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jackiehorne's review
4.0
While this latest installment in Beecroft's Trowchester Blues series may be notable for featuring an asexual character, its true focus is dealing with the emotional trauma of abuse. At 16, Aidan was taken off the street by an older man, a man who gradually slipped from loving Aidan to physically abusing him. Because of his lover, Piers's, brainwashing, Aidan doesn't believe he has any rights, doesn't even believe that Piers is abusing him. Leaving the house and visiting the local museum, where he meets curator James, though, makes Aidan happier than he's been in many years. But when Piers gets wind of Aidan's disobedience (he's not supposed to leave the house), his anger gives him an excuse to beat Aidan. Still, Aidan can't stop visiting James, who is going through his own relationship difficulties, coming to terms with the fact that his once loving boyfriend, who has become a famous rock star, is now treating him like dirt.
The best part of the story was reading about how Aidan, with some help from James and the protagonists from book #1, escapes from Piers's hold and begins to build a life for himself. And begins to understand what it might mean to be a person who has no real desire for sex, but who still longs for a homo-romantic connection. Can James, who is decidedly not asexual, be the boyfriend he longs for?
Fav lines:
"But just because I don't particularly want to do this for me doesn't mean I don't want to do it at all."
.....
"Do you like fishing?'
James didn't know what to make of the non sequitur, but he put out his arms and gladly let Aidan slip back between them, holding him close. "Not really."
"But if I wanted you to come fishing with me, you'd still come, wouldn't you? It's like that." (Kindle Loc 179, 180)
The best part of the story was reading about how Aidan, with some help from James and the protagonists from book #1, escapes from Piers's hold and begins to build a life for himself. And begins to understand what it might mean to be a person who has no real desire for sex, but who still longs for a homo-romantic connection. Can James, who is decidedly not asexual, be the boyfriend he longs for?
Fav lines:
"But just because I don't particularly want to do this for me doesn't mean I don't want to do it at all."
.....
"Do you like fishing?'
James didn't know what to make of the non sequitur, but he put out his arms and gladly let Aidan slip back between them, holding him close. "Not really."
"But if I wanted you to come fishing with me, you'd still come, wouldn't you? It's like that." (Kindle Loc 179, 180)
blue_mountain_sky's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
suze_1624's review against another edition
4.0
Another solid story in this series, which had me gripped from early on.
The start was a bit slow but soon got me heavily involved - largely for hating Piers so much for his treatment of Aidan. He was the epitomy of an abuser - swinging from violence to contrition and had Aidan keen to please even after the most viscious attacks.
So, I was rooting for Aidan and had hopes of his trainer being involved in his escape from Piers but she just faded away. I would have liked to have seen her involved more.
Jamie was a likeable character but we only saw the demise of his relationship with Dave so didn't get any great feel for them as a couple. Though Dave did come across as a stereotypical absorbed musician. I did think Jamie should have got them evicted much more publicly than he did considering the damage done.
I liked that Jamie was trying to be what Aidan needs but would wonder whether this sort of relationship would be sustainable long term as Aidan ultimately has to give in more.
I also wanted to know about Aidan's predecessor, name history etc and whether there had been more. And what of Piers' parents - seems likely some drastic deed my have befallen them too.
Also learnt a new big word!
Anyway, enjoyed it despite the horrors of Piers.
The start was a bit slow but soon got me heavily involved - largely for hating Piers so much for his treatment of Aidan. He was the epitomy of an abuser - swinging from violence to contrition and had Aidan keen to please even after the most viscious attacks.
So, I was rooting for Aidan and had hopes of his trainer being involved in his escape from Piers but she just faded away. I would have liked to have seen her involved more.
Jamie was a likeable character but we only saw the demise of his relationship with Dave so didn't get any great feel for them as a couple. Though Dave did come across as a stereotypical absorbed musician. I did think Jamie should have got them evicted much more publicly than he did considering the damage done.
I liked that Jamie was trying to be what Aidan needs but would wonder whether this sort of relationship would be sustainable long term as Aidan ultimately has to give in more.
I also wanted to know about Aidan's predecessor, name history etc and whether there had been more. And what of Piers' parents - seems likely some drastic deed my have befallen them too.
Also learnt a new big word!
Anyway, enjoyed it despite the horrors of Piers.
gale_bruckner's review against another edition
4.0
Chilling danger and heartwarming affection.
Aidan is trapped in a loveless, heartless world. Here's been there so long he's forgotten what real love feels like. James radiates warmth and affection that Aidan desperately needs. They each have their own demons to face both inside and outside themselves. They each need to decide what's work fighting for and where they're boundaries are. This was a very enjoyable read that process communication and trust can overcome seemingly daunting obstacles.
Aidan is trapped in a loveless, heartless world. Here's been there so long he's forgotten what real love feels like. James radiates warmth and affection that Aidan desperately needs. They each have their own demons to face both inside and outside themselves. They each need to decide what's work fighting for and where they're boundaries are. This was a very enjoyable read that process communication and trust can overcome seemingly daunting obstacles.
alisonalisonalison's review against another edition
4.0
3.5 stars. There is so much to love about this book and I found it so engaging. It's Alex Beecroft, so the writing is excellent, the characters are wonderful, and it's all terrifically vivid. Their writing is always superb. I love that one of the main characters is ace and I love that this is an own-voices ace book. There's a lot going on in this story and it's very fast-paced. There are horrific scenes of domestic abuse that are hard to read, so beware. Both our main characters are dealing with bad relationships and it feels like most of the book is about both of them moving forward and moving on. Because of that, I thought the romance itself needed a little something more--maybe simply more time and more talking and more getting to know each other properly and more understanding each other. It seemed like it all wrapped up a touch too quickly and easily. There's a lot of action and suspense in this story, which is all well and good, but I feel we missed out on some of the quiet times of healing and connection, which is too bad. Aidan and James are such lovely characters and I wanted a little more, but it was lovely to see such a happy ending for an ace character, where they are loved exactly as they are.
This series has a lot of darkness at its heart and each book has dealt with difficult themes and things that are hard to read about. Set against the backdrop of a charming English country town full of charming characters, it makes for an interesting contrast. I hope there might be more Trowchester stories in the future.
This series has a lot of darkness at its heart and each book has dealt with difficult themes and things that are hard to read about. Set against the backdrop of a charming English country town full of charming characters, it makes for an interesting contrast. I hope there might be more Trowchester stories in the future.
kaje_harper's review against another edition
4.0
This is something I've been looking for, a book about an asexual main character, where he is not saved by the power of true love and shown the error of his ways. This book allows Aidan to be who he is, to be homoromantic but Ace, and still have a HEA.
This is also a book about domestic abuse, some of it shown on page, so trigger warnings should be noted. Aidan was only 16 when Piers took him off the street and into his home, grooming and molding him into the man he has become. But Piers became more and more controlling and abusive over time, and as the book opens he has progressed to physical violence and constraining every minute of Aidan's days. He has all the money and all the power, and the caged life is beginning to really chafe at Aidan, although Aidan is still trying to please him.
Aidan slips out and meets James, a museum-worker and archaeologist who is the opposite of Piers - soft-spoken, absent-minded, intellectually curious, and gentle. James has a boyfriend, Dave, who is a musician, often gone for long periods on tour. And it turns out that his own relationship is far more rocky than he ever realized. The celebrity-groupie lifestyle has a strong hold on Dave, and James is being left behind in the dust of ordinary life. In fact, Dave's casual assumptions about James become use, almost psychological abuse, and James's diffident personality makes it hard for him to act strongly enough to deal with Dave.
Both men have to win free of the entanglement of their previous relationships, to be open to something more.
I had a few quibbles. I wasn't crazy about the degree to which James pushed Aidan for something physical between them fairly quickly. In the first place, James's own relationship with Dave was barely cold. And even not knowing that Aidan considers himself Ace at that point, anyone who has come from a relationship with the degree of trauma and violence and non-con of all kinds that Aidan did, might not want any kind of physical relationship. In fact, while Aidan's understanding of his own sexuality might be completely accurate, that still felt tainted by the fact that the only sex he had really known as an adult was with someone severely abusive. His distaste and disinterest could well have been inborn, but I'd have liked a bit of a longer time frame and a boat-load of counseling to help him untangle the past trauma from his intrinsic desires.
I also had hoped that the abusive-ex storyline wasn't going to go the route that it did. There was plenty happening between the two main characters that needed to be worked through, and that dramatic moment felt contrived to provide a definite climax to the more interesting and lower-key aspects of the story. So while I liked both MCs, applaud the presence of an Ace character not "healed" by the magic penis of love, and was caught up in the story, I'd actually have liked something slightly slower and gentler and more psychological in the exploration of the two men.
This author writes smoothly and evocatively. I have enjoyed all the books in this series, and do look forward to any new one that might be released.
This is also a book about domestic abuse, some of it shown on page, so trigger warnings should be noted. Aidan was only 16 when Piers took him off the street and into his home, grooming and molding him into the man he has become. But Piers became more and more controlling and abusive over time, and as the book opens he has progressed to physical violence and constraining every minute of Aidan's days. He has all the money and all the power, and the caged life is beginning to really chafe at Aidan, although Aidan is still trying to please him.
Aidan slips out and meets James, a museum-worker and archaeologist who is the opposite of Piers - soft-spoken, absent-minded, intellectually curious, and gentle. James has a boyfriend, Dave, who is a musician, often gone for long periods on tour. And it turns out that his own relationship is far more rocky than he ever realized. The celebrity-groupie lifestyle has a strong hold on Dave, and James is being left behind in the dust of ordinary life. In fact, Dave's casual assumptions about James become use, almost psychological abuse, and James's diffident personality makes it hard for him to act strongly enough to deal with Dave.
Both men have to win free of the entanglement of their previous relationships, to be open to something more.
I had a few quibbles. I wasn't crazy about the degree to which James pushed Aidan for something physical between them fairly quickly. In the first place, James's own relationship with Dave was barely cold. And even not knowing that Aidan considers himself Ace at that point, anyone who has come from a relationship with the degree of trauma and violence and non-con of all kinds that Aidan did, might not want any kind of physical relationship. In fact, while Aidan's understanding of his own sexuality might be completely accurate, that still felt tainted by the fact that the only sex he had really known as an adult was with someone severely abusive. His distaste and disinterest could well have been inborn, but I'd have liked a bit of a longer time frame and a boat-load of counseling to help him untangle the past trauma from his intrinsic desires.
I also had hoped that the abusive-ex storyline wasn't going to go the route that it did.
Spoiler
Having the ex return to stalk Aidan.This author writes smoothly and evocatively. I have enjoyed all the books in this series, and do look forward to any new one that might be released.
sylvia_is_reading's review against another edition
3.0
Too much drama and violence for one story and I had hoped for more exploration on being ACE in a romantic relationship.
lucyhargrave's review
3.0
After thinking about it for a while, I decided to downgrade Blue Steel Chain to three stars. Blue Steel Chain is an interesting story, if a bit dark in some places, it is fundamentally the story of two people who've been hurt by past relationships coming together to heal.
The romance between Aidan and James was cute and sweet. But it wasn't one full of passion. Now partly this is because Aidan through the course of the novel discovers that he is asexual, which is terrific because honestly, any romance that has more diverse LGBTQIA+ characters is a win in my book. BUT I struggled to feel the connection between Jame and Aiden. It felt like they fell in love too quickly after only spending a limited about of time together. Having said I did love their interactions, both of them being nervous little cinnamon roles made for some lovely moments.
I just felt that they fell in love too quickly. For a vast majority of the novel, both Aiden and James are with other people. Yes, those people are both arseholes of the highest order, but they are still with them. Aiden, in particular, leaves a very abusive relationship and reasonably quickly decides he is in love with James. I guess I just wanted to see the romance between them have more time to develop. Instead, it felt like secondary storylines took over for a while and detracted attention away from the central romance.
Overall a solid three stars for me because it was enjoyable, but I doubt I'll be re-reading it anytime soon.
The romance between Aidan and James was cute and sweet. But it wasn't one full of passion. Now partly this is because Aidan through the course of the novel discovers that he is asexual, which is terrific because honestly, any romance that has more diverse LGBTQIA+ characters is a win in my book. BUT I struggled to feel the connection between Jame and Aiden. It felt like they fell in love too quickly after only spending a limited about of time together. Having said I did love their interactions, both of them being nervous little cinnamon roles made for some lovely moments.
I just felt that they fell in love too quickly. For a vast majority of the novel, both Aiden and James are with other people. Yes, those people are both arseholes of the highest order, but they are still with them. Aiden, in particular, leaves a very abusive relationship and reasonably quickly decides he is in love with James. I guess I just wanted to see the romance between them have more time to develop. Instead, it felt like secondary storylines took over for a while and detracted attention away from the central romance.
Overall a solid three stars for me because it was enjoyable, but I doubt I'll be re-reading it anytime soon.
frothy's review against another edition
3.0
Yikes!
Beecroft is a quality writer. But her stuff is just too much for me. The abusive relationships drugs and violence were flying in this book. As a couple of Amazon reviews said, it's not for the faint hearted.
I thought she did an excellent job with the asexual character.
This book is quality writing (she is a wordsmith) but my heart is too faint. I wish there was a way we could flag authors on Amazon as being "yikes!" Or "buyeverythingtheywrite" or whatever
Beecroft is a quality writer. But her stuff is just too much for me. The abusive relationships drugs and violence were flying in this book. As a couple of Amazon reviews said, it's not for the faint hearted.
I thought she did an excellent job with the asexual character.
This book is quality writing (she is a wordsmith) but my heart is too faint. I wish there was a way we could flag authors on Amazon as being "yikes!" Or "buyeverythingtheywrite" or whatever
expendablemudge's review
4.0
Rating: 4* of five
#LoveIsLove when it's the real thing...and #ReadingIsResistance to unseeing the agony of others. This book managed to make me, a bog-standard guy in matters sexual, empathize with an asexual character. I think Author Beecroft deserves some kind of award for that alone! My review has further explanations.
#LoveIsLove when it's the real thing...and #ReadingIsResistance to unseeing the agony of others. This book managed to make me, a bog-standard guy in matters sexual, empathize with an asexual character. I think Author Beecroft deserves some kind of award for that alone! My review has further explanations.