FROM EXCITING AUTHORS OF GAY ROMANCE, CATHERINE CURZON AND ELEANOR HARKSTEADFrom the A Little Bit Cupid collectionWill a photographer be swept off his feet by a duke who’s more dishevelled than dashing?It’s Valentine’s Day and it’s Billy last shift at The Chelsea Bunn. His photography career never took off, so it’s time to leave London, parcel up the leftover heart-shaped cakes and head back home … leftover heart-shaped cakes and head back home to Hampshire.
Rumpled Charlie and his two mischievous dogs are Billy’s favourite customers, so when Charlie turns up at closing time with a mysterious wrapped gift and the offer of a whirlwind trip on the London Eye, Billy can’t say no. But Charlie is keeping a secret that could turn Billy’s world happily upside down.
As the snow falls over London and the big wheel grinds to a halt, Billy discovers that wishes aren’t just for Christmas.
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Time to do the overly enthused happy dance, we have another Catherine Curzon and Eleanor Harkstead romance in the house!! How much do I adore these ladies? I do love these short seasonal stories which Catherine and Eleanor are so good at treating us all to, they are just perfect for those moments when you crave for something delicious and sweet, so instead of reaching for yet more Jaffa Cakes (honestly, the number of Jaffa Cakes I consume I am going to end up looking like one) I now reach for a Curzon/Harkstead story, which is far more delectable and long-lasting and far more addictive. The only thing I have to worry about is letting one’s tea go cold…. I really have gone completely off-topic, yet again!
So, The Dishevelled Duke is a very short story, set over the course of one day; Valentines Day to be accurate and it is apart of the appropriately named; A Little Bit Cupid Collection, which is a collection of short Valentine’s day stories written by an array of authors – each one looks so good, so I hope you will go and check out the other’s in the collection too.
As you would have gathered it’s Valentines Day in London, Billy who is as cute as a button is having to leave the bright lights of London when his photography career refused to take off, his hopes and dreams shattered he decides that now is the time to return home to lick his wounds, which means giving up his job as a barista in the brilliantly named; The Chelsea Bun – how much do I love the name of that little cake/coffee shop? and that also means leaving the object of his unwavering secret affections, his favourite customer; the handsome if deliciously unkempt; Charlie. Who suddenly turns up with a mystery parcel under his arm (but what is in the parcel??) just as Billy is closing The Chelsea Bun and saying a sad farewell one last time.
Delectable Charlie and his two gorgeous and immensely huge dogs have been visiting the bun every day for the past year, always sitting in the same spot and just enjoying a hot drink while reading the paper of doing the crossword – as you do! But he has secretly been admiring the hot little barista all along and trying to work up the courage to ask Billy on a date. Honestly, these two are the cutest, I adore their blossoming romance each one is very reluctant up until this point to even test their mutual attraction and yet once they open that door you know that these two are for keeps, but there is a little thing Billy doesn’t know and that is our dear, dishevelled Charlie has a wee bit of a secret….and what a bobby-dazzler that is!
Oh, gawd, did I honestly just write bobby-dazzler??
So with Charlie determined to send Billy off with a lasting memory we embark with the lads on a snowy rush through the city to the London Eye, but will a turn on the eye reveal more than just an eagle-eyed view of London to the boys, or will plans and futures change?? Well, you know me, I ain’t going to tell you what happens or what secrets they are both holding from each other, your just going to have to read it. But, I will say that you will sigh deeply into your mug of hot chocolate while ramming an iced bun into your mouth…it has to be done!
As always Catherine and Eleanor have written another winner, honestly they could write a dinner menu or a phone book and I’d be happy…did I mention how much I adore these ladies? The writing is as always flawless, it’s got great pacing sometimes with very short stories they can at times feel a little rushed, but not with this one, it moves along perfectly as we all make a dash across London.
The Dishevelled Duke is a delightful, charming delicious little romance with a wee twist and quite unusually for a Curzon/Harkstead romance there are no steamy scenes, I know!! Shocking, but to be honest this didn’t need a romp in the hayloft type of scene it is like it’s leading men; perfect exactly how it is.