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Treading the Boards #2
She Whom I Love
Love would be simpler if it came with a script.
Marguerite Ceniza dies on the London stage each night, but her own life has barely begun. The ingénue is on the prowl for a lover, but while she burns with desire for Sophie, a confession could ruin their decade-long friendship. In the meantime there are always men vying to be her patron, and square-jawed, broad-shouldered James Glover can’t help but catch her eye.
Sophie Armand has been a lady’s maid for too long, and she’s sick of keeping secrets. Her hidden scripts and the story of her birth are only the beginning. Her nights are haunted by desperate thoughts of the beguiling Marguerite, and of James, the handsome tradesman who whispers promises of forever into her ear.
James has the kind of problem a lot of men would kill for—two women, both beautiful, both sensual, and both willing. Sophie wants marriage, while Marguerite’s only in it for fun, and choosing between them isn’t easy.
What’s the worst that could happen if he secretly courts them both?
Warning: Contains a lady’s maid with secret desires, a corset-maker who knows his way around a woman’s body, and an actress who never has to fake it. Rated for adult audiences only.
Marguerite Ceniza dies on the London stage each night, but her own life has barely begun. The ingénue is on the prowl for a lover, but while she burns with desire for Sophie, a confession could ruin their decade-long friendship. In the meantime there are always men vying to be her patron, and square-jawed, broad-shouldered James Glover can’t help but catch her eye.
Sophie Armand has been a lady’s maid for too long, and she’s sick of keeping secrets. Her hidden scripts and the story of her birth are only the beginning. Her nights are haunted by desperate thoughts of the beguiling Marguerite, and of James, the handsome tradesman who whispers promises of forever into her ear.
James has the kind of problem a lot of men would kill for—two women, both beautiful, both sensual, and both willing. Sophie wants marriage, while Marguerite’s only in it for fun, and choosing between them isn’t easy.
What’s the worst that could happen if he secretly courts them both?
Warning: Contains a lady’s maid with secret desires, a corset-maker who knows his way around a woman’s body, and an actress who never has to fake it. Rated for adult audiences only.
381 pages, Kindle Edition
First published December 29, 2015
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659 people want to read
About the author
Tess Bowery
4 books138 followersTess has been a fan of historical fiction since learning the Greek and Roman myths at her mother's knee. Now let loose on a computer, she's spinning her own tales of romance and passion in a slightly more modern setting. Tess lives on the east coast, with her partner of fifteen years and two cats who should have been named 'Writer's Block' and 'Get Off the Keyboard, Dammit.'
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 36 reviews
July 11, 2016
What a wonderful Regency poly ménage with happily ever after! Childhood girl friends who realize they're in love have also both been flirting with the same man. When they discover the overlap, they put their plan into action and the next thing James the Corset Maker knows, he's got two girlfriends. She Whom I Love is a perfect and quintessential example of something I've seen mentioned often these days: "wouldn't it be nice if some of those love triangles became triad fiction instead", because the plot sort of starts at a classic love triangle setup and then goes merrily in its own direction. For those who are looking for diversity within bisexuality: Sarah is bi, whereas author Tess Bowery said I surmised correctly from her period-appropriate descriptions that Meg is bisexual homoromantic.
More squeeing in list form, because I'm lazy today:
-the first confession of mutual love between the two women was everything I want in a historical f/f--no internalized homophobia, a feeling of utter wholesomeness and emotional purity in its approach to sexual intimacy between women. It read very 'love story' rather than erotica.
-ALL THREE of the romantic leads are working people who do things for a living. In a historical romance, that's a gift.
-Negative loose ends got tied up in an unexpectedly positive way, which was not only satisfying to me as a sugarbucket but satisfying to my feminist impulses
-the author made sure she wasn't writing a falsely white London
-there was an actual plot with adventure, and villains to fight, as opposed to the romantic arc being the entire rising and falling action, with elements of ladies rescuing ladies.
-a lot of the conflict comes from everyone trying to figure out how to make sure they're being treated with as much respect as they deserve as human beings despite living in a class system that denigrates actresses or people born of sex workers, rather than bullshit manufactured conflict and misunderstandings.
-the two women had really clearly defined contrasting personalities, with Sarah as the pragmatic and responsible one and Meg as the exciting foil
-Sarah is a playwright in what little spare time being a lady's maid affords her, and even the made-up play within a book made sense and sounded interesting to me
The book did make me yearn more for historical f/f without a dude in it that had the same feel--wholesome sexuality, pretty dresses, intense emotional connection, and nothing of persecution beyond a passing mention of "let's not get caught"--but I check LGBT presses a lot, and I'm optimistic. :)
More squeeing in list form, because I'm lazy today:
-the first confession of mutual love between the two women was everything I want in a historical f/f--no internalized homophobia, a feeling of utter wholesomeness and emotional purity in its approach to sexual intimacy between women. It read very 'love story' rather than erotica.
-ALL THREE of the romantic leads are working people who do things for a living. In a historical romance, that's a gift.
-Negative loose ends got tied up in an unexpectedly positive way, which was not only satisfying to me as a sugarbucket but satisfying to my feminist impulses
-the author made sure she wasn't writing a falsely white London
-there was an actual plot with adventure, and villains to fight, as opposed to the romantic arc being the entire rising and falling action, with elements of ladies rescuing ladies.
-a lot of the conflict comes from everyone trying to figure out how to make sure they're being treated with as much respect as they deserve as human beings despite living in a class system that denigrates actresses or people born of sex workers, rather than bullshit manufactured conflict and misunderstandings.
-the two women had really clearly defined contrasting personalities, with Sarah as the pragmatic and responsible one and Meg as the exciting foil
-Sarah is a playwright in what little spare time being a lady's maid affords her, and even the made-up play within a book made sense and sounded interesting to me
The book did make me yearn more for historical f/f without a dude in it that had the same feel--wholesome sexuality, pretty dresses, intense emotional connection, and nothing of persecution beyond a passing mention of "let's not get caught"--but I check LGBT presses a lot, and I'm optimistic. :)
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January 21, 2016I am really, really liking this author's work. The problems of artists scraping a living, dependent on whim and patronage, the problems of servants denied a personal life and able to be sacked on a whim, the threat of poverty and desperation just around the corner: these make a really solid grounding for Bowery's Regencies. Which isn't to say these are heavily political, but that, no matter how fairytale the romance might be, it has its feet very firmly on the ground.
This is a f/f/m menage, and I have to say that I did not love the m part of that for much of the book. But I did like the way he switched from seeing himself as the centre with two women wanting him, to realising he was one point in a triangle. I loved their relationship, both sexual and intense friendship. And I really hope there are going to be more books in this world.
This is a f/f/m menage, and I have to say that I did not love the m part of that for much of the book. But I did like the way he switched from seeing himself as the centre with two women wanting him, to realising he was one point in a triangle. I loved their relationship, both sexual and intense friendship. And I really hope there are going to be more books in this world.
January 1, 2016
I saw this cover on twitter and clicked so fast I almost broke my finger. I can never find f/f/m stories!! I absolutely loved the first half - 3/4. I rarely read Regency historicals anymore (I think this is Regency...) maybe because very few feature working class characters, like this one. The hero is a staymaker--really. And he's no dandy. Apparently making stays is part art, part manual labor, and he makes a good living. The first heroine is a ladies' maid, pretending to be French, writing a play in her spare time. The second heroine is her best friend, an actress. We get authentic, interesting details for each profession.
My favorite part of the story was the banter between Sarah (the maid) and James (the staymaker). Their dialogue is delicious. She claims that he's the only man mentally *dressing* women with his eyes, rather than undressing them. Ha. The writing is superb and the characters are charming.
Sarah's friend Meg is the vibrant, dramatic type, well suited to the stage. Both women have always pined for each other, in secret. They begin an affair at the same time James decides he'd like to court Sarah. The only problem is that he's also pursuing Meg as a mistress. He's not an experienced scoundrel, however. He's just a lovelorn staymaker who finds himself in an emotional bind with two equally appealing women. They discover what he's doing and "punish" him with some sexy revenge. Soon the three are involved in a very unconventional romance.
There's some upstairs-downstairs drama at Sarah's work, secrets are revealed and James makes a hash of things by implying that Meg is a strumpet. It's all very juicy, until the focus shifts to some intrigue and danger involving his little sister, which drags on for the last 1/4. This just seemed to delay the romantic resolution unnecessarily. I wanted more of an exploration of the menage relationship and more of that sparkling dialogue.
Overall it's a very strong story, sexy and unique and well-written, much better than most of the f/f/m I've read. 4/5
My favorite part of the story was the banter between Sarah (the maid) and James (the staymaker). Their dialogue is delicious. She claims that he's the only man mentally *dressing* women with his eyes, rather than undressing them. Ha. The writing is superb and the characters are charming.
Sarah's friend Meg is the vibrant, dramatic type, well suited to the stage. Both women have always pined for each other, in secret. They begin an affair at the same time James decides he'd like to court Sarah. The only problem is that he's also pursuing Meg as a mistress. He's not an experienced scoundrel, however. He's just a lovelorn staymaker who finds himself in an emotional bind with two equally appealing women. They discover what he's doing and "punish" him with some sexy revenge. Soon the three are involved in a very unconventional romance.
There's some upstairs-downstairs drama at Sarah's work, secrets are revealed and James makes a hash of things by implying that Meg is a strumpet. It's all very juicy, until the focus shifts to some intrigue and danger involving his little sister, which drags on for the last 1/4. This just seemed to delay the romantic resolution unnecessarily. I wanted more of an exploration of the menage relationship and more of that sparkling dialogue.
Overall it's a very strong story, sexy and unique and well-written, much better than most of the f/f/m I've read. 4/5
February 18, 2016
A really well-done polyamorous triad set in the 1800's. The historical setting was spot-on, the characters were vibrant and unique, and the story didn't play out as a pile of obvious tropes. It was nice, refreshing, a super fun read and a great romance.
I will say that I wasn't expecting as much erotic content as was in this book. This is definitely an erotic romance, with entire chapters devoted to lengthy sex scenes. They were well-written and the author doesn't overuse euphemisms or anything distracting, but I'm just not here for lots of erotica, so I found them distracting and skim-worthy. But that's just me and my own tastes. :)
I actually really loved Sarah's employer's arc, and Cecily and James' relationship. And Grace. I want to see Grace again. Each character has their own dramas and subplots that weave together with the romance plot line to make them their own well-rounded people with lives and interests and personalities.
I really, really enjoyed this. It gave me a lot of warm fuzzy polyamory feelings.
If you're looking for solid romance featuring non-monogamy, give this one a read.
I will say that I wasn't expecting as much erotic content as was in this book. This is definitely an erotic romance, with entire chapters devoted to lengthy sex scenes. They were well-written and the author doesn't overuse euphemisms or anything distracting, but I'm just not here for lots of erotica, so I found them distracting and skim-worthy. But that's just me and my own tastes. :)
I actually really loved Sarah's employer's arc, and Cecily and James' relationship. And Grace. I want to see Grace again. Each character has their own dramas and subplots that weave together with the romance plot line to make them their own well-rounded people with lives and interests and personalities.
I really, really enjoyed this. It gave me a lot of warm fuzzy polyamory feelings.
If you're looking for solid romance featuring non-monogamy, give this one a read.
January 31, 2016
Previously reviewed on The Good, The Bad, and The Unread:
I’ve written before about how rare it is for me to find a story in which poly relationships work the way I’ve seen in real life. Finding a story like that in a historical romance, where the setting and characters also felt in keeping to me seemed an impossibility. However, I was tempted by this book’s blurb and its implication that the relationship between the two heroines was at least as important to the plot as those between each of them and the hero. So I jumped straight in, not having read the first book in the series, and I’m very glad to have done so.
Sarah and Meg have known each other since girlhood, when they were both saved from less than ideal family situations by an older woman who ensured they received an education and far better choices in life than many of their peers. Both have adopted more exotic sounding names: Meg in order to pursue a career on the stage, and Sarah to gain employment as a fashionable ‘French’ ladies’ maid. The women are still close, but neither has dared confess the true extent of her feelings to the other. Meanwhile, both are also unaware that they share a male admirer.
James makes and fits ladies’ corsets for a living, although his desires to lead the fashions rather than sticking with well-accepted designs that are hampered by the senior partner in his enterprise. The sole guardian of his younger sister, James hopes to find a suitable wife – much like the maid he encounters on a regular basis – but is tempted by Meg, whom he knows is looking for a new protector but not for a husband.
When the women realise that James has been courting both of them, they set a trap for him, but it turns out that all three are suited – if they can only find a way to make the relationship appear respectable. Meanwhile, James’ sister longs for excitement and hopes that her brother’s new friends will provide her with more opportunities to see the world beyond their London townhouse.
This book has a fabulous set of main characters and a great supporting cast of allies and adversaries. Much of the conflict within the relationship stems from the sheer lack of role models for James to base his behaviour on – which means he makes a mess of things a few times – while the big conflict is external to the three and results from Meg’s refusal to entertain the wishes of a local villain. The finale of that subplot had me genuinely worrying how things could be made to work out for all the good guys, but the resolution was highly satisfactory.
A series I shall definitely be catching up with and then keeping up with.
I’ve written before about how rare it is for me to find a story in which poly relationships work the way I’ve seen in real life. Finding a story like that in a historical romance, where the setting and characters also felt in keeping to me seemed an impossibility. However, I was tempted by this book’s blurb and its implication that the relationship between the two heroines was at least as important to the plot as those between each of them and the hero. So I jumped straight in, not having read the first book in the series, and I’m very glad to have done so.
Sarah and Meg have known each other since girlhood, when they were both saved from less than ideal family situations by an older woman who ensured they received an education and far better choices in life than many of their peers. Both have adopted more exotic sounding names: Meg in order to pursue a career on the stage, and Sarah to gain employment as a fashionable ‘French’ ladies’ maid. The women are still close, but neither has dared confess the true extent of her feelings to the other. Meanwhile, both are also unaware that they share a male admirer.
James makes and fits ladies’ corsets for a living, although his desires to lead the fashions rather than sticking with well-accepted designs that are hampered by the senior partner in his enterprise. The sole guardian of his younger sister, James hopes to find a suitable wife – much like the maid he encounters on a regular basis – but is tempted by Meg, whom he knows is looking for a new protector but not for a husband.
When the women realise that James has been courting both of them, they set a trap for him, but it turns out that all three are suited – if they can only find a way to make the relationship appear respectable. Meanwhile, James’ sister longs for excitement and hopes that her brother’s new friends will provide her with more opportunities to see the world beyond their London townhouse.
This book has a fabulous set of main characters and a great supporting cast of allies and adversaries. Much of the conflict within the relationship stems from the sheer lack of role models for James to base his behaviour on – which means he makes a mess of things a few times – while the big conflict is external to the three and results from Meg’s refusal to entertain the wishes of a local villain. The finale of that subplot had me genuinely worrying how things could be made to work out for all the good guys, but the resolution was highly satisfactory.
A series I shall definitely be catching up with and then keeping up with.
December 29, 2015
~~I received a free copy of this book to read and review for Wicked Reads ~~
This is an entertaining read set in a time where women of any class had to use their wiles to get what they needed, and love was very much the casualty. Not so here - two women who have known each other forever manage to combine the two, or is that three, to aim for a real HEA. It is not an easy course, but one which clearly has much merit.
The detail of the times are threaded into the story carefully, building the dramatic elements effectively. The characters grow naturally and develop throughout the story, which feels very intimate. The romance both explodes and also seeps into the trio, much more sincerely than the relationships that are around them. It is a clever book, as it sets up a whole world in which the reader becomes invested, as well as being laden with intense chemistry between three fascinating people. The scene where the women reveal to James that they are known to each other is extremely sensual.
If you like period romance and are happy to indulge in voyeurism of an FFM trio, this will be a very enjoyable read!
This is an entertaining read set in a time where women of any class had to use their wiles to get what they needed, and love was very much the casualty. Not so here - two women who have known each other forever manage to combine the two, or is that three, to aim for a real HEA. It is not an easy course, but one which clearly has much merit.
The detail of the times are threaded into the story carefully, building the dramatic elements effectively. The characters grow naturally and develop throughout the story, which feels very intimate. The romance both explodes and also seeps into the trio, much more sincerely than the relationships that are around them. It is a clever book, as it sets up a whole world in which the reader becomes invested, as well as being laden with intense chemistry between three fascinating people. The scene where the women reveal to James that they are known to each other is extremely sensual.
If you like period romance and are happy to indulge in voyeurism of an FFM trio, this will be a very enjoyable read!
September 8, 2015
(Possible Spoilers)Every now and then I'll find a book that genuinely amazes me this most certainly being one. I was lucky enough to receive an Advanced Reader Copy(ARC) of this work from the author and from opening to finale this was a pleasure to read. It comes across clearly that the author not only researched but immersed herself in the time period. She has succeeded in creating a rich world and a fascinating view into the not to distant past and populates it with wonderfully distinct and original characters. Each detail from the chemistry shared between characters to the downright sinful intimate scenes was fantastically woven together. The story is suspenseful, humorous, and in the end makes you think of where our society is and where it was not that long ago. Very much recommended.
February 12, 2019
I've been wanting to find some good triad/menage books for a while now and this seemed like a good place to start. It was simple and enjoyable, but nothing remarkable. Very convenient and charming. I'm leaning towards 2.5-2.75 stars with this one. Definitely a fun read but not my next favourite book.
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February 15, 2022Review also published at The Smut Report.
Heat Factor: Sex is frequent, explicit, and hot.
Character Chemistry: Even though Sarah is the only one with any sense, I completely believe her relationships with both Meg and James who are both ridiculous and moderately annoying.
Plot: Let’s navigate a threesome, plus an evil pimp.
Overall: A welcome change from standard regencies.
Imagine: you are a nice man, with a successful trade and a good income. You own a home in London, inherited from your father. Now, you are ready to settle down with a wife. The only problem is that you find yourself attracted to two women. What’s a man to do? Why, court them both, of course! Conveniently, one would make the perfect wife, and one would make the perfect mistress.
Unfortunately for James our Intrepid Staymaker, Sarah and Meg, the two women in question, happen to be BFFs. Who have only recently discovered that they are also sexually attracted to each other, and are having a grand time romping in bed during their stolen moments together.
Naturally, Meg and Sarah decide that James needs some punishment. Luckily for James, however, they both actually like him, so the punishment quickly morphs into forgiveness and then a threesome. Through the rest of the book, Sarah, Meg, and James work on figuring out how to successfully navigate a triad like mature adults. Because we have three protagonists, the scope for misunderstanding and jealousy is naturally much higher. However, I never felt that the disagreements felt manufactured or unrealistic, but could just as easily happen in a contemporary polyamorous relationship. Both Meg and Sarah feel moments of jealousy and sometimes fall into a competitive mindset; James worries that if he pisses one of them off, he’ll lose both of them. Reading the book, I felt that Sarah was the nexus that held the triad together, but that could have been because I related to her the most, and found Meg to be impetuous and vain and silly.
The fact that this is a regency, however, adds some depth and danger to the proceedings, in two ways. First, they want to ensure that their special arrangement will not be discovered. I mean, nothing would happen to James – he starts his whole dual courtship after another dude is like, obviously you need a wife and a mistress. But Sarah and Meg could be in for a heap of trouble. While as far as I can tell (I am not a historian and have not done any research beyond googling), there were no explicit laws against female homosexual behavior in 19th century England, it’s not like open lesbianism was tolerated. There were cases of “Female Husbands” in both England and the US during this time, though we mostly hear about the ones where the woman was punished – though it’s hard to tell if they were punished for fraud or sexual deviance. And “Female Husbands” were definitely enough of a curiosity that they made up a whole genre of writing – so Sarah and Meg (but really Sarah, because she’s the one with sense) worrying about repercussions seems about right.
The second component that makes their situation much more precarious is class. None of our protagonists are upper class, but there are also distinct class differences between them. James is an apprentice staymaker, but one who is quite well settled. The man he works for has no family, so James will take over the business once the dude retires. Plus his father was a successful tradesman, so there is some family money. He and his sister keep several servants. Sarah is the lady’s maid to the grumpy old Lady Horlock. As such, she’s mid-level in the pecking order at the grand house – she’s not the scullery maid or cleaning the fireplaces or anything – but she also has very little independent time. She cannot have guests over, and would face serious repercussions if her boss suspected that she was even being courted. Meg is an actress. But not a fancy actress at a famous theater, but an ingénue who does the cheap theater circuit. She supplements her income by finding protectors. She is by far the most financially precarious of the three, but also seems the most unconcerned about that stuff. And she doesn’t understand why Sarah can’t just meet her whenever, because she has a lot more freedom than Sarah does.
Because of both the gender and class dynamics inherent within this triad, James has a lot more power than either Sarah or Meg does. Part of his appeal is in fact his willingness and ability to provide financially for both of them. I wish that Bowery had explicitly explored the nuances of the power dynamics between the three main characters, because in the end, I really just felt like James got really lucky to have two awesome ladies in his life and Sarah and Meg took the opening that was provided for a more stable existence – where, as a really great bonus, they could keep having sex with each other and not worry about it.
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Heat Factor: Sex is frequent, explicit, and hot.
Character Chemistry: Even though Sarah is the only one with any sense, I completely believe her relationships with both Meg and James who are both ridiculous and moderately annoying.
Plot: Let’s navigate a threesome, plus an evil pimp.
Overall: A welcome change from standard regencies.
Imagine: you are a nice man, with a successful trade and a good income. You own a home in London, inherited from your father. Now, you are ready to settle down with a wife. The only problem is that you find yourself attracted to two women. What’s a man to do? Why, court them both, of course! Conveniently, one would make the perfect wife, and one would make the perfect mistress.
Unfortunately for James our Intrepid Staymaker, Sarah and Meg, the two women in question, happen to be BFFs. Who have only recently discovered that they are also sexually attracted to each other, and are having a grand time romping in bed during their stolen moments together.
Naturally, Meg and Sarah decide that James needs some punishment. Luckily for James, however, they both actually like him, so the punishment quickly morphs into forgiveness and then a threesome. Through the rest of the book, Sarah, Meg, and James work on figuring out how to successfully navigate a triad like mature adults. Because we have three protagonists, the scope for misunderstanding and jealousy is naturally much higher. However, I never felt that the disagreements felt manufactured or unrealistic, but could just as easily happen in a contemporary polyamorous relationship. Both Meg and Sarah feel moments of jealousy and sometimes fall into a competitive mindset; James worries that if he pisses one of them off, he’ll lose both of them. Reading the book, I felt that Sarah was the nexus that held the triad together, but that could have been because I related to her the most, and found Meg to be impetuous and vain and silly.
The fact that this is a regency, however, adds some depth and danger to the proceedings, in two ways. First, they want to ensure that their special arrangement will not be discovered. I mean, nothing would happen to James – he starts his whole dual courtship after another dude is like, obviously you need a wife and a mistress. But Sarah and Meg could be in for a heap of trouble. While as far as I can tell (I am not a historian and have not done any research beyond googling), there were no explicit laws against female homosexual behavior in 19th century England, it’s not like open lesbianism was tolerated. There were cases of “Female Husbands” in both England and the US during this time, though we mostly hear about the ones where the woman was punished – though it’s hard to tell if they were punished for fraud or sexual deviance. And “Female Husbands” were definitely enough of a curiosity that they made up a whole genre of writing – so Sarah and Meg (but really Sarah, because she’s the one with sense) worrying about repercussions seems about right.
The second component that makes their situation much more precarious is class. None of our protagonists are upper class, but there are also distinct class differences between them. James is an apprentice staymaker, but one who is quite well settled. The man he works for has no family, so James will take over the business once the dude retires. Plus his father was a successful tradesman, so there is some family money. He and his sister keep several servants. Sarah is the lady’s maid to the grumpy old Lady Horlock. As such, she’s mid-level in the pecking order at the grand house – she’s not the scullery maid or cleaning the fireplaces or anything – but she also has very little independent time. She cannot have guests over, and would face serious repercussions if her boss suspected that she was even being courted. Meg is an actress. But not a fancy actress at a famous theater, but an ingénue who does the cheap theater circuit. She supplements her income by finding protectors. She is by far the most financially precarious of the three, but also seems the most unconcerned about that stuff. And she doesn’t understand why Sarah can’t just meet her whenever, because she has a lot more freedom than Sarah does.
Because of both the gender and class dynamics inherent within this triad, James has a lot more power than either Sarah or Meg does. Part of his appeal is in fact his willingness and ability to provide financially for both of them. I wish that Bowery had explicitly explored the nuances of the power dynamics between the three main characters, because in the end, I really just felt like James got really lucky to have two awesome ladies in his life and Sarah and Meg took the opening that was provided for a more stable existence – where, as a really great bonus, they could keep having sex with each other and not worry about it.
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January 3, 2016
She Whom I Love by Tess Bowery
Book #2: Treading the Boards Series
Source: Purchase
My Rating: 4½/5 stars
My Review:
Marguerite (aka Meg) Ceniza lives her life as she sees fit! As an actress, Meg gets to play a variety of roles that allow her to play out her need for attention in front of a receptive audience each and every night. Meg has no interest in marriage or children or generally being tied down but she is interested in being loved and cared for. Sophie (aka Sarah) Armand is far quieter and more reserved than her best-friend, Meg and has a great deal of interest in being married, having children, and being loved and cared for. Though the two women are wildly different, they have long been friends and most recently, have become lovers. Though their affair will most certainly bring them both pleasure, it won’t bring either of them the security of marriage and family.
James Glover isn’t a wealthy or titled man but he does have a respectable income thanks to his stay/corset designs. His work is beautiful and finely crafted and certainly appeals to many women among London society. With his financial future virtually assured, it is now time for James to settle his personal future. Unfortunately, James can’t quite decide between two women, Meg and Sophie, which causes him to devise the most ill-conceived of plans, he will court them both, make Sophie his wife and keep Meg as his mistress. What could possibly go wrong here??? Within days of settling on his plan, James is found out and the two women take the most delightfully delicious and sensual revenge on him for his trickery. (FYI: This is one of the best scenes in the book ) Never in his wildest dreams would James have imagined not only having both women but both women being willing to share themselves with each other as much as with him. What could possibly go wrong here???
As these things tend to go (says the girl who has no first-hand knowledge of such things ) the initial stages of the love triangle are filled with shared naughty moments and promises of never abandoning one another. But Meg, Sophie, and James are all still human and their respective situations don’t lend themselves to making things more permanent. Meg doesn’t want something permanent but wants both James and Sophie, Sophie to love her and James to care for her financially. James fears he will lose Meg if he follows his heart and proposes marriage to Sophie and fears Sophie will step aside if he shows too much attention to Meg. Sophie has a comfortable position as a lady’s maid and fears losing both Meg and James due to the responsibilities and duties demanded by her job. Clearly, the three need to have a serious talk but, as with any good book, they choose to keep their feelings and fears inside until everything falls apart.
Of the three, Meg has always been the most reckless, the most careless and has relied on Sophie (among others) to bail her out of her messes. Her most recent mess is the direst she has ever faced and with Sophie and James so very, very mad at her, she has no choice but to get herself (and James’s sister) out of the dilemma. Mind you, the dilemma isn’t simple or small but large and dangerous and it will take everything in Meg (and maybe a few surprise rescuers!) to right the wrongs she has created.
The Bottom Line: Bowery is finding her stride with She Whom I Love and I thoroughly enjoyed the naughty little period piece. Of the group, James and Sophie are my favorites with Meg and her selfish, flighty ways coming in a distant third. To say the trio has an unconventional arrangement wouldn’t even be in the ballpark and it is the unconventionality that makes this read so exciting. Sophie and Meg are opposite sides of the same coin making it impossible for James to decide on just one woman. The women’s willingness to share James and themselves leads to some delightfully naughty scenes and shared intimate moments. The drama the trio find themselves embroiled in is just right for this read and doesn’t drag on for long. Ultimately, She Whom I Love is a romance that does have a HEA that I found to be most satisfying.
P.S. Though you don’t have to have read book one, Rite of Summer to enjoy She Whom I Love, I would recommend reading them in order. There are a few little details in this second book that relate to people and moments from the first book.
Book #2: Treading the Boards Series
Source: Purchase
My Rating: 4½/5 stars
My Review:
Marguerite (aka Meg) Ceniza lives her life as she sees fit! As an actress, Meg gets to play a variety of roles that allow her to play out her need for attention in front of a receptive audience each and every night. Meg has no interest in marriage or children or generally being tied down but she is interested in being loved and cared for. Sophie (aka Sarah) Armand is far quieter and more reserved than her best-friend, Meg and has a great deal of interest in being married, having children, and being loved and cared for. Though the two women are wildly different, they have long been friends and most recently, have become lovers. Though their affair will most certainly bring them both pleasure, it won’t bring either of them the security of marriage and family.
James Glover isn’t a wealthy or titled man but he does have a respectable income thanks to his stay/corset designs. His work is beautiful and finely crafted and certainly appeals to many women among London society. With his financial future virtually assured, it is now time for James to settle his personal future. Unfortunately, James can’t quite decide between two women, Meg and Sophie, which causes him to devise the most ill-conceived of plans, he will court them both, make Sophie his wife and keep Meg as his mistress. What could possibly go wrong here??? Within days of settling on his plan, James is found out and the two women take the most delightfully delicious and sensual revenge on him for his trickery. (FYI: This is one of the best scenes in the book ) Never in his wildest dreams would James have imagined not only having both women but both women being willing to share themselves with each other as much as with him. What could possibly go wrong here???
As these things tend to go (says the girl who has no first-hand knowledge of such things ) the initial stages of the love triangle are filled with shared naughty moments and promises of never abandoning one another. But Meg, Sophie, and James are all still human and their respective situations don’t lend themselves to making things more permanent. Meg doesn’t want something permanent but wants both James and Sophie, Sophie to love her and James to care for her financially. James fears he will lose Meg if he follows his heart and proposes marriage to Sophie and fears Sophie will step aside if he shows too much attention to Meg. Sophie has a comfortable position as a lady’s maid and fears losing both Meg and James due to the responsibilities and duties demanded by her job. Clearly, the three need to have a serious talk but, as with any good book, they choose to keep their feelings and fears inside until everything falls apart.
Of the three, Meg has always been the most reckless, the most careless and has relied on Sophie (among others) to bail her out of her messes. Her most recent mess is the direst she has ever faced and with Sophie and James so very, very mad at her, she has no choice but to get herself (and James’s sister) out of the dilemma. Mind you, the dilemma isn’t simple or small but large and dangerous and it will take everything in Meg (and maybe a few surprise rescuers!) to right the wrongs she has created.
The Bottom Line: Bowery is finding her stride with She Whom I Love and I thoroughly enjoyed the naughty little period piece. Of the group, James and Sophie are my favorites with Meg and her selfish, flighty ways coming in a distant third. To say the trio has an unconventional arrangement wouldn’t even be in the ballpark and it is the unconventionality that makes this read so exciting. Sophie and Meg are opposite sides of the same coin making it impossible for James to decide on just one woman. The women’s willingness to share James and themselves leads to some delightfully naughty scenes and shared intimate moments. The drama the trio find themselves embroiled in is just right for this read and doesn’t drag on for long. Ultimately, She Whom I Love is a romance that does have a HEA that I found to be most satisfying.
P.S. Though you don’t have to have read book one, Rite of Summer to enjoy She Whom I Love, I would recommend reading them in order. There are a few little details in this second book that relate to people and moments from the first book.
October 10, 2018
This was... such a disappointment. I LOVED the concept, I loved the set-up, loved the array of characters and the investment in working and middle class characters. Unfortunately, the sex scenes were painfully cliche, and it... perhaps this is what people read menage for? Things that collapse into all threesome, rather than delicate individual axes? It felt like Bowery was /trying/ for a poly romance but mostly got stuck on hot (to her? I hope?) threesome action.
Also the solution to the whole thing was screamingly obvious, and the girls should have negotiated for it from the start - in fact I thought they were. Consequently the feelingsdrama seemed ridiculous.
Also the solution to the whole thing was screamingly obvious, and the girls should have negotiated for it from the start - in fact I thought they were. Consequently the feelingsdrama seemed ridiculous.
October 31, 2019
3.5 but I’m rounding up because FFM historical erotica, y’all!! My cup runneth over. We NEED more FFM out there. Ya hear me, universe?
So what’s this one about? In a nutshell: two young women who grew up rough together discover they have feelings for each other...and a certain man of their acquaintance. Can things end happily?
What I liked: the period details were on point. James, the M of the FFM, is a staymaker, how cool is that? You will learn A LOT about ladies’ undergarments of the era. I also liked the other roles the characters have: the kinda-main character, Sarah, is passing herself off as the French “Sophie” to get a cushy job in service, and her friend Meg is “Meg Ceniza,” an actress. There’s a cool little subplot that James’s younger sister Cecily is into theater, which serves to tie the three closer together and show James’ softer side.
Did I like the fact that Sarah & Meg discuss and respond to James’s initial, not-quite-ethical seduction of both of them? Yes, but maybe mainly in part because we so rarely see two women discussing the beginnings of a triad-type relationship. The backdrop of patriarchy really makes it different!
What I liked not as much: things seem to develop quite quickly and easily; I would have enjoyed more genuine conflict between the characters played out. Some of the opportunity for that is missed by spending page count on a physical distress scenario that’s the climactic plot-based element.
But ultimately the story does focus on what will happen with the relationship at the end, as it should. I will check out more from this author. And hopefully find more FFM stories out there! (Contemporary would be welcome too!)
So what’s this one about? In a nutshell: two young women who grew up rough together discover they have feelings for each other...and a certain man of their acquaintance. Can things end happily?
What I liked: the period details were on point. James, the M of the FFM, is a staymaker, how cool is that? You will learn A LOT about ladies’ undergarments of the era. I also liked the other roles the characters have: the kinda-main character, Sarah, is passing herself off as the French “Sophie” to get a cushy job in service, and her friend Meg is “Meg Ceniza,” an actress. There’s a cool little subplot that James’s younger sister Cecily is into theater, which serves to tie the three closer together and show James’ softer side.
Did I like the fact that Sarah & Meg discuss and respond to James’s initial, not-quite-ethical seduction of both of them? Yes, but maybe mainly in part because we so rarely see two women discussing the beginnings of a triad-type relationship. The backdrop of patriarchy really makes it different!
What I liked not as much: things seem to develop quite quickly and easily; I would have enjoyed more genuine conflict between the characters played out. Some of the opportunity for that is missed by spending page count on a physical distress scenario that’s the climactic plot-based element.
But ultimately the story does focus on what will happen with the relationship at the end, as it should. I will check out more from this author. And hopefully find more FFM stories out there! (Contemporary would be welcome too!)
March 28, 2016
I read a lot of ménage romances, but sadly I haven't come across many with f/f interaction, so I was very happy to discover this one. She Whom I Love is a F/F/M historical romance set in Regency London. History is not my strongpoint, so I've no idea if it's historically accurate or not, but I found it a fascinating and entertaining read. I really liked the fact that the main characters were all working class instead of members of the aristocracy, which is unusual in this type of story. All three characters had many layers to them and were interesting to read about. The storyline was intriguing with lots of passion, secrets and emotion.
James is a stay maker with a problem - he's fallen for two totally different women, and can't decide between them. Marguerite is a flamboyant actress who's looking for fun, and Sophie is a lady's maid who's looking for marriage. What James doesn't know is that Marguerite and Sophie are close friends - and they both want to be more than friends. This complicated love triangle turns steamy until danger looms in the form of someone from Marguerite's past.
The three main characters were all likable, although I initially wasn't sure about James as he seemed to be stringing the girls along. But believe me Sophie and Marguerite were more than a match for him and able to stand up for themselves! The chemistry between all three of them was hot, and I really enjoyed reading their love scenes which were wildly passionate. This is quite an unusual story, and I would definitely recommend it to readers who enjoy historical romances with an erotic twist. She Whom I Love receives four out of five stars.
I received a free copy of this book in exchange for a honest review.
James is a stay maker with a problem - he's fallen for two totally different women, and can't decide between them. Marguerite is a flamboyant actress who's looking for fun, and Sophie is a lady's maid who's looking for marriage. What James doesn't know is that Marguerite and Sophie are close friends - and they both want to be more than friends. This complicated love triangle turns steamy until danger looms in the form of someone from Marguerite's past.
The three main characters were all likable, although I initially wasn't sure about James as he seemed to be stringing the girls along. But believe me Sophie and Marguerite were more than a match for him and able to stand up for themselves! The chemistry between all three of them was hot, and I really enjoyed reading their love scenes which were wildly passionate. This is quite an unusual story, and I would definitely recommend it to readers who enjoy historical romances with an erotic twist. She Whom I Love receives four out of five stars.
I received a free copy of this book in exchange for a honest review.
December 10, 2016
I was really excited to read this after having enjoyed the first book in the series and particularly because of the greater focus on female characters. Sarah and Meg were my favourite part of the story and I thought their relationship was really beautifully and realistically drawn. They complemented each other very well and stood out really well as individual characters. I also loved the insights into Sarah's world as a ladies maid and her writing and Meg's theatrical background. Where I came a little unstuck and why I am only giving this review 4 stars rather than the 5 which the writing itself definitely deserves is because I found James hard to warm up to. I really liked the ending and the way he eventually developed but for a large part of the novel I just did not find him particularly attractive or a necessary part of Meg and Sarah's lives. However, he did eventually prove his worth and I can see how the final arrangement works for the characters, even if James does not do much for me personally. The way a polyamorous relationship was built up to in a period appropriate fashion was fascinating to read and ultimately satisfying. As for the minor characters, I loved Cecily and Grace and am looking forward to reading Grace's story soon!
This is a really unique series from a very talented author and I would really recommend this book!
This is a really unique series from a very talented author and I would really recommend this book!
November 19, 2015
I was lucky enough to get to check out an ARC of Tess' sequel to "Rite of Summer" and what a joy it was.
"She Whom I Love" surpasses "Rite of Summer". It'd be hard to say the stakes are higher in this book but the story and steamy romance and erotica were complimented by a wonderful addition of some action/adventure elements.
The characters are deep and layered and all of them lovable especially the somewhat childlike Meg. Ah Meg. Ah charming, sweet and wonderfully, acerbic and quotable Meg. Like a glimpse into another time with fascinating and enlightening details into the day to day lives of historic professionals.
The highlight for me was the climactic action scene, though it was all over just a little too quickly. As one who's practiced a bit of historical fencing myself I appreciated some of the details added that made it feel more real to me.
If you liked "Rite of Summer" watch for this awesome addition to Tess' series (Two vaguely connected books is a series, right?). Not a sequel to be sure, but there are a few familiar faces in this terrific stand-alone story. Here's hoping there's lots more to come!
"She Whom I Love" surpasses "Rite of Summer". It'd be hard to say the stakes are higher in this book but the story and steamy romance and erotica were complimented by a wonderful addition of some action/adventure elements.
The characters are deep and layered and all of them lovable especially the somewhat childlike Meg. Ah Meg. Ah charming, sweet and wonderfully, acerbic and quotable Meg. Like a glimpse into another time with fascinating and enlightening details into the day to day lives of historic professionals.
The highlight for me was the climactic action scene, though it was all over just a little too quickly. As one who's practiced a bit of historical fencing myself I appreciated some of the details added that made it feel more real to me.
If you liked "Rite of Summer" watch for this awesome addition to Tess' series (Two vaguely connected books is a series, right?). Not a sequel to be sure, but there are a few familiar faces in this terrific stand-alone story. Here's hoping there's lots more to come!
November 20, 2015
(request submitted by author for an honest critique)
Now this was a hot erotic tale. Two ladies, best of friends, take the plunge and take their friendship to the next level. Let me tell you what folks, that monumental turning point was HOT, HOT, HOT.
It was tastefully erotic.
If that first love scene wasn't exhilarating enough, James enters the picture.
You see, he was courting both woman (one as a wife, the other his mistress) and, unbeknownst to him, they were lovers.
Instead of yelling and throwing things, Meg came up with a deliciously wicked act of revenge. Bound him to a chair while he has to suffer and watch them make love in front of him. I know the guys reading this will agree that was the purest torture imaginable. I tip my hat to you, Tess!!
As with any story, you expect drama and Tess delivers that as well (insert the villain Baron here).
The lovers do quarrel (as expected) but when they need each other, love prevails. I mean, you can't have a true love story without a HEA. Right? :)
Heart Rating System - 1 (lowest) and 5 (highest)
Score: ❤❤❤❤1/2
www.superkambrook.com
Now this was a hot erotic tale. Two ladies, best of friends, take the plunge and take their friendship to the next level. Let me tell you what folks, that monumental turning point was HOT, HOT, HOT.
It was tastefully erotic.
If that first love scene wasn't exhilarating enough, James enters the picture.
You see, he was courting both woman (one as a wife, the other his mistress) and, unbeknownst to him, they were lovers.
Instead of yelling and throwing things, Meg came up with a deliciously wicked act of revenge. Bound him to a chair while he has to suffer and watch them make love in front of him. I know the guys reading this will agree that was the purest torture imaginable. I tip my hat to you, Tess!!
As with any story, you expect drama and Tess delivers that as well (insert the villain Baron here).
The lovers do quarrel (as expected) but when they need each other, love prevails. I mean, you can't have a true love story without a HEA. Right? :)
Heart Rating System - 1 (lowest) and 5 (highest)
Score: ❤❤❤❤1/2
www.superkambrook.com
July 28, 2017
pretty good!
i won't lie, i was a little bored with all the sex scenes in the first half and was contemplating how i'd cut like 70% of them in favour of feelings but then the three of them temporarily imploded bc of lack of feelings discussion and like. okay that's valid, good job with the set up there
also the action scene at the climax was pretty well written, it's nice to see a plot arc written to mesh so well with the emotional arc
plus points for the first poly triad i've ever read in a published novel
3.5 stars
i won't lie, i was a little bored with all the sex scenes in the first half and was contemplating how i'd cut like 70% of them in favour of feelings but then the three of them temporarily imploded bc of lack of feelings discussion and like. okay that's valid, good job with the set up there
also the action scene at the climax was pretty well written, it's nice to see a plot arc written to mesh so well with the emotional arc
plus points for the first poly triad i've ever read in a published novel
3.5 stars
June 17, 2021
I have always enjoyed the love triangle trope in fiction, although adult me definitely understands the ways in which it is problematic. Polyamory romance, as it turns out, is everything that I loved with love triangles without all the ickiness of someone ending up heartbroken. Adding in the historical element to this romance, and this was pretty much perfect.
The premise of She Whom I Love is maidservant Sarah (masquerading as a Frenchwoman named Sophie) and her lifelong best friend Marguerite are a little in love with each other, though initially they don't talk about it. When it finally does come out, they are left in this awkward lurch where they know that they want to be with each other, but don't really see how they can get everything they want in life without a man (because, again, historical fiction). Enter James, a talented gown maker and clumsy flirt who makes the really dumb decision to try and woo both girls at the same time. Sarah has feelings for him already, and Marguerite thinks he's hot, so they decide to give a three-way polycule the ole' college try.
This was very cute. And of course included a lot of steam. I thought that the triad really worked well together though I do wish there had been more dramatic declarations of love between all three of them. I'm a sucker for dramatic declarations.
The premise of She Whom I Love is maidservant Sarah (masquerading as a Frenchwoman named Sophie) and her lifelong best friend Marguerite are a little in love with each other, though initially they don't talk about it. When it finally does come out, they are left in this awkward lurch where they know that they want to be with each other, but don't really see how they can get everything they want in life without a man (because, again, historical fiction). Enter James, a talented gown maker and clumsy flirt who makes the really dumb decision to try and woo both girls at the same time. Sarah has feelings for him already, and Marguerite thinks he's hot, so they decide to give a three-way polycule the ole' college try.
This was very cute. And of course included a lot of steam. I thought that the triad really worked well together though I do wish there had been more dramatic declarations of love between all three of them. I'm a sucker for dramatic declarations.
June 5, 2018
The prose was sometimes a bit clunky and some Americanisms bothered me in the Recency England setting. But overall I really enjoyed this! The sex scenes were steamier stuff than I'd read in ages, and very nicely done. I hadn't really known what to expect from this book, and was surprised that there was some adventurey stuff too. It really worked, though! And what a joy to read a book where the romance is polyamorous, and done in a sensitive and nuanced way, with people called out for being idiots too. And bisexual women yaaaaay. The development of the triad was explored well, and I was left with very warm and fuzzy feelings. Yay for polyam Regency romance <3
November 25, 2017
I had such high expectations for this book but in the end I've tried reading it twice and just can't get through it. It has so much potential and it's pretty rare to find a m/f/f historical romance, but the book is too devoted to throwing together steamy threesome sex scenes which are, on their own, pretty hot, but just totally unearned and don't seem to support the rest of the characterization.
Really a 2-star book for me but I'm grading on a curve for rarity and bisexual representation.
Really a 2-star book for me but I'm grading on a curve for rarity and bisexual representation.
January 16, 2026
This book was promising, and was written well, but the pacing left a lot to be desired! 3.75 rounded up for that reason because I struggled to finish it. There is also a lot of unnecessary action thrown in at the end for some third act drama that totally could have been dropped and it wouldn’t have changed much about the story. But overall I loved seeing a poly triad with working class regency folks!
Queer rep: FFM poly triad. Bi women, FF relationship.
Queer rep: FFM poly triad. Bi women, FF relationship.
December 11, 2019
I really enjoyed the previous one in this series, but this one didn't land for me. Too many sources of angst, a couple of which could have been easily sorted with a conversation. And one really irritating and unpleasant main character who doesn't want to be seen just for her body but doesn't actually offer anything else.
February 4, 2019
Wonderful and romantic
A wonderfully romantic polygamous queer story. It's so good to read historical romance that isn't about the nobility but rather about the other layers of society!
A wonderfully romantic polygamous queer story. It's so good to read historical romance that isn't about the nobility but rather about the other layers of society!
May 31, 2021
Hands-down the best polyamorous romance I've ever read. The relationship between all three characters was really well developed and the smut was 🔥🔥🔥. I ended up getting the other two books in the series because I want more of this historical queer romance!
October 30, 2017
Oh, it had all the 3-way romance my little poly heart desires and lacks in her books. No 'Menage-erotica' can fulfil my romantic longings the way this book does.
November 3, 2017
dnf. i cant remember how far i actually got but about halfway i think. i really just dont care enough to continue and i want to get rid of it
June 13, 2020
No high prose or anything but still a HIGHLY entertaining story.
This is everything that all those love triangle stories out there should be, and exactly what I was looking for. So glad I found this.
This is everything that all those love triangle stories out there should be, and exactly what I was looking for. So glad I found this.
March 24, 2021
This book was absolutely ridiculous, but also so entertaining!
April 23, 2016
It's not often that I pick up a romance--especially an unconventional romance like this one--but I was pleasantly surprised. The characterisation, for the most part, was sharp (more on that later) and the attention to detail was excellent. The plot came together beautifully, like pieces of an intricate puzzle sliding into place. There was plenty of good humour, and I found myself grinning in amusement more than a couple of times.
The three main leads--Sarah/Sophie, James, and Meg/Marguerite--are charming and distinctly portrayed. They each occupy different worlds, and it is interesting to see the trials and tribulations of those worlds: what each of them wants for themselves vs. what their position allows them. My one complaint is that James feels less like a real person when he is in "courtship mode" with the ladies in the first half of the novel, but perhaps that is intentional. A part of the theme of the story appears to be that the delicate balance of relationships in the blossoming menage-a-trois cannot be sustained by mere lust or with dishonesty: James, slipping into the role of a suitor, may be unconscious of it, but he is clearly acting a part just as much as the other two. It is only later, with the pressure of a looming crisis and its aftermath, that he feels more natural in his interactions with them.
When the romance begins to unravel, it is a crisis involving James's sister Cecily that draws the trio together again, and they emerge wiser, more appreciative of each other, and better prepared to love each other as persons rather than merely lust. (Some need some lessons more than others.) And that crisis is written with breathtaking aplomb.
One last thing: given the role she plays in the story and its resolution, I'm tempted to think that the "she" of the title is in fact Cecily--but then perhaps I am more sentimental than romantic.
The three main leads--Sarah/Sophie, James, and Meg/Marguerite--are charming and distinctly portrayed. They each occupy different worlds, and it is interesting to see the trials and tribulations of those worlds: what each of them wants for themselves vs. what their position allows them. My one complaint is that James feels less like a real person when he is in "courtship mode" with the ladies in the first half of the novel, but perhaps that is intentional. A part of the theme of the story appears to be that the delicate balance of relationships in the blossoming menage-a-trois cannot be sustained by mere lust or with dishonesty: James, slipping into the role of a suitor, may be unconscious of it, but he is clearly acting a part just as much as the other two. It is only later, with the pressure of a looming crisis and its aftermath, that he feels more natural in his interactions with them.
When the romance begins to unravel, it is a crisis involving James's sister Cecily that draws the trio together again, and they emerge wiser, more appreciative of each other, and better prepared to love each other as persons rather than merely lust. (Some need some lessons more than others.) And that crisis is written with breathtaking aplomb.
One last thing: given the role she plays in the story and its resolution, I'm tempted to think that the "she" of the title is in fact Cecily--but then perhaps I am more sentimental than romantic.
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