Tome Thursday: Provoked

Hello everyone!

Back with my regular book blog, and I've decided not to pick Testament for this one just yet. Maybe next week, when I've had some time to untangle all the threads that got connected and twirled in my head after reading it.

Instead, the book I've picked for tonight is slightly different in the sense that it's an MM romance. Meaning, both the heroes are male.

Let me tell you, I never would have pegged myself for someone who'd enjoy reading these books, but somehow or other I managed to fall into the genre and, provided that the author knows what they're doing, the books are just as enjoyable as what you'd call "regular" romance books.

The added allure of tonight's tome also came from the fact that it's written during a historic period when such a thing was prosecuted, illegal, and more than a little bit dangerous.

But hey, it all adds to the fun of it! Ergo, let's sink our claws into Provoked, by Joanna Chambers.

The first in a trilogy, I was pleasantly surprised by the writing style and the portrayal of the two main characters, not to mention the fact that this isn't just a love story - actually, not even a love story at all! Mostly, it's a mystery, with a hint of what could possibly be love thrown in there for good measure.

Just enough to make you want to continue reading. I've already got my eye on the second book, Beguiled.

David, the man from whose point of view this books is written, is struggling to gain a secure foothold in the legal world of Edinburgh, trying to find the right connections and not helping himself by representing people with radical ideas. The book begins by him witnessing a hanging of two such radicals, weavers who have been accused of treason.

He's not in the best of moods when he returns to the inn that evening, but his company improves with the arrival of one Murdo Balfour (he's a Lord, but at this point we don't know it yet).

Balfour seems to feel completely at ease with himself and the world, regardless where he is, and this is the first time we get a glimpse that David perhaps isn't as straight-laced as the author wants us to think. Considering his almost instant attraction to the newcomer, I'd say that's an understatement, but anyway.

Both men sort of dance around the topic a little - or maybe David does. Eventually, Balfour cuts to the chase, and they escape into a narrow, dark alley for a little clandestine meeting.

Balfour is all for continuing this, but David is most certainly not, and they part ways.

Back at his usual work place and haunts, David's quasi mentor introduces him to a more prominent lawyer who has a large number of junior clerks working for him since he can obviously afford it, and who agrees to take David on. Just as his professional life seems to be on the rise, his personal one is kind of going down the drain as the brother of one of the hanged men comes to him for help in finding the government agent who had caused the man's demise.

Initially, David thinks he'll be able to make inquiries and not find anyone, especially not a girl named Bella who this agent supposedly loves, but while visiting his benefactor (and being flirted with by said benefactor's oldest daughter), he runs into none other than Murdo Balfour, this time introduced properly as Lord Murdo, and hears about an Isabella whom Murdo is apparently courting.

Or, so everyone says.

Mostly, what Murdo seems to be doing is trying to get closer to David, not that David is encouraging of the fact. Actually, if anyone asked me for an opinion, I'd say he pretty much does the exact opposite.

Nevertheless, things progress, in all aspects of his life, as this investigation leads him to suspect Murdo himself until the weaver's brother confirms it's not actually him, but someone almost like him (turns out the man has a cousin. DUH). While this is going on, David is quite obviously approached as a potential suitor for his benefactor's daughter, although he isn't really going to be headed in that direction.

See, he believes he doesn't deserve happiness of the sort since he couldn't love any woman the way he might love a man, which is why he'll just deny himself any happiness at all.

This infuriates Murdo who is used to getting what he wants - David included, since David ends up spending the night at Murdo's one time.

But things come to a head when the young radical goes straight after Murdo's cousin, with David hot on his heels, heading for Murdo to get help and eventually putting himself between Hugo Balfour (the cousin) and the radical before Hugo can get shot.

At which point more than some of Murdo's feelings about David are revealed, but hang on to that.

Anyway, the radical gets away, no one gets shot, but neither do David and Murdo come to any sort of conclusion other than parting ways, as David returns home for the holidays and to visit with his brother's family since his sister-in-law had just given birth. He also has a heart-to-heart with his father, a man he has always tried to please, who tells him that he, too, could have a nice, easy life, but it isn't in David's nature to do things the easy way.

So, with some bad memories but mostly good, the books ends with David safely at home with the people he loves the most, and his one-time lover back at his estate, where he belongs.

I know. You just want to shriek and go like IS THIS IT?

It is! This is why you HAVE to keep going, and I'll be doing that as soon as humanly possible.

In the meantime, I highly recommend this series already even after only reading the first book. The author's style is very easy to fall into and enjoy, and the story is compelling without unnecessary drama added onto the wingtips.

Plus, there's something about a hero like Murdo no one can resist. Not even a girl!

xx

*image not mine