Synopsis

When he learns that he could be the heir to an unexpected fortune, Harry Vane rejects his past as a Radical fighting for government reform and sets about wooing his lovely cousin. But his heart is captured instead by the most beautiful, chic man he’s ever met: the dandy tasked with instructing him in the manners and style of the ton. Harry’s new station demands conformity—and yet the one thing he desires is a taste of the wrong pair of lips.

After witnessing firsthand the horrors of Waterloo, Julius Norreys sought refuge behind the luxurious facade of the upper crust. Now he concerns himself exclusively with the cut of his coat and the quality of his boots. And yet his protégé is so unblemished by cynicism that he inspires the first flare of genuine desire Julius has felt in years. He cannot protect Harry from the worst excesses of society. But together they can withstand the high price of passion.

Review

This is my first historical mm and my second book by KJ Charles and I can honestly say I was just blown away by the exquisite beauty this story is.

It's a beautifully written, rich and very well research, detailed-oriented story about love and social customs and fashions and politics and intimacies of Regency London.

I loved, loved, loved everything about it. The romance was tender and clever and captivating. Harry and Julius were quite interesting and fascinating on their own but as a couple they were just a joy to read. Theywere total opposites but they fitted so well together and each gave the other of he desperately needed. Ms Charles plays with stereotypes and reader's expectation while developing Harry and Julius' romance - one has all the knowledge of social customs and fashion and war and being a gentleman, yet he is yet a novice when it comes to feelings and matters of the heart. The other is all about openness and sincerity and spontaneity, lacking in socail manners and grace, yet much more experienced in all wordly things. 

I'm all team Harry here with his strong passion, love and loyalty, even sense of social justice. And Norrey was the perfect antidote to all that - darker, somehwat disillusioned, resigned and determined to forsake all adn any feelings. Harry restored his passion, his desire to live, to love, to experience life to the fullest.

The strong political aspect was not a burden as it could so easily be in romance. It complemented the love story adding depth and making it real. The reader felt an immediate participant in the events not just a casual observant.

The social background was essential to understand the conflict and all the tensions in the story and was very convincingly presented -  being gay was not easy at the time; it was just as dangerous as being a seditionist.

Throughout the story Ms Charles skillfully played with the myth of Galatea and Pygmalion and this made it even more enjoyable fr me. 

Recommended read for fans of historical romance! Next book in the Sosciety of Gentlemen series, A Seditious Affair, comes out in December. 

Purchase Links: Amazon / ARe / Publisher