Review: Two Men Working Hard to Get Past the Arguing in Exchange for Some Loving
Rating: 4 out of 5
Date: 01 2, 2014
From the opening pages, the setting for this story makes sense when paired with the characters, the politics and society as a whole: 1820 Scotland, Edinburgh to be precise, strongly under British rule, rebellion against taxes and many other things bringing conflict that needles itself into everything.This ‘everything’ includes our two main men, David Lauriston and Murdo Balfour. David is an advocate – a lawyer – and is a sympathetic one, at that. He’s a caring man unable to keep from wanting to help another man when he’s been wrong persecuted and prosecuted. He’s a bit of an idealist (at least according to Balfour, and we’ll get to him, I promise), a bit unfair to himself and definitely a determined fellow, at least professionally speaking. This story is told from his point of view and it’s an excellent choice. His voice is strong.Now, Balfour… Murdo Balfour. Yep, I like him. Most of all because he likes David so much, and so easily. Murdo is intelligent and he’s quiet unapologetic and unafraid to say what he wants, which is namely David. I hesitate to say more because David (well, Ms Chambers) does such a wonderful job in giving us insight, a taste, a full meal of a description of Murdo whenever they encounter each other.Both of these men are confident in their own ways. This is a simple and yet delicious equation: differences + contradictions X confidence = a simmering pot of hotness heading for an unavoidable explosion. Yeah, yeah, so many ways to take that and you can enjoy them all.Despite the times and the illegality of being gay, David doesn’t torment himself over the fact that he is or that he even has his desires. He doesn’t deny it or try to fool himself into thinking he can fight who he is. What he struggles with is how to allow it to be a part of his life. His strength of character is a constant companion to his decision-making. Balfour has the type of personality that can, not necessarily open the door for David as he can do that for himself, show David that this is a life that can be achieved. I don’t know if anyone like Balfour existed in 1820’s Edinburgh, but given the diversity of this loony human race, maybe he did. He would have been a challenging, safe and strong place to be for a man like David to be, and vice versa.Ms Chambers’ writing allows the creation of this world and these characters to easily find a place inside my mind. I can see the wardrobes and the puffs of cold breath. I can hear the exhaustion of one and the smirking lips of another. The style strides comfortably, no matter the action or emotion. Not all writers can do both equally well but she can and does.There is a turning point for David and Balfour. It’s an event in which they both feel compelled to participate lest someone, more than one someone, comes to harm. Neither of them directly addresses this but I felt it, that slight change, a shift in their attitudes towards each other through the dialogue and reactions. Couple this with a very intense situation, in which I had no idea which way things were going to go, and you’ve got me as a reader. The connection is made.Things aren’t easy between David and Balfour, not in the beginning and definitely not now. They both feel something, strongly, and act upon it, but it always seems to complicate things. They’re complicated. That’s David and Balfour in a nutshell if I had to choose one. Whether they’re together or apart, all throughout the story, I can feel that undercurrent of complexity and tension. I will tell you that there is sex in this book but not a lot, which may frustrate some readers. Believe me when I tell you that when it does happen, it's incredibly hot. And just as importantly, when it's not happening, that tension is just as palpable and I loved it.Exciting.Sexy.Gut-wrenching.Sad.Quiet.Shameful.Heartfelt.Honest.Hopeful? A question that remains unanswered at the end of this story.Be ready to begin reading the next installment of this series, Beguiled, once you have breathed the last word of this one. Don’t say you weren’t given fair warning. ;)This one is 4.5 stars for me.Check out the review at Prism Book Alliance