ARC Review – For Men Like Us by Brita Addams

Description:
After his lover dies trying to lend him aid at Salamanca, hopelessness becomes Preston Meacham’s only way of life. Despite his best efforts and with no pride left, he sells himself for a pittance at a molly house, the mindless sex giving him his only respite from the horrors he witnessed.

The Napoleonic War left Benedict Wilmot haunted by the horrific acts he’s forced to commit, as well as torture at the hands of a homophobic superior. As the battle rages around him, a weak and beaten Ben is ordered to kill a fellow redcoat, else face a ghastly death himself. Even in his dreams, he can’t escape the memory of the man he killed.

When their paths cross, Ben feels an overwhelming need to protect Preston from his dangerous profession, because, as he explains, “The streets are dangerous for men like us.”

For Men Like Us is my first book by Brita Addams and I can honestly tell you it will not be my last. It is also one of the first historicals set in England that I have read that dared to go MM and have a bit of BDSM in it.

Preston Meacham’s life hasn’t been the happiest of tales. He was wounded while in the battle at Salamanca two years ago, and during that battle he watched his lover Nick gets shot in the head because he was checking on him. He lives with that guilt, and has lived a life hiding his longings for the touch of another man. He finds himself working as a male hooker, because he made advances on the wrong man after miss reading his signals. But did he really miss read them or did the other man panic??

When offered a large sum of money to go to the home of Ben, he feels in his gut that he will not be in danger with him. Ben submits to Pres, and Pres doesn’t feel like a whore with him. They make arrangements to meet regularly, but before their next planned meeting Ben ends up rescuing Pres not only from a dangerous situation but from that life too. He offers him a job as his companion and valet. He also gives him the option of sharing his bed nightly. As these two get closer there is still a secret that Ben holds back, will the truth tear them apart?

This is a beautiful story of two broken people finding love with each other. Ben makes a place for them and men like them where they can live happily. I loved this glimpse at how this sort of relationship would have been approached back then. I love that it was written to fit the time period, often times these types of books gloss over the fact that times were different back then. No these two men never would have come out as lovers but they still got their HEA. I hope you guys enjoy this one as much as I have! It was a great read!! 🙂

4.5 Stars

Purchase from Dreamspinner Press:
http://dreamspinnerpress.com/blog/2012/09/12/men-brita-addams/