A Chequered Romance / Murder Oblivion by Lawson Brook-reviews

A Chequered Romance
Chequered Romance #1
by Lawson Brook
Genre: adult, contemporary, MM, LGBTQ, romance

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ABOUT THE BOOK: Release Date October 1, 2020

What happens when the Prime Minister of Great Britain falls in love with an African Revolutionary Leader?

After having a brief relationship during their University days at Oxford, George and Masimba go their separate ways. A decade passes. George works his way up the slippery political ladder, becoming Prime Minister at the spectacularly young age of 29. Masimba, on the other hand, returns to his homeland of Zimbabwe to forge his own political career, eventually becoming opposition leader and fighting for the freedom of his people.

Civil war ensues in Zimbabwe, and George watches from Britain as his ex-boyfriend’s life hangs in the balance. Concerned for Masimba’s safety, and harbouring a pent-up desire to meet him again, George arranges for Masimba to be granted exile in the Ethiopian Embassy in Britain. Masimba reluctantly agrees, but as he arrives in London, he realises that his feelings for George are still strong.

George’s decision to help Masimba is not popular. He has to contend with disapproval from the tabloid press, the King of England and from the President of the United States, no less. And he also faces a threat to his Premiership from political rivals who smell blood. Both the Chancellor of the Exchequer and the Foreign Secretary manoeuvre themselves into position to oust George as PM. To make matters worse, George’s secret love affair with the Chancellor has recently ended acrimoniously.

What George wants more than anything else is to meet up with Masimba again, and rekindle their romance. And when an opportunity arises for them to spend a weekend together at the Prime Minister’s private residence, Chequers, George seizes the moment and Masimba gladly accepts his invitation.

Against all odds, will romance succeed at Chequers?

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REVIEW:A CHEQUERED ROMANCE is the first instalment in Lawson Brook’s contemporary, adult Chequered Romance LGBTQ romance series focusing on thirty-two year old, British Prime Minister George Morgan, and Zimbabwean opposition leader and freedom fighter Masimba Dewele.

NOTE: A CHEQUERED ROMANCE is a M/M romance with scenes of same sex relationship that may not be suitable for all readers.

Told form several third person perspectives including George and Masimba A CHEQUERED ROMANCE follows the rekindling romance and relationship between childhood friends and Oxford University buddies British Prime Minister George Morgan, and Zimbabwean opposition leader and freedom fighter Masimba Dewele. Masimba Dewele is the opposition leader in Zimbabwe but a civil war found Masimba trapped in the cross-fire, along with his fighters, only to be rescued by the British Special Forces courtesy of his former lover George Morgan, the Prime Minister of Great Britain. Upon his rescue and subsequent ‘in-house’ lock down at the Ethiopian Embassy in Britain, Masimba would start to ruminate about his past affair with George Morgan but all was not well for George as the British Press was about to reveal the truth about their current PM, including his unethical and potentially illegal use of the British Special Forces used to extricate Masimba Dewele. What ensues is the rebuilding romance and relationship between Masimba and George, and the fall-out as betrayal from all sides reveal the secrets and lies, and the true extent of George and Masimba’s relationship.

A CHEQUERED ROMANCE is an LGBTQ (MM) story of secrets and lies; betrayal and vengeance; political in-fighting, scandal, and a fight for the top. I struggled to accept everything that happened including the PM’s disappearance (run from his responsibilities). The premise is interesting and entertaining but the style of writing was adolescent and simple-the conversations between Masimba and George reading like ‘randy’ teenaged boys; the romance is passionate but the sexual attraction felt stilted and forced; the characters are colorful and energetic but saying that, there is limited back story pertaining to our story line couple- I had hoped there was more history revealed about our story line couple. The secondary and supporting characters are colorful and charismatic with more intensity than our leading couple.

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Murder Oblivion
by Lawson Brook
Genre:adult, contemporary, suspense
Release Date:April 30, 2020

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When Richard Neville finds a dead body in his hotel room and has no recollection of how it got there, he knows there is only one thing he can do: – cover his tracks.

He has no intention of giving up what he has: – a successful career in business, a beautiful wife and two children, and an amazing sex life with his gay best friend.

But when misfortune befalls him again and his memory fails him, he begins to question…. Is he guilty of the crimes? Or is someone trying to frame him?

Murder Oblivion is a darkly comic and erotically thrilling crime novel about a life spiralling out of control where nothing seems to make sense, and where the story twists and turns towards a shocking conclusion.

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REVIEW: MURDER OBLIVION by Lawson Brook is a contemporary, adult , LGBTQ suspense thriller focusing on salesman Richard Neville.

WARNING: MURDER OBLIVION is a LGBTQ story line with scenes of questionable consent, murder, same sex (MM) scenarios and multiple partners.

Told from first person perspective (Richard) MURDER OBLIVION focuses on travelling salesman Richard Neville. Richard Neville is a married, father of two; a bisexual man in a relationship with fellow salesman Tyrone Parker but a man who struggles with unexplained blackouts. After a wild foursome with three other men, Richard Neville finds a dead body in the hotel bathroom, and the ensuing aftermath discovers this particular body is only the tip of the proverbial ice-berg. With his wife threatening divorce, Richard begins to spend more time with his wife but inevitably goes back on the road with Tyrone in tow. As the bodies begin to pile up at every sales stop and working venue, Richard begins to suspect his lover, a man who knows more than Richard could ever imagine.

MURDER OBLIVION is a story of murder and suspense; of mystery and betrayal; of secrets and lies. Lawson Brook pulls the reader into a twisted tale of death, a twist I suspected from the very start. The premise is intriguing and captivating: the characters are colorful, energetic and fractured.

Copies supplied for review

Reviewed by Sandy