An Unnatural Vice

I liked it even more than the first book in this series. The way it continues the same mystery while centring a different couple was executed so well, and makes me excited to read book three. It's an enemies to lovers story, which is excellent for building tension.

(2022 Summer Romance Bingo: ghost, would work loosely for work rivals, mistaken identity, widowed protagonist.)

If you're looking for the sweet, feel-good love story from [b:An Unseen Attraction 30517107 An Unseen Attraction (Sins of the Cities, #1) K.J. Charles https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1470315355s/30517107.jpg 51036162] the first book in KJ Charles' Sins of the Cities series, you're barking up the wrong tree. An Unnatural Vice is an electrifying “opposites attract” romance - and good lord, what opposites! Nathaniel Roy is the crusading do-gooder journalist, the judgemental son of an archbishop who is still grieving the death of the love of his life. And Justin Lazarus is a “defiant, stubborn, obstreperous, unstoppable, enraging bloody nuisance” - and that's Nathaniel's description after he realizes he loves him! Lazarus is also an alleged spiritualist who gleefully bilks his clients out of their money as he conducts fake seances and readings. Once he and Nathaniel meet they start circling each other like “stags circling, antlers ready to clash,” and their hate sex is truly magnificent. When Lazarus gets caught up in the missing heir plot that began in book 1, they are forced to spend more time together and Nathaniel comes to appreciate the Seer of London's competence, energy, humor and feistiness. But he still wants Lazarus to be a different, better person, and Lazarus makes no apologies for being who he is. In addition to featuring two strong MCs, An Unnatural Vice displays Charles' amazing skills at plotting and setting. The first 25% of the book takes place simultaneously with its predecessor, and there are strong hints that during the last 25% or so there are lots of things happening off page that we will read about in the last book, [b:An Unsuitable Heir 33841918 An Unsuitable Heir (Sins of the Cities, #3) K.J. Charles https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1491241699s/33841918.jpg 54778128]. Besides juggling a serpentine plot that spans three books, Charles makes the dense, greasy Victorian fog so memorable that you can feel it envelop you as you read. I won't soon forget Lazarus' desperate run in the fog similar to Rowley's blinded panic and how he leads Nathaniel in the thick of it back to the scene of a crime. Some K.J. Charles fans will make comparisons between Justin Lazarus and Jonah Pastern from [b:Jackdaw 34861586 Jackdaw (The World of A Charm of Magpies) K.J. Charles https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1492260875s/34861586.jpg 42454930], as both are more anti-hero than hero, at least initially. But in many ways Justin is even more of a challenge than Jonah. At the end of the book, Jonah's lover Ben Spenser asks for mercy because Jonah doesn't fully understand right and wrong. Justin Lazarus perfectly understands that what he does for a living is wrong - he just doesn't care. And while Ben and Jonah had a previous relationship together that gave Ben the motivation to redeem Jonah, Nathaniel has no such luxury. He knows exactly how much of a shit Lazarus is. And he loves him anyway. And because of that, Justin has the freedom to make some changes and become a better man...although as Nathaniel realizes, he will always be a difficult, damaged one.Whoo, lots of analysis for a 250 page romance novel! But that's what makes K.J. Charles so special. Can't wait for the series wrap-up in October.I received an ARC of this book from NetGalley (thank goodness!) in exchange for an honest review.