A cozy mystery with a tongue-tied nerd of a history professor tempted by a gorgeous graduate student and millions of dollars if he can solve one of history’s greatest mysteries — who was Shakespeare really?
The Case of the Sexy Shakespearean
by Tara Lain
Blurb:
Dr. Llewellyn Lewis leads a double life, as both an awkward but distinguished history professor and the more flamboyant Ramon Rondell, infamous writer of sensational historical theories. It’s Ramon who first sets eyes on a gorgeous young man dancing in a club, but Llewellyn who meets teaching assistant Blaise Arthur formally at an event held for wealthy socialite Anne de Vere, descendant of Edward de Vere, seventeenth Earl of Oxford-who some believe was the real Shakespeare. Anne wants Llewellyn to prove that claim, even though many have tried and failed. And she’s willing to offer a hefty donation to the university if he succeeds.
It also means a chance for Llewellyn to get to know Blaise much better.
Not everyone thinks Llewellyn should take the case-or the money. Between feuding siblings, rival patrons, jealous colleagues, and greedy administrators, almost anyone could be trying to thwart his work… and one of them is willing to kill to do it.
When Anne de Vere turns up dead, the police believe Blaise is the murderer. Only the shy, stuttering professor who has won his heart can prove otherwise…
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Excerpt
Blaise
said, “I’m so sorry, Dr. Lewis. I just don’t have good sense sometimes. I never
should have put you in such a terrible position. I apologize from my soul.”
said, “I’m so sorry, Dr. Lewis. I just don’t have good sense sometimes. I never
should have put you in such a terrible position. I apologize from my soul.”
“N-not
your f-f-fault.”
your f-f-fault.”
“Yes,
it is. I completely overstepped my bounds. I feel like I know you, and I acted
inappropriately.”
it is. I completely overstepped my bounds. I feel like I know you, and I acted
inappropriately.”
Llewellyn
took a breath. “Y-you tried to make me f-feel comfortable.” He spoke slowly and
got most of the words out. He didn’t want Blaise to take the blame.
took a breath. “Y-you tried to make me f-feel comfortable.” He spoke slowly and
got most of the words out. He didn’t want Blaise to take the blame.
Blaise
smiled softly. “Yes, I did.”
smiled softly. “Yes, I did.”
Anne
stepped closer. “Please don’t go until I’ve had a chance to tell you why I
came.”
stepped closer. “Please don’t go until I’ve had a chance to tell you why I
came.”
He met her gaze, and his whole stomach clenched. No. No way. “I—I—”
“Please
let me tell you. You must know that Edward de Vere, Earl of Oxford, is one of
the people most often named as the true author of the works of Shakespeare.”
let me tell you. You must know that Edward de Vere, Earl of Oxford, is one of
the people most often named as the true author of the works of Shakespeare.”
Blaise
looked up at Llewellyn. “He is? I thought it was, like, Marlowe or Bacon.”
looked up at Llewellyn. “He is? I thought it was, like, Marlowe or Bacon.”
“No,
no.” Anne waved a hand dismissively. “The Earl of Oxford has long been regarded
as the most likely candidate to have written both the sonnets and the plays.”
no.” Anne waved a hand dismissively. “The Earl of Oxford has long been regarded
as the most likely candidate to have written both the sonnets and the plays.”
“Yes,
he’s one of the top candidates, if you believe such things.” The voice came
from the sidewalk beside his car, and Llewellyn looked up to see George
Stanley, Van Pelt, the Echevarrias, as well as the whole crew of dinner guests,
with one or two defections, gathering there.
he’s one of the top candidates, if you believe such things.” The voice came
from the sidewalk beside his car, and Llewellyn looked up to see George
Stanley, Van Pelt, the Echevarrias, as well as the whole crew of dinner guests,
with one or two defections, gathering there.
If I drive away, maybe I could just go to
North Dakota and hide for the rest of my life? He swiped a hand over his face. Right, they love gay freaks there.
North Dakota and hide for the rest of my life? He swiped a hand over his face. Right, they love gay freaks there.
Anne
frowned. “Not one of them, the most
prominent among them, as I’m sure Dr. Lewis will agree.” He said nothing, and
she didn’t seem to care. She was on a roll. “It’s been a dream of my family to
investigate the earl’s position in this mystery for some time.”
frowned. “Not one of them, the most
prominent among them, as I’m sure Dr. Lewis will agree.” He said nothing, and
she didn’t seem to care. She was on a roll. “It’s been a dream of my family to
investigate the earl’s position in this mystery for some time.”
I could run. Forget the car.
“That’s
why I’ve sought out Dr. Lewis. He’s renowned throughout the world for
uncovering new evidence in some of the great questions of history.” Her voice
rang out like she was in a Shakespearean play herself. “That’s why I want him
to prove beyond a doubt that my ancestor, Edward de Vere, the seventeenth Earl
of Oxford, is the real author of the works of William Shakespeare.”
why I’ve sought out Dr. Lewis. He’s renowned throughout the world for
uncovering new evidence in some of the great questions of history.” Her voice
rang out like she was in a Shakespearean play herself. “That’s why I want him
to prove beyond a doubt that my ancestor, Edward de Vere, the seventeenth Earl
of Oxford, is the real author of the works of William Shakespeare.”
Llewellyn
shook his head back and forth like a befuddled cow. “So many tr-tr-tried. C-can’t—”
shook his head back and forth like a befuddled cow. “So many tr-tr-tried. C-can’t—”
She
raised her voice even more. “And I’m prepared to present the university with a
historical research grant of five million dollars in order to prove this claim.
One million to go to Dr. Lewis and the rest for dedication of the history
building to my ancestor, Edward de Vere.”
raised her voice even more. “And I’m prepared to present the university with a
historical research grant of five million dollars in order to prove this claim.
One million to go to Dr. Lewis and the rest for dedication of the history
building to my ancestor, Edward de Vere.”
For
a second the whole street—the whole world—went silent.
a second the whole street—the whole world—went silent.
Someone—maybe
Echevarria—murmured, “No.”
Echevarria—murmured, “No.”
Then
Van Pelt’s voice rang out. “Well, that sounds like one of the most exciting and
worthwhile historical research undertakings I’ve ever heard.”
Van Pelt’s voice rang out. “Well, that sounds like one of the most exciting and
worthwhile historical research undertakings I’ve ever heard.”
Running
wasn’t enough. Maybe he should vomit.
wasn’t enough. Maybe he should vomit.
About the Author
Tara Lain writes the Beautiful Boys of Romance in LGBT romance novels that star her unique, charismatic heroes. Her best-selling novels have garnered awards for Best Series, Best Contemporary Romance, Best Erotic Romance, Best Ménage, Best LGBT Romance, Best Gay Characters, and more. Readers often call her books “sweet,” even with all that hawt sex, because Tara believes in love and her books deliver on happily-ever-after. In addition to writing dozens and dozens of romance novels, Tara also owns an advertising and public relations firm. Her love of creating book titles comes from years of manifesting ad headlines for everything from analytical instruments to semiconductors. She does workshops on both author promotion and writing craft. Together with her soulmate husband and her soulmate Dog, she recently realized a vision to live where there were a lot more trees and a lot fewer cars by moving to Ashland, Oregon. She hasn’t stopped smiling since.
You can find Tara at Lain
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