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3.83 AVERAGE
3.83 AVERAGE
emotional
funny
hopeful
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
True review- 4.5 stars
The Gentleman's Book of Vices is a historical MM romance set in Victorian England that is both sweet and spicy at the same time, wrapped up in a tale about community and finding your way, moving on after tragedy and loss.
I loved this book and the relationship between Miles and Charlie. They are both scoundrels and messes who find each other and help each other grow, without losing their old troublemaker ways, which I absolutely loved. This story also featured a rich cast of side characters who all made me smile and found their place in my heart, and who I can't wait to learn more about.
This book also had some spice to it, and the spice was very well written with a BDSM component, although that was never the central component of the story. I greatly enjoyed the spice in this story, however I was disappointed that many of the scenes were fast-forwarded through or had a fade to black. I would have absolutely liked to see more of these scenes play out.
The Gentleman's Book of Vices is a historical MM romance set in Victorian England that is both sweet and spicy at the same time, wrapped up in a tale about community and finding your way, moving on after tragedy and loss.
I loved this book and the relationship between Miles and Charlie. They are both scoundrels and messes who find each other and help each other grow, without losing their old troublemaker ways, which I absolutely loved. This story also featured a rich cast of side characters who all made me smile and found their place in my heart, and who I can't wait to learn more about.
This book also had some spice to it, and the spice was very well written with a BDSM component, although that was never the central component of the story. I greatly enjoyed the spice in this story, however I was disappointed that many of the scenes were fast-forwarded through or had a fade to black. I would have absolutely liked to see more of these scenes play out.
I was really excited for this one but the spark sort of fizzled out before the flame could catch. Miles and Charlie are great characters and there are subtle touches to each that allows the reader to feel / understand they aren't one dimensional (Charlie not letting Miles insult Alma sticks out for me). That having been said, there was a lot that *wasn't* explained (what is the deal with Jo? I'm so confused) and the steaminess level is disappointing - more of a hint than anything else.
For a somewhat smutty book about a man who writes smut and a man who consumes that smut voraciously, this book actually had heart behind it that made it really endearing. The characters were what really made this book for me! Miles and Charlie are both lovely (and watching their relationship grow from something physical to something emotional was really special), but Alma, Jo, and the gang from The Curious Fox were fun to get to know and they make me want to continue on with the series to see who else gets their stories told.
First time I tried this book I quit in the first chapter. (The scenes in the molly house were annoying) Second time I held on and made it through to the actual plot which was entertaining and the couple was delightful.
adventurous
hopeful
sad
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
Looooooooved this book!! Read it on vacation in mostly one sitting. It is short but mighty, just enough to fall in love with the characters and story but not too much to get caught up in too many side plots.
Enjoyed this far more than I was expecting to (A Marvellous Light really burned me). Very VERY sexy in moments, but intimate and heartfelt in others, with two opposing romantic partners who came to soften and support each other, whilst also maintaining what made them have such great chemistry in the first place. Plus, its sitcom-y style misunderstandings and just general joy for those who don't fit into the traditional mold of Victorian person mean that, most of the time, it's a read that'll put a real smile on your face. Rated R for, well, you know, all the sexy stuff. Plus mentions of partner death, general historical homophobia, financial problems.
A few weeks before his wedding Charlie makes it his mission to meet and get the autograph of his favorite erotic writer. A friend gives him the address of Miles who writes the books under a pseudonym and the two are instantly drawn together. Neither should want the other and both are bound to their other obligations but they can’t stay away from one another and must figure out how they can possibly have a future together.
I wanted to like this more than I did. It was a shorter book so I was expecting the book to be a bit tighter but found my self skimming pages if long paragraphs that weren’t moving the story forward. I was very confused by the decision to have the book be fade to black when there were some very steamy other moments because it made the moment of intimacy very anticlimactic, no pun intended. I did really like both Charlie and Miles as well as Charlie’s wonderful group of friend and I’m hoping future books are about the friends. believe that this was a debut novel so I will be interested to see if the next book in the series works better for me.
Thank you to NetGalley, Harlequin, and Carina Press for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.
I wanted to like this more than I did. It was a shorter book so I was expecting the book to be a bit tighter but found my self skimming pages if long paragraphs that weren’t moving the story forward. I was very confused by the decision to have the book be fade to black when there were some very steamy other moments because it made the moment of intimacy very anticlimactic, no pun intended. I did really like both Charlie and Miles as well as Charlie’s wonderful group of friend and I’m hoping future books are about the friends. believe that this was a debut novel so I will be interested to see if the next book in the series works better for me.
Thank you to NetGalley, Harlequin, and Carina Press for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.