To seal their bond, they must break the ties that bind.Painfully introverted and rendered nearly mute by a heavy stammer, Lord George Albert Westin rarely ventures any farther than the club or his beloved gardens. When he hears rumors of an exotic new orchid sighted at a local hobbyist’s house, though, he girds himself with opiates and determination to attend a house party, hoping to sneak a peek. hoping to sneak a peek.
He finds the orchid, yes…but he finds something else even more rare and exquisite: Michael Vallant. Professional sodomite.
Michael climbed out of an adolescent hell as a courtesan’s bastard to become successful and independent-minded, seeing men on his own terms, protected by a powerful friend. He is master of his own world—until Wes. Not only because, for once, the sex is for pleasure and not for profit. They are joined by tendrils of a shameful, unspoken history. The closer his shy, poppy-addicted lover lures him to the light of love, the harder his past works to drag him back into the dark.
There’s only one way out of this tangle. Help Wes face the fears that cripple him—right after Michael finds the courage to reveal the devastating truth that binds them.
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The best m/m historical I have ever read. The characters still stick in my mind years after reading the book.
I’m no stranger to the powerful stories Heidi Cullinan can dish out, but A Private Gentleman is in a class of its own. The two main characters have to face just about every adversity imaginable. Add in the very real fear of ending up on the gallows just for loving each other, and I don’t think it can get any more intense. Next time you’re in the mood for a dark and powerful story, Heidi Cullinan seals the deal with this beautifully written, emotional roller coaster.
Lord George Westin (Wes to his friends) suffers from extreme social anxiety. Between a lifetime of emotional abuse by his family, and a traumatic event in his past, this poor man is completely overwhelmed. His coping mechanisms have resulted in a devastating drug addiction, and he’s one step away from rock bottom.
Wes’ traumatic tale is only eclipsed by that of Michael Vallant. The dashing, young prostitute has a story that will make you shudder. Not wanting to spoil it for you I’ll just say that a desperate parent and a rich, entitled degenerate can do some incredible damage to a child.
The scene when the men meet is just dripping hot, erotic perfection. For the sake of the plot, these two back off so they can work through their traumas, develop their friendship, and build some trust. I love the way Heidi Cullinan can establish a connection between two strangers that’s so compelling, I just yearn for them to find each other again. (I couldn’t wait for more, more, more!).
The whole way through this book I kept reminding myself that Heidi Cullinan writes Happily Ever Afters and Wes and Michael are going to get theirs. I had no idea how she’d pull it off, and the constant twists and turns were incredible. Each time I thought it was surely at the absolute lowest point, and it couldn’t get any more intense…. Well it just shows how good Heidi Cullinan is at what she does!
One of the best things about A Private Gentleman is the wonderfully complex supporting characters. We have Michael’s best friend, Rodger, the sociopathic but loyal brothel owner. He rescued twelve-year-old Michael from the streets, took him as his lover, then set him up as a prostitute. Rodger controls most of Michael’s life. This is tough love, Regency style, and he’s so not your typical hero.
We also get to know Wes’ friend, Penny. Having survived her own horrific tragedy, this amazing woman helps Wes to see there is hope for him, too. She tells him, “‘We all have pain, Wes. It isn’t life without it. What matters in life isn’t that we escape pain. What matter is that we overcome it.’” She finds peace through helping others in need and encourages Wes to find what will bring him happiness. Ditch the drugs, cease the self-destructive behavior, get past it all and embrace life.
One of my favorite parts of this novel is Wes’ passion for orchid collection. He finds great peace in caring for the delicate flowers and I think he envies how simple and straightforward they are. As Wes says, “‘Orchids have no purpose other than beauty… God asks nothing of them beyond that they be themselves.’” Ah, if only life could be this simple.
While it is an intense journey, I really connected with what Heidi Cullinan is saying in A Private Gentleman. Clearly everyone has faced some traumatic events in their lives, and while your pain is different from mine, it is still pain. The story lies in how we overcome our trauma, engage our ability to cope, and how we affect those around us.
I don’t think I’ve ever vibed more with a protag, even if I felt personally attacked by characters doing flirts in writing better than verbally. (Anxietyballs need representation too.)
These characters are so original, I remember them and feel their struggle long after I finished the book. The story brings you into an unfamiliar historical time and you really feel like you live there while you’re reading. Each of the characters has their own personal demon to conquer. It’s really effective in showing the struggle of someone with an invisible disability, in one of the romantic leads.
Their romance is really unique and they have to fight for it, both within themselves and society. It’s a rewarding story of finding your own strength.