Hot Valley

by James Lear

Move over, Scarlett O’Hara! It’s New England, 1861, and the troubles in the southern states seem a long way off for Jack Edgerton, the spoiled son of a prominent Vermont family. Howver, when he meets and falls in love with Aaron Johnson, the sexy son of a slave on the run from Virginia, Edgerton’s world is turned upside down. Separated by circumstances, the lovers pursue each other through the escalating madness of the Civil War and both find themselves forced to choose sides. After a series of outrageous adventures – including steamy woodland trysts and an impromptu jailhouse orgy that briefly reconciles the warring parties – they are reunited in the Shenandoah Valley in the autumn of 1864 — where the conflict is about to come to a bloody, burning climax.

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

308 pages, Paperback

First published April 18, 2007

About the author

James Lear is the nom de plume of prolific and acclaimed novelist, Rupert Smith. He lives in London and is the 2008 Winner of Erotic Awards "Best Writer".

Reviews

[Gideon Rathbone · Rating 5 out of 5]

Out of all of the books by James Lear that I have read, Hot Valley is no doubt the best. In fact, it has been the best read I've had in years. I could honestly say that this gay historical erotic novel was one of the main factors that ignited my passion for reading and writing gay erotic fiction. The characters are three dimensional, the historical backdrop that the story takes place in is accurate, and the sex scenes can be described as nothing short but a gay man's wet dream. The erotic scenes didn't come across as forced but came about naturally. One of the predominant things that I loved about this book was that it didn't sugarcoat or whitewash the racist aspects of the society of that time. The story is honest in its approach and the budding interracial gay romance between the two main characters is believable. Of course, there are a few fantastical situations that happen but it doesn't detract from the reader's investment in the story. This book is a MUST READ!

[Martin · Rating 4 out of 5]

Set in the 1860s during the civil war, young and well-situated Jack Edgerton isn't really interested in the conflict between north and south. All he's interested in is the men he can get down and dirty with. And of those he meets plenty. Surprisingly, considering the era. 

However, his most promising conquest, a 30 year old educated black man, Aaron Johnson, who starts working in Jack's father's company, simply refuses his advances.

Frustrated that he can't get his hands on Aaron's gigantic anatomy, he fucks his way through countless men over the years, until fate has Jack and Aaron meet again on opposite sides of the war. 

As many of James Lear's stories, this novel cleverly combines character development with hot and uninhibited sex scenes in all combinations, but it also exaggerates sex to the point where it becomes a parody. 

So despite the doubtlessly interesting characters, the story cannot shake a certain frustrating quality. 

And finally.... don't mind me. It's a sexy piece of erotica in the cloak of a historical novel. What's not to like?

4 stars! 

[LenaRibka · Rating 5 out of 5]

Audible

Honestly. I'm VERY close to name it my favorite James Lear book, or well, at least it will take place on the top of my James Lear THE BEST LIST. And I put it always aside, because of reserved reviews!..What a shame! You see, trust only your own taste. Even with your best reading buddies you can disagree. Sometimes.

I don't know how the author managed to write so many HOT AND DIRTY sex scenes in such perfect harmony with such a serious topic! Hats off! Love every single minute of it. For me it is the most serious and romantic book from all James Lear works, with an outstanding and compelling storyline.

I was listening to the audio-book, and I enjoyed a lot how the narrator Daniel Carter voiced it. Maybe he is the reason of WHY I like this book so much. Maybe it is WHY I gave The Palace Of Varieties full stars rating. And I'm thinking about to "re-read" Mitch Mitchell Mystery series, listening to Daniel Carter voice...

[Zander · Rating 4 out of 5]

a gay erotica book with hot dirty sex scenes and a plot!

[Alec ⚣ · Rating 4 out of 5]

What a lovely... tasty surprise! Read it in one sitting, and now it's 3:17 AM.

[monika]

My inner me: What are we reading here monika?

Me: Gay historical mystery. Erotica.

My inner me: Wow, great! We love gay mysteries with hot scenes :)

Me: And what's more, I've heard Daniel Carter is a great narrator!

suddenly at 41%

My inner me: monika, wait! Could you stop for a minute?! We need to talk.

Me: Yeah. What's up?

My inner oversexualized me: You know... It's just... You keep going and seem to be preoccupied but I'm kind of hypersensitive right now and I'm starting feeling there's something wrong with this book (or with you obviously).

Me: What do you mean? Daniel Carter has the sexiest voice and I'm addicted, enchanted.

My inner me: Yeah, I get you, but still there's something wrong. Something is off. Could you remind me, why we chose this book?

Me: Because we love reading gay mysteries. And the hot scenes are the added bonus?

My inner me: Yeah. Right... So what do you think about the mystery?

Me: Yhm. Wait. What? What do you mean? It hasn't started yet.

My inner me: riiiiiiiiiiight, and we are at 41%... and we have only the "added bonus" with no mystery and almost no plot!

Me: ups, you think we should dnf?

My inner me: ....

Me: dnf at 41%

ps. Daniel Carter is the best!
Audio by Daniel Carter - 5 ⭐️
Story - 2 ⭐️


AND THIS!
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

[Trio · Rating 5 out of 5]

Whoa... just whoa.

First let me just mention that there is one MMF scene, it isn't really graphic, but just a heads' up.

The scope of this novel was just amazing!

I loved the alternating views between Jack and Aaron, all the characters were so interesting and creative, but I did really love Jack. The way his character grew and changed as everything happened to him over the course of the war - it was really intense. And the things the people had to endure was absolutely incredible. All the history in the story (regardless of whether it is actually based in fact) was fantastic.

I enjoyed every minute.

I did the audio version and I honestly can't give the full 5 stars to Daniel Carter - his voices for all the characters was pretty much the same, which was confusing when the chapters alternated between the two mc's and definitely when there was dialogue. Also, his pronunciation of some of the American locations was completely wrong - but there are a lot of places in Britain he'd probably wonder at my pronunciation as well ;)

[Bryl Tyne · Rating 5 out of 5]

One of the most erotic gay male romances I've read. How Mr. Lear combined the numerous erotic accounts with such a riveting Civil War era story...I'm impressed.

I especially liked how the author developed the characters. There are no long, drawn-out descriptions. It is left to the reader to interpret the characters according to their actions, and yet, understanding the characters' motivations and visualizing them is easily done. Very compelling and an unbelievably hot read.

If you're into reading m/m erotica, you'll enjoy Hot Valley, by James Lear.

[Liam Ostermann · Rating 3 out of 5]

James Lear (aka Rupert Smith) writes great erotic novels - they are better than porn but I found that on reading this novel that the charm or amusement I found with his 'Palace of Varieties' had grown dim. I don't know if this is because the story is less plausible or not as well handled or because erotic is, for me, subject to diminishing returns.

I have no qualms about sexually explicit material in a novel, but there is a difference between a novel containing erotic passages and erotic passages which have a novel interspersing them. For me I just found that the traipsing from one erotic/porn trope to another obvious - it was to predictable - each scene is there to provide the frame work for another sexual encounter - it almost becomes a guess what's next - or its Tuesday 10 o'clock it must water sports.

The problem is sex can advance a novel but a novel which is there purely to provide interludes between sex becomes predictable.

It isn't bad - it is just not my cup of tea.

[KatieMc · Rating 3 out of 5]

Well it certainly was signature James Lear. Good audiobook, even with an English-accented narrator reading the part of an American yankee and southerner. (funny, I think I would be hugely disappointed if an British character was narrated by an American, but the other way around really didn't bother me). I might gather more thoughts later, but for now, I am on James Lear overload and I need to go read something completely different.

[Julian · Rating 4 out of 5]

Ultimate fave. >:-)

[Chris]

Well. What a glorious return to reading after three months off

[Catherine · Rating 2 out of 5]

Previous to reading "Hot Valley", I had read and thoroughly enjoyed Lear's Mitch Mitchell trilogy. If you've also read these before hand, I feel you will be disappointed in this book as I was. Where Mitch and his supporting characters were interesting, witty and charismatic, our central character here (Jack Edgerton) is a spoilt, pretentious brat who doesn't really get any character development until the last quarter of the book. Along with him, we have Aaron Johnson, a black man caught up in the Civil War who had a lot of potential but just becomes something of a gay charicature (much like the remainder of the characters).

I read a review before I tackled this book that said about the ridiculousness of having pretty much everyone Jack and Aaron meets suddenly have a desire to screw the same sex during Civil War era. I thought that was a stupid statement as this is erotica, not historical fiction but, having finished it, I have to agree with them. Yes, obviously, this needs to happen to a certain extent but it just seemed to happen WAY too much to give it any credibility. It was made worse by the fact that I didn't care about either of these characters and so cared little for their exploits. I don't know if there was necessarily more sex in this book than say, "The Back Passage", it just felt that way because it (remarkably) became tedious. While the exploits of Mitch were fun and exciting because they were well balanced with the mystery plot, this just seemed to detract from what little plot there already was.

Pacing wise, I also had a problem. I very, very rarely read a book in between reading another one as I like to stay completely focused on that one world but this felt like it was moving soooo sloooowly that I actually read a novella in the middle of it. I was about halfway through and didn't feel like I had gone anywhere. It also didn't help that the narrative would jump between Aaron and Jack so just as the one storyline would pick up, we'd abandon it to follow the other which became frustrating. The last quarter of the book I enjoyed quite a lot, I liked seeing how Jack straightened himself out (not literally, of course!) and for the first time I actually wanted to see a future for him. But then I felt it was kind of ruined in the last few pages when Lear had the farewell orgy. Yes, it was stated as an end of an era but I felt we'd already moved past that and it was a bit jarring.

No doubt, people will probably say I'm expecting too much from a piece of erotic fiction but I know that Lear can weave a great plot with great sex, so I blame the disappoint on the characters in this scenario. I just felt they were too weak for too long and it ruined the enjoyment of all the elements. Please do check out "The Back Passage" and its sequels but maybe give this one a miss to begin with. I still have his two other books to read and still hope they'll be good. Watch this space!

[Erastes · Rating 2 out of 5]

I was utterly enamoured and in love with Mr Lear’s last novel “The Back Passage” that I was over excited that another book was coming out. I pre-ordered.

Sadly, though, I was rather disappointed, because where TBP was witty and unique (whilst incorporating a series of fuck scenes to solve a mystery) this was nothing but a series of fuck scenes.

Whilst it won’t dissapoint readers who like a hot scene to excite them on every other page, that’s where the book failed for me.

In The Back Passage, the hero goes from sexual encounter to sexual encounter in his quest to find out clues for a murder in an Agatha Christie style romp and although the sex is possibly gratuitous its cleverly done and never feels like it. There’s also much wit and humour.

But Hot Valley – set in the American Civil war–felt to me that sex scene after sex scene after sex scene (…) were linked tenuously by the hero’s travels. It felt like the background of the war is added as an afterthought. It also feels hugely anachronistic as surely to Betsy 1860 America wasn’t so accepting of gay sex.

Every single man that Jack meets, from his co-workers, his father’s employers, drinking companions, fellow soldiers – everyone! Wants to (and does) have sex with him in many various ways. As much as I enjoy (heaven knows!) an erotic book, there is a case for Too Much – and I found myself hoping that the next man that Jack met simply wanted to have a chat. Or a cuppa tea. Or anything! I found myself skipping the sex to find the next piece of plot, which, as I’ve said before, always makes me feel that the reader is cheated.

I’m sorry, James, that I didn’t like it. I wanted to, but I was hoping for a good gay historical romp but didn’t find it in Hot Valley.

[Jon · Rating 5 out of 5]

I came across this author, while searching for a gay version of "Fifty Shades of Grey." Of the gay novels I've read, this one has the best plot. I was amazed by Lear's ability to develop characters with which one can easily identify. In this novel, Lear has a story that is sexy, racy, raunchy, and romantic. Hot Valley takes place, during the Civil War (1861-1864) and is the story of a 19-year old, white boy, Jack Edgerton, who falls in love with the 31-year old son of a plantation owner and one of his slaves, Aaron Johnson. The two become separated, during the war, and find themselves fighting on opposing sides. If you're looking for a story that has plenty of intense sexual scenes, yet an amazing storyline, this book is for you. I will definitely be reading more books by this author.

[John Wiltshire · Rating 1 out of 5]

Couldn't finish this one. Loved The Palace Of Varieties and The Back Passage. This one was just boring and distasteful.

[Don Bradshaw · Rating 3 out of 5]

Aaron Johnson, the son of a freed slave, and Jack Edgerton, a young guy of privilege from Vermont, go on a fuck-a-thon. The book begins in 1864 but don't look for history. All you'll find in this book are beautiful,young,well hung and horny young men.

[Kieran, First of his name.🧜🏾‍♂️ Lover of Oceans · Rating 4 out of 5]

What an amazing interracial love story during the American Civil War. And the sex was awesome

Aaron & Jack

[Doujia2 · Rating 4 out of 5]

4 stars - a mixed-race erotica set in the Civil War

This book was as much fun as James Lear's other works: recreational fucking, pragmatic fucking, and affectionate fucking all in a single package, adorned with watersports (which he seemed VERY obsessed with, and I'm certainly not complaining!), orgy, and body hair fetish; queer men sucking and fucking, bending "straight" men to submit to their own carnal desire; and a splash of self-deprecating humour here and there.

I was surprised to find an actual romance in this book, complete with a solid happy-ever-after. However, since it's James Lear, you don't have to worry that the HEA equals monogamy. After all, our MCs firmly believed that "sometimes the best way of expressing your gratitude is to share your blessings".

Now, I've got only one book left to read from his backlog. 😢

[Maame · Rating 4 out of 5]

My favorite part is when the characters finally met again. Would have cried but l felt crying about a story full of sex scenes is simply inappropriate. There was so many of them l started finding some of them funny. The army officer's physical examination was very interesting. Hope that wasn't how it was actually done back then.

[nisie draws · Rating 5 out of 5]

A pretty exciting gay sex romp set during the Civil War. Halfway through the story it developed a plot which made this even more enjoyable than most other James Lear titles which only deliver comedy and sexy times.

I liked that there was something of a moral to the story, in that the slutty character learned the true value of intimacy and love, while the cautious, prudish character learned the importance of going after what you want and damn what others might say.

[Dale Mattachine · Rating 4 out of 5]

As a lover of history, these subjects were of great interest to me. Mr Lear knows how to create an interesting and believable tale, while keeping the spice hot. The last 50 pages or so especially displayed his craftsmanship.

[Robert Fontenot · Rating 2 out of 5]

I think I'm done with James Lear. Without a mystery to hand the story upon, this becomes more akin to a pornographic version of a picaresque novel but without the wit and satire usually found in that genre. Indeed, Lear attempts to inject some vague historical accuracy be mentioning the dangers an interracial gay couple could possibly face in the civil war before returning to his sex farce. It didn't help that I couldn't particularly like the main characters nor did I see anything in their interactions to warrant any connection between them.

[Robert · Rating 4 out of 5]

Dedicated to the memory of Richard Armory, author of The Song of the Loon -- one of the greatest gay erotic American historical novels, this book aspires to the heights and almost reaches it. James Lear is attempting an interracial novel of a love story set in the Civil War era and manages to keep it real, both erotically and historically. With a bit of Mark Twain's low comedy thrown in for good measure. All in all, a good read with some real feeling for the period and its tensions.

[Claudia · Rating 3 out of 5]

Seriously, why did I think this was romance?? This was pure, unadultered porn. Props to the author since he kept me engaged throughout the whole shenaningan.

[jacobi · Rating 2 out of 5]

i don’t know what i expected

[Cerisaye · Rating 2 out of 5]

I was sure I would like this book as I liked other Lear novels, but it was a letdown. To be frank, it's a fuck book and that's not what I wanted or expected- graphic sex I have no problem with, but this is just a porn movie in novel form, hardly the gay Gone with the Wind evoked by the back cover. Moreover, Lear failed fully to convince me his story was appropriate to its American Civil War time period: the familiar tale of every male character being either gay or extremely open to sexual experimentation instantly with any man he meets, in a society unrealistically tolerant of homosexuality and romantic relationships between men.

I think maybe I'm hard on Lear because I know what he's capable of- Palace of Varieties is one of my favourite books and Back Passage was a witty twist on the classic English country house detective novel. Both had their share of sex scenes but these were part of the plot not merely something to string together porn sequences. In Hot Valley however the sex, frequent and relentless, overwhelms storytelling, with the sole intention to arouse like any one-handed read. I enjoyed The Low Road, Lear's Jacobite masturbatory romp but maybe I was less jaded with porn at the time?

On a postive note, it's always nice to read a book that celebrates love between two men as natural. Yet the lovers at the centre of the story spend most of the book apart enjoying one sexual escapade after another only to be reunited near the end in a way that makes it hard to believe either could just give up his promiscuous ways and settle down to socially acceptable domestic bliss- especially since this is 1864 and one is white and the other black.

The sex is standard porn scenario, every possible sequence you could think of, from jailhouse orgy to medical fetish as though Lear had a list to work through. I quickly began to skim over these graphic scenes because they just didn't do anything for me- in the same way as most porn bores me because there's no emotional connection, no point other than arousal. There's a pay-off, finally, when the lovers are reunited having realised what they want more than anything is each other.

There's a dedication to Richard Amory, author of The Song of the Loon trilogy- Lear's book shares Amory's fondness for hairy bear types. It's enjoyable enough, if you like graphic sex with minimal plot interruption, certainly better than most published porn novels I have read but not, I have to say, as good as the best erotic slash fiction you can find online free of charge. Maybe it's unfair to criticise a book written to arouse for going about its business unashamedly, but it surely is possible to write erotic historical romance, telling a well structured story with character development and authentic period feel, and sell books in the numbers required by publishers?

[Jimmy · Rating 3 out of 5]

James Lear writes another high energy novel of steamy man sex, complicated with the social struggles of an interracial male couple, and surrounded by the dangers of war set in the 1800s. I’m not a fan of books that take place during the civil war time period. This being the first one that I’ve read, I found it to be okay, different, yet expected. It’s not a time period that I would want to look for in the future. James Lear writes a novel to equal his first, The Low Road. Again, the main character is a young, spoiled, man coming of age, who discovers the fun of sex without realizing the dangers to him and his partners, as a result of his carefree and whoreish behavior. With the prospect of civil war inevitable, an educated and socially sophisticated black man will be embarrassingly reduced to turn into a whore at night just in order to survive, while his white, irresponsible, and unattainable love will endure and witness the hardships and horrors of the war as a medic on the battlefield. Once again James Lear tells an adventurous and creative story through his use of a familiar tool of letters and journal entries to his too late realized love that missed its opportunity. Will the lover’s be fortunate to have a second opportunity in life to be together in the stained aftermath of the brother fighting against brother in the Hot Valley?

[Jimmy · Rating 3 out of 5]

James Lear writes another high energy novel of steamy man sex, complicated with the social struggles of an interracial male couple, and surrounded by the dangers of war set in the 1800s. I’m not a fan of books that take place during the civil war time period. This being the first one that I’ve read, I found it to be okay, different, yet expected. It’s not a time period that I would want to look for in the future. James Lear writes a novel to equal his first, The Low Road. Again, the main character is a young, spoiled, man coming of age, who discovers the fun of sex without realizing the dangers to him and his partners, as a result of his carefree and whoreish behavior. With the prospect of civil war inevitable, an educated and socially sophisticated black man will be embarrassingly reduced to turn into a whore at night just in order to survive, while his white, irresponsible, and unattainable love will endure and witness the hardships and horrors of the war as a medic on the battlefield. Once again James Lear tells an adventurous and creative story through his use of a familiar tool of letters and journal entries to his too late realized love that missed its opportunity. Will the lover’s be fortunate to have a second opportunity in life to be together in the stained aftermath of the brother fighting against brother in the Hot Valley?

[_inbetween_ · Rating 3 out of 5]

Less enjoyable sex than in Back Passage, but hints of (women's) plight in (civil) war (probably stolen from Cold Mountain).