Rest Ye Merry, Gentlemen by Connie Bailey & J.M. McLaughlin

[reviews_and_ramblings]

Since yesterday I discussed about how an historical gay romance author should be "honest and true-to-life" not giving an happily ever after to her heroes, here is an example how you can do that and still be romantic and prosaic at the same time.

Norhlund Merrit is a music teacher; he chose a life as a bachelor to not forcing a woman beside him, when he is more than aware that his preferences lie in men. Being bachelor at twenty years old is normal, but the years pass and more it's strange and North is forced to move on often to not stir unwelcomed interest. And so here it's now, new in a Academy for Young Ladies, summoned by the uncle and guardian of one of his pupils.

Sir Daltrey Powell is a rake; no other word can describe his scandalous behavior, and his naughty interests lie in women as well as in men. He is young and reckless and only his substantial wealthy allows him to not be a renegade of good society. When he meets his niece's teacher, he thinks to have found one more easy conquest to amuse him during Christmastime. But North is not an easy prey, he is more than aware that he has not wealthiness or aristocratic title to protect him from consequences that are not only social but also legal.

If not for the fact that Northlund is a man, this could be the classical Regency romp, with the devilish gentleman who seduces the innocent maid. But don't get me wrong, Northlund is not a woman in disguise, he is a man, and behave as a man, and so the relationship between him and Daltrey is even more interesting and enjoyable, since Daltrey is the seducer, but he is also younger and reckless, and Nothlund is the seduced, but he is older and with age arrives also a quite and demure behavior that is a very nice antithesis to Daltrey's.

As I said this is a Christmas tale, and so an happily ever after is to be required, and the authors chose the card of eccentricity to justify their hero's behavior to the eyes of society...

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