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A review by justinkhchen
A Nobleman's Guide to Seducing a Scoundrel by KJ Charles
3.25
Not quite reaching the usual standard, A Nobleman's Guide to Seducing a Scoundrel is an unexpected miss from the reliable K.J. Charles; while the cozy writing, charming banter and a touch of intrigue are still present, the blandly delivered familial drama and questionable plot choice make this title less enjoyable than her other efforts.
The audiobook is professionally performed by Martyn Swain; K.J. Charles seems to have a 'type', as he sounds very much like Cornell Collins (who narrated quite a few titles of hers).
The premise has me hooked: an earl's inheritance to the title is being disputed by his resentful relatives, and he, out of spite, ends up hiring the potential 'true' heir as his personal secretary. Despite the initial intrigue, the path to uncovering the truth quickly fizzles out by long-winded expositions; the constant 'telling and not showing' makes the convoluted family events between cousins, grandfather, and long-gone ancestors as dry to read as textbook.
On the romance side, by introducing one of its heroes as an habitual liar, the author essentially wrote herself into a corner. While I appreciate the character depth, the third act conflict involves a huge act of deceit brewing since the very beginning, yet the story doesn't allocate enough pages to properly unpack the issue from all parties. The swift forgiveness by the love interest feels unconvincing, leaving the story on a sour note (and the Epilogue even doubles down on this lying behavior, and tries to package it as a thoughtful gesture...)
I did really enjoy the first book in the series, The Secret Lives of Country Gentlemen, so it's a little disappointing this installment is hindered by missteps. While there are still aspects that work (it's still a 3.5 stars, after all), this is no where near being a new fav from the author.
**This ARC was provided by the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. Much appreciated!**
The audiobook is professionally performed by Martyn Swain; K.J. Charles seems to have a 'type', as he sounds very much like Cornell Collins (who narrated quite a few titles of hers).
The premise has me hooked: an earl's inheritance to the title is being disputed by his resentful relatives, and he, out of spite, ends up hiring the potential 'true' heir as his personal secretary. Despite the initial intrigue, the path to uncovering the truth quickly fizzles out by long-winded expositions; the constant 'telling and not showing' makes the convoluted family events between cousins, grandfather, and long-gone ancestors as dry to read as textbook.
On the romance side, by introducing one of its heroes as an habitual liar, the author essentially wrote herself into a corner. While I appreciate the character depth, the third act conflict involves a huge act of deceit brewing since the very beginning, yet the story doesn't allocate enough pages to properly unpack the issue from all parties. The swift forgiveness by the love interest feels unconvincing, leaving the story on a sour note (and the Epilogue even doubles down on this lying behavior, and tries to package it as a thoughtful gesture...)
I did really enjoy the first book in the series, The Secret Lives of Country Gentlemen, so it's a little disappointing this installment is hindered by missteps. While there are still aspects that work (it's still a 3.5 stars, after all), this is no where near being a new fav from the author.
**This ARC was provided by the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. Much appreciated!**