Beguiled (Enlightenment #2) [Murdo & David] by Joanna Chambers

Utterly beautiful. I don't even know where to start, all I want to do is start the next one and get to their happily ever after. Unlike the previous one which ended quite sadly, the ending of this one was so sweet and promising, it was the final ribbon rapping to the way the relationship between Murdo and David progressed throughout the book. 

The first installment ended with Murdo and David parting ways supposedly never to see each other again, yet the small novella "Season's Pass" written from Murdo's POV told us he will be coming to Edinburgh for the King's visit. It's not that he cares so much about the king or his father's request to attend the ceremonies as a representative of the family, it was the fact that there was a small possibility of seeing David again. 

They meet on a chance meeting at a tailor's store - both being measured up for the up coming festivities. They quickly resume where they started. Much and nothing changed in David's life. He still works for Chalmers, becoming more known and successful (and still highly appreciated), he didn't marry Elizabeth Chalmers as maybe Murdo would have thought, she married someone else.. and yet he is more accepting of himself and less harsh on his sexual cravings. Yet no casual encounter measured up to what he had with Murdo. What they had was theirs alone and now they can re-act on their emotions.   

Like the first book in the series, this one is written solely from David's POV, yet even without getting Murdo's POV as well, it's obvious that what they feel toward each other, what they see in one another is absolutely mutual. The attraction between them is much more than mere physical lust, the also crave each other's company as friends even with the distance between them in status and ideals. I loves watching them get closer to one another. It was done so well, in such a realistic way. They are both men of their time, I didn't expect them to open up so quickly, yet they are both very sincere which means at times they do speak up about the way they see/feel for each other even if the words seems "casual" they mean so much more. It was simply heart breaking witnessing how much David was afraid of their imminent breakup and the fact they couldn't hope for more than a few visits a year and here it was also obvious without needing Murdo's POV that he feels the same way yet he is reluctant to address the matter, he rather have as much time with David NOW. 

Naturally there is more to the plot that a mere continuation of a love story. There is also a surprise visit from Euan MacLennan - the same man who wanted to kill Murdo's cousin for getting his brother deported for treason. Yes, the same man who pointed a gun at David before running into the darkness never to be heard of again. When they re-meet David can do nothing but invite him into his house as he was hosting a meeting with his friends and shutting the door in his face would have seen rude. Coming inside, he meets Elizabeth, now Lady Kinnell and sees at the same time as David does the bruises on her skin and the frightened way she looks, unlike how she used to be before she was married.  From here on, Euan and David tries their best to help Elizabeth yet getting close to her isn't easy, and both David and Euan needs to be careful since there are people looking for radicals now that the king is in Edinburgh and since Euan IS a radical and is listed as one they might be watched.. putting not only Euan in danger but anyone he associates with. 

It was interesting getting the radical voice of Euan of speaks of equality between men and women at the timing of the book, I think it was wonderfully done. There is some references to the law and the fact that it doesn't always has the answers, the "right" ones. But David - unlike the radical Euan who wants to change the world - does believe in the same things Euan does, he just thinks he can be of help using the law in the most twisted way he can so it would be possible to help when there is a possibility of doing so. He says that Murdo thinks he is an Idealist, but truthfully Euan is the Idealist, he is a pragmatist and I agree. 

We re-meet Sinclair, who is on the king's security (we met him on Season's Pass). It was sweet seeing Murdo getting defensive when he thinks Sinclair might be interested in David. I think this moment in time, shows how much they went through together, the fact that they see in each other more now. They are on the brick of being in a relationship. Murdo is so much more than he lets anyone see, well, I guess David is different somehow as he starts seeing Murdo's expressions for what they are - truthful or a disguise. When they met in Chalmers house in the first installment, Chalmers calls him a "romantic" for wanting to buy a house due to the amazing view it has. Murdo says he isn't a romantic yet everything about him and how he acts toward David shows differently. I love him to pieces. He is SUCH a sweetheart! 

I really enjoyed this installment, it was so worth the heart ache of the previous one, it was exactly the way it was suppose to happen, not building the relationship too quickly or unrealistically and giving them both time to digest what was happening between them and what they are willing to do to be together. 

Additional Details: Kindle Ebook, 197 pages, 19-20 February 2015 / On GoodReads

 

ABOUT THIS SERIES

 

Enlightenment by Joanna Chambers is a MM Historical Romance. It's my first attempt at Historical Romance and I have fallen in love with the genre through Murdo and David's story. The story of these two spans over 3 books (and 2 novels) than continues to new couples. I hope it never ends!

We begin the romance between the junior advocate David Lauriston who came from a small insignificant village and Lord Murdo Balfour who always had his desires in his reach in an insignificant sexual encounter not thinking much of it, and not expecting to either see each other again or the sparks that would still fly when they do. 

David and Murdo seems VERY different in their views of the world around them and not only because they came from a different background. It mostly has to do with the ideals each lives by. While Murdo confesses he expects to get married and fake a family life (while having men on the side) David doesn't plan on getting married or having a family since he couldn't possibly consider betraying his marriage vows. He also tries his best NOT to have sexual encounters with men but sometimes his desires gets the best of him, which is exactly what happened with Murdo. 

The series contains 3 rather short novels (round 200 paged) and one very short novella in between. It's not meant to be read separately - you only get the HEA in the very end. In the first installment it's mostly about convenient sexual encounters yet it slowly progresses into friendship in the second installment and on the third special circumstance temporarily allows them to actually become true lovers. Yet it feels that it could only be temporary. How can them manage a relationship in a world that doesn't accept gay people. Some things have a higher price than others, and some prices are totally worth the outcome.

It was beautifully written, the romance was touching and realistic. I loved both David and Murdo, yet Murdo is my favorite of the two. As I'm not a romantic person per se, I really appreciated Murdo ACTED on his feeling with true loving intentions, he didn't seem overly romantic when you think about it, which is exactly what I enjoyed so much. He was true to his heart and wasn't ashamed of wanting and claiming, no matter the price, what he truly craved - David. 

Joanna has gifted us the perfect epilogue of the two in The Bequest. You can read it for free through sighing up to her newsletter.

Unnatural is a spin off novel of Iain Sinclair whom we've met in the previous installment finally finding his HEA with James Hart his childhood friend. It can be read as a stand alone but I don't advice is if you plan on reading Murdo and David's story later on (there's quite a spoiler in the one scene Iain meets Murdo and David).

 

Restored continues the series with a new couple - The Duke of Avesbury - Henry Asquith and Kit Redford. We've me Kit before as he is the owner of the "Redford" (a club for men of a certain persuasion). Kit used to be Henry's "kept boy" but when Henry's life takes a turn he leaves everything and everyone who isn't his immediate family to a remote estate only to return 18 years later and realize what he had promised Kit all those years ago was broken leaving Kit, a man he has come to love even if was forced to leave behind, to fend for himself. It took Kit time and much pain to find his footing again and make something of himself. Now so many years later when Kit finds out what truly happened from Henry's perspective he is understanding but it doesn't change the past and what happened to him due to Henry's carelessness in trusting the wrong man. They both have changed so much, yet they are still the same  - they might want something different from what they had before but they never stopped loving each other. This TRULY can be read as a standalone and I don't have enough words to compliment how absolutely amazing it was. A MUST READ.

 

Books:

1. Provoked (Published 23 July 2013) ★★★★½

1.5. Season's Pass (Free Download here) (Published 24 October 2014) ★★★★★ 

2. Beguiled (Published 24 December 2013)  ★★★★★

3. Enlightened (Published 6 May 2014)  ★★★★★
3.5  The Bequest - Murdo and David's Epilogue (Published 14 June 2020)  ★★★★★ 

4. Unnatural [Iain Sinclair & James Hart] (Published 24 November 2015) ★★★★★ 

5. Restored [Henry Asquith & Kit Redford] (Published 28 October 2020) ★★★★★