didn't deserve Isaac or his wife.
Okay, I'm rage quitting this one, despite the writing style, historical details and BDSM being really enjoyable. There are so many things that should have been in the blurb so I would have known to avoid this book.
The first thing that should have been made clear is that the act of petty theft that gets the MCs involved in each other's lives doesn't happen at the start of the book. Instead, the book starts with the MCs already having a BDSM relationship where Edward regularly visits and pays Isaac to dominate him and then the author jumps back and forth through time in a series of annoying flashbacks that show how the MCs met and various other events in Edward's life. I really dislike it when authors use flashbacks to convey information that they can't figure out how to incorporate into the narrative otherwise.
The second and MOST IMPORTANT thing that should have been made clear is that Edward is married to a woman, who has no idea he's gay and he's spent their entire marriage cheating on her. The author makes reference to Edward being a 'proper Victorian family man' but I didn't realize this meant he's married or that he's been cheating on his wife for their entire marriage. Of course, Edward justifies his cheating with that disgusting excuse that many MM romance writers like to use: he's gay and because society hates homosexuality, that justifies him manipulating women and treating his wife like crap. This book was published in 2015 and authors need to stop with this ridiculousness.
Speaking of his wife - I disliked that the majority of what I read focused on Edward's problems with his wife and son instead of his relationship with Isaac. This isn't what I want when I read an MM romance.
In addition, Edward was extremely unlikeable. The man is throwing himself a never ending pity party because he's gay and he also has submissive BDSM desires and he uses that self-pity to justify treating other people like crap. He also feels sorry for himself because he's not from an aristocratic family. Oh, don't worry - his family is extremely rich (they own factories) and they're very well off, but that's not good enough for poor, deprived Edward. But what annoyed me most about the man is that he's very jealous and resentful of his wife and his six year old son. Why? Because Edward is one of those socially awkward losers who spends his time being angry at confident/happy people instead of focusing on trying to address his lack of social skills. He married his wife because she's pretty and he liked her confidence, but he quickly started to hate her when he realized that she has zero respect for him and think he's a weak, pathetic fool (which he is). He's also jealous of his happy, intelligent young son because the boy gets along very well with his governess and Edward hates seeing other people be happy.
I love grumpy characters who hate the world, but only if they have that attitude as a form of self-defense and they're hiding a heart of gold. Edward was just a pathetic, whiny and unlikeable man who didn't deserve Isaac or his wife.
December 8, 2015
Good story, enjoyable writing style, adorable MCs, good chemistry between them, low angst. BDSM theme in the story is only "for dramatic effect" (Author's words from Disclaimer). And I've got no uneasy feelings about cheating, very nicely done.
I also liked
Beautiful art on the cover <3
Maybe the story would be even perfect for me with less "flashbacks".
I'm pretty sure this is not the last time I'm reading Nicholas Kinsley's stories.
I also liked
Beautiful art on the cover <3
Maybe the story would be even perfect for me with less "flashbacks".
I'm pretty sure this is not the last time I'm reading Nicholas Kinsley's stories.
dnf
September 21, 2015DNF @ 23%
Not a good choice for something to get me back into reading regularly again, I'm afraid. Nothing really against the writing or the story; it just wasn't for me. I tend not to like historicals, I hate when a wife and child are involved in m/m stories, and flashbacks are a pet peeve, especially when they make up half the story.
Soooo, I clearly need to choose better next time.
Not a good choice for something to get me back into reading regularly again, I'm afraid. Nothing really against the writing or the story; it just wasn't for me. I tend not to like historicals, I hate when a wife and child are involved in m/m stories, and flashbacks are a pet peeve, especially when they make up half the story.
Soooo, I clearly need to choose better next time.
Want to read
December 10, 2015Free today only 10 Dec 2015 from Forbidden Fiction http://forbiddenfiction.com/story/nk1...
March 1, 2015
It was deliciously kinky. Loved it.
February 25, 2015
I loved 'Behind Locked Doors' possibly even more than I thought I would and I had high expectations. This is a deliciously sexy historical romance about two men drawn together despite the dangers to their liberty and personal standing in Victorian England.
The language is authentic and the inner turmoil of protagonist Edward is beautifully captured as he yearns for the love of struggling writer Isaac. Edward is driven by his desires whilst desperately wishing that his love and admiration for French wife Marie could be more than a facade that satisfies neither of them.
The story is told in a non linear fashion moving backward and forward in recollections between meeting Marie in Paris eight years previously to Edward's first encounter with Isaac and their developing attraction told in significant interludes and experience of the present. The contrast between poverty and wealth is portrayed well casting the dangers that Edward faces on a physical level as he visits Isaac to pursue their growing relationship.
So troubling and brooding was the contrast and the dangers of being discovered that I found myself checking the back of the book to be assured of a happy ending. There I found an unexpected and fortuitous conclusion that satisfies my inner romantic.Tick.
It is easy to see why Edward would be attracted to Isaac who supplements his meagre income from writing by providing services to wealthy and naturally submissive men and becoming Edward's master for a fee of £50. Isaac is a charming, empathetic man of integrity despite dire circumstance and has a group of equally principled libertine friends. Towards society, Edward keeps an aloof presence which many mistake for arrogance, but with Isaac he can show more of his true nature.
This is an enchantingly romantic and well told love story with some hot erotic scenes of Edward submitting to Isaac.
I am not a historian, but a few things jarred for me sufficiently to pull me temporarily out of the story from time to time (and hence a glowing 4 stars rather than an emphatic 5 star rating)...whilst I understand that the contrast between Edward's comfortable standard of living as a factory owner, and Isaac's impoverished life in a dank one room unheated flat was an interesting dynamic it was not plausible if he was charging Edward and up to twelve other clients £50 a time. This would provide him with a significant income with which to improve his lodgings if not indeed to buy his own house in a nice part of town.
Unless I am mistaken, the implication was that Isaac came from a very different class from Edward which again I had some difficulty with, especially with his language and manners and general conduct. I think it unlikely he would have had sufficient education to be a writer unless he came from the burgeoning middle class strata as well (and as such would have owned at least some plates within his modest dwelling).
The last two chaffing bits for me: towards the end of the book frequent reference to Isaac's duvet (and I am pretty certain these did not arrive in Britain until the 1970s) it would have seemed more in keeping to refer to an eiderdown - or just blankets....And Edward, his son Peter and wife all refer to Peter's governess as Ms a term that had most definitely fallen out of favour in Victorian England and only emerged again amongst great resistance in Britain in the 1970s (I believe).
Anyway, 'Behind Locked Doors' is a real delight and I feel mean quibbling with the few errors but I think that because the rest of the book so readily captured the era that it made the mistakes stand out more sharply, minor as they may be...
By chance I found the book on the to read update of a friend on Goodreads (thank you Jason) and I was keen to read it too, I was avidly awaiting publication. The over £4 price tag for an ebook took a moment or two to consider, but I have to say was well worth the investment for the amount of pleasure in return.
I look forward to reading more by Nicholas Kinsley in the future it is a great debut novel, highly recommend for those who enjoy male/male romance and for those who like a well crafted historical novel with some devilishly good D/s kink too.
The language is authentic and the inner turmoil of protagonist Edward is beautifully captured as he yearns for the love of struggling writer Isaac. Edward is driven by his desires whilst desperately wishing that his love and admiration for French wife Marie could be more than a facade that satisfies neither of them.
The story is told in a non linear fashion moving backward and forward in recollections between meeting Marie in Paris eight years previously to Edward's first encounter with Isaac and their developing attraction told in significant interludes and experience of the present. The contrast between poverty and wealth is portrayed well casting the dangers that Edward faces on a physical level as he visits Isaac to pursue their growing relationship.
So troubling and brooding was the contrast and the dangers of being discovered that I found myself checking the back of the book to be assured of a happy ending. There I found an unexpected and fortuitous conclusion that satisfies my inner romantic.Tick.
It is easy to see why Edward would be attracted to Isaac who supplements his meagre income from writing by providing services to wealthy and naturally submissive men and becoming Edward's master for a fee of £50. Isaac is a charming, empathetic man of integrity despite dire circumstance and has a group of equally principled libertine friends. Towards society, Edward keeps an aloof presence which many mistake for arrogance, but with Isaac he can show more of his true nature.
This is an enchantingly romantic and well told love story with some hot erotic scenes of Edward submitting to Isaac.
I am not a historian, but a few things jarred for me sufficiently to pull me temporarily out of the story from time to time (and hence a glowing 4 stars rather than an emphatic 5 star rating)...whilst I understand that the contrast between Edward's comfortable standard of living as a factory owner, and Isaac's impoverished life in a dank one room unheated flat was an interesting dynamic it was not plausible if he was charging Edward and up to twelve other clients £50 a time. This would provide him with a significant income with which to improve his lodgings if not indeed to buy his own house in a nice part of town.
Unless I am mistaken, the implication was that Isaac came from a very different class from Edward which again I had some difficulty with, especially with his language and manners and general conduct. I think it unlikely he would have had sufficient education to be a writer unless he came from the burgeoning middle class strata as well (and as such would have owned at least some plates within his modest dwelling).
The last two chaffing bits for me: towards the end of the book frequent reference to Isaac's duvet (and I am pretty certain these did not arrive in Britain until the 1970s) it would have seemed more in keeping to refer to an eiderdown - or just blankets....And Edward, his son Peter and wife all refer to Peter's governess as Ms a term that had most definitely fallen out of favour in Victorian England and only emerged again amongst great resistance in Britain in the 1970s (I believe).
Anyway, 'Behind Locked Doors' is a real delight and I feel mean quibbling with the few errors but I think that because the rest of the book so readily captured the era that it made the mistakes stand out more sharply, minor as they may be...
By chance I found the book on the to read update of a friend on Goodreads (thank you Jason) and I was keen to read it too, I was avidly awaiting publication. The over £4 price tag for an ebook took a moment or two to consider, but I have to say was well worth the investment for the amount of pleasure in return.
I look forward to reading more by Nicholas Kinsley in the future it is a great debut novel, highly recommend for those who enjoy male/male romance and for those who like a well crafted historical novel with some devilishly good D/s kink too.
March 3, 2015
Gerry B's Book Reviews
A BDSM novel to leave that other one in the dust.
Bondage, Domination, Submission and Masochism (BDSM), seems to be quite popular these days – due to the release of a movie based on that other BDSM book (which I read, but chose not to review), so I decided to offer one that is a superior story in many ways.
Behind Locked Doors by Nicholas Kinsley [Fantastic Fiction Publishing, February 17, 2015] is Kinsley’s debut novel, and a worthy effort it is, too. I would also add that I classify it as “sexy” as apposed to “hard-core” S&M.
Edward Taylor is a respected Edwardian, upper-middle class gentlemen, although he was born a bastard. However, because his biological father did the right thing, he is now a prosperous factory owner with money enough for dalliances – like Isaac Sinclair: a struggling writer who supports his ‘addiction’ by servicing gentlemen with special, exotic pleasures – i.e. BDSM.
Taylor's chance encounter with Sinclair comes about when he witnesses the latter stealing bread, and in a rather mutually agreed arrangement he coerces Sinclair into partaking of his services.
This continues, commercially at first, but as time goes by it becomes deeper – emotionally – until they are both inextricably in love.
Complicating matters is the fact that Taylor is married with a son. It is a rather odd arrangement whereby he married a French girl on a fling in Paris, thinking he would have to marry eventually – for appearances sake as much as anything else – and out of it came a somewhat estranged son.
The son is a sub-plot, for in loving Sinclair he also learns to love his son.
Overall, it is an engrossing story with strong main characters. Both Taylor and Sinclair are credible, and the story is plot-driven as apposed to sliding along on a stream of sperm. Likewise, the S&M is judiciously used as a piquant, rather than a gratuitous kink.
The insights into 19th-century mores are also well created, which suggests some research.
On the quibble side, flashbacks (retro-views) are tricky. I’ve read dozens of books that have used them, but only a few have done it well. I can’t say don’t use them, because it depends on how necessary the past is to explain the present, but otherwise use some other device, like a prologue.
Another quibble is the ‘fee’ Sinclair apparently charged for his services. Fifty pounds in the 19th century was a significant amount of money. For example, a skilled engineer might earn £110 per year if fully employed.
Which, I suppose is the other lesson this review might bring: Write about flying monsters and horned aliens with impunity, but miss a fact by a day or an inch and someone is bound to catch you up on it.
A solid read. Four bees.
A BDSM novel to leave that other one in the dust.
Bondage, Domination, Submission and Masochism (BDSM), seems to be quite popular these days – due to the release of a movie based on that other BDSM book (which I read, but chose not to review), so I decided to offer one that is a superior story in many ways.
Behind Locked Doors by Nicholas Kinsley [Fantastic Fiction Publishing, February 17, 2015] is Kinsley’s debut novel, and a worthy effort it is, too. I would also add that I classify it as “sexy” as apposed to “hard-core” S&M.
Edward Taylor is a respected Edwardian, upper-middle class gentlemen, although he was born a bastard. However, because his biological father did the right thing, he is now a prosperous factory owner with money enough for dalliances – like Isaac Sinclair: a struggling writer who supports his ‘addiction’ by servicing gentlemen with special, exotic pleasures – i.e. BDSM.
Taylor's chance encounter with Sinclair comes about when he witnesses the latter stealing bread, and in a rather mutually agreed arrangement he coerces Sinclair into partaking of his services.
This continues, commercially at first, but as time goes by it becomes deeper – emotionally – until they are both inextricably in love.
Complicating matters is the fact that Taylor is married with a son. It is a rather odd arrangement whereby he married a French girl on a fling in Paris, thinking he would have to marry eventually – for appearances sake as much as anything else – and out of it came a somewhat estranged son.
The son is a sub-plot, for in loving Sinclair he also learns to love his son.
Overall, it is an engrossing story with strong main characters. Both Taylor and Sinclair are credible, and the story is plot-driven as apposed to sliding along on a stream of sperm. Likewise, the S&M is judiciously used as a piquant, rather than a gratuitous kink.
The insights into 19th-century mores are also well created, which suggests some research.
On the quibble side, flashbacks (retro-views) are tricky. I’ve read dozens of books that have used them, but only a few have done it well. I can’t say don’t use them, because it depends on how necessary the past is to explain the present, but otherwise use some other device, like a prologue.
Another quibble is the ‘fee’ Sinclair apparently charged for his services. Fifty pounds in the 19th century was a significant amount of money. For example, a skilled engineer might earn £110 per year if fully employed.
Which, I suppose is the other lesson this review might bring: Write about flying monsters and horned aliens with impunity, but miss a fact by a day or an inch and someone is bound to catch you up on it.
A solid read. Four bees.
February 23, 2015
Nice historical m/m novel. Just the right amount of sex/plot. Some may see the ending as a bit to HEA, but I liked it well enough. My only problem was with the relationship between Edward and his young son. It may be the norm of the times (which I don't know very well so can't judge), but I have a hard time accepting the coldness between them. Edward isn't the best father, but he's not an abuser either. I can't see the son, at only six years (he turns seven during the time-frame of the story), giving up on trying to get his father's love and approval.
Other than that, everything was well done. I especially felt for the wife and how confusing it must have been to have started out happily married and not understand why things changed. It's sad in general that people simply can't love who they want and not be persecuted for it, either by the law or by society.
Other than that, everything was well done. I especially felt for the wife and how confusing it must have been to have started out happily married and not understand why things changed. It's sad in general that people simply can't love who they want and not be persecuted for it, either by the law or by society.
February 23, 2015
Read the review on my blog.
https://agonytate.wordpress.com/2015/...
https://agonytate.wordpress.com/2015/...
Want to read
December 10, 2015Free today 12/10/15 http://forbiddenfiction.com/story/nk1...
November 9, 2019
Re-read 3 stars.
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4.5 Review to follow.
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4.5 Review to follow.
May 25, 2015
Victorian M/M erotica....Yes, Please!
Edward Taylor, successful businessman and factory owner, has a dirty little secret he's been keeping from his wife...Isaac Sinclair. For years Edward has been trying to keep his 'needs' under control, but after meeting Isaac, he finds himself enthralled with the pain that Isaac dispenses during their sessions, and he just can't stay away. As time passes, Edward finds himself needing more than just submitting to Isaac...he's desperate for an actual relationship. As he and Isaac take their growing connection to the next level, Edward must confront the emotional wreckage and deceptions in his life, and find a way forward for himself and Isaac.
Poor Edward. He's worn his 'perverse inclinations' like a hair shirt for most of his life....they've always been there, just under the surface of Edward's respectable family man persona. Until he met Isaac, he had managed to ignore that most fundamental part of who he is. He got married, had a son, and held a position in the community. But now he's in agony -- he wants, no he needs Isaac -- but revealing his secrets will devastate his family, and could result in being imprisoned as well. It's just so incredibly sad: "Edward would sigh and imagine a world where Isaac could come to live with him...A world where Edward didn't feel trapped with a child that didn't love him and a wife he couldn't keep happy..."
Yes -- I could argue that the story's resolution is just a bit too pat, and a bit too 21st century. But Edward and Isaac need their HEA, and I'm so happy that Kinsley gave it to them.
Edward Taylor, successful businessman and factory owner, has a dirty little secret he's been keeping from his wife...Isaac Sinclair. For years Edward has been trying to keep his 'needs' under control, but after meeting Isaac, he finds himself enthralled with the pain that Isaac dispenses during their sessions, and he just can't stay away. As time passes, Edward finds himself needing more than just submitting to Isaac...he's desperate for an actual relationship. As he and Isaac take their growing connection to the next level, Edward must confront the emotional wreckage and deceptions in his life, and find a way forward for himself and Isaac.
Poor Edward. He's worn his 'perverse inclinations' like a hair shirt for most of his life....they've always been there, just under the surface of Edward's respectable family man persona. Until he met Isaac, he had managed to ignore that most fundamental part of who he is. He got married, had a son, and held a position in the community. But now he's in agony -- he wants, no he needs Isaac -- but revealing his secrets will devastate his family, and could result in being imprisoned as well. It's just so incredibly sad: "Edward would sigh and imagine a world where Isaac could come to live with him...A world where Edward didn't feel trapped with a child that didn't love him and a wife he couldn't keep happy..."
Yes -- I could argue that the story's resolution is just a bit too pat, and a bit too 21st century. But Edward and Isaac need their HEA, and I'm so happy that Kinsley gave it to them.
June 27, 2019
Good historical romance from a new-to-me author.
Content warning: If you are allergic to cheating, stay away from this book. You have been warned.
I like my characters flawed and Edward delivers that in spades. There is a very fine line, though, between being flawed and being unlikeable and Edward more then once crosses that line. Still, I felt for him and kept rooting for him. Isaac, the other MC is a very likeable and great character.
There is maybe a little too much sex in the book for my liking but that's probably due to the nature of the relationship at first.
Another point in favour for the book is the depiction of Marie, Edward's wife. Unlike many other authors Kinsley doesn't fall into the trap of showing her as the shrewish, evil bitch from hell to justify Edward's actions, and I sincerely appreciate that.
The HEA is about as believable as possible in a historical romance, so I'm happy with that.
I have a tiny niggle regarding the historical side of the book that could have been avoided with a minimum amount of research. Edward pays Isaac 50 pounds for services rendered. That's more than an annual salary a worker would have received in the middle years of the 1880s, so uhm, no. Isaac wouldn't have had to live in squalor. It's not that important but then again, also really easy to research, so a little more attention to detail wouldn't have gone amiss.
That said, I enjoyed reading the book and I'm looking forward to more books from this author.
Content warning: If you are allergic to cheating, stay away from this book. You have been warned.
I like my characters flawed and Edward delivers that in spades. There is a very fine line, though, between being flawed and being unlikeable and Edward more then once crosses that line. Still, I felt for him and kept rooting for him. Isaac, the other MC is a very likeable and great character.
There is maybe a little too much sex in the book for my liking but that's probably due to the nature of the relationship at first.
Another point in favour for the book is the depiction of Marie, Edward's wife. Unlike many other authors Kinsley doesn't fall into the trap of showing her as the shrewish, evil bitch from hell to justify Edward's actions, and I sincerely appreciate that.
The HEA is about as believable as possible in a historical romance, so I'm happy with that.
I have a tiny niggle regarding the historical side of the book that could have been avoided with a minimum amount of research. Edward pays Isaac 50 pounds for services rendered. That's more than an annual salary a worker would have received in the middle years of the 1880s, so uhm, no. Isaac wouldn't have had to live in squalor. It's not that important but then again, also really easy to research, so a little more attention to detail wouldn't have gone amiss.
That said, I enjoyed reading the book and I'm looking forward to more books from this author.
September 3, 2016
Edward and Isaac have found a way to meet each other's needs in a time when their actions can result in a prison sentence or worse. Formality is expected at all times at all costs and that just adds another layer of challenges for these main characters. For me, Nicolas Kinsley wrote scenes between these two men that never got boring or tacky. Despite the events in this tale taking place during one of the most stringent periods in modern times, Kinsley's writing had an easy flow that invited this reader to kick back and enjoy the ride. Edward, Isaac & Marie were characters I wanted to see happy. Peter never connected with me but thankfully he wasn't around much and I don't think we were meant to like him. The entire read stumped me as to how this would end and I was satisfied with this conclusion.
May 30, 2015
I absolutely loved this book. So well written for its era and the dilemmas of that time. It's sad to know that being gay was not only illegal, it was punished by imprisonment and people had to keep everything "Behind Locked Doors". I loved how open-minded and smart Marie was and did the best she could with the situation at hand. Also loved how caring Isaac was towards Edward and how happy he made him.
December 13, 2015
Behind Locked Doors by Nicholas Kinsley: http://reviews-and-ramblings.dreamwid... 2015 Rainbow Awards Honorable Mention (5* from at least 1 judge)
March 15, 2018
I knew it would be an interesting read when I first discovered the novel on Amazon several months ago. Personally, I believe there are few things more fascinating than reading about repressed Victorians succumbing to their sexual urges.
But there are other factors to take into account:
The existence of homophobic laws adds another dimension to the overall story; one that inspires heartache and compassion for Edward and his lover (Isaac).
Additionally, there are the sharp divisions between classes and the frequent glimmers of socio-political unrest peppered throughout the novel.
Combining these elements created a charged atmosphere that saturated the pages as I dived into the novel and fell in love.
The author handled tension well and developed the romantic relationship between Edward and Isaac at a good pace. The novel never felt rushed and it didn’t drag on forever either: it sat somewhere in the middle of those two extremes.
For a full review, visit pocketscribbles.com
But there are other factors to take into account:
The existence of homophobic laws adds another dimension to the overall story; one that inspires heartache and compassion for Edward and his lover (Isaac).
Additionally, there are the sharp divisions between classes and the frequent glimmers of socio-political unrest peppered throughout the novel.
Combining these elements created a charged atmosphere that saturated the pages as I dived into the novel and fell in love.
The author handled tension well and developed the romantic relationship between Edward and Isaac at a good pace. The novel never felt rushed and it didn’t drag on forever either: it sat somewhere in the middle of those two extremes.
For a full review, visit pocketscribbles.com
May 14, 2017
2.9 stars rounded up. I have mixed feelings about this book. There was nothing particularly displeasing about the writing, but the romance felt artificial to me. And I think that . Honesty would have been a much better course for everyone involved.
May 20, 2017
While the story was not about Peter, it would be nice to have a 'fast-forward' about Peter. I'd just love to see how he's dealing with his family setup given what he's had to 'deal' with at the tender age of 6.
January 8, 2021
ermm no
March 15, 2015
3 star review by Vicki
I was interested in this book when it came up for review, I like historical romance stories, and BDSM, so putting them together sounded perfect! Unfortunately it didn’t work for me as well as it could have.
I hate to say it but I didn’t like Edward, one of the main characters, at all. I can look past a lot with a book, and with a character, but Edward just annoyed me. He is from a questionable background, conceived on the wrong side of the bed as it were, but claimed by his father. This seems to have given him a bad attitude about everything in life. He inherits his fathers cotton factory and is to be a good boss, He pays his employees well and treats them well. He’s educated, and has spent some time in Paris. While in Paris he becomes friends with a brother and sister, and eventually decides he might as well marry the woman, Marie, since he’ll have to get married at some point and he likes her, so….. They get married and have a son, Peter. Edward is gay, and has known it for some time, he also likes pain. He’s been known to pay for both of those needs, but slows that down once he’s married. He likes his wife, but has no connection with his son.
One day he sees a man stealing bread from a bakery, stops him, pays for the bread, chats with him a moment, learns he is a man who is paid to hurt other men and give them some sexual gratification, and sets up a time to see him professionally. This man is Isaac, and I think I liked him ok. Isaac is creative, a writer, but is very poor, living in a basement room, providing his services to a handful of clients. He is not a prostitute, he won’t bugger his clients, but he does tie them up, cane them, humiliate them, and get them off. So Edward the submissive, starts to visit Isaac the dominant for pay, and they have some nice kinky sex. I did like that part very much.
But I did not like Edward. I kept waiting and hoping that I would, but I didn’t, even by the end of the book. He cheats on his wife the entire time, and is not very nice to her. He doesn’t seem to like his son, has no friends, until he barely manages to be civil to Isaac’s friends and hangs out with them a bit. He’s a good boss to his employees, but that is really his only redeeming quality. I didn’t like how the story played out between him and his wife, I won’t say what happens, it was a creative solution, but not something I really liked.
The story was good, I liked the plot and the concept of a Victorian man paying to get his ass caned. I liked Isaac just fine, and I liked how the relationship developed between Edward and Isaac. They do eventually have a nice emotional connection, as well as a physical one. And I do appreciate the time this book is set in, and I didn’t expect them both to come out and live happily ever after, holding hands, walking down the street wearing rainbow shirts. I just didn’t find the solution to the story particularly good. I wish Isaac had been developed a bit more, this book is all from Edward perspective, so we don’t get to know Isaac very well. I wanted a bit more depth to him.
I can see that this book had good bones, I liked the plot, the writing was good, the dialog worked, the author seemed to have done some research on the time period, the details were good, and the sex was good. Just a bit kinky but not over the top. I liked most of it, I just had a really hard time connecting with Edward. I’m not sure that is the fault of the author, I can’t even really say why I didn’t like Edward, but I didn’t, and it made this not as enjoyable of a reading experience for me. Overall it was a good book, but just not great.
A copy of this book was provided in exchange for an honest review. Please visit www.lovebytesreviews.com to see this and many more reviews, author interviews, guestposts and giveaways!
I was interested in this book when it came up for review, I like historical romance stories, and BDSM, so putting them together sounded perfect! Unfortunately it didn’t work for me as well as it could have.
I hate to say it but I didn’t like Edward, one of the main characters, at all. I can look past a lot with a book, and with a character, but Edward just annoyed me. He is from a questionable background, conceived on the wrong side of the bed as it were, but claimed by his father. This seems to have given him a bad attitude about everything in life. He inherits his fathers cotton factory and is to be a good boss, He pays his employees well and treats them well. He’s educated, and has spent some time in Paris. While in Paris he becomes friends with a brother and sister, and eventually decides he might as well marry the woman, Marie, since he’ll have to get married at some point and he likes her, so….. They get married and have a son, Peter. Edward is gay, and has known it for some time, he also likes pain. He’s been known to pay for both of those needs, but slows that down once he’s married. He likes his wife, but has no connection with his son.
One day he sees a man stealing bread from a bakery, stops him, pays for the bread, chats with him a moment, learns he is a man who is paid to hurt other men and give them some sexual gratification, and sets up a time to see him professionally. This man is Isaac, and I think I liked him ok. Isaac is creative, a writer, but is very poor, living in a basement room, providing his services to a handful of clients. He is not a prostitute, he won’t bugger his clients, but he does tie them up, cane them, humiliate them, and get them off. So Edward the submissive, starts to visit Isaac the dominant for pay, and they have some nice kinky sex. I did like that part very much.
But I did not like Edward. I kept waiting and hoping that I would, but I didn’t, even by the end of the book. He cheats on his wife the entire time, and is not very nice to her. He doesn’t seem to like his son, has no friends, until he barely manages to be civil to Isaac’s friends and hangs out with them a bit. He’s a good boss to his employees, but that is really his only redeeming quality. I didn’t like how the story played out between him and his wife, I won’t say what happens, it was a creative solution, but not something I really liked.
The story was good, I liked the plot and the concept of a Victorian man paying to get his ass caned. I liked Isaac just fine, and I liked how the relationship developed between Edward and Isaac. They do eventually have a nice emotional connection, as well as a physical one. And I do appreciate the time this book is set in, and I didn’t expect them both to come out and live happily ever after, holding hands, walking down the street wearing rainbow shirts. I just didn’t find the solution to the story particularly good. I wish Isaac had been developed a bit more, this book is all from Edward perspective, so we don’t get to know Isaac very well. I wanted a bit more depth to him.
I can see that this book had good bones, I liked the plot, the writing was good, the dialog worked, the author seemed to have done some research on the time period, the details were good, and the sex was good. Just a bit kinky but not over the top. I liked most of it, I just had a really hard time connecting with Edward. I’m not sure that is the fault of the author, I can’t even really say why I didn’t like Edward, but I didn’t, and it made this not as enjoyable of a reading experience for me. Overall it was a good book, but just not great.
A copy of this book was provided in exchange for an honest review. Please visit www.lovebytesreviews.com to see this and many more reviews, author interviews, guestposts and giveaways!
July 28, 2016
2.5 stars. Admittedly kind of skimmed this in places. The kinks in this story are not typically ones I'm interested in reading about, but I do like historical romance so I wanted to try it. The BDSM element is present but not very intense compared to what I have read in other stories. The romance was nice, although I'm not a fan of I also didn't like the way Edward treated his son, and the indifference he felt towards him because he believed his son didn't love him. Of course he won't act like he loves you if you never act like you love him! Who is the parent here and who is the 6 year old?? That selfishness didn't endear me to Edward at all.
Some parts of the setting felt well researched, but then
Overall, the story was fine but I didn't not find it very memorable.
Some parts of the setting felt well researched, but then
Overall, the story was fine but I didn't not find it very memorable.
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