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lechepatito's review against another edition
5.0
So, so good, as usual! The twist was shocking, the reconciliation felt real, the love I have for Jerry is eternal. The way she uses POV, the tight focus and language she uses with Alec - this is a masterpiece.
rosska22's review against another edition
5.0
JERRY CROZIER, LIGHT OF MY LIFE. This book wrecked me. The twists, the turns, the depth of emotion. Wrecked, I tell you, wrecked. I loved it.
coffeeintherain's review against another edition
3.5
3.5 stars This wasn't my favorite K.J. Charles book, but it was still pretty good. I liked the second half of the book a lot better than the first, both in terms of the story and the romance. I do love a twist. And while a book with D/s dynamics (and so much of it) was never going to be my favorite, it did work for the characters, and we leave them in a good place.
hex_meghead's review against another edition
adventurous
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content and Homophobia
Moderate: Child abuse, Death of parent, and Violence
kshiner's review against another edition
fast-paced
3.0
I liked the story, but didn’t like this as much as the previous book I read by this author. I probably would have liked it better as a dual POV, as I didn’t really feel the connection between the two MC’s as written. I didn't really get a sense of what was happening for them behind the scenes.
a_manning11's review against another edition
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.25
ndizz87's review
4.0
I was a little leary when I first started this novel. It stated that it was M/M romance (Male-on-Male), which don’t get me wrong, I’m definitely not opposed to, however I didn’t think they were exactly known for their literary masterpieces. I was pleasantly surprised by this novel. While it definitely embodies what you would consider M/M writing (I mean, the sex scenes were plentiful and steamy), it did straddle the line between a literary tale of family history, heisty antics, and steamy love which, when it wasn’t confusing, was a very enjoyable ride to be along for!
The plot centers around Alec Pynes, who is the very broke son of a very wealthy Duke in 19th/early 20th century England. He and his siblings have been cast out by their father after the tragic death of their mother. After her death, the Duke decides to marry his longtime lover and make her the new Duchess. This doesn’t go over well with the children and when they object, the Duke is all too happy to kick them out and cut them off in order to be with his supposedly “one true love”. Alec, who comes off as a feeble and easily manipulated character, decides he wants to get back at his father one last time by stealing a set of jewels that the Duke intends to give his new Duchess on their anniversary. He enlists the help of the Lilywhite Boys, a pair of thieves who are extremely good at what they do. What ensues after is a lusty, steamy tale of love, domination (in both love and familial relations) and justice.
Okay, so I’ll admit, the relationship that develops between Alec and Jerry is steamy, lusty, and full of unabashed sexual escapades seemingly all over the place. These scenes are well written and there are plenty of them. While I did enjoy them, I found myself wondering whether it was an overall healthy relationship. While it’s not surprise that there is a culture of dominant/subordinate sexual encounters and proclivities in gay culture, with a creature so feeble and delicate as Alec, I just felt (at least at the beginning) he was being taken advantage of by the more seasoned, conniving Jerry (whose name I didn’t quite like...its hard to moan “Jerry” without giggling). I also felt that the relationship was always on a razor wire and even when Jerry’s true feelings started to show, I was constantly second guessing whether it was genuine and sincere, or just another scam in which he would ultimately leave Alec high and dry. I was happy to see that it truly didn’t end up that way, but even still, when Jerry’s feelings were being shown to the reader, it was hard to take them at face value. Maybe that was how it was intended, but when the ending came, it was still hard to wrap my head around the fact that it was all true.
The heist itself, when it was entirely confusing (which happens towards the end when they go to Castle Speight) felt like it took a backseat for most of the novel). The final third of the novel deals with the heist. A majority of the book centers around the sexual escapades between Alec and Jerry, and then the subsequent setting up of the heist itself. While this was a serviceable heist, it wasn’t the meat of the story. The most confusing part of the whole thing was the sort of double-crossing that Alec does with Susan Lazarus. I mean, I get that the primary thing that Alec wanted to accomplish was to finally have tangible evidence that his father ultimately killed his mother, but I wasn’t entirely sure as to why the Lilywhite Boys had to be left in the dark about that. I mean, it was kind of a baller move on Alec’s part which isn’t something you see coming, but it was a little jarring when you figured it out.
Aside from the steamy sex scenes, I really did end up appreciating the character of Alec. While he came off as delicate and submissive, he had a definite spirit and sense of justice that was very heartfelt. He wasn’t necessarily attempting to regain his lost inheritance as much as he was wanting justice for the murder of two innocent people. If you went below the surface of the character, while it didn’t seem apparent, the man had some balls on him. He kept up a lie that he knew might harm his new found love. He made the people closest to him, his siblings, hate him. He had to swallow all of the hate and indifference of his father, all to make sure that his mother and sister didn’t die in vain. I mean, while he did live in squalor, he was also supporting himself as an artist. You definitely had to dig deeper with the character, but the greater spirit of Alec was there if you looked. I can’t say the same with Jerry. I didn’t get the fully fleshed out version that I did with Alec. Maybe it’s because I was always second guessing his true meaning and intentions.
The heist, while it was fun while it lasted (and it didn’t last long), wasn’t the major part of this book, which is a little deceiving when you first dive in. I wanted a little more excitement and action. That didn’t end up happening, which is okay, but I felt I was sold on a heist and was given a complicated love story set against a family drama. The novel was lucky that the complicated love story and the family drama was more than enough to get this novel across the finish line. I’m not sure if I’m clamoring to get back to the Lilywhite Boys. The novel ends on a pretty good note. However, if it does cross my bookshelf, I’d probably see what Jerry and Alec are up to with a smile on my face.
The plot centers around Alec Pynes, who is the very broke son of a very wealthy Duke in 19th/early 20th century England. He and his siblings have been cast out by their father after the tragic death of their mother. After her death, the Duke decides to marry his longtime lover and make her the new Duchess. This doesn’t go over well with the children and when they object, the Duke is all too happy to kick them out and cut them off in order to be with his supposedly “one true love”. Alec, who comes off as a feeble and easily manipulated character, decides he wants to get back at his father one last time by stealing a set of jewels that the Duke intends to give his new Duchess on their anniversary. He enlists the help of the Lilywhite Boys, a pair of thieves who are extremely good at what they do. What ensues after is a lusty, steamy tale of love, domination (in both love and familial relations) and justice.
Okay, so I’ll admit, the relationship that develops between Alec and Jerry is steamy, lusty, and full of unabashed sexual escapades seemingly all over the place. These scenes are well written and there are plenty of them. While I did enjoy them, I found myself wondering whether it was an overall healthy relationship. While it’s not surprise that there is a culture of dominant/subordinate sexual encounters and proclivities in gay culture, with a creature so feeble and delicate as Alec, I just felt (at least at the beginning) he was being taken advantage of by the more seasoned, conniving Jerry (whose name I didn’t quite like...its hard to moan “Jerry” without giggling). I also felt that the relationship was always on a razor wire and even when Jerry’s true feelings started to show, I was constantly second guessing whether it was genuine and sincere, or just another scam in which he would ultimately leave Alec high and dry. I was happy to see that it truly didn’t end up that way, but even still, when Jerry’s feelings were being shown to the reader, it was hard to take them at face value. Maybe that was how it was intended, but when the ending came, it was still hard to wrap my head around the fact that it was all true.
The heist itself, when it was entirely confusing (which happens towards the end when they go to Castle Speight) felt like it took a backseat for most of the novel). The final third of the novel deals with the heist. A majority of the book centers around the sexual escapades between Alec and Jerry, and then the subsequent setting up of the heist itself. While this was a serviceable heist, it wasn’t the meat of the story. The most confusing part of the whole thing was the sort of double-crossing that Alec does with Susan Lazarus. I mean, I get that the primary thing that Alec wanted to accomplish was to finally have tangible evidence that his father ultimately killed his mother, but I wasn’t entirely sure as to why the Lilywhite Boys had to be left in the dark about that. I mean, it was kind of a baller move on Alec’s part which isn’t something you see coming, but it was a little jarring when you figured it out.
Aside from the steamy sex scenes, I really did end up appreciating the character of Alec. While he came off as delicate and submissive, he had a definite spirit and sense of justice that was very heartfelt. He wasn’t necessarily attempting to regain his lost inheritance as much as he was wanting justice for the murder of two innocent people. If you went below the surface of the character, while it didn’t seem apparent, the man had some balls on him. He kept up a lie that he knew might harm his new found love. He made the people closest to him, his siblings, hate him. He had to swallow all of the hate and indifference of his father, all to make sure that his mother and sister didn’t die in vain. I mean, while he did live in squalor, he was also supporting himself as an artist. You definitely had to dig deeper with the character, but the greater spirit of Alec was there if you looked. I can’t say the same with Jerry. I didn’t get the fully fleshed out version that I did with Alec. Maybe it’s because I was always second guessing his true meaning and intentions.
The heist, while it was fun while it lasted (and it didn’t last long), wasn’t the major part of this book, which is a little deceiving when you first dive in. I wanted a little more excitement and action. That didn’t end up happening, which is okay, but I felt I was sold on a heist and was given a complicated love story set against a family drama. The novel was lucky that the complicated love story and the family drama was more than enough to get this novel across the finish line. I’m not sure if I’m clamoring to get back to the Lilywhite Boys. The novel ends on a pretty good note. However, if it does cross my bookshelf, I’d probably see what Jerry and Alec are up to with a smile on my face.
cozmyer's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.75