An Unnatural Vice

Reread December 2019: hi, hello, yes, I am now referring to this book as "the worst" because it ended again.* Will have to read a third time to see if it happens again.

*Do not get me wrong, this book has near-perfect pacing.

If anyone needs me, I'll be stitching J&N on my pillows. Thank you, good night.

(Reread #8 completed)

______Original Review___

“Tell you what, my spirit guide’s a fucking tart.”

I lived in this book. I don't know what else to say. Few books hit me with the intensity that this did, fewer still where I take my time reading, soaking, rereading passages or relistening to full chapters.

Few books make the setting a character so effectively, and I can tell you, I've never enjoyed a suspense plot in a romance because show more one always gets cheated...But none got cheated here. Somehow, it suited the characters and the relationship.

To say I was a goner from the point Nathaniel describes Justin is probably not correct. I was a goner from the prologue, immediately entranced by Justin's voice, his intuition, and his observation. But I knew this book was going be something special unless something went really really fucking wrong from this passage:

The Seer of London was aged perhaps thirty, of no more than average height, on the thin side, narrow-shouldered, narrow-faced. His hair was too long, and fell over his forehead; he seemed to be striving for the goatee Nathaniel had vaguely expected without having the wherewithal to achieve it; his plain coat was a little worn at the cuffs. He was the sort of man one would have passed in the street without noticing, except for his eyes. They were grey, large, and luminous, almond-shaped with winging brows, and remarkably intent. They turned his face from pinched to something slightly odd, almost elfin. Something not quite wicked, but nothing good.

Something tempting.

But nothing went wrong from there. Nathaniel was, for me, super relatable. Reserved, skeptical, ruthlessly committed to fact and truth. Justin was equally recognizable-driven to survive, ambitious in his independence, and a bit ruthless in those pursuits. He’d be easy to dislike, looking as if he preys on people, but his lack of apology-almost righteousness-for it really worked in his favor. There was an intensely antagonistic dynamic, so well done you knew that it bordered on passion and hatred, more importantly, the characters knew.

He’d gone for Roy harder than he had for anyone in a while because it had felt like more than just another tedious seance. It had felt like a duel.

Unsurprisingly, this dynamic between the upstanding journalist Nathaniel Roy and the unapologetic charlatan-both who were so competent it was damn respectable-created some heavy sexual tension. While I wondered how this would culminate with them as partners and lovers, I did not doubt that it would. Somehow, due the challenges they both brought forth, the scenes became so large and combustible, and KJ Charles did not hold back the resolution as long as I’d expected-which is good, really really good.

“Oh come.” Roy inclined his head a fraction closer. “Between us. Admit what you are.”

Justin gave him a tooth-baring smile. “I will if you will.” Roy inhaled sharply, and Justin felt his grin widen at the scent of blood. “You call me a liar, Mr. Roy. Which of us is the more honest, here and now?”

“I cannot think of any company in which you would be the most honest person present.” Scathing words, uttered very low, with those summer-blue eyes fixed on his face.

Roy was going to act. Justin felt it as a certainty. He didn’t know how, or what the man would do but he would force Roy into making the first move somehow, and the reckless exhilaration was making his blood sing as much as Nathaniel Roy’s parted lips and widened pupils. This was what he lived for. The challenge, the battle.

“Would you like me to speak the truth now, Mr. Roy? Or will you find a way to stop my mouth?”

Roy lowered his face, closer, enough to feel the heat of his skin, lips a breath away from Justin’s. He whispered, like a caress, “You are born to be hanged.”

“And isn’t it fun?”

Both Nathaniel and Justin are faithful, loyal men to their people. Both ruthless, yet caring. Both vulnerable, but not obviously so.

I’m not afraid to call this installment a masterpiece. I’ve read so few romances, particularly enemy-to-lovers, of this caliber. This was a stunner as much for the masterful pen and prose as it was for the utterly atmospheric plot and incredibly fleshed out characters. Their conversations killed me. The sex scenes served a purpose, both as vulnerability being exposed, protection being offered, and frustration and fear being excised.

He had never in his life been with anyone whose will was as strong as his own. This didn’t feel like a flirtation; it felt like stags circling, antlers ready to clash.

And man….if I’m asking nicely would’ve shown up in my coat pocket I would’ve exploded. Consent was an absolute integral part of the dialogue, dealt with head-on in a manner that was both sexy and respectful. Careful, but didn’t undermine the explosiveness and unrestrained chemistry between these two. I also appreciated that each man demanded what was best—what was good—for himself, and eventually each other.

I hate what you do, and I kneel at your altar anyway.

But this is KJC, so don’t forget the healthy dose of humor.

“…And listen well or I shall make you read my father’s much applauded sermon on the topic of the Sinner who Repenteth.”

“Fucking try it.”

I won’t even try to capture the tenderness in this book. I have about 100 highlights demonstrating that. I really admired Nathaniel’s confidence in sharing these feelings, in facing them and a good deal of what worked for this book was that he didn’t continually chase away guilt for falling for a man who was in a profession that he didn’t respect, all the while finding a way to be proud of him.

”No strings, Justin. I want you on your feet, not your knees…”

What was especially miraculous was after the disappointing first installment of this series, I came to appreciate the quiet strength between Clem and Rowley as well.

But this book, I’ll never be over. I utterly hate it for ending. show less

If you're looking for the sweet, feel-good love story from [b:An Unseen Attraction|30517107|An Unseen Attraction (Sins of the Cities, #1)|K.J. Charles|https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1470315355s/30517107.jpg|51036162] the first book in KJ Charles' Sins of the Cities series, you're barking up the wrong tree. An Unnatural Vice is an electrifying "opposites attract" romance - and good lord, what opposites! Nathaniel Roy is the crusading do-gooder journalist, the judgemental son of an archbishop who is still grieving the death of the love of his life. And Justin Lazarus is a "defiant, stubborn, obstreperous, unstoppable, enraging bloody nuisance" - and that's Nathaniel's description after he realizes he loves him! Lazarus is also an show more alleged spiritualist who gleefully bilks his clients out of their money as he conducts fake seances and readings. Once he and Nathaniel meet they start circling each other like "stags circling, antlers ready to clash," and their hate sex is truly magnificent. When Lazarus gets caught up in the missing heir plot that began in book 1, they are forced to spend more time together and Nathaniel comes to appreciate the Seer of London's competence, energy, humor and feistiness. But he still wants Lazarus to be a different, better person, and Lazarus makes no apologies for being who he is.

In addition to featuring two strong MCs, An Unnatural Vice displays Charles' amazing skills at plotting and setting. The first 25% of the book takes place simultaneously with its predecessor, and there are strong hints that during the last 25% or so there are lots of things happening off page that we will read about in the last book, [b:An Unsuitable Heir|33841918|An Unsuitable Heir (Sins of the Cities, #3)|K.J. Charles|https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1491241699s/33841918.jpg|54778128]. Besides juggling a serpentine plot that spans three books, Charles makes the dense, greasy Victorian fog so memorable that you can feel it envelop you as you read. I won't soon forget Lazarus' desperate run in the fog similar to Rowley's blinded panic and how he leads Nathaniel in the thick of it back to the scene of a crime.

Some K.J. Charles fans will make comparisons between Justin Lazarus and Jonah Pastern from [b:Jackdaw|34861586|Jackdaw (The World of A Charm of Magpies)|K.J. Charles|https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1492260875s/34861586.jpg|42454930], as both are more anti-hero than hero, at least initially. But in many ways Justin is even more of a challenge than Jonah. At the end of the book, Jonah's lover Ben Spenser asks for mercy because Jonah doesn't fully understand right and wrong. Justin Lazarus perfectly understands that what he does for a living is wrong - he just doesn't care. And while Ben and Jonah had a previous relationship together that gave Ben the motivation to redeem Jonah, Nathaniel has no such luxury. He knows exactly how much of a shit Lazarus is. And he loves him anyway. And because of that, Justin has the freedom to make some changes and become a better man...although as Nathaniel realizes, he will always be a difficult, damaged one.

Whoo, lots of analysis for a 250 page romance novel! But that's what makes K.J. Charles so special. Can't wait for the series wrap-up in October.

I received an ARC of this book from NetGalley (thank goodness!) in exchange for an honest review. show less

I think this is supposed to be a trilogy like Society of Gentlemen was. The first book, An Unseen Attraction, introduced endearing, naïve Clem who found his love interest and also showed his other friends, part of a close group of likeminded individuals (like Society of Gentlemen.) Besides being historical, that's where the similarities seem to end.

While I enjoyed the first of the series, this one was even better. K.J. Charles gave one character a truly horrible, detestable profession and made him a major character and love interest. Without guilt he plays on people's grief and emotions as a spiritual medium. The book showcases his life and his growth and his realizations, as well as opening his heart to possibilities of an actual show more relationship. On the other hand you have the character Nathaniel, Clem's friend introduced in the first book, who is hurting from a tragic death of the man he loved years before and has made it a mission in his life to end con artists through his journalistic pen. He has a strong moral compass, perhaps a bit too rigid, but after meeting and knowing Justin he starts to see how destitute and desperate the poverty-stricken have it.

The two having professions that didn't complimented each other to that degree was interesting enough, but once you throw in the differences with their class, history, outlook and upbringing, you have even more of the opposites attract mentality. At the core of the story is a continuing mystery from the first book - the man who tortured the grumpy boarder is still around and still searching for evidence to hide a secret. Justin and Nathanial find themselves in genuine danger as they must escape the city for awhile and find each other, but they also have to solve this crime before its the death of both of them.

The third friend in the series, Mark, will probably be the focus of the last story. I have a feeling who his romantic interest will be from the end of this one. That will turn out interesting. I like how the author takes unconventional heroes with tragic pasts (but no angst) or some kind of difference and gives them normal lives. Clem was a little slow-witted, Justin has a checkered history, and Mark is an amputee with a serious and jaded outlook.

As always K.J. Charles writes well with evenly-flowing rhythm and dialogue, and her characters and plots are different enough from each other that they're not formulaic. There's more than unrealistic steam, there's actual heart and realistic bonding with her characters. Besides that, there really is steam when it's needed, it's just made more plausible and enjoyable because the emotional connection has taken place first.

I was happy to take yet another trip to Historical London through the author's talented imagination - thanks to Netgalley for this one in exchange for an honest review. show less

Justin is a medium who makes his living from telling the gullible what they want to hear; Nathaniel is a journalist who first tries to expose Justin, then just wants to fuck him. This happens for the first time when they are still enemies (fully consensually), if that’s your thing. When Justin gets caught up in Nathaniel’s search for a missing heir, they have to work together for Justin’s safety and Nathaniel’s mission.

Self-righteous rich lawyer-turned-journalist Nathaniel Roy is out to save the world. Or at least expose its seedy underbelly, including Justin Lazarus' shady spiritual business. What he didn't count on, was finding the contemptible charlatan so attractive.

Justin Lazarus for his part, is London's best frau-- erm spiritist. Well-aware of Nathaniel's growing interest, he chooses to accept the challenge: wouldn't life be dull otherwise?

Similarly to A Seditious Affair, the author chose to go the "love conquers the differences in social circles", with a side of angsty agonising over each other's deal breaking flaws: Nathan's privileged righteousness, and Justin's unapologetic criminal inclinations, respectively.

Unlike the prequel though, it show more was handled suitably enough, so that I was genuinely curious to follow this relationship, rather than feeling constantly chastised for my (perceived) lack of empathy.

It must be wonderful if you can afford to do the right things. I can’t, so I’m going to carry on being petty and contemptible for money.

The murder-mystery didn't really play too big of a role: relegated mostly to a convenient excuse for the protagonists being thrown into close proximity. Instead, the comedic banter component was upped quite a bit, thanks to Justin's wicked sense of humour.

"You're the tenth we've tried," Nestor added.
"Tenth. Really?" Justin gave the Potters a mental black mark. Tenth indeed. He might be a fraud, but he counted himself very much first among equals in the community of frauds, except for the "equals" part.

"Why don't you live here?" he asked with his mouth full. "If this woman cooks for you. Live here and marry her, that's my advice."
"Well, [Mrs. Haughton]'s seventy-two," Nathaniel said. "And Mr. Haughton might object."

Score: 3.7/5 stars

Can anyone point me toward a sensual representation of St. Sebastian's torture? I've never found religious art anywhere near arousing, least of all the frescoes depicting martyrdom. I have readily devoured many a doujinshi featuring questionable kinks, if it helps.

Tell me, Nathaniel: is this a remnant of religious propaganda? A side-effect of growing up in a clerical household? Or just a matter of taste?

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Review of book 1: An Unseen Attraction
Review of book 3: An Unsuitable Heir show less

Well, I truly liked the way the mystery and characters are entangled with the previous book. And I really enjoyed both, the mystery and its resolution.

But, although I liked Nathaniel and Lazarus and their complex stories... I really didn't like them together. This might be more my fault than the author's fault, as I don't enjoy this particular taste of romance.

But, as I said, I keep enjoying the mystery, so I'm now ready for the third book in this series :P

3.5 Stars

Charles consistently delivers on this connected trilogy as the search for a missing heir continues.

Here, the story is passed onto Clem’s friend Nathaniel, who is trying to find a lost earl in order to financially help Clem maintain his livelihood. Nathaniel’s search brings him to a charlatan’s door, and though Nathaniel knows he’s a fraud, he can’t help but be repulsed and intrigued at the same time by the enigmatic Justin.

When men of ill repute come looking to get what they perceive as their just reward for finding the missing earl, it puts everyone in danger and reveals an even greater conspiracy behind all the secrets.

This had a nice mix of enemies to lovers, touching on the social divide and its barriers, along show more with some very explicit covert smexy. I’m still not a huge fan of historicals but as always, Charles makes a strong case for them, and I will concede that she does quite the excellent job - so much so, I’ll forge on ahead and finish this trilogy off! show less