2015 Rainbow Awards Honorable Mention: The Bohemian and the Banker by Bonnie Dee & Summer Devon

[reviews_and_ramblings]

The Bohemian and the Banker by Bonnie Dee & Summer Devon
Gay Historical Romance
Paperback: 202 pages
Publisher: Samhain Publishing (March 31, 2015)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 161922836X
ISBN-13: 978-1619228368
Amazon: The Bohemian and the Banker
Amazon Kindle: The Bohemian and the Banker

A night lost in Paris finds two hearts changed-forever. Sent to Paris on business, Nigel Warren doesn't quite understand why his colleagues' eyes twinkle as they tell him to meet them at a local night spot. When he discovers it's a drag cabaret and his acquaintances aren't there, he realizes he's the butt of a joke. Yet he finds himself quite undone by a singer dressed in an elegant gown, crooning a spellbinding ballad. It's not unusual for Jay, a former Londoner, to bring a new "friend" home from the cabaret, but he's never had a guest quite like Nigel, whose straitlaced manner hides an unexpected passionate streak. One romantic night on a rooftop under starry skies, followed by an afternoon enjoying the excitement of the 1901 Paris Exposition, bonds these opposites in a way neither can forget-even after they part. Their spark reignites when Jay comes to London, but he's not sure he can go back to hiding his true self, not even for the sake of love...unless Nigel is willing to shed his cloak of staid respectability and take a leap of faith. Warning: Contains a virgin who doesn't speak French but is fluent in numbers, and a drag performer who is trilingual in English, French and Love. Not responsible for extra pounds brought on by the urge to dine on croissants au deux.


I really felt like I was in Paris and London of 1901. Lots of historic detail without explanation, almost as if it was written at that time and one would "know" the slang or what we would call antiquated words. Nice character development of the "jaded" MC falling in love and the "virgin/straight laced" MC learning to live life a little. The climax/major plot turning point was a wee over the top and a touch preachy for my taste. Historically I have no idea if the way it transpired would have been accurate. Would love to drop in on them 20 and 40 years later.

I really enjoyed the setting, particularly Paris of that era and its contrast to London. The cities, customs, and people were beautifully and atmospherically described, and felt authentic. Nigel and Jay worked well as a gradual, opposites-attract story, although Nigel seemed a bit unexpectedly open-minded for a man of his era and situation. Despite wishing a few off-page developments had been shown to me, I appreciated the story for its warm charm, and unique historical flavor.