Hello everyone!
I seem to always have books to read, but that doesn't mean all of them will or would even ever end up on this blog, for different reasons. Some just aren't all that interesting, others are re-reads, and then out of those I decide to write about ... well, I can't put them all up at once, right?
Right.
I'm headed back to a trilogy I started not too long ago in this blog post, actually, as Joanna Chambers has quickly become one of my favourite authors in terms of how easily it is to sink into one of her books and forget about the real world for a little bit.
I reviewed the first novel in the Enlightenment series, Provoked, already, and the link to the post will be found at the end of this one.
For the purpose of this blog, however, I'm stepping away from book numero uno and moving on to book numero due, titled Beguiled, which continues the infamous love story of lawyer David Lauriston and Lord Murdo Balfour.
If we recap very briefly what happened in the first book, however: David was given a rather exciting opportunity to become junior clerk to one of the stronger lawyers in the county, and he met Murdo Balfour with whom he had a grand total of one overnight stay encounter which sent him spinning in the opposite direction (yes, they're bot gay, don't you know). He also managed to save Murdo's cousin from getting shot, but he and Murdo did part ways, on a rather bitter note, at the end.
Which is where we are, two years later, when we meet David again.
Side-note: we also get to meet another like-minded man in this book, Captain Iain Sinclair of the King's entourage, who even gets his own story later on!
David has now become slightly more prominent himself in his work for his benefactor, who originally wanted to marry him to his eldest daughter. But as David knows he could never love a woman the way he loves men, Elizabeth had to marry someone else.
Unfortunately, not a good man.
This comes to play a little bit later, however, because first thing's first: David needs to be present and presentable for the King's visit to Scotland; there's going to be a whole lot of pomp and circumstance for this, and obviously the peers of Scotland are all called in to make an appearance.
Enter, one Murdo Balfour.
The two men run into one another again at the same tailor, and it's quickly obvious that the spark from two years ago is absolutely still there. But what to do about it now?
David had always made it clear that he believes any connection to men is a sin and something dirty, nor did he allow Murdo to pleasure him the way he wanted to, but in this book, after their repeat encounter, it's clear his views are changing.
Why?
Probably because he's falling in love with Murdo.
Not that Murdo's any better, considering he can't seem to let David head off on his own long enough to get his own clothing done, but that being said, they certainly come together over much calmer waters this time around as opposed to in the first book, somehow managing to smooth out any ruffled feathers.
At least to begin with.
There's a different thing to contend with now, though: feelings.
David is twitchy under this close scrutiny and also believes he can take care of himself, as an adult man, and doesn't need Murdo to do anything for him. Murdo, on the other hand, simply WANTS to do things for David because he cares, and it takes them a bit to get their balance back..
Oh, also, they do end up together in bed this time around. Quite happily too, might I add!
But of course, life isn't just fun and games and love, not if you're David, who sees the right and wrong in the world and knows he needs to somehow fix it.
See, remember Elizabeth? She went and married a powerful man, but he abuses her at home, and her father worries. Said father also asks David to help her, and not only that, but Euan, the man from the first book who almost shot Murdo's cousin, wants to help her, too, because he's in love with Elizabeth.
Okay then.
Not telling Murdo any of his plans, David spends most of the book trying to figure out how to separate Elizabeth from her husband and help her escape, but Murdo does aid him whenever he can when he senses David needs it - but he doesn't figure out the end game until it's too late.
They arrange for Elizabeth to run away with Euan during a theatre visit intermission, but unfortunately her husband is hot on her heels and David has to physically prevent him from getting his runaway wife.
This unfortunately means a scuffle, and David backing into a waiting horse, which ends up half-trampling him, much to Murdo's horror.
Murdo's the one who makes sure David is nursed back to consciousness, and offers the other man a chance to stay with him at his country estate, to recover ... and to spend as much time together as possible, since the two men are starting to realise that whatever is between the two of them, neither is willing to let the other go.
Which is where we leave them - David, once again a little worse for wear, Murdo, making sure he's taken care of.
Anything else will be resolved in book three, Enlightened!
xx
*image not mine
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