Book Review: Bound by Deception by Ava March

Reviewer's purchased copy
Bound by Deception
by Ava March
Loose-Id
M/M Historical/Erotic Romance
4.5 Stars

Blurb:
Lord Oliver Marsden has a secret. He's been in love with his childhood friend for years, though Vincent's never shown an interest in him beyond friendship. Ruggedly handsome, wealthy, and successful, Vincent is everything Oliver is not. And Vincent doesn't prefer men.

Then Oliver discovers Vincent hires a man during his visits to a London brothel. Desperate to be with Vincent, Oliver orchestrates a deception, switching places with the brothel's employee. When Oliver arrives at the bedchamber, he's in for another surprise. Restraints and a leather bullwhip? Apparently Vincent isn't as conservative as he appears.

Lord Vincent Prescot has a secret of his own. One kept locked away and only indulged once a month. But this month's appointment is different. The mysterious man is so perfect, so beautiful in his submission, rousing protective instincts Vincent can't deny. Yet he refuses to believe he might truly prefer men, for it could mean the end of his hopes of earning his father's respect.

Will betrayal destroy them or will they be bound together by deception?

Review:

This is a very hot and sensual novella, peeking into the lives of Oliver Marsden and Vincent Prescot, both second sons of the aristocracy who met and became firm friends at boarding school. As the years moved on, however, Oliver fell in love with Vincent, who shows no hint of sharing his friend's preferences for men. That is until Oliver discovers that Vincent goes to a brothel once a month, in order to avail himself of the services of a male prostitute, the same one Oliver uses.

Oliver devises a very ill-informed plan, wherein he will take the place of the prostitute and have Vincent, even if it's only for one night. But the reader knows, long before Oliver does, that one night is never going to be enough and what happens when Vincent discovers the deception?

Although a short novella, you don't feel cheated of storyline and characters. Oliver and Vincent are both well-drawn, rounded characters, Oliver has a bit more depth than Vincent, I would say. Vincent is quite well-to do, but Oliver's families fortunes have waned due to his father and grandfather's gambling problems and the contrast between their two lifestyles is well done. Oliver's house has gone to seed a bit, as he has no maids or valets, unlike Vincent and I had to laugh at the scene wherein Vincent tries to convince him to get a maid, but Oliver doesn't want her to wonder what the hook in the ceiling is for. Vincent says that Oliver doesn't have a hook in the bedroom ceiling. "No, not yet."

The love scenes between our two heroes are scorching and who knew there were so many sex toys around in the Regency era? - Oliver has quite the collection! Some people might be put off by the BDSM elements, but though it is there and is quite sexy in my opinion, you also see the emotional connection between the two characters, it's not all just physical gratification. I don't think Oliver would have been that interested in it if it hadn't been with Vincent. It works for these two characters and that's what's important.

You have to suspend your disbelief a little during that first scene, where Vincent doesn't know it is Oliver he is with. They'd been friends for years, surely he would have recognised his voice even if Oliver had been trying to disguise it? Anyway, I was reading it for the romance, so I can forgive that and it is an interesting way for our two heroes to get together at first. I don't think I've ever read a book with that premise before, so kudos to the author for originality. I think Ava March has cornered the market with Regency M/M erotic romances, she does it very well and you can tell from the writing she loves the era she is writing about, but her books never turn into a history lesson.

A great read.

Reviewed by Annette Gisby.

Book Review: Brook Street: Thief by Ava March

Brook Street: Thief
by Ava March
Part of the Brook Street Trilogy
M/M Romance, erotic, novella, historical
Carina Press
Review copy courtesy of the publisher, via Netgalley.
4 Stars


Blurb:
London, 1822

It was only supposed to be one night. One night to determine once and for all if he truly preferred men. But the last thing Lord Benjamin Parker expected to find in a questionable gambling hall in Cheapside is a gorgeous young man who steals his heart.

It was only supposed to be a job. Cavin Fox has done it many times—select a prime mark, distract him with lust, and leave his pockets empty. Yet when Cavin slips away under the cover of darkness, the only part of Benjamin he leaves untouched is his pockets.

With a taste of his fantasies fulfilled, Benjamin wants more than one night with Cavin. But convincing the elusive young man to give them a chance proves difficult. Cavin lives with a band of thieves in the worst area of London, and he knows there's no place for him in a gentleman's life. Yet Benjamin isn't about to let Cavin—and love—continue to slip away from him.

Review:

Now, I'm not normally one who likes books where the two main characters jump into bed with each other before they get to know each other a bit. But with Brook Street: Thief, for these two characters, it just works. Lord Benjamin Parker has been wondering for a while if he prefers men over women and seeks out a gambling house of a certain reputation to discover the truth about himself. Cavin Fox seeks out men of a certain persuasion and then robs them once they're asleep. He works for a man called Hale, and previously he had pimped Cavin out and got his money that way, but Cavin never liked it. It was his idea to instead pick out the gentlemen he wants to sleep with and rob them instead of whoring. Hale doesn't care either way as long as he gets his money.

The sparks fly between Benjamin and Cavin as soon as they meet and you just know that before the end of the night, these two are going to get together. It was Benjamin's first time with a man, but he wasn't a shy blushing, virgin, he knew what he wanted and went right after it. The love scenes are very erotic, well-written with a focus on the emotions the characters are feeling as well as they physical aspects and each one added something different to the story. They flowed with the narrative, rather than the author just decided "we need a love scene here".

I adored Benjamin and Cavin and I was rooting for them to get their happy ever after, even though it probably wasn't true to life in that respect. Would a thief and a gentlemen ever stay together? More could have been made of their different backgrounds and how they overcome them. And of course not to mention the fact that homosexuality was illegal then. But it's a book, and I could suspend my disbelief for that. After all, I was reading a romance, not historical fact.

Ava March is rapidly becoming one of my favourite authors. Reading her books, you can imagine you are in the gambling dens, rich town houses, or in the stews of Regency London without the book turning into a history lesson. Although is a novella, it's a satisfying read and doesn't leave lots of loose threads dangling.

I loved the book and I would have given it 5 stars except there were a few quibbles which took me out of the story. It's set in Regency London, Benjamin was English so there is no way he would have thought to himself that he was "blocks from home". It should have been roads or streets away. We don't have blocks, most cities and towns aren't on a grid system, but sprawl all over the place. Then, there is mention of a marquis, the correct term would be marquess (the male title) and his wife would be a marchioness. Debretts online guide is helpful for that sort of thing.

But all in all a very enjoyable tale, well-told with characters you care about and want to see happy. If you want, hot Regency stories with spicy M/M romance, Ava March should be on your list.

Reviewed by Annette Gisby