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The Hunt Club #2
Barely a Master
The trappings of wealth and power give Aiden Banks, Duke of Lewes, little joy and certainly no pleasure. Tormented by grave mistakes he made in the past, he's learned control of his temper at great personal cost, finally shouldering the blame that he has lost the only man he had ever loved through his own actions. His only remaining goal is to educate his young heir to take his place as duke and then he will be free of his responsibilities. Terrance Bridgewater has freedom at long last with no one to slow down his pursuit of reckless adventure. In London briefly en route to a ship bound for the continent, brings him face to face with his past. Running into the dark and dangerous Duke of Lewes is a complication he'd hoped to avoid. Despite his mistrust, the volatile duke's plea for a second chance tempts Terrance to lower his guard but on his terms only. Yet what can come of two souls with nothing in common but lies, opposing desires, and with far different futures ahead?
104 pages, Paperback
First published October 3, 2011
About the author
Heather Boyd
91 books756 followersUSA Today Bestselling Author Heather Boyd believes every character she creates deserves their own happily-ever-after—no matter how much trouble she puts them through. With that goal in mind, she writes steamy romances that skirt the boundaries of propriety to keep readers enthralled until the wee hours of the morning. Heather has published over sixty regency romance novels and shorter works full of daring seductions and distinguished rogues. She lives north of Sydney, Australia, with her trio of rogues and a four-legged overlord. To learn more visit www.Heather-Boyd.com
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Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews
January 5, 2023
DNF @12%
Am I drunk? I don't understand what's happening. Why does this author keep randomly changing past events in a story or a characters backstory and then continue on as if that had been the truth all along? How did this happen? Why? I've never come across something like this before.
I gave some examples of this baffling lack of attention to detail in my review for Book 1 but it's gotten so bad here that I'm not going to continue. But in order to share my bafflement with you, I'll give you some examples here too.
First - the MC in this story is the Duke of Lewes. This is the same man who had kidnapped and drugged Henry (MC from Book 1) and allowed his friends to spend hours raping and torturing him and had allowed them to make plans to keep Henry permanently. By the end of that book, nobody seems to care or even remember what Lewes had done.
In this book, that pattern continues. Lewes is depressed because he misses Terrance (who was a prostitute at the Hunt Club who had often dominated Lewes). Lewes is considering suicide but he's sticking around for the sake of his heir (his nephew). There's ZERO MENTION of the fact that Lewes had kidnapped and drugged somebody and also aided his buddies in torturing and raping that person IN THE SAME HOUSE WHERE HE'S BUSY MOPING AROUND.
Then we have Terrance. Terrance who had been working as a tutor for Nate's (last book's MC) children. In Book 1, there was drama with Nate's wife firing Terrance and then Nate making a big deal out of getting him re-hired and Terrance being thrilled about it. But this story starts out with Terrance having quit that job for no stated reason and making plans to leave the country - again, no reason given. Then we find out Nate has gifted Terrance his London house (which means Terrance will stay in England, so he might as well have stayed being a tutor at Nate's estate...) and during a conversation between Terrance and the house butler, they reference Nate's mistress having stayed there in the past. Did your brain just screech to a halt like mine did when I read that?
Nate's. Mistress. NATE'S. MISTRESS. A guy who the author had described as knowing about his own sexuality for decades and somebody who didn't enjoy having sex with women and only did so with his wife for the sake of producing children. It's clearly stated in Book 1 that his past lovers had all been male. But now the author decides there's been a mistress? For years? And this was never mentioned at all in the first book?
I...don't understand what's happening. I don't understand why only one other review has pointed out that this trend of missing/altered information is massively confusing.
I'm very torn right now because I really liked certain aspects of Book 1 and it's so rare to find Historical Victorian BDSM MM romances that I want to continue. But having so many massive errors in the beginning part of this book combined with Lewes' past actions having been brushed aside means I have no interest in continuing with this book. Even though that stupid epilogue in Book 1 painted a very bad picture of Staines (essentially, making him out to be a cold-hearted pimp who views prostitutes as products he controls), I'm still intrigued by Book 3, which focuses on Staines' relationship with his long time footman and the book seems interesting. So I'm going to give Book 3 a try and see how that goes but this one is a nope.
Am I drunk? I don't understand what's happening. Why does this author keep randomly changing past events in a story or a characters backstory and then continue on as if that had been the truth all along? How did this happen? Why? I've never come across something like this before.
I gave some examples of this baffling lack of attention to detail in my review for Book 1 but it's gotten so bad here that I'm not going to continue. But in order to share my bafflement with you, I'll give you some examples here too.
First - the MC in this story is the Duke of Lewes. This is the same man who had kidnapped and drugged Henry (MC from Book 1) and allowed his friends to spend hours raping and torturing him and had allowed them to make plans to keep Henry permanently. By the end of that book, nobody seems to care or even remember what Lewes had done.
In this book, that pattern continues. Lewes is depressed because he misses Terrance (who was a prostitute at the Hunt Club who had often dominated Lewes). Lewes is considering suicide but he's sticking around for the sake of his heir (his nephew). There's ZERO MENTION of the fact that Lewes had kidnapped and drugged somebody and also aided his buddies in torturing and raping that person IN THE SAME HOUSE WHERE HE'S BUSY MOPING AROUND.
Then we have Terrance. Terrance who had been working as a tutor for Nate's (last book's MC) children. In Book 1, there was drama with Nate's wife firing Terrance and then Nate making a big deal out of getting him re-hired and Terrance being thrilled about it. But this story starts out with Terrance having quit that job for no stated reason and making plans to leave the country - again, no reason given. Then we find out Nate has gifted Terrance his London house (which means Terrance will stay in England, so he might as well have stayed being a tutor at Nate's estate...) and during a conversation between Terrance and the house butler, they reference Nate's mistress having stayed there in the past. Did your brain just screech to a halt like mine did when I read that?
Nate's. Mistress. NATE'S. MISTRESS. A guy who the author had described as knowing about his own sexuality for decades and somebody who didn't enjoy having sex with women and only did so with his wife for the sake of producing children. It's clearly stated in Book 1 that his past lovers had all been male. But now the author decides there's been a mistress? For years? And this was never mentioned at all in the first book?
I...don't understand what's happening. I don't understand why only one other review has pointed out that this trend of missing/altered information is massively confusing.
I'm very torn right now because I really liked certain aspects of Book 1 and it's so rare to find Historical Victorian BDSM MM romances that I want to continue. But having so many massive errors in the beginning part of this book combined with Lewes' past actions having been brushed aside means I have no interest in continuing with this book. Even though that stupid epilogue in Book 1 painted a very bad picture of Staines (essentially, making him out to be a cold-hearted pimp who views prostitutes as products he controls), I'm still intrigued by Book 3, which focuses on Staines' relationship with his long time footman and the book seems interesting. So I'm going to give Book 3 a try and see how that goes but this one is a nope.
August 13, 2012
Reviewed By BlackTulip for Booked Up
Almost an Equal, the first book of The Hunt Club Chronicles was very good, but this one is even better!
Right now, all that the powerful Duke of Lewes had in mind, was to take his pistol and just pull the trigger. He's grown too tired of pretending he liked living. But he had a last duty to perform, to teach his nephew and heir how to become a duke; the quicker the better, because he couldn't wait years. It had to be very soon because he was suffocating, responsibilities and duty were dragging him irremediably to the bottom.
Once, three years ago, there has been someone and maybe some hope, but he had driven the man away and it still tortured him. Truth be told, he was utterly lost without him, Archer, his wonderful dominant whore! But he had not known how essential he was to him until it was two late. And he knew too well, there won't be a second chance.
But one night, walking in Covent Garden, he saw him again and it was a shock for both.
Archer, or rather, Terrance Bridgewater, will have none of that again. He was free now and in control of own his life. In a few days he would leave London and see the world with his own eyes, not through books anymore.
He agrees to one last night, but he won't play a part, he will just be himself, Terrance. Unfortunately or fortunately, this one night will be a revelation for both of them.
Aidan, the Duke of Lewes, was taught to guard his heart and show only indifference but those few hours with Terrance only showed him that he wanted more, he needed more from the man he didn't know anymore. But he was too afraid to share his thoughts.
Meanwhile, Terrance was in serious trouble himself. It had to stop now because last night was only a farewell, in a very short time he will be gone.
Of course, there is much more to it. First a whole range of emotions, like hope, doubts, jealousy, fear, and surprise. And then there is a very ingenious dramatic turn of events that follows which will lead to a very satisfying conclusion.
It was a wonderful book, full of intense emotions. I'm very much looking forward to reading the next one! I give it 5/5.
Almost an Equal, the first book of The Hunt Club Chronicles was very good, but this one is even better!
Right now, all that the powerful Duke of Lewes had in mind, was to take his pistol and just pull the trigger. He's grown too tired of pretending he liked living. But he had a last duty to perform, to teach his nephew and heir how to become a duke; the quicker the better, because he couldn't wait years. It had to be very soon because he was suffocating, responsibilities and duty were dragging him irremediably to the bottom.
Once, three years ago, there has been someone and maybe some hope, but he had driven the man away and it still tortured him. Truth be told, he was utterly lost without him, Archer, his wonderful dominant whore! But he had not known how essential he was to him until it was two late. And he knew too well, there won't be a second chance.
But one night, walking in Covent Garden, he saw him again and it was a shock for both.
Archer, or rather, Terrance Bridgewater, will have none of that again. He was free now and in control of own his life. In a few days he would leave London and see the world with his own eyes, not through books anymore.
He agrees to one last night, but he won't play a part, he will just be himself, Terrance. Unfortunately or fortunately, this one night will be a revelation for both of them.
Aidan, the Duke of Lewes, was taught to guard his heart and show only indifference but those few hours with Terrance only showed him that he wanted more, he needed more from the man he didn't know anymore. But he was too afraid to share his thoughts.
Meanwhile, Terrance was in serious trouble himself. It had to stop now because last night was only a farewell, in a very short time he will be gone.
Of course, there is much more to it. First a whole range of emotions, like hope, doubts, jealousy, fear, and surprise. And then there is a very ingenious dramatic turn of events that follows which will lead to a very satisfying conclusion.
It was a wonderful book, full of intense emotions. I'm very much looking forward to reading the next one! I give it 5/5.
December 8, 2025
Edit Dec 2025 reread ⭐️2/2.5⭐️
Original review: Number two in the Hunt Chronicles series and once again an ok read that I can't say wasn't readable or enjoyable to a point but nothing really made me go wow! The stories are very sexy but after a while I started to skip through the love scenes as I think this is a case of just a little too much sex against story. Saying that I do want to read the last as looking at the reviews, book three seems to get better ratings and I am interested in seeing Staines and Reddings story play out.
Original review: Number two in the Hunt Chronicles series and once again an ok read that I can't say wasn't readable or enjoyable to a point but nothing really made me go wow! The stories are very sexy but after a while I started to skip through the love scenes as I think this is a case of just a little too much sex against story. Saying that I do want to read the last as looking at the reviews, book three seems to get better ratings and I am interested in seeing Staines and Reddings story play out.
September 25, 2018
An enjoyable and sexy m/m story. A good series so far.
4☆
4☆
December 3, 2015
Super Series
Somehow I stumbled into this series (I am a keen Regency M/M buff) and despite the fact that each novella has an occasional punctuation, spelling or grammatical mistake here and there, quickly became enchanted. The plots and the MCs in each novella are similar enough in content and style as to allow me to simply post the same review for all five--but I gave four stars to some and five to others. The sex scenes in most of them are quite off the charts.
WARNING: Do not believe any reviewer who says these are stand-alones. You will miss half the fun if you don't read them in order.
ALMOST AN EQUAL: This establishes the pattern--hunky mid-30s Duke of Byworth suddenly thrown into a situation with his right hand man Henry that has them falling in lust and love while the duke's wife is cheating on him. We are introduced to several characters who will continue to pop up in future tales, but this one stands on its own as a pacesetter. I liked both characters but this one could have used a better portrait of the duke on the cover.
BARELY A MASTER: What I first thought was a despicable character in the first book, the Duke of Lewes, turns out to be quite a different and very conflicted piece of work in this one. His complete infatuation with his beloved "Archer," former favored rent boy who disappeared but whom readers will know has disguised himself in the employ of the Duke of Byworth, sets the stage for a mildly dom-sub scenario that works. The cover of this one is perfect.
HARDLY A STRANGER: This one's cover is perfect, and the entire series depends upon a the long-lived dependency and love between Ambrose, the Duke of Staines, and Francis, his footman and friend and eventually lover. Staines runs the biggest private club in London where the men of the entire series, and those who prefer women, can come to wine, dine and play. Francis is his protector and also self-taught surgeon, and the way they play off each other and keep control of the series and its MCs is remarkably astute.
JUST A DREAM: The two youngest MCs, Rafael and James, bring us a sweet love story which has all the heat but somewhat more charm than the others and in many ways is a perfect palate cleanser between the more intense third and fifth books. Realisitic cover.
NEVER A GENTLEMAN: Two complete opposites--banker Victor Knight and secret spy Earl of Beecroft Daniel Williams are temperate and social opposites, this is perhaps the most believable coupling of the quintet because the men have reached their mid-30s at personal loose ends. That the plot introduces some employment loose ends which threaten to drive them apart, this has more heart-tugging than the rest, and it not only works for this novella, but also ties up the series very nicely. Perfect depictions on the cover.
Somehow I stumbled into this series (I am a keen Regency M/M buff) and despite the fact that each novella has an occasional punctuation, spelling or grammatical mistake here and there, quickly became enchanted. The plots and the MCs in each novella are similar enough in content and style as to allow me to simply post the same review for all five--but I gave four stars to some and five to others. The sex scenes in most of them are quite off the charts.
WARNING: Do not believe any reviewer who says these are stand-alones. You will miss half the fun if you don't read them in order.
ALMOST AN EQUAL: This establishes the pattern--hunky mid-30s Duke of Byworth suddenly thrown into a situation with his right hand man Henry that has them falling in lust and love while the duke's wife is cheating on him. We are introduced to several characters who will continue to pop up in future tales, but this one stands on its own as a pacesetter. I liked both characters but this one could have used a better portrait of the duke on the cover.
BARELY A MASTER: What I first thought was a despicable character in the first book, the Duke of Lewes, turns out to be quite a different and very conflicted piece of work in this one. His complete infatuation with his beloved "Archer," former favored rent boy who disappeared but whom readers will know has disguised himself in the employ of the Duke of Byworth, sets the stage for a mildly dom-sub scenario that works. The cover of this one is perfect.
HARDLY A STRANGER: This one's cover is perfect, and the entire series depends upon a the long-lived dependency and love between Ambrose, the Duke of Staines, and Francis, his footman and friend and eventually lover. Staines runs the biggest private club in London where the men of the entire series, and those who prefer women, can come to wine, dine and play. Francis is his protector and also self-taught surgeon, and the way they play off each other and keep control of the series and its MCs is remarkably astute.
JUST A DREAM: The two youngest MCs, Rafael and James, bring us a sweet love story which has all the heat but somewhat more charm than the others and in many ways is a perfect palate cleanser between the more intense third and fifth books. Realisitic cover.
NEVER A GENTLEMAN: Two complete opposites--banker Victor Knight and secret spy Earl of Beecroft Daniel Williams are temperate and social opposites, this is perhaps the most believable coupling of the quintet because the men have reached their mid-30s at personal loose ends. That the plot introduces some employment loose ends which threaten to drive them apart, this has more heart-tugging than the rest, and it not only works for this novella, but also ties up the series very nicely. Perfect depictions on the cover.
September 7, 2012
This is the second book I have read in this series & I still feel like a huge chunk of important information is missing. The back stories for MC's is quite complicated but only alluded to so the reader is left floundering at times. For this reason I won't persevere with the series because I don't feel that I should have to get to book 3 before getting the back story for characters featured in earlier books of the series. Another thing that has annoyed me with this series is that it markets itself as BDSM without actually having any BDSM in it. Having a pushy top doesn't qualify as being BDSM! If the books were expanded with better character development then they could be a worthwhile read but as they stand, they are lacking.
November 10, 2011
I liked this better than the previous book. More like 3.5 stars, liked the MCs and the writing was good.
September 7, 2012
I was disappointed with the ending and thought more of the Terry's children should have been explored but otherwise enjoyed the quick read
September 30, 2018
I would have loved it if this one was longer. But as it is, it feels short and sweet.
Want to Read
February 22, 2012$2.99 on Nook
Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews