Joanna Chambers - Unnatural

Captain Iain Sinclair. Perfect son, perfect soldier, hero of Waterloo. A man living a lie. The only person who really knows him is his childhood friend, scientist James Hart. But they ve been estranged since Iain brutally destroyed their friendship following a passionate encounter.
Iain is poised to leave the King s service to become an undercover agent in India. Before he leaves his old life behind, he s determined to reconcile with James. An invitation to a country house party from James s sister provides the perfect opportunity to pin the man down.
James has loved Iain all his life, but his years of accepting crumbs from Iain s table are over. Forgiving Iain is one thing restoring their friendship is quite another.
In the face of James s determined resistance, Iain is forced to confront his reasons for mending the wounds between them. And accept the possibility that James holds the key to his heart s desire if only he has the courage to reach for it.

Comment: This book is a sequel to the wonderfully written Enlightenment series by Joanna Chambers, which I absolutely loved! This book features Iain, a secondary character friend of Murdo and how he finally decides to admit his tastes and feelings for James, a friend from his youth but who grew to be someone he was always been in love with.

Iain is a captain who decides to finish his commission with the Navy and is thinking about going to India. His father knew about his preferences and didn't approve and he doesn't want to cause problems to his family so he decides to go away, but before that he wants to say goodbye and accepts one invitation to return home hoping to see James, his childhood friend and someone with whom he had bad words the last time they saw each other. Iain wants closure but will James forgive him and accept their friendship again?

I liked the idea of this book, I'm not such a big fan of the friends to lovers trope but considering Iain and James weren't friendly anymore, I had hopes and wanted to see them establish a romantic relationship now. Sadly, not only did we have all the scenes of their friendship in front of us and how things were before and after they got more intimate but because they were happy once and now had to become again, I was stuck with a lovers reunited plot along the way, which is probably the trope I dislike the most.

I knew they were at odds and it would be possible we could have glimpses or conversations about their estrangement but things went one step further: this book is a continuous going back and forth in time to when they were innocent children until today where they admit they love each other.

I'm afraid I found this boring and uninteresting!

Yes, it's important to have an idea of why things changed but couldn't we just know that? Did we had to go through all the scenes and details?

One part showing the past, one the now, then again the past, then the now, we are constantly jumping from year to year and we never get a full notion on either. I kind of understand the tactic but to me this isn't the best way to narrate a story because we never focus on what really matters and the thing I would say should be center stage, meaning their relationship right now, feels less important and almost like secondary notion.

Iain is an interesting character as is James but seeing them change through the years isn't as appealing as that. Why are they feeling like that now? Why should their choices matter? I think the idea gets lost and their reunion lacks impact.

I understand Iain's motivations to want to hide his true wishes and why he feels he has to protect James. I also get why James is more reckless and not afraid to say his mind at a time where his dreams were in reach but then Iain breaks his heart. I get the idea but all the things we have from their life before they went different ways only seems to be there to highlight one thing and not because it truly matters for the story. And in all the past scenes we got why each one was as special as they claimed, except for proximity and attraction.

The end was rushed, Iain conveniently realized something in the end of the book when it would have been obvious all the time (no, not his love for James) but then the story had already lost its impact to me.

I liked all the previous books by the author I've read, I liked seeing the characters from the trilogy that started this spin off, but overall, the narrative structure disappointed me and the way things are told didn't win me over. 

Grade: 5/10

Joanna Chambers - Enlightenment series

Book 1:

Lowborn David Lauriston lacks the family connections needed to rise in Edinburgh’s privileged legal world. Worse, his latest case—defending weavers accused of treason—has brought him under suspicion of harbouring radical sympathies.

Troubled by his sexuality, tormented by memories of a man he once platonically loved, David lives a largely celibate life—until a rare sexual encounter with a compelling stranger turns his world on its head.
Cynical and worldly, Lord Murdo Balfour is more at home in hedonistic London than dingy, repressed Edinburgh. Unlike David, he intends to eventually marry while continuing to enjoy the company of men whenever he pleases. Yet sex with David is different. It’s personal, intimate, and instead of extinguishing his desire, it only leaves him hungry for more.
As David’s search for the man who betrayed the weavers deepens, he begins to suspect that his mysterious lover has more sinister reasons for his presence in Edinburgh. The truth could leave his heart broken…and more necks stretching on the gallows.

Book 2:
David Lauriston couldn’t be less interested in King George IV’s first visit to Edinburgh. But with Faculty of Advocates members required to put on a minimal show of patriotism, David makes an appointment with his tailor for a new set of clothes—only to run into a man he hasn’t seen for two long years.
Lord Murdo Balfour.
Much has changed since their bitter parting, except their stormy attraction. And when Murdo suggests they enjoy each other’s company during his stay, David finds himself agreeing. After all, it’s only a temporary tryst.
Amidst the pomp and ceremony of the King’s visit, Murdo’s seduction is more powerful than David ever imagined possible. But when other figures from David’s past show up, he is drawn into a chain of events beyond his control. Where his determination to help a friend will break his body, threaten his career, and put at risk the fragile tenderness he’s found in Murdo’s arms.

Book 3:

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.


Comment: I've had the first book of this trilogy to read for a while now and this month decided I had to read it. I was so glad I started it because it was an amazing read. I am familiar with the author's writing style but I wasn't prepared to love the first book as much. I would grade it an 8 in my personal scale mostly because the end is a bit of a HFN and doesn't leave things solved between the main characters. The story is rich and well developed and to my wonderful surprise, not focused on how many sex scenes there could be and was more concerned about their relationship. All these things we could see through little scenes and conversations throughout the book. There's sexual tension and chemistry which I think was really well done.

There's a main plot which is the base of each installment. In the first book David defends some radicals who want more rights to everyone and we see how devoted and honest and professional he is. 
In the second book David tries to help an old friend from an awful marriage and in the third story David and Murdo face the consequences of being together. But calm down, everything is don in such a beautiful and structured way, one can't help but accept and understand why everything happens that way.

The two characters, David and Murdo meet by chance in the first book, bt each one leaves a mark on the other and when they meet again, it's impossible to hide the feelings that have started to develop between them As there's time passing between each story, we also have the idea nothing happes in a rushed way and is actually more than awaited and hoped for.
David is an idealist and doesn't compromise his beliefs and honesty for anything, even the possibility of loneliness and love. Murdo is the opposite, he's cynical and knows he's superior, but the wonderul thing about this trilogy is this is a romance, so we see the two guys change a bit who they think they should be in order to follow love. David remains the same but he finally accepts he can still be happy even if everyhing around him tells him he shouldn't. And Murdo embraces David and love and the idea that nothing else matters if you have that special person to be with you.

I really loved the romance, all the aspects of it, loved the pace of the story, which allowed me to dream with them and to follow their small steps towards love, it's really beautiful and amazingly romantic!!
Of course nothing happens fro free and to achieve the HEA we hope for during the books, there's some sacrifice to be done which made me cry a tear but honestly, it' nothing dangerous or definitive and it's just the way things were at the time. I was quite happy with the way the story ended in book 3.

I can't praise these books enough. This isn't a perfect 10 only because in the first book things were a still doubtful and the way it ended seemed a bit cold...but I couldn't wait to see what happened and jumped to the others one after the other. This trilogy is really one of the best things I've read this year and I hope anyone who likes the genre would give it a chance to see if this devotion I'm feeling for the characters and their story is contagious! I loved this and after finishing the three books I thought about it for a long time...this is so wonderful and beautiful and deeply romantic I can't even make an informative or polished comment, it's all about how much this is amazing and how much I loved it and you all should read if you want!

I loved this, I can't say it enough. So many wonderful scenes in the stories, wonderful moments caught in a page, it's a wonderful romance, really beautiful. 
My favorite scene? In a carriage, Murdo and David are sitting together and Murdo is nursing David's leg after an accident that left him hurt. Murdo is rubbing David's leg and David tells him his leg is ugly...after a moment, Murdo replies: "There's nothing about you that is ugly"...arghhhh oh my God, come on, go read these books!!!!
It's so great when you find something that just melts and energizes you at the same time!
Grade: 9/10

Joanna Chambers - The Lady's Secret

London, 1810
Former actress Georgiana Knight always believed she and her brother were illegitimate–until they learn their parents were married, making them heirs to a great estate. To prove their claim, Georgy needs to find evidence of their union by infiltrating a ton house party as valet to Lord Nathaniel Harland . Though masquerading as a boy is a challenge, it pales in comparison to sharing such intimate quarters with the handsome, beguiling nobleman.
Nathan is also unsettled by Georgy’s presence. First intrigued by his unusual valet, he’s even more captivated when he discovers Georgy’s charade. The desire the marriage-shy earl feels for his enigmatic employee has him hoping for much more than a master-servant relationship…
But will Nathan still want Georgy when he learns who she truly is? Or will their future be destroyed by someone who would do anything to prevent Georgy from uncovering the truth?

Comment: This was the first book I've read in 2012. I heard about this book in Hilcia's blog and the blurb seemed so interesting that I got curious. When I saw her review I was convinced I wanted to try it.
For an amazing review you should check Hilcia's post, but my comment is the following: I liked it a lot, I had so much fun reading it and it grabed immediatly because time would go by and I wanted to keep reading. It really was annoying when I had to pause the reading for some reason.
I liked the writing style a lot and especially the pace, nothing seemd rushed or boring, it had the perfect balance.
Both main characters were convincing and their feelings touched me and I was hoping for them to get their HEA. The way this happend also made me happy, I don't think the author has done anything sloppy, perhaps it's the publisher's work there or whomever, but all the pieces fit together.

The other characters offered interesting interactions, and I was curious about them too, it felt they weren't there just to act as co-stars, it was truly important or them to exist, I liked having the feeling that the story had this purpose as well.
The storyline was interesting to follow and didn't seem too much. It was such fun to see Georgy trying to be invisible and then Nathan taking notice of her, I liked the idea a lot.
This is the author's first published book, I hope she can produce more and as good or better than this one.