Review: A great, romantic read.
Rating: 4 out of 5
Date: 01 28, 2013
Ted has had a rough 18-months after a tragic car accident. As a result of the accident that took his parents and his husband's life, he experiences tremors in his hand, dizzy spells and slurred speech. He lives his life in a haze even if he has always believed that there had to be something more to life than broken dreams and mortality. It isn't until he steps out of the Criterion Theater for a smoke that his belief is confirmed.He is amazed at what he finds and instantly drawn to the figure leaning against the the lamp post. Young, tall and dark-haired, Ted was curious of the man. After a few moments and an accusation that he was standing on the man's 'patch' he realizes that the man is a rent boy. Amidst the confusion and curiosity, Ted has an encounter with the stranger, which only helped to further ignite his curiosity.I enjoyed this novella from start to finish. From the descriptions of Victorian London through the range in emotions brought out of Ted, J.L. Merrow brought to the page a wonderful love story of closure and second chances. Merrow did a wonderful job of taking the reader back in time with sights, smells and sounds. The pages were filled with details, but none of it felt overwhelming in any way. In fact, in only helped to engage the reader more in the story. At least that's what it did to me.I enjoyed the time traveling concept and the purpose it served in the story - to bring Ted his second chance at love. I especially enjoyed learning about Victorian London or an "Dickensian queer's idyll" as Ted referred to the place. I understood why he felt that way about it because it was there that he started to feel again sensations he had long forgotten over the last year and a half - he lusted, he needed, he loved.The writing was very good, with interesting characters, a unique twist to the time traveling concept and emotions galore, this novella packed a lot essential elements in just 75 pages. The characters were a joy to read. Jem was delightful and kind, he gave of himself to Ted without much question and in the end trusted him with his life. I couldn't resist adoring him! And Ted? Ted was high strung over his mental state, but so in need of finding a connection after all this time that my heart went out to him after his first encounter with Jem. I was cheering them on, grinning when they got together the second time and having a nervous breakdown when the portal wouldn't work.This was a great, romantic read with an adorable set of characters and an interesting set of events that kept my attention throughout. I will certainly be looking for more from J.L. Merrow from this point on.