Book Reviews

Book Blurb

All the world’s a stage . . . but life doesn’t come with a script.

Posh boy Tristan Goldsmith has one last summer of freedom before he joins the family firm in New York—no more farting around on stage, as his father puts it. But the classically trained actor can’t resist when the Shamwell Amateur Dramatics Society begs him to take a leading role in their production of A Midsummer Night’s Dream. As an added incentive, he’ll be giving private acting lessons to a gorgeous local handyman who’s been curiously resistant to Tristan’s advances.

 

As a late-diagnosed dyslexic still struggling with literacy, Con Izzard’s never dared to act before. With arrogant yet charming Tristan helping him with his lines, he finally has his chance to shine. But Con’s determined not to start a romance with a man he’s convinced only wants a casual fling.

 

Tristan’s never been one to back down from a challenge, especially when he realises his attraction to the tall, muscular handyman isn’t just physical. Just as he thinks he’s finally won Con’s heart—and given his own in return—disaster strikes with a slip of the tongue that shatters Con’s trust and sends him running for cover. This show may be over before the curtain’s even opened.

 

 

First Edition published by Samhain Publishing, 2015.

 

Book Review

Ah, Shamwell. I had almost forgotten how much I enjoyed this little village, and how fabulous JL Merrow's very British stories are to get lost in. I absolutely loved book one in the series, so it was no hardship to think about jumping into this installment. I was excited at the prospect of the actor and the handyman, as I figured this would be a fun and quirky tale. I was definitely right.

Con only recently moved to Shamwell after his gran died, and he's gotten a good clientele with his handyman business. He doesn't think too highly of himself, mainly due to the problems he's suffered his whole life with dyslexia, regardless that Heather always tells him how gorgeous he is. Tristan is back in Shamwell only until October, cleaning and organizing his Nanny Geary's house who just passed away and left it to him. She wasn't really his grandmother, she was his mother's nanny and then his, but in her and Tristan's eyes, they were family. Tristan would much rather stay there, but his father has summoned him to New York to join the family firm and, well, he needs money to live, so off he'll go and give up his acting career.

To say that Con and Tristan got off on the wrong foot is putting it mildly, very mildly. It seems that miscommunication abounds every time either of them opens their mouths. Con is convinced that Tristan thinks he's a dunce from peasant stock, although that part probably isn't too far off, and Tristan can't understand why every time he says something Con takes it the wrong way. The fact that Tristan comes on to Con and gets turned down, spectacularly, didn't help matters. Although I could see Con's point. He doesn't want his heart involved when Tristan is leaving in a few months.

When the amateur playhouse loses its Puck for their A Midsummer Night's Dream performance in a few months, Tristan takes on that role and convinces Con to play Bottom. This means these two unlikely souls spending more time together, but also learning to understand and appreciate each other. Unfortunately, Tristan's father has other plans and gives him an ultimatum. Well, it takes a little help from beyond, and a cat, to show Tristan what he needs from his life.

An absolutely delightful addition to the series. I adored Con and Tristan, in different ways, but their romance was a sweet and gentle one, filled with a lot of quotes from the Bard. I'm looking forward to more stories from Shamwell.

 

 

 

 

DISCLAIMER: Books reviewed on this site were usually provided at no cost by the publisher or author. This book has been provided by Riptide Publishing for the purpose of a review.

Additional Information

Format	ebook and print
Length	Novel, 258 pages/68500 words
Heat Level
Publication Date	12-June-2017
Price	$3.99 ebook, $17.99 paperback, $21.98 bundle
Buy Link	http://riptidepublishing.com/titles/played