From the Bookshelf of Q&A with Josh Lanyon…

Spectred Isle (Green Men, #1)

K.J. Charles

Start date: June 1, 2018

Finish date: June 30, 2018

Discussion: Book of the Month Club

Why we're reading this: This will be our June 2018 read.
[close] This will be our June 2018 read.

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Book of the Month Club

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What Members Thought

Aug 03, 2017 Adam rated it really liked it

Shelves: mysteries-thrillers-crime-etc, read-for-review, wrote-a-review, mm-pnr-or-fantasy-historic, star-crossed, broken-boys, things-that-go-bump-in-the-night, z-half-star-less

Check out the group review over at the blog!

3.75 stars

K.J. Charles delivers another entertaining MM historical paranormal!

Opposites-attract and enemies-to-lovers are two of my favourite themes. When Randolph and Saul first meet, they start off on the wrong foot. And they’re definitely opposites, with Saul a poor man of science, while Randolph is a wealthy elite member of the magical world.

I highly enjoyed their early bantering and squabbles. What made it even better was that neither could deny h ...more

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Aug 21, 2017 Lois rated it it was amazing

Shelves: paranormal_and_fantasy, lgtb, favorite_author, favorite_series

After reading approx everything from KJ Charles, I guess it's safe to say that she's one of my favorite, go-to authors. And Spectred Isle doesn't disappoint either.
Even though the Simon Fleximal book isn't an official part of the Green Men series, I read it as preparation for this book. I recommend that you do the same. It's not vital, but there are references and it helps with the understanding of the world building.
This book is mainly about Saul. During the Great War he was convicted as a wa After reading approx everything from KJ Charles, I guess it's safe to say that she's one of my favorite, go-to authors. And Spectred Isle doesn't disappoint either.
Even though the Simon Fleximal book isn't an official part of the Green Men series, I read it as preparation for this book. I recommend that you do the same. It's not vital, but there are references and it helps with the understanding of the world building.
This book is mainly about Saul. During the Great War he was convicted as a war criminal or traitor, he has been disgraced and pushed towards suicide and he's just hanging on with the top of his fingers. He managed to get a job with a amateur explorer of the paranormal/treasure hunter, but that's all he has in life. I'm not exactly sure what it is he does for Mr. Peabrain, and I'm not so sure that it is a coincidence that he is employed. It seems as though Saul quest is either a ghost, or destiny pulling the threads, or it's the Great Unknown Enemy pushing all the cards into place.
But never the less, during Peabrains investigation, Saul and Randolph is thrown together and sparks arise. Saul is a 'mugler' and Randolph is some kind of arcane aristocrat. Even though they kind of recent each other, there's an undeniable attraction (which might also be a reason for their resentment). In different ways, both have been burned by their past and hence they resigned themselves to a lonely life.
I like that Randolph's acceptance and diminishing of Saul's crime, helps Saul to accept himself more and makes him more 'like himself'.
Even though there is instant attraction and the events take place over fairly short time, it does not feel like Insta-love. Both Saul and Randolph heels themselves and each other and become more whole before embarking on a relationship together.
This book is in a series and the groundwork has been laid for a Big Bad Enemy, and a mysterium that will be a red herring throughout the series. Therefore I guess I will read the next book, even though it's more MF (or Male-Queer). ...more

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Aug 07, 2017 Janice rated it it was amazing

5++stars

1 like · Like · see review

May 25, 2020 Marge rated it it was amazing

Shelves: romance, hurt-comfort, m-m, stars-5, suspense, historical, paranormal

I've had this in my TBR for so long, and it turns out it's a great story. Interesting worldbuilding, heroic characters, and a great story. It looks like the series has been put on hold, but I'd love to read the sequels. ...more

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