Note: This is a review of an adult book. Please, do not read
either the review or the book reviewed unless you are an adult.
SUMMARY (from Goodreads): Charming rascal Tristan Northwood seems to have it all: an
ancient name, a noble inheritance, a lovely wife, and a son he adores. Women
love him, men admire him, and it seems there is nothing he can’t do, whether
it’s seducing a society wife or winning a carriage race. Little does Society
suspect that the name means nothing to him, the fortune is in his father’s
controlling hands, and he has no interest in his wife except a very distant
friendship. Society bores him, and he takes dares because he only feels alive
when he’s dancing on the edge... until his wife’s brother comes home from the
wars.
Decorated
war hero Major Charles Mountjoy jerks Tris out of his despair by inspiring
feelings of passion Tris had never suspected himself capable of. Almost as
terrifying as those feelings for Charles are the signs Charles might return his
affection – or, even worse, that Charles sees the man Tristan has been trying
so valiantly to hide from the world.
MY OPINION:
This is
actually the first historical gay romance I have read. It has been on my radar since I saw it mentioned by Nimue at Endlessly Bookish, and after reading it I can say
I am glad it caught my eye.
Although Kindred Hearts is generally well-written,
I can see some possibility for improvement. Transitions between the scenes are
sometimes rough, and, combined with the telling mode, they detach the reader from
the story. Also, there is some repetition, which could be avoided or handled
more subtly.
Speedwell
uses quite modern language when dealing with philosophical and
psychoanalytical views and theories, which sounds a little off. Even though it is likely
that the 19th century people would draw the medical and
psychological conclusions Speedwell’s characters do, the modern wording makes
it seem rather implausible.
Character-wise Kindred Hearts is an amazing, heart-felt book. Initially, the characters seem rather shallow, Tristan in particularly, but after a few pages they capture the reader's attention completely.
I felt so
much sympathy for Tristan. His mother dying when he was a little boy, his
father does not know how to deal with him, so he takes to controlling every
aspect of his life to make the best of it. The effect is quite the opposite.
Tristan becomes a man with a very low self-esteem, always thinking the worst of
himself, believing his father hates him, and deeming himself unworthy of
anyone’s love. Thinking of himself as a failure and a disappointment to his
father, he turns into a reluctant rebel. Yet, love
is what he longs for, and he, to his bitter disappointment, does not find it in
an arranged marriage to Charlotte.
I disliked Charlotte at the beginning. She
is a cold, dispassionate person, who cannot and will not give Tristan the love
he craves. However, she is in her own way a kind and pleasant woman, and turns
out to be the second best thing that happens to Tristan. She is a rational
thinker and a good judge of character, and she does her best to be a good
friend to Tristan. She turns out to be a supportive person, one Tristan can
count on, and for this I loved her in the end.
Charles is
everything you could want in a loved one. He is a strong character, smart,
and loyal. He is a confident man, at ease with his identity. As his sister, he
is good at reading people. He helps Tristan see his potential and encourages
him to find something he is good at. With Charles beside him, Tristan finally
discovers a way to a live a fulfilling and happy life.
I loved
Speedwell’s approach to character development and the analysis of human
behaviour. She coveys the feelings and thoughts in a clear, tangible manner,
and makes several memorable punch lines along the way. Although some twists
and turns seem a little farfetched, Speedwell craftily makes the outcomes seem probable.
Finally, Kindred Hearts is set at the time of the
Napoleonic wars. It both authentically represents the historic era, its events,
and characters. Overall, it is an enjoyable and absorbing read.
RECOMMENDATION: Kindred Hearts is a lovely, heartfelt historical
romance. It reads smoothly and keeps the reader’s attention throughout the
story. However, it may not appeal to some readers due to sexually explicit content.
SUMMARY (from Goodreads): Considered to be Plautus’s greatest play, Menaechmi; Or, The Twin-Brothers is the story of two twin brothers,
Menaechmus and Sosicles, who are separated at age seven when their father takes
Menaechmus on a business trip. This classic play, which provided the
inspiration for Shakespeare’s Comedy of
Errors, draws heavily on the theme of mistaken identity.
SUMMARY (from Goodreads): Charming rascal Tristan Northwood seems to have it all: an
ancient name, a noble inheritance, a lovely wife, and a son he adores. Women
love him, men admire him, and it seems there is nothing he can’t do, whether
it’s seducing a society wife or winning a carriage race. Little does Society
suspect that the name means nothing to him, the fortune is in his father’s
controlling hands, and he has no interest in his wife except a very distant
friendship. Society bores him, and he takes dares because he only feels alive
when he’s dancing on the edge... until his wife’s brother comes home from the
wars. 
DIRECTOR: Jim Sheridan; CAST: Daniel Craig, Rachel Weisz, Naomi Watts…
SUMMARY (from Goodreads): Since a horrible accident claimed the lives of her family,
sixteen-year-old Ever can see auras, hear people’s thoughts, and know a
person’s life story by touch. Going out
of her way to shield herself from human contact to suppress her abilities has
branded her as a freak at her new high school – but everything changes when she
meets Damen Auguste... 
SUMMARY (from Goodreads): In Shiver, Grace and
Sam found each other. Now, in Linger,
they must fight to be together. For Grace, this means defying her parents and
keeping a very dangerous secret about her own well-being. For Sam, this means
grappling with his werewolf past...and figuring out a way to survive into
the future. Add into the mix a new wolf named Cole, whose own past has the
potential to destroy the whole pack. And Isabel, who already lost her brother
to the wolves...and is nonetheless drawn to Cole.
