Book Title: Standish
Author: Erastes
Genre: Gay Fiction / Historical Drama / Romance
Nymph Rating: 5 Nymphs
Nymph Rating: 5 Nymphs
Literary Nymphs Reviewer: Scandalous Minx
In the 1820’s, homosexuality is an offense that is punishable by death.
In the 1820’s, homosexuality is an offense that is punishable by death.
Rafe Goshawk is a wealthy man, who has inherited some of his wealth by his grandfather’s trickery. He has returned from the Continent to claim one such estate as his own – Standish. And while he was contemplating having a place to raise his son, he had no idea of the prize that was waiting for him to claim. A prize he would not be denied: Ambrose Standish.
Ambrose Standish is fragile of health but strong of mind. He knows that his father has left him with no skill to help his family, but he did leave him with the dream of regaining the great house lost in a card game by his late grandfather. With news of Goshawk’s impending arrival at Standish to claim the ill-gained prize, Ambrose is left with lost hope and a strong dislike of Rafe.
Will Rafe claim Ambrose through deception or can he win the young man over with pure untainted love?
Love is never simple and sometimes tolls out more pain than expected. But when it’s real, you find that the pain will help you grow, and make the love felt that much more precious. That is clearly evident in Standish. When we meet Ambrose, he is young, shy, and unworldly. While his mind is sharp from books, he is unaware of the love and passion that another can invoke. Rafe has known love only once in his life and that was smote from him at an early age. Years have taught him to be ruthless and cunning. He sees Ambrose as a challenge that he fully plans to concur, but soon he discovers him as a man his heart intends to love. Watching Rafe and Ambrose endure so much hatred, hurt, and harm left me tearful at best, feeling their wounds as my own at worse. And while I knew Rafe loved Ambrose, I was completely ready to thrash him myself for not divulging truths in the first place. Truths that, in my opinion, may not have saved him from some of his pain, but could have afforded him not to endure others. Standish is a story of passion, intrigue and growth. It’s a story of healing, forgiveness and sacrifice. And finally it is a story about love and acceptance. Erastes thrust us back into post-Napoleonic Europe in Standish, with vivid scenic descriptions and lively period language. He has created a story that readers will enjoy not just because of his style of writing, which is fabulous all onto itself, but because of the lessons learned by two incredible written characters. This is a story to be read and embraced.
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