Clem Talleyfer runs a lodging house in London. It is a job he is good at and that he enjoys. Clem holds the position at the grace of his brother, who owns the house. It is a requirement of the job that Clem allow drunken lout Lugtrout to live there free of charge, but other than that, Clem likes the lodgers. He particularly likes one Mr. Rowley Green, a quiet man who lives in the house and works next door. Clem has been admiring Rowley for months, and the man comes regularly for tea in the evenings, but Clem isn’t sure if Rowley feels the same. Clem isn’t particularly good at reading the signs, but when Rowley makes it clear he is interested, Clem is thrilled that his feelings are reciprocated.

Clem and Rowley are beginning to explore their new relationship when the dead and brutally tortured body of one of the lodgers ends up dumped on their doorstep. On top of that, they face burglary and arson, and it is clear that trouble is brewing. Rowley and Clem seem to have gotten themselves caught up in something very dangerous, but they have no idea what, or who is after them. Now the men must untangle the mystery of the murder if they have any hope of surviving long enough to continue building their future together.

Hurray! A new series from one of my favorite authors, K.J. Charles. I adore Charles’ writing, and her Charm of Magpies series remains in my top handful of all time, so I was thrilled to see this new series. First off, it is an interesting historical in that it takes place in 1873, rather later than many books we see in the genre. Charles is such a master with historicals and her knowledge and research is evident in all of her books. So she again does a wonderful job here of immersing us in the time period and giving a sense what life was like toward the end of the century. I found Rowley’s job to be of particular interest, as he is what we would probably call a taxidermist today, though they used different terminology. Again the research is clear into the profession and there are wonderful details about how he worked. But along with that, I loved the way Charles uses this job as a way to show the growing bond between Clem and Rowley as Clem is one of the few people who really understands Rowley’s art and finds himself moved by what Rowley creates. Charles just manages to imbue her books with such a sense of time and place and a realism that feels natural and never forced.

Speaking of Clem and Rowley, I adored them together. This story sets the men up pretty much right away as the attraction between them has been growing for a while. So they come together rather easily and quickly early on the story. I have read many books where this doesn’t work, where having the guys so close to established when the book starts leaves the reader feeling left out of their connection. But not to worry here, as I felt the intensity of their relationship and the feelings the men have for one another so strongly. I loved that both of these men are not your typical romance heroes. In fact, neither man thinks he is much to be excited about at all. Clem is sweet and friendly and caring, but he is also easily overwhelmed by crowds and noise, and is perhaps a bit naive and overly trusting. Clem needs someone with gentle patience, but also someone who treats him like a man capable of handling his own life and making decisions, and Rowley does just that. For his part, Rowley sees himself as sort of average, nothing too exciting. He can’t quite figure out what a gorgeous man like Clem would want with him, but Clem sees Rowley’s strength and caring. Both of these men have had pasts that make it hard to trust, so it is wonderful to see them opening their hearts up to one another.

I love the slow, patient way Rowley and Clem interact with each other. Charles does such a wonderful job building the intimacy between them, even in the smallest things. In particular, we see this when the guys are together sexually, as there is just this amazing, quiet intensity between them that is so romantic and sexy. It grows even more when Clem learns about Rowley’s more submissive desires and how he likes Clem to take the lead in their lovemaking. There is something just so sexy about them together and I loved the way their physical relationship emphasizes the connection they have romantically as well.

Once the guys are together the story shifts its focus largely to the mystery surrounding the dead lodger, and things escalate quickly from there. I don’t want to get too much into the nature of the mystery for fear of spoiling things, but we have murder, arson, robbery, blackmail, double crossing, and more all in play here. It is exciting and unfolds in a way that kept me engaged throughout the story. I liked how Charles does not abandon the relationship development in favor of the mystery here though. These guys remain very much in character throughout and have to navigate their growing realtionship and learning about one another as they also try to solve the mystery and protect their lives. It is exciting and really well done and I love the way Charles sets things up for the rest of the series.

So I am super excited about this one and for the rest of the series. I wasn’t quite sure what to expect at the start here, but the book picks up steam as it goes and kept me excited throughout. I loved Clem and Rowley and particularly adored that they aren’t your typical heroes, but are just perfect (and perfectly heroic) with each other. I loved this one and can’t wait for more.

KJ Charles + slow burn + historical = amazing as always. I don't know why I put off reading this one but it was so freaking good! She seriously can do no wrong. I recommend her to everyone I know and when I find out someone hasn't read her I must rectify it immediately. The mystery that builds in this start of the series left me with questions I NEED the answers to, which is a perfect way to begin a series.

Wow! A cozy gay Victorian romance with a dangerous mystery, too!
5 stars

This is the first book by KJ Charles that I have read, and I was really impressed. I cannot wait to read the next two books in this trilogy. What a great combination! An exciting, gritty murder mystery, and a sweet gay (male-male) romance. I was enthralled the entire time by the excellent writing, wonderful characters, and an absorbing plot.

Clem and Rowlie are both good, decent guys. They respect each other and have patience and affection for each other's shortcomings. Rowlie is a taxidermist who came from a really poor background in South London. Clem is an autistic man who manages a lodging house for lower middle class artisans. He grew up in the English countryside. Clem looks like a handsome young man from India, but he was raised by his white English father. Clem's autistic characteristics include the following: an aversion to crowds and loud voices, an inability to multitask, a resistance to change, and a love of an orderly routine. I really like when romances have autistic characters, and this book handles it really well. I also loved the realistic progression of Clem and Rowlie's relationship, which is put under stress by the dangerous situation. They have disagreements that they work through.

The book is wonderfully atmospheric. Dangerous men lurk in the sickly yellow fog. I discovered unusual parts of Victorian London where books have never taken me before: a taxidermist shop, a lodging house for artisans, a private social club for gay people, and a trapeze artist show.

I would say that there are several love scenes, and they are moderately steamy. Although they are somewhat graphic, the mechanics of what they do is not very adventurous or advanced as compared to other MM romances that I have read. Clem and Rowlie's first sexual encounter is so sweet and awkward; it was very charming. I felt the closeness and intimacy between Clem and Rowlie. The love scenes were very well written and added to the growing relationship in the book.

It was so sweet how the pair liked to just spend time together sitting on the couch having tea, talking, and petting the cat. I like both men a lot. Clem did occasionally get on my nerves with his denial and stubbornness about certain things that come to light.

Certain things in the plot were settled at the end of this book, but an ongoing story arc continues in Book 2 with Clem and Rowlie's investigative journalist friend as one of the main characters. I can't wait to read Book 2.

I received a free advanced reading copy from the publisher via Netgalley, and I voluntarily wrote this honest review.

Reviews shared on B&N Amazon, Goodreads and V's Reads: http://wp.me/p3AKEA-2fb

4 Stars for this historical M/M romance set in Victorian-era London. This is the first book in a series that promises mystery and romance.

Clem Tallyfer, bastard son of his Grace, the (late) Earl of Moreton, manages a lodging house, as part of his consideration from his half-brother, Edmund Talliefer, the current earl. He is half-Indian, and attractive, but fussy and prone to fits of nerves when his schedule is off or he's in the company of too many people at once. He's a master at propriety, which is why he's unable to make any overtures to his lodger, Rowley Green, despite some long acquaintance.

Rowley is a quiet, genial man who really finds Clem attractive. He's sure Clem thinks little of him, for as many nights as they 've shared tea and Clem never made any overtures. It takes months, but Rowley begins to see that Clem is merely incapable of considering that another might fancy him, and once their desires are made plain, these men find ways to make a surreptitious liaison happen.

Clem's life is complicated nearly daily by one lodger, the constantly inebriated Lugtrout, a former minister, and a person Edmund insists Clem manage. It's all Clem can do to maintain his composure around the blowhard, but it soon won't be his problem--when Lugtrout is gruesomely murdered. This kicks off the mystery portion of the book, and it is a slower evolving story than I expected. That said, there's a LOT happening, in terms of the murder and mayhem, and I didn't feel it was developed enough--mainly leaving the mystery to be solved in the books going forward. I wasn't prepared for that, which left me feeling a little frustrated, but I did like the Rowley and Clem bits, because I thought they were a sweet pair.

The next book is set to feature two other characters finding love, and finding the murderer(s), perhaps, but Rowley and Clem find their happiness in this first story of the series. I read a review copy provided by NetGalley.

(please note: I removed the links and footnotes from this file)

Reader, beware: there’s explicit sex and adult language; there are also references to sexual abuse of a character who is not in the story.

An Unseen Attraction, by K. J. Charles

This is the first book in the Sins of the Cities trilogy, set in Victorian London in 1873. There’s fog. Serious fog.

Clem manages a lodging-house for skilled artisans in a very diverse neighborhood in London. Rowley, one of his lodgers, is a taxidermist, called a preserver (or stuffer) at the time.

And there they are, two gents going about their business as normal, until things…change.

Here’s the blurb from the author’s site:

Lodging-house keeper Clem Talleyfer prefers a quiet life. He’s happy with his hobbies, his work—and especially with his lodger Rowley Green, who becomes a friend over their long fireside evenings together. If only neat, precise, irresistible Mr. Green were interested in more than friendship. . . .

Rowley just wants to be left alone—at least until he meets Clem, with his odd, charming ways and his glorious eyes. Two quiet men, lodging in the same house, coming to an understanding . . . it could be perfect. Then the brutally murdered corpse of another lodger is dumped on their doorstep and their peaceful life is shattered.

Now Clem and Rowley find themselves caught up in a mystery, threatened on all sides by violent men, with a deadly London fog closing in on them. If they’re to see their way through, the pair must learn to share their secrets—and their hearts.

I always find it so interesting to see what two readers who liked the same book, actually liked about that story. In this case, the lovely Miz Wendy wasn’t particularly enthused with the slow paced romance at the beginning of the story, while I absolutely loved it.

Perhaps it is that I didn’t start the book expecting a mystery (despite the blurb, go figure), but whatever it was, I really liked how the story is structured.

The story it told in third person, from what Suzanne Brockmann calls ‘deep point of view,’ alternating from Clem’s to Rowley’s perspectives. The first, oh about a quarter of the book, is all about the slow, quiet, intimate steps these two friends take towards each other, and a relationship they both want, yet are not sure can have.

It is not just the times, but also that they both have personal demons to vanquish.

I love Clem. He is different; today, we would likely say he is on the autism spectrum. At the time the story is set, most of the people he interacts with tend to think he’s slow, a simpleton, and many take advantage of his generous nature. He is also different because he is half Indian, the (acknowledged) bastard second son of a minor earl. “He’d learned, after a while, to be ever-cheerful, helpful, pliable and uncomplaining, a good sport who could take a joke, or ten, or fifty, at his expense, because the alternative to humiliating misery had been humiliating misery with violence.”

There is a point where he realizes that Rowley is “angry on his behalf, anger over things Clem couldn’t be angry about because he couldn’t take the risk. He’d spent his life carefully not looking into an abyss of rage like the pit of hellfire he’d so often been told awaited pagans, because if he ever really looked he feared he might be angry forever.”

I love Rowley. Through the generous, compassionate intervention of an elderly tradesman, he overcame his beginnings as the son of the local violent drunkard to become a skilled taxidermist, well-off enough (eventually) to ‘cross the river’ and set up shop in Clerkenwell–conveniently next door to Clem’s lodging-house. At one point, speaking of his childhood, he tells Clem, “I was always afraid.” Such a simple phrase, so much pain behind it.

Personally, I found the bits about taxidermy not only not excessive, but truly minimal; I think that anything less than what is shown would have left me doubting Rowley’s skill at his craft. And it bears repeating: competence, like intelligence, are incredibly attractive to me.

The slow development of the relationship between these two men, fragile, damaged, yet valiant in their own ways, is the perfect counterpoint to the instalust/instalove/HEA rush that we see so often in romantic suspense, particularly in contemporaries.

I also liked that we have the opportunity to meet the people around Clem and Rowley; from Polly, the house keeper/cook, to the other lodgers, to Clem’s friends at The Jack and Knave.

Then weird and dangerous things start to happen, threatening not only the men’s livelihoods, but their very lives. As they join forces to try to figure out what, and who, is behind burglaries, murder, and arson, Clem and Rowley also struggle to understand and accept each other in the face of crisis. Because, let’s face it, even when in the throes of blinding infatuation, people starting a relationship rarely know each other well enough to instinctively understand their reactions, while coping with their own.

Then there’s the language and the sense of time and place, which are both just lovely.

I really liked the mystery side; it’s just as melodramatic and, well, Victorian, as the author promised it would be. I confess that there were a couple of moments where I winced (picture Clem doing the equivalent of walking down to the basement, in his smallclothes, and armed with good will), but what happens, and what everyone does and says, ring true. The characterizations are consistent and, other than the main villain of the piece, who was just a tad too evil mastermind™ for my taste, they are also three dimensional.

An Unseen Attraction gets 9.00 out of 10

There’s just something so appealing about the stories K.J. Charles writes; the mysteries are always well done and the characters are more appealing than they have any right to be. This latest book was all that and more and I find myself both eagerly anticipating the sequel and looking forward to re-reading this first novel as a result.

Pretty much everything about and within this story moved at a slower pace, which was a different experience for me; I’m used to fast relationships and, at the very least, a moderately swift resolution to the book’s mysteries. An Unseen Attraction takes its time with both and really lets things build before giving you any kind of resolution, which was actually kind of nice. I really liked how things were put together and the thought that obviously went into everything; I found myself noticing small details that I otherwise would’ve overlooked in a story that moved along at a faster pace. I also found my appreciation of the characters to be much more than anticipated because I had more time to get to know them and to see them all interact with one another. I will totally be the first to admit that I never once thought I’d enjoy a story with a taxidermist as a main character.

Rowley turned out to be a thoughtful man that just happened to look upon death a bit differently than others; in that regard, he and Clem were well matched. Both men were also used to being looked down upon in certain circles, Rowley for his profession and Clem because of his race and inability to handle too much going on at once. I liked the understanding these two men had with each other and the confidence that seemed to grow between them with every interaction. They mystery itself was well thought out and enjoyable with a nice variety of secondary characters that enhanced the story rather than detracting from it. I did manage to figure out several key things along the way which took away some of the element of surprise I look forward to in this type of novel, but I was still caught unawares in regards to the reasoning and the journey getting to the end was a great one regardless.

If you enjoy historical novels, have enjoyed this author’s works before, or are just looking for a different kind of mystery, I’d say this is a must read for you.

Clem Tallyfer runs a boarding house at his brother's bequest. He likes how peaceful it is, the people he works with, the hobbies he has and his quiet evenings with tea. He especially likes sharing that tea with Rowley Green, one of his tenants. They're good friends, slowly becoming more in spite of the norms of the era. When another tenant is left murdered on the house's doorstep, Clem is uncomfortably thrust into the middle of an investigation that forces him to question his loyalties.

This is a wonderful look at the Victorian era, especially for those who aren't in the titled class. It starts off slow, really getting to know these characters separately before throwing them together as a pairing. We see the ins and outs of running a lodging house at that time period, as well as some background into being a taxidermist. It's fascinating, because these professions for our main characters gives us a window into the class system of the era and how they feel about it. Clem has difficulty with reading and tolerating loud noises or crowds, which is never formally named as dyslexia or ADHD as it would be in our time, but as a very real struggle that he has to deal with on a daily basis. He has made a number of adaptations that are available in that time, and it's wonderful to see Rowley deal with them and learn how to address them as a couple. There's a definite sense of fondness and emotional connection even before the physical aspect is dealt with, which was also lovingly handled.

The pace of the book picks up as the murder mystery truly begins, shifting from day-in-the-life romance story into more of a thriller. There are the inevitable contacts that Clem has which allows the mystery to be pieced together without the police's help. Still, Clem and Rowley aren't supermen able to finish off everything themselves, and they do support each other to the very end of the book. As the first in a trilogy, the book is very much a standalone with a hint at possibilities for more that are picked up in the rest of the trilogy.

Stevie‘s review of An Unseen Attraction (Sins of the Cities, Book 1) by KJ Charles
Gay Historical Romance published by Loveswept 21 Feb 17

A new series from KJ Charles always counts as an event as far as I’m concerned. While I enjoy very much the author’s standalone novels and novellas, the longer works allow her ability with plots, characters, and settings to really stand out. This time around, we find ourselves in Victorian London: a very real and down-to-earth version, as opposed to the magical variant seen in some of Charles’ other series. The lack of paranormal elements doesn’t mean that the setting is mundane, of course. All the characters, from the principal players to the most minor of walk-on extras are realistically fleshed out and distinguishable. Just as they should be, although the two pivotal characters at the centre of this story – and possibly the entire series: we don’t know how the overall plot will thicken yet – are, of course, the most interesting and, dare I say, eccentric.

Clem Talleyfer is the illegitimate son of an Indian nursemaid and an English earl. Following the death of his father, Clem has run a lodging house owned by his half-brother, the current earl, with little interference other than the stipulation that he not evict one particularly annoying tenant. The arrangement suits Clem well, since he finds people difficult to get along with in the main, although he has a select group of friends at a local drinking establishment and seems to be on the verge of forming an attachment to his latest lodger. Rowley Green is a skilled taxidermist, as well as a dealer in the stuffed animals and tableaux created by other artisans. Having risen above his very humble origins, he is happy to have found a room in a house that suits him well, barring the presence of that one annoying fellow tenant.

Just as the two men are settling into a routine of spending their evenings together and exploring just what sort of relationship they can have with each other, their peace is disturbed, first by a series of break-ins and then by the death of that annoying tenant in very mysterious circumstances. Their only option is to investigate the case themselves, since the authorities seem to be following a series of clues that repeatedly lead to dead ends, and it seems increasingly likely that the mystery is related to Clem’s half-brother and his murky past activities.

Fortunately, Clem’s friends are able to bring their wide expertise into play, and the mystery slowly becomes more understandable, though not before both Rowley and Clem have found themselves imperiled. Not every loose end is tied up in this book: it’s part of a series after all, but the conclusion is highly satisfying nonetheless. I’m greatly looking forward to the next instalment of this adventure and seeing more of a particularly interesting side to Victorian London.

Grade: A

'An Unseen Attraction' isn't on par with what I'd normally expect from KJ Charles, but it still delivers a sweet romance and an entertaining mystery.

Both Clem and Rowley are complex and engaging characters. Both have baggage, but they don't let it keep them from going after what they want.

I appreciated how the author showed London from a perspective that readers don't often see in Victorian/Regency romance. Clem is half-Indian, and lives in a diverse part of London. Upper-class British society may have been almost wholly white and Protestant, but London itself in the 1800s attracted people of all stripes.

Though the two MCs hadn't known each other for that long, this book has a strong 'friends-to-lovers' feel to it. Clem and Rowley know each others quirks, and both consider their evening tea sessions the highlight of their day.

I thought it was really sweet how observant, and understanding, Rowley was of Clem's social anxiety and his difficulty picking up on social cues.

The romance is quite low-key. Clem and Rowley fall for each other gradually, without much thought or effort to it.

Though I found their relationship believable and I had no doubts that the two belonged together, I'm used to a bit more oomph from KJ Charles. I would have liked some more sparks between Rowley and Clem.

The mystery, as always with this author, was well-crafted and kept me engaged. There's a bit of a cliffhanger at the end, so I'm looking forward to seeing what else comes to light in the next book!

Overall, this is a likable book, and I enjoyed it enough to round up. I think my expectations were set too high, and so I was somewhat disappointed by the slower-paced relationship between the MCs. Even so, the romance is sweet, and the mystery kept me reading.

K.J. Charles has a real knack for quiet, cozy period mysteries, and this book is not an exception.

The romance is low-key with two ordinary, quiet men who are forced to be heroes despite their deep fears and desires to avoid any scandal.

Clem is a very interesting character, who is not only half-Indian but born into an aristocratic family and has a mild version of Asperger's (I think). He is exceptionally good in familiar circumstances but doesn't cope well with any changes in his routine, crowds, and confrontation. He also has a very keen mind but you need to get to know him to discover it as most people assume he is weird and simple and they would stay away from him. Clem keeps a lodging house and is forced to investigate a murder of one of his tenants.


Rowley is another quiet and unassuming man who is totally in awe of Clem's good looks and sharp mind. Rowley himself is a taxidermist, which is another interesting trade in a Victorian era where everyone was fascinated with all things death. He loves his work and a lot of his projects are pieces of art, which were fascinating to follow.


Rowley has this whole routine of a very subtle courtship of Clem, without the other man realizing what it is, while Clem secretly lusts for his friend, Rowley. *grins* When the murder happens, Rowley tries to help Clem, disliking how everyone takes advantage of his kindness and fearing for his safety.


I love how fear for each other's lives urges both men to come out of their shells and face danger head-on, while their first instinct is to hide and run. There is a Dickensian feel to this book, and I especially enjoyed succinct and wonderful supporting characters.

While the characters' romance didn't work for me personally, overall it was an enjoyable and atmospheric read. Recommended.

This is brilliant and amazing. The awkward but sweet relationship between Clem and Rowley is captivating, heartwarming and romantic, the intrigue and suspense surrounding Edmund is gripping and dramatic. And the ending? It was exactly what I wanted. I cannot wait to read the next book.
I received a complimentary copy of this book from Netgalley. This is my honest opinion of it.

Clem is a simple man with a complex history. Roxley also had a rough beginning and learned that a solitary existence was best for him. Clem runs the lodging at his brother's request, following his rules. Roxley is one of the few lodgers. They are an unlikely couple. Clem, handsome, tall, yet simple. Roxley is shorter, private, with an unusual occupation. There is an attraction between the two, but they are hesitant to act on it. Bad things begin to happen, murder, arson, brutal attacks, that show them the strength of their feelings for each other. As the suspense builds, I found it harder to put down the book, and I did enjoy the twists and turns of the story.

I received a copy of this story through Netgalley, and this is my unsolicited review.

This is the start of new Victorian queer romance series by one of my favourite authors of historical romance, and I was super excited to read it. And then I was really happy and thoroughly delighted when I read it.

This a romance coupled with some mystery in the tradition of Victorian sensational novels but with gay characters and told from the POV of the less fortunate half of society - the sort of middle-class professional Rowley who is a taxidermist and Clem who is half-Indian and the bastard son of an Earl.

The writing is perfect as one has come to expect from KJ Charles, it the story flows smoothly despite a somewhat slow start. The pace of the mystery/thriller aspect picks up after the middle and I became totally engrossed in this element of the plot.

And the romance, oh the romance is just beautiful. We see two real men with their strengths and weaknesses coming slowly together. Clem is neurodiverse, he suffers from dyspraxia and I didn't know anything about it before I read the book, yet the way KJ Charles portrayed his daily struggles made me feel deeply for him. And I found even more powerful is the way Rowley reacted to Clem's condition - with understanding, making some wrong assumptions along the way but always ready to listen and learn.

The progress of Clem and Rowley's relationship was a pure delight to follow, friends to lovers, to true partners, discovering each other's quirks, learning to be together.

I like the strong sense of time and place the author created which I'd say is also typical of KJ Charles' stories. Meticulously research details of the places and the times as a whole really brought the story to life for me.

I enjoyed meeting Clem's friends and as a supporting cast they were really intriguing, with Polish Mark being my personal favourite. (And of course, as my luck would have it, we get to read his story last).

Judging from other reviews it seems Clem is the readers' favourite in this story. And he absolutely deserves it - his kindness, his care for his fellow human beings were amazing and heart-warming. I found Rowley equally intriguing and he managed to tug at my heartstrings the same as Clem. His vulnerability, his fear for his life, were just normal human emotions, not something to be ashamed of or mocked for by the others. I really like the dynamics of power between Clem and Rowley and how it developed gradually and fitted them so well.

This book was a great start to an intriguing new series, less overtly political than Society of Gentlemen but still very much politically and socially aware. The story highlights the diversity of the Victorian society in a natural and cohesive way (I enjoyed reading the bits on the Indian society Clem visits and the way his complex relationship with his origin was presented).

What a cute and lovely story. As someone on Twitter said, it’s a gentle romance, and that’s a great way to describe it. We have two beta heroes in love, but stand up for each other when it counts.

Clem Talleyfer is a lodging-house keeper, meaning he is in charge of a houseful of tenants – keeping them locked up safe at night, and making sure his staff keeps a clean house. His half-brother Edward, twenty years his senior, owns the house and lets Clem work in it. Edward and Clem have a frosty relationship at best, and Clem does everything he can to keep his brother happy and an infrequent visitor. Edward and Clem share the same father, but Clem’s mother is Indian, making him feel like an outcast around all the white people growing up. Throw in the fact he is gay, and Clem lives inside a very quiet, and private world. He is most intrigued by one of his newer tenants however.

Rowley Green owns the shop right next door to the lodging house, and is a taxidermist. KJ Charles out did herself with writing this character. I feel like I could become a taxidermist at this point. Her descriptions of Rowley’s profession, the birds and other animals , the way it’s done – the shop itself. I loved every detail. Rowley loves to have tea at night with Clem in the parlor. Rowley is a great listener – and with Clem, that is needed. It’s not that Clem is super talkative, but Clem can change course in his conversation very quickly, and it’s just better to sit back and listen to all he has to say. Clem has a hard time with some things – picking up on hints, humor and sarcasm. Rowley recognizes this and is very patient.

As these two discuss everything and anything together over tea, a fondness develops. This isn’t a book where one passionately throws the other against the door and kisses him until he can’t breathe. This romance is more – methodically worked out. First they must carefully make sure the other is gay before doing any type of advance. But they talk it out a lot:

“I think I’d like to be lovers, though,” Rowley said softly. “What does it mean to you?”

Cleam leaned forward, reaching out, until Rowley’s fingers met his. He wasn’t entirely sure of his answer.

Although it sounds a bit dry, their chemistry and romance really worked for me. It did take me some time to feel these two together, but after a while it felt like they fit perfectly together.

He, Rowley Green, nondescript, quiet Rowley Green with his thick spectaces and peculiar solitary occupation, was Clem Talleyfer’s lover. Clem, who needed a quiet man, and who found Rowley’s yearning for passivity in bed not boring or lazy or selfish, but perfect. They were two such odd-shaped men, and they fit together so naturally, he and Clem, with his stunning eyes and his achingly open heart and his trust like a gift.

There is also a significant murder mystery, blackmail, family drama suspense to be held in this book. I don’t want to give anything away so I won’t go into detail, but the suspense is well done and takes over in the second half of the book.

A lovely romance – looking forward to book two.

Grade: B

I've not come across a K.J. Charles book that I haven't enjoyed. I just love her writing. An Unseen Attraction is no exception. I liked both the characters. I appreciated the diverse cast and non-standard romantic leads. The setting is rich and well described. The plot is engaging. This is a book well worth reading.

I think a reader will find it's not so much a mystery as a romantic suspense, maybe. The reader knows very early who the villain is. It's really not mysterious. The tension comes from Clem's refusal to accept it and what will happen when he doesn't.

Personally, I adored both characters and loved the pairing. I thought their chemistry in the bedroom was strong and it was fun to see a little kink without any big deal being made out of it. But they'd fallen in love before the opening of the book, so honestly I didn't feel a lot of chemistry outside of sex because we simply weren't given many opportunities to see it. Also, while I loved their open communication and consideration for one another, I'm afraid it read as just a little too ideal to be believed. I only wish people were so conscientious with one another.

I'll be looking forward to book two, which looks like it will be Nathaniel's and really looking forward to the third, which appears to be Mark's.

This is my first K.J. Charles book and I'm kicking myself for waiting this long to read this author's work!
The story held my interest from the beginning. I loved how the relationship between Clem and Rowley (love his name) blossomed - slow, a little unsure at first, but more confident and affectionate as they got to know each other better. The murder/mystery background was very well woven into the romance.
I'm a great fan of historical stories and loved the authentic feel of the time (no jarring modernisms as far as I could tell). Highly recommend this.
Now I have to go get the Magpie series.

Rating: 3.5 stars.

An Unseen Attraction is the first book in KJ Charles's new trilogy Sins of the City. A new series by KJC is one good reason to bring out the celebrating-ponies gif, so here it is:

description

From what I've gathered from the blurbs, just like the previous series, each book in this trilogy will be about different characters. In this one we get to meet two sweet, kind, loyal men Clem Talleyfer and Rowley Green. Clem was a lodging-house keeper; Rowley was one of the lodgers. They'd lived under the same roof for eight months, in which time they'd formed a friendship over tea and conversation at night. However, both would have liked to be more than that, and this story was about them making that step towards a romantic relationship and becoming a couple. Theirs was a slow-burning romance, with them being careful around each other, and sometimes painfully slow. This could be why I wasn't as into the story as I usually am when I'm reading something KJC wrote. I guess I just prefer one that burns a bit faster, but I have to admit that for these characters the pace was just right.

An Unseen Attraction is romance and mystery wrapped up together, and the second part of the book was more about the mystery. That was the part I enjoyed the most. Dead bodies, arson, family secrets left and right, and that was only the beginning. Where it will go next, I don't know, but I look forward to finding out.

The second half was also the part where the other characters who will get their own books came into play, which is another thing I liked. Going on what I've read about them, I have a pretty good feeling about their stories.

3.5 stars is a little less stars than usual for a KJC book, but I am not one bit worried about that. You see, the author's last series is one I loved, and I mean LOVED. If I were to make a list of my favorite series, Society of Gentlemen would have a place on it, no doubt about that. However, if my memory serves, and I believe it does, I wasn't that much into the first book. The second was one of my favorite books ever; the third I also loved; the short prequel was amazing. With the first installment it took me some time to warm up to it, and by the end I couldn't wait to read the rest of the series. That's exactly what happened here: the story and the main characters didn't grab me from the get-go, but now I can't wait to read the remaining two books, and closely meet the other main characters and see where the mystery will take us next.


***ARC provided by the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.***

Readers of historical romance novels, of superbly written m/m fiction that is, rejoice! KJ Charles not only published a new novel but has just delivered the first volume of a new 3 book series called "Sins of the Cities”.
Fans of this British author’s work, will also love this newest addition to her oevre and she certainly will make new fans too.
“An Unseen Attraction” is a beautifully told story, the slow-kindling relationship between Clem Talleyfer, a Lodging-house keeper and Rowley Green, one of his lodgers. Those two men bristle with personality and character and what initially looks like an unlikely liaison, evolves into something smoldering hot and unavoidable.
What I personally especially like about the books of KJ Charles, and here maybe more so than ever, is the author's ability to not only let her characters come to live but their surroundings as well, she manages to make Victorian times come alive with vivid descriptions. At times, it is possible to almost smell, and (not) see and feel what Clem and Rowley are experiencing.
Here’s to a wonderful new series!
*RECEIVED A COPY FROM NETGALLEY FOR HONEST REVIEW*

While this one took me a bit of time to really get into the book, overall I enjoyed the story and the characters. Clem and Rowley, were a good together, they each had something a bit odd about them, that other people found distasteful, but they liked in each other. I loved the turn of phrases that Rowley used throughout the book.

I'm looking forward to the next book in the series to see some of the characters that we meet in this book, and hopefully to get a look at Clem and Rowley and see how they are doing.

*3.5 stars*

I liked this one, but I've come to except greatness from every K.J. Charles book, which I didn't quite get here.

I was really pumped when I discovered we had an Indian MC, as Courtney Milan's historical romance with an Indian character in the stellar The Heiress Effect is the only other that I've read. There isn't much focus on Clem being Indian in the beginning of the story, but his background does end up playing an interesting role in the plot of the book. Either way, I enjoyed the diversity, though I wanted to know much more about how people perceived people of Indian decent in setting of the story, which I didn't get much of. Were they always just outright accepted? I was curious for more details, to be sure.

This book was also a bit more mystery-focused than I was expecting, which is okay. I'll read practically anything that K.J. Charles writes, so I was ready to go along for the ride. I found aspects of the mystery to be frustrating, mainly because I was on Rowley's side and thought Clem was too withholding with information, but I enjoyed the story more than I usually do with mysteries.

In terms of the characters, I didn't connect much with Clem. However, I adored Rowley, and thought that he carried the book. I loved his profession and his stature, which is more unusual in romance, and I connected with him a lot more. Still, I found the chemistry between Clem and Rowley lacking, and I wished that there was more... oomph there.

Overall, An Unseen Attraction was an enjoyable mystery, even if it won't be making any favorites lists from me. It had the well conceived writing that K.J. Charles is known for, and I think that the series shows promise.

*Copy provided in exchange for an honest review*