Count the Shells

Porthkennack #6

by Charlie Cochrane

A standalone Porthkennack historical novel

Michael Gray returned from World War One injured, but at least he returned. Others were not so fortunate, including his first and greatest love, Thomas Carter-Clemence, with whom Michael had parted bitterly before the conflict began.

Broch, the Carter-Clemence home in Porthkennack, was an integral part of pre-war holidays for the Grays, the two families drawn together in the wake of their sons’ friendship. Returning to the once-beloved Cornish coast for a break with his sister and her family, Michael has to find the courage to face old memories . . . and dare new relationships.

When Thomas’s brother Harry makes an unexpected appearance, Michael is surprised to find himself deeply attracted to Harry for his own sake. But as their relationship heats up, it unearths startling revelations and bitter truths. Michael must decide whether Harry is the answer to his prayers or the last straw to break an old soldier’s back.

Word 66,000; page 246

Genres: Historical, Romance, M M Romance, Historical Fiction, LGBT, M M Historical Romance, Gay

246 pages, Kindle Edition

First published October 16, 2017

About the author

Because Charlie Cochrane couldn't be trusted to do any of her jobs of choice—like managing a rugby team—she writes. Her mystery novels include the Edwardian era Cambridge Fellows series, series, and the contemporary Best Corpse for the Job. Multi-published, she has titles with Carina, Samhain, Riptide and Bold Strokes, among others.

A member of the Romantic Novelists’ Association, Mystery People and International Thriller Writers Inc, Charlie regularly appears at literary festivals and at reader and author conferences with The Deadly Dames.

Reviews

[* A Reader Obsessed * · Rating 3 out of 5]

3 Stars

Historical lovers come on over! This is chock full of propriety, societal rules, and all the manners one can muster!

This story focuses on veteran Michael who is home and recovering from having lost a great deal, most significantly his former lover whom he had a spat with before they went to war. He’s holding a torch and trying to move on with his life, and Porthkennack is the perfect setting to convalesce on holiday with his sister and her family. When he reconnects with his dead lover’s brother, a chance at happiness is a hopeful possibility again.

What unravels are shocking secrets that would give a telenovela a run for its money. Entertaining enough, this series is quirky to say the least, as it jumps back and forth in different times, never really with a cohesive connection except where the stories take place so rest assured, sticking to reading order is not necessary at all.

Again, if historicals are your jam, then this just might suit your fancy!

[Meags · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 Stars

Mixed feelings reign supreme again with my second Charlie Cochrane outing, but be reassured by the fact this experience went much better than the first (Broke Deep).

I don’t wish to get too ranty or too robust, so I feel a review in dot points might be the way to go.

The good:
▪️ This was easy, slightly addictive reading—I whipped through the story at a fast pace
▪️ The strong sense of time, place and person made this post-WWI historical romance a standout
▪️ There was a notable importance placed on familial bonds and sibling relationships that rang complex and true
▪️ The (mostly) likeable support cast elevated the story a good deal

The bothersome:
▪️ The romance was overshadowed by the family drama
▪️ However charming, the nine-year-old children spoke like middle-aged adults, often to an absurd degree

The downright annoying:
▪️ There was too much of an emphasis on past lovers—to the point that the current lover’s name was mentioned exactly the same number of times (250 times) as the predominant ex-lover, even though the latter was long dead when the story began

As you can see, the good outweigh the bad, and even so, the things that irked me didn’t truly hinder my engagement with this story, because, as I said, this was one historical romance that, despite any niggles, I couldn’t seem to put down.

As far as the Porthkennack series is concerned, this is about middle ground fare for me—not the worst but certainly not the best. Still, a series I’ve enjoyed for its vivid setting, strong characters and their stories told within.

[ancientreader · Rating 1 out of 5]

Bought this via Smashwords on the strength of a reasonably solid opening + the catnip that is WWI & the aftermath thereof; bailed because I couldn't stand to read one more sexist/misogynistic throwaway line:

"A party of females emerged" (welp here we are in the manosphere avant la lettre)

"You're like a bunch of old women for gossiping" (said, incidentally, to a gossipy young boy, because if boys gossip then they're like women, rather than being like ... boys who gossip)

"Ladies simply require careful handling" (the narrative perseverates on this theme for the rest of the chapter)

"Talking of females, have you been let out of jail for the rest of the day?" (said to the same young boy, who's been permitted to leave the nursery)

"Girls are so silly. Fancy having to put up with that all day."

"You women are all tyrants" hardeharharhar

Granted, writers of historical romances have a tricky balance to strike, between being faithful to the period & its attitudes, on the one hand, and not making their male characters assholes, on the other. The balance is less tricky if they just have the protagonists keep their mouths shut on the subject of women instead of letting the narrative endorse this rubbish.

TOD 19%.

[CrabbyPatty · Rating 3 out of 5]

Michael returns home from WWI intact, but not unscathed. He's haunted by his battlefield memories as well as the men he loved and lost because of the war. As he returns to his family's summer house in Porthkennack, the memory of Thomas Carter-Clemence, his first love, is front and center. And when he meets Harry Carter-Clemence, Thomas' younger brother, he is gobsmacked by how much he looks like his dead brother Thomas. There is an attraction but Michael wonders if he can get past his feelings for Thomas and move on.

This is very much an English family drama including Michael's sister Caroline, her husband Eric and their children Richard and Lily, and the Gray family's interaction with the Carter-Clemence family ... and the secret we learn as the book proceeds. Some readers may find the pace of the story rather slow (okay, very, very slow) but I liked how Cochrane really gets the setting and time period right and the family interaction sets the tone of the book. However, about halfway through, I did wish that the pace of the story picked up!

We learn that Thomas is not the person Michael thought him to be, but Michael's knee-jerk reactions to burst out in anger or flee when confronted by unpleasant details make me think that Thomas is not the only hero with feet of clay. Harry is an interesting character, but unfortunately we only get Michael's POV throughout and I didn't really get a sense of a strong sexual chemistry between the two men.

I enjoyed the time period and the way Cochrane shows how WWI changed the life of the men who served, as well as their families. The pace was slow, and I didn't really buy into the relationship between Michael and Harry. 3.38 stars, rounded up to 3.5.

I received an ARC from Riptide Publishing, via NetGalley, in exchange for an honest review.

Stop by my new blog, Sinfully Good Gay Book Reviews

[Grace · Rating 1 out of 5]

DNF ~56%

I really gave this one a solid try, but I wasn't enjoying it terrible in the first 50% and then shit managed to go off the rails in the next 6%, and I just couldn't. The build between Henry and Michael just felt really weird and sudden--Henry 100% seemed like he was just being nice, and Michael kept saying he was getting ~vibes~ but I don't actually feel like the author wrote that. And then we have the (for me) mildly squicky aspect that Michael was in love with Henry's (now dead) brother, a fact he still hasn't mentioned to Henry because "Henry must already know"... what?? Henry has not indicated that at all, has in fact said he's had a crush on you for ages, and you're not talking about being in love with his brother because he probably already knows? It makes no sense and is so clearly a setup for a future dramatic reveal that I want no part of. And then the incredibly odd reveal right at the 50% mark that I know is gonna make things even squickier for me and frankly felt super unnecessary. Second book by this author in this series and neither of them have worked for me so I think they just might not be my cup of tea.

[Caz · Rating 4 out of 5]

I've given this a B- at AAR, so that's 3.5 stars rounded up.

Count the Shells, by new-to-me author, Charlie Cochrane, is the sixth entry in Riptide Publishing’s  Porthkennack  series of standalone romances that are linked by virtue being set in and around the fictional Cornish town of the same name.  The series boasts a mixture of contemporary and historical stories, and this is the second historical (the first was Joanna Chambers’ excellent A Gathering Storm), set – I’m guessing, because it’s not actually made clear what the year is – not long after the end of World War One.

Count the Shells is a gently moving, reflective story which opens as a young man – Michael Gray – ponders love and loss as he reminisces about his past lovers, some of whom fought in the war and unlike him, did not come home.  Playing on the beach with his young nephew, Michael counts aloud in several different languages as he places shells on the sand, one for each of his five lovers, while thinking about those very different men and the nature of his feelings for them.

Number one – un, uno, eins – on Michael’s list is, and will always be Thomas Carter-Clemence, his oldest friend, the love of his life… and the man from whom he’d parted following a bitter row in the Spring of 1909. Thomas had joined the army not long after that, and had then been killed in the early days of the war; he and Michael had never reconciled but Michael still feels the pain of their parting and his loss and never expects to love so deeply and completely again.

Michael is spending the summer at High Top house near Porthkennack with his sister, Caroline, brother-in-law, Eric, and their eight-year-old, articulate and perceptive son, Richard. The bulk of the first part of the book is spent among the family, and I enjoyed the way the familial relationships are presented and developed, especially the scenes between Michael and Richard, which are gently humorous, poignant and full of affection on both sides. Richard is a precocious boy, but never crosses the line into ‘plot-device moppet’; he’s a charming, inquisitive lad, and it’s clear he adores his uncle and that the feeling is mutual.

Change is in the wind however; Michael and Richard are out walking when they are almost run down by a motorcyclist. Furious and about to give the miscreant a piece of his mind, Michael is stunned when the rider removes his headgear and is revealed as Thomas’s younger brother, Harry. Harry had always been the annoying, gangly younger sibling traipsing about –or trying to – after Michael and Thomas and to be honest, Michael has never really given him a lot of thought. The jolt of attraction he feels soon after meeting him again must, surely, be because of Harry’s resemblance to Thomas. Mustn’t it?

I admit that when I read the synopsis for Count the Shells, I wasn’t sure about the idea of having the protagonist falling in love with the brother of his dead lover. It happens in m/f stories as well, of course, but it’s not a premise that appeals to me for its own sake; however, I decided to read the book and see how things panned out. As it turned out, I didn’t have too many reservations about that aspect of the relationship; Harry is genuinely decent, kind and witty, and reveals to Michael that he has been carrying a torch or him for years. Their progression from being friends to lovers perhaps happens rather quickly, but the author lays the foundations of an emotional connection I was able to believe will get stronger with time.

Michael is charmed by Harry and is surprised at the feelings of happiness that are suffusing him; it’s been a long time since he’s shared himself with anyone, been so comfortable with another person and felt such joy. But when, not long after Michael and Harry become lovers, Harry lets slip a momentous secret in an unguarded moment, Michael’s contentment is shattered as he is confronted with some unpleasant truths that could have serious repercussions on his family. And of course, one secret leads to another until a whole web is unravelling, forcing Michael to reassess a number of long-held memories and beliefs. I can’t say more without spoiling this part of the story, but I can say that the plot is well thought-out and executed, highlighting the strength of the familial connections that the author establishes so well at the beginning of the book. One thing I wasn’t too happy with, however, is the way it seems one relationship is being made palatable at the expense of another; one character has to be shown to have been duplicitous so that Michael can move on.

I enjoyed Count the Shells, although I suspect that the leisurely pace of the novel may not suit everyone. I found it like the best of the sort of lazy summer days on which it is set; warm, comfortable and unhurried, allowing me time to get to grips with the family dynamics and to understand Michael a little. But the book has a number of flaws that are reflected in my rating; there is a little too much telling rather than showing when it comes to Michael’s past relationships – especially his past with Thomas – and that while Harry enters the story like a breath of fresh air, he remains something of an enigmatic figure and we never really get to know him.

In spite of those things, however, I liked the book sufficiently to give it a qualified recommendation. The romance is just one aspect of a story that covers a wider canvas, and while I normally prefer novels in which the romantic love story is the main focus, the author writes the other love stories, the familial ones, so well that I was just as happy to read those while I awaited developments between Michael and Harry.

[Chris, the Dalek King · Rating 4 out of 5]

Summers in Porthkennack were always something a bit special for Michael Gray. But after years away–and a bloody war fought in countries he had no real interest in remembering–Michael isn’t sure he can recapture the magic that for him always meant seaside, family, youth, and even more importantly, Thomas Carter-Clemence. Especially since Thomas died years ago, near the beginning of the war that would later be known as World War One. In fact, the war had a way of claiming many of Michael’s lovers. Thomas was just the first–and probably the most heartbreaking.

Still feeling at odds with his life, though, he agrees to come back to the seaside town for a bit. To be with his sister and her family. To help find himself among the ghosts of his pasts, or maybe to bury them once and for all. But it isn’t only his ghosts that seem to be popping up, because when Harry Carter-Clemence arrives in town it seems like things long locked tightly in closets all come barreling out into daylight. And once out, they might change the landscape of both families forever.

This ended up being not quite the book I was expecting it to be. It was an experience that I enjoyed, and a book I would totally recommend, but at the end of the day I can see how some aspects of it are not exactly some people’s cup of tea.

While I really did enjoy this story, I will admit that if you come into it expecting some great romance you will leave a bit disappointed. I found the storytelling, the characters, the plot, and the slow-slog through the various secrets these two families keep made for a good read, but the way this book downplays the relationship between Harry and Michael made this feel less like a Romance, and more like a story with romantic elements.

Harry and Michael certainly have a romance, and it was even one that I liked. It was just very low-key, in a kind a way. It doesn’t exactly run-smooth, but it was more a catalyst for the other actions and reactions in the story, than the main focus. I think this book would make for a great first story in a series long romance arc for Harry and Michael, to be honest. You get the beginnings of a relationship in this book, but not much else. There is chemistry and the two of them are always a pleasure to read, but there is not a lot of depth yet to what they have. Which is why I am glad this book didn’t end with declarations of Endless Love. That would have been a tad unbelievable.

The story seemed to want to focus more on the quartet of Michael, Thomas, Caroline (Michael’s sister), and Richard (Caroline’s young son) and their various intertwining relationships over the years. It was a plot I really loved, actually. I loved the mystery and the secrets. I liked how the various characters reacted to the truths unveiled. It was certainly a slow moving story, and had a sense of loss and disconnect to it, but for a story told thru Michael’s pov, it worked well. It might not be what I was expecting out of this story from the blurb, but for what it was, it was a pretty damn good.

It is not perfect, though. Richard is eight(ish), but talks like he is in his thirties. It is very distracting. He still acts like a kid his age would act (I assume), but then he would open up his mouth and suddenly he becomes some kind of middle-aged academic. I know the book tried to cover it up by making the adults around him constantly say “yes, isn’t it cute how grown up he sounds!” but that didn’t make up for the fact that you have this young kid talking miles above himself. He is not an annoying kid, thank all the gods, but he is an odd one for sure.

I would have also liked a bit more detail as to the lives of Michael and Harry. Just basic things like jobs or such. Maybe a clue why they all seem to be able to sway slowly thru each day with no real destination and no real obstacles like money or jobs. I do know Caroline’s husband is a doctor, but he seems to be the only one who needs to work for some reason. It just seemed a bit odd. I don’t know. Maybe they are all still fairly rich.

Overall I think this is a story that can be enjoyed, as long as you are not in search of the next Great Romance. I found it to be very well written, and while not my favorite of the series, certainly worked better for me than the author’s previous offerings in this series. If the author gets a chance, I’d love to watch this relationship grow and see where Michael and Harry go from here.


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.

[Sophia · Rating 4 out of 5]

A post WWI era, summer holidays with the family, and a chance to face down the past and get on with the future were all tantalizing elements of a story told by an already favorite author. It was irresistible. I was delighted by the way the author could surround me with an authentic feel of the era and situation for her little cast of characters.

As the Porthkennack book six, Count the Shells only shares the locale with other books from the series so functions just fine as a standalone. In fact, this innovative series that pulls in a handful of solid British authors doesn't even stick to one era which I thought was a great thing.

Count the Shells is not a dynamic story nor is it a swift moving one. It's tremendously contemplative. This is not a book with a crisp, clean plot either particularly with that fuzzy happy for now ending. I don't reveal all that to say that I hated the book. Actually, far from it, though yes, I wanted a more swoony tied-up ending rather than the appropriate one for the times and the situation.

Speaking of the times, this is post-war, waning years of the Edwardian era Cornwall. The author nailed the whole feeling of the setting, culture, society, and the people of that era.

Michael is the narrator and he is the main figure in the story, but really, this is the story of two families. Michael reminisces and tends to get broody. I enjoyed him most of the time. Though, there were a few moments when he let his anger and resentment get the better of him and he 'shoots the messenger' making me want to kick him in the pants to get over himself. But, it was a very significant shock he receives that changes everything he thought so I guess I'll cut him some slack.

My one niggle is that as Michael reflects back, I did get distracted and felt the story dragged. I wanted things to get moving.

The romance was not exactly a full romance. It was more the beginning of one. The past had to be dealt with when it came to Thomas' ghost and Michael's feelings for Thomas. He was attracted to Harry, but the author carefully made it clear that he distinguish between the brothers and distinguish between his feelings for them. There were fun banter, passion, and then emotional conflict. I would have loved an epilogue maybe even a year or two in the future to see something more solid between this pair.

So, all in all, it was moderately enjoyable. I wasn't as vested as I wanted to be, but didn't actually dislike anything. Its a lovely, gentle and emotional m/m historical romance.

My thanks to Riptide Publishing for the opportunity to read this book in exchange for an honest review.

[Cadiva · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5*

I liked this one but it was another with oblique references and sort of fade to black sex scenes which I always feel disappointed with.

In addition, there was a melancholy air throughout the book, understandable given the circumstances, but it made it all a little lacking in different sorts of feelings.

I mostly felt irritated with Michael's rose tinted view of his lost love Thomas, especially when it was clear the man had been a bit of an arse!

Harry I loved though, although I also found him a tad too easy going when he got the full story of what had been going on in the pre war years.

I think my favourite characters were the kids and Eric actually 😁

Overall though, this one's probably the least connected to the wider Porthkennack world that I've read so far and I appreciated the First World War elements of it very much.

[Joyfully Jay · Rating 4 out of 5]

A Joyfully Jay review.

3.75 stars

Count the Shells was something of a mixed bag. The characters are fairly strong and the relationship between Michael and his nephew Richard is captivating. But melodrama and Michael’s rather judgmental nature nearly derail the story.

All of the characters in Count the Shells are well defined and vivid in their development. It’s easy to imagine them all and aside from Michael’s rushing into an affair with Harry, their actions seem realistic. Richard is somewhat wiser than a child of his age would usually be, but he is a natural fit to the story and never feels like an overly precocious third wheel. The author has done an excellent job of setting up the novel and the first third of Count the Shells has the feel of a long summer holiday. It moves laconically, but not slowly, and the echo of a country attempting to heal from a terrible scar is evident.

Unfortunately, after a wonderful start, Count the Shells falls prey to a sensational plot. Instead of a story about two men healing from the past, as the set up implies, the book devolves into a tangled knot of adultery, betrayal, and family secrets. And if you like that kind of thing, then you’ll probably have no problem with Count the Shells. But I felt this aspect of the story just didn’t work. It seemed to have only loose connections to the first part of the book and never really resonated. Additionally, after Michael finds out about his sister and a family secret, he’s extremely judgmental of her and almost cruel. It makes him unlikable and, given the circumstances, there are times he comes off as hypocritical. Lastly, and this is just a pet peeve that I didn’t actually hold against the book in my review, there are too many sexual gags about cricket. It comes off as rather juvenile, as it drags out a single scene into something silly. And it doesn’t fit very well with either Harry or Michael’s nature.

Read Sue’s review in its entirety here.

[Nerea · Rating 2 out of 5]

This is Too much drama and angst....


I wanted to DNF this several times... but ... yeah I wanted to know what more crazy secret would be the next to emerge!

The romance in this book is almost INEXISTENT. The characters , specially the MC is constanly speaking about his former lovers. CONSTANLY. So that's why I find funny this part:

"Or let her seduce him, which is a possibility. I didn't ask for details. " Harry's brow crinkled in distaste. "I don't want to know them, either." Michael sipped on his tea, finding it lukewarm, stewed, and as unpleasant as this conversation.

Unpleasant?? Speak about past lovers... mm... yeas! And that is what are you doing all the book !! Please in one scene Michael was with the other MC and suddenly thoughts like "ahh I fuck there with XXX" WTH? Zero romance. I'm going to give 2 stars because some interesting surprises in the plot.... but romance ZERO.

[Misty · Rating 4 out of 5]

** 4.5 Stars **

I've always loved Charlie Cochrane's writing and I'm a big fan of the Cambridge Fellows Series. Count the Shells is different but no less enjoyable to read. It's very much a family drama. The author knows how to create a vivid sense of authenticity, a sense of time and place. I really liked the leisurely pace of the narrative and the very British dialogue. A great read!

[The Novel Approach · Rating 4 out of 5]

Going into a Charlie Cochrane historical novel expecting flash and bang is like going into a Merchant Ivory film expecting Quentin Tarantino. Cochrane’s voice lends itself so beautifully to a story such as Count the Shells, as she consistently captures and conveys the time in which her novels are set through little more than the genteel language and gentrified air of her characters. To look at this novel through a contemporary lens is to deprive oneself of slipping fully into a time gone by, and the bucolic setting and its seaside locale, post-World War I, only adds to the story’s ambiance and contrasts the secrets that are exposed upon Michael Gray’s return to Porthkennack, secrets which threaten to turn a family inside out.

The book’s title is such a poignant complement to the hidden meaning behind Michael’s shell counting with his young nephew, Richard, and reflects the losses he has experienced even before the war began. For someone such as Michael, someone who prefers men, the practicality of caution tempers every frisson of attraction; although, when this novel begins, Michael’s heart is not his own—it belongs to grief and regret over the last words he spoke to his first love in a heated moment of youthful pride and anger. Michael may have lost the opportunity to make amends with Thomas, who didn’t return from battle, but as this is a story of second chances, Michael does get an opportunity to find love again, with the last person he might have expected.

Harry Carter-Clemence is Thomas’s younger brother, and remembered by Michael as the nuisance he and Thomas had often escaped from to find their stolen moments of heated passion. Harry has grown up, however, having fought in the war himself, and Michael can’t help but notice it, even as some shock registers along with the appreciation for Harry’s resemblance to his brother. Their connecting in the present is made all the more difficult with ghosts of the past hovering on the periphery and ultimately intruding on their time together, and the sense of Harry’s hopefulness adds a sweet overtone to the drama that lies ahead. When pillow talk reveals a rather messy family secret, a betrayal from which Michael might not rebound derails a relationship that had just barely been kindled.

Not given to hyperbolic dialogue or extremes in behavior, there is even a sense of propriety in Matthew’s anger when the trail of lies and secrecy begins to unfold before him, which might just be a reflection of that stiff upper lip we hear so much about, and there were times I wondered at the placement of or, perhaps, the misplacement of his ire, but if anything, it made him all the more human for it. Michael is dealt quite a blow, and nothing is simple anymore, although the one person who is most affected by what’s happened, Michael’s brother-in-law, Eric, is a means for the author to craft him into a standout character among this cast. Eric exemplifies wisdom and an admirable capacity for forgiveness when Michael needed it most, and I adored the man for his kindhearted and pragmatic nature.

Charlie Cochrane handles any question of Michael’s feelings for Harry stemming from his former relationship with Thomas with a careful eye towards obliterating any question in readers’ minds that Harry is riding on his late brother’s coattails, and I was happy when they overcame their external obstacles to begin something of their own making.

Count the Shells is the third book I’ve read in the Porthkennack universe, the second of Charlie Cochrane’s contributions to the series I’ve read, and I haven’t been disappointed yet. This is a quiet story, idyllic in setting and heartfelt in emotional tone, and another lovely historical offering from this author.

Reviewed by Lisa for The Novel Approach

[Annie · Rating 2 out of 5]

2.5 stars- A love triangle that didn’t work for me

Count the Shells is a historical romance set in the fictional town of Porthkennack on the Cornish coast of England. The book takes place after World War I, with both heroes being veterans who are still dealing with the emotional and physical aftereffects of the war. Historical romance isn’t typically a preferred genre of mine, but I’ve quite enjoyed the Porthkennack contemporary romances and I like this author, so I decided to give it a try. Unfortunately, Count the Shells ended up being a bit of a miss for me.

The plotline of Count the Shells had good potential. However, the book led with a lot of descriptive scenes and nonessential conversations which got the book off to a sluggish start. The slow pace was enough that I considered not finishing the book. Once the heroes met, the pace steadily shifted. Additionally, some revelations added tension to the plot and refocused my attention.

Although the pacing improved, I had other issues with the storyline that kept me from becoming invested in the characters and romance. I usually like love triangles, but I find those that involve a sibling are trickier to navigate. In Count the Shells Michael meets his former lover’s younger brother, Harry. Harry’s brother passed away during the war so there isn’t a traditional triangle or any cheating, but Michael’s frequent comparisons of the brothers left me feeling a little muddled. In fact, for a good part of the book, it felt as though Harry was a placeholder for his dead brother. Following a few surprise reveals, the dynamic between Harry and Michael certainly improved. However, the twists kept coming, and eventually it tipped into the overdramatized realm where angst overshadowed the romance and any emotions growing between Harry and Michael. As a result, I never really saw this as a promising couple.

I thought there was a lot of potential in the plot, but Count the Shells was a case of a book and characters that failed to secure my attention. Because I never wholly believed in the couple, the languid pacing and dramatics became off-putting. I do really like this series and will continue it, this one simply missed the mark for me.

*eARC received via Netgalley. The publisher and author had no influence over this review*

[K · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5 stars
post WW1 story of a man returning to the family holiday home in Porthkennack with his sister and her family. Michael's childhood friend and former lover has died and there is a chance meeting with his younger brother, Harry. the pair have a fairly instant attraction but there are barriers of family, situation and period to any relationship. Add in some family secrets, a bit of danger and a couple of fairly precocious kids and you've a nice historical drama.

The author knows her period well and that shows in the story, though the ending is very HFN. This is the first in the series where the location seems incidental rather than a bit like a forced extra character

[Sonia Vice · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was the book that attracted me to the Porthkennack series. I knew I wanted to read it, and I enjoyed it enough to goose the rating to 4 stars. It's not a perfect book, but who among us are perfect? Not anyone in this story, that's for sure.

This is an unusual romance in that it's really just a romance, with no other plot beyond the reconciling of everyone's past. Michael comes home from the war and discovers the truth about his own family and his old lover Thomas, and all of that happens just as he meets the adult younger brother of Thomas, Harry, for the first time.

Harry is a fun character, and he's a good foil to the broody Michael, who is prone to anger. Michael's family, including a child who has a lot of screentime are fully fleshed out, and he is fully a part of the family, which is often not the case in stories like this.

It's an angsty read with themes many will not enjoy of deception and lies in the past and forgiveness in the present. But I found the adult-ness of the story really refreshing, and I liked the characters even if maybe this wasn't swooning love on my part. It's a good read, more than a great romance. I like the book with my head more than my heart.

Quibbles: Michael should be a bit more antsy about having a relationship with his old lover's brother, and he is a bit too introspective for someone who is also prone to anger at the slightest slight. The anger rang less true than the rest of it and seemed to be shoehorned in to manufacture conflict and drama. He gets all how dare you at Harry, when Harry hasn't done anything. And yet there's no sense that he sees Harry as a substitute Thomas. The genre demand for pure true love fights with the obvious source of conflict in the relationship.

[Pam _P who cusses A Lot · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was a rollercoaster! In a good way, but every page held a revelation in well thought out, compact prose. I also liked the ease of using euphemisms during the scenes of intimacy; they made sense, made you use your imagination, were both wholesome and naughty, and were a delightful surprise to me after reading so much spicy content these days.

[Carrie · Rating 4 out of 5]

The story was quite soap opera-y: dubious parentage, affairs, and other Great Revelations. As it's been awhile since I've read something of this type I enjoyed it. I liked all of the characters, especially Michael's brother-in-law Eric who is just a good guy.

This Porthkennack novel was a bit lower on the scenery than the previous novels, a lot of beach wandering and Cornish slang but that's about it. I wanted some caves or smugglers or something.

[Vendela · Rating 2 out of 5]

Hm. This book ultimately only gets two stars because of the evil bisexual trope. And that hooking up with your dead lover’s brother is a little weird. Other than that, it was fine, and really well-written.

[Andrew]

Sadly, I decided to DNF this at 28%.

While I liked the writing and was intrigued by the story (and I think fans of this series will enjoy this instalment), there were one or two elements that didn't sit comfortable with me and made me not enjoy the story as much as I liked, hence my decision to DNF. I will put them as spoilers below.

The first is a small thing, but the amount of names thrown at the reader within the first few chapters (mainly the first two) was very overwhelming. We had names of the main lead, his nephew and all five of the lead's former lovers thrown at us within the first few pages, which got very confused and had to reread the section so I had it all straight in my head.

The second was the timing. This is set either during or post First World War - it never, in my opinion, was made clear. We're just told "...returned from World War One injured, but at least he returned". But it never felt like it was set during or just after the first World War. I get this is a romance story, but I didn't feel like this was happening in the right time. I always wondered that, if I took these characters and story and set it in a different time, it would still work. I feel that this story would have worked much better in a contemporary setting.

But my biggest issue was the relationship, the main focus. The main character, Michael, is mourning the death of his first (and great) love, Thomas. And the love interest is Thomas's younger brother, Harry. This isn't a problem, but it did make me question how true Michael's feeling will be. But what did raise red flags was that, within the chapters we meet Harry, we are told several times how strikingly similar he looked to Thomas. Yes, they're brothers, but it made me hugely question whether Michael feelings towards Harry will be because he's Harry, or because he looks so much like Thomas and Michael can't let go. It caused me to be uncomfortable and very mistrusting over the relationship, which is the main thrust of the story.

These are why I have decided to DNF, but I believe fans of this series will enjoy this book.

This eProof was given to me by the publishers by NetGalley in exchange for an honest reaction.

[Ekollon · Rating 2 out of 5]

So, this book is a romance novel, right? Not some kind of exploration of the possible interactions of a gay man post World War I with his family, and all the secrets and interactions that can come long with it, with a dash of romance on the side? Right? Because it absolutely did not feel like a romance.

Anyway, we have Michael and Harry, with Michael being our main character and Harry being his love interest. Only . . . Harry appears in disturbingly little of the the book. Most of the book is in fact made up of Michael either thinking about his past, freaking mentally out about his present, or spending time with his family (mainly his nephew). This leaves alarmingly little time for Michael and Harry to develop their relationship at all, and mainly their relationship revolves around boinking, although I get the pretty clear impression that the relationship is supposed to feel deeper than just two random dudes getting down with each other because they're horny. They're supposed to Have A Connection . . . but based on what? They spend almost no time together.

And the time that they do spend together! Apart from the aforementioned boinking, Michael is an absolute jackass to Harry, treating incredibly poorly when a Deep Dark Secret is revealed (and this is an incredibly minor spoiler, but I'll spoil it anyway) a secret that Harry has absolutely no part in creating!. Why, considering how incredibly mean Michael was being to Harry over something that wasn't Harry's fault and that Harry never had any control over, did Harry want to be with him? If they had a previously established relationship, I would say, "Oh, Harry is sticking it out because he's willing to put up with Michael being a ninny for the sake of what they have built together," but this is an absolutely brand new, straight out of the box relationship with no foundation to use to weather Michael's twitishness. It it isn't a good sign if a person is saying, "Sure, we're barely into a relationship of any kind and you're already treating me like crap, but let's just keep going with it, I'm sure things will get better!"

So, I didn't feel that these two belonged together at all. Bad romance.

[JD Crittendon · Rating 4 out of 5]

Moving On...!

Acclimating from WWI while visiting his childhood family retreat, Michael develops a connection with his first love’s younger brother, Harry. This is a slow start, slow burner, PG-rated tale. It’s more literary than a hot romantic story. However, it has intriguing, complicated and some unexpected bits, too. Overall a good read. 3.5⭐️⭐️⭐️

[Maura · Rating 3 out of 5]

Michael is a veteran of World War I and has finally returned to Porthkennack on holiday with his sister, brother-in-law and niece and nephew. He has a great deal of memories from Cornwall because of his first lover, Thomas, with whom he quarreled before the war and never made up with. He's never really gotten over the loss either. It's been ten years now, but the memories still haunt him. In Porthkennack, Michael meets Harry, Thomas's younger, very similar-looking brother and the two build a friendship and romance. And yet Thomas still haunts him. When Harry reveals a secret that devastates Michael and his memory of Thomas, the holiday in Porthkennack turns awful for Michael who has to reconcile his memories with what he's just recently learned and somehow manage to understand and forgive the other party involved in this secret. And if he can't banish Thomas's ghost, Michael may never have a future with Harry.

This one is night and day different from the first in this series by this author...which I didn't find to my taste. This one is much more dramatic and angsty because of the scandalous secret that is revealed about 50% in. It's pretty gripping once that comes out and you're waiting to find out how Michael deals with it. Basically, the secret he learns is that the summer after Michael and Thomas broke things off, Thomas spent the summer in Porthkennack and ended up sleeping with Michael's married sister, Caroline (and she knew that Thomas was Michael's former lover). The result of this of course was Michael's nephew, Richard I mean, this is pretty huge. I can understand the feelings of betrayal and the confrontation with the other party, but Michael's reaction is more along the lines of Thomas cheating on him, when he himself acknowledges that they were apart and Michael was spending that summer with another man. But yeah...the betrayal and that sense of his sister committing adultery with his former lover made his reaction pretty damn understandable. It's kinda how you'd feel if you found out your best friend had sex with the love of your life after you'd broken up. That friend should have known better because the feelings are still there and are awfully tender. Also, I didn't quite buy Caroline's excuses and I wish we'd gotten a better understanding of why and how it was justified. I also struggled with the fact that Eric knew nothing about it, since Caroline loved him "so much" yet she managed to keep this secret and pawn the child off as his without ever thinking to reveal the truth. Think it was more in HER interests than to protect him. But his reaction in all of this proves he really was a saint

So all that drama was the highlight of this story. And in its shadow is the romance between Harry and Michael, which is very much dimmed by the fact that Michael is constantly thinking of Thomas, the places they'd had sex, the comparisons to Harry and all that. I didn't get the sense that even in his anger, he'd ever really gotten over Thomas or let him go. His anger in the end was still proof of that. And how very weird is it to go around the estate recreating his sex scenes with Thomas (like the one in the canoe) now with his brother? Again, kinda gave me the sense that he was trying to recreate with Harry what he'd once had with Thomas (before he learned who he really was).

[Susan Scribner · Rating 2 out of 5]

This was such a disappointing miss for me. First of all, my least favorite trope in romancelandia is the love triangle between one character and two siblings (dead or alive). It just gives me the biggest "Ick" feeling, primarily because I can't imagine wanting a relationship with either of my siblings' partners or exes. So the trope has to be executed really, really well to overcome my squeamishness and make me root for the love story.

Unfortunately Count the Shells was not done well. I was looking forward with great anticipation for a Charlie Cochrane M/M novel set in the post WWI years, hoping that it would be reminiscent of her wonderful Cambridge Fellows mystery series, which spans several decades in the pre- and post-Great War era. Alas, instead of shy mathematician Orlando Copperfield and ebullient literature professor Jonty Stewart, we have an incredibly priggish, judgmental Michael Gray, who did not impress me much. Michael is spending the summer with his sister and her family in seaside Porthkennack. After reminiscing to himself about his first lover, Thomas, who was killed in battle, Michael literally runs into Thomas' younger brother Harry. The two men get to know each other carefully, and embark on a promising relationship, but then Harry lets slip a secret that causes Michael to re-examine the truth about almost everyone in his life - especially Thomas.

Long-held secrets are never easy to hear, and this one is a doozy (no spoilers), but Michael's reaction goes way beyond understandable anger and disbelief into narcissistic self-righteousness. The truth that Harry reveals has tremendous implications for a number of people, but Michael can only see how much he has been hurt. He's the original snowflake. And when some of the other characters beg for his forgiveness, I wanted them to box his ears instead for not realizing that it was not all about him.

Then there's the so-called love story between Michael and Harry. There are all kinds of risks with this plot - the reader has to believe that Michael is interested in Harry for himself, and not just because he looks/acts like Thomas. Cochrane doesn't manage to pull that off and the best she can do is reveal that Thomas was quite the cad, so the Ick Factor wasn't dispelled for me. I never felt that Michael and Harry had a strong, special emotional bond outside of the bedroom, so I never believed they would have a long future together.

Speaking of the future, the book does have a certain poignancy as Michael's nephew and his best friend are portrayed in all of their curious, mischevous boyhood. It was quietly devastating to watch the characters talk about the War to End Wars and know that only 20 years later these boys would probably be called upon to fight in WWII.

The book was well plotted, too, with the web of secrets being revealed little by little, and surprises abounding until the end. So some of Cochrane's considerable talents are displayed here - just not the ones that make a satisfying romance.

I received an ARC of this book from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

[Stevie Carroll · Rating 5 out of 5]

Previously reviewed on The Good, The Bad, and The Unread:

The Porthkennack series has proved an utter delight so far with its mix of familiar and new-to-me authors, and the variety of characters we’ve got to meet in both contemporary and historical settings. For the latest story, Charlie Cochrane takes us back to a very familiar era for her regular readers: the years that directly followed the First World War; and, as is often the case, all the characters to whom we are introduced have been affected by the war and its aftermath in many different ways.

Michael Gray survived the War with permanent, but not life-changing, injuries, although his lovers from before and after the conflict were not so fortunate. Visiting his family’s holiday retreat at Porthkennack – once a much favoured destination, but now overshadowed by memories of his first love and the bitter way they parted some years before the outbreak of war – Michael spends his time on the beach with his young nephew, playing counting games, or back at the house with his sister and her husband, reminiscing about happier times in summers past.

A chance encounter further reawakens Michael’s memories of his lost love, when he and his nephew meet the younger brother of that man. Harry Carter-Clemence is keen to re-establish the bonds that once existed between their families, and is not completely bashful about revealing his attraction to Michael. Although at first unsure of his feelings, Michael enters into a relationship with Harry, but learns along the way that the image he has been holding of Harry’s brother is not quite the true picture he wanted it to be.

I loved this book. All the characters were a delight, and it was wonderful to see Michael slowly re-embrace familiar people, places, and hobbies from his youth, while also coming to terms with both the physical losses of his first love – by estrangement and then through death – and with the revelation that his love was never the model of perfection Michael has mourned all these years. I also loved the imagery of shells and sketching that run through the book and the different ways in which Michael counts with his nephew in a range of languages and traditions.

A most excellent addition to the series, and I hope we meet more members of the two families: past or future (from Harry and Michael’s point of view) at some point in the series.

[Mari Cardenas · Rating 3 out of 5]

3 Stars

Count The Shells is part of the Porthkennack series but can be read as a standalone.

Michael Gray is back in Porthkennack to spend his vacation there with his sister and her family after years away. He hasn't been there since he had a fall-out with his friend Thomas, who was his first love, who died during WWI.

While there, he meets Harry, Thomas' younger brother who looks just like Thomas. They start a relationship, but when Harry makes a startling revelation, Michael's world is turned upside down.

I'll start by saying that the writing was great, the language and descriptions managed to transport me to the past. Unfortunately, that was about the only thing I liked.

I didn't quite like Michael, other than his interactions with his nephew Richard, who was adorable. I think Harry had potential, but since we only got Michael's POV, his character remained pretty much a mystery. Yes, we were told Harry had a crush on Michael from when he was a young boy and of course, he would take the chance to seduce Michael when he realized they shared the same inclinations, but other than that, I don't really feel I really got to know him and that made it difficult for me to actually root for them as a couple.

Also, while the first half of the book was a bit slow, when the big reveal came, things moved a lot faster. Regarding this, well, I hated how Michael tried to make it all about him, but it was kind of understandable since it's his POV. However, more than that, I abhorred his sister's actions, especially considering how good her husband was both to her and her children. Nevermind Thomas, who turned out to be a player, and who Michael kept comparing Harry with, without realizing how much better Harry was.

While the book ends with a HFN, I'm not really sure how strong it is. Harry is too good for Michael and I feel Michael just fell into a relationship with Harry out of convenience.

Overall, I just didn't find this book as enjoyable as the rest, so I'm sorry I can't truly recommend it.

[Em · Rating 4 out of 5]

I gave this 4 stars at Romantic Historical Reviews.

Count the Shells is the sixth standalone novel in the loosely linked Porthkennack series. The series – comprising a mixture of contemporary and historical romances – started off strongly, but I have to confess the last few novels haven’t quite lived up to their predecessors and sadly, Charlie Cochrane’s entry fares much the same. Set during an idyllic summer on the Cornish coast shortly after the end of the World War I, Count the Shells is a nostalgic trip down memory lane for Michael Gray, a soldier who survived the war but can’t seem to shake off his memories of the friends and lovers he lost.

The novel begins on a promising note. Holidaying with his sister Caroline and her family, Michael is on the beach with his precocious nephew Richard, counting the shells in the many languages he knows – much to Richard’s delight. Ms. Cochrane paints a lovely picture of the pair enjoying a splendid summer afternoon together… until Michael’s counting segues into a mental tally of former lovers. I couldn’t help but wince as Ms. Cochrane juxtaposed the innocence of Richard’s enjoyment with Michael’s memories of sexual partners and liaisons. His thoughts seem off-note to the setting and scene until it becomes clear that the counting ritual is simply the means by which Ms. Cochrane introduces the other principal character of the story, Thomas Carter-Clemence. Killed shortly after the start of the war, Thomas was the love of Michael’s life, and his memories of Porthkennack are linked inextricably to Thomas and his lingering regret over their angry parting before the war.

This first, best part of Count the Shells details Michael’s return to Porthkennack and High Top, the house he where he spent halcyon summers with this family and with Thomas, who lived nearby. This is Michael’s first trip back to Porthkennack since his fight with Thomas, and he’s a bit overwhelmed by memories of a happier, simpler time in his life. Thoughts of Thomas creep up on him unawares and are triggered by the inquisitive nature of his nephew, who likes nothing more than to hear about his uncle’s history and friendships during summers on the coast. Michael is filled with longing and regret for Thomas and the other men he loved and lost over the course of the war. His nostalgia, tinged with regret over Thomas, have prevented him from moving on with his life.

One afternoon walking with Richard, the pair are nearly run over by a motorbike. When Michael angrily approaches the rider, he’s shocked when the man removes his helmet – it’s Thomas. Only it isn’t – it’s Harry Carter-Clemence, Thomas’s younger brother. After getting over their initial surprise, the men exchange pleasantries and Michael feels a frisson of attraction for the younger man, though he assumes it’s because he reminds him of Thomas. Later that day when his sister encourages him to invite Harry for a visit, Michael is anxious – seeing Harry has stirred up long repressed memories of his parting with Thomas, and he isn’t sure he’s prepared to deal with them yet.

Nevertheless, Harry visits and Michael enjoys the visit more than he anticipated and the pair make plans for Michael to visit the Carter-Clemence estate, Broch, the following afternoon. Michael initially avoided a visit – too many memories of Thomas and afternoons sneaking away to make love – but he finds himself eager to spend time with Harry. Reader – are you sensing a theme here? You should be! Michael spends an inordinate time thinking about sex, his former lovers (especially Thomas), and wondering who his next lover will be (maybe Harry?), and truly not much else. Oh, he also spends a good bit of time entertaining his sweet (if overly mature) nephew. But that’s pretty much it. Anyway, the visit goes surprisingly well and as he gets to know the charming Harry – visiting him at Broch, Michael finally begins to feel the return of a sense of hope and happiness. Despite barely giving him a passing thought before the motorcycle incident, the relationship between Michael and Harry progresses quickly (this is an understatement), setting in motion several plot lines, not the least of which is an affair between the men (which apparently seems strange to no one but me). Unfortunately, during a post-coital cuddle wherein Harry admits to having admired Michael for years, he also inadvertently makes a revelation about Thomas that shakes Michael to his core. [Side note: They’re talking about Thomas – Harry’s brother and Michael’s former lover – in bed after having sex. It’s weird.]

Harry’s inopportune words – and the secret he reveals – drive Michael from his bed. Upset, angry and unwilling to hear anything else Harry has to say, Michael returns to High Top determined to ferret out the truth. The secret has profound repercussions for everyone Michael loves, and leaves him feeling bitter and betrayed. I won’t spoil it here except to say that Michael’s reaction and easy assignment of blame, grew tiresome. Thomas, as any astute reader would have cottoned on to by this point, wasn’t perfect. But Michael, who has embarked on an affair with his former lover’s brother, comes across as sanctimonious and hypocritical in equal parts.

I liked the Thomas plot twist. It made sense in the context of the story and I think Ms. Cochrane shows a deft touch as she details Michael’s bewildered response to it – and the reactions of those close to him – as Michael finally begins to accept that Thomas wasn’t quite the man he remembers. Michael’s relationship with his family is particularly well done, and his extended family – especially his kind and practical brother-in-law – are a nice contrast to Michael’s rather mercurial temperament. It’s unfortunate that the same can’t be said of Michael’s other relationships. Thomas was the love of his life, but after a foolish prank, Michael refused to speak to him again. He instead spent the following summer with a different lover (number two if you’re keeping count). Discovering that Thomas also had a liaison with someone else angers Michael – but his inability to see the hypocrisy of his anger, especially in light of his own behavior, is ridiculous. Ms. Cochrane doesn’t spend nearly enough time developing Harry’s character or the relationship he forms with Michael, and in a novel that purports to be a romance, it’s a shame. Michael barely had a thought for Harry even as a boy, but he suddenly develops a tendre for him and after a bit of perfunctory lovemaking, they’re talking about a future together in London. The relationship simply isn’t well developed or romantic… and frankly, it was odd.

The setting, the sense of time and place, and the premise of this story are highlights in Count the Shells. Unfortunately, the central romance is disappointing and underdeveloped, and despite its strengths, the novel ultimately left this reader unsatisfied.

[Anwen Ross · Rating 3 out of 5]

I associate Charlie Cochrane with mysteries, but this was a regular historical gay romance. It seemed to start real slow, as if the author didn't know what to do if there wasn't a murder to start things off with a bang LOL. It dawdles through a lot of family scenes in the early chapters. You might be tempted to quit but the family stuff is relevant in the end. You'll be surprised! I was!

It went in for tell rather than show, e.g. we are told Michael and his former great love Thomas broke up a few years before World War 1 with a big hurtful fight, we never get to see a flashback to the fight and hear what was said exactly. So it's always vague and I didn't feel like things had really ended between him and Thomas, so I was uncomfortable with him leaping into bed with Thomas's brother at the first opportunity. Like Harry seduces him sooooo easily. And Michael has no thought about how vulnerable Harry might be and whether this will hurt him.

But in the end all this works out (of course) and it's a good ending I think, especially in the family side of things.

I would have liked to know Harry better. He remained shadowy for me. Some scenes from his POV would have been good. I felt I knew Thomas better even though he never appears and they broke up 10 years before and Thomas died 5 years before the book even starts. Because of not knowing Harry, I felt this was more of a HFN. I didn't have the confidence as a reader that they knew each other well enough for HEA yet.

[Alison · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is lovely. It's well written and engaging and full of twists and turns. Cochrane is so good at conveying a time period and the tone of the writing and the whole atmosphere just seem very post-World War One. This is not really a romance, so if you're expecting grand declarations of love and lots of sex and a sappy HEA, you will be disappointed. It's more of an intimate family drama with a low-key romance as a secondary plot. Mostly the story is about Michael getting his bearings again and making a life for himself after coming home from World War One when most of his friends and former lovers didn't. He goes for a holiday in Cornwall with his family to the place they always used to go before the war and it stirs up all sort of feelings. Much of the plot has to do with family secrets and betrayals and there is a touch of the sensational melodrama here and there. I love how the setting--the landscape and the two houses--is almost its own character. Time seems to exist here almost independently of "real life" and we actually don't know that much about the daily lives of the characters outside of this Cornwall holiday and I quite liked that. Going on holiday is often like that--that sense of leaving the real world behind and existing in a bubble in a different way for a short time. I enjoyed this very much. I thought it was a very well done story.

[Emilie · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoyed the book. It seemed relatively low-key at the start, in a way I like. Then came revelation after revelation about Michael's first love, who had died in the Great War (World War I). There ended up being revelations all around eventually, and some of the other characters took them more gracefully than Michael did.

As another reviewer notes, there were a lot of names to keep track of, but I was all right remembering who was who. The "little Wilfred" I thought must be a reference to Wilfred Owen, a favorite war poet of both Ms. Cochrane's and mine.

Harry seemed like a nice person. The book was in Michael's viewpoint, so I didn't feel like I got to know Harry as well.

It's been a while since I read the other books in the series. I don't remember any of the modern characters in contemporary books being related to the two families in this one.

I think my friends who like m/m romance would enjoy this.