Is his love her safe place to land…or just smoke and mirrors?
Grace Owens danced her feet bloody to become the finest en pointe prodigy of her generation, but the only accolade she longed for—her father’s approval—never came. Finally, broken and defeated, she cut ties and fled to London to live life on her own terms.
Now, after four years as an actress in London’s smaller theatres, a last-minute production change lands her right where she never wanted to be again. Front and center in the ballet—and back in toe shoes.
From his perch on the catwalks, machinist and stagecraft illusionist Isaac Caird can’t take his eyes off Grace. A woman who wears men’s clothing, but not as a disguise. An exquisite beauty who doesn’t keep a lover. A skilled dancer who clearly hates every pirouette.
The perfect lines of her delicate body inspire him to create a new illusion—with her as the centerpiece—that will guarantee sold-out shows. Maybe even attract a royal’s patronage. But first he has to get her to look at him. And convince her the danger is minimal—especially within the circle of his arms.
Featuring a gender-fluid ballet dancer, an amateur chemist who only occasionally starts fires, and an old rivalry that could tear them apart.
(review request submitted by the author for an honest critique)
Historical romances, for the most part, have a common denominator — couples DO NOT rush into the act of love-making. In this genre, I’ve discovered couples are more prone to tread slowly, basking in the rewards of subtle touches and lustful glances. They understand the act of foreplay with their words holds the same amount of power, if not more, than succumbing to the carnal impulse to inert slot A into slot B.
In “That Potent Alchemy”, Isaac and Grace had their share of tender touches and they also dabbled in various acts of eroticism: oils, scarf, and a strap-on. I have to say I’m impressed with Isaac’s attitude and reaction to Grace’s “prick”. He wasn’t close-minded and found himself thoroughly enjoying his *never before touched* area pleasured.
Kinky!!
Now when the couple wasn’t seeking sexual satisfaction, a plot was unfolding. Someone was attempting to sabotage the play Isaac was a set designer for and Grace was dancing/acting in. For me, the plot seemed like a problem any theatre company would face then or now. For that, I give Tess props. (no pun intended) 😀
Tess stayed true to circumstances faced my anyone in the “business” and also delivered us a nice portion of romance/kinkery.
Lovely work, Tess!
Heart Rating System – 1 (lowest) and 5 (highest)
Score: ❤❤❤❤
Other books by Tess Bowery:
She Whom I Love: Amazon Purchase Link
Rite of Summer: Amazon Purchase Link
High Contrast (Evolution Ink): Amazon Purchase Link
Tess Bowery lives near the ocean, which sounds lovely, except when it snows. An historian by training and a theater person by passion, she’s parleyed her Masters degree in English history into something that would give her former professors something of a surprise.
Her love for the Regency era began as they always do, with Jane Austen, and took a sharp left turn into LBGT biographies and microhistory. Now she indulges in both of her passions, telling the stories of her community in the time periods that fire the human imagination. Her first foray into contemporary M/M fiction, High Contrast, releases in 2016.
Along with writing, Tess splits her time between teaching, backstage work, LBGT activism and her family. She spends far too much money on comic books, loves superheroes and ghost stories, and still can’t figure out how to use Twitter properly.
Get updates and book information at http://www.tessbowery.com, or hang out with Tess at http://tessbowery.tumblr.com, or @tessbowery on Twitter.
