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frostedarsenic · 1 year

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“I am, my friends agree, a fairly easy-going sort of chap, not quick to anger or to fear. Thus, when I came to live in Caldwell Place, I paid no mind to the screams in the night, which could well have been foxes or cats (never mind that they sprang from the empty air of my bedroom). I scarcely objected to the muffled moans, which could have come from a neighbour's pleasures (if the house had not stood alone, with no neighbour for a mile to either side). But I did feel it was a bit much when the walls began to bleed.”

—Robert Caldwell, The Caldwell Ghost by KJ Charles

#the casebook of simon feximal #kj charles #quote #quotes #robert caldwell

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ardentpages · 1 year

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"The official brought written testimony: from a hotel where we had allowed affection to outstrip discretion; from clubs I had not attended in twenty years; worst of all, a letter that I had written to Simon some ten years back.

I asked him after why he had kept words of love and desire that could damn us both when any sensible man would have burned the blasted thing. He replied, "It was a thing you wrote for me." He had kept the letter, and someone had stolen it from our home, and now it was waved in our faces with a threat of prosecution for sodomy and the attendant humiliation, shame, and jail.

Simon may be in his fifties, but his right arm would still do credit to a man half his age. It did no good, except to relieve his feelings — but at least the Whitehall man went away with a badly broken nose to go with our bitter, reluctant capitulation.

...

We will do our duty until this insane conflict ends, or until it ends us. Either way we shall not return to England. I dream of warmth, blue skies and peace, lapping seas, and a lonely cottage a very long way from other people. Somewhere umravaged by war, if such a place still exists in Europe.

Somewhere Whitehall will not find us, and the voices of the dead will drop to a whisper, and two aging gentleman may share a house in peace without prying eyes and the threat of shame in a country that makes a fetish of death and a crime of love."

- KJ Charles, The Secret Casebook of Simon Feximal

#kj charles #the secret casebook of simon feximal #mlm novels #quote tag #homophobia //#sodomy laws //

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nothwell · 5 months

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Please enjoy this excerpt from Oak King Holly King, narrated by the talented Gary Furlong.

Oak King Holly King is a queer Victorian fantasy romance between a fae warrior and a mortal clerk.

Perfect for readers who enjoy...

• fae folklore

• Victorian shenanigans

• big buff guys who just wanna be soft

• sharp little guys who are tired of being kicked around

• lush fantasy worlds, liminal spaces, cozy cottagecore vibes, and queer community.

If you’re a queer romance audiobook enthusiast you may recognize Gary Furlong's narration from…

• The Secret Casebook of Simon Feximal by KJ Charles

• The Ruin of a Rake by Cat Sebastian

• The Soldier’s Scoundrel by Cat Sebastian

• The Lawrence Browne Affair by Cat Sebastian

To claim your copy of the audiobook (alongside rewards like stickers, deep-discounted ebooks, and signed and annotated paperbacks), back the Kickstarter campaign today!

#more like EGGcerpt amirite? (i am forcibly removed from the fae realms)#gay romance #historical romance #mm romance #mlm romance #queer romance #victorian romance #oak king holly king #sebastian nothwell

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poisindonottouch · 1 year

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Queer reads: K.J. Charles

As we leave fantasy, I bring you the last category of my recommendations: smutty smutty smut.

Okay, these are romance novels, but in my reading of romance novels, I’ve discovered that I thoroughly enjoy the spicier end of the spectrum. The smuttier the better.

So, for day 22, I bring you my favorite romance author KJ Charles.

I’m putting this under a cut, because it’s going to be long.

KJ Charles has written loads of books, but I’ve narrowed it down to my favorite 9.

I’ll take these by series.

First off, I give you the Will Darling Adventures. These books take place in 1920s London (and surrounding environs.) They are post WWI. Will Darling served in the war, came home to no one, and ended up inheriting a book shop. He’s gruff, manly, and really a giant cinnamon roll. Kim did not serve in the war (it’s a whole thing), and he’s anything but a manly cinnamon roll. He’s sharp and devious and manipulative. And of course, they fall in loooove. This trilogy follows the same pairing over three books, and it’s nice to see how KJC handles the deepening of their relationship from HFN to HEA. (That’s happily for now & happily ever after.)

The next two books, Proper English and Think of England, are actually in the same world as the Will Darling books, and you’ll see a cameo or two in the later trilogy. Proper English, set in 1902, tells the story of Pat and Fen meeting at a house party that involves a murder mystery and some sexy times. After all, if a murderer is on the loose, you can’t sleep alone, right? Think of England, set in 1904, tells the story of Archie and Daniel, at a different house party. Archie is there to investigate some shady business, but he’s a straightforward kind of man, and he is woefully out of his depth. Luckily, Daniel is there.

Any Old Diamonds and An Unnatural Vice are set in the same world, about 20 years apart. They aren’t the only books in their series, but they are my favorite of each. Any Old Diamonds follows Alec and Jerry as Alec hires Jerry to steal some jewels. There’s a great twist to this one, and I love Alec and Jerry. I want more of them. An Unnatural Vice is book two of the Sins of the City trilogy, but Justin Lazarus is the very best character ever, and Nathaniel is good for him. I recommend the all the books in both series, but these two are my favorite in the bunches.

Band Sinister is a stand alone novel, telling the story of Phillip and Guy, who have some bad history between their families, but unforeseen circumstances bring them together, and chemistry does the rest. I would love to read a book series about every side character in this book, but alas. I’ll keep reading fanfic instead.

Which brings us to The Secret Lives of Country Gentlemen, the most recent book out by KJC. It’s the first of a duology, and I’m super excited for the next one to come out in September. It’s marked on my calendar in my kitchen. This is a dual pov book switching between Garath, who recently inherited his late fathers title, home, and secrets, and Joss, the boss of the local smuggler family. This is a lovers to enemies to lovers book, and I love it. Really, one of KJCs best.

(Ack! I missed Spectered Isle, which is also fantastic. I really enjoy the relationship in this one, and I’d happily read a bunch of books set in this world, but alas, I think this series is over. Spectered Isle follows after The Casebooks of Simon Feximal (also good. Think smutty, magical Sherlock Holmes.) Like the Will Darling books, Spectered Isle takes place post the Great War, and everyone in the novel is scarred from it. It’s not a shared universe though, because this one has magic, and the Will Darling books are not fantasy, but similar time frame.)

#sandi reads #queer books #romance novels #lgbtq romance #happy pride 🌈#the will darling adventures #Any Old Diamonds #An Unnatural Vice #Band Sinister #The Secret Lives of Country Gentlemen #Spectered Isle #Think of England #Proper English #KJ Charles

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dvar-trek · 5 months

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Romance Roundup: Part 2

the full list:

loved | liked | okay | didn't like

●Captive Prince Trilogy by C.S. Pacat ○Captive Prince ○Prince's Gambit ○Kings Rising ○The Summer Palace ●Whyborne and Griffin Series by Jordan L. Hawk (there are like 11 of these in total, but this is as far as i got. this is not the only reason i stopped, but this series does contain a sex scene wherein sliding back the foreskin is described as "peeling". and i just. i simply don't think you should peel a dick. i don't think it's good for them.) ○Widdershins ○Eidolon ○Threshold ●Sweet Disorder by Rose Lerner ●Sailor's Delight by Rose Lerner ●Something Human by A.J. Demas ●Doomsday Books by KJ Charles ○The Secret Lives of Country Gentlemen ○A Nobleman's Guide to Seducing a Scoundrel

●Old Bridge Inn Series by Annick Trent ○Beck and Call ○The Oak and the Ash ●10 Things That Never Happened by Alexis Hall ●Boyfriend Material by Alexis Hall (okay, listen, the first chapter hits you with a high concentration of cringe, and is therefore difficult to read. but the cringe concentration lessens considerably as you go along, and this ended up being one of my faves.) ●Husband Material by Alexis Hall (again with the cringe, but it's not a strong enough book otherwise to make up for it, imo. the first book stands up great without having to bother with the sequel) ●The Secret Diaries of Miss Miranda Cheever by Julia Quinn ●Bridgerton Series by Julia Quinn ○The Duke and I ○The Viscount Who Loved Me (there are six more of these, but i simply couldn't go on)

●The Mystery of Nevermore by C.S. Poe ●Turner Series by Cat Sebastian ○The Soldier's Scoundrel ○The Lawrence Browne Affair ○The Ruin of a Rake ○A Little Light Mischief ●The Last Binding by Freya Marske (these are kissing books, but i didn't like the actual romances so much as the. like. plot.) ○A Marvellous Light ○A Restless Truth ○A Power Unbound ●Lucky Lovers of London by Jess Everlee ○The Gentleman's Book of Vices ○A Rulebook for Restless Rogues ●A Taste of Gold and Iron by Alexandra Rowland ●His Heart's Obsession by Alex Beecroft ●Seducing the Sedgwicks by Cat Sebastian ○It Takes Two to Tumble ○A Gentleman Never Keeps Score ○Two Rogues Make a Right ●Hard Sell by Hudson Lin ●Green Men World by KJ Charles ○The Secret Casebook of Simon Feximal (can be read as a stand-alone. is also not really a romance, per-se, although they sure do fuck. more like if shelock holmes had been a ghost-hunter, and watson had told us about all the sex they were having) ○Spectred Isle (n.b. this was meant to be the first book in a series that is on hold indefinitely, though i enjoyed it plenty on its own)

●Winterbourne series by Joanna Chambers (there's one more novella in this series but none of my libraries has it) ○Introducing Mr. Winterbourne ○Mr. Winterbourne's Christmas ○The First Snow of Winter ●The Vicar and the Rake by Annabelle Greene ●The Gentleman and the Spy by Neil S. Plakcy ●The Lord and the Frenchman by Neil S. Plakcy ●Unfit to Print by KJ Charles ●Brook Street by Ava March ●Enlightenment Trilogy by Joanna Chambers ○Provoked ○Beguiled ○Enlightened ○The Bequest (epilogue novella) ●Unnatural by Joanna Chambers ●Restored by Joanna Chambers ●Society of Gentlemen by KJ Charles (another one where the whole series is worthwhile for the story, even if i didn't love all of the romances. the characters are endearing and there's an excellent little series epilogue availble on the author's website) ○The Ruin of Gabriel Ashleigh (prequel novella) ○A Fashionable Indulgence ○A Seditious Affair ○A Gentleman's Position

●Something Fabulous by Alexis Hall ●Hither, Page by Cat Sebastian ●The Missing Page by Cat Sebastian ●Sins of the Cities by KJ Charles ○An Unseen Attraction ○An Unnatural Vice ○An Unsuitable Heir ●Red, White and Royal Blue by Casey McQuiston ●Bright Falls series by Ashley Herring Blake (I'm still on a waitlist for the third book, which just came out) ○Delilah Green Doesn't Care ○Astrid Parker Doesn't Fail ●Fake it 'til You Make Out by Isla Olsen ●The Lady's Guide to Celestial Mechanics by Olivia Waite ●The Care and Feeding of Waspish Widows by Olivia Waite ●The Lilywhite Boys by KJ Charles ○The Rat-Catcher's Daugher (prequel novella) ○Any Old Diamonds ○Guilded Cage ○Masters in this Hall (sequel novella) ●England World by KJ Charles ○Proper English ○Think of England ●Will Darling Adventures by KJ Charles ○Slippery Creatures ○The Sugared Game ○Subtle Blood

●The Lady's Secret by Joanna Chambers ●A Charm of Magpies series by KJ Charles ○The Magpie Lord ○A Case of Possession ○Flight of Magpies ●Other KJ Charles book linked to the Magpies world ○A Queer Trade ○Rag and Bone ○Jackdaw ●Wanted, A Gentleman by KJ Charles ●The Gentle Art of Fortune Hunting by KJ Charles ●A Thief in the Night by KJ Charles (novella linked to Gentle Art) ●Band Sinister by KJ Charles ●Unmasked by the Marquess by Cat Sebastian ●A Duke in Disguise by Cat Sebastian

romance roundup part 1

#if the random paragraph breaks don't work to make tumblr process this post. i have one more idea to try but it sucks.#wip wednesday #romance roundup #look at my opinions boy

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rowan-blood · 6 months

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Book Recommendations

Kellen Graves

Prince of the Sorrows (Rowan Blood, #1) Lord of Silver Ashes (Rowan Blood, #2) Herald of the Witch’s Mark (Rowan Blood #3) The Fox and the Dryad

K.J. Charles

The Smuggler and the Warlord (A Charm of Magpies, #0.5) The Magpie Lord (A Charm of Magpies, #1) Interlude with Tattoos (A Charm of Magpies, #1.5) A Case of Possession (A Charm of Magpies, #2) A Case of Spirits (A Charm of Magpies, #2.5 Flight of Magpies (A Charm of Magpies, #3) Feast of Stephen (A Charm of Magpies, #3.5) Five For Heaven (A Charm of Magpies, #3.6) Jackdaw (A Charm of Magpies, #4) Rag and Bone (A Charm of Magpies, #5) A Queer Trade (A Charm of Magpies, #5.5) The Secret Casebook of Simon Feximal Butterflies (The Secret Casebook of Simon Feximal, #2) Remnant: A Caldwell & Feximal/Whyborne & Griffin Mystery (The Secret Casebook of Simon Feximal, #3; Whyborne & Griffin, #3.5) Proper English (England World, #1) Think of England (England World, #2) Song for a Viking (England World, #2.1) A Fashionable Indulgence (Society of Gentlemen, #1) A Seditious Affair (Society of Gentlemen, #2) A Gentleman’s Position (Society of Gentlemen, #3) Wanted, A Gentleman An Unseen Attraction (Sins of the Cities, #1) An Unnatural Vice (Sins of the Cities, #2) An Unsuitable Heir (Sins of the Cities, #3) Spectred Isle (Green Men, #1) The Henchmen of Zenda Unfit to Print Band Sinister The Rat-Catcher’s Daughter (Lilywhite Boys, #0.5) Any Old Diamonds (Lilywhite Boys, #1) Gilded Cage (Lilywhite Boys, #2) Masters in This Hall (Lilywhite Boys, #3) Slippery Creatures (The Will Darling Adventures, #1) The Sugared Game (The Will Darling Adventures, #2) Subtle Blood (The Will Darling Adventures, #3) The Gentle Art of Fortune Hunting The Secret Lives of Country Gentlemen (The Doomsday Books, #1) A Nobleman’s Guide to Seducing a Scoundrel (The Doomsday Books, #2) A Thief in the Night

A.J. Demas

One Night in Boukos Something Human Sword Dance (Sword Dance, #1) Saffron Alley (Sword Dance, #2) Strong Wine (Sword Dance, #3) Honey and Pepper (When in Pheme, #1)

C.S. Pacat

Captive Prince (Captive Prince, #1) Captive Prince: Volume Two (Captive Prince, #2) Kings Rising (Captive Prince, #3) Dark Rise (Dark Rise, #1) Dark Heir (Dark Rise, #2)

Joanna Chambers

Provoked (Enlightenment, #1) Beguiled (Enlightenment, #2) Enlightened (Enlightenment, #3) Unnatural (Enlightenment, #4) Restored (Enlightenment, #5) Gentleman Wolf (Capital Wolves Duet, #1) Master Wolf (Capital Wolves Duet, #2)

Tamara Allen

Downtime Whistling in the Dark The Only Gold If It Ain’t Love The Road to Silver Plume (Secret Service #1) Playing the Ace (Secret Service #2) Invitation to the Dance

Harper Fox

Brothers of the Wild North Sea Once Upon a Haunted Moor (Tyack & Frayne #1) Tinsel Fish (Tyack & Frayne #2) Don’t Let Go (Tyack & Frayne #3) Kitto (Tyack & Frayne #4) Guardians of the Haunted Moor (Tyack & Frayne #5) Third Solstice (Tyack & Frayne #6) Preacher, Prophet, Beast (Tyack & Frayne #7) Out

Sebastian Nothwell

Mr Warren’s Profession (Aubrey & Lindsey, #1) Throw His Heart Over (Aubrey & Lindsey, #2) Hold Fast Oak King Holly King

Lydia Gastrell

One Indulgence (Indulgence #1) One Glimpse (Indulgence, #2)

Hale Ginn

Lord of the White Hell, Book 1 (Lord of the White Hell, #1) Lord of the White Hell, Book 2 (Lord of the White Hell, #2)

Adella J. Harris

The Marquess of Gorsewall Manor (After the Swan’s Nest, #1) The Earl of Klesamor Hall (After the Swan’s Nest, #2)

Cat Sebastian

The Soldier’s Scoundrel (The Turners, #1) The Lawrence Browne Affair (The Turners, #2) The Ruin of a Rake (The Turners, #3) It Takes Two to Tumble (Seducing the Sedgwicks, #1) A Gentleman Never Keeps Score (Seducing the Sedgwicks, #2) Two Rogues Make a Right (Seducing the Sedgwicks, #3)

Lily Morton

The Mysterious and Amazing Blue Billings (Black and Blue #1) The Quiet House (Black and Blue #2) Something Wicked (Black and Blue #3)

Freya Marske

A Marvellous Light (The Last Binding #1) A Restless Truth (The Last Binding #2)

Other Authors

The Devil Lancer by Amara, Astrid The Reluctant Berserker by Beecroft, Alex The Scottish Boy by Campi, Alex de Catalina Blues by York, Marlo The Rake, the Rogue and the Roué by Westfall, Eric Alan The Gladiator’s Master by Sutherland, Fae The Song of Achilles by Miller, Madeline When Skies Have Fallen by McGowan, Debbie Nova Praetorian by N.R. Walker The Reanimator's Heart (The Reanimator Mysteries #1) by Kara Jorgensen

(last update 2024/04/19)

I would appreciate your recommendations if you enjoy one or more books from this list.

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ofliterarynature · 10 months

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JULY 2023 WRAP UP

[ loved liked okay no thanks DNF (reread) bookclub* ]

Another month!

The unintended KJ Charles marathon continues, though it has finally slowed down. I reread Any Old Diamonds to start and it did hold up two months in a row (yay!). Next I hit the Occult England/Green Men series, and The Secret Casebook was so close to perfect, I wish it was twice as long (I really ought to just read Sherlock Holmes at this point, hadn't I?). Spectred Isle I was less into, but still enjoyed.

Now is probably also the time to mention Jordan Hawk's Wyborne & Griffin series, which crosses over with The Secret Casebook. I read 5 of them and I still don't know why - if you're only in it for the plot and like Lovecraftian stuff, they're pretty good, but the character development is an absolute travesty and I was incredibly irritated with myself for still reading them (I did stop reading the sex scenes by book 3 though). I was so close to marking these as "no thanks," but that felt a little unfair.

I also revisited The Gentle Art of Fortune Hunting, which was my very first KJ Charles book several years ago! It's still very good, and while a second time around makes it easier for me to see the parts I don't like, its also very clear why I did like it! I really enjoy the way Charles does plots and drama, but something that specifically irritates me in a lot of romance is contrived miscommunication - and these characters don't do that! They realize when they've fucked up, think it over, apologize, and try again. It's a balm to my heart. The sequel, A Thief in the Night, was also very nice.

A Guide to Midwestern Conversation was a fun little book to page through - I felt very called out at times lol (this *can't* be midwest specific, can it? Can it????), but I also have zero social skills and some things didn't quite hit me the way the author probably intended.

Witch King was my first non-Murderbot book from Martha Wells and it was a good solid fantasy read! It probably won't make my year end favorite list, but I'll definitely put more effort into reading the rest of her back list.

An Absolutely Remarkable Thing was another reread, and I forgot how incredibly smart it is. Even a second time around my stomach was a knot of anxiety the whole time because this is such a perfect picture of one of my worst personal nightmares, you couldn't pay me to take April's place. Waiting so long to read the sequel, A Beautifully Foolish Endeavor was bound to let me down a bit, but it was still very very good. My one complaint is that while it was still grounded in real world issues, it felt much more fantastical (and spread out between the different characters), and it lost a little of the sharpness of the first book. I would still absolutely recommend.

I feel a little bad that it's taken me this long to actually write something about the Perveen Mistry/Mysteries of 1920's India series, because they are very good, but I think it's taken three books to figure out what it is about them I don't like. The Bombay Prince, like the books before it, feels grounded in the many, many real world injustices that the characters face. It can lead to a very unsettling reading experience that doesn't automatically feel like the good guys will win in the end - it can be a tough read, but it feels like I *have* to read them. Definitely look at the content warnings.

This next book definitely had me a bit nervous going in - I distrust titles that have brushed too close to BookTok - but Emily Wilde's Encyclopedia of Faeries won out in the end, even if I did almost dnf it in the first quarter. I think things worked better once Emily had another character to really play off of, and then it was fun! Think Spinning Silver crossed with Olivia Atewater's Regency Faerie Tales, with a dash of A Natural History of Dragons. I'll definitely look out for the sequel.

You Just need to Lose Weight and 19 Other Myths About Fat People is, as it repeats, an intro and starting point to the topic. It was very well written, but as someone who does keep half an eye on the topic, nothing particularly surprised me. I should probably take some of the author's recs for further reading.

It's fitting that A Beautiful Crime is last, because I did genuinely dislike it. Maybe I went in with too high of expectations, but really, boyfriends doing antique fraud in Italy should be fun! The level of drama going on in the backstory honestly would not be out of place in a KJ Charles novel (I say with love), but this was so incredibly depressing and sad. It claims to be a literary thriller, but I was not feeling thrilled or getting any kind of suspense. Would not recommend, I definitely wouldn't have finished it if it hadn't been for book club.

Some books I actually did not finish: The Secret Keepers by Trenton Lee Stewart was a real blow, I loved the Mysterious Benedict Society, but either this was genuinely worse or I'm just too old, the main character was a little too immature for me to want to deal with. Before We Disappear by Shaun David Hutchinson I also had hopes for after reading one of his other books a few years ago, but I just could not click with it despite the interesting premise. I decided to cut myself off before I got truly irritated with it. The Secret History of Food was another non-fic pick, and it was interesting! But it felt like it wandered a lot, and I wasn't vibing with how irreverent the tone was.

#book log #2023 #wrap up 2023 #bec posts #kj charles #and absolutely remarkable thing #witch king #a guide to midwestern conversation #perveen mistry #emily wilde's encyclopaedia of faeries #a beautifully foolish endeavour #a beautiful crime #books #booklr

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edwinspaynes · 3 months

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Rate from best to least fav novels by KJ Charles ☺️?

Okay so this is hard but I'll try. Bear in mind that these are only the ones I have read, I haven't read all of them because I save them for rainy days. Lol. Also I like all of them. Like, I haven't met a KJC book I disliked besides the last one which is also objectively a wonderful book.

Jackdaw

Flight of Magpies

The Magpie Lord

A Case of Possession

An Unsuitable Heir

An Unseen Attraction

The Gentle Art of Fortune Hunting

An Unnatural Vice

Proper English

The Henchmen of Zenda

Think of England

The Nobleman's Guide to Seducing a Scoundrel

Band Sinister

Unfit to Print

A Thief in the Night

Slippery Creatures (I do plan to continue the series eventually but probably will read the Lilywhite Boys first)

Wanted: A Gentleman

The Secret Casebook of Simon Feximal

Rag and Bone

The Secret Life of Country Gentlemen

A Fashionable Indulgence (I DNFed the series but there is nothing wrong with it, it's just not my thing and book 2 looked even less like my thing)

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muggleriddle · 2 years

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I’m listening to the Secret Casebook of Simon Feximal and woooo. I’m enjoying it way better now. Amazing boys. I love Robert’s easy acceptance of “yeah, maybe we need to join a threesome with a ghost”. Fast thinking.

#personal

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iammistressofmyfate · 11 months

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Thanks so much @mychemicalrachel🥺💕

Rules: in a text post, list ten books that have stayed with you in some way. don’t take but a few minutes, and don’t think too hard — they don’t have to be the “right” or “great” works, just the ones that have touched you.

Blue Lily Lily Blue by Maggie Stiefvater

The Magician Murders by Josh Lanyon

The Dark Tide by Josh Lanyon

Red, White, & Royal Blue by Casey McQuiston

The Summer Palace CS Pacat

The Secret Casebooks of Simon Feximal by KJ Charles

Stars & Stripes by Abigail Roux

Stardust by Neil Gaiman

Good Omens by Neil Gaiman

The Song of Achilles by Madeline Miller

I don't often re-read books, but these are ones I have re-read multiple times

Tagging whoever would like to participate! My brain is a bit fried from the heat today 😵

#about me #books

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rainbow-0bsidian · 1 year

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3, 12, and 17 for the end-of-year book asks! 🥰

Erm, okay look. I know it's March. I just didn't know this was in my asks and since my asks are the opposite of overflowing, i feel i ought to answer :) Also, bookish reflections are nice at any time of year, don't you think?

3. What were your top five books of the year? Will Darling Adventures (shhh, I know it’s a series), by KJ Charles. There is a Light, by Ban Gilmarten Under the Whispering Door, by TJ Klune Bear, Otter, and the Kid, by TJ Klune (why does tj break me so?) A Lady for a Duke, by Alexis Hall

12. Any books that disappointed you? Check Please!... I just. I didn't grab me. I like my hockey gays older, less cartoonish and more explicit.

17. Did any books surprise you with how good they were? The Secret Casebook of Simon Feximal by KJ Charles.

#end of year book asks #book recs #kj charles #ban gilmarten #tj klune #always tj klune #alexis hall

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evenaturtleduck · 2 years

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Found this on the library's new nonfiction display--going to mine it for bedtime story material for the kids. When Oldest Child was about four I started telling them stories about a blue-haired monster hunter and her gargoyle bestie, and I ran out of monsters years ago and have been borrowing them from other stories ever since. And it feels kind of weird to borrow a child's-bedtime-story prompt from The Secret Casebook of Simon Feximal (as much as my children loved the idea of swarms of terrifying attack butterflies) so I am in dire need of ideas.

#parenting #currently reading

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williamvapespeare · 2 years

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I know I'm like 7 years late but KJ Charles did not so much "write The Secret Casebook of Simon Feximal" as she did tear my heart out, throw it on the ground, and stomp on it a few times before putting it back in and I loved EVERY SECOND of it

#kj charles #Simon feximal #The secret casebook of simon feximal #My god you guys this book has destroyed me and I am so so happy about it #It's inspired me to write again maybe??#The power kj Charles holds over me knows no bounds

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nothwell · 5 months

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Please enjoy this excerpt from the first chapter of Oak King Holly King, narrated by the talented Gary Furlong.

Oak King Holly King is a queer Victorian fantasy romance between a fae warrior and a mortal clerk.

Perfect for readers who enjoy…

fae folklore

Victorian shenanigans

big buff guys who just wanna be soft

sharp little guys who are tired of being kicked around

lush fantasy worlds, liminal spaces, cozy cottagecore vibes, and queer community.

Our audiobook narrator is Gary Furlong. If you’re a queer romance audiobook enthusiast you may recognize him from…

The Secret Casebook of Simon Feximal by KJ Charles

The Ruin of a Rake by Cat Sebastian

The Soldier’s Scoundrel by Cat Sebastian

The Lawrence Browne Affair by Cat Sebastian

To claim your copy of the audiobook (alongside rewards like stickers, deep-discounted ebooks, and signed and annotated paperbacks), back the Kickstarter campaign today!

#gay romance #historical romance #mm romance #mlm romance #oak king holly king #queer romance #victorian romance #sebastian nothwell #gary furlong #audiobook #mm romance audiobook

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anisotropic-blue · 3 years

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This time it’s not my fault! The author lady herself put the idea in my head! ⬇

Only, those bright, wispy colours just don’t work for most KJ Charles books. And the butterflies in the original meant I pretty much had to pick The Secret Casebook of Simon Feximal to do up romance cover style. It even had enough animals to replace the ones in the original...though they’re much less friendly animals. So I sacrificed the colour scheme in favour of keeping it closer to the tone of the book, but kept the very stereotypical romance novel composition.

Here’s the full original cover, for comparison:

Completed February 2021

#kj charles #the secret casebook of simon feximal #simon feximal #robert caldwell #book fanart

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kjcharlesxchange · 3 years

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Do you love KJ Charles books? Love queer historical fantasy? Want to read more about Simon Feximal and Robert Caldwell? or Saul and Randolph? or Stephen and Lucian? Request them at the KJ Charles exchange, sign ups closing Feb 16!

#kj charles #simon feximal #robert caldwell #lord crane #stephen/crane #stephen/lucian #saul/randolph #secret casebook of simon feximal #magpie lord #charm of magpies #spectred isle #green men #queer romance #fan exchange #fan event #podfic #podfic exchange #art exchange #fic

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