Maggie Blackbird

Today, I’m hosting author Ellie Thomas’ latest release The Town Bronze Box Set, a m/m historical romance. Be sure to read my reviews of Town Bronze, Pantaloons and Petticoats, and Immpeccable Credentials.

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Title: Town Bronze Regency Box Set Trilogy
Genre: Historical Regency M/M Romance
Author: Ellie Thomas
Tropes: Hurt/comfort, Younger/older
Themes: Cross-dressing, Spanking, Coming of age, Society of men
Heat Rating: 3 flames
Length: 66 677 words
Release Date: August 10, 2024
Publisher: JMS Books

This Regency box set comprises the three Town Bronze novellas by Ellie Thomas; Town Bronze, Pantaloons and Petticoats and Impeccable Credentials, with three young men, each unexpectedly finding love.

Blurb: All three novellas in Ellie Thomas’ Regency Town Bronze series are gathered together in this box set. A trio of young gentlemen, former university friends, Jasper, Barney and Julian, are set loose in Regency London to pursue carefree pleasure. Instead, they find unexpected romance and follow their individual paths to true love. Contains the stories: 

Town Bronze: In 1812, Jasper Goodhew departs from sleepy Somerset for his first London season, anticipating fun, frolics and drunken debauchery. But to his consternation, he finds that a spanking from the firm hand of a particular older man sets him ablaze.

Can Jasper and Sir Mortimer Cleverly overlook their unorthodox introduction to become friends? Or is Jasper unable to resist his deepest instincts?

Pantaloons and Petticoats: In the autumn of 1812, Barney Marshall is a carefree young man, able to afford every variety of entertainment in Regency London while remaining heart-whole and fancy-free. All that changes after a passionate encounter with Rose, who by day is Ross, a clerk at Coutts Bank. Can Barney persuade Rose to trust him? And might their connection blossom into love?

Impeccable Credentials: In the autumn of 1812, aristocrat Julian Buchanan faces a crisis. He must choose between the trappings of his privileged life or the man he loves. Will Julian submit to his father’s decree and marry to further the family name? Or can he find the strength to break free?

Note: It is the complete trilogy in a box set and does not end on a cliffhanger.

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Available at:

Universal Book Link | Publisher | Amazon US | Amazon UK

Excerpt from Town Bronze:

The next part of Jasper’s evening passed in patchy coherence. The older gentlemen departed with dignity almost immediately after Jasper’s inadvertent blunder. With his wine glass replenished more than once by a luscious attendant, Jasper almost forgot about the impact of that searing gaze.

He was vaguely aware of some of his companions departing with young ladies. Others were content to remain, drink deep, and dandle a damsel on their laps. Minutes or hours progressed in a pleasant haze until Jasper reached the point where he had drunk himself sober.

Relatively clear-headed and suddenly thirsty, Jasper rose on remarkably steady legs to fetch a glass of water from the drinks tray on the capacious sideboard.

This gave him a clear view of the entrance hallway. The vestibule was empty, apart from the three gentlemen earlier expelled from the drawing room by an excess of wit.

The gentleman with the remarkable hair was shaking the hands of his companions with a few congenial words. In that instant of seeming sobriety, it was terribly important for Jasper to make amends. He couldn’t have fathomed if this was due to his basic good manners and general inoffensiveness when not as drunk as a wheelbarrow. Or perhaps he was prompted by the infinite unimaginable possibilities in those haunting eyes.

He entered the hall as the gentleman escorted his companions towards the exit. Jasper stood uncertainly in front of the central staircase, awaiting his opportunity. Once his companions had departed, the remaining gentleman approached a further another doorway off the hall.

“Excuse me,” Jasper said, belatedly adding, “Sir.”

The gentleman turned, raising an inquisitorial dark brow that made him no less forbidding.

During Jasper’s formal education, he occasionally got into trouble. To be fair, these incidents occurred either from absent-mindedness or when he tagged along in the wake of more exuberant and imaginative students. Any resulting discipline, a removal of privileges or corporal punishment, was a matter of course and not taken personally. His sporadic visits to the principal’s study were desultory and instantly forgotten by the disciplinarian and the culprit.

This charged confrontation was entirely different. Jasper was unnerved by the swooping feeling in his belly as he faced his unknown foe. The older man drew closer but remained silent, his face expressionless, that implacable glare holding a sense of threat and thrill.

“I think I was somewhat discourteous earlier, and I wanted to say I was sorry. I didn’t mean to be rude. We were all getting rather carried away and had too much to drink. I know it was a bit much, and we were rather close to the mark concerning you and your friends. But I suppose you were young once too, eh?”

Jasper tried and failed to raise a placating smile. The gentleman didn’t move a muscle and stared at Jasper as though regarding a failed scientific experiment.

“I mean to say, I was a bit bosky, and I wasn’t thinking straight. Anyone with decent eyesight could tell that’s your natural hair. You’re nowhere near old enough to be wearing a wig. You’d have to be in your dotage. And you’re not. Naturally. No one would think you’re wearing a cauliflower of the wig variety, and it doesn’t remotely resemble an actual cauliflower. I don’t know why I said that. You have very nice hair.”

Jasper’s ramble stuttered to a stop. Without softening his expression, the gentleman said, “You were insolent.”

Jasper blinked. He suddenly grasped his opponent was slightly the taller and his lean build held latent strength. He felt paralysed, like a snake to its charmer, in thrall to the depths of that gaze.

“I think you deserve to be punished.”

Jasper gulped.

The gentleman’s voice was persuasive. “You’ve earned a good thrashing.”

In a husky tone Jasper didn’t recognise as his own, he said, “I’ll let you be the judge of that. I’ll do anything you require.”

That eyebrow rose again. A glint of humour lit those night-dark eyes.

“Anything?”

“Yes. No. I don’t know.”

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Town Bronze:

I enjoy historical romance.  It’s my fave genre in romance to read.  And I also adore m/m romance.  So when the Town Bronze boxset became available to review, I was in.

The first book is Town Bronze and introduces us to Jasper Goodhew, the son of a squire, having finished university, and is now ready to join his uni buddies in London for a festive time.  I can’t blame him.  Jasper’s been sequestered in the country, far from the fun and games of the city, and he’s about to learn much about himself.

Enter Sir Mortimer, a forty-year-old bachelor who is committed to overseeing his family’s estate after the death of his brother.  Mortimer is seasoned in the art of romance and takes a shine to young Jasper.

I must say I enjoyed this short story.  It’s a Regency new adult since Jasper comes into his own when he visits London, unsure of who he is, or what he truly wants.  He’s a follower, having always let others take the lead.  But an encounter with Mortimer leads Jasper to a new place in his life, where he learns he’s followed for too long, and now must start making decisions of his own.

The author packed a lot into the short read.  I enjoyed that it wasn’t insta-lust or love.  More curiosity about one another leads to something more.  The details in the setting give the reader a peek into the season in London, and also the usual establishments the ton frequented.  I will admit it does get a bit bogged down in backstory that I felt could’ve been bled into the plot better.  Still, the author is an excellent writer and came up with a believable story during this time period with two very likable characters.  It’s a short read that I recommend.

Pantaloons and Petticoats:

This book says it’s the sequel to Town Bronze, but it’s purely Barney’s story, with hints of Jasper’s bleeding in.  I must say I adored this novel, especially Rose.

Barney isn’t looking for love.  He’s too busy having a good time with his friend Julian, but an encounter with Rose changes that for him.  There is no insta-lust or insta-love.  It’s a slow-burn romance that happens within a short time frame of the story.  I know, what I just said doesn’t make sense LOL.  But the author pulls it off.

Considering reputation was everything during this period, Barney is open-minded to everything.  He’s even aware of “molly houses” and every other alternative lifestyle that happens in London.  So he isn’t shocked with his first encounter with Rose.  As a matter of fact, he’s more than intrigued.

The writing style also remains the same.  I’d call it a distant third over omniscient.  I rather enjoyed the author’s voice for this.  It suits the story.  The backstory does get a little heavy, and I found it not really necessary because from the get-go the author gives us a good idea of who Barney is.  The same for Rose.

Honestly, I wish both stories were longer.  There was much to explore.  Both end with an HFN, but it would have been nice to see them get a HEA which isn’t addressed.  Only an understanding that they want to be together.

Still, it’s an enjoyable read.  Something I recommend.

Impeccable Credentials:

In this trilogy, it’s Julian’s turn to share his story.  I’d class him as the poor little rich boy, and in a good way.  He has an overbearing father obsessed with money and position.  This man uses his children in the cruellest way—marrying them off to whoever he feels will advantage his coffers and standing in London.

As the youngest, Julian has watched his brothers and sisters succumb to their fates.  But Julian doesn’t wish to succumb.  He wants his own life but has no idea how to make that happen.  He believes he will have the same fate as his sibling until he meets Rafe, who lives life on his terms.  Rafe doesn’t bow to society’s expectations.  He’s a fighter for justice and the rights of the lower classes, something Julian knows little about.

I must say I loved Julian’s character arc in this.  Just like Jasper’s novel, it’s a new adult, with Julian coming into his own.  The author did a great job showing the changes in Julian as he begins to view society through different lenses, and even his friends’ relationships.

The connection between Julian and Rafe I found to be one of mentor/student at first.  Julian, being such a bookworm, is eager to learn, and Rafe teaches him much.  But Julian, as he begins to come into his own, knows he can’t go from dependence on his father to his new lover.  He must find the courage to stand on his own two feet and carve his own destiny.  The author does a great job of twisting the plot, backing Julian into a corner until he’s forced to play the hand he’s dealt.

The author does this by showing, as Julian begins his adventure, all alone, but has good friend Barney to aid him.  I must say this is my fave of the novellas.  The chemistry between Julian and Rafe flew off the pages.  And Julian’s self-discovery made this one a keeper.

The Town Bronze Regency Box Set is a guaranteed wonderful read.  Do yourself a favour and pick up a copy.

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Ellie Thomas lives by the sea. She comes from a teaching background and goes for long seaside walks where she daydreams about history. She is a voracious reader, especially about anything historical. She mainly writes historical gay romance.

Ellie also writes historical erotic romance as L. E. Thomas.

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