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The Gentlemen Brothers #1
Sex, Gunpowder and Saving The Day
"You’re brothers. When the sun goes down, stay hidden, stay quiet, and never, ever let go of each other."
The Great Wave sent the lower class into dirigibles high above the wealthy landowners. The Gentlemen brothers lived in such an airship with their father until the night men came to steal them.
Joshua is the oldest and is now a respectable detective. He never stopped searching for his brothers. When a call comes in that the Lord that saved him is murdered, Joshua must face his past and the Lord’s son. Valance Peasley Junior was his best friend, but one night of unexpected passion tore their friendship apart.
Now, Joshua must deal with the beloved Lord’s death, Val’s decadent body, and finding out how it all ties into that dreadful night.
The Great Wave sent the lower class into dirigibles high above the wealthy landowners. The Gentlemen brothers lived in such an airship with their father until the night men came to steal them.
Joshua is the oldest and is now a respectable detective. He never stopped searching for his brothers. When a call comes in that the Lord that saved him is murdered, Joshua must face his past and the Lord’s son. Valance Peasley Junior was his best friend, but one night of unexpected passion tore their friendship apart.
Now, Joshua must deal with the beloved Lord’s death, Val’s decadent body, and finding out how it all ties into that dreadful night.
109 pages, Kindle Edition
First published April 14, 2016
3 people are currently reading
123 people want to read
About the author
James Cox
59 books308 followersI'm a masturbation expert (true story, I'm single) and I write unique stories. If you're looking for a plot that hasn't been done before check out my books. I currently write m/m but one day I'll venture into m/m/f territory. I'm bi-sexual. I love animals and I've always wanted to paint nude men. Feel free to friend me on Facebook or Goodreads.
**I get so many emails from people who are surprised I read hetero when I’m gay. Well, I’m actually bi and yes, I read many genres. Reading to me is an escape. I’m not at work, staring out the window wondering what the sun would feel like on my face. I’m reading about another world, up in space, vampire or shifters, even just another place on this planet. Hetero, gay, bi, whatever. All that matters to me is the effort that was put into a story and how the characters work to entertain me. **
**I get so many emails from people who are surprised I read hetero when I’m gay. Well, I’m actually bi and yes, I read many genres. Reading to me is an escape. I’m not at work, staring out the window wondering what the sun would feel like on my face. I’m reading about another world, up in space, vampire or shifters, even just another place on this planet. Hetero, gay, bi, whatever. All that matters to me is the effort that was put into a story and how the characters work to entertain me. **
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 31 reviews
August 15, 2021
2.5 Stars
I love me some steampunk and though this had intriguing world building with an equally interesting mystery, the execution just didn’t appeal to my expectations.
Despite this having a really sweet friends to lovers story as well, the explicit details also weren’t to my specific tastes, especially when the main couple takes on a random 3rd partner shortly after confessing a long awaited love and desired commitment to the other. To each their own right?
Regardless of my opinions, I’m confident fans of Cox will enjoy this. I just wanted more and less than what I got.
I love me some steampunk and though this had intriguing world building with an equally interesting mystery, the execution just didn’t appeal to my expectations.
Despite this having a really sweet friends to lovers story as well, the explicit details also weren’t to my specific tastes, especially when the main couple takes on a random 3rd partner shortly after confessing a long awaited love and desired commitment to the other. To each their own right?
Regardless of my opinions, I’m confident fans of Cox will enjoy this. I just wanted more and less than what I got.
May 18, 2018
Well, shiver my dirigibles’ timber, I’ve just lost my steampunk virginity!
I’ve heard of steampunk before, that strange subgenre of SF that uses machines and aesthetic designs inspired by 19th-century industrial steam-powered machinery and is often set in an alternative history of the 19th century's British Victorian, but never thought it can be so much fun to read a book in such a world.
It’s like the well dressed brother of cyberbunk, top hat and all.
I was pleasantly surprised about how much I’ve enjoyed James Cox’s writing style. It was smooth, documented and downright funny.
Sex, Gunpowder and Saving the Day is set in a world destroyed by a great wave where land is scarce and is owned only by the rich lords and ladies and used mostly for farming. The rest of the population lives in dirigibles up in the sky. There is a king and a queen who govern the world and who live in a palace. Our MC is a Detective - something like middle class- who is investigating the murder of his benefactor, a lord Peasley, who saved his life when he was very young and has taken him in and treated him like a son.
Lord Peasley has a son of his own named Valence, Joshua’s best friend and later on his lover.
And now here it comes, as much as I enjoyed the worldbuilding, the writing and the somewhat confusing plot, I must speak about those sex scenes. And I will put that under a spoiler warning.
I did enjoy the book. The book ends on a cliffhanger and I am really curious of what happens next.
I received this free copy from the author in return for an honest review via the M/M Romance Group DBML program
Overall: 3.7
Writing: 4
Plot: 3
Mystery/ Suspense: 3
World building: 5++++
MCs: 4
Sex scenes descriptions: 3
I’ve heard of steampunk before, that strange subgenre of SF that uses machines and aesthetic designs inspired by 19th-century industrial steam-powered machinery and is often set in an alternative history of the 19th century's British Victorian, but never thought it can be so much fun to read a book in such a world.
It’s like the well dressed brother of cyberbunk, top hat and all.
I was pleasantly surprised about how much I’ve enjoyed James Cox’s writing style. It was smooth, documented and downright funny.
Sex, Gunpowder and Saving the Day is set in a world destroyed by a great wave where land is scarce and is owned only by the rich lords and ladies and used mostly for farming. The rest of the population lives in dirigibles up in the sky. There is a king and a queen who govern the world and who live in a palace. Our MC is a Detective - something like middle class- who is investigating the murder of his benefactor, a lord Peasley, who saved his life when he was very young and has taken him in and treated him like a son.
Lord Peasley has a son of his own named Valence, Joshua’s best friend and later on his lover.
And now here it comes, as much as I enjoyed the worldbuilding, the writing and the somewhat confusing plot, I must speak about those sex scenes. And I will put that under a spoiler warning.
I did enjoy the book. The book ends on a cliffhanger and I am really curious of what happens next.
I received this free copy from the author in return for an honest review via the M/M Romance Group DBML program
Overall: 3.7
Writing: 4
Plot: 3
Mystery/ Suspense: 3
World building: 5++++
MCs: 4
Sex scenes descriptions: 3
January 8, 2018
My first “Steampunk” book and I loved it. It reminded me a bit about the “Wild, wild west” and the 2009 “Sherlock Holmes” movie.
Before reading the book, I had to look up at the definition of Steampunk : Steampunk is a subgenre of science fantasy that incorporates technology and aesthetic designs inspired by 19th-century industrial steam-powered machinery, often set in an alternative history of the 19th century's British Victorian era or in a fantasy world that similarly employs steam power.
A huge wave decimated most of the land which became the place for wealthy people, while the rest of the population lives in the air, in dirigibles. Joshua is a detective, in search of his long lost brothers who were kidnapped one night while he was thrown out in the air and survived his fall and rescued and raised by a Lord and his son, Valence.
One day, he’s being called because his rescuer has been murdered and he has to face again Valence, his first love, while realizing that this murder is linked to his brothers’ disappearance and the kidnapping of many other children.
This is brilliant : nice writing, nice setting (unusual for me, but I totally bought it), full of action and intrigue. It’s fast-paced and has romance and lots and lots of HOT sex.
I’m sucked. But damned these books cut up in 3 installments. I have to know what’s happening to Valence, Joshua and Filch, their “partner in crime”. Thanks to small favors, the other books are released !!
Note : thank you so much, BuddyRead Elf for this great gift. I loved this story so much !!!
Before reading the book, I had to look up at the definition of Steampunk : Steampunk is a subgenre of science fantasy that incorporates technology and aesthetic designs inspired by 19th-century industrial steam-powered machinery, often set in an alternative history of the 19th century's British Victorian era or in a fantasy world that similarly employs steam power.
A huge wave decimated most of the land which became the place for wealthy people, while the rest of the population lives in the air, in dirigibles. Joshua is a detective, in search of his long lost brothers who were kidnapped one night while he was thrown out in the air and survived his fall and rescued and raised by a Lord and his son, Valence.
One day, he’s being called because his rescuer has been murdered and he has to face again Valence, his first love, while realizing that this murder is linked to his brothers’ disappearance and the kidnapping of many other children.
This is brilliant : nice writing, nice setting (unusual for me, but I totally bought it), full of action and intrigue. It’s fast-paced and has romance and lots and lots of HOT sex.
I’m sucked. But damned these books cut up in 3 installments. I have to know what’s happening to Valence, Joshua and Filch, their “partner in crime”. Thanks to small favors, the other books are released !!
Note : thank you so much, BuddyRead Elf for this great gift. I loved this story so much !!!
June 25, 2016
Steampunk done right is a lot of fun, but you can’t just throw some gears and clock parts at something and call it Steampunk. A lot of times stories, art, etc. do too much and the story gets lost in the accessorizing. Sex, Gunpowder and Saving The Day is Steampunk done right. The elements are subtle enough to give the fun and fascinating vibe that Steampunk has and present enough to give solid world building in the first of The Gentleman Brothers series.
Joshua Gentleman is the oldest of three brothers who were separated as children when the dirigible they lived on with their father was basically hijacked. Joshua fell from the dirigible and was saved by Lord Peasley who took him in, took care of him and helped him look for his brothers. Lord Peasley also had a son, Valence, who became Joshua’s best friend, ally in all kinds of coming of age shenanigans and was his first love. They grew older and then grew apart as one night together changed everything between them and the next day Joshua went off to school. His feelings for Val never changed though. Joshua became a respected detective as he figured that would be the best occupation to have to track his younger brothers down.
Joshua and his smart ass of a partner, Filch, are assigned to a case that breaks Joshua’s heart and puts him back in contact with Val. Lord Peasley has been murdered and as Joshua and Filch begin their investigation, with Val’s help, they discover there are more nefarious high-jinx afoot and the trail seems to lead all the way to the top. The society that the author has created is so interesting to read, he paints the pictures with his words organically and I got caught up in Joshua’s world visually and emotionally from the beginning.
One of the many things I love about The COX’s books is the personalities of the MC’s. They’re all unique, but I love getting the trademark snark and bit of the cocky bravado, even if it’s just there to cover up past hurts. These guys are the vehicles by which the author delivers his epic sentences that I love. Joshua has a little something else about him though that hit me right in the feels. He’s what I would call, an accidental romantic.
Joshua’s loved Val forever and when they are put back together through the tragedy of Lord Peasley’s death, they manage to pick up where they reluctantly left off years ago. Joshua wasn’t a pro-level flirter, he wasn’t a smooth operator, he was a man on a mission to find his brothers. The fact that he had a second chance with Val was not wasted on him and the honest appreciation Joshua had for everything that Val was, hit my heart in all the right places. I love that the author’s characters don’t waste time on angst and Joshua was the same. He wore his heart on his sleeve for Val and I loved every little moment when the reality of Val hit him.
“Then for good measure, I pulled him to me and pressed my lips onto his. It was like seeing the world in colour all of a sudden.”
Coming from a by-the-book, slightly grumpy professional hard-ass, this made me go, D’awwwwwwwww.
There’s a good bit of action and a couple of terrible moments that will set up the rest of the series. The love between Val and Joshua doesn’t end with them. They are outcasts on a mission, Joshua, Val and the ‘gender friendly’ Filch are in this together. Love that bit, BTW, completely ready for more of that. The story ends on a satisfying cliffhanger. The COX’s series are all good at that. The MC’s get their happy, but the story is just beginning and I can’t wait for book 2.
Joshua Gentleman is the oldest of three brothers who were separated as children when the dirigible they lived on with their father was basically hijacked. Joshua fell from the dirigible and was saved by Lord Peasley who took him in, took care of him and helped him look for his brothers. Lord Peasley also had a son, Valence, who became Joshua’s best friend, ally in all kinds of coming of age shenanigans and was his first love. They grew older and then grew apart as one night together changed everything between them and the next day Joshua went off to school. His feelings for Val never changed though. Joshua became a respected detective as he figured that would be the best occupation to have to track his younger brothers down.
Joshua and his smart ass of a partner, Filch, are assigned to a case that breaks Joshua’s heart and puts him back in contact with Val. Lord Peasley has been murdered and as Joshua and Filch begin their investigation, with Val’s help, they discover there are more nefarious high-jinx afoot and the trail seems to lead all the way to the top. The society that the author has created is so interesting to read, he paints the pictures with his words organically and I got caught up in Joshua’s world visually and emotionally from the beginning.
One of the many things I love about The COX’s books is the personalities of the MC’s. They’re all unique, but I love getting the trademark snark and bit of the cocky bravado, even if it’s just there to cover up past hurts. These guys are the vehicles by which the author delivers his epic sentences that I love. Joshua has a little something else about him though that hit me right in the feels. He’s what I would call, an accidental romantic.
Joshua’s loved Val forever and when they are put back together through the tragedy of Lord Peasley’s death, they manage to pick up where they reluctantly left off years ago. Joshua wasn’t a pro-level flirter, he wasn’t a smooth operator, he was a man on a mission to find his brothers. The fact that he had a second chance with Val was not wasted on him and the honest appreciation Joshua had for everything that Val was, hit my heart in all the right places. I love that the author’s characters don’t waste time on angst and Joshua was the same. He wore his heart on his sleeve for Val and I loved every little moment when the reality of Val hit him.
“Then for good measure, I pulled him to me and pressed my lips onto his. It was like seeing the world in colour all of a sudden.”
Coming from a by-the-book, slightly grumpy professional hard-ass, this made me go, D’awwwwwwwww.
There’s a good bit of action and a couple of terrible moments that will set up the rest of the series. The love between Val and Joshua doesn’t end with them. They are outcasts on a mission, Joshua, Val and the ‘gender friendly’ Filch are in this together. Love that bit, BTW, completely ready for more of that. The story ends on a satisfying cliffhanger. The COX’s series are all good at that. The MC’s get their happy, but the story is just beginning and I can’t wait for book 2.
May 24, 2016
I'll be the first to admit that I am by no means an expert on Steampunk, but I am an expert on what I like and this I like a lot!
Joshua was separated from his brothers during an attack on the dirigible that they and their father lived on and he's never forgotten his father's words to look after his brothers. Falling over the side of the dirigible during that struggle not only separated him from his brothers, it also turned out to be what saved his life instead of ending it. Rescued by Lord Peasley, a wealthy landowner, who nursed him back to health and ultimately gives him a home and the chance to have a life that otherwise would probably have been denied him.
4.5 Steampunk stars rounded up to 5 because still no 1/2 stars here on GR and damn that cover deserves a little recognition.
Lord Peasley and his son Valance have embraced Joshua as part of their family. Caring for him and enabling him to gain entry into law enforcement so he can pursue his dream of helping others while also continuing his search for his missing brothers.
Years later when Lord Peasley is murdered Joshua is summoned to investigate, bringing him back to the place that had become his home and the man who had been his best mate until their unexpected attraction to each other and Joshua's departure to join the law left an awkward rift that neither of them knew how to navigate.
I loved the mystery and adventure that dominates this story a world that is so unlike the one I live in, the steampunk slang which I found carried a very strong British influence giving it a slightly different flavor but not creating something so challenging that it took away from my enjoyment of the story, the relationships between Joshua and his partner Filch, Joshua's personal relationship with Valance and all the other little surprises that unfolded as I got to find out more about these men and yes, there were some absolutely delicious sexy times as well.
'Sex, Gunpowder and Saving the Day' is only my third or fourth venture into the world of Steampunk and I'm beginning to think that this is a genre I need to visit more often. I found myself engaged with this story from the very first sentence. Visually this world came to life for me and the story that has begun within the pages of this book had me wanting more long before I was done reading it. This is the first book of a series that I look forward to following and while I wouldn't call the ending of this book a cliff hanger, it's definitely a 'keep reading because we're not done here yet'.
A copy of this book was graciously provided by the author in exchange for an honest review.
Joshua was separated from his brothers during an attack on the dirigible that they and their father lived on and he's never forgotten his father's words to look after his brothers. Falling over the side of the dirigible during that struggle not only separated him from his brothers, it also turned out to be what saved his life instead of ending it. Rescued by Lord Peasley, a wealthy landowner, who nursed him back to health and ultimately gives him a home and the chance to have a life that otherwise would probably have been denied him.
4.5 Steampunk stars rounded up to 5 because still no 1/2 stars here on GR and damn that cover deserves a little recognition.
Lord Peasley and his son Valance have embraced Joshua as part of their family. Caring for him and enabling him to gain entry into law enforcement so he can pursue his dream of helping others while also continuing his search for his missing brothers.
Years later when Lord Peasley is murdered Joshua is summoned to investigate, bringing him back to the place that had become his home and the man who had been his best mate until their unexpected attraction to each other and Joshua's departure to join the law left an awkward rift that neither of them knew how to navigate.
I loved the mystery and adventure that dominates this story a world that is so unlike the one I live in, the steampunk slang which I found carried a very strong British influence giving it a slightly different flavor but not creating something so challenging that it took away from my enjoyment of the story, the relationships between Joshua and his partner Filch, Joshua's personal relationship with Valance and all the other little surprises that unfolded as I got to find out more about these men and yes, there were some absolutely delicious sexy times as well.
'Sex, Gunpowder and Saving the Day' is only my third or fourth venture into the world of Steampunk and I'm beginning to think that this is a genre I need to visit more often. I found myself engaged with this story from the very first sentence. Visually this world came to life for me and the story that has begun within the pages of this book had me wanting more long before I was done reading it. This is the first book of a series that I look forward to following and while I wouldn't call the ending of this book a cliff hanger, it's definitely a 'keep reading because we're not done here yet'.
A copy of this book was graciously provided by the author in exchange for an honest review.
May 6, 2018
One of my favorite aspects of James Cox's writing is how completely original his stories are, and Sex, Gunpowder and Saving The Day kept me guessing the whole way through.
When the chance came to read this one for the MMRG's Don't Buy My Love program I jumped on it and I'm glad I did. The title alone grabbed my attention!
I've not read a ton of Steampunk but I can definitely see the appeal. There are so many ways a story can go, the author's imagination is the only limit and I don't think there's an end to James Cox's. I enjoyed the creative characters, and I could definitely feel the connection between Joshua and Val - they've got a great story going there.
Very entertaining and I'm curious as heck to find out what happens in Sex, Emergency Exits and Plan B's and Broken, Collared and Ready for Revenge. Don't the titles alone make you want to read them?
This book was provided to me through the MMRG's Don't Buy My Love program for the purpose of this review
When the chance came to read this one for the MMRG's Don't Buy My Love program I jumped on it and I'm glad I did. The title alone grabbed my attention!
I've not read a ton of Steampunk but I can definitely see the appeal. There are so many ways a story can go, the author's imagination is the only limit and I don't think there's an end to James Cox's. I enjoyed the creative characters, and I could definitely feel the connection between Joshua and Val - they've got a great story going there.
Very entertaining and I'm curious as heck to find out what happens in Sex, Emergency Exits and Plan B's and Broken, Collared and Ready for Revenge. Don't the titles alone make you want to read them?
This book was provided to me through the MMRG's Don't Buy My Love program for the purpose of this review
May 14, 2018
I was given a copy of this book free by the author in exchange for an unbiased review.
Had it not been for DBML programme I probably wouldn't of even read it, it wouldn't even have been on my radar. I am definately a contemporary type of girl and only ever read Steampunk for a challenge and to be honest even though I read the blurb before signing up, it didnt register that it wasn't contemporary.
Anyway, Joshua is or0phaned when his father is killed and his brothers kidnapped. He is brought up by a Lord and his son. After a night with the son, Joshua is off to loaw school. He is now a Detective and back at the house he grew up in when the Lord is murdered.
It seems that the crime as well as the kidnappings.
The conspiracy goes to the highest in the land.
The story does end on what I believe is a cliffhanger. The murder/kiidnappings arenj't solved at the end of this book. I looked and the 2 fgollowing books focus on each of the missing brothers, so I can only hope that the thread of investigating the murder etc runs through the remaining books.
I did enjoy this book. It is nice to be taken out of your comfort zone once in a while.
Had it not been for DBML programme I probably wouldn't of even read it, it wouldn't even have been on my radar. I am definately a contemporary type of girl and only ever read Steampunk for a challenge and to be honest even though I read the blurb before signing up, it didnt register that it wasn't contemporary.
Anyway, Joshua is or0phaned when his father is killed and his brothers kidnapped. He is brought up by a Lord and his son. After a night with the son, Joshua is off to loaw school. He is now a Detective and back at the house he grew up in when the Lord is murdered.
It seems that the crime as well as the kidnappings.
The conspiracy goes to the highest in the land.
The story does end on what I believe is a cliffhanger. The murder/kiidnappings arenj't solved at the end of this book. I looked and the 2 fgollowing books focus on each of the missing brothers, so I can only hope that the thread of investigating the murder etc runs through the remaining books.
I did enjoy this book. It is nice to be taken out of your comfort zone once in a while.
May 2, 2019
This is my first steampunk romance and I really liked it. It was a curious mix of suspense, historical grandeur, technology and steamy encounters. Born into different classes childhood friends Joshua and Valence silently loved each other. When youth awkwardness and a slight misunderstanding forces them apart, they continue living their lives as detective and lord of the manor respectively. But a tragedy forces them to confront each other and their feelings that never really went away.
Apart from intimate moments, I enjoyed reading about the new world after the Great Wave - how people lived, how justice was dispensed, what shape the world has taken. It was well-written, very descriptive with no small amount of sarcastic banter between friends and lovers. The plot had little twists that made the story not so clear-cut but left space for a bit of speculation. I loved the side characters, they added to the richness of the story. I am very curious about what happened to the rest of Gentlemen brothers. Mr Cox wrote a refreshing story. I recommend it!
P.S. There is a surprisingly hot MMM encounter although this is initially an MM pairing. Be in the know. Cheers
Apart from intimate moments, I enjoyed reading about the new world after the Great Wave - how people lived, how justice was dispensed, what shape the world has taken. It was well-written, very descriptive with no small amount of sarcastic banter between friends and lovers. The plot had little twists that made the story not so clear-cut but left space for a bit of speculation. I loved the side characters, they added to the richness of the story. I am very curious about what happened to the rest of Gentlemen brothers. Mr Cox wrote a refreshing story. I recommend it!
P.S. There is a surprisingly hot MMM encounter although this is initially an MM pairing. Be in the know. Cheers
June 7, 2017
This is once again a book that I've only read to meet a certain category (lesser known mm books) for Bingo.
Since Steampunk isn't a genre with which I'm familiar, I didn't know what to expect. But I've to say that I really enjoyed the book and I think the world building was well done.
After a massive catastrophe in 1848, the Great Wave, the largest part of the world was covered by water. The only remaining land was reserved for the wealthy or ruthless. The rest of the survivers took to the sky, living and working in dirigibles.
There were rumors, that children were disappearing from the dirigibles without a trace. And that's exactly what happened to Joshua and his two brothers. The three were, however, separated during the attack, and now, more than a decade later, detective Joshua Gentlemen is still searching his brothers and trying to solve the mystery of the disappearing children.
The book was captivating, funny and sexy, but now I have to read the remaining two books of the series to get my answers.
3,5 stars
Since Steampunk isn't a genre with which I'm familiar, I didn't know what to expect. But I've to say that I really enjoyed the book and I think the world building was well done.
After a massive catastrophe in 1848, the Great Wave, the largest part of the world was covered by water. The only remaining land was reserved for the wealthy or ruthless. The rest of the survivers took to the sky, living and working in dirigibles.
There were rumors, that children were disappearing from the dirigibles without a trace. And that's exactly what happened to Joshua and his two brothers. The three were, however, separated during the attack, and now, more than a decade later, detective Joshua Gentlemen is still searching his brothers and trying to solve the mystery of the disappearing children.
The book was captivating, funny and sexy, but now I have to read the remaining two books of the series to get my answers.
3,5 stars
June 20, 2017
For a book out of my comfort zone I really did enjoy it! Sometimes all I need is a little push and/or a bingo category to get me to discover a hidden gem of a series. I was really surprised with all the story that we get packed into such a small page count & I wasn't wanting to jab a fork in my eye with over the top world building/info dump/back story [whatever you wanna call it]. It all seemed smooth and I was actually focused! lol Another series I probably won't grab up just to read on my own however, if the category comes up where I can grab up book 2 and continue to get to know more, i'll be taking advantage!
May 9, 2016
A Joyfully Jay review.
4 stars
Two things you should know about this book are that it’s set in a fairly well-crafted steampunk world and it’s the first of a series. If you’re on board for that, then I have no problems suggesting you pick this one up. This is the first book I’ve read by this author, and though I found myself having a few quibbles, I was also drawn into the world he created and find myself wanting to know what happens next.
This story is told through Joshua’s first person POV, and it works really well for the way the story is crafted. I’ll make mention here that I found the beginning, the prologue especially, to be a little choppy and disjointed, but the writing style and the narrative smoothed out fairly quickly and dragged me into the story. Joshua has a sense of justice and determination that I liked seeing. I liked him from the beginning, and I was engrossed in his story. I wanted to watch him reconnect and find love again with Val. I wanted to see him find his brothers. He was an engaging and enigmatic narrator and that went a long way for me.
Read Kris’ review in its entirety here.
4 stars
Two things you should know about this book are that it’s set in a fairly well-crafted steampunk world and it’s the first of a series. If you’re on board for that, then I have no problems suggesting you pick this one up. This is the first book I’ve read by this author, and though I found myself having a few quibbles, I was also drawn into the world he created and find myself wanting to know what happens next.
This story is told through Joshua’s first person POV, and it works really well for the way the story is crafted. I’ll make mention here that I found the beginning, the prologue especially, to be a little choppy and disjointed, but the writing style and the narrative smoothed out fairly quickly and dragged me into the story. Joshua has a sense of justice and determination that I liked seeing. I liked him from the beginning, and I was engrossed in his story. I wanted to watch him reconnect and find love again with Val. I wanted to see him find his brothers. He was an engaging and enigmatic narrator and that went a long way for me.
Read Kris’ review in its entirety here.
July 29, 2020
Good read a bt confusing in storyline
I enjoyed the book but I feel the story would have gone smother if there was more told at the beginning about the big wave and what caused it and slowly led into the story. To me there was do many areas that more information was needed to make the story run smoother with out you being left dangling.
I enjoyed the book but I feel the story would have gone smother if there was more told at the beginning about the big wave and what caused it and slowly led into the story. To me there was do many areas that more information was needed to make the story run smoother with out you being left dangling.
June 9, 2016
James. Cox. Wrote. Steampunk. Let that sit with you for a minute. I am so damn excited! His plots are different and his characters are sexy male specimens that should be cloned. Anyway… http://thetbrpile.weebly.com/reviews/...
May 18, 2018
A free copy of the book was provided by the author in exchange for an honest review.
Sex, Gunpowder and Saving The Day has some fabulous world building and main characters that I found to be a joy to read about. In particular I loved the easy banter and teamwork shared by James and his fellow detective Filch, as well as the clear love and longing between James and his childhood friend-turned-lover Valence.
Cox paints a great image of a world nearly entirely destroyed by a great wave that has most of the human population (mainly the lower classes) living on dirigibles in the sky. The details put into describing the dirigibles and how they function really helped me imagine what living in this world must be like. However, aside from that and a few other gems, world building tends to take a back seat to furthering the plot and the main relationship, which I think is a shame. It's not surprising though considering how short the novella is. This is one area where I think a higher page count would have benefited the story.
The writing itself is polished, funny, and emotional. Each character has their own distinct personalities that practically jump off the pages, right down to the ways that each character speaks. The longing and passion shared between James and Valence is also well written and steamy. This novella is a promising start of a series, and should be read like one. It leaves far more open at the end then it resolves, although there are answers to be found within it.
Overall I found it to be a great quick read that whets the palate for more of the story to come.
Sex, Gunpowder and Saving The Day has some fabulous world building and main characters that I found to be a joy to read about. In particular I loved the easy banter and teamwork shared by James and his fellow detective Filch, as well as the clear love and longing between James and his childhood friend-turned-lover Valence.
Cox paints a great image of a world nearly entirely destroyed by a great wave that has most of the human population (mainly the lower classes) living on dirigibles in the sky. The details put into describing the dirigibles and how they function really helped me imagine what living in this world must be like. However, aside from that and a few other gems, world building tends to take a back seat to furthering the plot and the main relationship, which I think is a shame. It's not surprising though considering how short the novella is. This is one area where I think a higher page count would have benefited the story.
The writing itself is polished, funny, and emotional. Each character has their own distinct personalities that practically jump off the pages, right down to the ways that each character speaks. The longing and passion shared between James and Valence is also well written and steamy. This novella is a promising start of a series, and should be read like one. It leaves far more open at the end then it resolves, although there are answers to be found within it.
Overall I found it to be a great quick read that whets the palate for more of the story to come.
July 6, 2016
Title: Sex, Gunpowder, and Saving the Day
Author: James Cox
Series: The Gentlemen Brothers, Book 1
Publisher: Evernight Publishing
Reviewer: Melissa
Release Date: April 14, 2016
Genre(s): M/M Romance
Page Count: 109
Heat Level: 4 flames out of 5
Rating: 5 stars out of 5
Blurb:
Review:
“‘You’re all crass and crude and I love it.’ He blushed slightly.
5 stars!! Different but so good!
I wasn’t sure what to expect when I started reading this, but it was so good! It’s definitely different than anything I’ve ever read, but I was hooked the minute I started reading it!! Joshua was probably my favorite character in the book, he’s out for justice after his brother is murdered! All the while he lusts after Val and let me tell you I’d lust after him too!! The book has a lot of vivid details and you will feel like you are a part of the book! Definitely a really great book!
ARC provided by author in exchange for an honest review. Reviewed by Melissa from Alpha Book Club
Author: James Cox
Series: The Gentlemen Brothers, Book 1
Publisher: Evernight Publishing
Reviewer: Melissa
Release Date: April 14, 2016
Genre(s): M/M Romance
Page Count: 109
Heat Level: 4 flames out of 5
Rating: 5 stars out of 5
Blurb:
The Great Wave sent the lower class into dirigibles high above the wealthy landowners. The Gentlemen brothers lived in such an airship with the father until one night when men came in the dark to steal them.
Joshua is the oldest and is now a respectable detective. He never stopped searching for his brothers. When a call comes in that the Lord that saved him is murdered, Joshua must face his past and the Lord’s son. Valence Peasley Junior was his best friend but one night of unexpected passion tore their friendship apart.
Now, Joshua must deal with the beloved Lord’s death, Val’s decadent body and find out how it all ties into that dreadful night.
Review:
“‘You’re all crass and crude and I love it.’ He blushed slightly.
5 stars!! Different but so good!
I wasn’t sure what to expect when I started reading this, but it was so good! It’s definitely different than anything I’ve ever read, but I was hooked the minute I started reading it!! Joshua was probably my favorite character in the book, he’s out for justice after his brother is murdered! All the while he lusts after Val and let me tell you I’d lust after him too!! The book has a lot of vivid details and you will feel like you are a part of the book! Definitely a really great book!
ARC provided by author in exchange for an honest review. Reviewed by Melissa from Alpha Book Club
May 6, 2018
A fun series. Steampunk type of read. The premise is three brothers, Joshua, Logan and Alexander are kidnapped and separated at a young age. Then 15 years later Joshua is a detective and still looking for his brothers. Joshua had been saved and raised with Valence.
They had a good childhood together and were great friends and then something more before Joshua left for detective school. Now Joshua is back to help Val. They work together on a mystery. Meet new allies.
Have lots of hot sex and work towards a relationship.
Then just as things get rocking the story ends and leaves you at a cliffhanger. Wanting to read the next tale.
This is a good series. I will be looking forward to the next tale and the
other brothers. Such fun.
(Given a copy for an honest review)(MMRG/DBML) (Thanks)
They had a good childhood together and were great friends and then something more before Joshua left for detective school. Now Joshua is back to help Val. They work together on a mystery. Meet new allies.
Have lots of hot sex and work towards a relationship.
Then just as things get rocking the story ends and leaves you at a cliffhanger. Wanting to read the next tale.
This is a good series. I will be looking forward to the next tale and the
other brothers. Such fun.
(Given a copy for an honest review)(MMRG/DBML) (Thanks)
July 14, 2018
4.1 Stars
May 29, 2018
Here is my review:
https://www.goodreads.com/author_blog...
https://www.goodreads.com/author_blog...
May 20, 2018
After recently seeing Cirque du Soleil’s Kurios, which was my first exposure to steampunk, I was intrigued by the plot of Sex, Gunpowder and Saving the Day and curious to read this story. James Cox created a crazy, interesting universe and I really liked reading about Joshua and Val. The couple, from very different backgrounds made it work and the sex was super hot. Not to get into spoilers, there was a relationship plot twist that threw me off a little towards the end, but it grew on me. The teaser at the end gives a glimpse into future stories for Joshua’s two missing brothers. Can’t wait to finish this trilogy! I think other non sci-fi types would enjoy this m/m story because the author doesn’t go overboard with the Steampunk.
A copy was provided in exchange for an honest review.
A copy was provided in exchange for an honest review.
May 12, 2016
3.5 Hearts
What an incredibly bizarre yet intriguing start to a series. A lot of this story I was definitely scratching my head. This is an historical, alternate universe, m/m/m, steampunk, and possibly paranormal? So, needless to say there’s a lot going on. Which isn’t bad there’s just a lot to take in. I liked how this author told the story. I liked that he kept it short I really think if it was longer and more drawn out this would have been way too hard to keep up with. I liked how it was a “satisfying” cliffhanger. There’s obviously unanswered questions but he left it at a point where you aren’t going to bang your head against the wall until book 2 comes out. I appreciate that.
Joshua Gentlemen escaped capture at a young age but lost his father and had to watch his younger brothers get abducted. Vowing to find his brothers no matter what it takes he accepts the offer of care given by the man who found him and his son, Val.
Things develop between Val and Josh that they can’t control, but Josh’s ultimate goal has always been to find his brothers.
Years pass and they are pushed together once again. The passion is not dead between them but they have another mystery that needs to be uncovered.
These two are incredibly passionate. A third party enters the scene and that was unexpected but hot as hell. There’s lots of mystery, intrigue and fantasy/adventure in this story. There were some cheesy parts but I just sort of went with it because I figured the outcome was worth it. There were also some confusing parts but this story was interesting enough to keep me coming back.
Pretty good…looking forward to book 2…
This book was provided free in exchange for a fair and honest review for Love Bytes. Go there to check out other reviews, author interviews, and all those awesome giveaways. Click below.
What an incredibly bizarre yet intriguing start to a series. A lot of this story I was definitely scratching my head. This is an historical, alternate universe, m/m/m, steampunk, and possibly paranormal? So, needless to say there’s a lot going on. Which isn’t bad there’s just a lot to take in. I liked how this author told the story. I liked that he kept it short I really think if it was longer and more drawn out this would have been way too hard to keep up with. I liked how it was a “satisfying” cliffhanger. There’s obviously unanswered questions but he left it at a point where you aren’t going to bang your head against the wall until book 2 comes out. I appreciate that.
Joshua Gentlemen escaped capture at a young age but lost his father and had to watch his younger brothers get abducted. Vowing to find his brothers no matter what it takes he accepts the offer of care given by the man who found him and his son, Val.
Things develop between Val and Josh that they can’t control, but Josh’s ultimate goal has always been to find his brothers.
Years pass and they are pushed together once again. The passion is not dead between them but they have another mystery that needs to be uncovered.
These two are incredibly passionate. A third party enters the scene and that was unexpected but hot as hell. There’s lots of mystery, intrigue and fantasy/adventure in this story. There were some cheesy parts but I just sort of went with it because I figured the outcome was worth it. There were also some confusing parts but this story was interesting enough to keep me coming back.
Pretty good…looking forward to book 2…
This book was provided free in exchange for a fair and honest review for Love Bytes. Go there to check out other reviews, author interviews, and all those awesome giveaways. Click below.
July 8, 2016
A catastrophic event called The Great Wave, sent many of mankind into the skies in dirigibles. Those on the right side of the tracks still have homes on what is left of the earth. Into this world come the Gentlemen brothers. They are separated in their teens, Joshua the oldest, is raised by a lord. Joshua becomes a detective. His goal to find his brothers and be the best he can be.
I haven't read a lot of steam punk, bur certainly had a good time with this story. There is a lot of humor especially provided by Joshua's detective partner Filch. Some sexy scenes with more than two, and a bit of romance make for a well rounded adventure.
I haven't read a lot of steam punk, bur certainly had a good time with this story. There is a lot of humor especially provided by Joshua's detective partner Filch. Some sexy scenes with more than two, and a bit of romance make for a well rounded adventure.
September 28, 2016
This is one of the more interesting steampunk stories I have read yet. The imagery of hundreds of dirigibles coloring the sky and hovering over the small pockets of land that are left, is a unique twist for this genre. Joshua’s character is just as special with his devotion to his job, his brothers, and especially Val. When a series starts out like this, you can only wait expectantly for what comes next.
Lototy
Reviewer for Coffee Time Romance & More
Official Review @ Coffee Time Romance & More
Lototy
Reviewer for Coffee Time Romance & More
Official Review @ Coffee Time Romance & More
May 14, 2016
OMG! I love steampunk and I love James Cox' books, and now THIS! The first book in this series is really intriguing, thrilling, humorous (Joshuas sarcasm is awesome!) and more than steamy and sexy. The characters are just lovely and adorable, especially Joshua being a tough smarta$$ and Val, oh cute Val, who couldn't resist? The story just has it all, I couldn't put it down till I finished it to the last page. I really can recommend this book and I can't wait to read what comes next!!
September 25, 2016
An absolutely brilliantly written story, I was completely sucked in. It had everything, action, intrigue, romance and lots and lots of HOT sex. I couldn't ask for more. Now to re-read book 2 so as I'm completely caught up to start book 3.
January 15, 2017
3.5 stars
August 26, 2017
A well-constructed steampunk fantasy. At first, the story seemed a bit rushed, but then I got into its pace :) I'm certainly intrigued to learn what happens next.
May 11, 2018
A free copy of the book was provided by the author in exchange for an honest review.
I'll admit that I was hesitant to try this book due to some things in the blurb that didn't make much sense, but the high reviews convinced me to give it a try. I should have trusted my first instincts, because this book and I did not get along.
I have so many questions about the world-building, and it made it very hard for me to focus at all on the story. According to the GR summary, "The Great Wave sent the lower class into dirigibles high above the wealthy landowners." How does this make any sense? How did the lower class - all of them, apparently - afford dirigibles? If the technology exists to live permanently in the air, why wouldn't the upper class escape what was surely an ugly situation on the ground and control the land by proxies? Why wouldn't people just live in boats on the ocean, where at least there would be a convenient food source? This sentence alone nearly prevented me from reading the book, but I gave it a shot anyway, hoping that this situation would be explained. It was not. I'll cut off my rant here, but suffice to say this world-building made absolutely zero sense to me given anything I know about politics and social structures.
The steampunk side of things was also disappointing. There was zero explanation of this magical technology that allows the poorest people on the planet to live in constant defiance of gravity. Holding things off the ground for extended periods of time takes massive amounts of energy, so I wanted to have at least some clue as to how this is happening. Additionally, it was clear that the author was trying to evoke a particular "steampunk" feel with the writing style, but this completely failed for me. It felt as though the author had looked up a few words that sounded steampunk-y (listed at the front in a helpful glossary) and then tried to use them as often as possible, rather than doing the work to develop an overall linguistic approach to fit the era he was trying to evoke. And don't even get me started on the constant, obnoxious substitution of "me" for "my" (as in, me father, me brothers, etc) to signify "lower-class" dialect. The mismatch with the rest of the writing made for a very choppy reading experience. (For an example of good use of steampunk dialect, see Alexis Hall's Prosperity.)
The plot was a total mess. The characters continually jumped to conclusions about what was happening and why. Plenty of things happened, but they didn't come together in a clear narrative for me - everything was very abrupt and disjointed. The romance plot just seemed absurd. I usually love menage, but it came out of nowhere here and was never discussed or negotiated in any meaningful way. Even the sex scenes mostly failed to capture my interest, except to make me occasionally very uncomfortable at the setting (no, neither the woods nor a staircase is a comfortable place to have sex) or the mechanics (no, you probably shouldn't try to have anal sex for the first time with only spit for lube). The characters themselves never really developed strong personalities for me, which made it hard to care about them. They mostly felt like collections of characteristics (Joshua is sarcastic and cares about his brothers and thinks Val is hot) rather than real people with nuanced inner lives and stories. Everything is very black and white - some people are good, some people are bad, and there's very little room for middle ground or complexity.
This is a very short book, but I struggled to get through it (I only finished because I had agreed to review it), and I will not be continuing with the series.
I'll admit that I was hesitant to try this book due to some things in the blurb that didn't make much sense, but the high reviews convinced me to give it a try. I should have trusted my first instincts, because this book and I did not get along.
I have so many questions about the world-building, and it made it very hard for me to focus at all on the story. According to the GR summary, "The Great Wave sent the lower class into dirigibles high above the wealthy landowners." How does this make any sense? How did the lower class - all of them, apparently - afford dirigibles? If the technology exists to live permanently in the air, why wouldn't the upper class escape what was surely an ugly situation on the ground and control the land by proxies? Why wouldn't people just live in boats on the ocean, where at least there would be a convenient food source? This sentence alone nearly prevented me from reading the book, but I gave it a shot anyway, hoping that this situation would be explained. It was not. I'll cut off my rant here, but suffice to say this world-building made absolutely zero sense to me given anything I know about politics and social structures.
The steampunk side of things was also disappointing. There was zero explanation of this magical technology that allows the poorest people on the planet to live in constant defiance of gravity. Holding things off the ground for extended periods of time takes massive amounts of energy, so I wanted to have at least some clue as to how this is happening. Additionally, it was clear that the author was trying to evoke a particular "steampunk" feel with the writing style, but this completely failed for me. It felt as though the author had looked up a few words that sounded steampunk-y (listed at the front in a helpful glossary) and then tried to use them as often as possible, rather than doing the work to develop an overall linguistic approach to fit the era he was trying to evoke. And don't even get me started on the constant, obnoxious substitution of "me" for "my" (as in, me father, me brothers, etc) to signify "lower-class" dialect. The mismatch with the rest of the writing made for a very choppy reading experience. (For an example of good use of steampunk dialect, see Alexis Hall's Prosperity.)
The plot was a total mess. The characters continually jumped to conclusions about what was happening and why. Plenty of things happened, but they didn't come together in a clear narrative for me - everything was very abrupt and disjointed. The romance plot just seemed absurd. I usually love menage, but it came out of nowhere here and was never discussed or negotiated in any meaningful way. Even the sex scenes mostly failed to capture my interest, except to make me occasionally very uncomfortable at the setting (no, neither the woods nor a staircase is a comfortable place to have sex) or the mechanics (no, you probably shouldn't try to have anal sex for the first time with only spit for lube). The characters themselves never really developed strong personalities for me, which made it hard to care about them. They mostly felt like collections of characteristics (Joshua is sarcastic and cares about his brothers and thinks Val is hot) rather than real people with nuanced inner lives and stories. Everything is very black and white - some people are good, some people are bad, and there's very little room for middle ground or complexity.
This is a very short book, but I struggled to get through it (I only finished because I had agreed to review it), and I will not be continuing with the series.
June 30, 2020
Joshua was separated from his brothers when men killed thier father and kidnapped them from their dirigible. Joshua was rescued and raised by a Lord, who helped him become a respectable detective, but he never stopped searching for his brother. Valence was Joshua’s best friend, but a night of passion caused their friendship to implode. When Valence’s father is killed, Joshua is sent to investigate, and they realize all that passion is still simmering underneath.
This was an interesting story with a bit of steampunk feel. Joshua and Valence were great characters who each seemed to slowly grow over the story, but there is a bit of a cliffhanger ending that left me wanting more, so I will definitely be picking up the next book.
This was an interesting story with a bit of steampunk feel. Joshua and Valence were great characters who each seemed to slowly grow over the story, but there is a bit of a cliffhanger ending that left me wanting more, so I will definitely be picking up the next book.
December 24, 2018
enjoyable and entertaining.
quick read.
best read in order and to have all 3 books ready to read.
quick read.
best read in order and to have all 3 books ready to read.
July 30, 2019
M/M Romance Annual Reading Challenges > July 2019 Rereading Challenge
This is my 3rd re-read of this series and find it still entertaining and captivating.
This is my 3rd re-read of this series and find it still entertaining and captivating.
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