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A review by accidentalra
A Nobleman's Guide to Seducing a Scoundrel by KJ Charles
5.0
It's official: I am a KJ Charles fan.
Despite this being the second in a series and only the most recent in a long list of titles, this was the first title that I've read by this author. So, while I can't speak to how well A Nobleman's Guide works as a followup, I can say that it works beautifully as a stand-alone. It was a delight to read!
At this risk of simply gushing and making very little sense, I'll just share my three favorite things about this book:
1. The protagonists' character development is drastic but believable, particularly when it comes to Luke. It seems like he was never a truly 'bad guy,' just a victim of circumstance trying to do the best he can with what he knows. But once he knows Rufus, the unfortunate Earl of Oxney, Luke finds that he's willing to do what's best for someone else. Turns out that love makes you do selfless things.
2. The setting was perfectly described and truly integral to the story, and it provided a nice twist on the forced proximity trope. Stone Manor was dreary and lonely, a lousy inheritance, a burden. But needs must and all that—good things happen even in miserable heaps, especially when someone who believes in your worth is by your side.
3. The villains are villainy without being over-the-top. We got shown at least some of the motives behind their behavior, and knowing this also fleshed out the MC's backstories and insecurities nicely.
A Nobleman's Guide to Seducing a Scoundrel deserves all the stars I'm allowed to award. I will definitely be suggesting this to my fellow romance readers.
Despite this being the second in a series and only the most recent in a long list of titles, this was the first title that I've read by this author. So, while I can't speak to how well A Nobleman's Guide works as a followup, I can say that it works beautifully as a stand-alone. It was a delight to read!
At this risk of simply gushing and making very little sense, I'll just share my three favorite things about this book:
1. The protagonists' character development is drastic but believable, particularly when it comes to Luke. It seems like he was never a truly 'bad guy,' just a victim of circumstance trying to do the best he can with what he knows. But once he knows Rufus, the unfortunate Earl of Oxney, Luke finds that he's willing to do what's best for someone else. Turns out that love makes you do selfless things.
2. The setting was perfectly described and truly integral to the story, and it provided a nice twist on the forced proximity trope. Stone Manor was dreary and lonely, a lousy inheritance, a burden. But needs must and all that—good things happen even in miserable heaps, especially when someone who believes in your worth is by your side.
3. The villains are villainy without being over-the-top. We got shown at least some of the motives behind their behavior, and knowing this also fleshed out the MC's backstories and insecurities nicely.
A Nobleman's Guide to Seducing a Scoundrel deserves all the stars I'm allowed to award. I will definitely be suggesting this to my fellow romance readers.