Review: Making History at Crofton Hall (Modern Crofton #2) by Rebecca Cohen

Crofton Hall is buzzing with anticipation for the filming of the Secret Histories TV special about a scandalous affair that has been hidden for over four hundred years.

The hall's new historian, Dara Callaghan, is drawn not just by the hall's rich history but to TV producer, Nathan Lorimer. Nathan is finally ready to start dating again, several years after the death of his husband. There's something about Dara, a quietly spoken Irishman, and the romance that surrounds Crofton Hall, that makes him want to take a chance.

Meanwhile, Ben Redbourn, 16th Earl of Crofton, is trying to persuade his boyfriend Ashley Niven that he'd like to don doublet and hose and play Sebastian to his Anthony. But Ashley's not having any of it... until someone else agrees to the take the part of the 1st Earl of Crofton's lover.

This is the second Modern Crofton novel, featuring Benjamin Redbourn, the 16th Earl of Crofton and descendant of Anthony Redbourn, 1st Earl of Crofton from my historical series, The Crofton Chronicles. While designed to be read as a standalone, events that lead to this novel follow chronologically from Saving Crofton Hall.

Trigger warnings: discussion of grief and dealing with bereavement.

I feel like I should begin this review with a disclaimer that I have read The Crofton Chronicles and Anthony and Sebastian hold a very special place in my heart. So with that, when I saw the author was writing a series on the modern Crofton’s I knew I had to read them.

In the first book, Saving Crofton Hall, we get the situation Benjamin Redbourn, 16th Earl of Crofton is in and how he will open Crofton Hall for public use so that his family can regain their financial loss. We meet Ashley as the events coordinator and get their fun romance as they turn a family estate into the premier location for weddings etc. But along the way to all of that, Ben and Ashley had found a box that contained some pretty interesting letters from Anthony Redbourn, the first Earl, to possibly his lover, an actor named Sebastian Hewell.

Now, as I said before I know the story of Anthony and Sebastian; how they met, the deceit they portrayed with Sebastian as his sister Bronwyn and their life together. I adored their story so much that when I went back and read the epilogue of Forever Hold His Peace, the last book in The Crofton Chronicles, I turned into a redheaded mess of emotions. But back to what’s happening now. Ben and Ashely find the box with the letters, they contact the needed people who could authenticate the letters, matching Anthony’s handwriting etc and this launches a television special of Secret Histories series.

So, that’s where Making History at Crofton Hall begins. We meet the hall's new historian, Dara Callaghan and TV producer, Nathan Lorimer. These two don’t have an instant love story but rather one of slow burn that takes time to get started. You see, Nathan is a widower and loved his husband deeply and part of that love is still with him so while he finds Dara attractive, he needs to take his time. It’s wonderful that our resident Irishman is so damn patient and his being so definitely pays off.

Now while this is Dara and Nathan’s romance, the love story of this series truly belongs to that of Crofton Hall and it’s history. The beginning of this book is loaded with everything about the hall and it’s previous earls focusing primarily on Anthony and Sebastian; including the excavation of the family crypt to see who is really buried with Anthony. So if you’re looking for insta love with this, don’t. I’m not saying there isn’t ample opportunity for the on page romance and intimacy, I’m just saying this series is more involved.

It was an interesting decision from the author to give this book four POV’s. Yes, I said four. We get Dara, Nathan and we get Ben and Ashley. While I like getting more of the previous couple, I think they stole the show more so than even Anthony and Sebastian. Their sex was hotter than Dara and Nathan’s and even Ashley’s jealousy won me over more than the cuddling of Dara and Nathan. I don’t know if it was a good decision to put SO MUCH of them in this book, but I am not the one making that decision.

Anyway, all of this rambling leads to one conclusion; I adored this book. I do think new readers can enjoy it and give them the intrigue and angst of the reveal about Anthony and Sebastian. For me, as someone who already knows their story, it’s fun to see how these new characters react to the possibility that an Earl of Shakespearean time loved another man so much, he would sacrifice everything to be with him.

A copy was provided in exchange for an honest review.