Reviewed by Taylin
TITLE: Diplomatic Relations
SERIES: The Sci-Regency #4
AUTHOR: J.L. Langley
PUBLISHER: Dreamspinner Press
LENGTH: 288 pages
RELEASE DATE: February 19, 2019
BLURB:
A Sci-Regency Novel: sequel to My Regelence Rake Opposites don’t just attract… they sizzle.
A lusty special forces soldier who lives by his own set of rules, Dalton Fairfax decided long ago to stop wishing for his father’s love, and he found his calling. Now that he’s back home and between assignments, he finds himself at loose ends. When the opportunity arises to play bodyguard and help out his country, Dalton jumps at the chance. Not only does it keep him busy, but it just so happens that his charge is the man he saw on leave last month and hasn’t been able to get out of his head.
Heir to a dukedom and a conservative politician, Blaise Thompson strives to prove himself worthy of carrying on the family legacy as the next IN Councilman. However, his closest competitor keeps getting in the way and taking credit for Blaise’s ideas. Maintaining his stellar reputation isn’t easy to do while keeping his outrageous younger brother in line and foiling his rival’s personal attacks. He has no time for a guard and even less time for romance.
When a priceless antique goes missing, Blaise and Dalton discover that Regelance has larger problems than just IN plots. Now the only way to stop a scandal that threatens both of them is to compromise, and they are forced to confront the risk of losing everything… even each other.
REVIEW:
A loveable rogue and straight-laced virgin with a secret desire for adventure are the main characters in this novel. Dalton is the playboy who the scandal sheets adore. When he went one step too far with his hell-raising antics, his uncle purchased him a commission in the Intergalactic Navy (IN). It was the best thing that happened to him, and Dalton excelled. Blaise loves his work as an intern, as a future high ranking politician. Reputation is a key issue. But with a brother that likes to get into trouble, keeping the peace isn’t easy.
Both Dalton and Blaise are part of Regelance nobility, and a decision has been made outlining those who need protection and Blaise is among them. As Dalton is home on leave, and his family wish to keep him out of trouble, they assign him as Blaise’s security detail. Events then take a turn, which throws the men together even more. Despite their political positions, neither can resist the pull of the other.
Told in the third person with newspaper headlines starting each chapter, I enjoyed the quirky difference this story had to offer. Imaging the era of Pride and Prejudice mingled with Stargate’s Tollan’s, and that is the mixture that is Regelance. The world contains the language, dress and propriety of Pride and Prejudice with the intergalactic technology of the Tollan’s. Diplomatic Relations is also the fourth in the Sci-Regency series. A fact I didn’t realize until I read the introduction. While the relationship in each is different, the world in which they live is the same. Therefore, there are several elements that span all books. Factors like naming conventions, the broader character base, language quirks all left me a touch confused and took me a while to get familiar with.
In the Regelance universe, male/male couplings are the norm rather than the exception. Indeed, Dalton’s Uncle Raleigh is King Consort. But there is more to this story than two people from an antiquated hierarchy finding a way to be together. There is depth and reasoning for the personalities Dalton and Blaise have – enter the ups and downs of family life and parental expectation. The only thing that got a touch irritating was the amount of Galaxy X or Galaxy Y designed to replace phrases like ‘heavens above’ or ‘good gracious’.
The general gist of the story I enjoyed very much, especially as it worked to a cool crescendo. It was lovely to see how Dalton and Blaise helped each other to become more than they were and be the people they were meant to be. The events, drama and bit of angst kept me turning the page. It was a shame that the who’s who and general phrasing confused me. Therefore, if anyone is interested in reading Diplomatic Relations, I would strongly suggest that you read the other books in the series first. From what I read here, I don’t believe anyone will be disappointed in any of the previous books.
RATING: 
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