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laviestbelle's review
lighthearted
relaxing
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.0
dreamerfreak's review
emotional
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Homophobia and Sexual content
daniellesalwaysreading's review
3.0
Better than the second one. The only problem was there was not enough plot for the plot but too much plot for the sex.
readersincealways's review
5.0
I love Ava's books. Such great period detail. Vivid characterizations and great dialogue. The added tension in her stories is the very real fact that the men who so bravely aim to have real, lasting love and companionship in their lives could be imprisoned and socially ruined for doing so. I am a loyal reader and she is an auto- read author for me. This is one such story. Read it and enjoy.
alisonalisonalison's review
3.0
This struck me as pretty classic Ava March--a well-written historical with lots of smut. This is a likeable and fairly lightweight novella.
elfflame's review
emotional
hopeful
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
the_novel_approach's review
4.0
Ava March is an auto-read author for me. She’s got the market on Regency gay romance pretty well tied up (sometimes the tying up in her books is literal, even), and I love her work for one simple reason: you always know what you’re going to get. In some cases, that wouldn’t seem a compliment, but in this one it is, because while certain themes and historical social cues prevail throughout her body of work, the one thing that makes each of the books great to sink into is the men she peoples those stories with. Her books really are a perfect way to make the real world go away for a little while, and who among us doesn’t read fiction for that very reason?
In Convincing the Secretary, book three in the London Legal series, Lord Grayson Holloway and his secretary, Edward Fenton, are engaged in a game of seduction and evasion, miscues and miscommunications. Fenton has been handed off to Grayson by his partner in the firm, Arthur Barrington, and to all appearances it would seem that Fenton is rather pining for his former boss, which doesn’t settle well with Grayson, of course, because there’s a part of him that wishes Fenton would look at him with the same sort of longing and devotion. It certainly isn’t Fenton’s competence as a secretary that’s keeping him employed, as is soon revealed, so with little hesitation or forethought, Grayson sets a course he hopes will lead to swaying Fenton’s attentions and affections in his direction.
Edward Fenton is the younger of the two men, inexperienced and more than a little ashamed of his desires. It’s not so much his attraction to men that causes his shame—he’s seen firsthand in Arthur Barrington and Leopold Thornton’s relationship that it’s possible for two men to find love and happiness together—but that Edward’s desires lean toward the need to be dominated, maybe even toward a little gentle humiliation, a proclivity he’s sure means there’s something perverse about him. The issue for poor Fenton is that Grayson oozes the sort of authoritative air Fenton craves, the man is temptation personified, and Edward can’t keep from becoming aroused when he’s in Grayson’s presence—something Lord Grayson begins to take notice of and decides to capitalize on.
The cat and mouse game gets underway, which is when all the miscues and miscommunications I mentioned begin to complicate matters a bit—this being one of the elements of the expected in March’s escapist romance. There’s always one last hurdle to overcome, whether it be a misunderstanding or the wrong words spoken, before her men can begin their life together.
The Regency Era and its well-heeled propriety always works well as a contrast to what March has her characters getting up to in private. This author writes gentlemen who throw off all their staid and genteel inhibitions once the doors are closed and locked, and showcases their sexual hungers to full effect. We get to know just enough about Grayson and Fenton to keep them from being one-dimensional in the long novella word count, and to make them sympathetic (in this case, especially Grayson). And yes, the “I love yous” come fairly quickly, but that’s the romantic element of romance—these two men are made for each other because it’s Gray who helps Edward embrace his desires and find freedom in his need to be commanded; and it’s Edward who helps Gray fulfill his desire to be wanted by someone he loves.
It’s a tried and true recipe that Ava March serves up in her body of work, and it’s one I greedily devour every time.
Reviewed by Lisa for The Novel Approach Reviews
http://www.thenovelapproachreviews.com/review-convincing-the-secretary-by-ava-march/
In Convincing the Secretary, book three in the London Legal series, Lord Grayson Holloway and his secretary, Edward Fenton, are engaged in a game of seduction and evasion, miscues and miscommunications. Fenton has been handed off to Grayson by his partner in the firm, Arthur Barrington, and to all appearances it would seem that Fenton is rather pining for his former boss, which doesn’t settle well with Grayson, of course, because there’s a part of him that wishes Fenton would look at him with the same sort of longing and devotion. It certainly isn’t Fenton’s competence as a secretary that’s keeping him employed, as is soon revealed, so with little hesitation or forethought, Grayson sets a course he hopes will lead to swaying Fenton’s attentions and affections in his direction.
Edward Fenton is the younger of the two men, inexperienced and more than a little ashamed of his desires. It’s not so much his attraction to men that causes his shame—he’s seen firsthand in Arthur Barrington and Leopold Thornton’s relationship that it’s possible for two men to find love and happiness together—but that Edward’s desires lean toward the need to be dominated, maybe even toward a little gentle humiliation, a proclivity he’s sure means there’s something perverse about him. The issue for poor Fenton is that Grayson oozes the sort of authoritative air Fenton craves, the man is temptation personified, and Edward can’t keep from becoming aroused when he’s in Grayson’s presence—something Lord Grayson begins to take notice of and decides to capitalize on.
The cat and mouse game gets underway, which is when all the miscues and miscommunications I mentioned begin to complicate matters a bit—this being one of the elements of the expected in March’s escapist romance. There’s always one last hurdle to overcome, whether it be a misunderstanding or the wrong words spoken, before her men can begin their life together.
The Regency Era and its well-heeled propriety always works well as a contrast to what March has her characters getting up to in private. This author writes gentlemen who throw off all their staid and genteel inhibitions once the doors are closed and locked, and showcases their sexual hungers to full effect. We get to know just enough about Grayson and Fenton to keep them from being one-dimensional in the long novella word count, and to make them sympathetic (in this case, especially Grayson). And yes, the “I love yous” come fairly quickly, but that’s the romantic element of romance—these two men are made for each other because it’s Gray who helps Edward embrace his desires and find freedom in his need to be commanded; and it’s Edward who helps Gray fulfill his desire to be wanted by someone he loves.
It’s a tried and true recipe that Ava March serves up in her body of work, and it’s one I greedily devour every time.
Reviewed by Lisa for The Novel Approach Reviews
http://www.thenovelapproachreviews.com/review-convincing-the-secretary-by-ava-march/
shelbanuadh's review
1.0
This was my least favourite of the series.
Edward didn't have much of an appearance in book 2, and Gray none at all, so there was no interest built in that book regarding them. I found that I was impartial to Edward and I can't say I really liked Gray.
The BDSM was very light, which I was good with, as it's not really something I care to read.
Gray was under the impression he did this great job wooing Edward when all he did was a) be a grouch to him forever b) spank him c) invite him to discuss work over a meal d) ask him to act as a guide at an art exhibition and e) invite him over for a late night booty call.
And as it was with the first two books, POV sometimes switched mid-scene in a way that wasn't always obvious, which was sometimes confusing.
Edward didn't have much of an appearance in book 2, and Gray none at all, so there was no interest built in that book regarding them. I found that I was impartial to Edward and I can't say I really liked Gray.
The BDSM was very light, which I was good with, as it's not really something I care to read.
Gray was under the impression he did this great job wooing Edward when all he did was a) be a grouch to him forever b) spank him c) invite him to discuss work over a meal d) ask him to act as a guide at an art exhibition and e) invite him over for a late night booty call.
And as it was with the first two books, POV sometimes switched mid-scene in a way that wasn't always obvious, which was sometimes confusing.