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Best Laid Plans by Jade Falconer

Blurb:

At the height the Great Depression, young heir William is kidnapped and held for ransom by the desperate, yet handsome John. As he tries to make the best of the situation, William finds himself sympathizing with the criminal who is more than he seems, and who appears to want more than William’s money.

*Reviewed for Manic Readers Reviews

Review:

William is the only son of a wealthy banker, his family one that escaped the rampant poverty of the Depression. He is listless, without direction or responsibility, coasting through a sheltered life as a pretty little thing without strong thoughts, convictions or strength of will. He avoids the visual reminders of society problems and clings to his isolated, albeit lonely, existence. He has little experience in either social or romantic encounters.

John is more of an everyday man, handsome, strong, one of the countless factory workers who lost their job during that time. He is struggling with many things and kidnaps William with the intention of holding him for ransom from William’s wealthy father. However, this plan turns awry when John and William build a rapport and find passion undeniable admidst an isolated cabin.

The classic Stockholm relationship gives this quick read a familiar feel and unfortunately the poor characterization for most of the book allows the story to fall into clichés. William comes across as vapid, unintelligent and weak. John is the opposite with his domineering, possessive, experienced passion but having honest, heartfelt reasons for his actions; the author clearly wanting to excuse and sympathize with John’s troubles and actions. The men are wooden and reactions are heavily played as archetypes of the quivering virgin and sensitive but honest man.

William especially is unfortunate in that if his name was Wilma and take away the masculine “extras”, the characterization would be the classic female damsel in distress, who comes to love and protect her kidnapper. It is not until nearing the story’s end that William starts to gain more masculine characteristics and come across as another man instead of a swooning female disguised as a man. However, this is a brief glimpse before the obligatory happy ending, sweeping everything into a neat bow without much grief or angst.

This is not a bad story, it’s merely a het romance disguised as m/m fiction and it plays to the classic stereotypes without much innovation or imagination. It did have moments of potential, definitely saving it some, but unfortunately they were drowned in the unnecessary sex scenes, poor characterization and a formulaic plot. I didn’t want to throw the book, but I don’t recommend this for fans of m/m fiction and especially not to those of historical fiction unfortunately. Sorry!

It’s found HERE!

My review at Manic Readers Reviews was unpublished. 

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