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Baleful Godmother #3
Claiming Mister Kemp
A forbidden love...
Lucas Kemp’s twin sister died last year. He’s put aside his mourning clothes, but not his heartache. If Lucas ever needed a friend, it’s now—and who should walk in his door but Lieutenant Thomas Matlock…
Lucas and Tom are more than just best friends; they’ve been in love with each other for years. In love with each other—and pretending not to know it.
But this time, Tom’s not going to ignore the attraction between them. This time, he’s going to push the issue.
He’s going to teach Lucas how to laugh again—and he’s going to take Lucas as his lover…
Lucas Kemp’s twin sister died last year. He’s put aside his mourning clothes, but not his heartache. If Lucas ever needed a friend, it’s now—and who should walk in his door but Lieutenant Thomas Matlock…
Lucas and Tom are more than just best friends; they’ve been in love with each other for years. In love with each other—and pretending not to know it.
But this time, Tom’s not going to ignore the attraction between them. This time, he’s going to push the issue.
He’s going to teach Lucas how to laugh again—and he’s going to take Lucas as his lover…
Audiobook
First published February 6, 2017
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About the author
Emily Larkin
38 books369 followersEmily Larkin is the USA Today bestselling author of the Baleful Godmother historical romance series, a series that readers are calling “sexy, unusual and vastly entertaining,” and "ridiculously wonderful."
When not reading or writing, Emily can be found hiking—preferably somewhere off the beaten track. She loves to travel, and has lived in Sweden, backpacked in Europe and North America, and traveled overland in the Middle East, China, and North Africa. Her varied career includes stints as a field assistant in Antarctica and a waitress on the Isle of Skye.
Emily writes fantasy novels as Emily Gee, and historical romance novels as Emily Larkin. She has been a finalist in the Romance Writers of America RITA award, as well as the National Readers Choice, Booksellers Best, Australian Romantic Book of the Year, Sir Julius Vogel, and Koru awards. Her websites are www.emilylarkin.com and www.emilygee.com.
** Join Emily’s Readers’ Group to get an email whenever she has a new release or discounts a book—plus get some FREE ebooks as well!**
When not reading or writing, Emily can be found hiking—preferably somewhere off the beaten track. She loves to travel, and has lived in Sweden, backpacked in Europe and North America, and traveled overland in the Middle East, China, and North Africa. Her varied career includes stints as a field assistant in Antarctica and a waitress on the Isle of Skye.
Emily writes fantasy novels as Emily Gee, and historical romance novels as Emily Larkin. She has been a finalist in the Romance Writers of America RITA award, as well as the National Readers Choice, Booksellers Best, Australian Romantic Book of the Year, Sir Julius Vogel, and Koru awards. Her websites are www.emilylarkin.com and www.emilygee.com.
** Join Emily’s Readers’ Group to get an email whenever she has a new release or discounts a book—plus get some FREE ebooks as well!**
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 81 reviews
May 18, 2021
5/18/21
I'm changing my rating on the story to 1 star. To heck with giving the author the benefit of the doubt, and thinking myself to be over sensitive. I'm offended by her portrayal of gay love. IT'S FUCKING BEAUTIFUL, and that beauty was lacking in this story.
______
Audio 5 Stars
Story 2.5 Mixed Feelings Stars
I loved the MCs, but Lucas was skittish and shameful about his sexuality pretty much the entire story. The push pull got frustrating and my heart kept breaking for Tom.
Maybe I'm being too sensitive, but my biggest issue with this story was the constant mention of Lucas and Tom not being the type of gay lovers who engaged in penetrative sex. I know not all gay couples do, but there's nothing wrong with it. This story made it seem like those who do are somewhat different or less?? I don't know, but I didn't like the tone. So I'm rounding down.
I'm changing my rating on the story to 1 star. To heck with giving the author the benefit of the doubt, and thinking myself to be over sensitive. I'm offended by her portrayal of gay love. IT'S FUCKING BEAUTIFUL, and that beauty was lacking in this story.
______
Audio 5 Stars
Story 2.5 Mixed Feelings Stars
I loved the MCs, but Lucas was skittish and shameful about his sexuality pretty much the entire story. The push pull got frustrating and my heart kept breaking for Tom.
Maybe I'm being too sensitive, but my biggest issue with this story was the constant mention of Lucas and Tom not being the type of gay lovers who engaged in penetrative sex. I know not all gay couples do, but there's nothing wrong with it. This story made it seem like those who do are somewhat different or less?? I don't know, but I didn't like the tone. So I'm rounding down.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
November 9, 2017
Why is it that I seem to enjoy m/m HR’s more than f/m ones? Not necessarily within this series, as I’ve enjoyed them all apart from the second one.
Both main characters were already introduced in the previous book, as was the nature of their relationship. Claiming Mister Kemp shows us how it all began, and the middle part runs parallel to Trusting Miss Trentham.
Tom Matlock, bisexual and by far the more experienced of the two (Lucas is a virgin), has loved Lucas for a long time. It’s only by chance that he sees that Lucas feels the same attractrion and they give in to it very quickly.
Just so it’s clear, this book is a lot more sexual than the previous ones. But if I’m honest, sex scenes don’t seem to be Ms. Larkin’s strongest talent. I skipped most of them. But the sex scenes aren’t the important point here. I’m only mentioning it because their actual relationship starts with sex.
It’s about Lucas’s coming to terms with his homosexuality, his loss of his beloved twin, Julia, and his love for Tom. This is very much Lucas’s book, and yet the danger of being found out is something both have to face.
I wish Tom had come across a little less needy, but I guess it’s also down to the fact that he accepted and embraced his bisexuality long before Lucas. What I call needy, could also be called impatience because it’s so very, very clear how much Lucas wants and loves him, too. True to the time period, Lucas’s initial feelings range from fear of discovery to shame of having feelings for a man.
This isn’t KJC level but it doesn’t have to be, nor will I base my rating on her books. Claiming Mister Kemp handles the topics of grief, loss, fear, shame with skill. What would usually annoy the hell out of me - Lucas’s constant push/pull of Tom - made perfect sense when taken into account that being gay was punishable by death.
I’ll leave it here, I think. Any more and I will politicise this review which is not a bad thing. I just don’t feel up for it.
The HEA, though...It left me with a smile. And that’s definitely a good thing.
Both main characters were already introduced in the previous book, as was the nature of their relationship. Claiming Mister Kemp shows us how it all began, and the middle part runs parallel to Trusting Miss Trentham.
Tom Matlock, bisexual and by far the more experienced of the two (Lucas is a virgin), has loved Lucas for a long time. It’s only by chance that he sees that Lucas feels the same attractrion and they give in to it very quickly.
Just so it’s clear, this book is a lot more sexual than the previous ones. But if I’m honest, sex scenes don’t seem to be Ms. Larkin’s strongest talent. I skipped most of them. But the sex scenes aren’t the important point here. I’m only mentioning it because their actual relationship starts with sex.
It’s about Lucas’s coming to terms with his homosexuality, his loss of his beloved twin, Julia, and his love for Tom. This is very much Lucas’s book, and yet the danger of being found out is something both have to face.
I wish Tom had come across a little less needy, but I guess it’s also down to the fact that he accepted and embraced his bisexuality long before Lucas. What I call needy, could also be called impatience because it’s so very, very clear how much Lucas wants and loves him, too. True to the time period, Lucas’s initial feelings range from fear of discovery to shame of having feelings for a man.
This isn’t KJC level but it doesn’t have to be, nor will I base my rating on her books. Claiming Mister Kemp handles the topics of grief, loss, fear, shame with skill. What would usually annoy the hell out of me - Lucas’s constant push/pull of Tom - made perfect sense when taken into account that being gay was punishable by death.
I’ll leave it here, I think. Any more and I will politicise this review which is not a bad thing. I just don’t feel up for it.
The HEA, though...It left me with a smile. And that’s definitely a good thing.
February 14, 2017
Claiming Mister Kemp is a long-ish novella that is the fourth story in Emily Larkin’s
Baleful Godmother
series. While characters from the previous books make brief appearances, it’s perfectly possible to enjoy this as a standalone – although the other three books are excellent and well worth reading.
Lucas Kemp and Thomas Matlock have been friends ever since their first term at Eton, even though their backgrounds couldn’t be more different. Lucas comes from a wealthy background and a warm, loving family, whereas Tom, the youngest son of an earl, was born to parents who really couldn’t be all that bothered about him, and his fondest childhood memories are of the holidays he spent at Whiteoaks, where he and Lucas made a foursome with Lucas’ cousin, Letty Trentham (Trusting Miss Trentham) and his twin sister, Julia. The four children were close, although as twins, Lucas and Julia shared a unique bond. They remained close as they grew into adulthood, but eventually their lives took them in different directions, with Tom going into the army, Letty and Julia entering society and Lucas inheriting an estate of his own. But some sixteen months before this book opens, tragedy struck, and Julia was killed when she fell from her horse. Everyone was devastated at her death, but for Lucas, it’s even worse than that. He feels as though he has lost something of himself, and although his mourning period has ended, he continues to miss his sister intensely. He puts on a good show for those around him, fooling those who don’t know him well, or don’t care to look beyond the surface, but inside, he’s a mess, having resorted for a time to taking too much laudanum to try to dull the pain and when that avenue was denied him (his valet found his stash and threw it away) took to drinking too much and too often.
Tom, now a member of General Wellesley’s staff, has returned to London with the general in order to speak at a military enquiry into Wellesley’s actions after the battle of Vimeiro. A recent brush with death has given him a new appreciation for living and made him determined not to waste another minute of his life in denial of the feelings he has always held for his best friend.
It’s Lucas’ birthday, and Tom knows it will be a difficult day for him, seeing as it should have been Julia’s birthday, too. He goes to Lucas’ lodgings intent on offering comfort and support, only to find his friend drunk and alone in the dark. His heart breaking for Lucas all over again, Tom decides to seize the chance to show Lucas that he is not alone, and that his – Tom’s – feelings for him go beyond friendship. When Lucas, his inhibitions and defences lowered, doesn’t refuse Tom’s advances, they share a brief moment of sexual intimacy.
Afterwards, Lucas is utterly horrified and disgusted at what happened, and tries – unsuccessfully – to avoid Tom the next day. But Tom won’t allow him to ignore what happened between them, and pushes Lucas to acknowledge the truth of his own feelings as well as the strength of the attraction between them. As his anger with Tom lessens, Lucas finds it harder and harder to resist the pull of that attraction and allows his long suppressed feelings for his friend to come to the fore – although once their moment of shared passion is over, he is once again overwhelmed by his thoughts and his fear of discovery and being labelled a sodomite.
Given that homosexuality was punishable by imprisonment (or even death) at this time, Lucas’ fears are well-grounded. But this is much more than a story about a man’s reluctance to explore his sexuality; it’s also about a terribly lonely man who is so mired in grief and loss that he is in danger of losing himself, too. Lucas has known for a long time that he’s not attracted to women and refused to admit the possibility that he was attracted to men; and the moment at which Tom realises that while he’s been away in the army, surrounded by people, having sexual relationships (with both sexes), Lucas quite literally had no-one is like a punch to the gut.
While I sometimes felt that Tom was perhaps a little too pushy, he’s redeemed by the fact that he is so patient with Lucas, allowing him to dictate the pace of their sexual relationship and to do as much or as little as he wants. He’s funny and warm and charming, and there’s absolutely no doubt as to the fact that he loves Lucas dearly and would do anything for him. But things come to a head when Lucas’ fears overcome him once more and he pushes Tom away for what could be the last time.
The events in this story run concurrently with those of Trusting Miss Trentham and one of the things I really liked was that we get to see the other side of some of the conversations both Tom and Lucas had with Letty Trentham in that book. But if you haven’t read it, don’t worry – as I said at the outset, this stands on its own.
Claiming Mister Kemp is a heartfelt, compelling love story featuring two well-developed and likeable central characters. The sex scenes are sensual and well-written, conveying a real sense of the depth of the love and affection between the two men, and the emotional connection between the pair is palpable. At somewhere around 170 pages, it’s a quick and satisfying read and one I’m recommending without hesitation.
Lucas Kemp and Thomas Matlock have been friends ever since their first term at Eton, even though their backgrounds couldn’t be more different. Lucas comes from a wealthy background and a warm, loving family, whereas Tom, the youngest son of an earl, was born to parents who really couldn’t be all that bothered about him, and his fondest childhood memories are of the holidays he spent at Whiteoaks, where he and Lucas made a foursome with Lucas’ cousin, Letty Trentham (Trusting Miss Trentham) and his twin sister, Julia. The four children were close, although as twins, Lucas and Julia shared a unique bond. They remained close as they grew into adulthood, but eventually their lives took them in different directions, with Tom going into the army, Letty and Julia entering society and Lucas inheriting an estate of his own. But some sixteen months before this book opens, tragedy struck, and Julia was killed when she fell from her horse. Everyone was devastated at her death, but for Lucas, it’s even worse than that. He feels as though he has lost something of himself, and although his mourning period has ended, he continues to miss his sister intensely. He puts on a good show for those around him, fooling those who don’t know him well, or don’t care to look beyond the surface, but inside, he’s a mess, having resorted for a time to taking too much laudanum to try to dull the pain and when that avenue was denied him (his valet found his stash and threw it away) took to drinking too much and too often.
Tom, now a member of General Wellesley’s staff, has returned to London with the general in order to speak at a military enquiry into Wellesley’s actions after the battle of Vimeiro. A recent brush with death has given him a new appreciation for living and made him determined not to waste another minute of his life in denial of the feelings he has always held for his best friend.
It’s Lucas’ birthday, and Tom knows it will be a difficult day for him, seeing as it should have been Julia’s birthday, too. He goes to Lucas’ lodgings intent on offering comfort and support, only to find his friend drunk and alone in the dark. His heart breaking for Lucas all over again, Tom decides to seize the chance to show Lucas that he is not alone, and that his – Tom’s – feelings for him go beyond friendship. When Lucas, his inhibitions and defences lowered, doesn’t refuse Tom’s advances, they share a brief moment of sexual intimacy.
Afterwards, Lucas is utterly horrified and disgusted at what happened, and tries – unsuccessfully – to avoid Tom the next day. But Tom won’t allow him to ignore what happened between them, and pushes Lucas to acknowledge the truth of his own feelings as well as the strength of the attraction between them. As his anger with Tom lessens, Lucas finds it harder and harder to resist the pull of that attraction and allows his long suppressed feelings for his friend to come to the fore – although once their moment of shared passion is over, he is once again overwhelmed by his thoughts and his fear of discovery and being labelled a sodomite.
Given that homosexuality was punishable by imprisonment (or even death) at this time, Lucas’ fears are well-grounded. But this is much more than a story about a man’s reluctance to explore his sexuality; it’s also about a terribly lonely man who is so mired in grief and loss that he is in danger of losing himself, too. Lucas has known for a long time that he’s not attracted to women and refused to admit the possibility that he was attracted to men; and the moment at which Tom realises that while he’s been away in the army, surrounded by people, having sexual relationships (with both sexes), Lucas quite literally had no-one is like a punch to the gut.
While I sometimes felt that Tom was perhaps a little too pushy, he’s redeemed by the fact that he is so patient with Lucas, allowing him to dictate the pace of their sexual relationship and to do as much or as little as he wants. He’s funny and warm and charming, and there’s absolutely no doubt as to the fact that he loves Lucas dearly and would do anything for him. But things come to a head when Lucas’ fears overcome him once more and he pushes Tom away for what could be the last time.
The events in this story run concurrently with those of Trusting Miss Trentham and one of the things I really liked was that we get to see the other side of some of the conversations both Tom and Lucas had with Letty Trentham in that book. But if you haven’t read it, don’t worry – as I said at the outset, this stands on its own.
Claiming Mister Kemp is a heartfelt, compelling love story featuring two well-developed and likeable central characters. The sex scenes are sensual and well-written, conveying a real sense of the depth of the love and affection between the two men, and the emotional connection between the pair is palpable. At somewhere around 170 pages, it’s a quick and satisfying read and one I’m recommending without hesitation.
November 12, 2017
Tom and Lucas have been best friends since childhood. But once Tom returns from a war that left him re-evaluating his life, he is determined to make Lucas his. Now all he needs to do is convince Lucas that what he's feeling is not something to be ashamed of...
I really liked this story. It was sweet and funny (the boys have some hilarious ways of describing each other's penises), and there was only a bit of drama towards the end. It mostly focused on Lucas' shame of being thought a "sodomite", and that was handled well. It's not the most sophisticated story, and there's a lot of sex in this one, but I enjoyed spending time with the guys.
I tried reading the first book in this series, but the sample didn't work for me (heroine is granted a wish and is able to turn into a man). This story runs parallel to the third in this series, but works well enough as a standalone if you know that each woman in the first books is granted a special, paranormal ability by a fairy godmother. I don't think I will read the rest of this series, though, but only because this paranormal twist doesn't work for me.
I really liked this story. It was sweet and funny (the boys have some hilarious ways of describing each other's penises), and there was only a bit of drama towards the end. It mostly focused on Lucas' shame of being thought a "sodomite", and that was handled well. It's not the most sophisticated story, and there's a lot of sex in this one, but I enjoyed spending time with the guys.
I tried reading the first book in this series, but the sample didn't work for me (heroine is granted a wish and is able to turn into a man). This story runs parallel to the third in this series, but works well enough as a standalone if you know that each woman in the first books is granted a special, paranormal ability by a fairy godmother. I don't think I will read the rest of this series, though, but only because this paranormal twist doesn't work for me.
February 13, 2017
I have heard such great things about Emily Larkin recently and read some excellent reviews from respected reviewers and friends. When I was offered the opportunity to read and review Claiming Mister Kemp I jumped at the opportunity and was not disappointed. From the first page to the last, I was invested in this delicious love story, the fourth in the author's
Baleful Godmothers
series and shall definitely read the first three books on the strength of it. Having said that, it can be read as a standalone, especially as I believe it is the only m/m romance of the series.
Lieutenant Thomas Matlock has arrived back from Portugal in time to celebrate the birthday of his long-time friend, Lucas Kemp, only to find him completely inebriated and wallowing in solitude and tears as he remembers his twin sister, Julia. who died tragically, sixteen months earlier. Tom knows he loves Lucas as more than a friend, and following a recent brush with death he is determined that he will not not hide it from Lucas any longer. Tom is aware that he risks their long and close friendship but has decided that the time has come to acknowledge his desire and love and to make Lucas face up to it at the same time. Living in an era when they could be hanged for their sexual proclivities, Tom is risking a lot more than simple rejection.
Very much the worse for drink, and with his defences down, Lucas shares a passionate encounter with Tom. The next day he is ashamed but nevertheless having had a taste of what a relationship with Tom can bring him he can't help secretly craving more. The next few fragile weeks pass and their tentative steps towards a relationship and maybe love seems possible, and for the first time in the dreadful months since the death of his beloved twin, it seems likely that Tom's love and support may help Lucas to retreat from the edge of the black abyss on which he has been teetering.
These are two very compelling characters. Tom, the devil-may-care, army officer who has little material wealth and needs to work for a living is a happy, upbeat chap whom I couldn't help liking. And then there's the utterly gorgeous, privileged Lucas, rich, handsome and hopelessly innocent to boot. He has tried to be 'normal' but despite his best attempts has had no success with the opposite sex and is deeply ashamed of that fact and the fact that he is so strongly attracted to his best friend.
I loved this voyage of discovery for these two lovely men who have nursed their secret love for one another since their youth and Tom's determination to make Lucas accept and acknowledge his love and desire without shame. Claiming Mister Kemp has quite a small word count and yet the author has managed to convey sensuality, love and passion whilst still acknowledging and highlighting Lucas's reluctant love and overwhelming guilt. The story doesn't feel rushed, which is no doubt helped by the fact that the lovers have a shared past - albeit as friends. Ms. Larkin certainly carried me along on this ride and she had me rooting for these two young men every step of the way; I wanted Lucas to overcome his guilt and for him and Tom to arrive at their well-deserved happy ending. This is a compelling, heart-warming story and now that I have experienced an Emily Larkin gem I shall certainly put her on my reading list for the future.
Lieutenant Thomas Matlock has arrived back from Portugal in time to celebrate the birthday of his long-time friend, Lucas Kemp, only to find him completely inebriated and wallowing in solitude and tears as he remembers his twin sister, Julia. who died tragically, sixteen months earlier. Tom knows he loves Lucas as more than a friend, and following a recent brush with death he is determined that he will not not hide it from Lucas any longer. Tom is aware that he risks their long and close friendship but has decided that the time has come to acknowledge his desire and love and to make Lucas face up to it at the same time. Living in an era when they could be hanged for their sexual proclivities, Tom is risking a lot more than simple rejection.
Very much the worse for drink, and with his defences down, Lucas shares a passionate encounter with Tom. The next day he is ashamed but nevertheless having had a taste of what a relationship with Tom can bring him he can't help secretly craving more. The next few fragile weeks pass and their tentative steps towards a relationship and maybe love seems possible, and for the first time in the dreadful months since the death of his beloved twin, it seems likely that Tom's love and support may help Lucas to retreat from the edge of the black abyss on which he has been teetering.
These are two very compelling characters. Tom, the devil-may-care, army officer who has little material wealth and needs to work for a living is a happy, upbeat chap whom I couldn't help liking. And then there's the utterly gorgeous, privileged Lucas, rich, handsome and hopelessly innocent to boot. He has tried to be 'normal' but despite his best attempts has had no success with the opposite sex and is deeply ashamed of that fact and the fact that he is so strongly attracted to his best friend.
I loved this voyage of discovery for these two lovely men who have nursed their secret love for one another since their youth and Tom's determination to make Lucas accept and acknowledge his love and desire without shame. Claiming Mister Kemp has quite a small word count and yet the author has managed to convey sensuality, love and passion whilst still acknowledging and highlighting Lucas's reluctant love and overwhelming guilt. The story doesn't feel rushed, which is no doubt helped by the fact that the lovers have a shared past - albeit as friends. Ms. Larkin certainly carried me along on this ride and she had me rooting for these two young men every step of the way; I wanted Lucas to overcome his guilt and for him and Tom to arrive at their well-deserved happy ending. This is a compelling, heart-warming story and now that I have experienced an Emily Larkin gem I shall certainly put her on my reading list for the future.
July 16, 2022
Hey, so one of the MCs sexually assaulted the other MC in like the first tenth of the book. Not sure why the author tried to sell me a love story between a man and his rapist...but I guess they were kind enough to do within range of the downloadable sample so I don't have to buy this shit.
Cheers for that.
But like, fuck you.
Cheers for that.
But like, fuck you.
April 2, 2021
Like the series, but this book was so disappointing. As an avid supporter of the LGBT community, I had high hopes for this story, but the author’s barely disguised homophobia shines through. Please stay away from this subject matter in the future.
February 13, 2017
Authors who create homosexual partnerships in an historical setting have to walk a very fine line between expressing a deep love between same sex characters while keeping in mind just how dangerous their relationship could be. Emily Larkin manages that tightrope with ease in her novella Claiming Mister Kemp.
Lucas Kemp and Thomas Matlock have been friends ever since their school days at Eton. Tom always appreciated Lucas’s companionship and the invitations to spend holidays at his family’s estate, where the Kemp’s welcoming household allowed him the freedom to express the artistic talents that were ignored by his parents, who barely spared a thought for their youngest son. As Lucas and Tom grew up their bond became something more than friendship but neither one could truly put a name to the feelings the other brought out in them. Fortunately, any awkwardness that would have caused was easily removed by Lucas’s twin sister Julia’s or their cousin Leticia’s more outgoing personalities. The group of four remained close even as life began pulling them each into different directions; with the women entering society, Lucas becoming a man of property and Tom joining the officer ranks in General Wellesley’s fight against the French.
The contentment each man achieves in their personal pursuits is disturbed by a few significant events.
Please read the full review at All About Romance
Lucas Kemp and Thomas Matlock have been friends ever since their school days at Eton. Tom always appreciated Lucas’s companionship and the invitations to spend holidays at his family’s estate, where the Kemp’s welcoming household allowed him the freedom to express the artistic talents that were ignored by his parents, who barely spared a thought for their youngest son. As Lucas and Tom grew up their bond became something more than friendship but neither one could truly put a name to the feelings the other brought out in them. Fortunately, any awkwardness that would have caused was easily removed by Lucas’s twin sister Julia’s or their cousin Leticia’s more outgoing personalities. The group of four remained close even as life began pulling them each into different directions; with the women entering society, Lucas becoming a man of property and Tom joining the officer ranks in General Wellesley’s fight against the French.
The contentment each man achieves in their personal pursuits is disturbed by a few significant events.
Please read the full review at All About Romance
February 17, 2017
A Joyfully Jay review.
3.5 stars
Overall, I found this book very middling. It’s part of the Baleful Godmother series and that might be part of why I had a hard time relating to the characters. On the most basic sense, I felt unattached to Lucas and Tom. It seems they appear in other Baleful Godmother books as supporting characters, so maybe they come across as more rounded if you’ve read other books in the series. As written, we only get enough on page to establish Lucas is drunk and heart broken as he sits alone in the dark on his and his deceased sister’s birthday. Tom enters, resigns himself to putting his drunken best friend to bed, and just…blows Lucas.
If this were a DIFFERENT kind of book, that would be perfectly acceptable. In this situation, however, these are two respectable upper class gentleman in Regency England who are supposed to have been friends for ever and in unrequited love with each other for almost as long. Yet there is NO BUILD UP? That, to me, was unacceptable. I don’t know if this is because the author doesn’t tend to write M/M fiction or if this is just par for the course. I found it impersonal and unsubstantiated, lacking in any emotional intimacy on either man’s part.
Read Camille’s review in its entirety here.
3.5 stars
Overall, I found this book very middling. It’s part of the Baleful Godmother series and that might be part of why I had a hard time relating to the characters. On the most basic sense, I felt unattached to Lucas and Tom. It seems they appear in other Baleful Godmother books as supporting characters, so maybe they come across as more rounded if you’ve read other books in the series. As written, we only get enough on page to establish Lucas is drunk and heart broken as he sits alone in the dark on his and his deceased sister’s birthday. Tom enters, resigns himself to putting his drunken best friend to bed, and just…blows Lucas.
If this were a DIFFERENT kind of book, that would be perfectly acceptable. In this situation, however, these are two respectable upper class gentleman in Regency England who are supposed to have been friends for ever and in unrequited love with each other for almost as long. Yet there is NO BUILD UP? That, to me, was unacceptable. I don’t know if this is because the author doesn’t tend to write M/M fiction or if this is just par for the course. I found it impersonal and unsubstantiated, lacking in any emotional intimacy on either man’s part.
Read Camille’s review in its entirety here.
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February 19, 2017
My review contains spoilers and they're mostly my thoughts... for more, visit Punya Reviews...
Claiming Mister Kemp is the book 4 of Emily Larkin’s Baleful Godmother series. The theme of the story is a bit different than the author’s usual style because this is a M/M romance. Her first one as far as I know, but it was well-written no doubt about it.
The Baleful Godmother is a Regency-set series based on female characters who have special “gifts” or powers. But if you want to start from the very beginning, you can with The Fey Quartet. These are a set of novellas listed as “prologue” to this series. Set in Medieval-era England, this series explains exactly how our unique heroines came to inherit their “gifts”. Books 1 and 2, Unmasking Miss Appleby and Resisting Miss Merryweather had something common in them apart from Bale Tongue, our dubious Fairy Godmother. Heroines of both of these books, Charlotte and Merry 1. Were bestowed their gifts at the age of 25, which I thought was THE age they were supposed to have their wish fulfilled and 2. They were cousins so the stories were linked that way. But that changed in book 3, Trusting Miss Trentham. Tish, the h, had her wish fulfilled at 21 instead of 25. She’s also a distant cousin to the previous heroines but they didn’t know one another until later in the story so the book could be technically read as a standalone.
Charlotte had no idea about her gift because she was orphaned at an early age, so Bale Tongue took her by complete surprise. She was living quite miserably with her mean uncle’s family and this gave her the opportunity to get out of there and earn money on her own. She chose shapeshifting and transformed herself into a man to get the lucrative job offered by Marcus, Lord Cosgrove, our H, in a newspaper advert. Merry, on the other hand, wasn’t introduced in book 1 but she was already aware of her Fey inheritance. She knew she’d be visited by Bale Tongue but was ever unsure about which gift to choose. She was also an orphan by the time her story began so she was living with Charlotte and Marcus when she met Sir Barnaby Ware, who is also Marcus’s closest buddy. His visit to Marcus’s estate brings Merry and Barnaby together. Something closer to a tragedy later in the story prompts Merry to choose the gift of healing to save people’s lives. By the time book 3 began, both girls were happily married and expecting.
Tish was one of the wealthiest heiresses of England. She was also quite sick of suitors who were the worst kind of fortune hunters. Because of her gift, through which she could discern truth and lies, Tish would discover it all. And because of that she was still unmarried at the age of 27. She wanted to marry, but she will only marry for love. Tish thanked her gift everyday that she had not fallen prey to the first fortune hunter’s sweet nothings because they all equivocally claimed to ‘love’ her. *SMH*
When she met Icarus Reid, a gaunt, pale looking retired soldier bend on some type of vengeance, Tish knew she had to take care of this man. Icarus looked like a man on the verge of giving up on life and living. The only thing, it seemed, got him going was his need for revenge done by a traitor in the battle of Vimeiro. It left his men killed, and him almost dead. Icarus wanted Tish’s help cause he’s heard of her gift. People generally thought of it as a ‘knack’ she had since her birth. Of course, no one had any idea about the her Fey inheritance.
It was while investigating that traitor is how we were introduced to Lucas Kemp, Tish’s cousin and Tom Matlock, an army officer, whom Icarus was acquainted with as well. In fact, Tom was on Icarus’s list for investigation but with Tish’s help, he clears Tom from it. Lucas and Tom were best of friends since childhood and Tish had often been a part of their group. There was another person, Julia, Lucas’s twin, who recently passed away. Her death still casts a shadow on everything.
The physical side of Lucas and Tom’s relationship wasn’t visible at all until one scene later in the story where Tish and Reid discover them together rather suddenly. In her innocence, Tish was shocked but Reid sternly admonished her to forget about it, knowing the type of trouble Lucas and Tom would be if they’re discovered by someone less understanding. Because she had known them for so long, Tish, though a bit baffled, accepts Tom and Lucas’s relationship as something natural. She could imagine no better person other than Tom offering comfort to Lucas after Julia’s death. Lucas was suffering, and Tish wanted him to be happy.
Even though book 3 ends with Tish and Reid’s HEA after the many storms they had to weather, Lucas and Tom’s fate was left hanging. I wasn’t troubled by it but I did want to know more about them. I’d say Claiming Mr. Kemp is an extension of book 3, rather than a ‘new’ installment cause the first 60% of the story goes simultaneously with the story of book 3, only from Lucas and Tom’s POV. After that you get some more of Tish and Reid, even Marcus-Charlotte and Barnaby-Merry making a cameo in the end. So if M/M romance is not your thing, you can skip this installment. BUT, if you’ve been intrigued by Lucas and Tom like me and would wanna know more, I’d recommend Claiming Mister Kemp to you.
Lucas, Julia, Tish and Tom were inseparable when they were children. But Lucas and Julia, being twins, seemed to complete one another even though they were more like the opposite of each-other; Lucas, shy, reserved with a steady head on his shoulders while Julia, a tomboy, vivacious but extremely reckless. From Tom’s POV, you will get a bit of reminisce of their relationship and how that recklessness had ultimately been Julia’s downfall. It also shattered everyone who loved Julia, but Lucas felt the most of it. He was a wreck after losing his twin. And even after a year of her death, he was not himself. He cooped himself up inside his townhouse, living as a recluse and a drunk, which is how Tom finds him when he gets back from the Army after getting a vacation. Noting and no one seemed to be able to help him.
Seeing Lucas so miserable and out of sorts, Tom is determined to take care of him. Along came the realization and an even stronger determination not hide his feelings for Lucas any longer. The world might view it as something abnormal and quite wrong but it’s what it is. Tom’s been in love with Lucas for a long time and it killed him to see Lucas so depressed. He even starts demonstrating his affection soon and, quite often, but it was Lucas who had a hard time accepting Tom’s ‘administrations’. He would push Tom away, his only concern someone might see. He was scared. It was wrong! But no matter how much he tried to hide, the fact was Lucas felt the same about Tom. Yet he’d not been able to fully work on his feelings because of the stigma surrounding gay men and what the punishment involved if found. Lucas was torn and even more miserable yet he couldn’t resist Tom. He made him happy in a way no one ever has... But how long will they continue to play hide-and-seek? Is there even a solution for them?
Over the course of the story, a few important things are revealed. One was the fact that Lucas wasn’t attracted to women at all, which is why he had been a virgin. Even Tom didn’t know about that. He, on the other hand, had a healthy interest in women. Tom had been with many over the years, never knowing his best friend had been so lonely. Not knowing what to do, Lucas never confided in Tom either. And he definitely couldn’t tell Tom how he felt about him. Now that it was all open and out between them, it seems they’re determined to go about as a couple in secret. Tom preferred Lucas over anyone so there was that. :D Neither one of them needed to marry for an heir because their elder brothers got it covered.
For obvious reasons, this story doesn’t have a traditional HEA but Lucas does come to terms with his feelings for Tom, knowing it does him a world of good. He is happier than ever when he’s with Tom so how can it be wrong? Even though I found it a bit hard to believe that the very people who suspected their relationship took it totally in stride seeing it was the Regency-era, I’m just glad they did. Things would’ve been so difficult for Lucas and Tom otherwise. :(
Though personally M/M is not my thing, I enjoyed Claiming Mister Kemp. This was my first full-on M/M romance, though while reading, I may or may not have tried envisioning Lucas and Tom with a h... involved maybe from Tom? I think it would’ve been so interesting. ;) I have read rare historical ménage romances where I loved the chemistry between the Hs and theirs with the h. I believed that they loved each-other enough to risk it all and be together. Tom and Lucas were both hot guys, so don’t blame me. :P So, even though I enjoyed their romance, without a woman, the relationship seemed a bit empty for me. But that’s just my personal opinion.
Claiming Mister Kemp can be read as a standalone because it largely revolves around Lucas-Tom’s relationship. You get to see the usual ‘magic’ of the series working around them but they couldn’t decipher what was happening. The next installment in the series, Ruining Miss Wrotham, will be out in May. Not yet sure about the h and the H of that story but I can’t wait to find out! This is what I love about this series; you don’t know what to expect and how the author will connect the original plot of Bale Tongue’s gifts from one book to the other. And it never fails to entertain me. 4 stars.
Complimentary copy courtesy of the author, thanks Ms. Larkin!
Claiming Mister Kemp is the book 4 of Emily Larkin’s Baleful Godmother series. The theme of the story is a bit different than the author’s usual style because this is a M/M romance. Her first one as far as I know, but it was well-written no doubt about it.
The Baleful Godmother is a Regency-set series based on female characters who have special “gifts” or powers. But if you want to start from the very beginning, you can with The Fey Quartet. These are a set of novellas listed as “prologue” to this series. Set in Medieval-era England, this series explains exactly how our unique heroines came to inherit their “gifts”. Books 1 and 2, Unmasking Miss Appleby and Resisting Miss Merryweather had something common in them apart from Bale Tongue, our dubious Fairy Godmother. Heroines of both of these books, Charlotte and Merry 1. Were bestowed their gifts at the age of 25, which I thought was THE age they were supposed to have their wish fulfilled and 2. They were cousins so the stories were linked that way. But that changed in book 3, Trusting Miss Trentham. Tish, the h, had her wish fulfilled at 21 instead of 25. She’s also a distant cousin to the previous heroines but they didn’t know one another until later in the story so the book could be technically read as a standalone.
Charlotte had no idea about her gift because she was orphaned at an early age, so Bale Tongue took her by complete surprise. She was living quite miserably with her mean uncle’s family and this gave her the opportunity to get out of there and earn money on her own. She chose shapeshifting and transformed herself into a man to get the lucrative job offered by Marcus, Lord Cosgrove, our H, in a newspaper advert. Merry, on the other hand, wasn’t introduced in book 1 but she was already aware of her Fey inheritance. She knew she’d be visited by Bale Tongue but was ever unsure about which gift to choose. She was also an orphan by the time her story began so she was living with Charlotte and Marcus when she met Sir Barnaby Ware, who is also Marcus’s closest buddy. His visit to Marcus’s estate brings Merry and Barnaby together. Something closer to a tragedy later in the story prompts Merry to choose the gift of healing to save people’s lives. By the time book 3 began, both girls were happily married and expecting.
Tish was one of the wealthiest heiresses of England. She was also quite sick of suitors who were the worst kind of fortune hunters. Because of her gift, through which she could discern truth and lies, Tish would discover it all. And because of that she was still unmarried at the age of 27. She wanted to marry, but she will only marry for love. Tish thanked her gift everyday that she had not fallen prey to the first fortune hunter’s sweet nothings because they all equivocally claimed to ‘love’ her. *SMH*
When she met Icarus Reid, a gaunt, pale looking retired soldier bend on some type of vengeance, Tish knew she had to take care of this man. Icarus looked like a man on the verge of giving up on life and living. The only thing, it seemed, got him going was his need for revenge done by a traitor in the battle of Vimeiro. It left his men killed, and him almost dead. Icarus wanted Tish’s help cause he’s heard of her gift. People generally thought of it as a ‘knack’ she had since her birth. Of course, no one had any idea about the her Fey inheritance.
It was while investigating that traitor is how we were introduced to Lucas Kemp, Tish’s cousin and Tom Matlock, an army officer, whom Icarus was acquainted with as well. In fact, Tom was on Icarus’s list for investigation but with Tish’s help, he clears Tom from it. Lucas and Tom were best of friends since childhood and Tish had often been a part of their group. There was another person, Julia, Lucas’s twin, who recently passed away. Her death still casts a shadow on everything.
The physical side of Lucas and Tom’s relationship wasn’t visible at all until one scene later in the story where Tish and Reid discover them together rather suddenly. In her innocence, Tish was shocked but Reid sternly admonished her to forget about it, knowing the type of trouble Lucas and Tom would be if they’re discovered by someone less understanding. Because she had known them for so long, Tish, though a bit baffled, accepts Tom and Lucas’s relationship as something natural. She could imagine no better person other than Tom offering comfort to Lucas after Julia’s death. Lucas was suffering, and Tish wanted him to be happy.
Even though book 3 ends with Tish and Reid’s HEA after the many storms they had to weather, Lucas and Tom’s fate was left hanging. I wasn’t troubled by it but I did want to know more about them. I’d say Claiming Mr. Kemp is an extension of book 3, rather than a ‘new’ installment cause the first 60% of the story goes simultaneously with the story of book 3, only from Lucas and Tom’s POV. After that you get some more of Tish and Reid, even Marcus-Charlotte and Barnaby-Merry making a cameo in the end. So if M/M romance is not your thing, you can skip this installment. BUT, if you’ve been intrigued by Lucas and Tom like me and would wanna know more, I’d recommend Claiming Mister Kemp to you.
Lucas, Julia, Tish and Tom were inseparable when they were children. But Lucas and Julia, being twins, seemed to complete one another even though they were more like the opposite of each-other; Lucas, shy, reserved with a steady head on his shoulders while Julia, a tomboy, vivacious but extremely reckless. From Tom’s POV, you will get a bit of reminisce of their relationship and how that recklessness had ultimately been Julia’s downfall. It also shattered everyone who loved Julia, but Lucas felt the most of it. He was a wreck after losing his twin. And even after a year of her death, he was not himself. He cooped himself up inside his townhouse, living as a recluse and a drunk, which is how Tom finds him when he gets back from the Army after getting a vacation. Noting and no one seemed to be able to help him.
Seeing Lucas so miserable and out of sorts, Tom is determined to take care of him. Along came the realization and an even stronger determination not hide his feelings for Lucas any longer. The world might view it as something abnormal and quite wrong but it’s what it is. Tom’s been in love with Lucas for a long time and it killed him to see Lucas so depressed. He even starts demonstrating his affection soon and, quite often, but it was Lucas who had a hard time accepting Tom’s ‘administrations’. He would push Tom away, his only concern someone might see. He was scared. It was wrong! But no matter how much he tried to hide, the fact was Lucas felt the same about Tom. Yet he’d not been able to fully work on his feelings because of the stigma surrounding gay men and what the punishment involved if found. Lucas was torn and even more miserable yet he couldn’t resist Tom. He made him happy in a way no one ever has... But how long will they continue to play hide-and-seek? Is there even a solution for them?
Over the course of the story, a few important things are revealed. One was the fact that Lucas wasn’t attracted to women at all, which is why he had been a virgin. Even Tom didn’t know about that. He, on the other hand, had a healthy interest in women. Tom had been with many over the years, never knowing his best friend had been so lonely. Not knowing what to do, Lucas never confided in Tom either. And he definitely couldn’t tell Tom how he felt about him. Now that it was all open and out between them, it seems they’re determined to go about as a couple in secret. Tom preferred Lucas over anyone so there was that. :D Neither one of them needed to marry for an heir because their elder brothers got it covered.
For obvious reasons, this story doesn’t have a traditional HEA but Lucas does come to terms with his feelings for Tom, knowing it does him a world of good. He is happier than ever when he’s with Tom so how can it be wrong? Even though I found it a bit hard to believe that the very people who suspected their relationship took it totally in stride seeing it was the Regency-era, I’m just glad they did. Things would’ve been so difficult for Lucas and Tom otherwise. :(
Though personally M/M is not my thing, I enjoyed Claiming Mister Kemp. This was my first full-on M/M romance, though while reading, I may or may not have tried envisioning Lucas and Tom with a h... involved maybe from Tom? I think it would’ve been so interesting. ;) I have read rare historical ménage romances where I loved the chemistry between the Hs and theirs with the h. I believed that they loved each-other enough to risk it all and be together. Tom and Lucas were both hot guys, so don’t blame me. :P So, even though I enjoyed their romance, without a woman, the relationship seemed a bit empty for me. But that’s just my personal opinion.
Claiming Mister Kemp can be read as a standalone because it largely revolves around Lucas-Tom’s relationship. You get to see the usual ‘magic’ of the series working around them but they couldn’t decipher what was happening. The next installment in the series, Ruining Miss Wrotham, will be out in May. Not yet sure about the h and the H of that story but I can’t wait to find out! This is what I love about this series; you don’t know what to expect and how the author will connect the original plot of Bale Tongue’s gifts from one book to the other. And it never fails to entertain me. 4 stars.
Complimentary copy courtesy of the author, thanks Ms. Larkin!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
September 14, 2019
Honestly, I got it because it was on sale and I needed something to read. For that I have to admit that I enjoyed it rather a lot more than I thought I would. In all fairness, it's a very competently done book, and for the most part I like the characters and the story. For that it would be a four star rating.
But...
Lucas' deeply ingrained self-loathing and internalised homophobia is not unrealistic but still did keep me from really enjoying the book. But, really, that is my problem.
That he got a little acceptance from his friends and family and then spent a couple of hours (literally) on going from mortal fear to deep acceptance hence making the HEA possible...
It's nice. It really is. But... lazy. Sorry, that's lazy story-telling. I have to admit that I enjoyed the passage where he examines his decision and puts it apart like a clock-maker and puts it back together. Well done. Really nice writing. But, yeah, well, no.
I enjoyed reading the book because it's really well written, with lovely, enjoyable characters but I didn't love it.
Sorry, book.
But...
Lucas' deeply ingrained self-loathing and internalised homophobia is not unrealistic but still did keep me from really enjoying the book. But, really, that is my problem.
That he got a little acceptance from his friends and family and then spent a couple of hours (literally) on going from mortal fear to deep acceptance hence making the HEA possible...
It's nice. It really is. But... lazy. Sorry, that's lazy story-telling. I have to admit that I enjoyed the passage where he examines his decision and puts it apart like a clock-maker and puts it back together. Well done. Really nice writing. But, yeah, well, no.
I enjoyed reading the book because it's really well written, with lovely, enjoyable characters but I didn't love it.
Sorry, book.
February 14, 2017
3 1/2 stars
Good book! Kept me entertained till the end. Historical mm books have been a hit and miss for me. This one was one of the ones I liked best.
These best friends have loved each other for a long time, but they haven't acted on their attraction. A near death experience makes Tom realize that life is too short not to pursue his heart's desire.
When he returns to England to testify on a war case, he finds Lucas depressed and lonely. Lucas is torn between his love for Tom and the knowledge they can be hung if they are found out. He also feels guilty for his feelings.
Tom has to fight hard for his love. Luckily they get their HEA.
This book is part of a series but can be read as a stand alone.
Good book! Kept me entertained till the end. Historical mm books have been a hit and miss for me. This one was one of the ones I liked best.
These best friends have loved each other for a long time, but they haven't acted on their attraction. A near death experience makes Tom realize that life is too short not to pursue his heart's desire.
When he returns to England to testify on a war case, he finds Lucas depressed and lonely. Lucas is torn between his love for Tom and the knowledge they can be hung if they are found out. He also feels guilty for his feelings.
Tom has to fight hard for his love. Luckily they get their HEA.
This book is part of a series but can be read as a stand alone.
October 3, 2017
I usually do not read MM romance, it's just not for me, but since I enjoy this series I gave it a try. And it was worth the effort!
There's no Godmother's gift here, since only the female line gets them, but I liked both Lucas and Tom and cheered for them!
Lucas is Letty's cousin, beautiful, big, male, while Tom is a second son sent to war. They've been friends since boyhood and everybody knows it. So when Lucas twin sister dies and Lucas become depressed, who better to cure him than Tom?
But what nobody knows is that Tom has been in love with Lucas since forever!
This is a tender and passionate romance in a time when being homosexual was a hanging offence. I could understand why Lucas was so afraid.
A nice addition to the series!
There's no Godmother's gift here, since only the female line gets them, but I liked both Lucas and Tom and cheered for them!
Lucas is Letty's cousin, beautiful, big, male, while Tom is a second son sent to war. They've been friends since boyhood and everybody knows it. So when Lucas twin sister dies and Lucas become depressed, who better to cure him than Tom?
But what nobody knows is that Tom has been in love with Lucas since forever!
This is a tender and passionate romance in a time when being homosexual was a hanging offence. I could understand why Lucas was so afraid.
A nice addition to the series!
dnf
March 24, 2025DNF at 28%
Far too much self-loathing and internalized homophobia
3.23.25
Far too much self-loathing and internalized homophobia
3.23.25
August 17, 2018
I have not read any of the other books in the series but I found this one to be very engaging and well written. It was romantic and also a bit sad. Poor Lucas was struggling with grief, shame and his feelings for Tom. His reactions to Tom's seductions seemed believable for the time they were living in. I like that they had some secret support from their friends and Lucas' valet to help them along
May 3, 2019
I was very happy to see that Tom and Lucas, whom we had previously met in Trusting Miss Trentham had gotten their own book. There was a great, little tantalizing scene that let us know that their lifelong friendship was more than just a friendship.
But then when I actually started to read their own book (this one) I became more and more disappointed. I was really close to DNF'ing this one early on. There was a whole hell of a lot of dubious consent going on here. Also so much headspace was spent with Lucas' self loathing, guilt, and panic that I could not just simply enjoy Lucas and Tom's romance. I get what the author was trying to convey and it was probably very realistic, but in the end it didn't make for an optimistic reading experience except for the last 20% of the book.
But then when I actually started to read their own book (this one) I became more and more disappointed. I was really close to DNF'ing this one early on. There was a whole hell of a lot of dubious consent going on here. Also so much headspace was spent with Lucas' self loathing, guilt, and panic that I could not just simply enjoy Lucas and Tom's romance. I get what the author was trying to convey and it was probably very realistic, but in the end it didn't make for an optimistic reading experience except for the last 20% of the book.
February 12, 2017
Absolutely amazingly well done, Emily Larkin has been a favorite of mine for a short minute, but this book has cemented her place in my lineup of automatic must read authors. Not necessarily because it was a great romance, even though it was, nor because I enjoyed the characters but because of the way she addressed and tackled a very hard plot of m/m in an era where they were raised to fear for their lives if it was ever discovered they'd even had a thought of sexual relations with another man. I felt sad for Tom and scared for Lucas. Claiming Mister Kemp is a true love story of best friends realizing that their friendship runs even deeper than they could have ever hoped for in an era where they could be hanged for it. Deep, solid read. Thanks to the author, publisher and Netgalley for the ARC in exchange for a honest review.
December 19, 2020
Sweet love story between 2 men, hiding their love. One is rich, the other is a poor soldier and an artist. Lots of angst as they hurt each other. Their families and friends are wonderful, characters from previous books. Loved it.
February 17, 2018
Plot: 3/5
Characterisation: 3.5/5
Prose: 4/5
How much I enjoyed it: 3/5
Characterisation: 3.5/5
Prose: 4/5
How much I enjoyed it: 3/5
September 20, 2021
*rubs temples* Where to start with this one? First of all, I do not think I would have finished this — or picked it up in the first place, honestly — if not for Joe Jameson’s narration (under the name Hamish Long here). His narration, as always, is stellar. If I was rating this for the narration alone, this would certainly get more than two stars from me.
However, since I’m NOT just rating the narration… 2 stars is probably generous. This was really closer to 1.5 stars for me by the end.
This book opens with Tom visiting his best friend Lucas on his birthday, after Tom has had a near experience with death. He was shot at war and the only thing that saved his life was having his sketchbook in his pocket to stop the bullet. He has long been in love with his best friend, Lucas, and decides life is too short to not act on his feelings. Lucas, on the other hand, is still deeply grieving his twin sister Julia’s recent death in a horse riding accident. On his first birthday alone without Julia, Lucas gets incomprehensibly drunk. When Tom arrives, Lucas is barely functional enough to recognize him. When putting Lucas to bed, Tom notices Lucas is hard and - for some reason not recognizing the absolute dubious consent here - brings him off.
What the fuck? This scene would be bad enough on its own, but the dubious consent carries forth throughout the book, with Lucas vocally saying no (he’s attracted to Tom but inexperienced and believes that what they’re doing is wrong) and Tom overriding his concerns. Out of the countless times they have sex in this book, I would say at least half of them have dubious consent.
To add to my horror about the sex scenes, one of the hang ups both characters have is about “backdoor ushering” or sodomy. Look. There is nothing wrong with not liking penetrative sex. At all. There are a lot of other ways to have sex and it is also possible to be in a non-platonic relationship and to never engage in sex. I truly believe that is a core facet of sex positivity. However, the way this book talks about anal sex essentially denotes it as lesser or wrong, whereas Tom and Lucas are apparently better because they only get off via handjobs, oral sex, or frottage. That is… problematic. All the way to the end of the book, Lucas comforts himself with the knowledge that at least they’re not sodomites because they don’t engage in penetrative sex. The way the sex is written about here just struck a tone that I found deeply uncomfortable.
To yet still further add to my discomfort with the way the author writes about sex, in the last act we get a false rape accusation as a method to drive the plot along. At this point, Tom and Lucas have had a fight at an inn after Tom says “I love you” and Lucas stiffens rather than returning the sentiment. Frustrated, Tom storms away. When he returns to the inn, a maid (who earlier indicated she’d be interested in a threesome with Tom and Lucas) is caught returning from a tryst with someone else by her boss. In a panic, she says she was forced to do it, and, as Tom is just returning, points at Tom and accuses him. Tom denies this but the innkeeper doesn’t believe him and beats him nearly to death.
This whole scene is set up so that Lucas can apparently realize his feelings while Tom is near death. He summons his friend who can prove when people are lying, and has the maid recant her statement. The maid then gets fired from the inn.
What. The. Fuck?
To summarize, we have: a shit ton of dubious consent, moral aversion to “lesser” forms of queer sex, and a false rape accusation from a woman of a lower social class (in a role, I may add, that was historically abused and exploited and likely never believed or able to hold those that exploited them culpable).
It’s possible there were kernels of good in this book, but if so, I totally missed them as I was too pissed off by all of the above. Here’s hoping that Joe Jameson narrates more and better books after this one, as his narration was the only highlight for me.
However, since I’m NOT just rating the narration… 2 stars is probably generous. This was really closer to 1.5 stars for me by the end.
This book opens with Tom visiting his best friend Lucas on his birthday, after Tom has had a near experience with death. He was shot at war and the only thing that saved his life was having his sketchbook in his pocket to stop the bullet. He has long been in love with his best friend, Lucas, and decides life is too short to not act on his feelings. Lucas, on the other hand, is still deeply grieving his twin sister Julia’s recent death in a horse riding accident. On his first birthday alone without Julia, Lucas gets incomprehensibly drunk. When Tom arrives, Lucas is barely functional enough to recognize him. When putting Lucas to bed, Tom notices Lucas is hard and - for some reason not recognizing the absolute dubious consent here - brings him off.
What the fuck? This scene would be bad enough on its own, but the dubious consent carries forth throughout the book, with Lucas vocally saying no (he’s attracted to Tom but inexperienced and believes that what they’re doing is wrong) and Tom overriding his concerns. Out of the countless times they have sex in this book, I would say at least half of them have dubious consent.
To add to my horror about the sex scenes, one of the hang ups both characters have is about “backdoor ushering” or sodomy. Look. There is nothing wrong with not liking penetrative sex. At all. There are a lot of other ways to have sex and it is also possible to be in a non-platonic relationship and to never engage in sex. I truly believe that is a core facet of sex positivity. However, the way this book talks about anal sex essentially denotes it as lesser or wrong, whereas Tom and Lucas are apparently better because they only get off via handjobs, oral sex, or frottage. That is… problematic. All the way to the end of the book, Lucas comforts himself with the knowledge that at least they’re not sodomites because they don’t engage in penetrative sex. The way the sex is written about here just struck a tone that I found deeply uncomfortable.
To yet still further add to my discomfort with the way the author writes about sex, in the last act we get a false rape accusation as a method to drive the plot along. At this point, Tom and Lucas have had a fight at an inn after Tom says “I love you” and Lucas stiffens rather than returning the sentiment. Frustrated, Tom storms away. When he returns to the inn, a maid (who earlier indicated she’d be interested in a threesome with Tom and Lucas) is caught returning from a tryst with someone else by her boss. In a panic, she says she was forced to do it, and, as Tom is just returning, points at Tom and accuses him. Tom denies this but the innkeeper doesn’t believe him and beats him nearly to death.
This whole scene is set up so that Lucas can apparently realize his feelings while Tom is near death. He summons his friend who can prove when people are lying, and has the maid recant her statement. The maid then gets fired from the inn.
What. The. Fuck?
To summarize, we have: a shit ton of dubious consent, moral aversion to “lesser” forms of queer sex, and a false rape accusation from a woman of a lower social class (in a role, I may add, that was historically abused and exploited and likely never believed or able to hold those that exploited them culpable).
It’s possible there were kernels of good in this book, but if so, I totally missed them as I was too pissed off by all of the above. Here’s hoping that Joe Jameson narrates more and better books after this one, as his narration was the only highlight for me.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
March 1, 2017
I have a vested interest in seeing this series through. I was intrigued by the first book in the series because it had such a cool premise but it was blandly executed. For a lady who can turn into a man to be the main character, there wasn’t a lot of interesting hanky-panky going on, if you know what I mean. So imagine my surprise that one of the books in the series is a gay romance. I instantly requested it from Netgalley in exchange for my honest review.
So this really shouldn’t be considered the fourth installment of this series. It’s more like a side story to the series that takes place a bit before and during the last book,ThrustingTrusting Miss Trentham. I had wondered how there could be a book about two guys when the series is about women getting fairy gifts. The blurb mentions that one of them has a dead girl twin (transfer of powers? ) but there’s not really anything new about the fairy gifts in this one. I really ought to stop assuming with these books.
Speaking of assumptions, I was surprised that there was a gay romp in this series because this series is soooooo vanilla. Larkin doesn’t take any risks with the love scenes, even when they are practically begging for it. I don’t know why I thought this book would be any different. It was a mistake on my part not to keep track of how many blowjobs there were in this book. It’s just not worth it to go back and count and I just think that’s tragic. My memory wants to say upwards of twenty but that number sounds both ridiculously high and somehow low. There were also many handjobs. The characters stated from the beginning that they weren't into butt stuff, putting the kibosh on anything more than hand and mouth love.
Tom and Lucas have been best friends since they were in school together. Tom grew up to join the army and Lucas is a wealthy man of leisure who lost his twin sister in a fatal horse-riding accident. Both have secretly pined for each other for years. After a gay relationship and close encounter with a bullet in the army, Tom realizes that he needs to act on his feelings for Lucas. However, he does this in the most rapey and aggressive ham-fisted way he possibly can. . I would have liked this more if he had given Lucas a chance to get used to the idea instead of trying to throw him into the deep end right away. I think it also would have benefited the reader to build up to a sexual act, especially since this book seems to be 40% hand/blowjobs.
And 30% of this book seems to be regurgitated dialogue from the previous book. This couple knows Letitia and Icarus so we see their sides of the conversations. This isn’t really all that interesting or insightful except for one of these conversations that’s warranted because it’s specifically about being found out. This book wasn't short per se but for so much of it to be from the third book, it may as well be as short as the second installment.
It’s really minor because of the nature of the story but all the characters who know are very open to the idea that the couple is gay, which is odd for the time period. We are reminded a few times through the dialog that what Tom and Lucas are doing is a capital offense and that they could be hanged if found out. Tom is not discreet enough considering the severity of being found out.
Overall, the story was good when it wasn’t being rehashed and for the sexy scenes to be so redundant, the forbidden and hidden aspect added to the hotness and made for an enjoyable read. I wish there had been more magic. Boo.
So this really shouldn’t be considered the fourth installment of this series. It’s more like a side story to the series that takes place a bit before and during the last book,
Speaking of assumptions, I was surprised that there was a gay romp in this series because this series is soooooo vanilla. Larkin doesn’t take any risks with the love scenes, even when they are practically begging for it. I don’t know why I thought this book would be any different. It was a mistake on my part not to keep track of how many blowjobs there were in this book. It’s just not worth it to go back and count and I just think that’s tragic. My memory wants to say upwards of twenty but that number sounds both ridiculously high and somehow low. There were also many handjobs. The characters stated from the beginning that they weren't into butt stuff, putting the kibosh on anything more than hand and mouth love.
Tom and Lucas have been best friends since they were in school together. Tom grew up to join the army and Lucas is a wealthy man of leisure who lost his twin sister in a fatal horse-riding accident. Both have secretly pined for each other for years. After a gay relationship and close encounter with a bullet in the army, Tom realizes that he needs to act on his feelings for Lucas. However, he does this in the most rapey and aggressive ham-fisted way he possibly can. . I would have liked this more if he had given Lucas a chance to get used to the idea instead of trying to throw him into the deep end right away. I think it also would have benefited the reader to build up to a sexual act, especially since this book seems to be 40% hand/blowjobs.
And 30% of this book seems to be regurgitated dialogue from the previous book. This couple knows Letitia and Icarus so we see their sides of the conversations. This isn’t really all that interesting or insightful except for one of these conversations that’s warranted because it’s specifically about being found out. This book wasn't short per se but for so much of it to be from the third book, it may as well be as short as the second installment.
It’s really minor because of the nature of the story but all the characters who know are very open to the idea that the couple is gay, which is odd for the time period. We are reminded a few times through the dialog that what Tom and Lucas are doing is a capital offense and that they could be hanged if found out. Tom is not discreet enough considering the severity of being found out.
Overall, the story was good when it wasn’t being rehashed and for the sexy scenes to be so redundant, the forbidden and hidden aspect added to the hotness and made for an enjoyable read. I wish there had been more magic. Boo.
February 14, 2017
Claiming Mister Kemp, Baleful Godmother 4, Emily Larkin
Review from Jeannie Zelos book reviews
Genre: romance, LGBTQIA
Well, I’ve not read any of Emily’s stories, and this is the fourth in a series....but it reads as though each are stand alone though connected, and the description appealed to me ;-)
Historical M/M – for me the Queen, the 5* Gold Standard of this genre is K J Charles, I love her works. This stands up pretty well against that for me, and I really enjoyed the story. There are earlier books, which I’d like to read, and in fact book one is free so that’s on my kindle ;-)
I loved Tom, so clear about his love for Lucas even at a time when it mean death if it was discovered. Awful isn’t it how we treated anyone in love in a non conventional way back then – and in many places still do >:( Tom has served his country loyally, risked his life for small reward and yet if he’s caught with a man he faced being hung.
Lucas, he's so scared to admit his feelings. Its clear to those close to him but he won’t even admit it to himself, and talking to Tom when he forces the issue he’s sticking to the conventional “unnatural” etc. As for anal sex – I have to look up the term they used, was new to me and I’ve forgotten it – there’s no way he’ll consider that. Back door Usher – that’s was it, perfect for the age in which the book is set.
That’s one of the things that makes historical books so real, when the characters speak as they would back then, use terms familiar to that age. When Tom is talking about paint colours I had to look some up, hazarded a guess as an artist myself but they were colours I’ve never heard of, superseded by more modern ones.
I love when an author takes the trouble to do relatively small things like that which have a big impact on how I feel about a novel. Its research many fail to give credit to and just don’t do but can make a massive difference to how real novels feel. Its something that KJ Charles does all the while, and what makes her books feel so special to me.
There were times I wanted to shake Lucas, thought him a coward he was bringing such distress to Tom in his refusal to act on what they both felt. Then I had to remind myself just what they were risking, and it puts his fears into context better.
Even today in the UK many people find it difficult to acknowledge their sexuality, and there are no criminal charges now, just bigots to face,but that’s still tough, especially when they’re sometimes within the family we love.
Holding up this would be/won’t be romance is a great cast of characters, snippets of real history, and events, and plots that fit the story perfectly. Its a fun read, one I thoroughly enjoyed..
Stars: Four and a half, just short of the magic five, maybe if I’d read all the former stories it would have hit that? Who knows?
ARC supplied for review purposes by Netgalley and Publishers
Review from Jeannie Zelos book reviews
Genre: romance, LGBTQIA
Well, I’ve not read any of Emily’s stories, and this is the fourth in a series....but it reads as though each are stand alone though connected, and the description appealed to me ;-)
Historical M/M – for me the Queen, the 5* Gold Standard of this genre is K J Charles, I love her works. This stands up pretty well against that for me, and I really enjoyed the story. There are earlier books, which I’d like to read, and in fact book one is free so that’s on my kindle ;-)
I loved Tom, so clear about his love for Lucas even at a time when it mean death if it was discovered. Awful isn’t it how we treated anyone in love in a non conventional way back then – and in many places still do >:( Tom has served his country loyally, risked his life for small reward and yet if he’s caught with a man he faced being hung.
Lucas, he's so scared to admit his feelings. Its clear to those close to him but he won’t even admit it to himself, and talking to Tom when he forces the issue he’s sticking to the conventional “unnatural” etc. As for anal sex – I have to look up the term they used, was new to me and I’ve forgotten it – there’s no way he’ll consider that. Back door Usher – that’s was it, perfect for the age in which the book is set.
That’s one of the things that makes historical books so real, when the characters speak as they would back then, use terms familiar to that age. When Tom is talking about paint colours I had to look some up, hazarded a guess as an artist myself but they were colours I’ve never heard of, superseded by more modern ones.
I love when an author takes the trouble to do relatively small things like that which have a big impact on how I feel about a novel. Its research many fail to give credit to and just don’t do but can make a massive difference to how real novels feel. Its something that KJ Charles does all the while, and what makes her books feel so special to me.
There were times I wanted to shake Lucas, thought him a coward he was bringing such distress to Tom in his refusal to act on what they both felt. Then I had to remind myself just what they were risking, and it puts his fears into context better.
Even today in the UK many people find it difficult to acknowledge their sexuality, and there are no criminal charges now, just bigots to face,but that’s still tough, especially when they’re sometimes within the family we love.
Holding up this would be/won’t be romance is a great cast of characters, snippets of real history, and events, and plots that fit the story perfectly. Its a fun read, one I thoroughly enjoyed..
Stars: Four and a half, just short of the magic five, maybe if I’d read all the former stories it would have hit that? Who knows?
ARC supplied for review purposes by Netgalley and Publishers
March 4, 2017
Publisher's Description:
A forbidden love…
Lucas Kemp’s twin sister died last year. He’s put aside his mourning clothes, but not his heartache.
If Lucas ever needed a friend, it’s now—and who should walk in his door but Lieutenant Thomas Matlock…
Lucas and Tom are more than just best friends; they’ve been in love with each other for years.
In love with each other—and pretending not to know it. But this time, Tom’s not going to ignore the attraction between them. This time, he’s going to push the issue. He’s going to teach Lucas how to laugh again—and he’s going to take Lucas as his lover…
My Thoughts:
This is a wonderfully written story of forbidden love.
The time period is one that could have meant the certain death of the main characters had the wrong people discovered their relationship.
These men had loved each other since they were teenagers but had never expressed their feelings to one another. Probably the only reason their relationship progressed was the death of Lucas's twin sister Julia which brought his vulnerability to light leaving Tom wanting to comfort him in his grief.
Emily Larkin has taken a very delicate subject and made it work in this story. I wanted to cry when I thought Lucas and Tom wouldn't end up with each other.
This story is situated in times when people not only objected to but severely punished those who dared to love someone of their own gender. It is still in our times sometimes frowned upon.
I gave this book 4.25 of 5 stars for storyline and character development and 3.5 of 5 flames for sensuality. It is a sweetly written take on this sensitive subject and was well done.
I received a complimentary digital ARC of this title to read. This in no way affected my opinion and I am voluntarily leaving this review.
A forbidden love…
Lucas Kemp’s twin sister died last year. He’s put aside his mourning clothes, but not his heartache.
If Lucas ever needed a friend, it’s now—and who should walk in his door but Lieutenant Thomas Matlock…
Lucas and Tom are more than just best friends; they’ve been in love with each other for years.
In love with each other—and pretending not to know it. But this time, Tom’s not going to ignore the attraction between them. This time, he’s going to push the issue. He’s going to teach Lucas how to laugh again—and he’s going to take Lucas as his lover…
My Thoughts:
This is a wonderfully written story of forbidden love.
The time period is one that could have meant the certain death of the main characters had the wrong people discovered their relationship.
These men had loved each other since they were teenagers but had never expressed their feelings to one another. Probably the only reason their relationship progressed was the death of Lucas's twin sister Julia which brought his vulnerability to light leaving Tom wanting to comfort him in his grief.
Emily Larkin has taken a very delicate subject and made it work in this story. I wanted to cry when I thought Lucas and Tom wouldn't end up with each other.
This story is situated in times when people not only objected to but severely punished those who dared to love someone of their own gender. It is still in our times sometimes frowned upon.
I gave this book 4.25 of 5 stars for storyline and character development and 3.5 of 5 flames for sensuality. It is a sweetly written take on this sensitive subject and was well done.
I received a complimentary digital ARC of this title to read. This in no way affected my opinion and I am voluntarily leaving this review.
April 15, 2019
Not the Strongest of the Series
Claiming Mr. Kemp isn't the strongest book in the Baleful Godmother series. There's very little romance and far too much angst for it to be a comfortable read, but far more notably, there are issues of consent that didn't sit well with me, since Emily Larkin already established in the previous book that the people of this world ARE aware of the need for consent in a way that reflects current sensibilities.
I also didn't love the two main characters. While they both seemed likeable enough in the last book, they were less so in their own story. Each was suffering his own sort of misery, so it was difficult to get a sense of who Tom and Lucas were. Unfortunately, Larkin didn't show enough backstory to give me a good understanding of why they loved each other enough to risk everything to be together.
What WAS done well was showing Lucas's difficulties in accepting his homosexuality. His shame was so clearly depicted, I could almost feel it. I just wish that his acceptance was as clear.
Claiming Mr. Kemp isn't the strongest book in the Baleful Godmother series. There's very little romance and far too much angst for it to be a comfortable read, but far more notably, there are issues of consent that didn't sit well with me, since Emily Larkin already established in the previous book that the people of this world ARE aware of the need for consent in a way that reflects current sensibilities.
I also didn't love the two main characters. While they both seemed likeable enough in the last book, they were less so in their own story. Each was suffering his own sort of misery, so it was difficult to get a sense of who Tom and Lucas were. Unfortunately, Larkin didn't show enough backstory to give me a good understanding of why they loved each other enough to risk everything to be together.
What WAS done well was showing Lucas's difficulties in accepting his homosexuality. His shame was so clearly depicted, I could almost feel it. I just wish that his acceptance was as clear.
Read
December 15, 2017I did not like this book. I wanted to. This book focuses on two male characters who were important in the last book. I liked them. I wanted to find out more about their relationship. My problem with this one was the way the sex was handled. I'm not a huge fan of sex in books anyway. I much prefer slow burn romances and fade to black sex scenes. While the other books have had sex scenes there was enough romance and character development to balance them.
In this book, there is just sex. You don't get the romantic parts that were seen in the other books. I think that the difference was here because it was switched to a m/m story instead of a male/virginal female story. I don't think that is a good reason to leave out the romance and tenderness though. Relationship development is still important and that didn't happen here.This review was originally posted on Based On A True Story
In this book, there is just sex. You don't get the romantic parts that were seen in the other books. I think that the difference was here because it was switched to a m/m story instead of a male/virginal female story. I don't think that is a good reason to leave out the romance and tenderness though. Relationship development is still important and that didn't happen here.This review was originally posted on Based On A True Story
February 21, 2018
3.5 stars
This was my first m/m-romance and I liked it. For people who expect more than blow-jobs between the protagonists, this story might not be for you. Lucas is completely against it, he is not a backdoor usher as he calls it, that's okay, but I felt that his dislike or disgust for it was too prominent. It might be realistic in the historical context, but I wasn't a huge fan of the multiple mentionings and clarifications that he is NOT a backdoor usher to be annoying. Other than that I liked Tom and Lucas but couldn't believe that both of them had been in love with each other for SO long. Especially since Lucas feelings never felt that real or deep. Aside from that their relationship had the dynamics of a typical f/m-romance. One of them has tons of experience and the other one is innocent. Maybe I liked it because it kind of felt like a normal f/m romance.
This was my first m/m-romance and I liked it. For people who expect more than blow-jobs between the protagonists, this story might not be for you. Lucas is completely against it, he is not a backdoor usher as he calls it, that's okay, but I felt that his dislike or disgust for it was too prominent. It might be realistic in the historical context, but I wasn't a huge fan of the multiple mentionings and clarifications that he is NOT a backdoor usher to be annoying. Other than that I liked Tom and Lucas but couldn't believe that both of them had been in love with each other for SO long. Especially since Lucas feelings never felt that real or deep. Aside from that their relationship had the dynamics of a typical f/m-romance. One of them has tons of experience and the other one is innocent. Maybe I liked it because it kind of felt like a normal f/m romance.
November 2, 2017
4 1/2.
WARNING - ENTIRE PLOT SUMMARY AHEAD (used for me to keep track of series events)
REALLY - DON'T READ THIS; IT SUMMARIZES BOOK.
some content may be copied from other reviews
late entry
Lucas Kemp and Thomas Matlock have been friends ever since their first term at Eton, even though their backgrounds couldn’t be more different. Lucas comes from a wealthy background and a warm, loving family, whereas Tom, the youngest son of an earl, was born to parents who really couldn’t be all that bothered about him, and his fondest childhood memories are of the holidays he spent at Whiteoaks, where he and Lucas made a foursome with Lucas’ cousin, Letty Trentham (Trusting Miss Trentham) and his twin sister, Julia. The four children were close, although as twins, Lucas and Julia shared a unique bond. They remained close as they grew into adulthood, but eventually their lives took them in different directions, with Tom going into the army, Letty and Julia entering society and Lucas inheriting an estate of his own. But some sixteen months before this book opens, tragedy struck, and Julia was killed when she fell from her horse. Everyone was devastated at her death, but for Lucas, it’s even worse than that. He feels as though he has lost something of himself, and although his mourning period has ended, he continues to miss his sister intensely. He puts on a good show for those around him, fooling those who don’t know him well, or don’t care to look beyond the surface, but inside, he’s a mess, having resorted for a time to taking too much laudanum to try to dull the pain and when that avenue was denied him (his valet found his stash and threw it away) took to drinking too much and too often.
Tom, now a member of General Wellesley’s staff, has returned to London with the general in order to speak at a military enquiry into Wellesley’s actions after the battle of Vimeiro. A recent brush with death has given him a new appreciation for living and made him determined not to waste another minute of his life in denial of the feelings he has always held for his best friend.
It’s Lucas’ birthday, and Tom knows it will be a difficult day for him, seeing as it should have been Julia’s birthday, too. He goes to Lucas’ lodgings intent on offering comfort and support, only to find his friend drunk and alone in the dark. His heart breaking for Lucas all over again, Tom decides to seize the chance to show Lucas that he is not alone, and that his – Tom’s – feelings for him go beyond friendship. When Lucas, his inhibitions and defences lowered, doesn’t refuse Tom’s advances, they share a brief moment of sexual intimacy.
Afterwards, Lucas is utterly horrified and disgusted at what happened, and tries – unsuccessfully – to avoid Tom the next day. But Tom won’t allow him to ignore what happened between them, and pushes Lucas to acknowledge the truth of his own feelings as well as the strength of the attraction between them. As his anger with Tom lessens, Lucas finds it harder and harder to resist the pull of that attraction and allows his long suppressed feelings for his friend to come to the fore – although once their moment of shared passion is over, he is once again overwhelmed by his thoughts and his fear of discovery and being labelled a sodomite.
Given that homosexuality was punishable by imprisonment (or even death) at this time, Lucas’ fears are well-grounded. But this is much more than a story about a man’s reluctance to explore his sexuality; it’s also about a terribly lonely man who is so mired in grief and loss that he is in danger of losing himself, too. Lucas has known for a long time that he’s not attracted to women and refused to admit the possibility that he was attracted to men; and the moment at which Tom realises that while he’s been away in the army, surrounded by people, having sexual relationships (with both sexes), Lucas quite literally had no-one is like a punch to the gut.
While I sometimes felt that Tom was perhaps a little too pushy, he’s redeemed by the fact that he is so patient with Lucas, allowing him to dictate the pace of their sexual relationship and to do as much or as little as he wants. He’s funny and warm and charming, and there’s absolutely no doubt as to the fact that he loves Lucas dearly and would do anything for him. But things come to a head when Lucas’ fears overcome him once more and he pushes Tom away for what could be the last time.
The events in this story run concurrently with those of Trusting Miss Trentham and one of the things I really liked was that we get to see the other side of some of the conversations both Tom and Lucas had with Letty Trentham in that book. But if you haven’t read it, don’t worry – as I said at the outset, this stands on its own.
Claiming Mister Kemp is a heartfelt, compelling love story featuring two well-developed and likeable central characters. The sex scenes are sensual and well-written, conveying a real sense of the depth of the love and affection between the two men, and the emotional connection between the pair is palpable.
***********
Love each other, but Lucas too ashamed; tells Tom to leave.
Tom almost killed when falsely accused of rape. Lucas runs to cousin Letty for help. Merry (#2) heals him; Lucas thinks he was being a baby for freaking out over nothing. Finds out about healing.
Family and servants all know about their relationship; all approve. Will live together forever.
Epilogue - Both godfathers of Letty's twins, names Lucia and Julius (after Lucas and his dead twin Julia.)
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
March 13, 2017
On the one hand I found this to be a cute, easy Regency read with a lot of period-appropriate anxiety from Lucas about what would happen if they got caught. On the other, I very nearly didn’t make it past the first couple of chapters, and even though things did improve, there was a bland lack of intimacy when it came to sex.
I’m new to this series, so I don’t know how well known Lucas and Tom are before this, but we start off with Tom having come home from war, going to see his best friend who he has loved for years. He finds Lucas falling-down drunk, so helps put him to bed. And since Lucas’ body reacts to being undressed Tom takes advantage. Even though Lucas clearly says no.
Which is uncomfortable at best, rape at worst. I very nearly stopped reading.
Their next encounter isn’t much better, since it involves Lucas protesting as Tom shoves him up against a wall, steals a kiss and a repeat of the night before, while Lucas again says no. This is followed up with Lucas actually hitting Tom when he refuses to leave the house the next day.
So to say this book starts off on perilous ground is an understatement. At the very least, Tom is incredibly pushy when it comes to Lucas. And to be honest I couldn’t really see how this book could come back from that, so I read on to try and find out. Mostly it does so by having Lucas terrified of discovery, while Tom coaxes him into dark corners for a bit of fun.
If those first two encounters had just been kisses, I would have been a bit unhappy, but it would have made sense. Because Tom makes these encounters about Lucas’ pleasure more than his own (though he still forces his attention on him), and for the most part he’s the one who is emotionally hurt by Lucas’ fears. Yet Lucas is left feeling ashamed and guilty, which really isn’t anything you want in a romantic novel. Especially when everyone else seems so relaxed about their potential relationship. Which, to me, completely undercut Lucas’ (understandable) fears.
And this is a huge shame, because without those first two highly dubious encounters, this book would have been an enjoyable, easy read. Yes, Lucas’ thoughts do tend to repeat themselves, but I enjoyed their friendship when Lucas wasn’t scared, and I would have liked Tom quite a bit. The sex is pretty soulless for the most part, though, and I wish they’d been given more quiet time together and perhaps a little exploration that wasn’t just the same old, same old, mouth or hand, that they repeat over and over again.
Then there’s the maid plot. I really could have done without that. I’m pretty sure the same result could have been achieved in some other way.
So I’m torn, because I enjoyed the characters and the writing style and the period detail felt good, but that beginning… Yeah. I’d be interested in reading more from this author, but I might have to gloss over sections of this one in future.
(Review copy provided by the author via NetGalley.)
I’m new to this series, so I don’t know how well known Lucas and Tom are before this, but we start off with Tom having come home from war, going to see his best friend who he has loved for years. He finds Lucas falling-down drunk, so helps put him to bed. And since Lucas’ body reacts to being undressed Tom takes advantage. Even though Lucas clearly says no.
Which is uncomfortable at best, rape at worst. I very nearly stopped reading.
Their next encounter isn’t much better, since it involves Lucas protesting as Tom shoves him up against a wall, steals a kiss and a repeat of the night before, while Lucas again says no. This is followed up with Lucas actually hitting Tom when he refuses to leave the house the next day.
So to say this book starts off on perilous ground is an understatement. At the very least, Tom is incredibly pushy when it comes to Lucas. And to be honest I couldn’t really see how this book could come back from that, so I read on to try and find out. Mostly it does so by having Lucas terrified of discovery, while Tom coaxes him into dark corners for a bit of fun.
If those first two encounters had just been kisses, I would have been a bit unhappy, but it would have made sense. Because Tom makes these encounters about Lucas’ pleasure more than his own (though he still forces his attention on him), and for the most part he’s the one who is emotionally hurt by Lucas’ fears. Yet Lucas is left feeling ashamed and guilty, which really isn’t anything you want in a romantic novel. Especially when everyone else seems so relaxed about their potential relationship. Which, to me, completely undercut Lucas’ (understandable) fears.
And this is a huge shame, because without those first two highly dubious encounters, this book would have been an enjoyable, easy read. Yes, Lucas’ thoughts do tend to repeat themselves, but I enjoyed their friendship when Lucas wasn’t scared, and I would have liked Tom quite a bit. The sex is pretty soulless for the most part, though, and I wish they’d been given more quiet time together and perhaps a little exploration that wasn’t just the same old, same old, mouth or hand, that they repeat over and over again.
Then there’s the maid plot. I really could have done without that. I’m pretty sure the same result could have been achieved in some other way.
So I’m torn, because I enjoyed the characters and the writing style and the period detail felt good, but that beginning… Yeah. I’d be interested in reading more from this author, but I might have to gloss over sections of this one in future.
(Review copy provided by the author via NetGalley.)
December 15, 2020
Tom and Lucas have been friends since childhood, but Tom has been away at war and has experienced things that make him realize that there is more to them than just friendship. When he comes back to London he confronts Lucas with his feelings, and Lucas is reluctant, to say the least, to take things further. Tom does, however, push, someting that I feel the author has placed comfortably on the right side of too pushy. Tom has the benefit of experience and he's comfortable with who he is and what he wants. Lucas is not.
I find that this is a very realistic portrayal of the Regency era, Lucas is very affraid of his feelings and very aware of how it's illegal and he's understandably carful and tries to deny his feelings, their feelings. I actually think that he comes across as demi, perhaps, he needed Tom to be able to fall in love. Not sure if this is intentional, I'm sure it wasn't unusaual for men who liked other men to be very cautious indeed, as it was necessary for them.
Regardless of this a troubled but charming love continnues to grow, and we get to see how true love finally conquers all.
The side characters are delightful, I especially love the families of both MCs, they're simply wonderful.
This book is part of a series where the other books are M/F. The other books do also have a dash of magic, which is present to a lesser extent in this book, though neither of the MCs have any magical abilities. This is still very much more a historical book than a paranormal. You do not have to read the other books in this series to enjoy this one.
I listened to the audio book and as usual Hamish Long is amazing! I love how he voices Tom and Lucas, but all the characters comes alive in his charming narration, it gives this book an extra dimention and it’s a pure delight to listen to it.
I find that this is a very realistic portrayal of the Regency era, Lucas is very affraid of his feelings and very aware of how it's illegal and he's understandably carful and tries to deny his feelings, their feelings. I actually think that he comes across as demi, perhaps, he needed Tom to be able to fall in love. Not sure if this is intentional, I'm sure it wasn't unusaual for men who liked other men to be very cautious indeed, as it was necessary for them.
Regardless of this a troubled but charming love continnues to grow, and we get to see how true love finally conquers all.
The side characters are delightful, I especially love the families of both MCs, they're simply wonderful.
This book is part of a series where the other books are M/F. The other books do also have a dash of magic, which is present to a lesser extent in this book, though neither of the MCs have any magical abilities. This is still very much more a historical book than a paranormal. You do not have to read the other books in this series to enjoy this one.
I listened to the audio book and as usual Hamish Long is amazing! I love how he voices Tom and Lucas, but all the characters comes alive in his charming narration, it gives this book an extra dimention and it’s a pure delight to listen to it.
May 4, 2017
DNF @ 39%
Claiming Mister Kemp is the fourth book in the Baleful Godmother series by Emily Larkin which also had a set of prequel novellas in the Fey Quartet series. I have read all of the previous books in both series and had really been enjoying the mix of fantasy, historical and romance up until book 3 of this series. In the third the main character crossed a line I wasn't comfortable with and now this book seems to be doing that over and over again so I have given up on finishing this one.
The book is a sort of crossover of book three highlighting a couple of characters that were in that story and their relationship. It starts with Tom coming back to find his friend grieving the death of his sister on the anniversary of her passing by becoming extremely drunk. Tom insists on helping Lucas to bed which includes undressing him and then ends up taking oral advantage of the incapacitated Lucas. Now since when does "No" not mean no??
There is also absolutely no build up for this couple just being thrust into this act which then follows with much of the same over the following chapters. Lucas is always no and Tom pushes and gets his way. Personally I just had enough of this and can't continue the read. There would have been better ways to show Lucas' fear of being caught and the men loving one another but those weren't present that I found. Perhaps the story goes on to become more since I know that the author can write a good story I'm just not a fan of the pushing someone into something they have said no to repeatedly.
I received a copy from the publisher via NetGalley.
For more reviews please visit https://carriesbookreviews.wordpress....
Claiming Mister Kemp is the fourth book in the Baleful Godmother series by Emily Larkin which also had a set of prequel novellas in the Fey Quartet series. I have read all of the previous books in both series and had really been enjoying the mix of fantasy, historical and romance up until book 3 of this series. In the third the main character crossed a line I wasn't comfortable with and now this book seems to be doing that over and over again so I have given up on finishing this one.
The book is a sort of crossover of book three highlighting a couple of characters that were in that story and their relationship. It starts with Tom coming back to find his friend grieving the death of his sister on the anniversary of her passing by becoming extremely drunk. Tom insists on helping Lucas to bed which includes undressing him and then ends up taking oral advantage of the incapacitated Lucas. Now since when does "No" not mean no??
There is also absolutely no build up for this couple just being thrust into this act which then follows with much of the same over the following chapters. Lucas is always no and Tom pushes and gets his way. Personally I just had enough of this and can't continue the read. There would have been better ways to show Lucas' fear of being caught and the men loving one another but those weren't present that I found. Perhaps the story goes on to become more since I know that the author can write a good story I'm just not a fan of the pushing someone into something they have said no to repeatedly.
I received a copy from the publisher via NetGalley.
For more reviews please visit https://carriesbookreviews.wordpress....
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