ARC REVIEW : The Reluctant Husband by Eliot Grayson

Title : The Reluctant Husband

Author : Eliot Grayson

Series : Goddess-Blessed #2

Genre(s) : historical gay romance, fantasy

Release Date : June 7th 2019

Rating : 4/5 Stars 

Buy link : Amazon

Disowned, disgraced, and with nowhere to turn, Tom Drake is willing to barter anything — even himself — for a reprieve from starvation and despair. Years spent lying to protect his secrets have left him longing for someone to value him, even if it’s only for his body and the blessing of his patron goddess.

Mal Leighton’s cousin and heir is dying. Only a miracle can save him — and if a miracle doesn’t appear, Mal’s damn well going to create one. Marrying Tom for his blessing is his last desperate hope to preserve his family. And if Tom happens to be as irresistibly seductive as he is untrustworthy? Well, Mal can focus on more than one goal at a time.

Tom doesn’t fall in love, and Mal knows better than to believe he’s the exception. But when Tom’s blessing doesn’t provide the quick cure they’d hoped, it’s clear that the goddess expects them to have a marriage in more than name. To save Mal’s family and find their own happiness, they will both need to sacrifice their pride and risk their hearts.

The story started with Tom who must lived penny by penny after being disgraced and disowned by his brother, Arthur and then ‘kicked out' by his wife after being ‘used’ for the needs. One night ‘mistake’ he did with Mal for money had brought him to another problem that soon will affect his destiny, because Mal accidentally know his secret. Mal then offer him a deal, marry him and help him save his dying cousin then he will never get starved again. Tom agreed marrying Mal and once again being ‘used’. But deep inside, Tom longing for someone who could value and see him not only as an ‘object’. And falling for Mal was the last thing he expected to be…

I like this book way much more than the first book. I hate Tom at that time for what he did to Owen, but after knowing his story, the reasons behind all he did in the previous story and the secret he hide, he slowly gained more sympathy from me…

On the contrary, I want to like Mal, but at some part I want to slapped his face more than once for what he did to Tom, and I took Tom’s side almost the entire reading and have the urge to hugs him so many time.

Comparing to the previous book, I must admit that this story feels a bit more engaging and emotional enough to grip me. Really can’t wait for the next book in this series!