Eighteen years ago, Henry Asquith, Duke of Avesbury had to leave his kept lover, Kit Redford, in order to devote himself to raising his young family. Now, a lifetime later, his children are moving on and for the first time in years, Henry is alone.
During a rare visit to London, Henry unexpectedly happens upon an old friend of Kit’s and learns that Kit did not receive the financial pay off he was entitled to when Henry left him. Instead Kit was thrown out of his home and left destitute. Horrified, Henry begs Kit to see him and allow Henry to compensate him. But Kit, who now owns a discreet club for gentlemen of a certain persuasion, neither needs nor wants Henry’s money.
“Perhaps you should earn the money you owe me the way I had to earn it? On your knees, and on your back, taking my cock like a whore.”
Kit thought he had put his old hurts and grievances about Henry behind him, but when he sees Henry again, he discovers that, not only is the old pain still there, so is the fierce attraction that once burned between them. When, in a moment of fury, Kit demands a scandalous form of penance from Henry, no one is more surprised than Kit when Henry agrees to pay it.
As Kit and Henry spend more time together, they learn more about the men they have become, and about the secret feelings and desires they concealed from one another in the past.
Henry realises he wants to build a future with Kit but can he persuade his wary lover to trust him ever again? And can two men from such different worlds make a new life together?
During a rare visit to London, Henry unexpectedly happens upon an old friend of Kit’s and learns that Kit did not receive the financial pay off he was entitled to when Henry left him. Instead Kit was thrown out of his home and left destitute. Horrified, Henry begs Kit to see him and allow Henry to compensate him. But Kit, who now owns a discreet club for gentlemen of a certain persuasion, neither needs nor wants Henry’s money.
“Perhaps you should earn the money you owe me the way I had to earn it? On your knees, and on your back, taking my cock like a whore.”
Kit thought he had put his old hurts and grievances about Henry behind him, but when he sees Henry again, he discovers that, not only is the old pain still there, so is the fierce attraction that once burned between them. When, in a moment of fury, Kit demands a scandalous form of penance from Henry, no one is more surprised than Kit when Henry agrees to pay it.
As Kit and Henry spend more time together, they learn more about the men they have become, and about the secret feelings and desires they concealed from one another in the past.
Henry realises he wants to build a future with Kit but can he persuade his wary lover to trust him ever again? And can two men from such different worlds make a new life together?
My Rating - 4 Stars!
Joanna Chamber's Restored is a wonderful historical romance. It has all the feels and charm I was hoping it would have. The fifth book in the Enlightenment series, it's easily read as a standalone.
The story of Henry and Kit is one of pain, regrets, and anger. After eighteen years apart, Henry finally learns of what happened to his former lover. And it isn't pretty. Everything he thought is wrong.
Oh, these men won me over. Both are extremely well developed, with layer upon layer. The title is perfectly fitting of these two. Henry and Kit have a lot of obstacles in their way, and a lot of pain to deal with, in order to have their relationship restored. These men certainly have a long, hard fought journey to get there, and all of it is a stellar read.
As for the "cheating" aspect, it isn't quite that that cut and dry. Henry's wife is aware of his discretions, and of course, those discretions had to be kept on the down low. There was a unspoken agreement between them all. I never struggled with thinking of it as cheating. Especially given the times.
The writing is beautiful, the characters realistic, and their journey's both riveting and compelling. Their plenty of steam to go with their chemistry, and plenty of emotion to go with the angst. Both men are wonderfully vulnerable. The author includes many important side characters, including Henry's own adult son, who I hope gets his happily ever after eventually.
I previously read the earlier books in the series, but I honestly don't remember enough of the details. Upon finishing Restored, I am now motivated to revisit the rest of Joanna Chamber's earlier books.
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