Beyond Reckless

Title:
Author: Ava March
Publisher:
Genre: M/M historical romance
Length: Amber Kiss (6k)
Rating: 4 stars out of 5

A guest review by Jenre

Summary Review
A short piece of romantic erotica with some nice subtle characterisation in amongst the sex.

THE BLURB

It’s the eve of Mr. Rys Palmer’s 25th birthday. A significant birthday, for it’s when he’ll come into his majority and gain full control of the inheritance from his obscenely wealthy grandfather. But the promise of a fortune isn’t what gets Rys’s blood pumping.

Mr. Martin Trent’s well aware of his lover’s propensity for thrills. After four years together, he knows just how to indulge Rys without risking either of their reputations or their necks. But clearly Rys’s taste for more than a hint of danger has rubbed off on him. Beyond reckless to ask Rys to meet him at a formal ton ball to give Rys his gift. Yet Martin can’t resist the opportunity to give his lover a birthday he’ll never forget…

THE REVIEW

This short begins as Rys prepares to brave a society ball. He’s looking for his lover, Martin and there are some great descriptions of the ball, the people who attend and Rys’s feelings about such an event as he goes from room to room. This description lent a delightful air of anticipation to the story and I was quickly hooked.

Once Rys finds Martin the story moves into an extremely hot sex scene with a hint of BDSM role playing (although not enough that it should be offputting for any readers). The sex is well written and also tells the reader much about the trust and affection that both men have for each other. I thought it interesting that we get both men’s point of view with Rys’s excitement at the beginning and then, towards the end, Martin’s reflections on his relationship with Rys and the lengths he goes to to try and keep up with him. This meant that both characters are sympathetic and as well rounded as can be expected for a short story, especially Martin, about whom I managed to learn quite a lot.

The only niggle about the story was that, having set up the relationship dynamic, I wished I could have more of the characters. I did wonder whether this story was an add-on to another, longer tale, but it seems not. What a shame because I liked the set-up and the characters and would have liked to have read another book with them, perhaps detailing how they managed to carry on their relationship in such a restrictive society.

Overall, despite that niggle, this was a well written and engaging Regency historical short. Those who like historicals and are looking for a quickie can’t go wrong with picking up this short story.