Crimson: An M/M Romance Spy Thriller (Of Shadows & Secrets Book 1)

I love historical fiction stories that highlight gay men into the plot lines and narrative. This story was well written, with very strong characters that were realistic, including the second and third level characters. The dialog was very real, with witty responses back and forth between characters. Since is a lead up to the United States entering into World War II, the author did a excellent job of creating a serious atmosphere sprinkled with humor and love between Thomas and Will. The storyline places the reader right into the beginning of a series that will follow some of the characters into the depths of war. I also liked the fact that the author has provided lots of educational information on background about the lead up to the US involvement in the war, which only enhances the entire storyline. Thank you Casey for a first class story! Reasons I enjoyed this book: Great world building /Wonderful characters /Realistic /Original /Page-turner /Witty /Easy-to-read /Entertaining /Informative / Romantic

I went into this book with great expectations, not only because of its author but because it was the amalgamation of ALL of my favorite books set in my favorite time period. Now Casey (the author, naturally), had not let me down out of the ten published works of his young career (the career is young… HE is not). With every book he has gotten better and better. Now that is not to say that his writing was lacking in any way. As a matter of fact, most authors will end up in a slump or have a misstep usually in their sophomore publication. The difference in his case is that his 2nd book was part of a series, each just as good, if not better. His next series, technically his 2nd book, expanded in to the field of campaign politics, followed by a murder mystery, etc., all of which were encased in the dual POV narrative of a M/M ❤️‍🔥 romance. In a number of aspects, “Crimson” is no different, to a point. There is still the dual POV narrative at the heart of a M/M ❤️‍🔥 romance, but the similarities stop there. “Crimson” is the first in a series entitled, “Of Shadows & Secrets”, beginning at the onset of America’s entry in to the Second World War after the attack of Pearl Harbor. Other than the intensity of the subject matter (Not that murder, HIV, grief, mental illness, homophobia aren’t serious topics, they were still housed in a rom-com story carrying the subject matter’s weight, but in a less heavy handed way), “Crimson” is 📕 written by an author who has matured in his…

The plot and characters of this book are vivid and compelling. The only complaint I have is that it is rife with small errors. There are a few typos and grammatical mistakes, but there are dozens and dozens of anachronisms. Most of them are slang and idioms that date from the 1950s or later, but a few are historical errors, like characters complaining about wartime rationing the year before it was instated. I look forward to seeing what happens in the rest of the series, but I hope the author improves the research. Historical fiction should be historical.

Prepare to step back in time to the halls of Harvard University in 1941, where the world was on the cusp of change and young hearts were full of dreams. "Crimson" takes us on a delightful trip through history, blending academia, patriotism, and romance into a heartwarming tale that will leave you with a smile on your face. Will Shaw and his friends Artie and Janie are the embodiment of the American spirit in the post-Depression era. But when the war in Europe suddenly becomes a very real threat, these carefree students are faced with a sobering reality. Will’s enlistment takes him on a surprising journey that includes learning German, deciphering topography, and discovering secret radio transmitters. It's a captivating blend of espionage and academia, creating a storyline that's both entertaining and educational. And then enters Thomas, the handsome Naval officer who turns Will's world upside down. The slow, sweet development of their relationship will make your heart flutter, and you'll find yourself rooting for them every step of the way. As the story unfolds, you'll be transported to a world where secrets lurk around every corner, and trust is a rare commodity. Casey does an excellent job of weaving together the love story with a gripping thriller, making each page turn, an adventure. You'll find yourself glued to the pages, desperately needing to know what happens next, rooting for Will and Thomas.

I fell in love with Casey Morales as a writer because of is acerbic wit, perfectly flawed characters, and wonderfully passionate stories, and his new book “Crimson” delivers in spades, albeit through a very different trope from your classic MM romance. “Crimson” begins just as the Japanese bomb Pearl Harbor, get ready for a historical, suspenseful, romantic, emotional journey. There seems to be a staccato to the writing style that brings to life the tension between the characters, their lives, and society as they navigate in a post-depression, start of WWII, homophobic 1940’s society. The writing made me hold my breath a beat longer than usual as they characters navigated their love story through a trying time in US, world and gay history. Yes, the main characters are so well developed you fall in love with them from page one, but the story itself is the star of the show. Lovers of historical fiction will appreciate the time, research and attention to detail in the story, as much as the romance between the characters. The struggles of the time and societal conventions, the emotions of war, and drama of it all are as much a main character in this work as the actual people. One of the reasons I love to ready Casey’s works is because Morales is a master at weaving not only relatable, inspiring main character into a well-developed story, but he spends as much effort to ensure every supporting character has a purpose, an inextricable point in the story, a visceral draw to the…