Reviewed by Sadonna

TITLE:  The Stablemaster’s Heart

SERIES:  Tales of Lilleforth

AUTHORS:  Sarah Honey

PUBLISHER:  Self-published

LENGTH:  232 pages

RELEASE DATE:  July 22, 2023

BLURB:

Mother Jones has spent his life working hard, running the royal stables at Lilleforth, and watching on fondly as those around him fall in love and lust.

But nobody, man or woman, has ever stoked that fire for him—right until the new royal groom barrels into his life. Vasily is all sunshine smiles, golden hair and laughter. For the first time, Mother finds himself attracted to someone, and he can’t help wondering what it might be like to court—and bed—his handsome new groom.
But Mother is over thirty, rough around the edges, and hardly a catch.
Vasily couldn’t possibly return his affections—could he?

Vasily Petrov, the fourth son of the king of Koroslova, is travelling incognito for a year. In Koroslova the old ways are the only ways, and a man being attracted to another man is unthinkable—especially if you’re a prince. But in Lilleforth, Vasily has the chance to spread his wings and explore the side of himself that he can no longer deny, and he intends to make the most of it.

Except, he’s falling for his stablemaster—and worse, Mother doesn’t know he’s a prince, and Vasily doesn’t know how to tell him. And the longer he waits, the more he fears losing what they have when the truth comes out.

This was not the plan.

REVIEW:

Vasily is the fourth son of a king – so he doesn’t exactly have a prominent role in his country’s business.  Also, in his country, Koroslova, it’s not possible to be with another man.  He really wants to travel the world and see what else might be out there for him.  So his mother arranges for him to be able to travel incognito for a year.  He’s got a job lined up as a groom in Lilleforth, a country that has a Prince married to a Prince Consort 🙂  Vasily has always spent more of his time with horses than with his family and he can’t wait.

Mother Jones has run the royal stables in Lilleforth for some time.  He’s content with his job and if he hasn’t found anybody yet that he’s really wanted more with, well so be it.  He’s got a good life.  But then this beautiful new groom shows up.  And he’s smitten.  He’s sweet and funny and gorgeous.  The fact that he seems to have no idea how to take care of himself is also a surprising turn on.  So Mother takes Vasily under his wing and teaches him the basics of well, everything.

When Vasily confesses that he’s not interested in young women after Mother practically has to shoo them away from Vasily, Mother is surprised.  And a little pleased if he’s honest.  Could there maybe be more between them?  He offers to help Vasily work on his “game” so that he can maybe find someone to date.  Turns out Vasily is pretty bad at it.  But he soon realizes that he’s not interested in some other young man.  He’s interested in Mother.  When he finally works up his courage to confirm this to Mother, well Mother is just grateful, because he has fallen under the spell of the beautiful younger man as well.

Some have been sworn to secrecy about Vasily’s true identity.  When it seems clear that he and Mother are more than friends, it’s clear that he is going to have to let Mother in on the ruse if they are to have any sort of future.  Can Mother accept that the man he is falling in love with is not a groom, but instead a Prince?  How could that work?  He’s sure he won’t be enough for someone like Vasily, even if they are in love.  Luckily for Mother and Vasily, if they can be patient, things might just work out 😉

Well this was a completely adorable story. Vasily and Mother are both such sweet men.  They are good at their jobs and Vasily certainly doesn’t want to be a Prince.  He’s been happier in Lilleforth as a groom that he certainly ever was as a Prince.  Mother is so happy to finally find someone who makes him feel more than friendship. Vasily wanted to explore and find happiness and his love is right in front of him 🙂  His attempts at flirting were hilarious!  Mother was such a good sport working with him and then falling for him.  Their relationship just really developed very organically as they worked together and became friends and then lovers.  And of course we get to see the entirely supportive and hilarious Leo and Felix from the first book enjoying their married life and helping Mother and Vasily 😀  It’s a low angst, age-gap, secret identity story with some smart and cunning supporting characters who help our heroes get their happily ever-after.  Definitely recommended.

RATING:

BUY LINK:

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