The lovely Ellie Thomas is back on the blog! She’s here to talk about An Unlikely Alliance, the box set, so keep on reading!

Thank you so much, Ofelia, for having me back on the blog again! I’m Ellie, and I write Historical MM Romance. I’m delighted to announce that the box set for my Regency London-set An Unlikely Alliance MMM trilogy is now on release!

This box set consists of An Unlikely Alliance, An Increasing Entanglement and An Uncommon Alignment, where Clem, Abe and Humphrey, three very different men in terms of character and status find mutual attraction and forge a lasting relationship to reach their HEA.

When we first meet Abe Pengelly in An Unlikely Alliance, we see him through the eyes of his occasional lover Clem. Tough-guy Abe holds court at the Old Red Lion Inn that straddles the Fleet Ditch with a long history of criminal confederacy.

Bur despite his swashbuckling appearance, complete with a red velvet coat harking back to the glory days of the tavern, Abe is already planning to transform himself into a respectable businessman.

Abe might have grown up on the streets as a brawler and semi-criminal, but his devotion to his mother, Lucy, means that he has no desire to be transported or to face the gallows. By his mid-twenties, Abe has moved away from fencing stolen goods to trading in information, which is how he meets Clem. Abe is not only attracted to Clem but over time, he’s developed an affection for him. However, his growing feelings for Clem don’t seem to further their relationship.

That changes when Humphrey enters the equation and the three men embark on a relationship. Abe finally feels he’s ready to settle down, to his mother’s delight. In An Increasing Entanglement, Abe’s plans to gradually ease into respectability are fast forwarded when Travers, a contact at the military headquarters of Horse Guards, offers him a job. Similarly, his personal life is upended by Clem’s abduction by his enemy and former employer Richard Farquarson. Since he confronted Farquarson on Clem’s behalf in the first story, Abe feels culpable for this development.

Apart from his mother, Abe is accustomed to being a lone wolf, and by the third story, An Uncommon Alignment, we watch him struggle with his change of circumstances. Instead of the freedom of the Old Red Lion, he is now an office worker with colleagues and has to tolerate their petty bullying due to a difference in social class.

He’s also no longer a single man. Abe is capable of deep-rooted loyalty but he’s used to keeping his own counsel and carefully guarding secrets. Abe has to learn not to make unilateral decisions where Clem and Humphrey’s happiness is concerned, and to function as part of a team, both professionally and personally. By the end of the third novella, Abe is no longer living life on the edge but has eased into a happy domestic life and a burgeoning career, with the support of the men he loves.

Blurb:

All three novellas in the MMM Regency An Unlikely Alliance trilogy by Ellie Thomas are compiled for this box set.

In these stories, bratty private secretary Clem, semi-criminal hard man Abe, and shy gentleman Humphrey discover that mutual passion leads to romance and even lasting love when they band together to defeat a mutual enemy.

Contains the stories:

An Unlikely Alliance: In Regency London, private secretary Clem encounters shy gentleman Humphrey with satisfying results. From then on, it seems natural to include Abe, Clem’s regular lover, in their frolics. Apart from willing bedfellows, Clem is used to being alone and unsupported. But will the alliance between the three men prove more substantial than mere passing pleasure?

An Increasing Entanglement: Clem, Abe and Humphrey are struggling to maintain their romantic connection in the hustle and bustle of Regency London. When one of their trio is threatened, will the others dash to his rescue? And might this be the making of their romance?

An Uncommon Alignment: In Regency London, Clem, Abe and Humphrey are spending the summer together, in the hope of consolidating their romance. But amongst the demands of everyday life, an old enemy reappears to threaten their harmony. Can the trio defeat Richard Farquarson for once and all? And might they find a way to remain together forever? 

Excerpt:

Excerpt from An Unlikely Alliance:

Humphrey had tried and failed to forget the episode in the coffee house the week before. It wasn’t as though he had the excuse of no other distractions. He barely had a free minute given the number of house guests arriving for the start of the Season. There seemed to be a constant round of relatives expecting him to conduct them in the social round.

At Drury Lane Theatre, Humphrey was entirely distracted during a performance of Hamlet, simply because one of the supporting actors bore a faint resemblance to the man from the coffee house. Only then did he admit he was a lost cause. In conversation with his cousins afterwards, he tried to hide that he couldn’t remember a single scene from the play, even though he’d studied it at school. 

So after dinner one evening, when he wasn’t required for an hour or two, he audaciously decided to beard his seducer in his den, or rather the Fleet Street tavern he frequented. 

Humphrey was so flustered by his uncharacteristic decisiveness that he changed his waistcoat three times. Although the blond had seemed more interested in what lay beneath Humphrey’s clothing. 

He eyed his modest supply of coats with trepidation. Is the green too sober, the blue too frivolous and the buff-coloured one too plain? 

In the end, he solved the problem by closing his eyes and picking a garment at random. He didn’t dare glance at the mirror in case that prompted more equivocation. 

When downstairs, Humphrey hesitated by the drawing room door, lured by comfortable congeniality versus the pursuit of illicit pleasure. One minute he was about to enter the room and in the next, he was haring out of the front door and down the steps to the street. 

He calmed his pace when he reached Holborn, slowed by a steady trickle of early evening foot traffic that thickened as he made his way towards Fleet Street.

I’m just going for a quiet drink, he thought. He might not even be there. 

Humphrey halted at the entrance to the tavern, his resolve failing him. His vacillation was overcome by pure coincidence. A group of men required access and their impetus carried him over the threshold. Humphrey removed his crown beaver hat and looked around the unevenly shaped room. 

With a combination of disappointment and relief, he concluded that his quarry wasn’t present. Then he spotted him in a corner nook. A second glance proved that he was not alone. 

Humphrey shifted from foot to foot. In any given social situation he was a reliable sort of fellow, or so Aunt Cece reassured him. But etiquette couldn’t guide him in this particular situation.

It didn’t help that the man seated beside his acquaintance was equally attractive; well-built and with deep olive toned skin. He made a pleasing contrast to the other’s fair slenderness. His massive build reminded Humphrey enticingly of a bare knuckle boxer in an exhibition bout at the Lyceum. 

Humphrey was dawdling indecisively when the blond looked up. Humphrey was neatly hooked by that sultry grey gaze. The man nudged his friend. He whispered a few words in his ear, from which hung a gold hoop. The other man grinned and looked Humphrey up and down in a far too knowledgeable way.

Oh good heavens, has he told him? Humphrey felt hot and cold and flustered all at once. He didn’t know whether to be flattered, alarmed, or horrified. He stood stock still, to the annoyance of another patron, halted in the course of reaching the bar.

“Scuse me, squire.” 

“Beg your pardon,” Humphrey said immediately. Unfortunately, his reflex response brought him in front of the table occupied by his coffee house companion.  

“Care to join us?” The dark aspected man asked.

The invitation seemed to be loaded with meaning.

Book links:

JMS Books :: Amazon :: UBL :: Add to Goodreads :: Add to Bookbub

Bio:

Ellie Thomas lives by the sea. She comes from a teaching background and goes for long seaside walks where she daydreams about history. She is a voracious reader especially about anything historical. She mainly writes historical gay romance.

Ellie also writes historical erotic romance as L. E. Thomas.

Website: https://elliethomasromance.wordpress.com/

Facebook reader group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/8308047409266947

Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/elliethomas.bsky.social

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/19835510.Ellie_Thomas

Bookbub: https://www.bookbub.com/authors/ellie-thomas

The lovely Ellie Thomas is back on the blog! This time, she’ll be talking about her new release A Period of Adjustment, so make sure to read on.

Thank you so much, Ofelia, for having me back on the blog again! I’m Ellie, I write Historical MM Romance and today, I’m here to chat about my new release, A Period of Adjustment.

This is the tenth story in my Twelve Letters series, set in Regency London with an ensemble cast of four established couples. In the ninth story, A United Front, released in April, one of my couples, Jolyon Everett and Daniel Walters were threatened with blackmail. Their friends rallied around and managed to subdue the threat, but Jo and Daniel were left rattled by this close call.

When the JMS Books Anniversary submission call was announced with a Date Night theme, I thought this would be the perfect opportunity for Daniel and Jo to work out their remaining issues from the recent crisis.

As this is the tenth novella in this long-running series, by now, I know these characters intimately. What interested me about the aftermath of the attempted blackmail was how the couple would react as individuals.

Daniel Walters is a working class man who has attained the position of managing a tailor’s shop through sheer hard work and skill. In A United Front, when he’s approached by the potential blackmailer, Daniel has the street smarts to temporarily keep the corrupt constable temporarily at bay.

But once the threat is removed, Daniel feels on shaky ground. He might be surrounded by loyal friends, but unlike Jo, he doesn’t have the protection of social class. As a self-made man, it occurs to him how much he might have lost in terms of reputation, which would have a drastic effect on his livelihood and his future.

Despite four happy years together, Daniel’s fears and insecurities come roaring back, and he feels unable to communicate his feelings to Jo. It doesn’t help that, at least superficially, Jo appears to have thrown off the episode and is behaving as normal.

I thought that a ‘date night’ was the perfect occasion for these two to have an opportunity to communicate their feelings and put their relationship back on track.

Blurb

Sequel to A United Front

In London during the spring of 1818, the close-knit group of men successfully routed a recent threat of extortion that particularly impacted Jo Everett and Daniel Walters.

The after-effects might linger, but everyday life and other challenges keep all four couples occupied.

Luc, the musician, and Harry, the actor, are heavily involved with a production at Drury Lane Theatre.

Ben is helping Edward to counter his father’s edict that Edward quits London to take the reins of the family doctor’s practice in Wiltshire, leaving behind his lover and his medical research.

Meanwhile, Percy is out of sorts at the prospect of his sister Eustacia’s upcoming wedding. As usual, his long-suffering lover Nathan bears the brunt of Percy’s mercurial moods.

Life above the tailor’s shop at Tottenham Court Road has apparently returned to normal since the banishment of the corrupt constable, Jabeth Snell. But neither Jo nor Daniel has fully recovered from their close escape.

Jo is trying to put on a brave face while Daniel’s old doubts have resurfaced, making him keep Jo at a distance.

Can Jo and Daniel weather the storm and return to their previously happy existence? And will their friends rally round to help them reconcile?

Excerpt:

“Have you finished for the day, Mr. Jo?” Cribbins asked while Jo placed the completed stack of letters on the hall table ready for the post boy.

“That’s right, Cribbins. Ben told me not to linger once I’d finished today’s quota of epistles.”

“Rather you than me,” Cribbins said, eyeing the pile of papers. “I’ll stick to polishing the silver.”

“Why, is Ben such a stickler?”

“Not so you’d notice. Someone has to keep the captain up to certain standards, even if they aren’t his own. I call it a work in progress.”

They grinned at each other.

“Talking of standards,” Jo said, his mind turning to the recent upset. “Have you come across your friend Arkwright recently?”

This official served at the same magistrate’s court as Snell but was of a different pedigree entirely, and had been a soldier under Ben’s command. With some prompting from Cribbins, Arkwright had been pivotal in engineering Snell’s removal from London.

Since Cribbins and Ben were in close alignment, Jo had very few secrets from Ben’s manservant, the most reliable of men who he regarded as a friend.

“Funny you should say that, sir. I bumped into him only this afternoon, on my way back from the cobblers. You know how the captain needs his boots specially adjusted these days.”

Jo nodded at this allusion to Ben’s injured foot, or what remained of it.

“Arkwright was in no hurry and seemed pleased to see me. We shared a jug of ale as he was keen to relate his tidings of Snell.”

It was typical of Cribbins to refer to the potentially life-ruining scandal in such oblique terms.

He’s had plenty of practice at circumventing a trigger for Ben’s moods and rages.

“There’s been neither hide nor hair of Snell in Soho or thereabouts. Mind you, plenty of fellows seek him and not to enquire after his health,” Cribbins said knowingly, doubtless referring to the criminal element to whom Snell owed money. “Snell’s missus had the bags packed on the cart off to Southwark sharpish,” Cribbins paused for effect. “Although that’s probably because they owed three months rent.”

“Why doesn’t that surprise me?”

“Indeed, sir. I reckon Snell’s lying low in Battersea, out of the reach of any rogues. And from what Arkwright says, it’s not a comfortable billet. Mr. Thompson, the local magistrate is a God-fearing sort, close to Methodist in inclination. Arkwright says he makes Mr. Madingley seem like a Sybarite in comparison.”

Jo laughed at that colourful description of the eminently respectable Soho magistrate, a friend of Nathan’s and a new acquaintance to Ben, who had been delighted to rid the district of Snell and his nefarious schemes.

“There’s no scope for Snell’s schemes in Battersea, what with Mr. Thompson watching him like a hawk. There’s more sheep than people in that direction, anyway,” Cribbins said with the lofty condescension of a seasoned city dweller. “The magistrate disapproves of gambling and doesn’t hold with his men drinking spirits.”

“So it looks like Snell is forced into being a sober citizen.”

“Couldn’t have happened to a more deserving cove.”

“I have to say, that’s certainly brightened up my day.”

“I thought it might, sir. Are you off home now?”

Perhaps Jo was simply feeling oversensitive, but there seemed to be slightly too much understanding on Cribbins’ weather-beaten features.”

“I thought I’d drop into Jackson’s for a bit of sparring before preparing for the evening’s revelry.”

Better than going home to have Daniel invent yet another reason to keep out of my way.

In recent training sessions, Jo had imagined Snell’s smug face imprinted on the punching bag, giving him some measure of satisfaction.

“Ben’s got an invitation for tonight’s ball, too. He must have accepted as I spotted the card on the mantel.”

“That’ll please him.” Cribbins grinned. Ben was vocal in his dislike of frivolity. “I’d better get his evening suit brushed down and ready, so he’ll have no excuses.”

“Rather you than me, in that respect.

“We have to suffer our lot in life. I’ll see you tomorrow morning then, Mr. Jo.”

“Indeed, you will, Cribbins, despite the gallons of Champagne I’ll be obliged to consume this evening.”

“I’ll be sure to have the coffee ready. Strong enough to stand a spoon in.”

Book Links:

JMS Books :: Amazon :: Books2Read :: Add to Goodreads :: Add to Booksbub

Bio

Ellie Thomas lives by the sea. She comes from a teaching background and goes for long seaside walks where she daydreams about history. She is a voracious reader especially about anything historical. She mainly writes historical gay romance.

Ellie also writes historical erotic romance as L. E. Thomas.

Website: https://elliethomasromance.wordpress.com/

Facebook reader group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/8308047409266947

Twitter/X: @e_thomas_author

Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/elliethomas.bsky.social

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/19835510.Ellie_Thomas

Bookbub: https://www.bookbub.com/authors/ellie-thomas

Today, the lovely Ellie Thomas is back on the blog. She’s here to tell us a little about her latest release, The Perfect Number, so keep on reading!

Thank you so much, Ofelia for having me back on the blog again! I’m Ellie, and I write Historical MM Romance. I have a brand new short story release which is a free short read!

The Perfect Number puts together the three newsletter bonus chapters in my Regency MMM An Unlikely Alliance trilogy. Each roughly 1k word story is has an individual point of view from one of my three MCs.

The first story, The Spare Man is from the perspective of Humphrey Atkinson, the most privileged and yet the least confident of my trio. It takes place after the events of the first novella An Unlikely Alliance when Humphrey hooks up with Clem and then Abe and they subsequently decide to become a trio.

I loved writing Humphrey’s story as he’s such a loveable character. He’s kind and modest to a fault despite being from the gentry and living in the eminently respectable area of Bloomsbury with his aunt. In society, Humphrey is regarded as the useful spare man of the story title, and being modest, he more than fulfils his role to a fault. As a result, Humphrey is unable to see beyond his usefulness to others.

Humphrey’s shyness is partly due to his awareness that he is gay and the knowledge that this is a social disadvantage at the very least. Any previous experiences have been with friends who have bestowed their sexual favours only when no willing female is available. However, after the start of his relationship with Clem and Abe, Humphrey finds himself in the entirely new situation of being desired and appreciated. This has given Humphrey a measure of confidence and perception which is revealed during this short story.

He’s still obliging and courteous as ever, but his growing self-worth means that he doesn’t regard himself merely as useful to others, and that his feelings and desires matter, too.

Blurb:

These three 1.5k-word stories are bonus chapters for the Regency MMM An Unlikely Alliance trilogy, featuring a short story from the point of view of each of the three men, Humphrey, Abe and Clem.

In The Spare Man, modest gentleman Humphrey Atkinson reflects on recent events and the tumultuous effect that Abe and Clem have had on his previously quiet life.

Former hard man Abe Pengelly is in the spotlight for Privilege and Preferment, firstly in trouble with his mother after a drunken night out and then getting the better of an arrogant young sprig at the military headquarters of Horse Guards, Abe’s new and respectable workplace.

Excerpt:

It was nearly lunchtime before Abe emerged from his bedroom, still feeling slightly the worse for wear. Humphrey had also arisen, and after a subdued farewell, hurried home to assure his Aunt Cece that he wasn’t lying dead in a ditch.

Abe recalled Humphrey’s unusual pallor. He looks how I feel.

When Abe shook Clem’s shoulder in a half-hearted attempt to waken him, Clem moaned piteously and buried his face in the pillows.

I’ll leave him to sleep it off, Abe decided before heading downstairs with a sense of trepidation.

There was an occasion in his extreme youth when he and the kitchen girl had got foxed on a stash of gin secreted by one of his mum’s fellow incumbents at the Covent Garden seraglio where Abe had grown up. His mother’s fury was unprecedented. He had never since reeled home in a state of inebriation.

During his years hovering on the brink of outright criminality, Abe was far too leery of the company he kept in the environs of the Old Red Lion to let down his guard. It was a measure of his trust in Clem and Humphrey that he had allowed himself to become a trifle mellow the night before.

Although Mum might not appreciate that sentiment, he thought glumly as he reached the ground floor.

Abe was less concerned about his mother’s disapproval than her disappointment in him. From his earliest childhood, they had always been close, the two of them against the world. The idea of disillusioning his most constant supporter made Abe’s head ache worse than the mild megrim induced by last night’s overindulgence.

He found Lucy in the kitchen, moving the luncheon pots and pans around with unnecessary force. Their maid took one look at Abe and scuttled off towards the scullery.

I’m for it, then.

Abe took a seat at the kitchen table and waited for his mum to deign to notice him. Eventually, Lucy turned to face him, her generous mouth set in a grim unsmiling line.

“I suppose you’re in need of a pot of coffee?”

“I don’t want to put you to any bother, Mum. I can make it myself.”

Lucy huffed, ignoring Abe’s offer. She reached for the kettle and slammed it down on the stove.

Abe winced.

It wasn’t going to be easy to get back in her good graces. Due to a natural sense of self-preservation, he kept silent until Lucy set a mug of coffee in front of him.

“Thank you.”

Lucy stood over him with her arms folded.

“What do you have to say for yourself then, Absolom?”

“I’m sorry, Mum. It won’t happen again.”

“It’s one thing you for you to get into such a sorry state, and I’m surprised at Humphrey, too, but luring that poor lamb into drunken insensibility? I have to say, I’m thoroughly ashamed of you.”

Abe was within his rights to point out that Lucy’s poor lamb was more than accustomed a surfeit of drink. Clem’s capacity for gin or beer was apparently limitless.

Hollow legs, that one.

It was the Champagne that did for Clem, a beverage with which he was generally unaccustomed. However, Abe didn’t dare mention his theory aloud.

“Sorry, Mum,” he repeated, in the hope that if he apologised enough, she might start to believe him. “Clem’s still sleeping it off. And we made sure he drank a glass of water last night before going to bed.”

Lucy didn’t reply.

But she topped up his mug, an indication that her rancour was softening. Abe felt much more awake and alert after a few gulps of coffee with a sharper recall of the night’s events.

“Apart from giving Farquarson a good clouting,” he said. “We had another reason for celebration. I spoke to Mr. Travers before we left the theatre. He told me I would have a new position at Horse Guards, starting on Monday.”

“A promotion?” Lucy’s eyes grew wide.

“So he said.”

Lucy forgot her annoyance and sat next to Abe at the table.

“Why, Absolom, that’s wonderful news, and most unexpected. You’ve only been there a matter of weeks.”

“I don’t think I’ll be running the place yet, Mum.”

He vaguely remembered passing on his good tidings to his lovers which had caused Humphrey to order a fourth bottle of Champagne.

Things were slightly hazy after that.

Book links:

JMS Books :: Amazon :: UBL :: Add to GoodReads :: Add to Bookbub

Bio:

Ellie Thomas lives by the sea. She comes from a teaching background and goes for long seaside walks where she daydreams about history. She is a voracious reader especially about anything historical. She mainly writes historical gay romance.

Ellie also writes historical erotic romance as L. E. Thomas.

Website: https://elliethomasromance.wordpress.com/

Facebook reader group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/8308047409266947

Twitter/X: @e_thomas_author

Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/elliethomas.bsky.social

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/19835510.Ellie_Thomas

Bookbub: https://www.bookbub.com/authors/ellie-thomas