Chasing Benedict

OMG, this book is the climax of the entire series!!! If you started at the beginning then you know Benedict is the one that started the 'Gentle Courtesans' to give himself and his friends' financial freedom. Not only has the business become quite successful but the courtesans themselves have found very desirable wives within the ton. There's just one fly in the works and that's the spiteful woman who called The London Gossip. She's bound and determined to financially and socially ruin Benedict and doesn't care whom she takes down along the way. Alex has known Benedict since they were at Eaton. They became friends and then lovers. Plans for eventually made for a future and then there weren't, with no explanation on either part. The hell these two have gone through, the emotional and physical drama and drain they've been put through about broke my heart but through it all, deep down, their love was solid. But isn't that what happens with fated mates. This was the best of the series up to date without a doubt. I can't wait to see where Victoria Vale takes us on the new set of courtesans we've been teased with.

It was a very interesting look into 1700/1800 England and the dangers some people faced into that day's society. Ben and Alex were in love and Ben's father targeted Alex as the weak point. Alex caved and followed the fathers' wishes to save Ben. Ben's father is a psycho who almost destroyed his only living heir. Ben tries to protect everyone but it would be impossible with two enemies. Alex wants Ben still and pays him to stay with him when he is turned away. When Alex finds out the danger Ben is in, he masterfully ends the threats from an evil gossip, Ben's father and a sadist doctor. Ben and Alex can now be together as they want and love each other with discretion.

I adore this series and I love that Victoria Vale has included a mm story in it. This series is one of those that I wish that I had a special “extra” button that I could push for extra stars as they are all so good. Ben and Alex make such a lovely couple and when you learn what they had to go through to be together you will be amazed. This is part of why I like to read historical gay romance as it adds the extra element of having to be so careful and yet there were people who were gay back then. If you have read and enjoyed the rest of the series then don’t be scared off by the fact that this book is about two men. There isn’t much explicit sex as most of the book is about their long-standing love and what had broken them apart. The book also has the couples from the other books included and you learn a lot about why things had happened they way they did. It makes a very satisfying conclusion to the series but don’t worry as there is going to be an off shoot series continuing the Gentleman Courtesans. I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.