kyatic's Reviews (974)

Doctors Augustus Hill and William Blackwood meet when they're asked to archive and catalogue a medical estate, but when Augustus discovers that his hospital is holding a 'true hermaphrodite' (the hospital's words, not his / mine) patient against his will as a sensationalist object of ridicule, the two of them join forces to stage a hospital rescue, prison break style, and their own secrets are revealed along the way.

Ottoman is very, very good at invoking a historical setting and using it to explore modern ideas without losing the authenticity of the period, and nothing in this book feels forced or is treated lightly. Augustus is trans and disabled and William is a man of colour, and ableism, transphobia and racism are all themes alongside the main romance plot. Despite that, it's not a heavy read; the plot moves at a fast but well measured speed, and the romance evolves quickly without feeling unnatural. The, erm, spicy scenes are handled well (ooh-err) without making light of Augustus' dysphoria, but showing that love is always possible, and indeed best flourishes, with respect and boundaries.

I did find that the plot meandered a bit towards the end, and it then pulled my least favourite kind of ending - the ending that no-one could ever have possibly seen coming because it wasn't foreshadowed at all - with one of the subplots, but the main plot was wrapped up nicely enough that I didn't mind too much.

A diverse romance which manages to deliver a feel-good hopefulness without shying away from what it takes to get there.

I'm a complete fiend for a good novella, and A Lady's Desire absolutely fits the bill. Although it's technically an installment in a (largely cishet) romance series, it works just fine as a standalone; I've only read one other work in the series and it didn't impact on my enjoyment of it at all.

At its heart, this is quite simply a sweet love story between two ladies. Once the very best of childhood friends, Sarah and Win have grown apart since Win left town to marry Sarah's cousin. After the death of her husband, Win returns to town and moves in with Sarah and her family, and the two of them must face up to the truth of their feelings for one another. However, Sarah's family grow suspicious of the two's closeness, and the time comes for them to make a decision: respectability or love?

I devoured this book in one sitting. I absolutely loved both protagonists. Win's apparent seriousness masks her tendency towards unladylike overconfidence, and Sarah's shyness is a symptom of her parents' expectations of her. I loved how there was no self loathing here, too. Both women have already accepted that they are attracted to one another, and there's no angst about being gay; it's simply a part of their character, which I found refreshing. It means that the book can be a lighthearted romance without having to overcome such issues.

If you're looking for a treatise on lesbianism as it was considered in the Regency area, this isn't it, but if you're looking for a Regency romance with a queer flavour, then this will do the trick.

A sweet and uplifting romance between two imperfect women, and a very welcome addition to the queer historical romance genre, which is overwhelmingly m/m.

The hats on the cover do not appear, which is obviously devastating. This was a lot of fun nonetheless. Exactly the kind of book to read when you're feeling a bit mopey and just want some lighthearted jokes about elbows.

This cover is really saucy for a book which is mostly about cats stealing stockings and the difficulty of coming out as queer. That's not a complaint; I've long learnt not to judge a book by its cover.