This book was so... tender and loving. Both main characters really supported each other on an emotional level that was wonderful! 5 stars


Both Martin and Will have troubled pasts: Sir Martin has always been 'delicate' and his father was a nasty POS who emotionally/mentally abused Martin and physically abused others; Will had a stint in the Navy where he was mentally abused and flogged repeatedly and horribly, and when it was over he had to endure all the legal rigamaroll that followed, so he drowned his sorrows in opium dens.

Childhood friends, Martin helps rescue Will out of the opium dens and helps bring him back to himself, maintaining their friendship and never pressuring Will to talk about it. The book starts out with Will finding a very very ill Martin and spiriting him away to a cottage in the country, and nursing Martin back to health. Martin has TB, but under Will's care and attention does slowly recover from the recent illness. They grow closer emotionally, and it's clear from the start that Martin has been in love with Will for years, though I *think* Will had some feelings percolating for years, it seems like Will falls in love 'officially' during these months together.

I'd never read a m/m historical romance before, and I was intrigued at how it would be handled, especially since Martin is titled. I thoroughly enjoyed this book! Learning about each of the guys was great, and I felt like the writing was walking the perfect line of explaining the character's thoughts and reasoning without it being too obtrusive or heavy-handed. I 100% of the time felt like each of them cared so thoroughly about the other's well-being and life, it was really remarkable.

This was cozy and intimate but so tender and gentle too. Martin cares deeply for Will, and he wants to protect his mind, his heart, and his reputation from the world, and hates being a "drain" on Will. His actions make total sense to me and I felt his true regret and upset when he has to "do what should be done". Will has always looked out for Martin and thrives when having people to care about, and it was so clear to me that he wanted Martin's health and comfort, and for Martin to experience love and acceptance.
Each of our characters makes concessions and sacrifices for the other, and each are so in tune with how to help emotionally, and how to love the other--they were a great match!

I will say, I listened to the first ~45% in one big chunk, and then took a couple days off. I must have paused it at just the wrong time though, because when I felt like the drama/conflict was happening a little out of left field? I chalked that up to my own reading experience, not the writing, but I could be wrong there.