Hello again! Welcome to the first of what I hope shall be many reviews for today! Last night I started and finished a lovely book from one of my favorite authors in the world: The Copper, from Bonnie Dee. Imagine how much I fangirled when Bonnie was kind enough to send me an ARC in exchange for an honest review and how much I suffered with my own booked bookish schedule (haha) and with the forced await until yesterday. And imagine how much my parents and offline friends suffered while I read the book and laughed hysterically or “awww-ed” or started to tap my feet on the floor in a nervous reflex. If you didn’t know already, I’ll tell you this: it’s a bitch to be near a reading fangirl.
Before getting this review started, I just want to thank Bonnie again for the kindness and say that you made my night yesterday ❤ Now enough gibber jabber, let’s do this!
The Story
Lord Avery Wickersham is the epitome of a carefree wealthy man. He does what he wants when he wants and how he wants. Nothing stays in his way when he sets his mind into something. But not even all his determination is enough to fulfill his empty existence. No matter how many men pass his bed, how many alcohol, opium, money and games. Lord Avery Wickersham is a lonely man without a purpose in life.
Until he’s found in bed with other two men by a police raid.
Connor Tate is the epitome of the fair police officer. He follows rules on the clock, breathes justice and battles for a more equal world, righting all the wrongs he can. Nothing stays in the way of his determination – not even his illegal desire for other men. Connor knows that sacrifices have to be made in life for a greater good and he is very good at his work. No matter how much he craves a mate, intimacy or even just a friend. His duty will always comes first. Connor Tate is a lonely man with a firm purpose in life.
Until he finds Lord Wickersham in bed with two other men in a routine police raid.
As Avery and Connor’s worlds collide, both men realize that they won’t ever be themselves again. Avery doesn’t mind in the slightest that he has to play low to prevent further scandal in society – he was arrested, after all – and Connor can’t ignore all the feelings that a certain lord awoke in him with his noble acts towards his bed mates. And maybe with his winning smile.
But can Avery prove to Connor that they can work out as a couple? Can Connor get past his conscious and allow himself to be happy for the first time in his life?
The Analysis
Just remembering that those were my impressions and opinion as a reader 🙂
So, as you may have noticed, I love Bonnie Dee’s works. I have been pinning to read The Cooper since I found out about it in February and I knew it would be a blast. Bonnie knows her business when it comes to writing and character developing, so I knew I was in capable and safe hands. I just didn’t expected to be swept off my feet with the thriller vibes from The Copper. It was so refreshing to read a gay historical romance with this element! Really rewarding ❤ I also loved the dark and down-to-earth tone of the book, very realistic without losing the romance charm, you know? So I’m a satisfied, surprised and delighted fangirl at the moment, haha! I couldn’t give it any less than five stars!!
The narrative style is third person with switching points of view between Copper and Avery. Have I mentioned that this is my favorite one? Always, I know. Sorry for that. It was so nice to be able to dive deep in the minds of Avery and Copper. Both were such complex and lovely characters! I usually pick a favorite man among my gay couples, but I couldn’t decide between them! Avery and Copper were really like two faces of a coin: the fun, easy-going, wealthy and powerful gentleman that has everything and has nothing versus the serious, reserved, lower-classed and average man that has little money and the world in his head. And they are glued together by fate ❤
The plot had a thriller and mystery tone to it, but it wasn’t complex. We discover all key pieces very soon and the longing for the who is not something that will drive the reader; it’s the why and how to stop it that will. Powerful people are involved in corruption and awful illegal deeds, people that can’t be reached by the regular means of the law in the turn of the 19th London. The kind of people that walks free of punishment to this day because of a name, or money or all together. It’s not hard to guess what will it happen, specially if you, like me, it’s a fan of Dee’s works, so don’t set your standards for a story with a huge twist. You’ll be left wanting.
The characters are the strongest point in the book, along with the writing style. As I mentioned, Avery and Connor are very well constructed and so real that it hurts. I really wished I could tell them everything they thought of each other and simply hug them and assure everything would be just fine.
All of this you already knew, but I never mentioned how well constructed the side characters were. Bertrand, a main side kick, is awesome in his own way – few people would have survived what he endured – and added a lot to the plot. I also enjoyed Barbara to the core (I won’t say who she is due to spoilers) and Avery’s employees. The villains were also something else, all business and danger. Seriously. I love Bonnie Dee.
Now, the sex scenes. I have to say that in not a single moment they were sex scenes, that would be a wrong way to call it. Everything that Avery and Connor did was pure love, desire and passion. No frantic releases just because they both liked men. No desperate fucks to relief their hard reality. Every touch, every kiss, every caress was for something more, a feeling that both barely comprehended until much later in the book, but stronger and powerful as few feelings are: love. It was all about love. The love for the freedom of touching, the love for intimacy and their love as a couple. I wouldn’t say that there is instalove in this book, but I understand if some people face it like that. Sometimes curiosity and need are mistaken for love. Sometimes passion is mistaken by love and it is okay. It happens. But not in The Copper. Avery and Connor know that what they have is a mutual curiosity, the result of two different worlds colliding, but they don’t think of love at all. Not even when their feelings develop in such a fashion, for my utter dismay.
I also enjoyed the historical accuracy of this book, for good and bad. It’s a turn of the century London, in which a reputation is all a man has in the end of the day, no matter his social status. I love historical romances, especially the sugared ones, so a more realistic scenery did wonders to my mind, haha!
Overall, this is another masterpiece on Dee’s resume, with a bit of everything: romance, historical, gay love, mystery, thriller and self-discovery. If you love any of those genres, you can’t miss The Copper, a book that won’t allow you to close it until you reach the end. Seriously. I know, it happened to me, haha!
That’s it, thanks so much for reading! And thanks a lot again to Bonnie Dee for the trust in sending me another of her works ❤ I loved every minute of this reading!!
The Copper will be out tomorrow, so I’ll update the post buying links then 😀
The Book Adventures of Annelise Lestrange 