Reviewed by Tori (Vicki)
TITLE: The Englor Affair 
SERIES: Sci-Regency #2
AUTHOR: J.L. Langley
PUBLISHER: Dreamspinner Press
LENGTH: 254 pages
RELEASE DATE: August 28th, 2018
BLURB:
A Sci-Regency Novel: sequel to My Fair Captain
Anxious to escape the confines of Regelence society, if only for a little while, Prince Payton Townsend poses as an admiral’s aide to further investigate a dangerous conspiracy. Payton plans only to use his computer skills to help navigate the tangled web of mystery and deceit on planet Englor, then return home, but he finds himself drawn to the charismatic Colonel Simon Hollister.
Simon, however, is no mere soldier—he is heir to the throne of Englor, and his life is meticulously planned to include a bride and heir. Unlike Regelence, the Regency society on Englor disapproves of same-sex relationships, and Payton and Simon’s attraction plays out in a daring secret affair, one Simon never expected would grow into love.
Risking scandal and certain ruin if they are discovered, Payton and Simon uncover more about a common enemy and a deadly plot that imperils both their worlds. But in this game of interplanetary intrigue, love might be the ultimate casualty….
Second Edition
First Edition published by Samhain Publishing Ltd., November 2008.
REVIEW:
This series is a crazy blend of historical and science fiction, book one is set on the planet Regelence, this book on Englor. Both planets are advanced technologically, computers, space travel, laser weapons, and such, but both are based on Regency era England. The main differences are that Regelence society developed from a need for men to form tight bonds in the military, which turned in to a preference for same-sex pairings, which lead to the society being mostly dominated by men. Who marry, have artificially created babies, and protect their young men as much as Englor protects its young women. Regelence is ruled by a King and Consort, Englor by a King and Queen. Regelence is more liberal, Englor more conservative.
This series follows the sons of the rulers of Regelence as they are each finding their mates. That is the romance side we’ve seen so far anyway, but there is a plot of intrigue as well. There is some shenanigans going on with the Intergalactic Navy, some missing weapons, some schematics for another weapon, and possibly some cloning technology all tied up with the ruling families of both planets. Book one featured Nathaniel Hawkins, the son of one of the upper class families of Englor, as he begins the investigation of the missing weapons on Regelence. Where he ends up marrying one of the Regelence princes, Aiden. Book two follows Nate as he heads back to Englor with Prince Payton to continue the investigation. Payton poses as Nate’s IN aid, using his computer hacking skills to try work back to the beginning of this mess.
Payton is very smart, but also very innocent as all princes are meant to be until they are married. He’s happy to be away from his chaperones and parents, although he is pretty shocked by the openness and nakedness of the men in the gym locker room on the base he and Nate are supposedly inspecting, and finds himself very attracted to a man…. who of course turns out to be the man Nate suspects might be involved in the political mess between the two planets! This man is Simon, the next King of Englor.
Simon has some issues. Simon’s mother is super conservative, and is actively working to make homosexuality a crime, along with a couple of cronies who share her beliefs. This is an issue for Simon, as he is gay. Simon has been in the Englor Marines for some time when he begins to get clues something fishy is going on involving the IN, Regelence, and his mother. Now the man he sent to Regelence has gone missing, and Admiral Hawkins has turned up to inspect the Englor Marine base. The bright side is the cutie he finds in the gym locker room one night. Turns out the young man is Payton, Admiral Hawkins aid.
So lots of intrigue happens in this book, way more than I can or should get into here. I’ll just say that aspect of the book was very exciting, and kept me on my toes. Then there is the romance side of it. Payton and Simon are very different, Payton is so sheltered even though he is from a society that glorifies same-sex relationships. Simon is more open, having traveled more, seen battle, and had lovers, even though his background is more conservative. I found that added a lot to their relationship, especially as they two grow closer. Then there is the sex…. Payton is a virgin until he is gloriously deflowered by Simon, and the heat cranks up! Oh, there is so much I want to say, but I don’t want to give anything away! You just have to read this awesome book to get all of the details.
Political intrigue, murder, misunderstandings, sex…. this book has it all. And I LOVED IT!
Is it a historical? Kinda, they wear breeches, greatcoats, cravats, and ride horses. Is it a sci-fi? Yes, they use computers, have spaceships, and laser weapons. Are they repressed sexually like in Regency England? Kinda, they protect the virginity of their young people, both male and female, depending on the planet, until marriage. But then they have LUBE DISPENSERS on their beds and in their showers! They have human butlers, and computer butlers. They ride horses, but also ride in lifts. They have gyms with treadmills and weight machines, but also boxing clubs. They use swear words like “fuck” and “shit”, but also “galaxy”, “imploding stars”, and “dust”. Payton writes in a paper journal, and uses a com-pad. They have a Parliament and go to balls and gambling hells, but make babies with two men in a lab (on Regelence anyway). I dug it all….
It had a creative plot, great main characters as well as side characters, and a fantastic ending. I loved how the relationship matured between Simon and Payton, from sexual attraction, to emotional attraction, to discontent, then finally settled on love. The characters grew throughout the story, ending in a perfect place together. It really had everything I look for in a book! I am so happy J.L. Langley is re-releasing the first few books and is writing more. I read these years ago and forgot how much I loved them!
I highly recommend this book, but start with book one or you’ll be lost. This series won’t be for everyone, since it’s somewhere between historical and sci-fi, but seriously give them a try!
RATING: 
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