Review: Historical perfection
Rating: 5 out of 5
Date: 04 26, 2014
: In this story, Lord Benedict Yeats is a youngest son with a title but his true interest, his obsession, lies with antiquities.  He has spent years working with Hamer, a famous Egyptologist, and he is making a name for himself as an expert.  When he is back in Kent, England he is drawn to the other obsession in his life, the beautiful Evander St. John, Duke of Casterwell.  Benedict longs for him, dreams of him and sometimes gets tongue-tied and awkward around him.  Regardless, when the Duke issues an invitation to a house party that includes the inducement of cataloging the incredible antiques of the Duke’s collection, well, Benedict is a goner.The Duke is married to an amazingly beautiful, intelligent woman named Juliana and they have two children.  Juliana is not a shy, retiring violet – I liked her immensely.  I had a cringing moment when I realized Evander was married because cheating and affairs really aren’t my favorite reading.  I am glad I stuck with this story because Juliana rocks.  Juliana has a lover of her own and Evander and Juliana have an open sort of marriage.When Benedict is first faced with the Duke at the party, he can’t stop staring.  When he is shown the antiques by the Duke, he is jolted. And when the Duke kisses him in the antiquity hall, he is just floored.  This is what he’s been waiting for, what he’s wanted.  This is his first time, sex with Evander, and I loved his attitude after finally having this experience.“They had just committed an illegal act.  …Illegal or t, condemned by society or not, it was an act he intended to commit, over and over again, in the future.”  Good for you, Benedict.  Evander is good to him in bed, even as he is telling Benedicts, “Relax. This will be good, I promise you.  Better than good, wonderful.”  I couldn’t help thinking, how do you know this Evander?  Have you had a man take you?As Benedict and Evander face their first morning after together, Benedict is thoughtful and serious, while Evander puts on his Duke face and is somewhat of a jerk, making comments that Benedict wonders if it was supposed to “Make him feel foolishly provincial, overcautious?”  Ahh, Ben.  Evander is icy, cold and uninterested and Benedict can’t stand it.  He has to leave.  And at this point he is confronted by the lovely Juliana, who uses his own promise to keep him there. She’s clever, that woman.  However, it is this same cleverness, intelligence and just plain liking her that causes Benedict to realize no matter that Evander and Juliana each take lovers, it is against Benedict’s code of behavior to continue with Evander.  The fact that Evander continues to brush him off just strengthens this feeling.What Evander wants, Evander gets but this time he’s faced with someone strong.  Will Evander be able to put aside that cold, icy demeanor, face the demons of his past and find a way to get to Benedict?  I loved the story, even as Evander made mistakes.  When he goes to confront Ben, to demand to know what was said to Juliana, I realized – the Duke doesn’t know Ben at all, to even consider he would do anything to harm her.  Ridiculous!The private face of Juliana and Evander is very different, but they love each other. There are strong characters here who come across as people you’d want to know.  Juliana and Evander, fiercely protective and supportive of each other, you want them to be happy.  Benedict, as well, I wanted to smack some sense into Evander, then wanted them to talk, then wanted to hug him.  This is a book where nothing huge happens, no giant angsty turns, but characters following a maze working towards what they want most.It is certainly no secret that I am a huge fan of historical romance, particularly M/M historical romance.  That being said, it is difficult at times to make the story believable, mainly due to the relationship being illegal and so needing to remain completely hidden.  In Obsessions, I thought the way it was handled was perfect, believable and a lovely HEA.Hearts On Fire