Reviewed by Valerie

TITLE:  Moon Flower

SERIES:  Fated #1

AUTHOR:  Christina Lee

PUBLISHER:  Self-Published

LENGTH:  196 pages

RELEASE DATE:  June 30, 2021

BLURB:

When Galen flees his home and travels to Lunar’s Reach, he does what he needs to survive. But trading his body for food in his belly is always a risky undertaking. After he’s found injured in an alleyway, his new friends take him to Moon Flower apothecary, where the madam in charge offers him the proposition of a lifetime.

Little does he know that the Moon Flower flourishes at night—in more ways than one. Gentlemen gather in secret, yearning for an evening with Galen and the others, where they offer pleasure willingly while exploring their desires.

But Galen’s eye is continually drawn to the most unassuming man in the room—Azriel, the resident healer, who has the most unusual aura Galen has ever seen. There’s an understated melancholy in him that Galen longs to soothe, and the more time they spend together, the more he craves to know Azriel’s touch.

But security is only a threadbare veneer for those like him, and soon danger is upon their doorstep. Galen has only ever needed to protect himself, but now he belongs to an ensemble of unlikely characters who’ve become the family he never had. So he’ll put himself on the line, along with his heart, if it means keeping them safe—especially Azriel, the man who quiets his restless soul.

Please note: Moon Flower is set in an imaginary world reminiscent of our nineteenth century, with some fantastical elements and without explicit rules. Some liberties were taken for the sake of fiction—and, of course, romance.

Trigger warning: Discussions and depictions of assault which are physical and sexual in nature, as well as a background characterization that some might find taboo or unconventional.

REVIEW:

Moon Flower is a brilliant, enchanting love story. Galen and Azriel…gah! Help, I’ve fallen (in love with them) and I can’t get up. I suspected I would adore this book before I even had the book in hand. From the alluring blurb, to Christina Lee’s evocative teasers, to the gorgeous cover illustrated by Sarah Jo Chreene, my instincts were proven true. I was most impressed, however, by Ms. Lee’s own words when, in the weeks prior to release, she called this book a labor of love. When an author uses words like these to describe her work, I take heed.  

Galen is a twenty-one-year-old homeless man who needs to sell himself to survive. The harsh realities and desperation of homelessness are well portrayed. It’s dangerous work, as Galen finds out when he’s beaten and left unconscious in an alley in the snow. He’s rescued by two angelic brothers who take him to the Moon Flower brothel/apothecary where he is nurtured and treated for his injuries. He is immediately drawn to another young man – a shy and mysterious healer and resident of Moon Flower. Galen is soon enamored with beautiful Azriel, his soothing voice, and eyes that match his aura: one green and one blue, representing concern and sadness. Galen has the gift of reading auras which allows him to intuit a person’s intentions, emotions, and innate goodness or evil. It becomes useful when contending with the villains in the story. An impending sense of doom looms over the book, but there is a lovely benefactor who saves the day.  

Galen and Azriel are fated and – my favorite word to describe a couple – inevitable. When an author can gift her readers with that sense of inevitability, the book is truly special. These men were making love before they were even in love, although I suspect there was a touch of love from the moment their eyes first met and held. 

I was struck by the visceral sensuality. I swooned right off my chair onto the floor into a whimpering puddle of feels. Every sense is invoked: the musky smell of arousal and Azriel’s ever-present floral scent; the silky feel of Azriel’s hair between Galen’s fingers; the sound of their moans; the swirling colors of green, blue, and mysterious magenta auras; and the taste of… well, you know. And then there’s the can’t-catch-my-breath hot sex. Galen and Azriel’s first sexual encounter deserves a place in the Annuals of Swoon. The voyeurism is hot AF. Hot AF! My tablet went up in flames. (I’m very sad no firefighters came to my rescue, though.) I suffered the delicious slow burn until their first kiss – I must say, tectonic plates move faster than this UKT (unresolved kissing tension). Oh, the exquisite intimacy of it all. 

I’ve probably exceeded my quota of superlatives, but here’s one more: the Moon Flower brothel houses the most endearing found family. The men are deeply caring and loyal toward one another. They are witty and sarcastic, and despite the dire circumstances that have brought each of them to Moon Flower, they possess a sense of gratitude and contentment. It’s all overseen by motherly Madam Langley, who runs both the apothecary and brothel, and pampers and protects the young men. Twins Wren and Sparrow, Bellamy, Oscar, Edward and the others are intriguing characters who all contribute to the overall warmth of the book. I felt compassion for the passionate gentleman callers at the brothel who are, presumably, only able to be their true selves at Moon Flower.  

I urge readers – especially Christina Lee fans – to take the plunge with this fantasy even if it’s not your go-to genre. I’d say this is fantasy-light – no mythical creatures, etc. – just fun, magical yumminess. What you’ll get is Ms. Lee’s usual creativity and passion wrapped up in a beautiful, historical love story  that will warm your heart with its sweet HEA. On one hand, I wish this book had gone on forever. On the other hand, I don’t think I could’ve survived another rollercoaster ride of highs and lows. I do know, however, that Galen and Azriel will reside in my heart and head for a long time to come. And did I mention the voyeurism?? *thud*

RATING: 

BUY LINK: 

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