Enlightened

Enlightenment, Book 3

By: Joanna Chambers

Narrated by: Hamish Mckinlay

Length: 6 hrs and 24 mins

Publisher's summary

This is a second edition of a book previously published by Samhain Publishing.

David Lauriston has been recuperating at Lord Murdo Balfour’s Laverock estate for the last five months. At Laverock, he has regained his health and confidence and has found - with Murdo - more happiness and contentment than he has never known before.

David is all too aware that some day soon he will have to leave Laverock - and Murdo - and return to his legal practice in Edinburgh, just as Murdo will have to return to his life in London. But when David’s mentor, Patrick Chalmers, asks David to return to Edinburgh to visit him on his deathbed, it seems that day has come sooner than either David or Murdo would have wished.

Chalmers begs David to undertake one last piece of business for him: to secure the future of Chalmers’s daughter Elizabeth. But to carry out his old mentor’s wishes, David must travel to London, with Murdo.

No sooner have the two men arrived in the capital than they encounter Murdo’s ruthlessly manipulative father, who reveals a shocking secret that rocks David to his foundations. What’s more, when David discovers Elizabeth is facing far greater danger than even her father feared, he is determined to help her, no matter the cost to his own safety.

As the stakes rise, it is Murdo who must choose what he is prepared to sacrifice to keep David at his side, and ask whether there is any possibility of lasting happiness for men like them.

©2014, 2017 Joanna Chambers (P)2017 Joanna Chambers

sigh a happy sigh

I couldn’t be happier for David and Murdo. Finally their story gives me a satisfied smile. Don't get me wrong- there's plenty to Provoke a smile in the previous 2 novels but Enlightenment (swoon) is all our wishes for Murdo and David come true!

in the confines of polite society and the reality of the times, David and Murdo's future looked so bleak. Chambers is a true magician crafting a trick that not only fixes their dilemmas but also helps out a dear friend. All the warm fuzzies go to Murdo on this feat! He successfully saved the day, swept the guy off his feet, and gave them their happily ever after.

I am glowing with joy and you will too!

Entertaining

Note: Review is for all three books in the series.
I totally enjoyed this trilogy. The couple are equal points hot, frustrating and engaging. Historical facts seemed right in. Narrator was perfect.

I was given these audiobooks in exchange for honest reviews.

Outstanding trilogy!!!

As others gave said you have to read all three for the whole story, buts it's so, very worth it!

Perfect

I have listened to a lot of books. But this trio of books were the best. I’m sorry there isn’t another in the series. I love the characters and the performance. I highly recommend this series. I look forward to listening to other books by this author.

The ending I was hoping for! This book awed me!!!

I was so happy to finally get to the last book in this fantastic series, and if the first two blew me away this one was so good I am literally beyond words now.
I absolutely, whole heartedly LOVE these books and this story, for ANY historical Romance lovers this is the perfect series!!!

Hamish Mckinlay's narration is perfection! There could not have been a better narrator- not only for his mastery of accents and dialects but the depth of emotion he poured into every syllable. I distinctly remember a scene were Murdo is shouting at an innkeeper, most narrators would add anger to their voice but not really yell the lines. He really brought Murdo's aristocratic supremacy and his anger and yelled those lines in such a real way- and yet not painful to listen to for the audio reader. In other parts of the story he whispers softly lines of endearment and passion that are just heart clenching and gut wrenchingly good. It would have been a crime to give this series to any other narrator and I would gladly isten to ANY book narrated by him.

We first meet David and Murdo about three years before the events of this book, and the path they shared together since then was as bumpy as the road to Laverock estate, Murdo's countryside home where David has been recuperating from the leg injury he suffered in the end of the second book while helping Elizabeth escape her abusive husband.

In the following months they have been living in a bubble, isolated, but free to express their feeling for each other in the safety of Murdo's wealth and the privacy of their rooms in Laverock. Now that David has healed enough they must face the impending end of their romance, each going back to former obligations and lives. The struggles they face are so real, time accurate and identifiable this story really is unlike any other Historical Romance I read before (and I have read many, it's one of my favorite genres). I love the time it takes them to fall in love, which reflects the time period very well to me and also their personalities. Same sex relationships, while probably widely conducted in secret, were not a feasible thing in the 19th century. The slow build of it, the sacrifices they each make for the other and the lengths they go for Elizabeth's sake are staggering. I also loved the unfolding of Murdo's past, his fragility beneath the aristocratic façade and the trust he puts in David to understand and respect him.

Elizabeth's story is a wonderful connective thread throughout all three books, confronting David with his life choices and Murdo with his aspirations for the future. The thrilling unfolding of the story and the danger they all face to help her is interesting, suspenseful and frustratingly painful to read. It really emphasizes the difference between the 1800's and our life today while still being relatable (as many women still face domestic violence and go unnoticed in our time as well). The limitations of the time period they live in and the details of that life is accurately written, a must in any good Historical in my view. I liked the thoughtful way Joanna Chambers constructed the ending, making it believable and securing Elizabeth's safety while still sticking to the time period. I love each character in the books, how they come to play and add depth to the love David and Murdo share. This is a story of who one can overcome cultural boundaries and hindrances to have the life one chooses. It's a story of love worth experiencing and protecting, acceptance and friendship.

This is an amazing love story you do not want to miss!!!

The Excellence continues

This time I want to acknowledge Hamish Mckinlay. This dude can read the Oxford dictionary and I would be mesmerized. His narration makes me blush, smile and look around to see if anyone else is listening in on those fabulously intimate moments that are part of any relationship. He is just wonderful.
I am also enjoying the exquisite writing that immerses me in this series. I started with the kindle added the audio version and at this point i'm just going to get the actual book.
Thank you so much Hamish and Joanna. You are both so talented

Excellent narrator

Detailed story with unexpected twists - narrator does a wonderful job with a wide variety of voices

Conclusion of a beautiful story

This is a brilliant story. It began with Provoked, continued with Beguiled, and concludes here with Enlightened. All three must be enjoyed in order for the full impact to be felt. This one answers the questions of Elizabeth's well-being, David's healing, and Murdo's desires for the future.
David visits Chalmers, who is at death's door, and learns more about his mentor. He also learns of a new danger aimed at the man's daughter, Elizabeth. Upon visiting Elizabeth and Euan, he finds that his friends have gone through changes, as well. Murdo opens up to David about his traumatic past; then his conniving father shows up, revealing a secret Murdo has kept from David.
This final installment is full of action and subterfuge, but it also contains more raw instances of love than the other two books combined. My heart hurt for different characters throughout the story. When Murdo and David finally stop hiding their thoughts and feelings from each other, and lay themselves bare, it brings the listener to tears.
The author does an amazingly well thought out job of neatly and satisfyingly wrapping up every loose end. The series is just perfect. The narrator does nothing but enhance the wonderful story, with a top notch performance. I will happily look for more works from both this author and narrator.

wonderful story

i loved all three of these books....the narrator was amazing....he brought these characters to life....ive read these 3 books 4 times....i want her to write more!!!!

Perfection!

And this is how you write a trilogy!

The plotting was amazing, the way in which the threads come together here is simply gorgeous, and the solution, when it finally comes, is no magical: it's painful, it comes to a great cost, but it's perfect.

There was nothing that felt forced or farfetched, the story flowed seamlessly and the characters' journey was difficult, yes, but it was a necessary one.

I can say that this trilogy as a whole is one of the best historical romances I have ever read. And yes, it is better if you do as I did: one book after the other, no stops, just... keep reading (or listening)

And if you are going to listen to them, then you have the extra gift of Hamish McKinlay's fabulous narration.