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Departments of Love #1
Catering to Love
Step into the sumptuous world of Hartridge & Casas, the Edwardian shopping palace, in this exciting new series. Every department serves its customers luxury, and, behind the scenes, serves its employees romance and intrigue.
After training under the famed Escoffier, Henri is now Head Chef at the Royal Tea Room - the jewel in the crown of the newly opened Hartridge & Casas department store. With his sights set on one day opening his own restaurant, Henri has no time for distractions, especially not love. But his moorings are shaken loose when Nico, a charming and gorgeous new waiter, appears.
However, the interfering adventurer Lord Ockley is determined to have Nico all to himself. When he can't, he threatens to expose Nico and Henri's relationship, risking not only the destruction of their careers and reputations, but possibly even worse.
Will Henri abandon his career dreams for the love of the only man who has ever touched his soul? Can Nico convince Henri that love is the most important dream of all?
Set against the backdrop of the 1908 Summer Olympics and the historic Franco-British Exhibition, Catering to Love is the story of two men trying to find love in a society where the mere mention of their passion risks ruin.
Buoyed by a colorful cast of characters, they cook up a new meaning to romance. It's a new century, with London blossoming into modernity, and love is the most important ingredient.
After training under the famed Escoffier, Henri is now Head Chef at the Royal Tea Room - the jewel in the crown of the newly opened Hartridge & Casas department store. With his sights set on one day opening his own restaurant, Henri has no time for distractions, especially not love. But his moorings are shaken loose when Nico, a charming and gorgeous new waiter, appears.
However, the interfering adventurer Lord Ockley is determined to have Nico all to himself. When he can't, he threatens to expose Nico and Henri's relationship, risking not only the destruction of their careers and reputations, but possibly even worse.
Will Henri abandon his career dreams for the love of the only man who has ever touched his soul? Can Nico convince Henri that love is the most important dream of all?
Set against the backdrop of the 1908 Summer Olympics and the historic Franco-British Exhibition, Catering to Love is the story of two men trying to find love in a society where the mere mention of their passion risks ruin.
Buoyed by a colorful cast of characters, they cook up a new meaning to romance. It's a new century, with London blossoming into modernity, and love is the most important ingredient.
329 pages, Kindle Edition
Published September 6, 2022
14 people are currently reading
1353 people want to read
About the author
Joshua Ian
15 books48 followersJoshua Ian can easily be captured by a witty turn of phrase or a low-bottomed electronic bassline. If you manage to combine the two, then you have his heart forever. He lives in New York City and is a keen cinema lover and self-proclaimed Dark Chocolate Expert. When not staring at a blank screen and cursing the futility of life, he can be found watching cozy mystery shows, daydreaming of his future kaftan collection, or scouring used book vendors to accumulate more vintage romances and mysteries than his shelves are actually capable of handling. One day he plans to travel the world - to see what each country has to offer in the way of used books, movie theatres and dark chocolate, naturally.
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Displaying 1 - 20 of 20 reviews
June 8, 2023
DNF @ 60%
This appears to be the author's first full length novel and I'm thrilled to have discovered this author because it's always wonderful when the tiny ranks of historical MM romance authors gains somebody new! Historical MM romance remains one of my favorite subgenres within MM romance so I'm always excited to find new authors who devote themselves to writing historicals, especially ones like this author who approach the subgenre with passion and a deep understanding of the time period they're portraying. Making this author's work even better is that they're a fantastic writer so the prose is beautiful and a joy to read.
There were a lot of positives in this story but unfortunately, the author's approach to this full length novel wasn't what I personally want in a historical romance. In general, it feels like the story is historical gay fiction with just a minor romantic subplot. I'm not sure if this is because the author got carried away with the desire to showcase every element of this time period which they had meticulously researched or if it's because they picked a very limited romantic plotline which would be more suited for the short pieces that the author started out writing. In either case, I was disappointed.
I had a lot of different issues with this book so I'll list them from smallest to biggest.
Untranslated Foreign Language Phrases
It's a pet peeve that I constantly complain about but I won't stop until authors stop doing this. If you're going to include foreign language phrases in a story, then provide translations either directly or through context. Nobody wants to stop reading constantly to go navigate to a translation app and look up what certain phrases mean. I remember enough from my high school French that I could understand most of what Henri and Michel said but I'm betting most readers aren't in the same situation and it was annoying. It doesn't matter if the phrases are just cursing or other pointless things - if somebody doesn't speak the language then how would they know it's not important? I loved that Michel and Henri speak French to each other because it makes sense, but it didn't need to be written in actual French.
While the French was the biggest culprit, there was a supposedly hilarious joke made in Hindi but because I didn't feel like going to a translation app for the hundredth time by that point, I have no idea what the joke said, which wasn't a nice feeling. Using foreign language phrases without any translation only serves to make readers feel like outsiders and that's the opposite of what authors should want.
Misleading Summary
There's a huge fuss made in the summary about Lord Ockley making things difficult for the MCs due to his crush on Nico. This implies that the MCs would get together early in the story and then Ockley would be the main villain throughout and there would be all sorts of shenanigans related to him. So I was confused when the MCs only get together around the 50% mark and Ockley only shows up at 60%.
I don't understand why the author only came up with such a limited amount of conflict and why it took until 60% for that conflict to start. It made the first 60% of the story move at a glacial pace and it consisted mostly of filler material with tiny scenes that progressed the MC's romance. This setting, this location and the many amazing side characters provided so much opportunity for the author to come up with conflicts that could have kept the story interesting from start to finish. It's unfortunate that this wasn't taken advantage of.
Nico= Gary Stu
The discovery that Nico is actually a really amazing chef (more on that later) along with being an amazing waiter was just another detail that pushed Nico into Gary Stu territory. He's also incredibly gorgeous, everybody loves him and he has no problems making friends wherever he goes. Oh, and he also shares all the modern liberal views that somebody in 2023 would have. The fact that he's accepting of gay men fits with the story, his background and personality. But he's also a staunch defender against racism, misogyny and any other issues like that. This attempt to make Nico be as politically correct as possible (in a 2023 context) resulted in him being a caricature of The Perfect Man instead of being a real human being and it got annoying fast.
Waiter vs Chef Issues
My main interest in this story (asides from the historical setting) was having Nico be a waiter and Henri be a chef. Since they work at a very high end restaurant, I was excited to see these two highly talented individuals shine in their own areas of specialty. But right from the start, there were worrying signs that the author had no interest in depicting Nico's job seriously. First - the story starts with Nico being hired, along with other new waiters and one of them is a former gardener who is fresh from the gardens. Tommy had no experience being a waiter, especially at such a high level and he didn't speak or behave in ways that would be required in such a setting. But he's given the job and we're led to assume that he does okay. This was so confusing to me because waiters in such an environment do a job that takes years of training and very specific skills. Even at the most basic, Tommy would need to be well versed in dining etiquette, how to set up tables, how to move around guests, how to serve guests, be knowledgeable about wine pairings and food flavors and things like that. This isn't the same as working at a random pizza joint and it was really disappointing that the author didn't take this seriously.
Second - Nico isn't given the chance to shine as a waiter, despite that being his job. Instead, there's very little description of him actually doing his job (those scenes are mostly an excuse to showcase random side characters) and the time when he gets to show off how talented he is takes place when he's put in the kitchen because it turns out that Nico is conveniently a super talented chef. What? Why?!? There's already a super talented chef in the story and it's not supposed to be Nico! Why did the author do this? It's such a bizarre choice.
Lost In The Details
The author has clearly done a ton of research into 1908 London and combined with the author's gorgeous writing style meant I was instantly immersed in this time period. Throughout the first two chapters, I didn't mind that the MCs had barely interacted and there had been lengthy descriptions about everything and anything because the writing made those chapters a joy to read. I literally felt like I was standing next to Henri or Nico in the main foyer of the Hartridge & Casas department store or up on the fourth floor in the Royal Team Room. But eventually I grew tired of this level of detail because it started feeling like filler. The author had set the stage very well but instead of getting going with the plot, more and more set decorations kept being brought in and by the time chapter 3 rolled around, I was skimming out of boredom.
Too Many Side Characters
Another aspect making this feel like historical gay fiction was the huge number of side characters who only existed to allow the author to portray different aspects of 1908 London. We got characters from all walks of life and they were all very interesting, fleshed out characters with fascinating backstories and interesting personalities. In particular, the author focused heavily on the changes women had been going through during this time period and I especially liked the use of women who were different ages and from different social classes which allowed the author to portray the different views and experiences women from this time period had. There were elderly ladies who still clung to the previous century's way of doing things, there were the two young women who had grown up in poverty (one in a workhouse) and ended up in service before deciding to go into the world together and find new careers, there were women who were part of the first female archery team to attend the Olympics, and there were women who embraced being more progressive in their behavior and sexuality, like the actress who danced on the tables and the granddaughter who eagerly talked to Nico and other men about their backgrounds to learn more about the world. The way the author illustrated the differences between these women was done extremely well due to the author's use of various details, such as fashion/clothing choices, their behavior towards each other and others and even the language they used! As I said - the author is an amazing writer and knows how to write historical fiction. There's no doubt about that.
Unfortunately, all of these wonderful side characters didn't add to the plot at all. They came into scenes, took up the reader's attention and then left without having contributed to the overall story, which was supposed to be the MC's romance. I don't mind side characters in romances but they should always be there to serve the development of the MC's romance. Making things worse was that Nico and Henri often felt like narrators who were just there to guide the reader through a tour of 1908 London and the different people one might encounter there.
As a side note connected to this point - it really annoys me when authors focus much more on female side character than the male MCs when it's an MM romance. If I wanted to read stories showcasing women and their struggles, I would pick up an MF romance or FF romance or women's fiction. There are tons of genres where women are the center of attention but MM romance isn't the right place for that. An MM romance needs to stay focused on the male MCs because sidelining them for the sake of female characters is disrespectful and it's not what readers signed up for.
Lackluster and Minimal Romance
Unfortunately, the author's heavy focus on showcasing all aspects of 1908 London meant the romance moved at a glacial pace and the MCs only had short scenes together. They interacted so little and so infrequently that I felt no chemistry between them and when they did get together, I felt nothing. The discovery that they both love to read mystery novels was really cute and I hoped that it would lead to the MCs bonding over the books they read (maybe Henri would translate one of his French books to Nico or something) but by 60%, there had only been one short scene revolving around the MCs and the books.
Conclusion
Due to the writing style being amazing and the author's clear love for historical authenticity, I'm eager to try the author's shorter pieces and I also look forward to seeing future installments in this series. I only hope the author will do a better job going forward of balancing plot/romance vs portraying the historical time period.
This appears to be the author's first full length novel and I'm thrilled to have discovered this author because it's always wonderful when the tiny ranks of historical MM romance authors gains somebody new! Historical MM romance remains one of my favorite subgenres within MM romance so I'm always excited to find new authors who devote themselves to writing historicals, especially ones like this author who approach the subgenre with passion and a deep understanding of the time period they're portraying. Making this author's work even better is that they're a fantastic writer so the prose is beautiful and a joy to read.
There were a lot of positives in this story but unfortunately, the author's approach to this full length novel wasn't what I personally want in a historical romance. In general, it feels like the story is historical gay fiction with just a minor romantic subplot. I'm not sure if this is because the author got carried away with the desire to showcase every element of this time period which they had meticulously researched or if it's because they picked a very limited romantic plotline which would be more suited for the short pieces that the author started out writing. In either case, I was disappointed.
I had a lot of different issues with this book so I'll list them from smallest to biggest.
Untranslated Foreign Language Phrases
It's a pet peeve that I constantly complain about but I won't stop until authors stop doing this. If you're going to include foreign language phrases in a story, then provide translations either directly or through context. Nobody wants to stop reading constantly to go navigate to a translation app and look up what certain phrases mean. I remember enough from my high school French that I could understand most of what Henri and Michel said but I'm betting most readers aren't in the same situation and it was annoying. It doesn't matter if the phrases are just cursing or other pointless things - if somebody doesn't speak the language then how would they know it's not important? I loved that Michel and Henri speak French to each other because it makes sense, but it didn't need to be written in actual French.
While the French was the biggest culprit, there was a supposedly hilarious joke made in Hindi but because I didn't feel like going to a translation app for the hundredth time by that point, I have no idea what the joke said, which wasn't a nice feeling. Using foreign language phrases without any translation only serves to make readers feel like outsiders and that's the opposite of what authors should want.
Misleading Summary
There's a huge fuss made in the summary about Lord Ockley making things difficult for the MCs due to his crush on Nico. This implies that the MCs would get together early in the story and then Ockley would be the main villain throughout and there would be all sorts of shenanigans related to him. So I was confused when the MCs only get together around the 50% mark and Ockley only shows up at 60%.
I don't understand why the author only came up with such a limited amount of conflict and why it took until 60% for that conflict to start. It made the first 60% of the story move at a glacial pace and it consisted mostly of filler material with tiny scenes that progressed the MC's romance. This setting, this location and the many amazing side characters provided so much opportunity for the author to come up with conflicts that could have kept the story interesting from start to finish. It's unfortunate that this wasn't taken advantage of.
Nico= Gary Stu
The discovery that Nico is actually a really amazing chef (more on that later) along with being an amazing waiter was just another detail that pushed Nico into Gary Stu territory. He's also incredibly gorgeous, everybody loves him and he has no problems making friends wherever he goes. Oh, and he also shares all the modern liberal views that somebody in 2023 would have. The fact that he's accepting of gay men fits with the story, his background and personality. But he's also a staunch defender against racism, misogyny and any other issues like that. This attempt to make Nico be as politically correct as possible (in a 2023 context) resulted in him being a caricature of The Perfect Man instead of being a real human being and it got annoying fast.
Waiter vs Chef Issues
My main interest in this story (asides from the historical setting) was having Nico be a waiter and Henri be a chef. Since they work at a very high end restaurant, I was excited to see these two highly talented individuals shine in their own areas of specialty. But right from the start, there were worrying signs that the author had no interest in depicting Nico's job seriously. First - the story starts with Nico being hired, along with other new waiters and one of them is a former gardener who is fresh from the gardens. Tommy had no experience being a waiter, especially at such a high level and he didn't speak or behave in ways that would be required in such a setting. But he's given the job and we're led to assume that he does okay. This was so confusing to me because waiters in such an environment do a job that takes years of training and very specific skills. Even at the most basic, Tommy would need to be well versed in dining etiquette, how to set up tables, how to move around guests, how to serve guests, be knowledgeable about wine pairings and food flavors and things like that. This isn't the same as working at a random pizza joint and it was really disappointing that the author didn't take this seriously.
Second - Nico isn't given the chance to shine as a waiter, despite that being his job. Instead, there's very little description of him actually doing his job (those scenes are mostly an excuse to showcase random side characters) and the time when he gets to show off how talented he is takes place when he's put in the kitchen because it turns out that Nico is conveniently a super talented chef. What? Why?!? There's already a super talented chef in the story and it's not supposed to be Nico! Why did the author do this? It's such a bizarre choice.
Lost In The Details
The author has clearly done a ton of research into 1908 London and combined with the author's gorgeous writing style meant I was instantly immersed in this time period. Throughout the first two chapters, I didn't mind that the MCs had barely interacted and there had been lengthy descriptions about everything and anything because the writing made those chapters a joy to read. I literally felt like I was standing next to Henri or Nico in the main foyer of the Hartridge & Casas department store or up on the fourth floor in the Royal Team Room. But eventually I grew tired of this level of detail because it started feeling like filler. The author had set the stage very well but instead of getting going with the plot, more and more set decorations kept being brought in and by the time chapter 3 rolled around, I was skimming out of boredom.
Too Many Side Characters
Another aspect making this feel like historical gay fiction was the huge number of side characters who only existed to allow the author to portray different aspects of 1908 London. We got characters from all walks of life and they were all very interesting, fleshed out characters with fascinating backstories and interesting personalities. In particular, the author focused heavily on the changes women had been going through during this time period and I especially liked the use of women who were different ages and from different social classes which allowed the author to portray the different views and experiences women from this time period had. There were elderly ladies who still clung to the previous century's way of doing things, there were the two young women who had grown up in poverty (one in a workhouse) and ended up in service before deciding to go into the world together and find new careers, there were women who were part of the first female archery team to attend the Olympics, and there were women who embraced being more progressive in their behavior and sexuality, like the actress who danced on the tables and the granddaughter who eagerly talked to Nico and other men about their backgrounds to learn more about the world. The way the author illustrated the differences between these women was done extremely well due to the author's use of various details, such as fashion/clothing choices, their behavior towards each other and others and even the language they used! As I said - the author is an amazing writer and knows how to write historical fiction. There's no doubt about that.
Unfortunately, all of these wonderful side characters didn't add to the plot at all. They came into scenes, took up the reader's attention and then left without having contributed to the overall story, which was supposed to be the MC's romance. I don't mind side characters in romances but they should always be there to serve the development of the MC's romance. Making things worse was that Nico and Henri often felt like narrators who were just there to guide the reader through a tour of 1908 London and the different people one might encounter there.
As a side note connected to this point - it really annoys me when authors focus much more on female side character than the male MCs when it's an MM romance. If I wanted to read stories showcasing women and their struggles, I would pick up an MF romance or FF romance or women's fiction. There are tons of genres where women are the center of attention but MM romance isn't the right place for that. An MM romance needs to stay focused on the male MCs because sidelining them for the sake of female characters is disrespectful and it's not what readers signed up for.
Lackluster and Minimal Romance
Unfortunately, the author's heavy focus on showcasing all aspects of 1908 London meant the romance moved at a glacial pace and the MCs only had short scenes together. They interacted so little and so infrequently that I felt no chemistry between them and when they did get together, I felt nothing. The discovery that they both love to read mystery novels was really cute and I hoped that it would lead to the MCs bonding over the books they read (maybe Henri would translate one of his French books to Nico or something) but by 60%, there had only been one short scene revolving around the MCs and the books.
Conclusion
Due to the writing style being amazing and the author's clear love for historical authenticity, I'm eager to try the author's shorter pieces and I also look forward to seeing future installments in this series. I only hope the author will do a better job going forward of balancing plot/romance vs portraying the historical time period.
September 5, 2022
The author sets himself a daunting task in this wonderful historical MM romance and, in large part, succeeds. The story is set in a Harrod's/Selfridge's type emporium in London in 1908. The MCs are a guarded French-trained chef (Henri) and a more carefree waiter of Greek descent (NIco). The owners, one A British Lord and the other of Spanish descent are a (probable) MM couple as well. The author brings in the Olympics, the Franco-British Exhibition (the White City), The star of the current production of Lehar's The Merry Widow (complete with high kicks and table dancing), Oscar Wilde via a Lady Bracknell figure ("A handbag!") and a deliciously nasty villain. And of course, lots of amazing food! The author has done a good deal of research. Somehow he manages to juggle all of these historical events which makes the first half of the book delightful as all of the these things are swirling around the developing love interest between Henri and Nico..
If the first half is Oscar Wilde, the second half is more Dickens as the odious Lord Ockley makes things extremely difficult for the lovers. The second half narrows the focus to the lovers and the novel does seem to lose a bit of steam in this part. Perhaps it would be nice to see more of "Gabs" and "Lady Bracknell." When the lovers do get together, there is a nice level of steam (mid-to-low--which I love!). The emphasis, as it should be, is on the romance here which involves Nico helping Henri realize that he can have the love he wants as well as fulfill his career dreams.
Kudos to the author for choosing this challenging historical setting and incorporating the research so that it becomes an integral part of the story and not just a backdrop. There do seem to be alot of happy gay couples (and many sympathetic non-gay folks) here and the danger of exposure may be downplayed a bit, but, hey, this is a romance--and it takes you away to magical place and time. Who wouldn't want to visit the Royal Tea Room at Hartridge & Casas! I will be hard-pressed not to try to seek it out the next time I go to London! Five enthusiastic stars!
If the first half is Oscar Wilde, the second half is more Dickens as the odious Lord Ockley makes things extremely difficult for the lovers. The second half narrows the focus to the lovers and the novel does seem to lose a bit of steam in this part. Perhaps it would be nice to see more of "Gabs" and "Lady Bracknell." When the lovers do get together, there is a nice level of steam (mid-to-low--which I love!). The emphasis, as it should be, is on the romance here which involves Nico helping Henri realize that he can have the love he wants as well as fulfill his career dreams.
Kudos to the author for choosing this challenging historical setting and incorporating the research so that it becomes an integral part of the story and not just a backdrop. There do seem to be alot of happy gay couples (and many sympathetic non-gay folks) here and the danger of exposure may be downplayed a bit, but, hey, this is a romance--and it takes you away to magical place and time. Who wouldn't want to visit the Royal Tea Room at Hartridge & Casas! I will be hard-pressed not to try to seek it out the next time I go to London! Five enthusiastic stars!
October 25, 2023
London hijinks
Historic fiction set in London at the start of the twentieth century, two transplants dance carefully around a forbidden romance. Author Ian builds the story through a range of characters, interweaving bits of history into the tale as his MCs fill out to complete this novel.
Historic fiction set in London at the start of the twentieth century, two transplants dance carefully around a forbidden romance. Author Ian builds the story through a range of characters, interweaving bits of history into the tale as his MCs fill out to complete this novel.
September 2, 2022
Catering to Love is a love story set in the early 20th century, with the backdrop of the Summer Olympics and the historic Franco-British Exhibition. It is set in the Hartridge & Casas department store where Henri is the head chef at the Royal Tea Room. He is work focused and determined to one day open his own restaurant. His focus is more than a little bit shaken when he meets one of the new waiters, Nico. They start off a bit shakily, but their attraction is undeniable. But when a meddling lord who can't take no is threatening to expose their relationship, Henri must decide if he cares more about love or his reputation.
This is a very cute story about the two main characters falling in love and figuring themselves out. I really liked how this book went about the story, given that it's set in a time when they had to hide their relationships. I really liked that they were still surrounded by supportive people who understand them and care about them. This all to say, I really enjoyed the side characters. The romance is (for the most part) a more quiet one, as Henri and Nico spend a lot of time in public, meaning there's not much affection they can show. I liked the historical elements of this, the events that were taking place at the time really made the story feel more anchored to the time period. There's not much here that happens, in terms of plot so going into this don't expect much action and happenings, this is more of a slice-of-life story.
In terms of the main characters, while I really liked them, this is where I felt the book was slightly lacking. Truthfully, I did really like what I saw of them, but I definitely wish there was more. More about them individually, about their personalities and their wishes and motivations and all of that. They were likable and I enjoyed reading about them, but it did feel a little bit like this was an episode, a chapter of a bigger story. It felt like there should have been more introduction to them perhaps? Or more information about them sprinkled in throughout the story. There was some establishing of the characters, of course, they were fleshed out for the purposes of the romance, but I just wish we saw more of them.
That mentioned, the romance was sweet and I enjoyed it but I felt like their conflicts felt repetitive after a while. Of course, I understand the issue in question could not get solved immediately, which is why it kept resurfacing. I am absolutely fine with that, but their conversations felt the same. I have no issue with rehashing the same problem, but I would like to see some variety in how it plays out. It all boiled down to Henri being unsure about their relationship, Nico saying Henri is afraid, Henri not wanting to admit it and instead saying something hurtful and Nico walking out (several times).
Long story short, my wish for more character backgrounds and the repetitiveness of their arguments are what brought my rating down, even though I enjoyed reading the book. I like the ending, I will always be happy with queer characters getting a happy ending over whatever other option. I think it was done well, even though it seemed a tad bit unrealistic. But hey, I'm not complaining. I would recommend this book if you're looking for a quick, sweet, historical queer romance with a happy ending! :)
Thank you to Netgalley for providing me with an arc in exchange for an honest review!
This is a very cute story about the two main characters falling in love and figuring themselves out. I really liked how this book went about the story, given that it's set in a time when they had to hide their relationships. I really liked that they were still surrounded by supportive people who understand them and care about them. This all to say, I really enjoyed the side characters. The romance is (for the most part) a more quiet one, as Henri and Nico spend a lot of time in public, meaning there's not much affection they can show. I liked the historical elements of this, the events that were taking place at the time really made the story feel more anchored to the time period. There's not much here that happens, in terms of plot so going into this don't expect much action and happenings, this is more of a slice-of-life story.
In terms of the main characters, while I really liked them, this is where I felt the book was slightly lacking. Truthfully, I did really like what I saw of them, but I definitely wish there was more. More about them individually, about their personalities and their wishes and motivations and all of that. They were likable and I enjoyed reading about them, but it did feel a little bit like this was an episode, a chapter of a bigger story. It felt like there should have been more introduction to them perhaps? Or more information about them sprinkled in throughout the story. There was some establishing of the characters, of course, they were fleshed out for the purposes of the romance, but I just wish we saw more of them.
That mentioned, the romance was sweet and I enjoyed it but I felt like their conflicts felt repetitive after a while. Of course, I understand the issue in question could not get solved immediately, which is why it kept resurfacing. I am absolutely fine with that, but their conversations felt the same. I have no issue with rehashing the same problem, but I would like to see some variety in how it plays out. It all boiled down to Henri being unsure about their relationship, Nico saying Henri is afraid, Henri not wanting to admit it and instead saying something hurtful and Nico walking out (several times).
Long story short, my wish for more character backgrounds and the repetitiveness of their arguments are what brought my rating down, even though I enjoyed reading the book. I like the ending, I will always be happy with queer characters getting a happy ending over whatever other option. I think it was done well, even though it seemed a tad bit unrealistic. But hey, I'm not complaining. I would recommend this book if you're looking for a quick, sweet, historical queer romance with a happy ending! :)
Thank you to Netgalley for providing me with an arc in exchange for an honest review!
August 29, 2022
❤️❤️❤️❤️
💋💋
This was so nice to read, there are not enough M/M historical romances around, I look forward to reading more.
The book is set in 1908, and is predominately set in a restaurant.
Henri is the chef, when he falls for a waiter who takes his breath away, Nico.
However, Nico has another admirer, a man who is willing to ruin both our gents for his own gain.
Can they survive in the years before they were legally allowed to love, read on .
It’s very good, I’m sure you’ll enjoy it just as much as I did.
I received an Arc copy of this book and chose to post this review
💋💋
This was so nice to read, there are not enough M/M historical romances around, I look forward to reading more.
The book is set in 1908, and is predominately set in a restaurant.
Henri is the chef, when he falls for a waiter who takes his breath away, Nico.
However, Nico has another admirer, a man who is willing to ruin both our gents for his own gain.
Can they survive in the years before they were legally allowed to love, read on .
It’s very good, I’m sure you’ll enjoy it just as much as I did.
I received an Arc copy of this book and chose to post this review
February 7, 2023
This book throws readers into a time machine, allowing them to relive the historically rich moments vicariously through the characters, and leading readers down a rabbit hole of sweet romance.
Read full review in the 2023 February issue of InD'tale Magazine.
Read full review in the 2023 February issue of InD'tale Magazine.
September 15, 2022
5 - Stars
Reading Joshua Ian’s delightful historical romance novel, Catering to Love, the first book in his ‘Departments of Love’ series, engenders feelings very much like those experienced while watching either ‘Mr. Selfridge’ or ‘The Paradise’ on PBS Masterpiece.
Unlike my usual frustration with frequent emotional swings in romance novels, Ian’s characters seem perfectly designed for just such extremes.
Ian's protagonists are Chef Henri Dufresne Newbold (Henri), and Nikolaos Kavafis (Nico), a waiter recently hired by London’s premiere department store, Hartridge & Casas, and assigned to work in Henri’s Royal Tea Room there. The two feel an electric attraction at their first meeting. Henri, unfortunately, is afraid to act on his own desires.
Set in London during the 1908 Franco-British Exhibition and the 1908 Summer Olympics
Ian has filled his story with the perfect cast of supporting characters.
Together they illuminate a period in time when a class system reigned; anyone who wasn’t a white male born into an upper class family, was viewed as non-worthy of recognition for anything but service to their betters. Ian’s narrative is truly evocative of a time and place that we can hope never to be seen again.
Catering to Love is a great way to escape from the problems of the world today. Ian’s final surprise - given to the store’s owners to reveal - provides a perfect conclusion to this wonderful feel-good read.
Reading Joshua Ian’s delightful historical romance novel, Catering to Love, the first book in his ‘Departments of Love’ series, engenders feelings very much like those experienced while watching either ‘Mr. Selfridge’ or ‘The Paradise’ on PBS Masterpiece.
Unlike my usual frustration with frequent emotional swings in romance novels, Ian’s characters seem perfectly designed for just such extremes.
Ian's protagonists are Chef Henri Dufresne Newbold (Henri), and Nikolaos Kavafis (Nico), a waiter recently hired by London’s premiere department store, Hartridge & Casas, and assigned to work in Henri’s Royal Tea Room there. The two feel an electric attraction at their first meeting. Henri, unfortunately, is afraid to act on his own desires.
Set in London during the 1908 Franco-British Exhibition and the 1908 Summer Olympics
Ian has filled his story with the perfect cast of supporting characters.Together they illuminate a period in time when a class system reigned; anyone who wasn’t a white male born into an upper class family, was viewed as non-worthy of recognition for anything but service to their betters. Ian’s narrative is truly evocative of a time and place that we can hope never to be seen again.
Catering to Love is a great way to escape from the problems of the world today. Ian’s final surprise - given to the store’s owners to reveal - provides a perfect conclusion to this wonderful feel-good read.
August 26, 2022
I loved this. If you like Downton Abbey or the Gilded Age or Upstairs Downstairs, or anything from that time period, you definitely should give this a read. The romance is really good - sort of enemies to lovers in the workplace. They both kind of clash at first but the attraction is intense. And of course because of the time period they have to be quiet about their feelings. Lots of great characters. Funny, catty aristocrat dowager and theater producer and the other employees at the store. Very witty dialogue. I hope we get more of their stories in the series. The romance in this made me say "aww" multiple times and made your heart swell. It's sweet and sexy at the same time. Realistic portrayal of the time period as far as being gay but still has a realistic and believable HEA.
September 28, 2022
This well written romance includes a unique background and a favorite trope. Henri Newbold is a gourmand for The Royal Tea Room at Hartridge & Casas Department Store. Nicolas Kavafis is hired as wait staff for The Royal Tea Room. It's instant heat between Nico and Henri, but still not acceptable in the early 1900s for two men to become lovers. The ups and downs of their relationship instills fear for Henri's reputation as a gourmand. Nico isn't afraid of his feelings and wants more from Henri. A man in love is willing to make sacrifices. When a most unpleasant "gentleman" threatens their reputations, Henri finally realizes that love is worth fighting for. This MM romance reads at an even pace with a lot of heat. Kudos to a first book with Dragonblade Publishing.
I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book.
I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book.
September 4, 2022
My Review
I Received an ARC from NetGalley. Book comes out September 6th 2022
I enjoyed this book once I got past the lengthy descriptions that threatened to bore me to tears. Don’t get me wrong, I appreciate the setting of the scene as well as knowing what the characters wore. I just thought it was a little much. Reader, be warned this is a slow-burn romance so you will be waiting a while before Henri and Nico move beyond the attraction they both felt upon meeting.I adored the side characters. They made for some truly funny moments in the story. Hartridge & Casas were fabulous bosses. The way they treated their staff had me cheering. May I never meet a Lord Ockley in my life. He was much too annoying. Nico and Henri were sweet together, though I wished Henri would’ve talked to Nico about his fears and worries instead of running away. I felt like hitting him more than once, but like I said, great story.It was the first time I’ve read an M/M historical but it wouldn’t be the last.Would I read more from Joshua Ian? Yes. Would I continue the series? Without a doubt. I want to see who would be the next couple.
Until next time peace and happy reading.
I Received an ARC from NetGalley. Book comes out September 6th 2022
I enjoyed this book once I got past the lengthy descriptions that threatened to bore me to tears. Don’t get me wrong, I appreciate the setting of the scene as well as knowing what the characters wore. I just thought it was a little much. Reader, be warned this is a slow-burn romance so you will be waiting a while before Henri and Nico move beyond the attraction they both felt upon meeting.I adored the side characters. They made for some truly funny moments in the story. Hartridge & Casas were fabulous bosses. The way they treated their staff had me cheering. May I never meet a Lord Ockley in my life. He was much too annoying. Nico and Henri were sweet together, though I wished Henri would’ve talked to Nico about his fears and worries instead of running away. I felt like hitting him more than once, but like I said, great story.It was the first time I’ve read an M/M historical but it wouldn’t be the last.Would I read more from Joshua Ian? Yes. Would I continue the series? Without a doubt. I want to see who would be the next couple.
Until next time peace and happy reading.
January 1, 2023
On the plus side, the author makes turn of the century London come alive and the world of the department store feels quite vibrant and enchanting. The romance, unfortunately, is awful. It tries to be both insta-love and slow burn which, together, is just dull and repetitive. There is also endless moralizing and discussions of what is and what is not unnatural in same sex attraction in a way that completely pulls one out of the narrative.
Also, in the Kindle edition at least, there were several typos centering around the word "not" that made several passages mean the exact opposite of what the author intended. It happened at least five or six times and made the thing hard to parse.
Also, in the Kindle edition at least, there were several typos centering around the word "not" that made several passages mean the exact opposite of what the author intended. It happened at least five or six times and made the thing hard to parse.
September 29, 2022
Catering to Love : By Joshua Ian
This is a great book to I loved the characters in it and the main characters were fantastic. I loved the interplay between the characters and the scenery was beautiful keep up the good work Joshua.
This is a great book to I loved the characters in it and the main characters were fantastic. I loved the interplay between the characters and the scenery was beautiful keep up the good work Joshua.
August 23, 2022
First romance novel I ever read - and was surprised at how fun and sexy it was! Really enjoyed it!
September 6, 2022
Hartridge & Casas is the Edwardian shopping palace where every department serves its customers luxury, and, behind the scenes, serves its employees romance and intrigue. After training under the famed Escoffier, Henri is now Head Chef at the Royal Tea Room - the jewel in the crown of the newly opened department store. With his sights set on one day opening his own restaurant, Henri has no time for distractions but his resolve is shaken when Nico, a charming and gorgeous new waiter, appears. However, the interfering adventurer Lord Ockley is determined to have Nico all to himself. When he can't, he threatens to expose Nico and Henri's relationship, risking not only the destruction of their careers and reputations, but possibly even worse.
A new author to me & it certainly won’t be the last book I’ll read by him. A well written even paced book with lovely characters. I loved both Henri & Nico who were perfect for each other & I loved their journey to a HEA & was routing for them all the way through. I also loved the supporting cast of secondary characters. The villain was horrid & I just loved his comeuppance. An engrossing read which I read in a couple of sittings & I look forward to the rest of the series
My honest review is for a special copy I voluntarily read
A new author to me & it certainly won’t be the last book I’ll read by him. A well written even paced book with lovely characters. I loved both Henri & Nico who were perfect for each other & I loved their journey to a HEA & was routing for them all the way through. I also loved the supporting cast of secondary characters. The villain was horrid & I just loved his comeuppance. An engrossing read which I read in a couple of sittings & I look forward to the rest of the series
My honest review is for a special copy I voluntarily read
September 5, 2022
I really enjoyed this book. It took me a while to get into it – there were just a lot of descriptions and a lot of different characters being introduced – but towards the midway point things started to turn around, and I got really invested in the two main characters and their romance. Both Henri and Nico were great characters (even if I wanted to kick Henri a couple of times), and I ended up loving many of the side characters as well.
I’ve read from this author before, so I knew I could expect some really beautiful writing, and this book did not disappoint in that department. Even if the story started out a little slow for me, I still appreciated the effort that was put into creating an atmospheric and interesting backdrop to the romance, which definitely did a lot for the overall impression of the book. All in all I thought this was a lovely and well-written book with a very satisfying conclusion, even if it took a little while to get going.
I received this book as an ARC via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
I’ve read from this author before, so I knew I could expect some really beautiful writing, and this book did not disappoint in that department. Even if the story started out a little slow for me, I still appreciated the effort that was put into creating an atmospheric and interesting backdrop to the romance, which definitely did a lot for the overall impression of the book. All in all I thought this was a lovely and well-written book with a very satisfying conclusion, even if it took a little while to get going.
I received this book as an ARC via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
September 4, 2023
I liked how this worked within the social constraints of the era, rather than carving out a historically impossible ending. It’s still an HEA, but more realistic.
Nico and Henri are different in temperament and approach to life, but they also share many things in common. It is insta-love between them, but their relationship develops at a slower pace, drawn out really well by the author.
My chief criticism is that the details, clearly well researched down to the names of hats and heels, sometimes slowed things down and made me conscious I was reading “significant historical context.” They were great details, just took me out of the narrative a bit. Maybe 1/3 less would have been perfect.
Nico and Henri are different in temperament and approach to life, but they also share many things in common. It is insta-love between them, but their relationship develops at a slower pace, drawn out really well by the author.
My chief criticism is that the details, clearly well researched down to the names of hats and heels, sometimes slowed things down and made me conscious I was reading “significant historical context.” They were great details, just took me out of the narrative a bit. Maybe 1/3 less would have been perfect.
November 6, 2022
This book takes us inside the world of a British department store in the early 20th century. It captures the luxury and wonder of the era. There is so much history in this book. Trips to the Franco-British Exhibition, discussions of racist archeologists, sensible dress, suffrage, and the Olympics. It gave it a great sense of time, but I feel like the romance really took the backseat to the historical aspect of the novel.
Overall, it was a good read, but I would have loved more development of the relationship and characters,
I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own. Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher.
Overall, it was a good read, but I would have loved more development of the relationship and characters,
I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own. Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher.
September 5, 2022
This book immerses you in early 1900’s England. There, set among the excitement of a new century we find the newly opened Hartridge & Casas department store. A store where you can find the wonders of the world and have a bite to eat at the Royal Tea Room. It is in the kitchens of the Royal Tea Room that you will find Henri and Nico the subjects of this tale. Despite the advancements made in this new century their love is still illegal and must be hidden in the shadows. What will Henri and Nico give up to be together? I loved visiting in Henri and Nicos world and their fight for love.
June 8, 2023
Astonishingly immersive. You feel so very there. It's a sweet, slow burn romance but also so much more. I especially appreciate and am grateful for m/m gay historical fiction written by a gay author. It may lean more into historical fiction with romance as opposed to full-on high heat lots of sexual intimacy, but it's nice to read a historical STORY with detail and layers about gay men and not just some sexual wish fulfillment for a curious onlooker. Highly recommended.
September 5, 2022
Awww this was cute. I love Historical M/M romance and I'm always glad to see more of it out there. I really liked the characters. I wanted Ockley to be more evil though. I'm very interested to read more if this is going to be a series.
Thank you NetGalley for the ARC.
Thank you NetGalley for the ARC.
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