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Radical Proposals #0.5
Gutter Roses
London, 1898
Streetwalker Cath plies her trade behind respectable houses in Victorian London, alongside close friend and fellow streetwalker, Ben.
When an ugly encounter puts them on the wrong side of the law, she and Ben must choose between risking their hearts— or their lives.
A 3,700 word (approx 13 page) Victorian Romance
CW: violence; attempted rape
Streetwalker Cath plies her trade behind respectable houses in Victorian London, alongside close friend and fellow streetwalker, Ben.
When an ugly encounter puts them on the wrong side of the law, she and Ben must choose between risking their hearts— or their lives.
A 3,700 word (approx 13 page) Victorian Romance
CW: violence; attempted rape
20 pages, Kindle Edition
First published March 18, 2018
14 people are currently reading
63 people want to read
About the author
Jude Lucens
2 books80 followersJude writes historical romances about marginalised people affiliating and building family in the face of restrictive, often punitive, social norms. Her debut novel, Behind These Doors, is a 2019 Lambda Literary Awards finalist (Category: Bisexual Fiction).
For several years, she was a 1st Century Roman and Early Medieval re-enactor. Her primary focus was combat and target archery, and her secondary, living history and craft demonstrations—mostly fletching and ring-mail making—as well as explaining period clothing, weaponry, armour and basic combat techniques. She has hung up her bow and cedarwood arrows, and now makes silver and bronze jewellery instead.
Find Jude on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?i...
For news of upcoming and new releases, sign up for Jude's newsletter http://judelucens.com/contact-jude
For several years, she was a 1st Century Roman and Early Medieval re-enactor. Her primary focus was combat and target archery, and her secondary, living history and craft demonstrations—mostly fletching and ring-mail making—as well as explaining period clothing, weaponry, armour and basic combat techniques. She has hung up her bow and cedarwood arrows, and now makes silver and bronze jewellery instead.
Find Jude on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?i...
For news of upcoming and new releases, sign up for Jude's newsletter http://judelucens.com/contact-jude
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Displaying 1 - 20 of 20 reviews
March 21, 2018
Admission: I was a beta reader and strongly encouraged the author to formally publish this because it’s just that good. However I did pay for my final copy :-)
It’s a rare story because there are no dukes - the (intensely likable) leads are working class. Plus, one is a bisexual person of color and both are sex workers. Although these things are unusual in fiction, they weren’t at all implausible in Victorian London. The author has done her homework.
I’m also a fan because a condom makes an appearance, which was also definitely a thing in Victorian times, almost never comes up in historic fiction and absolutely should.
History aside, I’m a fan because this is a deeply relatable story about consent which nearly every woman these days has a #metoo story about. It rang so true.
Plus, it’s absolutely romantic. I don’t often like friends to lovers stories, but I adored this one because it’s both warming and satisfying.
It’s a rare story because there are no dukes - the (intensely likable) leads are working class. Plus, one is a bisexual person of color and both are sex workers. Although these things are unusual in fiction, they weren’t at all implausible in Victorian London. The author has done her homework.
I’m also a fan because a condom makes an appearance, which was also definitely a thing in Victorian times, almost never comes up in historic fiction and absolutely should.
History aside, I’m a fan because this is a deeply relatable story about consent which nearly every woman these days has a #metoo story about. It rang so true.
Plus, it’s absolutely romantic. I don’t often like friends to lovers stories, but I adored this one because it’s both warming and satisfying.
December 24, 2018
This bitty short story about two streetwalkers in 1898 London is so lovely and I'm excited to read more when Lucens publishes her first full-length novel. Gutter Roses is about Cath and Ben, close friends who look out for each other. When one of Cath's clients assaults her and she fights back, the pair have to make a choice about how they go forward. I'm not going to say more because it's tough not to spoil a short story. But I can say that even in the face of the violence in this story, what I felt most clearly at the end was the warmth, acceptance, and trust in the relationship between Cath and Ben. Absolutely worth the (negligible) price.
Lucens says she writes "historical romances about marginalised people building family and tribe in the face of restrictive, often punitive, social norms." You can really see that in this short, which it seems is a sort of sample for her forthcoming Radical Proposals series. I signed up on her mailing list right away.
Diversity notes: (1) Ben is a person of color, and he's bi and it's not a big deal or confusing to Cath, yay! (2) Lucens is a queer woman of color.
Lucens says she writes "historical romances about marginalised people building family and tribe in the face of restrictive, often punitive, social norms." You can really see that in this short, which it seems is a sort of sample for her forthcoming Radical Proposals series. I signed up on her mailing list right away.
Diversity notes: (1) Ben is a person of color, and he's bi and it's not a big deal or confusing to Cath, yay! (2) Lucens is a queer woman of color.
June 26, 2021
A perfect little gem! Although it's chronologically before Behind These Doors, I recommend reading it after so that one has a chance to know who Ben and Cath are and their current situation.
June 3, 2018
This is a short story with an m/f friends-to-lovers romance between two sex workers in 1898 London. Both characters come across as bisexual. Content warning: . It's written well and feels like an intro to a larger universe, which I think it is. I like it on its own, though, and it's actually kind of cozy to read about these two characters finding comfort together, in a grim setting. I look forward to the author's next release.
February 14, 2020
A friends-to-lovers short story set in the same universe as Behind These Doors. I really liked seeing more of Cath and Ben (even if it was in harrowing circumstances). I hope we get more of them in future books.
May 23, 2018
Just enough to get me interested in the world to come in Behind These Doors. I hope we see more of these characters in future books.
March 20, 2018
Oh, this is lovely! Gritty, tender & human, with an unexpectedly sweet finish.
M/F short with queer characters, historical, late Victorian era setting. Trigger Warning under spoiler
M/F short with queer characters, historical, late Victorian era setting. Trigger Warning under spoiler
December 23, 2018
I??? Hate this????
This was in the back of my paperback copy of Behind These Doors and that book already left me angry enough, so this was just. Not a good read
I'm giving it the one extra star because I do like the characters themselves. But when I thought I was getting to know more about Cath and Ben, I didn't think I'd be getting to read about Cath being sexually assaulted and almost raped and possibly killing a man. So that sure was a fucking trip huh
This was in the back of my paperback copy of Behind These Doors and that book already left me angry enough, so this was just. Not a good read
I'm giving it the one extra star because I do like the characters themselves. But when I thought I was getting to know more about Cath and Ben, I didn't think I'd be getting to read about Cath being sexually assaulted and almost raped and possibly killing a man. So that sure was a fucking trip huh
March 19, 2018
Full disclosure, I beta read this short story. And I'm glad I got the chance to do so, because I really liked it! It's just a few scenes (violent and warm) that take place during possibly less than an hour one dark London night.
What I particularly like is that with a few paragraphs, the mood is set, the characters introduced and the story underway. The dialogue shows a hint of accent, not too much but enough to get the right voice. It's a lovely little taste!
What I particularly like is that with a few paragraphs, the mood is set, the characters introduced and the story underway. The dialogue shows a hint of accent, not too much but enough to get the right voice. It's a lovely little taste!
November 26, 2019
The writing is strong here, but the story is way too short to get much of a sense of the two characters, a male and a female Edwardian-era streetwalker. Go right to Lucens' Behind These Doors for a fully fleshed-out and amazingly written novel.
June 21, 2018
For such a teeny tiny story I really connected with the MC’s as their personalities came across strongly in the story. This was an enjoyable read and even though it began with attempted rape and assault most of the story was about friendship and sticking together. Cath and Ben are secondary characters in Behind Closed Doors so I’m looking forward to checking in with them.
April 27, 2020
A great little companion to Behind These Doors
... or as a quick, sweet (which should ridiculous given the circumstances, but it's true) stand alone.
The backstory Cath hints at in BTD, about how she and Ben became a couple.
... or as a quick, sweet (which should ridiculous given the circumstances, but it's true) stand alone.
The backstory Cath hints at in BTD, about how she and Ben became a couple.
August 27, 2023
A moving little prequel story, focusing on a couple of characters who play only a minor role in the main book. A really fascinating glimpse into their earlier lives, and a sweet depiction of how they came to be together.
March 22, 2018
This was a lovely little bi-romance, of sorts, with two likable leads and quite readable writing.
April 2, 2018
I absolutely can't wait to be able to read other books in this series.
August 10, 2018
Short and sweet, with two sex workers as the H/h. Can’t wait to read this author’s other work.
January 7, 2019
Love this.
This author was recommended to me, and I first read her other work Behind These Doors, and was blown away. The only problem with this one is that it is too short!
This author was recommended to me, and I first read her other work Behind These Doors, and was blown away. The only problem with this one is that it is too short!
March 7, 2020
An evocative little prequel that expands a relationship we see peripherally in Behind These Doors. Beautifully written about a brutal turning point. I enjoyed it, but it was SO brief.
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January 2, 2023Came as an extra in the paper version of "Behind These Doors" that I read. A fun peek into these characters' pre-book/offscreen time.
August 3, 2019
This super short story focuses on two sex workers in 1898, Cath and Ben, and is soooo sweet. The story is written in the working class language style of the time, not just the dialogue but description too. You have to get used to it but it’s well done. And the historical details are impeccable - this is not just a veneer of history. You can tell from the descriptions of clothing articles and even an inclusion of an early form of condom this writer has done her research. The story itself is quite simple and familiar (cw: attempted rape) but at the end it’s so nice to hear Cath and Ben envisioning something different for themselves - which takes into account their flexible sexualities and that also stays true to their financial realities. I read this as a test for Jude Lucens’ writing and I think now I’ll go on and try her full-length novel, Behind These Doors.
Displaying 1 - 20 of 20 reviews