Book Name: A Valet’s Duty (New Edition)
Author Name: H. Lewis-Foster
Author's Bio:
H. Lewis-Foster lives in the North of England, and has always worked with books in one form or another. As a keen reader of gay fiction, she decided to try writing herself, and is now the proud author of several short stories and her debut novel ‘Burning Ashes’.
H. likes to create characters who are talented, funny and quite often gorgeous, but who all have their faults and vulnerable sides, and she hopes that you'll enjoy reading their stories as much as she loves writing them.
Publisher: Amber Quill Press
Cover Artist: Trace Edward Zaber
Blurb(s):
At the turn of the twentieth century, Henry Simpkins is a valet at Taverslow, the Earl of Wayshaw’s Somerset home. When the Earl’s younger brother, Rafe, arrives from his villa in Italy, Henry is given the task of caring for his mischievous dogs, Pepe and Paolo. As part of his duties, he also goes to Rafe’s room each night to tidy away his clothes.
One night, Rafe tentatively asks Henry to go beyond his valet duties to relieve Rafe’s sexual tensions. Henry enjoys their increasingly intimate encounters, but he’s soon disturbed to find he feels more for Rafe than mere physical attraction.
Now, Henry faces a difficult decision. Can he remain in the same house as Rafe if his affections are not returned?
Categories: Fiction, Gay Fiction, Historical, M/M Romance, Romance
Excerpt:
The next few nights passed in a similar way, with Henry nodding and smiling, and sometimes laughing, when Rafe talked of his life in Umbria. Falling to sleep each night in his narrow bed, Henry found himself dreaming of orange trees and vineyards. Sometimes he even dreamt of Rafe wandering among them in the Mediterranean sun, but on the fourth night when Henry went to Rafe’s room, something had changed. Rafe seemed on edge as he opened the door, and he sat on the sofa in silence as Henry carried out his tasks.
Henry started to leave, when Rafe spoke at last, an unfamiliar tension in his voice. “Simpkins, could I ask you something?”
“Of course, sir.”
Rafe gazed intently at his fingernails, giving Henry no clue as to what he might ask. His eyes remained lowered as he made his enquiry.
“Simpkins, are you—are you the same kind of man as Oscar Wilde?
Pages or Words: 29 pages
Mari's Review:
*** ARC provided to Bayou Book Junkie in exchange of a fair and honest review. ***
I wasn’t certain how much story you could pack in 26 pages, in other stories I’ve read, I’ve felt that the story was incomplete or underdeveloped. That wasn’t the case with A Valet’s Duty by H. Lewis Foster. Not only was the story complete within itself—with HEA included!—but she made me care for both of the main characters, especially Henry. That doesn’t mean, of course, that I wouldn’t have read more and enjoyed it, if the book had been longer, but that’s just because I’m greedy!
Henry Simpkins, through whom the story is told, has been a valet for a long time. His family has been in the service for generations and has recently became the Earl of Wayshaw’s valet. When the Earl’s younger brother, Rafe, comes to visit, Henry is required to take care of Pepe and Paolo (Rafe’s dogs) and also tend to Rafe’s needs.
Rafe seems very down-to-Earth, his brother loves him and does everything he can to fulfill Rafe’s wishes. He loves talking with Henry when he comes to pick up his clothes and instructions for the next day, until one day he asks his valet if he was the same kind of man as Oscar Wilde. From there they embark in a somewhat unilateral relationship, Henry ‘tends’ to his master’s needs, first by hand, then by mouth, as he slowly falls in love with the other man.
It was a lovely progression, with some angst thrown into the mix, and as I said before, even with a believable HEA, which considering the period, was an amazing feat. Never mind that the language, the wording, the descriptions were perfect for a historical story.
Rating: 4.5 romantic stars!!!
Tour Dates: January 13, 2015
Tour Stops: Parker Williams, Rainbow Gold Reviews, Prism Book Alliance, BFD Book Blog
Bayou Book Junkie, Molly Lolly, Amanda C. Stone, Tara Lain, Andrew Q. Gordon, Fangirl Moments and My Two Cents, Love Bytes, My Fiction Nook, Christy Loves 2 Read, Wicked Faerie's Tales and Reviews, Elisa - My Reviews and Ramblings, MM Good Book Reviews, Inked Rainbow Reads, Velvet Panic, Havan Fellows, Elin Gregory, The Hat Party, Scattered Thoughts & Rogue Words, Fallen Angel Reviews, Nephylim, Dawn’s Reading Nook
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i really dont know the cheekiest thing i have ever done...lol
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