Review: Beautiful Love Story.....4.5 Stars
Rating: 4 out of 5
Date: 01 7, 2014
This novel The Gentleman's Madness by Summer Devon and Bonnie Dee is an MM Historical novel set in the 1880's where being gay was considered to be deviant!John Gilliam was an academic who thought the worst thing was being caught loving another man until he found out the hard truth that it wasn't! He agreed to enter an asylum for what they called a deviant behaviour where he endured vicious attacks and painful procedures to rid him of being gay. His only pleasure in life was his writing and reading but they were stripped from him. The doctors and attendants gave him a hard time and whenever he tries to stand up for himself he is mistreated or worse, that is until an attendant gives John a friendly hand.Sam Tully is the attendant that is sympatric to John's plight in the mental facility and he also related to the feelings that John has for other men but he keeps those feelings to himself in fear of what could happen to him. Sam is not an educated man, just someone who wants to do this job without any conflicts. The two men have some much in common, yet are so different. Sam wants to help John with his time in the facility and John wants to help Sam with his reading and writing.I simply love the relationship that is slowly developing between these men as they have feelings for each other but could never act on it considering where they are and the time they are in. They do have those stolen glances, soft touches and forbidden kisses even though Sam is tormented, trying to be professional, he can't deny the feelings he has for John. This is such a beautiful and rare novel where loving another man is forbidden but true love can't be denied no matter what the outside forces are doing. Trying to find a way to love each other is not the only problem that these men encounter, they have uncovered a heinous conspiracy which could endanger their lives. Will John and Sam survive the cover-up or will they pay the ultimate price and will they both find a way to be together and love each other no matter what society tells them! I highly recommend this beautiful and intelligent story of forbidden love and conspiracy for anyone who wants to see what life was like for a gay man in 1880's!I received a complimentary copy of the book in exchange for an honest review.Reviewed by Paul at Crystal's Many Reviewers!