But in an area where bushveld prejudices and hatred bleed across the borders, realising their love will be a hard fought battle. Keeping hold of it might just kill them.
* * * * *
An unexpected job offer finds zoologist Eric Phillips transported from the elephant house at a zoo just outside London to the wildlife reserves in the South African bushveld. Being able to work with his own herd of elephants, and analysing their behaviour, more than makes up for the remote nature of the research station. The one bright spot on the horizon, quite literally if the sun hits it at the right angle, is the silver freight plane that brings his supplies and half an hour in the company of Tyaan, the gorgeous but taciturn pilot.
With wide open spaces and clear skies, Tyaan Bouwer is never be happier than when he’s flying over the bushveld, the landscape beneath him a changing vista of colour and texture. It’s that view and the freedom to be able to climb in his plane and fly that’s kept him in the small town where he was born and raised. South Africa might be a rainbow nation but in the northern regions where neighbouring countries are far from liberal minded, prejudices and hatred bleed across the borders. Tyaan’s not in the closet, not really. Get him to the city and with his strong, silent routine he can pull a guy without even trying. He’s fine with that as long as they don’t press him into trying to see them again. It’s not like he wants a relationship. And just maybe when he gets home he’s hovering in the doorway of that closet, but he’s never met anyone worth taking the risk for.
The day he’s sent to Limpopo to collect Eric that all changes. He tries to bury the feelings of want that Eric conjures in him, but he can’t resist the bonds of friendship that forms between them.
As a zoologist Eric likes to think that he’s adept at anticipating how a creature will react in any given situation, and they don’t come any more beautiful and skittish than Tyaan. Despite Tyaan’s jittery behaviour Eric has a theory they could be good together but when things go catastrophically wrong it appears their relationship will remain a theory unproven.
Second Edition
Publisher: Finally Love Press
Released: January 2017
Buy Links
Universal Amazon link
Payhip // Smashwords // Kobo // B&N
Reviews for Theory Unproven
5 elephant review from Bike Book Reviews.
The opening line is a cracker in itself.
OH MY GOODNESS, I AM REALLY EXCITED FOR US TO BE HOSTING A BOOK BLAST FOR THIS EPIC, WONDERFUL, MASTERFULLY WRITTEN LITERARY ENTREE KNOWN AS 'THEORY UNPROVEN' BY LILLIAN FRANCIS!
Okay, I'm blushing (and grinning, just a little bit) and we haven't even got to the review yet. Right off the bat she hits on a point that I'm already concerned will deter readers... the length.
When I started this book and realized how many pages it had, I said to myself, "How in the world is this book gonna hold my interest for this long, it has to be a dang good one", (but I needn't have worried) let me assure you my friends, it is a dang good one and more!
And a few more choice quotes:
...a wonderful passionate story
Get this book and get ready for passion, devotion, and yes suspense all rolled up in a nice package!
Thank you Lillian, for making me realize it isn't the length, long or short of a book, it is the heart of it that matters!
Read the review in full here.
Another 5 star review from MM Good Book Reviews.
The passion between Eric and Tyaan is both sweet and explosive.
...the first half of the book is rather light hearted and relaxed before really going into the action.
There is a lot of sweetness to be had set in an amazing landscape with some pretty damn intelligent animals. In fact, a couple of the elephants are minor characters in their own right and thoroughly enjoyable.
Read the full review here.
Former reviewer Tina gave Theory Unproven 4.5 stars. Check out her review in full here at Goodreads. (posted with permission from the reviewer)
"Both characters are just wonderfully elaborated, and they have this freaking hot chemistry, despite all the things popping up to mess with them. Lillian Francis did a wonderful job of conveying the heart and soul of these two guys, and when the heat turns up, it gets damn hot! It’s either slow and romantic, rough and steamy, or smoking hot and passionate."
"Lillian’s writing is powerful, gripping, emotional and captivating, she creates enticing characters and a sexy, emotionally charged story line."
"I lived within the story, I felt the South African heat, smelled the elephants and tasted the dust on my tongue, I laughed, smiled and cursed with the guys. How they managed to overcome their challenges to form a deep and everlasting love and build such a strong relationship touched me deeply."
"Highly recommended for those who share my love for the beautiful African continent... and want a well done, sweet, funny, suspenseful and delicious romance without too much angst."
A 4.25 star review at scatteredthoughtsandroguewords.
With a zoologist, Eric Phillips, as one half of the main couple, I loved the realistic way his life and work with the elephants was portrayed. Dirty, all consuming, and soul satisfying…the readers understands through the many passages what it must be like to have that deep connection with another species.
All good characters, all people the reader will want to spend time with.
Tyaan is a character that will draw conflicted feelings among the readers. I thought his was a character grounded in the reality of the changing times in South Africa...Got it, you understand him even if you don’t like his actions, it makes him human.
While I was reading it, I was hooked on the elephants, Eric and Tyaan’s attraction for each other and strained journey towards a relationship.
This is a long book yet most of the time I spent reading it flew by. And I could easily book a flight back to this universe.
...this story is so lush, so vibrant in feeling and scope that I am still so very much in love with Theory Unproven weeks later.
I recommend this story for all who love romance, foreign lands and a landscape of adventure where the search for love can be rough, affectionate, and hard won.
Read the review in full here.
A 5 heart review from Hearts on Fire reviews
...the story was well paced, with great main characters and secondary characters...
The chemistry between the two main characters has a great build up, with compassion for Tyaan..., and hope for Eric that he won’t get his heart broken, since you love him pretty much from the start of the story!
If you like animals, you are going to love these two characters! (Jack and Ianto, the elephants)
I would recommend this book for romance lovers who really enjoy the development of the story as much as the romance and hot scenes...
Read the full review here.
5 elephant review from Bike Book Reviews.
The opening line is a cracker in itself.
OH MY GOODNESS, I AM REALLY EXCITED FOR US TO BE HOSTING A BOOK BLAST FOR THIS EPIC, WONDERFUL, MASTERFULLY WRITTEN LITERARY ENTREE KNOWN AS 'THEORY UNPROVEN' BY LILLIAN FRANCIS!
Okay, I'm blushing (and grinning, just a little bit) and we haven't even got to the review yet. Right off the bat she hits on a point that I'm already concerned will deter readers... the length.
When I started this book and realized how many pages it had, I said to myself, "How in the world is this book gonna hold my interest for this long, it has to be a dang good one", (but I needn't have worried) let me assure you my friends, it is a dang good one and more!
And a few more choice quotes:
...a wonderful passionate story
Get this book and get ready for passion, devotion, and yes suspense all rolled up in a nice package!
Thank you Lillian, for making me realize it isn't the length, long or short of a book, it is the heart of it that matters!
Read the review in full here.
Another 5 star review from MM Good Book Reviews.
The passion between Eric and Tyaan is both sweet and explosive.
...the first half of the book is rather light hearted and relaxed before really going into the action.
There is a lot of sweetness to be had set in an amazing landscape with some pretty damn intelligent animals. In fact, a couple of the elephants are minor characters in their own right and thoroughly enjoyable.
Read the full review here.
Former reviewer Tina gave Theory Unproven 4.5 stars. Check out her review in full here at Goodreads. (posted with permission from the reviewer)
"Both characters are just wonderfully elaborated, and they have this freaking hot chemistry, despite all the things popping up to mess with them. Lillian Francis did a wonderful job of conveying the heart and soul of these two guys, and when the heat turns up, it gets damn hot! It’s either slow and romantic, rough and steamy, or smoking hot and passionate."
"Lillian’s writing is powerful, gripping, emotional and captivating, she creates enticing characters and a sexy, emotionally charged story line."
"I lived within the story, I felt the South African heat, smelled the elephants and tasted the dust on my tongue, I laughed, smiled and cursed with the guys. How they managed to overcome their challenges to form a deep and everlasting love and build such a strong relationship touched me deeply."
"Highly recommended for those who share my love for the beautiful African continent... and want a well done, sweet, funny, suspenseful and delicious romance without too much angst."
A 4.25 star review at scatteredthoughtsandroguewords.
With a zoologist, Eric Phillips, as one half of the main couple, I loved the realistic way his life and work with the elephants was portrayed. Dirty, all consuming, and soul satisfying…the readers understands through the many passages what it must be like to have that deep connection with another species.
All good characters, all people the reader will want to spend time with.
Tyaan is a character that will draw conflicted feelings among the readers. I thought his was a character grounded in the reality of the changing times in South Africa...Got it, you understand him even if you don’t like his actions, it makes him human.
While I was reading it, I was hooked on the elephants, Eric and Tyaan’s attraction for each other and strained journey towards a relationship.
This is a long book yet most of the time I spent reading it flew by. And I could easily book a flight back to this universe.
...this story is so lush, so vibrant in feeling and scope that I am still so very much in love with Theory Unproven weeks later.
I recommend this story for all who love romance, foreign lands and a landscape of adventure where the search for love can be rough, affectionate, and hard won.
Read the review in full here.
A 5 heart review from Hearts on Fire reviews
...the story was well paced, with great main characters and secondary characters...
The chemistry between the two main characters has a great build up, with compassion for Tyaan..., and hope for Eric that he won’t get his heart broken, since you love him pretty much from the start of the story!
If you like animals, you are going to love these two characters! (Jack and Ianto, the elephants)
I would recommend this book for romance lovers who really enjoy the development of the story as much as the romance and hot scenes...
Read the full review here.
