5 out of 5 stars
E-book. 350 pages. Published May 2nd 2011 by Dreamspinner Press
Blurb:
Charming rascal Tristan Northwood seems to have it all: an ancient name, a noble inheritance, a lovely wife, and a son he adores. Women love him, men admire him, and it seems there is nothing he can’t do, whether it’s seducing a society wife or winning a carriage race. Little does Society suspect that the name means nothing to him, the fortune is in his father’s controlling hands, and he has no interest in his wife except a very distant friendship. Society bores him, and he takes dares because he only feels alive when he’s dancing on the edge… until his wife’s brother comes home from the wars.
Decorated war hero Major Charles Mountjoy jerks Tris out of his despair by inspiring feelings of passion Tris had never suspected himself capable of. Almost as terrifying as those feelings for Charles are the signs Charles might return his affection—or, even worse, that Charles sees the man Tristan has been trying so valiantly to hide from the world.
Likes:
- Lots of historical flair.
- Deeply emotional.
- Slow burn.
- Tristan’s journey.
- Tristan and Charles, together and separately.
- Lottie and the side characters.
Dislikes:
- There’s a lot about this book that’s unusual for a romance.
- I would have liked a longer epilogue.
I don’t think this book is for everyone. There are dark emotional themes, a very nontraditional romance structure, and medical practices/tending to the wounded. Despite that, I really enjoyed this book. Watching Tristan go from the depth of despair to a confident man with a purpose in life and a love he fought for was really moving.
I wanted to read something that would make me cry, and remembered reading this book years ago. I was fuzzy about most of the plot, but the emotional trouble the main character went through before coming to terms with his sexuality stuck in my mind.
Kindred Hearts definitely made me cry. Tristan’s journey was difficult. He longs to find love but is jaded from years spent around unfaithful men and women. He’s the kind of spoiled playboy that I normally don’t care for, but the reasoning behind why he is the way he is made him sympathetic.
Tristan is put through a lot over the course of the story, and it makes the happy ending that much sweeter. All the aspects of his life get turned around for the better. I would have liked a longer epilogue showing the life Charles and Tristan built, but being satisfied with a story’s ending yet wanting more is the hallmark of a good book.
That being said, this book is structured differently from a normal gay romance book. For starters, Tristan is married and has a child. Luckily, Lottie is an excellent character, as are most of the servants and side characters. Second, Charles doesn’t physically show up in the story until 16%. Even then, the romance between him and Tristan is a slow, slow burn. However, when they do get together, it’s outside events that keep them from immediately settling into a happy life.
A lot of the emotional hangups in this book comes from the time period it’s set in – the early 1800s. A time when homosexuality is punishable by death. A time when marriage of convenience was rampant and men of means had very few ‘suitable’ options of gainful employment.
The book had tons of historical flair, especially in the last quarter, when Charles is involved in the Battle of Waterloo. I’m not the biggest fan of history, but I found the battle and everything that came from it fascinating to read.
This book is a rollercoaster of emotions, and I enjoyed every moment. It’s a long book, but kept me hooked to the very end.
Love is Love Reviews 