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MauritiusToday.com - Shopping Mall - Diplomacy
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List Price: $5.99
Our Price: $4.79
Your Save: $ 1.20 ( 20% )
Availability: Usually ships in 24 hours
Manufacturer: Dreamspinner Press
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Average Customer Rating: 
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Binding: Kindle Edition
Format: Kindle Book
Label: Dreamspinner Press
Manufacturer: Dreamspinner Press
Publication Date: 2007-12-01
Publisher: Dreamspinner Press
Studio: Dreamspinner Press
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Editorial Reviews:
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Jack Christensen is a rising star in US Diplomacy. He has the perfect wife, speaks five languages and has all the right credentials, yet there's something missing and he doesn't quite know what.
Then Lucas Carlton walks into an Embassy reception and introduces himself and his American fiancée. From the first handshake, the young Englishman makes an impression that leaves Jack confused and uncharacteristically insecure. Lucas' position with the British Embassy means they are forced to work together closely and they have a hard time denying the attraction between them.
When their women go on a weekend trip together, Jack and Lucas start a passionate relationship, which continues after their partners return. Diplomatic circles are are notoriously conservative though, and they each know that the right woman by their side makes a very significant contribution to their success. Will they be able to make the right choices in their professional and personal lives? Or will they need to sacrifice one for the other?
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Spotlight customer reviews:
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Customer Rating: 
Summary: read it
Comment: It has been an great pleasure to read this book. I like the charters and the story
Customer Rating:
Summary: (I'm sorry I read it...............
Comment:
............No, I'm not.)----(Learn about the author's "take" on this review title at the three stars {***}, below).
((Here is my approach to obtaining/reading/reviewing Gay romance tales in book form (you could see it as seeking the holy grail of that genre, or as looking for the "Addictive Read"). Selection of read materials is based mainly on purchase of new stories by favorite authors or on comments/reviews by you in these on-line "Book" pages. Re the latter, sometimes I feel correctly steered by you (the "Keepers" filling my shelves), other times mislead---occasionally badly (the "Throwaways"). Rarely, I come across the "Addictive"---- those I can reread at least monthly (see below starred *** area for a list......and for some "near-Addictive" as well). For some reads, I'll share comments with you, as follows below. Thanks for sticking with me so far.))
{{WARNING!! This Book May Be ADDICTIVE To Your Health!!}}
For me, a gay romance set in the diplomatic corps was very much a new experience---one of enjoyment, one of learning. Thank you, Zahra Owens, for inviting us along into this new world you created for us---one to which you've given a timely spin, in several instances relating it to current day events. And kudos to Dreamspinner Press for giving us one of the most truly elegant and memorable book covers I can recall running across. Thanks also, guys, for providing a lesser number of typographical errors than have many similar publishing houses out there.
Now (and in no particular order) some other "pluses" that stand out and for which I'm thankful to Zahra Owens:
- Setting up a marvelous structuring of the book. It is noteworthy that her "transitionings" from one point to the next in the life and the relationship of her two main characters are beautifully and interestingly written. This makes following where she is taking us so easily done......creating great anticipation along the way.
- Giving us Jack's and Lucas's initial and very real seeming physical encounter (in a mens room, interestingly), as one so intense that it almost jumps off the page. Oh, and for creating a beautifully......beautifully done love making scene in a shower (it certainly made this reader want to get wet).
- Providing a big, mirthful hoot to our enjoyment by imaginatively adding some new pages to the reading world's "How-to" book on Sushi dining.
- Creating great romantic sex scenes---highlighted by a lovingly done and sweetly detailed man-on-man, first anal love making scene (Wow!!) which is written from the point of view of a character who has known only heterosexual intercourse. Owens is also especially good at giving us a multitude of "touchy-feely" moments, and creating in our minds a picture of lyrical love making. This means including the "little things" that you'd expect to occur in the foreplay phase of making love: the touches, the kisses, the disrobing and tossing around of garments, the little whispers of endearment---they're all wonderfully there. Then she goes on to compellingly build up to the very deepest physical aspects of "making love."
- Allowing us to discover that she's created a bit of magic for her couple by giving them their own little "Verbal Connection" {***}, simple phrases involving apologizing, which will carry them through their entire relationship. No, all you readers out there, I won't go on to give this away---find out yourselves. Suffice it to say, it's a sweet and simple device which prompts me to ask: how many authors think to give their couples a special "VC"? Thank you, Zahra, for being that type of person.
- Devising a life threatening crisis into which she immediately pulls us, while at the same time inventively "back-forthing" us between the lead male in trouble and his anxiously aware and waiting lover. It would be near perfect, as written, to serve as a film script.
- Wonderfully pulling off, later in the book, a "reintroduction to our couple" in their new surroundings. It's very beautifully, smartly and "up-to-dately" handled. Bravo! (Although, for suspense purposes, I do wish she'd used a different job title in Liz's description of the person Lucas was going to be meeting/escorting).
- Last, but far from.......well, you know: coming up with some notably refreshing usage of the romance language (e.g., "........feel his breath ghosting across his face."). And there are others.
In closing this review, I'll admit planning to include some grousing about a few minor grammatical problems---most of which I now see are likely due to differences between U.S. and our author's European upbringing, education and language usage. Now I find doing so not to be necessary. Far, far more important than dwelling on those things is celebrating the real Joy this woman's story brings to us.......for Joy, indeed, is here and really deserves to be spelled with that capital "J." Even more, though, there is the feeling of HOPE she gives to us.......hope in the perserverance of our happiness.
PS--***Other "Addictive" reads: "Caught Running" (Madeleine Urban and Abigail Roux) (Caught Running) // "Freshman Pledge: The Magic of Love" (Larry Coles) (Freshman Pledge: The Magic of Love) // "Bareback" (Chris Owen) (Bareback). Some "near-Addictives: "Brokeback Mountain" (Annie Proulx) // "The Dreyfus Affair" (Peter Lefcourt) (The Dreyfus Affair: A Love Story) // "The Carnivorous Lamb" (Agustin Gomez-Arcos) (The Carnivorous Lamb (Little Sister's Classics)) // "Afterlife" (Paul Monette) // "Cowboy Up" (short stories edited by Rob Knight)
****
Customer Rating:
Summary: (I'm sorry I read it...............
Comment:
............No, I'm not). (Learn about the author's "take" on this review title at the three stars {***}, below).
((Here is my approach to obtaining/reading/reviewing Gay romance tales in book form (you could see it as seeking the holy grail of that genre, or as looking for the "Addictive Read"). Selection of read materials is based mainly on purchase of new stories by favorite authors or on comments/reviews by you in these on-line "Book" pages. Re the latter, sometimes I feel correctly steered by you (the "Keepers" filling my shelves), other times mislead---occasionally badly (the "Throwaways"). Rarely, I come across the "Addictive"---- those I can reread at least monthly (see below starred *** area for a list......and for some "near-Addictive" as well). For some reads, I'll share comments with you, as follows below. Thanks for sticking with me so far.))
{{WARNING!! This Book May Be ADDICTIVE To Your Health!!}}
For me, a gay romance set in the diplomatic corps was very much a new experience---one of enjoyment, one of learning. Thank you, Zahra Owens, for inviting us along into this new world you created for us---one to which you've given a timely spin, in several instances relating it to current day events. And kudos to Dreamspinner Press for giving us one of the most truly elegant and memorable book covers I can recall running across. Thanks also, guys, for providing a lesser number of typographical errors than have many similar publishing houses out there.
Now (and in no particular order) some other "standout pluses" for which I'm thankful to Zahra Owens:
- Setting up a marvelous structuring of the book. In this regard it should be noted that her "transitionings" from one point to the next in the life and the relationship of her two main characters are beautifully---but even more importantly---interestingly done. This makes following where she is taking us so easily done......creating great anticipation along the way.
- Giving us Jack's and Lucas's initial, very real and physical (mens room) encounter, one so intense that it almost jumps off the page. Oh, and for creating a beautifully......beautifully done love making scene in a shower (it certainly made this reader want to get wet).
- Providing a big hoot to our enjoyment by imaginatively adding some new pages to the reading world's "How-to" book on Sushi dining.
- Besides all the great sex---highlighted by a lovingly done and sweetly detailed man-on-man, first anal love making scene (Wow!!), written from the point of view of one having known only heterosexual intercourse---(Owens is especially good at) giving us a multitude of "touchy-feely" moments, and creating in our minds a picture of "romantic" love making. This means not leaving out the "little things" that you'd expect to occur in the foreplay phase of making love: the touches, the kisses, the disrobing and tossing around of garments, the little whispers of endearment---they're all wonderfully there. Then she goes on to compellingly build up to the very deepest physical aspects of "making love."
- Allowing us to discover that she's created a bit of magic for her couple by giving them their own little "Verbal Connection" {***}, simple phrases involving apologizing, which will carry them through their entire relationship. No, readers, I won't go on to give this all away---find out yourselves. Suffice it to say, it's a sweet and simple device which prompts me to ask: how many authors think to give their couples a special "VC"? Thank you, Zahra, for being that type of person.
- Devising a life threatening crisis into which she immediately pulls us, while at the same time inventively "back-forthing" us between the lead male in trouble and his anxiously aware and waiting lover. It would be near perfect, as written, to serve as a film script.
- Wonderfully pulling off, later in the book, a "reintroduction to our couple" in their new surroundings. It's very beautifully, smartly and "up-to-dately" handled. Bravo! (Although, for suspense purposes, I do wish she'd used a different job title in Liz's description of the person Lucas was going to be meeting/escorting).
- Last, but far from.......well, you know: coming up with some notably refreshing usage of the romance language (e.g., "........feel his breath ghosting across his face."). And there are others.
In closing this review, I'll admit planning to include some grousing about a few minor grammatical problems---most of which I now see are likely due to differences between U.S. and European upbringing, education and language usage. Now I find that not to be so necessary. Far, far more important than dwelling on those things is celebrating the real Joy this woman's story brings to us.......for it is here and really deserves to be spelled with that capital "J." Even more, though, there is HOPE.......hope in the perserverance of our happiness.
PS--***Other "Addictive" reads: "Caught Running" (Madeleine Urban and Abigail Roux) (Caught Running) // "Freshman Pledge: The Magic of Love" (Larry Coles) (Freshman Pledge: The Magic of Love) // "Bareback" (Chris Owen) (Bareback). Some "near-Addictives: "Brokeback Mountain" (Annie Proulx) // "The Dreyfus Affair" (Peter Lefcourt) (The Dreyfus Affair: A Love Story) // "The Carnivorous Lamb" (Agustin Gomez-Arcos) (The Carnivorous Lamb (Little Sister's Classics)) // "Afterlife" (Paul Monette) // "Cowboy Up" (short stories edited by Rob Knight)
****
Customer Rating:
Summary: M/M Romance for Grown-Ups
Comment: DIPLOMACY is a story about Jack, an American ambassador, and Lucas, a younger European diplomat. Jack and Lucas meet at a political event in Belgium, and they're instantly attracted to each other. However, Jack is a married man of 15 years and Lucas is engaged to a beautiful young woman. They can't deny their explosive chemistry, but can they risk giving in to their feelings? When their wives go away together for a weekend sightseeing trip, the men decide to explore their attraction. Their passion for each other is undeniable, but is it worth risking their careers and relationships, and hurting the ones that are dear to them?
This is a very adult love story that involves many adult themes, including infidelity, politics, long-term relationships, and parenting. There's plenty of deception, and even a bit of danger.
I absolutely cannot read M/F stories that involve cheating, but for some inexplicable reason in a M/M romance I don't mind the men cheating on their wives.
This is a very entertaining story, and the romance is very real. The angst is realistic and appropriate, not contrived for the sake of drama. The sex is pretty hot, though it is not the focus of the story. DIPLOMACY is a romance, not erotica. I don't care much for politics, so I found the political aspects a bit dry. Fortunately, though, the author focuses more on the relationships in this story than on politics and policy. In quite a few places the book feels very much like the Nicole Kidman movie THE INTERPRETER, and there's even a nod to that movie in the book.
If you like a serious, more grown-up feel to your M/M romance, this is a great read.
Customer Rating:
Summary: Sex at the Embassy
Comment: Jack Christenson is living the perfect life with the perfect wife. He has recently been appointed the youngest Ambassador for the United States in Belgium. The evening following a State Banquet there is a reception for US citizens to meet the President and the Ambassador and it is there that Jack meets Lucas Carlton, a junior Information Officer with the British Consulate and his fiancée, Lucy Marsh. One look into Luke's eyes awakens feelings that Jack, who is deep in the closet, thought he had buried over 20 years ago.
Things heat up quickly and Luke and Jack go away for a very passionate weekend together when their women are on a weekend shopping trip, and they continue the relationship after they return home. They realize that they are playing a very risky game and Jack knows that the slightest hint of scandal could result in him being recalled as Ambassador and most likely his marriage will be over. For Luke it will mean the end of his career in the Foreign Service if his sexual orientation and affair with the Ambassador were revealed. Will Jack and Luke have the courage to stay together and take the heat and all the negative consequences that their affair will have on their careers and their personal lives? You will have to read the book to find out.
Diplomacy has everything - danger, intrigue, high stakes and a whole lot of sex as Jack and Luke can't keep their attraction under wraps. The sex is erotic, sensuous, hot, combustible and above all, loving. Zahra Owens paints a picture of two wonderful men whose love has to withstand a kidnapping, the glare of living in the spotlight, the tabloids and betrayal. At times the story is bittersweet as they separate but try to find a way back together.
This is Ms Owens' first novel and what a treat it was for me read it. The two main characters are believable and three dimensional and the supporting characters add breadth to a very complicated plot. Although English is not her first language the author has done a great job of mastering it, and her prose has a European flavour which only adds to the dialogue. This is a wonderful novel with lots of plot twists and turns and the right amount of conflict to make it extremely interesting. Based on this story I'm confident Ms. Owens has a long career as a writer ahead of her and I highly recommend this book.
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