-
An Unseen Attraction
- Sins of the Cities, Book 1
- Narrated by: Matthew Lloyd Davies
- Length: 7 hrs and 38 mins
Add to Cart failed.
Add to Wish List failed.
Remove from wishlist failed.
Adding to library failed
Follow podcast failed
Unfollow podcast failed
Buy for $19.95
No default payment method selected.
We are sorry. We are not allowed to sell this product with the selected payment method
Listeners also enjoyed...
-
An Unnatural Vice
- Sins of the Cities, Book 2
- By: KJ Charles
- Narrated by: Matthew Lloyd Davies
- Length: 7 hrs and 54 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
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.
-
-
K. J. Charles does it again
- By BR on 08-03-17
By: KJ Charles
-
Jackdaw
- By: KJ Charles
- Narrated by: Cornell Collins
- Length: 6 hrs and 27 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
Jonah Pastern is a magician, a liar, a windwalker, a professional thief...and for six months, he was the love of police constable Ben Spenser's life. His betrayal left Ben jailed, ruined, alone, and looking for revenge. Ben is determined to make Jonah pay. But he can't seem to forget what they once shared, and Jonah refuses to let him. Soon Ben is entangled in Jonah's chaotic existence all over again, and they're running together - from the police, the justiciary, and some dangerous people with a lethal grudge against them.
-
-
Magnificent!
- By Ronda on 06-27-20
By: KJ Charles
-
Slippery Creatures
- Will Darling Adventures Series, Book 1
- By: KJ Charles
- Narrated by: Cornell Collins
- Length: 7 hrs and 6 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
Will Darling came back from the Great War with a few scars, a lot of medals, and no idea what to do next. Inheriting his uncle's chaotic secondhand bookshop is a blessing...until strange visitors start making threats. First a criminal gang, then the War Office, both telling Will to give them the information they want, or else. Will has no idea what that information is, and nobody to turn to, until Kim Secretan - charming, cultured, oddly attractive - steps in to offer help. As Kim and Will try to find answers and outrun trouble, mutual desire grows along with the danger.
-
-
good yarn
- By Cranky Reader on 07-24-20
By: KJ Charles
-
A Fashionable Indulgence
- Society of Gentlemen, Book 1
- By: KJ Charles
- Narrated by: Matthew Lloyd Davies
- Length: 8 hrs and 47 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
In the first novel of an explosive new series from K. J. Charles, a young gentleman and his elegant mentor fight for love in a world of wealth, power, and manipulation. 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.
-
-
Utterly charming!
- By kara-karina on 08-19-15
By: KJ Charles
-
Any Old Diamonds
- By: KJ Charles
- Narrated by: Cornell Collins
- Length: 8 hrs and 5 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
Lord Alexander Pyne-ffoulkes, the younger son of the Duke of Ilvar, holds a bitter grudge against his wealthy father. The Duke intends to give his Duchess a priceless diamond parure on their wedding anniversary - so Alec hires a pair of jewel thieves to steal it. The Duke's remote castle is a difficult target, and Alec needs a way to get the thieves in. Soldier-turned-criminal Jerry Crozier has the answer: He'll pose as a Society gentleman and become Alec's new best friend.
-
-
Emotional whiplash
- By Cranky Reader on 10-16-19
By: KJ Charles
-
Band Sinister
- By: KJ Charles
- Narrated by: Cornell Collins
- Length: 7 hrs and 59 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
Sir Philip Rookwood is the disgrace of the county. He's a rake and an atheist, and the rumors about his hellfire club, the Murder, can only be spoken in whispers. (Orgies. It's orgies.) Guy Frisby and his sister, Amanda, live in rural seclusion after a family scandal. But when Amanda breaks her leg in a riding accident, she's forced to recuperate at Rookwood Hall, where Sir Philip is hosting the Murder. Guy rushes to protect her, but the Murder aren't what he expects. Sir Philip turns out to be charming, kind - and dangerously attractive.
-
-
A Delicious MM Regency Tale
- By Jennifer Smith on 03-20-19
By: KJ Charles
-
An Unnatural Vice
- Sins of the Cities, Book 2
- By: KJ Charles
- Narrated by: Matthew Lloyd Davies
- Length: 7 hrs and 54 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
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.
-
-
K. J. Charles does it again
- By BR on 08-03-17
By: KJ Charles
-
Jackdaw
- By: KJ Charles
- Narrated by: Cornell Collins
- Length: 6 hrs and 27 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
Jonah Pastern is a magician, a liar, a windwalker, a professional thief...and for six months, he was the love of police constable Ben Spenser's life. His betrayal left Ben jailed, ruined, alone, and looking for revenge. Ben is determined to make Jonah pay. But he can't seem to forget what they once shared, and Jonah refuses to let him. Soon Ben is entangled in Jonah's chaotic existence all over again, and they're running together - from the police, the justiciary, and some dangerous people with a lethal grudge against them.
-
-
Magnificent!
- By Ronda on 06-27-20
By: KJ Charles
-
Slippery Creatures
- Will Darling Adventures Series, Book 1
- By: KJ Charles
- Narrated by: Cornell Collins
- Length: 7 hrs and 6 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
Will Darling came back from the Great War with a few scars, a lot of medals, and no idea what to do next. Inheriting his uncle's chaotic secondhand bookshop is a blessing...until strange visitors start making threats. First a criminal gang, then the War Office, both telling Will to give them the information they want, or else. Will has no idea what that information is, and nobody to turn to, until Kim Secretan - charming, cultured, oddly attractive - steps in to offer help. As Kim and Will try to find answers and outrun trouble, mutual desire grows along with the danger.
-
-
good yarn
- By Cranky Reader on 07-24-20
By: KJ Charles
-
A Fashionable Indulgence
- Society of Gentlemen, Book 1
- By: KJ Charles
- Narrated by: Matthew Lloyd Davies
- Length: 8 hrs and 47 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
In the first novel of an explosive new series from K. J. Charles, a young gentleman and his elegant mentor fight for love in a world of wealth, power, and manipulation. 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.
-
-
Utterly charming!
- By kara-karina on 08-19-15
By: KJ Charles
-
Any Old Diamonds
- By: KJ Charles
- Narrated by: Cornell Collins
- Length: 8 hrs and 5 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
Lord Alexander Pyne-ffoulkes, the younger son of the Duke of Ilvar, holds a bitter grudge against his wealthy father. The Duke intends to give his Duchess a priceless diamond parure on their wedding anniversary - so Alec hires a pair of jewel thieves to steal it. The Duke's remote castle is a difficult target, and Alec needs a way to get the thieves in. Soldier-turned-criminal Jerry Crozier has the answer: He'll pose as a Society gentleman and become Alec's new best friend.
-
-
Emotional whiplash
- By Cranky Reader on 10-16-19
By: KJ Charles
-
Band Sinister
- By: KJ Charles
- Narrated by: Cornell Collins
- Length: 7 hrs and 59 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
Sir Philip Rookwood is the disgrace of the county. He's a rake and an atheist, and the rumors about his hellfire club, the Murder, can only be spoken in whispers. (Orgies. It's orgies.) Guy Frisby and his sister, Amanda, live in rural seclusion after a family scandal. But when Amanda breaks her leg in a riding accident, she's forced to recuperate at Rookwood Hall, where Sir Philip is hosting the Murder. Guy rushes to protect her, but the Murder aren't what he expects. Sir Philip turns out to be charming, kind - and dangerously attractive.
-
-
A Delicious MM Regency Tale
- By Jennifer Smith on 03-20-19
By: KJ Charles
-
The Gentle Art of Fortune Hunting
- By: KJ Charles
- Narrated by: Cornell Collins
- Length: 8 hrs and 1 min
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
Robin Loxleigh and his sister Marianne are the hit of the Season, so attractive and delightful that nobody looks behind their pretty faces. Until Robin sets his sights on Sir John Hartlebury's heiress niece. The notoriously graceless baronet isn't impressed by good looks, or fooled by false charm. He's sure Robin is a liar - a fortune hunter, a card sharp, and a heartless, greedy fraud - and he'll protect his niece, whatever it takes.
-
-
Fantastic narration, so-so simple story
- By t on 06-04-21
By: KJ Charles
-
Think of England
- By: KJ Charles
- Narrated by: Tom Carter
- Length: 6 hrs and 50 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
England, 1904. Two years ago, Captain Archie Curtis lost his friends, fingers, and future to a terrible military accident. Alone, purposeless, and angry, Curtis is determined to discover if he and his comrades were the victims of fate, or of sabotage. Curtis's search takes him to an isolated, ultra-modern country house, where he meets and instantly clashes with fellow guest Daniel da Silva. Effete, decadent, foreign, and all-too-obviously queer, the sophisticated poet is everything the straightforward British officer fears and distrusts.
-
-
Lie back and enjoy!
- By Annika on 07-10-18
By: KJ Charles
-
Spectred Isle
- Green Men Series, Book 1
- By: KJ Charles
- Narrated by: Ruairi Carter
- Length: 7 hrs and 34 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
Archaeologist Saul Lazenby has been all but unemployable since his disgrace during the War. Now he scrapes a living working for a rich eccentric who believes in magic. Saul knows it's a lot of nonsense except that he begins to find himself in increasingly strange and frightening situations. And at every turn he runs into the sardonic, mysterious Randolph Glyde, the last of an ancient line of arcanists, commanding deep secrets and extraordinary powers as he struggles to fulfill his family duties in a war-torn world. The only question for Randolph is whether Saul is victim or villain.
-
-
Well that’s interesting
- By Anne on 04-19-20
By: KJ Charles
-
Unfit to Print
- By: KJ Charles
- Narrated by: Vikas Adam
- Length: 4 hrs and 32 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
When crusading lawyer Vikram Pandey sets out in search of a missing youth, his investigations take him to Holywell Street, London's most notorious address. He expects to find a disgraceful array of sordid bookshops. He doesn't expect one of them to be run by the long-lost friend whose disappearance and presumed death he's been mourning for 13 years. Gil Lawless became a Holywell Street bookseller for his own reasons, and he's damned if he's going to apologize or listen to moralizing from anyone.
-
-
I enjoyed this book immensely
- By Neta_BER on 12-17-18
By: KJ Charles
-
The Secret Casebook of Simon Feximal
- By: KJ Charles
- Narrated by: Gary Furlong
- Length: 7 hrs and 22 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
I have been Simon Feximal's companion, assistant, and chronicler for 20 years now, and during that time my Casebooks of Feximal the Ghost-Hunter have spread the reputation of this most accomplished of ghost-hunters far and wide. Here is how my association with Feximal came about. I dare say it may not be quite what you expect.
-
-
KJ Charles is magic
- By BR on 11-24-17
By: KJ Charles
-
It Takes Two to Tumble
- Seducing the Sedgwicks, Book 1
- By: Cat Sebastian
- Narrated by: Joel Leslie
- Length: 7 hrs and 38 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
After an unconventional upbringing, Ben Sedgwick is perfectly content with the quiet, predictable life of a country vicar, free of strife or turmoil. When he’s asked to look after an absent naval captain’s three wild children, he reluctantly agrees, but instantly falls for the hellions. And when their stern but gloriously handsome father arrives, Ben is tempted in ways that make him doubt everything.
-
-
What a lovely find!
- By Kindle Customer on 06-04-20
By: Cat Sebastian
-
Hither Page
- Page & Sommers, Book 1
- By: Cat Sebastian
- Narrated by: Joel Leslie
- Length: 6 hrs and 27 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
James Sommers returned from the war with his nerves in tatters. All he wants is to retreat to the quiet village of his childhood and enjoy the boring, predictable life of a country doctor. The last thing in the world he needs is a handsome stranger who seems to be mixed up with the first violent death the village has seen in years. It certainly doesn't help that this stranger is the first person James has wanted to touch since before the war.
-
-
Outstand post-War England Mystery
- By Barb_T on 02-17-20
By: Cat Sebastian
-
Widdershins
- Whyborne & Griffin, Book 1
- By: Jordan L. Hawk
- Narrated by: Julian G. Simmons
- Length: 9 hrs and 15 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
Repressed scholar Percival Endicott Whyborne has two skills: reading dead languages and hiding in his office at the Ladysmith Museum. After the tragic death of the friend he secretly loved, he's ruthlessly suppressed any desire for another man. So when handsome ex-Pinkerton Griffin Flaherty approaches him to translate a mysterious book, Whyborne wants to finish the job and get rid of the detective as quickly as possible. Griffin left the Pinkertons following the death of his partner, hoping to start a new life. But the powerful cult that murdered Glenn has taken root in Widdershins, and only the spells in the book can stop them.
-
-
Gripping Erotic Suspense, Seductive Narrator!
- By R. Wilson on 06-17-13
By: Jordan L. Hawk
-
Boyfriend Goals
- By: Riley Hart
- Narrated by: Iggy Toma
- Length: 7 hrs and 38 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
Milo. Unusual. Quirky. Different. I’ve heard it all. I’ve accepted I’m not for everyone. When I find out I inherited a bookstore and apartment on a small East Coast island, I jump at the chance for a new life. Turns out I’ve also inherited a sexy, tattooed guy who not only rents the space next to my store but my apartment too. Gideon. I wasn’t looking for a roommate, but it’s not like I can stay at Milo’s place while he’s banished to a hotel. According to Milo, we’re bestie goals. And if he doesn’t wear pants at home, who am I to complain?
-
-
Great read!
- By Msjbelle on 07-02-22
By: Riley Hart
-
The Soldier's Scoundrel
- By: Cat Sebastian
- Narrated by: Gary Furlong
- Length: 7 hrs and 51 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
Jack Turner grew up in the darkness of London's slums, born into a life of crime and willing to do anything to keep his belly full and his siblings safe. Now he uses the tricks and schemes of the underworld to help those who need the kind of assistance only a scoundrel can provide. His distrust of the nobility runs deep, and his services do not extend to the gorgeous high-born soldier who personifies everything Jack will never be.
-
-
So well written!
- By Cate F. on 12-31-16
By: Cat Sebastian
-
The Lawrence Browne Affair
- By: Cat Sebastian
- Narrated by: Gary Furlong
- Length: 7 hrs and 30 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
Lawrence Browne, the Earl of Radnor, is mad. At least that's what he and most of the village believes. A brilliant scientist, he hides himself away in his family's crumbling estate, unwilling to venture into the outside world. When an annoyingly handsome man arrives at Penkellis, claiming to be Lawrence's new secretary, his carefully planned world is turned upside down.
-
-
Thief with heart of gold meets Mad Earl
- By Cranky Reader on 04-16-20
By: Cat Sebastian
-
Kidnapped by the Pirate
- By: Keira Andrews
- Narrated by: Cornell Collins
- Length: 10 hrs and 6 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
Nathaniel Bainbridge is used to hiding, whether it's concealing his struggles with reading or his forbidden desire for men. Under the thumb of his controlling father, the governor of Primrose Isle, he's sailing to the fledging colony, where he'll surrender to a respectable marriage for his family's financial gain. Then pirates strike and he's kidnapped for ransom by the Sea Hawk, a legendary villain of the New World. Bitter and jaded, Hawk harbors futile dreams of leaving the sea for a quiet life, but men like him don't deserve peace. He has a score to settle with Nathaniel's father.
-
-
Started reading the Kindle book while in hospital
- By G. Eggleston on 08-07-18
By: Keira Andrews
Publisher's Summary
A slow-burning romance and a chilling mystery bind two singular men in the suspenseful first book of a new Victorian series from K. J. Charles.
Lodging-house keeper Clem Talleyfer prefers a quiet life. He's happy with his hobbies, his work - and especially with his lodger Rowley Green, who becomes a friend over their long fireside evenings together. If only neat, precise, irresistible Mr. Green were interested in more than friendship....
Rowley just wants to be left alone - at least until he meets Clem, with his odd, charming ways and his glorious eyes. Two quiet men, lodging in the same house, coming to an understanding...it could be perfect. Then the brutally murdered corpse of another lodger is dumped on their doorstep and their peaceful life is shattered. Now Clem and Rowley find themselves caught up in a mystery, threatened on all sides by violent men, with a deadly London fog closing in on them. If they're to see their way through, the pair must learn to share their secrets - and their hearts.
More from the same
What listeners say about An Unseen Attraction
Average Customer RatingsReviews - Please select the tabs below to change the source of reviews.
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
- BR
- 02-25-17
K J Charles is amazing
I had a hard start with this book. I love Charm of Magpies so much that I was initially disappointed to listen to a softer, more slowly paced book. But the author's talent won me over. As is true in all her books, the characters are portrayed as complete people with flaws and issues that make them more interesting. The characters are not "perfect" as people or physically. Which is a relief from most m/m books and gives their romance through friendship and awkward flirtation more complexities than simple physical attraction. Not that there isn't sexual attraction and a tiny bit of kink, which is nicely explored. Besides the layered personalities of the main characters, KJ Charles situates them deftly in Victorian London with nice historical details. The mystery is not the strongest element of the story but it does move the story along. The narrator had a good voice and gave each character a unique voice without overdoing it. I still hold out hope that Charm of Magpies will someday get turned into an audiobook but am perfectly happy with her current work if it continues to be of this quality. And (the best compliment you can give an author) I am definitely looking forward to the next book in this series.
16 people found this helpful
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
- Meredith
- 02-25-17
Delightful
I'm fond of adventures featuring everyday people, and this is an excellent example. I felt like I could have been one of the other residents of the boarding house or regulars at the Jack and Knave. KJ Charles' historical worldbuilding is thorough without beating you over the head with endless descriptive passages, so that you're just dropped into the rich complexity of Victorian London and allowed to live there. This is a gentler, slower story than some of her wild rides, but there's plenty of excitement, a little horror, and some truly hilarious animals.
6 people found this helpful
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
- John Scott
- 07-16-19
Unexpected delight
This story quickly captivated me from the beginning and delightfully pulled me through every chapter to the wonderful conclusion. I have already added the next two novels in the series and can’t wait to dive into them. The mystery of the tale is cunningly parceled out with clever plot devices and gentle humor. The gay sexual element of the book is skillfully woven within the plot without being overwhelming or gratuitous. It’s a great novel in which the main characters are gay, instead of using a thin plot as an excuse to jump from sex scene to sex scene.
5 people found this helpful
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
- rook
- 12-19-17
Truly refreshing romance
What did you love best about An Unseen Attraction?
KJ Charles is the first historical romance author I've seen to obviously do a great deal of research into the eras of their books. Weather, environment, geography, trades, laws, scandals, current events— all taken into account. I've never read erotica about London during the industrial revolution that even mentioned industrial pollution. This London feels lived in, and the setting feels to be as much of a character as the characters themselves. ALSO gosh, it was was so refreshing to see a romance about a biracial person, let alone one presented as on the autism spectrum! In fact, this is the first romance I've ever read with a non-white protagonist, and it was so refreshing to not just see Clem (front and center on the cover!), but also to have his complicated relationship with his family and culture discussed and not be conveniently glossed over.
Which character – as performed by Matthew Lloyd Davies – was your favorite?
I adored Matthew Lloyd Davies as a narrator. This was the first book of his I've listened to and I'm excited to follow to more of his work. His character voices were all a delight and all extremely distinctive, recognizable, and added extra dimension to each character.
Any additional comments?
I've now listened to this entire series and am truly enamored with this trilogy of books. I highly recommending listening to them in sequence, as a trio. The way the three books' narratives are constructed and twine around each other is unlike any other romance series I've ever read. Enjoy!
5 people found this helpful
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
- Manduh
- 09-04-19
Not my cuppa
3.25 stars for the narrator. He wasn't bad but the voices he made during the sexual scenes made me uncomfortable lol.
2 stars for the story. Was not a fan of either of the characters. Clem was naive and weak when it came to his brother and Rowley was weak when it came to Clem. I just didn't care for it. I also was a fan of the story line dealing with the brother. However, I will be listening to book 2 hoping it improves.
3 people found this helpful
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
- Diana in SC @AudiobookObsession
- 08-09-17
Wow! A cozy romance with a dangerous mystery, too!
This is the first book by KJ Charles that I have read or listened to, and I was really impressed. I cannot wait to read the next two books in this trilogy. What a great combination! An exciting, gritty murder mystery, and a lovely gay (male-male) romance. I was enthralled the entire time by the excellent writing, wonderful characters, and an absorbing plot.
Clem and Rowlie are both good, decent guys. They respect each other and have patience and affection for each other's shortcomings. Rowlie is a taxidermist who came from a really poor background in South London. Clem is an autistic man who manages a lodging house for lower middle class artisans. He grew up in the English countryside. Clem looks like a handsome young man from India, but he was raised by his white English father. Clem's autistic characteristics include the following: an aversion to crowds and loud voices, an inability to multitask, a resistance to change, and a love of an orderly routine. I really like when romances have autistic characters, and this book handles it really well. I also loved the realistic progression of Clem and Rowlie's relationship, which is put under stress by the dangerous situation. They have disagreements that they work through.
The audiobook is wonderfully atmospheric. Dangerous men lurk in the sickly yellow fog. I discovered unusual parts of Victorian London where books have never taken me before: a taxidermist shop, a lodging house for artisans, a private social club for gay people, and a trapeze artist show.
I would say that there are several love scenes, and they are moderately steamy. Although they are somewhat graphic, the mechanics of what they do is not very adventurous or advanced as compared to other MM romances that I have read. Clem and Rowlie's first sexual encounter is so sweet and awkward; it was very charming. I felt the closeness and intimacy between Clem and Rowlie. The love scenes were very well written and added to the growing relationship in the book.
It was so sweet how the pair liked to just spend time together sitting on the couch having tea, talking, and petting the cat. I like both men a lot. Clem did occasionally get on my nerves with his denial and stubbornness about certain things that come to light.
Certain things in the plot were settled at the end of this book, but an ongoing story arc continues in Book 2 with Clem and Rowlie's investigative journalist friend as one of the main characters. I can't wait to listen to Book 2.
The narrator Matthew Lloyd Davies did such an excellent job! He is now one of my favorite narrators. Each character's voice was very distinctive, with the correct type of accent, different pitch, and the speed of speech. For example, Clem had an adorable English countryside accent, like a hobbit. I also like how the narrator seemed very comfortable with the intimate male/male love scenes. He is very good at expressing the emotions that Clem and Rowlie have for each other. In addition, his pacing was superb, especially for the action scenes. I hung on his every word, and I think he did a perfect job. Because of Mr. Davies' narration, I just had to buy the second book in this trilogy.
3 people found this helpful
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
- HP Reader
- 05-04-17
Well Done Historical M/M Mystery/Romance
This is the type of m/m romance I can get into. It has a plot first, with the romance supporting it. With so many cookie-cutter romance stories around, it is refreshing to find one as well done as this one. Told from the two main characters' POVs, the switching happens in chapters rather than paragraph ping-pong ball done by so many inexperienced writers.
I found the description of foggy London so well done that I could feel the grit on my own skin, as if I'd been walking through it myself. And of course, the narration by Matthew Lloyd Davies makes this story a listening treat for the ears, especially the sex scenes. And speaking of sex scenes - the slow build up makes this story extremely erotic, with just a slight dom/sub added in for spice.
Although a self-contained story, I like how it leads in to the sequel - which I have another month to wait for!
3 people found this helpful
-
Overall
- Wende
- 02-23-17
Loved it
The narrator was very good and brought the book alive. I did have problems with Clem. He almost was TSTL. The book was enjoyable and the mystery was very well done.
3 people found this helpful
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
- Bethany
- 06-21-21
LGBQT friendly historical romance
I am not usually a consumer of romances. Partially because I have an impression of them being rather one note (fair or not) and partially, no doubt, because my own experiences with romantic love have not been kind. But, this one promised at least some mystery and it was set in Victorian England and it has sexual, racial and ability representations which are deeply important to me. Added to that that this happens to be part of the plus catalog on a month when I cannot spend more money on credits, and decided to try it
I am so glad I did. I loved the narrator, who I thought did a great job (I am American and do not have a perfect grasp of regional accents elsewhere but I believe this was handled well, to my limited knowledge). I loved the characters: gentle, lovable Clem who is neurodivergent and courageous in a world which, even now, does not perfectly fit people like us. Capable, patient and traumatized Rowley, dealing with the spector of child abuse and rising above it.
I enjoyed their coming together (though I feel slow burn is a bit of an exaggeration, I also don't read many romances so maybe it is slow for them to get together by chapter 3) and I was surprised by the conclusion to a degree (I had my suspicions of the culprit but I really couldn't be sure). I enjoyed the descriptions and the writing. I don't really feel "cliffhanger" is accurate. You are given enough of an ending to reasonably stop reading the books if you want, and feel satisfied, though I intend to try the next myself.
I do want to address a couple of the other reviews, since I can't comment on them directly. Calling Clem "TSTL" really disappointed me. He is, in fact, NOT stupid. He is someone dealing with a difference that means that he has to think and react in ways that are not necessarily run of the mill but which do make sense. I think he was a very well researched character who adapted realistically within his capacity.
Living with neurodivergency is not a one size fits all thing and the author still represented him well to me, and I am both neurodivergent myself and work with neurodivergent people. Another review claimed that no one showed courage. Incorrect. Courage is not the absence of fear, after all. Both characters had challenges. Rowly came from a violent background and like many trauma victims had triggers. Clem was dealing with challenges that made doing ordinary things courageous in a way.
If you have a need for flawless characters with perfect bodies and minds who react to danger as if it's a game or as if showing feelings is weakness, this won't be your book. However, I'd take friends like these characters any day over that other type of character.
2 people found this helpful
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
- Cranky Reader
- 03-17-20
Comfort in found family for odd birds
Having read then listened to this book a couple times, it holds up. Clem is an odd duck on several front. Rowley Just wants not to be noticed…until Clem notices him. Unfortunately outside actors also notice them. There is trouble, some fighting, and some trauma in addition to date nights to see trapeze artists.
Clem & Rowley are good for each other & Clem’s friends have his back and it’s nice to see.
Worldbuilding: not paranormal. Good use of setting (London Fog) and detail. On rereading after completing the series, it’s fun to see what glimpses of the future I didn’t know about the first time through. It’s not so much like missing clues as what seems incidental now becomes important later, but it won’t matter until one rereads this. Good solid base for the trilogy+.
Steam: Med-Low. There is a reasonable amount of M/M fooling around on page, with some specificity, but it doesn’t dwell on the sex as much as the comfort & connection. There’s great dialogue about desires & consent.
Narration: I like listening to this story. It’s nicely done with consistent audio quality.
2 people found this helpful
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story

- Mrs. E. J. Curtis
- 06-27-20
Good story
The concept is interesting and well written. The characters are likeable and the narration is good.
1 person found this helpful
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story

- Abigail
- 04-25-22
Magical!
I really loved the characters, so unexpected and combined with such a thrilling storyline! ✨ Excellent!
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story

- HMM
- 04-11-22
The best of the three
I liked both main characters and how they were careful not to move to quickly into a relationship. Narration was marvelous. I won't reread any of the other books again but this one I will. Well narrated.
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story

- Marie grice
- 01-30-22
AGAIN YET ANOTHER MUST READ BOOK
A well written storyline full of suspense, plotting and a beautiful love story.
The finishing touch of Mathew Lloyd Davies narrating.
Like I said a must read book for anyone who reads KJ Charles and many other writers.
Thank you for a lovely book I couldn't put it down.
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story

- A. Jackson
- 01-15-22
Really enjoyed it
Great story. Only wish Clem hadn't been so wet. He made up for it later.
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story

- Emerkar
- 01-14-22
Okay but bland and slow
For me, a seasoned KJ reader, this book is slightly below her normal standards. The writing is as good as always, but I have some issues with the story.
The setting is quite interesting (taxidermy! music hall!) and the romance is simple, slow building and really, really consensual, which makes the story intimate but at certain points straining (to use an uglier expression, it drags on). Perhaps this one is just not for me; I am just more drawn to the heart-wrenching excitement and fast pace in her other books. One thing I must point out, however, is the pace: it is so slow that into half of the book I feel nothing has happened—the romance, to be honest, is already there right at the beginning.
The narrator could not be found fault with, although I find his choice of some recurring characters’ voices a bit strange and quite unexpected.
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story

- Jenny_Indigo
- 12-16-21
Misdeeds and romance in the fogs of London
I’ve not read any of KJ Charles’ books before but this is a gem. I was transported into a mystery intertwined with a love story set in Victorian London. Can’t wait to start the next book. Loved the narration too got everything right.
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story

- Louise
- 10-06-21
Great start to the series
I hadn't realised the Sins of The Cities series had an interconnected plotline (each book focuses on different characters, so I thought they were standalones with connected characters), but actually really liked having more time for the plot to develop, alongside the romantic storylines. I liked the way Clem and Rowley's relationship started very early on, but it's established that they have a previous connection starting before the events of the book begin, so it works. I wasn't sure about the narration at first, but it actually really works for the time period the book is set in somehow. Overall a nice blend of romance, drama, intrigue and immersive historical setting.
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story

- Flora
- 05-21-21
Blew me away...
I bought this not knowing what to expect, but ready to be open to what the writer wanted to share, and I listened to the entire book in one sitting. No regrets whatsoever!
This beautiful story drew me right in, to all its subtleties, nuances, like a fine watercolor being brought to life before my inner eyes. And even better, it was also challenging, frustrating and painful to experience parts of the journey, which just added to it's overall charm.
Rowley and Clem's relationship was a gem of a literary creation, and there was an almost intimate privilege in seeing into their connection. As someone who has lived and worked with people who are at various points on the spectrum of learning needs ( as is everyone to a certain extent, to be clear!), it's so refreshing to have a character like Clem being given the space to be a fully present human, with all his needs and aspects honoured and respected, particularly his sexuality - it's too often the case that people further along the spectrum get automatically de-sexualised, reduced to tropes or seen as lacking the capacity to express or experience aspects of being human that society deems the realm of ' normal people'.
The story drew me in right away and I really look forward to getting the next books in the series to see how it all pans out!
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story

- Martin Moore
- 04-08-18
Rushing for part two.
I’ve been riveted, by the character development, the incredible settings and well drawn sense of time and place.
1 person found this helpful
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story

- Jayltee
- 04-16-18
Disappointing
Given how much I enjoyed the Magpie Lord series it’s a shame I found this so boring. Clem was a frustrating character who is kind and accomodating except when it comes to anything that actually matters, like logic and the truth, at which point he’s annoyingly belligerent. His relationship with Rowley left me cold, unlike other works of Charles which have been both delightfully romantic and smoking hot.
Narration was very good