Product Description

"The research behind 'Frost Fair' is impressive indeed...and the depiction of the winter carnival taking place on the frozen Thames is a delight." - Mel Keegan In 1814, the River Thames froze solid in one of the coldest winters on record; tradesmen and society all flocked to the Frost Fair - the last ever to be held on the ice. Against this chilly backdrop, the printer, engraver and fiercely independent Gideon Frost struggles; not only to keep his business afloat, selling his body to men when he must, but also to hide his growing attraction to a wealthy customer: the gentleman Joshua Redfern. Redfern is a man out of Gideon's class and very much out of his reach. When disaster strikes, Gideon is forced to make a decision which will affect his future: will he choose love, or independence? Frost Fair evokes a bitterly cold London winter as Gideon tries to find the heat of love in his heart and his life. Written by Erastes, author of the widely acclaimed "Standish" and "Trangressions", the latter the first in a new line of m/m historical romances published by Running Press.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #214647 in Books
• Published on: 2009-08-01
• Original language: English
• Number of items: 1
• Binding: Paperback
• 170 pages

Review

"The research behind Frost Fair is impressive indeed ... and the depiction of the winter carnival taking place on the frozen Thames is a delight." -- Mel Keegan

-...The nature of the characters and times is set in every nuance, every line, and in the very lush setting of the story itself. It imbeds itself deep until you can actually visualize in your mind the time and place, and the people (s)he immortalizes..." Romance at Heart Magazine

-...This story has exciting intrigue, suspenseful plot twists, and layers of character revelation and evolution that will keep any reader riveted. Set against a richly detailed and finely researched historical backdrop, the trials and travails of Gideon, Joshua, and Gideon's young employee, street urchin Mordecai, will thrill and entrance readers.- Rainbow Reviews

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Customer Reviews

Frost Fair by Erastes
Erastes writes a classical Regency romance with some not so classical elements. First of all, the obvious, the main characters are two men, but the second not so obvious, is that the main characters are not the cream of the ton, or some destitute nobleman, but instead common men, even if wealthy or with a business of their own.

Gideon Frost is a printer, but he has not a thriving business, instead he can hardly arrived at the end of the month. And sometime, to make both ends meet, he "sells" himself to men in searching of a friendly hand or mouth; but he never arrived to sell all of himself, not ever for hunger. In his mind probably Gideon still hopes to find a companion, a man with whom share all of him, as an equal partner, not as a kept boy. Gideon, even if poor and with few chance to be better, is still proud to be a free man, a merchant, yes, maybe not noble, but independent.

Joshua Redfern is a wealthy man. His social status allows him to mingle with the Ton, but he is not like all those nobleman. Joshua has a noble "soul" if not a birth. When he meets Gideon, he has not a lot of interest in the skill of the man as printer, he is more interested in him as a possible lover, but he is reluctant to make clear his intentions, since he had a very bad experience in the past: his former lover, an officer, passed through the martial court and then executed for sodomy. It's not clear if Joshua is reluctant since he fears the clutches of law upon him or Gideon, but in a way or another, he probably would never made a move.

It's Gideon that gives him the chance he is waiting, when stirs up against himself the rage of a nobleman he sexually refused; without a job and support, Gideon accepts the apparently friendly hand of Joshua.

As I said it's a classical plot: the proud but poor hero (in a classical romance it would be an heroine), whose only value is now his beauty, but he refuses to sell it to the best offerer; the wealth man, gentle and caring, who judges himself not worthy of real love, since he is not noble (like only the noblemen are allowed to love...). They are perfect together, but obviously a villain will do all his best to part these starry lovers.

I like the use of the middle class as choice for the main characters, it gives a fresh perspective in a maybe worn plot. Plus in a way, Joshua being a not noble isolates him as much as being gay. Plus, as I said, one wonders why an historical romance always has to have noble characters, almost if all the other level of society didn't exist.

The historical details are obviously very accurate, you can always picture the nineteen century London in which is set the story, and I bet that you can still follow the steps of Gideon around the city still now and seeing the same view he saw. The nice description of the Frost Fair, an impromptu fair held on the frozen Thames, is the same you can see in some prints of the time. I'm not an expert, but I believe that also the details on the gay underworld of that age (where one can find sex, more or less dangerous, more or less expensive) are well researched and refuted.

Frost Fair is a nice romance, a bit less angst and less dark of the previous long novel by Erastes, Standish, and so maybe more cup of tea for a wider audience. Not that I sometime didn't like a good angst romance, but in a way, a Regency romance is expected to be lighter.

Do you know what the Frost Fair is?
Do you know what the Frost Fair is? I didn't, until I read this book. When the Thames would freeze, merchants set up their stalls on the ice, selling their wares during the festive "Frost Fair."

This wonderful novella takes place during the last Frost Fair in London, 1814. But it's not just about the fair...it's also about Gideon Frost, a printer who is barely managing to survive. As misfortunes pile up, you'll read with your heart in your throat wondering if--and how--everything will work out for him.

I enjoy Erastes' writing very much and this book does not disappoint. Rich with details and vivid characterizations, I read it quickly in one sitting and then went back to re-read, and savor.

Highly recommended.

A must read for lovers of well document and well-written historical fiction, romance and a gay perspective
"Frost Fair" by noted author `Erastes' (Cheyenne Press, 2009) is a love story set against the backdrop of a frozen Thames River, and Dickensian London in 1814. This intriguing setting includes a carnival on ice, described by diarist John Evelyn as a "bacchanalian triumph," thus completing the atmosphere for a superb, period romance. Moreover, Erastes populates this `unique happening' with a fascination array of characters: a handsome, honest tradesman; a kindly and loving patron; and a glib, wealthy cad.

Fiercely Independent tradesman, Gideon Frost, is a talented lithographer and printer struggling to make ends meet (no pun intended), even if this means occasionally selling his body in the courtyard of venerable old St. Paul's Cathedral, or "Lad Lane." Beset by bill collectors, Gideon receives a lucrative commission from a wealthy gentleman-of-leisure, Joshua Redfern, who is secretly enamoured by this beautiful, young artisan. Unknown to Redfern, Gideon is equally smitten by him as well. Meanwhile, as a result of a "Little Ice Age" (c. 1770-1800), the Thames River froze solid to the delight of tradesmen eager to make a pound-or-two--Gideon included. It also attracted the curious of all classes, including one, Finbarr Thouless.

Now, one of the solid pluses of this novel is the well-developed cast of characters, and Finbarr Thouless is no exception. Delightfully `slithery,' he is portrayed as a two-faced, self-centred, foppish cad with a vitriolic vengeful streak. Moreover, given the fact that he exercises considerable sway over Redfern, it does not bode well for him and Gideon. I hasten to add that there is nothing formulaic about this story, for it offers several twists right up to the ending; which is both surprising and gratifying at the same time. That, however, is for the reader to discover for him or herself.

Of particular interest to me, as a writer of historical fiction, is the historically authentic depiction of the `frost fair.' This rare occurrence first came to my knowledge through Helen Humphries ("Frozen Thames"), who dramatized this phenomenon with colourful vignettes--including accounts of birds falling from the air cocooned in a coating of ice. Therefore, from my point of view a bit more descriptive elaboration would not have gone amiss. However, the story does move along delightfully with no unnecessary dawdling, whatsoever.

Not to be overlooked, either, is the stunning front cover art by Alex Beecroft--herself `no slouch' as a writer. Coincidentally, my next scheduled review will focus on her novel "Captain's Surrender."

"Frost Fair" is a definite read for those who enjoy well researched, and well-written historical fiction, romance and a gay perspective.

Gerry Burnie,
Canadian history from a gay perspective series.


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