Groom Of Convenience (Scandalous Whispers Of The Remmington Realm) by Vicktor Alexander
Transgender Sci-Fi / Futuristic
Paperback: 290 pages
Publisher: Dreamspinner Press (October 17, 2014)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 1632161133
ISBN-13: 978-1632161130
Amazon: Groom Of Convenience (Scandalous Whispers Of The Remmington Realm)
Amazon Kindle: Groom Of Convenience (Scandalous Whispers Of The Remmington Realm)

In an alternate universe, in the country of Angland, 1814, the gentry live lives of culture and class. It is a time of courtships, marriages of convenience, and titles, where scandal can ruin an entire family. Gender lines are blurred, and making a good match is of utmost importance. Children are born to men and women, which has led to the acceptance of same-sex marriages.

Lady Lucien Timothy Hawthorne is shocked and angry when he is betrothed against his will to Lord Heathcliff Eddington, III, the Duke of Pompinshire. While drowning his frustration at a popular gentleman's club, he meets "Robert," a gorgeous older man whom he sleeps with as "Timmy," regardless of the potential damage to his reputation.

After their liaison, Lucien corresponds with Robert via letters left at Remmington, and they decide to elope. Before they can get away, Lucien meets his betrothed, Heathcliff, who he is surprised to discover is also his beloved, Robert. Both men desire a marriage of the heart, but they find out that sometimes a marriage of convenience can turn into love under the right circumstances. But Lucien has a secret, and Tlondon isn't as safe as they once thought.


I have never read a novel like this one before, so it took me a moment to get a feel of the different style of life and time period this was set.  Once I had an understanding, everything flowed fairly well. If this were a series, I would definitely want to read more of it.

This was such a remarkable read, with such imagination and innovation in its presentation of gender. Yes, it can get confusing, but I think that is the point. In trying to decipher and keep track of the genders and roles here, we see how foolish and short-sighted a binary system really is. Compared to a contemporary romance the plot is a bit slow, but it actually fits the Regency style, and I enjoyed the leisurely pace. I loved the twist on the m-preg kink, and thought it really brought the characters together, and as uncomfortable as it made me, I understood why the rape scene was there.

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