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The Brotherhood #1
Just a Little Wickedness
Lord Alistair Bevan, Viscount Farnham, has the weight of the world on his shoulders. With his father’s health ailing, the time has come for him to find a wife, produce an heir, and do his duty. But Alistair knows a traditional life is not for him, especially when a chance meeting with valet Joseph Logan turns his world upside down.
Joe Logan came to London in search of his missing sister, Lily. But months have passed, and not only is Lily still lost, more children have disappeared as well. The trail of the missing children might be growing cold, but things are just starting to heat up between Joe and Alistair.
When both Alistair and Joe seek out the help of The Brotherhood—an underground organization dedicated to helping the gay community—they are drawn into a much deeper investigation of children who have gone missing all over London. When it begins to look like people very close to Alistair’s family are involved, Alistair finally has a chance to make his father proud. But will the wild and wicked love blossoming between Alistair and Joe help them find Lily, or will their affair be exposed and destroy both of them?
PLEASE BE ADVISED: Steam level – very spicy! And yes, this is an m/m romance, so if that’s not your thing, feel free to pass on this one.
Joe Logan came to London in search of his missing sister, Lily. But months have passed, and not only is Lily still lost, more children have disappeared as well. The trail of the missing children might be growing cold, but things are just starting to heat up between Joe and Alistair.
When both Alistair and Joe seek out the help of The Brotherhood—an underground organization dedicated to helping the gay community—they are drawn into a much deeper investigation of children who have gone missing all over London. When it begins to look like people very close to Alistair’s family are involved, Alistair finally has a chance to make his father proud. But will the wild and wicked love blossoming between Alistair and Joe help them find Lily, or will their affair be exposed and destroy both of them?
PLEASE BE ADVISED: Steam level – very spicy! And yes, this is an m/m romance, so if that’s not your thing, feel free to pass on this one.
322 pages, Kindle Edition
First published March 6, 2020
395 people are currently reading
583 people want to read
About the author
Merry Farmer
292 books1,138 followersUSA Today Bestselling author Merry Farmer lives in suburban Philadelphia with her two cats, Justine and Peter. She has been writing since she was ten years old and realized she didn't have to wait for the teacher to assign a creative writing project to write something. It was the best day of her life. Her books have reached the top of Amazon's charts, and have been named finalists for several prestigious awards, including the RONE Award for indie romance.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 143 reviews
January 30, 2022
DNF at 29%
This historical doesn’t even make it to wallpaper status. It may as well have been a contemporary novel, for all the setting and time mattered.
The non-historicalness:
This was the greatest offender to me. There are things I expect from a historical, especially one set in the 1800’s in Britain, involving the aristocracy. Things like speech patterns, the ever-present class dynamics, and of course, the need to hide when it comes to sexual orientation.
This book pays lip service to the hiding part, by making a seekrit club, but the characters are so open and blatant in their interactions in public that it clearly doesn’t matter. They almost kiss in a public park directly in front of a random child!! … ???! You don’t get to talk about hiding and then make out on the sidewalk.
There’s also a line about how one of the …idk what he is actually, Lionel(?) is like super obviously super gay. I just…stealth is the MO here, it’s 1890, he can’t be flamboyantly gay and still accepted like that.
I expected tension and almost a forbidden romance feel given this is between a viscount (soon to be earl) and a valet. This class distinction too, was only lip service. Joe was remarkably, insultingly comfortable around Alistair right off the bat. Even with being super attracted, and even being a Nice Aristocrat, I would expect that level of familiarity to offend a viscount. Joe isn’t even his valet! They don’t know each other!
Joe is generally bad at valet. He gets lippy with his employer, gets offended when his employer (again, a viscount) is dismissive of him (a servant), etc. It just doesn’t work. I don’t understand where he got this level of comfort around the aristocracy.
Of course he's ignoring you, you dweeb! You're a servant!
Their speech patterns did not suggest historical, class differences, or even British to me.
Instalove:
The instalove connection was so bad. I can get behind an instant attraction, but the instant trust? No. They meet and I’m pretty sure they’re confessing deep dark secrets before they even exchange names. Why do they trust each other immediately? There’s no hesitation. There’s even the phrase “I have no secrets from him” on like their second meeting. ?!?!
Alistair doesn’t even like the family that Joe works for, why would you confess secrets to someone who could very easily turn around and use it against you? But that also feeds back into the non-historical vibes anyway, no distinction between classes.
Too many plots:
There is so much going on in this book. There’s the intriguing Alzheimers (presumably) plot with the old earl (which would be very interesting actually, to see how it’s handled in such a setting), the instaromance, the missing children, and the marriage plot. One could, conceivably, twine these together well so that they’re balanced and feed into each other, but it felt choppy here. It read more like snippets from different stories just kind of smushed together.
Overall, with issues in every corner, this was a firm no-thanks for me.
This historical doesn’t even make it to wallpaper status. It may as well have been a contemporary novel, for all the setting and time mattered.
The non-historicalness:
This was the greatest offender to me. There are things I expect from a historical, especially one set in the 1800’s in Britain, involving the aristocracy. Things like speech patterns, the ever-present class dynamics, and of course, the need to hide when it comes to sexual orientation.
This book pays lip service to the hiding part, by making a seekrit club, but the characters are so open and blatant in their interactions in public that it clearly doesn’t matter. They almost kiss in a public park directly in front of a random child!! … ???! You don’t get to talk about hiding and then make out on the sidewalk.
There’s also a line about how one of the …idk what he is actually, Lionel(?) is like super obviously super gay. I just…stealth is the MO here, it’s 1890, he can’t be flamboyantly gay and still accepted like that.
I expected tension and almost a forbidden romance feel given this is between a viscount (soon to be earl) and a valet. This class distinction too, was only lip service. Joe was remarkably, insultingly comfortable around Alistair right off the bat. Even with being super attracted, and even being a Nice Aristocrat, I would expect that level of familiarity to offend a viscount. Joe isn’t even his valet! They don’t know each other!
Joe is generally bad at valet. He gets lippy with his employer, gets offended when his employer (again, a viscount) is dismissive of him (a servant), etc. It just doesn’t work. I don’t understand where he got this level of comfort around the aristocracy.
Burbage said nothing more. He turned his attention to his book, seeming to forget Joe was still standing there. Joe tried not to seethe at his apparent insignificance in Burbage’s eyes.
Of course he's ignoring you, you dweeb! You're a servant!
Their speech patterns did not suggest historical, class differences, or even British to me.
Instalove:
The instalove connection was so bad. I can get behind an instant attraction, but the instant trust? No. They meet and I’m pretty sure they’re confessing deep dark secrets before they even exchange names. Why do they trust each other immediately? There’s no hesitation. There’s even the phrase “I have no secrets from him” on like their second meeting. ?!?!
Alistair doesn’t even like the family that Joe works for, why would you confess secrets to someone who could very easily turn around and use it against you? But that also feeds back into the non-historical vibes anyway, no distinction between classes.
Too many plots:
There is so much going on in this book. There’s the intriguing Alzheimers (presumably) plot with the old earl (which would be very interesting actually, to see how it’s handled in such a setting), the instaromance, the missing children, and the marriage plot. One could, conceivably, twine these together well so that they’re balanced and feed into each other, but it felt choppy here. It read more like snippets from different stories just kind of smushed together.
Overall, with issues in every corner, this was a firm no-thanks for me.
July 9, 2022
Alistair is next in line for the earldom, expected to marry well and produce an heir. What is he to do when all he's ever wanted can be found with Joe Logan?
In a time where what he wanted and who he truly was were illegal, these two men were never meant to be. Forget the differences in their class. It would be a lifetime of sneaking around and stolen touches. Would it be worth it?
While not entirely an accurate depiction of what it was to be different in 19th century England, I was certainly entertained by this story. Instead of articulating the dark times, the author kept it light and playful. I think the bit of mystery that served as the underlying plot really helped with that. Children are missing, human trafficking at its ugliest. I hope they find all of the kids and Joe's little sister is safely returned home.
Find more on the blog
In a time where what he wanted and who he truly was were illegal, these two men were never meant to be. Forget the differences in their class. It would be a lifetime of sneaking around and stolen touches. Would it be worth it?
While not entirely an accurate depiction of what it was to be different in 19th century England, I was certainly entertained by this story. Instead of articulating the dark times, the author kept it light and playful. I think the bit of mystery that served as the underlying plot really helped with that. Children are missing, human trafficking at its ugliest. I hope they find all of the kids and Joe's little sister is safely returned home.
Find more on the blog
December 8, 2021
3.5 stars
June 6, 2022
I believe this is my first Merry Farmer read, and it won't be my last. I really liked this book. No... I loved it!
The evolving romance between the two men (which was klutzy-cute to downright steamy), along with the mystery of the missing children, made for an emotional, action-packed read.
All of the characters were fleshed out, within a realistic historical view of London circa 1870.
Farmer is a wonderful storyteller. 5 stars!
Now, if only the cover creators of this series can showcase guys in the fashions of the time; all of the guys on the covers of Farmer's Brotherhood series are in Regency garb. lol)
The evolving romance between the two men (which was klutzy-cute to downright steamy), along with the mystery of the missing children, made for an emotional, action-packed read.
All of the characters were fleshed out, within a realistic historical view of London circa 1870.
Farmer is a wonderful storyteller. 5 stars!
Now, if only the cover creators of this series can showcase guys in the fashions of the time; all of the guys on the covers of Farmer's Brotherhood series are in Regency garb. lol)
December 30, 2023
Despite a strong and promising start and interesting plotlines, this book ended up being amateur in all aspects of storytelling. My main issues included distracting historical inaccuracies, melodramatic and cartoonish characters and the inclusion of too many plot threads, most of which weren't executed well.
My favorite part of the story was having Alistair's father struggling with signs of early dementia. Having a respected member of the London elite exhibiting signs of dementia was very interesting since Victorian society is ruled by such rigid behavioral expectations. Seeing how Alistair and the rest of his family struggled to deal with his father's inappropriate outbursts and memory problems while attending functions was something I haven't come across before in historical fiction and wish the author had focused a lot more on this. I also loved how Joe stepped in to help with Alistair's father, calming him down and soothing the older man when he got overwhelmed. Unfortunately, this plotline suffered the same fate as the others in the book and was badly executed in the end.
One of the most distracting parts of the book was the lack of historical inaccuracy. I'm not a stickler for such things, but I put my foot down when authors include modern slang and modern behavior to an extent that it's distracting and destroys my immersion. Small examples included characters referencing somebody being high or talking about people not having chosen their gender yet. Then there were the many times gay men in the story engaged in public displays of affection without any thought to who could see them and the many stupid and unnecessary risks that Joe and Alistair took (having sex while in Joe's employer's house while there's a party going on, writing each other explicit sex letters, constantly touching each other in public, kissing in public etc). It didn't help that Joe and Alistair both acknowledge that they're being dumb for taking such risks because these two characters already do a stellar job of establishing how stupid they are later in the story (see below).
Another thing that annoyed me is how the author treated Joe's position as a valet. Even a small amount of research would show that a valet is the second highest position for men in an upper class household. It's a position of prestige that takes years to attain and requires experience and networking. So the idea that Joe walks in off the street and he's made a valet because he has some years of tailoring experience was ludicrous. In addition, Joe often got into arguments with people higher up than him, lecturing them about classism and how all men are equal. While I don't disagree with his opinions, there's no way that he would be able to go off on such tirades and not be cast out of his position in society, never mind keeping his job.
Then there was the author's essay at the end of the book, where she declares that Joe being Alistair's valet for the rest of his life is the only way that two men in Victorian society could be together, which is why she went that route (ie it's the only way she could give them a HEA). This actually made me laugh because of how ridiculous it is. There was nothing stopping Alistair from leaving his family and becoming a working-class man, which would have made it easy for him and Joe to stay together. It's not even necessary to do research using boring historical sources to see that working-class men staying lifelong bachelors wasn't unusual. Many classic books that were written during the Victorian era about men living in the Victorian era clearly demonstrate how commonplace it was for working-class men to never marry, maintain close friendships with other single men and even to live together with nobody having anything to say about it. Nearly all of Jules Verne's books, Shaw's Pygmalion and Stevenson's Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde are just some examples I can think of. The pressure to marry and have children didn't exist for working-class men and completely ignoring this fact demonstrated the author's lack of research or her understanding of the period. I've read multiple historical m/m romances where the upper class character decided to become working-class after recognizing that this would allow him and his partner to be together and I wish the author had taken this route.
The story itself had many interesting plotlines but was held back by amateur writing and poor execution. Many characters acted and talked in melodramatic and over-the-top ways that made them seem like caricatures (for example, Joe and Alistair declare they're 'in love' with each other after having known each other one week and having barely spent any time together) and the villain constantly went on tirades that made him sound like a cartoon villain. The worst example of characters behaving in strange ways was towards the end when Lionel (a side character) is attempting to calm an upset lower-class woman who had witnessed something related to the missing children. Lionel decides to suddenly act very effeminate and then kisses the woman on the lips. This makes her instantly calm down and Alistair decides Lionel is the best thing since sliced bread. There are so many things wrong with the way that scene was executed that I don't even know where to start so I'll move on.
There were also way too many plotlines in this story: Alistair being pressured to marry and the introduction of a potential wife and his half-hearted courting of her, Alistair's father's health issues, Alistair's family not knowing he's gay, Alistair and Joe's forbidden romance, the mystery surrounding Joe's missing sister and the other missing children, and the existence of The Brotherhood, how it functions and the many men who are part of this network.
While the author attempted to weave together many of these plotlines, the effort wasn't done very well. Having Joe and Alistair obsess over their lust for each other and whining about wanting to have sex more often felt tone deaf when they also kept reminding each other that they should be spending their time worrying about the missing children, who may have been murdered or might be undergoing horrific abuse at that very moment. Despite both of them taking the time to sigh and berate themselves for prioritizing sex, I still thought their behavior was selfish and off-putting.
Not only was the missing children plotline a bad complement to the other plotlines in the story, but I hated how the author paced the mystery because it made both Joe and Alistair look like complete idiots. Both of them encountered big, obvious clues that might as well have had huge signs hanging above them with the word CLUE and a downward arrow, but these two idiots brush them off because they're dumb and they'd rather be having sex instead. It become so ludicrous that I was laughing at them and how stupid they were being.
I'm very disappointed at how this book turned out because the writing itself wasn't bad and the characters and plotlines were interesting. Unfortunately, the author's approach is too amateur for my liking so I'm not going to continue the series.
My favorite part of the story was having Alistair's father struggling with signs of early dementia. Having a respected member of the London elite exhibiting signs of dementia was very interesting since Victorian society is ruled by such rigid behavioral expectations. Seeing how Alistair and the rest of his family struggled to deal with his father's inappropriate outbursts and memory problems while attending functions was something I haven't come across before in historical fiction and wish the author had focused a lot more on this. I also loved how Joe stepped in to help with Alistair's father, calming him down and soothing the older man when he got overwhelmed. Unfortunately, this plotline suffered the same fate as the others in the book and was badly executed in the end.
One of the most distracting parts of the book was the lack of historical inaccuracy. I'm not a stickler for such things, but I put my foot down when authors include modern slang and modern behavior to an extent that it's distracting and destroys my immersion. Small examples included characters referencing somebody being high or talking about people not having chosen their gender yet. Then there were the many times gay men in the story engaged in public displays of affection without any thought to who could see them and the many stupid and unnecessary risks that Joe and Alistair took (having sex while in Joe's employer's house while there's a party going on, writing each other explicit sex letters, constantly touching each other in public, kissing in public etc). It didn't help that Joe and Alistair both acknowledge that they're being dumb for taking such risks because these two characters already do a stellar job of establishing how stupid they are later in the story (see below).
Another thing that annoyed me is how the author treated Joe's position as a valet. Even a small amount of research would show that a valet is the second highest position for men in an upper class household. It's a position of prestige that takes years to attain and requires experience and networking. So the idea that Joe walks in off the street and he's made a valet because he has some years of tailoring experience was ludicrous. In addition, Joe often got into arguments with people higher up than him, lecturing them about classism and how all men are equal. While I don't disagree with his opinions, there's no way that he would be able to go off on such tirades and not be cast out of his position in society, never mind keeping his job.
Then there was the author's essay at the end of the book, where she declares that Joe being Alistair's valet for the rest of his life is the only way that two men in Victorian society could be together, which is why she went that route (ie it's the only way she could give them a HEA). This actually made me laugh because of how ridiculous it is. There was nothing stopping Alistair from leaving his family and becoming a working-class man, which would have made it easy for him and Joe to stay together. It's not even necessary to do research using boring historical sources to see that working-class men staying lifelong bachelors wasn't unusual. Many classic books that were written during the Victorian era about men living in the Victorian era clearly demonstrate how commonplace it was for working-class men to never marry, maintain close friendships with other single men and even to live together with nobody having anything to say about it. Nearly all of Jules Verne's books, Shaw's Pygmalion and Stevenson's Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde are just some examples I can think of. The pressure to marry and have children didn't exist for working-class men and completely ignoring this fact demonstrated the author's lack of research or her understanding of the period. I've read multiple historical m/m romances where the upper class character decided to become working-class after recognizing that this would allow him and his partner to be together and I wish the author had taken this route.
The story itself had many interesting plotlines but was held back by amateur writing and poor execution. Many characters acted and talked in melodramatic and over-the-top ways that made them seem like caricatures (for example, Joe and Alistair declare they're 'in love' with each other after having known each other one week and having barely spent any time together) and the villain constantly went on tirades that made him sound like a cartoon villain. The worst example of characters behaving in strange ways was towards the end when Lionel (a side character) is attempting to calm an upset lower-class woman who had witnessed something related to the missing children. Lionel decides to suddenly act very effeminate and then kisses the woman on the lips. This makes her instantly calm down and Alistair decides Lionel is the best thing since sliced bread. There are so many things wrong with the way that scene was executed that I don't even know where to start so I'll move on.
There were also way too many plotlines in this story: Alistair being pressured to marry and the introduction of a potential wife and his half-hearted courting of her, Alistair's father's health issues, Alistair's family not knowing he's gay, Alistair and Joe's forbidden romance, the mystery surrounding Joe's missing sister and the other missing children, and the existence of The Brotherhood, how it functions and the many men who are part of this network.
While the author attempted to weave together many of these plotlines, the effort wasn't done very well. Having Joe and Alistair obsess over their lust for each other and whining about wanting to have sex more often felt tone deaf when they also kept reminding each other that they should be spending their time worrying about the missing children, who may have been murdered or might be undergoing horrific abuse at that very moment. Despite both of them taking the time to sigh and berate themselves for prioritizing sex, I still thought their behavior was selfish and off-putting.
Not only was the missing children plotline a bad complement to the other plotlines in the story, but I hated how the author paced the mystery because it made both Joe and Alistair look like complete idiots. Both of them encountered big, obvious clues that might as well have had huge signs hanging above them with the word CLUE and a downward arrow, but these two idiots brush them off because they're dumb and they'd rather be having sex instead. It become so ludicrous that I was laughing at them and how stupid they were being.
I'm very disappointed at how this book turned out because the writing itself wasn't bad and the characters and plotlines were interesting. Unfortunately, the author's approach is too amateur for my liking so I'm not going to continue the series.
April 13, 2023
Interesting read, with nice characters. Good start to the brotherhood series.
October 15, 2024
So. Much as the coming out scene was incredibly affirming and romantic, it felt extraordinarily inauthentic, not to mention ill-advised given the historical period during which this was set. And it kept happening 💀
Man never met a family member, or stranger, or fiancée, or lawyer....that he didn't want to come out to.
The worst part is, they had the PERFECT cover. Joe was his valet. They could have spent plenty of time alone together, traveled together WITH NO ONE THE WISER.
Like, he didn't need to do all this😂😂😂😂
I'm not even a hater but they used to hang people for this!!!
Not very period accurate. I chose to view it as a fantasy romance and not a historical romance in order to keep my rose colored glasses on.
Also had a looooooot going on in the side-plot. And while I'm as empathetic as the next girl to the plight of young people being smuggled as slaves, it kept pulling me out of the clouds and landing me firmly back into reality, which.......is not why I'm here 😫.
I wanted to focus on just the budding romance (as did Alistair) but I kept thinking I'd get judged(by my inner self) for not caring that much about the vulnerable working class being trafficked(much like Joe did during that awkward scene)
Honestly, overall an okay read if you can ignore the historical ruckus. I'm not frothing at the mouth to recommend everyone grab a copy but if you have a copy lying around (like I did) then it's probably worth a read.
Man never met a family member, or stranger, or fiancée, or lawyer....that he didn't want to come out to.
The worst part is, they had the PERFECT cover. Joe was his valet. They could have spent plenty of time alone together, traveled together WITH NO ONE THE WISER.
Like, he didn't need to do all this😂😂😂😂
I'm not even a hater but they used to hang people for this!!!
Not very period accurate. I chose to view it as a fantasy romance and not a historical romance in order to keep my rose colored glasses on.
Also had a looooooot going on in the side-plot. And while I'm as empathetic as the next girl to the plight of young people being smuggled as slaves, it kept pulling me out of the clouds and landing me firmly back into reality, which.......is not why I'm here 😫.
I wanted to focus on just the budding romance (as did Alistair) but I kept thinking I'd get judged(by my inner self) for not caring that much about the vulnerable working class being trafficked(much like Joe did during that awkward scene)
Honestly, overall an okay read if you can ignore the historical ruckus. I'm not frothing at the mouth to recommend everyone grab a copy but if you have a copy lying around (like I did) then it's probably worth a read.
July 18, 2020
Good period M-M romance drama with likeable MCs blended with a decent subplot involving disappearing children. I appreciate that despite Joe and Alistair's insta-attract in first chapter, the author manages to draw out the anticipated physical culmination of said attraction. There were a couple of moments where I felt Joe's attention to be distracted away from his search for Lily but the lead up to the was suitably exhilarating.
Just a couple of minor quibbles:
1. When exactly did the name Darren come into use in UK ... I felt it seemed a little out of place (i.e. modern) for use by late nineteenth century minor nobility.
2. The use of the word 'high' to describe a drug induced euphoric state also jarred a little.
That aside, I look forward to reading subsequent books in this series. 3.5 stars.
Just a couple of minor quibbles:
1. When exactly did the name Darren come into use in UK ... I felt it seemed a little out of place (i.e. modern) for use by late nineteenth century minor nobility.
2. The use of the word 'high' to describe a drug induced euphoric state also jarred a little.
That aside, I look forward to reading subsequent books in this series. 3.5 stars.
dnf
March 3, 2021Not a review -- just a note to myself that I sampled it and didn't click with the writing.
May 29, 2020
This is a new to me author, and I liked what she had to offer. There were moments where I had to suspend my disbelief a bit as well as words that I do not think were used at the time period but they didn't distract me from enjoying the story. The MCs were likable and even relatable, the romance was probable and the crime investigations were fun to follow along. Although it featured insta attraction between Alistair the lord and Joe the valet, I am glad to say that the author gave them a bit of time off page to develop their feelings separately. The medium level of steam, playful humor and a touch of angst made this a very enjoyable read. Another thing I liked was the way Ms Farmer blurred the line between the classes as well as created a safe place for like minded men to simply be without fear of discovery. The idea of Brotherhood and the mystery of its creation were very intriguing. The secondary characters left a lasting impression, and I hope they will get a story as well. I will definitely continue with the series and check out this author's other works.
March 14, 2020
Lord Alistair Bevan, Viscount Farnham, is feeling the pressure of being the heir to his ailing father's earldom now more than ever. He knows it is his duty to marry and produce an heir, despite the fact that he's always been different. Then he meets valet Joseph Logan by chance at a supper party and his whole world is shaken.
Joe is only in London to search for his sister, Lily, who went inexplicably missing from the very house where he's gained employment. It seems other children have also disappeared, but months have passed and though Joe suspects his employer's involvement, he's no closer to finding any proof.
Joe & Alistair both seek help from an underground organization known as the Brotherhood and are drawn into a much larger investigation than they ever imagined. Since the family of Joe's employer is very close to Alistair's suspicious father, it seems this may be Alistair's chance to truly make his father proud, unless his relationship with Joe is exposed and leads to ruin for them both.
This book had just the right mix of emotional, unconventional romance and suspenseful mystery. This was fast-paced and held my attention, the characters were well-drawn and overall this was very well done. The ongoing mystery has me very much looking forward to the next book.
I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
https://mustreadalltheromance.blogspo...
Joe is only in London to search for his sister, Lily, who went inexplicably missing from the very house where he's gained employment. It seems other children have also disappeared, but months have passed and though Joe suspects his employer's involvement, he's no closer to finding any proof.
Joe & Alistair both seek help from an underground organization known as the Brotherhood and are drawn into a much larger investigation than they ever imagined. Since the family of Joe's employer is very close to Alistair's suspicious father, it seems this may be Alistair's chance to truly make his father proud, unless his relationship with Joe is exposed and leads to ruin for them both.
This book had just the right mix of emotional, unconventional romance and suspenseful mystery. This was fast-paced and held my attention, the characters were well-drawn and overall this was very well done. The ongoing mystery has me very much looking forward to the next book.
I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
https://mustreadalltheromance.blogspo...
March 15, 2020
Making The Best of The Situation!
A Victorian historical tale about Lord Alistair & Joe Logan love relationship which also includes a missing relative mystery. This is a well written, sexy, likable MCs, and interesting premise. Even though some of the subject matter is intense, the overall story is somewhat lighthearted. I enjoyed this mystery love story and I can’t wait for the next installment.
A Victorian historical tale about Lord Alistair & Joe Logan love relationship which also includes a missing relative mystery. This is a well written, sexy, likable MCs, and interesting premise. Even though some of the subject matter is intense, the overall story is somewhat lighthearted. I enjoyed this mystery love story and I can’t wait for the next installment.
December 3, 2021
I loved this book I am looking forward to reading more of this series I love everything from the romance to the mystery the setting is also really interesting. I really loved the characters so very much especially Alistair and Joe I loved their spicy romance I loved on quickly they hit it off they just fit so well together I also liked many of the characters from The Brotherhood a couple interesting lawyers and more there was just so many interesting characters here looking forward to reading about them. The other thing about the romance of the story even if it is forbidden in this time period once it was found out both characters stood their ground I also loved that there were characters that approved. I loved the plot I loved the mystery of the characters trying to solve child trafficking and to find the sister of Joe the MCs relationship had its ups and downs but all in all it was amazingly written I loved how the mystery is continuing and introduces the MC of the next book. So overall I loved this book and will be reading more soon.
![Profile Image for Chloë [at the cottage].](/_next/image?url=https%3A%2F%2Fi.gr-assets.com%2Fimages%2FS%2Fcompressed.photo.goodreads.com%2Fusers%2F1641608177i%2F5779557._UY200_CR0%2C0%2C200%2C200_.jpg&w=128&q=75)
November 28, 2021
Honesty up front - I only read this book because it was free. This is only my 2nd historical/Victorian era romance, so I’m not looking for the historical accuracy like the 1-star raters. Saying that, I loved this book! This had a great mix of romance, plot and dialogue that I appreciate in a romance novel - it was sweet, suspenseful, and saucy!
Alistair & Joe (the viscount & valet, respectively) are a lovely couple, with such ooey-gooey dialogue that spikes my blood sugar! I love them. They’re also supported by a cast of characters that I can’t wait to know better through the rest of the series. Lionel, I’m looking at you!
Long story short - this was an unexpected surprise, and I can’t wait to read more.
Alistair & Joe (the viscount & valet, respectively) are a lovely couple, with such ooey-gooey dialogue that spikes my blood sugar! I love them. They’re also supported by a cast of characters that I can’t wait to know better through the rest of the series. Lionel, I’m looking at you!
Long story short - this was an unexpected surprise, and I can’t wait to read more.
November 11, 2022
It's been a long time since I've read historical romance, and this was my first MM one. But Merry just sucked me in with her storytelling and I was compelled to know what would happen between the Viscount and the Valet in a world and a time where being together was much harder. She did such a great job with it. I loved all the elements, the mystery, the class disparity, the underground support system. Everything. And of course, I loved Alistair and Joe! Both men are caught in the expectations of their positions, but their attraction to each other is too strong to deny. Alistair is sweet and considerate, and Joe is determined and bold. So much chemistry and passion between these men. This book was a treat and left me wanting more historical MM romance.
October 6, 2020
1.5 rounded up because the plot had potential. This wasn't very good at all. The writing felt rushed and the plot could have used some work. None of the characters were particularly likeable: Alistair was childish and selfish and Joe was presented as self-sacrificing but ended up appearing prideful and obtuse. The first 15-20% were ok, after that, it went off the rails quite quickly. The insta-lust insta-love was perhaps the worst of it all because it required a suspension of disbelief of epic proportions: two men in that time period are willing to risk it all for someone they met literally five minutes ago? Not to say anything of the secret all-powerful organisation... There are several plot lines that could have been explored and developed more thoroughly which got resolved quickly and haphazardly (see: Darren).
Had this been expanded and developed into maybe 2 books with the characters getting to know each other, giving Alistair more of a motivation than c*ck to his actions, and the side characters the opportunity to be more than caricatures, it would have worked much better.
Had this been expanded and developed into maybe 2 books with the characters getting to know each other, giving Alistair more of a motivation than c*ck to his actions, and the side characters the opportunity to be more than caricatures, it would have worked much better.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
July 23, 2020
This one was a dnf for me at 60%. I really wanted to like it but when I realized I was skimming all the interactions between Alistair and Joe, I gave up. There was no real connection between them, but the two were infatuated with each other after their first meeting. They were also very indiscreet, which, when combined with language not suited to the setting, pushed my suspension of disbelief too far.
I did enjoy the background mystery and some of the side characters were lovely. Unfortunately, I didn’t buy the romance and I wasn’t particularly fond of either main character, so it wasn’t worth it for me to continue.
I did enjoy the background mystery and some of the side characters were lovely. Unfortunately, I didn’t buy the romance and I wasn’t particularly fond of either main character, so it wasn’t worth it for me to continue.
October 2, 2023
Lately I keep finding myself reading M/M romance novels set in horrifically inaccurate historical settings. I don’t know how I keep stumbling into them but I hope it stops soon. This isn’t really the worst of the lot but it’s hard for me to enjoy a period setting when I have to turn of the part of brain that knows anything about history.
May 1, 2021
Meh. Good plot idea.. lack of historical accuracy particularly the language used
April 10, 2020
“I think perhaps love thrives on unlikely circumstance and chance: life thrives on these principles, and is life not love? And love not life?” - Brandon Boyd
Alistair Bevan, of ‘Just a Little Wickedness’ by Merry Farmer, is the eldest son of an earl. As such, he is expected to take over when his father dies, whether he wants to or not. His life has been planned since he was born and there’s no easy way to avoid it. With his father being sick, the challenges he dreads may come sooner than later.
Alistair suspects that accepting an invitation to dine with the Eccles family is a bad idea. His father has been ranting for months that members of the family continue to be engaged in the slave trade from which they made their fortune years ago. Due to his illness, no one, not even his family, take him seriously. Sure enough, his father starts ranting at the dinner table about how his guest is a criminal. Alistair deliberately spills soup on his father, giving them an excuse to leave the table. Being in a separate room gives his father time to calm down. They are assisted by a servant, Joe, who directs them to a private room where he cleans the stain off Alistair’s clothes and calms him down.
While waiting for his father to get himself together, Joe and Alistair strike up a conversation. Joe realizes that, like himself, Alistair favors men. He listens as Alistair bemoans the fact that he is obligated to marry and produce an heir. Joe suggests that Alistair contact an organization called “The Brotherhood” because they may be able to help find him a wife who won’t mind if her husband doesn’t want to spend much time in bed. Alistair takes his advice to heart and vows to contact them soon.
With his family putting increasing pressure on him to marry, Alistair decides to take Joe’s advice sooner rather than later. When he arrives at the address Joe gave him for where the Brotherhood meets, Alistair is amazed to see the freedom displayed by other men like him. The biggest and most welcome surprise of all is that Joe is there. While mingling with the others, Alastair and Joe are referred to a law firm, Dandie and Wirth, who should be able to help both of them with their respective problems; finding Joe’s sister and a “suitable” wife for Alistair. The law office is very helpful and quite unique considering they are both clearly homosexuals. Finding a wife for Alistair is definitely something they are used to. Finding lost children is a bit out of their purview, but they agree to try. Joe and Alistair team up with Dandie and Wirth in order to find not only Joe’s sister, but other children that have gone missing
Joe and Alistair are great characters, atypical for their time, as are other characters in the story. I enjoyed watching Joe and Alistair as their attraction blossomed into something more. I especially enjoyed how Alistair wasn’t the typical aristocratic snob and that Joe wouldn't have bowed down to him even if he had been. Dandie and Worth were unique as well. Thank you, Merry, for helping Joe and Alistair find a way to be together.
Alistair Bevan, of ‘Just a Little Wickedness’ by Merry Farmer, is the eldest son of an earl. As such, he is expected to take over when his father dies, whether he wants to or not. His life has been planned since he was born and there’s no easy way to avoid it. With his father being sick, the challenges he dreads may come sooner than later.
Alistair suspects that accepting an invitation to dine with the Eccles family is a bad idea. His father has been ranting for months that members of the family continue to be engaged in the slave trade from which they made their fortune years ago. Due to his illness, no one, not even his family, take him seriously. Sure enough, his father starts ranting at the dinner table about how his guest is a criminal. Alistair deliberately spills soup on his father, giving them an excuse to leave the table. Being in a separate room gives his father time to calm down. They are assisted by a servant, Joe, who directs them to a private room where he cleans the stain off Alistair’s clothes and calms him down.
While waiting for his father to get himself together, Joe and Alistair strike up a conversation. Joe realizes that, like himself, Alistair favors men. He listens as Alistair bemoans the fact that he is obligated to marry and produce an heir. Joe suggests that Alistair contact an organization called “The Brotherhood” because they may be able to help find him a wife who won’t mind if her husband doesn’t want to spend much time in bed. Alistair takes his advice to heart and vows to contact them soon.
With his family putting increasing pressure on him to marry, Alistair decides to take Joe’s advice sooner rather than later. When he arrives at the address Joe gave him for where the Brotherhood meets, Alistair is amazed to see the freedom displayed by other men like him. The biggest and most welcome surprise of all is that Joe is there. While mingling with the others, Alastair and Joe are referred to a law firm, Dandie and Wirth, who should be able to help both of them with their respective problems; finding Joe’s sister and a “suitable” wife for Alistair. The law office is very helpful and quite unique considering they are both clearly homosexuals. Finding a wife for Alistair is definitely something they are used to. Finding lost children is a bit out of their purview, but they agree to try. Joe and Alistair team up with Dandie and Wirth in order to find not only Joe’s sister, but other children that have gone missing
Joe and Alistair are great characters, atypical for their time, as are other characters in the story. I enjoyed watching Joe and Alistair as their attraction blossomed into something more. I especially enjoyed how Alistair wasn’t the typical aristocratic snob and that Joe wouldn't have bowed down to him even if he had been. Dandie and Worth were unique as well. Thank you, Merry, for helping Joe and Alistair find a way to be together.
November 23, 2021
3 stars
Alistair is his father's heir, and with his father descending more and more to forgetfulness, looks to inherit soon. Everyone is on him about securing a wife to continue the line, but Alistair knows it would be the wrong thing to do, since he is attracted to men. When he meets a handsome valet at his family's enemy/friend's home, Alistair learns about a society that helps men such as himself get squared away with society. Joe, the valet, also needs help, as he came to London looking for his sister, who has disappeared. The attraction between Alistair and Joe is immediate, and love soon follows. They have to deal with societal mores of the times, missing children, and the fact that their feelings are illegal.
When I started reading it, I thought that Alistair was like the most missish (read ridiculous) heroine ever, all swoony over a handsome man and completely in love before the end of their first meeting. Or maybe their second. It was very, very, VERY quick, though, on both Joe's and Alistair's parts, with little to no talking between them. They were both swoony over each other and thinking how much they liked one another and how awesome they were after two conversations. TWO!!! And they weren't even in depth conversations. It was more like this:
Alistair: hey, how are you?
Joe: Me? I'm fine. I'm a valet and I used to be a tailor, but I came to London on the trail of my sister, who is missing these past momths.
Alistair: You're AWESOME!!! The MOST AWESOME person to EVER walk this earth! I'm sad because my family doesn't know about me and I have to produce an heir. Also, my father is failing.
Joe: YOU are AMAZING! The MOST AMAZING person to LIVE!
In spite of the ridiculousness and the fact that Alistair came across as the romance writer's* idea of a wussy heroine for the first half of the book, things smoothed out and I actually enjoyed it. I mean, I still felt as though Alistair and Joe are in for a very rude awakening when they actually have conversations with each other instead of thinking how incredible and handsome the other person is, but it was fun.
Warning: the mystery of the missing children seems to be a theme throughout the series, so it doesn't get completely solved in this book.
Also, a lot of the sentiments and words seemed to be very modern, but I couldn't be bothered to look up the many things that jolted me.
*why does the romance writer's idea of a heroine differ from the ordinary romance reader's idea?
Alistair is his father's heir, and with his father descending more and more to forgetfulness, looks to inherit soon. Everyone is on him about securing a wife to continue the line, but Alistair knows it would be the wrong thing to do, since he is attracted to men. When he meets a handsome valet at his family's enemy/friend's home, Alistair learns about a society that helps men such as himself get squared away with society. Joe, the valet, also needs help, as he came to London looking for his sister, who has disappeared. The attraction between Alistair and Joe is immediate, and love soon follows. They have to deal with societal mores of the times, missing children, and the fact that their feelings are illegal.
When I started reading it, I thought that Alistair was like the most missish (read ridiculous) heroine ever, all swoony over a handsome man and completely in love before the end of their first meeting. Or maybe their second. It was very, very, VERY quick, though, on both Joe's and Alistair's parts, with little to no talking between them. They were both swoony over each other and thinking how much they liked one another and how awesome they were after two conversations. TWO!!! And they weren't even in depth conversations. It was more like this:
Alistair: hey, how are you?
Joe: Me? I'm fine. I'm a valet and I used to be a tailor, but I came to London on the trail of my sister, who is missing these past momths.
Alistair: You're AWESOME!!! The MOST AWESOME person to EVER walk this earth! I'm sad because my family doesn't know about me and I have to produce an heir. Also, my father is failing.
Joe: YOU are AMAZING! The MOST AMAZING person to LIVE!
In spite of the ridiculousness and the fact that Alistair came across as the romance writer's* idea of a wussy heroine for the first half of the book, things smoothed out and I actually enjoyed it. I mean, I still felt as though Alistair and Joe are in for a very rude awakening when they actually have conversations with each other instead of thinking how incredible and handsome the other person is, but it was fun.
Warning: the mystery of the missing children seems to be a theme throughout the series, so it doesn't get completely solved in this book.
Also, a lot of the sentiments and words seemed to be very modern, but I couldn't be bothered to look up the many things that jolted me.
*why does the romance writer's idea of a heroine differ from the ordinary romance reader's idea?
March 5, 2020
4.5 Stars
Lord Alistair Bevan, Viscount Farnham, has the weight of the world on his shoulders. With his father’s health failing, the time has come for him to find a wife, produce an heir, and do his duty. But Alistair knows a traditional life is not for him, especially when a chance meeting with valet Joseph Logan turns his world upside down. Joe Logan came to London in search of his missing sister, Lily, months have passed, and Lily still missing. When both Alistair and Joe seek out the help of The Brotherhood, which is an underground organization dedicated to helping the gay community, they are drawn into a much deeper investigation of children who have gone missing all over London.
This is the first book in a new series & I found it to be an engrossing read. I’ve only recently discovered the author & I'm loving her books. I found this to be a well written book which not only was a lovely romance but also highlighted the hypocrisy in late Victorian society on the surface people were straight laced, upstanding & highly critical & censorious of any behaviour not deemed normal but once the doors were closed things were much different. The book was so much more than the deepening affection & relationship between Alistair & Joe, which in itself was heart warming, it showed how much times have changed. It also dealt with human trafficking especially children. The pace was good & never lagged. The characters were well portrayed & they had plenty of depth. Not everything was resolved so I can’t wait for the next book in the series
Thank you to Booksprout for a copy which I voluntarily read
Lord Alistair Bevan, Viscount Farnham, has the weight of the world on his shoulders. With his father’s health failing, the time has come for him to find a wife, produce an heir, and do his duty. But Alistair knows a traditional life is not for him, especially when a chance meeting with valet Joseph Logan turns his world upside down. Joe Logan came to London in search of his missing sister, Lily, months have passed, and Lily still missing. When both Alistair and Joe seek out the help of The Brotherhood, which is an underground organization dedicated to helping the gay community, they are drawn into a much deeper investigation of children who have gone missing all over London.
This is the first book in a new series & I found it to be an engrossing read. I’ve only recently discovered the author & I'm loving her books. I found this to be a well written book which not only was a lovely romance but also highlighted the hypocrisy in late Victorian society on the surface people were straight laced, upstanding & highly critical & censorious of any behaviour not deemed normal but once the doors were closed things were much different. The book was so much more than the deepening affection & relationship between Alistair & Joe, which in itself was heart warming, it showed how much times have changed. It also dealt with human trafficking especially children. The pace was good & never lagged. The characters were well portrayed & they had plenty of depth. Not everything was resolved so I can’t wait for the next book in the series
Thank you to Booksprout for a copy which I voluntarily read
March 8, 2020
The Man's Man🐶
ADULT Victorian M🐺/M🐶 Romance💕 and Abduction Mystery!
The two men involved together in this late 19th century romance must be even more secretive than the men and women of the same time period.
Viscount Alistair Bevan🐺 must not only deal with the fast encroaching dementia of his father, the Earl of Winslow, he must think about getting married to produce an heir. Women💃 hold absolutely no attraction for him, but he knows he must do his duty.
When Alistair🐺🍆⛲ meets Joe🐶, a valet at Lord Chisholm's dinner party, he is dumbstruck with desire💕! Joe🐶🍆⛲ has gotten a job there because his fourteen year old sister Lily, was a maid there and has gone missing. Joe🐶 is determined to find her.
Alistair's father, the Earl, blurts out accusations of Lord Chisholm and the whole Eccles family being involved in slavery and slave trading during their carriage ride to the dinner!
Of course, Alistair🐺 thinks it's just the ramblings of his father's slipping mind. After all, slavery was abolished in England about 80 years before!
The torrid affair behind closed doors goes on between Alistair🐺🍆⛲ and Joe🐶🍆⛲, who now becomes Alistair's valet. What better cover than for Joe🐶🍆⛲ to be a man's man!
Together they do some crazy amateur sleuthing in Joe's continuing efforts to find his sister. Then they discover that two servant children are missing from the Eccles household, too! Step it up, men!
I really enjoyed this gay romance💕. It's a real 💘love story and Abduction Adventure! It's just a different twist in a really well written and plotted out historical romance💕.
The ADULT scenes between the two male🐺🐶 lovers are tastefully but graphically described!
This book does end in somewhat of a cliffhanger....
ADULT Victorian M🐺/M🐶 Romance💕 and Abduction Mystery!
The two men involved together in this late 19th century romance must be even more secretive than the men and women of the same time period.
Viscount Alistair Bevan🐺 must not only deal with the fast encroaching dementia of his father, the Earl of Winslow, he must think about getting married to produce an heir. Women💃 hold absolutely no attraction for him, but he knows he must do his duty.
When Alistair🐺🍆⛲ meets Joe🐶, a valet at Lord Chisholm's dinner party, he is dumbstruck with desire💕! Joe🐶🍆⛲ has gotten a job there because his fourteen year old sister Lily, was a maid there and has gone missing. Joe🐶 is determined to find her.
Alistair's father, the Earl, blurts out accusations of Lord Chisholm and the whole Eccles family being involved in slavery and slave trading during their carriage ride to the dinner!
Of course, Alistair🐺 thinks it's just the ramblings of his father's slipping mind. After all, slavery was abolished in England about 80 years before!
The torrid affair behind closed doors goes on between Alistair🐺🍆⛲ and Joe🐶🍆⛲, who now becomes Alistair's valet. What better cover than for Joe🐶🍆⛲ to be a man's man!
Together they do some crazy amateur sleuthing in Joe's continuing efforts to find his sister. Then they discover that two servant children are missing from the Eccles household, too! Step it up, men!
I really enjoyed this gay romance💕. It's a real 💘love story and Abduction Adventure! It's just a different twist in a really well written and plotted out historical romance💕.
The ADULT scenes between the two male🐺🐶 lovers are tastefully but graphically described!
This book does end in somewhat of a cliffhanger....
March 15, 2020
A fast paced story filled with an mystery and suspense along with a building romance that brings pulls it all together.
Alistair Bevan tried to humor his father. It seemed he was losing his mind, accusing the Eccless family, host of the dinner party they were attending to be slave traders. He insisted that the family keep their eyes open and see if they could find any evidence!
Of course his father also pointed out that Alistair needed to marry and produce a heir. Yes, he knew what his duty was, but it was not his desire. No, it turned his blood cold.
Then he meets Joe Logan, a valet at the Eccless dinner party when his father ends up with soup spilled on him. There is an immediate connection between the two and he finds out Joe's fourteen year old sister Lily is missing. She had come to work as a maid for them and had not been seen for several months.
Then it begins to get very interesting. As the two seek the help of an underground organization, The Brotherhood, they find out about children missing in London, just like Lily.
Suspense, a mystery, an unconventional romance and a fast page turner kept my interest until the end wondering what would happen next!!
Alistair Bevan tried to humor his father. It seemed he was losing his mind, accusing the Eccless family, host of the dinner party they were attending to be slave traders. He insisted that the family keep their eyes open and see if they could find any evidence!
Of course his father also pointed out that Alistair needed to marry and produce a heir. Yes, he knew what his duty was, but it was not his desire. No, it turned his blood cold.
Then he meets Joe Logan, a valet at the Eccless dinner party when his father ends up with soup spilled on him. There is an immediate connection between the two and he finds out Joe's fourteen year old sister Lily is missing. She had come to work as a maid for them and had not been seen for several months.
Then it begins to get very interesting. As the two seek the help of an underground organization, The Brotherhood, they find out about children missing in London, just like Lily.
Suspense, a mystery, an unconventional romance and a fast page turner kept my interest until the end wondering what would happen next!!
December 26, 2021
The dynamic between Joe and Alistair was so freaking sweet. They were just so in love and so adorable and I *thoroughly* enjoyed this whole book. On top of that, there's an interesting overall plot that has me itching to read the next book. I'm so curious about which characters we'll follow throughout the series and definitely have some favorites I'd like to see fleshed out (take that how you will). If you're looking for a historical romance with a bit of a mystery that is compelling and sweet, look no further.
March 16, 2020
I enjoyed reading about Joe and Alistair. I liked that they were from different worlds. There is also great mystery and suspense because of all the missing children and I liked that they worked together.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
May 12, 2020
Ending it on a cliffhanger is just cruel
Want to read
September 2, 2021🎁 FREE on Amazon today (9/2/2021)! 🎁
September 3, 2021
Kidnapping
Kidnapping and trafficking of children is the gist of this story.
The story Alistair and Joe is fantastic.
Merry Farmer has written a good book.
Kidnapping and trafficking of children is the gist of this story.
The story Alistair and Joe is fantastic.
Merry Farmer has written a good book.
March 18, 2024
Hard to be happy
when you’re a noble crim’nal.
Didn’t quite believe it.
when you’re a noble crim’nal.
Didn’t quite believe it.
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