I really enjoy reading m/m historical romance. It’s nice to see history populated with folks who were undoubtedly present, though rendered by time relatively invisible via conventional metrics and texts. Even better, Alex Beecroft’s Contraband Hearts features Peregrine (Perry), aBlack Englishman whose mother was a slave and is himself trying to be seen as a Freeman, just like any other man.

Unfortunately, he’s also a customs agent, not a position to be in if you want people to like you, especially when posted to a coastal town that receives a not insignificant boost to their economy via smuggling. Our other MC, Tomas, is indeed a smuggler, but also a man who is fighting to resolve his own identity crisis. That Perry and Tomas are in similar straits is of course no coincidence, but Perry is determined to follow the letter of the law (if not the spirit) and it takes him a while to come around to accepting his feelings for the 18th century Robin Hood.

There are a few different mysteries happening throughout the story. Slavery is illegal in England Proper, but in her colonies, especially the West Indies, it’s a different story. Thus the appearance of a human trafficking to slavery pipeline is incredibly troubling to Perry, who is forever finding himself in situations that require a rescue.

The town of Porthkennack is well-rendered and full of interesting people, both folks you’d want to share a pint with and folks you’d want to punch in the face. The town is managed by the wealthy Quick family, a group of snobby tossers who are each variably punchable. Tomas has is own connection to the family, and his own reasons to be bitter toward them, detailed in another (through related) plot thread.

While I enjoyed the book once I was done, it was partly because I was glad to have the mysteries solved. Beecroft’s writing is full of descriptions of everything and written in a style that is more reminiscent of 19th century authors. It took me a while to get into the cadence and language, but once I did, the story was easier for me to get into. It’s also very apparent that Beecroft has extensive knowledge of sailing and ships and boats. I’m not sure what’s up with my choosing books that go into a lot of esoteric detail about Things I Don’t Really Care About, but this was certainly in line with that trend.

Perry and Tomas have an instant attraction, though they don’t actually meeting and spend much time together until past the 30% mark. There isn’t much description in the way of sex, which was a bit disappointing, though the sweetness of the final scene almost makes up for it.

So, really, the biggest hindrances to my enjoyment of the story was the lack of accessibility in the prose and the lack of relationship development on the page (though there certainly was a lot of angst and brooding while they were apart). Also the sailing. Too much sailing. However, these stories are so important. Seeing Black men as heroes in love stories, set in any time, is always worth some of my time.

4/5 stars

I loved this. I've enjoyed most of the Porthkennack series and Alex Beecroft's have been some of the shining stars. Here we have real conflict between Perry Dean, an 18th-century customs officer sent from London to sort out the smuggling that is rife in the Cornish town, and Tomas Quick, a Robin Hood type smuggler.

There's a smoldering attraction between the two of them, which of course gets in the way of them both doing their jobs--or vice versa. Or they think it will. Anyway, I felt a real anxiety as to whether they would make it together, although obviously I knew they would, so I guess I mean whether it would be convincing. But it was.

I did freak out at seeing Sir Lazarus Quick called "Sir Quick". That kind of mistake with British titles is like nails on a chalkboard to longtime readers of historical fiction. He's Sir Lazarus. I hope you got it fixed for the final edition.

Alex Beecroft writes Age of Sail stories with such skill, something I discovered when I read the lushly detailed novel False Colors back in 2010. Beecroft’s latest historical, Contraband Hearts, is the tenth standalone book in the Porthkennack universe, and is equal parts land and sea tale set in this fictional Cornish town, incorporating Cornwall’s rich factual history with the story’s smugglers and the wreckers who are its central figures. If you’re a fan of the author, the Porthkennack collection, and historical fiction, this book is the trifecta.

Peregrine Dean has been sent by his patron, Lord Petersfield, to investigate reports of skullduggery in the Porthkennack customs house, which, by default, makes Perry an adversary of the townspeople as well as an unexpected shock to the magistrate and his family. Perry may be a free black man, but his freedom isn’t a carte blanche pass despite Lord Petersfield’s letter of introduction. The prejudice he faces from others, his being judged by the color of his skin with a haughty disdain and entitled disregard for the great content of his character, is in direct opposition with the validation he seeks from his job and the dream he has of one day being accepted by, and into, the very society that sees him as a lesser man and seeks to oppress and subjugate him. His commitment to fulfill his duty introduces him to no small amount of danger at every turn and at risk of capture by slavers who have no regard for his free status. Perry faces each instance with strength and conviction, and he is the unquestionable hero of this story, resilient in the face of opposition and courageous in his pursuit of the truth, but he’s also a hero with his own flaws—his desire to carry out his orders comes close to blinding him to the truth.

Tomas Quick is the man Perry has been ordered to prove guilty of smuggling, not an easy task to be handed as it becomes increasingly obvious that Tomas is slippery and that the townsfolk see him as a Robin Hood and savior of sorts to those who would otherwise be homeless and on the brink of starvation without him. Tomas is most definitely not innocent of the crimes he’s been accused of. He has a mother he loves and respects—with an interesting past I’d have gladly read more about!—to protect, he’s cheeky and charming, and he has his own ax to grind with the magistrate and his family, a personal vendetta which also comes to serve as his Achilles heel. In some ways Tomas and Perry are pursuing the same end-goal—being more than what has been afforded them by society, by law, and by injustice. And, eventually, in pursuing each other.

I savored Contraband Hearts, not so much for the enemies-to-lovers romance between Perry and Tomas, which I didn’t feel was examined as deeply or fleshed out as completely it could have been, but for Alex Beecroft’s overall storytelling skills and the threats to life and limb both Perry and Tomas experience, which add plenty of action to the adventure. The ways in which the contraband was concealed was so clever that I had to applaud the ingenuity involved in the smuggling of it. The town, the landscapes, the locations, the vibrant characters all come together to encompass a rich and animated setting that I enjoyed immersing myself in. There’s also quite the learning curve for Perry, who had the most to lose and then was given full agency to discover the truth and fight for himself every step of the way as he is determined to bring law and order to Porthkennack, but then begins to question those laws that would see harm come to innocent women and children. He and Tomas were great foils and adversaries, and they each ended up tempering the other’s ambitions, each for the good of the other.

From the vivid setting to the appeal of its characters to the surprise revelation of the story’s true villain, Contraband Hearts added up to another win for me in a series of strong reads from the Porthkennack-verse.

Rating: 5 stars out of 5

His future depends on bringing the smuggler to justice. His heart demands to join him.

Customs officer Peregrine Dean is sent by his patron to investigate rumors of corruption in the Porthkennack customs house. There he is tasked by the local magistrate to bring down the villainous Tomas Quick, a smuggler with fingers in every pie in town. Fired with zeal and ambition, and struck to the core by his first glimpse of Tomas, Perry determines to stop at nothing until he has succeeded.

Tomas Quick is an honest thief—a criminal regarded by the town as their local Robin Hood. He’s also an arrogant man who relishes the challenge posed by someone as determined and intelligent as Perry. Both of them come to enjoy their cat-and-mouse rivalry a little too much.

But the eighteenth century is a perilous time for someone like Perry: a black man in England. Two have already disappeared from the wrecks of ships. Tomas and Perry must forsake their competition and learn to trust each other if they are to rescue them, or Perry may become the third victim.

Back to that historic seaside village of Porthkennack again we go in  Contraband Hearts (Porthkennack #10) by Alex Beecroft, one of my favorite ongoing series by multiple authors.  Only this time, we journey way back into Porthkennack's history which is rife with smuggling, ship wrecks, profiteering, and in this case, it seems the mystery of the missing slaves who ought to be free men once they reach the shores of those rocky cliffs outside of their owners reach.  How I love this series and small complicated township, no matter where the story falls on its timeline.

Laid atop a maze of tunnels and small rooms dug into the ground that lead directly  to the caves and shoreline (read all the stories written for the series), Porthkennack only looks tidy, and, seemingly normal at first glance.  But the truth of Porthkennack often lies beneath the surface of things and people, as it has been shown from story to story, whether it be from Porthkennack's convoluted and twisted past to it's present, who's ties to it's past are almost iron clad.  Especially with its ancient families.

I love the historic stories and here Alex Beecroft has crafted one both timely and timeless.  Due to it's location atop the perilous cliffs, riff with caves perfect for hiding smugglers and "misplaced" goods, Porthkennack's citizens are a tightly knit village who survives based on cooperation, their wits, and floundering ships lost upon their shorelines.  Oh and wonderful harvests of fish too.  Beecroft builds this gritty, down to earth community with authenticity, heart, and verve.  At the top of Porthkennack is the Quick family who rules over all, leaving little for the township and most for themselves.  Tomas Quick, who's relation to the family is uncertain is beloved by the town and not so by the local magistrate and Quick family.  Which is why Customs officer Peregrine Dean is sent to the seaside town.

Ah yes, the outsider sent to investigate corruption and smuggling.  In the 18th century.  Made all the more fascinating because Peregrine Dean is a black man who has never been a slave.  An Englishman with a mentor, he hopes for grand things for himself with the service.  So it's with a certain zeal that he's going to approach this  job.

Again, the characterization of Peregrine is perfect.  As is the shocks that await him. For in some respects,  Perry has been insulated away from the realities of what it actually feels like to be black and have your freedom taken away from you, to be considered a "product" to be traded and sold.   Beecroft works that element and the essence of the slave trade in here fluidly and subtly.  Plus you can see why that aspect of Peregrine's personality fights so hard against what is before him.  Reality is a hard truth here for him to accept.  He has never seen himself as anything other than an Englishman and has thought that to be true mostly of others.  He is about to find out that the world outside of London is not as expected.

Tomas Quick is another wonderful character complete with mother and support of his community (equally made up of believable villagers and seafaring scoundrels as the reader will discover. Tomas has his own agenda here, along with established businesses.  His attraction to Peregrine (same sex attraction) and his acceptance of it is based on his mother's attitude and background.  So the author's case for their relationship is grounded and seems realistic.

There is also a delightful twist at the end that I throughly enjoyed!

Taking another journey to Porthkennack's past for a romance, some mystery, considerable suspense and hijinks, and just plain grand storytelling makes me recommend Contraband Hearts (Porthkennack #10) by Alex Beecroft all the more.  I just adore this series and this book (and author) is just one more reason why.

Cover art:  L.C. Chase is exquisite.  This is  Peregrine Dean at his finest.  Love that cover.

When newly appointed Customs Officer Peregrine Dean arrives in Porthkennack he has one goal in mind—to rid the area of smugglers, principally those under the leadership of the well-known rascal, Tomas Quick. But all is not as it seems in Porthkennack, and through trial and error he learns that one must look below the surface—both figuratively and literally. Figuratively, in that he learns that most often, a portion of the goods obtained through claiming salvage from the shipwrecks along the Cornish coastline find their way back to the poor to put food in the mouths of hungry children. And literally, in that he discovers the maze of caves that lie below the surface and are used regularly by smugglers and others for even more dastardly objectives.

When he meets Tomas, he’s shocked by how bright and energetic the young hoodlum is. Everything about him is appealing—from his shock of bright red hair to his freckles to his wit and energy. And the best part is that that admiration seems to be shared. What young man wouldn’t want to have the dream of someday waking up in the same bed as their life partner, free to live, love, and laugh together? Elusive at best, but nevertheless the dream of both men in this story. One must read this exciting tale, however, to find out if there’s even the remotest chance for a dream like that to come true when one man is a renowned smuggler and the other a law officer out to prove he’s a thief.

I’ve enjoyed most of the Porthkennack series and have met new authors through my commitment to read each new story as it comes out but two of my favorites are this one and Foxglove Close, the other story written by Alex Beecroft. Her characters are so human and the settings rich with description. I could smell the sea air, feel the sun on my face, and face the fear of being lost in a dark, damp cavern far below the earth.

There’s a great deal of adventure in this story—everything from smuggling, to corruption, slavery, wreckers, treachery, and the denial of a birthright. I felt Perry’s pride as he struggled to uphold the values taught by his mother and his benefactors, and yet wanted prove himself and find acceptance among his peers in this predominately white world. Born to free parents, and given an opportunity for higher education, the young black man struggles to hold on to his preconceived notions of what his position should stand for as he’s faced with the reality of the poverty conditions of this little town and the high esteem in which they hold a man who should be labeled a common criminal.

I also felt Tomas’s anger at the denial of his heritage, his initial exaltation at finding his proof, and his heartache at thinking through all the repercussions of his actions. Watching him face the final challenge in this story, seeing his enlightenment, his joy when he knew Perry approved of his actions, and finally his peace and contentment felt very much like being present front and center as I watched a play or a movie. The author used words to evoke feelings but it felt like so much more.

Most definitely, I highly recommend this story. And it can easily be read as a standalone since the characters in these Porthkennack dramas rarely overlap.

A custom's officer and a smugger find themselves in a reluctant attraction and a need to trust in this lush, authentic feeling age of sail intrigue. The enemies to lovers set against such a backdrop by a longtime favorite author was just too good to be missed.

Contraband Hearts is book ten in the loosely connected Porthkennack series of books told in multiple eras and by multiple authors. Each book can be read standalone as their only connection is generally the location. They each cleverly tell m/m romances of all shape and color with the added wealth of getting each of their writing styles, as well.

Contraband Hearts is a Napoleonic era tale that brings newly-made custom's officer, Perry, to this small suspicious and hostile village to root out trouble in the customs office. His race is already a mark against him, but his strident purpose has him at odds with the whole town. He further takes on the commission to arrest the local well-loved 'Robin Hood' figure, Tomas Quick.

Tomas has his own colorful history and determined mission to end the reign of the Quicks up in the estate house lording it over and choking the village with their their monopoly and threats. He is set on revenge, but is distracted when he learns there is a deeper danger lurking in Porthkennack then the annoyingly straight-laced and attractive custom's officer.

I loved the complexities of this story from the authentic descriptions of setting, activities, customs and smuggling/wreckers' history, social mores of the day to the diversity of characters and races, social strata, and morals. The author draws engaging characters full of strengths and flaws and I loved seeing the pair take turns narrating and work through private and relationship issues. And oh boy, do they have a serious conflict of interest.

The mystery element was a nice twist and I loved how it wove through the story to give the pair reason for hostility, but an opening for trust, too.

All in all, Contraband Hearts reminded me why I have been so enamored with this author's fantastic Age of Sail Historical Romance more sweet than spicy. I highly recommend this one.

3.5 Stars

I've read all the books in the Porthkennack series and enjoyed most of them, unfortunately, Contraband Hearts isn't one of them. It isn't that it's not well-written, because it is. Ms. Beecroft managed to transport me to the past with both her words and her descriptions and the book has some very good secondary characters. I think the problem was that I didn't quite manage to connect with neither of the MCs and seeing that it took forever and a day for them to actually meet in person and then interact only to fall in love instantly.

So, while not my favorite, this could very well be a case of "it's not the book, it's me", so try it out, maybe you'll enjoy it more than I did.

*** Copy provided via NetGalley for my reading pleasure, a review wasn't a requirement. ***

Images from the TV series Poldark kept popping into my head as I was reading this book, since they share a setting—Cornwall in the late 18th century.

The story kicks off when Peregrine “Perry” Dean arrives in Porthkennak to take up a position as a customs officer. He’s been sent to clean up corruption in the customs house, and the town magistrate orders Perry to target a local sailor, Tomas Quick. However, while he is a smuggler, Tomas is respected by the community because he offers a helping hand to anyone down on their luck. In fact, Tomas is much more respected than Perry, who is both an outsider and a black man. So while Perry is determined to end Tomas’s smuggling career, he struggles to make progress in his investigation. And as an attraction grows between Perry and Tomas, Perry starts to hope that he can find a way to avoid having to bring him to justice at all.

I really enjoyed being immersed in the world of 1790 Cornwall in this novel. The plot has plenty of colorful action, including a scene where customs agents and locals gather plunder from a shipwreck, a raid on the customs house by Tomas’s band of smugglers, and a fight aboard ship. The book also takes on the issue of slavery, as Perry and other black men are captured by a rival criminal ring who intend to sell them to owners in the colonies.

The romance between Perry and Tomas definitely takes a back seat to the action. While they are attracted to each other, their relationship moves forward at a very slow pace. That makes sense, since the two of them are on opposite sides of the law for most of the book, and they don't get to spend much time together. Readers who really want the focus to be on their feelings for each other might be frustrated by that aspect of the story, though.

Recommended for anyone who enjoys the historical aspects of the Poldark series—just don’t expect to get the same level of relationship drama here.

A copy of this book was provided through NetGalley for review; all opinions expressed are my own.

Contraband Hearts is the tenth book in the Porthkennack series, a collection of both contemporary and historical romances by various authors set in a Cornish coastal town. Though some of the books and characters are loosely interconnected, all titles in the series are standalones. Contraband Hearts is the second book I’ve read by this author, and once again I was quickly pulled in by the story.

Set in 1790, Contraband Hearts details the unexpected relationship that develops between a customs officer from London and the local Porthkennack smuggler he’s been sent to stop. Much like this author’s contemporary romance in the Porthkennack series, there was an interesting suspense/mystery element driving the plot which captured and held my interest. The main characters were well developed and I was very intrigued by their individual stories and if/how these two would eventually find some common ground. The romance itself was pretty minimal, which worked given the time period, but the underlying attraction and strong connection developed over the course of the story created a satisfying and believable relationship between Perry and Tomas.

I really enjoy the variety within the Porthkennack series, and Contraband Hearts was a solid addition illustrating that. Even though the love story ended up being fairly subtle, the story and characters were different and wonderful. This title is one from the series I would undoubtedly recommend, especially to fans of historical romances or unexpected pairings.

2.5 stars rounded up to 3. I hate to post a lukewarm review when the book hasn't even been published yet, but Contraband Hearts did not work for me as a love story at all. First, the two MCs barely interact until almost halfway through the novel. When they finally do meet, there's a lot of kissing/making out, then pushing each other away. Then they suddenly decide they're in love with each other, based primarily on their assessment of each other's character and physical appearance (as opposed to actually spending time together and getting to know one another). Secondly, although Perry is supposed to be an experienced, highly regarded customs officer, he spends a lot of time getting hit over the head and being at the mercy of various bad guys.

The last third of the book is the strongest, as Perry finally gets to kick some butt, and the climactic scene manages to be exciting, poignant and even funny as the two MCs are forced to examine how much they really want to achieve the disparate goals they have been trying to accomplish for so long. Beecroft's writing is stellar as always, and her secondary characters are interesting (I would argue some of them are more interesting than the MCs), plus the risky experience of living as a free black man in 18th century England is an important issue to examine.

I had similar "insta-love" concerns about the last Beecroft book I read Foxglove Copse so maybe her style just isn't right for me. YMMV, especially if you are looking for a well-written adventure story.

ARC received from Net Galley in exchange for objective review.

Pros: Basically everything—interesting plots outside the romance, a rich and detailed setting, multifaceted and on point characterization that added to the story, and most of the side characters were interesting, too. (Also, Zuily is the best.)

Cons: I can't pinpoint what it was; I think it was truly a case of "It's not you, it's me," because despite all of these great elements, I just wasn't shipping it that hard. This is the time for the shrug emoji, because I really don't know why. I liked them? It's not like it was instalove or a case of "I'd rather A be with C than B." Really, not a clue here.

Librarian/Reader's Advisory Note that might be a little spoilery: [I would recommend this as a good possibility for someone just starting out with m/m romance, especially you don't know how comfortable they'd be with ~special time scenes~, because 1) there aren't many of them, and 2) the ones that are featured aren't very detailed. (hide spoiler)]

tl;dr: Don't bother with my cons. The pros are where it counts, really.