Reviewed by Jess
TITLE: My Baby Chased Away the Blues
AUTHOR: R.A. Thorn
PUBLISHER: NineStar Press
LENGTH: 358 pages
RELEASE DATE: July 8, 2019
BLURB:
It’s 1925 in Los Angeles, and motor patrol officer Del Randolph keeps making one mistake after another. Struggling to keep his job with the Los Angeles Police Department, Del is also lonely and heartbroken after his last lover left him.
But then he meets Ev, a gentle but cynical invert, and has his heart stolen again. Del knows he’s no great catch—he isn’t smart or particularly handsome or rich—but he’s determined to show Ev how much he loves him.
Unfortunately, his misguided attempts at winning Ev’s affections might end up destroying their relationship instead. Del joins a hapless gang of bootleggers to try to make some money but quickly winds up in trouble. Soon he’s in debt, breaking the law, and lying to Ev about all of it.
REVIEW:
Sometimes, a couple makes you fall in love with them from their first meeting. But other times, such as in this book, the couple starts chilly and warms slowly until you can’t imagine two people who belong together more than they do. This is a lovely, unconventional historical read that is bursting with drama, romance, and two amazing main characters.
Del is a motorcycle cop who knows he’s not exactly the most skilled police officer around. He’s not especially sharp, clever, or tough, but he’s earnest and kind, and he follows traffic laws to the letter. He’s happy to pass the days hanging out with his friend Glen, going fishing, and trying to forget about a messy breakup. But when he meets the prickly, beautiful Ev Sharples at a speakeasy, he falls in love immediately, despite Ev’s cool reception. Slowly, the two men grow closer, and Ev’s icy exterior thaws to reveal a sweet, vulnerable young man who just wants someone to trust. Del knows he can be that person, but he also believes he needs to give Ev nice things to keep him interested, leading him to joining a two-bit bootlegging operation on the side for a little extra money. It’s pretty risky for a low-ranking cop in Prohibition-era Los Angeles, but he’s a man in love, and he’ll do whatever it takes to keep Ev happy.
This is not the glamorous side of L.A. in the 1920’s presented in other stories. Del and Ev are both blue-collar workers just trying to get by and carve out a little space where they can be themselves. Ev is hardened and cautious, knowing the world isn’t kind to boys like him, and he finds solace with his group of girlfriends who keep him safe. Seeing him soften around Del, a man who loves him for exactly who he is, is so tender and perfect. But Ev is also strong and principled. He knows that just being himself can be considered a crime to some, so he’s not forgiving when it comes to Del’s lawbreaking and deal-making, and he wants to be heard by Del, not just taken at face value.
For a historical romance, this book also takes a wonderfully deep dive into gender and sexual norms of the time. Ev has to deal with the battle between his true self and his outward appearance, as he must portray himself as stereotypically male for his own safety. In modern language, Ev may identify as genderqueer or perhaps a demigirl. Seeing his dynamic with Del is interesting, because Del is bisexual but prefers feminine partners and treats Ev like a girlfriend, which Ev prefers. It’s a gendered dynamic that we may find dated and even sexist through a modern lens, but for these characters, it feels completely natural. It shows a relationship that makes sense for the time, place, class, and community within the story while still being romantic, sweet, and authentic.
I had some issues with the plot, mainly since the main conflict of bootlegging never really went anywhere. If the relationship between Del and Ev wasn’t so well-written, I’d pay more attention to the plot holes, but I was so distracted by the relationship drama that I let other qualms go to the wayside. In general, the book does a good job of portraying the petty crime world of the time, even if the stakes ended up fizzling.
This book is atmospheric and steeped in language and mannerisms of the time. It’s obviously well-researched. Del and Ev will totally steal your heart with their excellent love story. I’d definitely recommend this one!
RATING: 
BUY LINKS:
[…] their relationship instead. Del joins a hapless gang of bootleggers to try to make some money but quickly winds up in trouble. Soon he’s in debt, breaking the law, and lying to Ev about all of […]