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Unnatural (Enlightenment)

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Unnatural (Enlightenment)

By: Joanna Chambers
Narrated by: Simon Goldhill
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About this listen

Captain Iain Sinclair has looks, charm, military honours—even the favour of the king himself. He has everything—everything, that is, except the friendship of the one man whose good opinion he has ever cared for, scientist, James Hart.

James has loved Iain all his life, but after the last disastrous encounter between them, he vowed to accept no more crumbs from Iain’s table. If Iain cannot be the lover James wants, then James will have no more to do with him.

Disenchanted with his career, and miserable without James in his life, Iain decides to leave military service and embark upon a new career in India. Before he leaves England behind, though, he is determined to try one last time to reconcile with his dearest friend.

An invitation to a country house party from James’s sister provides the perfect opportunity to pin James down and force him to finally listen to Iain’s apology. But when Iain discovers that an apology is not enough—that James is not willing settle for less than a lover—he is forced to reconsider everything: his life, his future career, and most of all, his feelings for James.

©2015, 2018 Joanna Chambers (P)2024 Joanna Chambers
Historical Historical Fiction Romance Military
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What listeners say about Unnatural (Enlightenment)

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Emotional Depth Well-crafted Characters Tender Captivating Romance Beautifully Told Story Engaging Voice
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Great story

I really enjoyed listening to this book. The narrator did a fantastic job with the voices and emotions. There’s also a good delineation between past and present so you get to know what drama these characters have that’s affecting the present. Though you don’t get the entire history in one moment. I really liked James and Iain but I did want to smack a certain person a few times for some of his actions. Overall it’s a very enjoyable story. It can be read alone but I liked that it was in the same world as the previous books. Definitely well worth the listen especially if you enjoy historical romances.

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A good performance of a pretty good book

This is a fairly enjoyable story, though I kind of ran out of patience with the older character. As I listened, I kept wondering whether the story would have been more effective if told in chronological order rather than going back and forth between "then" and "now." Still, it was pleasant to listen to, and the narrator did a good job with the content.

My thanks to Gay Romance Reviews for a complimentary copy of this audiobook.

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Regency, m/m, second chances, friends-to-lovers .

I loved the alternation between past and present; it’s well done, always preceeded by the “then” and “now” and by the bate when a certain scene happens, so there’s no margin for confusion, and I loved that it doesn’t immediately introduce everything that’s happened between James and Iain before, but you learn it as you go on with the story.
I loved James, but I really wanted to throttle Iain, as it sometimes seemed he was stringing Jamie along, instead he was probably only oblivious.
The story is a really slow burn, the two MCs don’t get together until the very end, though the tension and pull between them is there from the beginning.
That being said, listening to this book made me want to go back and listen to the first three books in the series.

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Fantastic addition to the series

Fantastic. Loved the story. Loved the narration. So excited to follow a different character from earlier in the series (one of my fav characters). It was great getting to hear his inner thoughts and motives, and the story between the two protagonists was *chef's kiss*.

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Historical Friends to Lovers

Now, this really shouldn't be compared to the epic three-part love story of David and Murdo, but because it is a related story in the same world, it also can't surpass their tale. It's a bit unfair, but there it is.

However, this is a lovely historical romance, elevated by an even lovelier narration by Simon Goldhill. Book is a solid 3.75, narration is 5 stars. I will likely revisit this audiobook when I need a soothing voice to tell me a hopeful tale.

Iain is a bit frustrating, James is a literal angel cinnamon roll, and I could have used an epilogue that gave us a glimpse of them in the future, but was still very enjoyable. Champing at the bit for the next book to be released on audio soon!

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amazing story, performance

This is really a 4.5*, and I want to be clear the only reason I’d dock it at all is that because the narrative jumps back and forth in time, it may not be the best format for an audiobook. At least for me, keeping track of when the story was happening became increasingly distracting as it went on. That may be a me thing, because I get hung up on how old the characters are if there are dates involved, but also events that are referred to in the present are crept up on until we finally get there in the past segment – and by the time I was about 6 hours in, the timeline was a little muddled for me. As I say though, I can imagine for many folks this would not be an issue, especially if you are able to listen to the book straight through instead of doing little bits here and there (on commute, making dinner, doing yardwork).

Overall though, I love this story of two gentlemen who’ve been close friends since they were boys, and who really love each other if they can only be brave enough to admit it. James has had the benefit of a loving family, and because of this feels entitled to do what he wants. Not overtly, exactly, but he does not live in fear and can’t fathom that Ian, outwardly the more brave and “manly”, lives in a great deal of fear due to his much harder history. He is drawn to James, but terrified of the consequences of being together. Their story follows the building of the barrier between them and ultimately, the hard choices both men have to make. I also love that Kit Redford makes a small but significant appearance.

Simon Goldhill is brilliant, not only in his vocal characterizations but in his overall performance. Even his pronunciations lend a period air to the production, and put me right in 1824 with Ian and James. I’ve enjoyed some of Simon’s contemporary performances, but this book showcases his amazing talent.

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Then and Now!

I actually read this a while back and I have to say the narration definitely enhanced the flow of the story. Simon's accents and the way he expressed all the different emotions was a bit breathtaking I must say! This story does a fantastic job of giving us the back story of Iain and James. I felt like this was easier to following with the narration. Lovely romance in a time when this type of romance was not accepted.

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A delightful book and great performance

In Unnatural (Enlightenment Book 4), Joanna Chambers masterfully crafts a romance that is both tender and captivating. The main characters, James Hart and Iain Sinclair, are beautifully fleshed out and their relationship is both complex and deeply emotional. Iain, the easygoing and charismatic soldier, seems at first glance to be the polar opposite of James, a meticulous naturalist with a particular passion for butterflies. However, this unlikely pairing becomes one of the book's greatest strengths. The subtle and evolving connection between them draws the reader in from the first page.

The tension between James and Iain is perfectly balanced. James longs for a permanent commitment, while Iain, fearing the vulnerability that comes with it, resists. This emotional push and pull creates a compelling narrative that keeps the reader hooked, wanting to see how they will navigate their differing desires. The author does an excellent job of showing how these two men, despite their differences, complement and challenge each other in unexpected ways.

What sets this book apart is not just the romance, but the richly developed supporting characters and the humor that permeates the narrative. The secondary characters, each with their own quirks and personalities, add depth to the story, making the world feel vibrant and full of life. Chambers' deft handling of humor, particularly through witty dialogue and moments of levity, creates a delightful balance to the emotional weight of the romance.

For fans of Regency romances, Unnatural is a must-read. Chambers’ writing is elegant and subtle—her prose is solid and engaging without ever feeling overly ornate. She skillfully evokes the Regency period, not through excess description, but through the interactions and emotional landscapes of her characters. The romance feels both timeless and authentic, capturing the nuances of love in a way that is both poignant and hopeful.

If you're looking for a Regency M/M historical that combines emotional depth, humor, and well-crafted characters, this book will more than satisfy your craving. Simon Goldhill did an amazing job narrating the book.

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I LOVED IT!

I am not a big historical fiction reader/ listener, but this was wonderful! James and Ian had known each other as boys in the early 1800s. With about 4 years apart in age, they grew up in a time when men were expected to marry women and the importance of the family name was everything. But, James and Ian had grown to care for each other in ways that were unacceptable, and they just had to avoid each other in order to live. I enjoyed every moment of this book, and if you ARE a listener of historical fiction, you will too!

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Excellent series!!

Excellent narration by Simon Goldhill
I read this series a few years ago and have reread it several times since. I love a historical MM romance, and these are top tier!! I was so excited to see this one out in audio.
This is the story of Captain Iain Sinclair, a military man at the end of his service to the king. Iain isn’t quite sure what he wants to do next, but he knows that he must do one thing: make amends with his childhood best friend, James.
James has loved Iain as long as he can remember. He admired him as a boy, and soon that admiration turns into desire and romance. They’ve had a couple of fumbled dalliances, but Iain has always kept James at arm’s length. After one night together, Iain can’t quite face his feelings, and leaves James cold.
When Iain realizes that James has been the one for him along, James is heartbroken from all the tears of false starts. Can Iain prove that his affection is real this time?
-Historical MM romance
-Friends to lovers
-Forbidden love

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