Roses In The Devil's Garden (2000) - Plot & Excerpts
I got Roses in the Devil's Garden since it was so well recommended as a prelude to A Rose By Any Other Name and now, like before with Charlie Cochet's THIRDS, I am hooked.I usually don't go for historicals, but I'd say this is more of a period piece and it is so darn well written that you're immediately drawn in by the characters. Nate and Harlan are awesome and you can't help but like them. Dan and Julius are just the right addition to their relationship and I'm pretty darn sure that these characters come back in A Rose By Any Other Name.I fell in love with Ms. Cochet's writing in THIRDS, and now this novella has sealed the deal - she ROCKS and now I have to get the next book, what's a guy to do! Written for a Goodreads writing fest, (Love is Always Write) this is now out in ebook form and is a nice quick read. The more I read from Charlie Cochet the more I appreciate her. She knows her era, she specialises in the 20′s and 30′s in America- and I don’t know of anyone doing the era better than she does.This is the story of Harlan and Nathan–two cops working in the Prohibition Unit in New York. Lovers and partners they have successfully managed to avoid anyone finding out about their love affair. At work they are as hard bitten and tough as any of the other cops on duty–and why should they not be, after all? The only thing that I didn’t like about these guys was the fact that their names were too similar because I am a bear of little brain and can’t remember which is which.What I particularly like about Cochet’s writing is her economy; somehow she manages to push a quart into a pint pot, as it were, and in the space of a small novella–hardly more than a longish short story, there’s action, romance, jealousy, character building, backstory, promise of more to come and more action. She makes it look easy and believe me it isn’t.She intrigues with her characters. Small hints are thrown out, the fact that Harlan is loaded–money from his family–but we aren’t told very much more than that and I for one wanted to know more. Then there’s a character introduction that deals with Nathan’s past, and again, you want to know the full story behind that too. Don’t get me wrong, Cochet doesn’t leave you hanging with these plotlines, she tells you exactly as much as you need to know for this story, but if you are like me you’ll be writing to her and saying “more please!”The historical details are, or seem to be, spot on. She’s a “safe pair of hands” and there are no jarring moments which throw you back into the 21st century, these are men of their time, and if that makes them bigoted and makes them say things that we would find objectionable, then so be it. If a guy is considered a fairy by 1920′s standards, then he’s described as such as so it should be. No political correctness in Prohibition Noo Yawk no sirree!Highly recommended and even better – its a FREE READ!
What do You think about Roses In The Devil's Garden (2000)?
A interesting look at the roaring 20's. An established couple have a whole lot going on.
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