Fallen

by Ruby Moone

Major Oliver Thornley never expected to see the man who saved his life at the battle of Waterloo again. He certainly never expected to fall over him in the street. When Thornley stumbles over a pile of rags, he is horrified to discover it is the man who dragged him from the battlefield to safety.

Taking the man back to his Mayfair home, Thornley nurses Daniel back to health as he battles with his own forbidden desires. Then he learns Daniel shares his feelings, as well. Though it feels so right when they are in each other’s arms, Thornley knows their mutual secret could see them hang.

Is there a way for them to be together despite the class difference that separates them? Can he admit he’s fallen in love before Daniel leaves for good?

Genres: Romance, Historical, M M Romance, Friends To Lovers, Historical Fiction, Military Fiction, Historical Romance

42 pages, Kindle Edition

First published June 23, 2016

About the author

Biography
My name is Ruby Moone and I love books. All kinds of books. My weakness is for romance, and that can be any kind, but I am particularly fond of historical and paranormal. I decided to write gay romance after reading some fantastic books and falling in love with the genre, so am really thrilled to have my work published here. The day job takes up a lot of my time, but every other spare moment finds me writing or reading. I live in the north west of England with my husband who thinks that I live in two worlds. The real world and in the world in my head...he probably has a point!

Reviews

[~✡~Dαni(ela) ♥ ♂♂ love & semi-colons~✡~ · Rating 3 out of 5]

~3.5~

I loved the friends-to-lovers and comfort/healing tropes in this short story: one of the MCs literally finds the other—bruised, filthy, and feverish—on the streets. Oliver used to be Daniel's commanding officer at Waterloo, and the two were close, neither revealing his secret desire.

We don't get a lot of background information about the men, so the relationship felt slightly rushed, but there is a fair amount of steam and plenty of tenderness.

This is the fourth story I've read by Ruby Moone, and I've noticed a pattern in the way she writes an ending: big dramatic crisis of some kind, followed by tears and declarations of love. Following the reconciliation, there's maybe a paragraph or two before the story ends, making the HEA feel VERY rushed and rather unearned.

[Serena Yates · Rating 4 out of 5]

Set just after the battle of Waterloo in 1815, this is the story of Major Oliver Thornley and Daniel, the man who saved his life. They were very close brothers in arms, but lost touch after Oliver was safe. Neither of them expected to ever see the other again, but Fate has a different plan. In a tale that has Oliver sweep in to save Daniel this time, both men need to figure out how to deal with their feelings. Ones they have not acknowledged before, that are illegal and could get both of them sentenced and hanged. Feelings that, at least Oliver, has been taught are utterly immoral and that make him despise himself when he cannot stop them.

Oliver is a man of some means, with a small house in London, a valet, and a housekeeper. He is not rich, but he has no problem surviving now that the war is over and he has returned to running his business. When Oliver finds Daniel in the street, hiding under a bunch of rags, half-starved and not quite conscious, he is both shocked and relieved. He hates the idea that Daniel has had to suffer, but is happy to help him regain his health. After all, the man saved his life, and even though Oliver was not able to track him down once his own wounds had healed, he has never forgotten him.

With Daniel in the house and needing pretty close physical care, Oliver soon finds himself tempted to kiss him – and more. But Oliver’s father beat a hatred of anything gay into him to the point that Oliver now despises himself and his feelings. It takes a long time and some stern talking-to from Daniel for Oliver to begin to understand that the love he feels is not “wrong” or “immoral”.

Daniel has his own problems. His parents died and left him without a home. He was wounded as well and now has a limp that disqualifies him for the physical work that is his only means to support himself. And as much as he loves Oliver and appreciates the help, he is too proud to accept life as a “kept man”. There are some very tense moments in Oliver and Daniel’s relationship, and finding a solution to their situation in a time when love between two men is illegal is not going to be easy.

If you like historical gay romance with all the issues and obstacles it presents, if you believe that two men who have fought together and are deeply in love deserve to be together – no matter what, and if you’re looking for a read that is full of tension, sweetness, and deep emotions, then you will probably like this short story.


NOTE: This book was provided by JMS Books for the purpose of a review on Rainbow Book Reviews.

[Manfred · Rating 4 out of 5]

Short and sweet novel about a major who was saved by a soldier, meeting that very soldier after the war, broken and ill in the streets of London and taking him home to nurse him back to health.
Too short to really get to know those guys, still a very endearing and nice story. 3.5 stars

[Ro · Rating 5 out of 5]

“He’d been suffocating. Sinking. Dying. Then a voice penetrated from the blackness, a voice hoarse from shouting…” Corporal Daniel Simpson had served with Major Oliver Thornley in Belgium and ended up saving Oliver’s life. They lost touch after the war, as tended to happen back then, and it is with extreme dismay that Oliver finds Daniel actually in a gutter, gaunt, bruised and sick.
Oliver is a good person and would have saved whoever that had been, but being his friend, Daniel, was heart wrenching for him. He brings Daniel home, where he is nursed back to health by Oliver and his household. He and Oliver resume their friendship tentatively, because Daniel wants to get out, find work and lodging and Oliver, well, Oliver wants to never let Daniel go again. Daniel’s nightmares are heartbreaking and the first indication of what he really feels.
The fact that this is historical means they run the risk of imprisonment or death for what they feel. Oliver, who was beaten and shamed by his father for wanting to love men, carries those scars with him. I loved that the “stronger” of the two, Major Oliver, is the one that has to be reassured that he is not dirty, filthy or worthy of contempt for what he feels. I loved that scene so much.
I also loved the double meaning of the title. Fallen (in love) and fallen (from status). I could have used more of what happened to them in the war because at one point I thought they were just soldier who saved his superior, but later it seems they had been friends.
I’d highly recommend this for historical and romantic lovers. It’s not super fluffy but no undue angst either. It’s just a story of two men trying to find their way.

[Susan65 · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Blogger Girls

I never, and I really mean, I never read historical romance novels, so why did I grab this one? I seriously have no idea what drew me to this book, maybe the cover, the blurb, the fact that it was so short I knew it wouldn’t be a hardship to finish, but whatever it was I am glad I gave it a go. It was easily a four star book and I never once got bogged down or disinterested.

Oliver and Daniel are two amazing men from opposites sides of tracks, but who became fast friends, and then brothers-in-arms when Daniel saved Oliver at the Battle of Waterloo. What Oliver didn’t expect was to later find Daniel on the streets of London as a crippled and homeless vet without resources. Thus begins their renewed friendship and budding love affair.

This book was written in such a way that the polite language, that usually throws me off in contemporary romance novels, actually worked well here. You expect that kind of language in the 1800’s. Not hoity-toity, just very polite.

This is definitely a true hurt-comfort book, written during a time when homosexuality was a literal death sentence, and these two men had to carefully wade through their feelings for each other to determine if the feelings were mutual. It took most of the book for the truth to be revealed, but that fact was easily digested as it is obvious to the reader how much these two man truly loved each other. So, if you are in the mood for an enjoyable historical romance short story then I think you should give Fallen a try. It really was good.

Overall Impression: I really liked it

[Victoria (Eve's Alexandria) · Rating 3 out of 5]

2nd read, October 2020

Of all the hurt/comfort stories I’ve read, I often find myself thinking of this one, and so I gobbled it up again in the early hours of this morning. I liked it just as much if not more this time around. Emotional catnip.

1st read, December 2019

Whoops, I slipped and read another Ruby Moone novella last night. Difficult to resist when it was in Kindle Unlimited and clearly up my trope street. This is pure indulgence to me - m/m hurt/comfort. It takes place not long after the Battle of Waterloo, during which Daniel Simpson saved his commanding officer's life, before disappearing in the chaos afterwards. Oliver, the officer in question, is heart broken - despite the class divide he had always considered Daniel his greatest friend. So when he falls over a dying veteran in the street and discovers it's none other than his rescuer, he scoops him up and takes him home. But having Daniel so close again, and so needy, is torture. The soft hidden feelings that Oliver has fought so hard to conceal start to rise to the surface...

It gets steamy, but as with the previous Moone story I read, it's the emotional stuff that worked for me: Daniel and Oliver having to fight their social conditioning and their internalized shame to find a way to be together.

[Seeilin · Rating 4 out of 5]

Oh, that was cute :D

[A.R. Moler · Rating 4 out of 5]

Sweet hurt/comfort. Could possibly have benefitted from a true flashback scene of something that happened between the men in the war. Really liked it.

[Sally halliday · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very sweet story.

[JD Crittendon · Rating 3 out of 5]

Forever!

A sweet, sexy historical romance between wealthy Major Oliver & down-on-his-luck Corporal Daniel. I love this author’s historical tales. A quick read!

[W · Rating 3 out of 5]

Sweet

Fallen is a sweet , uncomplicated , fairy tale like , MM historical romance with a Happy Ever After ending.

[Trin · Rating 2 out of 5]

I've seen this author recommended a lot, but this was the only thing my library had. I had no idea how short it was. Frankly, it's too short. The idea is sound: two soldiers who fought in the Napoleonic Wars, one of whom has, after their return to England, resettled comfortably with family money, while the other has fallen on hard times, find themselves ~reunited~, with the former taking care of the latter. But since there's no time to get to know either man or their issues or anything, outside these statues, the sex and misunderstandings and swift resolution and declarations of love mean little. I need to try something more substantial by Moone or give up, clearly.

[Heloise West · Rating 5 out of 5]

Good, short historical read, very well written :)

[Joyfully Jay · Rating 5 out of 5]

A Joyfully Jay review.

5 stars

I usually hate short stories for the very simple reason that they are too short. I prefer a long narrative where the action evolves organically and without the rapidity often inflicted upon the short story medium. So what a wonderful surprise it was to find a short story that was fully developed and naturally paced. Fallen was an excellent tale for fans of Regency era pieces. The author did a good job of giving enough background and historical context to set the scene without getting bogged down in extraneous historical detail. The plot is simple and straight-forward and works because Fallen never tries to be anything more than what it is. This is not some grand drama, but rather the sweet story of two men who need one another more than they realize. Oliver feels more complete than Daniel as a character, but overall both are more than one dimensional, which is no easy feat, given the nature of short stories. Oliver felt a bit obtuse at times about the world around him, but this seemed to mesh with the reality of his life as a wealthy man. The affection they have reads as genuine and while the difficulties between them are rather easily solved, they still feel realistic within the context of the story and age in which Oliver and Daniel are living.

Fallen was short and sweet and well done from beginning to end. The storyline was simple and straightforward and this story had a strong sense of self. The author knew what they wanted to accomplish and did so in excellent fashion. There are no soap opera moments or damsels in distress; just two men helping one another heal from a war that nearly claimed them both. If you’re looking for a quick read that leaves you with a smile on your face, definitely check out Fallen.

Read Sue’s review in its entirety here.

[Bo · Rating 5 out of 5]

(This review is for all four titles in Regency Rogues Box Set, in which this tale appears)

A Bounty of Rogues & Lovers

This anthology strings together two short stories and two novellas, the latter two interrelated as to plot and characters. You can buy them separately, but I thoroughly enjoyed working my way through this anthology of 19th Century England because all four books featured similar MC's: A member of the gentry (or aristocracy) and a commoner meet accidently and fall in love despite class and emotional differences.

In "Fallen" and "The Heat of the Moment," we have two couplings which are seemingly too serendipitous and chancy but turn out to be beautifully developed within a short time-span of narrative. In the former retired army Major Oliver and his former army subordinate Daniel--how they reconnect, and find love. In the latter you just had to imagine what would have happened if Robert was less of a free spirit to Milo's despairing, bitter soul. Their romance was life affirming and delicious.

"The Wrong Kind of Angel" and "Trapped" are exceptionally well developed with a bounty of supporting characters who aid or try to dispose of Charles and Harry in the former and Tristan and Sam in the latter. These two have intricate plots, some violence, a lot of adventure and in both Harry and Sam two lower middle class individuals with far more class and humility than most of the rest of their aristocratic elders or peers--and certainly more than the dastardly individuals who plot deeds against them.

Truly wonderful tour-de-force by an author I will continue to follow. Bravo!

[Maureen · Rating 4 out of 5]

A sweet short story of love in the Georgian era of England, shortly after the battle of Waterloo. It was pleasant to visit back into the genre I used to read, Historical MM romance. Oliver and Daniel battled as soldiers together and now they meet again in the streets of London, one of is in dire need of help, the other only too happy to give it.

[Monika · Rating 3 out of 5]

Sweet but way too short, I really would have liked more!

QUICK THOUGHTS

-- Historical -- uniform/ex military -- friends to lovers -- hurt/comfort -- some sweet moments -- likeable enough MCs... Oliver & Daniel -- too short to get really connected -- everything felt a bit rushed -- would have loved more -- short, under 50 pages -- own in a box set

[Danielle · Rating 3 out of 5]

It was fine. Not bad; very short.

[pollymuz · Rating 3 out of 5]

Ebook. Enjoyable short read.

[Martha H. · Rating 4 out of 5]

Loved it! Only 6 chapters, but the story was complete. Sometimes it wasn't clear why the characters reacted as they did, but it was a HEA with a really sweet, witty story.

[Sw3 · Rating 3 out of 5]

Not bad. It's a novella so you only get so much development. I wish I could read an expanded version. Some of the language was a bit modern, so that was a turn off.

[S.A. Locryn · Rating 4 out of 5]

I liked the book though it doesn’t figure among my favorites from Ruby Moone. Oliver and Daniel were OK as characters, I liked the part of the book when Daniel was recuperating under Oliver’s tender care. To tell you the truth the scenes with Oliver’s flashbacks of his abusive father felt a bit pointless. Compared to the book’s length it was way too over the top for me, that page count could have been used for other purposes like description of characters’ past together. Parallel to this Oliver’s insecurities and self-hate could have been presented/ described satisfactorily based on social rules and expectations.
I understand the intention of this part of the storyline though. It was used to show how hurtful is the hate and ill-intentioned words coming from important persons like a father. Or to demonstrate how wrong directed is his self-loathing, because if he is deplorable, then so is Daniel too. So the first step is to realize and accept the wrongness of his father’ ways. Because if Oliver could accept himself, and could see himself in a different light (as a normal and accomplished man) that means his father was wrong all along. Case closed. But in my opinion the page count was a bit too few to let this side of Oliver’s life unfold properly.
Therefore this part of the novella seemed a bit rushed, but the story was overall good. The characters’ feelings for each other seemed genuine, and they were very likeable together.
For more about my opinion click on the link below.
https://hundredmoors.com/2020/02/08/h...

[Reader (Show me, don't tell me) · Rating 3 out of 5]

Short story, quick (ok) read.
I think [but who the devil cares what I think -sometimes I don't] Oliver and Daniel should have gotten more time (a few more chapters) to 'rebuild' their relationship since they've been apart from each other for awhile. I didn't get the sense that Oliver was actively looking for Daniel; he only happened upon him one day. So I can't buy the quickie relationship and quickie declarations of love so fast -regardless of their being in the war together.

BTW, the jacket and the sword would have been totally perfect and enough for a very good cover. Those two lads surely didn't represent the characters I read about in the book

[Janette · Rating 3 out of 5]

I enjoy friends-to-lovers stories, especially with a reunion element as is the case with Oliver and Daniel, however this one fails to adequately build their emotional connection enough to satisfy me. The author clearly weaves the story of their shared history, but it lacks a solid foundation for the strong emotions they claim. Additionally, Oliver seems to be struggling to accept his sexuality to some degree, however even that element was a surprise because it’s not in agreement with his inner dialogue or actions toward Daniel. Overall it’s a sweet story that suffers some emotional disconnects.

[Lindsay · Rating 5 out of 5]

Hot yet heartwarming

Wow I picked up this book as a suggestion from another queer author and I'm so glad I did what a wonderful heartfelt book with two amazing characters. Society was awful for the queer and finding ways to be together sounds tiring and stress laden but they did it.
Loved this book and would happily read more from this amazing author from my neck of the woods.
Reet grand love reet grand

[Judy · Rating 3 out of 5]

A historical novella that deals with the aftermath of the Napoleonic wars and how the soldiers were treated.

[Ann · Rating 4 out of 5]

Friends to lovers plus hurt/comfort bundled into one short story perfectly.

[KC · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was a light enjoyable m/m historical fiction short story.

[Danielle · Rating 4 out of 5]

Really lovely novella

I love this author’s ability to evoke real depth of emotion. It feels unexpected and fresh. Love how her characters react. Really impressed.