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Book Review: Roses in December by Fiona Glass

To the newbie in the world of m/m ebooks, there is a bewildering amount of choice, and to be very frank - rather like fanfiction - about 90% of what's out there is awful. It makes wading into it in search of the gems a risky and expensive business. But every so often you come across a book which makes it all worth while, and 'Roses in December' is one of those for me.





Nat is a soldier recovering from Post Traumatic Stress after being trapped in a bombed nightclub in Northern Ireland. Sent to convalesce at Partington Towers, an out of the way nursing home in the depths of the country he struggles with his ill health, depression, and fear of being found out as a gay man, in an army where that would spell the end of his career. But Partington Towers is a more magical place than he suspects, and as he begins to explore its sumptuous but strangely confusing gardens he finds himself never wanting to leave. Of course, Richie, the gorgeous but enigmatic young man he meets in the gardens has a great deal to do with that. Both the gardens and the man tease Nat with mystery. But if he is going out of his mind, it’s a lot better than reality.

This is a beautiful, beautiful book. In fact, as I got to about three quarters of the way through I put it down for days and rationed my reading to a couple of pages a time because I simply didn’t want it to end. Fiona Glass’s writing is as sumptuous and enchanting as the gardens she describes so well. Her characters are living people, who aren’t always easy to like, but are always good company. Though having said that, I found myself head over heels in love with Richie. I can’t blame Nat for wanting to stay with him, though perhaps – for reasons which will become plain if you read the book – I should!

If I wanted to nitpick, I would say that possibly the National Trust parts of the book did not have the same energy or grip as the earlier parts, and perhaps it might have suited me better had things been wrapped up sooner once the mystery was solved. But that would be being ungrateful for a wonderful week spent immersed in a delicious and magical world. This deserves to be read and read, and I can’t recommend it enough.

A tour around HMS Victory

It occurred to me to dig out the pictures we took while going round HMS Victory in the summer. Unfortunately I don't seem to have one of an officer's cabin, to prove the fact that they were about one pace deep, but I do have one of Admiral Nelson's sleeping cabin:




His bed is a canvas hammock with a board at the bottom, covered by a thin mattress. The curtains were embroidered by Emma Hamilton :) And he has a reasonably large space in which to move because he's sharing it with two cannons.

We took too many pictures to make a picspam at all reasonable, so Andrew has put them on his Flickr account, and you can see them all here:

All aboard for a tour of the Victory

But as it's very cold here again, and the Victory is entirely without central heating, I suggest you warm yourself on the galley before you go ;)

Captain's Surrender

By: Alex Beecroft
Published By: Linden Bay Romance, LLC
ISBN # 978-1-60202-088-7

Word Count: 60229

Available in: Microsoft Reader, Mobipocket, Adobe Acrobat, HTML

Price: $6.99

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About the book

Ambitious and handsome, Joshua Andrews had always valued his life too much to take unnecessary risks. Then he laid eyes on the elegant picture of perfection that is Peter Kenyon.

Soon to be promoted to captain, Peter Kenyon is the darling of the Bermuda garrison. With a string of successes behind him and a suitable bride lined up to share his future, Peter seems completely out of reach to Joshua.

But when the two men are thrown together to serve during a long voyage under a sadistic commander with a mutinous crew, they discover unexpected friendship. As the tension on board their vessel heats up, the closeness they feel for one another intensifies and both officers find themselves unable to rein in their passion.

Let yourself be transported back to a time when love between two men in the British Navy was punishable by death, and to a story about love, about honor, but most of all, about a Captain’s Surrender.

An excerpt from the book

“No!” One got used to Peter being still, measured, even stiff, and forgot that he could also swoop into movement like a hawk. Josh found himself seized by both elbows before he’d even registered the beginning of the lunge. “Is that why you follow me? Out of a kind of self-blackmail? Out of fear? I thought...” He swallowed, looking almost sick with nerves. “I thought there was something more.”

Josh breathed in—a breath that seemed to take forever, while his heart paused, frightened, above the great abyss of the future. How easily he could ruin the modest happiness he had attained as Peter’s friend by misinterpreting, by leaping out unsupported into the pit.

“I thought you wanted to gloss over the incident,” Josh said, wiping his hands nervously against the skirts of his coat. Had he missed something? When they came to shore and took lodgings together, they had had a gentle, fearsomely embarrassed conversation about the unfortunate fate of Peter’s rather too well beloved tutor, Mr. Allenby, and then nothing. A few days’ awkwardness and then friendship returning like a balm. But had he read it wrong?

Had the awkwardness been in fact an inept, unspoken invitation? He fought off hope and guilt together. “Frankly, sir, when you kiss a superior officer without invitation you feel unreasonably fortunate even to be allowed to let the matter drop.”

Unexpectedly, Kenyon smirked. “I’ll remember that, next time I accost the admiral.” And Josh laughed, sure that he could now turn away, hide his flushed face in the shadows and let the moment pass, leaving him on an even keel again.

But Peter had not let go. It would have taken a saint to struggle against the grip of those long fingered, elegant hands—and Josh was no saint. Though elbows did not normally feature prominently in his erotic daydreams, when they were separated from Peter’s skin only by a layer of cotton so thin that he could feel the roughness of rope burns, the callous left by a small-sword, he found himself obsessed by them, unable to concentrate on anything else.

“I admit I was a little...taken aback, at the time.”

They moved; Peter’s hands moved, sliding from elbows to biceps, and Josh had to bite his lip against the rush of illicit pleasure, the maddening desire to take the one step forward that would enable him to press himself against Peter, hot and tight together. God, he shouldn’t have thought of that!

“But the more I reflected on the matter, the more I confess I found myself...” Peter’s eyes had a trick of holding the light, as the sea will when the sun is bright, and Josh—oh how he wanted to swim. “Curious.”

No protestations of undying love. It was unsettling—it was almost real. “Curious?” Josh managed in a constricted, breathless voice that was as good as an admission of guilt. If Peter had any sensitivity at all, he must know how far he was pushing; he must have the sense to back off now, before it was too late.

“As to what you are willing to die for. I should like to know.”

There were a number of objections Josh could have made, and he did try. He honestly did. With his blood singing and his mouth gone dry he did say “I...don’t wish to…mistake your meaning.”

Kenyon’s right hand stroked over Josh’s shoulder, came to rest on the back of his neck, the thumb moving slightly, raising the hairs on his nape in a shiver of delight. By themselves, his eyes had half closed, his face tilted up in mute offering, primed and waiting. He made a last ditch defense. “I don’t want you to do...anything you’d…regret.”

And Peter closed the distance between them. They were touching, Josh could feel the planes of that hard chest, was surrounded, invaded by Peter’s heat, his scent. Peter was looking down with wide eyes, his own breath coming ragged now, as Josh’s fever infected him. “I should like to kiss you,” he said, decidedly. “Unless you object?”

Even the man’s voice was like being coated in molasses and licked clean. How was anyone supposed to object to that? “Christ no!” Josh leaned in, surrendering. “I mean yes, sir, kiss me. Oh, yes. Yes, please!”

A Good End (to the year).

After the toil and less than overwhelming success of the chat, I was ready to feel sorry for myself at the weekend. However, today makes for a great end to a year in which I had my first book accepted for publication.

Why? (I don't hear you say ;) )

Because today I got a fabulous review of Captain's Surrender from Val Kovalin at Obsidian Bookshelf:


When you finish this succinct book (which is slightly under 200 pages) you will be amazed at the range of emotional and physical territory covered by Captain's Surrender... which is the best gay novel I've read this year.

Read the whole review HERE

And because 90% Proof - the story whose saga begins with 'sweet rejection' and continues with 'LOL!Editing' - has been accepted for the Freya's Bower anthology. So the year ends with a contract for a short story, and next year begins with the release of 'Captain's Surrender'.

It isn't the impressive multiple publishing list of some writers, but it's a landmark year for me!

Happy New Year to everyone!

An interview with Peter Kenyon

I am surprised to find Captain Kenyon so young, until I remember that sailors in the 18th Century started their careers at age thirteen or even earlier. There’s a long habit of command in his eyes, which seem to always be looking towards a distant horizon. They are also a very attractive shade of green.

He rises to greet me and bows with that outstretched leg and flourish of the hand that looks so stiff and ridiculous in films, yet here is graceful as a swan. All at once I feel very uncouth.
“Let’s dive right in,” I say. “Tell me, Captain; your family is quite grand, so why did you decide to join the navy?”

“You’ll think I am… showing away,” he says, with a little head-duck of embarrassment. “But the truth is I wanted to do something of use. Not to rise at noon and dress at two and waste my substance in gaming and other debaucheries like my brother. I wished to defend my home and country against its enemies, and to see new wonders, from the silk markets of Cathay to the Sphinx of the Nile.

“And of course my father’s approval was much eased when Commodore Anson returned from his voyage with more gold in prize money than is in the Bank of London.”
“You were an adventurous boy?”

“Always,” he laughs, “I never could hear of a new thing before I desired to sample it for myself.”
“Which brings me neatly onto Lieutenant Andrews,” I say. “Joshua Andrews. You sampled him quickly enough.”

“Is it your purpose to insult me?” He has hardly sat down before he’s standing again, lips drawn thin as wire and his eyes gleaming.

“Peter,” I say, “As your creator, I know you inside out. I know you deserve the occasional insult.”

“I may,” flicking back the skirts of his coat he sits back down, slightly mollified, but still bristling. “But Josh does not.”

“I’m glad you realize that. But what on earth made you charge straight into a gay relationship with him, and then throw him aside the moment the girl came along? He was just something new you wanted to try?”

“I…” he has the grace to look a little ashamed, and doubtful. “I am a man of my times, Mistress, and I thought of sodomy as a vice one might indulge on occasion – like drinking or cards – and then put down when one took on the responsibilities of marriage. In my defense, Josh encouraged me in this view.”

“He did, didn’t he?” I laugh, “you’re both as bad as each other. Though I can’t help but feel his motives were purer. What do you think it was that finally opened your eyes to the fact that you couldn’t live without him?”

“Alas, I couldn’t tell you. Love? Death? Captivity? God? Who can fathom the mysteries of the human heart?”

“Not you, clearly!”

“It’s true,” he laughs again; beautiful, confident and unconcerned with his own flaws. “I have been called reckless, and even proud, but I don’t think anyone has ever claimed I was wise.”

Book Trailer

Peter and Josh

Before I did this feature for 'In their Own Words' I hadn't realized how difficult it would be to find actors who fitted my mental image of my leading men. But trying to imagine which actors would be my ideal casting choices, in the unlikely event of it being made into a film, was great fun! In the end, I decided that I might have to give the actor playing Josh contact lenses and a bottle of hair dye, but that these are still the people I'd choose if I had that enviable choice :)

In my ideal world Peter Kenyon from 'Captain's Surrender' will be played by James D'arcy:



who is perfect in the sense of being tall and elegant, with a build a little like a greyhound, remarkable light-filled eyes and chiseled features.

And Joshua Andrews will be played by Ewan McGregor:



who would do a great job at conveying Josh's complexity, and could go from 'cowed and invisible' to 'glamorous and self confident' without blinking an eye :)

Two fantastic reviews

A big

to my reviewers!

I sent the galley proof version of 'Captain's Surrender' out to various websites to see if they fancied reviewing it prior to its release. That way people would have an idea what it was about and whether it was any good before they bought it.

Wow! I'm absolutely over the moon about the two I've received so far.

From Erastes at Speak It's Name

Now this is what I’m talking about. If you want a taste of what floats my boat when it comes to gay historical fiction, (no pun intended), then this is it.

Read the whole review HERE

From Lee Benoit at Rainbow Reviews

Thrilling! On every level, Captain’s Surrender is thrilling. Alex Beecroft spins image, voice, character, setting, and story into a captivating whole, accomplishing the rare feat of inducing in the reader a forgetfulness that we are, indeed, reading...

I said at the beginning of this review that Captain’s Surrender thrilled me. It satisfied a craving I’ve had for decades, for a certain kind of book, the kind that’s so seldom written it’s an almost violent surprise when one crosses my path. It drilled right down to the bedrock of my psyche, dug out that part of me that whiled away childhood afternoons with elaborate seagoing, swashbuckling epic fantasies, then set it in the sunshine beside my adolescent longing for a more bent, more tolerant world. Add to that damned good writing to satisfy an adult self with high standards and broad tastes, and you’ve got a keeper. And something to recommend with impunity.

Read the whole review HERE

To say I'm chuffed would be understating the issue :) I am absolutely on cloud 9!

Captain's Surrender is reviewer's choice at NOR

Captain's Surrender by Alex Beecroft

Score: 4.75 / 5 - Reviewer Top Pick

Reviewer: Vee of Night Owl Romance

Online: http://www.nightowlromance.com/nightowlromance/reviews/Review.asp?ReviewId=1033

Joshua Andrews and Peter Kenyon are two gay men who are forced to bunk together aboard Captain Walker's naval ship. Captain Walker, a sadistically cruel man who revels in beating and killing, has made it clear there are spies among the crew and any show of passion will be dealt with in a gruesome and lethal manner.

Thus sets the backdrop of Captain's Surrender. While Josh and Peter escape death at Captain Walker's hands, there is the societal and biblical damnation that fosters in Josh a deep-seated self loathing. And there's the expectation that Peter take a wife and 'make' heirs for his family.

While each works up the ranks of the Navy to become captains themselves, they have stolen, intense and passionate moments. After a battle with the Colonists that sinks Josh's ship, he awakens in the arms of a Native American man. As Josh recuperates, the Indians who are caring for him show him a different outlook on gay men. They revere them as being special and better. This helps Josh accept his nature and his love for Peter.

The conflict in Captain's Surrender and the forbidden nature of the romance between Josh and Peter is probably the strongest and most realistic that I've ever read. Ms. Beecroft is unflinching in her portrayal of the volatile society in which they lived.

However I had a very hard time stomaching the cruelty dished out by Captain Walker and admit that after reading a couple of very vivid passages where men were beaten, I didn't want to continue the book. I was greatly relieved when the pair were no longer under the captain's thumb.

The truth is the feelings of revulsion I felt are a compliment to the author's writing. She managed to invoke the sense of despair and dread the men felt. The love/lust scenes were equally as good showing at their paradoxical nature.

Book Review: Lieutenant Samuel Blackwood (deceased)

HMS Privet is a cursed ship - every first lieutenant serving aboard her dies gruesomely. Lieutenant Daniel Leigh is determined to solve the mystery and volunteers for the place himself, putting his life in desperate danger. Little does he suspect that he will fall in love with the Captain, John Meadows, and end up fighting not only for his own life but for the soul of his lover too.

This is a unique and delightful little book. I should declare an interest at once, because I proof-read it and am kindly listed as 'editor'. But I agreed to proof read it because, having read the story, I had already fallen in love with it. In the best tradition of the Victorian penny dreadful, it is a rip-roaring story without great literary pretensions, but with buckets of verve and charm. Ghosts! Mortal peril! True love of the m/m persuasion. Derring-do on the high seas... It has all of these things. Above all, it's an entertaining short story told with great wit.

It's also embellished with four original drawings which - I think - are worth the price of the book on their own. The front cover gives you an accurate impression of the style. Like the story, they are deeply charming, and I believe my copy will end up falling open at the kiss on p59

The book is professionally put together and nice to handle. The quality of printing, paper and cover is very high. The first in a planned series (each volume kept short in order to keep the prices down) it's available through the author's website HERE

I think it says something that I've already bought two copies - one for me and one to give away, and on the strength of this one will be buying the rest of the series sight unseen. It's the perfect thing to while away a couple of hours on a windy night, and I hope I will eventually have a shelf full of the series :)

Invitation to an Author Chat

To celebrate the imminent release of 'Captain's Surrender' - ebook out on the 1st of January and print soon after - I'm having an all day chat at Beth Wylde's yahoo group HERE on the 28th of December. That would be tomorrow :)

There will be a competition to win a free copy of the ebook, and numerous excerpts so that you can decide whether you fancy it at all ;) and I would *love* to see some of my friends there. It'll be going on all day, starting at 10am ish UK time and going on until I go to bed, so please drop in at any time and say hello.

Thank you!

Alex