Reviewed by Heather C
Title: The Bohemian and the Banker
Author: Bonnie Dee and Summer Devon
Heroes: Nigel & Jay
Genre: MM Historical Romance
Length: 170 pages
Publisher: Samhain Publishing
Release Date: March 31, 2015
Available at: Samhain Publishing, Amazon and Barnes & Noble
Add it to your shelf: Goodreads
Blurb: A night lost in Paris finds two hearts changed—forever.
Sent to Paris on business, Nigel Warren doesn’t quite understand why his colleagues’ eyes twinkle as they tell him to meet them at a local night spot.
When he discovers it’s a drag cabaret and his acquaintances aren’t there, he realizes he’s the butt of a joke. Yet he finds himself quite undone by a singer dressed in an elegant gown, crooning a spellbinding ballad.
It’s not unusual for Jay, a former Londoner, to bring a new “friend” home from the cabaret, but he’s never had a guest quite like Nigel, whose straitlaced manner hides an unexpected passionate streak.
One romantic night on a rooftop under starry skies, followed by an afternoon enjoying the excitement of the 1901 Paris Exposition, bonds these opposites in a way neither can forget—even after they part.
Their spark reignites when Jay comes to London, but he’s not sure he can go back to hiding his true self, not even for the sake of love…unless Nigel is willing to shed his cloak of staid respectability and take a leap of faith.
Warning: Contains a virgin who doesn’t speak French but is fluent in numbers, and a drag performer who is trilingual in English, French and Love. Not responsible for extra pounds brought on by the urge to dine on croissants au deux.
Review:
When Summer Devon and Bonnie Dee collaborate, those books ALWAYS land on the top of my must read list!
The Bohemian and the Banker begins in 1901 Paris…a bit different from what I’m used to reading from these two authors, but no less wonderful. What immediately caught my interest when I skimmed the blurb was “singer dressed in an elegant gown” and “virgin”. Who can resist that!!?
Nigel, a virgin banker from London on business in Paris, finds himself the target of a prank when he ends up alone at a drag cabaret. Completely scandalized, Nigel is more intrigued than he could possibly admit to himself. The beautiful singer on stage is a MAN and Nigel is burning with curiosity…it’s the perfect opportunity for Nigel to pursue his hidden desires. Jean Michel, er, Jay invites Nigel back to his overcrowded apartment where they spend the night under the stars and lights of Paris discovering each other. Then the sun rises and it’s time for Nigel and Jay to go back to their everyday lives…in different countries AND separate societies.
The Setting: I loved the setting and the beautiful imagery. Of course, I’ve never been to Paris, but the authors totally took advantage of the atmosphere and culture, and I could easily image the rooftop scene and the Paris Exposition in 1901. Gah…the Ferris wheel!!
The Romance: I really liked Nigel and Jay together. Yes, they fell for each other pretty fast, but I think their initial reactions to each other were fairly believable. I’m always a huge fan of virgins and self discovery, and I was quickly drawn into Nigel and Jay’s whirlwind romance.
The Miscommunications: I think this is what caused me to be disconnected from the story. At first, neither MC was expecting much from the other MC, and then, all of a sudden, they were making long term, LIFE CHANGING plans for each other without ever discussing those plans!! I was very frustrated with this because, a this point, they didn’t feel like the characters I thought I knew.
The Crossdressing: So supposedly, Jay not only enjoys his cabaret performances, but he loves putting on makeup and dressing in silky, lacy things. In fact, he NEEDS this….it’s a part of him, yet when he is in London staying with Nigel, none of these desires are explored. THEN, all of a sudden, Jay needs to go back to France because he misses all of this in his life and it isn’t safe to express himself in London. I think this whole plot thread could have been used much more prominently throughout the story and would have had a larger and sexier meaning.
The Ending: I loved that Nigel and Jay were able to figure it all out in the end, and even though one of them had to make a HUGE life change, I feel that there were too many small things missing along their journey for me to fully appreciate their HEA.
Overall Impression: I Liked It
*I received a copy of this book from the publisher in return for a fair and honest review.*
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