It Takes Two to Tumble: Seducing the Sedgwicks

It Takes Two to Tumble is the first book in Cat Sebastian’s Regency-era Seducing the Sedgwicks series of historical romance novels. Cat Sebastian has quickly become one of my favorite authors; her titles tend to feature two male protagonists, which is different from what I usually read. Ben is a fairly simple country vicar. He is sweet and he is gentle, and although it is not necessarily one of his parish duties, he devotes some of his time to a trio of children who live at a local manor house. Their mother passed away several years ago, and their father is often away at sea. The children have had the run of the house for years, and take delight in scaring away the tutors and governesses charged with their care. And then Captain Dacre- Phillip- returns home. He is used to the strict discipline of a ship, and he and doesn’t know what to make of the chaos in his home. And he doesn’t know what to think of the maddeningly chipper vicar who knows his children better than he does. So, essentially, what we have here is a Regency-era version of Sound of Music with two men. At its core, this is a story about living authentically and finding happiness after all hope seems lost. This was such a sweet story- Ben is just so adorable, and Phillip learns to be a little less grumpy. The three children are full of mischief, and along with a solid series of secondary characters, help to give the story a layer of depth. I would absolutely recommend It Takes Two to Tumble. This book has a…

SERIES: Seducing the Sedgwicks #1 OVERALL THOUGHTS This was such a gentle and heart warming read with lovable characters and beautiful writing. Each character was wonderfully fleshed out and developed, even the side characters. I can't wait to read more in his series! THE ROMANCE These two are so adorable together and I loved how honest and open they are. Ben was raised in an unconditional family with his father, mother, and his father's mistress. He's known he was attracted to men but he's always pushed it away. Not out of shame but because he wanted a traditional life - the complete opposite of his upbringing. Phillip has spent most of his adult life on a ship, away from his wife and his children but he has to return when his wife dies. On top of that, his first mate, the man he was beginning to love, has also died. But no matter what else is going on, Ben and Phillip can't stay away from each other, their attraction is too strong. WHAT WORKED FOR ME -- Ben was so wonderful and I loved his character! He's just so earnest and open and his care for other people was so sweet. He genuinely enjoys helping the people in his parish and his devotion to being a vicar is written so well. I don't know if a gay man living in this time period would be this comfortable with his religion and sexuality but I don't care because Ben was too perfect! -- Cat Sebastian is such a great writer and it really shines through in this one. I was completely immersed in the world she created and…

I've read all Cat Sebastian's novels and she is one of only a few go-to authors I always read. This first book in the Seducing The Sedgwicks is a highly anticipated M/M romance and a new favourite. Widower, Captain Phillip Dacre prefers spending his time sailing the world at the helm of his ship Patroclus, than at home. So when news of chaos at Barton Hall, Cumberland reaches him, he's not looking forward to going back and spending time with his children whilst his ship is in dry dock for two months. To his dismay, his children's behaviour is worse than he thought but surprised and unhappy they respect and trust the local vicar who stepped in to temporarily take care of them. In addition, this man awakens desires he's tried to bury along with his grief creating a dilemma when he'll soon leave again for his ship? Benedict 'Ben' Sedgwick is the vicar at St. Aelred's parish church in Kirkby Barton and betrothed to Miss Alice Crawford. He enjoys his chosen vocation and associated work so, when he's asked to try to keep the children of Captain Dacre under control, he's happy to oblige. With news of the impending return of Captain Dacre, he views tutoring the children a temporary necessity to keep them from wreaking havoc in the village. Only, when their father returns, it ignites a desire he's trying to suppress and this makes him realise he can't continue with his current life choices. Even without knowing the Sound of Music link, this novel has a wonderful feel-good…

What a pleasant surprise! I picked this up on sale and then shelved it a while. Little did I know I was going to highly enjoy reading about the local vicar, Ben Sedgwick, who falls in love with the father of the three children who've developed the reputation of being the village hellions. Captain Philip Dacre's wife passed away while he was at sea-- on the other side of the world -- so it's taken him some time to get back to England and when he does he doesn't know what to do with the three scamps who are apparently his children. Raising them was his wife's job. And now it's his and he thinks he's going to apply the same discipline to their care that he does aboard ship. Wrong. I loved the author's writing style, sense of humor, character development, and the feel of the little community in rural England. The children were even well done and often the children in these stories are too precocious or disruptive, but not here. And I loved Ben! What a great, well-rounded character who was certainly worthy of love. And Philip? He turned out to be the perfect match for Ben. He was not at all what he seemed on the outside at first glance. All in all, I highly recommend this one as one of those books that are darn hard to put down once you start reading. Best of all, in two weeks the sequel comes out and I'm going to be right there ready to do my one-click as soon as it's ready.

Overall rating: 3.5/5 Spice: 3.5/5 Narrator: 2/5 Cliffhanger: 1/5 I was excited to find a queer historical romance. There is so much potential for emotion and characterization with a love this forbidden and the author does a decent job of it, but I was left wanting just a little bit more. They fell in love awfully quick and I just didn’t feel it. Benedict Segwick grew up in a polyamorous house with an eccentric poet father. All he wants is a normal life where he helps people and his life of the village Vicar is perfect. And if he has never felt physical attraction for a woman and fantasizes about men every night, that isn’t going to stop him from marrying his best friend and being a good husband. Phillip is a naval captain, on leave, going home to figure out what to do with his three unruly children after the death of his wife. He has no clue how to be a father or manage his home and he is drowning in melancholy and grief. Not over his wife (though the guilt for that is significant), but for his first mate and lover, who he lost to a storm. Phillip and Ben clash over how to handle the children. Then a drunken confession leads to flirting and the tension becomes something else altogether. I liked the characters and the general bones of the plot, but I think it would have benefited from more time with these two characters building their relationship. The same with Phillip’s relationship with his children. There were times with both where I felt like there was a big…