What do you think?
Rate this book
Appointed Limits
An officer never, ever goes adrift in the Gut, the most infamous street in Malta. However John Amery, Surgeon RN, loses his way, his innocence and his virginity there one December night of 1908 when he meets Pasco Teague.
From Malta to Devonport to Gallipoli, from the Mediterranean to the Channel to the Dardanelles, John and Pasco meet and part, in peace and war and peace again. Duty and Pasco are the fixed points in John’s life, but there comes a time when he has no power over either and must find his way to another kind of peace.
41,000 words / 152 pages.
From Malta to Devonport to Gallipoli, from the Mediterranean to the Channel to the Dardanelles, John and Pasco meet and part, in peace and war and peace again. Duty and Pasco are the fixed points in John’s life, but there comes a time when he has no power over either and must find his way to another kind of peace.
41,000 words / 152 pages.
ebook
First published February 1, 2018
1 person is currently reading
57 people want to read
About the author
Jay Lewis Taylor
10 books20 followersI grew up in southern England, but now live in Somerset, within an hour’s drive of the villages where two of my great-great-great-grandparents were born. I have worked in an eclectic range of libraries over the years but am in fact a thwarted medievalist with a strong arts background.
I have been writing fiction for over thirty years, exploring the lives of people who are on the margins in one way or another, and how the power of love and language can break down the walls that we build round ourselves.
I have been writing fiction for over thirty years, exploring the lives of people who are on the margins in one way or another, and how the power of love and language can break down the walls that we build round ourselves.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews
Read
July 29, 2019I removed the rating for this book, due to catfishing behavior on the part of the author (statement here : https://jaylewistaylor.home.blog/2018... )
4.5 stars, rounded up. This book is about gay romantic relationships, but it's not a traditional romance. The book has three sections, and the common thread through them is John Amery, Surgeon in the Royal Navy, as the book opens prior to WWI. The initial section is in the POV of Pasco Teague, a stoker on the same ship, who happens to be the person to whom a drunk John says "I don't want a woman. I want a man." Luckily for his safety, Pasco's response is "How about me?" And the courage of a bottle wins John his first sexual experience, and the first person he really cares about.
But Pasco is bisexual (refreshingly so, where so many historicals have only straight and closeted gay men.) He is very fond of John, enjoys sex with him, and although duty separates them, they have a relationship based on occasional encounters for years. But Pasco likes women too and still has his eyes fixed on a wife and children and all that kind of life entails. John is not his sole focus. And John, who is strictly gay, socially inept, reclusive and silent by nature, is at a disadvantage, though he has hopes that they will continue to grow closer.
The second section of the book is from John's POV, as we watch the effects of the war, life at sea, and relationship changes on him. He grows more mature, but his aloofness, his self-control, and his caution, don't make life easy. Nor do the things he went through.
In the third section we get a new POV, a shift of focus, and changes in John's life, both good and bad, that will shape the man he is as he goes through his middle years.
I really enjoyed this. It felt very realistic to the times and lives of the men. As a romantic, I wanted things to work out on a more traditional arc. But in life, it is probably more common for even working relationships to frequently be one-sided. One person invests more emotion, more energy, more focus, than the other. Perfect mutual balance is the bread and butter of romance, but this felt real.
The writing is a little sparse. The emotions come through in simple phrases and actions, sometimes a little flatly. It didn't rip my heart as it might have, given some of the notable events in here including a world war. But it's a book I'm glad I read, and do recommend to anyone interested in depictions of gay lives and not just traditional romance. And the ending is a HEA.
4.5 stars, rounded up. This book is about gay romantic relationships, but it's not a traditional romance. The book has three sections, and the common thread through them is John Amery, Surgeon in the Royal Navy, as the book opens prior to WWI. The initial section is in the POV of Pasco Teague, a stoker on the same ship, who happens to be the person to whom a drunk John says "I don't want a woman. I want a man." Luckily for his safety, Pasco's response is "How about me?" And the courage of a bottle wins John his first sexual experience, and the first person he really cares about.
But Pasco is bisexual (refreshingly so, where so many historicals have only straight and closeted gay men.) He is very fond of John, enjoys sex with him, and although duty separates them, they have a relationship based on occasional encounters for years. But Pasco likes women too and still has his eyes fixed on a wife and children and all that kind of life entails. John is not his sole focus. And John, who is strictly gay, socially inept, reclusive and silent by nature, is at a disadvantage, though he has hopes that they will continue to grow closer.
The second section of the book is from John's POV, as we watch the effects of the war, life at sea, and relationship changes on him. He grows more mature, but his aloofness, his self-control, and his caution, don't make life easy. Nor do the things he went through.
In the third section we get a new POV, a shift of focus, and changes in John's life, both good and bad, that will shape the man he is as he goes through his middle years.
I really enjoyed this. It felt very realistic to the times and lives of the men. As a romantic, I wanted things to work out on a more traditional arc. But in life, it is probably more common for even working relationships to frequently be one-sided. One person invests more emotion, more energy, more focus, than the other. Perfect mutual balance is the bread and butter of romance, but this felt real.
The writing is a little sparse. The emotions come through in simple phrases and actions, sometimes a little flatly. It didn't rip my heart as it might have, given some of the notable events in here including a world war. But it's a book I'm glad I read, and do recommend to anyone interested in depictions of gay lives and not just traditional romance. And the ending is a HEA.
February 25, 2018
4.5 stars
Lovely writing. This is historical fiction that feels authentic and true to the time. It follows, from different perspectives, a navy surgeon from pre-war 1908, through the war and then into the early 1920s. This has a love story but don't go into this expecting a traditional romance novel. If you're wondering about a HEA .
Lovely writing. This is historical fiction that feels authentic and true to the time. It follows, from different perspectives, a navy surgeon from pre-war 1908, through the war and then into the early 1920s. This has a love story but don't go into this expecting a traditional romance novel. If you're wondering about a HEA .
May 17, 2018
Aye, aye Captain!! An enchanting little historical read, all the stars from me. 🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟
So happy for John that he finally, finally found someone who could love him for who and what he was, with no questions asked....and well done Pasco for being honest with John from the start. As for John's cow of a mother...well, let's hope her latest husband realises what an enormous mistake he's made [and he probably will, cos he's in the closet too] and quietly shoves her aside.
Across Your Dreams is up next....woohoo, I've found a wonderful new author!! 😊
So happy for John that he finally, finally found someone who could love him for who and what he was, with no questions asked....and well done Pasco for being honest with John from the start. As for John's cow of a mother...well, let's hope her latest husband realises what an enormous mistake he's made [and he probably will, cos he's in the closet too] and quietly shoves her aside.
Across Your Dreams is up next....woohoo, I've found a wonderful new author!! 😊
February 11, 2018
** 4.5 Stars **
Jay Lewis Taylor is a gifted writer. Appointed Limits has an authentic period feel and excellent character insights. The more I read the more I appreciated all the characters. There are no wasted words or narrative padding. My heart ached for John! Overall, it was a great read that won't leave you indifferent. I wish it were longer!
Jay Lewis Taylor is a gifted writer. Appointed Limits has an authentic period feel and excellent character insights. The more I read the more I appreciated all the characters. There are no wasted words or narrative padding. My heart ached for John! Overall, it was a great read that won't leave you indifferent. I wish it were longer!
April 5, 2018
Another excellent historical from this author. Since we are reading about British men from 100 years ago, their feelings are so rarely discussed or out in the open, and the book reflects the reality back then. But there is also much feeling here--in the nuances, small gestures, the quick brush of a comforting hand, a meaningful photograph. The last third of the book is especially satisfying and I ended with a happy sigh.
July 20, 2021
A platform for a pretty powerful series.
Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews