Subtle Blood (The Will Darling Adventures, #3) by K.J. Charles

Beautiful, heartfelt and action packed. Really what more can you ask. I can't believe this is our goodbye from Will and Kim. I'm going to miss them! In this one we get more - a lot more - of Kim, his family and upbringing which definitely sheds light on the person he grew up to be. This whole book was seeing a different side of Kim. I was kind of surprised to see that in this book Kim is the one who is sure of his feelings towards Will, while Will needed to think and re-think the whole thing. He enjoys the time they spend together he dislikes when they are apart, but can there be a future for them? That's an answer he is unable to answer. 

Kim has been helping Will out in his 2nd hand book shop now that he is unemployed. But it doesn't change the fact Will is just a commoner and Kim comes from a whole different class. Will feels the effort Kim is making but it's still, at times, unnerving and it gets much more complicated as the book progresses. Their daily routine takes a turn when Kim's older brother (and heir to the family's title) is suspected of murder and Kim (together with Will naturally) decide to investigate the incident. Chingford (Kim's obnoxious brother) couldn't look guilties and he has reasons wanting Paul Fairfax dead.

The Gentle Art of Fortune Hunting by K.J. Charles

WOW! I don't even know where to start. This book was simply a JOY to read. I didn't want to put it down, didn't want it to end yet could wait for Robin and Hart to find their HEA (and see what happens with Alice and Marianne as well!) 

Robin and Marianne Loxleigh have come to London for a specific reasons - to find a suitable person to marry to sponsor the kind of life they feel they deserve. They both have their prospects. For the stunning Marianne it's the ill mannered Marquess of Tachbrook (who has not only the desired title but is also loaded with money), as for handsome Robin he has the plain Alice Fenwick in his sights (who'll be inheriting a fair amount of money once she is married). Yes, they are "gold diggers" or as the title calls them "Fortune Hunters" but give them the benefit of the doubt before you judge them.. 

Any YET, when it comes to John Hartlebury, or rather, to his beloved niece Alice, there is no question how much and how far he is willing to go to ensure she will be getting an honest and caring husband and Robin with his beautiful features and elegant speech feels ALL WRONG. Hart might look like a brut but he has the heart of gold and has always done his best to provide and protect his family.

The Sugared Game (The Will Darling Adventures #2) by K.J. Charles

Though it took me more than I would like I REALLY enjoyed this one. I can't wait to get the third and final installment but I would also be very sad to say goodbye to Will and Kim as well as Phoebe and Maisie. I hope we'll get some sort of happy ending for the ladies as well.

After the way things ended in the last installment you'd think Kim Secretan - Lord Arthur - would pay Will Darling a visit in his bookstore but he is being "Kimmish" as Phoebe puts it. He only reappears when he realizes Will has found himself - yet again - tangled with the Zodiac radial group. Will isn't impressed, he is rather angry with him but he agrees to help as truth being told, after serving in the war - being a bookstore is quite boring... 

It all started with an invitation for drinks in a club Maisie received which resulted in Maisie getting potential clients who adore her dress and design on his first visit and on the second a full out brawl. In between is when Kim informs Will about the shady business this club is handling - besides music and drinks.. They try to take down the club owners and through it get to "Capricorn" - the leader of Zodiac but the result leaves the two - once again - separated. 

 

Slippery Creatures (The Will Darling Adventures #1) by K.J. Charles

I REALLY enjoyed this one. I LOVED our two MCs Will and Kim and though they have a LONG way to go to establish a real relationship between them, I can't wait to see it truly evolving in the net two installments as this one left us with two guys who might WANT to have something together but it's still quite complicated considering everything that has happened. 

Will Darling has returned from war only to realize that there is no job to be found even for a heroe and all his medals have no value but the metal they are made of at a pawn shop (which isn't much..). He was lucky when contacting his only living relative - his uncle - he found himself not long after the new owner of "Darling’s Used & Antiquarian" his uncle's bookstore. Though he loves books he is a bit overwhelmed by the sheer amount of them and the state of disarray the store is in. He doesn't even know where to start and has no motivation to begin.

But some organization or sorting out is needed when he finds himself smack in the middle of a curious case. There are two companies who are VERY interested in an item his uncle was handed by his friend Professor Edward Draven. Will doesn't know what it is or what it would contain but both parties are pushing all his buttons in order to get their hands on it and so he needs to do his own investigation to find what his uncle was hiding and who he should give it to (or maybe neither).

Proper English by K.J. Charles

I Loved this one! The only thing I could complain about would be me taking this long to read it especially after "Think of England" which has our favorite couple Pat and Fen as an established couple (taking place around 2 years after this one). The romance between the women was sweet and endearing and though it was established quite fast I think these two deserved firstly being SEEN, especially by one another. I truly believe this is something both had a lack of even if they were appreciate in their own way it wasn't what they long for.

Patricia Merton is excited about a retreat in her friend Jimmy Yoxall's house in the country where she can enjoy hunting. It's suppose to be a small circle of friends and family that would allow her to unwind and maybe think about her future while doing something she enjoys but also is VERY good at. Don't laugh Pat has the medals to show for her accomplishment in shooting. But when she arrives together with her older brother Bill they are both a bit disappointed to realize the company is going to be larger than they expect with a few people they would gladly do without..

Spectred Isle (Green Men #1) [Randolph & Saul] by K.J Charles

Nope. This one just wasn't for me. I have similar feelings about this one as I did The Secret Casebook of Simon Feximal. I'll just say it.. I was bored. There was NOTHING grabbing me in this book. I don't understand the world building or the WORLD really. 26% in (where I stopped) and I basically don't understand anything about who's what and what is the purpose of anything or anyone. I expect to understand more of what's going on in a dual POV novel but while Saul is mostly confused about his "findings", Randolph who's supposed to be "on top of things" reveal very little in his inner dialogue and the ones he has with his partners / close friends leave me with the same questions I had in Simon Feximal's book. I've read most of K.J's books. I actually have only one left on my list and I ADORED so many of them. I enjoy her writing and her characters and relationship buildup but this one (and the previous one) feels TOTALLY different. I wouldn't have EVER guessed they were written by the same person. I just don't get it..

The Secret Casebook of Simon Feximal by K.J. Charles

In one word - Redundant. I've read most of this book (DNF at 75%) and NOTHING makes sense about it. It's an assortment of "tales" written in retrospect by the journalist Robert Caldwell containing his adventures and relationship progression with Simon Feximal the ghost hunter from their first encounter to a friendship and partnership (professionally and intimately) spanning 20 years. The book contains 9 "stories" with very little connection between them and though it's obvious Simon and Robert's relationship is evolving it was very hard to feel any romantic vibe from neither man especially from Simon whom I'm not ever sure is actually a human. Honestly I hardly consider this one to be a romance novel.

We don't get explanation to right around ANYTHING in this book. We know Simon Feximal is a ghost hunter, we know he has a way of communicating with ghosts and he isn't there to eliminate them but to free them through their story. But besides that we know nothing about his powers / abilities, where they came from, where HE came from. What is his connection to Miss Theodosia Kay besides growing up like siblings (Why and how they came to live in her house). There are SO MANY unanswered questions in this one and that's without the very strange way this book is compiled. I feel like I'm missing half of the chapters with references to things that happened and weren't specifically told.

Band Sinister by K.J. Charles

~sigh~ I loved this book SO MUCH. It was impossible to put down and I'm definitely paying for it today with a lack of sleep but it was SO worth it. This was a tender love story. It was sweet, endearing, in a way innocent even for the guy who couldn't be any less except when it concerned his new found interest. There was something beautiful about the way all characters found their own family or chose the one they felt meant the most and it didn't have to necessarily have anything to do with blood and certainly nothing to do with status. It's all about finding a place or a group of people who SEE you as you are and ACCEPT you with no judgement just wanting for you to have and be your very best self.

The Rookwook family and the Frisby family have been neighbors for years but they haven't been in a good one for almost 20 years and since the current head of the Rookwook family isn't usually around the Frisby's siblings usually ignore his existence even with all the rumors about Sir Philip Rookwood and his "Murder hellfire club" he hosts in his estate. Yet Amanda Frisby has always had her wild imagination and she decided to write a Gothic novel about what MIGHT be going on there, at least how she pictures it in her head. Her brother Guy is HORRIFIED by her novel, not concerning it's worth but the fact her use of their disguised names couldn't be more obvious..

The bad blood between the families has nothing to do with the "young generation" and everything to do with Philip Rookwood's older brother James and Eleanor Frisby - Guy and Amanda's mother who ran into the sunset together leaving behind two broken families. Guy and Amanda's life shattered to little pieces with a drunken father who died with too many debt paid by their aunt Beatrice who couldn't be more resentful for her sister's behavior and thus pays for them to stay low and not ruin her current position as the Lady Paul Cavendish and since they don't have other way to make an income they accept her conditions. Amanda as a book writer could really help their financial situation.

Wanted, a Gentleman by K.J. Charles

I gotta say, took me time to warm up to both Theo and Martin, maybe somehow like it took both characters to feel about each other. But once I actually SAW both men for who they are and what they are (including the unexpected reveals along the way) I was more than hooked and couldn't wait for them to finish their pursuit of a young lady to one of their own.

Theodore "Theo" Swann is the publisher of "Matrimonial Advertiser", might not be the most respectable newspaper to be a publisher of, but it pays the bills.. Also Theo is pragmatic and realistic - matrimony is a business exchange and he doesn't mind being the one to publish people's "offers" of their own. He also spends time writing romantic novels finding himself being FAR better at interesting and conniving villains than the much less appealing heroes. When Martin St. Vincent comes to his office and accuses him of his business, Theo isn't impressed or threatened but he expects to be paid for his services - honestly Martin didn't expect less of him.

Martin St. Vincent is a black man living in London, more than than he is a FREE man. He wasn't free for most of his life and his relationship with his current state lies between resentment and gratefulness. It's GREAT being free, for sure, but it also doesn't feel RIGHT to be grateful for something that shouldn't have been taken from him in the first place as well as something other men and women aren't offered. That also makes his current mission from his previous owner a bit muddled. It seems the reckless daughter of said owner has gone missing with a man she has found through the pages of Theo's newspaper and so he came to ask his help in finding the couple before the young girl makes a decision she can't go back from and find herself in who knows what awful future.

Unfit to Print by K.J Charles

I'm not sure what to say about this one really. It was an okay read. I wasn't sure about both MCs, mostly Vik. His high morals made him on the one hand quite arrogant and on the other hand.. well. a bit hypocritical. I realize he's coming from a good place, and he was in a constant battle within himself yet it was too much of a contrast to his childhood best friend Gil who basically says - do what you enjoy life is short.. Lucky for Vik it's catching..

Gilbert Lawless and Vikram Pandey have been best friends for the 7 years they spent in school together until one day when they were 15 years old Gil disappeared never to return again. Vik tried to find him - as a kid - but got no answers so he convinced himself he died somewhere. Gil's story might have ended in death considering the hand he was dealt and yet he survived with a burning hatred to his "family" who left him with nothing to fend on his own once his father died and his half brother Matthew Lawes became the new head of the family, not caring for the kid his father had with the family's Indian maid.

Vik is a lawyer now, working with clients but also volunteering with Indians who have been wronged and have no means to pay for a lawyer. He enjoys his work and take pride in it, which is how he finds himself promising to find a kid named Sunil who disappeared a few weeks ago and was probably working as an escort or "model" for well paying gentlemen. It's obvious why the family asked HIM.. Going to the police will result in nothing positive for any of them. That's how he finds himself in Gil's bookshop.

Gilded Cage (Lilywhite Boys #2) [James & Susan] by K.J Charles

WHAT a way to end this series. This book was PERFECT! and I truly hope it means KJ will be writing more heterosexual romance novels because Susan, or rather our not so little Sukey is a woman I can TOTALLY appreciate and look up to (sadly these kind of relatable heroines are not so easy to find these days). I really enjoyed the interaction between Susan and James (aka Templeton). He has so much respect and love for her and though we mostly see  him "do as he's told" (doesn't have a choice really) it's obvious the impact he has and had over her since the time they were both teenagers. He gave Sukey something she never had or realized she even wanted.

This book truly brings closure to the series including "Sins of the Cities" with a bit more of Greta (Lady Moreton) and Justin Lazarus but also glimpses into the lives of most of the couples we've met and came to love in these wonderful books. A lot of little hints thrown in there make much more sense when you know everything that happened in all the books so I REALLY recommend you read all of the start to finish. You won't be disappointed!

When Sukey (now Susan) Lazarus and James Vane met they were 15 and 16. Sukey was spending her days at his aunt's house being home schooled and since James' father had enough of him and his careless behavior he lets him spend his days there as well. They hit it off from the start becoming best friends and later on lovers but their love story came to an abrupt end resulting in James being sent to Australia only to return 15 years later with a different name when they are on the opposite side of the law with him being a jewel thief and Susan an enquiry agent working for her adopted father Justin and his friend Mark.

Any Old Diamonds (Lilywhite Boys #1) [Jerry & Alec] by K.J Charles

This one was SUCH a ride. LOVED IT TO PIECES! It was complex and intriguing with both MCs go through quite the journey on their own as well as together. I thought I had things figured out but I was WRONG. I had so much respect for both Alec and Jerry. They tried their best to keep pretenses, to do the job they signed to do, but with the emotions between them it became harder to do their job without considering the cost for both of them and how it's going to wreck everything they've build together in the past few months they staged becoming friends (and lovers) and realized it was never actually fake.

Our whole novel is told from the POV of Lord Alexander Pyne-ffoulkes, though he calls himself simply Alec Pyne considering his estranged relationship with his father the Duke of Ilvar and horrible stepmother. Mostly he managed on his own, he is an illustrator and quite good at what he does so though he lives in a small attic he is able to pay his bills. But his brother and younger sister are having a hard time and he can't stand by and see their lives being wrecked when he has an idea to make things right for them. His idea might sound strange at a first thought and yet it makes perfect sense - stealing a priceless diamond parure his father intends to gift his wife for their 20 years anniversary. It's spiteful and it reeks of vengeance but it will also actually HELP his siblings even though it could never give back the one thing they all lost - their youngest sister Cara who died because they couldn't help her any better with the little means they have.

The Rat-Catcher’s Daughter (Lilywhite Boys #0.5) [Christiana & Stan] by K.J Charles

This was SUCH a sweet novella. I'm not sure what I was expecting but it wasn't what I've got hehe Christiana and Stan are an ENDEARING couple. So gentle and sweet. I could imagine them walking the streets holding hands having a quiet conversation like nothing around them really matters. They had each other and they were happy the way they are.

Yet that's not how we start.. Miss Christiana found herself in a REALLY bad situation being "owned" by Kammy Grizzard who took her debt and made it his own, or rather, made her HIS own expecting her to pay up through working for him - "entertaining" rich men and stealing from them. It's not something she could EVER imagine herself doing no matter the cost and now that Kammy's men are in her dressing room she feels it's all over.. She is more than surprised when two men appear on the doorstep telling Kammy they are paying her debt for her and after Kammy has left, tell her she is basically off the hook and have her life back and she can take it as a birthday present of whatever.. The only thing they suggest is saying her thanks (and nothing more!) to their friend Stan.

The Price of Meat by K.J. Charles

This was.. well.. disturbing would be mild.. I have no words for the horrors in this story but besides these we have a GREAT suspense story with a very light sprinkle of romance one obvious, the other less so yet it was still there and it ended unlike a fairy tale but maybe hopeful if you are a romantic at heart.

The story starts with Johanna Oakley trying to free her friend and lover Arabella Wilmot from Mr Fogg's Asylum. On her way out she hears about a shop people come into and never return. Trying to do the right thing as well as maybe have the slightest leverage she goes to Colonel Elias Jeffrey for help. He doesn't offer anything comforting so she decides to offer HIM help and see where it gets her in releasing her lover.

The Henchmen of Zenda by K.J. Charles

Okay.. this was quite complicated. I'll try my best to explain, or I'll leave it to you to find your way in this tale. This novel is a sort of retelling of a novel called "The Prisoner of Zenda" written by Anthony Hope. I haven't read the novel and I don't think there is any reason now to try it out but I did enjoy this one even if I got a mild head ache with the amount of scheming from ALL sides.

Our MC and sole POV is Jasper Detchard. The man Michael Elphberg, the Duke of Strelsau have appointed as his head Henchman in his life quest of taking the throne of Ruritania from his brother the rightful heir. While Rudolf V Elphberg isn't exactly the best man for the job, Michael isn't exactly a saint.. He is a ruthless man who cares for nothing but achieving his goals whilst keeping the appearances of someone who doesn't exactly like his brother but accepts his rule.

Jasper isn't interested in Michael or Ruritania, he is interested in helping a close friend - Toni - who has saved his life in the past. Jasper might not be a romantic at heart, but he knows how to be loyal to the few people he keeps close. Toni, or rather, Antoinette de Mauban is Michael's mistress and while she fell in love with him at the beginning of their relationship now that she actually knows him she would soon see him dead.. Yet she does need to extract information he's been hiding from her before he can pass from this world.. Jasper doesn't really know how he can help, but no matter what his allegiance to her FAR exceeds his to Michael.

An Unsuitable Heir (Sins of the Cities, #3) [Mark & Pen] by K.J. Charles

It's not easy to gather my thoughts about this book because it's not only the end of this book, it's the end of the series as well, and I'm mourning the loss of Justin and Nathaniel from my life and yeah I know this book was about Pen and Mark but I'm still not over it and I'm glad we got more of these two in the current novel. With all my misgivings along the way (mostly in the first novel, and a bit in this one) it's an AWESOME series and I HIGHLY recommend it start to finish. It has three beautiful romance stories each unique in it's own way as well as a mystery that keeps everyone on their toes (hoping not to lose some..).

I really enjoyed this novel though I was a bit frustrated with Pen. I could understand his position and yet I had a hard time accepting his, let's call it selfishness. He might REALLY want to live his own life the way he wants and these are hard times to try and be transsexual, yet when there are people tortured and killed around you, think again if it's "none of your business" and you would rather sit in your beautiful tight cloths, skirt, long hair spread around your back wearing kohl.. Being an Earl is literally his worst nightmare I get it but I think it took him long enough to realize - (A) Mark literally had no other choice (and it's no spoiler as it this particular scene was portrayed in detail in the previous installment as well. (B) There are enough people on the line, people's LIVES on the line, for him to at least try and work with Mark and Nathaniel and see where this thing could be going.

An Unnatural Vice (Sins of the Cities #2) [Nathaniel & Justin] by K.J. Charles

P-E-R-F-E-C-T-I-O-N-! I'm almost content to leave my review with just this word. I couldn't have asked for more, I got everything I could have possibly ever wanted in a book. I loved everything about this book and frankly I'm damn happy I didn't have to go to work today and could just immerse myself in this book (thank you quarantine..). This is one of my ABSOLUTE favorite books EVER. I'm claiming it here and now!

This book continues the first installment in finding the true heir to inherit the title of Lord Moreton though it starts with Nathaniel Roy looking to expose "The Seer of London" - a trixter who offers people false belief and hope for more than just a pretty penny. You might remember Nathaniel as Clem's friend who helped him a bit legally. Though Nathaniel used to be in fact a lawyer is is content with his current job as a journalist. From his first interaction with said "Seer", Nathaniel can't stand the guy but he also for some reason can't stay away. There is something almost enchanting about him and how he handles himself, his confidence, his smarts, he's a real challenge - one Nathaniel haven't dealt with for a long time maybe even forever.

An Unseen Attraction (Sins of the Cities #1) [Clem & Rowley] by K.J. Charles

Though I liked a lot of things about this novel, and especially the way KJ portrayed both of our MCs, I guess I was frustrated with them for basically the same reason. The plot was complex though also in a way simple for someone from the outside to guess most of it, even if not ALL of it. That was the "theme" for me. The complexity and simplicity and the way it entwined together frustrated me WAY too much.

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..."

Rag and Bone (World of A Charm of Magpies) [Ned & Crispin] by K.J. Charles

Sadly this as well wasn't a favorite of mine. There was something about the interaction between the two MCs that simply didn't work for me. There was also something maybe a bit OTT about these two literally saving the world while having so little knowledge and / or ability and yet somehow "winging it". Stephen and Lucien would have done in better is all I'm saying.

That being said, I simply ADORE KJ's writing. Even in the gloomiest situation I can still laugh out loud with her special wording not to mention I feel like cleaning the house from dust just reading about Ned's "home environment".

We've met this couple in the prelude "A Queer Trade". It all started when magic practitioner Crispin Tredarloe is looking for his masters writings who were sold to a waste-man after his unexpected passing. Edward "Ned" Hall is said waste-man and he does a lot more than just help Crispin and soon become friends and lovers.

The story continues when Crispin is trying to learn how to do magic the "right" way, unlike how his Warlock master taught him (using blood and bone) and no matter who they match him with it doesn't work. When they finally find Mr. Sweet a new comer to London on his own project he FINALLY gets the help he needs and yet while being focused on magic, learning how to do magic and trying to improve his (lack of) self esteem his relationship with Ned suffers greatly.

A Queer Trade (World of A Charm of Magpies) [Ned & Crispin] by K.J. Charles

Though I was a HUGE fan of the main series, this short novella somehow wasn't "it" for me. I liked both Ned and Crispin but I didn't feel a real connection to them or the story. It's a prequel to their full length novel ("Rag and Bone"), telling us the circumstances they came to meet and get to know each other.

Crispin Tredarloe is in BIG trouble. While away to tend his sick mother his master had died and all his VERY important (and also harmful) scripts were sold to a waste man. Crispin is stressed about finding all the scripts before (A) anyone is harmed by them (B) the Justiciary find out about the whole thing and charge him with being a Warlock (for practicing blood magic) even if he hasn't harmed a soul.