Genre: Historical
LGBTQ+ Category: Gay
Reviewer: Maryann
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About The Book
Owen Montgomery has been a landless drifter since the Royalist defeat at the Battle of Worcester nine years previously when he was seventeen. Since then, he has lingered abroad as an insignificant follower in the retinue of exiled King Charles.
In the spring of 1660, Owen travels across England as an envoy on behalf of the King. Despite this important diplomatic mission, Owen regards himself as little better than the highwaymen he encounters on the lawless roads.
During a brief stop at an obscure roadside inn, he encounters Lucky John, a bullied skivvy with a sweet nature who makes a lasting impression. When Owen impulsively rescues John from his unkind employer, he has no idea of the impact the lad will make on his lonely existence.
Will Owen reject this chance to open up and share his life? And can Owen be convinced he deserves John’s love?
The Review
Owen Montgomery and his companion, a bay mare named Bess, have been on missions together for a few years. Owen is a courier, and is delivering missives for the Crown.
He fought in Cromwell’s War, and took a chance and returned to England, where he was employed as a royal envoy to the Sealed Knot. Eventually became an official government courier.
Sir Anthony Cope has delayed him, and he has to travel to Woodstock to deliver the next missive to Sir Thomas Spencer. His journey takes a toll on him, he stops at the Old Oak for food, drink and sleep. He will need to be up early to complete his next job as courier.
A young man from the pub comes to the stable where Owen plans to stay the night with Bess, and Owen becomes very intrigued with him. He looks younger than he is. Owen notices the poor condition the man is in. As the man is admiring Bess, an awful screeching is heard from the kitchen, summoning “John.” John promises to take care of Bess when he returns.
Owen’s hungry, so he makes his way over to the busy inn for a meal. He notices John among the servers, and sees a bully trip the man, and is sure John will be punished for it. When John returns to the stables with blankets for Bess and Owen, Owen sees so much more in John.
Once Owen completes his next missive delivery, he returns to the Old Oak for food and rest so he can continue his journey to Oxford. But what he sees makes him angry, and he decides to buy John from the innkeeper. John is now his servant in name only. He tells John that he is free to go anywhere he wants.
Owen doesn’t know what to do with John – sometimes he needs protecting, and he seems like trouble. He leaves it to John, who has no one, to make his own decision. Their travels together bring them closer together, and Owen dreams of returning to Monmouthshire and working his brothers farm. Will they both find what they yearn for?
Lucky John is a short story melding historical fact and fiction. It’s set in Victorian England against the background of exiled King Charles, the Cromwell War, restoration of the Stuart Monarchy, the struggle to restore the Monarchy by King Charles, the new Parliament and the transition of the Commonwealth and more. It’s clearly written with an easy flow, and not at all difficult to read. I loved how Thomas wove so many historical facts and names of the era into this beautifully told story.
I loved both Owen and John. Owen is a man of morals, and has seen and experienced so much more of life than John. John is innocent, and caring for man and beast. He has a big heart and is always himself. With Owen, John gradually’s learns life lessons on the way to maturity. What they both eventually realize is how much they need each other.
Lucky John is a well told historical tale, set during an uncertain time of hardships, seasoned with the love, admiration and heartwarming moments that Thomas brings to the page.
The Reviewer
Hi, I’m Maryann, I started life in New York, moved to New Hampshire and in 1965 uprooted again to Sacramento, California. Once I retired I moved to West Palm Beach, Florida in 2011 and just moved back to Sacramento in March of 2018. My son, his wife and step-daughter flew out to Florida and we road tripped back so they got to see sights they have never seen. New Orleans and the Grand Canyon were the highlights. Now I am back on the west coast again to stay! From a young age Ialways liked to read.
I remember going to the library and reading the “Doctor Dolittle” books by Hugh Lofting. Much later on became a big fan of the classics, Edgar Alan Poe, Mary Shelley, Bram Stoker and as time went by Agatha Christie, Ray Bradbury and Stephen Kingand many other authors.
My first M/M shifter book I read was written by Jan Irving the “Uncommon Cowboys” series from 2012. She was the first author I ever contacted and sent an email to letting her know how much I liked this series. Sometime along the way I read “Zero to the Bone”by Jane Seville, I think just about everyone has read this book!
As it stands right now I’m really into mysteries, grit, gore and “triggers” don’t bother me. But if a blurb piques my interest I will read the book.
My kindle collection eclectic and over three thousand books and my Audible collection is slowly growing. I have both the kindle and audible apps on my ipod, ipads, and MAC. So there is never an excuse not to be listening or reading.
I joined Goodreads around 2012 and started posting reviews. One day a wonderful lady, Lisa Horan of The Novel Approach, sent me an email to see if I wanted to join her review group. Joining her site was such an eye opener. I got introduce to so many new authors that write for the LGBTQ genre. Needless to say, it was heart breaking when it ended.
But I found a really great site, QRI and it’s right here in Sacramento. Last year at QSAC I actually got to meet Scott Coatsworth, Amy Lane and Jeff Adams.
