Cat Sebastian - The Ruin of a Rake

Rogue. Libertine. Rake. Lord Courtenay has been called many things and has never much cared. But after the publication of a salacious novel supposedly based on his exploits, he finds himself shunned from society. Unable to see his nephew, he is willing to do anything to improve his reputation, even if that means spending time with the most proper man in London.
Julian Medlock has spent years becoming the epitome of correct behavior. As far as he cares, if Courtenay finds himself in hot water, it’s his own fault for behaving so badly—and being so blasted irresistible. But when Julian’s sister asks him to rehabilitate Courtenay’s image, Julian is forced to spend time with the man he loathes—and lusts after—most.
As Courtenay begins to yearn for a love he fears he doesn’t deserve, Julian starts to understand how desire can drive a man to abandon all sense of propriety. But he has secrets he’s determined to keep, because if the truth came out, it would ruin everyone he loves. Together, they must decide what they’re willing to risk for love.

Comment: After reading the previous two books in this Turner trilogy, of course I would have to try this one as well, not only because I liked the books but I did want to finish the series.

The main character here aren't directly related to any Turner sibling but there's a connection. This means it's not really necessary to have read the other installments, but it's funnier if one did.

This story begins with rake Lord Courtenay wondering about his life and because he is struggling, he stays for long hours anywhere else but his unsuitable lodgings. Since his now best friend seems to be Eleanor, a woman who has helped him when everyone else didn't after the publishing of a book that is focused on his lurid past - which caused him to lose the guard of his nephew, it's no wonder he eventually interacts with Julian, her brother. 

In fact, Eleanor asks Julian, a man that took his task of becoming acceptable in society, to help bring Courtenay's reputation to a more polite and positive look. Although the task seems too complicated at first, it's also a challenge bored Julian sort of relishes, especially after realizing how dire Courtney's finances are. What Julian didn't count on by just looking for to work some math with Courteney's state of affairs was to end up caring for the man and wanting him to be respected...

As one would expect, this book starts a little slow but it soon picks up and the characters' interactions come alive as the story moves along.

I had a great time reading this but I'd say it was mostly because I was familiar with the writing style and of what to expect. I hoped to be more dazzled by it than what I was.

This is sweet story of two opposite attracted to one another, which is always a theme I tend to enjoy in books. Julian is very proper and serious while Lord Courtenay is considered a rake and without care for others. In fact, these two cannot be reduced to these superficial adjectives and the fun part of their relationship is to see how both aren't only what others see but deep down they are so much more, especially together. 

The relationship isn't easy, more so at the eyes of society, but as always that aspect of this author's work is a given, not a detail to be explored, which can be both positive, since it allows the reader to think about a gay relationship without the often setbacks linked with it, but it can also be negative because it lacks some realism for that same reason.

I find it that it doesn't bother me much, since the focus in on the character's personalities and relationship and not as much a surrounding plot. The excuse of Julian helping Courtenay feels exactly so and not such a requirement of the plot.

Of course my favorite parts were when both main characters showed their vulnerability to the other. Sometimes that was very obvious, sometimes it was just notions both inferred by a look, a detail... these are may favorite kinds of informations to be understood while reading and they seem like gems to me. The best sentence in the whole book for me was when Julian tells Courtenay he is his "favorite person to be with". This is not an overly dramatic profession of love but it seemed to me it was more heartfelt than any purple prose could be.

There is a secondary sort of plot going on concerning Julian's sister. I confess I don't understand why her difficulties with her husband weren't solved right away but in real life anything is always more acceptable than in a book where we expect characters to be always cognizant of their actions/choices.

As for the plot as a whole, I don't have much to say since it's pretty basic. The romance is the star and it was done well enough for me. I'd include more interactions before they became intimate just to give the reader the notion they were getting attached but that is to be expected anyway.

All in all, another solid read for what it was meant to be in the first place.

Grade: 7/10

Cat Sebastian - The Lawrence Browne Affair

Lawrence Browne, the Earl of Radnor, is mad. At least, that’s what he and most of the village believes. A brilliant scientist, he hides himself away in his family’s crumbling estate, unwilling to venture into the outside world. When an annoyingly handsome man arrives at Penkellis, claiming to be Lawrence’s new secretary, his carefully planned world is turned upside down.
Georgie Turner has made his life pretending to be anyone but himself. A swindler and con man, he can slip into an identity faster than he can change clothes. But when his long-dead conscience resurrects and a dangerous associate is out for blood, Georgie escapes to the wilds of Cornwall. Pretending to be a secretary should be easy, but he doesn’t expect that the only madness he finds is the one he has for the gorgeous earl.
Challenging each other at every turn, the two men soon give into the desire that threatens to overwhelm them. But with one man convinced he is at the very brink of madness and the other hiding his real identity, only true love can make this an affair to remember.

Comment: Having enjoyed the previous story in this Turner trilogy by author Cat Sebastian, I was very eager to read this one as well and see if it wasn't the case of the first book being a "one hit wonder". I'm happy to say I liked this one as well.

I this second installment we have the story of George Turner, the brother of Jack Turner, one of the protagonists of the previous book.

George is a man who doesn't go by many rules and his career has been one of swindler and thief. He gets in a complicated situation with one of the crime bosses by not abiding by the rule of deceiving a mark, an old lady he ends up liking and respecting. George needs to run and hide and Cornwall seems a great place since it's far. The job he gets is to wok for the Earl of Radnor, a man many consider mad and too weird. George arrives and understands immediately the earl is very smart, very focused, very introverted and very handsome. Surprising even himself, George isn't suddenly thinking about which items he could take when he leaves but he does do the secretarial work he was hired for and he can't help but feel he needs to take care of the earl. But he isn't a good man, is he?

The focus seems to be more on George and his changes, his development as a character but the earl, Lawrence, also becomes the narrative speaker so it's quite good to be able to have both their POVs, especially when things happen that affect both of them. Plus, it does make the relationship feel more balanced if we can follow both their reasonings instead of just guessing what one of them thinks.

This is, mostly, a sweet story about the redemption of a character and the self discovery of another.

I admit I don't usually like the so called bad boys or criminal turned good because it's unlikely and the situations are always about making good choices and that path never seems ass quick as a romance novel means to paint but the reality is that often we don't really have bad guys to start with (thankfully) and the redemption process is quicker, acceptable, hopeful. I liked Georgie's monologues and his decision to save Lawrence from his mistakes ans choices in the past and I can accept his decision to be a "good" person as just a need to complement the person he is in love with.

Lawrence also changes a bit, mostly his attitude towards others and what those others expect of him. Because he feels happier, he acts accordingly and it shows.

As for the way the author has inserted an m/m romance in an historical period, I think in this case it was easier to accomplish because the main characters don't live in such a populated area and their personal interactions can be restricted to the view of a minimum group of people. Of course, since they are both liked by those around them and since they make things brighter and doable because thy are happy, no one really cares. This is obviously a bit too imaginative but I can suspend belief for the HEA purposes. It's just so nice they are in love without expecting to.

The emotional aspects were well addressed here and the romance is cute and well paced, in my opinion. The secondary characters play their part but they don't steal the focus from the protagonists. I liked the easy writing and the fluid narrative.

All in all, a good story, I liked it and I look for to read the third one.

Grade: 8/10

Cat Sebastian - The Soldier's Scoundrel

Jack Turner grew up in the darkness of London's slums, born into a life of crime and willing to do anything to keep his belly full and his siblings safe. Now he uses the tricks and schemes of the underworld to help those who need the kind of assistance only a scoundrel can provide. His distrust of the nobility runs deep and his services do not extend to the gorgeous high-born soldier who personifies everything Jack will never be. 
After the chaos of war, Oliver Rivington craves the safe predictability of a gentleman's life-one that doesn't include sparring with a ne'er-do-well who flouts the law at every turn. But Jack tempts Oliver like no other man has before. Soon his yearning for the unapologetic criminal is only matched by Jack's pleasure in watching his genteel polish crumble every time they're together.  

Comment: This book has been pretty well recommended lately so I also added it to my TBR, since I like both historical romance and the m/m subplot. These books can be difficult to present, whether because it's not easily believable or because it's too close to reality, therefore unfair and difficult to accept looking through contemporary eyes. 

In this story we meet Jack Turner, he considers himself a scoundrel, his past isn't the best one but that's to be expected from someone who was born in a poor family. After years of service, Jack is now on his own, and he sort of caters to those justice can't or won't be able to help without everyone knowing, so Jack is a sort of private investigator and problem solver.

Oliver Rivington has come back from the war int he Peninsula, and he is now a free man but still feels out of sorts. He knows his sister went to Jack before and now he wants to know what was the nature of their business but soon finds himself immersed in Jack's new case.

Two man from different sides of the city, with different upbringings and stations in life, are brought together by chance but will they admit they are feeling something unique for each other as time and their days of proximity advance?

This was a fun and easy story to read. Nothing is too complicated, the investigation Jack is doing has a rather simple and almost anti climatic resolution and there aren't countless characters to worry about. This is mostly a romance story focused on Jack and Oliver ad how, despite their differences, they still feel attracted to one another and fall in love.

The relationship is truly the best thing because both seem to act reluctant in admitting they have feelings for one another but they still look out for one another. I just think we were shown rather too obviously how they were slowly falling in love and thinking of it.The scenes develop normally but usually one of them (mostly Jack) would think or have the inner monologue where the reader would just know they were thinking about the other more. Ok, this is pretty random and to be expected but it was mentioned so often, it started to be too noticeable and kind of seemed redundant.

However, it was really sweet to see them falling in love and step by step conquering each others' issues. Jack thinks he wouldn't ever be good for Oliver due to their social status differences but he is powerless to simply avoid Oliver or w«how he feels about him.

Oliver seemed to be a bit more fascinating to me. His personality is complex and interesting and the fact he limped also made him intriguing. Because Oliver was part of the war, his take on life and slightly different from Jack's and, besides, Oliver is at heart a gentleman who considers his honor something very important. I really liked how both of them counter balanced each other and used their strengths to be together. Of course, after a little bit of a conflict which one barely takes notice of. 

The HEA  of this book is sweet and cute but I admit I expected something a bit more realistic or where the situation was addressed with a more serious tone, I just got the feeling we just would want to see them happy but a bit more detail would have fit this quite well. 

Despite my quibbles about this and that, this story was fluid, the narrative easy and interesting and it had several romantic gestures/scenes to make it a great historical romance story.

I'll definitely try something else by the author too.

Grade: 8/10