An Unnatural Vice by KJ Charles - My Thoughts
I honestly have yet to be disappointed in a KJ Charles book. An Unnatural Vice continues that positive string. It was terrific!
In An Unnatural Vice, we get the story of Nathaniel Roy who we met in the first book of the series, a friend of Clem's, the illegitimate earl's son and a journalist. He's out to expose a spiritualist, Justin Lazarus, who just happens to be tied to the over-arching plot of the trilogy.
Of course, the two men are drawn to each other despite their mutual distrust. There's just some kind of spark that quickly grows into a bonfire and it works! It's not insta-love, it's insta-lust. And that's okay because the author is just that good that we can see why they're so drawn to each other and it makes sense.
Alot of the reviews etc... that I've read of this book indicate that Justin is a total bastard, but you know what? I never saw him that way. Yes, he's not exactly an honest or upright man, but it's clear from the beginning, at least it was to me, that he had his own code of morals and while they might not be all pure and altruistic, they are constant and he lives by them. Sure, he makes his living by bilking what folks would consider innocent people, but those were the cards he was dealt and what was the alternative? So no, I didn't think he was a right bastard at all.
I will say that Justin was the more intriguing character of the two men. Nathaniel, the crusading journalist doesn't have many grey areas and at times he even came across as a tad snotty about being 'the good guy', but he's also charming and amusingly deprecating at times and this warmed me to him. He is really the perfect foil for Justin and the two of them falling in love was fun to read.
There is lots of action, both in and out of the bedroom and the mystery plot barrels along to an interesting and satisfying second act climax. I am looking forward to Book 3 - already pre-ordered, something I very seldom do - and seeing what comes of Mark, another of the friends, the private investigator, excuse me, the private enquiry agent and Pen, the young man he's discovered. I only have to wait until October. :)
