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Promises
Captain Charles Hawkins has returned from the Napoleonic wars desperate for solitude. When the man who saved his life asks a favour, he feels honour bound to agree, but the request fills him with horror.Sebastian Farrah knows the only useful thing he can do with his life is join Wellington’s army. He has tried everything else and failed. He agrees to his brother’s ridiculous request to spend a month in the country because it is the only way his brother will agree to purchase him a commission.Charles and Sebastian clash but quickly form a bond that deepens into much more. However, they are running out of time. Charles begs Sebastian to stay, but Sebastian knows to do so he will be forced to reveal what it is that stopped him from succeeding in everything. The shameful secret he carries from the schoolroom.
136 pages, Kindle Edition
First published August 25, 2018
66 people want to read
About the author
Ruby Moone
23 books137 followersBiography
My name is Ruby Moone and I love books. All kinds of books. My weakness is for romance, and that can be any kind, but I am particularly fond of historical and paranormal. I decided to write gay romance after reading some fantastic books and falling in love with the genre, so am really thrilled to have my work published here. The day job takes up a lot of my time, but every other spare moment finds me writing or reading. I live in the north west of England with my husband who thinks that I live in two worlds. The real world and in the world in my head...he probably has a point!
My name is Ruby Moone and I love books. All kinds of books. My weakness is for romance, and that can be any kind, but I am particularly fond of historical and paranormal. I decided to write gay romance after reading some fantastic books and falling in love with the genre, so am really thrilled to have my work published here. The day job takes up a lot of my time, but every other spare moment finds me writing or reading. I live in the north west of England with my husband who thinks that I live in two worlds. The real world and in the world in my head...he probably has a point!
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Displaying 1 - 25 of 25 reviews
August 26, 2018
Set in the Regency period during the Napoleonic Wars, Promises is a low-key, relationship-focused romance with a tentative HEA, a good dose of steam & hurt/comfort, and two very real MCs.
Charles Hawkins, a captain who lost his men during a battle on the Continent, is basically a recluse. He owns land, a couple horses, and an unruly vegetable garden. Struggling with what is clearly PTSD (something that, sadly, wasn’t even a concept in the early 19th century), Charles is lonely and plagued by nightmares. When a close friend asks Charles if he’d house his younger brother Sebastian for a month to keep the younger man out of trouble, Charles reluctantly agrees.
Sebastian Farrah shows up falling-down drunk and tells Charles that he’s pretty. It’s not an auspicious beginning. Yet Sebastian is nothing like Charles imagined. Sebastian acts out because he’s bored and restless, but he’s good-natured, accepting, smart, and hard working.
Sebastian wants to stay busy and begins redesigning the garden. He loves working with his hands. He’s dyslexic (a modern word but very much applicable here) and, despite his brother’s adamant refusal, wants to buy a commission in the army as he thinks that’s all he’s good for. Sebastian is ashamed of not being able to read and write, and hides it from Charles as best as he can. This proves difficult, as Charles loves books and thinks reading solves all problems (he’s not wrong).
This is a low-angst, romantic story with a slow burn that had me anticipating the moment the men would finally give in. I wasn’t disappointed! Sebastian and Charles have sizzling chemistry. Sebastian is all about the stern school master look, and wants to see Charles, who’s approximately eight years Sebastian’s senior, spread out below him, all naked save his glasses.
I loved the setting and the secondary characters: Charles’s employees, Coulson and Blackstone. I would love to read their story. Most of the book is set in the country, so there is no hustle and bustle of the Ton. The trust between the men develops naturally, and I enjoyed all the quiet times they spent together.
There’s some conflict toward the end, but Charles refuses to give up and finally realizes what Sebastian truly needs. I would have loved an epilogue, but the last chapter is hopeful and happy. These men are so right for each other. I’ve no doubt they’ll flourish as partners and lovers.
Charles Hawkins, a captain who lost his men during a battle on the Continent, is basically a recluse. He owns land, a couple horses, and an unruly vegetable garden. Struggling with what is clearly PTSD (something that, sadly, wasn’t even a concept in the early 19th century), Charles is lonely and plagued by nightmares. When a close friend asks Charles if he’d house his younger brother Sebastian for a month to keep the younger man out of trouble, Charles reluctantly agrees.
Sebastian Farrah shows up falling-down drunk and tells Charles that he’s pretty. It’s not an auspicious beginning. Yet Sebastian is nothing like Charles imagined. Sebastian acts out because he’s bored and restless, but he’s good-natured, accepting, smart, and hard working.
Sebastian wants to stay busy and begins redesigning the garden. He loves working with his hands. He’s dyslexic (a modern word but very much applicable here) and, despite his brother’s adamant refusal, wants to buy a commission in the army as he thinks that’s all he’s good for. Sebastian is ashamed of not being able to read and write, and hides it from Charles as best as he can. This proves difficult, as Charles loves books and thinks reading solves all problems (he’s not wrong).
This is a low-angst, romantic story with a slow burn that had me anticipating the moment the men would finally give in. I wasn’t disappointed! Sebastian and Charles have sizzling chemistry. Sebastian is all about the stern school master look, and wants to see Charles, who’s approximately eight years Sebastian’s senior, spread out below him, all naked save his glasses.
I loved the setting and the secondary characters: Charles’s employees, Coulson and Blackstone. I would love to read their story. Most of the book is set in the country, so there is no hustle and bustle of the Ton. The trust between the men develops naturally, and I enjoyed all the quiet times they spent together.
There’s some conflict toward the end, but Charles refuses to give up and finally realizes what Sebastian truly needs. I would have loved an epilogue, but the last chapter is hopeful and happy. These men are so right for each other. I’ve no doubt they’ll flourish as partners and lovers.
August 17, 2018
I love a good historical romance and every time I pick up a book by Ruby Moone she gives me just that and Promises is no exception.
It's a truly gorgeous romance set in the English countryside at the time of the Napoleonic Wars and it just made my heart happy.
Sebastian and Charles are a wonderful pair and I loved the secondary characters and would love a book on just how they got together (hint, hint Ruby ;) )
Every thing about this wee novella is just gorgeous.
#ARC kindly received from the author in return for an honest and unbiased review.
It's a truly gorgeous romance set in the English countryside at the time of the Napoleonic Wars and it just made my heart happy.
Sebastian and Charles are a wonderful pair and I loved the secondary characters and would love a book on just how they got together (hint, hint Ruby ;) )
Every thing about this wee novella is just gorgeous.
#ARC kindly received from the author in return for an honest and unbiased review.
December 8, 2023
Cute historical. Not very realistic but a feel good read.
August 27, 2018
A Joyfully Jay review.
4.5 stars
What a wonderful read Promises was! Sometimes books set around the Napoleonic Wars tend to lack the necessary foundation building and characterizations for my tastes. They either abandon the concept of war completely or tip so heavily towards it that the rest of the plot disappears. But Promises provided a lovely balance of plot, characterization, and emotional depth. There’s nothing particularly earth shattering here, but that isn’t a criticism. Moone has taken a simple, straightforward plot and imbibed it with emotion and warmth to give it life and breadth. There is just a smattering of historical flair here and there, nothing to drag the story down, but rather it helps to anchor the plot and provide it with a firm base.
Read Sue’s review in its entirety here.
4.5 stars
What a wonderful read Promises was! Sometimes books set around the Napoleonic Wars tend to lack the necessary foundation building and characterizations for my tastes. They either abandon the concept of war completely or tip so heavily towards it that the rest of the plot disappears. But Promises provided a lovely balance of plot, characterization, and emotional depth. There’s nothing particularly earth shattering here, but that isn’t a criticism. Moone has taken a simple, straightforward plot and imbibed it with emotion and warmth to give it life and breadth. There is just a smattering of historical flair here and there, nothing to drag the story down, but rather it helps to anchor the plot and provide it with a firm base.
Read Sue’s review in its entirety here.
December 4, 2023
This was my favorite Ruby Moone book to date!! I loved it! The only reason I'm not giving it 5 stars is because the low angst was a bit too low for me (I would have loved just a bit more conflict throughout) and the author's refusal to polish her work so it's not filled with sloppy and easy to find formatting and grammatical errors means the story doesn't deserve to sit in my 5 star category. But asides from those issues, I loved this! All of the characters were great, the romance was wonderfully paced, there was great character development for the MCs and as usual, the historical authenticity was on point.
As is normal for a Ruby Moone book, you're immersed in the Victorian time period from start to finish. The author knows her history and she knows how to make the characters act and speak as if they're really living in that era. As is also usual for the author, I appreciated that one of the MCs comes from a working class background and that all of the side characters have unique and interesting backstories and careers that showcase the variety in Victorian society. In particular, I found it really interesting that Charles is . That was really interesting!
I also adored Coulson and Blackstone, two of the main side characters in the story.
Coulson and Blackstone also played an important role in Sebastian's character arc. Sebastian is a fun-loving, kind-hearted ball of energy whose dyslexia and high energy unfortunately make him unsuitable for the aristocratic lifestyle that he'd been born into and is expected to stay in. When he comes to stay with Charles for a month, he joins Coulson and Blackstone in renovating the neglected kitchen garden, which makes the three of them bond in the same way that Charles had bonded with Coulson and Blackstone. The way the author used all four characters in the story was great!
Another thing I loved was the themes of respect and purpose that were explored throughout the story. Charles and Sebastian are both struggling with various mental health issues throughout the story. Charles is financially successful but struggling with survivor's guilt and PTSD which make him believe he's not allowed to be happy or move on with his life. Sebastian's inability to fit into the aristocratic mold that his family demands he squish himself into has left him feeling worthless and frustrated so he acts out by drinking and living up to the image of an irresponsible idiot that his family believe he is. Both men end up helping each other find a new sense of purpose and repair their damaged self-confidence, which was wonderful. The quiet routines that the four men have at Charles' country estate is exactly what they all need and Sebastian and Charles finally have the tools and opportunity to deal with the things they thought were unfixable.
In particular, I loved how Sebastian's desire to join the Army was handled and that's where the theme of respect came in. For context: .
The easy storytelling route would have been to have Charles fall in love with Sebastian, beg Sebastian not to join the military and then have Sebastian agree because he didn't want to upset Charles. But to my delight, the author didn't go down this route. This entire thing was such a wonderful surprise to me because it's so much more in-depth than I was expecting.
As I said, the only reason I can't give this 5 stars is partly due to the lack of conflict throughout the story (the conflict at the end was great but I wanted just a bit more) but mostly due to the author's refusal to polish her work. As is normal for Moone's books, there are a few cases of extra words, wrong words and missing words but most annoying is her habit of not using punctuation marks properly (commas, question marks, periods etc). In particular, the author has an odd habit of messing up the use of quotation marks (leaving them out, adding them in when they're not needed or even adding them into the middle of dialogue). I don't even understand how quotation marks can end up in the middle of somebody speaking (does the author's writing program randomly add them in??) and I've never seen another author do that but Moone does it throughout all her books. Anyway, these mistakes will hopefully not be a deal breaker for you (there are only about 20 mistakes in total, which isn't atrocious) because the story really is a treat if you're a fan of historical romances.
As is normal for a Ruby Moone book, you're immersed in the Victorian time period from start to finish. The author knows her history and she knows how to make the characters act and speak as if they're really living in that era. As is also usual for the author, I appreciated that one of the MCs comes from a working class background and that all of the side characters have unique and interesting backstories and careers that showcase the variety in Victorian society. In particular, I found it really interesting that Charles is . That was really interesting!
I also adored Coulson and Blackstone, two of the main side characters in the story.
Coulson and Blackstone also played an important role in Sebastian's character arc. Sebastian is a fun-loving, kind-hearted ball of energy whose dyslexia and high energy unfortunately make him unsuitable for the aristocratic lifestyle that he'd been born into and is expected to stay in. When he comes to stay with Charles for a month, he joins Coulson and Blackstone in renovating the neglected kitchen garden, which makes the three of them bond in the same way that Charles had bonded with Coulson and Blackstone. The way the author used all four characters in the story was great!
Another thing I loved was the themes of respect and purpose that were explored throughout the story. Charles and Sebastian are both struggling with various mental health issues throughout the story. Charles is financially successful but struggling with survivor's guilt and PTSD which make him believe he's not allowed to be happy or move on with his life. Sebastian's inability to fit into the aristocratic mold that his family demands he squish himself into has left him feeling worthless and frustrated so he acts out by drinking and living up to the image of an irresponsible idiot that his family believe he is. Both men end up helping each other find a new sense of purpose and repair their damaged self-confidence, which was wonderful. The quiet routines that the four men have at Charles' country estate is exactly what they all need and Sebastian and Charles finally have the tools and opportunity to deal with the things they thought were unfixable.
In particular, I loved how Sebastian's desire to join the Army was handled and that's where the theme of respect came in. For context: .
The easy storytelling route would have been to have Charles fall in love with Sebastian, beg Sebastian not to join the military and then have Sebastian agree because he didn't want to upset Charles. But to my delight, the author didn't go down this route. This entire thing was such a wonderful surprise to me because it's so much more in-depth than I was expecting.
As I said, the only reason I can't give this 5 stars is partly due to the lack of conflict throughout the story (the conflict at the end was great but I wanted just a bit more) but mostly due to the author's refusal to polish her work. As is normal for Moone's books, there are a few cases of extra words, wrong words and missing words but most annoying is her habit of not using punctuation marks properly (commas, question marks, periods etc). In particular, the author has an odd habit of messing up the use of quotation marks (leaving them out, adding them in when they're not needed or even adding them into the middle of dialogue). I don't even understand how quotation marks can end up in the middle of somebody speaking (does the author's writing program randomly add them in??) and I've never seen another author do that but Moone does it throughout all her books. Anyway, these mistakes will hopefully not be a deal breaker for you (there are only about 20 mistakes in total, which isn't atrocious) because the story really is a treat if you're a fan of historical romances.
September 28, 2018
A Good Story!
Charles & Sebastian romantic tale involving a stumbling drunk, a war-weary Captain and a kitchen garden. The story has all the right elements for good yarn. I liked the MCs, the co-characters, the bit of drama and the sexy times. However, please teach the servants to knock, first!😊
I like this author Ruby Moone. I’ve read several of her previous well written books.
Charles & Sebastian romantic tale involving a stumbling drunk, a war-weary Captain and a kitchen garden. The story has all the right elements for good yarn. I liked the MCs, the co-characters, the bit of drama and the sexy times. However, please teach the servants to knock, first!😊
I like this author Ruby Moone. I’ve read several of her previous well written books.
June 18, 2019
I love history, but sometimes I have a hard time reading it because it gets dry and boring. And that's disappointing to me. But Ruby Moone has been one of those authors that I actually look forward to reading. She does her homework on the time frames, to make sure it's accurate and it's actually a good story. I love her stories. This one I loved too, but it made me cry so hard.
Sebastian Farrah is the 'black sheep's of the family. He's not good at studies, for a reason, he looks different from the rest of his family, he's not good with numbers and such, so he just gambles and drinks to forget how much he is constantly put down by the rest of the family. It doesn't help he's gay as well, well everyone else is settling down. So he figures joining the war will help his family and people finally respect him. But his brother Edward has already lost 2 brothers to war and barely made it out himself, and he doesn't want to lose his only remaining brother to war. So he calls on his friend Charles to see if he will help. Charles is to house Sebastian for a month for Charles to try out change his mind. But as time goes on during this month, Charles is seeing things about Sebastian that everyone else seems to be missing. But when Sebastian reveals his humiliating secret, Charles doesn't think anything of it, until he realizes how devastated Sebastian really is. He come to love Sebastian and he only hopes he can make things right with him before he loses him to war or something else.
Back in those days, having a hard time in school was horrible for a person. They often got beaten for not acting serious or doing what was expected or falling behind. No one understood then things like dyslexia or ADD or ADHD and other stuff. There's more to it. So I really wanted to just smack Sebastian's family for treating him like he was stupid and nothing worth anything. The fact is he's super smart, creative, great with his hands, and isn't scared of working hard. Not everyone is good at school stuff. He such a gentle giant as well. So compassionate and sweet. Loyal and loving. And he's he breath of fresh air Charles needs.
Charles has been plagued since he's been home with survivor's guilt. And having Sebastian around gives him something else to focus on. He still has nightmares and stuff but they aren't as bad. Sebastian gives Charles a new focus on life, a new reason to want to keep going. They're perfect for each other.
This is such a sweet romantic story. I just love it. I love Sebastian so much. I love characters like him. Such a good book.
http://lovebytesreviews.com/
Sebastian Farrah is the 'black sheep's of the family. He's not good at studies, for a reason, he looks different from the rest of his family, he's not good with numbers and such, so he just gambles and drinks to forget how much he is constantly put down by the rest of the family. It doesn't help he's gay as well, well everyone else is settling down. So he figures joining the war will help his family and people finally respect him. But his brother Edward has already lost 2 brothers to war and barely made it out himself, and he doesn't want to lose his only remaining brother to war. So he calls on his friend Charles to see if he will help. Charles is to house Sebastian for a month for Charles to try out change his mind. But as time goes on during this month, Charles is seeing things about Sebastian that everyone else seems to be missing. But when Sebastian reveals his humiliating secret, Charles doesn't think anything of it, until he realizes how devastated Sebastian really is. He come to love Sebastian and he only hopes he can make things right with him before he loses him to war or something else.
Back in those days, having a hard time in school was horrible for a person. They often got beaten for not acting serious or doing what was expected or falling behind. No one understood then things like dyslexia or ADD or ADHD and other stuff. There's more to it. So I really wanted to just smack Sebastian's family for treating him like he was stupid and nothing worth anything. The fact is he's super smart, creative, great with his hands, and isn't scared of working hard. Not everyone is good at school stuff. He such a gentle giant as well. So compassionate and sweet. Loyal and loving. And he's he breath of fresh air Charles needs.
Charles has been plagued since he's been home with survivor's guilt. And having Sebastian around gives him something else to focus on. He still has nightmares and stuff but they aren't as bad. Sebastian gives Charles a new focus on life, a new reason to want to keep going. They're perfect for each other.
This is such a sweet romantic story. I just love it. I love Sebastian so much. I love characters like him. Such a good book.
http://lovebytesreviews.com/
February 13, 2024
Ruby Moone is a new author to me (ironically, this is incorrect - I read her book Memories but forgot about it!) Set in England at the time of the Napoleonic wars, Captain Charles Hawkins has seen war and longs for a quiet life in the country. Sebastian Farrah is a good sort - he knows horseflesh and isn't afraid of hard work. But he knows that's not enough for his family and longs to join the army and prove his worth against Napoleon.
The character development here is so well-done and over the course of this relatively short 136 page book, the story feels complete. There is the slow build to Sebastian and Hawkins' relationship and a bonus relationship between two secondary characters that is so lovely. 4 stars.
The character development here is so well-done and over the course of this relatively short 136 page book, the story feels complete. There is the slow build to Sebastian and Hawkins' relationship and a bonus relationship between two secondary characters that is so lovely. 4 stars.
September 2, 2018
Ruby Moone is fast becoming one of my favourite historical authors.
Review to follow.
Review to follow.
October 10, 2018
Sweet, charming, and an occasional tear jerker
Since the other novels I've read by Moone portray characters responding to extreme challenges, I wasn't sure where this one was headed. Promises is about an apparent drunkard and scapegrace, Sebastian, deciding to reclaim his family's respect by going off to war and the genteel veteran, Captain Charles Hawkins, whose been asked by the family to stop him given that his brothers are dead from the Napoleonic war - and the passion that develops between them. The novel starts off at a low boil but soon displays the humor, charm, empathy and kindness - and of course the erotic charge - I'm coming to expect as a new fan of Moone's skillful and evocative use of language and her carefully crafted, detailed historical fiction.
Since the other novels I've read by Moone portray characters responding to extreme challenges, I wasn't sure where this one was headed. Promises is about an apparent drunkard and scapegrace, Sebastian, deciding to reclaim his family's respect by going off to war and the genteel veteran, Captain Charles Hawkins, whose been asked by the family to stop him given that his brothers are dead from the Napoleonic war - and the passion that develops between them. The novel starts off at a low boil but soon displays the humor, charm, empathy and kindness - and of course the erotic charge - I'm coming to expect as a new fan of Moone's skillful and evocative use of language and her carefully crafted, detailed historical fiction.
September 3, 2018
4.5 Stars!
Captain Charles Hawkins is a haunted man. Haunted by his memories, by his guilt of not being able to save his men during the Napoleonic Wars. He lives in his country estate, away from everything, but when his friend Edward Farrah, requests a favor from him, Charles can't say no to the man who saved his life.
Sebastian Farrah, Edward's youngest brother, wants to go to war, to find something in which he could be good, since he hasn't excelled in anything in his life. However, for his brother to intercede before their father to ask him to pay for a commission for Sebastian, first, he has to spend a month at Charles Hawkins's house.
What Sebastian never imagined was that helping Charles with manual labors at his estate would be so fulfilling and Charles didn't expect to fall for the younger man. However, once the month passes Sebastian will leave to go to war, and Charles will be left alone again.
Ruby Moone is without a doubt one of my favorite historical MM authors. The settings, the language and her writing transport me to the past, to an era where a romance between two men was even more difficult than today and doing in a believable manner.
Sebastian was adorable and sweet and my heart broke for him imagining how difficult it must have been for him to endure the bullying of his classmates and peers and the lack of respect of his family towards him. I loved that Charles and his employees helped him find what he needed. I liked Charles, too. Even with the age gap, they seemed to fit quite well together, especially when Charles looked past what he thought he knew and actually listened to Sebastian. They had amazing chemistry and I adored the way Charles finally pulled through for Sebastian.
Overall, I found the book really enjoyable and well-written. Definitely recommendable!
*** Copy provided to Bayou Book Junkie for my reading pleasure, a review wasn't a requirement. ***
Captain Charles Hawkins is a haunted man. Haunted by his memories, by his guilt of not being able to save his men during the Napoleonic Wars. He lives in his country estate, away from everything, but when his friend Edward Farrah, requests a favor from him, Charles can't say no to the man who saved his life.
Sebastian Farrah, Edward's youngest brother, wants to go to war, to find something in which he could be good, since he hasn't excelled in anything in his life. However, for his brother to intercede before their father to ask him to pay for a commission for Sebastian, first, he has to spend a month at Charles Hawkins's house.
What Sebastian never imagined was that helping Charles with manual labors at his estate would be so fulfilling and Charles didn't expect to fall for the younger man. However, once the month passes Sebastian will leave to go to war, and Charles will be left alone again.
Ruby Moone is without a doubt one of my favorite historical MM authors. The settings, the language and her writing transport me to the past, to an era where a romance between two men was even more difficult than today and doing in a believable manner.
Sebastian was adorable and sweet and my heart broke for him imagining how difficult it must have been for him to endure the bullying of his classmates and peers and the lack of respect of his family towards him. I loved that Charles and his employees helped him find what he needed. I liked Charles, too. Even with the age gap, they seemed to fit quite well together, especially when Charles looked past what he thought he knew and actually listened to Sebastian. They had amazing chemistry and I adored the way Charles finally pulled through for Sebastian.
Overall, I found the book really enjoyable and well-written. Definitely recommendable!
*** Copy provided to Bayou Book Junkie for my reading pleasure, a review wasn't a requirement. ***
August 29, 2018
It’s no secret that when it comes to historical M/M romance that I always approach books in this genre with hesitation. I always want a happy ending without the characters having to hide who they are for fear of persecution or even death, so stories set in the past can be hard to get right without them remaining true to the time period. Promises is a great example of a historical M/M story not only done right, but also set up so I wasn’t stressing out while reading about the characters thanks to the more rural setting and a cast of characters who know the score.
My heart went out to Sebastian—it’s one thing to be at a disadvantage in one’s life, but for Sebastian his issue being in a historical setting makes it even worse. If he were living in modern times, it most likely would have been easily recognized that he needed help; but in this historical setting, that’s not the case which makes his life that much harder…and more frustrating. Charles has his own difficulties brought on by his time serving in the Napoleonic Wars—again, were he a contemporary character things would be much different.
Charles and Sebastian might seem like an unlikely pair, but as they grow closer during Sebastian’s stay at Charles’s home, it becomes obvious that the two are an excellent match. I thought they were really good together—and not just because of their physical chemistry (which was pretty darn hot!).
If you like historical M/M romances where you don’t have to constantly be worried about the characters being found out, Promises fits the bill while delivering a story that is satisfying, sometimes sweet, and sometimes steamy. This one was a 4.5-star read for me; Ruby Moone does a great job with historical M/M romance and Promises will definitely be a re-read for me in the future. This book is meant for readers 18+ for adult language and sexual content.
My heart went out to Sebastian—it’s one thing to be at a disadvantage in one’s life, but for Sebastian his issue being in a historical setting makes it even worse. If he were living in modern times, it most likely would have been easily recognized that he needed help; but in this historical setting, that’s not the case which makes his life that much harder…and more frustrating. Charles has his own difficulties brought on by his time serving in the Napoleonic Wars—again, were he a contemporary character things would be much different.
Charles and Sebastian might seem like an unlikely pair, but as they grow closer during Sebastian’s stay at Charles’s home, it becomes obvious that the two are an excellent match. I thought they were really good together—and not just because of their physical chemistry (which was pretty darn hot!).
If you like historical M/M romances where you don’t have to constantly be worried about the characters being found out, Promises fits the bill while delivering a story that is satisfying, sometimes sweet, and sometimes steamy. This one was a 4.5-star read for me; Ruby Moone does a great job with historical M/M romance and Promises will definitely be a re-read for me in the future. This book is meant for readers 18+ for adult language and sexual content.
August 25, 2018
I loved it!
I was introduced to historical MMF stories by Samantha Kane and from there I got into MM romance. Victoria Sue's writing introduced me to historical MM stories and I've never looked back. I'm not quite sure why Promises is the first book I've read by Ruby Moone; I loved it and it certainly won't be the last book of hers that I read.
The blurb/synopsis is good and accurate so I won't restate it here. Promises had me captivated right from the very beginning. I enjoyed how descriptive the writing was; the scenes where Charles and Sebastian undressed each other were hot. 😊
Sebastian is everything Charles doesn't want. He arrives drunk and seems like he will not be good for anything. Much to his surprise Charles proves to be a hard worker. Eventually the two begin spending evenings together finally realize that they are both of the same persuasion; they prefer the company of men.
Parts of the story broke my heart and had me sobbing but I also felt the deep emotional connection that Charles and Sebastian had with each other and it was a pleasure to read. I also loved the secondary characters who were employees of Charles. Coulson provided a nice bit of levity to the story which you'll understand if you read it. 😊
I really enjoy reading a well-written novella. I don't always have the time to spend on a long book and Promises was perfect for reading in one evening.
An advanced copy of this book was provided to me but my review was voluntary and not influenced by the author.
***Reviewed for Xtreme-Delusions dot com***
I was introduced to historical MMF stories by Samantha Kane and from there I got into MM romance. Victoria Sue's writing introduced me to historical MM stories and I've never looked back. I'm not quite sure why Promises is the first book I've read by Ruby Moone; I loved it and it certainly won't be the last book of hers that I read.
The blurb/synopsis is good and accurate so I won't restate it here. Promises had me captivated right from the very beginning. I enjoyed how descriptive the writing was; the scenes where Charles and Sebastian undressed each other were hot. 😊
Sebastian is everything Charles doesn't want. He arrives drunk and seems like he will not be good for anything. Much to his surprise Charles proves to be a hard worker. Eventually the two begin spending evenings together finally realize that they are both of the same persuasion; they prefer the company of men.
Parts of the story broke my heart and had me sobbing but I also felt the deep emotional connection that Charles and Sebastian had with each other and it was a pleasure to read. I also loved the secondary characters who were employees of Charles. Coulson provided a nice bit of levity to the story which you'll understand if you read it. 😊
I really enjoy reading a well-written novella. I don't always have the time to spend on a long book and Promises was perfect for reading in one evening.
An advanced copy of this book was provided to me but my review was voluntary and not influenced by the author.
***Reviewed for Xtreme-Delusions dot com***
August 28, 2018
Another absolutely wonderful book by Ruby Moone. Sebastian, adrift because he's a spoiled rich man who drinks too much and has no future, is sent to live with his brother Edward's friend, Charles Hawkins. Edward wants Charles to talk Sebastian out of joining the army and Charles promises to do his best.
The chemistry between the two men jumps off the page. Sebastian truly finds himself as he gets to know not only Charles but Coulson and Blackstone, two wonderful secondary characters. But as he and Charles fall for each other and discover more and more about the other, their time is quickly coming to an end. It almost broke my heart when Sebastian was determined to leave and find his own way in the world and Charles wanted to do everything in his power to have him stay that he ended up hurting both of them in the process.
I loved every moment of this story and how you get swept away in a romance between the two men who are obviously perfect for each other. This is definitely worth a read...and probably a re-read. Highly Recommended!!!
The chemistry between the two men jumps off the page. Sebastian truly finds himself as he gets to know not only Charles but Coulson and Blackstone, two wonderful secondary characters. But as he and Charles fall for each other and discover more and more about the other, their time is quickly coming to an end. It almost broke my heart when Sebastian was determined to leave and find his own way in the world and Charles wanted to do everything in his power to have him stay that he ended up hurting both of them in the process.
I loved every moment of this story and how you get swept away in a romance between the two men who are obviously perfect for each other. This is definitely worth a read...and probably a re-read. Highly Recommended!!!
October 15, 2018
4.5 stars
So far I liked every book by Ruby Moone. Maybe this is my favourite.
So far I liked every book by Ruby Moone. Maybe this is my favourite.
August 26, 2018
Enjoyable, light read.
December 14, 2018
I do like Ruby Moone's stories. 4 stars.
October 14, 2018
Sebastian has reading issues so instead of offering to help him learn how, Charles promised to 'do the reading and writing' for him. How does that help? Is Charles going to be at Sebastian's side 24/7 for the rest of their lives? Because it might 'hurt' Sebastian's manly independence?
Besides it could be that all Sebastian needs is a pair of specs as well. Or, the story was not about all of Sebastian's issues and I just missed that. Was never any good at reading between the lines anyway, me.
Besides it could be that all Sebastian needs is a pair of specs as well. Or, the story was not about all of Sebastian's issues and I just missed that. Was never any good at reading between the lines anyway, me.
September 6, 2018
Straightforward, sweet and rather hot historical romance. Marred slightly by poor editing and some anachronistic dialogue.
July 10, 2022
A cute story, but I didn't feel the chemistry. Not enough time was spent exploring the issues that the MCs had.
October 8, 2022
I really enjoyed this regency ‘stern grump’ rehabilitates a seemingly ‘sunshine rake’. I'm also a sucker for portrayals of learning difference in historicals.
August 25, 2024
Charles Hawkins is a former soldier who was saved from death in Napoleon’s war by his friend, Edward. Now Edward has come begging a favor. He needs Charles to host his youngest brother, Sebastian, for a month at his remote country estate and try to convince Sebastian not to get their father to purchase a commission to allow him to go to war as well. Edward survived the war but two of their brothers did not. Edward is afraid that Sebastian is going into it as “….nothing more than another jaunt.” He believes his brother to be “… young, foolish and seemingly incapable.” This is a big favor to ask because Charles wants, no, needs, his solitude. But how do you say no to the man who saved your life?
Sebastian’s arrival at Charles’ home is less than exceptional. In fact, he arrives so drunk he falls out of the carriage, face plants, tells Charles he is pretty and then sleeps for hours. It is not an auspicious start to the month. Upon sobering up, however, Sebastian is a different person. He is quiet, kind and polite. Charles doesn’t regale him with horror stories of war. Instead, he questions why Sebastian expects his family to pay for things. “Hardly a babe in arms. Why do you feel your family should provide everything for you?”
Sebastian has a secret, however, and it is one that has made him feel inferior and useless in every way. He doesn’t feel there is anything he can be good at. He wants the respect of his brother and father, to make them proud, and he feels fighting is the only way to do that.
Sebastian needs to move. He “…just wanted to get out into the sunshine, take off his coat, and do something physical before he burst.” This is another thing that makes his family look askance at him. Why can’t he just be like the others? Add in that all his brothers resemble each other – dark haired and short – while he is fair and tall and it makes him feel more alienated. I have to say that I loved Sebastian. He tries so hard, suffers so much and is such a good person. He’s trying to be the best he can for his family in any way he knows how.
The estate has only Charles and his two manservants, Coulson and Blackstone. They are loyal to Charles and as Sebastian begins to work around the estate, they become friends with him. Charles is much more reserved than any of the others, but he has some truly terrible memories of the war and the guilt and pain weigh on him greatly. That being said, he is also a kind, intelligent man who listens to Sebastian and tries to help him.
The story is relationship focused, not just on sex or love, but on learning to trust. There is a point where Charles doesn’t react well to a confidence Sebastian shares. He doesn’t yell or carry on, he just doesn’t understand the import of it until later and when he does, he makes a point to do what is right by Sebastian. Loved that. Historical M/M romances are sometimes so dependent on suspending belief for the relationship, as being hung is a real threat, but the way this worked out made me believe it could work. I loved the last line and felt it was so fitting to the feel of the story.
This is a lovely story and I would recommend it particularly for fans of historical romance.
The cover art by Written Ink Designs is a Sebastian against the books and desk of Charles. I thought it was fitting to the mood of the story.
Sebastian’s arrival at Charles’ home is less than exceptional. In fact, he arrives so drunk he falls out of the carriage, face plants, tells Charles he is pretty and then sleeps for hours. It is not an auspicious start to the month. Upon sobering up, however, Sebastian is a different person. He is quiet, kind and polite. Charles doesn’t regale him with horror stories of war. Instead, he questions why Sebastian expects his family to pay for things. “Hardly a babe in arms. Why do you feel your family should provide everything for you?”
Sebastian has a secret, however, and it is one that has made him feel inferior and useless in every way. He doesn’t feel there is anything he can be good at. He wants the respect of his brother and father, to make them proud, and he feels fighting is the only way to do that.
Sebastian needs to move. He “…just wanted to get out into the sunshine, take off his coat, and do something physical before he burst.” This is another thing that makes his family look askance at him. Why can’t he just be like the others? Add in that all his brothers resemble each other – dark haired and short – while he is fair and tall and it makes him feel more alienated. I have to say that I loved Sebastian. He tries so hard, suffers so much and is such a good person. He’s trying to be the best he can for his family in any way he knows how.
The estate has only Charles and his two manservants, Coulson and Blackstone. They are loyal to Charles and as Sebastian begins to work around the estate, they become friends with him. Charles is much more reserved than any of the others, but he has some truly terrible memories of the war and the guilt and pain weigh on him greatly. That being said, he is also a kind, intelligent man who listens to Sebastian and tries to help him.
The story is relationship focused, not just on sex or love, but on learning to trust. There is a point where Charles doesn’t react well to a confidence Sebastian shares. He doesn’t yell or carry on, he just doesn’t understand the import of it until later and when he does, he makes a point to do what is right by Sebastian. Loved that. Historical M/M romances are sometimes so dependent on suspending belief for the relationship, as being hung is a real threat, but the way this worked out made me believe it could work. I loved the last line and felt it was so fitting to the feel of the story.
This is a lovely story and I would recommend it particularly for fans of historical romance.
The cover art by Written Ink Designs is a Sebastian against the books and desk of Charles. I thought it was fitting to the mood of the story.
February 14, 2024
Very enjoyable, readable super sexy story about Sebastian and Charles. Sebastian is the brother of Charles' friend, Edward, from the military. Poor Sebastian is considered a ne'er do well who flunked out of Oxford, drinks and carouses around town. He feels his only option left is to be given the funds to purchase a commission to go into the military. Edward begs Charles to host Sebastian for a month, help him stay away from drink and convince Sebastian not to go into the military. Both Charles and Edward experienced horrors in Napoleon's war so are desperate to keep Sebastian out of it. So we have this lovely tale of Charles dealing with his nightmares and trying to help Sebastian realize that his desire to join the military is ill-advised and that he has plenty to offer. I loved how they opened up to each other. Great characters, beautiful writing, uber hot smexy bits. Classic Ruby Moone greatness!
September 7, 2018
3.5 rounded up to 4 stars. Good historical M/M read. Our main MC has come back from the Napoleonic Wars with a disgust for the waste of human life in war and PTSD. A soldier that saved the veteran soldier's life on the battlefield asks the returning veteran for a favor. He wants him to take his seemingly ne'er do well younger brother in tow and give him some direction in life and especially talk him out of joining the army to prove his worth to their father.
It seems the ne'er do well brother is just bored with life and needs to find some meaning and respect which he feels he can do by serving his country in the military. The veteran helps him find meaning by giving him a work ethic (redoing the gardens around his estate) and giving him a real home and the companionship and love he has been missing. Nice, fairly simple story with a good romance.
It seems the ne'er do well brother is just bored with life and needs to find some meaning and respect which he feels he can do by serving his country in the military. The veteran helps him find meaning by giving him a work ethic (redoing the gardens around his estate) and giving him a real home and the companionship and love he has been missing. Nice, fairly simple story with a good romance.
September 22, 2018
Beautifully Done
The cover is perfect--as the chief protagonist and duck-out-of-water, Sebastian Farrah has always been an outsider in his family, society and, as it turns out, sexually. When he is dumped unceremoniously on the doorstep of Captain Charles Hawkins, he sets into motion one of the sweetest, love-filled and often lust-filled narratives of Regency England that you are likely to read.
One of the great traits of a Ruby Moone book is that she simply does not hold back on anything--angst, guilt, and most especially, lust. Her bedroom (and other locale) scenes are exceptional. And in this one she also includes a surprise pairing who do not have any intimate scenes, but who manage to spur the Sebastian-Charles romance. Neatly done.
I love Moone's books and this one was just perfect.
The cover is perfect--as the chief protagonist and duck-out-of-water, Sebastian Farrah has always been an outsider in his family, society and, as it turns out, sexually. When he is dumped unceremoniously on the doorstep of Captain Charles Hawkins, he sets into motion one of the sweetest, love-filled and often lust-filled narratives of Regency England that you are likely to read.
One of the great traits of a Ruby Moone book is that she simply does not hold back on anything--angst, guilt, and most especially, lust. Her bedroom (and other locale) scenes are exceptional. And in this one she also includes a surprise pairing who do not have any intimate scenes, but who manage to spur the Sebastian-Charles romance. Neatly done.
I love Moone's books and this one was just perfect.
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