An Agreement Among Gentlemen

by Chris Owen

Edward Munrow has had a change in circumstances. Going from being a gentleman of few means to being a wealthy land owner in less than a day is difficult enough to imagine, but being blackmailed into a... This description may be from another edition of this product.

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 1933389958
• ISBN13: 9781933389950
• Release Date: June 2008
• Publisher: Torquere Press
• Length: 224 Pages
• Weight: 0.77 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.5" x 6.0" x 9.0"

Customer Reviews

GREAT romance, characters and setting! Read now!

I'd like to confess that I almost didn't buy this book (kindle version) due to some of the reviews that stated that the story was "unfinished" or lacked finality for the characters; which are things that highly aggravate me with other books I have read in the past - I simply didn't want to experience it again. I am SO GLAD I looked past that to read this book! And I'm somewhat disappointed I didn't read it sooner, but that's what I get for clinging to the somewhat vague idiosynracies of reviewers. First, the "voice" in which this book is spoken, in first person and through the eyes of our main character Mr. Munrow, is absolutely breathtaking! I loved it. A much needed break from so many other M/M romances I have read. It made reading this story that much more enjoyable, for it truly transported me to the era of the Victorian English countryside. The characters are painfully rich: Munrow, Langton and Truitt are deep, funny and achingly sensual - and trust me, after reading some of the encounters, you WILL ache ;) The villain, if there is one, is the bitter uncle of Langton, a Duke, who uses prejudice and disregard for Munrow to to blackmail. You WILL hate him. Owen was able to make me hate a man who did not try to kill anyone, didn't beat anyone up and was sick and dying! And I still hated him! The author did a brillian job with that one! The other cast of characters, Munrow's friends, Langton's mother, the staff! They are all so well done, you will see and hear them as if they are right in your own room. I found the "love" element to be right on target. Others have mentioned the fact that they felt like the main characters didn't "fall in love" or seem to BE in love. I can't imagine having read the same book. Munrow's tumble into love with Langton is so real for the age in which all of this transpires. Remember, we are talking about an era when homosexuality was a capital offence; the lead characters take great care when it comes to how, when and where they express themselves; they have to. Even with that though, the author was able to fill this book to the brim with encounter upon encounter of trist, secret meetings, a gentlemen's club (for the like-minded) and dark, closed-door bedrooms tended to by highly trusted valet's and butlers. I have read several M/M erotica/romance books and this is by far the best I have had the pleasure of devouring - IN TWO NIGHTS. I want another one! I want Chris Owen to take the best of this book, add some more angst and secret passages, and blow me away - again! The only con? The cover! It looks like a childrens book! Trivial, I know. I have a thing about the digital covers - Mr. Owen, please make the next one worthy of the words it encases! For the money, I can't imagine NOT reading this book! Don't be like I was, give this lovely story the chance it deserves! You will thank me :)

unfinished

As all other reviewers I came to this book after reading the beautiful Bareback by the same author. There could have been no major change: here we are led into Victorian England, among the gentility and the tone is necessarily completely different. Edward Munrow comes to wealth in an unexpected way and is not entirely happy about it because his new position forces him to take those responsibilities he has carefully avoided until then. The fact that ignites the plot feels unlikely enough to make it difficult for the reader to suspend disbelief; once suspension is managed somehow, the reader is thrown into a plot who develops consistently giving enough room for the three main characters to shine. Mr Owen's writing is good as ever, yet I found the characterization rich but unfulfilling. It seems to me that the novel, rather short in fact, is constantly on the verge between the nicely written but light-hearted erotica and the full fledged gay historical novel: sex scenes are many, graphic, well done and take a large number of pages but there are several hints at deeper issues which are never dealt with, leaving me dissatisfied. The most thorny issue is perhaps the threesome that develops among the three characters: it is nicely done and sexy but I really could not understand how the three come not only to have sex together but even to love one another so much that the expected exclusion of one of them from the "happily ever after" never takes place. Among the others undealt with issues one could quote the characters of the duke and of the bride to be, not to mention the rather sexy topic of dominance and sexual play in xix century England. As all these undealt issues are rather interesting and could have led to a very interesting narrative, I found myself rather dissatisfied at the end of the book. A thing I appreciated is the complete lack of self loathing among the gay characters who only struggle to come away with law and society and are utterly inddifferent to moral constraints. Four stars, but I think I should appreciate a second, edited edition taking a more clear direction.

An Agreement Among Gentlemen

Edward "Ned" Munrow is content with his life of no responsibility and all pleasure until his friend unexpectedly gives him an estate and a great deal of money. He's not particularly pleased with the development, especially when a Duke blackmails him into a marriage he definitely doesn't want. The Duke sends his heir, Henri, Viscount Langton, to spend the summer with Munrow, so they can pretend he's seeing if the young man will make a suitable heir. To his surprise, Munrow discovers that he actually likes Langton. Things get even more confusing (and exciting) when an old lover enters the picture. Don't let the Victorian setting fool you, An Agreement Among Gentleman is an incredibly hot book! Munrow is an unashamedly sensual character and I enjoyed watching him slowly become motivated by more than just temporary pleasure. The supporting characters in An Agreement Among Gentleman added a great deal to the story. They provided comic relief and much more. The relationship between Munrow and his valet was especially amusing. As for the love interests, Langton was sweet, passionate, and eager, and Munrow's old lover Truitt was absolutely delicious! The attraction among these three gentlemen just about burned up my laptop. Chris Owen has written a wonderfully sexy historical which will have a permanent spot on my reread shelf. Cassie reviewed for Joyfully Reviewed

I loved this book

This is a great story,and it's well written. I thoroughly enjoyed it. It's romantic and interesting, and it kept me coming back for more.

Three is Never a Crowd

I thought my fav Chris Owen book was "Bareback". However, An Agreement Among Gentlemen" is the best piece of fantasy yet. What I like about this story is how the story arouses, truly erotic, in a time where same sex love is forbidden. The story is light, but has a bit intrigue and manipulation by those seeking to use others to their own gain. Of course, true love wins in the end, but I was sad that their "happily ever after" could change due to society's needs. How true even today.