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A review by jackiehorne
Unnatural by Joanna Chambers
4.0
I adored this Regency-set male/male romance, which switches back and forth between the present day (1824), with former Calvary officer Iain Sinclair trying to fix his damaged relationship with long-time family friend and occasional lover James Hart, and key scenes from their past, which show how their childhood friendship gradually transformed into a sexual relationship, and then into a broken relationship.
Though Iain is the more obviously masculine of the two, it is naturalist James who is the more emotionally heroic, being open with Iain about what he wants, and why. Iain, haunted by the need to please his demanding, verbally abusive father, keeps coming close to James but then backing away when he fears that his feelings for James might endanger his own, and thus his family's, good reputation. After James finally calls a halt to their friendship, unable to stand Iain's continual approach/retreat dynamic, Iain stays away from all family events, avoiding James for two years. Yet Iain can't leave England for a new, dangerous job in India without trying one last time to make James see why they should still remain friends.
Chambers does fabulous character work here, showing both Iain's bluff charm but underlying fearfulness and James' introverted nature but deep inner joy, both in his scientific studies and in his love for Iain. And she's amazing at evoking the emotions each man is feeling, and allowing readers to feel them right alongside her characters. Talk about feels!
I read the book's second edition, revised and self-published by the author in 2017 (first edition published in 2015).
Though Iain is the more obviously masculine of the two, it is naturalist James who is the more emotionally heroic, being open with Iain about what he wants, and why. Iain, haunted by the need to please his demanding, verbally abusive father, keeps coming close to James but then backing away when he fears that his feelings for James might endanger his own, and thus his family's, good reputation. After James finally calls a halt to their friendship, unable to stand Iain's continual approach/retreat dynamic, Iain stays away from all family events, avoiding James for two years. Yet Iain can't leave England for a new, dangerous job in India without trying one last time to make James see why they should still remain friends.
Chambers does fabulous character work here, showing both Iain's bluff charm but underlying fearfulness and James' introverted nature but deep inner joy, both in his scientific studies and in his love for Iain. And she's amazing at evoking the emotions each man is feeling, and allowing readers to feel them right alongside her characters. Talk about feels!
I read the book's second edition, revised and self-published by the author in 2017 (first edition published in 2015).