Reviewed by Heather C

TITLE: Beguiled

SERIES: Enlightenment Trilogy #2

AUTHOR: Joanna Chambers

PUBLISHER: Samhain

LENGTH: 234 pages

BLURB: A fleeting pleasure is the sweetest seduction…

Enlightenment, 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.

Product Warnings
Contains a lowborn Scottish lawyer with no love for the aristocracy, but more than enough passion for this highborn lord. Political intrigue, kilts, explicit m/m trysts, and men who epitomize “knight in shining armor”.

REVIEW:

How many of you were screaming about the ending of Provoked??? Well, if you weren’t screaming, then that means you probably didn’t read it…and you didn’t read because you either hadn’t realized how good it was, or you already knew that it ended with neither a HEA nor a HFN and were too afraid to be left hanging. I, honestly, LOVED Provoked, even gave it an easy 5 stars. But I am happy to say that I LOVED Beguiled EVEN MORE!!

I’ve been fretting about what to write in this review for several weeks now and, honestly, I’m not any closer to figuring out what to say since I finished reading the book. It’s just THAT freakin’ good! So, please forgive me in advance for any random babble.

Its two years later, and David Lauriston has been moving up in the world: he has a fancier bachelor pad, a succeeding career with lots of room for growth, and salacious memories of his illicit couplings with the one and only Lord Murdo Balfour. The King is in town for a visit, and Murdo decides its the perfect excuse to seduce David…again… Is it possible for them to actually have a future together?

What makes this 5 star rating BIGGER than the one for Provoked:

♥ Romance, Romance, Romance…this book has it times 10! Oh goodness, Murdo and David make my heart flutter, among other things.

♥ Intense chemistry…Yep, these guys still have it! While it isn’t exactly “kinky”, it is quite sufficiently “naughty”

♥ There is a kilt…then there is a powerful discussion about the meaning and pride behind wearing a kilt. Hmm, very thought provoking…but still sexy.

♥ More suspense…there is no real mystery this time, but the big conflict involves characters we already know and love from Provoked

♥ More character dimensions…I was biting my nails with worry for so many of the characters. It was like a knew them and ached for them. Not just David and Murdo, but other characters too, especially Elizabeth.

♥ More political statements realistic to the time period…damn, its so obvious this author knows what she is writing. So freakin’ realistic!

♥ The ending!…while its not a HEA, it is most certainly a HFN. It was something I totally DID NOT see happening.

This is the second book in the Enlightenment Trilogy…I want the conclusion now, dammit!

Recommended over and over times a thousand and one…

RATING:

BUY LINKS: Samhain