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Serving Him

(The Retreat #1)

L.M. Somerton (Goodreads Author)

3.89 · Rating details · 88 ratings · 38 reviews

An escape from the real world can only ever be temporary.

Rowan Stanton knows he is submissive. He loves to look after people but the country hotel he works at can’t quite fulfil his need to serve. When he succeeds at getting a new role as houseboy at The Retreat, an exclusive BDSM hideaway in the New Forest, he believes it’s his dream job. Inexperienced in many ways, he so ...more

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ebook, 151 pages

Published July 24th 2018 by Pride Publishing

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· 88 ratings · 38 reviews

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Jul 16, 2018 Trio rated it really liked it

Shelves: arc-r2r, bdsm, mm-romance

Tender and salacious, L.M. Somerton’s Serving Him is a romantic escape to a kinky paradise. The story is compelling, with enough drama to keep it moving along, and the BDSM scenes are refreshingly creative. Low on angst and high on passion, Serving Him is the perfect getaway.

This is my favorite kind of romance, where the characters are clearly perfect for each other and waiting for them to figure it out is the best kind of torture. At 21 and 29 respectively, while there isn’t a big gap in their Tender and salacious, L.M. Somerton’s Serving Him is a romantic escape to a kinky paradise. The story is compelling, with enough drama to keep it moving along, and the BDSM scenes are refreshingly creative. Low on angst and high on passion, Serving Him is the perfect getaway.

This is my favorite kind of romance, where the characters are clearly perfect for each other and waiting for them to figure it out is the best kind of torture. At 21 and 29 respectively, while there isn’t a big gap in their ages, Rowan and Lorcan are as different as two men can be. Rowan is poor but happy; surrounded by a few loving friends he has a sunny outlook on life. Conversely, Lorcan has been dissatisfied with his life for a long time. Knowing it’s time for a major change, Lorcan sells his multi-billion dollar company leaving everything (and everyone) he knows behind.

Rowan and Lorcan do have one thing in common. They know they want a fulfilling life, and they are determined to do whatever they must to attain it.

For Rowan, the first step is to secure a job where his service is valued, and he is truly cared for in return. Though he is shy and inexperienced, Rowan is confident in his role as a submissive and longs to embrace a BDSM lifestyle. Knowing he’s a country boy at heart, when his chance comes to interview for a job at The Retreat in rural England, Rowan packs his sexiest underwear and jumps at the opportunity.

A BDSM dreamland, the staff at The Retreat service every need and indulge every whim. This sounds like the perfect way for Lorcan to kick off the next chapter of his life so he books in for a four week stay. As Rowan is a perfect match for Lorcan’s specifications, he is hired to be Lorcan’s full-time, personal submissive.

One of the sweetest parts of Rowan and Lorcan’s relationship for me was watching their connection grow. I love a BDSM novel where the characters are learning together and discovering each other… there’s nothing sexier for me than a Dom/sub relationship where the characters are figuring out how to please each other.

There are some wonderful scenes in Serving Him, which include characters from the Tales from the Edge series. While it isn’t necessary to read those books first, you’re definitely going to want to give that series a try. I’m warning you though, L.M. Somerton’s elegant writing style is completely addictive. Everything from the fountain where Rowan throws his wishing coin, to the sumptuous food and decor, to the various BDSM equipment is described in stunning detail.

Serving Him is a great start to a promising new series. There are some intriguing supporting characters introduced, and I’m looking forward to finding out who the next visitors to The Retreat will be. ...more

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Nov 24, 2019 Elena rated it it was ok

Shelves: 2-stars, m-m, lgbtqia, dnf, location-uk, bdsm, pub-pride, dnf-in-2019

Dnf at 46%

I was in the mood for a BDSM book and this one had just the right premise for it. After spending almost half the book waiting for the MCs to meet for the first time, and getting bored in the meantime with all the scenes with secondary characters from another series by the author, though, the relationship fell on its face pretty quickly. I’m not feeling the chemistry and the sex scenes felt so mechanical to me that I skimmed for the most part. Since everything else is average at best, ...more

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Jul 24, 2018 True Loveislovereview rated it really liked it

Shelves: 2018, lgbtq

Rowan and Larcon
Thát was fun. I enjoyed this story a lot.

Rowan, a pure submissive young boy, gets a job as a houseboy at The Retreat an exclusive BDSM resort where all his dreams can come true. His first Sir for the next four weeks will be Larcon a rich business man.
Larcon freed himself from all the business he had and wants to dedicate his future as a Dominant, The Retreat is an excellent start.

We are witness of a beautiful relationship with nonstop D/s scenes. Larcon explores every limit Ro ...more

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Jul 28, 2018 JenMcJ rated it it was ok

Shelves: mm-mmm-a-few-mmf-too, e-books

This book starts off with the first 30% setting up what the retreat is, letting us meet Rowan and then a small amount of time getting to know Lorcan, Mr. Wilder. That's a huge chunk of this book that the main characters don't interact with each other at all. Add in that the time Mr. Wilder is scheduled to be at the retreat is only for 4 weeks, you can imagine how rushed this relationship feels.

The part that is really frustrating is how clinical the writing is. All the BDSM scenes are explained ...more

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Apr 05, 2019 Ed Davis rated it liked it · review of another edition

3 and 1/2 Stars. I should have loved this book, but there was something about it that didn’t quite touch me. I could never really put my finger on what it was that bothered me. I liked both Rowan and Lorcan but reading this book wasn’t a great pleasure for me.

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Jul 26, 2018 Joyfully Jay rated it it was ok

Shelves: sue

A Joyfully Jay review.

2.5 stars

There was a lot of giggling in Serving Him. Just giggling all over the place. But only by subs. Apparently Doms never giggle, nor anyone else. Just subservient men. This annoyed from the outset because it felt somehow belittling and playing to outdated stereotypes. I have no doubt the author didn’t mean this to be the case, but it turned me off right away. I can’t say my overall impression improved much.

The book is written adequately, though it’s somewhat simplist ...more

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Jul 16, 2018 Carra rated it really liked it

The concept of The Retreat in general is quite interesting, and makes for a great backdrop for this new series. You do not need to have read the series that preceded this (from which this one spun off) in order to enjoy this one—I didn’t—though once you finish Serving Him you’ll probably find your interest piqued for it as I did.

Rowan is a submissive who has an intense need to serve, so landing a job as houseboy at The Retreat seems like the perfect situation for him. He’s attentive and anticipa ...more

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Jul 13, 2018 Helena Stone rated it it was amazing

Shelves: bdsm, m-m

4.5 stars - Review to follow

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Aug 22, 2018 Lisa The Novel Approach rated it it was amazing

Shelves: contemporary, bdsm

~ 4.5 Stars ~

Serving Him is book one in a new series for Somerton that is a spinoff of her popular Tales from the Edge series. Right from the beginning, we get to see some of our favorite characters from those stories, and it immediately makes you feel at home in this new one. Because this is the first of the series, Somerton does quite a bit of scene work or giving this new series a place to unfold. She does a great job of laying the groundwork for future books while keeping us focused on our ~ 4.5 Stars ~

Serving Him is book one in a new series for Somerton that is a spinoff of her popular Tales from the Edge series. Right from the beginning, we get to see some of our favorite characters from those stories, and it immediately makes you feel at home in this new one. Because this is the first of the series, Somerton does quite a bit of scene work or giving this new series a place to unfold. She does a great job of laying the groundwork for future books while keeping us focused on our spotlight couple. I am incredibly intrigued by this new series.

Much as The Edge provided us a framework for that series, The Retreat will do the same in these books. It’s an interesting concept—not a hotel, not a spa, but in essence truly a retreat. A place where, if you can afford it, will provide for your every BDSM want or need, even the sub, as in this story, or maybe even the Dom. Who knows where Somerton will take us to next?! The Retreat is an exclusive estate outside London, located in the New Forest; it was conceived and is run by a handful of Doms from The Underground Club, the club from the original series. This creates a touch point for familiar faces to pop in and out, and provides continuity for us as readers. Each room holds its own set of deliciously naughty delights and tortures, and if that isn’t enough, there is also a full dungeon and an attic loft which comes complete with bondage capability. The chef and the caretaker are Doms from The Underground, and the new subs we meet, who work in the kitchen and chauffer the guests, are quirky and cute and also from the club. All in all, a great skeleton crew of secondary characters who will hold our interest through each story as it comes along.

This first story is about Rowan and Lorcan. Rowan is a young submissive, though inexperienced in a lot of ways, he still has his head on straight concerning the direction he wants his life to go in and the kind of relationships he would like to have. Rowan is the consummate service submissive. He longs to take care of someone and serve all their physical and emotional needs. Rowan is a sweet character who has not so sweet desires and that makes him a delicious dichotomy. His personality will draw you in and Somerton has given Rowan a great support system in his aunt and best friend, both of whom are characters I totally enjoyed meeting. Rowan is also highly intelligent; it’s refreshing to see a young man drawn as a submissive who doesn’t have some kind of character flaw that a Dominant needs to take care of them for. Rowan holds his own as a young man who longs to serve but can also make his own way in the world if this opportunity falls through for him.

Lorcan has been a Dominant for many years. He hasn’t had the opportunity to enjoy that side of himself because of the demands of his day job, but he longs to take his fantasies out of his head and actually apply them to a willing submissive. Learning about The Retreat at The Underground, where he has been a member for years, seems like the perfect opportunity to make his dreams happen, and the timing couldn’t be better. He has worked for years to back himself out of the business that he started, and now that it has finally sold, he walks out of the boardroom and gets in a car bound for The Retreat, leaving London and all it holds behind. At least for a blessed four weeks. Unfortunately, Lorcan has ghosts from his past that he cannot run away from as easily as he did his business. Tormented by a horrific attack from his teenage years, Lorcan has spent years in therapy learning to separate what he wants to do to a submissive from what was done to him against his will during the incident in his teens.

I personally think these two were the perfect first couple for the series. It was a bit of insta-love on Rowan’s part, but even in the story it is explained, and true that Rowan is not built to serve many men but just one. Somerton has written the perfect send-off for the two, with a solid future mapped out for each man, both individually and as a couple. I absolutely recommend this book, especially for those wishing to continue similar storylines like those from The Edge Series. Even though there are some darker issues here, Somerton has kept it light, and the characters have a witty banter and rapport. It was a great story and I’m really looking forward to the next one.

PS: I do love the cover on this novel; I only wish it didn’t look so dark. I was expecting an almost Goth or medieval feel to The Retreat after seeing it, and that isn’t the reality of the storyline. The dappled, lush green of the New Forest is a stark contrast to the cover.

Reviewed by Carrie for The Novel Approach ...more

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Jul 31, 2018 JustJen "Miss Conduct" rated it really liked it

Shelves: ebook, lbr, bdsm-d-s, mm

The owner of The Underground BDSM club (from the Tales from the Edge series) is opening The Retreat, an upscale getaway estate where guests can stay for extended lengths of time (think vacation with BDSM themed accommodations). Lorcan is using his stay at the Retreat as a way to recharge and change the direction of his life which, up until this point, has been solely on his business. He’s now selling the company and ready to live life for himself.

Rowan is a young guy who likes to serve people, b
The owner of The Underground BDSM club (from the Tales from the Edge series) is opening The Retreat, an upscale getaway estate where guests can stay for extended lengths of time (think vacation with BDSM themed accommodations). Lorcan is using his stay at the Retreat as a way to recharge and change the direction of his life which, up until this point, has been solely on his business. He’s now selling the company and ready to live life for himself.

Rowan is a young guy who likes to serve people, but he just isn’t getting everything he wants out of his current hotel job. He wants to mist that with exploring his submissive side, and when the opportunity comes up for a job at the Retreat, it seems perfect for him. He’s not entirely sure what it will all entail, but he’s looking forward to finding out. He is assigned to Lorcan’s stay, and while there are others on staff, Rowan is the one spending most, if not all of his time with Lorcan.

This is a dream job come true for Rowan. He can take care of someone who appreciates it and who takes care of him in return. He is able to explore his submissive side at the same time, and Lorcan turns out to be the perfect Dom for someone without a ton of actual BDSM experience. It doesn’t take too long for the to both realize they are a good fit for each other. Rowan was really sweet and I loved watching him grow into his role. Lorcan was interesting as well. He pushed Rowan a bit but was never too over the top. It didn’t come as much of a surprise that they they would both want to continue on together after Lorcan’s time at the Retreat was up. We even get see a nice glimpse of them a bit down the road.

I found this to be a really enjoyable story that can easily be read on its own. For those who have read the previous series, I’m sure it will be nice for them to see the other characters again. There are some minor bumps for these two, but it doesn’t take much for them to work through and get back on track. Lorcan’s nightmare issues seemed somewhat unnecessary, but it is dealt with fairly quickly. I liked this spinoff series starter and am definitely looking forward to seeing where it goes next.

Review written for Love Bytes Reviews. ...more

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Jul 31, 2018 JenCW rated it really liked it

Shelves: contemporary, arc, bdsm

4 Stars!

I've been wanting to read this author's books for a while and I was happy to give this one a try. I will say that for as a new reader, the beginning of this book was a little rough for me. This book must be a spin-off from the Tales from the Edge series and the first part of chapter one felt like I was walking into something I should have known more about. However, once we meet Rowan, things got much easier for me.

Rowan knows he is a submissive, but he is pretty inexperienced. He likes ...more

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Jul 27, 2018 Christina rated it really liked it

Well well well....this is the first time I've read this author and I have to admit that I really like the writing style. Although this is a shorter read, it's very well done and kept me glued to my Kindle.

Rowen is a submissive by nature. No, really. He's in a comfort zone when he's serving others, making them happy and feeling useful. After working in the hotel business for a while, he's applied to an exclusive club that created The Retreat for only a selected few. Leaving his job, aunt and bes ...more

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Jul 23, 2018 Abrianna rated it liked it

When I read the blurb I was intrigued by the premise and the characters. I enjoyed reading about Rowan and Lorcan, though I wanted more. There was something missing from their relationship and it didn’t feel entirely real to me. When I read BDSM I need to feel the connection between the characters to believe the relationship. There are so many aspects of the lifestyle that is based on trust and I need to be able to see that.
While I could feel the connection between Rowan and Lorcan I felt like ...more

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Jul 14, 2018 Xanthe rated it it was amazing

What an unexpected delight this book was! I loved the location, setup and characters involved in this story.
Rowan needs to look after people, it's all he's ever wanted to do and his new job at The Retreat, a BDSM hotel in the country, allows him to do that for whatever Dom pays for his time.
Lorcan has just sold his business after losing ten years of his life to it and now wants to immerse himself in his dominant side which has been neglected for far too long. A four week stay at The Retreat is j ...more

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Jul 30, 2018 Josh Dale rated it it was amazing

Shelves: bdsm

Rowan Stanton Knows he is a submissive, and is at ease with himself. He is adorable. Nieve but in the cute way With an inner strength.

When Rowan hears of a job at an exclusive BDSM retreat as a House Boy, he knows he has to apply for the job. At his interview the owner is impressed with him, and offers him the position.

Lorcan Wilder, Has soold his company tht he has built up over the years at the expense of his personal life, and decides the first place he will visit is The Retreat, He wants to ...more

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Jul 29, 2018 Tj rated it it was ok

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

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Jul 31, 2018 Ayla rated it really liked it

Shelves: bdsm, sugar-sweet, employer-employee, chasity, arc

3.75 stars
Overall, this was a sweet book with some steamy sexy times and a nice HFN at the end. We meet Rowan and I was immediately drawn to him. He is super sweet and endearing. The author did a great job of making him human and easily relatable with his infectious personality. He is charming in an innocent and accident-prone sort of way.

I like Lorcan as well, but wanted to get more into him outside of him being a dominant. We did get both MCs POVs but I am pretty sure we got more from Rowan a ...more

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Jun 28, 2018 Sharon Cox rated it it was amazing

Shelves: bdsm, gay, m-m, romance, dom-sub, england

I was given an ARC of this book in return for an honest review.
When I was offered the chance to read this book early I jumped at it. I have all of L.M. Somerton's books and I love each and every one of them. Her writing gets me in every time and I thoroughly enjoy the storylines.
Serving Him - book 1 of The Retreat - is a new series but it is a spin off from Tales From The Edge. At the very start of the book some favourites from The Edge appear but when we move further in to the story we are deal ...more

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Aug 01, 2018 Sarita Chapdelaine rated it liked it

Shelves: arc

I looked forward to reading this book after I read the blurb but unfortunately it did not live up to my expectations. Rowan is sweet, accident-prone, innocent and very likeable but I want to know more about him and his past. He doesn't have a lot of experience as a submissive and seems to be out of his depth with Lorcan. Their relationship didn't feel real to me and the lack of emotion from Lorcan is weird. They don't have much of a connection and the BDSM scenes are very clinical. I don't like ...more

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Aug 03, 2018 Christy rated it really liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: arc, bdsm, m-m, bought-this-book, on-my-kindle

3.5 Stars ~ I am ecstatic that the author decided to write a crossover series based on the BDSM retreat created by Carey and Alistair, two of my favorite characters from L.M. Somerton’s ‘Tales from the Edge’ series. Since that series continues to reign as one of my all-time favorites in the Dom/sub genre, I was delighted to see some favorite characters (Olly!) plus watch as The Retreat took its very first client. The Retreat is different from The Edge in that it is designed to handle one client ...more

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Jul 24, 2018 Terri rated it really liked it

This book is a strong start to a series I expect to enjoy greatly. Rowan is sweet and almost innocent, and he is also a submissive who enjoys pain. Lorcan is a young self-made tycoon, who is ready to take a break from business and learn to enjoy life. A big part of starting his new lifestyle is focusing more time enjoying the pleasures of BDSM that he gets from dominating a sweet sub. At The Retreat, a new kinky hideaway, these men are brought together as Dom and sub. Lorcan has an entire house ...more

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Apr 27, 2019 Renee rated it really liked it

L.M. Somerton did a great job with this book. I found it sweet with a respectful representation of BDSM. It definitely is a great start to the series.

The character development could have used a little more. I wanted a better connection between them instead of just revolving around the BDSM aspect. However, it didn’t detract from my enjoyment. It was a lovely read with these two. The world building was excellent. I’d definitely love to visit the retreat and the world the author created.

The storyl ...more

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Sep 05, 2020 Sandra rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

I Forgot How Good L. M. Somerton's Books Are

I haven't read an L. M. Somerton book now for a couple of years and forgotten how good they are. This series is a spinoff of The Edge series which featured The Underground while this one features The Retreat. Rowan and Lorcan meet at The Retreat where Lorcan is decompressing for 4 weeks while Rowan services him as a houseboy and submissive. Of course such intense and in depth involvement quickly deepens their connection and Lorcan proposes a work/perso ...more

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Jul 24, 2018 Esther Alayeto rated it really liked it

Great start to a new series. Rowan is a beautiful submissive who truly loves to and needs to serve. Getting the job as a houseboy at The Retreat gives him the perfect dom for him, Lorcan. They truly are perfect together, Rowan and Lorcan fall into a perfect rhythm. Lorcan knows just how far to push Rowan in his submission. I love watching their bond grow stronger and stronger throughout the story. Looking forward to more from this series.
I voluntarily reviewed an advanced reader copy of this boo ...more

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Aug 06, 2018 Faye K rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

Shelves: hot-chemistry, bdsm-m-m, funny-humor

🔥🔥🔥💖 Hot..LOVED this. Lorcan and Rowan are beautiful together. I loved Rowan for his innocence and sparky personality. Lorcan was a Dom with a compassion and wasn't expecting to find Rowan at the retreat. This was a first read for this author and couldn't put this down.. Highly recommended for lovers of BDSM.
Lorcan wanted to stay at The Retreat lodge as a reward for his business dealings. A Dom and was wanting a sub to play with only his needed to be blonde.
Rowan 21 and accident prone, was exci ...more

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Sep 15, 2020 Tessi4M rated it liked it

Shelves: read-on-scribd

I haven't read a lot of BDSM recently and I enjoyed getting into it again. This one was a nice start to the new series with likeable characters all around. I did like Rowan and Lorcan together but I confess to being even more intrigued by what will be in store for Luke in the next book.
And the ending 'cost' this book a star. I really do want happy endings in my books and this one was only a HFN in my book. ...more

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Jul 26, 2018 Lorraine rated it really liked it · review of another edition

A really enjoyable read

This is an excellent story set in a prestigious BDSM retreat centre where Lorcan, an American Dom who needs space, meets his sub for the month, Rowan. The building of their relationship, the description of the setting, and the side characters was really good, and I hope that there will be more in the series.

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Aug 14, 2018 Vicki rated it really liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: mc-twink, pgs-200-299, intensity-light, hot-4-5, series-to-continue, job-hobb-bus-owner, genre-romance, z-read-in-2018, series-book-1, series-spinoff

I love L.M. Somerton's work. I know that when I buy one of her books I will get a well written, solid story with interesting characters and some solid heat. The Retreat series is a spinoff from The Edge series and many characters from The Edge appeared in this story and will, hopefully, be in other books in this series. ...more

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Jul 24, 2018 Doreen Frantz rated it really liked it

LOVED IT!!!!! Mr. Lorcan Wilder is super hot (and that name…hot as well) and the way he cares for Rowan is awesome. Loved Rowan's quirkiness and the support characters were good….quite a few had me giggling. A very good, light-hearted novel. ...more

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Aug 02, 2018 Becca rated it it was amazing

I loved this book!! Not only because it was A. Wesome, but because guess who made an appearance???? Squeeeeee!!! OLLY!!! *Happy dance* it was so good. I'm now anxious to see Luke and Tor get their subs as well. And maybe Rayne needs a touch or two lol! I need more!! ...more

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About L.M. Somerton

L.M. Somerton

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Lucinda lives in a small village in the English countryside, surrounded by rolling hills, cows and sheep. She started writing to fill time between jobs and is now firmly and unashamedly addicted.

She loves the English weather, especially the rain, and adores a thunderstorm. She loves good food, warm company and a crackling fire. She's fascinated by the psychology of relationships, especially betwee ...more