Reviewed by Stephen K.
TITLE: To Light a Fire
SERIES: Speak its Name #1
AUTHOR: Kristian Parker
PUBLISHER: Pride Publishing
LENGTH: 82 pages
RELEASE DATE: 25 May 2021
BLURB: Frank never thought he would find love…until he met his friend’s servant.
It’s 1922 and Frank Harris has finished his exams at Cambridge. He had planned on going home to his parents’ Midlands shop until his friend Charlie Fitzwilliam issues a surprise invitation to stay at his family’s stately home.
Frank has nursed a secret attraction to Charlie since their first meeting and can’t resist a chance to spend time with him, but once there, it’s Tanner, a manservant, with whom he instantly falls in lust.
Charlie tries to force a local girl on Frank, and although Frank knows he should keep up appearances, it’s Tanner who sets a fire in him.
To Frank’s astonishment, Tanner is attracted to him too, and their mutual passion kindles, then burns strong. Only, their feelings must remain a secret—discovery would mean the ruin of them both.
But how long can love that blazes this bright be hidden?
REVIEW:
E.M. Forster’s Maurice revisited? I’m a huge fan of the Forster tale and the Merchant & Ivory film. Reading the blurb for this novella, I noted the parallels and volunteered for this read with equal parts anticipation and trepidation. Would this author respect what had gone before or trample all over a much loved favorite of mine?
I’m happy to report that its got some of the best elements of Maurice with dashes of Downton Abbey and Brideshead Revisited as well. And there are enough fresh plot elements to make this a worthwhile read on its own merits. Not bad for a short novella.
The series name is clearly a reference to Wilde’s reference to the love between men; “the love that Dare not Speak its Name.” What with activist activity post Stonewall, Gay Marriage, and LGBTQ+ Rights, more modern, more malicious, critics have lamented that that love is now “The love that won’t shut up.” Personally, I prefer it this way; where men are able to love who they will without fear of imprisonment or recriminations, and writers are free to write about such love.
Still, a time when there was a great divide between the classes and shagging the servants was done but not talked about, is a fertile ground for erotic m/m fiction & a bit of fantasy fulfillment. One advantage of having this novella as m/m fiction is that unlike the movie nor even Forster’s original, they don’t need to “fade to black” during the naughty bits. And though those bits are short in this novella they seem promising. After reading this, I’m sold. I want to know more about Frank and Tanner.
RATING: 
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