Counterpoint: Dylan’s Story by Ruth Sims
M/M Romance
July 12, 2010
Dreamspinner Press

Reviewed by Mandi

This book really surprised me. This is the first I’ve read of Ruth Sims, and honestly chose to review it because I don’t find a lot of historical LBGT romance, and thought, sure why not. What this book turns out to be is a romance, but also one man’s journey of discovery of life. Of how grand notions of life when you are 18 and think nothing is going to stop you, turn to what reality really hands to you.

Dylan Rutledge’s journey begins with him being expelled from the Venerable Bede School for Young Gentlemen in England in the the late 1800’s for playing the school’s organ without permission. Dylan is a self described musical genius. He lives to play the piano and compose music and he could care less about his other studies. He feels very misunderstood – his father wants him to excel in school so he can go on to university to a respectable profession. His headmaster thinks his music is utter nonsense and never gives him any support in that direction. Really the only person at the school that takes an interest in him, is teacher Laurence Northcliff. He believes in Dylan’s genius. Laurence helps him get reinstated in school and becomes his tutor. And after spending months together, this very fragile attraction develops. Of course, Laurence is his teacher, and in his early 30’s. So when a very brief kiss is exchanged, Laurence knows this relationship can not be pursued. So he resigns from the school, moves to Paris to start a writing career.

Meanwhile, Dylan finishes school, and his father sends him off across Europe on a three month holiday with his good friend Rob, before he expects him to come home and go to University. What Dylan hasn’t told his father is that Laurence (who still has Dylan in his thoughts) has set up a meeting with a renowned music master, who after hearing Dylan’s music, agrees he has talent, he just needs direction and discipline. So it is here in Paris where Dylan starts his journey on this new life of his. And of course being in Paris, he meets up with Laurence, and now that they don’t have that teacher/student relationship anymore, and now that Dylan professes he is an adult, they can be free to be in love. And that is exactly what they do.

But we are still reminded that Dylan, for all of his professing about being an adult, is still so young. And out on his own for the first time. When his father demands he come home to London, he feels the pull of his music in Paris, but the familial pull as well.

“I don’t want to go,” Dylan said. “I don’t want to leave my studies. I don’t want to leave you. I – I think…I think I may not go home after all. I’m not a child to be ordered about. But then…I have gone over it and over it and I still don’t know.” When Laurence did not answer, Dylan said, “Tell me what to do.”

I love that the author doesn’t rush Dylan’s maturity. It is one of my favorite parts of the story.

Their love story is quite easy actually. As Laurence points out a one point, “We don’t analyze it, We just live it.” Laurence has the patience of a saint. Dylan never loses that arrogant edge. If his music tutors or fellow orchestra conductors criticize or don’t agree, he is done with them. He starts to alienate himself, and closes many doors because of his attitude. Everyone agrees, although maybe hesitantly, that he has a gift, he just is so head strong, he won’t let anyone shape his gift into something the public would adore.

The story jumps ahead a few times, to where Laurence is nearing 40, and Dylan is still trudging along trying to convince the world that he is brilliant.  The romance in this book is so sweet. While we kind of get fade to black sex scenes, the intensity of their love is still built up and their uncomplicated relationship just really worked for me.

I do have to say, this story takes some very unexpected turns. Some very tragic things happen in this book, that completely shocked me. By the end of the book, I was pretty emotionally drained. I think the drama towards the end, is a little over done. But there is so much in this book I can’t talk about because it dives into spoiler territory. Just know that this is quite a long book, and while this is  a romance, I think more emphasis is put on Dylan’s life story.  But it really well written and kept me interested throughout the entire story.

Rating: B

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