What do you think?
Rate this book
Secrets and Peers
Duke in Hiding
Every gentleman has something to hide...
It's not always love at first sight... or even like for that matter. Maybe Theo Brody's just a landscaper with a nighttime bartending gig but tall, hot, and English doesn't have to treat him like a smear of mud on his perfect, prissy shoes.
Why is he even in Maplehurst anyway? It's a middle of nowhere town, on a small New England island, far away from Heath's home. Theo isn't quite sure he's buying the farmer story. Nobody travels that far to look at goats. He figures it doesn't matter because the guy is a stuck up pain no matter what his job might be.
But things change when Heath turns on the charm and Theo finds himself falling for his tiny town's temporary new resident. Of course that's when he finds out he was right. Heath Blackwood is a whole lot more than he's been pretending to be... he's not a farmer at all. He's a duke.
** this is a second edition of a previously published work **
It's not always love at first sight... or even like for that matter. Maybe Theo Brody's just a landscaper with a nighttime bartending gig but tall, hot, and English doesn't have to treat him like a smear of mud on his perfect, prissy shoes.
Why is he even in Maplehurst anyway? It's a middle of nowhere town, on a small New England island, far away from Heath's home. Theo isn't quite sure he's buying the farmer story. Nobody travels that far to look at goats. He figures it doesn't matter because the guy is a stuck up pain no matter what his job might be.
But things change when Heath turns on the charm and Theo finds himself falling for his tiny town's temporary new resident. Of course that's when he finds out he was right. Heath Blackwood is a whole lot more than he's been pretending to be... he's not a farmer at all. He's a duke.
** this is a second edition of a previously published work **
192 pages, Kindle Edition
First published May 1, 2016
14 people are currently reading
216 people want to read
About the author
M.J. O'Shea
85 books946 followersMJ O’Shea has never met a music festival, paintbrush, or
flower crown she can stay away from. She loves rainstorms
and a perfect cup of tea, beach days, music, bright colors, and
more than anything a cozy evening with a really great book.
She is from the Pacific Northwest. While she still lives there
and loves it, MJ has the heart of a wanderer. So she puts all
her dreams of far off places and extraordinary people in her
books.
Except for every once in a while when she does what all
travelers have to do on occasion… come home.
flower crown she can stay away from. She loves rainstorms
and a perfect cup of tea, beach days, music, bright colors, and
more than anything a cozy evening with a really great book.
She is from the Pacific Northwest. While she still lives there
and loves it, MJ has the heart of a wanderer. So she puts all
her dreams of far off places and extraordinary people in her
books.
Except for every once in a while when she does what all
travelers have to do on occasion… come home.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 68 reviews
May 14, 2018
3.5 Stars
This is now the ninth Dreamspun Desires book I’ve had the pleasure of reading and I doubt I’ll be giving up on this DSP line anytime soon.
Generally speaking, I’ve enjoyed the sappy and sweet Harlequin-esque vibes these books have delivered, and although not suited to everyone, I personally find great joy in the trope-y goodness and the simplicity of the romances that play out in these books.
The premise here is simple, but I liked it. While hiding away in small town USA, a British Duke named Heath falls in love with a local lad of lesser means, all while concealing his true identity from his new lover and the nice townsfolk who welcome him with open arms. It’s probably not all that original a story, but like my mum always says, if it ain’t broke, don’t fix it, which is exactly how I felt about this one.
What stood out about this small town romance was how subdued it was when it came to the drama. I’ve definitely noticed that some of the books in the Desires line are heavier with the OTT (sometimes stupidly crazy) drama than others, and I’ve observed many fellow readers being turned off by these dramatics time and time again (with good reason). Thankfully, this offering by O’Shea is on the super light side of the crazy shenanigans, which I was so very grateful for and feel other readers will appreciate.
I liked the characters here, too, including the assortment of secondary players. MCs Heath and Theo were likeable and well-matched. I enjoyed their early snappy banter, but I enjoyed their easy progression into coupledom even more. They were just really sweet together and I liked how Theo’s reaction was handled once the cat was out of the bag regarding Heath’s status as British nobility.
I was satisfied with the ending, although I could have done with more in terms of an actual epilogue. What can I say? I’m greedy and will most likely always want more of a good thing.
This is now the ninth Dreamspun Desires book I’ve had the pleasure of reading and I doubt I’ll be giving up on this DSP line anytime soon.
Generally speaking, I’ve enjoyed the sappy and sweet Harlequin-esque vibes these books have delivered, and although not suited to everyone, I personally find great joy in the trope-y goodness and the simplicity of the romances that play out in these books.
The premise here is simple, but I liked it. While hiding away in small town USA, a British Duke named Heath falls in love with a local lad of lesser means, all while concealing his true identity from his new lover and the nice townsfolk who welcome him with open arms. It’s probably not all that original a story, but like my mum always says, if it ain’t broke, don’t fix it, which is exactly how I felt about this one.
What stood out about this small town romance was how subdued it was when it came to the drama. I’ve definitely noticed that some of the books in the Desires line are heavier with the OTT (sometimes stupidly crazy) drama than others, and I’ve observed many fellow readers being turned off by these dramatics time and time again (with good reason). Thankfully, this offering by O’Shea is on the super light side of the crazy shenanigans, which I was so very grateful for and feel other readers will appreciate.
I liked the characters here, too, including the assortment of secondary players. MCs Heath and Theo were likeable and well-matched. I enjoyed their early snappy banter, but I enjoyed their easy progression into coupledom even more. They were just really sweet together and I liked how Theo’s reaction was handled once the cat was out of the bag regarding Heath’s status as British nobility.
I was satisfied with the ending, although I could have done with more in terms of an actual epilogue. What can I say? I’m greedy and will most likely always want more of a good thing.
May 9, 2016
This is the second Dreamspun book I read -- as recommended by my friend, Irene, who thought the book had couple of things I would enjoyed: slow built and small town romance.
Well, I thought it was a nice read, indeed. I liked the idea of Heath being a duke who had to hide in this small-town all the way in the United States. Despite the misunderstanding in the beginning -- with Heath being arrogant jackass because he was uncomfortable *laugh* -- I thought Heath and Theo had good chemistry together. I would've liked it if I could spend more time with them after Theo found out Heath's real identity, though. It would've been a much satisfactory closure.
I did have few problems with it -- I thought the 'death threats' problem was a little under-cooked. Honestly, I didn't understand why Heath needed to go to Maplehurst, New Hampshire, to get away from it. WHY Maplehurst of all place? I tried to remember if the town had anything to do with Heath's family or something but I couldn't recall any reason. Also the handling of the death threat happened off page so it really didn't give any intense or urgent vibe to it. It was like a minor buzz in the ear *shrugs*.
Also the built up towards the ending (a.k.a. the reveal and how Theo dealt with Heath being a duke) didn't satisfy me. It was a combination of too much of a rush but at the same time also felt like the story running out of steam. It wasn't a tidy way to give a climax in my humble opinion.
So yeah, nice read but not exactly a winner if my book...
Well, I thought it was a nice read, indeed. I liked the idea of Heath being a duke who had to hide in this small-town all the way in the United States. Despite the misunderstanding in the beginning -- with Heath being arrogant jackass because he was uncomfortable *laugh* -- I thought Heath and Theo had good chemistry together. I would've liked it if I could spend more time with them after Theo found out Heath's real identity, though. It would've been a much satisfactory closure.
I did have few problems with it -- I thought the 'death threats' problem was a little under-cooked. Honestly, I didn't understand why Heath needed to go to Maplehurst, New Hampshire, to get away from it. WHY Maplehurst of all place? I tried to remember if the town had anything to do with Heath's family or something but I couldn't recall any reason. Also the handling of the death threat happened off page so it really didn't give any intense or urgent vibe to it. It was like a minor buzz in the ear *shrugs*.
Also the built up towards the ending (a.k.a. the reveal and how Theo dealt with Heath being a duke) didn't satisfy me. It was a combination of too much of a rush but at the same time also felt like the story running out of steam. It wasn't a tidy way to give a climax in my humble opinion.
So yeah, nice read but not exactly a winner if my book...
July 16, 2021
"Duke in Hiding" is a sweet tale of romance between Heath, the British Duke of Kingston hiding in a small New Hampshire town due to a death threat and Theo, orphaned hometown boy who is a part-time bartender and full-time landscaper. The story is low on drama and angst, with lots of hometown flavor - friends around town, secondary characters Gilly and George, dinner dates, movies, more meals together, etc. There isn't a lot of sex in the book, but there's plenty of romance and you can really feel the sizzle and chemistry between Theo and Heath.
After a pastoral slow-paced romance, however, the ending felt rushed and somewhat haphazard.
My rating for the book itself is 3.5 stars, but I gave the narrator 2 stars. Usually there comes a point in any audio book where you forget about the narrator and the story unfolds. Unfortunately, I never reached that moment with Rusty Topsfield's narration. Topsfield places an odd emPHAsis on some words ... and there are ... pauses that ... disrupt the flow ... of the ... story as well as a "lilt" at the end of the sentence. Gilly's character has a very irritating "vocal fry" and I found the British accents very inconsistent. For me personally, the narrator did not enhance the story but rather distracted from it. Therefore I would recommend the audio book, but some caution.
I received the audiobook of "Duke in Hiding" from Dreamspinner Press in exchange for an honest review.
Visit my blog, Sinfully Good Gay Book Reviews
After a pastoral slow-paced romance, however, the ending felt rushed and somewhat haphazard.
My rating for the book itself is 3.5 stars, but I gave the narrator 2 stars. Usually there comes a point in any audio book where you forget about the narrator and the story unfolds. Unfortunately, I never reached that moment with Rusty Topsfield's narration. Topsfield places an odd emPHAsis on some words ... and there are ... pauses that ... disrupt the flow ... of the ... story as well as a "lilt" at the end of the sentence. Gilly's character has a very irritating "vocal fry" and I found the British accents very inconsistent. For me personally, the narrator did not enhance the story but rather distracted from it. Therefore I would recommend the audio book, but some caution.
I received the audiobook of "Duke in Hiding" from Dreamspinner Press in exchange for an honest review.
Visit my blog, Sinfully Good Gay Book Reviews
April 30, 2016
I'm really liking all these Dreamspun Desires books!
In this book, we're meeting Heath(cliff) Blackwood, an English Duke, who's hiding in the small town of Maplehurst, NH, because of receiving some credible death threats at his estate which prompted him to jump onto the next plane across the ocean and taking cover, while the folks in his employ try to figure out who's behind the plot.
Bored out of his mind in small town New England, Heath happens to be in a pub where Theo Brady works part-time as a bartender, when he's not working his full-time business as the gardener for almost everyone in town. Theo is from Maplehurst and is immediately intrigued by the gorgeous, hunky man who's full of disdain and snark. Of course, Theo gives back as good as he gets, which in turn intrigues Heath into taking a second, and then third look, at the bartender.
I was giggling at their banter from the start - well done that.
Theo, despite his ability to trade snark and sarcastic comments with Heath, is still a small town boy. Never been in a relationship, even though everyone in Maplehurst knows he's gay - there just aren't any other gay men around.
There's a strong attraction between the two, and as they fall into a relationship, with Theo aware that it will come to an end when Heath ultimately goes home to England.
And Theo senses that there's something that Heath isn't telling him, that he's keeping a secret.
I quite liked this, even if I didn't like Heath for most of the book. In fact, I didn't really like him until his grand gesture at the very end. My main reason is how he treats Theo, and his behavior didn't endear him to me.
I did like Theo, who gave so much of himself to everyone around him, and who got such a shitty deal in return.
Of course, this being a Dreamspun Desires romance, we do get our HEA in the end, and we do see Heath grovel, like he should.
A nice, entertaining addition to this series!
** I received a free copy of this book from its publisher. A positive review was not promised in return. **
In this book, we're meeting Heath(cliff) Blackwood, an English Duke, who's hiding in the small town of Maplehurst, NH, because of receiving some credible death threats at his estate which prompted him to jump onto the next plane across the ocean and taking cover, while the folks in his employ try to figure out who's behind the plot.
Bored out of his mind in small town New England, Heath happens to be in a pub where Theo Brady works part-time as a bartender, when he's not working his full-time business as the gardener for almost everyone in town. Theo is from Maplehurst and is immediately intrigued by the gorgeous, hunky man who's full of disdain and snark. Of course, Theo gives back as good as he gets, which in turn intrigues Heath into taking a second, and then third look, at the bartender.
I was giggling at their banter from the start - well done that.
Theo, despite his ability to trade snark and sarcastic comments with Heath, is still a small town boy. Never been in a relationship, even though everyone in Maplehurst knows he's gay - there just aren't any other gay men around.
There's a strong attraction between the two, and as they fall into a relationship, with Theo aware that it will come to an end when Heath ultimately goes home to England.
And Theo senses that there's something that Heath isn't telling him, that he's keeping a secret.
I quite liked this, even if I didn't like Heath for most of the book. In fact, I didn't really like him until his grand gesture at the very end. My main reason is how he treats Theo, and his behavior didn't endear him to me.
I did like Theo, who gave so much of himself to everyone around him, and who got such a shitty deal in return.
Of course, this being a Dreamspun Desires romance, we do get our HEA in the end, and we do see Heath grovel, like he should.
A nice, entertaining addition to this series!
** I received a free copy of this book from its publisher. A positive review was not promised in return. **
February 6, 2023
I enjoyed this sweet story, but I felt that the ending was rushed. That’s why I only gave it three stars. Up until Theo’s quick departure from England I was really loving it. Then everything just rushed to the end.
Read
May 2, 2016I don’t think I have to say how much I love his series because I have said it so many times but I really do. The Dreamspun Desire stories are becoming my happy place to curl up with a good romantic story and just fall and love.
This is a very low angst book and I was so happy with that. It was what I needed on a stressful day. I needed a book that would comfort me and make me long for living in small town and be saved by a prince…er um, duke who would fall for the real me because I fell for the real him… yeah, while he was lying because he was in hiding. But semantics… you know?
I loved how Theo and Heath first met and the sarcastic comments they toss back and forth at the bar. I am a sucker for good banter and these two gave it, though it started to be more flirting but you know the best form of foreplay is two dudes hating on one another when they really want to smash their faces together and shove tongues down throats. Don’t look at me that way! You know it’s true.
So anyway, the two get off on the wrong foot and once Heath learns a bit about Theo from the small town busy bodies, he realized he got Theo completely wrong and decides to make amends.
Theo you are amazing! From all that you have gone through and all that you are now, sigh. You love what you have in Maplehurst and the people you call family but that one thing, the one thing you've been missing is finding that true love. I loved you though all the work you do with your two jobs was making me tired. Goodness you are a hard worker and you so deserve to be swept off your feet by the dashing Brit who walks into the Gull and changes your life.
Heath, I dug you from the get go. I am a fan of the grumpy dudes with a heart of gold and while you weren’t really grumpy, the vibe of intimation was like a magnet to me. But you are so swoony, even when being a total dork and so enamored of Theo that I enjoyed being in your head as you realized how much the small town across the pond and the boy who lives there might be what you really need.
I loved this story, yet again, and the trope is so one of my favorites. I can’t count how many movies I have seen where we have the celebrity/royal/nobility in hiding who just wants to be seen for who they really are and loved for that person alone and not their title. This was so damn sweet, even with the lies and I couldn’t get enough. Though what I would love to see is for George to get a story. The author is one of my favorites and her YA/coming of age boys always own my heart so yeah, George growing up in the same town Theo did and what could be different for him? Ugh. My heart kinda needs that… please???
Duke in Hiding is another fun and romantic tale from a series that reminds me why I love to read romance; for the romance alone. Heath and Theo may be from opposite sides of the Atlantic but what they want, what they hope for deep in their hearts is so similar, it’s no wonder they fell in each other’s arms.
May 2, 2016
This was definitely on its way to a 4 star rating.
Because of some serious threats Heath, who is an English Duke, comes to America to hide in a small town. Theo who has a small landscaping business and also tends a local bar during the quiet winter months, meets him and slowly falls in love.
I absolutely enjoyed reading this story, it was very sweet, slow and romantic.
I also was very curious how those 2 would find their happy ever after, one living in the States and the other running a big family estate and business in England.
Unfortunately at the very end the story lost a lot of its appeal.
How Theo left his partner, just when he needed him most, freaked out, because some paparazzi stalked them and just walked away from what they built together was absolutely disappointing.
I would even have understood, if he had left, figured out what a big mistake that was and returned to Heath, to "stand by his man", but that's not how the story goes. At the end I felt like Heath definitely earned his HEA, but Theo should just grow up, he left partly because he feared be might not be good enough for the Duke and I am afraid that might just be a correct assumption after all.
Rather disappointed 3 stars for ruining such a great read on the last few pages!
Because of some serious threats Heath, who is an English Duke, comes to America to hide in a small town. Theo who has a small landscaping business and also tends a local bar during the quiet winter months, meets him and slowly falls in love.
I absolutely enjoyed reading this story, it was very sweet, slow and romantic.
I also was very curious how those 2 would find their happy ever after, one living in the States and the other running a big family estate and business in England.
Unfortunately at the very end the story lost a lot of its appeal.
How Theo left his partner, just when he needed him most, freaked out, because some paparazzi stalked them and just walked away from what they built together was absolutely disappointing.
I would even have understood, if he had left, figured out what a big mistake that was and returned to Heath, to "stand by his man", but that's not how the story goes. At the end I felt like Heath definitely earned his HEA, but Theo should just grow up, he left partly because he feared be might not be good enough for the Duke and I am afraid that might just be a correct assumption after all.
Rather disappointed 3 stars for ruining such a great read on the last few pages!
May 29, 2018
***Small town, USA is perfect for hiding out.*** The duke is hiding while he courts Theo.
Heath, 34, is a duke hiding from death threats back home in England
Theo is 26, has a landscaping business
and tends bar part time in his home town in New Hampshire.
Theo has had a hard life, but has friends and is pretty happy.
Into the bar walks a stranger, who is a rude, insulting Brit, but he's got a sexy accent. After they are tired of the sass, they begin to get acquainted, slowly letting their feelings in. Heath begins to court Theo with dates, movies, and long talks, as they slowly discover how much they like being together. Heath doesn't tell anyone he's a duke, nor that he's hiding.
The men finally get sexy times, and admit their love; when we get a huge twist in this tale.
Cute, loving characters in an unlikely story, but we like the fantasy and get our HFN ending.
ENJOY !
===
Heath, 34, is a duke hiding from death threats back home in England
Theo is 26, has a landscaping business
and tends bar part time in his home town in New Hampshire.
Theo has had a hard life, but has friends and is pretty happy.
Into the bar walks a stranger, who is a rude, insulting Brit, but he's got a sexy accent. After they are tired of the sass, they begin to get acquainted, slowly letting their feelings in. Heath begins to court Theo with dates, movies, and long talks, as they slowly discover how much they like being together. Heath doesn't tell anyone he's a duke, nor that he's hiding.
The men finally get sexy times, and admit their love; when we get a huge twist in this tale.
Cute, loving characters in an unlikely story, but we like the fantasy and get our HFN ending.
ENJOY !
===
July 19, 2019
3.0 Stars
Much better narration from Rusty (his accents are still iffy though) and I liked the story. Wouldn't mind a follow-up to see how this couple works things out in the long run...
Much better narration from Rusty (his accents are still iffy though) and I liked the story. Wouldn't mind a follow-up to see how this couple works things out in the long run...
November 6, 2016
3.5 stars I liked this. It has that novella feel to it, in that you don't feel like you hafta work too hard. Heath is a snot at first, but quickly wins Theo over. They banter and start a tentative friendship which quickly progresses to more when they both easily admit their feelings to each other. Gilly and her family, as well as a few townsfolk, provide good secondary characters to round out the setting.
Narration by Rusty Topsfield was good, although the British accents were terrible and inconsistent. And two minor characters (the twins that ran the coffee shop) bounced between southern-American, British, and Italian-American. Odd. But the tone and pacing were good. I've read one other book by this narrator, Splintered, and similar commentary. So he's not a go to favorite but I wouldn't avoid him either.
Overall the story was sweet. It's light on the sex, but the little bit we get is hot and I was definitely buying the chemistry between these two.
We knew that things would come to a head eventually, although I didn't love the way they played out , and would have liked more time on-page once the big reveal happens. The drama happened too quick with a wham-bam-thank-you-ma'am resolution crammed in at the end that didn't feel earned. But We got a little '4 month later' epilogue to ensure all was well and in the end I did have a grin on my face.
Received audio version from the publisher in exchange for an honest review, reviewed for Hearts On Fire
Narration by Rusty Topsfield was good, although the British accents were terrible and inconsistent. And two minor characters (the twins that ran the coffee shop) bounced between southern-American, British, and Italian-American. Odd. But the tone and pacing were good. I've read one other book by this narrator, Splintered, and similar commentary. So he's not a go to favorite but I wouldn't avoid him either.
Overall the story was sweet. It's light on the sex, but the little bit we get is hot and I was definitely buying the chemistry between these two.
We knew that things would come to a head eventually, although I didn't love the way they played out , and would have liked more time on-page once the big reveal happens. The drama happened too quick with a wham-bam-thank-you-ma'am resolution crammed in at the end that didn't feel earned. But We got a little '4 month later' epilogue to ensure all was well and in the end I did have a grin on my face.
Received audio version from the publisher in exchange for an honest review, reviewed for Hearts On Fire
September 5, 2016
I adored Theo and Heath, both individually and together. When they first met, they had a lot of sniping, banter and tension going on—yay!— then later on, there was a lot of sweetness between them.
A great romance indeed!
Theo really is a great guy. He was orphaned as a teenager when a car accident took his family from him way too early. His best friend Gillian and her family have been there for him ever since. Loved them as supporting characters :)
The story itself was longer than necessary, I think.
I did love the concept (English Duke hiding away in a small town in America) and their slow developing relationship was satisfying from the romance angle!
It’s a nice, laid-back story but overall just a bit too slow that it felt dragging at times, and, if I’m being honest, it was quite uneventful.
A lot of their daily routines, like Theo's landscaping business, bartending and then dating — dinner, movies, drives, more breakfast, lunch and more dinners took up too much space of the book.
Then the ending was rushed, and the conflict that we all knew was coming, didn't turn out the way I'd thought it would.
I liked both guys and their romance was sweet, but there wasn’t enough spark that made the story stand out or had me turning the pages, shivering with anticipation.
I’ve been saying this a lot, but M.J. has been one of my top favorite authors for years now, and with Duke in Hiding I’ve finally read 98% of all her titles (I think there’s two older releases I have to catch up with). Yay me! I'm excited to see what the future brings :)
This might not have been her strongest story (at least it didn’t make my top favorites, I’m afraid) but it’s worth a read.
A great romance indeed!
Theo really is a great guy. He was orphaned as a teenager when a car accident took his family from him way too early. His best friend Gillian and her family have been there for him ever since. Loved them as supporting characters :)
The story itself was longer than necessary, I think.
I did love the concept (English Duke hiding away in a small town in America) and their slow developing relationship was satisfying from the romance angle!
It’s a nice, laid-back story but overall just a bit too slow that it felt dragging at times, and, if I’m being honest, it was quite uneventful.
A lot of their daily routines, like Theo's landscaping business, bartending and then dating — dinner, movies, drives, more breakfast, lunch and more dinners took up too much space of the book.
Then the ending was rushed, and the conflict that we all knew was coming, didn't turn out the way I'd thought it would.
I liked both guys and their romance was sweet, but there wasn’t enough spark that made the story stand out or had me turning the pages, shivering with anticipation.
I’ve been saying this a lot, but M.J. has been one of my top favorite authors for years now, and with Duke in Hiding I’ve finally read 98% of all her titles (I think there’s two older releases I have to catch up with). Yay me! I'm excited to see what the future brings :)
This might not have been her strongest story (at least it didn’t make my top favorites, I’m afraid) but it’s worth a read.
November 16, 2016
So, I'm a Yorkshire girl so any book which describes my home as the most beautiful place in the world is an automatic winner :)
But this book was also a really sweet romance in the gentle Mills & Boon style, light on the sex but heavy on the romance.
The author had obviously done her research well, Leeds does have an airport on the outskirts of the city, I live in the valley below it, so it was quite funny seeing it mentioned in a MM romance novel.
She also did well with the whole nobility and titles thing with the exception of two occasions - Dukes are never called Lord (title) and Prince William isn't a prince of England, he's a British Prince, including Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland. Other than that, this was an enjoyable slow burn romance and I loved both Theo and Heath.
I think I would have preferred a bit more of a resolution to the death threats plot which saw Heath in hiding in the first place and I would have liked an epilogue a little further on than just four months but the world setting and the secondary characters were all well developed.
But this book was also a really sweet romance in the gentle Mills & Boon style, light on the sex but heavy on the romance.
The author had obviously done her research well, Leeds does have an airport on the outskirts of the city, I live in the valley below it, so it was quite funny seeing it mentioned in a MM romance novel.
She also did well with the whole nobility and titles thing with the exception of two occasions - Dukes are never called Lord (title) and Prince William isn't a prince of England, he's a British Prince, including Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland. Other than that, this was an enjoyable slow burn romance and I loved both Theo and Heath.
I think I would have preferred a bit more of a resolution to the death threats plot which saw Heath in hiding in the first place and I would have liked an epilogue a little further on than just four months but the world setting and the secondary characters were all well developed.
May 7, 2016
3.5 stars
August 30, 2018
On Chapter 3 and this is the most boring book ever. DNFing at 12%.
August 1, 2016
Title: Duke in Hiding Audible Audio Edition
Series: Dreamspun Desires, Book 9 Audible
Author: M. J. O'Shea
Narrator: Rusty Topsfield
Publisher: Dreamspinner Press LLC
Release Date: Audible.com Release Date: May 16, 2016
Genre(s): Gay Male Romance
Audio Length: 5 hours and 8 minutes
Heat Level: # 2 flames out of 5
Story Rating: # 4 stars out of 5
Narration Score: # 4 stars out of 5
Blurb:
Review:
I have read or listened to quite a few of the Dreamspun Desires books. These are all stand alone books written by some amazing authors. Each book is unique, but they all have that feel good HEA feel to them. This book is no different. The plot of this story is about Heath Blackwood who appears in the tourist town of Maplehurst, New Hampshire. He has been sent to the quiet town to hide out until the authorities capture the person threatening his life. While there he meets bartender and local Theo Brody. At first the two although attracted to each other, do not hit it off. As a matter of fact Theo struggles to keep from hitting the guy. As time goes on the chemistry gets hotter between the landscaper and the Duke. The story is pretty fast paced, and it kept my interest till the end. As previously mentioned, this book has a HEA ending. Even in the short time span we get to know the characters and see how they develop. The narrator did an excellent job of telling this story. There were many characters and he had a distinct voice for each character male and female.
SCORES on a scale of 1-5 Stars rate each of the Following 5 Categories
PLOT:4 Stars
CHEMISTRY: 4 Stars
PACING: 4 Stars
ENDING: 5 Stars
CHARACTER DEVELOPMENT: 4 Stars
Narration: 4 Stars
Review Copy of Duke in Hiding Audible provided by the Dreamspinner Press LLC. for an honest Review. Reviewed by Mollien from Alpha Book Club
Series: Dreamspun Desires, Book 9 Audible
Author: M. J. O'Shea
Narrator: Rusty Topsfield
Publisher: Dreamspinner Press LLC
Release Date: Audible.com Release Date: May 16, 2016
Genre(s): Gay Male Romance
Audio Length: 5 hours and 8 minutes
Heat Level: # 2 flames out of 5
Story Rating: # 4 stars out of 5
Narration Score: # 4 stars out of 5
Blurb:
Every gentleman has something to hide.
Meeting Heath Blackwood, a gorgeous English farmer, is probably the most exciting thing to ever happen to small-town landscaper Theo Brody, who has lived in quiet Maplehurst, New Hampshire, all his life. The sexy and secretive Brit shakes the foundations of his orderly world as they are swept up in a springtime romance neither can resist.
But Heath’s secrets run deeper than Theo ever imagined. He’s actually Heathcliff Pierrepont Blackwood, Duke of Kingston, in hiding from recent death threats. Suddenly there’s more separating them than the Atlantic Ocean, and Theo doubts he’ll ever fit in with English nobility. Though Heath and Theo are opposites in almost every way, their love might bridge the gap—if they’re willing to take the risk.
Review:
I have read or listened to quite a few of the Dreamspun Desires books. These are all stand alone books written by some amazing authors. Each book is unique, but they all have that feel good HEA feel to them. This book is no different. The plot of this story is about Heath Blackwood who appears in the tourist town of Maplehurst, New Hampshire. He has been sent to the quiet town to hide out until the authorities capture the person threatening his life. While there he meets bartender and local Theo Brody. At first the two although attracted to each other, do not hit it off. As a matter of fact Theo struggles to keep from hitting the guy. As time goes on the chemistry gets hotter between the landscaper and the Duke. The story is pretty fast paced, and it kept my interest till the end. As previously mentioned, this book has a HEA ending. Even in the short time span we get to know the characters and see how they develop. The narrator did an excellent job of telling this story. There were many characters and he had a distinct voice for each character male and female.
SCORES on a scale of 1-5 Stars rate each of the Following 5 Categories
PLOT:4 Stars
CHEMISTRY: 4 Stars
PACING: 4 Stars
ENDING: 5 Stars
CHARACTER DEVELOPMENT: 4 Stars
Narration: 4 Stars
Review Copy of Duke in Hiding Audible provided by the Dreamspinner Press LLC. for an honest Review. Reviewed by Mollien from Alpha Book Club
May 2, 2016
This review was written for Joyfully Jay reviews and can be accessed here: http://joyfullyjay.com/2016/05/review...
4.25 stars...
Theo is a simple man who runs his own landscaping business (total employees: himself) and works as a bartender to supplement his income during the lean winter months. He was orphaned as a teen and pseudo adopted by his best friend’s family. Theo is the only out gay man in town—a fact everyone knows because growing up in Maplehurst, NH is a bit like growing up in a fish bowl. It’s a small town and everyone knows everyone else’s business. Which is why Heath’s arrival is a big splash: no newcomers arrive in the early spring.
Heath Blackwood is a wealthy Duke in northern England. He’s also the only out gay Duke, which made him a sensation when he accepted the title after his father’s untimely death. Heath is estranged from his elder sister, and his younger brothers are still gallivanting about, newly graduated from uni as they are, but recent death threats made against Heath have caused him to seek shelter in Nowhere, USA, also known as Maplehurst, NH.
The first person Heath meets socially is big, burly, bartending Theo, who Heath royally pisses off. He’s brash and condescending, two traits Theo can’t overlook–no matter how attractive he finds Heath. Night after night, Heath turns up at the bar, and “spars” with Theo, which Heath finds thrilling and Theo finds exasperating. Heath expects to stay stateside a few days, maybe a week, but the investigation drags on. Lonely, scared and homesick, he begins to reach out for a real connection with Theo—particularly when he learns that Theo is both gay and available.
Their courtship is, naturally, on display for the whole of Maplehurst. It seems to go swimmingly, until, well, the big reveal of Heath’s identity. I liked the way this was handled; Heath and Theo have been dating long enough for each man to have serious feelings for the other. They are smitten, if not more, so it was easy to see how this revelation, and the accompanying hoopla, was truly disastrous for the shy and awkward Theo to completely embrace. For his part, Heath cannot imagine his life without Theo in it. So, he might have to change a few plans if he wants his man by his side, permanently.
This is a sweet hidden-identity romance. The book is fun and light, considering the reason for Heath’s flight from England. The banter is witty and engaging, and the development of the romance is slow and steady. I loved how straight-forward Theo is with his background, and how he is a man who needs to be wooed, a bit. Heath is all too eager to find a man who has a steady heart and a kind nature. He’s been too isolated in his estate to find a true companion and relishes the opportunity to connect person-to-person. Naturally, there are some trust issues that need to be remedied once Theo learns the truth, and I think that was done realistically. The logical progression of the major conflict and its resolution was reasonable, even if it went against my starry-eyed wishes for a little while. Expect a sweet HEA for a cute couple. The sexytimes are nice, but I’d have loved a little bit more of them.
4.25 stars...
Theo is a simple man who runs his own landscaping business (total employees: himself) and works as a bartender to supplement his income during the lean winter months. He was orphaned as a teen and pseudo adopted by his best friend’s family. Theo is the only out gay man in town—a fact everyone knows because growing up in Maplehurst, NH is a bit like growing up in a fish bowl. It’s a small town and everyone knows everyone else’s business. Which is why Heath’s arrival is a big splash: no newcomers arrive in the early spring.
Heath Blackwood is a wealthy Duke in northern England. He’s also the only out gay Duke, which made him a sensation when he accepted the title after his father’s untimely death. Heath is estranged from his elder sister, and his younger brothers are still gallivanting about, newly graduated from uni as they are, but recent death threats made against Heath have caused him to seek shelter in Nowhere, USA, also known as Maplehurst, NH.
The first person Heath meets socially is big, burly, bartending Theo, who Heath royally pisses off. He’s brash and condescending, two traits Theo can’t overlook–no matter how attractive he finds Heath. Night after night, Heath turns up at the bar, and “spars” with Theo, which Heath finds thrilling and Theo finds exasperating. Heath expects to stay stateside a few days, maybe a week, but the investigation drags on. Lonely, scared and homesick, he begins to reach out for a real connection with Theo—particularly when he learns that Theo is both gay and available.
Their courtship is, naturally, on display for the whole of Maplehurst. It seems to go swimmingly, until, well, the big reveal of Heath’s identity. I liked the way this was handled; Heath and Theo have been dating long enough for each man to have serious feelings for the other. They are smitten, if not more, so it was easy to see how this revelation, and the accompanying hoopla, was truly disastrous for the shy and awkward Theo to completely embrace. For his part, Heath cannot imagine his life without Theo in it. So, he might have to change a few plans if he wants his man by his side, permanently.
This is a sweet hidden-identity romance. The book is fun and light, considering the reason for Heath’s flight from England. The banter is witty and engaging, and the development of the romance is slow and steady. I loved how straight-forward Theo is with his background, and how he is a man who needs to be wooed, a bit. Heath is all too eager to find a man who has a steady heart and a kind nature. He’s been too isolated in his estate to find a true companion and relishes the opportunity to connect person-to-person. Naturally, there are some trust issues that need to be remedied once Theo learns the truth, and I think that was done realistically. The logical progression of the major conflict and its resolution was reasonable, even if it went against my starry-eyed wishes for a little while. Expect a sweet HEA for a cute couple. The sexytimes are nice, but I’d have loved a little bit more of them.
June 20, 2016
The premise of this book had me charmed from the beginning. Theo, a hardworking landscaper struggling to build his business, meets Heath, a gorgeous English farmer, only to discover that the newcomer to Theo’s small town is not what he seems. I loved the open, honest approach Theo has to everything as much as the mystery Heath maintains around who he really is. Of course this can’t go on forever, and when Theo’s world clashes with the reality of Heath’s existence, sparks fly – and they’re not the nice kind.
Theo works hard to build his business. There isn’t a lot of landscaping to do in winter and early spring, so he spends his evenings working in the pub. Theo is exhausted a lot of the time, but he is determined to make something of his life. The snobby Englishman who walks into the pub one night rubs Theo the wrong way at first, but when he gets to know Heath better, since the guy keeps returning to the pub, Theo begins to see he made some assumptions that are not at all correct.
Heath is running from death threats, and his butler/friend has sent him to the middle of nowhere in the US, hoping that he will be safe while the police figure out who is after Heath’s life. Heath is not happy, and it shows. But Theo intrigues him once he realizes there is more to the man than Heath assumed, and the more tie they spend together, the more interested Heath becomes. But he can’t risk telling Theo the truth until it is too late.
The police have found the guilty party, Heath has to return to his paparazzi-beleaguered estate, and while Theo is determined to support him, the reality f having cameras go off in his face and hear people accuse him of being a gold digger may just be too much to deal with. The feelings between them are very real, but Theo and Heath are from very different worlds, and their differences become evident as they try to figure out what to do about their situation.
If you like the idea of watching a duke pretend to be “just a farmer”, if you want to know what it’s like for a landscaper to be pulled into a life that may sound glorious and fun only for him to find it harder to deal with than expected, and if you’re looking for a sweet read with lots of humor, deep feelings, and some great banter between two men who are clearly meant for each other, then you will probably like this novel as much as I do. I think it is delightful, and it was everything I wanted it to be.
NOTE: This book was provided by Dreamspinner Press for the purpose of a review.
Theo works hard to build his business. There isn’t a lot of landscaping to do in winter and early spring, so he spends his evenings working in the pub. Theo is exhausted a lot of the time, but he is determined to make something of his life. The snobby Englishman who walks into the pub one night rubs Theo the wrong way at first, but when he gets to know Heath better, since the guy keeps returning to the pub, Theo begins to see he made some assumptions that are not at all correct.
Heath is running from death threats, and his butler/friend has sent him to the middle of nowhere in the US, hoping that he will be safe while the police figure out who is after Heath’s life. Heath is not happy, and it shows. But Theo intrigues him once he realizes there is more to the man than Heath assumed, and the more tie they spend together, the more interested Heath becomes. But he can’t risk telling Theo the truth until it is too late.
The police have found the guilty party, Heath has to return to his paparazzi-beleaguered estate, and while Theo is determined to support him, the reality f having cameras go off in his face and hear people accuse him of being a gold digger may just be too much to deal with. The feelings between them are very real, but Theo and Heath are from very different worlds, and their differences become evident as they try to figure out what to do about their situation.
If you like the idea of watching a duke pretend to be “just a farmer”, if you want to know what it’s like for a landscaper to be pulled into a life that may sound glorious and fun only for him to find it harder to deal with than expected, and if you’re looking for a sweet read with lots of humor, deep feelings, and some great banter between two men who are clearly meant for each other, then you will probably like this novel as much as I do. I think it is delightful, and it was everything I wanted it to be.
NOTE: This book was provided by Dreamspinner Press for the purpose of a review.
October 6, 2016
What happens when the Seventh Duke of Kensington crosses path with a small town part-time bartender and full time landscaper? Well, first there’s lots of sparring and snarky banter. Then a bit of flirting mixed with sarcasm. You get all this, and so much more in M.J. O’Shea’s Duke in Hiding, the newest novel in Dreamspinner’s Dreamspun Desires series.
This book was LOADS of fun, y’all! Sexy and sweet and swoony and romantic. This trope—the English nobleman hiding out in small town America—was enjoyable from beginning to end. Your teeth might hurt more than a few times from the overload of sweet, but the story was totally captivating. Theo is dreamy, beloved by everyone in his picturesque town of Maplehurst, New Hampshire. He’s content with his growing business, movie nights with his best friend Gilly, and breakfasts at the diner. He’s not crazy about being a bartender, but all in all, his life is pretty decent. Until he gets knocked on his ass by the charming, dazzling, RUDE but oh-so-hot new guy in town. The accent, the looks, the biting sarcasm newcomer Heath throws about is irresistible to Theo. It doesn’t take long for these two to give into the chemistry arcing between them, and once they do, the swoons … they are plentiful.
M.J. O’Shea has written a delightful tale of two “seemingly normal” guys falling head over heels in love. There are romantic dinners in farm to table restaurants, walks on the beach, and movie nights cuddling on the couch. Of course, Heath’s secret looms on the horizon (he IS hiding out for a reason) and the climax can be seen coming from a mile away, but that is the fun of these Dreamspun Desire novels. They’re predictable but that makes them comfortable and gives you the warm fuzzies. The writing in this one is spot on, the pacing perfect, and I was completely enthralled from beginning to end. Check out Duke in Hiding, you’re gonna love it!
*This review will also be posted on www.diversereader.blogspot.com*
This book was LOADS of fun, y’all! Sexy and sweet and swoony and romantic. This trope—the English nobleman hiding out in small town America—was enjoyable from beginning to end. Your teeth might hurt more than a few times from the overload of sweet, but the story was totally captivating. Theo is dreamy, beloved by everyone in his picturesque town of Maplehurst, New Hampshire. He’s content with his growing business, movie nights with his best friend Gilly, and breakfasts at the diner. He’s not crazy about being a bartender, but all in all, his life is pretty decent. Until he gets knocked on his ass by the charming, dazzling, RUDE but oh-so-hot new guy in town. The accent, the looks, the biting sarcasm newcomer Heath throws about is irresistible to Theo. It doesn’t take long for these two to give into the chemistry arcing between them, and once they do, the swoons … they are plentiful.
M.J. O’Shea has written a delightful tale of two “seemingly normal” guys falling head over heels in love. There are romantic dinners in farm to table restaurants, walks on the beach, and movie nights cuddling on the couch. Of course, Heath’s secret looms on the horizon (he IS hiding out for a reason) and the climax can be seen coming from a mile away, but that is the fun of these Dreamspun Desire novels. They’re predictable but that makes them comfortable and gives you the warm fuzzies. The writing in this one is spot on, the pacing perfect, and I was completely enthralled from beginning to end. Check out Duke in Hiding, you’re gonna love it!
*This review will also be posted on www.diversereader.blogspot.com*
May 3, 2016
A Joyfully Jay review.
4.25 stars
Their courtship is, naturally, on display for the whole of Maplehurst. It seems to go swimmingly, until, well, the big reveal of Heath’s identity. I liked the way this was handled; Heath and Theo have been dating long enough for each man to have serious feelings for the other. They are smitten, if not more, so it was easy to see how this revelation, and the accompanying hoopla, was truly disastrous for the shy and awkward Theo to completely embrace. For his part, Heath cannot imagine his life without Theo in it. So, he might have to change a few plans if he wants his man by his side, permanently.
This is a sweet hidden-identity romance. The book is fun and light, considering the reason for Heath’s flight from England. The banter is witty and engaging, and the development of the romance is slow and steady. I loved how straight-forward Theo is with his background, and how he is a man who needs to be wooed, a bit. Heath is all too eager to find a man who has a steady heart and a kind nature. He’s been too isolated in his estate to find a true companion and relishes the opportunity to connect person-to-person. Naturally, there are some trust issues that need to be remedied once Theo learns the truth, and I think that was done realistically. The logical progression of the major conflict and its resolution was reasonable, even if it went against my starry-eyed wishes for a little while. Expect a sweet HEA for a cute couple. The sexytimes are nice, but I’d have loved a little bit more of them.
Read Veronica’s review in its entirety here.
4.25 stars
Their courtship is, naturally, on display for the whole of Maplehurst. It seems to go swimmingly, until, well, the big reveal of Heath’s identity. I liked the way this was handled; Heath and Theo have been dating long enough for each man to have serious feelings for the other. They are smitten, if not more, so it was easy to see how this revelation, and the accompanying hoopla, was truly disastrous for the shy and awkward Theo to completely embrace. For his part, Heath cannot imagine his life without Theo in it. So, he might have to change a few plans if he wants his man by his side, permanently.
This is a sweet hidden-identity romance. The book is fun and light, considering the reason for Heath’s flight from England. The banter is witty and engaging, and the development of the romance is slow and steady. I loved how straight-forward Theo is with his background, and how he is a man who needs to be wooed, a bit. Heath is all too eager to find a man who has a steady heart and a kind nature. He’s been too isolated in his estate to find a true companion and relishes the opportunity to connect person-to-person. Naturally, there are some trust issues that need to be remedied once Theo learns the truth, and I think that was done realistically. The logical progression of the major conflict and its resolution was reasonable, even if it went against my starry-eyed wishes for a little while. Expect a sweet HEA for a cute couple. The sexytimes are nice, but I’d have loved a little bit more of them.
Read Veronica’s review in its entirety here.
June 18, 2016
Oh god, I didn't judge this book by the cover but maybe I should've. It was okay, I guess, but really quite poorly planned out overall. It felt like it was written on a whim with no care taken over anything before it was published. Like, the ex boyfriend shows up not far in for like two seconds to say hi and the scene with him isn't even completed, and he's never in the story again??? Like, whaaaat? And it was mostly boring 'getting to know you' dialogue.
Anyway, bad decision to read this. Why I do this?!
Anyway, bad decision to read this. Why I do this?!
July 6, 2016
Review to follow at Scattered Thoughts and Rogue Words.
ARC provided by Dreamspinner Press in exchange for an honest review.
ARC provided by Dreamspinner Press in exchange for an honest review.
March 5, 2024
I really liked the premise and I liked both characters (after Heath pulls his head from his buttocks, of course) but I really needed more of the whole death threats thing. Suddenly shipped off to Maplehurst but we don't get a whole lot of background on it.
May 6, 2016
3.5 stars rounded up to 4...
August 21, 2016
2.5 stars
December 3, 2017
Reviewed on The Blogger Girls
3.5 stars
When Heath suddenly gets death threats, he’s forced to hide out in small-town Maplehurst, New Hampshire. It’s the last thing he wants to do especially since it’s early spring but he has no choice. When he meets landscaper and bartender, Theo, things start looking up and he can have a little bit of fun before he goes back to England. The more time they spend together, though, the closer they get and when Heath has to go back to England, the question remains, will they be able to make a relationship work or will they be completely over?
So far I’ve really enjoyed the Dreamspun Desires series and this one was no different. I liked that Heath was a duke and that he had to hide out in New Hampshire because of problems back home. I also really liked the connection between Theo and Heath. The fact that they started off on bad impressions was amusing to me. Heath was a total d-bag to Theo, insulting him and everything but when Heath realized he couldn’t continue to be so standoffish and started actually being nice made the story that much more appealing for me. I loved Theo and Heath together and wished we could have seen more of them together AFTER the big reveal.
While I enjoyed this story, I had a few issues with it. Mainly, it really dragged for me halfway through the book to the point it was a struggle to continue reading. This lasted for about 20% for me before I got back into it. Another thing, I was disappointed in the ‘death threats’ storyline because there was no showing of it at all. It was all told so we hear about this big problem but then not much else until we learn that the threat is over and the person who did it was arrested. I would have really liked to explore more of that part of the story. As it was, it was just a convenient but needless excuse for Heath to be in New Hampshire.
In the end, this was a good story. I enjoyed it. Not one of the best in this subscription series but it was definitely a cute little read. I liked Heath and Theo together and just hope that we may get a little short story in the future showing how they make their relationship work (but mostly I just want to see more of them in England!). If you’ve enjoyed the rest of the Dreamspun Desires, you’ll definitely like this one as it has the same ‘feel’ to the story as the others do.
3.5 stars
When Heath suddenly gets death threats, he’s forced to hide out in small-town Maplehurst, New Hampshire. It’s the last thing he wants to do especially since it’s early spring but he has no choice. When he meets landscaper and bartender, Theo, things start looking up and he can have a little bit of fun before he goes back to England. The more time they spend together, though, the closer they get and when Heath has to go back to England, the question remains, will they be able to make a relationship work or will they be completely over?
So far I’ve really enjoyed the Dreamspun Desires series and this one was no different. I liked that Heath was a duke and that he had to hide out in New Hampshire because of problems back home. I also really liked the connection between Theo and Heath. The fact that they started off on bad impressions was amusing to me. Heath was a total d-bag to Theo, insulting him and everything but when Heath realized he couldn’t continue to be so standoffish and started actually being nice made the story that much more appealing for me. I loved Theo and Heath together and wished we could have seen more of them together AFTER the big reveal.
While I enjoyed this story, I had a few issues with it. Mainly, it really dragged for me halfway through the book to the point it was a struggle to continue reading. This lasted for about 20% for me before I got back into it. Another thing, I was disappointed in the ‘death threats’ storyline because there was no showing of it at all. It was all told so we hear about this big problem but then not much else until we learn that the threat is over and the person who did it was arrested. I would have really liked to explore more of that part of the story. As it was, it was just a convenient but needless excuse for Heath to be in New Hampshire.
In the end, this was a good story. I enjoyed it. Not one of the best in this subscription series but it was definitely a cute little read. I liked Heath and Theo together and just hope that we may get a little short story in the future showing how they make their relationship work (but mostly I just want to see more of them in England!). If you’ve enjoyed the rest of the Dreamspun Desires, you’ll definitely like this one as it has the same ‘feel’ to the story as the others do.
January 17, 2019
Duke in Hiding (Un Duc Incognito)
BY M.J. O’Shea
Dreamspinner Press, 2016 (2017 French Edition)
Four stars
This is well-written, standard gay romance, and I liked it a lot. Heath Blackwood has been unceremoniously (if implausibly) dropped into small-town New Hampshire to protect his life. He immediately alienates, and then gets intrigued by Theo Brody, a local landscape gardener who earns his keep in the winter months by tending bar at The Gull. Both Heath and Theo share a love of the land, of nature; but where Heath carries the arrogance of an aristocratic legacy, Theo is a traumatized orphan whose adoptive family is all the shelter he knows. They are sympathetic opposites, each puzzled and intrigued by the other while not being on quite the same page.
I give bonus points to O’Shea for using an actual ducal name from a defunct (but famous) English Dukedom – the Dukes of Kingston. Heath’s personality has been molded by his family and his title – as has Theo’s. But Theo, beaten down by tragedy and relative poverty, is as unaware of his personal attractions as Heath is sure of his.
If there were any details that irritated me, it was Theo’s strangely selfish inability to grasp a world larger than the one in which he has placed himself. Heath seems to adapt to Theo’s world far more readily than the reverse. I found I wanted to slap Theo for being a dope – and then was much relieved to see that his closest friends felt that way, too.
BY M.J. O’Shea
Dreamspinner Press, 2016 (2017 French Edition)
Four stars
This is well-written, standard gay romance, and I liked it a lot. Heath Blackwood has been unceremoniously (if implausibly) dropped into small-town New Hampshire to protect his life. He immediately alienates, and then gets intrigued by Theo Brody, a local landscape gardener who earns his keep in the winter months by tending bar at The Gull. Both Heath and Theo share a love of the land, of nature; but where Heath carries the arrogance of an aristocratic legacy, Theo is a traumatized orphan whose adoptive family is all the shelter he knows. They are sympathetic opposites, each puzzled and intrigued by the other while not being on quite the same page.
I give bonus points to O’Shea for using an actual ducal name from a defunct (but famous) English Dukedom – the Dukes of Kingston. Heath’s personality has been molded by his family and his title – as has Theo’s. But Theo, beaten down by tragedy and relative poverty, is as unaware of his personal attractions as Heath is sure of his.
If there were any details that irritated me, it was Theo’s strangely selfish inability to grasp a world larger than the one in which he has placed himself. Heath seems to adapt to Theo’s world far more readily than the reverse. I found I wanted to slap Theo for being a dope – and then was much relieved to see that his closest friends felt that way, too.
March 3, 2019
Another Man bites the unicorn candy.
I love it, the story was sweet and entertaining.
M.J O'Shea, you are brilliant. I love the sweet burn. How the character gets to know each other before the fun parts.
If you guys are looking for a sweet love it is, right here. I am recommending this book to all my lovey-dovey friends.
Lack of family drama or a drama at all i like that too, yes love does come with baggage but i am about to say bad words to that. Thing is you do you. Dont care what the freaking world say..
I love it, the story was sweet and entertaining.
M.J O'Shea, you are brilliant. I love the sweet burn. How the character gets to know each other before the fun parts.
If you guys are looking for a sweet love it is, right here. I am recommending this book to all my lovey-dovey friends.
Lack of family drama or a drama at all i like that too, yes love does come with baggage but i am about to say bad words to that. Thing is you do you. Dont care what the freaking world say..
July 23, 2020
Theo and Heath got off on the wrong foot but when they finally spend more time together, they got along well, really well but Heath kept a secret and Theo knew from the start that their relationship won't last long because Heath eventually will go back to England. Theo learned what Heath's secret is and felt like he can't live in the spotlight with his face is all over on the newspapers.
It was good with their slow burn romance but, I'm not quite a fan with the ending. It just showed a little how their living arrangement worked and I'm not satisfied with that.
It was good with their slow burn romance but, I'm not quite a fan with the ending. It just showed a little how their living arrangement worked and I'm not satisfied with that.
June 23, 2017
It was sweet and cute, but the problem wasn't really resolved. They just decided it was resolved? Decided to ignore it? I'm not really sure. But without a solid conflict with a clear, on page resolution, the reading experience was sort of unsatisfying, even when the rest of it was fun.
July 11, 2017
This took forever to finish. I like MJ O'Sheas work normally, but this felt kinda slap dash! For example, in the same chapter we go from sitting in Heaths' car, to getting out of Theos car! In a short book like this, this is unacceptable.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 68 reviews