About the Book: In the sordid streets of Victorian London, unwanted desire flares between two bitter enemies brought together by a deadly secret.
Crusading journalist Nathaniel Roy is determined to expose spiritualists who exploit the grief of bereaved and vulnerable people. First on his list is the so-called Seer of London, Justin Lazarus. Nathaniel expects him to be a cheap, heartless fraud. He doesn’t expect to meet a man with a sinful smile and the eyes of a fallen angel—or that a shameless swindler will spark his desires for the first time in years.
Justin feels no remorse for the lies he spins during his séances. His gullible clients simply bore him. Hostile, disbelieving, utterly irresistible Nathaniel is a fascinating challenge. And as their battle of wills and wits heats up, Justin finds he can’t stop thinking about the man who’s determined to ruin him.
But Justin and Nathaniel are linked by more than their fast-growing obsession with one another. They are both caught up in an aristocratic family’s secrets, and Justin holds information that could be lethal. As killers, fanatics, and fog close in, Nathaniel is the only man Justin can trust—and, perhaps, the only man he could love.
Sins of the Cities #2
M/M Historical Romance
Loveswept | June 6, 2017
Every single time I start a book by K.J. Charles I struggle. For the first quarter I wonder if I’m going feel it, like her previous books. I love historical romance, but too much “history” causes my attention to wander. I wish that weren’t true, but it is what it is. I am who I am, right? Anyway, it’s always how a K.J. Charles book starts out, with a lot of accuracy for the historical times and talk about the class differences, and the poor and the nobility.
What’s extra funny about it is, I love the historical precision in each of these novels. I wouldn’t want her to write the history as carelessly as I’ve read in other historical romances. I’ve said it previously, when I reviewed An Unseen Attraction, but I love how the author doesn’t romanticize what these men had to go through just to be with their partner. It’s more than that though, it’s also how she thinks to include the soot-like smog that covered London, blocking out the sun. It’s how she does take the time to include the social differences between people in the lower society, like Justin Lazarus, and Nathaniel Roy who has wealth. So, while at times I find the descriptions trying, I wouldn’t change them in any way.
Plus, regardless of how slow the books start, I know halfway through I’ll be addicted. The plot continued the thread of An Unseen Attraction, but it was the love story between Justin and Nathaniel that really hooked me. Particularly, I fell in love with Justin at the same time Nathaniel did. Society saw him as a deviant, and in a way he was, but as the reader you could see beyond his lies and his cons to the vulnerable and kind man inside. I loved how, even though they were complete opposites, Justin and Nathaniel were drawn to each other. It was very sweet.
I also love the way K.J. Charles sets up a series, especially Sins of the Cities. Even though each book was about an individual man/couple, the overall story arc of Clem’s family is really well outlined and paced. What started in An Unseen Attraction was built upon in An Unnatural Vice, and I think will be completed in the final book, The Unsuitable Heir. I loved Justin and Nathaniel, but I have a feeling the final book is going to be the pinnacle of the series. I can’t wait to find out what happens with Mark, and with the earldom.
I can’t wait to see what K.J. Charles has up her sleeve next. Come on, October!
Thank you to Loveswept for providing a free ARC in exchange for an honest review.
Birdie Bookworm 
I just read this a few days ago and loved it!! Great review 😀
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Thanks! I thought it was so good. I love this author.
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I’m glad you enjoyed this one. I typically enjoy the historical accuracy and detail, also, but the one I read from KJ Charles was too saturated with details for me to enjoy.
Great review.
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She’s very very detailed. It’s not just accuracy of the times, it’s minute details of the surroundings, politics, and everything. It makes it hard for me in the beginning, but once I push through it I always end up loving them.
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Yeah. I wasn’t interested enough. Whenever I feel like I have to push through, it usually doesn’t end well for me.
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Yeah, that’s fair. Especially when there are so many books out there that you love right from the beginning!
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Ooo this sounds like a good read! I’ve always been somewhat fascinated by the surge in the spiritual movement during the Victorian era. I was actually reading an article not so long ago about how so-called mediums would trick grieving people into believing they were speaking with the departed spirit of a loved one. Their methods were pretty creative!
I do love books where the bad guy isn’t inherently bad and where the author takes time to dig a bit beneath the surface, like the author seems to have done here. Pleased you enjoyed it!
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You’d probably like this one. Lazarus was pretty creative with how he ran his ‘medium’ con. It was really good.
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