The Gentleman and the Lamplighter: A Short Story

By: Summer Devon

Narrated by: Mark James

The Gentleman and the Lamplighter is a historical romance NOVELLA about two men from different worlds who find acceptance - and red-hot passion - in each other's arms. From Summer Devon, who writes "gay Victorian romance with emotional tension" (Publishers Weekly).

You can't walk away from love.

Destroyed by the death of his former schoolmate yet unable to show it publicly, Giles Fullerton has taken to walking the streets of London in the middle of the night, the only time he can safely mourn the only person he's ever loved - until one chance meeting with a lamplighter changes everything....

But you can walk toward it...

Widower John Banks knows a thing or two about grief, and immediately recognizes a kindred spirit when he finally meets the handsome, haunted gentleman he's admired from afar. And in fact, the two men discover shared passions and the possibility of a forever love - if they can overcome social taboos, and their own fears....

©2015 St Martin's Press (P)2019 M Kate Rothwell

First love doesn't mean true love

My first Summer Devon and I’m completely charmed! 🥰 For a mere two hours listen, this one does pack unbelievable amount of all the feels. Oh, that bittersweet angst and those heart aching moments! 😌❤️ You know you are going to get a happy ending and yet your heart is aching for those protagonists! It was everything! 👏


Giles has been grieving and he’s been doing that for awhile. When his former classmate and secret lover committed suicide, Giles is to become the sort of caretaker for the wife of the man he had to let go. Unable to grieve properly and without anyone to talk, Giles started to roam the streets of London at nights, wandering and wondering aimlessly. And one day, he met an interesting person, the lamplighter, John Banks, who is intelligent, caring, understanding and oh-so-tempting. 😌 Giles is like a wounded cat who’s afraid to let anyone close. But true love and happiness won’t come without opening his heart first. And John isn’t someone who gives up easily for what his heart desires. These two kindred spirits must find a common ground not only in the sheets but also in their hearts to get the ultimate happiness they so desire and deserve.💜


This is a new-to-me author and new-to-me narrator. And what a glorious combo that has been! 😱 I absolutely loved Mark James’ narration! It was just finger-licking good! 😍 And oh Miss Devon, how I wish this is a full-length novel because I loved, loved, loved Giles and John. 😭 The angst, the feels, the emotions and the UST, damn, it was marvelous! And the smut was smoking hot! 🔥 And damn, that cover was scorching gorgeous! 🔥 The only thing that I can complain is the lack of an epilogue. But it was ok because we got our HEA. And Giles and John deserve the perfect happily ever after. 😍 This is my first Summer Devon but this certainly isn’t going to be my last. Loved it! ❤️



4.5 first love doesn’t mean true love stars
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️💫








Audio rating

Story - 4.25 stars ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️✨
Narration - 4.5 stars ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️💫
Performance - 5 stars ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Overall - 4.5 stars ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️💫

Good story

I wish this had been longer. I would have liked to know how Giles and John continued their affair. That being said, I enjoyed the story and the characters. I plan on reading more of this author and listening to more from this narrator.

Didn’t want it to end

Summer Devon is one of the top three in writing mm historical romance and she doesn’t let you down with The Gentleman and the Lamplighter. The narration by Mark James makes you feel as if you are actually there in the 1800 England. Only wish it was longer.

Short but intense

Since the death of his school friend and beloved, Giles Fullerton is a shadow of the man he was before. Unable to sleep, he wanders the streets at nights, like a haunted man, completely unaware of the fact that he has caught the eye and the imagination of a lamplighter, John Banks. Despite all odds, these two men meet and find they share much more than they expected. But there are as many things keeping them apart…
This short story manages to pack up many an interesting topic, such as difference between classes, the need to hide men’s “unnatural proclivities”, the role of women in a society designed for men…. All those topics are intertwined in the love story between Giles and John.. The prose flows easily, the love story is engaging, and despite not being very long, there is a sense of completion.
Mark James’ narration brings both characters to life, his performance reflects John bright and positive personality, and lets us see Giles more collected demeanour. I really enjoyed the secondary characters, they provide a lively background to the main characters’ love story.
In short, a very entertaining story, I would love to continue listening about these two.

Entertaining story

I enjoyed the story. Characters were interesting and unique. Narrator did a great job. I recommend this entertaining story and look forward to listening to other books by this author

A Delightful Gem!

Mark James does an outstanding job narrating this lovely little gem of a story. The Gentleman and the Lamplighter is a m/m Victorian about a lonely upper-class man in mourning after the love of his life dies, trapped in a conventional marriage. After one of his long nighttime walks, Giles meets John Banks, a lamplighter who recognizes a kindred spirit, and together they find friendship and more to overcome the darkness. Beautifully written and eloquently read, this is a touching short story for any lover of historical romance.

Very Lovely story

Their story was very sweet. I’m sure it was hard for two men to love each other in 1880. I’m so glad I listened to this sweetness.

This is an unbiased review with a credit from audiobookboom

Fabulous Short

Sometimes I’m in the mood for something quick and sweet. This was that story. Two lonely men meet in unusual circumstances and an odd friendship ensues. John Banks has buried a young wife and his job as a lamplighter gives him access to people while enabling him to keep apart. He goes about his job until one night he spots someone as lonely as himself. Giles Fullerton has lost a former schoolmate in a different kind of tragedy and the weight of it brings him out at night since sleeping is virtually impossible. He meets the lamplighter and something magical happens.

Of course the book is historical so there are norms, morays, and just about everything else that can befall the men, but there is also hope. I live for hope.

Mark James narrates this lovely story and I was thrilled. He’s done other Summer Devon books and I feel the two are a match made in book heaven. Anyway, great short story, fabulous audio.

So enjoyable to listen to

First the narrator did an awesome job telling the story and the ability to change his voice for each character really brought the book to alive. For the storyline it was done very tastefully not overly sexual but in a way that you felt you were listening to a story of poor and rich but with a hidden storyline buried somewhere in the original storyline.
It a story of two men who are morning for a lost love one female and one male and how they met and let their friendship grow and somewhere alone the way they found love and caring in each other so they could start living again knowing the ones they morn for would be happy for them.
I highly recommend this auibal book to anyone who loves a true love story without the sexual added in except in your little dirty mind.

Lovely historical novella.

This short story is sweet and enticing enough to grant listening to it in one go.
Mr. Fullerton and Mr. Banks, who seem so different from one anpther, as far as social norms go, start talking to each other and discover rhey have really so much more they share.