Behind These Doors

Radical Proposals, Book 1

By: Jude Lucens

Narrated by: Callum Hale

A Lambda Literary Awards Finalist (Category: Bisexual Fiction)

Lucien Saxby is a journalist, writing for the society pages. The Honourable Aubrey Fanshawe, second son of an earl, is Society. They have nothing in common, until a casual encounter leads to a crisis.

Aubrey isn’t looking for love. He already has it, in his long-term clandestine relationship with Lord and Lady Hernedale. And Lucien is the last man Aubrey should want. He’s a commoner, raised in service, socially unacceptable. Worse, he writes for a disreputable, gossip-hungry newspaper. Aubrey can’t afford to trust him when arrest and disgrace are just a breath away.

Lucien doesn’t trust nobs. Painful experience has taught him that working people simply don’t count to them. Years ago, he turned his back on a life of luxury so his future wouldn’t depend on an aristocrat’s whim. Now, thanks to Aubrey, he’s becoming entangled in the risky affairs of the upper classes, antagonising people who could destroy him with a word.

Aubrey and Lucien have too much to hide - and too much between them to ignore. Rejecting the strict rules and closed doors of Edwardian society might lead them both to ruin...but happiness and integrity alike demand it.

An Edwardian polyamorous romance

©2018 Jude Lucens (P)2021 Jude Lucens

All the feels

an amazing and wonderful narrative, with subtle and we'll executed plot points. the main characters are engaging, and both demand your emotional investment from the begining to end. I deeply hope the next book comes out soon.

A good audio version of an excellent book

I loved Behind These Doors when I read it several years ago, and I was delighted to learn it was now out in audio. The complex, layered story remains spectacular, but for me, the narration fell short of greatness. The pace and accuracy are excellent, but some of the voices felt... overly languorous, perhaps? Effeminate might be an overstatement, but... I'm not articulating this well. And it's possible my reaction will be an outlier.

On the whole, if you're looking for a historical romance that addresses class, race, gender, sexuality, and more in realistic and moving ways, you can't go wrong with this book. The fact that (for me) the narration was less than ideal is in no way a condemnation.

My thanks to the author for a complimentary copy of this audiobook.