Lee Rowan

What a spectacular follow-up to Ransom!! While Ransom was an adventure story in which a forbidden M/M relationship occurs, Winds is definitely an M/M romance where an adventure occurs. Will and Davy are now a couple, although to protect their lives they must keep it a secret. This makes the relationship especially touching because they have so few opportunities to show their love for one another while on ship. They both feel the strain of it, and have doubts about their future together. But, show more this is a romance with the prerequisite (thank goodness!) happy ending.

Winds opens with Will and Davy being transferred to a new ship along with the heroic Captain Smith. Their new ship, The Valient, has a serious problem though--a blackmailing saboteur. Naval Investigations issues secret orders for Will and Davy to "pretend" to be lovers to draw the traitor out! But such subterfuge will put their lives in danger - both from the traitor, and the possibility that someone else may discover them not knowing of the secret orders. Battles on the high seas, dangerous sexual temptation, and murder all add up to an exciting, action packed novel.

As a romance novel, this is way above par. The plot isn't just thrown in as an excuse for hot sex (not that I mind hot sex!) There is a rich backdrop to Will and Davy from the start that gives depth to the characters and the writing is high quality. This is more than love at first sight, and the couple must face more than the standard "angst" and societal prejudice against gays. They could literally be killed for their passion, and that makes their love more credible. There is more sex in Winds than was possible in Ransom, and it is very well done. Will and Davy finally have someone they can trust with their secret and the historical setting makes a wonderful back drop. Finally, their Naval careers offer the potential for many more adventures (hint, hint, Lee Rowan). Highly recommended! show less

Authentic Regency voice (perfect grammar and phrasing!), multi-faceted and good heroes, interesting mysteries in the plot, clever and sometimes humorous dialogue...this book is very well done and I was much more impressed with it than I thought I would be going in.

It's a bit slow to develop the romance, but that fits the time period and different pace of life and circumstance that they lived by. My only complaint is that when the romance did spring into being, it literally sprang from show more nothing, at least on Major Carlisle's side. Brendan had been extremely attracted to him since their first meeting, but Philip (Carlisle) never even had any thoughts of attraction, and then boom, a dream followed by sudden, rampant desire, leading to declarations of love on both sides. So it went from no chance of anything happening [except in the reader's expectation of course ;)], to carnal and emotional desire, to love and thoughts of forever practically overnight.

So, in general, I found that one part underdeveloped, but the rest was splendid and has my mind back into Regency England accent and thought. I am definitely going to read more books by Lee Rowan, and highly recommend this if Regency romances are your cup of tea. And woohoo for m/m Regency! show less

When I saw this was billed as a "romance," I was a little skeptical. Turns out I was right--this was so much more! First and foremost, this is an adventure story about three British Naval Officers kidnapped by pirates and their efforts to escape. Set in 1796, it is written more as historical fiction. Interspersed throughout the story are "log entries" from the acting commander of their ship while he searches for them. It's obvious Rowan did her research here - the story is chock full of show more historical deatils and facts that make the setting come to life. Secondary is the developing relationship between the two junior officers, Will and Davy. However, it's not just thrown in. These extraordinary circumstances have brought out their feelings, but what can be the result? What they desire is a hanging offense. And, how will this effect their escape attempts once Will discovers how Davy has been protecting him? These questions propel the plot as well as the romance.

One reviewer noted that he expected this to be more explicit and then it hit him on the head. This is true, but don't think you'll be bored waiting for that to happen The story is exciting and well-written. The sex is tasteful and touching. There is also a mystery about the identity of the pirate captain. Our heroes (all three!) examine evidence, and collect clues much like sleuths. All this keeps the reader involved. Buy this! show less

Speak Its Name is a wonderful collection of three historical gay romances set in England that are very different from one another and yet complement each other quite well. The first, Aftermath by Charlie Cochrane is set in Cramner College in 1920 and features two students – popular Hugo Lamont and socially awkward Edward Easterby. While they both are enamored with one another, neither has the courage to act upon his feelings. The story is a simple one with very little in the way of plot, show more but rather a character study of the complications of a burgeoning romance in a repressed time.

The second story, Gentleman's Gentleman by Lee Rowan is a delightful escapade of an English Lord and his Valet. Lord Scoville has dalliances with temporary male lovers and this is accepted by Jack who carries on a few clandestine affairs of his own but manages to fool his employer into thinking that he’s a ladies man. During a secret mission for the government in which Scoville is to retrieve secret papers involving plans of the Germans, things get a little complicated and in the chaos the two men finally reveal that they have actually been carrying a torch for one another. The nice thing about Rowan’s story is that it really is an exciting adventure and the romantic feelings between the two leads were always just below the surface creating dramatic tension, because the reader feels that the truth could erupt at any moment.

The third story, Hard And Fast by Erastes is the crown jewel of the three. The somewhat feckless Geoffrey Chaloner is a pawn in his father’s plans to match him with a lady of some standing, Miss Pelham. However in order to court her, Geoffrey must first win the favor of her cousin, Adam Heyward. Adam is an enigma. He’s scathing and yet he also manipulates Geoffrey into doing what he wants. Geoffrey and Adam eventually have a torrid encounter and Geoffrey has to make some radical decisions about the direction he chooses for the future. Written in the first-person, the story has a style that is sumptuous and precise. The formality and structure of the language are spot-on in reflecting the rigid, polite society and the dry humor and subtle digs that Geoffrey makes toward his father and society in general are deliciously rich. This is first-class writing and I predict the name Erastes will soon be much wider known. show less