Innocence
and Carnality
Author: J. Alan Veerkamp
Publisher: Dreamspinner
Press
American
release date: April 23, 2019
Format/Genre/Length: Paperback/LGBT Romance/350 pages
Overall Personal Rating: ★★★★★
Nathan is a bird in a gilded cage.
A member of the Deilian aristocracy, his life is proscribed by a series of
rigid rules. But something goes horribly wrong when his “inclination” is
discovered—that is, his homosexuality. Suddenly he has become the black sheep
of his family, and his future looks bleak indeed, as the people of Deilia do
not tolerate such behavior. Nathan’s father has him fitted with a chastity belt
to keep his virtue intact until such time as he can find him someone who is
willing to wed him, sacrificing his very dignity in the process.
Nathan’s father eventually comes
up with a husband for his wayward son… enter Lord Rother Marsh Delaga III. He
shows up one day and is unlike anyone Nathan has ever met. He is quite open
about being gay, and is very obviously interested in Nathan. The wedding takes
place right away—this is a man who doesn’t let the grass grow under his feet
when he wants something—and he whisks his handsome and innocent young husband
off to the strange and seductive land of Marisol.
Delaga House is not what Nathan
expected. In fact there’s no way around it, it is a bordello. With some very
interesting occupants. Such as
Alexandra, the very competent manager, and Blythe, the rather large bodyguard
with a mind of his own and a mouth to match, and Vivian, who has a sharp tongue
and an inflated sense of her own importance. Luckily, Nathan has brought his
valet Harston with him, with whom he is close, someone to anchor him in this
strange land.
Thanks to his strict upbringing,
Nathan has trouble adjusting to the sensuality of his new life, but it feels oh
so good. And just when he thinks maybe life as a married man in Marisol will be
good, he the blinders torn from his eyes. Has he traded one kind of cage for
another? Where can he turn and who can he trust? If he doesn’t lost his innocence
and learn how to deceive, he will never survive the experience.
Innocence and Carnality is my first book by J. Alan Veerkamp, but
it won’t be my last. I’ve been looking forward to reading this ever since I saw
snippets of it in our writer’s group. It was well worth the wait. It’s sci fi
with a definite steampunk vibe that I love. I especially loved Nathan, and
enjoyed reading about his journey, and the things he had to do to survive as he
became less and less innocent through necessity. The author has a wonderful
writing style that flows easily, and he creates very memorable characters. The
sex scenes are very hot and steamy and very explicit.
If there is a lesson one can take
away from this book, perhaps it’s that there are no absolutes with good and bad,
and what may seem to be good may not be, and what is looked down on as bad
might be just a matter of understanding. I think this book would make an
awesome movie.
In all good books, a character
should grow in some way, not simply exist. Veerkamp has accomplished that with
young Nathan, who not only experiences new things, but learns from them and
develops as a person. You can’t help but cheer for him and hope he rises above
the bad in his life in the end in order to emerge triumphant. I highly recommend
this book if you enjoy men having hot steamy sex but are also a romantic heart,
and liked it with a touch of sci fi.
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