Lessons in Power
Charlie CochraneHistorical romance
Available from Samhain Publishing
ISBN: 978-1-60504-750-8
September 2009
| When a friend comes to Jonty Stewart and Orlando Coppersmith asking for their help investigating a murder, the case strikes a little too close to home. Jonty immediately recognizes the name of the murder victim as one of the boys who abused him while they were at school together. He draws into himself as memories resurface to haunt him, but the investigation forces him to confront the remaining abusers. As their investigation progresses, Orlando worries about his lover and wonders if they will ever be able to recapture the intimacy they've shared for the last year and a half.
This story starts out quickly and continues at a fast clip all the way through. Both the murder investigation and Jonty's connection to the victim are established in the first chapter. The pace complements the urgency both Jonty and Orlando feel to get to the bottom of the case as quickly as possible. One of the many reasons they both want the case to come to a swift conclusion is because of the strain it puts on their relationship. Though Jonty pulls away physically, Orlando refuses to be pushed away completely. He remains Jonty's rock as the ghosts from his past come back and invade their present. While their physical intimacy suffers, their emotional connection remains as strong as ever and their love is evident in all of their interactions. Though it is hard to see Jonty's past torn open by the murders in this story, it is exactly what needs to happen for him to move beyond it. Everything about the murder investigation makes Jonty truly face what happened to him and he grows exponentially as a character. His growth individually also strengthens his relationship with Orlando. This is a truly magnificent story with wonderful character development. It is a great addition to the Cambridge Fellows series and has this reader anxious for the next installment.
Overall rating:
Reviewer: Karin |
