Reviewed by Sadonna
TITLE: An Affair for Aumont 
SERIES: The Lords of Bucknall Club
AUTHORS: J.A. Rock and Lisa Henry
PUBLISHER: Self-published
LENGTH: 248 pages
RELEASE DATE: March 22, 2022
BLURB:
All he wants is the love he lost.
Four years ago, Louis-Charles Aumont, the Marquis de Montespan, chose duty over the man he loved. And then the man he loved chose death in service to England. Now, after finally cutting ties with his king, Aumont is living in a slum in Seven Dials–and intending to die there too. But when Bow Street Runner George Darling shows up at his door with a strange proposition, Aumont is intrigued by the prospect of something–anything–that might make him feel alive again. Or at least provide the funds he needs to drink himself to death.
All he wants is the love he couldn’t have.
George Darling joined the Bow Street officers out of a belief in order. He accepts no bribes, indulges in no vices, and tries very hard not to dream above his station. If only Lord Christmas Gale hadn’t put that last one to such a test. Now that turning his thoughts from Lord Christmas only lands them instead on the handsome Frenchman with whom he recently crossed paths, Darling is more determined than ever to keep his head down and focus on his duty–until a knock on his door sends his life into disarray. Teddy Honeyfield, a former companion of Lord Christmas’s, is in need of a temporary bodyguard. Darling would never pass as the sort of gentleman Teddy requires…but he knows someone who might.
Neither wants to take a chance on a love that can never be.
When Aumont and Darling join forces to help Teddy, they’re not expecting to risk their hearts as well as their lives. Darling’s striking looks remind Aumont quite painfully of the man he’s lost, and Aumont’s title reminds Darling he has no right to desire a nobleman. But the rising threat soon drives them to flee with Teddy to the country–a journey that puts them face-to-face with their pasts while showing them a chance for happiness is within reach, if only they’re courageous enough to grab it.
An Affair for Aumont is the fifth book in The Lords of Bucknall Club series, where the Regency meets m/m romance. The Lords of Bucknall Club books can be read as standalones but are best enjoyed in order.
REVIEW:
Note: I highly recommend reading these books in order, but I think to fully enjoy this one, reading at least A Sanctuary for Soulden and A Case for Christmas greatly enhance the enjoyment of this one. It also contains many spoilers for the previous books 🙂
Aumont is deep in his depression and self-loathing, believing himself to be responsible for the death of his lover years before after Aumont turned down his marriage proposal for reasons he now knows to be hollow. His extreme guilt and pain have led him to the end of his rope so to speak but he laments that he is just too much of a coward to just jump off a bridge. He had hoped that after he saved his lover’s brother by killing a would be murderer and Bonapartist spy that he would go to the gallows. But no, he is just free to drink himself to death as this seems to be the path he has chosen.
Darling is a country boy, but he did not want to work in the family business – a butcher shop – so he left for London. He wants to make the world a better place, so he’s joined the Bow Street Runners (officers) hoping to set things to rights. But he’s discovered along the way that surprise surprise, there are really two sets of laws. One for those with money and influence and position and something else entirely for those without. This is messing with his head a bit. He has also suffered from an unrequited crush on Christmas Gale who is an “investigator” or some renown. Even though Darling realizes their class difference would never permit any sort of real relationship, he regrets the way he has behaved with Gale in the past.
When Gale sends one Teddy Honeyfield, a former companion, to Darling for help in exposing whoever it is that seems to be stalking him and frightening him, Gale has suggested that Aumond would be the perfect companion for Teddy’s ruse as he is known to the Lords of Bucknall and of course he used to be a spy! Aumont is deep in his cups, but somehow he makes the decision to help and shows up at the appointed time. Darling is worried about his drinking but he has had some experience in this area and he doesn’t look down on Aumont for it – he just wants to help him stop. Aumont isn’t exactly sure he wants to stop though.
After a couple of tries to flush out the perpetrator at the club, a salon and the races, there is a bit of a kerfuffle, but it seems they are no closer to figuring out who is sending the increasingly threatening notes to Teddy. Aumont is back to drinking and ends up in a fight where he’s not sure if he’s hoping for death or not. It’s Darling to the rescue and then things take a dire turn when things get violent for Teddy. It’s determined they must leave at once and regroup in order for Aumont to recover and Teddy to be safe.
While away visiting the countryside with Darling’s family things move to a different stage with Aumont and Darling. Darling has never been kissed and he’s very much attract to Aumont. But his personal morals will not allow him to go any further. He also needs to understand Aumont’s past and surprisingly Aumont finds he’s ready to share that with Darling even though it pains him greatly. This interlude provides time for both gentlemen to clear the air and realize that something has indeed shifted between them. While they are away, they come up with a plan to unmask Teddy’s stalker once and for all.
Up their return to London, the plan is quickly put in place to lure the culprit and persuade him to leave Teddy alone. All the gentlemen from the previous stories are part of the plan – with both hilarious and dire consequences. At the end of the day, Aumont has vowed to both keep Teddy safe and do the right thing by Darling.
This is my favorite of the series so far! Yes, it is a bit darker than the previous books in some ways, but I found both Aumont and Darling to be such compelling characters. Their growth and acceptance of each other as they grow closer was a sometimes painful journey for them. I loved the way they began teasing each other a little as they let their guards sown. Aumont was really fighting his demons and Darling just wants the world to be a happier place – while acknowledging the realities of the world. I was so happy when Aumont finally admitted his feelings for Darling. He’d spent so long living in the past and beating himself up over another’s decisions. Darling was definitely the more pragmatic of the two and it took him a while to get Aumont to see himself and his past and his decisions through a different lens. I was most happy when they were able to pull it all together and realize that what would make THEM happiest was each other 🙂 Highly recommended. I can’t wait for the next book.
RATING: 
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