Reviewed by Carissa

TITLE: Seducing Stephen
AUTHOR: Bonnie Dee and Summer Devon
PUBLISHER: Loose Id
LENGTH: 144 pages
BLURB: What does a jaded earl see in a studious young man? Everything he never knew he was missing.

The dark, alluring Peter, Lord Northrup, is Stephen’s every nighttime fantasy made flesh and he’s in Stephen’s bed, ready for passion. When Peter discovers the bedroom mix-up, he’s ready to leave, until Stephen begs him to teach him all the things he’s only imagined.

The two men, visitors at a country house, begin a delirious, passionate affair with Northrup as teacher and Stephen his eager student. Peter knows their liaison is about hot sessions of sexual exploration, not love–and backs away when he sees shy Stephen’s heart is involved. Passion and commitment can’t coexist for men like them.

But Peter is haunted by memories of the summer fling and the quiet young man he spurned. He may have taught Stephen too well the lessons of a cynical roué.

REVIEW:

Finding a boy in his bed, Peter thinks that nothing could be better.  Finding a Lord crawling into his bed, Stephen thinks nothing could be more terrifying–or thrilling.  But what is to be done when the room mix-up reveals that Peter’s rush to judgment may just be spot on–or that Stephen is unwilling to let this glorious chance slip through his fingers?  Well, some lessons on the finer points of seduction and satisfaction would be nice start.

When Peter finds himself facing the prospect of losing his heart–and his friend’s good approval–he runs, leaving Stephen to learn one more lesson: “carpe diem…and remember always that the day you seize often lasts less than twenty-four hours.”  But time and distance do nothing to cool the ardor of either man.  And a chance meeting in a London gambling hell may lead to a second chance.  Or, at least, some revenge sex in the gents.  Perhaps both.

I have a bit of an addiction to Regency England.  Even as far back as my m/f days I have hoarded books full of stiff clothes and even stiffer manners–that cover all that wonderful sin.  Granted, I was never one for bodice rippers (I think, now, that has mostly to do with the presence of a bodice), but I was never one to pass up a chance to see a rake reformed into a loving husband.  Honestly I think I’ve hit the jackpot with m/m Regency historicals…all the hot rakish men, and none of those pesky bodices and even peskier girly parts.

“An afternoon kiss, stolen in the secrecy and stillness of the maze, seemed more precious, more memorable than many he’d experienced during fervent grappling in the dark.  Sweet, nearly chaste, their mouths blended and melded together.”

And girly parts are the last thing on my mind when immersed in the world of manners and the secret liaisons of Peter and Stephen.  Stephen, innocent and virgin he may be at the beginning, throws himself wholeheartedly into the world of decadence…if that decadence is Peter.  Peter, rake and consummate player of the many men of the ton, is terrified by the idea of loving the young man, and this young man only.  But he can’t seem to live without him.  Brought together, torn apart, over and over again, it sometimes seems like they will be forever passing each other in the dark and steamy night.  But love wins out…well, as much out as two men born into a world that would see them ostracized and imprisoned for who they are.

Nothing is certain in the world of men loving other men in Regency England, but this book does a good job of showing a relationship that grows from tryst to forever-promises.  There is no safe way to come-out in this world, but the insistence that they can try and build a life together is such a beautiful sentiment.   It is not perfect, as we would think it, but it is workable and, more importantly, they will be together.  Stephen can perhaps find a world where he can have his bridges and his heart. And Peter can have a reason to smile and love long into the night.  And with the help, and support of some truly awesome friends, they can be happy.

“He felt so incredibly full and completely stretched by Peter’s thick cock.  His intimate touch wonderful, his mouth kissing his cock even better, but this union was beyond them both, deeper and more intimate.  And to look up and see Peter looming over him like the dark demon he’d first taken him for shook him to the core.  This man was all his at last.”

This is such a nice story, full of heartache, love, and redemption.  The trials of finding yourself, coupled with the trials of finding the one, make this a story well worth sighing over.  Read it when you wish you could find a love in your bed, and a reason to wake up in the morning.

Carissa rates it – 

BUY LINKS: Loose-Id :: Amazon :: All Romance eBooks

==================================
Carissa is one of the official reviewers on The Blog of Sid Love.

To read all her reviews, click the link: CARISSA’S REVIEWS
=========================