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Manners & Mannerisms
Length: 7 hrs and 2 mins
Everyone in Highley eagerly anticipates the arrival of Reginald Abernathy, the new master of Albon Manor. Everyone, that is, except Lord William Bascomb. William knows he’ll be expected to woo Reginald’s sister, and he can't summon the interest for it. But when the Abernathys arrive at last, William discovers he’s interested after all—in Reginald. Reginald is the most handsome, most dashing, most intriguing man he’s ever known. Better yet, he seems to share William's preference for men.
The addition of the Abernathys to Highley suits everyone. William’s sister adores Reginald’s, Aunt Harriet foresees many happy matches between the two families, William’s sister-in-law is pleased at the prospect of unloading her penniless relatives at last, and all the eligible ladies in Highley want the man who only has eyes for William.
Against a backdrop of elegant balls and frolicking picnics, William and Reginald enjoy furtive moments of ecstasy until a scandal erupts, forcing William to choose between Reginald and the only life he’s ever known.
See how many matches Aunt Harriet can make in this low-angst, warm and fuzzy Jane Austen-inspired M/M Regency romance.
Everyone in Highley eagerly anticipates the arrival of Reginald Abernathy, the new master of Albon Manor. Everyone, that is, except Lord William Bascomb. William knows he’ll be expected to woo Reginald’s sister, and he can't summon the interest for it. But when the Abernathys arrive at last, William discovers he’s interested after all—in Reginald. Reginald is the most handsome, most dashing, most intriguing man he’s ever known. Better yet, he seems to share William's preference for men.
The addition of the Abernathys to Highley suits everyone. William’s sister adores Reginald’s, Aunt Harriet foresees many happy matches between the two families, William’s sister-in-law is pleased at the prospect of unloading her penniless relatives at last, and all the eligible ladies in Highley want the man who only has eyes for William.
Against a backdrop of elegant balls and frolicking picnics, William and Reginald enjoy furtive moments of ecstasy until a scandal erupts, forcing William to choose between Reginald and the only life he’s ever known.
See how many matches Aunt Harriet can make in this low-angst, warm and fuzzy Jane Austen-inspired M/M Regency romance.
Audible Audio
First published November 7, 2019
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342 people want to read
About the author
Tanya Chris
60 books295 followersTanya writes in a variety of romantic and erotic genres, being an avid follower of many of these genres herself. Some of her favorites are M/M romance, MFM threesomes, and BDSM with male submissives.
Tanya lives in New England with her boyfriend and her cat and has participated in many of the activities about which she writes, but not all of them. It's left to the reader to decide which are which.
Tanya lives in New England with her boyfriend and her cat and has participated in many of the activities about which she writes, but not all of them. It's left to the reader to decide which are which.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 103 reviews
dnf
October 29, 2020DNF @61%, and I only got that far by skimming.
This looked promising, and got off to a tolerably entertaining start. Since it's a Regency romance I went in expecting some wit and charm and sparkle. Instead I got Sir William Bascomb, from whose 3rd-person POV the story is told.
As not one, not two, but three couples within his immediate circle form romantic attachments, William is oblivious to it all. He is a man without a clue. It becomes apparent to the reader that William is being defrauded by someone he trusts -- but he's oblivious to that as well.
And at that point in the story I began to think longingly of all the smart, clever, interesting characters surely waiting for me in my TBR pile.
Poor Sir William is as dumb as a box of rocks and twice as dull. Which makes it impossible for me to believe in an HEA for him and his love interest. As oblivious as William is, Reginald could cheat on him every day of their lives with a different man each time, and William would be unable to recognize a clue even if it was lying right there on his side of the bed.
I'm extremely reluctant to give this a rating, because I'm having difficulty with almost everything I read nowadays, and who knows how much of my dissatisfaction is of the "it's not the book, it's me" variety? I suspect I might have enjoyed this story a few years ago. But now, today, I did not enjoy it. YMMV.
This looked promising, and got off to a tolerably entertaining start. Since it's a Regency romance I went in expecting some wit and charm and sparkle. Instead I got Sir William Bascomb, from whose 3rd-person POV the story is told.
As not one, not two, but three couples within his immediate circle form romantic attachments, William is oblivious to it all. He is a man without a clue. It becomes apparent to the reader that William is being defrauded by someone he trusts -- but he's oblivious to that as well.
And at that point in the story I began to think longingly of all the smart, clever, interesting characters surely waiting for me in my TBR pile.
Poor Sir William is as dumb as a box of rocks and twice as dull. Which makes it impossible for me to believe in an HEA for him and his love interest. As oblivious as William is, Reginald could cheat on him every day of their lives with a different man each time, and William would be unable to recognize a clue even if it was lying right there on his side of the bed.
I'm extremely reluctant to give this a rating, because I'm having difficulty with almost everything I read nowadays, and who knows how much of my dissatisfaction is of the "it's not the book, it's me" variety? I suspect I might have enjoyed this story a few years ago. But now, today, I did not enjoy it. YMMV.
May 2, 2021
A Georgian Romp ❤️❤️
What a delightful historical romance set in the English countryside, 1788.
Sexy, wealthy Virginian comes to town and swoops a destitute lord off his feet!
Although I saw how this story was going to play out early on, there was one twist that I didn’t account for & that was fun.
This was my first novel by this author & I know I’ll be picking up more of her books. The historical was well done—not perfect—and the story flowed nicely.
Our Englishman was rather clueless & at times I didn’t know what the American saw in him, but I let it go. I loved Joel Leslie’s lazy drawl for the newcomer & I simply adored his character (although he was rather too perfect and self-possessed). Fun sexy times 😉.
My rec? This rambling review says I truly enjoyed it!!
What a delightful historical romance set in the English countryside, 1788.
Sexy, wealthy Virginian comes to town and swoops a destitute lord off his feet!
Although I saw how this story was going to play out early on, there was one twist that I didn’t account for & that was fun.
This was my first novel by this author & I know I’ll be picking up more of her books. The historical was well done—not perfect—and the story flowed nicely.
Our Englishman was rather clueless & at times I didn’t know what the American saw in him, but I let it go. I loved Joel Leslie’s lazy drawl for the newcomer & I simply adored his character (although he was rather too perfect and self-possessed). Fun sexy times 😉.
My rec? This rambling review says I truly enjoyed it!!
November 4, 2019
William and Reginald
It’s the 18th centuries, no man can lie with another man, no women either, no exception with partnerships, only one man with one woman.
When William laid eyes on Reginald his heart goes faster. Trying to hide his feelings is almost impossible. Reginald is way more open and free with his attraction toward William, of course only when they are behind closed doors.
William has a sister and Reginald too. Susan and Catherine are very fond of each other. Women can show affection much more than men. William is somewhat depressed not able to be with Reginald all the time, to enjoy his company. The family wants him and Susan together and they want Reginald and Catherine together.
Reginald positive as always knows how to deal.
A lovable and enjoyable story. Family matters placed in that particular time is all about keeping up appearance. So they all did.
Reginald is so delicious uplifting, William can only do the same. William learns a lot about physical enjoyment from the more experienced Reginald.
I loved this story very! The historical age spirit was convincingly written, I saw the environments and types of equipment, the elegance, the clothes, the carriages, the residents' all-clear before my eyes.
With Reginald learning William all about bodily pleasure in such a delightful way was beyond appealing! All the secondary characters had a wonderful place in this story. But William and Reginald stayed the absolute main characters. The solution with all the different relationships was nicely written. I loved the whole plot.
A very enjoyable read!
It’s the 18th centuries, no man can lie with another man, no women either, no exception with partnerships, only one man with one woman.
When William laid eyes on Reginald his heart goes faster. Trying to hide his feelings is almost impossible. Reginald is way more open and free with his attraction toward William, of course only when they are behind closed doors.
William has a sister and Reginald too. Susan and Catherine are very fond of each other. Women can show affection much more than men. William is somewhat depressed not able to be with Reginald all the time, to enjoy his company. The family wants him and Susan together and they want Reginald and Catherine together.
Reginald positive as always knows how to deal.
A lovable and enjoyable story. Family matters placed in that particular time is all about keeping up appearance. So they all did.
Reginald is so delicious uplifting, William can only do the same. William learns a lot about physical enjoyment from the more experienced Reginald.
I loved this story very! The historical age spirit was convincingly written, I saw the environments and types of equipment, the elegance, the clothes, the carriages, the residents' all-clear before my eyes.
With Reginald learning William all about bodily pleasure in such a delightful way was beyond appealing! All the secondary characters had a wonderful place in this story. But William and Reginald stayed the absolute main characters. The solution with all the different relationships was nicely written. I loved the whole plot.
A very enjoyable read!
July 15, 2021
(dnf at 30%)
SO. DULL. nearly a third of the way and literally nothing is happening, the characters aren't exciting, the dialogue is banal and the plot is virtually nonexistent. i would have DNF'd sooner but i was waiting for something to happen; if something hasn't happened by A THIRD of the way in, then bro, i ain't reading any further.
SO. DULL. nearly a third of the way and literally nothing is happening, the characters aren't exciting, the dialogue is banal and the plot is virtually nonexistent. i would have DNF'd sooner but i was waiting for something to happen; if something hasn't happened by A THIRD of the way in, then bro, i ain't reading any further.
July 1, 2021
TOO MUCH SMOKE... AND NO FIRE!
The glitzy narration hid a dreary intrigue and a trivial storyline. I read up to the chapter 14 and don't want to read more as nothing in the flat twists could keep me interested. There is a variation in the presentation of the main characters; the ramblings are centered around William whose personality is as boring and monotonous as the story itself. Reginald's depiction is vague and nothing in his background or behavior stands out... he's just as cliché as the remaining characters. The romantic side is weak, the characters' feelings are bland and the general sentimentality of the storyline lacks a touch of sophistication... And the insinuations about the homosexuality of the girls (Susan and Catherine) were absurdly scattered here and there as if to create suspense... what a poor realization!
I'd have rated this book 2 stars in other circumstances if only to compare it with Him Improvement, another book of this author that I read a while ago and didn't appreciate at all for other reasons, but I read several books about the same epoch and topic these past days and rated them 1 star, this one is in nothing better than them... so, to be fair, I will give it the same rating as I pinpointed the same shortcomings.
Books are supposed to bring enjoyment to the reader, and this hadn't at any moment. It's a waste of time, money and mental energy to write a book that can't move the heart of the person who reads it...
The glitzy narration hid a dreary intrigue and a trivial storyline. I read up to the chapter 14 and don't want to read more as nothing in the flat twists could keep me interested. There is a variation in the presentation of the main characters; the ramblings are centered around William whose personality is as boring and monotonous as the story itself. Reginald's depiction is vague and nothing in his background or behavior stands out... he's just as cliché as the remaining characters. The romantic side is weak, the characters' feelings are bland and the general sentimentality of the storyline lacks a touch of sophistication... And the insinuations about the homosexuality of the girls (Susan and Catherine) were absurdly scattered here and there as if to create suspense... what a poor realization!
I'd have rated this book 2 stars in other circumstances if only to compare it with Him Improvement, another book of this author that I read a while ago and didn't appreciate at all for other reasons, but I read several books about the same epoch and topic these past days and rated them 1 star, this one is in nothing better than them... so, to be fair, I will give it the same rating as I pinpointed the same shortcomings.
Books are supposed to bring enjoyment to the reader, and this hadn't at any moment. It's a waste of time, money and mental energy to write a book that can't move the heart of the person who reads it...
December 30, 2022
Meh. Tedious and dull mm Regency romance. This author is hit or miss for me but I've really enjoyed some of her contemporary and shifter romances. But I could not get into this one.
The plot is typical of trad Regencies, without the typical sparkling banter or emotional depth, and with zero chemistry between the h/h. An innocent country lad (in this case) has his life turned upside down when an older, wealthier, worldly man takes up residence nearby. There are country dances and picnics, flirtations and misunderstandings, and a surprise twist that I saw coming a mile away. To be fair, I think the reader was supposed to be expecting the twist. The only one surprised was our country innocent.
The plot is typical of trad Regencies, without the typical sparkling banter or emotional depth, and with zero chemistry between the h/h. An innocent country lad (in this case) has his life turned upside down when an older, wealthier, worldly man takes up residence nearby. There are country dances and picnics, flirtations and misunderstandings, and a surprise twist that I saw coming a mile away. To be fair, I think the reader was supposed to be expecting the twist. The only one surprised was our country innocent.
May 17, 2021
Here was heaven, surely, and heaven couldn’t be denied.
3.5 stars. All right, so here's the thing. This book is kind of formulaic, and there's really nothing much here that will surprise the reader. Buuut there's a lot that surprises our protagonist, because homie is as dumb as rocks and has a brain like a sieve. And honestly? I was just sorta charmed by it lol, because so much of this book was just super cute to me.
The plot is charmingly Austenesque, which is part of what I liked. The entire neighbourhood is eagerly awaiting the new lord of Albon Manor, arriving from America with his sister. Everyone is expecting matches to be made with the younger Bascombe siblings, and William Bascombe is indeed interested in the newcomers, but not the one everyone expects. What follows is super low-angst, super fluffy, and again, pretty predictable. William is amazingly oblivious to a lot of what happens in the plot until the last moment, a lot of hints fly right over his pretty head, and he's naïve and inexperienced to boot.
And I could see how that would be frustrating and annoying for some readers? But my enjoyment in reading this came from the Regency aspects, the light-heartedness, all the sweetness and discovery of new love, the picnics, the balls, courting, paying calls... I can't stress enough that not very much happened in this novel except for the two main characters falling in love, but it was very satisfying for me in the way that queer historical romances are always satisfying for me; seeing how people like us survived and loved in times before. I loved how Reginald referred to queer folks as "our people" and all the steps he took to ensure safety and happiness. I could have stood to have a bit more courtship and romance between William and Reginald, but I did like what we got, and all the romantic language and just how they spoke to and about each other. I'm a little more patient with historicals when couples fall for each other very quickly; if written right it can read believably, and I believed in this and pulled for them.
Part of my enjoyment can definitely be attributed to the fact that I listened to the audiobook as read by Joel Leslie, 1) whose voice I just really like in general and 2) which made parts of this really entertaining where it might have been dull. The writing was great; truly made me want to swoon at times? And I think listening to the audio smoothed over some of the pacing for me, which wasn't the best. William isn't the most scintillating protagonist, but the era and the other characters made up for it. (All of the side-ships were so cute!) Other than a couple squicks here and there (and some of those sex scenes weren't really needed) and some plot points that were glazed over and an ending that tied up way too quickly to be truly satisfying, this was just... really fun and sweet and heart-warming. The last line was so cute I yelled a little.
Hats off for historical himbos. Genuinely, I had a good time.
April 5, 2024
I've given this an A- for narration and a D for content at AudioGals. Going by my normal critera for rounding star ratings up or down, that would put this almost into the 4 star bracket, but that would be too misleading given the extremely poor quality of this story..
Manners & Mannerisms is a standalone m/m historical romance by Tanya Chris, who is the author of a number of contemporary and paranormal romances – and based on this, I’d suggest she should stick to those, because historicals clearly aren’t her forté. The story is dreadfully dull, and had I not agreed to review it, I’d probably have DNF’ed; even the fabulous Joel Leslie can’t turn this audiobook into anything other than it is – painfully uneventful and completely devoid of chemistry and humour.
Our PoV character is Lord William Bascombe, younger brother of the Marquess of Eldridge. The family is very strapped for cash thanks to their father’s mismanagement, and they have avoided destitution by the marquess’ marriage to an heiress. William and his younger siblings, Frederick and Catherine, still live at the family home, although William knows that he should be considering taking a wife for himself and setting up his own household. He also knows that he is not inclined towards women, and has instead resigned himself to living alone. His aunt, however, has other ideas; Mr. Reginald Abernathy of Virginia – the new owner of the neighbouring estate of Albon Manor – would be an excellent choice of suitor for Catherine, and more than that, he has a sister of marriageable age who would no doubt make William a good wife.
Reginald Abernathy had no idea he stood to inherit property in England until he was informed of the deaths of a distant relative and his heirs. He also has no idea that his arrival is so eagerly anticipated, or that he and his sisters are already the cause of much speculation.
William is not particularly interested in the new arrivals. He’s more concerned with continuing to help the family get back on its feet financially, and to learn more about how to manage the estate so he can be more of a help and less of a burden to his brother – until the Abernathys finally arrive and he gets his first sight of Reginald who, if not precisely handsome, is somewhat compelling with a very attractive smile.
The ‘eagerly anticipated new arrivals’ is a fairly stock-in-trade plotline in historical romance, as is the idea of the incumbent family thinking about making matches with the newbies (it’s the basis for the plot of Pride and Prejudice after all), and also familiar is the story of the young, country-bred innocent who has their head turned by the older, worldly gentleman who takes up residence nearby. That’s fine; tropes are tropes are tropes and they all have their place when done well. Manners & Mannerisms could indeed have been a charming comedy of manners, with the author juggling not one, but three romantic relationships, but COULD is the operative word in that sentence, because… it’s not charming or a comedy or any shape or form. There’s a lot of info-dumping and much of the dialogue is awkward and stilted (and in some cases, laughable); but what really nails the coffin lid shut on this one is that the whole thing is told from William’s PoV and he’s just So… Incredibly… Dull. And dense. I mean, it’s easy to see that Someone Is Up To Something Underhanded, but William has no clue (and the resolution to that plotline is ridiculous). It’s also easy to see the solution to the romantic dilemmas, but again, William is completely oblivious to them. And that ending – OMG! (And not in a good way).
A story that doesn’t fully engage me makes the flaws easier to spot. The characters are barely two-dimensional and there is nothing remotely interesting or appealing about them – they’re bland and completely unmemorable with no defining traits. The story is so weak as to be almost non-existent, and the Americanisms are easy to spot. For instance – no English person would describe themselves as “plenty tall” (we’re “quite tall”) or would walk down the road “a ways”. Boys wore short trousers (not short pants) and men wore nightshirts, not nightdresses. And as for the sex scenes *facepalm* – they’re overly drawn out and cringingly unsexy.
The only thing this audiobook has going for it is the narration by Joel Leslie, which is excellent. His English accent is spot on, he adopts an attractive Southern drawl to portray Reginald and Susan, and all the secondary characters – male and female – are clearly differentiated according to age and station. Mr. Leslie has a great line in cantankerous dowagers and snotty upper-class ladies – I always enjoy listening to him when he Brings the Dame Maggie ;) and his portrayal of William perfectly reflects the character’s youth and innocence. His performance is well-paced, he infuses the dialogue with an appropriate degree of emotion, and he does his absolute best to inject a sense of life and vibrancy into the story, but even a performer of his calibre can only do so much to paper over the cracks in a dull and unengaging book. Someone as incredibly talented as he is deserves better than this.
This review originally appeared at AudioGals.
Manners & Mannerisms is a standalone m/m historical romance by Tanya Chris, who is the author of a number of contemporary and paranormal romances – and based on this, I’d suggest she should stick to those, because historicals clearly aren’t her forté. The story is dreadfully dull, and had I not agreed to review it, I’d probably have DNF’ed; even the fabulous Joel Leslie can’t turn this audiobook into anything other than it is – painfully uneventful and completely devoid of chemistry and humour.
Our PoV character is Lord William Bascombe, younger brother of the Marquess of Eldridge. The family is very strapped for cash thanks to their father’s mismanagement, and they have avoided destitution by the marquess’ marriage to an heiress. William and his younger siblings, Frederick and Catherine, still live at the family home, although William knows that he should be considering taking a wife for himself and setting up his own household. He also knows that he is not inclined towards women, and has instead resigned himself to living alone. His aunt, however, has other ideas; Mr. Reginald Abernathy of Virginia – the new owner of the neighbouring estate of Albon Manor – would be an excellent choice of suitor for Catherine, and more than that, he has a sister of marriageable age who would no doubt make William a good wife.
Reginald Abernathy had no idea he stood to inherit property in England until he was informed of the deaths of a distant relative and his heirs. He also has no idea that his arrival is so eagerly anticipated, or that he and his sisters are already the cause of much speculation.
William is not particularly interested in the new arrivals. He’s more concerned with continuing to help the family get back on its feet financially, and to learn more about how to manage the estate so he can be more of a help and less of a burden to his brother – until the Abernathys finally arrive and he gets his first sight of Reginald who, if not precisely handsome, is somewhat compelling with a very attractive smile.
The ‘eagerly anticipated new arrivals’ is a fairly stock-in-trade plotline in historical romance, as is the idea of the incumbent family thinking about making matches with the newbies (it’s the basis for the plot of Pride and Prejudice after all), and also familiar is the story of the young, country-bred innocent who has their head turned by the older, worldly gentleman who takes up residence nearby. That’s fine; tropes are tropes are tropes and they all have their place when done well. Manners & Mannerisms could indeed have been a charming comedy of manners, with the author juggling not one, but three romantic relationships, but COULD is the operative word in that sentence, because… it’s not charming or a comedy or any shape or form. There’s a lot of info-dumping and much of the dialogue is awkward and stilted (and in some cases, laughable); but what really nails the coffin lid shut on this one is that the whole thing is told from William’s PoV and he’s just So… Incredibly… Dull. And dense. I mean, it’s easy to see that Someone Is Up To Something Underhanded, but William has no clue (and the resolution to that plotline is ridiculous). It’s also easy to see the solution to the romantic dilemmas, but again, William is completely oblivious to them. And that ending – OMG! (And not in a good way).
A story that doesn’t fully engage me makes the flaws easier to spot. The characters are barely two-dimensional and there is nothing remotely interesting or appealing about them – they’re bland and completely unmemorable with no defining traits. The story is so weak as to be almost non-existent, and the Americanisms are easy to spot. For instance – no English person would describe themselves as “plenty tall” (we’re “quite tall”) or would walk down the road “a ways”. Boys wore short trousers (not short pants) and men wore nightshirts, not nightdresses. And as for the sex scenes *facepalm* – they’re overly drawn out and cringingly unsexy.
The only thing this audiobook has going for it is the narration by Joel Leslie, which is excellent. His English accent is spot on, he adopts an attractive Southern drawl to portray Reginald and Susan, and all the secondary characters – male and female – are clearly differentiated according to age and station. Mr. Leslie has a great line in cantankerous dowagers and snotty upper-class ladies – I always enjoy listening to him when he Brings the Dame Maggie ;) and his portrayal of William perfectly reflects the character’s youth and innocence. His performance is well-paced, he infuses the dialogue with an appropriate degree of emotion, and he does his absolute best to inject a sense of life and vibrancy into the story, but even a performer of his calibre can only do so much to paper over the cracks in a dull and unengaging book. Someone as incredibly talented as he is deserves better than this.
This review originally appeared at AudioGals.
January 15, 2021
Es ist super cute, aber das Ende dann doch zu schmalzig.
May 1, 2021
Yeah, this so was not for me.
I'm not a huge fan of historicals and when I do read them I need stuff to actually happen. This one dragged on and on and on and on. At one point I literally dozed off while reading. The small mercy was Williams character. I really liked him. It's a pity that I didn't enjoy this, I'm usually a fan of this author.
I'm not a huge fan of historicals and when I do read them I need stuff to actually happen. This one dragged on and on and on and on. At one point I literally dozed off while reading. The small mercy was Williams character. I really liked him. It's a pity that I didn't enjoy this, I'm usually a fan of this author.
November 21, 2019
A 3.5 Story
I enjoy Tanya Chris's writing. And I enjoyed this story for the most part. It was just a bit too silly on occassion. William was so utterly unaware of anyone else that it felt like the story dragged as it was glaringly obvious what the "solution" for everyone would be, meanwhile William somehow never got it. Also the pairing so perfectly of two siblings coming to America and matching so perfectly with siblings in England? That felt very "let's just make everything perfect because it's fiction." It's farfetched. Although the MCs in this book are dealing with something incredibly difficult during that time (same sex love), they didn't have to struggle at all. Everything worked out so perfectly it basically felt like present day.
I love MM and particularly MM historical. And I appreciate when the story accounts for the real difficulty faced by gay lovers. And the way they ultimately have to get creative to live together in a way that is "married." It adds to the realism. But this book made things fit so perfect and so easy that it was so clearly fake. I was rolling my eyes more than sighing happily for the characters on occassion.
But, all that said, it was a fun historical. I enjoyed the writing and most of the story so I say read it. Embrace the sugar. Enjoy it.
It's sugary sweet, doesn't have the realism and depth of a KJ Charles, let's say. But still, good.
I enjoy Tanya Chris's writing. And I enjoyed this story for the most part. It was just a bit too silly on occassion. William was so utterly unaware of anyone else that it felt like the story dragged as it was glaringly obvious what the "solution" for everyone would be, meanwhile William somehow never got it. Also the pairing so perfectly of two siblings coming to America and matching so perfectly with siblings in England? That felt very "let's just make everything perfect because it's fiction." It's farfetched. Although the MCs in this book are dealing with something incredibly difficult during that time (same sex love), they didn't have to struggle at all. Everything worked out so perfectly it basically felt like present day.
I love MM and particularly MM historical. And I appreciate when the story accounts for the real difficulty faced by gay lovers. And the way they ultimately have to get creative to live together in a way that is "married." It adds to the realism. But this book made things fit so perfect and so easy that it was so clearly fake. I was rolling my eyes more than sighing happily for the characters on occassion.
But, all that said, it was a fun historical. I enjoyed the writing and most of the story so I say read it. Embrace the sugar. Enjoy it.
It's sugary sweet, doesn't have the realism and depth of a KJ Charles, let's say. But still, good.
October 29, 2020
DNF @ 67%.
This isn't horrible, it's just incredibly dull and predictable. The characters are so completely bland.
But when Reggie said he was going to call William's dick Sir William because it stands so proud and tall, and William refers to Reggie's asshole as a portal, I was done.
It's hard not to read a Regency MM romance and not compare it to KJ Charles or Joanna Chambers, which may be part of the issue here (though I'm still not forgiving the use of "portal"), so maybe I'll give one of the author's contemporary or fantasy books a go instead.
This isn't horrible, it's just incredibly dull and predictable. The characters are so completely bland.
But when Reggie said he was going to call William's dick Sir William because it stands so proud and tall, and William refers to Reggie's asshole as a portal, I was done.
It's hard not to read a Regency MM romance and not compare it to KJ Charles or Joanna Chambers, which may be part of the issue here (though I'm still not forgiving the use of "portal"), so maybe I'll give one of the author's contemporary or fantasy books a go instead.
October 25, 2020
Expecting a bit of formulaic fluff, I got instead an odd choice in narrative voice -- the dullest man in Christendom. The best part of this book for me was ruminating on how that voice took this book right off the rails. All the elements of Regency fluff are here, the grasping sister-in-law in charge of the money, the dull-witted brother who inherited the crumbling estate, the evil manager fiddling the books, the mysterious stranger who arrives at the very conveniently placed neighbouring great house. There are balls and visits and walks and rides and the mysterious American stranger who is besotted with our hero, the narrator, who takes your breath away with his stupidity, while totally lacking in anything to make up for it.
If you imagine Bertie Wooster, a good man of very little brain, or hell, even Winnie the Pooh, but devoid of all sparkle and charm, but also the smartest person in the story... you have this novel. It's enjoyable to some extent to outsmart the narrator and to pick up the crumbs the author leaves you to figure things out. But when it's too easy, as easy as this was to see the entire shape of the world the main character is oblivious to, you start to wonder if the expectations of the reader are a little insultingly low.
There's this thing in fiction where an author tries to write a character much smarter than them, and it comes out clangingly wrong. This is the opposite problem where the character is so much dumber than your average reader, that you can't wait for the bloke to leave.
The formulaic m-m sex scenes are plunked into the story exactly how you'd expect, and yet as our hero (yes, I've forgotten his name) tries to engage romantically without the wit to tie his own shoes, it all becomes unbearable.
Formulas are good! Comforting, enjoyable, and a gentle way for a reader to pass the time. This book seemed to be aimed at readers who don't want anything more than the formula, in fact, might be deeply put off by anything more.
If you imagine Bertie Wooster, a good man of very little brain, or hell, even Winnie the Pooh, but devoid of all sparkle and charm, but also the smartest person in the story... you have this novel. It's enjoyable to some extent to outsmart the narrator and to pick up the crumbs the author leaves you to figure things out. But when it's too easy, as easy as this was to see the entire shape of the world the main character is oblivious to, you start to wonder if the expectations of the reader are a little insultingly low.
There's this thing in fiction where an author tries to write a character much smarter than them, and it comes out clangingly wrong. This is the opposite problem where the character is so much dumber than your average reader, that you can't wait for the bloke to leave.
The formulaic m-m sex scenes are plunked into the story exactly how you'd expect, and yet as our hero (yes, I've forgotten his name) tries to engage romantically without the wit to tie his own shoes, it all becomes unbearable.
Formulas are good! Comforting, enjoyable, and a gentle way for a reader to pass the time. This book seemed to be aimed at readers who don't want anything more than the formula, in fact, might be deeply put off by anything more.
January 7, 2020
This book was given by the author and Love Bytes in exchange for an honest review.
This review was first posted at Love Bytes: LGBTQ Book Reviews.
Modeled after the polite hijinks and romantic tensions of Austen’s beloved stories, this book will be right at home on your shelf full of lush, clever Regency romances. It’s familiar, but it works, and it’s fun from start to finish.
Lord William Bascomb is the aimless second son of a penniless household, living off the kindness of his snobby sister-in-law. He’s not especially eager to welcome the American Abernathy family as new neighbors, but he’s soon charmed by Reginald Abernathy, the master of Albon Manor. The two men enjoy each other’s company and soon learn they share the same desires, starting a romance behind closed doors and the watchful eyes of sweet sisters, annoying aunts, and gossipy servants. However, time is closing in on them, as a match must be made either between William and Reginald’s sister Susan or Reginald and William’s sister Catherine. William cannot bear the thought of betraying either his lover or a wife, so when Susan comes to him in confidence, they strive to make their interesting dynamics work in a world full of rules, customs, and of course, manners.
William is a bit of a blank-slate character. He doesn’t have much personality beyond naïve and lovelorn, but he has that listless feeling so many young people have dealt with for hundreds of years. He knows he loves men and he knows he loves his family—but as for everything else, he has no clue. It’s certainly relatable. Reginald is a bit rounder—he’s kindhearted and easygoing, a perfect match for the worrisome William. Despite them both being pretty unremarkable, their love scenes are passionate and their slow courtship is delightful to read. There’s that perfect feeling of Regency-era tension—we mustn’t get too close, mustn’t give anyone the wrong idea—but oh, how nice it would be to do so!
One issue I had with William was how incredibly naïve he was, almost to the point of dim-wittedness. The plot takes the unfortunate stance of having the reader know very well what is going on with the other characters (especially Catherine and Susan, who deserve their own book!) while William remains blissfully ignorant, culminating in a climax that is surprising for him, but not so for us. It’s a little lazy, but the journey to the end—all the parties, the courting, the whispering—is just so fun that it can be forgiven.
This won’t offer anything new to the genre, but for diehard regency romance fans, its like a warm bath or mug of cocoa—it’s just nice.
This review was first posted at Love Bytes: LGBTQ Book Reviews.
Modeled after the polite hijinks and romantic tensions of Austen’s beloved stories, this book will be right at home on your shelf full of lush, clever Regency romances. It’s familiar, but it works, and it’s fun from start to finish.
Lord William Bascomb is the aimless second son of a penniless household, living off the kindness of his snobby sister-in-law. He’s not especially eager to welcome the American Abernathy family as new neighbors, but he’s soon charmed by Reginald Abernathy, the master of Albon Manor. The two men enjoy each other’s company and soon learn they share the same desires, starting a romance behind closed doors and the watchful eyes of sweet sisters, annoying aunts, and gossipy servants. However, time is closing in on them, as a match must be made either between William and Reginald’s sister Susan or Reginald and William’s sister Catherine. William cannot bear the thought of betraying either his lover or a wife, so when Susan comes to him in confidence, they strive to make their interesting dynamics work in a world full of rules, customs, and of course, manners.
William is a bit of a blank-slate character. He doesn’t have much personality beyond naïve and lovelorn, but he has that listless feeling so many young people have dealt with for hundreds of years. He knows he loves men and he knows he loves his family—but as for everything else, he has no clue. It’s certainly relatable. Reginald is a bit rounder—he’s kindhearted and easygoing, a perfect match for the worrisome William. Despite them both being pretty unremarkable, their love scenes are passionate and their slow courtship is delightful to read. There’s that perfect feeling of Regency-era tension—we mustn’t get too close, mustn’t give anyone the wrong idea—but oh, how nice it would be to do so!
One issue I had with William was how incredibly naïve he was, almost to the point of dim-wittedness. The plot takes the unfortunate stance of having the reader know very well what is going on with the other characters (especially Catherine and Susan, who deserve their own book!) while William remains blissfully ignorant, culminating in a climax that is surprising for him, but not so for us. It’s a little lazy, but the journey to the end—all the parties, the courting, the whispering—is just so fun that it can be forgiven.
This won’t offer anything new to the genre, but for diehard regency romance fans, its like a warm bath or mug of cocoa—it’s just nice.
August 18, 2020
I just experienced a highly enjoyable trip back through time. I was whisked away to the days of my early teens when I’d sneak a dime store romance novel—usually a Regency period historical—to read in my room when everyone went to sleep. I read of forbidden things that men and women do behind closed doors. Those stories were titillating and enlightening to my innocent self and that’s exactly the way William, one of the main characters, reacts in this lovely tale narrated by the highly talented Joel Leslie.
William’s sexual discovery is mild by most standards, but it was very erotic to me, in that his innocence remained intact as he learned all the things men can do together behind closed doors. I found the scenes refreshing and realistic for the period and I quite enjoyed his lessons at the hands of the more experienced Reginal Abernathy.
Joel does the voice of William’s elderly maiden Aunt Harriet so well that I forgot I was listening to a man. I loved the quiver in her voice and I could easily picture her in her drawing room finery. In fact, there is a whole host of both male and female characters in this story and each is given a unique voice. My personal favorite among the men is William: dear, timid, innocent William is perfectly vocalized and his love interest, Reginald, has the deeper voice of experience. Honestly, my favorite form of entertainment is to listen to an audiobook with Joel Leslie performing the work of a talented author, and the teamwork here between Joel and author Tanya Chris rates an A plus.
There’s an underlying criminal subplot to the story with an unscrupulous estate manager, but most of the story is a romance, both between William and Reggie, and between their sisters, Catherine and Susan. William, of course, is totally clueless about the women until the last possible moment. The dear man had no idea women might be attracted to each other as men were. Maybe it was the era in which I grew up where teens held their innocence longer than nowadays, but I truly enjoyed this tale and my walk down memory lane, and I will most definitely listen to it again. I highly recommend this book to those looking for a sweet historical romance.
NOTE: This audio book was provided by the author for the purpose of a review on Rainbow Book Reviews.
William’s sexual discovery is mild by most standards, but it was very erotic to me, in that his innocence remained intact as he learned all the things men can do together behind closed doors. I found the scenes refreshing and realistic for the period and I quite enjoyed his lessons at the hands of the more experienced Reginal Abernathy.
Joel does the voice of William’s elderly maiden Aunt Harriet so well that I forgot I was listening to a man. I loved the quiver in her voice and I could easily picture her in her drawing room finery. In fact, there is a whole host of both male and female characters in this story and each is given a unique voice. My personal favorite among the men is William: dear, timid, innocent William is perfectly vocalized and his love interest, Reginald, has the deeper voice of experience. Honestly, my favorite form of entertainment is to listen to an audiobook with Joel Leslie performing the work of a talented author, and the teamwork here between Joel and author Tanya Chris rates an A plus.
There’s an underlying criminal subplot to the story with an unscrupulous estate manager, but most of the story is a romance, both between William and Reggie, and between their sisters, Catherine and Susan. William, of course, is totally clueless about the women until the last possible moment. The dear man had no idea women might be attracted to each other as men were. Maybe it was the era in which I grew up where teens held their innocence longer than nowadays, but I truly enjoyed this tale and my walk down memory lane, and I will most definitely listen to it again. I highly recommend this book to those looking for a sweet historical romance.
NOTE: This audio book was provided by the author for the purpose of a review on Rainbow Book Reviews.
November 9, 2019
Delightful historical romance with an LGBT twist; William being so gullible is difficult to believe though...
Read
March 26, 2020DNF. Time of death: 56%. Not rating. Awkward and clunky. Not sexy. 🤷🏻♀️
July 27, 2021
This book will not be for everyone. It was slowly moving at a gentle pace, allowing the reader to be charmed by its sly wit. I greatly enjoyed this low angst story, and the happy ending made ME happy.
November 10, 2020
I know now why I did not rate this novel after listening to it. I thought I did not give it my attention. I tried a second time and now I notice: this novel is incapable of holding anyone's attention.
November 18, 2019
I've fallen out of reading historical romances. Well, the straight ones. At least, I thought so anyway.
This book definitely resembles more the books of old - we may not have a blushing virgin of the unfairer sex who simply could not be in possession of all her faculties and has no possession of any kind of property or money and could be glad to even be let into the company of men - or... do we?
Yes, our dashing hero is in possession of an extra... limb instead of a heaving bosom but does that make him pine any less? Does that stop him from dreaming about being rescued from his tower of poverty and inadequacy? Is he any more capable of showing his feelings, starting and affair? Is he not as powerless for having the right gender? Doesn't look like it.
And every historical book has those pesky old rules that tell you what to do and when and how to do it. But that doesn't always translate into the atmosphere like this one - stifling, frustrating and irritating. He couldn't do almost anything - half of the time, he couldn't, the rest, it was simply unthinkable to even suggest it because there's the "polite society" who obviously has more say in your life than you do.
Oh and the ending? Ridiculous under normal circumstances, even more so compared to the rest of the book.
Oh the positive features? Right...
It was sweet. At least the power balance behind closed doors was okay. And the diverse orientations... mixed feelings. You know I'd swear there are more good things. There totally are! I am just... Well... Trust me on this?
And anyway, could have been worse and I did enjoy reading a considerable part of the book. I think.
Recommend (probably).
This book definitely resembles more the books of old - we may not have a blushing virgin of the unfairer sex who simply could not be in possession of all her faculties and has no possession of any kind of property or money and could be glad to even be let into the company of men - or... do we?
Yes, our dashing hero is in possession of an extra... limb instead of a heaving bosom but does that make him pine any less? Does that stop him from dreaming about being rescued from his tower of poverty and inadequacy? Is he any more capable of showing his feelings, starting and affair? Is he not as powerless for having the right gender? Doesn't look like it.
And every historical book has those pesky old rules that tell you what to do and when and how to do it. But that doesn't always translate into the atmosphere like this one - stifling, frustrating and irritating. He couldn't do almost anything - half of the time, he couldn't, the rest, it was simply unthinkable to even suggest it because there's the "polite society" who obviously has more say in your life than you do.
Oh and the ending? Ridiculous under normal circumstances, even more so compared to the rest of the book.
Oh the positive features? Right...
It was sweet. At least the power balance behind closed doors was okay. And the diverse orientations... mixed feelings. You know I'd swear there are more good things. There totally are! I am just... Well... Trust me on this?
And anyway, could have been worse and I did enjoy reading a considerable part of the book. I think.
Recommend (probably).
November 20, 2019
Probably more like 2.5 stars.
This was just ... not good. It started out great, although I saw the solution almost immediately, but then it bogged down, and got increasingly unrealistic. Is it possible it could have ended that way? Maybe, but it's so unlikely that it might as well have been AU, and if it had been written that way I would have accepted it, but it wasn't, and I can't. Plus everyone was just a little too perfect, they were not part of any of the things that helped define the age, and they had no personal flaws either which gets annoying after a while.
It was fine, but I would not read this again, nor can I recommend it to Historical readers.
This was just ... not good. It started out great, although I saw the solution almost immediately, but then it bogged down, and got increasingly unrealistic. Is it possible it could have ended that way? Maybe, but it's so unlikely that it might as well have been AU, and if it had been written that way I would have accepted it, but it wasn't, and I can't. Plus everyone was just a little too perfect, they were not part of any of the things that helped define the age, and they had no personal flaws either which gets annoying after a while.
It was fine, but I would not read this again, nor can I recommend it to Historical readers.
June 15, 2020
Enjoyable, relatively light angst read. Definitely some pride and prejudiced vibes in terms of period, if not exact plot. It was definitely a very light take on being queer in that time period, with things just a little too easy, neat, and convenient. It was fine, but I do tend to like my historical romance with a bit more grit and realism.
May 3, 2020
3.5***
So sweet... That’s terribly ineloquent but the sweet simplicity of this little tale will stay with me a long while.
So sweet... That’s terribly ineloquent but the sweet simplicity of this little tale will stay with me a long while.
July 18, 2025
I think I would have loved this if it was longer - it has a really good set up with the two characters coming from different places. William is an insignificant lord who lives in modest accomodations thanks to the begrudging charity of an unlikeleable sister-in-law, and second son, while Reginald is an American who has come into a substantial inheritance he doesn't want and can't give away.
The main issue I have with the book is that it's quite short and has a rather ambitions plotline with a main romance, an expansive cast of side characters, and a subplot about financial fraud. Simply put, I don't see how any author can cram all of this in a book that's not even 300 pages long and develop anything properly. The main couple has some legitimately tender moments, so I wish the author had taken the time to build up the romantic tension and chemistry because most of their scenes completely bored me and the ending felt unearned.
The main issue I have with the book is that it's quite short and has a rather ambitions plotline with a main romance, an expansive cast of side characters, and a subplot about financial fraud. Simply put, I don't see how any author can cram all of this in a book that's not even 300 pages long and develop anything properly. The main couple has some legitimately tender moments, so I wish the author had taken the time to build up the romantic tension and chemistry because most of their scenes completely bored me and the ending felt unearned.
June 2, 2020
A nicely done Regency, convincingly true to the period and Englishness. The plot depends on Our Hero being Clueless and Ashamed up until the last minute (a perfectly defensible choice, given that gay men were subject to dishonor and/or death if caught in the act). Not my favorite trope, but if you enjoy a healthy helping of Angst I think you will like this.
January 30, 2020
MM Historical Romance
Reviewed in the United States on January 28, 2020
Format: Kindle Edition
I do not read a lot of historical romance and cannot tell you how accurate the portrayal of this was, but I absolutely loved it. The love story between Reginald and William was just absolutely heartwarming. I was so caught up in what was going to happen to them that I couldn't breathe! I couldn't imagine what was going to happen to them. With the world how it was at the time, how were they possibly going to be able to be together? It wasn't possible! Being gay wasn't just looked down upon it was absolutely appalling behavior! And if you were expected to shun anyone you might even know! It was really upsetting! And I so loved Reginald and William together!
William's family is an good old family that has lost most of their money. Their parents have past and the oldest brother has married a stuck-up women with money who lords it over her husband's siblings. She hopes to marry off her brother-in-law and sister-in-law so she can be rid of this burden. When to her luck, a new neighbor moves in who has a seeming match for each of them. Lord Reginald, Lord of the Estate and his sister, who are both single. If she can work it to her liking she can match both couples up and be rid of them both. Of course she never words it that way, but that is exactly the way it feels.
I love the friendship of the 4 that ensues. Their outings are just wonderful. On top of being a romance, it is a book of friendships. William and Reginald's sister have such honest discussions with each other, knowing what is expected of them. It is refreshingly honest.
I greatly enjoyed this! I wasn't sure that I would given the time period, but I was very wrong! Thank you.
Reviewed in the United States on January 28, 2020
Format: Kindle Edition
I do not read a lot of historical romance and cannot tell you how accurate the portrayal of this was, but I absolutely loved it. The love story between Reginald and William was just absolutely heartwarming. I was so caught up in what was going to happen to them that I couldn't breathe! I couldn't imagine what was going to happen to them. With the world how it was at the time, how were they possibly going to be able to be together? It wasn't possible! Being gay wasn't just looked down upon it was absolutely appalling behavior! And if you were expected to shun anyone you might even know! It was really upsetting! And I so loved Reginald and William together!
William's family is an good old family that has lost most of their money. Their parents have past and the oldest brother has married a stuck-up women with money who lords it over her husband's siblings. She hopes to marry off her brother-in-law and sister-in-law so she can be rid of this burden. When to her luck, a new neighbor moves in who has a seeming match for each of them. Lord Reginald, Lord of the Estate and his sister, who are both single. If she can work it to her liking she can match both couples up and be rid of them both. Of course she never words it that way, but that is exactly the way it feels.
I love the friendship of the 4 that ensues. Their outings are just wonderful. On top of being a romance, it is a book of friendships. William and Reginald's sister have such honest discussions with each other, knowing what is expected of them. It is refreshingly honest.
I greatly enjoyed this! I wasn't sure that I would given the time period, but I was very wrong! Thank you.
December 3, 2019
A Joyfully Jay review.
4 stars
In Manners and Mannerisms, Tanya Chris delivers a richly described historical world replete with upper class drama, including copious romance and intrigue. Based on how the characters interact and their circumstances (footmen, valets, clothing conventions), I clearly imagined a bygone era. There is also much attention paid to how a woman (or peers who are not well-to-do) must rely on marriage to secure a means of living, but without much commentary on the implications of such a system. Instead of focusing on this societal aspect, the reader is treated to William’s falling in love with a man and his angst over his awareness that his own sister is likely the de facto marriage prospect for Reginald. It was fun to watch this semi-competition unfold, even as William and Reginald forged ahead with their illicit romance. William just cannot fathom any version of reality where he might have Reginald as his own. The stunning part is that William is so focused in the taboo of two men together, he entirely misreads Catherine’s interest in the Abernathys lies not with Reginald, but with his sister.
Read Camille’s review in its entirety here.
4 stars
In Manners and Mannerisms, Tanya Chris delivers a richly described historical world replete with upper class drama, including copious romance and intrigue. Based on how the characters interact and their circumstances (footmen, valets, clothing conventions), I clearly imagined a bygone era. There is also much attention paid to how a woman (or peers who are not well-to-do) must rely on marriage to secure a means of living, but without much commentary on the implications of such a system. Instead of focusing on this societal aspect, the reader is treated to William’s falling in love with a man and his angst over his awareness that his own sister is likely the de facto marriage prospect for Reginald. It was fun to watch this semi-competition unfold, even as William and Reginald forged ahead with their illicit romance. William just cannot fathom any version of reality where he might have Reginald as his own. The stunning part is that William is so focused in the taboo of two men together, he entirely misreads Catherine’s interest in the Abernathys lies not with Reginald, but with his sister.
Read Camille’s review in its entirety here.
January 2, 2020
A fun and easy read.
The plot is lightweight and entirely predictable, but sometimes, that's just what you're in the mood for.
Two families, one rich, the other poor. Two women in need of husbands (according to the mores of the times) and two men presumably in need of wives. Stir in a surly friend, a woman with her hands firmly on the pursestrings and unhappy to loosen them for poor relations, possible fraud (embezzlement?), and the fear of the Polite World (not to mention the law) finding out your deepest, darkest secret and the result is a nice, little Regency-esque romance.
The plot is lightweight and entirely predictable, but sometimes, that's just what you're in the mood for.
Two families, one rich, the other poor. Two women in need of husbands (according to the mores of the times) and two men presumably in need of wives. Stir in a surly friend, a woman with her hands firmly on the pursestrings and unhappy to loosen them for poor relations, possible fraud (embezzlement?), and the fear of the Polite World (not to mention the law) finding out your deepest, darkest secret and the result is a nice, little Regency-esque romance.
November 18, 2019
A throughly Unmannerly Romance!
A Regency romance between Lord William & Mr. Reginald, involving an innocent, matchmaking, thievery, a scandal, a penny-pincher and of course, love. A charming, fairytale-ish, sweet story. Enjoyable MCs, co-characters, low angst and sexy, sexy times. Good read. Rating: 3 1/2 ⭐️⭐️⭐️
A Regency romance between Lord William & Mr. Reginald, involving an innocent, matchmaking, thievery, a scandal, a penny-pincher and of course, love. A charming, fairytale-ish, sweet story. Enjoyable MCs, co-characters, low angst and sexy, sexy times. Good read. Rating: 3 1/2 ⭐️⭐️⭐️
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