An Unnatural Vice by K.J. Charles (Sins of the Cities #2)
Released: June 6, 2017
Historical M/M Romance
Loveswept
Reviewed by Mandi
Favorite Quote: “You – are the worst man – I have ever met.”
Lazarus’s teeth scraped his shoulder. “And yet here you are, under me….”
Guys, there is hot hate sex in this book. Do I need to say more?
The Seer of London, Justin Lazarus, makes a living calling spirits from beyond the veil, gladly taking people’s money to tell them what they want to hear from their deceased loved ones. Can he really talk to spirits? No, but he doesn’t feel bad about making a living deceiving people. Justin grew up poor, only recently having enough money to sleep in a clean bed all by himself. With the help of some few trusted staff, he puts on quite the show to convince people he is the real deal.
Nathaniel Roy is a journalist determined to expose this fraud. Once a lawyer, Nathaniel had his sights set on figuring out just how Justin puts out the candle flames without a breeze and makes instruments play and the table shake. After attending one of his spiritual readings, and after Justin exposes Nathaniel’s deepest secrets, he is even more determined to bring this guy down. Nathaniel lost the love of his life after a ceiling tile fell on him. For years Nathaniel has been grieving and lonely. Although he has some friends who have supported him, it’s been hard for Nathaniel to move on. But then he meets Justin, and hates him, yet is attracted to him.
Enemies to lovers – yum, yum, yum.
Justin Lazarus was without question a disgraceful fraud, but as his lips moved in silent prayer, Nathaniel could not help the thought that he looked like a glorious fuck. The bad kind, of course; the kind that left a man feeling dirty and ashamed and degraded in his own eyes. The kind Nathaniel had never had in practice, and wouldn’t have admitted to imagining, but could see all too clearly. Bending the medium over his own table, holding him down. You want the furniture to move, Mr. Lazarus? That can be arranged.
You go get yourself some hot hate sex Nathaniel! Nathaniel is an atheist, so he doesn’t believe in the after life or anything spiritual. Besides his editor wanting this story, once Justin secretly digs into Nathaniel’s past, and then brings up his dead lover, this enrages Nathaniel to no end. But a problem comes up that makes them work together. If you read book one, there is an associate of Nathaniel’s who is entangled in an inheritance problem and may have a relation who is a possible bigamist. This guy hires Nathaniel for some legal advice and Justin gets pulled into it as he has some secret proof that could get Nathaniel’s client justice. You don’t have to read book one necessarily (especially to follow along with the romance) but you may be a tiny bit lost with the mystery/conflict portion of the book.
But who cares about inheritances, and bigamists when we have scenes like this:
“Bloody liar,” Nathaniel told him hoarsely.
Lazarus bent, biting at his ear and neck, making Nathaniel writhe. “You self-righteous piece of shit.”
Nathaniel grabbed his hair. “Just admit it.”
“I will if you will.” Lazarus’s hips ground against his. “Prick.” He plunged his tongue between Nathaniel’s lips again, making rasping, incoherent noises as Nathaniel clawed at his back, not caring if he left scratches, wrapping his legs around Lazarus’s hips. They were rutting like animals, still half clothed, every bit as much fight as fuck.
Their romance goes from heated enemies to friends to lovers with a nice HEA. I really loved these two together. A fun read.
Grade: B+
Yesss! Loved this one.
Have you read A Seditious Affair yet? I know you would love that one too.
I haven’t and I need to!