Between His Lover and the Deep Blue Sea is everything I'd expect from a Merry Farmer romance, It's a good historical gay romance that left me happy to have read it.
The storyline is good, and the writing makes it an easy read.
It's an emotional story that is well worth a read when you're looking for a historical romance.

Despite the bodice-ripper-esque cover, this is very sweet story. I liked the historical setting without a constant reminder of "the law".

This is the first book I’ve read by Merry Farmer and I liked it very much. I’m really mad at myself for taking so long to get this read and now I want to continue on with the series.

I love the approach that Ms. Farmer has taken with this series. As she mentions in her Author’s Note at the end of the book “Unsurprisingly, a wealth of primary-source material supports a different view of history than the cold letter of the law—the view that plenty of men conducted life-long same-sex relationships without trouble or interference, even though they had to live quietly for the most part.” She chooses to take an optimistic view and give her MCs relationships that are not fraught with problems because of their sexuality. That’s not to say that they don’t encounter conflict but, at least in this book, the conflict didn’t come from their sexuality.

Septimus has lived nearly his entire life at sea and finds himself without a ship to sail on after the war has ended. He has a bias against noblemen because many bought their commissions during the war and one in particular took credit for the heroic things that Septimus did. He’s spending the summer with two of his friends who both happen to be noblemen but Septimus knows how hard they worked along beside him so they are excepted from his bias.

Adam’s dream is to start a school for underprivileged boys so that they might receive and education and better themselves. He also happens to be the son of a baron which puts Septimus off even though he is taken by Adam the first time he laid eyes on him.

This story grabbed me and held my attention from beginning to end and I read it straight through in one evening. I loved the secondary characters in this story, namely Barrett and Red and I’m looking forward to reading their books.

A review copy was provided by the publisher via NetGalley but this did not influence my opinion or rating of the book. I also purchased a copy.

This was surprisingly sweet. I feel like the characters were all much more well developed, including the background characters, than I was expecting. Read in about 3 hours.

I'm a huge fan of historicals, so it's a bit surprising that this is the first novel by Merry Farmer I've read. Though I usually steer toward more serious stories, I found Between His Lover and the Deep Blue Sea refreshingly corny and delightfully free from angst. A sweet, straightforward erotic historical romance, filled with humor and a very happy conclusion, I'm glad I already own another book in this series.

I absolutely loved this MM romance.

Such a great book with a solid storyline and great characters.

I eagerly look forward to reading more from this author.

A definite recommend

Septimus has spent almost his entire life at sea - and now that his naval career seems to be fading away he is at a loss of where to go with his life. He's spending time at a friends home to try and figure out what his next steps are - and whether that includes a ship or not. At his friend's house, he meets Adam Seymour - who is a tutor to the children of the Duke of Melton. Adam has big dreams of opening a school of his own to help poor children get an education. Adam and Septimus are drawn to each other - but even with that connection they feel like their separate dreams don't work - let alone being together as a couple in a time where that was not acceptable in any way.

I loved Adam - he is young and passionate about all things. Septimus brings a bit of balance to him - even in his grumpiness. They are definitely a sunshine and grump pairing. The story is a sweet, sexy, relatively light read.

I received this as an ARC from NetGalley, but these opinions are all my own.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for an ARC of this book.

This is a great book for when you need to scratch that m/m regency itch.

Looking for an entertaining, quick and easy to read, inta-lust, sweet and fluffy , not very accurate historical , MM romance then look no farther this is it.

Between His Lover and the Deep Blue Sea is my first book by Merry Farmer .

M rating falls between 3 and 3.5 stars

I just reviewed Between His Lover and the Deep Blue Sea by Merry Farmer. #BetweenHisLoverandtheDeepBlueSea #NetGalley

Between His Lover and the Deep Blue Sea was a bit of a disappointment for me. I've been dying to try Merry Farmer for ages, and I own a ton of her books. Also, I'm a HUGE consumer of historical romances, so I was sure I would adore this one. Alas, it wasn't meant to be.

I really struggle with stories that start off with instalust/instalove. I'm a slow-burn kind of gal, and I like sexual tension and relationships to build over time. A story where they start off all over each other (whether in reality or in their minds), just doesn't usually grab me the same way. That was the case with Between His Lover and the Deep Blue Sea.

I kept feeling like these characters didn't have time or page space to really get to know one another. The romance felt rushed, and the writing wasn't a tight as I was expecting. Though it was a light read, I really struggled to finish it.

I'm hopeful for my other Merry Farmer books on my Kindle, and I'm hoping this miss of a story is a one-off for me.

*Copy provided in exchange for an honest review*

This was my first book by Merry Farmer and I absolutely loved it! It was also my first M/M historical romance and I honestly didn't know what to expect. Septimus Bolton has just left the navy after the Napoleonic wars and is staying with his friend and fellow naval officer Lord Redmond Wodehouse at his brother the Duke of Malton's estate. This is were he meets Adam Seymour, the tutor for the Duke's children. There is an instant attraction but Septimus tries to resist. He eventually gives in to they're mutual desire.
Between His Lover and the Deep Blue Sea has a good amount of steam, some humor and some angst along the way. Overall it was a very good read and I will continue with this series. I look forward to reading more books by this author.

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for allowing me an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.

I received a complimentary copy of Between His Lover and the Deep Blue Sea in exchange for an honest review. I have always enjoyed Merry Farmer's writing style, and this was no exception. The storyline was my first exploration into male/male historical romance. I'm a little surprised the relationship was so open and there wasn't a negative stigma given the era this novel was written for, I also found it lost some depth when the other characters were all gay as well. Beyond that this was an easy read with good character development, lots of romance, and a happy ending.

My first Merry Farmer read and my first M/M romance. I loved the story. There were some moments of humor, plenty of steam, some drama. I would happily read another of Merry’s books again and would love to continue reading the series. My only negative is that I don’t feel like we know everything about Septimus and Adam and their background and family. It felt like there were some details missing there. Otherwise very well done.

Now that the Napoleonic Wars are over, sailing master Septimus is hoping to find a position as captain of a private ship. Then, he meets Adam, tutor to a Duke's children, who wants to found a school firmly situated on land. Will they have to choose between love and fulfilling their dreams?

This is the kind of Regency romance I love, where actual character conflict rather than contrived plot devices keep the characters apart. The heat between Septimus and Adam is smokin' from the very beginning. They resist…then think they can just have a casual affair…then realize they're falling in love, knowing their plans will take them in different directions. I love romance that's driven by these kinds of real-life conflicts that people can relate to. So if you're looking for a swashbuckling pirate adventure, this isn't it. Although there is some adventure. And accidental sea bathing. And sweaty men involved in sweaty things.

In short, this is exactly the sort of satisfying, swoony read I expect from Merry Farmer. Loved it!

Thanks, NetGalley, for the ARC I received. This is my honest and voluntary review.

This is a sweet, sexy, feel-good romance. It's a regency m/m that is so steeped in the military history of the regency. The characters are good, kind people with drive and ambition. The story is fueled by the sexual attraction between the two which really instantly turns to loving commitment. At points, I felt like the romance moved really fast and didn't have a chance to develop into a deep connection. I really loved the idillyic openness and safety for these queer men in the story. They are surrounded by people who both know and love them and are able to live and grow within that affirming community.

It didn't grab me, but it was an enjoyable read and I recommend if you love regency m/m!

Also side note - this title is perfection.

Thanks to NetGalley and Oliver Heber Books for the ARC.

Sailing Master Septimus Bolton has spent his entire life at sea. Now that his ship has been decommissioned at the end of the Napoleonic Wars, he has nothing to do but accept the invitation of one of his fellow naval officers Lord Redmond Wodehouse, Viscount Beverley to convalesce for the summer at Red’s brother the Duke of Malton's remote country estate in Yorkshire. Adam Seymour has had to fight for everything he has, from the scholarship that allowed him to attend university to the right to be himself. Now, as tutor to the Duke of Malton’s two children, his goal of starting a school for underprivileged children once his noble charges outgrow his tutelage seems well within reach. Then Septimus & Adam meet.
The first in a new series & a very well written, page turner. I loved both the thirty four year old hardened sailor Septimus & the young, optimistic Adam both were hit by a coup de foudre at their first meeting but each couldn’t believe that the other felt the same until Red & Barrett made up silly games to get the pair to interact. I loved how the pair were like chalk & cheese but together sparks flew. I loved how their relationship grew & deepened & how things were resolved. I’m now looking forward to the rest of the series
My honest review is for a special copy I voluntarily read

OK now I want to read everything that this author has written or will write.

This is literally a regency romance but make it gay and it is amazing.

Just read it it’s amazing I don’t really have more to say other than go read it it’s amazing 😂 sorry this isn’t my normal you know paragraph long review but it’s amazing so will read it

And net galley thank you thank you thank you for sending me this review copy because that was a pleasure

I received a copy of this book as an ARC but this is an unbiased review.

It was a little difficult to start this book- it felt a bit trite, but I'm so glad I pushed through. As the story develops, and you get a better view of the characters, it picks up and becomes very compelling. I started to really understand poor Septimus and his reluctance a lot better. And Seymour isn't such a cliche and comes off with real character. The author also avoids the implicit creepiness of the older and more mature person taking advantage of the younger more innocent one, which is very appreciated right now. I ended up very much enjoying this book and I want to read more about the other characters!

Days like today are the ones when I wonder, "Where has this author been all my life?" The sad part is that she has been writing for years, and I am just now discovering her books. The best part is I have lots of books to devour over the coming weeks and months. This book put me through the emotional wringer, in the most joyous of ways. I was immediately captivated by the story, the characters, and the absolutely beautiful demonstrations of love and friendship. This story was full of steam and spice, but what makes this one of my favorite books of 2021 was how wonderfully it depicted the highs and lows of a love story. So many tropes to be had here - opposites attract, class difference, age gap - and at the heart of it all was two people whose souls recognized each other before their minds had time to register what was happening. I was literally starting to tear up as I read, which is the mark of a good story. When I outwardly show my emotions while reading, the author has done their job to the fullest extent possible. Thank you, Merry Farmer.

Septimus Bolton's home is the sea. He has lived it and breathed it for years, and now that he is forced back on land after the war has ended, he is left stranded in the last place he wants to be - the home of a nobleman. Accompanied by his seafaring friends, both of whom are also nobility, he feels the odd man out as the son of a fisherman with no wealth to speak of. So when he sees a vision in breeches coming down the stairs to greet them, the tutor of his friend's niece and nephew, things suddenly look a bit brighter...until it comes to light that the tutor is also a nobleman. Adam Seymour is the youngest son of a baron, hardly anything to talk about, but to Septimus, the gulf between them is as wide as the sea. Thus begins a game of sorts between them, with Adam working to convince Septimus that the spark between them should ignite into a flame, while Septimus constantly works to douse the flame as quickly as possible. Of course, with both trapped in close quarters together, passion is bound to ignite regardless of best efforts, but what of tomorrow? Septimus hopes to return to sea, and Adam must remain on land. It will take a miracle to keep them together...but only one misunderstanding to tear them apart.

Don't worry about that last line - this is a romance, so all ends well. But the journey to that ending is so full of emotions, mostly happy but some frustrating and others downright maddening. Septimus was such a big teddy bear. An alpha in the bedroom but a big softie outside of it. I loved that he had such vulnerabilities, which left Adam being the aggressor in their relationship. It was fun to see Septimus, the older of the two by a good ten years, be completely flustered by Adam, whose youth and vitality was evident in his jovial nature and utter lack of shame around Septimus. Since Adam was younger, there was a bit of vulnerability for him as well, having much fewer sexual experiences and also having been seen frequently as someone not worthy of serious consideration. Both had confidence issues at times, and it was particularly endearing to see them heal those emotional wounds as they grew closer. The author notes at the end of the book that this series takes some liberty with the openness of the gay community during that time period, but recent research has shown that more people were able to live freely as same sex couples than previously thought. While Adam and Septimus were often a little more free than may have been expected, it depicted the world with an idealistic light. Wouldn't it be lovely if they could have lived as they did? And maybe they did? Maybe over time we'll be able to have a better sense of what life was like for couples like them, show a bright spot in an often dark historical world.

I can't express how excited I was to begin this book, and it exceeded all of my expectations by a mile! I am so happy that this is the start of a new series. I can't wait to dive in to what's next for this group of friends.

This is my first truly M/M historical romance. I wondered how the take on it would be, considering my belief was that homosexuality was punishable by law, and it was socially unacceptable, and quite underground at the time. I did feel it was a sweet story not just about two men deeply attracted to each other, but also about their different goals in life, age differences, and also different social statuses. I quite like Septimus, and how his character was developed, from the son of a fisherman who went on to be a member of the Royal Navy, starting as a cabin boy at the age of 8, but feeling lost as he did not have a role in the Navy any more. His developing relationship with Adam felt rather sweet, especially with the support of their friends. Adam did come across as quite youthful, and impetuous, but very sweetly idealistic, which is a nice foil for Septimus and his cynicism and doubt, especially about the nobility.

I found it to be a quick and generally enjoyable read, though I am still not sure if I am sold on M/M romances for myself - maybe it is because I am seeing from the lens of being a woman and cannot relate to it as much? I am interested in seeing how a few other relationships develop, such as a future book in the series involving the Duke. I am curious how the children are going to be involved and how things are explained to them.

Regardless, love is love and everyone has a right to love and be loved, in whatever way is right for them.

There is definitely some graphic and steamy M/M sex scenes many times through this read, so if that is something you find offensive, then be aware that this may not be for you.

I received a free copy from NetGalley for preview and this is my freely given opinion.