The Valet

by S.J. Foxx

After scandalising his family name, wealthy brat Hugo is kicked out of his parent's home in NYC, and tossed into the English countryside. There, he must live with his extended family and learn what it means to be a “gentleman,” or be cut off and left without his inheritance.

Brattish, reckless, and out of control, it seems that Hugo may never learn his manners. That is, until he meets his a stoic, no-nonsense valet, Sebastian.

Hugo and Sebastian are swept up in a forbidden fling, and they play a game of power.

Can Sebastian get a handle on his master? Or will Hugo's foolishness leave him penniless?

Genres: Historical, Romance, Gay, Historical Fiction, LGBT, Bisexual, M M Romance

153 pages, Kindle Edition

First published October 30, 2017

Reviews

[Silvia · Rating 3 out of 5]

I was sent this book as an advance copy by the author for review. This has not influenced my opinion.

The Valet is a debut novel and it feels like it. I don’t know what it’s being marketed as, but it’s an historical MM romance erotica, emphasis on the “erotica”, which is slightly outside my favorite genres.

This book is set in the twenties and it follows Hugo’s arrival and stay in England, his punishment for leading a debauched life in the US. He is forced to stay at his uncle’s house in the hopes that he will calm down and learn how to behave. There, he meets his valet, Sebastian, and this being the erotica novel it is, the two start an illegal relationship (they could have been imprisoned back then) pretty much right away, with a light twist on the valet/master thing.

The idea was really good, and I especially liked the twist on their dynamic, which thankfully was really subtle and not overwhelming yes, it was a very light sub/dom dynamic. As I already mentioned, I’m not too fond of the erotica genre, because I legit don’t care about smut if it’s not surrounded by heavy characterization. I’m certainly not taking this into account in my rating because I knew what this book was when I requested it, but I still think that there could have been more room for a better characterization of the two main characters.

Hugo is simply said a brat, he’s spoiled and he drowns in vice, be it alcohol, drugs, women or men. There is definitely a “path to virtue” element in the relationship he starts with Sebastian, although it certainly wouldn’t have been seen that way back then. But Sebastian becomes a bit of a constant in Hugo’s life in the months he spends in England, and that helps him become a bit more grounded.
Sebastian, in his own way, is also a brat and kind of an arrogant valet. I had a few problems with this, because there was very little build up and he started being almost rude (for a valet) to Hugo pretty much right away. Even if he was sure that Hugo liked men, it didn’t mean that Hugo would like him back, certainly not with that attitude, so it was kinda distracting to read when I kept thinking, “You idiot, you can’t wait to get fired, can you?”

Besides this I mostly liked their relationship, especially after they started being cute and sweet with each other and it wasn’t just about sex anymore. I liked that Hugo discovered more about himself and what he likes and that he has found someone like Sebastian that cares about him and that he cares about in turn. There were a few instances where Hugo had a “wtf” moment about himself, how selfish and self-centered he is, and I’m happy that this aspect of his character wasn’t left unresolved.

The writing was okay most of the time. I didn’t really like the way the sex scenes were written but I mostly skim-read those anyway (I mean there were A Lot of them, too many for me but I'm sure fans of the genre will appreciate this). As I said before, it definitely feels like a debut, but I can also see a lot of potential for the author to grow.

[Chris, the Dalek King · Rating 2 out of 5]

Sent to his English relatives, after being caught out having a drunken affair with a married woman, Hugo is told to shape up or his access to his trust fund will be permanently shut. And since the life of a drunken wastrel is considerably less fun when you’re broke, he agrees to go. He doesn’t have to be happy about it, though. Life in England, compared to New York, is stifling; his aunt and uncle’s presence included. But being in their house does bring him to the attention of the mischievous valet, Sebastian. A man who tempts Hugo in ways he never thought to be. It is a dangerous temptation, as well, since if they are caught out not only will he lose his money, but he could very well end up in jail. Hugo has never been good at resisting temptation, though. And Sebastian is the most tempting thing he has ever tasted.

So here’s the thing…if you like erotica where the main focus is on the sex scenes–and the characters and plot are at best secondary considerations–then you will probably enjoy this book. The power dynamics between Sebastian and Hugo make for some interesting sexual encounters, and for the most part they were well written. So if that is all you are looking for, you will probably get your money’s worth.

However, if you looking for a well-written “romance” story–with characters that are not flat, or a plot that goes anywhere–I am not sure that you will enjoy this. I know I didn’t.

See, from the blurb I had a few expectations going in. One, that Hugo was going to be a bit of a brat at the beginning at this story (which, I must admit, was entirely accurate). Two, that Sebastian was straitlaced valet who would help sort Hugo’s shit out (which I think I was right to expect since the words “stoic” and “no-nonsense” were in the blurb). And three, that Hugo would eventually have some type of growth in maturity brought on by either his responsibilities or his love for Sebastian.

And while the first expectation was met, the other two were wildly off the mark. Hugo is indeed a bit of an elitist rich asshole when we start the book…but that never really changes. He treats everyone like shit through the entire book, and he is still handed back his money in the end. He doesn’t have to change, grow or do anything to show that he is willing to work towards his goals. He is handed everything on a silver plate, and we are supposed to accept and be happy that because he mopped around the house for a few weeks near the end of the story, that suddenly this is the “change” everyone was looking for. And when he finally does do the right thing by Sebastian, he does it when it will no longer affect his relationship with his aunt and uncle (and thereby cut him off from his money). He is a rich entitled jackass. I can’t explain how little I care about him.

As for Sebastian–who at least is a somewhat sympathetic character–he is nothing like this blurb described him as. From the get-go he is flirting outrageously with Hugo. He fucks Hugo in public places. He doesn’t care about propriety or rules, and is, as far as I can tell, the farthest thing from “stoic” or “no-nonsense” that you could get. Which, fine. That doesn’t make him a bad character, just badly mis-sold to the reader. And maybe the wrong type of character for this story–at least partially. Because he doesn’t do anything to effect the change Hugo needs, or that the blurb said he was there for. He berates Hugo, yes, but then Hugo says this:

“Stop talking,” Hugo said, his breathing picking up. He leaned closer to him so they were nose to nose, and the room began to spin. “You’re just a valet, Finch. A self-righteous, self-loving, manipulative piece of shit. You’re nothing. That’s why you do nothing but serve other people.”

and disregards everything that Sebastian says. Which, let me just say, made me despise Hugo and stop caring what happens to the fucker from that point on. But Sebastian’s role in this book (probably because of the power imbalance in their relationship) doesn’t seem to be as a catalyst for change (in Hugo’s character), but instead a catalyst for sex.

Which leads me to my number one issue with this story. It is all about the sex. In that the plot only seems to exist to move the couple from one sex scene to the next. The characters don’t have to grow, the story doesn’t have to evolve, there doesn’t need to be any effort to dig into their backstories, because that stuff isn’t needed for Sebastian to fuck Hugo in the garden or feel him up at the opera. From a couple lines we know that Hugo is probably suffering from some form of PTSD due to his involvement in World War One–and that might even be the reason for the acting out–but does the book take any time to dig into that? No. I cannot tell you more than a couple of things about Sebastian outside of his sexual likes/dislikes. There seems to be minimal effort taken to give this story shape outside of the idea that a valet fucking his master would be fucking hot.

And if that is what you are looking for…this book will work for you. But for me, romance stories need more than just the physical acts to make them worth the effort and time to read. I want characters I can at least care about on some level. And Hugo pissed me off nine times out of ten. He never stopped being a spoiled rich kid–because the book wouldn’t let him. There was clearly more to him, but the story didn’t want to dig into that. Which is sad, because in that one time out of ten, he had something I could almost see caring about.

However I came out of this story thinking that Hugo was at best a verbally abusive spoiled douche, and while I’m glad Sebastian didn’t meet some tragic end, I’m not sure having to live with Hugo the man-baby is really much of an improvement. Especially since I’m not all that convinced that if Hugo’s parents found out about their relationship and made an ultimatum to Hugo, that Hugo would actually choose Sebastian over the money.


This book was provided free in exchange for a fair and honest review for Love Bytes. Go there to check out other reviews, author interviews, and all those awesome giveaways. Click below.

[Nina Arce · Rating 4 out of 5]

// Disclaimer: I received an advance copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. //

Ah, historical romance; a genre which ranges from where it feels like the author is simply looking for a pretty backdrop, to providing excessive detail regarding mundane historical details. In The Valet, SJ Foxx has hit a sweet spot right in the middle, producing a believable setting which manages to complement the story in just the right way. Set mostly in a country estate in early 1900s England, this story is the tale of the meeting and gradual entanglement of Hugo, wealthy brat extraordinaire, and his valet Sebastian.

While the setting is well-crafted and charming, the focus of this story is on the characters. And by goodness, Hugo (our protagonist) was infuriating, spoiled, and generally didn’t understand how good his life really was. There were so many times when I wanted to shake him—BUT, and this is an important ‘but’, that is precisely why this story works! Hugo is an idiot, but dear, darling love interest sees what good there is in him and likes him anyway. Though on the surface it might look like it is so-called genteman Hugo who is out of valet Sebastian’s league, in reality is it Sebastian who is almost too good for Hugo. It’s a nice little switch-around in the dynamic that makes for a good balance between the two.

Rated 3.5 (rounded up to 4) stars out of 5, mostly because at times I found Hugo a little TOO infuriating, and would have liked to see his surroundings (including Sebastian) put up a bit more of a fight against his antics.

[Jay · Rating 4 out of 5]

Melanie said it in really well in her review. This one's got some Upstairs, Downstairs flavour.

Hugo's sent to England by his parents to become a gentleman after a scandal he headlines. He finds some trouble in England too but he also finds feelings. He starts as a boofhead and he changes largely because of a toppy valet who makes his society superior his sexual submissive and I liked it!
Blog review at CR
http://cockyreviews.com/the-valet-sj-...

[Jennifer Lavoie · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this book so much! My heart broke for how much I loved Hugo and Sebastian.

Full review to go up at The Novel Approach.

[The Novel Approach · Rating 5 out of 5]

S.J. Foxx is a new author, and if her next book is anything like The Valet, she has found a permanent reader in me.

Set in the not too distant past, I want to say after World War I but before World War II, Hugo is a troublemaker in his family. After one too many scandals, his parents send him to live with family in England, with an ultimatum: shape up and become a gentleman, or lose your inheritance.

Hugo is immediately unhappy with his English family. They are strict, stoic, and do not want him there. The remote English countryside is exactly the opposite of what he wants; there is no jazz, no clubs, no drinking, no women, and very likely no men either.

When he meets the footman, Sebastian, however, everything begins to change for him. After his first valet is fired for theft, Sebastian steps in. Though he does his job well, he has no time for Hugo’s bratty behavior, and he takes him to task with a firm hand. One that Hugo didn’t know he craved. Soon, Sebastian is all Hugo can think about. When a family friend puts Hugo in danger, Sebastian steps in to save Hugo, but it might cost them everything they’ve built.

I absolutely loved this book. From the first page, I was riveted. Hugo is such a bratty character. One would think that he would just settle down, tolerate his year abroad and do his best to behave so that he can get his inheritance and move on, but not Hugo. He gets bored easily, and when he’s bored, he’s reckless.

Sebastian was not our typical valet, either. He can see right through Hugo’s act, and he knows how to handle him. The book has some slight BDSM elements, with Hugo acting as the submissive and Sebastian the Dominant. There’s nothing extreme, but there is a power exchange between them. It was nice to see the roles reversed, where the aristocrat falls to his knees for the valet instead of the other way around. And though there are books out there like this, I felt that this one was done very well. The details to the clothing, decorations, music, and lifestyle was well researched. I felt it was plausible, and even the ending, which was a little bit of a surprise for me—I had expected a slightly different twist—was wonderful. If S.J. Foxx were to write another book starring Hugo and Sebastian after the events of this book, I would happily read it.

If you are a reader who enjoys historical romances, light D/s themes, role reversals, and completely bratty aristocrats, I highly recommend this author. She is one to watch out for.

Reviewed by Jennifer for The Novel Approach

[Raven (Bibliobird) · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book was sent to me as an advance copy by the author for review.

This book is a debut novel for the author and first of all, congratulations! It did have that "debut novel" feel, but overall the story was nice.

I was a bit confused as to what this story should be, it mostly felt like erotica, as there was so much sex between the two characters. I felt like there should have been more room for character development, as well as just getting to know the characters.

The Valet centers around the reckless protagonist, Hugo, as he is sent to England as a punishment for his thoughtless behaviors. I did rather like Hugo, and I didn't know what to think of the romantic interest, Sebastian. He is quite domineering, and this book seemed like it could also be categorized as dom/sub for the relationship between the two, although this is mostly a sexual relationship. This being said, I did like the more romantic side of their relationship, when it was very sweet and caring, and I wish I could have seen more of this relationship.

As noted, I wish there was more characterization rather than mostly smut between them. That was my one negative about the story. However, the writing was very nice and I hope to see more from SJ in the future!

[Melanie · Rating 3 out of 5]

A Scattered Thoughts and Rogue Words Review

Rating: 3 stars out of 5

For the Full review visit https://wp.me/p220KL-c2K

From that review: " I enjoy historical fiction and that includes historical romance.  I love it when the author get an era factually correct and then draws me into it, making the times and characters come alive for me.  And I think for the most part S.J. Foxx did that in The Valet.  Set in 1900's England,  Foxx gives you a very "Upstairs, Downstairs" world of the very rich in England into which tumbles an American cousin called Hugo."

For all our reviews, author interviews and such, visit us at http://scatteredthoughtsandroguewords...

[Susana · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5 - 4 stars
Hugo Bentley is rich, spoiled, and in need of a corrective. That’s why, after his last scandalous behaviour reaches the press, his parents decide to send him from New York city to the British countryside, to live with his strict aunt Ethel and her husband Harry. Stranded at Finchley Hall, Hugo idles his days away… until his new valet, Sebastian Finch, crashes into his life. Hugo and Sebastian have to negotiate the power balance in a relationship which endangers them both, and which ends with Sebastian in trouble…
This story feels a bit like erotica, but with an interesting plot. There is a lot of sex, and the relationship between Hugo and Sebastian borders a mild BDSM. I enjoyed the setting a lot, the crazy jazz years of the beginning of the century, and the contrast between a free-minded young American and the British countryside gentry and their stifling rules and way of life. There is also a hint at the problem the class difference between the characters involves, and one of the most enjoyable chapters is the one they spend together in London, where Sebastian pretends to be a gentleman and so he can share his time freely with Hugo. But basically it is an erotic romance with lots of hot scenes and two likeable characters who manage to achieve a quite unrealistic HEA.
A very sexy story.

[Isabelle Adler · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really liked the premise of the bored, spoiled aristocrat falling for a feisty valet, and the exploration of erotic power play. This was very well done, and I enjoyed the setting very much.
I also liked the main characters, even though I wanted to smack Hugo upside the head for being a tool. Sebastian, in my opinion, was awesome through and through.
I would have wanted a more intricate plot to match the interesting setting, but all in all, if you're looking for a gay erotic historical romance (and this is a VERY hot one), you're going to enjoy The Valet.

[Mickie Ashling · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Valet, a debut novel by S.J. Foxx, is a kinky historical romance set in the early 1900's. The smooth writing and accurate depiction of the Jazz Age mindset added the necessary element to hurl me back in time. I would have enjoyed seeing more of the MCs life after the tumultuous climax, but the HFN ending was satisfactory. I look forward to reading more from this author.

[Les Joseph · Rating 3 out of 5]

Every reader out there has a genre or a certain type of book they're drawn to, it's just the way it is. There's comfort in knowing what to expect from your favorite authors or tropes but when I saw the blurb for The Valet by SJ Foxx, I knew I had to give it a try. Historical romance is definitely NOT my go-to but I found myself captivated by the setting and the characters portrayed in this book. Rich with imagery that felt authentic, The Valet was a pretty enjoyable read from beginning to end.

Set in the early 1900's in the English countryside, The Valet centers on wealthy playboy American Hugo and his no nonsense valet, Sebastian. To say that these two clashed from the get go is an understatement but of course this hate quickly turns to lust as the two begin an illicit affair. There is A LOT of sex in the book, more than was necessary, and this kind of took away from the story itself. As a debut author I can understand the inclination to go with more is better, but in this case, not so much. With as bratty and infuriating as Hugo was, it took me a bit to like him. The attitude and the snobbery definitely worked for his character though and he was pretty irresistible at times, especially when Sebastian gets to know him better and sees beneath the surface.

I quite enjoyed the dynamic between Sebastian and Hugo and really would have liked more depth and definitely more character development of them and their relationship rather than so much focus on the sex. The writing was choppy in places and then in others flowed quite nicely. There wasn't a whole lot going on besides the interactions between Hugo and Sebastian and I would have liked more layers and background, but all in all, The Valet was a nice book. I'll definitely be on the lookout for more from this author.

*this review will also be posted on www.diversereader.blogspot.com*

[Jacqueline Mudge-Cooke · Rating 3 out of 5]

I received this advance copy in exchange for an honest review, which may contain spoilers.

This book is about Hugo, an American sent to live with his English relatives as punishment of sorts, for his wild lifestyle. Either he behaves and becomes a gentleman or he will lose his inheritance.

Then there is his valet Sebastian, who is his 'love' interest. I put quotations there, for this book felt less like a romance and more like an erotica. For it seemed most of the focus of the story was on the sex scenes than much else. Although there is some romance just perhaps not enough to my liking.

I did enjoy the sex scenes, quite creative but I would have enjoyed a bigger break between a couple of them. Perhaps to focus on something else. For earlier in the book, I was just as confused as Hugo was confused for what he wanted from Sebastian. Before Sebastian's influence for Hugo's mostly good behavior.

At first I took a liking to Sebastian because he was so cheeky, but later I found myself liking Hugo more. Possibly because Sebastian was testing the boundaries that he could get away with. Which some of it was annoying, especially in one of those few times Hugo could have easily retaliated and gotten him fired. Also we do learn very little about him which possibly is Hugo's fault for not asking questions. At least he acknowledges his flaws, all of them...

This book is a debut, and I think as a debut, we have a good first book. I suspect that SJ Foxx will get better in time as more books are written.

[Mari Cardenas · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 Stars

Hugo has been sent by his parents to his uncle's house in England with the hope that he would change his ways after partaking in too many scandals. There he meets Sebastian, who is a footman and then turns into his valet and they engage in a power play that might put them both in peril.

Sebastian was quite arrogant for a footman/valet. He's described as stoic and no-nonsense in the blurb, but he starts flirting with Hugo from the first moment their eyes meet and never did I get the feeling he was either of the first two descriptions. I felt he was too forward with Hugo, perhaps he realized Hugo shared his inclinations, but this is something that could've landed Sebastian in hot water had he been wrong. And then Hugo, ugh, he was such a spoiled brat. I just couldn't fully connect with them. The power play was interesting, seeing as the tables were turned, but other than that, I didn't quite feel it.

I love historical books, but unfortunately, this one didn't quite hit its mark with me. While the book is well-written, I just found both main characters unlikable and the secondary cast, other than Arabella, Hugo's 16-year-old cousin, weren't much better. Perhaps others might find it more enjoyable, it just didn't quite work for me.

*** Copy provided to Bayou Book Junkie for my reading pleasure, a review wasn't a requirement. ***

[Carrie · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5/5

Tags: Setting: post-war early 1920s England (Cumberland and London); Drug Use: On page use of marijuana and cocaine