Clem Talleyfer manages a lodging-house. It's not really his though he has his own sort of claim to it. He takes a lot of pride in his work, even the things that aren't that simple for him. You could say Clem is a bit slow. He has the kindest heart, he is good with people, he truly cares, but he knows he has his limitations and mostly how to get around them or not put himself in places he might not belong or be overwhelmed. The highlight of his days in the past 8 months have been sitting for tea with one of his lodgers - Mr. Green. He might not reclaim his feelings for him, but he would rather at least have him as his friend.
Rowley Green loves his new place and not only because it's close to his shop when he makes and sells preserved animals. Other people might not look kindly about his occupation but Clem Talleyfer never has. He too waits for their daily tea meeting when he comes back to the house from work. Clem might need his routine and not be pressed when he is doing something, but Rowley simply accepts him as he is. This made me really adore Rowley. There is a simplicity to how he sees Clem, without prejudice and judgement.
"Something's out of focus. It's not you any more or less than my eyes are me. And just as without my spectacles everything is blurred, for you it's..."
Rowley himself is rather short and has nothing really "special" about him unlike the handsome and maybe a bit exotic looking Clem. He is surprised Clem is ever interested in him, but for Clem what Rowley offers is something no one else ever has.
"Rowley, there are lots of people who think I’m worth looking at. Not so many who think I’m worth listening to. Not like you"
Their relationship buildup was endearing in it's own way. Neither or them are "hero material" and yet together with Clem's friends they find themselves trying to solve a mystery. Though truth be told they mostly want the danger to go away, they don't really care for the results.. That's just the way both of them are.
Mr. Lugtrout have been a resident in Clem's house ever since his brother Edmund gave the house to him to manage. He and Edmund have their own arrangement, one Clem doesn't want or actually allowed to talk about. Part of it is "taking care" of Lugtrout - allowing him to live rent free. Though Clem wished many times he could simply get rid of the drunkard. But no matter how much he wished he would do them all a favor and fall into the Thames one night he wouldn't wish him to be tortured and killed and then dropped by their front door. Together with a few break-in, one to Lugtrout's room and another to Rowley's shop and things start to become more and more frightening and it only gets worse when someone sets fire to Rowley's shop and tries to kill him. But WHY?
That's what they are trying to find out together with Nathaniel Roy and Mark Braglewicz, both are Clem's friends from a very welcoming and homey inn he visits who caters to men of "their kind" (they are also the MCs in the next two installment in the series). While both want to help Clem and Rowley what they offer and what they start to find really unsettles Clem who wants to believe there is no connection between the recent things that have happened to his brother but every new clue makes it clearer he is smack in the middle of it all somehow. Rowley is frustrated and afraid and he isn't very good with Clem's temper when it comes down to any allegations against Edmund, and Clem is confused about it all. Everything is so complicated and he doesn't want to chose between the man he has grown to love and his brother who might not be a very nice person, but in his own way have taken care of him.
That's where MY frustrating came from. The whole thing was WAY over their heads. Both of them. Rowley with his abusive father just wants to be LEFT ALONE. He is not very good with confrontation to say the least and he doesn't know how to deal with Clem explaining to him that his trust in his brother is NOT in fact well placed. But anything and everything he says makes Clem angry or offended. Clem from his side is having a VERY hard time with the new data they are gathering. It's too complicated and everyone acts as though he is slow and too trusting even the only man he has ever loved. I was SO annoyed with the both of them. They didn't know how to deal with any of that and especially not with each other. Too many argument ended with one of them leaving the room and not speaking for at least a day. I just wanted them to sit and simply SPEAK like grown-ups. But they were both acting from a defensive state - Rowley from fear and Clem from shame I guess? For being what everyone always says he is?
The story ends in a sort of a HFN for them and though not a definite ending to the mystery, most of it was resolved and as the ending promised we'll get more in the next installments. I'm looking forward to these two because like so many of KJ's other novels I LOVED the writing and general setting of the story. I gotta say it WAS quite unique with these two as MCs. But I think you might need to be a bit more patient than I am ;)
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Rating:
★★★½ |
E-Book
Edition |
247
pages
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Read on:
10-11 April 2020
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ABOUT THIS SERIES
Sins of the Cities is a Historical Romance / Romantic Suspense series by KJ Charles.
While each book centers around one couple, the mystery plot spans the
whole of the three novels. The story evolves around the Taillefer family
and who is going to inherit the title Earl of Moreton.
The first story centers around Clem Talleyfer the current heir's half (an illegitimate) brother. Edmund isn't very fond of his half brother but in his own attempt to care for him he gives him a house to manage with a free tennant everyone despises. When said tennant is tortured and killed and then dropped by Clem's door the mystery begins. Why is Edmund paying to keep a drunken ex-priest and what secret documents did he have?
Throughout the next two installments Edmund's past and other family secrets are exposed putting more than just Clem and his lover Rowley's life on the line. As well as complicating the already fragile relationships in this cold family. Bigamy, betrayal, illegitimate marriages and sons, estate affair, fraud, torture and murderers we've got them all in this one. But besides that there are three wonderful romance stories each unique in it's own. I applaud KJ for the characters she chose to write in this series and how they found the love in each other.
I'll admit I had my issue with the first one, but the second of Justin and Nathaniel was one of my absolute favorite book of all times! The third, which brought this whole series together was a great read as well though I admit had my little issues with it. But there is no doubt in my mind when I WHOLE HEARTEDLY recommend this series.
A MUST READ!
KJ got us a spin off series "Lilywhite Boys" 20 years after the plot of this one. We mostly get names dropped though there is a wonderful surprise in Susan Lazarus or rather Sukey as we've met her - Justin's little helper. She has a role in both books - more significant in the second where she is the MC (also it's the only heterosexual romance novel in the series). I LOVED this series as well. Start from this one and then head over to the Lilywhites it's a BEAUTIFUL way to say farewell to the series.
Books:
1. An Unseen Attraction [Clement "Clem" Talleyfer & Rowley Green] (Published 21 February 2017) ★★★½
2. An Unnatural Vice [Nathaniel Roy & Justin Lazarus] (Published 6 June 2017) ★★★★★
3. An Unsuitable Heir [Mark Braglewicz & Pen Starling] (Published 3 October 2017) ★★★★½
The first story centers around Clem Talleyfer the current heir's half (an illegitimate) brother. Edmund isn't very fond of his half brother but in his own attempt to care for him he gives him a house to manage with a free tennant everyone despises. When said tennant is tortured and killed and then dropped by Clem's door the mystery begins. Why is Edmund paying to keep a drunken ex-priest and what secret documents did he have?
Throughout the next two installments Edmund's past and other family secrets are exposed putting more than just Clem and his lover Rowley's life on the line. As well as complicating the already fragile relationships in this cold family. Bigamy, betrayal, illegitimate marriages and sons, estate affair, fraud, torture and murderers we've got them all in this one. But besides that there are three wonderful romance stories each unique in it's own. I applaud KJ for the characters she chose to write in this series and how they found the love in each other.
I'll admit I had my issue with the first one, but the second of Justin and Nathaniel was one of my absolute favorite book of all times! The third, which brought this whole series together was a great read as well though I admit had my little issues with it. But there is no doubt in my mind when I WHOLE HEARTEDLY recommend this series.
A MUST READ!
KJ got us a spin off series "Lilywhite Boys" 20 years after the plot of this one. We mostly get names dropped though there is a wonderful surprise in Susan Lazarus or rather Sukey as we've met her - Justin's little helper. She has a role in both books - more significant in the second where she is the MC (also it's the only heterosexual romance novel in the series). I LOVED this series as well. Start from this one and then head over to the Lilywhites it's a BEAUTIFUL way to say farewell to the series.
Books:
1. An Unseen Attraction [Clement "Clem" Talleyfer & Rowley Green] (Published 21 February 2017) ★★★½
2. An Unnatural Vice [Nathaniel Roy & Justin Lazarus] (Published 6 June 2017) ★★★★★
3. An Unsuitable Heir [Mark Braglewicz & Pen Starling] (Published 3 October 2017) ★★★★½
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