Fidele

by Jenna Lynn Brown

A house full of ghosts is no place to fall in love.

Malcolm Carmichael has been coping with his post-war trauma by taking lovers, teaching art to schoolboys, and trying to ignore the ghosts he sees everywhere. After the death of his mother, he realizes he wants more than just to coast through the rest of his life, and leaves the exclusive school in search of something more.

Caleb Thibodeaux was so traumatized by the death of his parents in a fire that he hasn't spoken a word since. His uncle Noel hires Malcolm to be his tutor, and Malcolm discovers that Caleb is not the only Thibodeaux son with secrets. The plantation house Fidele is beautiful but haunted, and Noel is much the same.

Soon Malcolm is absorbed in protecting Caleb and Noel from threats both living and dead, and in uncovering the story of Fidele.

Genres: Historical, M M Romance, LGBT, Fiction, Paranormal, M M Paranormal, M M Historical Romance

571 pages, Kindle Edition

First published August 1, 2019

About the author

Jenna Lynn Brown has been making up stories for as long as she can remember, and writing them down for not quite that long. She loves writing about people in love.

aka Jenna Jones (LGBTQ+)
aka MissLucyJane (fanfiction, social media handle)
aka MissLucyJaneWrites (social media handle)
Now (2024-present) publishing as Gaenor Gray(LGBTQ+)

Reviews

[Teal · Rating 4 out of 5]

"There's a time-honored tradition of governesses falling for the guardians of their pupils."

"I'm not Jane Eyre," I replied.

Nothing is routine or generic in this atmospheric Gothic-style historical paranormal m/m romance set in 1951.

Both MCs are WWII veterans in their early 30s. Malcolm Carmichael, the 1st-person narrator, is an artist/teacher looking for a move and a new start in life after breaking up with his closeted, married lover.

I could find a wife like many other homosexual men before me, but I didn't want to live a lie. I wanted a home, a place where I could laugh without restraint and cry when I needed to and love with everything in me.

Noel Thibodeaux lives outside New Orleans on the family estate, Fidele, with his orphaned (and selectively mute) 5-year old nephew. He'd rather live anywhere else, but his powerful, hostile, abusive father holds the threat of blackmail over him to ensure his grandson is raised under his eye in the family home. The three form a miserably unhappy trio in the months after Caleb's parents' deaths. Malcolm's arrival as Caleb's tutor upends their fraught equilibrium. It also stirs up the vengeful ghost that has haunted the property for almost 200 years.

The historical setting and the characters were the book's greatest strengths — even though both were flawed. Small anachronisms and historically-inaccurate word choices vexed me. They won't be noticeable by most people, I suspect, since you have to be of a certain age to recognize their inaccuracy. More importantly, there were many things that did ring true and contributed to establishing the setting. For example, men everywhere are still following up introductions with "Where did you serve?" The war is over, but the marks it left on those who lived through it are very much not.

Malcolm in particular came home with a strange legacy:

"The veil is thinner for you now than it was before the war, and thinner than it is for most people. You're a portal now — the dead are drawn to you because they know you see them. And you see them everywhere."

I liked the eventual revelation of how that blessing/curse came to be placed upon him. The pace of the story allowed for build-up to revelations: measured and deliberate, with time taken to unspool the characters' histories and gradually allow insight into their personalities. There's a large cast of characters, but they were so brilliantly and distinctively sketched that I was never confused or overwhelmed. In fact, having them there — friends, family, employees, all distinctive no matter how minor — made the MCs feel fully grounded to me. Like real people, they functioned in a full, multidimensional, and well-peopled world. The only character I wasn't enthused about was Noel's father Emmanuel, because I hate the Evil Parent trope. Yet even he became more nuanced as the book progressed.

Malcolm and Noel fell victim to insta-lust, which I found slightly annoying. That they proceeded to establish an employer/employee relationship in the face of it was somewhat infuriating, since they'd be living under the same roof as Emmanuel, who'd be looking for any excuse to strip Noel of Caleb's guardianship. Once Mal moved in, he was frequently thoughtless and selfish about pushing against the boundaries he and Noel had agreed upon. I loved how the author handled that, though — with a 1st-person narrator, how do you convey that his flaws are flaws, when he's blind to them himself? In this case, some on-target things are said to Mal by a palm reader (a scene that's well-integrated into the story, not as random as it might sound):

"You act on instinct, and not always wisely. You're often controlled by your self-interest."

"Fair enough," I said.

"You're selfish when it comes to love," she went on. "You like lovers who reflect well on you."

Yes! I appreciated having that acknowledged. Mal — and Noel too — sometimes acted impulsively and irresponsibly as they fought against their mutual attraction. It was easy to criticize their behavior, but I found it credible even as I wanted to smack them. Their growing friendship and rapport, as it segued into deeper feelings, was handled convincingly. Their sex scenes were excellently done, too, and never felt gratuitous.

The story's measured pace became too much of a good thing at about the halfway mark. After the setting and mood and characters were established, I was ready for the rubber to meet the road — for things to start happening! But the story stubbornly continued to take its time, leaving me simultaneously entranced and frustrated. Apparently this was originally written in serial format on AO3; perhaps that had an effect on its structure and pacing. When the big climactic scene finally arrived I found it a bit rushed and awkward — but that's something I can say of many books. Writing good action scenes is hard, and I'm always willing to cut authors some slack if they don't perfectly nail it.

The paranormal element of the story sometimes gave me actual goosebumps. There was a mystery from Fidele's deep past that Malcolm sought to unravel in hopes of setting free its hostile ghost. I figured it out when the very first clue was dropped, and spent half the book waiting for him to catch up with me. Again, I'm inclined to cut some slack, because the book isn't a mystery per se, and the MCs weren't amateur sleuths, so I can't apply the same standards as I would with a genre mystery novel. I thought the ultimate reveal relied on a less-than-elegant device, though, which weakened the story's power as the ending approached.

Which leaves me torn as to my rating. It's a solid 3.5 stars, and for much of the book I was inclined to round that up to 4 stars. This is no generic cookie-cutter m/m romance; it's a story with a unique feel and tone and cast of characters, and I suspect it'll stick in my mind for a long while. But I was left wishing the paranormal aspects had been wrapped up more convincingly (and there was a loose plot thread that fell through the cracks too), so I had to consider whether rounding down to 3 stars would be a more accurate representation of my feelings. For now, I'm going with 4 stars, out of appreciation for the uniqueness of the story and the storytelling. And also out of appreciation for the fact that I enjoyed a story with two things I normally go well out of my way to avoid: a child as an important character, and an abusive parent. I will definitely be seeking more from this author.

I'm not sure who to recommend this to, although I know there's an audience for it. Some readers will love it. You just have to come prepared to take your time and settle in and let yourself be immersed in Malcolm and Noel's story as it plays out at its own pace. You'll be repaid if you do. But those who are impatient and value predictability and only want to zip their way through yet another m/m romance should probably stay away.

~ I received this book for free through the MMRG DBML program in exchange for an honest review. After reading it, I also bought a copy. ~

[annob [on hiatus] · Rating 4 out of 5]

The setting in 1951 New Orleans was lovely, despite the presence of ghosts. So many! The story was narrated from one of the MCs pov, and I think it was a great choice for this slow-burn romance. The balance between ghost story, family drama and romance was perfect. Normally I'm not a fan of children in my romances, but in this book young Caleb was a delight. I loved the author's writing style too, will for sure check out her other titles.

At the ending of the book, it was interesting to see the dates when the writing of the book took place. Roughly three years. It made me be even more in awe of the time, the effort and the talent it takes to write a good novel.

[Meep · Rating 5 out of 5]

Historical-Southern-Gothic-Paranormal-Romance.

I wasn't sure at first but soon got caught up with the characters, mystery and atmosphere for what proved to be an engaging story.

The characters aren't perfect; Malcom is a mix of naive and thoughtless, at the start he's in a relationship with a married man. It conveys the times, restraints and I liked that people could behave less than admirably without carbon villany. His choices can seem selfish and unwise, but the great thing is it's acknowledged, he's aware of his flaws. Seems the type to want the fairytale in a time when it isn't possible.
Noel is the result of a hard upbringing and war. Stoic about his duty though vulnerable underneath. Used to not getting or keeping anything for himself.

They make an interesting mix with a backdrop of creepy old house steeped in history. The book explores life, culture and the day to day along with a sense of old menace from the ghostly presence. There's humour at the trope and while the insta-lust was a bit much it's still a slow build relationship, I think the pacing might reflect the fact the story apparently started as a serial.

I enjoyed :)

[M · Rating 4 out of 5]

What a book. Southern gothic is a beloved genre of mine. Now combine that with a creepy ghost story and an aching forbidden romance and you have my full attention.

This (admittedly quite long) story, is set in the wake of WW2 and is told from the perspective of Malcolm, a queer teacher and veteran who ends up as the private tutor for a traumatized little boy in Louisiana. His employer, Noel, is the boy's uncle and Malcolm's love interest. Which, admittedly, is a little cliché. This set-up appears to Malcolm to be perfect at first, but when he comes to the grand old plantation house, things are not as they seem. The house is haunted, and the family's history is deeply rooted in secrets and lies. It was an atmospheric and breathless read. I'm obsessed with the New Orleans setting, it was as much a character in the book as any person.

Malcolm is an interesting character, a sensitive and optimistic person, but with a kind of steely resolve that made him really likeable. Noel was the broody one. Their romance is rocky, with Noel pulling away and Malcolm almost relentless in his pursuit. They spend a very long time living on glances and denied feelings. But they fit so well, and by the end, all I wanted was for them to have their happy ending. There is also a great cast of supporting characters.

The spooky aspect of the story was great, it gave me humid Hill House vibes. It was creepy without being terribly scary, and the plot and resolution were satisfying. It wasn't entirely perfect read for me, I found Malcolm to be a bit pushy at times and the length of the book was also daunting. But ultimately I found it infinitely readable and really enjoyed it.

[Rachel]

10/1/19 Currently on sale for 99c via Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07VVGNKY2/...

[Georgie-who-is-Sarah-Drew · Rating 3 out of 5]

For some reason, I've been reading a few Gothic stories recently, and they have all reminded me why I generally steer clear of the genre. I've nothing against dramatic divas (and divos) or weather full of portent or secrets (so many secrets) or astounding coincidences. But all in the same book? The absurd mixture always makes me think of the song "Lime Jello Marshmallow Cottage Cheese Surprise", and I feel faintly nauseous.

That doesn't make Fidele a bad book - Jenna Lynn Brown throws herself into the excesses of the style, and I was entertained enough to read to the end. If I'm damning this with faint praise, the fault really is mine, not the book's.

[Kirsten · Rating 4 out of 5]

Slow. Atmospheric.
Idealized race, gender,
class. Shimmering love.

[blub · Rating 4 out of 5]

Set in 1952. Malcolm Carmichael, 30, is ravaged from WWII but has settled into life after the war. He now spends his days teaching in a private school, working on his art in his free time and meeting with his secret married lover. After he gets news his mother has pass away he returns to his childhood home. While there, he reevaluations his life and what he wants and decides he needs to make some changes if he wants to find his own happiness.

Things seems to fall into place when an opportunity falls into his lap. Malcolm is introduced to Noel Thibodeaux, 33, a water engineer and fellow veteran, whom is looking for a tutor for his 5yr old nephew, Caleb Thibodeaux.

At first sight, Noel and Malcolm are attracted to each other but Noel is unwilling to pursue anything between them. Malcolm is more than willing to wait Noel out but knows his main priority is to work with Caleb. Matters are complicated when Malcolm arrives at Fideles, the plantation Noel and Caleb live in with Noel's curmudgeon father. Weird things start to happen and Malcolm takes it upon himself to try to figure out the mystery behind the haunting of Fideles.

I wasn't so sure of this book before going into it but it turned out I had absolutely nothing to worry about. Malcolm turns out to be pretty likable and he has great support in place wherever he went. He also has a special ability he keeps to himself but is ultimately what drew me into the story.

I enjoyed getting to know Caleb, Noel, Malcolm's old and new friends as well as Mrs. Bell and Willie. I liked that Malcolm stepped up and helped Caleb and Noel when odd events started to occur and going a step further to investigate to find a solution. It was also an experience getting to follow along with the characters as they were experiencing things in this particular time frame.

I appreciated how Malcolm did somewhat wait till Noel made the first move in their budding relationship but I also didn't care for Malcolm being so pushy when Noel rebuffed him in the odd chance that Noel would be so consumed with desire and just go with the flow. It made me worried since it was spelled out quite a few times what would happen to Caleb if any sort of romantic/intimate relationship was suspected between them. It was repeated quite a few times and I feel it was the one non-intelligent thing that Malcolm did and the repercussions did show.

I loved the idea that Simon, Zachary and Grace were looking out for their loved ones as well as discovering the history of Fideles.

A free copy was provided to me in exchange for an honest review.

[InD'tale Magazine · Rating 5 out of 5]

“Fidele” reads like a gothic romance on supernatural steroids! Ms. Brown’s novel brings to life a humid New Orleans locale filled with steamy love-at-first-sight passions, tragic heartbreaking losses, and characters so genuine they leap off the page!

Read full review in the 2019 Nov issue of InD'tale Magazine.

[Cloud Riser · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fidele is a wonderful read. It's prose is poetic and the descriptions vivid, painting a beautiful portrait for the time period it is set in. The characters emotions are felt throughout as they battle their past demons while embracing a love that is surprising. It's not just a romance, but a story of overcoming that many can relate to.

[This Curly Arab · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book is a historical romance with some ghosts added in. Jenna Lynn Brown is a new to me author that I really enjoyed. Fidele is about a lot of haunted people all trying to navigate the world post WWII. Malcolm Carmichael and Noel Thibodeaux are both veterans of a war that left them scarred and broken; physically and mentally. In addition both MC’s have secrets that haunt them, including some ghosts that haunt them too.

Malcolm and Noel's relationship begins as a professional one that evolves into a friendship and later relationship. There were so many tender moments between them that helped them build trust in each other. Jenna really captured the slow evolution of Malcolm and Noel's relationship naturally. They were both so apprehensive about making connections with anyone and that seemed to bring them together closer. I really enjoyed watching Malcolm, Noel and Caleb (Noel’s nephew) become a family in the wake of so much tragedy and loss.

Despite the growing relationship with Malcolm, Noel and Caleb; Fidele tries to take it all away. Malcolm and Noel work together to keep Caleb safe from the ghosts of the house that are trying to destroy them. Malcolm, Noel and a lot of other people embark on mission to learn about the ghosts that have haunted Fidele and rid the home of more tragedy.

Fidele isn’t the type of story I gravitate towards but I gave it a shot and it was absolutely worth it. It took a little bit to get into the story, there was a lot of backstory and build up to get to the main plot. That did allow time for me to get invested into each character. It was really difficult watching all the characters feel like they were unworthy of love, but in the end they overcame those obstacles and found love in the most haunted and tragic place. Malcolm and Noel deal with a lot of trauma and obstacles from their past and in addition they both also have to deal with the fact that they were gay in an era where that meant jail time, if not death. Despite this they still manage to build a beautiful relationship.

Jenna has added a great lineup of characters that were all a joy to get to know and fall in love with. She painted a beautiful picture of New Orleans with her words. It felt like I was right there in the bayou experiencing everything with all of the characters. It's going to be difficult to let go of Malcolm, Noel and Caleb, but it’s wonderful to know that they have found their HEA. This is worth the read, I recommend it to anyone that enjoys historical slow burn romances!

*trigger warning: homophobia and violence against the MCs

[Misty · Rating 5 out of 5]

Sometimes I don't know if I'm going to like a book or not but this one just took me by surprise! Yes, it's long and yes, it's slow-paced but what a wonderfully imaginative and moving story!

Fidèle has one toe in the romance pool and another one in the Southern Gothic/paranormal pool and it's extremely well done! I love the manner in which the author writes, in a descriptive and even poetic way ; it conveys a strong sense of place and time. The house and surroundings are important characters as much as the people and the ghosts who live there. It's an evocative location and there's a disquieting energy and a strange intensity that linger. We are learning about the house and its history through Malcolm's eyes, who is Caleb's tutor, and the first person narrative works perfectly. The whole thing is atmospheric and creepy, crafted with subtlety and finesse.

The characters grow a lot as the novel progresses and the more you get to know about them, the more you'll feel for them. Malcom, Noel and Caleb are just indissociable. There's immense pain, grief and hate all around them. Malcolm is the key and love is the only way out.

If you're looking for a long and solid, multi-layered Historical Southern gothic, paranormal/mystery (with a difference!), full of intriguing characters, ghosts and with a passionate romance then you’ll like Fidèle as much as I did. Recommended!

[Sarah☀️ Somerville · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was long and slow, and I really enjoyed that - mostly the pace worked really well.

Given it was so long, a more gradual build-up to the relationship would have been so much more enjoyable than the instalust/instalove we actually got. (And while Oliver is not exactly a sympathetic character, I thought their behaviour in front of him at their first meeting was really inappropriate.)

I didn't really enjoy the way the ghost situation played out - the letter and then the portrayal of the ghosts at the end. It just felt overdone and it didn't work for me. It didn't feel believable, and I just like my paranormal elements to feel believable.

[Just]

Dnf 40%

Poorly written. There is no chemistry between the MCs. The interactions between Malcolm and Noel are just plain weird, and the conversations are unrealistic. The whole story feels too modern for the time it's set in. Malcolm perents would be considered progressive for this time, I am not even sure what they would call them in the 50s. The ghost story might have saved the book, but the rest is just too off-putting. I'm giving up.

[Nemesis]

DNF 15%. Not worth continuing. The insta lust does not work in the context of the atmosphere the author seemed to want to induce. A slow buildup of the romantic feelings and of the attraction would have fit better to the themes of war, grief, loss, trauma. Too bad as it was written well-enough.

[Wangari · Rating 2 out of 5]

The writing where every day/activity was described got a bit much for me and I ended up skimming looking for the good parts. Couldn’t find them so....