What do you think?
Rate this book
After the Swan's Nest #2
The Earl of Klesamor Hall
In Regency England, three friends deal with the aftermath of a raid on a molly house they all visited.
After being arrested at a molly house and serving two years’ hard labor, accounting clerk William Hamond knows work will be hard to come by, so when Lord Hartley offers him the position of secretary to his father, the reclusive Earl of Trenwych, he’s eager to accept the position and devastated to discover that Lord Trenwych does not want or need a secretary. But he’s been promised a salary as long as he stays six months, and Lord Trenwych seems content to have him do so. Then he witnesses an attempt on Lord Trenwych’s life, an attempt that could objectively have been made by Lord Hartley, and William realized he has another reason to stay, to try to save Lord Trenwych.
A gay - m/m Regency romance, 73,000 words, print version 275 pages
After being arrested at a molly house and serving two years’ hard labor, accounting clerk William Hamond knows work will be hard to come by, so when Lord Hartley offers him the position of secretary to his father, the reclusive Earl of Trenwych, he’s eager to accept the position and devastated to discover that Lord Trenwych does not want or need a secretary. But he’s been promised a salary as long as he stays six months, and Lord Trenwych seems content to have him do so. Then he witnesses an attempt on Lord Trenwych’s life, an attempt that could objectively have been made by Lord Hartley, and William realized he has another reason to stay, to try to save Lord Trenwych.
A gay - m/m Regency romance, 73,000 words, print version 275 pages
194 pages, Kindle Edition
First published September 13, 2018
22 people are currently reading
52 people want to read
About the author
Adella J. Harris
15 books34 followersAdella J. Harris lives in Ohio where she writes, watches far too much British television, and reads anything with words on it.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 19 of 19 reviews
October 17, 2018
Historical romance with a side-dish of mystery. I liked the characters but the mystery was a bit on the weak side. Sitting around and talking does not for suspense make.
December 22, 2018
Accounting For Love!
The Will & Lord Trenwych romance story involves unfortunate incarceration, reluctant secretary position and a murder plot. Another well written tale with intriguing characters and intricate premise. I enjoyed this story.
The Will & Lord Trenwych romance story involves unfortunate incarceration, reluctant secretary position and a murder plot. Another well written tale with intriguing characters and intricate premise. I enjoyed this story.
March 5, 2021
I liked this one better than the last and everything was wraped up.I caught the little hints that Edgar was interested in William but was still blindsided by him telling William, mind you there weren't any overtures, hand holding, kisses etc. up to this point, 'of corse I want you, I love you', or something to that affect. My reaction mirrored that of William at the moment, slow blinking at the fictional Edgar in disbelieve. After that scene everything got a lot clearer between the two of them and I actually started to believe Edgars claim. The mystery was decent, you had your suspects and the resolution was quite interesting. All in all an enjoyable read.
" Without saying anything, he took the jar out of my hands and opened it, dipping his fingers in then taking my hand in his and gently rubbing the salve into my skin. His hands were warm and large and gentle. "
" I turned my attention back to my book. “I would think the attempts on your life would be enough to get him involved. Why would I have anything to do with it?”
“Because I love you, of course.”
That caused me to drop my book. I didn’t even notice as it hit my knee and crashed down to the floor. “You what?” "
" Without saying anything, he took the jar out of my hands and opened it, dipping his fingers in then taking my hand in his and gently rubbing the salve into my skin. His hands were warm and large and gentle. "
" I turned my attention back to my book. “I would think the attempts on your life would be enough to get him involved. Why would I have anything to do with it?”
“Because I love you, of course.”
That caused me to drop my book. I didn’t even notice as it hit my knee and crashed down to the floor. “You what?” "
January 27, 2019
Sweet, Unrushed
But not too slow.
O my, the main characters in this one! William Hammond has had a hard time of it, but manages to maintain his integrity and avoid bitterness. We very rapidly want everything for him. Lord Edgar T (don't ask me to spell it--the Earl) is the hunky quiet type. His son is, well, Tigger, basically.
Shenanigans of the m/m kind happen. Someone keeps trying to kill the Earl. It's complicated. The nefarious plot is untangled, but not obvious. Bonus points there. The only weakness is that the ending is actually realistic, in that parts of it take place off stage. This is a little disappointing. Still, the HEA happens. It was a good one.
Editing is good over all. A few spots where a word went missing, one very small continuity issue, and one where the wrong character name appears, but the story flows really nicely. It was a very pleasant read. The price point is not cheap. I felt like it was worth the price. (I also started with the sample, and then bought. The sample was a good indicator of the writing.)
Recommend.
But not too slow.
O my, the main characters in this one! William Hammond has had a hard time of it, but manages to maintain his integrity and avoid bitterness. We very rapidly want everything for him. Lord Edgar T (don't ask me to spell it--the Earl) is the hunky quiet type. His son is, well, Tigger, basically.
Shenanigans of the m/m kind happen. Someone keeps trying to kill the Earl. It's complicated. The nefarious plot is untangled, but not obvious. Bonus points there. The only weakness is that the ending is actually realistic, in that parts of it take place off stage. This is a little disappointing. Still, the HEA happens. It was a good one.
Editing is good over all. A few spots where a word went missing, one very small continuity issue, and one where the wrong character name appears, but the story flows really nicely. It was a very pleasant read. The price point is not cheap. I felt like it was worth the price. (I also started with the sample, and then bought. The sample was a good indicator of the writing.)
Recommend.
January 28, 2019
Pretty hot and a good mystery, too
I may have mentioned before that I'm not really that into either the mushy romance stuff or the super-graphic sex scenes. Dell's are very sweet and the main characters seem to care about one another a great deal. I love that in a story.
I also like that there's much more going on than just two lovely guys falling in love. There's an interesting mystery with multiple suspects and we get to follow along with the clues and see if we can figure it out before they do.
Her books are not overly long and can be read and savored as slowly and often as you like
I may have mentioned before that I'm not really that into either the mushy romance stuff or the super-graphic sex scenes. Dell's are very sweet and the main characters seem to care about one another a great deal. I love that in a story.
I also like that there's much more going on than just two lovely guys falling in love. There's an interesting mystery with multiple suspects and we get to follow along with the clues and see if we can figure it out before they do.
Her books are not overly long and can be read and savored as slowly and often as you like
April 13, 2019
A very fun read
William is such a sweetheart, I love him so much. He's such a sensitive, vulnerable person but also very selfless, always willing to sacrifice for his loved ones. And Edgar (the Earl) is also very endearing, being direct and awkward and very, very earnest. Their romance was very sweet and it was lovely to see Edgar wanting to take care of William and give him some shelter after his hardships in prison.
I also adored the relationship between Edgar and his son, and his late wife. He was good friends with her and clearly loved her very much. The way he would tease his son while also obviously doting on him was so, so sweet.
William is such a sweetheart, I love him so much. He's such a sensitive, vulnerable person but also very selfless, always willing to sacrifice for his loved ones. And Edgar (the Earl) is also very endearing, being direct and awkward and very, very earnest. Their romance was very sweet and it was lovely to see Edgar wanting to take care of William and give him some shelter after his hardships in prison.
I also adored the relationship between Edgar and his son, and his late wife. He was good friends with her and clearly loved her very much. The way he would tease his son while also obviously doting on him was so, so sweet.
October 28, 2018
The pacing in this was better than in the prior book, however, there was very little action. The mystery was solved with basic sleuthing and some old fashioned nosiness. William's character is well defined since he is the narrator but the other characters are little more than stock characters moving around the two man characters.
The romance felt rushed and I liked the way she handled it in the first book better. Edgar's confession seemed to come almost out of nowhere, notwithstanding he was very gentle with William during William's illness, it still felt rather abrupt.
The romance felt rushed and I liked the way she handled it in the first book better. Edgar's confession seemed to come almost out of nowhere, notwithstanding he was very gentle with William during William's illness, it still felt rather abrupt.
March 5, 2019
An excellent story about will Hammond who winds up in jail for sodomy after being caught with his friend Tom at a "Molly House." Helping Tom escape his jail time, he takes his lumps and spends two years at hard labor. Lord Hartley hires him for a secretary for his father, Lord Trenwych. Will tries to make himself useful at the manor and makes friends with the staff. Then he finds that someone has been trying to kill Lord Trenwych. The readers are led on twisted path of attempted murder, blackmail and sleuthing by Will and Lord Trewych (Edgar). Great read as was the first in this series.
February 9, 2021
Even better than the first one.
I thought the first book was quite good, but this one was even better. I think the relationships were fleshed out even more and it had a much better mystery that was more complicated and not easily deciphered right in the beginning. I liked how the characters interacted. It was nicer to see a more mature couple. The relationship also felt more genuine. My only complaint is I would have loved to see more in the last chapter. It wasn't a bad ending but I would have liked to seem the chapter completed.
I thought the first book was quite good, but this one was even better. I think the relationships were fleshed out even more and it had a much better mystery that was more complicated and not easily deciphered right in the beginning. I liked how the characters interacted. It was nicer to see a more mature couple. The relationship also felt more genuine. My only complaint is I would have loved to see more in the last chapter. It wasn't a bad ending but I would have liked to seem the chapter completed.
August 7, 2020
Book two in the series seemed comparatively more sedate than the first. The plot mystery (who's trying to kill Lord Trenwych) was interesting but it seemed to take a distant second place to the burgeoning romance between disgraced William and his titled employer. Don't get me wrong, the romance arc was quite good (not quite an insta-love/sex) and the M-M action suitably thrilling when it finally happened. It was a pity my interest waned with regards to discovering the perpetrators of multiple attempts of murder with slightly fizzed-out final revelations at the end. My vote remains with the The Marquess of Gorsewall Manor.
September 30, 2019
I love these characters! The love between Lord Trenwych and William is very nicely drawn out. The mystery was fine but it became too confusing at the end.
AND... Lord Hartly! He is so beautifully charming and cheery that I want to take him home, and squeeze him, and pet him...
I just found the 3rd book in the series and will be reading it next.
AND... Lord Hartly! He is so beautifully charming and cheery that I want to take him home, and squeeze him, and pet him...
I just found the 3rd book in the series and will be reading it next.
June 8, 2020
Great book
I loved this book. Great storyline and suspense. This is the second in the series and it's better than the first book. I liked the first book too. I'm ready for the third book. Highly recommend
I loved this book. Great storyline and suspense. This is the second in the series and it's better than the first book. I liked the first book too. I'm ready for the third book. Highly recommend
August 19, 2021
Some of the activities seemed to mirror those from the first book, but perhaps in that time period this is just how things were done. I felt the solution to the mystery was unnecessarily convoluted, but the characters were endearing.
May 11, 2022
Absolutely brilliant M/M historical romance I read the first book in the series almost two years ago and I loved it The books in the series all have a secondary mystery story line that makes for a fantastic read
November 24, 2018
Meets expectations.
August 6, 2023
Dont know why but love this series and how fast they move
July 30, 2024
Enjoyable story that is well written with likeable characters and good world building.
March 22, 2022
Of the three friends, William is the one I felt the most for. He's the fastidious one who does a selfless thing for a friend and is disowned by his family for being caught at the Swan's Nest and imprisoned. He's a good person. As are Lord Hartley and Edgar, Earl of Klesamor, both wonderful characters to read and neither of them perfect. This was an escapist read and it did well.
May 20, 2019
MM Romance - 2019 Q2 Read Your TBR Quarterly Challenge - Line Item#1, Letter "N" (Nest)
A smooth, sweet read, within a simple historical premise. The compelling characters made the read all that more enjoyable.
A smooth, sweet read, within a simple historical premise. The compelling characters made the read all that more enjoyable.
Displaying 1 - 19 of 19 reviews