Author: Isobel Starling
Title: As You Wish
Length: 141 pages
Publication Date: August 28, 2015
Tags: M/M
Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/25869161-as-you-wish
1 wedding, 2 best men, one hell of a love story!
Declan Ramsay’s brother Oliver was marrying Annabelle Aiken at a fairy tale Castle on the banks of Loch Ness in Scotland. The bride and groom decided, so that he didn’t feel left out, Annabelle’s gay younger brother Sam Should share the best man duties with Declan.
Declan had never met the kid who was to be his joint best man.
Sam Aiken was abroad, working as an interpreter and finishing his studies. He wouldn’t meet Declan until a few days before the wedding, so the best men communicated and planned their speech by email for more than a year.
But on meeting Sam Aiken, Declan is surprised to realise the kid isn’t a kid at all, but a tall, blond and athletic young man. Declan is sure he’s straight, so he’s alarmed by the ferocious attraction he feels for Sam. And as the attraction is reciprocated, the events at Dunloch Castle change everything Declan has ever believed about himself.
But is Samuel Aiken all that he appears to be?
By all rights, I should have loved this. I mean, what could be better than a whole novella inspired by The Princess Bride? It just so happens, that’s one of my favorite movies (and, like the characters, I can recite entire sections of dialog). Unfortunately, I didn’t experience true love with this one.
The first—and biggest—problem I had was that it’s gay-for-you (rather than developing self-awareness or out-for-you). I don’t do gay-for-you. I hate them with a fiery passion. I find most of them to be bi-erasure, and I get sick of being reminded periodically that someone is Very Definitely Not Gay, especially when it’s played for laughs. It’s annoying. I’m sure gay-for-you does occasionally happen in real life, but from these books, you’d think it was common. It’s really more just a fantasy of some gay men and straight women to “convert” one, and it’s…well, kind of objectifying as well as ignorant of bisexuality.
Anyway, I was ready to throw something after the fiftieth time Declan announced his not-gayness. He literally thought it during a sex scene. The worst part? It wasn’t even necessary. Declan could have been closeted (his boss was certainly homophobic enough). Or he could have been the playboy sort, not wanting to settle down. Which is more or less what he was, only with women. Or he could have been grappling with internalized homophobia (all right, maybe not in a romantic comedy, but still). Or he could have been freaking bisexual. Gay-for-you was absolutely not central to the plot here in any way. In fact, it wasn’t even necessary for the sex, since there was zero awkwardness.
Speaking of which, that’s basically what most of this was—one long-ass sex scene. It was a bit unbelievable that Definitely Not Gay Declan was so capable at sex on the first try and never did find anything he disliked doing. We got to read all about it. Which is fine, but I also don’t care much for erotica, so that didn’t appeal to me (or mitigate the other things I didn’t like).
On that front, I wasn’t too thrilled with the overt misogyny. Let’s go over a few: The annoying women (Annabelle, Freya); the awful women (the two whose names I forget but were stalking Declan because he was apparently THAT HOT); the absence of any other kind of women in a meaningful way; Declan’s assessment that men are better at sex because they have man-bits (seriously? not how it works); Sam being disgusted that Declan’s appendage had only ever touched vaginas.
Finally, one other detail that was small and brief but really bothered me was Sam’s commentary on his time in Saudi Arabia. There was no reason at all to mention Sam witnessing a brutal murder of two gay men. It came across as “look how savage those brown people are.” I’m sure that was not the intent, but it left a bad taste because there was nothing to counter it. The incident was so insignificant to the plot of the novella that I can’t fathom why it needed to be included.
There are certainly a few positives. Aside from the constant head-hopping (sometimes within a paragraph), the writing style was excellent. All the quoting of The Princess Bride was hilarious and fun and made the sex sweet and playful. There were a number of terrific and hilarious moments throughout. And in the end, I loved the surprise so much I actually squealed out loud. Had this story been minus the other elements, that would have made it a delightful romp in the style of any good romantic comedy with an outstanding plot twist.
My understanding is that this is a bit of a prequel to the actual novel. I wish I could say I would read it, except I don’t want more of Declan pondering his not-gayness. Plus, I’m not much in the market for poorly-drawn women and people of color, and I can’t trust that those won’t feature in the novel. Ultimately, I can only conclude this was a giant case of “not the story for me.”
For being blindsided by gay-for-you, annoying women, and a heap of disappointment, this gets 4/10 fountain pens.
Smashwords: https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/563859
Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/As-You-Wish-Romance-Shatterproof-ebook/dp/B012T8J92U
ARe: https://www.allromanceebooks.com/product-asyouwishanmmromancenovella-1872206-351.html
Barnes&Noble: http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/as-you-wish-isobel-starling/1122410322?ean=9781519575210
Inspiration strikes at the strangest of times.
Born in Germany, Isobel Starling spent most of her twenty-year professional career making art. She relocated to the UK and, faced with the dreaded artist’s creative block, Isobel started to write and found she loved it more than making art.
Isobel’s first novel “Schonling” was a best seller in the GLBT-Bisexual genre on the ‘All Romance ebooks’ site. She has just completed her sixth book, and signed French translation rights for novella “As You Wish”.
She adores the M/M genre and enjoys writing about wounded souls and the complexities of personal relationships. Despite not having found proof yet, Isobel believes in love at first sight and endeavors to give her men a thrilling journey and a satisfying ending!
http://isobelstarling.wix.com/author
https://www.facebook.com/pages/Isobel-Starling/616067078525832
https://twitter.com/isobel_starling
https://isobelstarling.wordpress.com
Today I’m welcoming Isobel Starling to chat about writing, life, and their current project. Welcome! Let’s talk a little about As You Wish.
What inspired you to write this story?
The story “As You Wish” began as a prompt through the Goodreads M/M Romance group DRITC event. I’d read some wonderful DRITC stories, and was fascinated to learn about the writing process. I had written Fanfic before but never written from a prompt.
I missed the first round, where story prompts were released and authors could claim the one they wanted to write on a first come, first served basis. Then, months later a writer dropped out and a prompt became available. Author Kaje Harper put the link on her Facebook page and I clicked and saw it first. The story prompt was about two men at their siblings wedding, and I was to tell the story of how they got together. The accompanying photo made me claim the prompt straight away. It pictured two men in kilts, their arms around one another, exchanging a loaded, naughty look. They became my characters Sam and Declan, and there and then I lost my heart to them. I was given a six weeks deadline, but I was just so obsessed, I wrote the book in three weeks.
Is there a character you feel especially connected to? Why?
I feel connected to both Sam and Declan equally. Their back stories have been bubbling in my head since I saw the initial prompt image a year ago. Since writing “As You Wish”, I have written two more books in the “Shatterproof Bond” series. I know Sam and Declan intimately and I love writing their stories, watching their characters develop and discover their secrets. Their connection with each other is so vital and all encompassing. They have some really bad times to face, however the strength of their love holds them together, and it’s a really beautiful concept.
What was the hardest part of writing this?
Maybe readers will find me cocky for saying this. But the story came effortlessly. It was my obsession and joy, and just fell out of my head and onto the page. I suppose if I had to pinpoint a hard part, it was that I was typing so furiously for hours and days, that I inflamed my RSI and had to rest my hands for a few weeks after I finished.
Choose a favorite line or short passage. What do you like about it?
I love this passage, because it’s not only romantic- they were watching “The Princess Bride” movie together, and sharing snacks, but it encompasses the moment Declan surrenders to his feelings for Sam.
“His fingertips met the back of Declan’s veined, broad hand in the bag of chocolates. He allowed his fingers to continue to slide inside. Under the cover of the semidarkness and the flickering light of the flat screen TV, both men lingered there for several moments, before Sam drew his empty hand away. Sam’s heart was ready to pound out of his rib cage. Declan had not flinched or swatted his hand. Did Declan really share his attraction? Sam waited for a beat and then put his hand back in the bag. Declan roughly gripped his fingers. Sam’s heart leapt. There it was, all the proof Sam needed.”
Tell us a little about any upcoming projects.
I have two books that come after “As You Wish” That I wrote consecutively. “Illuminate the Shadows” was released on 9th May, and the follow on “Return to Zero” comes out on 6th June.
I have two novels that are nearly complete- one is the last book in my “Pretty Boy” series, called “Sweet Thing”, and another is the first in a fantasy trilogy that I have been sitting on for a couple of years. I will also write more for Sam and Declan.
What are some of the jobs besides writer that you’ve held?
Before I was a writer, I was a professional artist for twenty years. My working life was varied, and that is what I loved about it. I worked primarily in fine art- with painting, drawing, photography and public sculpture- my main area of study being the male nude.
For extra income I diversified into the creative side of theatre, where I designed and created theater sets, props and costumes. However, I got sick, and my permanent medical condition makes the stressful life of working in theatre, impossible. Now I write full time and l love it.
What do you consider to be your best accomplishment?
I think for any author- self published or published by a traditional publisher, completing the first novel is an amazing accomplishment. Having the guts to release writing to the world is such a scary proposition. But my first novel “Schonling” turned out to be a best seller on All Romance eBooks, and I consider that pretty damn amazing.
What do you see yourself doing in another 1, 5, and/or 10 years?
I hope I will still be healthy, working creatively on writing and my art.
Word Sprints!
- Plotter or pantser? Pantser until I run out of steam, and then I plot the gaps in the story
- Coffee or tea? Tea
- What’s your favorite book? Can’t choose just one! “The Tawny Man Trilogy” By Robin Hobb.
- What was the last thing you read? “A bitter Taste of Sweet Oblivion” By Jordan Castillo Price
- What genre (other than your own) do you like to read? Fantasy
