Showing posts with label Seventh Window Publications. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Seventh Window Publications. Show all posts

Wednesday, December 12, 2012

Review: Light and Shadow by G.L. Roberts

Light and Shadow
Award winning architect Cody Andrews was in a relationship moving out of control. Although his partner loved the fast life in LA, Cody wanted to slow it down and try to enjoy life with his partner. After two years of fighting, Cody found that all he could do was leave the relationship to save his sanity and self respect. Moving out of LA seemed to be his best bet, so he bought an abandoned lighthouse in the Pacific Northwest and left his high powered life behind. Fixing up the lighthouse is enough to keep Cody’s mind occupied enough to forget everything he’d left behind, then he meets Nick Stanton.

Nick Stanton and his partner Ray leave Chicago for a relaxed vacation on the Oregon coast. For Nick, it’s a time to reconnect with his partner and mend their ailing relationship; for Ray, it’s a tiresome getaway with little-to-no excitement. While Nick tries to enjoy the coastal surroundings, Ray begs to go someplace with a hopping club or a circuit party. And then they meet Cody.

When they meet, Cody finds Nick and Ray to be a reminder of his own failed relationship. But Cody misses interacting with gay men, and finds Nick enjoyable and Ray to be tolerable. But the more time he spends with them, the more volatile Ray becomes. For Ray sees that Cody has everything Nick longs for, and everything Ray does not want. On a rain soaked and windswept highway a decision is made, and the lives of three men are tossed about like a tiny boat on an angry sea.
Light and Shadow by G.L. Roberts is a complicated romance between two men who connect and recognize each other as soul mates almost as soon as they meet. Roberts sells this connection as well as the growing physical attraction that develops as the romance progresses. The conflict comes in when the third party involved won't step aside and will do anything and goes to great lengths to stay in the picture.

The title Light and Shadow is quite appropriate for this romance. The main characters are both artists-- Nick a well-known painter, Cody a well-known architect -- and Roberts references their combined talents throughout the story. She particularly highlights this novel's light and shadow theme when describing the restoration of the lighthouse where light comes to symbolize happiness and a hopeful future, and the storms that batter the coastline symbolize unhappiness and something a bit more sinister. All of the above is tied together by Roberts' characterization of Nick, Cody and Ray, particularly Cody who comes to symbolize the light and hope in Nick's future, as Ray plays the role of shadow.

Like it happened to Cody in his past, Nick is in a dysfunctional relationship with Ray. However, unlike Cody who chose to move away from a relationship that was dragging him into a pit of depression, Nick seems unable to walk away from manipulative Ray. Nick allows Ray to dictate how he lives and slowly all the life and light is being sucked out of him. Ray is manipulative, yes, but there is something else there. . . and I wondered while I read the story how long Nick would have waited to end the relationship, or do right by Ray, if he had not met Cody and fallen in love again. I believe Nick would have drowned in the shadows with Ray.

Roberts' romance is moody and atmospheric with a descriptive narrative that is quite beautiful at times. I specifically love her rendering of the Oregon Coast, the small town with its wonderful residents and her depiction of the lighthouse. As a reader, I was transported to the place. The story is narrated mostly from Cody's perspective, and while there is dialog, narrative prevails. For the most part this narrative works well, however I sorely missed dialog during key emotional moments when connections needed to be made with the characters whose points of view the reader doesn't often experience intimately -- as in Nick and Ray. As a result it was tough connecting with these characters, particularly Nick who is one of the protagonists.

Having said that, as a whole I found Light and Shadow to be an interesting romance that presented a bit more than the usual conflicts, a good long-term resolution that worked well for all concerned, and a beautifully moody and rich atmosphere that captured my attention.

Category: LGBT/Gay Romance
Series: None
Publisher/Release Date: Seventh Window Publications/November 2012
Grade: B-

Visit G.L. Roberts here.

Tuesday, November 13, 2012

Review: Velvet by Xavier Axelson

Velvet by Xavier Axelson
What is it about Xavier Axelson's books that I enjoy? I keep asking myself that question. I've read most of his contemporary novellas, and looking back Axelson's knack for giving his characters a happy ending while keeping them anchored in reality is definitely what attracts me to his works. Velvet has those qualities.

Virago is extraordinarily talented and serves in court as royal tailor, a skill and position he inherited from his now deceased father. His loyalty, love and bonds of brotherhood to Prince Duir are unquestionable, after all they were raised together as children. Virago has enjoyed all that privilege since childhood, but things begin to unravel when Duir inherits the kingdom and Virago discovers a new fabric sent to his household from foreign lands, an amazing cloth that oozes sensuality called "velvet."

Virago becomes obsessed with this velvet. The sensuality of it calls to him and to forbidden, secret and unfulfilled yearnings until he meets Seton, a master lute player. His music is entrancing enough to capture Duir's attention, but the magnificent Seton also captures Virago's heart and when his feelings are returned danger lurks at every corner for the lovers. When the soon-to-be king also becomes obsessed with velvet and the bloody laws of sumptuary threaten to take effect, darkness begins to gather, peacocks become the harbingers of doom, brotherhood is tested, and the truth of loyalty and real love come to light.

Virago is portrayed as the man who can see but has been blind to the real faults of those around him, and it takes the discovery of velvet and his love for the well-grounded Seton to awaken his sensuality as well as his other senses. On the other hand, Virago's brother, the physically blind Silvain, serves as the anchor to reality and the one who has always "seen" the men in their lives for whom they really are: as true, loving and loyal or as superficial, spoiled and cruel men with a sense of entitlement and with little understanding of honor and loyalty. The road is not easy as Virago experiences a forbidden love and battles betrayal, entitlement, prejudice, and ignorance.

Velvet is Axelson's first full-length novel and a historical romance set in medieval times in a fictional kingdom. Historical medieval elements are achieved with the consistent use of language, fashion, music and beliefs of those times, yet throughout subtle flavors that reminded me of a fantasy play also permeate the atmosphere. This medieval setting combined with those other elements set a rather distinct tone as background for the romance. Axelson, however, also infuses touches of reality to keep his characters grounded and readers connected. It's an interesting combination.

Common men play the heroes in Velvet: a tailor and a musician. Well . . . that is if you don't consider artistic or creative talent as extraordinary. Personally, I consider Virago and his lover Seton, as well as Virago's brother Silvain, as extraordinary or uncommon men. Not necessarily because of their individual talents, but because under dire circumstances they choose to follow their hearts and a difficult path. Brothers Virago and Silvain are the best drawn characters with Seton playing the true, passionate, and knowledgeable lover whose past is not entirely disclosed. Secondary characters play their roles rather well by adding to the overall story line.

Velvet by Xavier Axelson is really a wonderful story with a little bit of everything: yearning, angst, music, fashion, decadence, sex, violence, betrayal, love, romance, intrigue, and even a couple of sword and knife fights! I read it in one sitting. The characters, plot and action certainly kept my attention.

Category: LGBT/Gay Historical Romance
Series: None
Publisher/Release Date: Seventh Window Publications/October 29, 2012
Source: eARC for review
Grade: B

Visit Xavier Axelson here.