#A Thief's Fortune

[pratchettquotes]

"They're coming closer again," said War.

THEN WE WILL DO WHAT WE CAN.

"Four swords against an army? That'll never work!"

YOU THOUGHT IT MIGHT A FEW MOMENTS AGO. WHO IS TALKING FOR YOU NOW? HUMANS HAVE ALWAYS FACED US AND THEY HAVE NOT SURRENDERED.

"Well, yes," said Pestilence. "But with us they could always hope for a remission."

"Or a sudden truce," said War.

"Or--" Famine began, and hesitated, and said finally: "A shower of fish?" He looked at their expressions. "That actually happened once," he added defiantly.

IN ORDER TO HAVE A CHANGE OF FORTUNE AT THE LAST MINUTE YOU HAVE TO TAKE YOUR FORTUNE TO THE LAST MINUTE, said Death. WE MUST DO WHAT WE CAN.

"And if that doesn't work?" said Pestilence. [...]

THEN WE DID WHAT WE COULD, he said, UNTIL WE COULD NOT.

Terry Pratchett, Thief of Time

[life-imitates-art-far-more]

Valentin de Boulogne (1591-1632) "The Fortune Teller" or "Fortune Teller with Soldiers" (c. 1620) Oil on canvas Tenebrism Located in the Toledo Museum of Art, Toledo, Ohio, United States This painting is a play on the cheater being cheated and the corruption of Rome, with the man in the red hat stealing from the fortune teller's while a little girl steals his bag of coins. The cheater being cheated is a reference to deceit, which was a common trait of both men and women during the early 17th century in Rome. It was common to steal things such as the items shown in the painting. Rome was a very dangerous place with drunkards, sword/knife fights, and murder throughout the city.

[ashennightingale]

some initial practice / slight redesign work for my weird lil guy, reverence 💗 who is definitely a normal cleric of tymora and not a thief. Definitely

(im posting old art! — july 2022)

initial adopt designed by persi jaye | pose & cloak refs from @jookpubstock

[br-kker]

I hate flying through books so quickly and not enjoying them to their fullest extent

[strange-relics]

I finally managed to find the treasure that matches my blog name and hide it among my books and it’s bringing me endless amounts of joy!

[they-have-the-same-va]

CR-S01 from Trauma Team shares a voice actor with Nathan Drake from the Uncharted series.

Voiced by Nolan North

[drakefisher]

Uncharted + Game Informer covers (via The Cover Gallery)

[lemonidae]

Book Series by K.J. Charles

WEBSITE | X: @kj_charles | Goodreads

A Charm of Magpies

A Charm of Magpies #0.5: The Smuggler and the Warlord

Free read is available here

A Charm of Magpies #1: The Magpie Lord FREE EBOOK

A lord in danger. A magician in turmoil. A snowball in hell. Exiled to China for twenty years, Lucien Vaudrey never planned to return to England. But with the mysterious deaths of his father and brother, it seems the new Lord Crane has inherited an earldom. He’s also inherited his family’s enemies. He needs magical assistance, fast. He doesn't expect it to turn up angry. Magician Stephen Day has good reason to hate Crane’s family. Unfortunately, it’s his job to deal with supernatural threats. Besides, the earl is unlike any aristocrat he’s ever met, with the tattoos, the attitude… and the way Crane seems determined to get him into bed. That’s definitely unusual. Soon Stephen is falling hard for the worst possible man, at the worst possible time. But Crane’s dangerous appeal isn't the only thing rendering Stephen powerless. Evil pervades the house, a web of plots is closing round Crane, and if Stephen can’t find a way through it—they’re both going to die.

Paperback: 271 pages

Audiobook: 6,5 hrs.

ISBN13: 9781999784614

ISBN10: 1999784618

ASIN: 0995799024

Buy on: Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Other (it's free!)

Genres: Fantasy, Romance, M/M, Magic, Paranormal, Historical Fiction, Mystery

Published: September 3, 2013

A Charm of Magpies #2: A Case of Possession

Magic in the blood. Danger in the streets. Lord Crane has never had a lover quite as elusive as Stephen Day. He knows Stephen’s job as justiciar requires secrecy, but the magician is doing his disappearing act more than seems reasonable—especially since Crane will soon return to his home in China. When a blackmailer threatens to expose their illicit relationship, there's only one thing stopping Crane from leaving the country he Stephen. Stephen has problems of his own. As he investigates a plague of giant rats sweeping London, his sudden increase in power, boosted by his blood-and-sex bond with Crane, is rousing suspicion that he’s turned warlock. With all eyes on him, the threat of exposure grows. Stephen could lose his friends, his job and his liberty over his relationship with Crane. He’s not sure if he can take that risk much longer. Crane isn’t sure if he can ask him to. The rats are closing in, and something has to give…

Paperback: 194 pages

Audiobook: 6 hrs.

ISBN10: 0995799032

ASIN: B077C6VZDW

Buy on: Amazon | Barnes & Noble

Genres: Fantasy, Romance, M/M, Magic, Paranormal, Historical Fiction, Mystery

Published: January 6, 2014

A Charm of Magpies #3: Flight of Magpies

Danger in the air. Lovers on the brink. With the justiciary understaffed, a series of horrifying occult murders to be investigated, and a young student flying off the rails, magical law enforcer Stephen Day is under increasing stress. And the strain is starting to show in his relationship with his aristocratic lover, Lord Crane. Crane chafes at the restrictions of England’s laws, and there’s a worrying development in the blood-and-sex bond he shares with Stephen. A development that makes a sensible man question if they should be together at all. Then a devastating loss brings the people he most loves into bitter conflict. Old enemies, new enemies, and unexpected enemies are painting Stephen and Crane into a corner, and the pressure threatens to tear them apart…

Paperback: 210 pages

Audiobook: 6,5 hrs.

ISBN10: 0995799040

ASIN: B06XX6V7ZC

Buy on: Amazon | Barnes & Noble

Genres: Fantasy, Romance, M/M, Magic, Paranormal, Historical Fiction, Mystery

Published: October 28, 2014

A Charm of Magpies: Jackdaw SPINOFF

(takes place after Flight of Magpies)

If you stop running, you fall. Jonah Pastern is a magician, a liar, a windwalker, a professional thief…and for six months, he was the love of police constable Ben Spenser’s life. His betrayal left Ben jailed, ruined, alone, and looking for revenge. Ben is determined to make Jonah pay. But he can’t seem to forget what they once shared, and Jonah refuses to let him. Soon Ben is entangled in Jonah’s chaotic existence all over again, and they’re running together—from the police, the justiciary, and some dangerous people with a lethal grudge against them. Threatened on all sides by betrayals, secrets, and the laws of the land, the policeman and the thief must find a way to live and love before the past catches up with them...

Paperback: 222 pages

Audiobook: 6,5 hrs.

ISBN10: 0995799059

ISBN: 9780995799059

ASIN: B077BNR1FP

Buy on: Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Other

Genres: Fantasy, Romance, M/M, Magic, Paranormal, Historical Fiction, Mystery

Published: February 13, 2015

A Charm of Magpies: A Queer Trade SPINOFF

(takes place at the same time as A Case of Possession)

Apprentice magician Crispin Tredarloe returns to London to find his master dead, and his papers sold. Papers with secrets that could spell death. Crispin needs to get them back before anyone finds out what he's been doing, or what his magic can do. Crispin tracks his quarry down to waste paper dealer Ned Hall. He needs help, and Ned can’t resist Crispin’s pleading—and appealing—looks. But can the waste-man and the magician prevent a disaster and save Crispin’s skin?

Paperback: 59 pages

ISBN: 9781311652409

ASIN: B019GBSGZO

Buy on: Amazon | Barnes & Noble

Genres: Fantasy, Romance, M/M, Magic, Paranormal, Historical Fiction, Mystery

Published: February 2, 2016

A Charm of Magpies: Rag and Bone SPINOFF

(takes place at the same time as Jackdaw)

It’s amazing what people throw away… Crispin Tredarloe never meant to become a warlock. Freed from his treacherous master, he’s learning how to use his magical powers the right way. But it’s brutally hard work. Not everyone believes he’s a reformed character, and the strain is putting unbearable pressure on his secret relationship with waste-man Ned Hall. Ned’s sick of magic. Sick of the trouble it brings, sick of its dangerous grip on Crispin and the miserable look it puts in his eyes, and sick of being afraid that a gentleman magician won’t want a street paper-seller forever—or even for much longer. But something is stirring among London’s forgotten discards. An ancient evil is waking up and seeking its freedom. And when wild magic hits the rag-and-bottle shop where Ned lives, a panicking Crispin falls back onto bad habits. The embattled lovers must find a way to work together—or London could go up in flames.

Paperback: 202 pages

Audiobook: 5,5 hrs.

ISBN: 9780995799066

ASIN: B077BQZG4Z

Buy on: Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Other

Genres: Fantasy, Romance, M/M, Magic, Paranormal, Historical Fiction, Mystery

Published: March 1, 2016

A Charm of Magpies: Five for Heaven EPILOGUE

The gang are in Japan and Jenny Saint is in labour. Free read is available here

--------------------------------------

The Will Darling Adventures

A m/m romance trilogy in the spirit of Golden Age pulp fiction. It’s the 1920s and tensions are rising along with hemlines. Soldier-turned-bookseller Will Darling finds himself tangled up in spies and secret formulas, clubs and conspiracies, Bolsheviks, blackmail, and Bright Young Things. And dubious aristocrat Lord Arthur ‘Kim’ Secretan is right in the middle of it all:  enigmatic, unreliable, and utterly irresistible.

The Will Darling Adventures #1: Slippery Creatures

Will Darling came back from the Great War with a few scars, a lot of medals, and no idea what to do next. Inheriting his uncle’s chaotic second-hand bookshop is a blessing...until strange visitors start making threats. First a criminal gang, then the War Office, both telling Will to give them the information they want, or else. Will has no idea what that information is, and nobody to turn to, until Kim Secretan—charming, cultured, oddly attractive—steps in to offer help. As Kim and Will try to find answers and outrun trouble, mutual desire grows along with the danger. And then Will discovers the truth about Kim. His identity, his past, his real intentions. Enraged and betrayed, Will never wants to see him again. But Will possesses knowledge that could cost thousands of lives. Enemies are closing in on him from all sides—and Kim is the only man who can help.

Paperback: 265 pages

Audiobook: 7 hrs.

ISBN: 9781912688159

ISBN10: 1912688158

ASIN: ‎ B086WKLJSN

Buy on: Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Other

Genres: Romance, Historical Fiction, Mystery, M/M, Adult, Crime, Mystey, Suspense

Published: May 13, 2020

The Will Darling Adventures #2: The Sugared Game

It's been two months since Will Darling saw Kim Secretan, and he doesn't expect to see him again. What do a rough and ready soldier-turned-bookseller and a disgraced shady aristocrat have to do with each other anyway? But when Will encounters a face from the past in a disreputable nightclub, Kim turns up, as shifty, unreliable, and irresistible as ever. And before Will knows it, he's been dragged back into Kim's shadowy world of secrets, criminal conspiracies, and underhand dealings. This time, though, things are underhanded even by Kim standards. This time, the danger is too close to home. And if Will and Kim can't find common ground against unseen enemies, they risk losing everything.

Paperback: 288 pages

Audiobook: 7,75 hrs.

ISBN10: 1912688174

ASIN: B08DL1CKY3

Buy on: Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Other

Genres: Romance, Historical Fiction, Mystery, M/M, Adult, Crime, Mystey, Suspense

Published: August 23, 2020

The Will Darling Adventures #2.5: To Trust Man on His Oath

A heart-to-heart in the small hours leads to a crucial promise. Free read is available here

The Will Darling Adventures #3: Subtle Blood

Will Darling is all right. His business is doing well, and so is his illicit relationship with Kim Secretan--disgraced aristocrat, ex-spy, amateur book-dealer. It’s starting to feel like he’s got his life under control. And then a brutal murder in a gentleman’s club plunges them back into the shadow world of crime, deception, and the power of privilege. Worse, it brings them up against Kim’s noble, hostile family, and his upper-class life where Will can never belong. With old and new enemies against them, and secrets on every side, Will and Kim have to fight for each other harder than ever—or be torn apart for good.

Paperback: 290 pages

Audiobook: 8,5 hrs.

ISBN: 9781912688197

ASIN: B094TL3GJX

Buy on: Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Other

Genres: Romance, Historical Fiction, Mystery, M/M, Adult, Crime, Mystey, Suspense

Published: June 23, 2021

The Will Darling Adventures: This Lord’s Father EPILOGUE

Will has a nice chat with the Marquess of Flitby. No, really. Free read is available here

Think of England / Will Darling Adventures : How Goes the World? EPILOGUE

Archie attends a house party. Will goes to a club. Free read is available here

-------------------------------------- Gentlemen of Uncertain Fortune

Very lightly linked books set in a lighthearted Regency world.

The Gentle Art of Fortune Hunting features Robin Loxleigh; A Thief in the Night stars Robin’s brother and Toby Real Last Name Unknown. The Duke at Hazard isn’t linked directly to either book but features cameos; there’s no need to read anything first.

Gentlemen of Uncertain Fortune #1: The Gentle Art of Fortune Hunting

Robin Loxleigh and his sister Marianne are the hit of the Season, so attractive and delightful that nobody looks behind their pretty faces. Until Robin sets his sights on Sir John Hartlebury's heiress niece. The notoriously graceless baronet isn't impressed by good looks or fooled by false charm. He's sure Robin is a liar, a fortune hunter, and a heartless, greedy fraud - and he'll protect his niece, whatever it takes. Then, just when Hart thinks he has Robin at his mercy, things take a sharp left turn. And as the grumpy baronet and the glib fortune hunter start to understand each other, they also find themselves starting to care - more than either of them thought possible. But Robin's cheated and lied and let people down for money. Can a professional rogue earn an honest happy ever after?

Paperback: 311 pages

Audiobook: 8hrs.

ISBN: 9781398715752

ISBN10: 1398715751

ASIN: B094TC4F93

Buy on: Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Other

Genres: Romance, Historical Fiction, Romance, M/M, Adult

Published: February 24, 2021

Gentlemen of Uncertain Fortune #2: A Thief in the Night

Toby never meant to be a highway robber, but needs must. He didn’t plan to impersonate a top London valet either, but when the chance comes to present himself as the earl of Arvon’s new gentleman’s gentleman, he grabs it. Unfortunately, the earl is the man he seduced and robbed on the road to get here. Oops. Miles, Lord Arvon, is not impressed. But he’s faced with a tumbledown home and lost family fortune, and desperate times call for desperate measures. Toby—shameless, practical, and definitely desperate—may be just the man he needs. To steal back a priceless bracelet, that is. What else were you thinking?

Paperback: 76 pages

Audiobook: 2,75 hrs.

ISBN10: 1912688239

ISBN: 9781912688234

ASIN: ‎ B0BVMZGMCQ

Buy on: Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Other

Genres: Romance, Historical Fiction, Romance, M/M, Adult

Published: October 13, 2022

Gentlemen of Uncertain Fortune #2.5: A Rose By Any Name EPILOGUE

The reunion scene! Brothers Toby and Robinmeet again, with help from Hart and Miles. Free read is available here

Gentlemen of Uncertain Fortune #3: The Duke At Hazard

The Duke of Severn is one of the greatest men in Britain. He’s also short, quiet, and unimpressive. And now he’s been robbed, after indulging in one rash night with a strange man who stole the heirloom Severn ring from his finger. The Duke has to get it back, and he can’t let anyone know how he lost it. So when his cousin bets that he couldn’t survive without his privilege and title, the Duke grasps the opportunity to hunt down his ring-incognito. Life as an ordinary person is terrifying…until the anonymous Duke meets Daizell Charnage, a disgraced gentleman, and hires him to help. Racing across the country in search of the thief, the Duke and Daizell fall into scrapes, into trouble-and in love. Daizell has been excluded from polite society, his name tainted by his father’s crimes and his own misbehaviour. Now he dares to dream of a life somewhere out of sight with the quiet gentleman who’s stolen his heart. He doesn’t know that his lover is a hugely rich public figure with half a dozen titles. And when he finds out, it will risk everything they have…

Paperback: 336 pages

Audiobook: 10 hrs.

ISBN10: 1398715794

ISBN: 9781398715790

ASIN: ‎ B0CW1JXB4R

Buy on: Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Other

Genres: Romance, Historical Fiction, Romance, M/M, Adult,

Published: July 18, 2024

-------------------------------------- The Doomsday Books

Romney Marsh, Kent, in the early 1800s. A remote part of England, thinly populated, misty…and perfect for smugglers. The Doomsday clan run the free trade across the Dymchurch area of Romney Marsh. But two of them are about to get mixed up in crime, conspiracy, murder—and unexpected love.

The Doomsday Books #1: The Secret Lives of Country Gentlemen

Abandoned by his father as a small child, Sir Gareth Inglis has grown up prickly, cold, and well-used to disappointment. Even so, he longs for a connection, falling headfirst into a passionate anonymous affair that's over almost as quickly as it began. Bitter at the sudden rejection, Gareth has little time to lick his wounds: his father has died, leaving him the family title, a rambling manor on the remote Romney Marsh…and the den of cutthroats and thieves that make its intricate waterways their home. Joss Doomsday has run the Doomsday smuggling clan since he was a boy. His family is his life…which is why when the all-too-familiar new baronet testifies against Joss's sister for a hanging offense, Joss acts fast, blackmailing Gareth with the secret of their relationship to force him to recant. Their reunion is anything but happy and the path forward everything but smooth, yet after the dust settles, neither can stay away. It's a long road from there—full of danger and mysteries to be solved—yet somehow, along the way, this well-mannered gentleman may at last find true love with the least likely of scoundrels.

Paperback: 331 pages

Audiobook: 11,25 hrs.

ISBN10: 1728255856

ISBN: 9781728255859

ASIN: B0B2KWBRNL

Buy on: Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Other

Genres: Romance, Historical Fiction, M/M, Adult, Mystery

Published: March 7, 2023

The Doomsday Books #1.5: If He Had His Legs, We’d Be In So Much Trouble EPILOGUE

Gareth goes for his long-promised meeting with Granda Doomsday, and discusses Luke's future. Free read is available in PDF and EPUB

The Doomsday Books #2: A Nobleman's Guide to Seducing a Scoundrel

Major Rufus d'Aumesty has unexpectedly become the Earl of Oxney, master of a remote Norman manor on the edge of the infamous Romney Marsh. There he's beset on all sides, his position contested both by his greedy uncle and by Luke Doomsday, son of a notorious smuggling clan. The earl and the smuggler should be natural enemies, but cocksure, enragingly competent Luke is a trained secretary and expert schemer—exactly the sort of man Rufus needs by his side. Before long, Luke becomes an unexpected ally…and the lover Rufus had never hoped to find. But Luke came to Stone Manor with an ulterior motive, one he's desperate to keep hidden even from the lord he can't resist. As the lies accumulate and family secrets threaten to destroy everything they hold dear, master and man find themselves forced to decide whose side they're really on…and what they're willing to do for love.

Paperback: 336 pages

Audiobook: 10,5 hrs.

ISBN10: 1728255902

ISBN: 9781728255903

ASIN: B0BNW638GQ

Buy on: Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Other

Genres: Romance, Historical Fiction, M/M, Adult, Mystery

Published: September 19, 2023

-------------------------------------- Society of Gentlemen

Society of Gentlemen is set at a time of incredible privilege for the few and social turmoil for the many. Regency England is torn by war, poverty and social unrest, ruled by a draconian government. People are starving, rioting, rebelling. But the aristocrats dance on, in their glittering existence of balls, gambling, silks and scandal…

The trilogy covers three couples between autumn 1819 and spring 1820.

A young Radical discovers his noble birth and is catapulted into a world of privilege, fashion and murder with a dandy as his guide.

A government official and a revolutionary seditionist find common ground in their unconventional desires, under the threat of the gallows.

And a lord in love with his valet struggles to find a way across the social abyss that divides them.

Each book is a standalone romance but the plots are linked.

Characters and reading order

Society of Gentlemen #0.5: The Ruin of Gabriel Ashleigh

The youngest son and the blackest sheep in his family, Lord Gabriel Ashleigh never imagined he could sink so low. Though he’s a notoriously bad gambler, he takes on the formidable but strangely alluring Francis Webster, only to lose everything: all his money, the lovely estate he inherited from his aunt, and any hope of future happiness. So it’s a shock when Webster summons him to a private game for a chance to win back his possessions. The stake? If he fails, Ash must surrender his body. Francis has been waiting years for this moment. At Eton, Ash’s elder brother harassed him relentlessly. Now, consumed by lust and rage, Francis is only too happy to exploit Ash’s foolish indiscretions. But as Francis strips the magnificently built youth—first of his family assets, then his clothes—he begins to wonder whether he’s been plotting revenge . . . or exquisite seduction.

Paperback: 32 pages

IISBN-13: 9781101968680

ASIN: B013NIF9U6

Buy on: Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Other

Genres: Romance, Historical Fiction, M/M, Short Story, Regency

Published: October 27, 2015

Society of Gentlemen #1: A Fashionable Indulgence

When he learns that he could be the heir to an unexpected fortune, Harry Vane rejects his past as a Radical fighting for government reform and sets about wooing his lovely cousin. But his heart is captured instead by the most beautiful, chic man he’s ever met: the dandy tasked with instructing him in the manners and style of the ton. Harry’s new station demands conformity—and yet the one thing he desires is a taste of the wrong pair of lips. After witnessing firsthand the horrors of Waterloo, Julius Norreys sought refuge behind the luxurious facade of the upper crust. Now he concerns himself exclusively with the cut of his coat and the quality of his boots. And yet his protégé is so unblemished by cynicism that he inspires the first flare of genuine desire Julius has felt in years. He cannot protect Harry from the worst excesses of society. But together they can withstand the high price of passion.

Paperback: 264 pages

Audiobook: 8,75 hrs.

ISBN10: 1101886021

ISBN: 9781101886021

ASIN: ‎ B00QP3ROUA

Buy on: Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Other

Genres: Romance, Historical Fiction, M/M, Regency

Published: August 11, 2015

Society of Gentlemen #2: A Seditious Affair

Silas Mason has no illusions about himself. He’s not lovable, or even likable. He’s an overbearing idealist, a Radical bookseller and pamphleteer who lives for revolution . . . and for Wednesday nights. Every week he meets anonymously with the same man, in whom Silas has discovered the ideal meld of intellectual companionship and absolute obedience to his sexual commands. But unbeknownst to Silas, his closest friend is also his greatest enemy, with the power to see him hanged—or spare his life.   A loyal, well-born gentleman official, Dominic Frey is torn apart by his affair with Silas. By the light of day, he cannot fathom the intoxicating lust that drives him to meet with the Radical week after week. In the bedroom, everything else falls away. Their needs match, and they are united by sympathy for each other’s deepest vulnerabilities. But when Silas’s politics earn him a death sentence, desire clashes with duty, and Dominic finds himself doing everything he can to save the man who stole his heart.

Paperback: 251 pages

Audiobook: 7.5 hrs.

ISBN10: 1101886064

ISBN: 9781101886069

ASIN: ‎ ‎ B00V2AYYF4

Buy on: Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Other

Genres: Romance, Historical Fiction, M/M, Regency, BDSM

Published: December 15, 2015

Society of Gentlemen #2.5: A Confidential Problem

Cyprian and Silas bonding. Free read is available here

Society of Gentlemen #3: A Gentleman's Position

Among his eccentric though strictly principled group of friends, Lord Richard Vane is the confidant on whom everyone depends for advice, moral rectitude, and discreet assistance. Yet when Richard has a problem, he turns to his valet, a fixer of unparalleled genius—and the object of Richard’s deepest desires. If there is one rule a gentleman must follow, it is never to dally with servants. But when David is close enough to touch, the rules of class collide with the basest sort of animal instinct: overpowering lust.   For David Cyprian, burglary and blackmail are as much in a day’s work as bootblacking—anything for the man he’s devoted to. But the one thing he wants for himself is the one thing Richard refuses to give: his heart. With the tension between them growing to be unbearable, David’s seemingly incorruptible master has left him no choice. Putting his finely honed skills of seduction and manipulation to good use, he will convince Richard to forget all about his well-meaning objections and give in to sweet, sinful temptation.

Paperback: 246 pages

Audiobook: 8 hrs.

ISBN10: 1101886072

ISBN: 9781101886076

ASIN: ‎ B011G3HIFE

Buy on: Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Other

Genres: Romance, Historical Fiction, M/M, Regency, BDSM

Published: April 5, 2016

Society of Gentlemen: A Private Miscellany EPILOGUE

In which letters fly all over Europe, and Silas keeps a promise to his newly knighted lover. Free read is available here

-------------------------------------- England World

England World #1: Proper English

England, 1902. A shooting party at the Earl of Witton’s remote country house is a high treat for champion shot Patricia Merton—until unexpected guests turn the social atmosphere dangerously sour. That’s not Pat’s biggest problem. She’s visiting her old friend, the Earl’s heir Jimmy Yoxall—but she wants to spend a lot more time with Jimmy’s fiancée. The irrepressible Miss Fenella Carruth, with her laughing eyes and lush curves, is the most glorious woman Pat’s ever met, and it quickly becomes impossible to remember why she needs to stay at arm’s length. But while the women’s attraction grows, the tensions at Rodington Court get worse. Affairs, secrets, betrayals, and blackmail come to light. And when a body is discovered with a knife between the shoulderblades, it’s going to take Pat and Fen’s combined talents to prevent the murderer destroying all their lives.

England World #2: Think of England

England, 1904. Two years ago, Captain Archie Curtis lost his friends, fingers, and future to a terrible military accident. Alone, purposeless and angry, Curtis is determined to discover if he and his comrades were the victims of fate, or of sabotage. Curtis’s search takes him to an isolated, ultra-modern country house, where he meets and instantly clashes with fellow guest Daniel da Silva. Effete, decadent, foreign, and all-too-obviously queer, the sophisticated poet is everything the straightforward British officer fears and distrusts. As events unfold, Curtis realizes that Daniel has his own secret intentions. And there’s something else they share—a mounting sexual tension that leaves Curtis reeling. As the house party’s elegant facade cracks to reveal treachery, blackmail and murder, Curtis finds himself needing clever, dark-eyed Daniel as he has never needed a man before…

England World #2.5: Song for a Viking

The last chapter or so of Think of England from Daniel’s point of view. Free read is available here

England World/ Will Darling Adventures : How Goes the World? EPILOGUE

Archie attends a house party. Will goes to a club. Free read is available here

-------------------------------------- Lilywhite Boys

London 1895. Jerry Crozier and Templeton Lane are the Lilywhite Boys: a pair of jewel thieves with a knack for infiltrating high society and getting away clean. They’re ruthless, shameless, and incredibly slippery. Nobody has ever managed to pin down the Lilywhite Boys.

Yet.

Lilywhite Boys #0.5: The Rat-Catcher’s Daughter

Music-hall singer Miss Christiana is in serious debt, and serious trouble. She owes more than she can pay to a notorious criminal, and now he plans to make an example of her. There’s no way out. But Christiana has an admirer. Stan Kamarzyn has watched her sing for a year and he doesn’t want to see her get hurt. Stan’s nobody special–just a dodgy bloke from Bethnal Green–but he’s got useful friends. Friends who can get a girl out of trouble, for a price. Christiana’s not sure what it will cost her… The two slowly reach an understanding. But Christiana is no criminal, and she can’t risk getting mixed up with the law. What will happen when Stan’s life as the fence for the notorious Lilywhite Boys brings trouble to his doorstep?

Lilywhite Boys #1: Any Old Diamonds

Lord Alexander Pyne-ffoulkes is the younger son of the Duke of Ilvar, with a bitter grudge against his wealthy father. The Duke intends to give his Duchess a priceless diamond parure on their wedding anniversary—so Alec hires a pair of jewel thieves to steal it. The Duke’s remote castle is a difficult target, and Alec needs a way to get the thieves in. Soldier-turned-criminal Jerry Crozier has the answer: he’ll pose as a Society gentleman and become Alec’s new best friend. But Jerry is a dangerous man: controlling, remote, and devastating. He effortlessly teases out the lonely young nobleman’s most secret desires, and soon he’s got Alec in his bed—and the palm of his hand. Or maybe not. Because as the plot thickens, betrayals, secrets, new loves, and old evils come to light. Now the jewel thief and the aristocrat must keep up the pretence, find their way through a maze of privilege and deceit, and confront the truth of what’s between them…all without getting caught.

Lilywhite Boys #2: Gilded Cage

Once upon a time a boy from a noble family fell in love with a girl from the gutter. It went as badly as you’d expect. Seventeen years later, Susan Lazarus is a renowned detective, and Templeton Lane is a jewel thief. She’s tried to arrest him, and she’s tried to shoot him. They’ve never tried to talk. Then Templeton is accused of a vicious double murder. Now there’s a manhunt out for him, the ports are watched, and even his best friends have turned their backs. If he can’t clear his name, he’ll hang. There’s only one person in England who might help Templeton now…assuming she doesn’t want to kill him herself.

Lilywhite Boys #3: Masters In This Hall SPINOFF

John Garland was in love: now he’s in disgrace. He’s jobless, alone, and determined to avenge himself on the thief who ruined his life. All he wants for Christmas is to see Barnaby Littimer in gaol. Barnaby has secured a job running the extravagant traditional Christmas at a rich man’s country house. John intends to thwart whatever he’s up to. But amid the festivity, the halls are decked with unexpected dangers. And John will need to decide if he can trust Barnaby one more time…

Lilywhite Boys #3.5: White Wedding EPILOGUE

Susan is getting married; Alec and Barnaby are bonding, or at least drinking. Free read is available in PDF or Epub

-------------------------------------- Sins of the Cities

Sins of the Cities is written in the spirit of the Victorian sensation novel (plots, shenanigans, murder, mystery, fog, secrets and scandals). It’s London 1873. As one of the worst fogs of the nineteenth century closes in on the city, long-buried secrets are crawling into the light, and dragging all sorts of trouble with them.

The trilogy centres on a group of friends who meet at the Jack and Knave, a club for ladies and gentlemen of unconventional persuasion.

Clem Talleyfer is an unassuming lodging-house keeper who just wants a quiet life; Nathaniel Roy is a lawyer turned journalist who likes nothing more than a crusade; Mark Braglewicz is a private enquiry agent and a bit of a tough nut. And all three are about to find themselves dragged into a long-simmering family secret that turns deadly.

Sins of the Cities #1: An Unseen Attraction

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 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.

Sins of the Cities #2: An Unnatural Vice

In the sordid streets of Victorian London, unwanted desire flares between two bitter enemies. Crusading journalist Nathaniel Roy is determined to expose spiritualists who exploit the grief of bereaved and vulnerable people. First on his list is the so-called Seer of London, Justin Lazarus. Nathaniel expects him to be a cheap, heartless fraud. He doesn’t expect to meet a man with a sinful smile and the eyes of a fallen angel—or that a shameless swindler will spark his desires for the first time in years. Justin feels no remorse for the lies he spins during his séances. His gullible clients simply bore him. Hostile, disbelieving, utterly irresistible Nathaniel is a fascinating challenge. And as their battle of wills and wits heats up, Justin finds he can’t stop thinking about the man who’s determined to ruin him. But Justin and Nathaniel are linked by more than their fast-growing obsession with one another. They are both caught up in an aristocratic family’s secrets, and Justin holds information that could be lethal. As killers, fanatics, and fog close in, Nathaniel is the only man Justin can trust—and, perhaps, the only man he could love.

Sins of the Cities #3: An Unsuitable Heir

On the trail of an aristocrat’s secret son, enquiry agent Mark Braglewicz finds his quarry in a music hall, performing as a trapeze artist with his twin sister. Graceful, beautiful, elusive, and strong, Pen Starling is like nobody Mark’s ever met—and everything he’s ever wanted. But the long-haired acrobat has an earldom and a fortune to claim. Pen doesn’t want to live as any sort of man, least of all a nobleman. The thought of being wealthy, titled, and always in the public eye is horrifying. He likes his life now—his days on the trapeze, his nights with Mark. And he won’t be pushed into taking a title that would destroy his soul. But there’s a killer stalking London’s foggy streets, and more lives than just Pen’s are at risk. Mark decides he must force the reluctant heir from music hall to manor house, to save Pen’s neck. Betrayed by the one man he thought he could trust, Pen never wants to see his lover again. But when the killer comes after him, Pen must find a way to forgive—or he might not live long enough for Mark to make amends.

--------------------------------------

[rosemarysdragon]

one thing i desperately need explained in the riordanverse is how in the world these different afterlives can just coexist??? currently rereading the lightning thief (of course) and it mentions that mortals see the underworld differently according to their beliefs & i am bewildered as to how that logic works across all the many afterlives of the riordanverse (also if jesus is canon in the riordanverse then why isn’t the televangelist pastor mentioned in tlt in his afterlife???)

[reuxben]

Here’s our MTGinktober for “Fortune,” starring The Unluckiest Planeswalker. I'm sure it'll stop raining moolah eventually, after which, we're loaded for life.

Click this post’s Source link for this piece’s Making-Of.

More MTGinktober here.

Daily art updates on Instagram and Twitter.

Reuxben

[magicalyaku]

Ok ok, let's get back on track. Work was draining these past weeks, but I'm on vacation now, so time to catch up! June was the month of the library books. I put a bunch on hold in April and May and they all came in at the same time. And after up to 10 weeks of waiting I was not about to push a single one back further, so I had to work a bit there. 8D Also, according to my list I've read 51 books in the first 6 months of the year. I seem to remember wanting to read less this year? Yeah. Not going well.

Gwen & Art are Not in Love (Lex Croucher): I read it in the very first days of June, which was basically an eternity ago, so my memory is a bit wonky. I do remember I had lots of fun! It was funny and sweet with a solid story and serious times when needed, nice characters, good adventure. The female lead did not get on my nerves! There was a cat! And a girl with a (legendary) sword! I think, though, it's a bit unfair that both boys ended up with permanent bodily harm while the girls got away scratchfree … Go read it!!

Thief in the Night (KJ Charles): I didn't know anything about this other than the summary when I put it on my waitlist in the library. After 10 weeks it finally came in and my first thought was "Is it broken?!" because it's only about 100 pages! It is a full story, mind you, I was just so suprised by it (and because I waited for so long!). It's a companion story to The Gentle Art of Fortune Hunting, featuring the brother of the protagonists of that one. It's pretty cute. Super short, but just the right length for a simple story. We can have a simple story once in a while. I had a good time reading this.

The Gentle Art of Fortune Hunting (KJ Charles): I borrowed this right after Thief in the Night. This is a full-length novel, so it has a lot more time to dive into characters and intricacies. It's nice. Like not groundbreaking, but very enjoyable. There's this thing about (pseudo-historic) British aristocracy that just calls for mocking them. I liked a lot how the climax and ending played out!

Flowerheart (Catherine Bakewell): Now this was another difficult book for me. I thought with time I'd get a little more chill with YA fantasy heroines. Seems I'm not there yet. The heroine here has these whiny self-pitying phases that really annoyed me. She's like "Oh maybe he never liked me in the first place" just because the guy didn't want her help at one thing. But: 1) He was her very close childhood friend, that was not a lie. 2) She has like one day of training in and can't control her magic, so her help would be … probably no help at all. And 3) when he told her before that he needs her on the weekends she said no, she can't … So why is she getting upset?! I hate characters like this. /D But thankfully, this is only half of the time, the other half she's pretty ok (the guy as well) and I actually found myself liking the book. The romance is acceptable and it does have some nice imagery going on with all the flower magic and stuff.

Sounds Fake But Okay (Sarah Costello & Kayla Kaszyca): My one non-fiction book of the year. :D It's about seeing the world from the perspectives of a_spec people. Like taking apart all that amatonormativity and all these ideas about romance and family and stuff that most of our world sees as right and normal. So it's not just a "let me tell you what aromanticism and asexuality are"-book but dives a bit deeper. I found it insightful. I think, both a_spec and allo people can take something away from reading this. Challenging our social constructs in thought at least can't hurt after all. Regarding the ebook library edition I read I didn't quite like the layout as the incorporated community quotes where not well marked and I stumbled over them a few times before realising it's another quote. That's probably no issue in the paper version though. I also struggled to tell the authors Sarah and Kayla apart. They introduce themselves and their stories in the beginning but I immediately jumbled them up ...

Captive Prince Trilogy (C.S. Pacat): I borrowed the English edition from the library … and didn't want to return it! Which is stupid because I own the German version in paper. But that kinda sums up how I feel about these books. Captive Prince was not the very first gay fantasy book I read almost two years ago but the first one I liked. (The actual first was Rowan & Ash by Christian Händel which had a terribly selfish love interest and shied away from all the important conflict. (And yeah, long before that I did read The Raven Cycle but I picked that one up for the Ley lines and the no-kiss-promise. The gay was just a pleasant surprise, so I don't count it.)) Which is funny, because especially the beginning is so filthy! I remember being quite put off by this the first time around, but apparently it was intriguing enough to continue reading. I like the incredible slow-burn of Damen's and Laurent's relationship. The slow building of trust in a surrounding where trust is so rare. How shit happens between them and they have to sort it out on page before progressing. How you only catch glimpes of Laurent's true self for a long time. I like it when authors feel smart through their writing and writing Laurent's and the Regent's intrigues and all the different settings with war strategies etc. sure does feel smart to me. I like the slow-burn in stories as well when things start at some point and only get important much later and all weaves together beautifully. It's so rewarding. Look, where we started - look, how far we've come! Hah. u3u

Riley Weaver Needs a Date for the Gaybutante Society (Jason June): For the end of the month I went for something light and funny. Of all the authors I read last year F.T. Lukens and Jason June stuck with me the most. Lukens for the cozy charming fantasy and June for the slightly silly noisy onea. Riley Weaver is no exception to that. It does have a serious undertone and message, though, but due to the framework of the story it manages to never feel dull or preachy.

I also tried to read Dragonfall by L.R. Lam, but gave up after just 50 pages. I can't even say if it's good or bad, because I don't know. I couldn't stand the viewpoints. Like, there's three people. The first one is a 1st person narrator, who refers to the second person as You, but in the narration, not dialogue! That put me off so much. It was so … icky! The second person narrates 1st person as well. If there's another "you" I don't know because I didn't make it to the point where they meet for real. And then the third person comes along and … it's 3rd person?! And I screamed! God, I hate that. I mean, it can work and I have read books that I like with inconsistent viewpoints but there was nothing here for which I was willing to endure. To be fair, I don't like dragons in the first place, so maybe we never were a good match from the start. :'D

That's it for June!

[figures4fun]

14 days of love, 6/14: An uncharted romance

[sleepingfancies]

damn... octavia "rook" laidir's chokehold on me !

[yunnsteacomic]

Yunn's Tea Comic p.100!

I really hope this loads okay for everyone here - if it gets too compressed, remember I've got a pinned post on my page with other places you can read!

[strange-relics]

I recently managed to acquire a PS Vita and finally got to play Uncharted: Golden Abyss, and now I’m using the opportunity to embark on yet another replay of the other games in chronological order. And that got me thinking:

[skulls-and-broken-hearts]

“ There exists legends of a legendary artifact that can grant a women’s wish. . . ”

“ . . . The Skullheart. ”

A multimuse roleplay blog for the playable characters of Skullgirls. Tread carefully,

at your own risk. For Aeon is always

watching.

18+ Only Reminder.