The Gentleman's Book of Vices
A Gay Victorian Historical Romance
-
-
3.8 • 16 Ratings
-
-
- $9.99
-
- $9.99
Publisher Description
Is their real-life love story doomed to be a tragedy, or can they rewrite the ending?
London, 1883
Finely dressed and finely drunk, Charlie Price is a man dedicated to his vices. Chief among them is his explicit novel collection, though his impending marriage to a woman he can’t love will force his carefully curated collection into hiding.
Before it does, Charlie is determined to have one last hurrah: meeting his favorite author in person.
Miles Montague is more gifted as a smut writer than a shopkeep and uses his royalties to keep his flagging bookstore afloat. So when a cheerful dandy appears out of the mist with Miles's highly secret pen name on his pretty lips, Miles assumes the worst. But Charlie Price is no blackmailer; he’s Miles's biggest fan.
A scribbled signature on a worn book page sets off an affair as scorching as anything Miles has ever written. But Miles is clinging to a troubled past, while Charlie’s future has spun entirely out of his control…
Carina Adores is home to romantic love stories where LGBTQ+ characters find their happily-ever-afters.
Lucky Lovers of London
Book 1: The Gentleman's Book of Vices
PUBLISHERS WEEKLY
Everlee's sparkling debut finds rakish Charlie Price, a collector of erotic novels in 1883 London, falling for his favorite author, Miles Montague, who writes under the pseudonym Reginald Cox. Struggling bookshop owner Miles is initially wary of the handsome stranger who tracks him down for an autograph, convinced that Charlie intends to blackmail him for his tales of queer sex—until, as insurance, they each confess "something damning" to insure mutual destruction should either come forward. When Miles returns Charlie's visit, poor timing has him comically mistaken by Charlie's soon-to-be mother-in-law for a sommelier and he's tasked with selecting wine for Charlie's dreaded impending nuptials. The two men act on their passions in Charlie's library later that day, and their budding secret relationship inspires Miles to write, but there's a clock on their romance. Though Charlie's marriage is a loveless match to get him out of debt, Miles refuses to have an affair with a married man. As Charlie plots to call off the wedding and pursue a future with Miles, a bid to buy Miles's shop threatens the men's happiness. Charming supporting characters and vivid period detail enhance this enchanting romance. Everlee shows real promise.
Customer Reviews
I’m a happy man…
Most books see to resolve the challenges of the plot that confront the characters, but I feared this one would not. I recall reading a book that announced a dreadful ending at the beginning… and proceeded to go there. The story of Charlie and Miles seemed to sink deeper and deeper into a more and more desperate conclusion. Even when Charlie resolved to call off the wedding, Alma convinced him she needed to marry him or she had no future. Miles would not continue with Charlie if he was a married man. The teaser chapter when Miles tried to convince Charlie to leave before the marriage crashed into a reality that would make any reader brace for a disastrous conclusion. Yet, here I am smiling… and I will sleep well tonight.