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His Lordship’s Mysteries #1
His Lordship's Secret
London 1818
Alfred Pennington, the Earl of Crawford, knows someone wants him dead. An illicit boxing match seems the perfect opportunity to hire a champion fighter to watch his back, but Alfie is shocked to recognize the beaten and bloody challenger as his childhood friend, Dominick, one of the few people who knows the truth about Alfie’s past.
Life has been hard for Dominick, so he can’t believe his luck when Alfie—now with fine manners and a fancy title—offers him a chance to escape the slums in order to catch a potential killer. That’s difficult enough, but not falling in love with the refined, confident man his friend has become may prove trickier still.
The investigation draws the two men closer than ever, but it becomes clear that their years apart may prove too much to overcome. As the danger mounts, can they find their way through the past to a future together? Or will hidden secrets cost them their happiness… and their lives?
His Lordship's Secret is the first novel in the His Lordship's Mysteries series.
Alfred Pennington, the Earl of Crawford, knows someone wants him dead. An illicit boxing match seems the perfect opportunity to hire a champion fighter to watch his back, but Alfie is shocked to recognize the beaten and bloody challenger as his childhood friend, Dominick, one of the few people who knows the truth about Alfie’s past.
Life has been hard for Dominick, so he can’t believe his luck when Alfie—now with fine manners and a fancy title—offers him a chance to escape the slums in order to catch a potential killer. That’s difficult enough, but not falling in love with the refined, confident man his friend has become may prove trickier still.
The investigation draws the two men closer than ever, but it becomes clear that their years apart may prove too much to overcome. As the danger mounts, can they find their way through the past to a future together? Or will hidden secrets cost them their happiness… and their lives?
His Lordship's Secret is the first novel in the His Lordship's Mysteries series.
331 pages, Kindle Edition
Published April 1, 2023
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October 3, 2021I received a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
His Lordship's Secret is an overall solid Regency themed historical fiction novel that takes an interesting, albeit simplistic, take on class only to become entangled by M/M conventions, ultimately crippling it under their unwieldy weight.
What it does in terms of class adds a measure of ambiguity. By having one of the main characters able to transition across the highly structured and politically asymmetrical power relations that rivet the social spectrum, the novel approaches an actual critique of society but it never quite commits to this. Perhaps this is to be expected, it is first and foremost a romantic story and all other considerations, such as inequality, are explored through the lenses of romance. I would have preferred a more robust assessment of society as a whole myself but fully understand the author's priorities lay elsewhere.
The author recreated Regency times quite well- particularly the living conditions of the poor, their attire and haunts along with the highly refined ways of the rich being well crafted and researched- but for some reason, after some hand waving in that direction in the first lines, Dominick's vocabulary, modes of speech and expression are hardly those of an orphan raised in the appalling conditions of the workhouse and then unleashed onto a life of petty crime. He uses terms such as as 'insatiable', something I hardly expect someone of his extraction to ever say.
I was all the more sensible to this linguistic aspect as I am very fresh from reading Dickens, someone whose command of urban slang is nothing short of mastery. While this novel predates London's Dickens, and the precise terminology of the uneducated classes may very well have shifted, that such classes had their own very specific ways of communicating was already very much a reality. The novel itself makes mention to it but seems to think it is essentially a matter of 'accent'. Which may very well be but given that Dominick's lines are not not stressed in any way that points out his elocution, the text submerges any differences the reader- and the rest of the cast- is supposed to pick up on.
Hiccups of this nature are strewn all over the story and while small, each one took me out of the period that was otherwise well rendered. For example, it makes precious sense that both Alfie and Dominick would have been initially unaware that dragging Dominick, in his workman clothing, to fancy stores with Alfie, would not be that good an idea. They need to figure this out via experience when it would have been common sense to virtually anyone of the time.
This may have something to do with the way several issues are touched up but not actually developed. Issues such as class consciousness, self-identity, belonging and contradictory alliances are all fluttering as the background to the action and never quite surge up as the energizing centers of the narrative. This may very well be just my preference, I tend to prefer a wider scope to my fiction.
With all that said, those looking for a sweet romance, this may be the book for them. The romantic angle is well developed with humor that flows naturally and an attraction that is not forced. From the way the couple is first introduced, via a clever description of both characters that contrasts them with each other, to how they interact, without forgetting the very real obstacles that introduce conflict between them, it all goes into crafting a cogent love story.
It also helps that the point of view is shared equally between the two without, however, fracturing the narrative proper. The narrator remains a sober third person.
As for the mystery, I had issues with it but these are minor. When said mystery intersects with the before mentioned love story, is when the wheels truly come off.
This is in no way a bad novel, it is a strong debut that reads quite well (although typos begin to crop in the final third, which can be fixed easily in newer editions) but falls short of being something truly special because M/M tropes ultimately overtake it, leveling it flat to the standard fare of so many others of the kind.
His Lordship's Secret is an overall solid Regency themed historical fiction novel that takes an interesting, albeit simplistic, take on class only to become entangled by M/M conventions, ultimately crippling it under their unwieldy weight.
What it does in terms of class adds a measure of ambiguity. By having one of the main characters able to transition across the highly structured and politically asymmetrical power relations that rivet the social spectrum, the novel approaches an actual critique of society but it never quite commits to this. Perhaps this is to be expected, it is first and foremost a romantic story and all other considerations, such as inequality, are explored through the lenses of romance. I would have preferred a more robust assessment of society as a whole myself but fully understand the author's priorities lay elsewhere.
The author recreated Regency times quite well- particularly the living conditions of the poor, their attire and haunts along with the highly refined ways of the rich being well crafted and researched- but for some reason, after some hand waving in that direction in the first lines, Dominick's vocabulary, modes of speech and expression are hardly those of an orphan raised in the appalling conditions of the workhouse and then unleashed onto a life of petty crime. He uses terms such as as 'insatiable', something I hardly expect someone of his extraction to ever say.
I was all the more sensible to this linguistic aspect as I am very fresh from reading Dickens, someone whose command of urban slang is nothing short of mastery. While this novel predates London's Dickens, and the precise terminology of the uneducated classes may very well have shifted, that such classes had their own very specific ways of communicating was already very much a reality. The novel itself makes mention to it but seems to think it is essentially a matter of 'accent'. Which may very well be but given that Dominick's lines are not not stressed in any way that points out his elocution, the text submerges any differences the reader- and the rest of the cast- is supposed to pick up on.
Hiccups of this nature are strewn all over the story and while small, each one took me out of the period that was otherwise well rendered. For example, it makes precious sense that both Alfie and Dominick would have been initially unaware that dragging Dominick, in his workman clothing, to fancy stores with Alfie, would not be that good an idea. They need to figure this out via experience when it would have been common sense to virtually anyone of the time.
This may have something to do with the way several issues are touched up but not actually developed. Issues such as class consciousness, self-identity, belonging and contradictory alliances are all fluttering as the background to the action and never quite surge up as the energizing centers of the narrative. This may very well be just my preference, I tend to prefer a wider scope to my fiction.
With all that said, those looking for a sweet romance, this may be the book for them. The romantic angle is well developed with humor that flows naturally and an attraction that is not forced. From the way the couple is first introduced, via a clever description of both characters that contrasts them with each other, to how they interact, without forgetting the very real obstacles that introduce conflict between them, it all goes into crafting a cogent love story.
It also helps that the point of view is shared equally between the two without, however, fracturing the narrative proper. The narrator remains a sober third person.
As for the mystery, I had issues with it but these are minor. When said mystery intersects with the before mentioned love story, is when the wheels truly come off.
This is in no way a bad novel, it is a strong debut that reads quite well (although typos begin to crop in the final third, which can be fixed easily in newer editions) but falls short of being something truly special because M/M tropes ultimately overtake it, leveling it flat to the standard fare of so many others of the kind.
February 8, 2022
The mystery/crime only came to the fore when the author needed a plot point to move things along otherwise it stayed in the background whilst the main characters explored their feelings.
July 29, 2020
A surprisingly good historical M-M romance from a new author. Both MCs were likeable, well developed and had really interesting back-stories. The 'mystery' aspect regarding the threat to Alfie's life, whilst starting off with a bang ... seemed to recede to the background often as the author delved into Dominick and Alfie's burgeoning relationship (fraught with social-class pitfalls). The author does provide clues throughout as to who might be behind the dastardly actions/threats, and whilst I had my suspect(s) clearly lined up, the final twist was unexpected (even if a little far-fetched). I'm looking forward to the next book in the series 3.5 stars.
Shelved as 'dnf'
April 23, 2021DNF @ 35%
The writing is good and the characters are likable. The language is maybe a tad modern but nothing I'd throw my Kindle over. The plot however was already veering on predictable, along with the classic miscommunication trope to keep our MCs from speaking their feelings. And how do constables not show up when an earl is shot on a busy street in broad daylight? Alfie says they'll be investigating it, but they're sure taking their sweet time about it, if so.
The writing is good and the characters are likable. The language is maybe a tad modern but nothing I'd throw my Kindle over. The plot however was already veering on predictable, along with the classic miscommunication trope to keep our MCs from speaking their feelings. And how do constables not show up when an earl is shot on a busy street in broad daylight? Alfie says they'll be investigating it, but they're sure taking their sweet time about it, if so.
June 29, 2023
I actually dnf’d this book probably a little over a year ago and, having forgotten why, I saw it when scrolling kindle and decided to try it again. Oh my god. What was wrong with me? This has all of my favorite things: Childhood friends to lovers, Hurt/Comfort, yearning, dramatic confessions, mystery and murder, a snappy old housekeeper (listen, you just can’t get better than an old lady who is done with everyone’s shit.)
If you are a fan of KJ Charles, specifically The Will Darling Adventures but want something just a bit softer (less plot driven more romance focused), then I would recommend this!
If you are a fan of KJ Charles, specifically The Will Darling Adventures but want something just a bit softer (less plot driven more romance focused), then I would recommend this!
October 20, 2022
4.5 stars, but rounding down because there was a bit of eleventh-hour drama that felt very tacked-on and unnecessary. That said, this was a great read. A lovely Regency romance about a sweet and innocent Earl and a fighter who cross paths in a way that feels fated. It was fun, and funny, with an engaging mystery, great characters and lots of sexual tension. And oooh boy, when that is resolved, it's fire. SoRelle is a great writer, and I'm happy we get more of Alfie and Dominick.
June 21, 2021
His Lordship’s Secret (His Lordship’s Mysteries Book 1)
By Samantha SoRelle
Published by Balcarres Books, 2020
Four stars
This was fun, and surprisingly on point, given that the author is an American and the setting is Regency England. SoRelle manages to keep the language both readable and period-appropriate as she unfolds the story of two men brought back together by fate.
I confess that I find the whole “Regency romance” trope puzzling—even though I was a huge fan of Georgette Heyer back in my youth. Overall, it doesn’t seem to me to be a period that is in itself more interesting than any other part of the 19th century (having also read a lot of Dickens and Trollope). Plus, most readers couldn’t identify details as “Regency” versus George IV, vs. early Victoria if their lives depended on it. Having recently forced myself to relax and watch all of the first season of “Bridgerton” on television, I am no closer to fully understanding the mystique.
All of that grouching aside, SoRelle makes a great use of 1818 London, with all of its shocking dichotomies, reminding us that cultural diversity is not just about ethnicity, but about economics and class (which are not the same thing, at least not in England). She gives us the young Lord Crawford, who we quickly learn was not to the manner born, but was taught by his adoptive parents to live like the son of an earl. SoRelle also gives us the ugly flip-side of the English upper class: Lord Crawford’s cousin Reginald St. John, who embodies every bad stereotype of an aristocratic British ne’er-do-well.
Dragged reluctantly to a brutal off-the-books bare-knuckle boxing match by his mooch of a cousin, Alfie (Lord Crawford) discovers in the loser of the match someone from his own past, Dominick Tripner. This is the emotional flashpoint of the book, so I won’t spoil it. Suffice it to say that Nick and Alfie quickly take center stage, and their back story is important, and affecting.
You see, Alfie seems rather distractedly aware that someone is trying to kill him. He hatches a sort of half-baked notion of hiring Nick Tripner to be his bodyguard, and to help him get to the bottom of the mysterious incidents that have beset him over the past few weeks. The reason he doesn’t go to the local law enforcement folks is simply that he doesn’t want to bring quite that much attention to himself.
This is one of the weirder aspects of Alfie Crawford’s life. He lives alone in his grand house with only the help of an elderly housekeeper. Alfie goes through the motions of being an earl, but his heart really isn’t in it. He knows how to play the game, but aside from the comfort of a luxurious home and a fine wardrobe, being an earl doesn’t really hold much appeal. The fact that the society of eligible young ladies doesn’t interest him either might be the real reason Alfie has more or less withdrawn from life at the age of twenty-six.
I found the story line a bit forced, but I loved the characters of Alfie and Nick, and as their history emerges, it only gets more poignant. Needless to say, the real thing that bothers me in Regency romances is the presence of very modern-day sex (just like in Bridgerton, which I’m sure sent the ratings through the roof). I love romance. I love the expression of strong emotion. Jane Austin was an expert at sexual tension without actual physical intimacy beyond a fervent kiss or so. So, in the end, I was rooting for the heroes, but skipping through the naughty bits to get back to the actual plot.
Full disclosure: I’ve already got book two in the series. Carry on.
By Samantha SoRelle
Published by Balcarres Books, 2020
Four stars
This was fun, and surprisingly on point, given that the author is an American and the setting is Regency England. SoRelle manages to keep the language both readable and period-appropriate as she unfolds the story of two men brought back together by fate.
I confess that I find the whole “Regency romance” trope puzzling—even though I was a huge fan of Georgette Heyer back in my youth. Overall, it doesn’t seem to me to be a period that is in itself more interesting than any other part of the 19th century (having also read a lot of Dickens and Trollope). Plus, most readers couldn’t identify details as “Regency” versus George IV, vs. early Victoria if their lives depended on it. Having recently forced myself to relax and watch all of the first season of “Bridgerton” on television, I am no closer to fully understanding the mystique.
All of that grouching aside, SoRelle makes a great use of 1818 London, with all of its shocking dichotomies, reminding us that cultural diversity is not just about ethnicity, but about economics and class (which are not the same thing, at least not in England). She gives us the young Lord Crawford, who we quickly learn was not to the manner born, but was taught by his adoptive parents to live like the son of an earl. SoRelle also gives us the ugly flip-side of the English upper class: Lord Crawford’s cousin Reginald St. John, who embodies every bad stereotype of an aristocratic British ne’er-do-well.
Dragged reluctantly to a brutal off-the-books bare-knuckle boxing match by his mooch of a cousin, Alfie (Lord Crawford) discovers in the loser of the match someone from his own past, Dominick Tripner. This is the emotional flashpoint of the book, so I won’t spoil it. Suffice it to say that Nick and Alfie quickly take center stage, and their back story is important, and affecting.
You see, Alfie seems rather distractedly aware that someone is trying to kill him. He hatches a sort of half-baked notion of hiring Nick Tripner to be his bodyguard, and to help him get to the bottom of the mysterious incidents that have beset him over the past few weeks. The reason he doesn’t go to the local law enforcement folks is simply that he doesn’t want to bring quite that much attention to himself.
This is one of the weirder aspects of Alfie Crawford’s life. He lives alone in his grand house with only the help of an elderly housekeeper. Alfie goes through the motions of being an earl, but his heart really isn’t in it. He knows how to play the game, but aside from the comfort of a luxurious home and a fine wardrobe, being an earl doesn’t really hold much appeal. The fact that the society of eligible young ladies doesn’t interest him either might be the real reason Alfie has more or less withdrawn from life at the age of twenty-six.
I found the story line a bit forced, but I loved the characters of Alfie and Nick, and as their history emerges, it only gets more poignant. Needless to say, the real thing that bothers me in Regency romances is the presence of very modern-day sex (just like in Bridgerton, which I’m sure sent the ratings through the roof). I love romance. I love the expression of strong emotion. Jane Austin was an expert at sexual tension without actual physical intimacy beyond a fervent kiss or so. So, in the end, I was rooting for the heroes, but skipping through the naughty bits to get back to the actual plot.
Full disclosure: I’ve already got book two in the series. Carry on.
July 3, 2022
It's been a while since I finished a book in one sitting. Might be because of the beautiful writing and loveable characters.
December 25, 2023
3.5 stars
I enjoyed it... although the story on how Alfie became an Earl sounded RIDICULOUS ()...
but I have soft spot in my heart for friends-to-lovers story. And this warmed my heart. I liked the fact that Alfie and his Nick met again. I liked that there wasn't ANY pressure for Alfie to get married and have an heir of his own. So Alfie and Nick could just be together until the end of time (or at least until the end of this series *lol*)
The mystery was alright. I mean, I didn't particularly pay attention to that, despite this series being called "mysteries".
Already look forward to book #2
I enjoyed it... although the story on how Alfie became an Earl sounded RIDICULOUS ()...
but I have soft spot in my heart for friends-to-lovers story. And this warmed my heart. I liked the fact that Alfie and his Nick met again. I liked that there wasn't ANY pressure for Alfie to get married and have an heir of his own. So Alfie and Nick could just be together until the end of time (or at least until the end of this series *lol*)
The mystery was alright. I mean, I didn't particularly pay attention to that, despite this series being called "mysteries".
Already look forward to book #2
August 10, 2022
This book had a really intriguing premise - that of an orphan boy plucked from a Foundling Home and raised as the heir to an Earldom.
In the main, the Regency elements of the narrative are handled well, there are a few anachronisms in the language choices but otherwise, the period piece stands up.
I loved both the MCs, Alfie the Earl, who knows he's had a privileged upbringing and an escape from a probable early death in the stews of London, is a total sweetheart.
Dominick was Alfie's champion and protector in their childhood but his last 13 years have been very different, he's done what's been necessary to survive and is a boxer when their paths cross once again.
The mystery sub-plot of the book I felt didn't quite hit the mark. The actual execution of it is good, with red herrings and danger galore. But, for me anyway, I just didn't buy the reason the villain gave for their rationale.
I think I'd have been happier with it if there'd been slightly more interaction on page with subtle hints about where the person's mind was going. It just stretched credibility a bit.
However, having said that, the build up to the final denouement is very well done, the tension increases as the stakes get higher and there is a very real sense of dread.
The romance is slow burn, as you'd expect, especially when they both spend a time in a 'he doesn't/can't possibly love me' state. Once they get over themselves though, it's lovely and perfect mix of spicy and sweet.
I'm looking forward to reading the next book now!
#ARC kindly received from the author in return for an honest and unbiased review.
In the main, the Regency elements of the narrative are handled well, there are a few anachronisms in the language choices but otherwise, the period piece stands up.
I loved both the MCs, Alfie the Earl, who knows he's had a privileged upbringing and an escape from a probable early death in the stews of London, is a total sweetheart.
Dominick was Alfie's champion and protector in their childhood but his last 13 years have been very different, he's done what's been necessary to survive and is a boxer when their paths cross once again.
The mystery sub-plot of the book I felt didn't quite hit the mark. The actual execution of it is good, with red herrings and danger galore. But, for me anyway, I just didn't buy the reason the villain gave for their rationale.
I think I'd have been happier with it if there'd been slightly more interaction on page with subtle hints about where the person's mind was going. It just stretched credibility a bit.
However, having said that, the build up to the final denouement is very well done, the tension increases as the stakes get higher and there is a very real sense of dread.
The romance is slow burn, as you'd expect, especially when they both spend a time in a 'he doesn't/can't possibly love me' state. Once they get over themselves though, it's lovely and perfect mix of spicy and sweet.
I'm looking forward to reading the next book now!
#ARC kindly received from the author in return for an honest and unbiased review.
May 18, 2024
4.5 Stars - Rounded Up
For those of us old enough to remember 'The Perils of Pauline' movie serial, it’s safe to say there are more improbable rescues and escapes in Samantha SoRelle’s His Lordship’s Secret than there were in that entire film series.
And there are more misunderstandings of motives than can be found in reading a half-dozen typical M/M romance novels.
Yet the protagonists, Alfred Pennington, the Earl of Crawford, and his childhood friend, Dominick (Nick), are so wonderfully written that I thoroughly enjoyed the story.
If you’re willing to suspend disbelief, you will as well.
For those of us old enough to remember 'The Perils of Pauline' movie serial, it’s safe to say there are more improbable rescues and escapes in Samantha SoRelle’s His Lordship’s Secret than there were in that entire film series.
And there are more misunderstandings of motives than can be found in reading a half-dozen typical M/M romance novels.
Yet the protagonists, Alfred Pennington, the Earl of Crawford, and his childhood friend, Dominick (Nick), are so wonderfully written that I thoroughly enjoyed the story.
If you’re willing to suspend disbelief, you will as well.
January 30, 2022
DNF at 15%
Something about this just doesn’t work for me.
The character descriptions run on for pages - even for side characters, it can go up to two pages of rambling physical descriptors and analogies.
I also cannot suspend my disbelief over Alfie’s past. I just can’t do it. His parents adopted (lol took) him from the slums, and pretended that they’d had him while traveling abroad. I didn’t quite catch the ages this happened, but he was old enough to have solid memories and interpersonal connections. They also say they passed off his lack of manners and schooling as having traveled abroad and run wild…but I just can’t buy that really. He’d act and sound like the slum kid he was, not some rogue child who’s been around the world. Even the kids of the ton would recognize that I bet. It was too far for me to accept as legit.
The way Alfie and Dominick recognized each other - by a common phrase - was annoyingly dumb to me. One of those tiny details that’s excessively irritating.
I could see this set up being used to explore the dynamics of class and the whims of fate (one slum kid turned into an earl, the other stuck…not) but somehow, given the light tone of the book so far, I doubt that’s on the menu.
Overall, this felt pretty surface, and got lost in physical descriptions without giving much depth to characters or scenes. Alfie is far too innocent for his supposed background. It didn’t hold my attention, and so…I move on.
Something about this just doesn’t work for me.
The character descriptions run on for pages - even for side characters, it can go up to two pages of rambling physical descriptors and analogies.
I also cannot suspend my disbelief over Alfie’s past. I just can’t do it. His parents adopted (lol took) him from the slums, and pretended that they’d had him while traveling abroad. I didn’t quite catch the ages this happened, but he was old enough to have solid memories and interpersonal connections. They also say they passed off his lack of manners and schooling as having traveled abroad and run wild…but I just can’t buy that really. He’d act and sound like the slum kid he was, not some rogue child who’s been around the world. Even the kids of the ton would recognize that I bet. It was too far for me to accept as legit.
The way Alfie and Dominick recognized each other - by a common phrase - was annoyingly dumb to me. One of those tiny details that’s excessively irritating.
I could see this set up being used to explore the dynamics of class and the whims of fate (one slum kid turned into an earl, the other stuck…not) but somehow, given the light tone of the book so far, I doubt that’s on the menu.
Overall, this felt pretty surface, and got lost in physical descriptions without giving much depth to characters or scenes. Alfie is far too innocent for his supposed background. It didn’t hold my attention, and so…I move on.
May 3, 2022
This was cute! Despite the plot summary it's actually much heavier on the romance than the actual murder mystery, but I liked the characters enough that I didn't mind. It's a sweet, childhood friends to reunited lovers m/m romance with a rich-poor opposites-attract dynamic.
Some complaints: the writing style reads too much like a 21st century author mimicking the Regency Era; pacing is uneven considering it's meant to be a mystery; and there were so many smut scenes (or rather, "let me jerk off while thinking about him" scenes) that I ended up skipping most. However, I did honestly enjoy the book; it's a decent histrom to pass some time with. I read it in one day.
I'll give the sequel a shot!
3.5 stars.
Some complaints: the writing style reads too much like a 21st century author mimicking the Regency Era; pacing is uneven considering it's meant to be a mystery; and there were so many smut scenes (or rather, "let me jerk off while thinking about him" scenes) that I ended up skipping most. However, I did honestly enjoy the book; it's a decent histrom to pass some time with. I read it in one day.
I'll give the sequel a shot!
3.5 stars.
March 2, 2021
I bailed halfway through, couldn't take the characters' lack of familiarity with their own world or their glacially slow yet still insufficiently logical thought processes.
January 3, 2021
I do want to make clear that I had fun and it was worth reading. That being said, toward the end I was facepalming and yelling at Alfie. My experience in the last few chapters of the book really colored my overall perception (thanks recency bias), hence 3★.
Spoiler summary:
Thoughts:
Spoiler summary:
Thoughts:
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
January 1, 2021
Rep: gay mcs
CWs: period typical homophobia
CWs: period typical homophobia
September 15, 2023
One of my top five favorite books last year was A Marvelous Light and I’ve sort of been chasing that feeling ever since (and I’ve reread it twice as well!) this didn’t have magic, but it did have a historical romance and all of the trappings that entails.
As far as the mystery goes, there was very little to it. I won’t say I would ever recommend this book to someone who loves a good who-dunnit. In fact, for most of the book the danger that led Alfie to hire Nick in the first place isn’t even happening.
BUT…it was a lovely excuse to put the two of them in close proximity so I can’t even be mad.
Now, the romance….for such a short book it was really so well written. It felt mature. I really felt and understood WHY they loved each other, and the banter between them was so natural it was just delightful to read. Only mild misunderstandings, and no meanness or toxicity.
I mean, this book was practically cozy.
I’m not sure if I’ll read any more of the series, simply because I don’t like long running series about an already established couple.
That usually means either there will be drama and plot devices coming into play to try and tear them apart OR we will be subject to the boredom of the everyday trials and tribulations of people in a relationship.
I don’t mind some spicy bits but if I read books and books worth of it about the same couple I kind of start to feel less like a casual perv and more like a professional stalker 🤷🏼♀️
As far as the mystery goes, there was very little to it. I won’t say I would ever recommend this book to someone who loves a good who-dunnit. In fact, for most of the book the danger that led Alfie to hire Nick in the first place isn’t even happening.
BUT…it was a lovely excuse to put the two of them in close proximity so I can’t even be mad.
Now, the romance….for such a short book it was really so well written. It felt mature. I really felt and understood WHY they loved each other, and the banter between them was so natural it was just delightful to read. Only mild misunderstandings, and no meanness or toxicity.
I mean, this book was practically cozy.
I’m not sure if I’ll read any more of the series, simply because I don’t like long running series about an already established couple.
That usually means either there will be drama and plot devices coming into play to try and tear them apart OR we will be subject to the boredom of the everyday trials and tribulations of people in a relationship.
I don’t mind some spicy bits but if I read books and books worth of it about the same couple I kind of start to feel less like a casual perv and more like a professional stalker 🤷🏼♀️
September 4, 2022
3 stars
An okay time waster but ultimately bland and forgettable.
An okay time waster but ultimately bland and forgettable.
July 3, 2020
I received a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
3.5 Stars
I really did enjoy this book a lot, though I do question how historically accurate it is (not a big deal to me). Both Alfred, Earl of Crawford, and Dominick are great characters. Their relationship was beautifully developed and written. I enjoyed being able to glimpse their past together. The story is from each character’s POV which is always nice for me. The book is a great mixture between their romance and solving the mystery. The synopsis does a good job explaining what the book is about, but the author does include some fun twists to the story. Though these surprises were nice, I’m not sure all were beneficial. I don’t want to give anything away, so I’m not going to go into any details. Even though I did enjoy the book, I wasn’t blown away from it. As stated earlier, some parts of the story just weren’t needed in my opinion, and in other areas the story felt a little unexciting. It wasn’t enough that it deterred me from enjoying the book though. I would like to read the next one when it comes out.
3.5 Stars
I really did enjoy this book a lot, though I do question how historically accurate it is (not a big deal to me). Both Alfred, Earl of Crawford, and Dominick are great characters. Their relationship was beautifully developed and written. I enjoyed being able to glimpse their past together. The story is from each character’s POV which is always nice for me. The book is a great mixture between their romance and solving the mystery. The synopsis does a good job explaining what the book is about, but the author does include some fun twists to the story. Though these surprises were nice, I’m not sure all were beneficial. I don’t want to give anything away, so I’m not going to go into any details. Even though I did enjoy the book, I wasn’t blown away from it. As stated earlier, some parts of the story just weren’t needed in my opinion, and in other areas the story felt a little unexciting. It wasn’t enough that it deterred me from enjoying the book though. I would like to read the next one when it comes out.
July 30, 2020
This was good at the start, but as with another Regency m/m I read recently, there are a few things that seemed wrong to me. Historical discrepancies can throw me out of a story, but I did keep reading until the end, to see where the plot was going, .
August 14, 2023
** 2.5 stars **
The writing style is nice and the MCs are likable. The plot twist in the end made me rate it 3 stars instead of 2. There were a lot of things that didn't make sense and made it hard for me to suspend my disbelief. The mystery was barely a mystery. I will not continue with the series.
The writing style is nice and the MCs are likable. The plot twist in the end made me rate it 3 stars instead of 2. There were a lot of things that didn't make sense and made it hard for me to suspend my disbelief. The mystery was barely a mystery. I will not continue with the series.
June 28, 2020
Well I never saw that coming. A great twistto a good story and mystery.
I like Alfie and Dominick together and can't wait to see what they get up to next.
I like Alfie and Dominick together and can't wait to see what they get up to next.
August 22, 2022
I loved the first in this series, and am looking forward to reading more of Alfie and Dominick’s adventures. I thought the story was a good mix of mystery and romance, with a strong sense of place and time. The twist as to the identity of the murderer was nicely done, and I almost didn’t figure it out until it was too late.
I love both MCs, and how they reconnect years later. I like how, despite their workhouse childhoods, they end up in very different situations. I thought the author did a great job in showing the preconceptions of class, where in this situation, it was merely being in the right place at the right time. I did sigh a little over Alfie and Dominick’s convincing themselves that the depth of their feelings for each other wasn’t mutual.
I also liked how the danger of their sexual preferences are not only presented as the danger they would have been at the time, but drive the plot. I liked the real reason behind the murders, the reveal, and the tenseness as Alfie and Dominick release the truth.
The supporting cast is great. I hope we haven’t seen the last of Mrs Hirkins. She’s wonderful and I love how she looks after Alfie and is far more than just his housekeeper. I like Dominick’s friend, Jimmy too.
Alfie’s cousin and his friends are horrible, and I liked how their upperclass snobbery was portrayed. Baz is still very much the bully he was a child, and I loved the twist concerning his and Dominick’s past and where they both ended up in life.
The ending is very clever, especially on Alfie’s part, and a wonderful set up for further adventures. My only regret in reading this story is why I didn’t pick it up sooner. Once I started reading, I didn’t want to put it down!
I love both MCs, and how they reconnect years later. I like how, despite their workhouse childhoods, they end up in very different situations. I thought the author did a great job in showing the preconceptions of class, where in this situation, it was merely being in the right place at the right time. I did sigh a little over Alfie and Dominick’s convincing themselves that the depth of their feelings for each other wasn’t mutual.
I also liked how the danger of their sexual preferences are not only presented as the danger they would have been at the time, but drive the plot. I liked the real reason behind the murders, the reveal, and the tenseness as Alfie and Dominick release the truth.
The supporting cast is great. I hope we haven’t seen the last of Mrs Hirkins. She’s wonderful and I love how she looks after Alfie and is far more than just his housekeeper. I like Dominick’s friend, Jimmy too.
Alfie’s cousin and his friends are horrible, and I liked how their upperclass snobbery was portrayed. Baz is still very much the bully he was a child, and I loved the twist concerning his and Dominick’s past and where they both ended up in life.
The ending is very clever, especially on Alfie’s part, and a wonderful set up for further adventures. My only regret in reading this story is why I didn’t pick it up sooner. Once I started reading, I didn’t want to put it down!
September 8, 2023
"Please, what?" asked Dominick innocently, cursed devil that he was.
Alfie was too far gone to articulate his desires any further.
"Please."
Dominick pressed his cheek against the inside of Alfie's thigh, dropping a kiss there so light and sweet Alfie felt his heart rip in two.
This book is a cozy friends-to-lovers regency with a twisty subplot of life-threatening danger. If that's not enough information to attract you, allow me to explain how His Lordship's Secret had me, at times, eagerly flipping pages well after I was intending to go to sleep to find out what happens next, and, at others, aching with warm happiness and the rush of euphoria only a well kindled romance can.
I love a romance that has a secondary plot that is substantial but that doesn't pull too significantly away from the romance, and this balances it out fantastically without ever losing sight of one plot or the other.
This story takes place in the regency era, and from start to finish, I could tell the author put in considerable research to make her novel as accurate as possible. I've read all of Jane Austen's novels at least a couple of times each, yet His Lordship's Secret explains things that I wouldn't have even remotely known about. That alone added a lot of depth to her story, but the obviously lovingly created characters added even more.
Alfie and Nick are somehow so similar and so different at the same time. They grew up together as children, which gives them a lot of history and backstory already, and a connection that's familiar and new, with so many years since they've seen each other and such drastically different lives lead.
Both characters are deeply likeable. Alfie is notably kind yet scrappy, while Nick is necessarily roughened from the life he's had to lead to survive, but still somehow capable of gentleness. Both have always wondered at their dear friend back at the workhouse, whom they had to leave behind...
There's an instant connection with these characters, not just between them, but between me, as the reader, and them. I cared about them and their secrets and dearly wished for them both to not only survive but to find the warmth they both longed for in each other <3
And, let me tell you, the moment they finally come together was shattering and emotional and thrilling and still living in my mind, my gosh. I've thought about it multiple times since I've read it, and smiled, clutching my phone while I read, giddy, even looking back at my highlights.
As for the other plot - you know, the one where someone seems to want Alfie dead? - I will admit I DID guess *some* of it ahead of time, but even with that, there were more betrayals, twists, and turns that I never saw coming, culminating in a explosive finale. It was exciting and interesting and made me want to keep eating up pages.
All in all, His Lordship's Secret is a fantastic regency romance that has sequels but can be read as a standalone! I, myself, have purchased and started the second book of the series because I wasn't willing to let Alfie and Nick go just yet.
Either way, I absolutely recommend it to anyone who likes this genre. It's charming, it's cozy, it's dreamy, and it's perfect for any time of the year, but feels especially welcome in the crisp, cool chill of autumn <3
His Lordship's Secret **Trigger Warnings**:
~Past prostitution with questionable consent
~Typical homophobia of the time
~Gun violence/gunshot wounds
~Childhood bullying
~Physical fighting
~Knife violence
~Blackmail
February 17, 2022
A Joyfully Jay review.
4.5 stars
His Lordship’s Secret is first and foremost wonderfully sweet. The mystery is so-so, but the story is generally well written and captivating, and the main characters are so perfect for one another, they steal the show.
Alfie and Nick once scrapped and fought to survive the brutal conditions of the workhouse. Without Nick, the smaller and younger Alfie would have been killed by the other boys. But when Alfie had a chance at adoption, he and Nick were separated. Now that fate has brought them back together, it’s as though they’re torn between making up for lost time and trying to figure out exactly who they are. Yet despite the fact the odds are stacked against them, these men just work together. They fit so naturally and have a genuine and abiding love for one another and, right from the start, I was championing them.
Read Sue’s review in its entirety here.
4.5 stars
His Lordship’s Secret is first and foremost wonderfully sweet. The mystery is so-so, but the story is generally well written and captivating, and the main characters are so perfect for one another, they steal the show.
Alfie and Nick once scrapped and fought to survive the brutal conditions of the workhouse. Without Nick, the smaller and younger Alfie would have been killed by the other boys. But when Alfie had a chance at adoption, he and Nick were separated. Now that fate has brought them back together, it’s as though they’re torn between making up for lost time and trying to figure out exactly who they are. Yet despite the fact the odds are stacked against them, these men just work together. They fit so naturally and have a genuine and abiding love for one another and, right from the start, I was championing them.
Read Sue’s review in its entirety here.
July 30, 2023
This is not clicking with me. Too slow. And it does some things I really dislike: there’s too much time in their thoughts and in order to satisfy the need for sexual content while still maintaining a slow burn, the characters fantasize about sex. DNF @42%.
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May 28, 2022Romance with a bit of mystery
I'd say this is more romance than mystery, but the mystery does provide action and chances for the men to save each other. It's a sweet love story, interesting historical era, and almost a melodramatic final chapters.
I'd say this is more romance than mystery, but the mystery does provide action and chances for the men to save each other. It's a sweet love story, interesting historical era, and almost a melodramatic final chapters.
March 9, 2023
I was expecting more mystery, but honestly this was really good. I was crying by the end. Over all solid read
October 10, 2023
DNF @ P29 (10% - Ch.4)
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