- Title: Blackmailer’s Delight
- Author: David Lawrence
- Series: N/A
- Genre: Historical Fiction, Romance, LGBT+
- Publishing Date: February 6th, 2024
- Publishing Co.: Broadbound Publishing
- Length: 326 pages
- Format: Paperback
- Acquired: Given digital copy in exchange for an honest review
- Amazon Link: Blackmailer’s Delight
Every new romance has its ups and downs…
Its bumps in the road…
Its blackmail notes…
A misunderstanding ties the fates of three men together in this heartfelt, sensual, and uproarious romantic puzzle. Blackmailer’s Delight is a tale of lives tossed into the air, then reassembled in some rather unexpected ways.
England 1795
London gentleman Daniel Thornton has just dumped his philandering lover Clarence. He moves to Grantham to care for his ailing uncle and nurse a broken heart. The move he hopes will be a fresh start – a place to discover himself and perhaps a new way of seeing the world.
Luke Morley is a draper’s son struggling to accept his sexuality. He has withdrawn into a world of fantasy, but with the arrival of Mr. Thornton this private world is shattered. Grantham’s most eligible bachelor is everything Luke has ever dreamed of. After months of silent admiration, he determines to introduce himself.
Re-enter Clarence, who arrives to win back his old lover. When Daniel rejects him again, he is not about to take it lying down…
A blackmail note appears – a demand that Daniel marry one of Luke’s sisters. A demand that he fulfill Luke’s sexual desires.
Daniel saw young Mr. Morley leave the note on his mantle.
The note is from Luke.
Isn’t it?
Final Judgment: 5 Stars out of 5
Content Warning for Novel: graphic sexual content, some sexual (consensual) violence, cheating, adult language. 18+
Think Bridgerton, but gay. And less of the Gossip Girl anonymous writer feeding everyone’s private business to the masses. However, there are some letters, one of which–arguably the most important–does happen to be anonymous… And it kicks off the whole fiery story. Gay smutty romance, the historical time period, and a wealth of misunderstandings drove me crazy with this novel.
Lawrence’s writing was *chef’s kiss* in this novel. He knows exactly when to tease and when to satisfy us readers. He plays around with multiple POVs that allows us to see into the minds of various main characters, raising tension when our two favorite have completely opposite understandings of what just happened. I loved being able to clearly see how a single event could foster love in one, and hate in another. It was so intriguing and, unfortunately, realistic. Communication is key here, people.
The characters themselves were also quite compelling. Each had their own idiosyncrasies and unique ways of thinking that truly made them come to life. I will admit that I am not well-versed in this specific time period, but I did feel as if I were living beside them, listening to their woes as a loved confidante. Even the side characters were expertly woven into the narrative, just as acquaintances make up important aspects of our own, real lives!
Overall, this was an amazing read. There is quite a bit of graphic, male-on-male sexual content, and it was nicely done–even if some of the sex scenes were… let’s say, not-so-nice. It all worked very well with the entire novel as a whole. And I’m always a proponent for more LGBT+ representation! Great plot (be prepared to be frustrated!), realistic characters, and phenomenal writing. Absolute must-read.
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