London Legal, Book 1
Arthur Barrington knows exactly what he wants. A practical man. Someone who values discretion. Commitment. In other words, someone like himself. His old friend, Leopold Thornton, an overindulged son of a wealthy viscount with a reputation for vice and debauchery, couldn’t be less of a good candidate.
Yet when Leopold extends an invitation to his country estate, Arthur agrees. Perhaps a holiday with the sinfully beautiful man will help him get over a recent breakup. Then he can return to his thriving London law practice and resume his quiet life.
Ten years ago, Leopold learned the hard way that patience doesn’t always have its rewards. Now that he has Arthur all to himself, he isn’t going to let a second opportunity pass him by. And he certainly isn’t above using pleasure to tempt Arthur into his bed.
Leopold has only a few days to open Arthur’s eyes to the possibility that he’s the man Arthur is looking for. That his love is genuine—and he’s worthy of Arthur’s heart.
Warning: Includes a gorgeous bad boy who’s been in love with a conservative solicitor for a decade. Indecent acts in a forest between two hot men. Angst. More explicit sex. And expectations turned upside down.
This is a previously published work. This second edition has been edited with minor changes. For readers who purchased the original edition, this second edition is not substantially different.
When you assume you make an ass out of you and me.
Not me! These two knuckleheads. They are woefully lacking in the communication skills department, but they make up for it in the sex department!
I'm not going to mince words I think this novella is confused about what it's supposed to be. How am I to rate a historical novella that's mostly sex with an outlandish HEA? The sex is hot and bountiful with rimming, felching, buttsex, in the woods... well, you get it. It happens often and it's pretty spine tingling, but the relationship development is lazy.
Arthur and Leopold met about a decade ago when they were 19. Evidently, Leopold fancied Arthur but was too shy? to approach him and missed his window. The implication put forth is that he spiraled into binge drinking and becoming a regular at all the local brothels because of said missed opportunity. That's a pretty big albatross to hang around someone's neck-'everything would've been bliss if you'd chosen me, but since you didn't I stayed foxed, spent all my free time at every gambling hell from London to Nottingham and when I wasn't there I was being buggered by every whore in the greater London area all in an effort to forget you, so if you leave... No pressure or anything.'
Leopold is ready to toss that torch he's been carrying for Arthur into the Thames and get his man! He's heard through the grapevine that Arthur's boyfriend has dumped him. So he invites him to his country estate for a holiday. And he literally pounces on him the moment he arrives. I'm surprised there weren't some watersports happening. Poor guy didn't even get a chance to use the loo!
They have wild, mind-blowing sex for a couple days with a pheasant hunt thrown in for good measure then there is a little angst driven melodrama which somehow rounds the block to arriving at an HEA?I could go into all the reasons why I find this difficult to swallow, but the bottom line is I find this difficult to swallow.
I would've been happy with a cravat tied to the door to keep out the staff for "x" number of days, weeks, months while they go to town on each other. There is nothing wrong with stroke fic. No one expects fleshed out characters or relationship development, but you throw down an HEA and it's not OTT and meant to be super cheesy? I'm supposed to believe that recently dumped Arthur declares his forever love for a guy he's had sex with a handful of times after a couple days? My suspend reality rubber band laughed at me then smacked me in the face.
This is what's known as The Sex Fog when the sex is so good you mistake it for love. The problem is I'm not in The Sex Fog. So I give this dudes 6 months. Tops. Before they realize they have zippidy do da in common.
Ordinarily, I enjoy Ava March and her style. She never skimps on the hotness, but everything else is bland except the cover which is scrumptious. There wasn't enough plot or historical references to sink my teeth into, so how to rate it? 2 hearts? 3 hearts? Confusing-just-should've-gone-for-stroke-fic hearts? Too bad we don't have a jpeg for that last one, so I guess I'll split the difference?
If you want a hot, quick historical read this'll do. Maybe just let it flow over you though and not overthink it.
A review copy was provided in exchange for an honest review.
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