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A Lord to Love
During negotiations for a truce between the feuding Price and Morgan families, Lord John Morgan makes a shocking he will give the Price family their land, in exchange for Harrison Price's hand in marriage. John has long been enamored with Harrison, the beautiful son of his late rival. Harrison is nineteen, inexperienced, and known for being cold and bitingly brilliant. The union seems impossible, and is met with disapproval from all sides, but John is determined to win the affections of the young man he has admired from afar. Will the frigid Harrison accept the other Lord's proposal, or will the object of John's adoration leave him alone at the altar? Find out in this sweetly sexy, romantic tale readers are calling "deliciously carnal" and full of "swoon-worthy moments"!
34 pages, Kindle Edition
First published March 15, 2019
43 people are currently reading
217 people want to read
About the author
Sara Dobie Bauer
56 books367 followersBestselling romance author.
Green witch.
Feminist. Pro-choice. Anti-censorship.
Timothee Chalamet freak.
Horror movie aficionado.
Vampire mermaid in a past life.
Sara Dobie Bauer somehow survived her party-hard college years at Ohio University to earn a creative writing degree. She lives with her precious Pit Bull in Northeast Ohio, although she’d really like to live in a Tim Burton film.
Green witch.
Feminist. Pro-choice. Anti-censorship.
Timothee Chalamet freak.
Horror movie aficionado.
Vampire mermaid in a past life.
Sara Dobie Bauer somehow survived her party-hard college years at Ohio University to earn a creative writing degree. She lives with her precious Pit Bull in Northeast Ohio, although she’d really like to live in a Tim Burton film.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 85 reviews
April 12, 2019
2.5
I'm all about the forbidden/risky and give me a Historical book with all that smouldering passion and I go to a happy place but there was something about this that had me feeling a bit uncomfortable.
John has been obsessed with Harrison for three years-nothing wrong with that except there was ......
Harrison is only 19 so John was basically lusting after a 16 year old boy.....I found this extremely creepy.John's actual age isn't mentioned,he's just referred to being less than double Harrison's age so I'm guessing about 35? but he came across as being a lot older to me.
On the plus side I loved how the Author created a world where it was ok for men to marry each other in a Historical setting( 19th England ).I did enjoy the writing and definitely would be interested in reading more from this Author but I just couldn't get past the creepy factor and once it was in my head it wouldn't go away.
Most people loved it.Available on KU.
I'm all about the forbidden/risky and give me a Historical book with all that smouldering passion and I go to a happy place but there was something about this that had me feeling a bit uncomfortable.
John has been obsessed with Harrison for three years-nothing wrong with that except there was ......
Harrison is only 19 so John was basically lusting after a 16 year old boy.....I found this extremely creepy.John's actual age isn't mentioned,he's just referred to being less than double Harrison's age so I'm guessing about 35? but he came across as being a lot older to me.
On the plus side I loved how the Author created a world where it was ok for men to marry each other in a Historical setting( 19th England ).I did enjoy the writing and definitely would be interested in reading more from this Author but I just couldn't get past the creepy factor and once it was in my head it wouldn't go away.
Most people loved it.Available on KU.
October 12, 2024
This is how you write a novella: include just enough details to make the reader feel comfortable in the story, but not so many that it becomes an exposition dump.
The story is told from John's POV, and John has a distinct voice. He's also madly in love with Harrison, who's 19 and not quite half John's age. We see Harrison as John sees him: lost, filled with grief, a little insecure, but fiery and passionate.
I loved that Harrison, the less experienced MC, was the taller of the two. It's usually the dominant partner who's taller so that was refreshing.
This is a very romantic, sexy story with an alternate 19th century British feel (there are lords, horse-drawn carriages, and manor houses, but same-sex marriage isn't frowned upon) and an absolutely perfect HEA.
The story is told from John's POV, and John has a distinct voice. He's also madly in love with Harrison, who's 19 and not quite half John's age. We see Harrison as John sees him: lost, filled with grief, a little insecure, but fiery and passionate.
I loved that Harrison, the less experienced MC, was the taller of the two. It's usually the dominant partner who's taller so that was refreshing.
This is a very romantic, sexy story with an alternate 19th century British feel (there are lords, horse-drawn carriages, and manor houses, but same-sex marriage isn't frowned upon) and an absolutely perfect HEA.
January 4, 2020
4 Hearts
Really, just a lovely read.
Though this may be short, though not much happens, it still packed an emotional punch.
Just like the blurb says, Lord John Morgan has been enamored of the young and enigmatic Harrison Price, for several years, and he only wants to treasure Harrison and make him happy. When a feud between himself and Harrison’s now dead father can finally possibly be rectified, the only solution on the table John is willing to consider is marriage. Such an audacious request shocks all, not the least Harrison. There’s many dissenting opinions on both sides voicing why this union wouldn’t work, but what if???
Cue a desperate longing, a sweet courting, and a wholly romantic development of feelings with some very nice smexy.
I read this in one go and sadly, it went by too quickly. If you want a feel good, AU historical romance that will surely make you sigh with contentment, then pick this gem up now and enjoy!
Thank you to the author/publisher for a copy in exchange for a honest review
Really, just a lovely read.
Though this may be short, though not much happens, it still packed an emotional punch.
Just like the blurb says, Lord John Morgan has been enamored of the young and enigmatic Harrison Price, for several years, and he only wants to treasure Harrison and make him happy. When a feud between himself and Harrison’s now dead father can finally possibly be rectified, the only solution on the table John is willing to consider is marriage. Such an audacious request shocks all, not the least Harrison. There’s many dissenting opinions on both sides voicing why this union wouldn’t work, but what if???
Cue a desperate longing, a sweet courting, and a wholly romantic development of feelings with some very nice smexy.
I read this in one go and sadly, it went by too quickly. If you want a feel good, AU historical romance that will surely make you sigh with contentment, then pick this gem up now and enjoy!
Thank you to the author/publisher for a copy in exchange for a honest review
April 2, 2019
Scant 2 stars, a bit meh. It started out kind of OTT and creepy, and honestly, that's why I kept going. I was hoping for a plot twist, but it ended up boring.
The narrative quality was decent, and I wouldn't be opposed to trying something else by this author.
The narrative quality was decent, and I wouldn't be opposed to trying something else by this author.
April 9, 2019
Sometimes an author will write a short piece and it falls short of feeling complete to the reader. This author has certainly not failed in that. This short shining gem of a story is perfect from the first page to the last. This author has done an outstanding job of character development and story telling that I think would be the envy of many others. This story is so full of love that it's bursting at the seams. What an incredible ride this was!
February 14, 2019
I love reading historical romances, all that elite aristocracy, daring, dashing, devilish dukes and earls and innocent, virginal, strong, brave lordlings and maidens, it’s just my kind of drug. 😁❤️ So when I realized Sara Dobie Bauer is going to write an alternative regency romance, I went GaGa for it. And my expectations were well met and beyond. 😌
Lord John has been in love with Harrison for 3 years. For 3 years, Lord John has kept watching, longing for Harrison from faraway. Harrison’s father is in feud with Lord John and it’s an impossible dream for John to ask Harrison’s hands in marriage. But suddenly his impossible dream became very possible when Harrison’s father passed away and he became the Lord Pierce and the owner of his father’s estate. Harrison is desperate for their family graveyard which Lord John owns so that he can lay his father to his final rest. And Lord John is not above using this as a leverage to ask Harrison to marry him. But Harrison has been keeping a secret of his own too. And Lord John is going to soon find out whether Harrison will become his husband or his greatest enemy.
This is a very low-angst, super SUPER cute and adorable story. 😍 Seriously, you are going to keep going “awwwwww” and more “awwwwwwwwwwwww”. 🥰 It’s that cute and fluffy and romantic! 😍 And Sara Dobie Bauer managed to make it fluffy and adorable without the story being sugary sweet. It was the right amount of lovely romance and adorable swoon-worthy moments. 👏 Loved it and devoured it in one go. Hoping to get more in this world because come on, who doesn’t need an alternative regency romances where men openly love and marry other men. 😉 I hope this eventually get turned into an audio because it would be lovely to revisit these two in a glorious British-accent narration. 😱 I now feel high from all the swoon-worthy romance and fluff. Loved it, loved it and loved it! 💜
5 love is all about finding out and loving each other’s little quirks stars
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Disclaimer: An advanced review copy of this book was provided by the author for an honest and unbiased review.
Lord John has been in love with Harrison for 3 years. For 3 years, Lord John has kept watching, longing for Harrison from faraway. Harrison’s father is in feud with Lord John and it’s an impossible dream for John to ask Harrison’s hands in marriage. But suddenly his impossible dream became very possible when Harrison’s father passed away and he became the Lord Pierce and the owner of his father’s estate. Harrison is desperate for their family graveyard which Lord John owns so that he can lay his father to his final rest. And Lord John is not above using this as a leverage to ask Harrison to marry him. But Harrison has been keeping a secret of his own too. And Lord John is going to soon find out whether Harrison will become his husband or his greatest enemy.
This is a very low-angst, super SUPER cute and adorable story. 😍 Seriously, you are going to keep going “awwwwww” and more “awwwwwwwwwwwww”. 🥰 It’s that cute and fluffy and romantic! 😍 And Sara Dobie Bauer managed to make it fluffy and adorable without the story being sugary sweet. It was the right amount of lovely romance and adorable swoon-worthy moments. 👏 Loved it and devoured it in one go. Hoping to get more in this world because come on, who doesn’t need an alternative regency romances where men openly love and marry other men. 😉 I hope this eventually get turned into an audio because it would be lovely to revisit these two in a glorious British-accent narration. 😱 I now feel high from all the swoon-worthy romance and fluff. Loved it, loved it and loved it! 💜
5 love is all about finding out and loving each other’s little quirks stars
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Disclaimer: An advanced review copy of this book was provided by the author for an honest and unbiased review.
March 20, 2019
A sexy and sweet historical, Sara Dobie Bauer shows her unique style with A Lord to Love. In very few pages, and with a dark little twist that starts the whole thing off with a bang, Ms. Bauer captures the lust and longing of these two men, and adds in a huge dose of romance.
The setup hooked me right off the bat. Lord Harrison Price, only nineteen, is forced to assume his family’s title after his beloved father’s passing. Still mourning the death of his mother three years prior, he’s questioning how to move on with life. (Harrison has some intriguing quirks, and I’d love to know more... but zipping my lips here!)
After a land dispute leaves Lord John Morgan in possession of the Price graveyard, the nobleman offers a resolution to the longtime feud between the two families... he’s willing to give up his claim in exchange for Harrison’s hand in marriage.
I'm afraid to say too much more about the plot and divulge any of the delicious surprises in store. Much safer instead if I focus on Ms. Bauer’s beautiful writing and the connection she establishes between the main characters.
Told from John’s point of view Ms. Bauer truly captures the intensity of his feelings for Harrison. Details and memories bring his fascination to life, and Harrison’s reactions are intensely intimate once he lets down his walls. The love scenes are sensual and erotic, and that always works better for me when I believe the characters have a true connection.
My favorite part of A Lord to Love is the calculating, obsessive way Lord John relates his stalking of Harrison, and how completely unapologetic he is about it. This is a perfect example of that smidge of darkness Sara Dobie Bauer always adds to her stories. I love it, and it just keeps me coming back for more.
The setup hooked me right off the bat. Lord Harrison Price, only nineteen, is forced to assume his family’s title after his beloved father’s passing. Still mourning the death of his mother three years prior, he’s questioning how to move on with life. (Harrison has some intriguing quirks, and I’d love to know more... but zipping my lips here!)
After a land dispute leaves Lord John Morgan in possession of the Price graveyard, the nobleman offers a resolution to the longtime feud between the two families... he’s willing to give up his claim in exchange for Harrison’s hand in marriage.
I'm afraid to say too much more about the plot and divulge any of the delicious surprises in store. Much safer instead if I focus on Ms. Bauer’s beautiful writing and the connection she establishes between the main characters.
Told from John’s point of view Ms. Bauer truly captures the intensity of his feelings for Harrison. Details and memories bring his fascination to life, and Harrison’s reactions are intensely intimate once he lets down his walls. The love scenes are sensual and erotic, and that always works better for me when I believe the characters have a true connection.
My favorite part of A Lord to Love is the calculating, obsessive way Lord John relates his stalking of Harrison, and how completely unapologetic he is about it. This is a perfect example of that smidge of darkness Sara Dobie Bauer always adds to her stories. I love it, and it just keeps me coming back for more.
February 22, 2019
This was the cutest, sweetest and shortest snippet I have ever read! I mean, I loved it! It was so romantic, so poetic and just fluffy that I was sighing all through the book. There were steamy moments between MCs but most of all just so much positivity and happiness! The writing style was a bit different that I am used to but still very enjoyable. I would love more Harrison and John!
** Copy provided by author for my honest unbiased review **
** Copy provided by author for my honest unbiased review **
April 2, 2019
Dnf at 30%
March 23, 2019
A very short story - only about 30 pages - but with a pair of very intriguing MCs and a nice setting. It's Victorian England, but with one surprising, and crucial, difference.
Written in the present tense, which I always consider to be a bit of a narrative gamble but can be utterly involving when successful, A Lord to Love pivots on a story devoid of major turning points and that focuses instead on the evolution of the characters.
It's a short bit of narration that can be enjoyed over a cup of coffee but I truly appreciated the author's writing style and I certainly enjoyed the book to the point of regretting to not be able to read more about John and Harrison.
Really nice!
Written in the present tense, which I always consider to be a bit of a narrative gamble but can be utterly involving when successful, A Lord to Love pivots on a story devoid of major turning points and that focuses instead on the evolution of the characters.
It's a short bit of narration that can be enjoyed over a cup of coffee but I truly appreciated the author's writing style and I certainly enjoyed the book to the point of regretting to not be able to read more about John and Harrison.
Really nice!
March 17, 2019
Woww thát was an utterly romantic story. My heart wanted to break free and fly!
Lord Harrison Price is mourning over his father who just passed away. Harrison is only nineteen and already wearing the name Lord Price.
Lord John Morgan can’t keep his eyes of this beautiful delicate creature. The last three years since Harrison was sixteen, playing violin, he can’t think of anyone else. There will never be anyone else who can fill this void.
John has a proposition, he owns important Price land and in exchange he wants the hand of Harrison Price.
What follows goes beyond romance and charm. It was unexpected and utterly endearing.
I adored this story, so vehemently written. The whole scenery was stunning, imagine bedroom fireplaces, the language full of grace and politeness. Both Harrison and John were sweet and passionate. The years of longing, yearning and finally the state of belonging was overwhelming romantic.
Kindly received an arc from the author
Lord Harrison Price is mourning over his father who just passed away. Harrison is only nineteen and already wearing the name Lord Price.
Lord John Morgan can’t keep his eyes of this beautiful delicate creature. The last three years since Harrison was sixteen, playing violin, he can’t think of anyone else. There will never be anyone else who can fill this void.
John has a proposition, he owns important Price land and in exchange he wants the hand of Harrison Price.
What follows goes beyond romance and charm. It was unexpected and utterly endearing.
I adored this story, so vehemently written. The whole scenery was stunning, imagine bedroom fireplaces, the language full of grace and politeness. Both Harrison and John were sweet and passionate. The years of longing, yearning and finally the state of belonging was overwhelming romantic.
Kindly received an arc from the author
March 28, 2019
A Joyfully Jay review.
3.25 stars
Sara Dobie Bauer does a nice job here of pulling together a tight story in a short format. Sometimes a short story can feel incomplete, but A Lord to Love feels well rounded and brings a lot together in a small number of pages. Bauer’s writing is fluid and easy and I think she really excels in this shorter format. We get a nice sense of both characters, as well as their backstories, and I think the writing and the style is overall well done.
Where I struggled here is not with the writing, but in two key areas of the story itself that really affected my enjoyment. First, we learn that John and Harrison’s father were feuding over land that was thought to belong to the Prices, but is actually John’s. As it turns out, the Price family burial plot is on that disputed land and the two men couldn’t come to agreement for the Prices to buy the land back. As a result, the Prices have no access to the cemetery, including to Harrison’s mother’s grave, nor do they have a place to bury his newly deceased father. We are told that Price wouldn’t accept John’s sales offer for the land, but get no details on the negotiation. So there is no way as a reader to really know who is at fault here and which one is being unreasonable.
Read Jay’s review in its entirety here.
3.25 stars
Sara Dobie Bauer does a nice job here of pulling together a tight story in a short format. Sometimes a short story can feel incomplete, but A Lord to Love feels well rounded and brings a lot together in a small number of pages. Bauer’s writing is fluid and easy and I think she really excels in this shorter format. We get a nice sense of both characters, as well as their backstories, and I think the writing and the style is overall well done.
Where I struggled here is not with the writing, but in two key areas of the story itself that really affected my enjoyment. First, we learn that John and Harrison’s father were feuding over land that was thought to belong to the Prices, but is actually John’s. As it turns out, the Price family burial plot is on that disputed land and the two men couldn’t come to agreement for the Prices to buy the land back. As a result, the Prices have no access to the cemetery, including to Harrison’s mother’s grave, nor do they have a place to bury his newly deceased father. We are told that Price wouldn’t accept John’s sales offer for the land, but get no details on the negotiation. So there is no way as a reader to really know who is at fault here and which one is being unreasonable.
Read Jay’s review in its entirety here.
February 14, 2019
So adorable it should be a kitten. In a cravat.
"He is an untamed masterpiece of intellect and wild beauty, and I am the luckiest man alive."
Oh, beautiful prose, you shiver my timbers.
John has been lusting after the son of his rival, Harrison Pierce, for years, in an intense, brooding, hard-on-straining-against-breeches kind of way. Harrison is dark, mysterious, and inscrutable - until John shows his hand and asks for Harrison's.
Smelling like "spiced, black tea," Harrison proves... not adverse... to such an arrangement, and things get anal in the most explosive way. I gathered my skirts and flicked open my fan in the receiving room, I gotta tell ya.
Now excuse me while I go and sulk that the novella is about 200 pages too short. /sulk
"He is an untamed masterpiece of intellect and wild beauty, and I am the luckiest man alive."
Oh, beautiful prose, you shiver my timbers.
John has been lusting after the son of his rival, Harrison Pierce, for years, in an intense, brooding, hard-on-straining-against-breeches kind of way. Harrison is dark, mysterious, and inscrutable - until John shows his hand and asks for Harrison's.
Smelling like "spiced, black tea," Harrison proves... not adverse... to such an arrangement, and things get anal in the most explosive way. I gathered my skirts and flicked open my fan in the receiving room, I gotta tell ya.
Now excuse me while I go and sulk that the novella is about 200 pages too short. /sulk
Read
March 20, 2019This story is only 35 pages long, but my review might be pretty close to it in length. So here are my thoughts. To preface everything, I didn't realize that this was a short story until I started reading, which means that some of my issues may arguably be due to different expectations.
To start off briefly and kindly, I actually like how the author just sort of handwaved the fact that people can marry whoever they want regardless of gender. The story is lighthearted enough that I didn't need a serious or plausible explanation.
I guess I could say that all my issues fall under pacing. This story was so short that all the conflict got resolved at a breakneck speed and there was a lot more telling than showing. For instance, Harrison is described as "known for being cold and bitingly brilliant" but we don't actually see him ever being especially cold. Yes, John mentions he can be cruel and throw tantrums but nothing in Harrison's behavior ever actually illustrates this point. It's understandable, because the story is too short for that arc - we don't have time to see Harrison warm to John, so we're just told he's cold and are meant to imagine that emotional transformation.
Maybe that's my beef with the whole thing. I read the summary, thought "wow I'm exciting to read this book and see some grade A pining and slow thaw from dislike to love" and instead everything is almost entirely resolved in like 18 pages. It's a story that has so many elements I like!! But I think the execution ultimately falls flat for me because these are tropes that require a certain slow pace or at least a specific, more episodic style of writing. What I feel like happened here is there wasn't time to feasible pull off this story, so the attempt led to slight conflict that was too easily resolved. This is all personal preference, of course, but there wasn't enough yearning for me to get that lovely terrible feeling in my stomach that I get when a character truly believes they have nothing.
Still a cute lil story and if you're in the mood for something schmoopy and light on actual plot, read away! I think it probably took me about 20 minutes at most, so it's not like you're sacrificing much time to it.
To start off briefly and kindly, I actually like how the author just sort of handwaved the fact that people can marry whoever they want regardless of gender. The story is lighthearted enough that I didn't need a serious or plausible explanation.
I guess I could say that all my issues fall under pacing. This story was so short that all the conflict got resolved at a breakneck speed and there was a lot more telling than showing. For instance, Harrison is described as "known for being cold and bitingly brilliant" but we don't actually see him ever being especially cold. Yes, John mentions he can be cruel and throw tantrums but nothing in Harrison's behavior ever actually illustrates this point. It's understandable, because the story is too short for that arc - we don't have time to see Harrison warm to John, so we're just told he's cold and are meant to imagine that emotional transformation.
Maybe that's my beef with the whole thing. I read the summary, thought "wow I'm exciting to read this book and see some grade A pining and slow thaw from dislike to love" and instead everything is almost entirely resolved in like 18 pages. It's a story that has so many elements I like!! But I think the execution ultimately falls flat for me because these are tropes that require a certain slow pace or at least a specific, more episodic style of writing. What I feel like happened here is there wasn't time to feasible pull off this story, so the attempt led to slight conflict that was too easily resolved. This is all personal preference, of course, but there wasn't enough yearning for me to get that lovely terrible feeling in my stomach that I get when a character truly believes they have nothing.
Still a cute lil story and if you're in the mood for something schmoopy and light on actual plot, read away! I think it probably took me about 20 minutes at most, so it's not like you're sacrificing much time to it.
December 7, 2025
4 stars!! Sweet historical M/M but in contemporary style.. Enjoyed it ❤️❤️
January 7, 2020
3.5 Stars
Lovely little short story. Unlike some books, this one definitely read like it was historically set. Something about the prose felt authentic to the time period. (I'm not an expert, though, so it could just be my perception.)
Lovely little short story. Unlike some books, this one definitely read like it was historically set. Something about the prose felt authentic to the time period. (I'm not an expert, though, so it could just be my perception.)
April 19, 2019
I usually don’t rate novellas five stars, but I loved this!
April 11, 2019
Lovely.
Want to read
December 23, 201912/23/19 Currently FREE via Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/Lord-Love-Sara...
March 18, 2019
3.75 stars--
About the book: Release Date March 19, 2019
During negotiations for a truce between the feuding Pierce and Morgan families, Lord John Morgan makes a shocking offer: he will give the Pierce family their land, in exchange for Harrison Pierce's hand in marriage.
John has long been enamored with Harrison, the beautiful son of his late rival. Harrison is nineteen, inexperienced, and known for being cold and bitingly brilliant. The union seems impossible, but John is determined to win the affections of his young obsession.
Will the frigid Harrison concede, or will the object of John's adoration leave him alone at the altar?
•••••••••
REVIEW: 3.75 stars-- A LORD TO LOVE by Sara Dobie is an historical, M/M romance short story focusing on Lord John Morgan, and the newly titled Lord Harrison Pierce.
NOTE: A LORD TO LOVE contains scenes of M/M sexual situations and may not be suitable for all readers.
Told from first person point of view (John Morgan) A LORD TO LOVE follows the quick building relationship between Lord John Morgan, and nineteen year old, newly titled Lord Harrison Pierce. Upon the death of his beloved father, nineteen year old Harrison Pierce discovers he has been named heir to his father’s title but his father’s on-going battle with Lord John Morgan comes to the surface when John makes Harrison an offer he cannot refuse. What ensues is the swift building love and relationship between John and Harrison, as Harrison comes to terms with his attraction to Lord John Morgan, and the loss of everyone he loves.
A LORD TO LOVE is a very quick read; a lust to love, May-December relationship between two men as diverse as night and day. Harrison struggles with the loss of his father, and the ensuing grief, as John battles between head and heart for the affection of a young man he has loved from afar. The premise is fast paced and engaging- I am hoping the author has plans for their continuing story; the characters are colorful; the romance is passionate and seductive but I do have to question the historical accuracy of the marriage, relationship and apparent tolerance of a same –sex relationship in historical times. I am not sure of the exact historical time period for which the author has placed her story and characters but acceptance of homosexuality and gay marriage was rare, if at all, before modern time.
Copy supplied for review
About the book: Release Date March 19, 2019
During negotiations for a truce between the feuding Pierce and Morgan families, Lord John Morgan makes a shocking offer: he will give the Pierce family their land, in exchange for Harrison Pierce's hand in marriage.
John has long been enamored with Harrison, the beautiful son of his late rival. Harrison is nineteen, inexperienced, and known for being cold and bitingly brilliant. The union seems impossible, but John is determined to win the affections of his young obsession.
Will the frigid Harrison concede, or will the object of John's adoration leave him alone at the altar?
•••••••••
REVIEW: 3.75 stars-- A LORD TO LOVE by Sara Dobie is an historical, M/M romance short story focusing on Lord John Morgan, and the newly titled Lord Harrison Pierce.
NOTE: A LORD TO LOVE contains scenes of M/M sexual situations and may not be suitable for all readers.
Told from first person point of view (John Morgan) A LORD TO LOVE follows the quick building relationship between Lord John Morgan, and nineteen year old, newly titled Lord Harrison Pierce. Upon the death of his beloved father, nineteen year old Harrison Pierce discovers he has been named heir to his father’s title but his father’s on-going battle with Lord John Morgan comes to the surface when John makes Harrison an offer he cannot refuse. What ensues is the swift building love and relationship between John and Harrison, as Harrison comes to terms with his attraction to Lord John Morgan, and the loss of everyone he loves.
A LORD TO LOVE is a very quick read; a lust to love, May-December relationship between two men as diverse as night and day. Harrison struggles with the loss of his father, and the ensuing grief, as John battles between head and heart for the affection of a young man he has loved from afar. The premise is fast paced and engaging- I am hoping the author has plans for their continuing story; the characters are colorful; the romance is passionate and seductive but I do have to question the historical accuracy of the marriage, relationship and apparent tolerance of a same –sex relationship in historical times. I am not sure of the exact historical time period for which the author has placed her story and characters but acceptance of homosexuality and gay marriage was rare, if at all, before modern time.
Copy supplied for review
March 17, 2019
Painfully ridiculous, despite an otherwise decent command of English (unfortunately attacked with bouts of ornery prose, "I follow after the delicate creature that tries so hard to seem strong" being the more cringeworthy and patronizing, sexist example I shall muster). We are indeed dealing with the kind of writer who not only narrates in present tense but is dumb enough to state at the outset, of the sons of two bickering aristocratic families in Regency Britain, that "we've never really spoken. The ongoing feud between Harrison’s father and myself kept us sequestered to different social circles", the very kind of over the top (sequestered!), grossly inadequate (different social circles!) wording that betrays an appalling ignorance of the most basic rules of etiquette and cant. The entire short story matches this silliness, nay tops it off, with the narrator, Lord Morgan, expressing himself as a present-day, inarticulate ruffian ("then, beneath his scrutiny, I disrobe. I’m not timid either and have no reason to be. I might be shorter than Lord Price, but I have more muscle. I might be older, but I’ve never been ashamed of the size of my cock") yet somehow manages to peak the interest of the oft-stated icy Lord Price ("“my brother is frigid, Lord Morgan. He is a scientist, not a romantic. He may seem gentle now, but once the grief passes, he will be himself again, and he will hate that you witnessed his weakness”").
February 11, 2019
If I could just get about 200 more pages of Harrison and John I think I'd have died happy.
Sara's a genius at prose and this story's writing is marvelous, as always. I can't say enough about this Victorian tale of love.
John Morgan has wanted Harrison Price for three years. He's almost twice his age, but that can't matter. He's also somewhat of a villain to the Price family, but that won't stop him from getting what he wants. Needs. Or will it?
Harrison lost his mother and now his father has died. Just when he feels lost and alone, John offers him a future full of love. He only has to say 'yes'.
It was obvious from the start that John didn't just love Harrison, he cherished him. Sara has a way with words and I seriously fell in love with both MC's from the start.
"I am half dead. I always have been. Bring me to life, John. Make my heart beat."
I may or may not have girly squeeed when I read this, but so will you. Honestly. This is a must read and it's a quick read that will leave you panting and needy and wanting more words.
*Copy generously provided by the author in exchange for an honest review. To be cross posted closer to the release date.*
Sara's a genius at prose and this story's writing is marvelous, as always. I can't say enough about this Victorian tale of love.
John Morgan has wanted Harrison Price for three years. He's almost twice his age, but that can't matter. He's also somewhat of a villain to the Price family, but that won't stop him from getting what he wants. Needs. Or will it?
Harrison lost his mother and now his father has died. Just when he feels lost and alone, John offers him a future full of love. He only has to say 'yes'.
It was obvious from the start that John didn't just love Harrison, he cherished him. Sara has a way with words and I seriously fell in love with both MC's from the start.
"I am half dead. I always have been. Bring me to life, John. Make my heart beat."
I may or may not have girly squeeed when I read this, but so will you. Honestly. This is a must read and it's a quick read that will leave you panting and needy and wanting more words.
*Copy generously provided by the author in exchange for an honest review. To be cross posted closer to the release date.*
February 16, 2019
The Price and Morgan families have been feuding for years—over a piece of land that records show belongs to the Morgan family—but contains the Price family burial ground. So Harrison Price hasn’t been able to visit his mother’s grave, and it’s wearing on the young man who was very close to her. Now, to top it all off, his father has died, and they must settle this debate so his father can be buried next to his wife.
Lord John Morgan offers a solution. He will give the land freely to the Price family if the youthful, handsome Harrison will agree to marry him. Outlandish? Yes, but not unheard of in their time. Men may marry, though it’s not common. Giving the property away? Well, John doesn’t really want it. He only held onto it because he enjoyed the fight and because it gave him an excuse to come to the Price holdings to possibly catch a glimpse of Harrison.
John has loved the younger man for three years, ever since his heart was engaged by a violin recital Harrison gave. He not only admires his handsome face and long, lithe body, he admires Harrison’s intellect and quick wit. There’s really nothing about the young man he doesn’t like, and now that Harrison has inherited the title and lands from his father, the two lords are a match made in heaven. But will Harrison see it that way? Will he see John as a love interest or just an old man, a neighbor who’s been keeping him from visiting his mother’s grave?
What I most loved about this story, aside from the premise of a marriage arranged by one man who has the hots for another, is how quickly the author engaged me with both characters and how fully she was able to sketch their personalities. I felt the attraction. I was there when the shy, virginal Harrison experienced his first kiss. And I rejoiced with John when he realized his quest was not in vain.
Though short, this story packs a punch. I’m sure it will become a favorite among those of us who enjoy an outstanding MM romance.
Note: A copy of the book was provided by the author in exchange for an honest review.
Lord John Morgan offers a solution. He will give the land freely to the Price family if the youthful, handsome Harrison will agree to marry him. Outlandish? Yes, but not unheard of in their time. Men may marry, though it’s not common. Giving the property away? Well, John doesn’t really want it. He only held onto it because he enjoyed the fight and because it gave him an excuse to come to the Price holdings to possibly catch a glimpse of Harrison.
John has loved the younger man for three years, ever since his heart was engaged by a violin recital Harrison gave. He not only admires his handsome face and long, lithe body, he admires Harrison’s intellect and quick wit. There’s really nothing about the young man he doesn’t like, and now that Harrison has inherited the title and lands from his father, the two lords are a match made in heaven. But will Harrison see it that way? Will he see John as a love interest or just an old man, a neighbor who’s been keeping him from visiting his mother’s grave?
What I most loved about this story, aside from the premise of a marriage arranged by one man who has the hots for another, is how quickly the author engaged me with both characters and how fully she was able to sketch their personalities. I felt the attraction. I was there when the shy, virginal Harrison experienced his first kiss. And I rejoiced with John when he realized his quest was not in vain.
Though short, this story packs a punch. I’m sure it will become a favorite among those of us who enjoy an outstanding MM romance.
Note: A copy of the book was provided by the author in exchange for an honest review.
September 10, 2019
This book was given by the author and Love Bytes in exchange for an honest review.
This review was first posted at Love Bytes: LGBTQ Book Reviews.
How can such a short story steal my heart so completely? It’s flowery, formal, and even a little factually absurd, but A Lord to Love is a treat all the way through. And for those who love regency romances, it’s an absolute treasure!
If you require your historical romances to be by-the-book when it comes to accuracies of the time, you’ll have to hand-wave away the same-gender marriage plot in much the same way the author herself does—with complete confidence and no fanfare. Despite the leap in historical logic, we believe instantly in Lord Morgan’s plan to marry the longtime object of his faraway affections, the chilly and buttoned-up young Harrison Price. We don’t know right away how Harrison feels, but a brief fireside chat between the two men has their chemistry blossoming, and their stilted introduction doesn’t take long to turn into true love.
In 35 pages, Bauer has created a romance better than some authors do in hundreds. The men understand each other in short bursts of dialogue and careful readings of each other’s bodies, as if they have known each other all their lives. We know they are soulmates without the word having to be uttered. And it’s so apparent that Bauer loves this genre and loves writing in the regency language, so the story just flows with happiness and love for the setting and characters. It feels authentic and sharp on every page, and it makes us long for more, even though the story feels contained and finished.
Historical fiction fans who prefer long, sweeping regency tales with plenty of build-up may be underwhelmed by this quick story, but it ends up encapsulating what we all love about the genre so well that the length is not a huge hindrance. It’s sweet, sexy, and just perfect.
This review was first posted at Love Bytes: LGBTQ Book Reviews.
How can such a short story steal my heart so completely? It’s flowery, formal, and even a little factually absurd, but A Lord to Love is a treat all the way through. And for those who love regency romances, it’s an absolute treasure!
If you require your historical romances to be by-the-book when it comes to accuracies of the time, you’ll have to hand-wave away the same-gender marriage plot in much the same way the author herself does—with complete confidence and no fanfare. Despite the leap in historical logic, we believe instantly in Lord Morgan’s plan to marry the longtime object of his faraway affections, the chilly and buttoned-up young Harrison Price. We don’t know right away how Harrison feels, but a brief fireside chat between the two men has their chemistry blossoming, and their stilted introduction doesn’t take long to turn into true love.
In 35 pages, Bauer has created a romance better than some authors do in hundreds. The men understand each other in short bursts of dialogue and careful readings of each other’s bodies, as if they have known each other all their lives. We know they are soulmates without the word having to be uttered. And it’s so apparent that Bauer loves this genre and loves writing in the regency language, so the story just flows with happiness and love for the setting and characters. It feels authentic and sharp on every page, and it makes us long for more, even though the story feels contained and finished.
Historical fiction fans who prefer long, sweeping regency tales with plenty of build-up may be underwhelmed by this quick story, but it ends up encapsulating what we all love about the genre so well that the length is not a huge hindrance. It’s sweet, sexy, and just perfect.
April 11, 2019
Very sweet
A Lord to Love is a historical romance story. It is sweet, carnal and entertaining , my first book Sara Dobbie Bauer.
A Lord to Love is a historical romance story. It is sweet, carnal and entertaining , my first book Sara Dobbie Bauer.
June 4, 2019
Between two and three stars.
Good:
- It's short and feels exactly the right length to me. It's an AU of historical England with no homophobia. There's very little worldbuilding, so the edges are fuzzy; I don't know what specific time period it's meant to evoke. But all of that works well enough for the story, which is really about John and Harrison's feelings.
- No real conflict between John and Harrison. They start out as enemies, sort of, but their issue is resolved quickly.
Neutral:
- Pretty sure this is adapted Johnlock, based on their personalities and physical descriptions.
- Overly flowery language for John's emotions and Harrison's beauty. I picked this up because it was described as "indulgent," and that's definitely an accurate word for it.
- Written in first-person present tense, which I usually dislike, but it didn't bother me.
Not good:
- I have no problem with adapted fanfic, but Johnlock is not my favorite pairing, because Sherlock does not know how to care about a friend or lover. If the writer doesn't delve into that topic with sensitivity and understanding, the story doesn't work for me; unfortunately, I'd place this book in that category. Sex is a magic key to Harrison's emotions, and I've actually read versions of that exact Johnlock plot before. I don't like it as a concept, but I've seen it done more effectively than it's done here. At the end of this story, I don't really think Harrison is going to be a good husband. To me, that's a fatal flaw in a romance.
- There is a huge age and experience gap between the MCs, which I've liked or not minded in other books. Here, though, it feels like John decided he wanted Harrison, stalked him, and won him while Harrison was very vulnerable. Nothing about any of that is romantic to me.
- All the named characters are rich nobles. I really prefer historicals that are about ordinary people, or at least include them in some significant way.
- The only mentioned female characters are the MCs' dead mothers. With minor changes, this could easily be some kind of dystopian a/b/o setting where there aren't any women at all.
- Strict roles in the bedroom, and nothing surprising in the sex scenes.
- A couple throwaway lines about manliness or whatever that let me know I probably wouldn't enjoy this author's other books.
Good:
- It's short and feels exactly the right length to me. It's an AU of historical England with no homophobia. There's very little worldbuilding, so the edges are fuzzy; I don't know what specific time period it's meant to evoke. But all of that works well enough for the story, which is really about John and Harrison's feelings.
- No real conflict between John and Harrison. They start out as enemies, sort of, but their issue is resolved quickly.
Neutral:
- Pretty sure this is adapted Johnlock, based on their personalities and physical descriptions.
- Overly flowery language for John's emotions and Harrison's beauty. I picked this up because it was described as "indulgent," and that's definitely an accurate word for it.
- Written in first-person present tense, which I usually dislike, but it didn't bother me.
Not good:
- I have no problem with adapted fanfic, but Johnlock is not my favorite pairing, because Sherlock does not know how to care about a friend or lover. If the writer doesn't delve into that topic with sensitivity and understanding, the story doesn't work for me; unfortunately, I'd place this book in that category. Sex is a magic key to Harrison's emotions, and I've actually read versions of that exact Johnlock plot before. I don't like it as a concept, but I've seen it done more effectively than it's done here. At the end of this story, I don't really think Harrison is going to be a good husband. To me, that's a fatal flaw in a romance.
- There is a huge age and experience gap between the MCs, which I've liked or not minded in other books. Here, though, it feels like John decided he wanted Harrison, stalked him, and won him while Harrison was very vulnerable. Nothing about any of that is romantic to me.
- All the named characters are rich nobles. I really prefer historicals that are about ordinary people, or at least include them in some significant way.
- The only mentioned female characters are the MCs' dead mothers. With minor changes, this could easily be some kind of dystopian a/b/o setting where there aren't any women at all.
- Strict roles in the bedroom, and nothing surprising in the sex scenes.
- A couple throwaway lines about manliness or whatever that let me know I probably wouldn't enjoy this author's other books.
February 15, 2019
A Lord to Love was a sweet little half-hour read. I liked both Harrison and John as characters, and the enemies-to-lovers trope was nicely handled. However, I really wish this book had been a novel, or at least a novella, rather than a short story. It would have been wonderful to see more of the background of each character, more of the dispute between John and Harrison's father, and thus more of their awakening feelings for each other. As it is, their courtship seems sudden, and more based on looks than anything else, at least at first. And I think that impression could have been avoided had we spent more time getting to know them, learning of their impressions of each other in different moments. In conclusion, this book seems something of a wasted opportunity, as it could have been so awesome if extended. Nonetheless, I am giving it four stars, because it was a delightful, quick Valentine's Day read for me, and I liked the premise of the plot and the characters.
I received this book as a free eBook copy from the author in exchange for an honest review.
I received this book as a free eBook copy from the author in exchange for an honest review.
March 24, 2019
Such an amazing sweet story. While this is a short story, it's complete but I still would not mind a bit more John & Harrison.
March 17, 2019
Needed to be longer and more fleshed out. I really liked the author's writing.
April 26, 2019
Short and sweet (under 50 pages), which made it a perfect in-between book.
It wasn’t exactly lacking, but I definitely wanted more when I was done. John and Harrison were kind of adorable, in stuffy, Lord-like way. It took a while, but John finally broke Harrison out of his wariness… as for the rest of the family?
Historical romance is not my go-to, but did enjoy spending time with John and Harrison. 😉
I received A Lord to Love in exchange for a fair and honest review.
It wasn’t exactly lacking, but I definitely wanted more when I was done. John and Harrison were kind of adorable, in stuffy, Lord-like way. It took a while, but John finally broke Harrison out of his wariness… as for the rest of the family?
Historical romance is not my go-to, but did enjoy spending time with John and Harrison. 😉
I received A Lord to Love in exchange for a fair and honest review.
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