I have been feeling like I've been lagging behind, it was June and I had only read three books off my list. I had read an ARC of another Alex Beecroft book and really enjoyed it so I went back and downloaded these three onto my Nook. Then they sat there and sat there, and I kind of forgot about them until I put together my list for last year. I never got to them so I made sure they were on this year's list. I feel like I caught up after reading these three in one month!
Alex Beecroft writes male/male romance set during the Age of Sail. Her books are set during the 1700s. They all involve sailors and life on these ships. At the time any sexual relations between men was punishable by death, most commonly hanging. These men all live in fear of being discovered and facing an end at the gallows.
(some spoilers)
Blessed Isle by Alex Beecroft
My rating: 4 of 5 stars
This novella is told through the perspective of both Captain Harry Thompson and First Lieutenant Garrett Littleton. At the time of the writing, they are living together and are recapping the horrible voyage that brought them together.
Harry has worked hard to become Captain of a ship. He comes from a working-class family and he is determined to make his first trip as Captain of a prisoner transport ship a successful journey. However, they are faced with sickness, horrible weather and rioting prisoners. Harry and Garrett and marooned on an island and left alone, without the fear of being discovered they let their lust turn into romance.
Once they are rescued from the island, the fear of being caught could rip them apart. The dual perspectives of this novella show how the strengths of each man plays off the weaknesses of the other in their relationship. I really enjoyed this story and the journey these two went on to find happiness.
By Honor Betrayed by Alex Beecroft
My rating: 3 of 5 stars
In this novella, Lieutenant Conrad Herriot and Seaman Tom Cotton are friends as well as master and servant. They are extremely close and for most of the last 10 years have hidden the lust they feel towards each other until Tom is injured and Conrad rushes to his side. The captain then separates the two putting everything they feel to the forefront and putting them at risk.
As in the last book, this book also toes the line of class relations. Conrad is not only torn about risking his neck, he worries about the fact that Tom is of a much lower class. The author does a wonderful job writing about his torn feelings, but this story just left me wanting something that I couldn't put my finger on. I think Conrad just protested against it all a bit too much. In the end he does realize that love is more important that class.
Alex Beecroft writes male/male romance set during the Age of Sail. Her books are set during the 1700s. They all involve sailors and life on these ships. At the time any sexual relations between men was punishable by death, most commonly hanging. These men all live in fear of being discovered and facing an end at the gallows.
(some spoilers)
Blessed Isle by Alex BeecroftMy rating: 4 of 5 stars
This novella is told through the perspective of both Captain Harry Thompson and First Lieutenant Garrett Littleton. At the time of the writing, they are living together and are recapping the horrible voyage that brought them together.
Harry has worked hard to become Captain of a ship. He comes from a working-class family and he is determined to make his first trip as Captain of a prisoner transport ship a successful journey. However, they are faced with sickness, horrible weather and rioting prisoners. Harry and Garrett and marooned on an island and left alone, without the fear of being discovered they let their lust turn into romance.
Once they are rescued from the island, the fear of being caught could rip them apart. The dual perspectives of this novella show how the strengths of each man plays off the weaknesses of the other in their relationship. I really enjoyed this story and the journey these two went on to find happiness.
By Honor Betrayed by Alex BeecroftMy rating: 3 of 5 stars
In this novella, Lieutenant Conrad Herriot and Seaman Tom Cotton are friends as well as master and servant. They are extremely close and for most of the last 10 years have hidden the lust they feel towards each other until Tom is injured and Conrad rushes to his side. The captain then separates the two putting everything they feel to the forefront and putting them at risk.
As in the last book, this book also toes the line of class relations. Conrad is not only torn about risking his neck, he worries about the fact that Tom is of a much lower class. The author does a wonderful job writing about his torn feelings, but this story just left me wanting something that I couldn't put my finger on. I think Conrad just protested against it all a bit too much. In the end he does realize that love is more important that class.
My rating: 3 of 5 stars
Unlike the other two on my list, this was more of a novel than a novella. There is so much more detail in this book and a lot of it, the sub story lines and focus on secondary characters really pulled me out of the main story arc.
Joshua is barely hiding his secret from his ruthless captain and it gets even harder when extremely handsome Peter Kenyon comes aboard the ship and they are forced to share a room. The two men are polite and kind of friendly with one another while secretly watching and admiring the other. In order to keep suspicion off himself, Peter tries to court the daughter of the man the ship is taking to Bermuda. During the crossing, the extremely stern captain pushes the men too far and just before the men can overthrow him they come across pirates attacking a merchant ship.
Once in Bermuda, Joshua and Peter try to keep a low profile. Peter keeps courting the young lady who has an interest in the captain of the merchant ship they saved. This is where the story started to lose me. There was just so much going on and then Joshua and Peter go on a mission and Josh's ship goes down and he's rescued by Native Americans who are totally okay with male relationships. Josh wants to stay, but he also wants Peter so he goes back to Bermuda. While this is all going on Peter is taken hostage, and then he gets traded back so once in Bermuda he and the old captain have a duel. AND through it all it all works out in the end.
Joshua is barely hiding his secret from his ruthless captain and it gets even harder when extremely handsome Peter Kenyon comes aboard the ship and they are forced to share a room. The two men are polite and kind of friendly with one another while secretly watching and admiring the other. In order to keep suspicion off himself, Peter tries to court the daughter of the man the ship is taking to Bermuda. During the crossing, the extremely stern captain pushes the men too far and just before the men can overthrow him they come across pirates attacking a merchant ship.
Once in Bermuda, Joshua and Peter try to keep a low profile. Peter keeps courting the young lady who has an interest in the captain of the merchant ship they saved. This is where the story started to lose me. There was just so much going on and then Joshua and Peter go on a mission and Josh's ship goes down and he's rescued by Native Americans who are totally okay with male relationships. Josh wants to stay, but he also wants Peter so he goes back to Bermuda. While this is all going on Peter is taken hostage, and then he gets traded back so once in Bermuda he and the old captain have a duel. AND through it all it all works out in the end.
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