Reviewed by Vicki

 

TITLE: Sharp Love

SERIES: Gambling on Love #2

AUTHOR: Ava March

PUBLISHER: Carina Press

LENGTH: 77,000 words

BLURB:

London, 1822

 

William Drake has lived among thieves, bastards and beggars all his life, doing what’s necessary to survive. As a young orphan, that included looking after his best friend, Jack Morgan. But as they grew older, Jack took the honest path, leaving Will behind to fend for himself the only ways he knows how.

 

When an unsavory errand for his employer brings Jack back to London’s underbelly, he needs Will’s help. It’s there, among the alleys they ran through as children, that the love he’s always felt for Will returns. As their nights together grow hotter, Will discovers something new about his old friend–Jack’s need to serve extends into the bedchamber.

 

Will has never fully abandoned his dream of escaping London with Jack. But what could the Duke’s driver want with a dishonest cheat like him, beyond a bit of rough sex? It takes the gamble of Will’s life to find out if he can win Jack’s heart…

 

REVIEW:

I can’t think of an author that does historical m/m romance novels as well as Ava March. Most of her books have a wonderful BDSM aspect as well… Sharp Love is a perfect example of what she does so well. Lighter on the BDSM than others, but the characters were just so perfectly damaged I didn’t miss the bondage at all.

 

I remember Jack from the first book, and his care of Max, his employer. I wondered if we’d see more of him, and here he is with his own man. But his man has issues… Actually they both have issues! Will and Jack both grew up in an orphanage, then on their own on the streets of London. Will seems to be the smarter of the two, Jack the more physical. Will takes a darker path, gambling and a bit of prostitution, keeping them both fed and housed as teenaged boys. Jack reaches a point were he can’t watch Will risk himself anymore and he leaves. Finding a job in a livery stable, then being in the right place at the right time to save a Duke. This leads him to a job and home in the country, leaving Will alone in the city. He then shows up periodically asking Will for help,  but not offering any. Will does the best he can, but he struggles.

 

These two men are so frustrating. On one hand Jack is a judgemental arse, criticizing Will for his choices, lording his position and success over Will, using and leaving him, without helping or understanding. He came from the exact same place in life Will did, yes he had the drive to make a different choice, but that doesn’t make him any better than Will. But underneath the arsehole attitude is a lonely, submissive, gentle soul, afraid to ask for what he wants. He’s been in some back alley situations and gotten scared. He’s big and strong, but is submissive. He’s lucky he hasn’t been hurt, honestly. Will is smart and bold, knows he wants out of London and working toward that goal. He gambles to win, cheating when he can, doing a little back alley work for a bit of extra money, saving to buy some property and make something of himself. His issue is lack of confidence. He can’t see himself as anything other than the abandoned child he was. No one will hire him, no one will love him, no one will want him. As Jack has shown him over and over, leaving him behind repeatedly.

 

So Jack shows up in Will’s life again, asking for his help again, planning on staying a few days then running away, again. Only this time it’s different. Something has changed between them. If only they would open their damn mouths and talk about it, all would be well! But they are men, gay men, living in a time when being gay is a killing offense. They skirt around their feelings, as readers we see both sides and know what they feel, but can’t do anything about it! I wanted to sit them down and explain it. Drama happens, sex happens, Will begins to see what Jack needs, but they are both such idiots that they screw it all up yet again! Anyway, great plot, with good drama, frustrating men, a little action of the non bedroom kind, some nice action OF the bedroom kind, and a fabulous resolution.

 

It was interesting to see the story of Max and Tristan from the outside as well, it made me want to read their story again.

 

Grab the first book, All in with the Duke, if you haven’t already read it, Max and Tristan are wonderfully screwed up as well. This one takes place simultaneously, you don’t have to have read it first but it may help. If you are a fan of historical novels in this time period, you will like this book, it is so well done. The clothing, attitude, candle light, carriages, horses, houses, gambling hells, wine, language, is all so perfectly done. I was right there with Will and Jack. It was wonderful!

 

RATING:

 

BUY LINKS:

Carina Press

Amazon

ARe