Status
Available
Call number
Collection
Publication
Seventh Window Publications (2005), Paperback, 208 pages
Description
A homoerotic love triangle lands Stephen Clair, Jamie Riley and Julian Jeffries in a situation in which everyone want something and the only way to get it is to scheme and find out how to play one against the other. One tries to avoid financial ruin, one is avoiding his past and one is determined to continue the lifestyle to which he has become accustomed. Fast paced and irreverent, this novel is from the same publishers as the cult book Ten Thick Inches.
Media reviews
User reviews
LibraryThing member Zehavit_Lamasu
THE PRICE OF TEMPTATION by M.J. Pearson doesn't actually break any new grounds. It is a regency romance and as one - Georgette Heyer can definately dish up far more wit and flamboyance. However, Georgette Heyer adhere closly to the heterosexual standards so even though you always wanted the hero
I might as well comment on the cover of the above and the one below as well because some people were put off by them. I love those covers. I know they are rediculous - those breeches are stuffed with at least a dosen pairs of sock or possibly a stable boy or two *wiggle eyebrow*. But they are catching and they have the cheesy charm which I am as ever a sucker for. And lets face it - I don't believe for a second the artist was too serious. Did you notice the expression on the face in the portrait? He is as shocked as we are at the size of that bulge and the cover at the bottom imitates in pose so many pulp romance novels in which the flustered maiden heaves her bossom as she swoons into the arms of a bare chested boad shouldered rogue. I showed it to a friend of mine and she blushed so hard ... the cover was worth the expression on her face alone.
The sotry itself is nothing spectacular, in fact, you could say it is a bit of a cliche: A shy man of simple appearance comes to take a position of secretary and librarian in the house of a wild and debouched lord. The wall flower slowly blooms as is the affection of the roguish lord to him. Throw in a gealous lover and we have that classic regency romance setting. Not very inventive I know but sometime the old plot is JUST what you need, providing it is told well and this is told wonderfully. The writing is flowing and flawless, not too flowery and not too assuming. I hate period pieces that try to immitate the language too much, it live me staring across the language rift at a scene I am not part of feeling alienated. There is just the right smattering of regency expressions to give it enough authenticity and the rest is left to allow you free access... yes to breeches too... smart arses XD
And you have it aplently. It is a lovely romp with endearing characters. It is true that the main weakness of this book is that the shy librarian could have been a woman if you took away his cock and stuck an ample bossom on him. He is a bit simpering but then again... shruggs ... some men are - it doesn't QUITE get to the yaoi phenomenon of the "weeping leaking UKE" and hence far more believable.
AS I said - nothing ground-breaking but a jolly heart-felt smoochy good fun that left me feeling satisfied and practically glowing.
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and villain to have it off in the pantry and go in search of the contents of the stable boy breeches - they never do. In the above all the fumbling in articles of clothes, all the swooning and fawning is done between two man and as a Georgette Heyer fanatice all I could say was " AT LAAAAAAAAAAST!" It was the first that signaled a begining of a growing trend I highly approve of.I might as well comment on the cover of the above and the one below as well because some people were put off by them. I love those covers. I know they are rediculous - those breeches are stuffed with at least a dosen pairs of sock or possibly a stable boy or two *wiggle eyebrow*. But they are catching and they have the cheesy charm which I am as ever a sucker for. And lets face it - I don't believe for a second the artist was too serious. Did you notice the expression on the face in the portrait? He is as shocked as we are at the size of that bulge and the cover at the bottom imitates in pose so many pulp romance novels in which the flustered maiden heaves her bossom as she swoons into the arms of a bare chested boad shouldered rogue. I showed it to a friend of mine and she blushed so hard ... the cover was worth the expression on her face alone.
The sotry itself is nothing spectacular, in fact, you could say it is a bit of a cliche: A shy man of simple appearance comes to take a position of secretary and librarian in the house of a wild and debouched lord. The wall flower slowly blooms as is the affection of the roguish lord to him. Throw in a gealous lover and we have that classic regency romance setting. Not very inventive I know but sometime the old plot is JUST what you need, providing it is told well and this is told wonderfully. The writing is flowing and flawless, not too flowery and not too assuming. I hate period pieces that try to immitate the language too much, it live me staring across the language rift at a scene I am not part of feeling alienated. There is just the right smattering of regency expressions to give it enough authenticity and the rest is left to allow you free access... yes to breeches too... smart arses XD
And you have it aplently. It is a lovely romp with endearing characters. It is true that the main weakness of this book is that the shy librarian could have been a woman if you took away his cock and stuck an ample bossom on him. He is a bit simpering but then again... shruggs ... some men are - it doesn't QUITE get to the yaoi phenomenon of the "weeping leaking UKE" and hence far more believable.
AS I said - nothing ground-breaking but a jolly heart-felt smoochy good fun that left me feeling satisfied and practically glowing.
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LibraryThing member GirlMisanthrope
Stephen is an Earl on his great aunt's leash, trying to spend scads of money to drown the pain of the recent deaths of his brother and his family. He has a contract with Julian, "The Golden One", for sex; he keeps Julian in an apartment, gave him a personal assistant, buys all of his clothing, etc,
A charming aspect of the story is how this apparent Lothario has cobbled together his own "family" by employing misfits as his cook, stable help, butler, and maid. Since Stephen lives an "out" lifestyle in the early 1800's he is empathetic to how it feels not to fit in.
Stephen and Jaimie fall in love with plenty of turbulence along the way. One reviewer faulted Jaimie and Julian's characters as being interchangeable with female characters in the Romance Novel Template used in this story. And, yes, this is true, but it would seem the point is to create romance novels for those who have not had them available. Romance novels for gay men were never plentiful until rather recently.
M.J. Pearson does not just give you a cheap or tawdry romance. Her secondary and even tertiary characters are interesting and fleshed out. Her main characters feel tangible, as if you could open the door and meet them. And, sweet mercy, the way she writes a kiss is delectable. I enjoyed "Helpless" even more than this title, but I will seek out all of her books.
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and takes him out to dinner all the time.Julian is an arrogant prick. Jaimie enters Stephen's household expecting to be working for Stephen's brother Robert. Realizing Jaimie would not otherwise have a job, he hires him to be the household secretary. A charming aspect of the story is how this apparent Lothario has cobbled together his own "family" by employing misfits as his cook, stable help, butler, and maid. Since Stephen lives an "out" lifestyle in the early 1800's he is empathetic to how it feels not to fit in.
Stephen and Jaimie fall in love with plenty of turbulence along the way. One reviewer faulted Jaimie and Julian's characters as being interchangeable with female characters in the Romance Novel Template used in this story. And, yes, this is true, but it would seem the point is to create romance novels for those who have not had them available. Romance novels for gay men were never plentiful until rather recently.
M.J. Pearson does not just give you a cheap or tawdry romance. Her secondary and even tertiary characters are interesting and fleshed out. Her main characters feel tangible, as if you could open the door and meet them. And, sweet mercy, the way she writes a kiss is delectable. I enjoyed "Helpless" even more than this title, but I will seek out all of her books.
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LibraryThing member -Eva-
A short but really fun read! OK, it's a really silly and very formulaic romance novel (apart from the fact that the lovers are both men...), but sometimes I have to embrace the little girl in myself and succumb to such frivolous enjoyment. I actually really liked this book - until the dungeon scene
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which I wish I had never read - and enjoyed the characters and the (unrealistic) setting. I will definitely read more of Ms. Pearson's writings - even though the covers of her books are too laughable for words. Show Less
LibraryThing member crtsjffrsn
This is one that I was not at all expecting to like as much as I did. I think part of that is the historical fiction aspect (I'm finding that historical m/m romance - when well-written - has a way of pulling me in), but the story itself and the characters are definitely worth a read.
The slow
Content warning:Sexual assault/torture references
The slow
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build-up of the main relationship is one of those things that left me frustrated but also on the edge of my seat. The complexity of the characters and their personalities (including the supporting and side characters) really helps bring this world and story to life. The only reason this one didn't pull 4 stars from me is because I felt like maybe it was just a bit long for the story being told - some parts were drawn out that could have been dealt with more swiftly. But it's still a good story, regardless.Content warning:
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Awards
Lambda Literary Award (Nominee — Romance — 2005)
Language
Physical description
208 p.; 5.51 x 0.43 inches
ISBN
0971708932 / 9780971708938