16 November, 2018

REVIEW: BAND SINISTER by K.J. Charles

Title:  Band Sinister
Author: KJ Charles
Series: -
Genres: LGBT, Historical Romance
Publisher: KJC Books
Release: October 11th, 2018
Source: ebook
Pages: 224

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BLURB:
Sir Philip Rookwood is the disgrace of the county. He’s a rake and an atheist, and the rumours about his hellfire club, the Murder, can only be spoken in whispers. (Orgies. It’s orgies.)

Guy Frisby and his sister Amanda live in rural seclusion after a family scandal. But when Amanda breaks her leg in a riding accident, she’s forced to recuperate at Rookwood Hall, where Sir Philip is hosting the Murder.

Guy rushes to protect her, but the Murder aren’t what he expects. They’re educated, fascinating people, and the notorious Sir Philip turns out to be charming, kind—and dangerously attractive.

In this private space where anything goes, the longings Guy has stifled all his life are impossible to resist...and so is Philip. But all too soon the rural rumour mill threatens both Guy and Amanda. The innocent country gentleman has lost his heart to the bastard baronet—but does he dare lose his reputation too?

 

EXPECTATIONS: One thing I never really did expect, I can tell you: KJC wrote a light-hearted, fluffy romance novel! I did expect good plot, diverse characters, and a good time reading though. Was not disappointed either.

THE WORLD: Yarlcote, country side, where Guy and Amanda Frisbys, after all the damned scandals that shook the London society of good Ladies and Gentlemen, are left to be forgotten, fed and alive by the mercy of their not so loving, but very respectable aunt. They live in their old rotting house, toiling away for nothing better to do. Amanda, at least, finds entertainment from the Rookwood estate nearby, Rookwoods having been the biggest cause for scandals that destroyed their family. The house with the new heir now hosts the Murder club, club of men who do hell knows what with hell knows whom. And on whom Amanda based her gothic novel about a Hellfire club she wrote.

CHARACTERS: Guy is a very loving brother, long since used to the idea that he'll forever care and shield Amanda from the evil of the world. Her happiness is his happiness. And while he's shocked she wrote a book, he is also happy for her. Amanda, in the meantime, is a free thinking, lovely and kind young woman, expelled from the good society due to lack of reputation, be it her own doing, or their mother. And then there's the Murder club, who soon turn their very world upside down, for during one of her rides out, Amanda breaks her leg, and Murder member, a very good doctor, saves her life. Due to not being able to move, her leg being a mortal danger still, she and Guy reside in the Rookwood estate for weeks to come, slowly but surely learning to enjoy the company of the strange people here, realizing they're not so bad, and very accepting too. Even Philip Rookwood, whose brother, back in the day, ran away with their mother.

ROMANCE:  Guy has denied himself, and never even admitted the possibility of love or loving. But the open-mindedness of Philip, and his unexpectedly gentle pursuit, with very clear end-game of "be aware, I'm going to leave for London" felt like an affair he could muster. Guy, of course, expected it only be that, a romance to remember, to make it easier to grow old and rot in this end of the world, but soon it grew into something great, and honestly, even I loved reading this. But keep in mind, at least three of the presented characters are polyamorous, meaning they're in a relationship together, not just in couples.

GOOD: I really enjoy the "big group of friends who are like family, love each other, have each others' backs" kind of trope. And the characters were so well written, unique in their own sense, and as diverse as KJC likes them. For instance, there's a transgender character to whom no one skips a beat when it comes to pronouns. Then there's a former slave, a black man, a somewhat unusual sight in that time in England. Guy's the virginal village boy who secretly reads unedited Greek novels, and Philip is the kind-hearted villain. Not to mention Amanda, who is as joyous as a person can be. The humor and banter is everything here, for there's not much of a setting.

BAD: It's a stand-alone. But I want more!!

OVERALL: KJC has not yet found a way to disappoint me. I loved this book to bits, and I think I can say this is my favorite right after Magpie Lord trilogy. Simple plot allowed for an easy time with the book, but at the same time hooked hard enough to keep me reading all the way to dawn. Band Sinister has made me very happy.

What do you think about BAND SINISTER?

 

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