Jump to ratings and reviews
Rate this book

Lorenzo: uncut

Rate this book
When Luke visits Florence he hopes it will be the start of a new chapter in his life. A chance meeting with a tall, handsome waiter and that chapter starts far sooner than he could ever have imagined. Lorenzo is everything Luke has been looking for. Hot, sexy and uninhibited, he pushes buttons Luke never knew existed. But Luke lives in England, Lorenzo in Florence, and the time soon comes for them to part... Can this holiday fling become more than just sex? Can it, in fact, turn into a magnificent romance?
This is a re-release of La Roche's second gay novella with explicit scenes cut from the original edition back where they belong. If you are looking for a soppy romance this might not be it - multiple partners, sex al-fresco and more.

What they say about Tristram La Roche:

Tristram La Roche’s Lorenzo il Magnifico is a joyfully erotic journey through the streets of Florence, Italy, as we follow Luke on a holiday that will serve to change his life forever. Top2Bottom Reviews

Tristram’s first novella, “On My Knees”, has been swiftly followed by a real corker. Susan Roebuck

Is there anything sexier than two gorgeous guys in the throes of an Italian love affair? Lorenzo and Luke are definitely all that, and so much more. They both have attitude that adds just the right amount of angst to their story, and keeps everything feeling more realistic and honest. Tristram La Roche has certainly caught my eye and interest with this juicy hot read. Coffee Time Romance and More

I felt the Italian heat and the surroundings of Florence. His senses of plot, character, place and pace blend perfectly together. This is a strictly adults only novella. One that I would highly recommend. Catherine Cavendish

After reading La Roche's first book, On My Knees, I couldn't wait for his next one. I was not disappointed. Renzo

Re-edited edition of "Lorenzo il Magnifico".

84 pages, Kindle Edition

First published August 3, 2011

2 people are currently reading
36 people want to read

About the author

Tristram La Roche

8 books40 followers
Tristram La Roche was born in London and spent much of his childhood in Europe. His career has included tourism and yacht charter, as well as a brief period working as a freelance journalist. His interests include travel, art, music, opera, cinema, books and current affairs, and he is passionate about the rights of the GLBT community. La Roche's work pushes the boundaries of traditional romance, aligning him more with writers of gay literature such as Hollinghurst and Rupert Smith. On My Knees, his debut contemporary romance published by Etopia Press, was a Kindle UK bestseller. He has just re-released On My Knees in a refreshed version. Fixed, his third novella, explores a more masculine side of gay love while his latest, an historical work entitled The Hun and The General, published in December 2011 by Etopia Press, has already been hailed by some as his finest yet. June 2013 saw him join forces with Daniel deLoite to release an anthology - MANTHOLOGY in eBook and paperback.

Ratings & Reviews

What do you think?
Rate this book

Friends & Following

Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!

Community Reviews

5 stars
8 (32%)
4 stars
6 (24%)
3 stars
6 (24%)
2 stars
3 (12%)
1 star
2 (8%)
Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews
Profile Image for Reena Jacobs.
Author 17 books107 followers
July 17, 2012
My review also on Ramblings of an Amateur Writer: http://reenajacobs.com/blog/?p=9833

For the longest time... okay, for the last couple of years, I've wanted to read a romance written by a male. Lorenzo il Magnifico gave me that opportunity. It's one of those books which hit me on a psychological level.

It was interesting to find the main character in the book had a lot of the same insecurities I have going into new relationships. Luke offered a sort of rawness he shared with the reader, and it made him a character I could relate to... understand and appreciate.

One of the things I loved about Lorenzo il Magnifico is the vulnerability a lot of women miss when writing from the male perspective shows up in this book. Society says men are supposed to be butch and stoic. :) I've been married (add some dating years in) long enough to know the stoic shell hides a lot. It was nice getting into Luke's mind and see he was just... well, human, rather than the unemotional brute I see so often in romances.

So we had a bit of gay love happening. :) What did you expect from a gay romance? It actually reminded me a lot of Queer as Folk. When Luke wanted sex, he simply went to the place were the guys were and got it on. He didn't have to play games or pretend he was not into.

And it made me wonder, what would life be like if women didn't have to play the chaste games... if women weren't called sluts for seeking sex when they wanted. After all most people enjoy sex (men and women alike). Yet women have to put up the appearances that they're not that interested in order for society to view their behaviors as acceptable. I have to say... for straight guys so eager to get it on, they're really screwing themselves over with the name calling. :)

Despite the stigma still surrounding being gay, it seems very liberating to do away with the sex games heterosexual couples play and just do. I liked that about Lorenzo il Magnifico.
Profile Image for Susan Roebuck.
Author 5 books112 followers
August 12, 2011
Watch out all you famous authors at the forefront of m/m hot fiction – there’s a new boy in town!

Tristram’s first novel, “On My Knees”, has been swiftly followed by a real corker: Lorenzo il Magnifico
Although Luke has an art-history degree, he’s working in a call-centre in Leeds. Mundane indeed but he’s expecting life to take a turn for the better as he leaves on a short holiday to Florence. Where he meets vibrant Lorenzo.
Although Luke was only seeking holiday excitement, the attraction between the two men is instant. But Luke’s holiday is only a week long – will it just be another wham-bam-thanks-for-the-memories-and-here’s-your-hat type of romance?
I hoped not because I was rooting for the two heroes. Characterisation in Lorenzo il Magnifico is impeccable: Luke comes over as an authentic young man from Leeds who is in desperate need of a stroke of luck. And Lorenzo? Well, suffice to say he lives up to the title of the book.
Florence is portrayed in perfect detail which made me believe that the author knows his way around there like a second (or possibly first?) home. If you’re yearning for the feel, sights, sounds and smells of "off-the-tourist map Florence", then look no further: Lorenzo il Magnifico provides it in bucket-loads.
A delightful read all round, in my opinion, and if you’re a lover of well-written, steamy, m/m romances then I recommend Lorenzo il Magnifico – with the warning to turn your air-conditioning on as you’re reading.
Profile Image for Katherine Wyvern.
Author 13 books20 followers
February 3, 2012
It was amusing and slightly surreal to read a story of this sort set in Italy, my native country; one gets so used to fantasy, S/F or period settings that it is almost shocking to read a sort of erotica-in-your-backyard book. A very realistic Italy too, dirty and messy, complete with Vespas, Alfas, dangerous drivers and obnoxious dog poops. Some details were not quite believable, like the perfectly punctual train, but I am a forgiving creature and will let that pass.

I really enjoyed the style of this book, quite a lot grittier than most romance I ever read, and almost harsh in places, but in a very engaging way. There is a wicked sense of humour (more of it in the next book, please!), there is a bit of a creepy thriller, heroes are mortal men, beautifully flawed and realistically shy of their own tenderness, and whether or not you appreciate the pitilessly honest urban setting, and somehow unromantic characters, you cannot fail to be involved in Luke's doubts, fears and eventual happiness. So, yes, very nice, although I would have cut the plot by a half and doubled the naughty (very tasty) bits. What can I say. I am just smutty like that.
:)
Profile Image for Luta Wolf.
310 reviews16 followers
October 28, 2011
The plot was cute and I loved the amount of details put into the book. I found myself literally sucked into Italy. I could see it, feel it, and taste it. I was completely and utterly there. It was a steady, easy read, that for the most part was an enjoyable read. However what I didn’t enjoy were the characters. They were well written, that wasn’t the problem. The problem was that they just aren’t likable characters. Luke comes off as very whiney. At the start of the book he is complaining non-stop about his job, however that same job affords him a nice house and vacations to Italy. Lorenzo was a little more likable though he is very much the quintessential play boy.

For more of this review please visit: http://thetbrpile.weebly.com/1/post/2...
6 reviews
September 10, 2011
After reading La Roche's first book, On My Knees, I couldn't wait for his next one. I was not disappointed. Lorenzo il Magnifico is perhaps a bit more towards erotica than OMK - there is more sex and it is really well executed. I also loved the way La Roche makes us feel as if we are in those Florentine streets without overdoing the description. I think it's called white porcelain prose and he is certainly a master of it. The main character, Luke, is just like someone I know; a good guy but flawed and scarred. I think people will either love or hate Luke: I loved him. I saw somewhere that La Roche has two more books to come out this year and I will definitely be reading them.
Profile Image for The TBR Pile *Book review site*.
1,840 reviews58 followers
October 27, 2011
Enter Contest Here: http://thetbrpile.weebly.com/1/post/2...

The plot was cute and I loved the amount of details put into the book. I found myself literally sucked into Italy. I could see it, feel it, and taste it. I was completely and utterly there. It was a steady, easy read, that for the most part was an enjoyable read.

Despite my personal feelings of the characters I have to recommend this simply because the details are that good. When you fall into a book and feel as though your watching it rather than reading it, well that’s top notch writing and deserves the credit.
Profile Image for ManOhMan.
269 reviews
September 4, 2011
Reviewed by Max: My problems with this novella began when I started to not like the main character. This happened early on in the story and my opinion of him didn't change as I kept reading.

Luke comes across as an arrogant prick. I can't help but wonder what attracted Lorenzo to him. It had to have been his looks because it certainly wasn't his personality.

The sex was okay and there was lots of it. It didn't do anything for me and again this stems from my dislike of the main character.

I enjoyed the first book by this author, but this one left me cold.

D
Profile Image for Shannon.
2,163 reviews46 followers
March 4, 2013
Cute story. Nothing deep and I'm sure I'll forget about tomorrow but it was a nice way to spend an hour or two. Luke, an Englishman in a dead end job goes on vacation to Italy and meets Lorenzo and they start a sweet romance. That's it in a nutshell.
Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews

Can't find what you're looking for?

Get help and learn more about the design.