Hero – Lord or heir to a lord, excludes dukes
The Prestons, Book #1
Heat Factor: Sometimes you just gotta bone in a shed
Character Chemistry: “We have fundamentally different values but we are still very attracted to each other.”
Plot: Max goes undercover to an estate that actually pays its workers to uncover wrongdoing in an attempt to get his dad to love him.
Overall: An interesting take on the “divided by politics” romance
The Doomsday Books, Book #1
Heat Factor: We open with sex, then get a whole lotta feelings, and then some more sex toward the end.
Character Chemistry: Both the antagonism and the support hit perfectly.
Plot: Gareth inherits a barony, a house, and a whole lot of trouble with smugglers when his father dies. Luckily, Joss is only too happy to help him out.
Overall: An enjoyable read.
Heart and Hand, Book #3
Heat Factor: She’s a slowwwww burn folks
Character Chemistry: They’re fated mates, but they spend the majority of the book at odds
Plot: Princess Anwyl is on a quest to bring pijala trees and pihaberries to different lords in order to protect the people from brainwashing. She’s also on a quest to find a husband—but she’s already learned that she’s destined to be with a dark haired man with blue eyes who affects her like no other. Warin is that man, she’s pretty sure; but he acts like he can’t stand her. Plus, a LOT of other stuff.
Overall: This book is an epic quest in a series, and it is LONG and complex.
Heat Factor: It’s definitely not unusual for an old school trad published historical romance, but also they have sex in a cave before the 50% mark…so maybe it also is?
Character Chemistry: If you like that “I’ve been wronged and misunderstood, so I’m going to live down to everyone’s expectations” plus “I see through your mask and am the only one to call you on your b.s.” dynamic, this is that
Plot: Bluestocking spinster with no time for social niceties calls beastly and scandalous landowner to town because criminals are getting in the way of her archaeology; compromise and marriage ensues
Overall: Um, this book is awesomesauce.
Heat Factor: They just crash into each other. It’s intense.
Character Chemistry: The way that Will knows he can’t trust Kim but also just really wants to love him is *chef’s kiss*
Plot: After WWI, Will Darling struggled with the return to civilian life until his uncle bequeathed him a bookshop. A bookshop that embroils him in a conspiracy, and brings into his life the perturbing and slippery Kim Secretan.
Overall: Exceptional. Absolutely exceptional.
Continue reading “Review: The Will Darling Adventures by KJ Charles (2020-2021)”
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