Review: Convincing Arthur

Title: Convincing Arthur
Series: Convincing
Author: Ava March
Publisher: Loose Id
Publication Date: 21 July 2009
Reviewed Format: ebook
Length: 24,949 words

Rating: 4 out of 5

Blurb:
Mr. Leopold Thornton missed his chance ten years ago. He isn't about to let this one pass him by.

Given Leopold's reputation for vice and debauchery, Mr. Arthur Barrington has a fair idea why the sinfully beautiful man invites him to his country estate. A shooting excursion? Unlikely. Especially considering Arthur is the only guest invited to the estate. He shouldn't consider the invitation, but a few days of mind-blowing sex could be just the thing to help him get over the heartbreaking end of a ten-year relationship. Then he can return to London to his thriving law practice, and quietly search for an amiable man who understands the meaning of the word discreet and who recognizes the value of commitment.

There was a time when Leopold wasn't such a rakehell. When every night didn't end with an empty bottle of whisky. When he believed in the rewards of patience. When he didn't give himself over to just anyone who'd have him. Old habits die hard, especially when tempted by six feet of solid muscle, but Leopold will only have a few days to convince Arthur he can be the man he's looking for -- that his love is genuine and he's worthy of Arthur's heart.

Review:

Main Characters:
Arthur is a rather sedate fellow who works as a solicitor. He enjoys shooting though he rarely finds the opportunity for it. He also enjoys the intimate company of other men and recently ended a ten-year relationship when he discovered that his partner intended to marry.

He's a bit of a Clark Kent, actually, as those mild manners hide the heart of a passionate romantic, a man who wants someone to grow old with but who isn't above indulging in a long weekend of vice before settling in for the search. He recalls a past friendship with Leopold fondly, and hopes that the weekend in Yorkshire will be just what his heart ordered to get over his unfaithful former-lover.

I enjoyed time spent with Arthur, though I did occasionally want to shake him--it's hard to pass a weekend of debauchery when one is holed up for nine hours with paperwork. I also wish that he hadn't been quite so blind when it came to Leopold's feelings, as he could have saved them both needless angst and separation, but one can't have everything.

Leopold, on the other hand, is quite the wastrel, promiscuous and prone to visiting gambling hells and drinking to excess. He's defined his life by what he'd missed his opportunity for: Arthur. For ten years, he's filled the Arthur-shaped hole in his life with degenerate pursuits and bided his time, waiting for his second chance at love.

I particularly enjoyed Leopold, though I wanted to shake him even more frequently than Arthur. He falls on the bottle entirely too quickly whenever he doubts himself--or more accurately whenever he doubts Arthur. When he's not able to put forth his brash, daring persona, he exhibits a level of vulnerability that makes it easy to root for his happiness, even of he does need to be smacked for shooting himself in the foot so often.

Chemistry:
Arthur and Leopold certainly generate a lot of heat together. Between Leopold's ten years of unrequited love and Arthur's need to forget the poor ending to his affair, they're two men who are perfect for each other, even were they only to lick each other's wounds. As a romance, they're surprisingly sweet, considerate of each other--in bed, at least--and balancing well. I do wish that Leopold was a little more confident and independent, though, as building his entire life around Arthur is hardly healthy.

Secondary Characters:
There really is no supporting cast; most are only mentions, like Arthur's ex-lover, or unnamed servants. Given the length of the book, that's not surprising and a larger cast really wasn't necessary.

Story:
This is definitely a character-driven story, and as such not a lot happens in it. It's mostly Arthur and Leopold learning about themselves and each other--whilst having a lot of sex. This isn't to say that the story is overwhelmed by sex, but there is a fair amount of it. After all, the long weekend of debauchery is rather the center of the story, and it focuses it very well.

Writing:
The writing is solid and enjoyable, but there is a predominant element in it that drives me nuts: sentence fragments. They're not only in dialogue or sex scenes, where I have an easier time overlooking them, but throughout the narrative. I read with a mental red pen, smoothing out the fragments, which got to be a bit distracting at times. If fragments don't bother you, though, then the writing is a delight.

Overall:
Interesting, complex characters and an amusing concept make this an easy book to like. It's fairly short, perfect for squeezing some Regency romance into a little free time, and really quite enjoyable. I'm looking forward to seeing where they've ended up in the sequel.