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Rite of Summer

(Treading the Boards #1)

Tess Bowery (Goodreads Author)

3.57 · Rating details · 173 ratings · 53 reviews

There are terrors worse than stage fright. Like falling in love.

Violinist Stephen Ashbrook is passionate about three things—his music, the excitement of life in London, and his lover, Evander Cade. It’s too bad that Evander only loves himself. A house party at their patron’s beautiful country estate seems like a chance for Stephen to remember who he is, when he’s not tryin ...more

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ebook, 392 pages

Published June 2nd 2015 by Samhain Publishing

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· 173 ratings · 53 reviews

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Dec 16, 2015 K.J. Charles added it

Shelves: historical, menage, m-m, regency

I really enjoyed this. It's very sex-heavy, which is fine and well done, though I honestly felt it would have worked with less. Stephen and Joshua are both lovely characters, and Stephen's relationship with Evander is very well done. What's super special about this is the historical grounding, though. All the MCs are artists, not aristos, and the Georgian gay underworld is really well delineated. I don't think I've seen the Vere Street Coterie mentioned in a romance before now, and the consequen ...more

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Nov 05, 2016 Kaje Harper rated it really liked it

Shelves: historical, m-m, m-m-m

I enjoyed this historical romance, particularly for the grounding in the historical gay society of the era. I appreciated the way historical events like arrests and punishments of those caught out in sodomy, were shown to have a devastating effect on the men to whom they were casual friends, and perhaps past sex partners. And a chilling effect on any gay man of the era.

The romance proceeds slowly, and felt realistic. I liked that the men weren't wealthy or powerful, but ordinary starving artist ...more

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Jun 07, 2015 Veronica of V's Reads rated it really liked it

Shelves: historical, adult, steamy, male-male, menage, 3-some, homophobia

I really enjoyed this historical M/M/M romance. London 1810.

Evander and Stephen have been together for nearly a decade, living the gay life in London. Evander is a composer and Stephen a violinist. Evander has a patron, the Earl of Coventry who invites Evander and Stephen for a six week holiday at his country estate. Stephen doesn't want to go, he hates being confined in places where he can't be himself, and being openly gay is not possible on the earl's estate. Plus, he has to suffer the consta I really enjoyed this historical M/M/M romance. London 1810.

Evander and Stephen have been together for nearly a decade, living the gay life in London. Evander is a composer and Stephen a violinist. Evander has a patron, the Earl of Coventry who invites Evander and Stephen for a six week holiday at his country estate. Stephen doesn't want to go, he hates being confined in places where he can't be himself, and being openly gay is not possible on the earl's estate. Plus, he has to suffer the constant company of 'his betters' which is aggravating. But, if Evander demands he go, Stephen goes. Plus, Stephen knows their livelihood is dependent on Coventry's whim and funding so he goes... The only upside is beautiful Joshua, a talented painter who is the distant relation, and personal painter, of one of the noble guests.

Joshua has been without a lover since his beloved sailor sank with his ship two years before. He is terribly attracted to Stephen, and cannot understand why Stephen lets Evander lead him around so much. He is startled to observe Evander and Stephen en flagrante delicto in the dead of night, and is even more surprised when Evander invites him to share their bed. Once.

But once is not enough for Stephen who had secretly desired Joshua, or Joshua. They continue until the party is overtaken by news of catamite (homosexuals) arrests in London. Stephen and Evander are shattered--some of the men taken into custody and hung were friends and former bedmates. Joshua wants to comfort Stephen, but his ability to do so is hampered by the suspicions of their hosts and patrons.

The book is a careful study in the emotional lives of both Joshua and Stephen, who share the POV. Stephen is routinely belittled and abused by Evander, and he knows no other life. Joshua calls to Stephen, supports him in a way Evander never has (or hasn't in years) and Stephen wants to be with Joshua, but cannot due to Evander's control.

I was really glad to see the unraveling in this dysfunctional relationship. Stephen really grew in terms of his emotional well-being. Joshua, did not grow so much as curl inside himself. He has lost in love before, and is rather brutal with Stephen in order to prevent being hurt again. He wants Stephen terribly, but won't accept him if Evander is a part of the deal--forcing Stephen to re-evaluate his relationship, and make choices that are healthy instead of comfortable.

The end was a little too drawn out for me. I liked the story, but wanted it to progress a little bit faster. The characters were all well-drawn and felt very realistic in their goals and behaviors. I really enjoyed the depictions of actual historical events--namely the famous London raids--and how it affected the characters. Expect an HEA and some super sexytimes involving both M/M and M/M/M.

I received a revoew copy of this book via NetGalley. ...more

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Sep 20, 2016 Amy Cousins added it

If you don’t like open relationships in romance novels, this one is not for you. I loved Tess Bowery’s story of two boyhood friends who have been making their way in the world as a composer/violinist partnership and somewhat rocky romantic pairing too, until they meet an artist whose temporary addition to their bed changes everything. Bowery does a terrific job up ratcheting up the tension by including news of a real-life police raid that resulted in the arrests of dozens of gay men, and the dea ...more

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Feb 29, 2016 Katie rated it liked it

Shelves: v-3rd_person, i_actually_reviewed_it, l-novel_over_201_pgs_over_50k_wds, t-series, g-historical, k-steamy_enough, g-lgbt-mm, c-pierced_prick, 3-star_liked, e-love_triangle

Three stars. Not saying this was bad. It wasn’t. More like…it was okay but not exactly my cuppa. It’s a bit of a personal reminder that, with very few exceptions, I’m not a huge fan of Regency Romance or historicals in general.

***Mildly Spoilerish so hiding the rest***

(view spoiler) Three stars. Not saying this was bad. It wasn’t. More like…it was okay but not exactly my cuppa. It’s a bit of a personal reminder that, with very few exceptions, I’m not a huge fan of Regency Romance or historicals in general.

***Mildly Spoilerish so hiding the rest***

(view spoiler)

Also posted on BackPorchReader.com.
...more

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May 18, 2015 YAFGCRich rated it it was amazing

I got an ARC from the author so I was lucky enough to get an early look. Now, interestingly Romances are not my thing, but I quickly got thoroughly engaged with the characters!
They read like real people. I didn't feel so much like I was being told a story as I was drawn in and experiencing it with them.
The history is well researched and realistic -including slang terms, professional jargon - Nothing pulled me out of the moment.

Joshua sounds like a professional artist (something I know somethi ...more

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Aug 05, 2015 Andrea Goodell rated it it was amazing

What I think I enjoyed most about this book was it was about average guys. Most period books I’ve read normally feature a Lord of the realm and a servant of some type. Or two Lords, but this was about two and then three different artist types trying to make a living and surviving as best they knew how. Even if it meant breaking a heart or two along the way.
The dynamic between the three is great. Stephan shows so much growth in the end you can’t help but love him. Evander, you want to dislike but ...more

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Dec 06, 2015 Rose A rated it it was amazing

Shelves: good-historical-novels

I have to admit that I approached this novel with a little trepidation because M/M/M is well outside my reading comfort zone; however, I needn't have worried. The quality of Bowery's writing makes her subject matter engaging even to a novice of the genre. All the characters grabbed me from the beginning from Joshua, Stephen and Evander to more minor characters. In fact, one of the things I really loved about this story was the feeling that it did not exist in a vacuum. The protagonists were obvi I have to admit that I approached this novel with a little trepidation because M/M/M is well outside my reading comfort zone; however, I needn't have worried. The quality of Bowery's writing makes her subject matter engaging even to a novice of the genre. All the characters grabbed me from the beginning from Joshua, Stephen and Evander to more minor characters. In fact, one of the things I really loved about this story was the feeling that it did not exist in a vacuum. The protagonists were obviously narrowly focused on their own intrigue and feelings but on the edges of their consciousness was a fully realised world of people whose lives were just as interesting and vibrant. It was fun to speculate about what else was going on at that house party and it added to the intimacy of the relationships of the three men to feel they were surrounded by other stories that could be told. In another novel, perhaps their romance would have gone unnoticed. I really liked this; it made the story feel very intimate.

The relationship between the three men was very complex and Bowery resisted simplifying her characterisation which can sometimes happen in romance novels. The psychological realism here is very high and I could really feel for all the characters and their inner struggles. Evander was necessarily less sympathetic than Joshua and Stephen but he was nevertheless understandable - or maybe I just tend to like the less nice characters more! Either way, I appreciated that they were all complex human beings delicately navigating a complicated situation, rather making Evander a cartoon villain as could have been the temptation in a lesser novel. Bowery also has the ability to treat her characters with a light touch without trivialising them and I really appreciated the touches of humour, as well as the musical feeling throughout the story. Moreover, as a violinist, I really loved having a violinist as a hero!

It goes without saying that the sex scenes were extremely steamy but what was more impressive was that they served a function either to drive the narrative forward or to illuminate character and even though there were a lot of them, I never felt bored or that they were repetitive, another trap that lesser writers can fall into.

Overall, I am so glad I decided to step outside my comfort zone and read "Rite of Summer" and I can't wait for the second book in the series; Sophie was one of my favourite characters. ...more

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Jun 07, 2015 Page Crusherz rated it it was amazing

I cut my romance-reader teeth on Regency romances, albeit the ones with corsets and raven tresses, so when I find a delicious looking Regency featuring breeches and more breeches, I jump at the chance to read it.

I expected a light romp in the 19th century, but Bowery's tale was much more than that. Don't get me wrong, it was not at all light on the sex...and the sex was HOT. The many sex scenes from M/M/M to M/M left me feeling "...mmmmmm." They were great, and definitely fit the story appropria ...more

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Jun 19, 2015 Adrienne -kocham czytać- marked it as to-read

Shelves: music-men, historical-regency-olden-times, artists-physical, menage

"...and the hottest six weeks of summer the nineteenth century has ever seen."

*chuckles* Yes, please. ...more

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Jun 29, 2018 Lena Grey rated it it was amazing

“Never love anybody who treats you like you are ordinary.” ~ Oscar Wilde

Evander, of 'The Rite of Summer' by Tess Bowery, loves Stephen when they run away from home years ago, but as time goes on, he becomes more concerned about himself and being successful than anything else, including Stephen. Stephen knows Evander has changed—he chalks up his controlling ways to Evander's desire to make a “better man” out of him. Stephen is completely under his thumb When Evander is issued an invitation to spe “Never love anybody who treats you like you are ordinary.” ~ Oscar Wilde

Evander, of 'The Rite of Summer' by Tess Bowery, loves Stephen when they run away from home years ago, but as time goes on, he becomes more concerned about himself and being successful than anything else, including Stephen. Stephen knows Evander has changed—he chalks up his controlling ways to Evander's desire to make a “better man” out of him. Stephen is completely under his thumb When Evander is issued an invitation to spend part of the summer at an English manor, he jumps at the chance, not even considering what Stephen may want. What Evander doesn't realize is that he may be setting himself up to lose everything, including Stephen.

Joshua is a well established painter who is also invited to the manor. Joshua finds Stephen admiring one of his paintings, a self-portrait, on the wall. They strike up a conversation and Joshua tells him that he is a fan of Stephen's violin playing. This creates a bond of mutual appreciation, making it easy to become friends. Joshua does not like the condescending way Evander treats Stephen and points it out to him. Stephen brushes it off, defending Evander, saying he doesn't mean what he says. Joshua doesn't buy it, but, because he cares about Stephen, doesn't press it either. Joshua knows this is something Stephen has to realize for himself.

Joshua and Stephen's friendship soon grows into sexual interest but, even though Stephen has told Joshua he and Evander have an open relationship, Joshua assumes Evander will never allow him to be with Stephen. He's surprised when Evander invites him to their bed. Joshua doesn't want Evander, but does want to be with Stephen, so he accepts. What happens is some very hot sex between the three of them, but not without consequences. Predictably, Evander wants to be in control. Joshua defers to him, but after a few times together, it's also clear Evander can't be in charge all the time; so he refuses to be with either of them.

At this point, Stephen is experiencing a great deal of cognitive dissonance. He's so used to being under Evander's thumb, he's not sure what he would do without him. Joshua's positive attention has given Stephen pause, wondering how much of what Evander says is true, particularly about his talent as a violinist. After discovering even more damaging news concerning Evander's trespasses, Stephen and Evander have an awful fight. Evander tells Stephen they're through. Still fearing he will lose his music without Evander; Stephen compromises, deciding they can stay together, but as business partners only. Stephen isn't ready to let Joshua go, but Joshua makes it unequivocally clear; as long as Stephen is with Evander in any way, he and Stephen can't be together. Stephen leaves with a heavy heart, but with the seeds of dissent firmly implanted. In any circumstances, Steven is not the same person.

This is a well written historical romance and a history lesson at the same time. It's clear that Tess has done her research by how accurately she portrays the temperament of the time period. Tess seamlessly combines history and love, frequently through the emotions and attitudes of the characters, especially Stephen and his struggle making it through his rite-of-passage from a codependent, groveling shadow to a independent, strong young man. Those of you who love historical romances will revel in this one, and, possibly, even those who don't normally enjoy historical romances may want to contend with the flowery language to get to the incredibly sensual physicality portrayed in the characters' encounters. I recommend this book to anyone who likes historical romance, erotic sexual encounters, suspense, sexy men, decadent behavior, and a happy ending. Thank you, Tess, for the exciting, sensual journey.

NOTE: This book was provided by the author for the purpose of a review on Rainbow Book Reviews.

...more

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Dec 28, 2020 Rana rated it it was ok

This was my second time reading, as I needed a new romance series to distract my brain in the evening. This didn't wow me, the heat was fine but something about the relationships didn't convince me. ...more

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Jan 03, 2016 RoloPoloBookBlog rated it really liked it

Shelves: naughty, romance, 18-and-over, series, historical-romance

Rite of Summer by Tess Bowery
Book #1: Treading the Boards Series
Source: Purchase
My Rating: 4/5 stars
My Review:

Stephen Ashbrook and Evander Cade are a package deal and have been since the moment they ran from their respective homes. Life in London has brought them a couple of things, the freedom to quietly be together and a much larger and more receptive audience for their music. Every composer needs a muse and according to Cade, Ashbrook has always been his. Their professional life is progressi Rite of Summer by Tess Bowery
Book #1: Treading the Boards Series
Source: Purchase
My Rating: 4/5 stars
My Review:

Stephen Ashbrook and Evander Cade are a package deal and have been since the moment they ran from their respective homes. Life in London has brought them a couple of things, the freedom to quietly be together and a much larger and more receptive audience for their music. Every composer needs a muse and according to Cade, Ashbrook has always been his. Their professional life is progressing nicely which is how the undercover couple have found themselves to be the summer guests of their most prominent patron, the Earl of Coventry. Six weeks in the country should be a wonderful respite from the London summer yet it turns into anything but.

Cade has promised Ashbrook their time in the country will not interrupt their affair which proves to be both completely true and completely false. Their lifestyle isn’t acceptable and while the sneaking around and the possibility of getting caught makes the sex even better, it also increases their risk of being caught and arrested. Adding to the risqué nature of their affair is the inclusion of a third man, Joshua Beaufort. Oh, Beaufort certainly takes the affair to all new heights but he is also an outsider, so to speak, which means he is able to more objectively analyze Cade and Ashbrook’s relationship. What Beaufort sees is completely unacceptable. Cade constantly berates and belittles Ashbrook and when Ashbrook does or says something to offend Cade, Cade throws a fit that generally involves many, may harsh and hateful words and the withholding of his affection. In short, Cade is despicable human with no regard for anyone other than himself.

As the summer progresses, Ashbrook becomes more and more despondent. Cade is constantly in a snit, Beaufort is trying desperately to get him to see the truth of his relationship with Cade, and meanwhile, back in London, a whole host of gay and presumably gay men have been arrested for buggery which only creates greater anxiety among the illicit trio. As the what should have been a blissful six weeks of summer at Coventry’s comes a close, Beaufort make one final play for Ashbrook’s affections only to be shot down. All three men, each a little more broken than before leave the country with every intention of picking up pieces of their lives and moving forward. For Cade, that means elevating his torturous treatment of Ashbrook, for Ashbrook that means finally having the spine to stand up for himself, and for Beaufort it means finally making the bold decision to leave the comfort of his cousin’s home to strike out on his own.

The Bottom Line: Who knew a summer in the country could be so hot and so scandalous all at once?? Rite of Summer is, at its core a love story that very much plays out behind closed doors. This is a period piece and true to the period, the gay lifestyle was totally unacceptable both morally and legally which automatically adds an element of tension to the read. Cade and Ashbrook are just a train wreck on every level and I disliked Cade from the very beginning. Cade is arrogant and awful and has no desire to please anyone other than himself; his actions are always selfish and his words rarely ever hold even an ounce of truth. Ashbrook is by far the quieter of the couple and only becomes truly interesting when he stands up to Cade. Of the trio, Ashbrook grows the most over the course of the read and it pleasurable to see him come into his own as a man and a musician. Beaufort is, by far my favorite of the men and his feelings for Ashbrook are true and pure; his actions are always meant to protect Ashbrook and himself from any further hurt. The only time the three men agree on anything is when they are in bed together and those scenes are very, very, very long, they are also steamy and good. But, good sex doesn’t make a relationship and by the end of the read, everyone gets exactly what he deserves! ...more

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Apr 08, 2015 Debbie rated it it was amazing

Shelves: male-male, over-18s, historical, multi-partners

Independent Reviewer for Archaeolibrarian, I Dig Good Books.

Stephen Ashbrook, talented musician and Evander Cade, composer, come as a pair. Evander manages to garner an invitation to a summer party, lasting six weeks. Stephen isn't sure this is a good idea, but what Evander wants, Evander gets. Once there, though, they meet Joshua Beaufort, painter. Joshua has been smitten with Stephen since he heard him play a year before. When the invtation to join Stephen and Evander in their bed comes along, Independent Reviewer for Archaeolibrarian, I Dig Good Books.

Stephen Ashbrook, talented musician and Evander Cade, composer, come as a pair. Evander manages to garner an invitation to a summer party, lasting six weeks. Stephen isn't sure this is a good idea, but what Evander wants, Evander gets. Once there, though, they meet Joshua Beaufort, painter. Joshua has been smitten with Stephen since he heard him play a year before. When the invtation to join Stephen and Evander in their bed comes along, Joshua is hard pressed to say no, for he wants Stephen. But changing from a couple to a three way poses its own problems, and only two will remain.

I really really found this book so enjoyable! So NOT what I was expecting. Don't ask me what I was expecting, because I have no idea, but I'm left the the feeling of overwhelming surprise.

Beautifully written historical romance, encompassing all the tradtions, manners, speech patterns and rules of the time.

Evander's control over Stephen is subtle, but none the less abusive and it takes Joshua to to make Stephen see that Evander does what he does for himself, not for them both.

I particularly loved the use of the characters names. For a long time, it was Ashbrook, Beaufort and Cade (Stephen, Joshua and Evander) They called each other by the surnames, even when engaged in their carnal activities. Its not til much later that Stephen and Joshua are used, the point is marked in the book, when Stephen uses Joshua for the first time. While reading, it bothered me, why use surnames all the time, but after THAT point, it was like a light bulb moment and I was like, "Of course!"

M/M/M and M/M scenes, which while beautifully written, sexy, emotional and steamy, I didn't find them as explicit as some M/M reads. I'm not complaining, don't get me wrong, but I can see that some die-hard M/M readers might not like it. Me, though, I loved it.

It bills as book one in the series, and I can't find a book two yet. I also cannot find anything else by this author. I want to read more, more of this series, and certainly, more of this author. If this is a first time author, I am suitably impressed.

I originally was going to star this 4.5 but in all honesty, I cannot find a single thing to knock that half star off for so....

5 full stars

**same worded review will appear on Goodreads, Amamzon.com and Amazon.co.uk**

...more

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Apr 28, 2015 Book Gannet rated it really liked it

Shelves: regency-romance, gbtl-reads, 4-star-review, m-m-romance, historical-romance, hot-historical, m-m-m-romance

This is a sumptuous historical romance that’s equally rich in detail and man-on-man action. Featuring three male artists (painter, musician, composer) eking out their own existences at the start of the 19th century it’s full of emotional angst and tribulations, the rush of new love, the pain of old friends, the fear of homophobic laws and the strain of patronage. In essence my thoughts on this book are pretty simple: Oh, Stephen. Oh, Joshua! Urgh, Cade.

In a way that’s both the pain and the pleas This is a sumptuous historical romance that’s equally rich in detail and man-on-man action. Featuring three male artists (painter, musician, composer) eking out their own existences at the start of the 19th century it’s full of emotional angst and tribulations, the rush of new love, the pain of old friends, the fear of homophobic laws and the strain of patronage. In essence my thoughts on this book are pretty simple: Oh, Stephen. Oh, Joshua! Urgh, Cade.

In a way that’s both the pain and the pleasure of this book for me. I never had a chance to like Evander Cade. Right from the start he treats Stephen as less than him, a child to be chastised or a pet to be indulged. He’s beautiful, yes, but also smug and arrogant and petty. Normally I have no problems reading M/M/M triads, but I have to admit to an uncomfortable trepidation during the scenes where all three were together. Thankfully there’s only really one truly in-depth three-way scene, but at the same time it made me sad. I love reading a well balanced trio and it might have been nice if there’d been at least a glimmer of a chance for them to all be together, even for a little while.

But that would be a different book. Instead this one is strung tight with subtle (and occasionally overt) tensions, between the three men, between the rest of the house party, over the larger issues of arrests and trials and hangings. The emotional tugs-of-war going on around Stephen are both compelling and exhausting, while the undercurrents swirling around the entire houseparty are fascinating. Yet right in the middle of all of this is Joshua, a sweet artist with a gentle heart and a passion for one very confused violinist.

It’s a beautiful story of heightened emotions and difficult relationships, set amidst the troublesome 19th century, when bawdy Georgian manners were being slowly tightened towards Regency restraint. The details are lovely, the characters are compelling and the romance at the heart of it all is by turns tormented, sweet and satisfying. There is a lot of sex in it, though, or rather the sex that’s in it tends to take over everything for a while. If you like your Historicals as equally rich in steam as detail, then you should enjoy this. If you prefer a gentler exploration of manners, then you have been warned. Personally, I enjoyed it all and I look forward to more from the series.

(I received a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.) ...more

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May 19, 2015 E. rated it really liked it

Shelves: erotica, romance, historical, m-m

4 out of 5 stars

“The Rite of Summer” by Tessa Bowery is an erotic m/m and m/m/m historical romance that is the start of the ‘Treading the Boards’ series. Stephen Ashbrook and Evander Cade are an established couple who have managed a comfortable life under the patronage of the Earl of Coventry, who is impressed by Evander’s talents as a composer but merely tolerates Stephen as an accompanist. A house-party changes the duo’s lives forever, as an encounter with painter Joshua Beaufort, who has admi ...more

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Jun 08, 2015 Bo rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

Not Such a Menange

This one will catch you right away--the intense love making between the young composer Evander Cade and his "muse," the extraordinary violinist and his lover Stephen Ashbrook, will toss you for a loop and send you into an orbit of a tale that leaves virtually no stone unturned when it comes to digging into the swamp that is Regency England in 1810.

But Evander is the dominant one in the relationship and practically orders Stephen to accompany him to a six-week long vacation at t ...more

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May 20, 2015 Nick F rated it it was amazing

I received an ARC of the book, read it and here is what I have to say.

Tess Bowery’s “Rite of Summer” is beautifully written historical erotic M/M novel where you are taken to a completely different world, whether you are reading this at home, on the train or wherever you might be. Bowery’s ability to take you through the lives and scenes of people in this time and place is truly amazing and so accurate that you feel as if you are there with the characters, not just reading their story from a boo ...more

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Sep 18, 2015 Kameron rated it liked it

(request submitted by author for an honest critique)

Two men shagging - Three men - Masturbation: Tess didn't falter in delivering some rather heated scenes. For me, Joshua masturbating was more erotic than all the other scenes combined. However, I'm just a gal who enjoys self-loving and watching others pleasure themselves. *winks*

As stimulating as those moments were, I have one small complaint --- the overuse of the word, "PRICK". In erotica tales, it's hard (no pun intended) to create elabora ...more

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May 31, 2015 Missy Fern - BFD Book Blog rated it really liked it

This book is the first book in the Treading the Boards series and is a mm historical. Stephen Ashbrook and Evander Cade are a couple impacted by meeting a painter, Joshua Beaufort, at a summer party. The book steams up a bit when Joshua joins them in their bed over the summer..when all is said and done two of them are together, but I won't tell you which two.

The writing was wonderful, but the persecution of these men who follow their hearts was not. Society's intolerance of their lifestyle has a ...more

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Feb 29, 2016 Allison rated it liked it

Shelves: 2016-reads

Too long, weak editing, and repetition upon repetition drove me crazy. I would only vaguely refer to this as m/m/m as I was expecting the threesome to work out, which (spoiler) ... it didn't. It shouldn't have, and I'm glad it didn't, but still I expected it to be a working poly story not what it was. (end spoiler) The sex was overdone and more frequent than necessary. I enjoyed that it was about every day people trying to make a living at the arts and that the aristocracy was peripheral to the ...more

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Mar 09, 2016 Miss Susan rated it it was ok

Shelves: lgbtqia

This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it, click here.

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Apr 08, 2015 Misty rated it really liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: lgbtq-mm, regency, 2015-publ, mmm-mmmm

** 4.5 Stars **

I liked it a lot, it was different!

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Dec 16, 2015 Lillian Francis marked it as to-read

Recommended to Lillian by: K.J. Charles

Blaming KJ and her review for purchasing this one.

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Aug 28, 2018 Jen Hoskins rated it it was ok

Shelves: historical-fiction, fiction, queer-lit, romance

Fuck, but this book put me through the emotional wringer. Rite of Summer is a rollercoaster—it brings you up with music and sunshine and sex before pitching you right down into really heavy emotional depths.
That’s why I need to flag up a couple of CWs here: (view spoiler) ...more

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Nov 21, 2018 Highlyeccentric rated it liked it

Shelves: fiction-for-fun, e-books, romance-and-erotica

This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it, click here.

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Jun 15, 2020 Reader rated it really liked it

Shelves: gay-historical

I love the premise of Stephen and Evander's history. As youths they are lovers and they ran away together to London to find their 'fortunes' as they were. Eventually it became evident that their relationship isn't all that it appeared to be.
Then the Vere Street Scandal happens and they are angry, saddened and afraid for themselves and for their friends that were caught up in the raids.

Stephen is in denial, Evander is looking for a way into permanent financial stabilization and selfishly went abo ...more

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Mar 04, 2019 Veronica rated it it was amazing

Shelves: happy-queer-romance

Adored it: period-appropriate dialogue, historically accurate queers, and scorching porn.

Content warnings for period-appropriate homophobia and sustained depiction of domestic abuse (realistic, respectful, and with the good ending happily and the bad unhappily). Amazon marketed this as a triad romance, and while I feel this was a far superior novel to the fluffy mmm porn I was expecting, the plot hit me hard enough that parts of this were an intense and difficult read -- in the end it touched my ...more

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Jul 28, 2019 Rhode rated it liked it

Shelves: not-for-me

DNFed at 69% although the writing is fine and I am enjoying the historic setting. Even like the characters, although the whole angsty thing was going on a bit long and I have good reason to expect it to continue.

Mostly though, there’s a lot of sex. Pages and pages and pages, which is mainly there to be, well, erotica I guess because only occasionally does it move the story forward. Which is not my thing. Give me a story (which can use sex to explain/change things) or give me erotica (which’s pu ...more

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Oct 31, 2019 Pernilla marked it as abandoned

Shelves: romance, histrom, smexytimes, books-that-i-own, quiltbag, polyamoury, m-m-m

DNF. Picked this up hoping for some good poly histrom, but at nearly 40% in, I'm so bored. There's plenty of three-way sex but not much else. I just can't take any more. Also, while the major historical details may be accurate, the tiny inaccuracies really annoy me. ...more

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About Tess Bowery

Tess Bowery

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Tess has been a fan of historical fiction since learning the Greek and Roman myths at her mother's knee. Now let loose on a computer, she's spinning her own tales of romance and passion in a slightly more modern setting. Tess lives on the east coast, with her partner of fifteen years and two cats who should have been named 'Writer's Block' and 'Get Off the Keyboard, Dammit.'

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