Reviewed by Sadonna

TITLE:  Black & White

SERIES:  The Perdition Club

AUTHOR: Ruby Moone

PUBLISHER:  Self-published

LENGTH:  156 pages

RELEASE DATE:  June 22, 2022

BLURB:

Welcome to The Perdition Club, where rules are meant to be broken.

Jasper Black is fiercely proud of Perdition, the gaming hell he co-owns. It’s reputation for deep play, free-spirited hedonism, and discretion grows daily, and the life suits him perfectly. No relationships, no commitments, and no strings. Just pure, unadulterated pleasure. When he finds a gorgeous, red-haired young man roaming the corridors of Perdition, clearly the worse for wear, he is delighted to discover a kindred spirit. His name is Alexander White, so it’s clear they were made for each other. Both want no-strings, no-commitment pleasure, so it’s all clear. Black and White, in fact! Then Jasper discovers what White is wearing beneath his well-fitted gentlemen’s garments and he is drawn into a world of hedonism he never knew he needed.

Alexander White’s life is … complicated. He needs money. The quickest way to improve his finances is at the gaming tables and The Perdition Club is the perfect place to play. He has no time for commitments or relationships, but he most definitely has needs. Finding the right man to meet those needs can be difficult, but in Jasper Black he finds exactly the man to appreciate his desires and someone who doesn’t want commitment either. It’s the perfect arrangement. What could possibly go wrong?

As the reality of Alexander’s life intrudes and past hurts surface, they are determined to keep to the arrangement and enjoy the best, most sensual experience of their lives. When everything seems about to collapse around them, do either of them have the courage to say what is in their hearts and grasp a chance at love?

An opposites-attract, found family, MM Regency romance filled with love, laughter, lace, and Gooseberry Jam that will plunge you into the passion and hedonism that is the Perdition Club, and headlong into the glorious chaos that is a Black and White family!

REVIEW:

Jasper Black is content with his life.  He’s built a solid business with his found family – his brothers, as it were – with Perdition.  Their success is accelerating.  So what that he has no lover or personal attachment.  His former lover has soured him on commitment and so now he’s just in it for the pleasure of the moment.  That is until he discovers Alexander White wondering the halls of the club where he shouldn’t be.  When the beautiful man passes out on him after very drunk flirting, it’s clear that there is something different when he allows him to sleep it off in his bed.  But when they come together, the chemistry is sizzling and they agree to a no strings arrangement.  I mean they are Black and White (much to Alex’s amusement) so obviously they are fated to be!

When Alex doesn’t show up at the club and Jasper is out of sorts, one of his co-owners slips him the address of White’s home. Jasper shows up unannounced and is about to be turned away, when he hears the sound of screaming.  Turns out that Alex is the older brother of three young boys in the house.  He’s down for the count with a migraine and the boys are a bit at loose ends, despite the attempts of the house staff, Mr. and Mrs. Stanton.  The oldest brother is away fighting Napoleon and hasn’t been heard of in some months – a most distressing development.  Jasper is determined to keep the boys from fighting and when he find the state Alex is in, he’s moved to take care of him – and the boys.  This is a most peculiar occurrence for a man who was raised an only child and has no experience with children.  But he wants to help with the boys as well as Alex – even though he’s not quite sure where this desire is coming from.

Alex, once he’s back on his feet is grateful to Jasper for the help, but it puts some distance between them now that Jasper knows his circumstances.  He’s got a lot on his shoulders and because he and Jasper have agreed just to casual, he’s worried that all this will send Jasper right off anything to do with him.  But he couldn’t be more wrong.  Jasper finds he enjoys the boys and he truly does want to see Alex settled and happy.  Even as things go back to a bit more normal – if spending every night together at Perdition could be called normal – there are other difficulties that soon rear their ugly heads.  Alex is sure that all of his troubles will end his relationship with Jasper just as he realizes that he’s completely in love with him.  Jasper has no intention of leaving Alex – but he’ll have to convince Alex of that.

This may be my favorite of Ruby Moone’s lovely historicals.  It has so many of my favorite things, but most especially two men who clearly have fallen for each other having a hard time admitting their feelings for fear of rejection.  These two were so perfect for each other.  Their chemistry is off the charts sexually.  Their lives are so different, yet they seem to fit together, even if Alex can’t understand why anyone would want to be involved in his mess of a life.  Jasper has been burned before so he’s kept himself – and most importantly – his heart guarded quite heavily.  But there is just something about Alex that makes him want to try for a different kind of life.  He’s wonderful with Alex’s brothers – who really need a strong hand along with love and compassion.  Alex isn’t sure why Jasper is willing to throw in his lot with Jasper, but Jasper manages to convince him finally.  There is pain and sorrow and some hand-wringing, but in the end love wins out.  So beautifully written in the period language and I enjoyed every single word.  If you love historicals with some passion and humor and lots of  heartfelt declarations, you’ll love this one.  Highly recommended.

RATING:

BUY LINK:

Amazon