November 1, 2021
Greene (Soldier and the Spy) takes a cue from Shakespeare’s The Winter’s Tale for this middling historical romance. In 1815 Sicily, Richard Ashbrook receives a missive from his former lover, Sherborne Clarke, a scandalous British poet whom he believes published a letter outing Richard to a newspaper 16 years ago, forcing Richard into exile. Sherborne has found a baby on his doorstep and hopes Richard will help transport the foundling, whom he names Parsley, to the orphanage Richard’s cousin runs in London. Richard is bitter and wary about reuniting with Sherborne but cannot deny his lingering attraction: the pair get turned on while verbally sparring and engage in a fencing match that ends in kissing. When heavy snow delays their trip to the orphanage, Richard appreciates the chance for “one more night” with his lover. Unfortunately, this central romance feels rather tame and tensionless, and an episode in which actors and a bear arrive unexpectedly works as a nod to Shakespeare but is otherwise slack. A late subplot around Parsley’s parentage addresses issues of class, gender, and expectation and creates some intrigue, but not enough to save the story. Greene has made a noble effort, but this feels uninspired. Agent: Deidre Knight, the Knight Agency.
October 15, 2021
Greene's (The Vicar and the Rake) new M/M Christmas regency romance starts 16 years after Richard, Viscount Northill, was forced to leave England after being outed as a gay man. Now the very man who originally betrayed Richard to the press is begging for his help. Despite his misgivings, Richard leaves the warmth of Italy for wintry Scotland to aid his onetime lover, Sherborne Clarke. Sherborne is a former rake and a depressed poet who's languishing in the halls of Scottish castle until the day a baby is left on his doorstep. Desperate for a solution to his baby problem, Sherborne begs Richard to take the child to a cousin in London, but Richard is naturally mistrustful. The two spar with words and with actual swords; both are certain they'll never cross paths again. Then snowstorms, a travelling troupe of actors, and other obstacles interrupt their travel plans, leaving plenty of time for old passions to simmer and eventually erupt. VERDICT The red-hot love scenes, tender emotions, and Two Men and a Baby--style comedy will leave readers eager for Greene's next romance.
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