#Any Old Diamonds
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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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obsessed with outside perspectives of jerry crozier being cartoonishly terrifying
while alec takes one look at that and he's like....well I can't not fuck him
#jerry crozier#alec pyne#the lilywhite boys#kj charles#any old diamonds#this post is for literally no one 🫡
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July 2024 Reading Recap
Well, August didn’t start off how I expected, which is why I’m a bit delayed in getting my recap up for July. Unfortunately, my cat Fox was unexpectedly hospitalized again last weekend with congestive heart failure, but she’s back home now with a new dose of meds to help keep that in check. But that’s putting her kidneys at higher risk as she also has kidney disease, so it’s a delicate balance. I…
#Adriana Herrera#Alexandra Vasti#An Island Princess Starts a Scandal#Any Old Diamonds#Diana Quincy#Elizabeth Hoyt#JRR Tolkien#July Reads#July Recap#Kate Canterbary#KJ Charles#Lauren Layne#Miranda in Retrograde#Ne&039;er Duke Well#Sarah MacLean#Shucked#The Marquess Makes His Move#The Return of the King#Wicked and the Wallflower#Wicked Intentions
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no ref hand practicey the sequel: dwarven women
#dungeon meshi fanart#dungeon meshi#dunmeshi#daya#dia#diamond of sadena#namari#namari of kahka brud#i spent an hour or less on both of these and ended up not really being sure in either of them#HATED drawing namari's. intertwined hands my enemy#fun fact: when i was younger i consumed a lot of american media and it made me think that all westerners were inherently hairless#specifically western women like i legit thought all of them were hairless since every girl i knew growing up - old and young - trans and ci#they all had alota body hair so i assumed it was just a seasian thing. but apparently it was jus the western media pressuring women to do s#if what im saying makes any sense
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i feel like im not making any sense but does anyone else feel like there are stories that let u run with them and ones that spell everything out for you
#im reading that post that says artists are directors of audience reaction and not its dictator:#'you cannot guarantee that everyone viewing your work will react as you are trying t make them react. a good artist knows that this is what#allows work to breath. by definition you cannot have art where the viewer brings nothing to the table ... this is why you have to let go of#the urge to plainly state in text exactly how you think the work should be interpreted ... its better to be misinterpreted sometimes than#to talk down to your audience. you wont even gain any control that way; people will still develop their opinions no matter what you do#im thinking abt this again cuz i was thinking maybe the thing that lets adventure time work so well the way it does is cuz it doesnt#take itself too seriously that it gives the audience enough room to fuck with subtext and then fuck with them back yknow. i think it was#mentioned somewhere that they werent even planning to run with the postapocalyptic elements that are hinted in the show but changed their#mind after the one off with the frozen businessmen and dominoed into marcy and simons backstory. on the other side there are stories that#explain too much to let the story speak for itself and i think it ends up having to do more with the crew trying to lead ppl in a certain#direction than expand on what they have and i see a lot of this with miraculous. like when interviews and tweets are used as word of god in#arguments and it becomes a little stifling to play around with it knowing the creator can just interject. u can say its the crews effort to#engage with its audience but it feels more like micromanaging. and none of this is to say there ISNT room for stories that spell things out#theyre just suited for different things. if sesame street tried abstract approaches to themes and nuance itd be counterproductive#a lot of things fly over my head so i need help picking things apart to get it- but it doesnt have to be from the story itself. ive picked#picked up or built on my own interpretations listening to other ppl share their thoughts which creates conversation around the same thing#sometimes stories will spell things out for you without being so obvious abt it that it feels like its woven into the text. my fav example#for this might be ATLA using younger characters as its main cast but instead of feeling like its dumbed down for kids to understand why war#is bad its framed from a childs point of view so younger audiences can pick up on it by relating to the characters. maybe an 8 year old#wont get how geopolitics works but at least they get 'hey the world is a little more complicated than everyone vs. fire nation'. same for#steven universe bc its like theyre trying to describe and put feelings into words that kids might not have so they have smth to start with#especially with the metaphors around relationships bc even if it looks unfamiliar as a kid now maybe the hope is for it to be smth you can#look back to. thats why it feels like these shows grew up with me.. instead of saving difficult topics for 'when im ready for it'#as if its preparing me for high school it gave me smth to turn in my hands and revisit again and again as i grow. stories that never#treated u as dumb all along. just someone who could learn and come back to it as many times as u need to. i loved SU for the longest time#but i felt guilty for enjoying it hearing the way ppl bash it. bc i was a kid and thought other ppl understood it better than me and made#feel bad for leaning into the message of paying forward kindness and not questioning why steven didnt punish the diamonds or hold them#accountable. but im rewatching it now and going oh. i still love this show and what it was trying to teach me#yapping#diary
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shameless danaurus art dump and ramble
sooo last april/may i did a personal 30 day shipping art challenge with the main pairing in my crystalverse au, dan/trayaurus
here's my best ones (my art style has shifted since then)
holding hands
cuddling
wearing each others clothes
different clothing style (dark academia!)
kissing ><
sleeping together
cooking/baking (cupcakes!)
and the appreciation
this is my comfort ship. and i might be the only one doing art of it. i know i was the first person to tag it on ao3 (if you go onto DanTDM/Dr. Trayaurus you'll see my one tagged fic lmao) (there was the same one but tagged as past on a shitpost so i'm the first to put it as current)
i nearly didn't post this on tumblr because all the posts i found for it were like 'no this is weird' but i couldn't help it.
i'm ngl i'm surprised it's not bigger than it is. i get dan is married irl (and now has kids) but he got shipped with stampy in mcsm, maxo in qsmp, so yeah why not trayaurus
(if one of the why nots is because of something he did in a fake video, fuck that.)
i feel like their dynamic has changed in the new dan and tray series. they don't seem to like or support each other as much, or at least trayaurus doesn't to dan. it's fine, but it's a shame. i do think they genuinely like each other.
i don't know how many people have read the graphic novel but the way they were interacting in that book as just scientist and assistant supporting each other (with occassional pranks and sillies between them) is what i love to see. i eat it up.
idc if this seems cringe. i love them. i think they're adorable and i love drawing them being happy and silly and hugging and breaking the laws of the universe and sitting together watching the sunset and taking grim on walks together in the desert.
i adore them
#dantdm#autism#mcyt#minecraft#minecraft youtube#old mcyt#the diamond minecart#dr trayaurus#alternate universe#special interest#comfort character#comfort ship#rarepair#it's technically a rarepair cause i can barely find any ship art and fics of them#danaurus
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Teacher Ted AU where he moves to London in the midst of his divorce to teach a group of rowdy and disrespectful year 3's at a boys' school under the supervision of Headmaster Rebecca, who has no faith in him and is trying to get the kids to fail miserably so that she can have the school shut down and use the property it's on (which she owns) for something more profitable. But of course he gets through to the kids and turns the school around with the power of Believe and shit <3
Coach Beard gets a job alongside Ted as the gym (or whatever they do in the UK) teacher. He's very committed to his craft and takes the strategic aspect of their in-class football matches unreasonably seriously. Has the children running complicated plays
Nate is Ted's extremely shy teaching assistant who the kids push around and do not listen to in the slightest until he goes on his whole confidence journey and the kids learn to like. Be less mean
Higgins teaches the other year 3 class (2nd team?) and he and Ted frequently strategize together (this diamond dogs)
Jamie is a bully and a troublemaker who terrorizes the other kids and makes it difficult to manage the classroom, and Ted finds it really hard to make any progress with him until he finds out that Jamie is going through hell at home and is able to get through to him and work with him
Roy is a year 11 who got in trouble at his own school for his involvement in multiple fistfights and is being forced to "volunteer" (not voluntary) to help out in the little kids' classroom as part of a rehabilitation/mentoring program. He "hates it" (loves it) and "can't wait for it to be over" (is going to kill himself when it's over) and "can't stand the little pricks" (would both kill and die for them)
Keeley is also 15-16 and (actually) volunteers around the school during her free hour, because she loves it and is great with the kids <3 she runs their school insta and it looks incredible
#oc#corny? yes. fun and heartwarming however? also yes. and that's the lasso way#completely and totally separate from any of my royjamie stuff obv. 100% gen#except for side roykeeley maybe idk. 16 year old roy in the teachers lounge asking the diamond dogs how to ask keeley to prom#'how do you know if a girl likes you or not 😔'
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AEKA NATSU — ♡
❥ Name: Aeka Natsu
Stand: Strawberry Fields Forever (The Beatles)
❥ Partner: Josuke Higashikata
She/They | Bisexual | Demigirl
16yo Student (May 14th, 1983)
Height: 5’1 / 155cm
❥ Fandom: JJBA Part 4 DIU
Aeka’s Toyhouse | Ship Playlist
#1st img cred Roseacaelum <3 <3#aeka natsu#josuke higashikata#♡ StrawberryDiamond ♡#🩷💎#jjba#jojos bizarre adventure#diu#diamond is unbreakable#oc x canon#self ship#self ship blog#self ship community#yumeship#if you see any aeka art on the tag not from my acc it’s my old one lol 😭#♡ profiles#♡ my art
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#miyuki kazuya#daiya no ace#diamond no ace#ace of the diamond#» edits#animangahive#dnagraphic#animangaboys#fysportsanime#anisource#dailyanime#allanimanga#shounenedit#useradrienne#userrashed#tusersky#usertorichi#usermoonz#userartless#userzuura#animangab#i really want to get back to making gifs soon too but alas#i'm still waiting for my laptop to come back from another repair#this is the stores final attempt though and if it still doesn't work they're legally obligated to give me new one or give me my money back#so hopefully it shouldn't be too long in any case!#making these types of edits doesn't crash my photoshop too much on the old laptop so at least i can do this in the meantime!
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Perhaps Merlin was never naturally immortal but instead chose to be and used his magic to keep himself alive after he heard Kilgharrah's words about how Arthur would rise again. You could see in Merlin's face the moment he decides to wait for him. He may not have fathomed the enormity of the wait at this point but he certainly knew it would be beyond a normal lifetime. He would never want Arthur to feel like he was alone, he wanted to be by his side, always, and so he was. He chose to be.
#merlin#merthur#diamond of the day#thinking about the fisher king#and also how Merlin's heart stopped from the posioned chalice#he did die even for a second#I onow equally his immortality could be ingrained in him because he's special#and his magic is special hes not just any old wizard#but also I think its even more heartbreaking if he chooses this curse for himself#haha im broken 😭😭😭
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At this point I would rather read Passport to Romance than hearts on fire, I don't know what's going on at pb but if this is a indication of what's to come, I believe it's the end for this app... Who wants to read badly writting AI romance... Like if anyone likes this book I'm legit scared of you, you might be a danger to the public and yourself lol... Tbh I don't really mind reading corny stuff, I mean I'm still reading filthy rich & all thar corny power stuff... For filthy rich you have turn your brain off at points but with hearts on fire you need a frontal lobotomy... I'm not even joking, that's the sad part... I'm so disappointed. This new ceo sucks, why green light such a bad quality clearly ai written book... They didn't even try ya'll... Is it a test to see if we will read anything... Do they think people will read just anything?
#playchoices#Lol I am raging... I can't believe this... I read the entire opening scene and was like ewww what is this?#Has it really come to this#Are we just publishing any old crap and expecting people to pay for diamond scenes... Couldn't be me#I refuse this quality of work if they even try to makes blades 3 with ai I will be done...#I'm hoping this book is test thar flops so we don't get shit like this again but I think there is more to come...
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finished rewatching Steven Universe (OG before the movie & future) and oh my god they really just crammed a whole season into 3 episodes.... I really wish they weren't rushed n' canceled, it would've been so great!
I especially wanted to meet the nephrites and the other corrupted gems... darn. Or how much the gems on homeworld changed! What their lives are like, what they do with their time, and how they cope with era 3- ! aw man.... it just makes me bummed to think about.
#ive watched the movie & future before but i dont remember any of it compared to the original.#sighhhh#IT COULD'VE BEEN GREAT!!!#at least with woy you can make up a whole proper season three cuz it never really wrapped up#but with su youd have to rewrite like the entire diamond arc and then some with how it went.#and nobody's looking for another season of SU so thats not happening. whats happened is done.#old news i know but im still mad about it on my 2nd rewatch grrrr#all i can do it imagine how it can go#and also keep hoping for woy s3 but who knows about that.#ramblings#etc
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I forgot to propose marriage. Oops
#Literally don’t even have a ring yet and it’s been over two months#I will… talk to Nessa. Tonight.#I SHOULD talk to Starri since she’s the one who builds things around here but I feel odd talking to a seventeen year old#—about my upcoming marriage#I can talk to 17 year olds fine but like. I don’t know#I feel like I should go to someone beyond their teens for proposal advice and a diamond ring#Oh and then we have to actually have the wedding…#Starri I think ironically officiated our most recent wedding which was actually not so recent#I think. It was Evie’s mothers. Years ago#I am not letting Starri officiate my wedding for the record#Okay. No. We’re taking this slow. One step at a time#I get a ring… tonight. I propose… sometime soon. Before the end of the year is unrealistic but in January for sure.#And then we get married and everything is perfect and we don’t have any more problems ever again!#👑Rin
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For my Diamond Girls au : Team Anko.
( picrew link here )
“ Three young girls who found in Orochimaru's program the guarantee of their independence. As now allies of Konoha, they often support the diamond girls in their operations. With Anko as their sensei, you don't want to cross them. ”
Tayuya : sound specialist. often stays behind coordinating mics + headphones, deciphering recordings and toying around with the enemy's signals. quiet but really mean when provoked. she's actually the best fighter of the squad.
Kin Tsuchi : sound specialist. Tayuya's woman in the field. often disrupting the enemy lines to provide coverage, plant mics and webcams, or collect vital info. her training taught her to not be overconfident. hates vain, shallow people.
Karin Uzumaki : image specialist. common job is to physically guide the girls in their missions. the best at keeping track of targets and places and predicting time and space frames. perfect awareness of the context around her. amazing at restrictions. quick temper, very flirtatious.
#Some details:#Orochimaru's program is brutal#similar to the anbus but in a less disciplined way and more in a he's a mad scientist way#they are also more matured than in the manga (they were 14 back then here they are around 20-21 years old)#They have a rivalry with the diamond girls but it's a healthy one that has stimulated their growth#On a sad note team anko has history getting manipulated or abused by men#Here Orochimaru is an asshole but he never takes advantage of any of them in that regard#the girls of this au share a fierce loyalty to each other because the world is not gentle for kunoichis and they are fucking savage#can't wait to show it to you guys dkdjkdnd#naruto#Naruto au#Diamond girls au#Tayuya naruto#Tayuya#Karin Uzumaki#Kin Tsuchi#Shanaruto aus#Shanarutoaus#Shanarutofanfics#Shanaruto fanfics#Naruto fanfic#Naruto Shippuden#Naruto Shippuden fanfic#Picrews
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“Fusion is a metaphor for sex-“ shut up shut up shut the fuck up I’m going to come to your house and strangle you if you don’t stfu you illiterate dumbass
[BRIEF rape mention in tags]
#FUSION is representative of ANY relationship#Platonic or otherwise#’oh the Diamonds forced gems to be raped for the Cluster’ how sick do you have to be#‘Jasper raped the equivalent of an animal’ no no no stop it#What the fuck is wrong with you people find your sex and rape allegory elsewhere that isn’t a show for ten year olds#Steven Universe#steven universe fusion#fusion su
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Get this post to at least 20 like's and I will make this a comic series. 🙂 I know it won't, but at least try to pls 🥺
This is a dumb AU but I come up with random things ok
#Been thinking of this AU ever since SU ended almost 3 year's ago#What if there was a resident evil 8 cross over with Steven universe? And instead of the diamond's grieving over pink's shattering#They literally search every planet including earth to find a replacement#But they actually do find Lady Dimitrescu in the village and took her without her own daughter's and partner knowing#And they keep her as a replacement of pink because of her height and the fact that she is not like any other human but infact a#Immortal human#The other reason why is because she actually reminds them of pink is with her temper and need to be special#YALL SEE WHERE I AM GOING WITH THIS?#alcina dimitrescu#pink diamond#steven universe#resident evil#resident evil 8#lady dimitrescu#So much tags#nostalgia shit#looking back on old fandoms and making random aus with my current fandom#Also yeah Alcina was just a immortal human until she became a diamond in this but still has the same name#It is on her chest like blue and yellow#The diamonds implanted a diamond in alcina 's chest to give her diamond abilities.🙃#REPLACEMENT AU COMIC#Ill reveal her diamond abilities either in the actual comic or in a future post
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