Taz’s Review:

In An Improper Holiday by K. A. Mitchell, we follow Ian Stanton who recently returned from war. He and his sister attend the New Year’s party thrown by his former lover, Nicholas Cartham, and all of the old feelings he had experienced years ago resurfaced. As the weekend progresses, Ian fights his urge to reconnect with Nicky. Unbeknownst to Ian, Nicky and a slew of other characters are working to bring them together and what unravels by the end of the story is an ending that leaves all parties happy for the holidays.

I don’t often read stories that have an old fashioned or harlequin feel to them, but this story had the tone of aristocracy throughout. Set in a time where the love between men was frowned upon and in a location where image and decorum were socially valued above personal happiness, the love affair gained a bit of a lurid, secretive feel to it along with a hint of forbidden love sprinkled in.

As the characters circle each other and the story unfolds, I found myself drawn more and more deeply drawn into their feelings and desires until, by the end of the story, I couldn’t put the book down, anxious to find out how it would end.

One thing I particularly enjoyed aside from the story, was the use of language. I tend to focus more on plot and action when reading, but I found myself drawn into the use of language as I read this story. Throughout, Ms. Mitchell respected the sophistication and intelligence of her readers, describing scenes, feelings, and action with language that was precise and original.

I have read other books by this author and what impresses me is her versatility. She can write steaming contemporary novels with scorching love scenes as well as stories such as An Improper Holiday which weave the intricacies of a hierarchical society into a story of love between two men. Such diversity in talent makes Ms. Mitchell an author whose books I truly enjoy reading.

Rated 5 Ravens Taz!