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Rossingley #1
To Hold a Hidden Pearl
Nominated in the Goodreads M/M Romance Group Awards 2021, 2022, 2023, including Best Series. Also an Honourable Mention in the 20-21 Rainbow Romance Awards.
Dr Jay Sorrentino is getting married in ten days’ time to the girl of his dreams, so what the hell is he doing in a gay London club with a stupidly handsome stranger? As if calling off the wedding and alienating his friends and family isn’t enough, Jay also has to contend with starting a new job at a new hospital. So the last thing he needs is for the bloke from the club to be his prickly supervisor.
Dr Lucien Avery is a difficult colleague. He’s also the unexpected and reluctant heir to the vast Rossingley estate. Reclusive and miserable, he hates most of his colleagues, people who eat packed lunches, and supervising junior doctors. That is, until the delectable Dr Sorrentino turns up on his doorstep.
An M/M contemporary romance, Rossingley takes place in Southern England and is centred around a fictional country house and estate by the same name. The first in the series, it can be read as a standalone.
Dr Jay Sorrentino is getting married in ten days’ time to the girl of his dreams, so what the hell is he doing in a gay London club with a stupidly handsome stranger? As if calling off the wedding and alienating his friends and family isn’t enough, Jay also has to contend with starting a new job at a new hospital. So the last thing he needs is for the bloke from the club to be his prickly supervisor.
Dr Lucien Avery is a difficult colleague. He’s also the unexpected and reluctant heir to the vast Rossingley estate. Reclusive and miserable, he hates most of his colleagues, people who eat packed lunches, and supervising junior doctors. That is, until the delectable Dr Sorrentino turns up on his doorstep.
An M/M contemporary romance, Rossingley takes place in Southern England and is centred around a fictional country house and estate by the same name. The first in the series, it can be read as a standalone.
299 pages, ebook
First published May 24, 2021
About the author
Fearne Hill
22 books296 followersFearne Hill resides far from the madding crowds in the county of Dorset, deep in the British countryside. She likes it that way.
Her queer romance, Two Tribes, was a finalist in the 2023 Lambda Literary Awards.
Her popular Rossingley series was nominated in nine separate categories of the 2021 Goodreads M/M Romance awards and received an Honourable Mention in the 2021 Rainbow Awards.
She can be found on social media and has a newsletter:
https://fearne-hill.mailerpage.io/
Join her Facebook group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/11724...
On Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/fearnehill_...
On Twitter: https://twitter.com/FearneHill
On Bookbub:https://www.bookbub.com/profile/fearn...
She also writes very brief and not especially insightful book reviews here on GR...
Her queer romance, Two Tribes, was a finalist in the 2023 Lambda Literary Awards.
Her popular Rossingley series was nominated in nine separate categories of the 2021 Goodreads M/M Romance awards and received an Honourable Mention in the 2021 Rainbow Awards.
She can be found on social media and has a newsletter:
https://fearne-hill.mailerpage.io/
Join her Facebook group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/11724...
On Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/fearnehill_...
On Twitter: https://twitter.com/FearneHill
On Bookbub:https://www.bookbub.com/profile/fearn...
She also writes very brief and not especially insightful book reviews here on GR...
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 188 reviews
October 20, 2021
~3.5~
This is such a strange, quirky book.
The MC are multi-layered and complex. I loved Lucien's eccentricities and femininity and Jay's big heart. The way Jay wants to take care of Lucien is beautiful.
This isn't an easy romance by any means. Lucien lost his entire family in an accident 18 months prior and is drinking himself to death. Jay calls off his wedding after he gives Lucien head in a club and likes it.
Of course, Jay doesn't know the anonymous bloke he pleasured is going to be his medical supervisor in a training program he's doing at Lucien's hospital. Lucien has a wonderful bedside manner, but he's shit to his colleagues.
Initially, Jay is intimidated by Lucien, but then he chops wood while Lucien sits about wearing a lacy nightgown and pearls and realizes that Lucien isn't mean, just lost and very sad.
The sex scenes are wild and uninhibited. The men go at it so hard in the kitchen, they break a Victorian Era butter dish (or so Lucien claims). Jay is new to gay sex but takes to it like a duck to water.
A secondary plot I cried, not gonna lie.
My one complaint, and it's not a small one, is that Jay & Lucien never acknowledge to anyone that they're a couple. I agree with Lucien's assessment that Jay shouldn't have to come out as gay since no one comes out as straight.
Be as it may, months later (in the epilogue), Jay's family and their colleagues/friends still have no idea they're together. They may suspect, but it's never been said. Jay is living with Lucien on his estate but won't tell his family that Lucien is his lover. They basically hide in plain sight, which irked me a great deal.
This is such a strange, quirky book.
The MC are multi-layered and complex. I loved Lucien's eccentricities and femininity and Jay's big heart. The way Jay wants to take care of Lucien is beautiful.
This isn't an easy romance by any means. Lucien lost his entire family in an accident 18 months prior and is drinking himself to death. Jay calls off his wedding after he gives Lucien head in a club and likes it.
Of course, Jay doesn't know the anonymous bloke he pleasured is going to be his medical supervisor in a training program he's doing at Lucien's hospital. Lucien has a wonderful bedside manner, but he's shit to his colleagues.
Initially, Jay is intimidated by Lucien, but then he chops wood while Lucien sits about wearing a lacy nightgown and pearls and realizes that Lucien isn't mean, just lost and very sad.
The sex scenes are wild and uninhibited. The men go at it so hard in the kitchen, they break a Victorian Era butter dish (or so Lucien claims). Jay is new to gay sex but takes to it like a duck to water.
A secondary plot I cried, not gonna lie.
My one complaint, and it's not a small one, is that Jay & Lucien never acknowledge to anyone that they're a couple. I agree with Lucien's assessment that Jay shouldn't have to come out as gay since no one comes out as straight.
Be as it may, months later (in the epilogue), Jay's family and their colleagues/friends still have no idea they're together. They may suspect, but it's never been said. Jay is living with Lucien on his estate but won't tell his family that Lucien is his lover. They basically hide in plain sight, which irked me a great deal.
July 24, 2023
4.5 stars. ADORED. RTC
Shelved as 'did-not-finish'
July 31, 2022DNF @77%
This really wasn’t for me.
The writing was too flowery and felt too dragged out. There were lots of descriptions of things that simply weren’t important, and ended up really boring me. Meanwhile, the dialogue also seemed odd and appeared stilted.
I couldn’t bond with the characters at all. I felt nothing for them, even though they are both very lonely, sad and depressed, which should have invoked lots of emotion and sympathy from me, but did neither.
Both characters honestly just did not feel like real people to me and I also didn’t really like them, thus it was hard to care about them.
Their relationship itself did not hold my interest either.
I just wasn’t vibing with their dynamic or their interactions, and it was very much an insta-love development. I felt absolutely zero investment in them and I wasn’t able to see the love between them at all.
There were just a lot of weird and questionable things going on in the relationship, and I really didn’t like it.
This whole book felt weirdly empty to me, and I was just so over it. The book wasn’t getting any better, and I would even go so far as to say it was steadily becoming worse, so I figured I’d quit.
This really wasn’t for me.
The writing was too flowery and felt too dragged out. There were lots of descriptions of things that simply weren’t important, and ended up really boring me. Meanwhile, the dialogue also seemed odd and appeared stilted.
I couldn’t bond with the characters at all. I felt nothing for them, even though they are both very lonely, sad and depressed, which should have invoked lots of emotion and sympathy from me, but did neither.
Both characters honestly just did not feel like real people to me and I also didn’t really like them, thus it was hard to care about them.
Their relationship itself did not hold my interest either.
I just wasn’t vibing with their dynamic or their interactions, and it was very much an insta-love development. I felt absolutely zero investment in them and I wasn’t able to see the love between them at all.
There were just a lot of weird and questionable things going on in the relationship, and I really didn’t like it.
This whole book felt weirdly empty to me, and I was just so over it. The book wasn’t getting any better, and I would even go so far as to say it was steadily becoming worse, so I figured I’d quit.
January 28, 2022
4.25 stars
“You are not saying goodbye. You’re not going anywhere, and I’ll tell you why. Because I want it all. Everything. I want scary, pissy Dr. Lucien Avery. I want the sweet, brave sixteenth Earl of Rossingley; I want the beautiful Lady Louisa. I want to paint your toenails luscious pink velvet for you. I want to paint your fingernails black for you. I want to paint the fucking walls of this stately home for you.”
Guys you must read this!!! Even my cynical GR friends (you know who you are). The main characters are delightful, the plot is captivating, and the writing is wonderful. A score of beautiful moments will tug at your heartstrings, but also make you laugh. And did I mention lots of steamy sex???
— boss/assistant/doctors
— grumpy/sunshine
— class differences
— hurt/comfort
— opposites attract
— out/closeted
— slow burn
— sexual awakening
The story starts off predictably enough. A random, anonymous hookup in a club. The MCs are stunned to meet a week later at work. But that’s where similarities with most books ends.
Jay Sorrentino goes to a gay club a week before his wedding where he hooks up with a gorgeous stranger. He calls off his wedding the following day. When he shows up for his first day at work as a junior doctor, he discovers that his supervisor, Lucien Avery (who is also an earl) is no other than the gorgeous stranger from the club.
So What Makes This Special?
• Hospital setting provides great human moments.
• The MCs. An aloof, eccentric lord meets a sociable, regular bloke from a working class background.
• Our grumpy MC is not the typical alpha asshole, but an androgynous, misanthropic, eyeliner and negligee wearing aristocrat.
• A plucky patient, Billy-Ray, is a wonderful secondary character.
• Sensitive portrayal of grief.
• Emotional depth, yet hilarious humor lightens heavy situations.
• MCs who act like adults.
Favorite Quotes
“… but on finding out Lucien was arranging a meet up with an ex-boyfriend, an absurd level of jealousy I never knew I possessed threatened to overwhelm me. And so I kissed him since alternative methods of marking my territory, like cocking my leg and pissing on him, are socially unacceptable for many, many reasons."
“you don’t know what you want, do you?” he says kindly.
“That’s the problem, Lucien. I’m fairly confident that I do.”
“He takes my hand and holds it in his lap. Intermittently, he gives it a squeeze. When I said I wasn’t one of life’s natural hand-holders, I think I just hadn’t found the right hand to hold.”
Quibble
Needs better editing. It’s a shame to see beautiful writing marred by typos and missing words.
Final Verdict
I would characterize this as a sweet, humorous romance with wonderful depth. It’s not fluffy, but it’s not overly angsty either because of fantastic humor. It was worth every penny (not on KU) and I’m definitely buying the remaining books in the series.
“You are not saying goodbye. You’re not going anywhere, and I’ll tell you why. Because I want it all. Everything. I want scary, pissy Dr. Lucien Avery. I want the sweet, brave sixteenth Earl of Rossingley; I want the beautiful Lady Louisa. I want to paint your toenails luscious pink velvet for you. I want to paint your fingernails black for you. I want to paint the fucking walls of this stately home for you.”
Guys you must read this!!! Even my cynical GR friends (you know who you are). The main characters are delightful, the plot is captivating, and the writing is wonderful. A score of beautiful moments will tug at your heartstrings, but also make you laugh. And did I mention lots of steamy sex???
— boss/assistant/doctors
— grumpy/sunshine
— class differences
— hurt/comfort
— opposites attract
— out/closeted
— slow burn
— sexual awakening
The story starts off predictably enough. A random, anonymous hookup in a club. The MCs are stunned to meet a week later at work. But that’s where similarities with most books ends.
Jay Sorrentino goes to a gay club a week before his wedding where he hooks up with a gorgeous stranger. He calls off his wedding the following day. When he shows up for his first day at work as a junior doctor, he discovers that his supervisor, Lucien Avery (who is also an earl) is no other than the gorgeous stranger from the club.
So What Makes This Special?
• Hospital setting provides great human moments.
• The MCs. An aloof, eccentric lord meets a sociable, regular bloke from a working class background.
• Our grumpy MC is not the typical alpha asshole, but an androgynous, misanthropic, eyeliner and negligee wearing aristocrat.
• A plucky patient, Billy-Ray, is a wonderful secondary character.
• Sensitive portrayal of grief.
• Emotional depth, yet hilarious humor lightens heavy situations.
• MCs who act like adults.
Favorite Quotes
“… but on finding out Lucien was arranging a meet up with an ex-boyfriend, an absurd level of jealousy I never knew I possessed threatened to overwhelm me. And so I kissed him since alternative methods of marking my territory, like cocking my leg and pissing on him, are socially unacceptable for many, many reasons."
“you don’t know what you want, do you?” he says kindly.
“That’s the problem, Lucien. I’m fairly confident that I do.”
“He takes my hand and holds it in his lap. Intermittently, he gives it a squeeze. When I said I wasn’t one of life’s natural hand-holders, I think I just hadn’t found the right hand to hold.”
Quibble
Needs better editing. It’s a shame to see beautiful writing marred by typos and missing words.
Final Verdict
I would characterize this as a sweet, humorous romance with wonderful depth. It’s not fluffy, but it’s not overly angsty either because of fantastic humor. It was worth every penny (not on KU) and I’m definitely buying the remaining books in the series.
![Profile Image for Kati *☆･ﾟ [a bit distracted atm].](https://cdn.statically.io/img/i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/users/1725834613i/144158876._UX200_CR0,0,200,200_.jpg)
May 12, 2023
3.25*** stars
I enjoyed reading this book. It was a very sweet and lighthearted story that I picked up because of the hookup with a stranger trope.
Lucien, the not so very well liked Dr Avery, is such a special character and truly precious. He’s vulnerable and lonely and despite what he makes everyone else to believe about him he has a big heart and is in dire need of someone who sees him and loves him for who he is.
Why I couldn’t truly love this book was because I’m often not that comfortable with reading about closet cases. It’s frustrating and just makes me sad. But that’s exactly what dashing Dr Jay is struggling with when he discovers in his late twenties that he is not as straight as he always thought he was. He calls off the wedding with his girlfriend of four years and is at a loss of how to handle it all while Lucien all but sweeps him off his feet.
When they are behind closed doors they are so very sweet and I can totally see why they fall for each other so quickly. It’s adorable. But yeah. The trouble remains that Jay is not ready to come out to his friends and family after they all sided with his ex Ellie and Jay is truly afraid of damaging his relationship to his family even more, afraid of their acceptance.
So. That being said and the hiding and pretending being the main drama in the book I was rather surprised at how this book concluded, tbh. Everything I expected and also wanted to see happened off page and was wrapped up pretty quickly. That was kinda disappointing and the ending felt rushed even though it was sweet.
*********
[I’m not entirely sure why this is such a sensitive topic for me but it generally frustrates me a lot when people feel the need to hide who they are, to pretend and to act - just to fit in. And it’s not only about sexuality but -- it’s mostly for other people’s sake in favor of acceptance. It infuriates me, tbh. That’s why I don’t like reading about it.]
I enjoyed reading this book. It was a very sweet and lighthearted story that I picked up because of the hookup with a stranger trope.
Lucien, the not so very well liked Dr Avery, is such a special character and truly precious. He’s vulnerable and lonely and despite what he makes everyone else to believe about him he has a big heart and is in dire need of someone who sees him and loves him for who he is.
Why I couldn’t truly love this book was because I’m often not that comfortable with reading about closet cases. It’s frustrating and just makes me sad. But that’s exactly what dashing Dr Jay is struggling with when he discovers in his late twenties that he is not as straight as he always thought he was. He calls off the wedding with his girlfriend of four years and is at a loss of how to handle it all while Lucien all but sweeps him off his feet.
When they are behind closed doors they are so very sweet and I can totally see why they fall for each other so quickly. It’s adorable. But yeah. The trouble remains that Jay is not ready to come out to his friends and family after they all sided with his ex Ellie and Jay is truly afraid of damaging his relationship to his family even more, afraid of their acceptance.
“What makes me angry is that one day in the future, you think you will have to stroll into your parents’ home, or your friends’ houses, or the anaesthetic department, and announce that you are gay. And then suck up people’s reaction to it. […]”
“So what should I do then?” […]
“Nothing. You do nothing. […] you don’t need to explain yourself, or warn people—Hey, guys, just a head’s up. I’m gay, okay?—because straight people don’t, so neither should you. Being gay doesn’t define you; it’s just a part of you. […]”
So. That being said and the hiding and pretending being the main drama in the book I was rather surprised at how this book concluded, tbh. Everything I expected and also wanted to see happened off page and was wrapped up pretty quickly. That was kinda disappointing and the ending felt rushed even though it was sweet.
*********
[I’m not entirely sure why this is such a sensitive topic for me but it generally frustrates me a lot when people feel the need to hide who they are, to pretend and to act - just to fit in. And it’s not only about sexuality but -- it’s mostly for other people’s sake in favor of acceptance. It infuriates me, tbh. That’s why I don’t like reading about it.]
November 16, 2022
So much to love about this. The MCs were vibrant, jump-off-the-page, particularly Lucian. With both of them being doctors, and being in healthcare myself, I recognised an author who had a real background knowledge of intensive care, which is appreciated. Nothing worse than reading poorly researched content about specific topics.
Also, both MCs experience significant mental health issues, and I like how sensitively it was dealt with. Especially that, given the right person, you can be loveable while going through mental illness (often it’s written as a reason to break up). Jay was such a kind, gentle & entirely loveable character.
Also, both MCs experience significant mental health issues, and I like how sensitively it was dealt with. Especially that, given the right person, you can be loveable while going through mental illness (often it’s written as a reason to break up). Jay was such a kind, gentle & entirely loveable character.
October 9, 2023
I've given this an A- for narration and a B+ for content at AudioGals, so 4.5 stars.
Fearne Hill’s To Hold a Hidden Pearl is a lovely, character-driven contemporary romance featuring an eccentric grief-stricken earl and a big-hearted regular bloke who, in the time-honoured way of romance novels, hook-up one night only to discover, a week later, that they’re going to be working together. It’s warm, funny, poignant and beautifully written, and the performance by new-to-me narrator Richard Stranks is a perfect fit.
Jay Sorrentino has been questioning his sexuality for quite a while now, but with his wedding rapidly approaching he decides he needs to finally get some answers. He’s bottled his previous two attempts at confirming his suspicions – but on his third visit to a London gay club, a quick hook-up with the most beautiful man he’s ever seen tells him everything he needs to know, and he calls off his wedding the next day. To say it doesn’t go down well is an understatement – he’s not ready to tell anyone the real reason – so he just accepts the disappointment, disapproval and downright hostility of his fiancée, most of his friends and his family. The one person who’s still speaking to him is his former best man, and even he’s not particularly sympathetic.
It’s been a good couple of years since Lucien Duchamps-Avery, sixteenth Earl of Rossingley, has been for a night out, and he’s honestly not sure what he’s doing at Spangles on this particular night. Since the tragic deaths of his parents and his older brother and his wife and their unborn child, he’s not done much of anything except work, drink and sleep; he’s numb and going through life on auto-pilot. But when a gorgeous hunk of a man – who is so not his usual type – approaches him in the club and offers him a blow job, well… It’s been a long time since he’s felt even the faintest interest in anyone, so Lucien thinks, why not?
Consultant anaesthesiologist Dr. Lucien Avery has a well-deserved reputation for being short-tempered, sharp-tongued and an all-round grumpy bastard. Every year, it’s part of his job to act as mentor to a junior doctor, and when it’s time to meet his nextvictim mentee, he’s shocked when he turns out to be the mysterious stranger who’d sucked him off so eagerly and then disappeared.
It’s not exactly difficult to work out where the story goes from here, but the journey Fearne Hill takes us on is filled with tenderness, understanding and acceptance. Lucien and Jay are complex, endearing and easy to fall in love with, and the author plays with our preconceptions a bit by turning the grumpy/sunshine trope on its head. Lucien isn’t your average alphahole, but is instead an androgynous aristocrat with a penchant for wearing negligées, pearls and eyeliner, and while Jay might be the more physically imposing of the two, he’s a big softie at heart with a protective streak a mile wide. He finds Lucien intimidating at first – as he’s meant to – but it doesn’t take him too long to work out that Lucien uses his prickliness to keep people at bay, and that deep down, he’s hurting, lost and very lonely.
I enjoyed pretty much everything about this audiobook; the romance is superbly developed and while there are definitely a few bumps along the way, I appreciated the lack of a Big Mis or third-act break-up – there’s sufficient tension throughout to negate the need for some big, contrived dramatic moment. Instead we get a sexy, slow-burn romance featuring two individuals who talk things through and behave like adults, a very sensitive portrayal of grief and a story with emotional depth and plenty of humour to lighten the heavier moments. There’s also a very moving sub-plot about a young man in intensive care with whom Lucien – against his better judgement – forms an emotional bond which will definitely bring a lump to the throat.
I have two criticisms really. One: there’s a really odd conversation in which Jay asks Lucien if he’s a “tranny”. I seem to remember it comes at a moment where Lucien is drawing back into himself and that maybe Jay is just trying to provoke a reaction, but it’s incredibly jarring and made me uncomfortable. And given Jay is so accepting and appreciative of who Lucien is, it made no sense.
I’ve put the other issue under this spoiler tag:
As I said at the beginning, narrator Richard Stranks is a perfect fit for this book and he delivers an excellent performance on all counts. It’s well paced, his characterisations are on point, his vocal acting is very good and he differentiates well between all the characters. The real standout however, is his portrayal of Lucien; along with a cut-glass accent, he adopts the perfect aristocratic drawl that either drips with ennui and scorn or is loaded with a kind of deadly flirtatiousness, depending on who he’s talking to! Mr. Stranks also does a wonderful job of conveying the vulnerability Lucien works so hard to hide, and, in his scenes with Jay, revealing how brittle that sarcastic, world-weary exterior really is. His interpretation of Jay is equally good, slightly accented with a bit of gruffness here and there to describe him as a big man, and full of good-humour and affection – but not without his own insecurities. The handful of secondary characters are all voiced appropriately – his female voices are pretty good, too – and in fact, the only thing I can mark him down on is a handful of mispronunciations (“tirade” is “tye-raid” not “Ti-RAHD” “Berkley” is pronounced “Barkley”, “libido” is “li-BEE-do”, not “li-BYE-do”, “orangery” is “OR-ange’ry” not “or-AN-gery”) – most of which are what I’d regard as ‘standard’ vocabulary and which should have been picked up in post-production.
To Hold a Hidden Pearl is a gem of an audiobook. The sensual, opposites-attract romance is beautifully developed, the characters are likeable and the narration is excellent. Highly recommended.
This review originally appeared at AudioGals .
Fearne Hill’s To Hold a Hidden Pearl is a lovely, character-driven contemporary romance featuring an eccentric grief-stricken earl and a big-hearted regular bloke who, in the time-honoured way of romance novels, hook-up one night only to discover, a week later, that they’re going to be working together. It’s warm, funny, poignant and beautifully written, and the performance by new-to-me narrator Richard Stranks is a perfect fit.
Jay Sorrentino has been questioning his sexuality for quite a while now, but with his wedding rapidly approaching he decides he needs to finally get some answers. He’s bottled his previous two attempts at confirming his suspicions – but on his third visit to a London gay club, a quick hook-up with the most beautiful man he’s ever seen tells him everything he needs to know, and he calls off his wedding the next day. To say it doesn’t go down well is an understatement – he’s not ready to tell anyone the real reason – so he just accepts the disappointment, disapproval and downright hostility of his fiancée, most of his friends and his family. The one person who’s still speaking to him is his former best man, and even he’s not particularly sympathetic.
It’s been a good couple of years since Lucien Duchamps-Avery, sixteenth Earl of Rossingley, has been for a night out, and he’s honestly not sure what he’s doing at Spangles on this particular night. Since the tragic deaths of his parents and his older brother and his wife and their unborn child, he’s not done much of anything except work, drink and sleep; he’s numb and going through life on auto-pilot. But when a gorgeous hunk of a man – who is so not his usual type – approaches him in the club and offers him a blow job, well… It’s been a long time since he’s felt even the faintest interest in anyone, so Lucien thinks, why not?
Consultant anaesthesiologist Dr. Lucien Avery has a well-deserved reputation for being short-tempered, sharp-tongued and an all-round grumpy bastard. Every year, it’s part of his job to act as mentor to a junior doctor, and when it’s time to meet his next
It’s not exactly difficult to work out where the story goes from here, but the journey Fearne Hill takes us on is filled with tenderness, understanding and acceptance. Lucien and Jay are complex, endearing and easy to fall in love with, and the author plays with our preconceptions a bit by turning the grumpy/sunshine trope on its head. Lucien isn’t your average alphahole, but is instead an androgynous aristocrat with a penchant for wearing negligées, pearls and eyeliner, and while Jay might be the more physically imposing of the two, he’s a big softie at heart with a protective streak a mile wide. He finds Lucien intimidating at first – as he’s meant to – but it doesn’t take him too long to work out that Lucien uses his prickliness to keep people at bay, and that deep down, he’s hurting, lost and very lonely.
I enjoyed pretty much everything about this audiobook; the romance is superbly developed and while there are definitely a few bumps along the way, I appreciated the lack of a Big Mis or third-act break-up – there’s sufficient tension throughout to negate the need for some big, contrived dramatic moment. Instead we get a sexy, slow-burn romance featuring two individuals who talk things through and behave like adults, a very sensitive portrayal of grief and a story with emotional depth and plenty of humour to lighten the heavier moments. There’s also a very moving sub-plot about a young man in intensive care with whom Lucien – against his better judgement – forms an emotional bond which will definitely bring a lump to the throat.
I have two criticisms really. One: there’s a really odd conversation in which Jay asks Lucien if he’s a “tranny”. I seem to remember it comes at a moment where Lucien is drawing back into himself and that maybe Jay is just trying to provoke a reaction, but it’s incredibly jarring and made me uncomfortable. And given Jay is so accepting and appreciative of who Lucien is, it made no sense.
I’ve put the other issue under this spoiler tag:
As I said at the beginning, narrator Richard Stranks is a perfect fit for this book and he delivers an excellent performance on all counts. It’s well paced, his characterisations are on point, his vocal acting is very good and he differentiates well between all the characters. The real standout however, is his portrayal of Lucien; along with a cut-glass accent, he adopts the perfect aristocratic drawl that either drips with ennui and scorn or is loaded with a kind of deadly flirtatiousness, depending on who he’s talking to! Mr. Stranks also does a wonderful job of conveying the vulnerability Lucien works so hard to hide, and, in his scenes with Jay, revealing how brittle that sarcastic, world-weary exterior really is. His interpretation of Jay is equally good, slightly accented with a bit of gruffness here and there to describe him as a big man, and full of good-humour and affection – but not without his own insecurities. The handful of secondary characters are all voiced appropriately – his female voices are pretty good, too – and in fact, the only thing I can mark him down on is a handful of mispronunciations (“tirade” is “tye-raid” not “Ti-RAHD” “Berkley” is pronounced “Barkley”, “libido” is “li-BEE-do”, not “li-BYE-do”, “orangery” is “OR-ange’ry” not “or-AN-gery”) – most of which are what I’d regard as ‘standard’ vocabulary and which should have been picked up in post-production.
To Hold a Hidden Pearl is a gem of an audiobook. The sensual, opposites-attract romance is beautifully developed, the characters are likeable and the narration is excellent. Highly recommended.
This review originally appeared at AudioGals .
August 10, 2021
This started out great for me, hit a road block, dropped down to a low 3 star, but the way that it wrapped up makes it hard for me to even give it that.
First off, who's choice was it to market this as "light-hearted"? Because if this is considered light-hearted, I don't really want to know what kind of book it would have been if consider as even slightly sombre.
You have a man who's entire family was killed in a accident, who also has an eating disorder that is just danced around the entire book, you have patients dying, you have assault (though maybe it was light-hearted assault)? You have homophobic and transphobic language. Light-hearted, my ass.
I really liked how this was panning out. You had this dainty little dance that Lucian and Jay were doing. Jay wanted to make sure he got stuff sorted with his ex-fiancee, the sale of his house, his rocky relationship with his family and friends after ending the engagement without any explanation, before diving into things with Lucian. He holds off on kissing him, wanting to do right by him. Well, that lasted all off a second before Jay gets jealous and eats Lucian's face off.
And then we have the incredibly sexy scene where Lucian is grieving the death of a patient he had formed a close bond with, someone also gay who had lost their whole family in an accident, a patient who he spent a lot of time with at the hospital. And when Jay comes to check on him, he thinks that Lucian can't possibly be mourning a patient, because patients die all the time, makes a bunch of insulting comments, including asking him if he is a t****y, then fucks him really hard over the kitchen table with butter (you're in a kitchen, you couldn't have found something better than a dairy product for lube?)... after which Lucian makes some joke about "what's the point in having a sword if you don't draw a little blood", which I hope doesn't mean that Jay was rough enough to cause tearing.
After that scene, I was 100% over Jay.
From there on, I felt like there were too many sex scenes, very little interaction with supporting characters, lapses of heavy telling vs showing, shameless plugging of Reubin & Freddie (who I assume will appear in later books).
I thought Jules was mostly pointless, unless the point is that he, too, will get his own book at some point.
And while I think the concept of not coming out is nice and all, I think maybe your ex- of 4+ years who you ditched without explanation 6 days before your wedding deserves some kind of explanation... little wonder everyone was upset with Jay.
And the fact that Jay just fucks off for 2 months while Lucian learns French with his new worker and smokes joints, when he comes back, everything is A-OK. But for me, it felt very unresolved. How is his relationship with Ellie, his parents, his friends. It felt very half-arsed to me.
And as usual, I hated the epilogue, because I don't like them in general.
First off, who's choice was it to market this as "light-hearted"? Because if this is considered light-hearted, I don't really want to know what kind of book it would have been if consider as even slightly sombre.
You have a man who's entire family was killed in a accident, who also has an eating disorder that is just danced around the entire book, you have patients dying, you have assault (though maybe it was light-hearted assault)? You have homophobic and transphobic language. Light-hearted, my ass.
I really liked how this was panning out. You had this dainty little dance that Lucian and Jay were doing. Jay wanted to make sure he got stuff sorted with his ex-fiancee, the sale of his house, his rocky relationship with his family and friends after ending the engagement without any explanation, before diving into things with Lucian. He holds off on kissing him, wanting to do right by him. Well, that lasted all off a second before Jay gets jealous and eats Lucian's face off.
And then we have the incredibly sexy scene where Lucian is grieving the death of a patient he had formed a close bond with, someone also gay who had lost their whole family in an accident, a patient who he spent a lot of time with at the hospital. And when Jay comes to check on him, he thinks that Lucian can't possibly be mourning a patient, because patients die all the time, makes a bunch of insulting comments, including asking him if he is a t****y, then fucks him really hard over the kitchen table with butter (you're in a kitchen, you couldn't have found something better than a dairy product for lube?)... after which Lucian makes some joke about "what's the point in having a sword if you don't draw a little blood", which I hope doesn't mean that Jay was rough enough to cause tearing.
After that scene, I was 100% over Jay.
From there on, I felt like there were too many sex scenes, very little interaction with supporting characters, lapses of heavy telling vs showing, shameless plugging of Reubin & Freddie (who I assume will appear in later books).
I thought Jules was mostly pointless, unless the point is that he, too, will get his own book at some point.
And while I think the concept of not coming out is nice and all, I think maybe your ex- of 4+ years who you ditched without explanation 6 days before your wedding deserves some kind of explanation... little wonder everyone was upset with Jay.
And the fact that Jay just fucks off for 2 months while Lucian learns French with his new worker and smokes joints, when he comes back, everything is A-OK. But for me, it felt very unresolved. How is his relationship with Ellie, his parents, his friends. It felt very half-arsed to me.
And as usual, I hated the epilogue, because I don't like them in general.
January 25, 2023
I adored Fearne Hill's Two Tribes and decided to start trawling her backlist and
I am an absolute sucker for literally everything happening here.
The prickly porcupine with the secret soft center. The Italian Stallion, determined and brave and true. The communication. The care. The competence. The humor. The magnetic attraction that practically shimmers off the page.
How Lucien is always unapologetically himself, whichever of his personas -- Dr. Avery, Lady Louisa, Lord Rossingley -- he dons. How Jay is open and kind and modest and generous -- right up until he thinks someone else is sniffing around his man.
The "hot hookup with a stranger, oh shit he's my boss" trope, for which I will always and forever be trash, amen. "I can't believe it; of all the thousands, nay millions, of gay men in London" HAHAHAHAHA!!! Can't swing a dead chicken in London without hitting a gay man! Hordes, I tell you!
The weary, affectionate familiarity with which Fearne Hill -- an anaesthesiologist* IRL -- depicts hospital life and doctoring, giving the story an authentic, lived-in feel.
The bonkers premise -- runaway groom meets reluctant earl (EARL! I know they technically still exist, but it's objectively ridiculous) -- that ends up being a touching, real, low-angst gem of a love story.
Gosh! I loved it. 💜💜💜💜💜
* Anaesthetist? I don't know the difference between these two doctor types. The About the Author says anaesthesiologist but the characters are anaesthetists, so I guess this is one of those US-UK things strangely co-existing in the same book. Feel free to medsplain in the comments!
Content note -- Lucien suffers from what he calls "dietary idiosyncracies", essentially an undiagnosed eating disorder, which precedes but was made worse by his family's death. He does not seek formal treatment but is working on managing his eating issues by the end of the story.
‐--------------------------------------------------------------
First reaction: I LOVED EVERYTHING ABOUT THIS!!! 😍😅🥵🔥❤️❤️❤️
Onto the squee shelf with you, my pretty!
Rtc!
I am an absolute sucker for literally everything happening here.
The prickly porcupine with the secret soft center. The Italian Stallion, determined and brave and true. The communication. The care. The competence. The humor. The magnetic attraction that practically shimmers off the page.
How Lucien is always unapologetically himself, whichever of his personas -- Dr. Avery, Lady Louisa, Lord Rossingley -- he dons. How Jay is open and kind and modest and generous -- right up until he thinks someone else is sniffing around his man.
The "hot hookup with a stranger, oh shit he's my boss" trope, for which I will always and forever be trash, amen. "I can't believe it; of all the thousands, nay millions, of gay men in London" HAHAHAHAHA!!! Can't swing a dead chicken in London without hitting a gay man! Hordes, I tell you!
The weary, affectionate familiarity with which Fearne Hill -- an anaesthesiologist* IRL -- depicts hospital life and doctoring, giving the story an authentic, lived-in feel.
The bonkers premise -- runaway groom meets reluctant earl (EARL! I know they technically still exist, but it's objectively ridiculous) -- that ends up being a touching, real, low-angst gem of a love story.
Gosh! I loved it. 💜💜💜💜💜
* Anaesthetist? I don't know the difference between these two doctor types. The About the Author says anaesthesiologist but the characters are anaesthetists, so I guess this is one of those US-UK things strangely co-existing in the same book. Feel free to medsplain in the comments!
Content note -- Lucien suffers from what he calls "dietary idiosyncracies", essentially an undiagnosed eating disorder, which precedes but was made worse by his family's death. He does not seek formal treatment but is working on managing his eating issues by the end of the story.
‐--------------------------------------------------------------
First reaction: I LOVED EVERYTHING ABOUT THIS!!! 😍😅🥵🔥❤️❤️❤️
Onto the squee shelf with you, my pretty!
Rtc!
May 5, 2024
Holy Hotness!!! I think my Kindle just melted my earbuds.
A gorgeous, confident, androgynous peer, who is grieving the horrendous loss of his family, Dr. Lucien Avery doesn't make it easy to like him.
Rugged, masculine, and dependable, Dr. Jay Sorrentino has a life filled with friends and family who love him. He's ready to start his new life with a new job. However, the pressure of the rapidly approaching date of his wedding has him re-evaluating... and pulling the plug. Questioning his sexuality simply isn't fair to his fiancée. And he just can't the thought of the future of his life as it stands.
To Hold a Hidden Pearl took me through all ranges of emotion. Hurt/comfort, a fascinating slice of English life, charming and sweet, super erotic. And, oh, the stories of the patients they lose just broke my heart. Faerne Hill writes is all beautifully.
Simply a spectacular story, To Hold a Hidden Pearl is ecliped only by the stunning performance by Richard Stranks! Mr. Stranks infuses emotion into each the characters, and comes up with a unique and suitable voice for everyone in this varied cast.
I'm thrilled to find out this is the first book in a series... is it too much to hope that Richard Stranks perfoms them all!
an audiobook copy of To Hold a Hidden Pearl was provided to me for the purpose of my honest reivew, all opinions are my own
A gorgeous, confident, androgynous peer, who is grieving the horrendous loss of his family, Dr. Lucien Avery doesn't make it easy to like him.
Rugged, masculine, and dependable, Dr. Jay Sorrentino has a life filled with friends and family who love him. He's ready to start his new life with a new job. However, the pressure of the rapidly approaching date of his wedding has him re-evaluating... and pulling the plug. Questioning his sexuality simply isn't fair to his fiancée. And he just can't the thought of the future of his life as it stands.
To Hold a Hidden Pearl took me through all ranges of emotion. Hurt/comfort, a fascinating slice of English life, charming and sweet, super erotic. And, oh, the stories of the patients they lose just broke my heart. Faerne Hill writes is all beautifully.
Simply a spectacular story, To Hold a Hidden Pearl is ecliped only by the stunning performance by Richard Stranks! Mr. Stranks infuses emotion into each the characters, and comes up with a unique and suitable voice for everyone in this varied cast.
I'm thrilled to find out this is the first book in a series... is it too much to hope that Richard Stranks perfoms them all!
an audiobook copy of To Hold a Hidden Pearl was provided to me for the purpose of my honest reivew, all opinions are my own
June 15, 2021
This is my second book by Fearne Hill and it was truly a great read.
What I loved:
The characters:
Jay: He was innocent, vulnerable, protective, possessive MC who charmed me to no end. a late bloomer, he discovered that he liked guys later in life while also being engaged to a woman. He was able to stave his urges until he saw Lucian. #GentleGiant
Lucian: He was unapologetically gay, wears negligees and makeup, and grieving. he was surviving on a diet of booze and desperately needed someone to lean on. Enter Jay... #IveBeenWaitingForYou
The Plot:
This is the story of two men who come together to each help the other heal, be themselves, love and live. Jay was Lucian's happiness, confidant and care-taker. Lucian was the one who took Jay out of his shell, and gave him the motivation and strength to be himself. #MyPerson
The Romance:
These men met on a hookup, turn out to be colleagues and basically fell for each other slowly but surely. They were sweet and intimate and i was rooting for them from day 1. #
Steam-o-meter: Medium steam with a healthy dose of intimacy. #JustRight
Angst-o-meter: Lowish angst between the MCs. #HappyWithYou
The HEA: Sweet and hopeful. #ForeverWithYou
Honorable Mentions:
The British-ness of this book!
Niggles:
What I loved:
The characters:
Jay: He was innocent, vulnerable, protective, possessive MC who charmed me to no end. a late bloomer, he discovered that he liked guys later in life while also being engaged to a woman. He was able to stave his urges until he saw Lucian. #GentleGiant
Lucian: He was unapologetically gay, wears negligees and makeup, and grieving. he was surviving on a diet of booze and desperately needed someone to lean on. Enter Jay... #IveBeenWaitingForYou
The Plot:
This is the story of two men who come together to each help the other heal, be themselves, love and live. Jay was Lucian's happiness, confidant and care-taker. Lucian was the one who took Jay out of his shell, and gave him the motivation and strength to be himself. #MyPerson
The Romance:
These men met on a hookup, turn out to be colleagues and basically fell for each other slowly but surely. They were sweet and intimate and i was rooting for them from day 1. #
Steam-o-meter: Medium steam with a healthy dose of intimacy. #JustRight
Angst-o-meter: Lowish angst between the MCs. #HappyWithYou
The HEA: Sweet and hopeful. #ForeverWithYou
Honorable Mentions:
The British-ness of this book!
Niggles:
June 18, 2021
ALL the five shining stars/pearls for this glorious story!
I’m not sure where to start and how to review this utterly, utterly delicate narrative. My heart, it did the funniest things. I wanted to review hyperboles to catch the eye of other reviewers and show them what this story did to me.
With his icily sharp, haughty mouth, thirty-four-year-old dr. Lucien Avery keeps everyone at distance, he can’t interact, not anymore. His life made a dramatic downfall eighteen months ago.
He’s miserable, haunted, hurt and unreachable, till dr Jay Sorrentino enters his life.
After one blowjob in a club, Jay takes, at twenty-nine, the big step, breaking up with his fiancée just before they would marry. He’s blocked by all his friends and family who are furious. Jay starts a new job at a new hospital, he can’t believe his eyes, his supervisor is the beautiful elegant man who he gave his very first blowjob.
Lucien is not sure how, but Jay breaks through his high walls. He’s swept off his feet by Jay and Jay has only eyes for Lucien.
Lucien is the gloriously sixteenth Earl of Rossingley, he’s extraordinary, something very special, I’m not gonna spoil, he’s has a thousand special characteristics, one even more attractive and endearing than the other, he’s extraordinary period!
Read it yourself, I was head over heels for him, just like Jay.
“I’d walk to the ends of the earth for that heart-stopping smile.” Me too Jay, me too!
What a precious story, there are many moments full of heartache, sadness, melancholy, my heart hurt for Lucien, but there are also beautiful romantic moments, fabulously and deliciously steamy encounters, gosh!
The intensity is high, on all fronts, emotionally, physically.
The author uses words that made my insides warm and soft, and created an absolutely breathtaking picture, with heartaches, hurt, comfort, sexiness, and two outstanding characters, I couldn’t stop looking at all the precious details.
Emotionally It’s all well balanced, heavy parts are present but didn’t make it a depressing read.
Lucien was in the spotlight how he deserved to be and Jay got enough attention and space too.
I’m out of words, just read it yourself!
I’m not sure where to start and how to review this utterly, utterly delicate narrative. My heart, it did the funniest things. I wanted to review hyperboles to catch the eye of other reviewers and show them what this story did to me.
With his icily sharp, haughty mouth, thirty-four-year-old dr. Lucien Avery keeps everyone at distance, he can’t interact, not anymore. His life made a dramatic downfall eighteen months ago.
He’s miserable, haunted, hurt and unreachable, till dr Jay Sorrentino enters his life.
After one blowjob in a club, Jay takes, at twenty-nine, the big step, breaking up with his fiancée just before they would marry. He’s blocked by all his friends and family who are furious. Jay starts a new job at a new hospital, he can’t believe his eyes, his supervisor is the beautiful elegant man who he gave his very first blowjob.
Lucien is not sure how, but Jay breaks through his high walls. He’s swept off his feet by Jay and Jay has only eyes for Lucien.
Lucien is the gloriously sixteenth Earl of Rossingley, he’s extraordinary, something very special, I’m not gonna spoil, he’s has a thousand special characteristics, one even more attractive and endearing than the other, he’s extraordinary period!
Read it yourself, I was head over heels for him, just like Jay.
“I’d walk to the ends of the earth for that heart-stopping smile.” Me too Jay, me too!
What a precious story, there are many moments full of heartache, sadness, melancholy, my heart hurt for Lucien, but there are also beautiful romantic moments, fabulously and deliciously steamy encounters, gosh!
The intensity is high, on all fronts, emotionally, physically.
The author uses words that made my insides warm and soft, and created an absolutely breathtaking picture, with heartaches, hurt, comfort, sexiness, and two outstanding characters, I couldn’t stop looking at all the precious details.
Emotionally It’s all well balanced, heavy parts are present but didn’t make it a depressing read.
Lucien was in the spotlight how he deserved to be and Jay got enough attention and space too.
I’m out of words, just read it yourself!
Read
October 2, 2022Probably the only one who struggled reading this book
November 4, 2021
Meet-cute club blowjob.
Gosh, posh Brits do it for me.
Like Hall and Morton.
Gosh, posh Brits do it for me.
Like Hall and Morton.
July 26, 2021
Quirky sweet romance.
The story's very much a character-driven two-hander, with little in the way of solid plot. I found both MCs sympathetic, so enjoyed the book a lot. I am conscious, though, that it landed at a good moment: if the wind had shifted a point to the east, I think I might have found one of the MCs outrageously mannered. (An earl, called Lucien. Wait...)
Probably a Marmite book, but I do like Marmite...
The story's very much a character-driven two-hander, with little in the way of solid plot. I found both MCs sympathetic, so enjoyed the book a lot. I am conscious, though, that it landed at a good moment: if the wind had shifted a point to the east, I think I might have found one of the MCs outrageously mannered. (An earl, called Lucien. Wait...)
Probably a Marmite book, but I do like Marmite...
June 11, 2021
Fearne Hill is a new to me author, but I will be reading more of their books for sure because this book has easily made it to my favorites of the year list!
This is a beautiful, unforgettable read. I loved everything about it. I loved how the author tackled heavy topics in a way that never felt like I was reading a heavy book. Still, I'll advise you to keep your tissues at hand, because there are moments in the story that you'll need them.
Lucien is a guarded man. Not very liked by his colleagues, always hiding behind his wall of self-preservation. Because he hurts. He's lonely. His family has been taken away from him after a terrible accident and his grief is so overwhelming and fragile, that he'd rather drink, smoke and hides from the world, than continue living the life he feels he doesn't deserve. But how fragile as he may seem, how distant he is behind his masks and his thick wall, underneath all that armor hides a beautiful, caring, loving soul, who craves to find someone to hold him again. To touch and to be touched.
He unexpectedly finds that person in Jay Sorrentino. A new doctor who he will be supervising and whom he recognizes as the guy who gave him a sloppy BJ in a seedy corner of a club some time before.
Jay was supposed to marry his girlfriend of 4 years. But for a little while he's had this feeling he might not be as straight as he always told himself he was. And to figure things out, he encourages himself to go to a gayclub, give someone a blowjob and find his truth.
When he meets Lucien Avery and recognizes him as the beautiful guy from that night before he called off his wedding, he hates his life a little more than he already did. But, against all odds, a friendship develops. Jay is the only one who gets to see the real Lucien. All three of his characters and he falls in love with everything Lucien is.
That declaration of love is possibly the most beautiful one I have ever read in mm romance. Or in any other genre, for that matter. I loved, LOVED it!!! It was emotional, it was witty, it was just everything that needed to be said.
Jay and Lucien are beautiful together. It was a privilege to witness how they fell in love, how they made love and how Lucien was there to guide Jay through all his firsts.
I fell in love with both of them; they've become precious characters that will stay with me.
I'm looking forward to the other books in this series!
In the mean time, I highly recommend this book to anyone who hasn't read it yet. It's one of the best books I read this year.
Thank you so much Netgalley and Ninestar Press for a copy of this beautiful, unforgettable book! This is my honest, unbiased review.
This is a beautiful, unforgettable read. I loved everything about it. I loved how the author tackled heavy topics in a way that never felt like I was reading a heavy book. Still, I'll advise you to keep your tissues at hand, because there are moments in the story that you'll need them.
Lucien is a guarded man. Not very liked by his colleagues, always hiding behind his wall of self-preservation. Because he hurts. He's lonely. His family has been taken away from him after a terrible accident and his grief is so overwhelming and fragile, that he'd rather drink, smoke and hides from the world, than continue living the life he feels he doesn't deserve. But how fragile as he may seem, how distant he is behind his masks and his thick wall, underneath all that armor hides a beautiful, caring, loving soul, who craves to find someone to hold him again. To touch and to be touched.
He unexpectedly finds that person in Jay Sorrentino. A new doctor who he will be supervising and whom he recognizes as the guy who gave him a sloppy BJ in a seedy corner of a club some time before.
Jay was supposed to marry his girlfriend of 4 years. But for a little while he's had this feeling he might not be as straight as he always told himself he was. And to figure things out, he encourages himself to go to a gayclub, give someone a blowjob and find his truth.
When he meets Lucien Avery and recognizes him as the beautiful guy from that night before he called off his wedding, he hates his life a little more than he already did. But, against all odds, a friendship develops. Jay is the only one who gets to see the real Lucien. All three of his characters and he falls in love with everything Lucien is.
That declaration of love is possibly the most beautiful one I have ever read in mm romance. Or in any other genre, for that matter. I loved, LOVED it!!! It was emotional, it was witty, it was just everything that needed to be said.
Jay and Lucien are beautiful together. It was a privilege to witness how they fell in love, how they made love and how Lucien was there to guide Jay through all his firsts.
I fell in love with both of them; they've become precious characters that will stay with me.
I'm looking forward to the other books in this series!
In the mean time, I highly recommend this book to anyone who hasn't read it yet. It's one of the best books I read this year.
Thank you so much Netgalley and Ninestar Press for a copy of this beautiful, unforgettable book! This is my honest, unbiased review.
December 4, 2021
I put this book on my "read before the end of 2021" list because of all the recommendations from people who share many of my tastes in books, and I'm so glad I read it. I look forward to reading her other work. In fact, I purchased the other two books in the series before I finished this one.
Fearne Hill balances humor and heat, laughter and pain, exposition and action. I won't recap the blurb as it describes the story perfectly. What I'll say is that I was drawn into the story from the first page and became completely invested in the story and characters. I needed to know more about Lucien and Jay, I needed to see them get their HEA. I had a hard time putting the book down to do things I needed to do, like work.
I highly recommend this book and am eager to read the others in the series once I've finished my end-of-the-year list.
Fearne Hill balances humor and heat, laughter and pain, exposition and action. I won't recap the blurb as it describes the story perfectly. What I'll say is that I was drawn into the story from the first page and became completely invested in the story and characters. I needed to know more about Lucien and Jay, I needed to see them get their HEA. I had a hard time putting the book down to do things I needed to do, like work.
I highly recommend this book and am eager to read the others in the series once I've finished my end-of-the-year list.
March 4, 2024
4.5
I really enjoyed this! Fearne writes British banter that I just love.
I could have done without the reference to masturbating to the sparkling vampire actor but other than that - great dynamic and sweet love story.
CWs from author:
Further heads up:
NSFW infos:
- 34 year old earl and doctor who is tall, androgynous and blond and likes to either dress as a doctor, like the earl people want to see or in negligés, pearls, lipgloss, mascara, lacy undergarments and of course matching nipple piercings and wellies (out and gay but had had mfm threesomes in the past)
- 29 year old half Brit/half Italian who looks like an “Italian Stallion” (gay or well firmly on the gay side of bi which he learns by blowing the other MC)
- Frotting
- rough Bareback sex over a kitchen table with butter
- more butter sex
- handcuffed with pearls (wakes up cuffed, not previously communicated)
- increasingly versatile
I really enjoyed this! Fearne writes British banter that I just love.
I could have done without the reference to masturbating to the sparkling vampire actor but other than that - great dynamic and sweet love story.
CWs from author:
Further heads up:
NSFW infos:
- 34 year old earl and doctor who is tall, androgynous and blond and likes to either dress as a doctor, like the earl people want to see or in negligés, pearls, lipgloss, mascara, lacy undergarments and of course matching nipple piercings and wellies (out and gay but had had mfm threesomes in the past)
- 29 year old half Brit/half Italian who looks like an “Italian Stallion” (gay or well firmly on the gay side of bi which he learns by blowing the other MC)
- Frotting
- rough Bareback sex over a kitchen table with butter
- more butter sex
- handcuffed with pearls (wakes up cuffed, not previously communicated)
- increasingly versatile
May 19, 2021
3.25 stars
Two adorkable & lovable main characters, an unlikely workplace romance, lots of nice character development & relationship development, & a reasonably realistic portrayal of dealing with personal trauma. One odd, uncomfortable scene involving a transphobic slur (see below) is my only major issue with this book. Overall, it’s an enjoyable story. (Apparently, fabulous cousin Freddie stars in the sequel, which should be fun.)
[What I liked:]
•I like how there was plenty of narrative tension throughout, but no massive misunderstanding or conflict or tragedy came at the 75% mark to bog things down. This book didn’t need a huge dramatic moment, & it’s refreshing not to have to wade through one to get to the happy ending.
•This book is funny. There are awkward bits, adorably weird character moments, & some funny dialogue.
•I thought the resolution Lucien & Jay worked out was pretty mature & responsible of them. It was a realistic ending, made sense for them as a couple, & was a satisfying wrap up.
•For having such a tragic past, Lucien as a character had so much depth to him besides just having trauma. That can be hard to balance, not skimming over serious things without it turning melodramatic. I really, really like that neither Lucien nor Jay had a savior complex, & while being vulnerable & deeply supporting one another they weren’t codependent. And both of their sets of personal issues were treated as long term things to work on, not just magically resolved by the ‘power of love’ or some such.
•Kinda random, but I really appreciate that Lucien’s eating issues weren’t portrayed as body-image related, but instead tied to other complex emotional/mental health issues. I feel like eating disorders in popular culture are usually reduced to dysmorphia/wanting to lose weight, but there are a variety of reasons/triggers people might have. Anyway, I feel seen.
•I love both Jay & Luce. Jay is sweet & helpful & has integrity to a fault & is always wearing hoodies. Luce is fabulous & fierce & perceptive & generous & gives great advice. They’re both flawed & empathetic characters on their own, & worked really well together as a couple.
[What I didn’t like as much:]
•Okay, I’m not sure why there was a scene where Jay insulted/teased/was a jerk to Lucien by calling him a “tr*nny”, but it was unnecessary & felt out of character & was jarring & just why? Because up til then Jay was so open & accepting & appreciative of who Lucien was without fetishizing his fashion sense, & appeared at least minimally aware of others’ & his own casual homophobia. So I don’t know why that scene was there.
•The whole thing with Reuben was a bit superfluous. Like why invent this hot guy out of thin air for moral support, just so Lucien can have his anxious thoughts in a conversation out loud? Just to be a foil for Jay’s jealousies? It felt kinda hokey & deus ex machina.
•At points the writing gets a bit too flowery or dramatic for my tastes. It’s not often, & it’s not excessive. But, for example, huge declarations of love feel a bit too sappy for me.
•Personal preference here, but there were a lot of spicy scenes, more than necessary imo. Not to the point that the plot suffered, but I just noticed there were a lot of them because I skip those scenes in general, & I found myself skipping a lot.
CW: homophobia/transphobia, use of trans slurs, survivor’s guilt, traumatic injury, death, eating disorder, mental health issues, sexual assault, romantic relationship between a boss & employee
[I received an ARC ebook copy from NetGalley in exchange for my honest review. Thank you for the book!]
Two adorkable & lovable main characters, an unlikely workplace romance, lots of nice character development & relationship development, & a reasonably realistic portrayal of dealing with personal trauma. One odd, uncomfortable scene involving a transphobic slur (see below) is my only major issue with this book. Overall, it’s an enjoyable story. (Apparently, fabulous cousin Freddie stars in the sequel, which should be fun.)
[What I liked:]
•I like how there was plenty of narrative tension throughout, but no massive misunderstanding or conflict or tragedy came at the 75% mark to bog things down. This book didn’t need a huge dramatic moment, & it’s refreshing not to have to wade through one to get to the happy ending.
•This book is funny. There are awkward bits, adorably weird character moments, & some funny dialogue.
•I thought the resolution Lucien & Jay worked out was pretty mature & responsible of them. It was a realistic ending, made sense for them as a couple, & was a satisfying wrap up.
•For having such a tragic past, Lucien as a character had so much depth to him besides just having trauma. That can be hard to balance, not skimming over serious things without it turning melodramatic. I really, really like that neither Lucien nor Jay had a savior complex, & while being vulnerable & deeply supporting one another they weren’t codependent. And both of their sets of personal issues were treated as long term things to work on, not just magically resolved by the ‘power of love’ or some such.
•Kinda random, but I really appreciate that Lucien’s eating issues weren’t portrayed as body-image related, but instead tied to other complex emotional/mental health issues. I feel like eating disorders in popular culture are usually reduced to dysmorphia/wanting to lose weight, but there are a variety of reasons/triggers people might have. Anyway, I feel seen.
•I love both Jay & Luce. Jay is sweet & helpful & has integrity to a fault & is always wearing hoodies. Luce is fabulous & fierce & perceptive & generous & gives great advice. They’re both flawed & empathetic characters on their own, & worked really well together as a couple.
[What I didn’t like as much:]
•Okay, I’m not sure why there was a scene where Jay insulted/teased/was a jerk to Lucien by calling him a “tr*nny”, but it was unnecessary & felt out of character & was jarring & just why? Because up til then Jay was so open & accepting & appreciative of who Lucien was without fetishizing his fashion sense, & appeared at least minimally aware of others’ & his own casual homophobia. So I don’t know why that scene was there.
•The whole thing with Reuben was a bit superfluous. Like why invent this hot guy out of thin air for moral support, just so Lucien can have his anxious thoughts in a conversation out loud? Just to be a foil for Jay’s jealousies? It felt kinda hokey & deus ex machina.
•At points the writing gets a bit too flowery or dramatic for my tastes. It’s not often, & it’s not excessive. But, for example, huge declarations of love feel a bit too sappy for me.
•Personal preference here, but there were a lot of spicy scenes, more than necessary imo. Not to the point that the plot suffered, but I just noticed there were a lot of them because I skip those scenes in general, & I found myself skipping a lot.
CW: homophobia/transphobia, use of trans slurs, survivor’s guilt, traumatic injury, death, eating disorder, mental health issues, sexual assault, romantic relationship between a boss & employee
[I received an ARC ebook copy from NetGalley in exchange for my honest review. Thank you for the book!]
August 19, 2022
Dr Jay Sorrentino discovers his new supervisor is none other than the guy he hooked up with at a London club the week before. Eccentric earl Dr Lucien Avery doesn’t even try to stay away from charming Jay and the two soon become friends, then lovers.
I fell in love with Dr Lucien Avery right alongside Jay. Lucien is an unforgettable character. He seems so real. He has this cold persona he shows the world but the real Lucien is so sweet and sad and vulnerable. He’s just so wonderfully HIMSELF. You just need to read this and experience him for yourself. Both of these guys have some serious issues and there are some very emotional moments, but the story doesn’t get bogged down with too much angst. Jay seems a bit clueless about gender and sexuality, (he’s only just realized he’s gay in his late twenties) but he’s learning. He loves all the different sides of Lucien and it’s wonderful.
This is only the second book I’ve read by this author and I’ve given 5 stars to both! I’m so looking forward to the next book in the series. If you are a fan of Lily Morton, Con Riley, and Barbara Elsborg, definitely give this book a try!
(Original review- May 2021)
EDIT: (August 2022) I just finished the audiobook and fell in love with Lucien all over again! Now that the whole series is out and I’ve read them all, I can say this was one of my favorite series of 2021. I gave all the books 5 stars, absolutely adore them all. Fearne has also released 3 more books (two in her Surfing the Waves series, and a stand-alone, Two Tribes) which I have also adored! She has quickly become one of my favorite authors!
The audiobook is read by Richard Stranks who does a fantastic job, especially with Lucien’s voice. I wanted Jay’s voice to sound a bit deeper, but otherwise his performance was really great. Looking forward to audiobook versions of the rest of the series!
I fell in love with Dr Lucien Avery right alongside Jay. Lucien is an unforgettable character. He seems so real. He has this cold persona he shows the world but the real Lucien is so sweet and sad and vulnerable. He’s just so wonderfully HIMSELF. You just need to read this and experience him for yourself. Both of these guys have some serious issues and there are some very emotional moments, but the story doesn’t get bogged down with too much angst. Jay seems a bit clueless about gender and sexuality, (he’s only just realized he’s gay in his late twenties) but he’s learning. He loves all the different sides of Lucien and it’s wonderful.
This is only the second book I’ve read by this author and I’ve given 5 stars to both! I’m so looking forward to the next book in the series. If you are a fan of Lily Morton, Con Riley, and Barbara Elsborg, definitely give this book a try!
(Original review- May 2021)
EDIT: (August 2022) I just finished the audiobook and fell in love with Lucien all over again! Now that the whole series is out and I’ve read them all, I can say this was one of my favorite series of 2021. I gave all the books 5 stars, absolutely adore them all. Fearne has also released 3 more books (two in her Surfing the Waves series, and a stand-alone, Two Tribes) which I have also adored! She has quickly become one of my favorite authors!
The audiobook is read by Richard Stranks who does a fantastic job, especially with Lucien’s voice. I wanted Jay’s voice to sound a bit deeper, but otherwise his performance was really great. Looking forward to audiobook versions of the rest of the series!
June 21, 2021
4.5 stars- a hidden pearl indeed
I remember seeing this author’s other recent release and wanting to give it a try, but by TBR list being what it is, it sort of slipped from my radar. When I saw an early review raving about To Hold a Hidden Pearl, I jumped at the chance to read and review it. I’m so glad I did because this is an absolute gem of a story that completely drew me in from the very start.
Hurt-comfort stories are always a favorite of mine because of the potential for big, palpable emotion. To Hold a Hidden Pearl captures all of that emotion while delivering a great romance with characters I absolutely fell for. I love books with multi-dimensional characters and Lucien is one of the better ones I’ve read in some time. Facing a difficult tragedy, the glimpses into his struggle to cope, overcome and reemerge is a gift.
I also really like Jay’s progression over the course of this book. It makes for a nice change of pace for a coming-out/bi-awakening romance, challenging many of the obvious assumptions or approaches to embracing one’s sexuality. While there are loads of little details and moments worthy of praise, I especially love how Jay and Lucien fit. Flirty, sexy, and with plenty of emotion, this romance has all I could hope for and the couple is so supportive of one another, allowing their partner time to grow and work on themselves.
If you are looking for a well-written romance with dynamic characters and a journey that taps into a wealth of emotions, I’d highly recommend giving To Hold a Hidden Pearl a try. I’m so happy I didn’t let this author slip from radar again and will definitely go back to read their other books.
*** Copy provided to Bayou Book Junkie for my reading pleasure, a review wasn't a requirement. ***
I remember seeing this author’s other recent release and wanting to give it a try, but by TBR list being what it is, it sort of slipped from my radar. When I saw an early review raving about To Hold a Hidden Pearl, I jumped at the chance to read and review it. I’m so glad I did because this is an absolute gem of a story that completely drew me in from the very start.
Hurt-comfort stories are always a favorite of mine because of the potential for big, palpable emotion. To Hold a Hidden Pearl captures all of that emotion while delivering a great romance with characters I absolutely fell for. I love books with multi-dimensional characters and Lucien is one of the better ones I’ve read in some time. Facing a difficult tragedy, the glimpses into his struggle to cope, overcome and reemerge is a gift.
I also really like Jay’s progression over the course of this book. It makes for a nice change of pace for a coming-out/bi-awakening romance, challenging many of the obvious assumptions or approaches to embracing one’s sexuality. While there are loads of little details and moments worthy of praise, I especially love how Jay and Lucien fit. Flirty, sexy, and with plenty of emotion, this romance has all I could hope for and the couple is so supportive of one another, allowing their partner time to grow and work on themselves.
If you are looking for a well-written romance with dynamic characters and a journey that taps into a wealth of emotions, I’d highly recommend giving To Hold a Hidden Pearl a try. I’m so happy I didn’t let this author slip from radar again and will definitely go back to read their other books.
*** Copy provided to Bayou Book Junkie for my reading pleasure, a review wasn't a requirement. ***
February 10, 2023
I adore Fearne Hill’s writing. I had a lot of niggles with this book, one of them was that the romance felt a bit insta love. But I still loved both MC’s, they were both adorable. ❤️ I also liked the dry humor. 😃😃😃
——
“You remind me of that actor from Twilight.””
““Which actor?” I answer coyly. “You mean… er, whatshisname, Robert… um… Richard… Patter… something?” He shakes his head, the bugger. “Nah, not him. I mean the old guy who plays the girl’s dad.” He plants a kiss on the top of my head. “Of course I bloody mean him! The one who plays the main vampire, that my sisters used to love. Edward isn’t it? Except that you are a lot blonder, skinnier, and have a few more wrinkles.””
“Charming.”
— To Hold a Hidden Pearl (Rossingley Book 1) by Fearne Hill
https://a.co/iFIwWJO
——
“You remind me of that actor from Twilight.””
““Which actor?” I answer coyly. “You mean… er, whatshisname, Robert… um… Richard… Patter… something?” He shakes his head, the bugger. “Nah, not him. I mean the old guy who plays the girl’s dad.” He plants a kiss on the top of my head. “Of course I bloody mean him! The one who plays the main vampire, that my sisters used to love. Edward isn’t it? Except that you are a lot blonder, skinnier, and have a few more wrinkles.””
“Charming.”
— To Hold a Hidden Pearl (Rossingley Book 1) by Fearne Hill
https://a.co/iFIwWJO
June 9, 2023
We have an alabaster colored protagonist falling for an olive toned man. Yet the cover model is very pink. With a stock photos that can happen, for a drawing, it is strange.
I started skimming in the end. I liked the troubled Lucien but would have liked to read about him solving his eating disorder.
What I liked, was the notion that straight people don't have to come out and every gay person can choose when or if he comes out. Jay doesn't. This is in contrast with every contemporary story including a coming out moment, neatly brainwashing us that is the right thing to do.
I started skimming in the end. I liked the troubled Lucien but would have liked to read about him solving his eating disorder.
What I liked, was the notion that straight people don't have to come out and every gay person can choose when or if he comes out. Jay doesn't. This is in contrast with every contemporary story including a coming out moment, neatly brainwashing us that is the right thing to do.
October 19, 2021
Just as good now as the first time I read it. I love this book and Lucien and Jay are AMAZING!
April 1, 2024
My first Fearne Hill and I will most certainly be exploring her backlist. I adored this. It was total fire in every way. Gorgeous writing, lovable, mature MCs with smokin’ hot chemistry, a believable and heartfelt (and did I mention smokin' hot?) journey to becoming a couple. The dialogue sparkled, the humor was spot on, the characters and plot were so smartly developed. I loved both Jay and Lucien so much. I'm not always one for androgynous leads but I fell hard for Lucien. He and Jay were total yen and yang and nothing short of perfection.
Fantastic narration as well—perfect emotion and delivery. The narrator’s emotional grasp of every scene is just so spot on. My single frustration was the lack of on-page resolution of Jay telling his family and his ex that he’s gay. I wanted to be there for those conversations and it made things feel unresolved. Normally I’d knock a star off for something such as that, but the story was just too damn lovely and perfect to do that. On to book 2!
Fantastic narration as well—perfect emotion and delivery. The narrator’s emotional grasp of every scene is just so spot on. My single frustration was the lack of on-page resolution of Jay telling his family and his ex that he’s gay. I wanted to be there for those conversations and it made things feel unresolved. Normally I’d knock a star off for something such as that, but the story was just too damn lovely and perfect to do that. On to book 2!
May 25, 2021
To Hold a Hidden Pearl is everything! I don't know that my review will do the story justice, but I'll try.
Dr. Lucien Avery is one of my favorite characters of all time. Initially he is a very guarded man, keeping others away with his rudeness. But the real Lucien is a very sweet, sensitive, and lonely man. He doesn't care what others think at all and freely expresses himself. He's not one for labels, but I don't think it'd be wrong to consider him as genderfluid with more feminine days than masculine. I really loved that even though Lucien is hurting deeply, he opens himself up to Jay and Lucien trusts that he can support himself even if their relationship breaks down or doesn't progress past friendship. Oh, and Lucien doesn't like to swear, so his favorite alternative is "gosh" and it's pretty adorable.
Jay has the weight of the world on his shoulders. Upon meeting Lucien, he is immediately drawn to the reclusive man. There is just something about Lucien that calls out to him. As they get to know each other, a lovely friendship builds between the two of them until it becomes more. I love that Jay never judges Lucien for freely expressing himself but rather encourages Lucien to express himself more. And even though Jay is questioning his sexuality throughout the book, he tries hard to not place that burden at Jay's feet.
This book is incredibly romantic and their love for each other is beautiful.They do fall for each other relatively quickly, but I wouldn't consider this story instalove. There's definitely a friendship that forms first. There is some angst in the story, but it's mainly around Jay dealing with his sexuality and avoiding his family. Without giving anything away, the way that the concept of "coming out" is handled in this book is really refreshing!
Fearne Hill is now a one-click author for me and I can't wait to read the second book in this series!
Dr. Lucien Avery is one of my favorite characters of all time. Initially he is a very guarded man, keeping others away with his rudeness. But the real Lucien is a very sweet, sensitive, and lonely man. He doesn't care what others think at all and freely expresses himself. He's not one for labels, but I don't think it'd be wrong to consider him as genderfluid with more feminine days than masculine. I really loved that even though Lucien is hurting deeply, he opens himself up to Jay and Lucien trusts that he can support himself even if their relationship breaks down or doesn't progress past friendship. Oh, and Lucien doesn't like to swear, so his favorite alternative is "gosh" and it's pretty adorable.
Jay has the weight of the world on his shoulders. Upon meeting Lucien, he is immediately drawn to the reclusive man. There is just something about Lucien that calls out to him. As they get to know each other, a lovely friendship builds between the two of them until it becomes more. I love that Jay never judges Lucien for freely expressing himself but rather encourages Lucien to express himself more. And even though Jay is questioning his sexuality throughout the book, he tries hard to not place that burden at Jay's feet.
This book is incredibly romantic and their love for each other is beautiful.They do fall for each other relatively quickly, but I wouldn't consider this story instalove. There's definitely a friendship that forms first. There is some angst in the story, but it's mainly around Jay dealing with his sexuality and avoiding his family. Without giving anything away, the way that the concept of "coming out" is handled in this book is really refreshing!
Fearne Hill is now a one-click author for me and I can't wait to read the second book in this series!
July 8, 2021
Dr James Avery, 16th Earl of Rossingley, is a very unique, unforgettable character. However, I couldn't understand or like the other MC, Dr Jay Sorrentino. Find him unlikeable, selfish, frustrating character who likes to avoid confrontations and hide his head in the sand. His family is worried for him and he doesn't want to tell them the truth. 🙄
New to me author whom I'd read again. She is British and an anaesthelogist. Smart British humour and writing.
New to me author whom I'd read again. She is British and an anaesthelogist. Smart British humour and writing.
June 15, 2021
I am so glad that I was introduced to Fearne’s book as she does not disappoint.
I really loved the story of Jay and Lucien finding love when least expected.
I really loved the story of Jay and Lucien finding love when least expected.
May 24, 2021
3.25 Stars
Dr. Lucien Duchamps-Avery and Dr. Jay Sorrentino, the gay protagonists in Fearne Hill’s ‘To Hold a Hidden Pearl’, have many things in common. Both men are anesthesiologists, each is dealing with hurt, loss, and surprise, each is a caring and compassionate person in his own way, and both have been anointed with nick names by other health care providers in the Allenmouth Hospital where they practice.
Lucien, the 34-year old reluctant 16th Earl of Rossingley and London trained intensive care anesthesiologist, is referred to as the Androgynous Albino, while Jay, the 29-year old younger physician who has been assigned to work with Lucien as he completes his specialty training, is known as ‘Goldenballs’.
It quickly becomes apparent that while Lucien and Jay are both anesthesiologists, it’s a psychiatrist who would have a smorgasbord of diagnoses available to describe them. With very good reason, Jay is struggling with an acute anxiety disorder, and Lucien appears to be dealing - moderately successfully - with DID, formally known as multiple personality disorder.
Hill has created a supporting cast of wonderful and often sympathetic characters including Ellie, Jay’s current house mate and former fiancée; Evan, Jay’s homophobic best friend; Jay’s family members; other health care providers on the hospital staff; and very importantly, Billy-Ray, a burn victim under Lucien and Jay’s care.
Much of this rom/com is charming and delightful - even occasionally laugh out loud funny. It’s a personal preference, but for me even the bit of very mild kink and the actions of at least one of Lucien’s personalities were truly off-putting. Others may enjoy both of these story elements.
I received a copy of this book from Gay Romance Reviews. This is my honest review of a story with red kite tattoos, a feather boa, a strand of Victorian pearls, and so much more.
Dr. Lucien Duchamps-Avery and Dr. Jay Sorrentino, the gay protagonists in Fearne Hill’s ‘To Hold a Hidden Pearl’, have many things in common. Both men are anesthesiologists, each is dealing with hurt, loss, and surprise, each is a caring and compassionate person in his own way, and both have been anointed with nick names by other health care providers in the Allenmouth Hospital where they practice.
Lucien, the 34-year old reluctant 16th Earl of Rossingley and London trained intensive care anesthesiologist, is referred to as the Androgynous Albino, while Jay, the 29-year old younger physician who has been assigned to work with Lucien as he completes his specialty training, is known as ‘Goldenballs’.
It quickly becomes apparent that while Lucien and Jay are both anesthesiologists, it’s a psychiatrist who would have a smorgasbord of diagnoses available to describe them. With very good reason, Jay is struggling with an acute anxiety disorder, and Lucien appears to be dealing - moderately successfully - with DID, formally known as multiple personality disorder.
Hill has created a supporting cast of wonderful and often sympathetic characters including Ellie, Jay’s current house mate and former fiancée; Evan, Jay’s homophobic best friend; Jay’s family members; other health care providers on the hospital staff; and very importantly, Billy-Ray, a burn victim under Lucien and Jay’s care.
Much of this rom/com is charming and delightful - even occasionally laugh out loud funny. It’s a personal preference, but for me even the bit of very mild kink and the actions of at least one of Lucien’s personalities were truly off-putting. Others may enjoy both of these story elements.
I received a copy of this book from Gay Romance Reviews. This is my honest review of a story with red kite tattoos, a feather boa, a strand of Victorian pearls, and so much more.
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