In London during the gross indecency trial of Oscar Wilde, Douglas Shrove finds himself still haunted by memories of his dead lover while skirting ...
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Aug 23, 2010
Kassa
rated it: 
I haven’t read anything from this author so Helpless is my first foray into her writing. The story is immediately engaging, interesting, and carries off a delicate balancing act of keeping the tension high without ridiculous antics and clichéd twists. The characters are well crafted and set against the backdrop of Oscar Wilde’s trial so very cautious and aware of the political and social climate against homosexuals. There is no easy acceptance for the men and the very real threats they live unde
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(5 people liked it)
Sep 09, 2010
Lisa
rated it:
In the preface of the book The Portrait of Dorian Gray, Oscar Wilde expounds on the concept that art is both surface and symbol, and for those of us who enjoy going beneath the surface, we do so at our own peril. He also bestows upon the reader a statement that I choose to see beneath the surface of and to interpret as his feelings on what Victorian law once termed “gross indecency”. I gladly do so at my own peril.
“Those who find ugly meanings in beautiful things are corrupt without More...
“Those who find ugly meanings in beautiful things are corrupt without More...
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(3 people liked it)
Jan 16, 2011
miss_chams
rated it: 
First of all disregard the cover, the blatant BDSM theme has little to do with the story apart from some tenuous link with a feeling of helplessness, so don’t let it put you off if bondage isn’t your thing. Apart from that my only advice to anyone yet to read this book is to give Douglas a chance. After reading “The Price of Temptation” (which in retrospect has quite a few similarities to “Helpless”, but I digress) your first impression might be that Douglas is a bit of a girl (like Jamie). I me
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Dec 26, 2010
Kris
rated it: 
My Tasting:
Why I bought it: I won this during the M/M Romance goodreads group's anniversary celebrations.
Dislike/like (ending on a high note):
Dislike~ Most of my mates know how I feel about historical fiction. My rabid avoidance comes from a deep, abiding hatred for authors who don't thoroughly research the period in which they are setting the story. One of the perils of my working in the history field unfortunately. I therefore can't help but begin reading an hi More...
Why I bought it: I won this during the M/M Romance goodreads group's anniversary celebrations.
Dislike/like (ending on a high note):
Dislike~ Most of my mates know how I feel about historical fiction. My rabid avoidance comes from a deep, abiding hatred for authors who don't thoroughly research the period in which they are setting the story. One of the perils of my working in the history field unfortunately. I therefore can't help but begin reading an hi More...
4 comments
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(3 people liked it)
Aug 23, 2010
Erastes
rated it:
PLEASE do not be put off this book by the cover. If you've looked at it and thought "oh no, BDSM/torture isn't my cup of tea" then please read this review and perhaps decide to read it anyway. Because frankly I don't know what Seventh Window was thinking with this cover. It in NO WAY represents the book. The Snidely Whiplash character doesn't exist in the book, there's no half naked men (bizarrely wearing jeans) no one gets tied to a chair and there's a distinct lack of face fun More...
Aug 23, 2010
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Dec 16, 2011
Ann
rated it:
This was a pleasant surprise. The samples of M J Pearson's work I'd read before had a lot of the faults I've found in other historical m/m, but this one was very much better. A few niggles mainly to do with dialogue - I really don't think men of that class would be exclaiming 'Christ' and 'Jesus' all the time (since that was considered the kind of thing that Irish navvies did), and the plot was a bit too convoluted at times. But Pearson managed to pack an awful lot of context into the story with
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Jun 27, 2011
Hpstrangelove
rated it: 
Although I enjoyed the story, I dislike being misled by the cover art (a bare-chested man tied to a chair with a shadowy figure standing behind him, holding him by the hair). It has nothing at all to do with what happens in the story and I'm not happy that I bought this book in part because of the cover. The story summary made it seem that the cover art depicted a scene from the book; up until the very end, I kept waiting for the main character to be placed in the situation shown on the cover
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Nov 10, 2010
Crescentm
rated it:
After reading some of his other works, I was very disappointed with this book. The main character was not very likable, being extremely weak and forgettable. The other characters weren't all that much better and in general I don't think it was very believable. I had such high hopes since I generally love the author.
Nov 11, 2010
Wren
rated it:
I read the print edition, copyright 2010. The one with the cover of the Snidely Whiplash guy and the tied-up guy, which has absofreakinlutely nothing to do with the story.
I really like Pearson's writing. I enjoyed the characters of this book and the subtle humor, and didn't mind that the sex was off-page. There was some mystery involved, revolving around the two men who are interested in Douglas, the main character. You aren't sure who is hiding what at first. There is also an int More...
I really like Pearson's writing. I enjoyed the characters of this book and the subtle humor, and didn't mind that the sex was off-page. There was some mystery involved, revolving around the two men who are interested in Douglas, the main character. You aren't sure who is hiding what at first. There is also an int More...
Nov 14, 2011
Bebe
rated it:
Sweet, edgy, funny and of course romantic. I was sad to read the last page...I wanted more of Douglas & Warren.
Oct 18, 2010
Elizabeth
rated it:
I didn't like the ending at all; it raised some serious moral issues for me. But other than that, I thoroughly enjoyed this novel and think it is very well written. Perhaps the best historical I've read yet.
Aug 19, 2011
Jeremy
rated it:
I've loved everything by MJ Pearson I could get my hands on - her published work - and loved each one to bits, including Helpless. It was a little different from the previous two, and the stakes didn't feel quite as high as in The Price of Temptation, but I felt for the characters, and was just as unsure of the two men as the protag was. Good job!
Aug 23, 2010
Note that the illustration on the cover has absolutely nothing to do with anything in the story, except perhaps in the most general, purely-symbolic way. And I have no clue who the guy in the top hat is supposed to be; he bears no resemblance to anyone in the book. Cover!Fail.
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