I don't normally read M/M books but like this author.

Ebook from Netgalley and publishers with thanks. Opinions are entirely my own.

Stevie‘s review of Sinless (The Shaws, Book 1.5) by Lynne Connolly
Gay Historical Romance published by Lyrical Press 25 Jan 18

While I massively enjoyed seeing the Georgian legal system in action throughout the thrilling first instalment of this spin-off series from Lynne Connolly’s Emperors of London series, a tiny part of me missed all the political shenanigans of the Emperors and their arch rivals. I shouldn’t have worried, however, since this second adventure for the Shaws sees our two heroes facing and embracing both the political and the legal environment of their era.


Darius, twin brother to the hero of the first book in this series, has been tasked with locating a spy: a man who has come into the possession of a list of British spies working on the continent and who is planning to sell them to the French and Italian governments. Having tracked down his man to a notorious molly house: a (highly illegal) club for gentlemen of a certain persuasion, Darius is about to apprehend his quarry and leave when the establishment is raided by the full force of the law. Darius is arrested, but not before he has spotted that amongst the invaders is the lawyer who recently defended his brother in court: Andrew Graham.

Andrew is also on a mission to find the spy and quickly realises that he and Darius have the same aims, albeit different task masters. Having helped Darius escape censure for his alleged misdemeanours – via another cameo appearance for magistrate John Fielding. Andrew is keen to find out whether either of them is able to help the other; however, he is also reluctant to acknowledge any mutual attraction between himself and Darius. While Darius’ reputation is largely shielded by the might of his family, Andrew is a self-made man, and very aware that any misstep could lose him his entire business, not to mention his rather tenuous place in Society. On top of that, he has a young daughter to raise alone – since his wife died in childbirth – and is keen to ensure that she has the best upbringing he can possibly give her.

When Darius finds out about Andrew’s situation, he is charmed by the household and keen to find ways in which he and Andrew can be together without any detriment to the delightful young girl, whose father blatantly dotes on her. Meanwhile, the men still have a spy to deal with, and it appears that the man’s information came from someone close to, if not actually part of, the government itself. This leads to action aplenty, but along the way we also meet campaigning reformers: keen to recruit Darius and Andrew to their campaign to reduce the number of crimes attracting a death sentence while providing a fairer trial for those accused at the same time, as well as those people who produce and commission the satirical cartoons that are still as popular in some circles now as they were back then.
Not only are we treated to a high-tension dash to the coast in order to apprehend the spy and his source, but we also get a very neat solution to Darius and Andrew’s dilemma as to how they can conduct a necessarily secret relationship when the gaze of Society is upon them both. It was also a treat indeed to revisit the rest of the Shaw family, and I hope to see more of them all very soon.

Grade: A

This book was intriguing with a lot of potential until the introduction of Andrew's' daughter. It seemed nothing more than a plot device to bring Darius and Andrew together. Once that occurred the daughter was a forgotten piece in the puzzle. A lot of promise but underdeveloped in parts.

Rating: C-/2.5 stars

Sinless is book 1.5 in Lynne Connolly’s new series The Shaws, a continuation or spin-off of her seven book Emperors of London series about the powerful Vernon family. The Shaws are closely related to the Vernons (cousins I think), and some of them appeared in the earlier series as secondary characters. Book one of The Shaws, Fearless, featured Lord Valentinian Shaw (both families had a penchant for naming their offspring after Roman emperors) a rake and hellraiser who found himself in court on a murder charge. Thanks to the efforts of barrister Andrew Graham, Val was exonerated and in Sinless, we meet Andrew again as he works to unmask a traitor and tries not to give in to the strong attraction that sparks between him and Val’s twin brother, Lord Darius.

Andrew has been sent by General Court to join a raid on a molly house (a brothel catering to homosexual men) in order to meet a man who is in possession of a list containing details of a network of spies. As the raid starts and Andrew begins the search for his contact, he is surprised to see Lord Darius Shaw, poised and coolly collected in the midst of the chaos. Andrew and Darius engage in a brief, wary conversation when Andrew spots the man he is looking for, only to be prevented from confronting him by Darius, who grabs Andrew and kisses him, allowing the other man to make his escape.

Darius has reasons of his own for interfering. The list contains the names of diplomats and military agents placed throughout Europe by his family and the government, so when he learned of its existence and that it was being offered for sale, he determined to get hold of it himself in order to prevent its being sold to England’s enemies and his family’s rivals. He had managed to befriend the man in possession of the list with the intention of using their friendship and … shared interests… to obtain it, but the raid put paid to his plans so now he has to find another way – and his first step is to speak to Andrew Graham again in order to find out what he knows.

Days later, Andrew is still bewildered by the kiss and can’t forget the feel of Darius’ mouth on his or the way Darius had made him feel. Even though he has been married and has a young daughter, Andrew is well aware that his sexual preference is for men, but decided – after the death of his wife – that it would be safest for him to live a celibate life. Andrew is a successful lawyer, and cannot afford the merest whiff of scandal to be attached to his name; unlike Darius, he does not have the backing of an immensely powerful family to cover up any indiscretions, so while Andrew acknowledges to himself that he would very much like things between him and Darius to develop, he knows such a thing to be impossible. When Darius reveals the truth about the list and exactly what is at stake should it fall into the wrong hands, Andrew’s sense of duty and honour compel him to offer his help… but more than that, he wants to help Darius because he cares for him. This decision propels Andrew into unforeseen dangers – and forces him to confront the truth of his feelings for Darius, even though it seems there is still no way forward for them.

One of Ms. Connolly’s real strengths is her historical knowledge, which she uses to create a solid backdrop to her stories so that the reader is transported to the dirty cobblestones and extravagant mansions of Georgian London. Her research is impeccable and her plotlines are intriguing, but I have, on several occasions, found the romances in her books to be somewhat underdeveloped and based on insta-lust – which is the case here. Andrew and Darius have known each other for a while and, we’re told, have been suppressing a strong attraction to one another. But they go from zero-to-sixty in the blink of an eye; they share a couple of heated kisses, and then, BAM!, they’re in love. There is no progression from ‘I fancy you’ to ‘I love you’; in fact I checked to see if I’d somehow skipped a chapter or two, because the romantic development is pretty much non-existent and instead we get pages of Andrew and Darius thinking – and talking – about how much they want each other and how anything more between them is impossible. Darius has, supposedly, decided love is not for him because he doesn’t think it’s fair to put someone he loves in harm’s way (given the fact that homosexuality was punishable by death at this point in time) and so refuses to let himself fall in love. I understand his reasoning, yet he barrels through all that with Andrew in no time at all, telling him on several occasions that he desires him and wants to take him to bed – and the next minute telling him such a thing can’t happen.

I’m also a little doubtful about the degree of acceptance shown Darius by his family. He’s not an oldest son, so doesn’t have to ‘do his duty’ and provide an heir, but even so, the way that his parents and other family members accept his homosexuality strikes me as perhaps a little more wishful-thinking than historically accurate. I’m sure there were enlightened people around at the time who would have thought that what people did in their own bedrooms was up to them… I just found it a little implausible that Darius’ preferences could be so widely known and nobody seemed to turn a hair.

Sinless boasts an intriguing storyline and a strong historical background, but it doesn’t really work as a romance. I believe this is Ms. Connolly’s first m/m story (please correct me if I’m wrong), but authors like K.J. Charles and Cat Sebastian have set the bar incredibly high for m/m historical romances, and this one just doesn’t cut the mustard in that department.

I've never read a M/M romance, but I fell in love with Darius in Fearless so I knew that I had to read his story! I can't imagine living during a time where you can't share your life with the person that you love, but that is what happened to Darius and Andrew. My heart ached for the two of them knowing that they could not lead the life that they wanted. Connolly did a wonderful job of depicting the feelings between our H/H and what they would have gone through.

I have fallen in love with the Shaw's and can't wait for the next book in the series!

Sinless by Lynne Connolly is book 1.5 in "The Shaws" series. This is the story of Lord Darius Shaw and Andrew Graham.
Darius is a Lord with a very supportive family although he has never been in love things change when he finds he has feelings for Andrew. Andrew is a lawyer with a young daughter with very different circumstance. During this time period you could be put to death for having such a relationship. So they have allot to over come. Much of their time is spent thinking of the other.
This is a very different Historical Romance that I didn't not know that was a M/M at first but I found it to be a really good story from Ms. Connolly.

When I requested this book to read from NetGallery, I did not realize it was a m/m story. But much to my surprise it was more about emotions and love than anything else and you could feel it coming through the pages. In historical times, the law forbade this type of relationship with penalty of death. So to actually step out and find someone that felt as you did and maintain that relationship was very scary. But as love will find a way it does in Lord Darius Shaw and Andrew Graham. This series is about the Shaw family and with Darius he is fortunate to have the support of his family. Andrew on the other hand is not as fortunate. He has a child to protect and his job as a lawyer depend upon his discretion. The two had met years ago when Andrew defended Darius's brother. Coming in contact again they begin to have feelings for each other. With a mystery to solve and a relationship to keep quiet, the author leads you through a winding path or strong emotions. You will enjoy this novella as the rest of Lynne Connolly's stories!

This is the first book I’ve read by this author, and when it comes to M/M historical romance I can be very hesitant and picky because it can be a difficult genre to get right and still remain true to the time period. The author actually did a pretty good job of this, though I wish there could have been an epilogue to see how Darius and Andrew were faring after the end of the story. Also, even given the number of historical books I’ve read (both M/M and M/F), there were several terms and phrases I had to look up for their meaning.

Darius is quite lucky in that his family accepts him even knowing his orientation. But his family seemed quite progressive and more laid back than you’d expect from a family in their position in this time period. For the most part he’s discreet, though there’s still rumors from time to time. His position in society does much to quell the talk, something that Andrew does not similarly benefit from.

Andrew comes from a working class family, and has worked hard to get to where he is. He does have a daughter, and he places her first in everything—even if that means he will never find love. He suppresses his wants, as he has so much more to lose than Darius if he gives in and is outed publicly. But the pull between these two is quite strong, and that ups the tension—emotional and sexual—throughout the story.

The majority of the story focuses on the intrigue going on as they attempt to identify a spy, which does offer a nice dose of suspense. The romance plays second fiddle to this for much of the book, with the tension between Darius and Andrew mounting the further in you go. When they finally give in to each other, it is quite passionate and the scene is done well. Again, the focus is more on the mystery, and their intimacy is kept to a minimum which fits well with this story.

4.5 stars for Sinless, and I would definitely recommend this to M/M historical romance fans. While the physical scenes are at a minimum here, there is still enough for me to put this as an 18+ read.

4.5 stars

I don't normally read M/M romance, but I really loved Darius in the previous book and frankly wanted to see how Ms. Connolly was going to manage a HEA for a forbidden romance that in the era that such a love could be punishable by death.

This is the story of Lord Darius Shaw, third son to the Marquess of Strenshall and Andrew Graham. Darius and Andrew met in the last book when Andrew was called upon to defend his brother Val against murder charges. There was definitely an attraction between them, but Darius doesn't believe that he can ever love anyone, because such a love would only cause pain and would condemn his lover to death.

They meet again when Andrew is part of a raid on a molly house, he has been sent there by General Court to meet with a spy and collect a list that is in the man's possession. He enters the house and is surprised to see Darius there, he confronts him and then sees the man he was supposed to meet. As he moves towards the man, Darius steps between them and kisses Andrew. Andrew is consumed by the kiss and begins to respond, then reason kicks in and he pushes Darius away. But it is too late, his contact has fled and Darius is arrested.

Darius spends the night in jail and can't stop thinking about the kiss - he wants Andrew and knows the feeling is mutual. Andrew comes to the jail and Darius taunts him, Andrew tries to get information about the spy from Darius, but he is not willing to talk. Andrew gets him released and asks him to join him for dinner.

Darius goes home and speaks with his father, he tells him that Andrew was looking for the spy and that he will speak to him and learn what he knows. He joins Andrew at his home and they talk over dinner, neither can forget the kiss or deny the attraction, Andrew initiates another kiss but are interrupted by a servant telling Andrew his daughter is ill. Andrew is a widower with a young daughter, something Darius did not know. When he learns of this, he knows he cannot act on his feelings because Andrew would be ruined and his daughter left with nothing. He returns the next and learns more about Andrew's past, how he came to be married and his feelings. They then discuss the incident at the molly house and Darius tells him what he knows about the man, Matteo Bartolini, he is a spy for the French and for Rome, he has a list of English spies and is willing to sell it. Andrew offers to help catch the man, but Darius refuses and tells him that he cares for him, but they must avoid each other because any relationship is too dangerous.

They part and Andrew tries to keep busy and forget Darius, but he knows it is impossible, he has fallen in love. He is invited to a ball being held by Angela Childers, the owner of Childers bank and remembers Darius telling him that he should move in society more often. He goes to the ball and seeks out Miss Childers, she tells him she needs to speak to him and slips him a note with instructions. He arrives at the scheduled rendezvous and is surprised when Darius joins him. Apparently Angela summoned them both, she has information that about the man they are looking for, but she needs a favor. She wants Andrew to work for her, he agrees and she gives Darius the address of where Matteo is staying in Dover. She leaves and Darius and Andrew discuss the information, Darius tells him that he will go to Dover and Andrew should stay in London. As they leave the room, they see General Court's son and he is attempting to sneak whores into the ball, they thwart him and leave the ball. Darius is torn, he is overjoyed to see Andrew again and knows that he loves him, but he can think of no way they can be together, so when Andrew asks why Darius is pushing him away, he tells him that he desires him too much and it is easier to be apart.

Andrew is restless and decides to go to his chamber offices, he is caught in a downpour and takes shelter from the rain by a print shop - in the window he sees a caricature of himself and Darius kissing at the molly house. He is shocked and leaves. He is confronted by his superior at the chambers office and is warned to take care, he is also told to leave until the scandal dies down. Angry, Andrew finds out who commissioned the print and goes to see Darius. He asks for his help in getting more information. He tells Darius that he will go to Dover and that he believes General Court's son is involved. But he moves in circles closed to Andrew, so Darius agrees to stay in town.

While investigating, Darius learns disturbing news and knows Andrew is in danger. He rushes to Dover with his cousin Ivan, hoping he is not too late to save his love. Andrew goes to the meeting and is ambushed, when facing death, his only regret is not pursuing his love for Darius. When Darius arrives he finds Andrew laying on the ground, but he is alive! Heedless to any one else, he kisses him and helps him back to the inn. They confess their love and consummate their relationship. They return to London but still have no idea how they can be together. Upon returning Andrew learns the scandal has cost him more clients and he is still banned from chambers. And if that is not enough, General Court has summoned him. Darius arrives, he too has been summoned, but unlike Andrew, he is not worried. They confront the General and thanks to Darius, Andrew will not be charged with any crimes. As they leave, Darius takes Andrew to a house and tells him that he has a plan, Andrew is adamant that he will not be Darius' "kept man" and Darius makes him a proposal, one that will let them be together as partners. He tells Andrew that he would marry him if he could, but that this is the best he can offer and that he loves him.

This was such a beautiful story and while M/M romance is not really my "thing", I really loved this story. It is well written, flows well, has a bit of a mystery, a little bit of anguish, a lot of sexual tension and a HEA with a believable solution to a seemingly impossible situation. But be warned, there is a graphic M/M love scene, that might be offensive to some readers, but I thought it was really well done and enhanced the story.

Darius! It's Darius's book! Darius has been a staple character from The Emperors of London series and is probably the one cousin I wanted to read about most. When The Shaws became a series and I read that Darius was getting a book, I was thrilled. He's a complex and interesting character.

Bear with me because I feel like some things need to be said. First, this is an m/m romance. If that's not your thing or it's a hard limit for you, best to bow out now. For the record, this is my first finished m/m romance and I loved it. Darius is in the hands of a master in Connolly and I trusted her as an author and I was already deeply invested in Darius as a person.

Second, Darius was no caricature or stereotype as a supporting character and he most certainly doesn't become that in his own book. What do I mean by that? Darius is very masculine. Most of the time, the gay character is the clotheshorse or tends toward the "Girlfriend!" stereotype. I've always found this frustrating. On a meta level, I loved the fact that Darius is more traditionally masculine because it breaks that stereotype. But from a character standpoint, that's just who Darius is and who he has always been.

Third, there is a lot less sex (though I feel like there are plenty of sexy times even if most of it doesn't go all the way) in this book than there usually is in a Connolly historical. This does tend to emphasize Connolly's own description of this as more of a love story. And, make no mistake, this is a love story. I loved how demonstrative and emotionally engaged Darius is with Andrew. For a man who has essentially set himself at a physical remove from most people, even his family, Darius does touch Andrew a lot and he wants to touch him a lot.

It's the sweet side of Darius coming to the forefront. Darius shows his emotions through several events: his need to touch Andrew almost from the first, his tenderness with Andrew's daughter, his use of his lover's name with family, and his reaction to the possibility of Andrew dying. These are seminal moments in the storyline as well.

Andrew is less protected than Darius. He is not nobility. He has a child he must provide for. His reputation - because he works in law - is of paramount importance. He has a greater chance of execution if he is found out. He is far more circumspect and unsure than Darius. But also, he has been more conflicted about his sexual preferences in general. Andrew does not come across as a powerful force but his quiet gentleness is matched by the fierceness of his love for his daughter and for Darius.

I loved the Shaws quiet and loving acceptance of Darius and Andrew but it is nothing less than expected. The Shaws embody the "family" concept to the n-th degree. They would be lessened mightily if they did not. I loved how they both could sink into the family safety net even if they didn't necessarily want to. But I also loved how Darius wanted to stand on his own two feet and his family supported him in doing what he wanted. Safety when needed and a launching platform when not: there is a reason the Shaws are beloved by fans of The Emperors of London.

That's an awful lot of love and acceptance. But this is Georgian England and not only is it illegal to be homosexual but the penalty is death. And reputations and lives can be cut short by loose talk and innuendo. Darius and Andrew face danger from just that kind of thing as well as danger from fools in government. As always, the Emperors are engaged in clandestine affairs, which spill out into the public. The dangers they face are commensurate with the times. The mix of intrigue and sexual politics are potent.

I can't wait for the next book in this series! But I do have one question: could Andrew have Darius be Elizabeth's guardian in the event of his death? What kind of arrangements could be made for the Shaws to shelter her? Because those kinds of things were not touched on in the book and inquiring minds want to know.

Sinless by Lynne Connolly
The Shaws #1.5

What if the person you were attracted to was:
* forbidden
* made you “perverted” in society’s eyes
* was considered to be “sinful”
* could get you put in jail…or even hung

Well…Lord Darius Shaw is a man that tried to suppress his “desires” but finally felt freer once they were admitted to those closest to him. Andrew Graham, however, is of a lower status and thus less protected should he ever be found to have an interest in someone of the same gender. Laws in England were unyielding and remained difficult for those that did not conform to the standard male-female couple choice expected by society. Add in the fact that Andrew is a widow with a young daughter and the stakes are even higher.

Darius and Andrew have seen one another previously during the trial of Darius’s brother Val…in fact…Andrew was the lawyer defending Val. Awhile after the trial ends the two meet again in a Molly House raid and the spark remains. The two have a mystery to solve – who is the spy and who might be committing treason by providing the spy with documents being sent to the enemy? – They work together, test the waters between them, remain steadfast for most of the book in avoiding a liaison and finally find a way to a HEA together. I was once again impressed by the Shaw family and their loving support of both sons – no matter what – and wished all who find themselves in uncomfortable situations would have such support when they needed it.

Is it believable? Mostly
Is it a good story? Yes
Did I like it? Yes
Do I want to read the next book in the series? Definitely

Thank you to Net Galley and Kensington Books – Lyrical Press for the ARC – This is my honest review.

4.5 Stars

4.25 Stars
Lawyer Andrew Graham is part of a raid on a molly house where he discovers Lord Darius Shaw & they renew their acquaintance, Andrew had a disastrous marriage in his past, and has a young daughter to support. Darius and Andrew’s only choice is to deny the true nature of their relationship. Then their secret and their futures is threatened.
Darius & Andrew first met the previous year when Andrew defended Darius’ brother Val from a murder charge. The pair had been attracted then but hadn’t acted on their attraction. A well written novel that kept my interest throughout, the attraction between Darius & Andrew sizzles & the author conveys the prejudices they face very well & shows how times have changed. I’ve always liked Darius & glad that he’s at last found love. Andrew is also very likeable. The pair are cautious, rightly so, about developing their relationship but a journey to the coast brings things to a head. I hope the remaining Shaws have their stories
My honest review is for a special copy I voluntarily read

A favourite author and a favourite era. To be featured on my blog in the near future. Proper review soon.

While LGBT is considered mainstream today, couples still face their share of prejudice depending on their socio economic situation. Consider what it must be like to be a gay couple in Georgian England with it's insurmountable social taboos. Ms. Connolly chooses to tackle this particular cause as she takes us behind the curtain into the life and love of Darius Shaw, an emperor of London and a scion of the noble family of Shaw. Darius is an intriguing man who openly acknowledges his gay status within the tightly controlled walls of his family. He choses to live life on his own terms maintaining a certain discreet profile in deference to his family's status in society while refusing to pander to the social norms of his times.
Being an emperor of London comes with it's own set of social and political responsibilities which find him in a seedy tavern one night. As it turns out the night is perfect trifecta: he identifies the spy he's there to find but also finds the one man in London who intrigues him beyond belief. While he is trying to come to terms with his feelings he's busted by a police raid on the tavern.
After a  night spent in prison, the morning after brings a sober head, his nemesis Andrew to the rescue, a lenient judge, a fine and Darius homeward bound.  As circumstances force Andrew and Darius together they strive to focus on the matter at hand keeping their desires tightly leashed. The plot thickens as the two chase spies trying to save King and country at the cost of being outed for their desires.
I enjoyed the glimpses into the Shaw family who accept Darius for who he is and extend the same courtesy to Andrew.  As we know that is not true across the board for gay couples even in today's enlightened environment.  If you're looking for a meaty M/M romance then this is not your book.  The two don't even acknowledge any feelings or exchange in any physical activity until three quarters of the way into the book.  It is however a great action adventure story which leaves me in somewhat of a dilemma in how to rate the book.

Lawyer Andrew Graham comes across Lord Darius Shaw at a raid of a notorious Molly house where he finds it difficult to resist his attraction to the aristocrat despite the extreme penalties. Shaw is incarcerated overnight but Graham is there to help him in court. It becomes apparent that they were both there for the same reason, to capture a traitor and so they are thrown together in pursuit meaning they have to spend more time together despite this not being wise. I loved the period detail and the intensity of the relationship.

I voluntarily read an Advance Review Copy of this book through Netgalley. I loved this book. Even though the growing love shared by Darius and Andrew is a big part of the story, there is another major story and it involves treason and spies and it is just as fascinating. The story line is well written and keeps your interest. The intimacy between the two men is tastefully written. I would highly recommend this book. Love the cover.

I am always up for a good M/M story but I was a bit disappointed with this one. The pace was really slow and there was too much emphasis onto solving the mystery than the romance between Darius and Andrew. All they taught about until about 75% of the book are all the reasons why they shouldn't act on their attractions and before any real actions happened.
I received this copy from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review that is all my own.

I received a copy of this title from the publisher for an honest review. Sinless was a 3.75 star read for me which rounds up to 4. Sinless features Lord Darius Shaw, the son who is attracted to his own sex despite the fact he is breaking the law. Less than a year earlier, Andrew Grant helped defend Darius's twin Lord Val; the two meet in a "molly" house and Darius can't help but remember his attraction to Andrew. Andrew has fought against his desires for years as he has much more than Darius to lose and lacks a powerful family to help provide protection. The two feel instinct attraction to each other, but have to navigate political intrigue and societal limitations in order to achieve their happy ending. I don't usually read male/male romances, but I thought Connolly did a good job of telling a story that anyone could relate to; she also provides readers insight into what Andrew and Darius risk in their relationship given society's views towards homosexuality during the Georgian period in England. I really enjoyed this novella and am looking forward to the next book featuring the Shaws.