Stevie‘s review of Love at First Hate (Porthkennack, Book 11) by JL Merrow
Contemporary Gay Romance published by Riptide Publishing 03 Sep 18
It’s always a delight to revisit the fictional town of Porthkennack and meet friends old and new, sometimes even to discover that a former foe can become a friend given the right circumstances. On previous visits Bran – short for Branok – Roscarrock has been very much the antagonist to our various heroes, but this time we get to see a different side to him, starting with the very first time we see him.
Walking home from a visit to his much-loved nephew, Bran is attacked in what everyone assumes to be a random mugging, although we get hints, at least, that his assailant knows exactly who he is. Bran is, of course, the head of one of the most important families in Porthkennack, with a wide range of business interests – but also a passion for history, particularly when it comes to the fourteenth century and Edward of Woodstock, otherwise known as the Black Prince. Having commissioned an exhibition about his hero, Bran is without a curator until his brother hires a friend from university while Bran is still recuperating.
Not best pleased at being presented with a fait accompli, Bran is determined to find fault with the newcomer, Sam Ferreira, and it seems all his fears are realised when it transpires that Sam wants to make the exhibition cover wider social issues than Woodstock’s exploits, thus portraying the man as less of a conqueror and more of an invader – at least in Bran’s opinion. Sam, meanwhile, is happy to have any job in his chosen field after being discredited due to his former supervisor – and ex-lover – having cut corners in researching their joint publication.
While Sam and Bran seem destined to clash repeatedly, we do get to see the best of both of them, and it’s easy to understand why they begin to fall for each other once they take time out from arguing to actually talk to each other. Of course, the path of true love is never going to run smooth. Bran isn’t out to his family (yet) and his vindictive ex is determined to split him up from Sam before they’ve even started to get to know each other. Meanwhile, the mystery still remains over who attacked Bran and what might have been their motive.
I really enjoyed seeing Bran’s personality unpacked, after only having word of his bad side before. While he’s not always kind to those he has dealings with, there’s usually more than one side to the story – and the tales told about him may have been embellished by those not entirely in the right either – plus he cares deeply for all his family and is determined to shield them from anyone who might cause them harm. We also get flashbacks to Bran’s youth and learn more about his sister and the father of Bran’s other, in the main unacknowledged, nephew.
I enjoyed revisiting the characters from Merrow’s previous two Porthkennack stories and was happy to see how their lives have turned out since those books ended. I really hope, though, that this wasn’t our last visit to the town. There must be more stories to be told yet.
Grade: A
Summary:
First impressions can doom second chances.
Bran Roscarrock has been living in the closet all his life. As heir to an expansive family legacy in the town of Porthkennack, old-fashioned ideals of respectability and duty were drummed into him since childhood, and he’s never dared to live — or love — openly.
Sam Ferreira, an old friend of Bran’s brother, Jory, is a disgraced academic desperate to leave his dead-end job. When Jory asks him to take over as curator of a planned exhibition on Edward of Woodstock, the fourteenth-century Black Prince, Sam leaps at the chance to do what he loves and make a fresh start.
But Bran’s funding the exhibition, and though sparks fly between the two men, they’re not all happy ones. Bran idolises Prince Edward as a hero, while Sam’s determined to present a balanced picture. With neither of them prepared to give ground, a hundred years of war seems all too possible. And if Bran finds out about Sam’s past, his future may not be bright, and their budding romance may be lost to history.
Read an excerpt.
Other books in this series:
