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A review by arachan
Any Old Diamonds by KJ Charles
emotional
tense
medium-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
4.25
This book starts with a rather bleak transaction; Jerry Crozier of the infamous Lilywhite Boys is approached by Lord Alexander who wants the pricey jewel that his estranged father intends to gift to Alexander's hated step-mother stolen. Jerry gets a fabulous payday and Alexander gets to see his detested parental figures humiliated.
It all seems a little too good to be true. The problem starts with the fact that Alexander is a very poor liar and struggles to convincingly portray the prodigal son so Jerry must take a more hands-on approach. Thankfully it turns out that Lord Alexander very much appreciates Jerry's command and inevitably, sex happens.
I was starting to wonder how the author intended to draw this out for the rest of the book since Alexander's discomfort with his own submissive tendencies wasn't it. The give and take of establishing how much control Jerry can take was interesting but I didn't think it could keep the rest of the book from dragging. Oh I of little faith!
It turns out that the Duke of Ivar (Alexander's loathed and loathsome father) isn't the only one capable of hiding a secret. Lord Alexander turns out to be more than a spoiled, rather sheltered rich kid suffering from offended pride. He's seeking revenge for his prematurely dead sister Cara who saw the Duke of Ivar murder their mother.
The jewellery theft was in fact a ruse, planned by Alexander and Susan Lazarus the fiery female detective to find the proof of the double murder that allowed the Duke and current Duchess to be married. This means that Alexander is actually the one taking advantage of Jerry which levels the playing field when they have their HEA.
Jerry's 'reformation' actually comes across pretty well. He's not won over by the love of a good man so much as by the reflection of his own life that he sees through Alex's eyes. His choosing to do the right thing is as much born of his determination to get one over on the people who wronged one of his. It's not an overnight change, seeming to be rooted as much in the fact that Jerry has made it to the top of his illegal trade and there is no challenge or pressing need left in his old career.
It all seems a little too good to be true. The problem starts with the fact that Alexander is a very poor liar and struggles to convincingly portray the prodigal son so Jerry must take a more hands-on approach. Thankfully it turns out that Lord Alexander very much appreciates Jerry's command and inevitably, sex happens.
I was starting to wonder how the author intended to draw this out for the rest of the book since Alexander's discomfort with his own submissive tendencies wasn't it. The give and take of establishing how much control Jerry can take was interesting but I didn't think it could keep the rest of the book from dragging. Oh I of little faith!
The jewellery theft was in fact a ruse, planned by Alexander and Susan Lazarus the fiery female detective to find the proof of the double murder that allowed the Duke and current Duchess to be married. This means that Alexander is actually the one taking advantage of Jerry which levels the playing field when they have their HEA.
Jerry's 'reformation' actually comes across pretty well. He's not won over by the love of a good man so much as by the reflection of his own life that he sees through Alex's eyes. His choosing to do the right thing is as much born of his determination to get one over on the people who wronged one of his. It's not an overnight change, seeming to be rooted as much in the fact that Jerry has made it to the top of his illegal trade and there is no challenge or pressing need left in his old career.