Reviewed by Anabela.m
TITLE: Manchester Lake
SERIES: Darkly Enchanted Romance Book 3
AUTHOR: Joshua Ian
PUBLISHER: Moody Boxfan Books
LENGTH: 217 pages
RELEASE DATE: March 9, 2021
BLURB:
England, 1910Monty, along with his best friend Bishop, investigates an odd seal-like creature swimming in Manchester Lake. The pair soon realize they’ve found a selkie when the magnificent animal transforms into the most gorgeous man either of them has ever seen. Determined to discover the origins of the mystical man, they bundle him into Bishop’s brand-new electric automobile and whisk him off to London.There they find a host of distractions: a tastefully debauched house party hosted by silver-tongued aristocrats, and a queerly European-inspired novelty called the night club. Both are filled with a cast of characters sometimes amusing and sometimes frightening. And as the night unfolds, Monty comes face-to-face with ghoulish agents of the occult as well as revelations from the past.Most surprisingly of all, Monty finds himself falling for the beautiful creature from the lake, who seems equally interested in him. Can he really find himself in love with a man he has only just met? Or do they have a deeper connection which goes much further back? And what does it all have to do with the memories of his trip to Paris three years prior?The mystery of the selkie from Manchester Lake is only the beginning, and before their adventure is finished Monty will see the culmination of long suppressed secrets explode in a firestorm of magic and passion!
REVIEW:
The book’s prologue introduced a crying Monty, singing his heartbreak to the dark waters of river Seine in 1907’s Paris. Then, in the story’s present day of 1910, Monty was in Essex, England when, together with his best friend Quinn, discovered that, what they’d considered a seal, could shed its animal skin and transform into the most fascinating man. A selkie on Manchester lake was a wondrous thing, at least for Monty. They named him Rodin, and seeing that he didn’t initially speak, he, Monty and Quinn went to London looking for answers. What ensued was the most engaging adventure. Told entirely from Monty’s perspective, the story progressed alternating chapters that took place in present day and others in 1907.
In a way, for some time, the story didn’t feel like a romance, because the story wasn’t mainly focused on Monty anf Rodin. Monty felt a magical connection to Rodin, but for a big chunk, the main characters seemed to be Monty and Quinn, especially in the 1907 chapters. That year Monty has had a love affair that ended badly and Quinn had met a mysterious and ominous man, whose dangerous shadow darkened their present.
I was completely enthralled by the story, curious about why the author would write in detail about Monty’s past affair when in present day he was completely taken by Rodin. I found it intriguing that the author chose to do so, but by the end it turned out to be brilliant. Because the story started slow and light, even funny, both in the past and in present day, to slowly shift and become darker, complicated and dangerous as the plot moved forward. It was a breathtaking crescendo that lead to a final confrontation, when the past and the present collided. Then, I felt the romance. Once things settled, Rodin and Monty had the chance to talk and clarify things, love shone and Rodin’s devotion made me swoon.
Manchester Lake was like a fairytale. A gripping combination of gothic, historical and paranormal, with the good guys prevailing over the evil creature and a happy ending for all involved. With a colorful setting and charming characters, the story kept me spellbound from page one to the very last. Absolutely recommended.
RATING: 
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