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Enlightenment #6
Liberated
A dutiful duke-in-waiting
George Asquith knows exactly who he is. The future duke. The responsible heir. The man who will marry well and manage his estates with quiet competence.
He has built his entire life on fulfilling his duty. Ever since one terrible mistake taught him the cost of reaching for what he really wants. Now he shoulders his responsibilities without complaint and keeps his impossible desires locked away.
When George leaves his family estate to attend the lavish wedding of the man he once believed himself in love with, he is resigned to a few days of misery. But then Theo Caldwell turns up. Theo, who George desperately admired as a boy—and who only seemed to despise George in return.
Theo, who betrayed him.
A feckless pleasure-seeker
As the younger son of a spendthrift aristocratic family, Theo Caldwell may have little fortune but at least he has his freedom.
After a lengthy stint abroad, seizing whatever pleasures came his way, Theo has returned to England to claim an unexpected inheritance—an inheritance he plans to sell off before returning to the Continent as soon as possible. But when Theo reluctantly attends a society wedding, his plans are thrown into disarray when George Asquith innocently stumbles upon his deepest and most dangerous secret.
The passionate encounter that follows should only have happened once—George resolved long ago to bury his desires, and Theo never beds the same man twice—but somehow Theo finds himself inviting George to go with him to the dilapidated estate he has inherited, and George finds himself accepting…
George Asquith knows exactly who he is. The future duke. The responsible heir. The man who will marry well and manage his estates with quiet competence.
He has built his entire life on fulfilling his duty. Ever since one terrible mistake taught him the cost of reaching for what he really wants. Now he shoulders his responsibilities without complaint and keeps his impossible desires locked away.
When George leaves his family estate to attend the lavish wedding of the man he once believed himself in love with, he is resigned to a few days of misery. But then Theo Caldwell turns up. Theo, who George desperately admired as a boy—and who only seemed to despise George in return.
Theo, who betrayed him.
A feckless pleasure-seeker
As the younger son of a spendthrift aristocratic family, Theo Caldwell may have little fortune but at least he has his freedom.
After a lengthy stint abroad, seizing whatever pleasures came his way, Theo has returned to England to claim an unexpected inheritance—an inheritance he plans to sell off before returning to the Continent as soon as possible. But when Theo reluctantly attends a society wedding, his plans are thrown into disarray when George Asquith innocently stumbles upon his deepest and most dangerous secret.
The passionate encounter that follows should only have happened once—George resolved long ago to bury his desires, and Theo never beds the same man twice—but somehow Theo finds himself inviting George to go with him to the dilapidated estate he has inherited, and George finds himself accepting…
356 pages, Kindle Edition
First published February 25, 2026
32 people are currently reading
284 people want to read
About the author
Joanna Chambers
50 books1,228 followersJoanna Chambers' muse likes red wine, coffee and won't let Joanna clean the house or watch television.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 44 reviews
March 1, 2026
Do you know the feeling of starting a book, getting completely sucked in, and then surfacing at the end with a full heart and absolutely no notes for your review?
Because that’s exactly what happened to me here but I’ll try to convey how much I loved this anyway.
My GOD do I want to put George in a soft blanket, hand him his favourite book, press a kiss to his forehead and tell him that he’s NOT too soft, too sensitive, too emotional but utterly perfect just the way he is. I loved his character journey from being very much a careful, polite people pleaser to someone who learns that he can - and should - want things for himself. Very relatable for me and genuinely inspiring.
And ugh, don't get me started on his gentle yearning to just.. matter to someone, be cared for, touched, loved and just.. letting himself fall into all that with an open heart when it’s time to do so, so endearingly unguarded. Such a beautiful soul through and through.
Characters like Theo on the other hand - the one and done, no kissing, emotionally detached types - usually have to work a bit harder to win me over, but damn if Theo didn’t manage. I came to admire his spontaneous, adventurous and especially so very caring nature and can totally understand how he swept our dear George off his feet 🥹
He was the perfect counterpart to and complete opposite of George: A loner, closed off, terrified of being seen, of being a part of something or someone, armour and shield firmly in place, hiding his loneliness. Not out of preference per se, but out of necessity.
But when the time came, he was brave enough to let George in and it was glorious.
They were absolutely wonderful together.
And on top of all this, they go to Snowdonia, Wales, which transported me back to when I visited and could not BELIEVE the beauty that is this part of the earth. So thanks Joanna Chambers, for making me reminisce 🥹
There were a few tiny niggles here and there (like the time jumps, but that’s just me being greedy and wanting to be there every step of the way) but nothing that would lower my rating.
At its heart, this is a soft, character-driven, historical, slow-burnish romance about two very different men finding each other (again) - and learning what it means to be seen, wanted, and chosen.
No, there will never be another David and Murdo, that’s for sure, but Theo and George made me feel all soft and tender in my soul. A beautifully written warm hug in book form. Highly recommend!
4,5⭐️
Ps: I read this without having read books 4 and 5 and I managed just fine!!
Thank you GRR for the chance to read this wonderful ARC. This is my honest opinion!
Because that’s exactly what happened to me here but I’ll try to convey how much I loved this anyway.
My GOD do I want to put George in a soft blanket, hand him his favourite book, press a kiss to his forehead and tell him that he’s NOT too soft, too sensitive, too emotional but utterly perfect just the way he is. I loved his character journey from being very much a careful, polite people pleaser to someone who learns that he can - and should - want things for himself. Very relatable for me and genuinely inspiring.
And ugh, don't get me started on his gentle yearning to just.. matter to someone, be cared for, touched, loved and just.. letting himself fall into all that with an open heart when it’s time to do so, so endearingly unguarded. Such a beautiful soul through and through.
Characters like Theo on the other hand - the one and done, no kissing, emotionally detached types - usually have to work a bit harder to win me over, but damn if Theo didn’t manage. I came to admire his spontaneous, adventurous and especially so very caring nature and can totally understand how he swept our dear George off his feet 🥹
He was the perfect counterpart to and complete opposite of George: A loner, closed off, terrified of being seen, of being a part of something or someone, armour and shield firmly in place, hiding his loneliness. Not out of preference per se, but out of necessity.
But when the time came, he was brave enough to let George in and it was glorious.
They were absolutely wonderful together.
And on top of all this, they go to Snowdonia, Wales, which transported me back to when I visited and could not BELIEVE the beauty that is this part of the earth. So thanks Joanna Chambers, for making me reminisce 🥹
There were a few tiny niggles here and there (like the time jumps, but that’s just me being greedy and wanting to be there every step of the way) but nothing that would lower my rating.
At its heart, this is a soft, character-driven, historical, slow-burnish romance about two very different men finding each other (again) - and learning what it means to be seen, wanted, and chosen.
No, there will never be another David and Murdo, that’s for sure, but Theo and George made me feel all soft and tender in my soul. A beautifully written warm hug in book form. Highly recommend!
4,5⭐️
Ps: I read this without having read books 4 and 5 and I managed just fine!!
Thank you GRR for the chance to read this wonderful ARC. This is my honest opinion!
March 2, 2026
Just SO LOVELY! I’ve adored this entire series and George’s story did not disappoint. It’s rather a simple tale, no ground breaking plot line, but it’s just so beautifully done. I loved it. I easily fell in love with the characters and their predicament, the easy to read writing and the flawless historical sense of place.
This captured so much beautiful relationship development and chemistry between George and Theo, I whole heartedly believed in their connection. Their falling in love felt genuine and their feelings very real at every stage. The pacing felt authentic. Joanna Chambers delivered ALL the slow burn, swoony, pining, historical romance vibes that I love 🫠😍
There were some scenes that I would have loved to see play out on paper but this is probably just me being greedy. There is also a little bit of the dreaded miscommunication drama but it felt justified for their time period and wasn’t dragged out. In fact I’d say this was the least angsty and coziest story of the series. I also really enjoy how all the side characters felt like real people and how they contributed to the story (Martin🥹).
I think this series certainly should be read in order as it’s absolutely brilliant but I guess you could get by with just reading book 5 prior. This one builds on from the most recent book with Henry’s son George getting his own story, I loved the small parts when we get to see Henry, Kit and Freddy again. I really hope the author has plans for another book in this series.
Pre-read
Releasing 25th Feb 2026! I am SO EXCITED for this! ✨✨✨
Thankyou to the author for the ARC although I had also purchased this book in a pre-order
This captured so much beautiful relationship development and chemistry between George and Theo, I whole heartedly believed in their connection. Their falling in love felt genuine and their feelings very real at every stage. The pacing felt authentic. Joanna Chambers delivered ALL the slow burn, swoony, pining, historical romance vibes that I love 🫠😍
There were some scenes that I would have loved to see play out on paper but this is probably just me being greedy. There is also a little bit of the dreaded miscommunication drama but it felt justified for their time period and wasn’t dragged out. In fact I’d say this was the least angsty and coziest story of the series. I also really enjoy how all the side characters felt like real people and how they contributed to the story (Martin🥹).
I think this series certainly should be read in order as it’s absolutely brilliant but I guess you could get by with just reading book 5 prior. This one builds on from the most recent book with Henry’s son George getting his own story, I loved the small parts when we get to see Henry, Kit and Freddy again. I really hope the author has plans for another book in this series.
Pre-read
Releasing 25th Feb 2026! I am SO EXCITED for this! ✨✨✨
Thankyou to the author for the ARC although I had also purchased this book in a pre-order
March 1, 2026
⭐4.5
I really, really loved this story. After a proper book slump, I absolutely devoured it — stayed up far too late and finished it with that satisfied, slightly feral feeling when you know a book just hit 🥹
I adore Joanna Chambers’ writing, and coming back to this world felt like coming home. That said… I don’t think any couple will ever affect me the way Murdo and David did, so even when I love a new story in this series, it always feels slightly unfair to compare. They just own a piece of me. But that’s on me, not on the book.
Liberated is such a delicious slow burn — full of pining, longing, stolen looks, first times, and a truly beautiful HEA. What I especially loved is how it follows unconventional lines for the period. The Avesbury family has always stood slightly apart — politically progressive, quietly radical, questioning social norms in ways that feel brave and dangerous for their time. That backdrop makes everything heavier and more meaningful. These aren’t people blindly following society’s rules; they’re constantly negotiating them, bending them, sometimes breaking them. And in a world where loving the “wrong” person could cost you everything, that courage hits even harder. I genuinely can’t imagine how painful and unfair it must have been for couples to live — and try to love freely — in that era. It makes the happiness feel properly earned.
I struggled a bit with Theo. God, his denial tested me. I understood it — he’s spent his whole life protecting his heart so he could live as freely and safely as possible — but still, it was frustrating at times. And then there’s George… sweet, polite, eager George. I loved him. Absolutely delicious.
I did have a few issues. There were some moments that happened off page that I would have loved to see — their week on the road, those weeks at the farm… I felt a little robbed there. And the letter George left Theo, not mentioning his brother, felt like pure angst for angst’s sake. It didn’t quite make sense that he wouldn’t explain why he was leaving. I also selfishly wished that when they finally kissed, it had been stretched out for hours — because kissing felt like the intimacy Theo truly needed, the line he was most afraid to cross. After all that restraint, once he finally allowed himself that closeness, I wanted him to stay there. Just kissing. Letting himself feel it fully before anything else followed.
And speaking of intimacy… perfection. These two are perfect together. Super hot, yes, but more than that — the care, the attention, the tenderness mixed with some amazing dirty talk. Very typical Joanna. Very me-catnip. I loved it.
It was also incredible seeing Henry and Kit again. Ollie… my God, what an absolute menace. And yes, greedily, shamelessly, I wished for more Murdo and David. I know, I know — I’m impossible. But I can’t help it. I love them, Your Honour 😌
Overall, this felt warm, yearning, romantic, and deeply satisfying. Exactly what I needed.
I received a copy of this book from GRR, and this is my honest review.
I really, really loved this story. After a proper book slump, I absolutely devoured it — stayed up far too late and finished it with that satisfied, slightly feral feeling when you know a book just hit 🥹
I adore Joanna Chambers’ writing, and coming back to this world felt like coming home. That said… I don’t think any couple will ever affect me the way Murdo and David did, so even when I love a new story in this series, it always feels slightly unfair to compare. They just own a piece of me. But that’s on me, not on the book.
Liberated is such a delicious slow burn — full of pining, longing, stolen looks, first times, and a truly beautiful HEA. What I especially loved is how it follows unconventional lines for the period. The Avesbury family has always stood slightly apart — politically progressive, quietly radical, questioning social norms in ways that feel brave and dangerous for their time. That backdrop makes everything heavier and more meaningful. These aren’t people blindly following society’s rules; they’re constantly negotiating them, bending them, sometimes breaking them. And in a world where loving the “wrong” person could cost you everything, that courage hits even harder. I genuinely can’t imagine how painful and unfair it must have been for couples to live — and try to love freely — in that era. It makes the happiness feel properly earned.
I struggled a bit with Theo. God, his denial tested me. I understood it — he’s spent his whole life protecting his heart so he could live as freely and safely as possible — but still, it was frustrating at times. And then there’s George… sweet, polite, eager George. I loved him. Absolutely delicious.
I did have a few issues. There were some moments that happened off page that I would have loved to see — their week on the road, those weeks at the farm… I felt a little robbed there. And the letter George left Theo, not mentioning his brother, felt like pure angst for angst’s sake. It didn’t quite make sense that he wouldn’t explain why he was leaving. I also selfishly wished that when they finally kissed, it had been stretched out for hours — because kissing felt like the intimacy Theo truly needed, the line he was most afraid to cross. After all that restraint, once he finally allowed himself that closeness, I wanted him to stay there. Just kissing. Letting himself feel it fully before anything else followed.
And speaking of intimacy… perfection. These two are perfect together. Super hot, yes, but more than that — the care, the attention, the tenderness mixed with some amazing dirty talk. Very typical Joanna. Very me-catnip. I loved it.
It was also incredible seeing Henry and Kit again. Ollie… my God, what an absolute menace. And yes, greedily, shamelessly, I wished for more Murdo and David. I know, I know — I’m impossible. But I can’t help it. I love them, Your Honour 😌
Overall, this felt warm, yearning, romantic, and deeply satisfying. Exactly what I needed.
I received a copy of this book from GRR, and this is my honest review.
“All my life, I’ve prided myself on going my own way. Making my own decisions, and ignoring society’s expectations. But when I look at how I’ve lived and what future I imagined for myself, I can see now that I restricted my life to what I thought was possible, rather than what I actually wanted. Until now, I simply couldn’t envisage a life with someone I loved at my side. I’d already accepted that was out of my reach. Something I could never have. I truly believed my life had to be a solitary one.” He stroked his thumb over George’s cheek. “Until you, George. Until you came back into my life.”
Theo set his hand on George’s knee, and George smiled at him, his dark gaze content.
His lovely, dreaming boy.
No longer a hazy memory, but a here and now presence in his life. Solid and real, at his side.
Now, and for always.
February 27, 2026
Lovely addition to the series.
I adore the author's writing and enjoyed spending time with George and Theo, loved watching them fall in love.
The plot has a few pretty convenient twists, but I couldn't care less.
I adore the author's writing and enjoyed spending time with George and Theo, loved watching them fall in love.
The plot has a few pretty convenient twists, but I couldn't care less.
March 3, 2026
“Good boy,” Theo said softly. “Now, lie back and pay attention to what I do.”
Aah, I didn't want this book to end!
Only one pallet. So many good boy scenes. A really fun scene at Kit's old club.
God, I couldn't stand Ollie!
Note to self: add quotes, full review, and tags.
Aah, I didn't want this book to end!
Only one pallet. So many good boy scenes. A really fun scene at Kit's old club.
God, I couldn't stand Ollie!
Note to self: add quotes, full review, and tags.
February 28, 2026
Have to love an MC who's team "I don’t do that sort of thing.” about kissing at the start then ends up so thoroughly whipped by the end that he's the one who can't get enough.
I'm a simple girl. I see a Joanna Chambers historical romance, I read it, I love it. This one was no different.
I adored both these men. George, an heir to a dukedom who thinks he's socially inept and as such has been hiding away at his ancestral home while his father (Henry) worries himself sick about him. Seriously. This man doesn't want to leave the grounds.
Henry thought coming out to his son, living with his partner and telling his son he doesn't have to bear the weight of carrying on the bloodline if he doesn't want to would make his son happy, but he seems even more lost than before.
And Theo. A happy go lucky second(?) son who has no responsibilities and loves it that way, a confirmed bachelor - not a euphemism this time, with a thirst for travel and adventure and a commitment to never staying in one place for long, or fucking any one man more than once.
Well. Except that pesky George who was two years below him at school and they've recently reconnected at a wedding for a mutual acquaintance AND met up at Redford's, where Theo gallantly agrees to show George around. For the night.
Now the guy's KISSING him? Hello? He doesn't do that! Why's George looking so hurt that he pushed him away? For God's sake, they barely know each other. And men like them don't do romance.
He knew from way back in school that the boy liked him, he couldn't have been more obvious if he'd tried. George is the kind of man who has no skill for subterfuge. A risky man to get involved with.
Ugh. He needs to extricate himself from that situation post haste.
So, naturally, he invites George to accompany him to Wales, where he has a property he needs to look in on.
As friends. Riiiiiiiiightrightright. No way that could possibly go wrong.
I love how idealistic and unashamed of it George was. Right from the jump, he tells Theo he doesn't think one night stands are for him and he'd want so much more therefore he'd rather not do anything more and avoid getting hurt. All or nothing.
Also love how adamant Theo was that men like them don't get to WANT more, because they can't have it, so why waste time wanting it? Sex or nothing.
Of course, they compromise by getting into an intense 'best friendship with benefits' that neither talks about because if you don't talk about it, is it really happening?
And it's like the whole universe is in cahoots to change Theo's mind about what men like them can want, and have, because there's more than just one couple like them that they know of, who are living proof that it can be done.
Well. Maybe not living. But I digress.
This has the kind of subplot I like, where it's not a parallel story but instead serves to prop up the romance? I don't know if that makes sense. Everything that happened was either directly responsible for character development or to create an enabling environment for their love story.
Henry. Wales. Robert. Prentice. Ollie. Freddy.
Not a single page wasted. As a bitter hater of unnecessary subplot, I have to give credit where it's due.
Even the miscommunication wasn't simply to prop up a third act breakup. The seeds had been planted from the wedding, the conclusions were something a sane person might jump to and most importantly, it didn't drag on for long enough to be a nuisance.
As always, there's the dread that comes from wanting something they're not allowed to want but it just made it that much more satisfying when they found a way.
Anyway. For anyone looking for tips on how to turn your commitment-phobic situationship into a devoted and adoring partner by slowly giving them enough rope to hang themselves with, look in on George, the patron saint of lost causes that have zero chill, all the earnestness in the northern hemisphere and whose understanding of compromise is to just gently stand your ground until the other person slowly negotiates themselves right where you want them.
Like.....Theo from the start wouldn't recognize Theo by the end.
Fair play to George.
I'm a simple girl. I see a Joanna Chambers historical romance, I read it, I love it. This one was no different.
I adored both these men. George, an heir to a dukedom who thinks he's socially inept and as such has been hiding away at his ancestral home while his father (Henry) worries himself sick about him. Seriously. This man doesn't want to leave the grounds.
Henry thought coming out to his son, living with his partner and telling his son he doesn't have to bear the weight of carrying on the bloodline if he doesn't want to would make his son happy, but he seems even more lost than before.
And Theo. A happy go lucky second(?) son who has no responsibilities and loves it that way, a confirmed bachelor - not a euphemism this time, with a thirst for travel and adventure and a commitment to never staying in one place for long, or fucking any one man more than once.
Well. Except that pesky George who was two years below him at school and they've recently reconnected at a wedding for a mutual acquaintance AND met up at Redford's, where Theo gallantly agrees to show George around. For the night.
Now the guy's KISSING him? Hello? He doesn't do that! Why's George looking so hurt that he pushed him away? For God's sake, they barely know each other. And men like them don't do romance.
He knew from way back in school that the boy liked him, he couldn't have been more obvious if he'd tried. George is the kind of man who has no skill for subterfuge. A risky man to get involved with.
Ugh. He needs to extricate himself from that situation post haste.
So, naturally, he invites George to accompany him to Wales, where he has a property he needs to look in on.
As friends. Riiiiiiiiightrightright. No way that could possibly go wrong.
I love how idealistic and unashamed of it George was. Right from the jump, he tells Theo he doesn't think one night stands are for him and he'd want so much more therefore he'd rather not do anything more and avoid getting hurt. All or nothing.
Also love how adamant Theo was that men like them don't get to WANT more, because they can't have it, so why waste time wanting it? Sex or nothing.
Of course, they compromise by getting into an intense 'best friendship with benefits' that neither talks about because if you don't talk about it, is it really happening?
And it's like the whole universe is in cahoots to change Theo's mind about what men like them can want, and have, because there's more than just one couple like them that they know of, who are living proof that it can be done.
Well. Maybe not living. But I digress.
This has the kind of subplot I like, where it's not a parallel story but instead serves to prop up the romance? I don't know if that makes sense. Everything that happened was either directly responsible for character development or to create an enabling environment for their love story.
Henry. Wales. Robert. Prentice. Ollie. Freddy.
Not a single page wasted. As a bitter hater of unnecessary subplot, I have to give credit where it's due.
Even the miscommunication wasn't simply to prop up a third act breakup. The seeds had been planted from the wedding, the conclusions were something a sane person might jump to and most importantly, it didn't drag on for long enough to be a nuisance.
As always, there's the dread that comes from wanting something they're not allowed to want but it just made it that much more satisfying when they found a way.
Anyway. For anyone looking for tips on how to turn your commitment-phobic situationship into a devoted and adoring partner by slowly giving them enough rope to hang themselves with, look in on George, the patron saint of lost causes that have zero chill, all the earnestness in the northern hemisphere and whose understanding of compromise is to just gently stand your ground until the other person slowly negotiates themselves right where you want them.
Like.....Theo from the start wouldn't recognize Theo by the end.
Fair play to George.
March 3, 2026
OMG. I loved this book.
This is #6 in the Enlightenment series, and as someone who adored the first three so much (I actually emailed Joanna Chambers to gush about them and she very kindly wrote back), my expectations were high. David and Murdo will forever be one of my favorite couples. Books 4 and 5 were excellent, too ; this one follows the son of the Duke from book 5, so the emotional investment was already baked in.
But here’s the thing: Joanna Chambers hasn’t written in this historical world for six years. She’s done a few contemporaries (which I haven’t read yet), but no historicals in that time and she hasn’t published at all for three years. So when this ARC popped up on Gay Romance Reviews, I grabbed it immediately… and then got nervous. Could she still land it?
Reader. She landed it.
It felt a little like watching Alyssa Liu come back after years away from ice skating and win Olympic gold. That same “please let this be as good as I remember” tension and then the absolute joy when it is.
The writing was really beautiful. It reminded me that so many romances I read (even ones I enjoy) don’t necessarily have truly good prose. Chambers does. She never tips into anachronism. She uses language that feels authentic without being inaccessible (but can we please reintroduce the word “swiving” into the modern lexicon?)
There are moments of gorgeous metaphor, like the dangerous, jagged ridge of the mountain they climb mirroring the perilous and isolated direction Theo’s life has been heading.
The pacing was tight. This isn’t an action-packed book, but I was completely engaged the entire time. I loved both MCs. The antagonist isn’t a cartoon villain, more of a complicated frenemy, which was refreshing after reading so many of the mustache twirling variety.
The spice was excellent. Not the main event but perfectly calibrated for this story. And even though I love spice, it was the right amount for this story. There were also poignant moments that had me choked up.
If I have one small quibble, it’s that the communication breakdown toward the end felt a touch manufactured. But it’s forgivable because it serves the plot and the payoff works.
All in all: gold medal. I don’t hand out five stars lightly, and I usually reserve them for rereads. For some reason I rarely reread historical romance (no idea why), but this is five stars whether I revisit it or not.
Welcome back, Joanna Chambers. Please don’t make us wait another six years (and if you ever want to let us know how David and Murdo are doing, I wouldn’t complain one bit.)
This is #6 in the Enlightenment series, and as someone who adored the first three so much (I actually emailed Joanna Chambers to gush about them and she very kindly wrote back), my expectations were high. David and Murdo will forever be one of my favorite couples. Books 4 and 5 were excellent, too ; this one follows the son of the Duke from book 5, so the emotional investment was already baked in.
But here’s the thing: Joanna Chambers hasn’t written in this historical world for six years. She’s done a few contemporaries (which I haven’t read yet), but no historicals in that time and she hasn’t published at all for three years. So when this ARC popped up on Gay Romance Reviews, I grabbed it immediately… and then got nervous. Could she still land it?
Reader. She landed it.
It felt a little like watching Alyssa Liu come back after years away from ice skating and win Olympic gold. That same “please let this be as good as I remember” tension and then the absolute joy when it is.
The writing was really beautiful. It reminded me that so many romances I read (even ones I enjoy) don’t necessarily have truly good prose. Chambers does. She never tips into anachronism. She uses language that feels authentic without being inaccessible (but can we please reintroduce the word “swiving” into the modern lexicon?)
There are moments of gorgeous metaphor, like the dangerous, jagged ridge of the mountain they climb mirroring the perilous and isolated direction Theo’s life has been heading.
The pacing was tight. This isn’t an action-packed book, but I was completely engaged the entire time. I loved both MCs. The antagonist isn’t a cartoon villain, more of a complicated frenemy, which was refreshing after reading so many of the mustache twirling variety.
The spice was excellent. Not the main event but perfectly calibrated for this story. And even though I love spice, it was the right amount for this story. There were also poignant moments that had me choked up.
If I have one small quibble, it’s that the communication breakdown toward the end felt a touch manufactured. But it’s forgivable because it serves the plot and the payoff works.
All in all: gold medal. I don’t hand out five stars lightly, and I usually reserve them for rereads. For some reason I rarely reread historical romance (no idea why), but this is five stars whether I revisit it or not.
Welcome back, Joanna Chambers. Please don’t make us wait another six years (and if you ever want to let us know how David and Murdo are doing, I wouldn’t complain one bit.)
February 26, 2026
Joanna Chambers always delivers reliable quality when it comes to historicals, and this was no exception. I didn’t remember the events of Restored particularly well but I’d been looking forward to George’s story, and this delivered beautifully. George is a wholly lovable MC, an earnest, kind, sensitive sweetheart of a guy who deserves everything good in the world. If anything, I was a little cross with Theo, the love interest who’s been to the same Gentlemen’s Academy of Defiant Hedonism and Commitment Phobia as Murdo Balfour, for taking so long to get his twitchy grasshopper act together and realise the error of his ways.
There’s a side plot involving the history of Theo’s uncle and the estate he’s left to him, which features strong side characters and satisfying conflict for our heroes. Instead of a third-act break-up, there’s a daft misunderstanding that I could just about swallow, and overall the pacing of the emotional beats was on point. Good smut, too – always a plus.
I was a little surprised that this wasn’t as tidily edited as JC’s books usually are – quite a few typos and repetition and other line level stuff that could have done with a more thorough edit. All in all, though, it was a highly satisfying afternoon’s read.
There’s a side plot involving the history of Theo’s uncle and the estate he’s left to him, which features strong side characters and satisfying conflict for our heroes. Instead of a third-act break-up, there’s a daft misunderstanding that I could just about swallow, and overall the pacing of the emotional beats was on point. Good smut, too – always a plus.
I was a little surprised that this wasn’t as tidily edited as JC’s books usually are – quite a few typos and repetition and other line level stuff that could have done with a more thorough edit. All in all, though, it was a highly satisfying afternoon’s read.
February 25, 2026
I really enjoyed this slow-burning romance between former classmates Theo and George. They have a history between them filled with inaccuracies, so watching them navigate their newfound friendship, which brings up many unresolved feelings and tensions, creates a fantastic foundation for their budding romance.
Overall, I loved being back in this world. The time period is so specific and unique, and having the feelings for one another so carefully constructed and hidden made for a fantastic entry point for Theo and George's relationship and romance overall. I couldn't get enough of these two and how perfectly well-balanced they are for one another. I cannot wait to see if more is to come from this world, and I will gladly return.
*** I reviewed a complimentary copy of this story.***
Overall, I loved being back in this world. The time period is so specific and unique, and having the feelings for one another so carefully constructed and hidden made for a fantastic entry point for Theo and George's relationship and romance overall. I couldn't get enough of these two and how perfectly well-balanced they are for one another. I cannot wait to see if more is to come from this world, and I will gladly return.
*** I reviewed a complimentary copy of this story.***
February 26, 2026
Joanna Chambers is such a solid writer, and this series is one of my absolute favorites, right alongside some of the old school KJ Charles books. I thoroughly enjoyed Liberated, though there were some very…convenient plot elements that made this a four instead of a five star read for me. The angst was also dialed down a bit from the rest of the series, which I kind of missed to be honest, but it absorbing nonetheless. I loved the whole land management tutorial that George gave Theo—I appreciate how in the weeds JC is willing to get with her historical accuracy, and that she manages to pull off keeping it engaging all the way through. All in all, probably the coziest, sweetest and most hopeful of the series. A balm for the times, perhaps.
March 3, 2026
Another delightful addition to this series! ❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️
March 3, 2026
4.25 stars
Quite lovely - I wish there were more m/m regencies! Or any type of m/m historical!
Minor quibble: I didn’t love the sex scenes, they were just too long for my taste.
Quite lovely - I wish there were more m/m regencies! Or any type of m/m historical!
Minor quibble: I didn’t love the sex scenes, they were just too long for my taste.
March 7, 2026
Book 6 • m/m 1820s historical romance •
Oh now this book was an absolute delight 🥹
George, who we meet in book 5, is a sensible and loyal heir to a Duke. He has always expected he’d marry, provide heirs and dutifully fulfill his responsibilities to his family. His life long best friend (and crush), Ollie Fletcher is about to be married. After learning of his father’s relationship with Kit, George is questioning everything about his life and his future.
George’s character is written with such… unselfish melancholy, it really pulls the heartstrings 🥺 George is such a loveable character. While reading, I felt so invested in him getting his HEA. He is such a gentle and kind soul who thought he knew his direction in life, and then he felt at a loss once everything he thought he knew had been turned on its head.
At Ollie’s wedding festivities, George becomes reacquainted with Theo. An older acquaintance from their boarding school days and summers at the Fletcher’s estate. Theo is a fun character (I LOVED THEO SO MUCH!). He lives a carefree lifestyle, giving in to his wanderlust, set on not ever settling down.
Theo inherits a property from a little known Uncle, and George ends up visiting the place to help Theo take stock of the estate and the tenants, knowing that Theo would like a quick sale to fund his next adventures, to continue his solitary life.
But it turns out, Theo had never envisioned a shared life, settled down with someone he could love because he never thought it possible. Could it be possible??
I absolutely LOVED this.
Believable.
Tender.
But also… Ollie Fletcher was an insufferable shit 😅
5⭐️
2 🌶️
Oh now this book was an absolute delight 🥹
George, who we meet in book 5, is a sensible and loyal heir to a Duke. He has always expected he’d marry, provide heirs and dutifully fulfill his responsibilities to his family. His life long best friend (and crush), Ollie Fletcher is about to be married. After learning of his father’s relationship with Kit, George is questioning everything about his life and his future.
George’s character is written with such… unselfish melancholy, it really pulls the heartstrings 🥺 George is such a loveable character. While reading, I felt so invested in him getting his HEA. He is such a gentle and kind soul who thought he knew his direction in life, and then he felt at a loss once everything he thought he knew had been turned on its head.
At Ollie’s wedding festivities, George becomes reacquainted with Theo. An older acquaintance from their boarding school days and summers at the Fletcher’s estate. Theo is a fun character (I LOVED THEO SO MUCH!). He lives a carefree lifestyle, giving in to his wanderlust, set on not ever settling down.
Theo inherits a property from a little known Uncle, and George ends up visiting the place to help Theo take stock of the estate and the tenants, knowing that Theo would like a quick sale to fund his next adventures, to continue his solitary life.
But it turns out, Theo had never envisioned a shared life, settled down with someone he could love because he never thought it possible. Could it be possible??
I restricted my life to what I thought was possible, rather than what I actually wanted.
I absolutely LOVED this.
Believable.
Tender.
“No man is an island, however much you might wish to be one.”
But also… Ollie Fletcher was an insufferable shit 😅
5⭐️
2 🌶️
March 5, 2026
A- / 4.5 stars rounded up.
Joanna Chambers continues her Enlightenment series of m/m historical romances with Liberated, the long-awaited story featuring George Asquith, son and heir to Henry, Duke of Avebury (who got his HEA in book five, Restored ). Liberated is a charming and tender slow-burn romance between two former school-mates; a proper and reserved young nobleman and an emotionally detached jack-the-lad who seems to sail through life untroubled, both of whom are trying to find their place in the world and struggling under the weight of their own expectations and preconceptions. It’s a simple story with no overblown drama or earth-shattering plotlines, but it’s superbly done; the characters are appealing and relatable, their chemistry sizzles and the romance is beautifully developed.
Theo Caldwell has spent much of his life hinding behind the solidly constructed emotional walls he’s built so that he can live freely and safe from emotional entanglements. He knows who he is and isn’t ashamed of it, but he also knows that men ‘like him’ don’t get to have love or romance in their lives; it simply isn’t possible so why waste time looking for it? He’s a younger son so he doesn’t have any expectations or responsibilities to fulfil, and he enjoys the life of a carefree bachelor, never staying in any one place for long and never fucking the same man twice.
Ever since he learned the truth about his father and his relationship with Kit, George Asquith has felt more adrift and alone than ever. Being assured that he would never be pressured into marrying to carry on the family name hasn’t provided the kind of relief Henry seemed to think it should, because it’s turned everything George thought he knew about what his life would be upside down and inside out. He knows he’s not the most sociable person, that he’s too quiet, too sensitive, too earnest; he doesn’t like London and much prefers to spend most of his time at the family estate in Wiltshire – and now he doesn’t have to find a suitable bride and set up his nursery… what else is he supposed to do with himself?
You can read the rest of this review at All About Romance.
Joanna Chambers continues her Enlightenment series of m/m historical romances with Liberated, the long-awaited story featuring George Asquith, son and heir to Henry, Duke of Avebury (who got his HEA in book five, Restored ). Liberated is a charming and tender slow-burn romance between two former school-mates; a proper and reserved young nobleman and an emotionally detached jack-the-lad who seems to sail through life untroubled, both of whom are trying to find their place in the world and struggling under the weight of their own expectations and preconceptions. It’s a simple story with no overblown drama or earth-shattering plotlines, but it’s superbly done; the characters are appealing and relatable, their chemistry sizzles and the romance is beautifully developed.
Theo Caldwell has spent much of his life hinding behind the solidly constructed emotional walls he’s built so that he can live freely and safe from emotional entanglements. He knows who he is and isn’t ashamed of it, but he also knows that men ‘like him’ don’t get to have love or romance in their lives; it simply isn’t possible so why waste time looking for it? He’s a younger son so he doesn’t have any expectations or responsibilities to fulfil, and he enjoys the life of a carefree bachelor, never staying in any one place for long and never fucking the same man twice.
Ever since he learned the truth about his father and his relationship with Kit, George Asquith has felt more adrift and alone than ever. Being assured that he would never be pressured into marrying to carry on the family name hasn’t provided the kind of relief Henry seemed to think it should, because it’s turned everything George thought he knew about what his life would be upside down and inside out. He knows he’s not the most sociable person, that he’s too quiet, too sensitive, too earnest; he doesn’t like London and much prefers to spend most of his time at the family estate in Wiltshire – and now he doesn’t have to find a suitable bride and set up his nursery… what else is he supposed to do with himself?
You can read the rest of this review at All About Romance.
March 1, 2026
3.5 stars. I think there's too much going on in the world right now for me to have truly appreciated this book. I enjoyed the reading experience, but now that I've finished I don't have super strong feelings about it. It was beautifully written though, and felt like classic Joanna Chambers.
It tells the story of George - who is Henry's adult son from the previous book and heir to a dukedom - a sweet, considerate young man who attends a close friend's wedding in London and becomes reacquainted with Theo, a slightly older schoolmate that he harboured a secret crush on. They have an interesting run-in in a gentleman's club (one we are familiar with from Kit's story) and this leads to an improbable friendship. The two end up on a sort of road-trip to the Welsh countryside to visit a property that Theo has inherited and has no idea how to manage.
Theo is an interesting character, he is carefree and confident, but also kind of brash and a little thoughtless at times. He offers a kind of no strings attached opportunity for George to experiment with him, but George wants real intimacy, so he keeps Theo at arm's length, until he doesn't. The two inevitably end up in bed together and the chemistry was great. George has this immediately submissive vibe that was delicious but that we didn't get nearly enough of. I really wanted her to explore their sexual dynamic more, but it fell short here. I enjoyed their easy domesticity though, like even though their arrangement was always meant to be temporary, they move around each other like old lovers. And George is such a lovely and likeable person.
Anyway, there are some eleventh hour misunderstandings that drive them apart, and even though I hate last minute drama, it felt necessary; the book was almost frictionless without it. The pay-off is so good though, because in the wake of the drama, we get one of the most acutely romantic scenes I've read in a hot minute.
Overall a lovely book, that I really did enjoy, but will probably end up forgetting pretty quickly.
It tells the story of George - who is Henry's adult son from the previous book and heir to a dukedom - a sweet, considerate young man who attends a close friend's wedding in London and becomes reacquainted with Theo, a slightly older schoolmate that he harboured a secret crush on. They have an interesting run-in in a gentleman's club (one we are familiar with from Kit's story) and this leads to an improbable friendship. The two end up on a sort of road-trip to the Welsh countryside to visit a property that Theo has inherited and has no idea how to manage.
Theo is an interesting character, he is carefree and confident, but also kind of brash and a little thoughtless at times. He offers a kind of no strings attached opportunity for George to experiment with him, but George wants real intimacy, so he keeps Theo at arm's length, until he doesn't. The two inevitably end up in bed together and the chemistry was great. George has this immediately submissive vibe that was delicious but that we didn't get nearly enough of. I really wanted her to explore their sexual dynamic more, but it fell short here. I enjoyed their easy domesticity though, like even though their arrangement was always meant to be temporary, they move around each other like old lovers. And George is such a lovely and likeable person.
Anyway, there are some eleventh hour misunderstandings that drive them apart, and even though I hate last minute drama, it felt necessary; the book was almost frictionless without it. The pay-off is so good though, because in the wake of the drama, we get one of the most acutely romantic scenes I've read in a hot minute.
Overall a lovely book, that I really did enjoy, but will probably end up forgetting pretty quickly.
February 27, 2026
Thoroughly enjoyable. RTC
February 26, 2026
I have been in love with these series for a long time, Murdoh and David being one of my favourite couples of all time. This story's protagonists kind of feel like the amalgamation of everyone from the previous books. George having James' initial shyness, Henry's duty bound heart, Murdoch's practicality. Theo having David's self loathing (that is healed gradually by his lover), Kit's cynicism, Ian's fear of commitment. But it all works! I read this in one day and it felt like a favoured fever dream. Also the amount of accepting queer individuals in this story is so pleasantly refreshing to a lot of other historical romances, that it felt like a long cool drink of crisp cider on a hot day!
Also, while the other books gave ample villains to loathe and with downfall upon (I see you new Mrs lennox and I applaud you for walking all over that horrid man), this one doesn't really have any. Ollie is irritating and manipulative but... I don't think he deserves the title of a villain. Yes he is selfish and childish, but most of all his life is driven by jealousy, resentment and fears, probably exacerbated by his violent father. He is not a good person but neither is he evil. Once again I am so satisfied that the characters feel like real adults and not convenient plot stereotypes. All in all I love this book!!!!!
Also, while the other books gave ample villains to loathe and with downfall upon (I see you new Mrs lennox and I applaud you for walking all over that horrid man), this one doesn't really have any. Ollie is irritating and manipulative but... I don't think he deserves the title of a villain. Yes he is selfish and childish, but most of all his life is driven by jealousy, resentment and fears, probably exacerbated by his violent father. He is not a good person but neither is he evil. Once again I am so satisfied that the characters feel like real adults and not convenient plot stereotypes. All in all I love this book!!!!!
March 5, 2026
After we found out about George in the previous book, it is very exciting to see him get his own story. George and Theo couldn't be more opposite and I enjoyed seeing them find common ground as they began a casual relationship that morphs into something more over time. I especially liked how some of the natural obstacles of the story-George's eventual dukedom and Theo's propensity to never be tied down and having an estate all the way in Wales-were given an elegant and organic solution tha stemmed from Theo's realisation that he did have feelings for George after all. Both characters had a lot of growing to do, and it was lovely to see both see themselves differently after spending time with each other. The time spent at Theo's estate, and all the side characters that came with it were also a deeply enjoyable part of the novel.
March 2, 2026
Utterly charming, perfectly delightful. I was so hoping for a happy ending for George, and I got that in spades. Friends to lovers, found family, a past 'mystery', and it has to be said, packing quite a bit of heat 🔥🔥🔥 for one of Joanna's historical novels 😏. I also loved that she tied up loose ends for Freddy in the epilogue. As for you Ollie...well, it serves you right, treating former best friends like that with no regard or appreciation for their feelings. Why on earth would George want to stay in the closet for you?
Methinks a re-read of the entire series is coming up soon, and a place on my best of 2026 shelf for this particular instalment. Glad to have you back Joanna!
Methinks a re-read of the entire series is coming up soon, and a place on my best of 2026 shelf for this particular instalment. Glad to have you back Joanna!
March 1, 2026
I didn’t like Theo. Such a wishy-washy man! I kept thinking someone else would show up to be the love interest until I remembered we already had Theo’s POV. Sad to say this was my least favourite of the series. George deserved better.
March 4, 2026
3.75
Unlike the first 3 books of this series, I have read the last two only once. But, I still remembered George and wanted a happy ending for that melancholic young guy. The book succeeded in doing so.
Unlike the first 3 books of this series, I have read the last two only once. But, I still remembered George and wanted a happy ending for that melancholic young guy. The book succeeded in doing so.
Read
February 27, 2026We’re so back baby!!!!! I’ve missed JC books so bad😭
March 3, 2026
ahhhhh so lovely
February 28, 2026
OH GOD, I AM A PUDDLE. I CAN'T TALK TO ANYBODY ABOUT THIS. THIS BOOK ATE ME ALIVE. I CAN'T EVEN BE BOTHERED TO TURN OFF CAPS.
March 6, 2026
This is my first book in the Enlightenment series, although I am a big Joanna Chambers and Regency fan, so not sure how I never tried this series. This is book #6 and perfectly fine as a stand-alone. We have George, the heir to a dukedom, who is all about duty and being a good person. He has been close friends with Ollie since school, and really wanted more, but Ollie has distanced himself from George. Now Ollie is getting married, to the daughter of a tradesman (the horror!), and wants George to be there. Seriously, you know right from the start that Ollie is a tool. Another school friend, Theo, is also going to the wedding. Theo is the opposite of George. Where George is careful, Theo is reckless. George, an organized planner; Theo, completely spontaneous. Theo does not look to tomorrow, just today. They are so opposite. There is also the idea that George believes Theo betrayed him and Ollie, which had repercussions. Theo was not all that friendly to George at school, “He’d genuinely thought it would do George good to learn to toughen up.” Um, no.
Theo spends all his money traveling, and when he finds out he has inherited a small estate in Wales, he immediately plans to sell it. But first, he is going to attend Ollie’s wedding as a favor to Ollie’s cousin, Piers (a joy!) because guests are refusing, since tradesmen are so below them, no matter how much money they have.
George is such a kind, good-hearted soul. He is treated abominably by Ollie repeatedly. Ollie asked George to leave London when Ollie was searching for an heiress, then has the audacity to tell George later how much he misses him. “You could have come to see me in town….” But George isn’t that easy. “That’s not true..you asked me to leave. How could I return after that?”
Theo can see how poorly Ollie treats George, even at the wedding, where George is seated as the guest of honor near the bride’s father, who boorishly spends hours talking about himself and his money as George is too polite to say anything. Theo saves Ollie then, and again at the wedding breakfast. A chance encounter at a place Theo and George never expected to see each other ends in a very sensual session. With more Ollie BS at the wedding breakfast, Theo can’t take it anymore on George’s behalf. This ends up with an invitation to Theo’s newly acquired estate and in a rare show of adventure, George attends.
It is at Blackfriers, the estate, where Theo starts to realize how he has lived life to this point may not be as wonderful as he thought, and that his focus on the right now has consequences for people outside himself. It was sobering for him, but he slowly starts to think outside of himself.
Not to give anything away, but Mr. Martin broke my heart. And George’s dad, well, George has the Duke, and an incredibly rare, special situation there. Again, no spoilers, but this is probably the first time I’ve read something like this in a Regency book. I loved that.
Something I truly appreciated, the misunderstanding here was believable. It wasn’t contrived to be a plot point, but was something I could see happening, just as it happened. The sex is quick but the realization of feelings takes longer. And every time Ollie shows up, and he does, he made me want to slap him. Luckily, we get to see George come to the realization of the crumbs Ollie offers and that it isn’t enough.
Reviewed for Love Bytes Reviews
Theo spends all his money traveling, and when he finds out he has inherited a small estate in Wales, he immediately plans to sell it. But first, he is going to attend Ollie’s wedding as a favor to Ollie’s cousin, Piers (a joy!) because guests are refusing, since tradesmen are so below them, no matter how much money they have.
George is such a kind, good-hearted soul. He is treated abominably by Ollie repeatedly. Ollie asked George to leave London when Ollie was searching for an heiress, then has the audacity to tell George later how much he misses him. “You could have come to see me in town….” But George isn’t that easy. “That’s not true..you asked me to leave. How could I return after that?”
Theo can see how poorly Ollie treats George, even at the wedding, where George is seated as the guest of honor near the bride’s father, who boorishly spends hours talking about himself and his money as George is too polite to say anything. Theo saves Ollie then, and again at the wedding breakfast. A chance encounter at a place Theo and George never expected to see each other ends in a very sensual session. With more Ollie BS at the wedding breakfast, Theo can’t take it anymore on George’s behalf. This ends up with an invitation to Theo’s newly acquired estate and in a rare show of adventure, George attends.
It is at Blackfriers, the estate, where Theo starts to realize how he has lived life to this point may not be as wonderful as he thought, and that his focus on the right now has consequences for people outside himself. It was sobering for him, but he slowly starts to think outside of himself.
Not to give anything away, but Mr. Martin broke my heart. And George’s dad, well, George has the Duke, and an incredibly rare, special situation there. Again, no spoilers, but this is probably the first time I’ve read something like this in a Regency book. I loved that.
Something I truly appreciated, the misunderstanding here was believable. It wasn’t contrived to be a plot point, but was something I could see happening, just as it happened. The sex is quick but the realization of feelings takes longer. And every time Ollie shows up, and he does, he made me want to slap him. Luckily, we get to see George come to the realization of the crumbs Ollie offers and that it isn’t enough.
Reviewed for Love Bytes Reviews
March 5, 2026
A low-angst entry to a favorite series of mine. Nothing terribly interesting plot-wise happens here, alas; George, the son of the duke protagonist from the previous book, upset by the impending marriage of his former best friend (and not-quite love interest) meets an old schoolfriend at the pre-wedding dinner, and again that evening at Redford's male sex club, much to his surprise. After George and Theo (an older boy on whom George once had a crush) share a low-key sexual interlude (Theo insisting that he has no interest in romance, only in satisfying his physical "itch"), the two meet again the next day at the wedding, and Theo, unwilling to part from George so soon, invites him to travel to Wales with him to visit the small estate he's just inherited. Romantic George tries not to fall for Theo, while non-romantic Theo thinks he's never in danger of doing so, but of course you can guess how things go...
Chambers does great work depicting George, the diffident heir to a dukedom who's been gaslit by his previous "friend" into thinking that he's not very likable, and the pleasure he derives from being the gentle, submissive "good boy" to a more conventionally masculine affable guy. We're given far less about Theo, though, which I found disappointing; I wanted to know whether it was his personality, or his previous experiences (or both) that led him to embrace the "I don't need anyone else" line. The secondary characters were lightly but pleasantly sketched.
Chambers' historical research is evident, but it doesn't play much of a role in the actual story; estate management hardly provides the same high tension that the political and social class differences that separated the protagonists in previous books in the series did.
Most disappointingly, this latest book seems to have been written in a rush, or at least not line edited before being published. The many repeated nouns (one example: "He stepped forward and took George's face in his hands, gazing into his beloved face") really bothered me, since I don't expect such clumsy prose in a book by Chambers. Or the appearance of ahistorical language ("crush" is used quite a few times, a US slang word dating from the 1880s, not the 1820s). Kept getting popped out of the book by these careless errors.
Chambers does great work depicting George, the diffident heir to a dukedom who's been gaslit by his previous "friend" into thinking that he's not very likable, and the pleasure he derives from being the gentle, submissive "good boy" to a more conventionally masculine affable guy. We're given far less about Theo, though, which I found disappointing; I wanted to know whether it was his personality, or his previous experiences (or both) that led him to embrace the "I don't need anyone else" line. The secondary characters were lightly but pleasantly sketched.
Chambers' historical research is evident, but it doesn't play much of a role in the actual story; estate management hardly provides the same high tension that the political and social class differences that separated the protagonists in previous books in the series did.
Most disappointingly, this latest book seems to have been written in a rush, or at least not line edited before being published. The many repeated nouns (one example: "He stepped forward and took George's face in his hands, gazing into his beloved face") really bothered me, since I don't expect such clumsy prose in a book by Chambers. Or the appearance of ahistorical language ("crush" is used quite a few times, a US slang word dating from the 1880s, not the 1820s). Kept getting popped out of the book by these careless errors.
March 1, 2026
This is my first ever Joanna Chambers book; she’s been on my list of ‘authors to watch’ as someone whose writing is often compared to KJC’s. So when I saw an ARC available of this on GRR I went for it! And whilst I didn’t find this as compelling as KJC’s works, I can definitely understand the appeal and the similarities - if you’re in the mood for a queer regency romance this will definitely scratch that itch!
Whilst this book is part of a series, it was absolutely fine to read as a standalone - I wasn’t at any point left feeling confused or lost. It follows George Asquith, heir to the Duke of Avesbury, and Theo Caldwell, a hedonistic young gentleman. Previously schoolboys together, they meet again at the wedding of a mutual friend (and perhaps to George, something more) and reconnect. Theo then invites George to spent time at his country estate, which is in desperate need of help to recover after years of neglect.
Whilst this book has what I’d call a ‘quiet’ plot, there were many strings to it - the breakdown of George’s toxic co-dependent friendship with Ollie, George figuring out his new direction in life after realising he no longer has to pretend to be straight and get married, Theo’s inability to let himself love and be loved due to his fear of being outed… it was all very beautifully written and explored.
The reason this loses a star is twofold - one is that it uses one of my least favourite tropes TWICE; miscommunication. Once I could forgive, but twice? Ugh. Also there were some historical language inaccuracies that pulled me out of the story, such as one of the characters saying he had a ‘crush’ (modern slang) and a doctor diagnosing a ‘concussion’ (again, a modern term). This is just me being nitpicky though!
Overall a lovely read and definitely makes me want to go back and read this author’s other works!
Whilst this book is part of a series, it was absolutely fine to read as a standalone - I wasn’t at any point left feeling confused or lost. It follows George Asquith, heir to the Duke of Avesbury, and Theo Caldwell, a hedonistic young gentleman. Previously schoolboys together, they meet again at the wedding of a mutual friend (and perhaps to George, something more) and reconnect. Theo then invites George to spent time at his country estate, which is in desperate need of help to recover after years of neglect.
Whilst this book has what I’d call a ‘quiet’ plot, there were many strings to it - the breakdown of George’s toxic co-dependent friendship with Ollie, George figuring out his new direction in life after realising he no longer has to pretend to be straight and get married, Theo’s inability to let himself love and be loved due to his fear of being outed… it was all very beautifully written and explored.
The reason this loses a star is twofold - one is that it uses one of my least favourite tropes TWICE; miscommunication. Once I could forgive, but twice? Ugh. Also there were some historical language inaccuracies that pulled me out of the story, such as one of the characters saying he had a ‘crush’ (modern slang) and a doctor diagnosing a ‘concussion’ (again, a modern term). This is just me being nitpicky though!
Overall a lovely read and definitely makes me want to go back and read this author’s other works!
March 4, 2026
I would like to thank GRR for the opportunity to read and review this ARC.
Ooooh this was sooooo good! For my first Joanna Chambers, and first in the Enlightenment series, I thought Liberated was absolutely lovely! I can't wait to binge the whole thing!
George and Theo enjoyed an uncomplicated, sincere and charming, pastoral love affair that was wonderful to read. This book felt free of theatrics and dastardly energy, and was as earnest and kind as George's generosity and soothing capacity. Theo was an untameable, adventurous darling, who was so action-oriented I felt like he rolled up everywhere with thunder under his feet! He lived for exploring the world, was as free-spirited as could be...until he was reunited with George ofc, and he was awakened to the pleasures of having his wildness corralled.
This book was filled with all kinds of love, some so tender, caring, and gentle, that I was moved by these characters and their soft hearts. But also the sexy loving read so real, with George's raw need bare, and so tangible that every time he begged "please" I combusted and maybe cried a little. The trust between him and Theo, and the respect for his gentle heart that he courageously made sure Theo knew was made for love and partnership, knowing Theo for his no-strings indulgences but feeling safe enough to explore his sexuality with him anyway. Everything about George came across really earnest and heartfelt. I really loved George's standard of quiet bravery, either standing-toe-to-toe with, or alongside, Theo's dashing charisma and energetic turmoil, which fuelled his own emotional growing and was also satisfying to read.
Liberated was a charming historical romance, and the peaceful pleasure of this installment has launched this series up my TBRs for the moment I can indulge beyond ARC reading. Wonderful!
Ooooh this was sooooo good! For my first Joanna Chambers, and first in the Enlightenment series, I thought Liberated was absolutely lovely! I can't wait to binge the whole thing!
George and Theo enjoyed an uncomplicated, sincere and charming, pastoral love affair that was wonderful to read. This book felt free of theatrics and dastardly energy, and was as earnest and kind as George's generosity and soothing capacity. Theo was an untameable, adventurous darling, who was so action-oriented I felt like he rolled up everywhere with thunder under his feet! He lived for exploring the world, was as free-spirited as could be...until he was reunited with George ofc, and he was awakened to the pleasures of having his wildness corralled.
This book was filled with all kinds of love, some so tender, caring, and gentle, that I was moved by these characters and their soft hearts. But also the sexy loving read so real, with George's raw need bare, and so tangible that every time he begged "please" I combusted and maybe cried a little. The trust between him and Theo, and the respect for his gentle heart that he courageously made sure Theo knew was made for love and partnership, knowing Theo for his no-strings indulgences but feeling safe enough to explore his sexuality with him anyway. Everything about George came across really earnest and heartfelt. I really loved George's standard of quiet bravery, either standing-toe-to-toe with, or alongside, Theo's dashing charisma and energetic turmoil, which fuelled his own emotional growing and was also satisfying to read.
Liberated was a charming historical romance, and the peaceful pleasure of this installment has launched this series up my TBRs for the moment I can indulge beyond ARC reading. Wonderful!
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February 26, 2026I have been in love with these series for a long time, Murdoh and David being one of my favourite couples of all time. This story's protagonists kind of feel like the amalgamation of everyone from the previous books. George having James' initial shyness, Henry's duty bound heart, Murdoch's practicality. Theo having David's self loathing (that is healed gradually by his lover), Kit's cynicism, Ian's fear of commitment. But it all works! I read this in one day and it felt like a favoured fever dream. Also the amount of accepting queer individuals in this story is so pleasantly refreshing to a lot of other historical romances, that it felt like a long cool drink of crisp cider on a hot day!
Also, while the other books gave ample villains to loathe and with downfall upon (I see you new Mrs lennox and I applaud you for walking all over that horrid man), this one doesn't really have any. Ollie is irritating and manipulative but... I don't think he deserves the title of a villain. Yes he is selfish and childish, but most of all his life is driven by jealousy, resentment and fears, probably exacerbated by his violent father. He is not a good person but neither is he evil. Once again I am so satisfied that the characters feel like real adults and not convenient plot stereotypes. All in all I love this book!!!!!
Also, while the other books gave ample villains to loathe and with downfall upon (I see you new Mrs lennox and I applaud you for walking all over that horrid man), this one doesn't really have any. Ollie is irritating and manipulative but... I don't think he deserves the title of a villain. Yes he is selfish and childish, but most of all his life is driven by jealousy, resentment and fears, probably exacerbated by his violent father. He is not a good person but neither is he evil. Once again I am so satisfied that the characters feel like real adults and not convenient plot stereotypes. All in all I love this book!!!!!
March 1, 2026
This book has been a long time coming, as the author notes. The first Enlightenment books were, I suspect, some of the first pro M/M I read, so I was glad to return to that world and see George get his HEA.
This was an enjoyable story with relatively little friction between the MCs. I was happy to keep reading along, though I never felt particularly attached to George or Theo. (I do wonder whether more focus on Theo's upbringing/early life might have made his commitment to lack of commitment more understandable.) All in all, I found the book pleasant but not particularly memorable. As another reviewer noted, I was surprised at some editorial sloppiness—but that's something that troubles me more than it will most readers.
My thanks to Gay Romance Reviews for a complimentary copy of this book.
This was an enjoyable story with relatively little friction between the MCs. I was happy to keep reading along, though I never felt particularly attached to George or Theo. (I do wonder whether more focus on Theo's upbringing/early life might have made his commitment to lack of commitment more understandable.) All in all, I found the book pleasant but not particularly memorable. As another reviewer noted, I was surprised at some editorial sloppiness—but that's something that troubles me more than it will most readers.
My thanks to Gay Romance Reviews for a complimentary copy of this book.
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