This was a delightful sapphic Regency romance, one of the first queer Harlequin books! Loretta is a perfect society lady hiding anything authentic or This was a delightful sapphic Regency romance, one of the first queer Harlequin books! Loretta is a perfect society lady hiding anything authentic or unique about herself (her intellect and interest in books mostly), who is taken by the sister of the Duke courting her. Charlotte -- who already knows she's gay, unlike Loretta -- is a bit of a ruffian, a lover of many ladies, and a secret painter.
I loved the glimpses of a secret queer underground we got! I wanted a little more depth in the secondary characters and their relationships with Loretta and Charlotte (Charlotte's brother Arthur and Loretta's father especially). And there was a lot of fun drama and relationship repair / acceptance of the women being together squeezed into the last chapters that I would have liked to see seeded throughout the novel so it didn't seem so abrupt.
Overall, I thought this was great fun and am eagerly awaiting Emma-Claire Sunday's next book!...more
I love an historical story like this that rests solidly on the shoulders of everyday people's lives but feels simultaneously part of a grand historicaI love an historical story like this that rests solidly on the shoulders of everyday people's lives but feels simultaneously part of a grand historical narrative.
There's a rich backdrop to the forester protagonist Finn's quiet story, from President Kennedy's assassination to the history of Black people on Vancouver Island and their contributions dating from the late 19th century onwards. Then there's, of course, the so-called fruit machine device that fuels Finn’s initial ejection from his federal government job.
A dark piece of queer Canadian history, the use of this device targeted LGBTQ+ people, particularly gay men, and supposedly measured pupil responses to pornographic images and determined if the subject was queer and, consequently, to be fired unceremoniously. Finn, heterosexual, gets caught in the crossfire of this discriminatory practice, as he's an alcoholic who chose a gay cruising bar to drink in anonymity.
The story cleverly moves back and forth in time, focusing mostly on the life Finn has cobbled together for himself at an estate on Vancouver Island in the aftermath of his life being blown up but also showing the terrifying experience of being kidnapped by RCMP.
"It [pleasure] had come that morning, it truly did, but it was countered with an unimaginable event, as we had relished our gladness and satisfaction more than we deserved.”
Finn is a melancholy fellow whom I enjoyed following very much! Although his friend and colleague Bishop I think was my favourite character.
Full disclosure, Dan is married to my mom! I am happily included in the acknowledgements ...more
Well this was a delightful old-fashioned pirate adventure story, set in the 12th century Indian Ocean Islamic world and starring a badass woman NakhudWell this was a delightful old-fashioned pirate adventure story, set in the 12th century Indian Ocean Islamic world and starring a badass woman Nakhuda (ship captain) and mom. I loved the supporting characters (two are queer), the "let's get the gang back together for one last hooray" vibe, the villain(s) (is Raksh a villain??), how thirsty for pretty men Amina is, and the rich world-building -- historical and fantasy. Excellent as an audiobook!...more
CaseyTheCanadianLesbrarian
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