| Title | : | Love Continuance and Increasing |
| Author | : | |
| Rating | : | |
| ISBN | : | 1627570225 |
| ISBN-10 | : | 9781627570220 |
| Language | : | English |
| Format Type | : | Paperback |
| Number of Pages | : | 306 |
| Publication | : | First published August 1, 2013 |
What he does not expect, when he returns home after the Battle of Trafalgar, is to find an invitation to the christening of Rockingham's son. He does not expect, when he meets the young viscountess, that he would fall instantly and passionately in love with her. And he certainly does not expect that Caroline would fall just as desperately in love with him. Thorne is sure that their feelings for each other can only lead to disaster, even more so as his love for Rockingham has never gone away. While the war with France continues, Thorne finds himself fighting a war within his own heart.
Love Continuance and Increasing Reviews
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An uncommon regency love affair, Austen with a twist.
A sweet romance that meanders and explores love and duty. William is a lieutenant who has managed to rise from less prestigious beginnings. Anthony is the second son of a viscount who is elevated after tragedy. Duty and responsibility means not neglecting to produce heirs, a weight Anthony is well aware of.
This story embraces a range of sexual preferences and all three protagonists have experienced fluidity to a degree prior to engaging in their menage a trois. So if any of the possible alignments are not to your reading preference than this story will not appeal. That said there is near equal time given to both M/M and M/F configurations and brief allusions to F/F.
Great tone and period realism without the glittery Ton. The historical references are wonderful and are well researched. Like Austen, this is a sedately paced story that focuses on the everyday rather than the extraordinary moments to explain this love affair. So...How do a naval officer and an Infantry officer find love? ---With a little luck.
I felt that the handling of the situation when Anthony announced his intentions to offer for Caroline were both realistic and appropriate for officers and gentlemen. The ensuing and developing relationship between Anthony and Caroline after their marriage is where the interesting emotions come into play.
Overall, a beautiful and romantic love affair that grows, changes and grows again.
Recommended to Austen fans who'd like something a little different.
Favorite quote:"William is the best of men, and it's no surprise you should love him. I love him, too."
~~ A copy was provided to me for a No Glitter Blown review~~
Reviewed for
Hearts On Fire Reviews -
This book is basically a MMF romance about British military men in the Regency period who wind up coping rather swimmingly with the (hetero) marriage one of them has to embark on because it’s the Thing to Do.
Things I liked about it:
-The dialogue felt authentically period but also very natural and not “historically" stilted
-There were several times I was scared the author was going to do something I dreaded, and none of those times was I thus betrayed. That felt good.
-The food descriptions were ravishing
-The author did a lot of historical research, but also found graceful ways of talking about all those unfamiliar things rather than lampshading and cabbage-heading the whole time. I learned from context.
-There was lesbianism and mostly-hetero-bisexuality side by side, with both depicted as completely normal and natural and ordinary.
-Several wickedly witty bits charmed me enough to quote them to my friends, such as an older family member’s takedown of a drunk relative, or someone’s aunt discussing how her husband thinks he can always spot a gay man but in reality he’s completely clueless
-The background m/m couple was right up my street
I felt more emotionally engaged by the m/m couple and the married couple than by the extra man and the other man’s wife, but I think that has much to do with my own preferences in what kind of couple-dynamic I enjoy reading about. -
Well written and especially well-researched story of two naval men, one an aristocrat and one a carter's son who's advanced to Lieutenant, who meet offshore and begin a sexual affair in early 19th century England. The first section of the book recounts their intermittent meetings and their letters; the second, the nobleman's courtship and marriage of a woman whom he likes but doesn't love; the third, the Lieutenant's arrival at the lord's estate for the christening of the lord's heir, where said Lieutenant falls in love with his former lover's wife. M/F, and M/M/F sex ensues.
Unfortunately, there is little in the way of plot or conflict to move the story forward. Lt. Thorne and Major Lord Rockingham have no difficulties to overcome besides distance in their own relationship; Rockingham's marriage is made with both sides understanding there is affection, but little romantic love between them; and Rockingham is the one to suggest to his wife that she act on her sudden passion for the Lieutenant by inviting him to her bed. Said passion, completely unmotivated love-at-first-sight, seemed more appropriate to an early 18th century novel than to a 21st century romance.
I wish the author had spent a bit less time researching the time period, and a bit more reading books on the craft of writing novels (Debra Dixon's GOAL, MOTIVATION, CONFLICT, perhaps?), so this collection of interesting historical details and potentially intriguing characters might have been deployed in the service of an equally compelling story. -
A lovely tale of hidden and unconventional relationships in the time of the Napoleonic War. I would have loved to see more of the relationship between the three main protagonists as it developed further, but I wouldn't have wanted to miss out on any of the details of their home lives in the years leading up to all three of them staying under the same roof. I particularly loved all the details of journeys between places I know well.
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The ending felt a little rushed, but I will forgive much for a love triangle than ends in a threesome! I've been wanting a book that ends that way for YEARS!
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2013 Rainbow Awards Honorable Mention (5* from at least 1 judge)
