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152nd out of 583 books
—
1,175 voters
Allegiance: A Dublin Novella
by
Heather Domin (Goodreads Author)
1922. William Young is an MI5 informant, using his working-class background to gain the trust of those deemed a threat to the Crown. Tiring of his double life, William travels to Dublin for one last assignment: infiltrating a circle of IRA supporters. But these "rebels" are not what he expected — and one of them, a firebrand named Adam with a past as painful as his own, sh...more
ebook, Smashwords Edition, 188 pages
Published
January 1st 2012
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4,5 stars upped to the full five for saving my weekend!
I was considering giving up reading altogether after starting - or better said trying - to read around 10 books from my tbr pile. Most of them turned out to be not even worth adding them as DNF.
Why did I have to kiss ten frogs (payed for) to find a prince (for free)? Brrrrrrrrrrr.....
Allegiance was a well written story with a great sense of time and place, likeable "real" heroes, secondary characters I wanted to hug and slap around, heart-st...more
I was considering giving up reading altogether after starting - or better said trying - to read around 10 books from my tbr pile. Most of them turned out to be not even worth adding them as DNF.
Why did I have to kiss ten frogs (payed for) to find a prince (for free)? Brrrrrrrrrrr.....
Allegiance was a well written story with a great sense of time and place, likeable "real" heroes, secondary characters I wanted to hug and slap around, heart-st...more
view all 11 comments
4.5 stars
The author managed to make me SEE and FEEL Dublin in the twenties. The romance really starts in the second part of the book, and the end is really poignant. The author's style is very fluid, the plot is captivating and the characters are varied, well developped and feel real. I'm impressed. This author is really skilled. I didn't give 5 stars because my emotons were not engaged to a 5 stars level.
The author managed to make me SEE and FEEL Dublin in the twenties. The romance really starts in the second part of the book, and the end is really poignant. The author's style is very fluid, the plot is captivating and the characters are varied, well developped and feel real. I'm impressed. This author is really skilled. I didn't give 5 stars because my emotons were not engaged to a 5 stars level.
4.25
I'll just go ahead and say that I agree with the other reviewers, Domin is a very gifted author. She can paint extremely vivid pictures with her words and her writing is so evocative of Dublin circa 1920s without being overtly or oppressively expository. Allegiance is a taut and poignant romance even though it felt predictable and dare I say, cliched in the last third which has probably something to do with the fact that I've watched a ton of period movies reminiscent of the era and settin...more
I'll just go ahead and say that I agree with the other reviewers, Domin is a very gifted author. She can paint extremely vivid pictures with her words and her writing is so evocative of Dublin circa 1920s without being overtly or oppressively expository. Allegiance is a taut and poignant romance even though it felt predictable and dare I say, cliched in the last third which has probably something to do with the fact that I've watched a ton of period movies reminiscent of the era and settin...more
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3.5 stars.
This is a free ebook by Heather Dormin, that can be downloaded on smashwords in several different formats, such as Epub, Kindle, PDF...
Link: https://www.smashwords.com/books/view...
The historical setting is really well done, and I enjoyed reading this book a lot.
The plot--a British spy (well, Scottish, to be exact) on an assignment in Ireland to infiltrate an alleged militant IRA group finding himself falling for one member of said group and beginning to doubt whether he is fighting o...more
This is a free ebook by Heather Dormin, that can be downloaded on smashwords in several different formats, such as Epub, Kindle, PDF...
Link: https://www.smashwords.com/books/view...
The historical setting is really well done, and I enjoyed reading this book a lot.
The plot--a British spy (well, Scottish, to be exact) on an assignment in Ireland to infiltrate an alleged militant IRA group finding himself falling for one member of said group and beginning to doubt whether he is fighting o...more
I really really grateful that I was stumbled upon this great-beautiful-heartwrenching story about a MI5 agent who falls with an Irish gun runner during his assignment. Gosh, I still feel the excitement till now! I'm not into historical but this one definitely wins my heart.
1922. William Young is an MI5 informant, using his working-class background to gain the trust of those deemed a threat to the Crown. Tiring of his double life, William travels to Dublin for one last assignment: infiltrating a...more
1922. William Young is an MI5 informant, using his working-class background to gain the trust of those deemed a threat to the Crown. Tiring of his double life, William travels to Dublin for one last assignment: infiltrating a...more
A thought-provoking MM romance set in the 1920s - at the start of the IRA conflict.
This is the story of WIlliam, an enigmatic Glaswegian turned spy for the British MI5 and Adam a charismatic younger man - member of the IRA. Their romance starts under the worst possible circumstance - whilst William is embedded in Adam's cell as a spy for an unscrupulous chief at the MI5. Even though it was obvious from the start that their relationship would have its challenges, it was still heartbreaking to wi...more
This is the story of WIlliam, an enigmatic Glaswegian turned spy for the British MI5 and Adam a charismatic younger man - member of the IRA. Their romance starts under the worst possible circumstance - whilst William is embedded in Adam's cell as a spy for an unscrupulous chief at the MI5. Even though it was obvious from the start that their relationship would have its challenges, it was still heartbreaking to wi...more
Gerry B's Book Reviews
4.5 bees
Available for free download at, Smashwords.com
Review by Gerry Burnie
This being the “Irish month” of March, and although I’m a day late for the 17th, Allegiance: A Dublin Novella by Heather Domin [smashwords, 2013] is is my St. Patrick’s Day contribution.
The story is set in the period just after the so-called “Irish War of Independence” (1919 – 1921), and the signing of the Anglo-Irish treaty. William Young is a MI5 (Military Intelligence, Section 5) Agent, sent to...more
4.5 bees
Available for free download at, Smashwords.com
Review by Gerry Burnie
This being the “Irish month” of March, and although I’m a day late for the 17th, Allegiance: A Dublin Novella by Heather Domin [smashwords, 2013] is is my St. Patrick’s Day contribution.
The story is set in the period just after the so-called “Irish War of Independence” (1919 – 1921), and the signing of the Anglo-Irish treaty. William Young is a MI5 (Military Intelligence, Section 5) Agent, sent to...more
This had me completely absorbed into 1920's Ireland and I loved it. The characters felt so real and I wish I could have read more on them. The romance both is and isn't the focus of the story. There is so much more to be told so it doesn't do a lot of detail about them falling in love, but you feel it none the less. There were a couple things in it that put it closer to a four star read for me, but when I realized that two days after reading it, I was still thinking about the story, that bumped...more
I enjoyed reading about Adam and William.
(view spoiler)...more
(view spoiler)...more
I picked up this book because it looked like an interesting spy story. I wasn't familiar with the history behind it, and I didn't know about the male on male romance, at the time.
The premise was good, the pacing was good, and it was well written. The romance was an unexpected and interesting twist, which wasn't my cup of tea but didn't detract at all from the story.
But there's something I can't put my finger on about this book. It took me a long time to get through (over a month, in fact). It's...more
The premise was good, the pacing was good, and it was well written. The romance was an unexpected and interesting twist, which wasn't my cup of tea but didn't detract at all from the story.
But there's something I can't put my finger on about this book. It took me a long time to get through (over a month, in fact). It's...more
This lovely novella was FREE, and better than many of the purchased books I've read this year. Heartbreaking at times, my only compliant is that this story of Irish rebels and the deeply conflicted Scottish spy who infiltrates them is TOO SHORT. The author packed a novel''s worth of great characters and compelling scenes into this gorgeous story.
A heart-stopping tale of loyalty and love; William’s duty is overshadowed by the honesty he encounters in a Dublin pub. Keen descriptions and tight dialogue frame the action as suspense builds, resulting in a satisfying, touching conclusion. Domin’s strengths are her authentic characters and sharp eye for detail. Great prose!
Domin has an uncanny knack for setting an historical scene--just the right amount of detail to really bring the time alive, without being in your face or pedantic about it. The writing is elegant, the characters are full-blooded and complicated, and there's just the right mix of romance and action. A fantastic read.
I picked this up because I'm a sucker for fiction set in Ireland during the Easter Rising and its aftermath. (And it was free!) I'm so very, very glad I did.
Also, that ending made me realize how much I need to dust my living room.
Also, that ending made me realize how much I need to dust my living room.
4.25 stars
I never read something involving Irish settings, especially ones from the past. This well-written story is a combination of historical and romance that really achieves to provide a perspective into the time and the place of a difficult period. Many thanks to the author for writing it and giving it for free!
I never read something involving Irish settings, especially ones from the past. This well-written story is a combination of historical and romance that really achieves to provide a perspective into the time and the place of a difficult period. Many thanks to the author for writing it and giving it for free!
The part where I forgot to go back to work because I was reading this on my lunch break ought to stand as most of the review, I think. It picks up and moves, and just carries you right along with it. If I have to nitpick (and sometimes I feel like I can't help myself these days), I'd point out that the Crown's representative is such an unbearable shitball that he makes William's loyalty struggles seem too easy; why even consider picking Lord Doucheface's side when the other team is fielding a wh...more
I was amazed that this was a free read! I have not been sucked into a historical for a long, long, time. Thank you! I am looking forward to checking out more of Heather Domin's work!
Wow. This was one of the best romantic stories that I've read in a very long time. It's one of those books that you don't want to put down, and when you have to put it down, you just keep thinking about it. The characters are so endearing. It is so well written that it actually brought me to tears in some parts and laughter and joy in others. I recommend this book to everyone who enjoys a good story.
4.5 stars
This is a good historical novella, heavy on the period details and light on the expressions of emotion. The emotion is there, but it's much more evident in the action than in the narration.
I have no idea whether the characters' relaxed attitudes towards homosexuality/bisexuality were even remotely appropriate for the period. Given that most of them were devout Catholics I have my doubts, but that would be very interesting to know.
I have no idea whether the characters' relaxed attitudes towards homosexuality/bisexuality were even remotely appropriate for the period. Given that most of them were devout Catholics I have my doubts, but that would be very interesting to know.
Historical queer fiction is one of my favorite genres, and I enjoyed this a fair amount. Though the plotline was fairly predictable as these things go, hey, sometimes that's what you want. The characters were well-drawn, and the whole thing was a quick, fun read. Plus it was free, and it's hard to beat free.
An MI5 informant on his last assignment infiltrates a group of IRA supporters in Dublin. This novella features likeable and layered characters, an interesting plot, and a nice m/m romance. A good quick read!
A beautiful story - two strong heroes, a grippingly dire setting and a very satisfying end. Great secondary cast, too, especially Mary and Meg.
Free Read- https://www.smashwords.com/books/view...
May 09, 2013
Garrett Cooper
marked it as to-read
May 08, 2013
Juju
marked it as to-read
May 07, 2013
Zinger
marked it as to-read
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I currently have two books in print: The Soldier of Raetia, set in Augustan Rome; and Allegiance, set in 1922 Dublin. I like stories that cross categories, blur lines, and bend the rules of genre instead of bending to them. I also like semicolons.
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