Speak Its Name: A Trilogy [Paperback]

Three historical novella setting in three different moment of English history. There is a strange parallelism, from the first story by Cochrane, passing through Rowan's ones, till Erastes', the time goes back and the sensuality rate goes up.

Aftermath: Edward and Hugo are two young students at Oxford. The time is soon after the end of the WWI and England, and the little world of Oxford in particular, seems to not have fully recovered yet from the war. Edward is from a wealthy family, but he is not a nobleman. Money allows him to enter the college, an unthinkable event before the war, but now, the lack of youth and probably the times changing, set him among the few remaining sons of English aristocracy. But Edward is a shy and naivee man, innocent of life and experiences. He feels like an intruder among the others, more when he is near Hugo, the perfect epitome of a nobleman. Hugo is popular and loved, always among the right circle, always behaving in the right way. Nothing seems to link them if not something that no one of them has the courage to reveal: they are attracted to men, and in this moment they are attracted to each other. But where Edward has never experienced love, nor with women or men, and so he sees at it with wide and eager eyes, Hugo has had a disastrous experience that left him with a bitter taste in mouth and a disenchanted perspective.

Charlie Cochrane wrote a very tender and sweet novella. It reminds me a lot two of my favourite movies (and one of my favourite book): Chariots of Fire for the setting and Maurice (both movie and book) for the characters. Also like in Maurice there is the dilemma of one of the two characters if loving another man could be only limited to a spiritual sharing of minds, quite the idea that sex will taint a pure love, almost the feeling that for a noble soul, sex is something dirty. But when there is love, true love, can two lovers nurturing themself only with a sharing of minds and not of bodies?

Gentleman's Gentleman: Lord Robert is a Victorian nobleman, content with his ordinary life. He has served as Major and he still complies his duty for the Queen, here and there. And he has two sisters that kindly gave birth to more possible heirs to the title. So he is free to live as he likes, and he likes to be a bachelor and to be pampered by his man, Jack Darling. Former sergeant at Robert's command, Jack chose to leave the army with Lord Robert and now he is the perfect... wife. Yes, cause all he does for Robert is what a very good wife would do: attending to the house and to the master of the house as well. Only in one thing Jack is not like a wife: he doesn't share his master's bed. And not because Robert would not be interested, au contraire, Robert inside the private walls of his house makes not secret to prefer a male companionship. But not one time he proposes Jack and not one time Jack seemed interested in taking also that position. But not always what it seems is what it is.

Lee Rowan's novella has a lighter tone in comparison to the other two. Nor Robert or Jack have guilty feelings for what they are or what they feel. Obviously they are not open and careless with their inclinations. Probably their attitude and their apparently inability to share their feelings is due to their military extraction: men of actions more than of words. But when they arrive to the decision point, they are ready and willing to take the right decision, without regrets.

Hard and Fast:: Geoffrey is the third child of a wealthy family. Former Major, soon after the Napoleonic War, being in health and without apparently problems, he is expected to marry. The chosen bride, chosen by his father, not by him, is Miss Pelham, a rather shy but not unpleasant young girl. Unfortunately Geoffrey seems more drawn to Miss Pelham's cousin, Adam, a mourning young man. Geoffrey is not used to the feelings he has, not since they are toward a man, but since they are love feelings: he is not used to love. And discovering that his interest is awakened by a man and not by a woman is unsettling. Plus he doesn't understand Adam, who at once seems to draw him nearer and soon after to drive back him both from his cousin than from himself.

The most tormented between the three novella and yet the most sensual, it's also the one with the most unpredictable end. Erastes plays with the classical romance elements, the mother in search of a suitable husband for her almost spinster daughter, the unrepentant rake (even if it's a second line character without own scenes), the mourning but handsome gentleman, with a secret and unspeakable past, the former officer with a dislike for the social events... but then he turns the tables and the couples are not what you will expect, not at all, and not in the end... It's like a Georgette Heyer's novel (more since the Bath setting), where the main hero at once, decides to ravish not the virgin maid, but the debauched cousin! And the "breeches rippers" tag in this case is very worthy: indeed there are a pair of breeches which are ripped and in a scene that would be very right in a savage romance of the '70, even if the attacker is more the man with the breeches ripped than the man who rips them.

AFTERMATH (1920's Oxford) by Charlie Cochrane

When shy Edward Easterby first sees the popular Hugo Lamont, he's both envious of the man's social skills and ashamed of finding him so attractive.

Edward is a very shy young man who is miserable in his first year at university and he would do anything to switch places with the popular Hugo who seems to tower above him. Their first meeting is disastrous and does not augur well for any future friendship let alone an intimate relationship.

This turns out to be a tender story about two young men just finding their way who are uncertain about their feelings for someone of the same sex and concerned about how any expression of these feelings could impact their future. There is quite a bit of angst as they seem to go over the same ground amidst the tea and crumpets and a bit of cricket but they eventually figure out that "To thine own self be true" is more than just a platitude. Although there wasn't much sex in this tale I found it quite entertaining.

GENTLEMAN'S GENTLEMAN (Victorian) by Lee Rowan

Lord Robert Scoville has lived in a reasonably comfortable Victorian closet, without hope of real love, or any notion that it's right there in front of him if he would only open his eyes and take notice of his right-hand man, Jack Darling. Jack has done his best to be satisfied with the lesser intimacy of caring for the man he loves, but his feigned role as a below-stairs ladies' man leaves his heart empty.

This is such a beautifully told story. The level of detail in the background was so well done I felt that I lived it. The intrigue and espionage in the plot and pace of the action built up my anticipation for what would surely come next.

The main difference between a contemporary and historical story is, I believe, the ability of the historical writer to immerse the reader in a world that is purely imaginary but described in such loving detail that you feel you're actually living in the period and Lee Rowan does this very successfully in Gentleman's Gentleman. The characterizations are bang on from Jack and his Robert to the smaller role occupied by Captain Cecil McDonald; they were all well drawn for such a short story. The dialogue was so full of euphemisms that I laughed out loud on occasion - very upper class English society. The hint of espionage and criminal wrongdoings add spice to the story and help to throw Jack and Robert together. Imagine living together for 10 years in close quarters with no moves by either one to test the waters!

HARD AND FAST (Regency) by Erastes

Major Geoffrey Chaloner, recently returned from the Napoleonic war is the impoverished third son of a wealthy father who wants to improve his own social status by marrying Geoffrey off to a young lady, The Honourable Emily Pelham who is from a very noble family that could use a bit of cash. However, standing in the way of this very suitable match is the fact that the potential groom is not the slightest bit interested in marriage and is much more attracted to Emily's cousin, Adam Heyward.

Geoffrey's character is big and muscular and he struggles with his feelings for Adam who is physically the weaker of the two, partially crippled by a club foot, but who is the stronger one in the relationship and is more experienced in the ways of the world. Adam makes life extremely difficult for Geoffrey by questioning his motives for wanting to marry his cousin. The two men are driven by an emotion neither has felt before and they become more and more involved with no way out until a solution is provided from a completely unexpected source.

I was entranced by the passion between Geoffrey and Adam and the shifts in power between them as their very short dalliance progressed. I thought that this was by far the most sensuous of the three novellas and Erastes certainly knows how to keep the reader's interest at peak level throughout the story. I was totally engaged until the very last page.

SPEAK ITS NAME: Trilogy No. III is a wonderful anthology as it covers three different historical periods which added to the appeal of the stories and characters. This book was a delight and it was easy to immerse myself in the prose and characters as well as the leisurely pace. In my opinion this book is a credit to its genre and I highly recommend it as one that readers would definitely want to have on their bookshelves.

OK the only regret I have is not to have read this earlier. I do not have any favorite as I enjoy all 3 historical romances here.

Aftermath is sweet and tender about newly awaken young gay love between 2 English Oxford students. No explicit sex but this tender story does not need it as the reader just want these 2 young men to come together and somehow stay together for life. The English Oxford university setting is lovely as only Charlie Cochrane could write it. Edward and Hugo are very likable, more so Edward the innocent one and yet the more fearless of the two when it comes to his heart desire. Yes "to thine ownself be true".

Lee Rowen never disappoints. Gentleman's gentleman is pure delight as we follow the romance of an English Lord and his man-servant. An outstanding plot here as mystery, intrigues and espionage is mixed into this forbidden romance in the stiff English upper class society. Both Lord Robert Scoville and his faithful Jack Darling (sargeon-cum-butler-cum-valet-cum-bodyguard-cum-secretary) are very well developed and appealing characters. Men in total control of their own destinies in the era they live in, nothing is too difficult for them to overcome in love or in life. The last part is really funny. I would love to read more of these 2 delighful characters.

Finally Hard & Fast by Erastes. I have to say I was afraid this would turn up to be in the same tone as Standish. Fortunately not so as this regency romance gives us an unexpected but very satisfying ending despite the odds. This is the more sombre of the 3 stories and as previous reviewers have noted the most sensual and enticing. I was not to sympathetic with Major Geoffrey Chaloner's character as I expect him to have more back bones. But I really love Adam Heyward's character. A young man stiken with a club foot, it must have been terribly hard for him in a world where men like him is most likely viewed with pity even contempt. Yet this young man somehow manages to laugh at himself and the world. And he wants the hunk Geoffrey Chaloner. The close relationship between Adam and his cousin Emily is touching as these 2 young people look out for each other. I enjoy the story which is quality writing with its rich setting but I could not help but feel that Geoffrey got more than he truly deserves. Hopefully he values what he has been given.

Gay historical romance is so rare compared to the contemporary ones and very glad to have this collection which is definitely a keeper. No doubt about getting the print version for this one too.