Convincing Arthur, from Ava March (London Legal #1)

Hi, again! Welcome to a very fangirl review ❤ Yes, I’m talking about an Ava March book, haha!

As I already mentioned once or twice, Ava is re-releasing her books in the London Legal series with new hot covers and adding a third book to the series. Convincing Arthur, the star of this particular review and first book in the series, was re-released on January 12^th and Convincing Leopold, second book in the series, will be re-released on February 9^th. As for the third and new book, Convincing the Secretary, despite being released only on March, its review is already available here 😀

To celebrate this re-releases, I decided to re-read and properly review the series. Ava deserves my time and you deserve to know about the best books in the world ❤ My picture was taken with the new cover, to help promoting the book around, but I actually own the old edition 🙂

from my Instagram 🙂

The Story

Arthur Barrington knew exactly what awaited for him when he accepted Leopold’s invitation for a short holiday at his friend’s country house in Yorkshire: pleasure beyond anything he knew and total chances of forgetting about his shattered heart. Recently out of a 10-years-long relationship, Arthur just needs to have a good time before search for another discreet gentleman, one willing to be committed, loyal and in love with him.

Leopold Thornton knew exactly what awaited him when he invited Arthur for a short holiday at his country house in Yorkshire: a chance to finally prove himself worthy of the man he has been in love with for the past ten years. Leopold knew he had to take it slow and that his ill and well-built reputation as the biggest whore in London would be held against him, but Leopold couldn’t stand to witness Arthur’s heartache any longer. Or to bear his own either.

Arthur and Leopold’s chemistry is undeniable and soon enough all it takes for both gentlemen to disrupt themselves in feverish desire is to be on each other’s company. Arthur is having the time of his life in Leopold’s bed and Leopold is on the fight with everything he has to win Arthur’s heart.

The only problem is that their life roles are switched. Can Leopold cure Arthur’s heartache without acquiring one of his own?

The Analysis

Just remembering that those were my impressions and opinion as reader 🙂

To be honest, I lost track of how many times I have read this book. Despite being normally a hardcore fan of Ava’s work, Leopold also happens to be one of my Top Males from her. Yup, a lot of re-reads through the years since I’m 17 🙂 Just like my 16-year-old face, my favoritism still is the same as back then.

Convincing Arthur has almost all the elements that I most adore in a book: a gay couple, a historical setting in 19^th century England, hot non-vulgar sex scenes, deep and developed characters, a happy ending and third person styled narrator with switching points of view and Ava March’s flawless writing style. It would be ridiculous if I gave it any less than five stars.

As we’ll be talking about a literary piece of art and perfection, all impartiality will be left behind.

As my spoilerish summary indicated, the narrative style is third person and we get to be inside both Leopold and Arthur’s heads. This is my favorite style, as it gives the reader a full picture of what is happening. It works very well for March, as there is not a mystery element to the book. The whole feeling of the book leads the reader to guess the outcome of the romance, but not on a bothersome level. Just like a regular sugared historical romance, we wonder how the couple will manage to stay together. The details are the delight, haha!

As this is the first volume in a series, I think it doesn’t make sense to talk about lose ends 🙂

The plot is very simple with minor twists, but very well executed. Regency boy reconnects with wealthier regency boy, they have sex and now must decide whether both parts are happy in continuing the relationship or if it was indeed a one-time deal. The key is how the couple will communicated and this is the turning point on their relationship, what measures their success or failure. It is so real that my heart clenches: if there is no communication, there is no relationship.

One of the things that I like the most about March’s works is that I notice something different each time that I read her books. There is always something new that I need to add on my mental database about the portrayed couple. A line of thinking, a shed word, body responses to one another. It is just magical, haha!

Then, there are the characters.

My heart is Leopold’s and I will stand by him until the end of the days, but Arthur is also an incredible character. They are two men trying to make a completely forbidden relationship to work when all odds are against them. Besides being really romantic, it is sensible and beautiful. Their struggles are daily just like mine or yours and the reader is involved on their consciousness in such a way that we just want to help them to understand each other. We want to tell them what they think of themselves and we want to force them to talk, to clear things up.

Leopold’s feelings…

… and Arthur’s.

Leopold is beautiful, rich, funny, smart, loyal and skillful ~ if you catch my drift ~, but he bares several insecurities and a particular condition that will be more apparent and discussed on the second book. Arthur is the boy next door, dutiful and hardworking, but he dreads the idea of being utterly alone in the world, having the need of sharing his life with someone – actually, anyone that will have him on his terms, as we soon learn in the begging of the book. They are perfect on both qualities and flaws. Both were lacking individuals before the holiday in Yorkishire. Together, they help each other to become better people. Isn’t this beautiful?

Honestly, I can’t with myself. It’s too much love for only one person, haha!

A strong and ever present element in March’s books are the sex scenes. They are hot, explicit and dashing. You see, March has this gift that allows her to portray desire in a way that leads her readers into believing that the involved couple are in heaven while having sex. The sexual need of the partners is strong and restless and there’s nothing they’d rather do than be there, on that second, sharing their bodies with each other. This bound ensures high quality and well written scenes and vulgarity-free desire. All sex scenes are justified and helpful into building the relationship. They’re not there for mere appreciation of the moment, to put I mildly 😉 And I love March for being capable of this.

Bonus point: 19^th century London on March’s hands. You feel like you are walking London’s streets along Leopold and Arthur, as if you know all the directions they need to take to move around and reach their destinations. It’s not just a whatever scenario, it is alive and pulsing behind all the drama and romance ❤

Oh, and then there is this brand new shiny cover.

I really loved those *–* The minimal that every book deserves is a beautiful cover and London Legal series was in desperate need for prettier covers 🙂

Overall, I don’t care if it is a homosexual romance, I think everybody should read Ava March’s books because she is that awesome. #justsaying

Thank you for indulging my fangirling and congrats for finishing this review! 😀 There is still so much to be done and posted today that I’m getting some Britney vibes…

Wish me luck! Oh, and the review for Convincing Leopold will be posted on February 8^th 🙂