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 … 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.
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Gilded Cage is the second book in the Lilywhite Boys series. I highly recommend reading the prequel, The Rat-Catcher’s Daughter, and the first book, Any Old Diamonds, before reading this book. This book can stand on its own, but it’s much better with the background those two previous books provide.
Gilded Cage is set in Victorian London with an enemies-to-lovers and second-chance love trope. There is also a mystery to be solved and a personal character redemption arc. The romance between Susan and James is strong with an edge of steel. These two aren’t romantic fools, but grown adults who know how to be practical and ruthless, yet love each other regardless. The mystery was more of a plot device to push James and Susan together again and force them to reconcile, but it was still well thought out and interesting.
The audiobook was a duel narration by Cornell Collins and Victoria Aston. I’m a huge fan of Cornell Collins and found his voice perfect for the narration of James’ point of view. This was my first book with Victoria Aston narrating, and I found her voice pleasant and easy to listen to. I thought she did a very good job with Susan’s point of view. The audiobook production was well done. Overall, I found the audible book extremely enjoyable to listen to.
Gilded Cage
Lilywhite Boys Series #2
KJ Charles https://www.facebook.com/kjcharleswriter/
Release date 10/23/2019
Publisher KJC Books
Blurb :
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
My review :
When betrayal drove them apart, time and distance did the rest. How will they be able to mend the pieces of their life together …
It has been a while since I wanted to read a book by Mrs KJ Charles, so when it popped up in one of the Facebook groups I follow, I took the jump.
Plus a sleuth tale combined with a romance, what’s better.
I really loved Susan, she won and lost, she made a place for herself, and what ever the past, she is able to analyze and she does not let her own grievance rules her mind.
Templeton is the new incarnation of a lost boy who made mistakes and paid a high price for them. When the depth of the deceit he was victim too is revealed, my heart ached for the young man who had lost everything.
While Susan had her blended family to protect and love her, he had no one.
Not surprising he made mistakes, that he chose to leave everything behind, and to target the like of his own kin.
And plus, that he is ready to clean the slate to be the man for Susan, if she would have him.
I liked Mrs Charles goes straight to the point, there is no procrastination, they talk and sort the truth out. So they can focus their attention on the trap sets for Templeton, and free him from his gilded cage.
So a big five stars for this second chance romance mixed with a mystery to solve.
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