A Seditious Affair

Society of Gentlemen, Book 2

By: KJ Charles

Narrated by: Matthew Lloyd Davies

Length: 7 hrs and 22 mins

Publisher's summary

K. J. Charles turns up the heat in her new Society of Gentlemen novel as two lovers face off in a sensual duel that challenges their deepest beliefs.

Silas Mason has no illusions about himself. He's not lovable or even likable. He's an overbearing idealist, a radical bookseller and pamphleteer who lives for revolution...and for Wednesday nights. Every week he meets anonymously with the same man, in whom Silas has discovered the ideal meld of intellectual companionship and absolute obedience to his sexual commands. But, unbeknownst to Silas, his closest friend is also his greatest enemy, with the power to see him hanged - or spare his life.

A loyal, well-born gentleman official, Dominic Frey is torn apart by his affair with Silas. By the light of day, he cannot fathom the intoxicating lust that drives him to meet with the radical week after week. In the bedroom everything else falls away. Their needs match, and they are united by sympathy for each other's deepest vulnerabilities. But when Silas' politics earn him a death sentence, desire clashes with duty, and Dominic finds himself doing everything he can to save the man who stole his heart.

©2016 K. J. Charles (P)2015 Audible, Inc.

Critic reviews

"This book is so good I read it in one sitting. I just couldn’t put it down. K. J. Charles has long been one of my favorite authors, and this book doesn’t disappoint. A Seditious Affair is a beautiful love story interwoven with the realism of the political unrest of the time - another winner from K. J. Charles!" ( USA Today best-selling author Carole Mortimer)

Excellent performance, excellent story

What a joy to read a proper romance for once, of two people having a realistic and flawed attraction to each other, making realistic and flawed decisions while set in an extremely realistic and compelling (and flawed) society and time.

Matthew Lloyd Davies also does an excellent job at narration, somehow managing tk distinguish each character's voice so that I never lost track of dialogue, while also injecting just enough drama so that the passions of each character came through without being a caricature.

great series!

tres bien ecrit, les personnages sont attachants et complexes. ce livre est unputdownable! a ne pas rater.

Suspenseful, heartbreaking at times; a wonderful s

I originally read this story back in 2015 and it was the first book I'd read by KJ Charles. I loved the book so much and was happy to find it in the Escape program. I loved revisiting this story; it's been long enough since I read it that listening to it was almost like reading it for the first time. Matthew Lloyd Davies does a great job with the narration.

Below is a copy of the review I wrote back in 2015:
* * * * *
I wish I was one of those reviewers who write wonderfully descriptive reviews with good details about why I like a book and the author’s writing - but I’m not. I just don’t know how to express things that well which I why I’m a reader instead of writer. I don’t read many historical romance books but when I saw this one on NetGalley, and read the description, I knew I wanted to read it. Not being a history buff I have no idea how historically accurate this story is but I don’t care because it was a wonderful story regardless.

Two people who couldn’t be less alike and yet they still have many things in common, Silas and Dominic begin as forbidden lovers who are able to fulfill each other’s sexual needs. Despite their differences in class standing and beliefs, they become friends and lovers - not just f*** buddies.

The first book I’ve read by Ms. Charles, this is a captivating story about trying circumstances. It was at times suspenseful, heartbreaking and humorous. Her writing is wonderfully descriptive; I felt like I was there and feeling what the characters felt. I look forward to reading more books by this author.

Ebook ARC provided by NetGalley in exchange for my review.

Hot Stuff

This one was a little heavy on the political blah blah blah for me, but I still really liked it.

Outstanding

One of the many things I appreciate about KJ Charles writing is how well researched are all her books.

A Seditious Affair is a wonderfully written and entertaining story that mixes politics and sex perfectly.

Mathew Lloyd Davis performance was top notch.

Excellent

I don’t read much historical romance, but this one was great—the plot, Silas and Dom’s stalwart defense of their disparate political beliefs, but the respect they still feel and (mostly) show for one another and the historical dynamics of that time in England’s history all work together to create an appealing and insightful story. Additionally, the narration is wonderful and definitely adds something to an already great story.

sometimes difficult to keep up ☺️

Dominic and Sylus . they are two of the opposites and at one point Shakespeare literally has to tie them together. Reminds me of Romeo and Juliet but with BDSM and posh. Very political but in the best way possible, they both fight for justice and judicial system and have to manage their relationship being on opposite ends. The ending was very, anticipating. I think I'm going to enjoy the next installment more because Syprius seems like a very interesting character and it seems like Richard will alter his views as well a bit. All the characters are so hard willed I love it! It's a very common theme in KJ Charles' work and I'm hella here for it.

It's difficult to keep up with in the beginning because I was trying to recall the first book and what happened where etc. but I get passed all the jumble.

This book really made me feel bad for the characters in that it is illegal for them to bed each other. It's the same for her other books but that one scene in this book really made me afraid for them. I love that the author doesn't surround the main story around it, well they do but it's not the main theme of the book. Much like her other novels.
2021 is filled with KJ Charles.

Delightfully complicated

Sedition, politics, literature, and appropriate use of safe words. What’s not to love about this book???

Who knew sedition could be so, well, hot?

From the first page this is not a slow burn. Thrust into the action (double entendre intended) from the start You can't help but love these two principled men. Again KJ Charles fills a world with grit and gilt, and this time a fair bit of kink. The balance of modern sensibilities (the emphases placed on enthusiastic consent and the power of a D/S relationship being with the submissive) and achingly well researched historical political intrigue makes my heart flutter. The world and characters feel real and I adore them all.

The best of the society books

the narrator is fantastic. it's a delight to come to recognize characters by the voices he gives them alone, which adds that much more enjoyment to an already great read.