ENLIGHTENED BY JOANNA CHAMBERS

rating
(Enlightenment, #3)
HISTORICAL M/M ROMANCE


Five months ago, David Lauriston was badly hurt helping his friend Elizabeth escape her violent husband. Since then, David has been living with his lover, Lord Murdo Balfour, while he recuperates.

Despite the pain of his injuries, David’s time with Murdo has been the happiest of his life. The only things that trouble him are Murdo’s occasional bouts of preoccupation, and the fact that one day soon, David will have to return to his legal practice in Edinburgh.

That day comes too soon when David’s friend and mentor takes to his deathbed, and David finds himself agreeing to take on a private mission in London. Murdo is at his side in the journey, but a shocking revelation by Murdo’s ruthless father leaves David questioning everything they’ve shared.

As tensions mount and the stakes grow higher, David and Murdo are forced to ask themselves how far they’re prepared to go—and how much they’re prepared to give up— to stay together. And whether there’s any chance of lasting happiness for men like them.



The focus of this series started being more on the sweet, emotional angle starting with the first book. The first delivered angst, drama, and emotional train wrecks impossible to look away from. The second jumped in time and showed developed characters who did their growing off page, coming together for a slower paced, calmer time. The third continues a few months where the second left off, David still injured yet recovering, living with Murdo who is his caretaker for the time being. The two are reluctant to part as their love has continued to bloom, and there is still that issue with solving Elizabeth's crisis.

Both characters are likeable. David has that small smidge of being unsure, which just makes him endearing. Murdo always rocked in his confidence and assurance, so now that he reveals some insecurities and hesitations, it's even more potent. Elizabeth will always be a likeable character - I'm glad the author didn't drop her from the first book and continues to wrap up her story here too. Such a sad moment with the father, who not only has David grown close to, but I did as well. I do wish he could continue on in their lives.

As with the second book, steam is not too hot but the moments are sweet and awe-inducing instead. The heart does flutter with emotion in tune to writer's talent.

Overall it was a worthy ending to the trilogy. We get happy endings, emotional moments, a little bit of hotness, devotion that works and something we all wish for. This book doesn't dig into the lure of new relationships with their excitements and their controversies; instead it take a couple that has now established routine together, comfort levels, and the magic of being together for awhile and being comfortable in their lives with each other.

 
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