The Russian Boy in Queereaders

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Feb 27, 2014 Stephen rated it liked it

Shelves: z-read-in-2014, gay, dont-buy-my-love, 3-read-for-review, 5-have-mobi-on-pc

Five years ago Rowan McNair was a 45 year old professor of art history at a prestigious university. When he became involved romantically with a much younger (but adult) former student and his relationship with the young man was discovered, McNair lost his tenured position, his marriage, and most of his contact with his two sons.

Now at 50 he's barely making ends meet as a consulting detective on cases where a knowledge of art is required.

However when a notorious painting of a beautiful Russian Five years ago Rowan McNair was a 45 year old professor of art history at a prestigious university. When he became involved romantically with a much younger (but adult) former student and his relationship with the young man was discovered, McNair lost his tenured position, his marriage, and most of his contact with his two sons.

Now at 50 he's barely making ends meet as a consulting detective on cases where a knowledge of art is required.

However when a notorious painting of a beautiful Russian lordling is stolen, McNair is tapped to track down the missing masterpiece.

The story quickly evolves into the tale of three love affairs involving older men and their younger paramours. Rowan meets a young American who helps him with the search. The story of the painting's creation and the affair between the painter and his muse is revealed and lastly the thief, a modern day Russian boy, becomes involved with a French older man.

This story is complex and in trying to summarize it one quickly understands that challenge that the author had in presenting the material in an interesting manner. While he did a better job than I just did in my recap, there were moments early on when the changes of POV were a bit offputting but as soon as the three couples were a bit established that difficulty faded and the tale became much more engaging.

One of the best features of this novel for me were the painterly descriptions used to describe certain of the settings and the little cultural lessons wedged into the story. It's clear that the author knew his locales and several parts felt like a really well crafted travelogue much like I felt when reading the Bourne Identity.

However here I had the added pleasure of spending time with three m/m couples, all consisting of a younger man and an older man where the chemistry and the attraction just felt right.

Once I had the characters firmly established this was a quick and engrossing read and was a great bit of fantasy fulfillment.

By all means, check it out and judge for yourself.

Note: I received a review copy of this novel through a Don't Buy My Love event the GoodReads M/M romance group sponsors ...more

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Jul 06, 2012 Tracey marked it as to-read · review of another edition

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Oct 21, 2013 Joseph-Daniel Peter Paul Abondius marked it as to-read · review of another edition

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