I didn't know I missed Murdo and David so much until I started reading this wonderful epilogue. This series was one of my first attempts at Historical Romance and it's been so wonderful I can only thank Joanna for introducing me to this sub-genre with these two. Getting this short novella truly made me BELIEVE they couldn't have had a better Happily Ever After. It's obvious in Murdo's words when David asks him if he misses what he left behind to live with him in the country: "I have not missed London for a single moment. But I would miss it with my whole heart if you were here and I was not. You are my home. My heart is wherever you are".
Life is great now for David and Murdo so when a letter comes from Murdo's father it's no wonder Murdo is reluctant to open it and spill his father's venom all over the place.. Yet when Murdo realizes his father is dead he doesn't know what to think or feel and David doesn't know how to support him when Murdo himself is so unsure. Especially about going to London to reclaim an item his father has left for him. It's just a wooden box. But what it contains is nothing Murdo would have expected.
I don't want to say more except my heart broke and was mended again for Murdo. As he states more than once, David is such a gift for him. How he loves him and cares for him. Understands him and waits patiently for him when he is unable to express himself. David on his part is also blessed to have Murdo who loves him unconditionally, who cares for him and does his best to make him happy. Reading this novella I feel like their relationship, their love and devotion, is something to aspire for. It's the ideal, the exact thing I believe most of us dream about when we think about what it means to be loved and cherished.
Thank you Joanna for this beautiful heartfelt epilogue I didn't even know I needed it, but somehow you knew I (and so many others) did and not surprisingly you more than just delivered. My heart is full.
This novella is EVERYTHING. But it would be nothing without the full story so PLEASE start from the beginning and fall in love with Murdo and David from the first installment "Provoked". Just be advised that their HEA takes time. They only get there in the final installment.
You can get this epilogue through subscribing to Joanna's newsletter, so if for some unknown reason you have read the Enlightenment series but haven't subscribed yet it's the prefect time to remedy this error ;) (Link through the blue button bellow)
 | Rating: ★★★★★ | Free Read | 60 pages | Read on: 18-19 June 2020 |  |  |
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.
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).
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.
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) ★★★★★
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) ★★★★★
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