Category Archives: Of Dreams and Ceremonies

Of Dreams and Ceremonies

Book 2 of the Butterfly Hunter Trilogy

Blurb: It seemed like a great idea at the time… Aussie Dave Taylor has followed Nicholas Goring to England, and the lovers have become engaged. But now Dave has to cope with living in a mansion full of family and servants, making wedding plans, getting his head around visa applications, and wondering why on earth he’d ever want to wear a ‘mourning suit’. He’s not sure if it will prove any easier, but right now Dave would love to just skip ahead to the honeymoon…

Genre: male-male romance; contemporary; wedding; novel

Word count: 45,500

Click here for an excerpt of text, and here for the reviews.

Available in ebook and paperback formats from:

Available in French as “La Ceremonie” from:

Reader sites:

First published by Manifold Press on 1 November 2013. Re-released by LIBRAtiger on 15 September 2018.

reviews: Of Dreams and Ceremonies

French edition:

Mon Paradis des Livres: 4/5 from Jessy

Conclusion: Pour ma part, même si mon âme rêveur et romantique a préféré le premier opus, il fut plus que ravi de cette suite certes un peu trop courte mais aux allures féeriques… où Amour, Tendresse, Volupté et Bonheur sont au rendez-vous.

English edition:

Reviews by Jessewave: 4.75 stars from Feliz

Excerpt: I loved how both Nicholas and Dave remained true to themselves while at the same time, they managed to grow toward each other, making a stronger couple in the end. Amazingly done and embedded in a smoothly flowing, at times almost poetic narrative laced with this author’s trademark gentley mocking humor–despite some minor niggles, this was a worthy sequel to a wonderful book and a treat to read.

Sinfully Sexy Book Reviews: 5 stars from Mark

Excerpt: Once again Julie … comes through with a wonderful story.

Boys in Our Books: 4 stars from Ami

Excerpt: I am in love with how Julie Bozza writes …

The Romance Reviews: 3 stars from Kindle Romance

Excerpt: If you enjoyed the first story in this series, then this is a must read …

MM Good Book Reviews: 3 stars from Cat

Excerpt: I think the story is very good. I loved both Nicholas and Dave. The story was one of the most beautiful love stories I have read in a while. I love the descriptions of the places they visit, I felt as if I were there. There is a touch of mystery mixed in that added a bit of excitement to the story. … If you like sweet, sensual, emotional romances, sexy Australians, hot English dignitaries, butterflies, beautiful scenery, and a little very sensual, loving mansex, same-sex weddings and happy for now endings, this is for you.

Scattered Thoughts and Rogue Words: 4 stars from Stella

Excerpt and conclusion: This second installment in the series was another beautiful journey into these young men love story. As it happened with the first one, I was sucked into the reading and enjoyed the lyrical and magical atmosphere that seemed to follow the couple wherever they were. The love they shared was always so delicate and pure it was inevitable for me to cheer on them and hope for a beautiful HEA. They were special together, how each one understood the other, fulfilled the other’s desires, they were simple perfect and so sweet and hot at the same time. I can’t wait to see where the author will bring Dave and Nicholas in the last book.

Of Dreams and Ceremonies on Goodreads

  • Simsala gave it 5 stars and said: I highly recommend Of Dreams and Ceremonies and its prequel to all people who believe love is nothing but a chemical reaction. These books will convince them that that’s not true. … And now let me go back basking in that peaceful, warm, and cozy place that is a Julie Bozza romance.
  • Dianne gave it 5 stars and said: This highly anticipated sequel to Butterfly Hunter blesses the reader with more gorgeous writing as the story of Nicholas and Dave is dazzlingly spun out. These are two of the loveliest men I’ve ever had the pleasure of getting acquainted with, and in the most glorious of settings as well. Just all around beautiful and gorgeous.
  • Don Bradshaw gave it 4 stars and said: I cannot wait for the third book in this remarkable trilogy.
  • Pjm12 gave it 5 stars, and said: Every bit of this was perfect for me. Each line, every glance, every smile. It just got to me.

Readers’ Responses

From Michelle Peart: I really like Nicholas and Dave and after I finished The Butterfly Hunter I actually missed them for a while so it was lovely to catch up with them again. They are both well written and fully fleshed out with well-formed personalities and traits. There doesn’t need to be a dialogue tag or an action beat for me to know whose speaking. Nobody does dialogue like Julie! I also love Nicholas’s quintessentially British family and how they accepted Dave into their fold.

I love some of the descriptions, for example – the books making random rainbows amongst the sea of blue in Nicholas’s bedroom – love it. And I like Nicholas’s blog entries throughout the story.

Of Dreams and Ceremonies include three ceremonies, my favourite been the third ceremony the Corroboree. I just adore Julie’s descriptions of Australia, its people and its customs. You can feel her passion for the subject in every word and verbal illustration. I felt a bit sad that there wasn’t more of the story set in Australia as I feel this is where Julie shines but, the second ceremony, and subsequent yarn, in Cornwall more than made up for it with its myths, magic and legends – love a bit of myth!

A lovely bubbling along romance with two guys I would love to hang out with. I now quite fancy a second honeymoon in the isolated cottage on the cliff edge myself!

It’s bonzer mate!

excerpt: Of Dreams and Ceremonies

An excerpt from the novel. It’s Dave’s first full day in England, and not only does he meet the infamous chauffeur, but he and Nicholas have to work out what happens next.

Another Butterfly from Wikimedia Commons“Poor David has had to leave his beloved Land Cruiser behind in Australia – “

“Are you joking? I’m having it shipped out.”

“So, Frank, I thought maybe you’d give him a tour of the cars sometime, and see if there’s something that might distract him from the grief.”

“Of course, Nicholas,” Frank replied. “Tomorrow morning, perhaps, sir?”

“Um, after lunch would be better. If that doesn’t get in the way of your work.”

“Plans already?” Nicholas commented with a slightly quirked smile.

“Plans … jetlag …” Dave gestured vaguely: Who could possibly know?

They agreed that Nicholas would accompany Dave to the garage at around two-thirty the following afternoon. And then Frank added that if there were any motors that Dave took a shine to, there’d be no problem with him using them, working on them, driving them …

“Thanks,” said Dave, quite genuinely. Though as he and Nicholas finally took their leave of Frank and started heading back towards the house, Dave complained, “I can’t believe you want me to cheat on the Cruiser!”

Continue reading excerpt: Of Dreams and Ceremonies