TEST
Proper English is the latest offering from K.J. Charles. It’s a standalone novel with a loose connection to her earlier Think of England via its main protagonists, who were first introduced in that story. I have yet to read any of Ms. Charles’ other books, but Think of England is one I definitely plan to check out.
Patricia – Pat – Merton is struggling to figure out what to do with her life now that her eldest brother has married. Up until now, she’s lived in her ancestral family home and has done a stellar job of managing the house and estate. Now though, she finds herself feeling a bit adrift, so she accepts an invitation to a shooting party being held at the country house of family friend Jimmy Yoxall. Not only will she be able to spend time in the country air, but the party will also give Pat an excuse to spend time with another one of her brothers.
Before I go any further, it’s important for readers to know that Pat Merton is no proper English Miss. She’s quite sharp-tongued, prefers wearing trousers, and is one of the best shooters in England. She’s not interested in the usual pastimes enjoyed by most society women, so her friends are all men. In some ways, this has caused society to look down on her, but Pat isn’t unduly worried about the narrow-minded opinions of people she rarely spends time with.
Once Pat arrives at Jimmy’s family estate, she is dismayed to learn that Jimmy’s fiancée has invited herself to the party, bringing several other guests along with her. Suddenly, Pat’s dreams of spending long days out hunting with Jimmy and her brother Bill are shattered, as now, she’ll now be forced to spend most of her time indoors with the other women. But as soon as Pat lays on Miss Fenella Carruth, the woman who will soon be Jimmy’s wife, she is struck by her grace and her beauty, and the prospect of spending time in her company suddenly doesn’t seem quite so arduous.
Pat and Fen are almost immediately drawn to one another. Pat begins giving Fen shooting lessons as an excuse to spend time alone with her, and it doesn’t take long before the two realize that they are feeling something much deeper than friendship. But when another guest is brutally murdered, and a terrible storm keeps the guests stranded on the estate, Pat and Fen are faced with something far more dangerous than their blossoming attraction to one another.
I enjoyed every moment I spent with Pat and Fen. Both women are well-drawn, and I adored watching them fall in love. They complement each other beautifully, making it easy for me to see them as a couple in spite of the fact they have only known each other for a few days. Fen’s warmth and easy charm are the perfect foil for Pat’s quick wit and impetuous ways.
The novel is brimming with period detail that made me feel as though I’d traveled back in time to 1902. Ms. Charles must have done a great deal of research in order to bring such an immersive sense of time and place to her work. The language, style of dress, and overall attitudes of the characters felt completely authentic, allowing me to totally immerse myself in this world.
The mystery element of the novel will appeal most to those who enjoy Agatha Christie-style thrillers. It’s not particularly dark or violent, but it adds the perfect layer of tension to the overall story. Fen and Pat make fabulous detectives, working tirelessly to uncover the killer’s identity before he or she can claim another victim.
In short, Proper English is a delightful historical romance with just enough mystery thrown in to keep things interesting. Whether you’re an established fan of Ms. Charles’ work or a first-time reader like me, the novel is sure to keep you thoroughly entertained.
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Grade: A
Book Type: Historical Romance
Sensuality: Warm
Review Date: 10/05/19
Publication Date: 05/2019
Recent Comments …
Yep
This sounds delightful! I’m grabbing it, thanks
excellent book: interesting, funny dialogs, deep understanding of each character, interesting secondary characters, and also sexy.
I don’t think anyone expects you to post UK prices – it’s just a shame that such a great sale…
I’m sorry about that. We don’t have any way to post British prices as an American based site.
I have several of her books on my TBR and after reading this am moving them up the pile.
I'm Shannon from Michigan. I've been an avid reader all my life. I adore romance, psychological fiction, science fiction, fantasy, and the occasional memoir. I share my home with my life partner, two dogs, and a very feisty feline.
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Wonderful to know this is a solid addition to Charles’ canon!
Shannon – Think of England is – by a very slight margin because I love this writer – my favorite KJ Charles novel. I love the time period, the principal couple (EXTREME OPPOSITES), the excellent secondary characters and the pacing of the novel. There’s a short follow-up to it you will also have to seek out if you decide to read it. But you should! Both are terrific. I’m so thrilled she returned to that world & gave us this story. I’ve been waiting to read it until closer to the release date. I’m so happy to see this grade!
I definitely plan to read Think of England.
Good to know, thanks!
I like KJ Charles a lot.
But she is a bit uneven for me. I am a bit shallow in my romance reading, I want to be happy with it, mostly.
So, I admire her effort to tell us stories about real people, who are marginalized, who are idealists, or who simply do not wish to be extroverted snowflakes.
But this sometimes makes her books too bleak, too preachy, or too improbable = will this HEA really work in the bleak & dangerous conditions she describes? – men risking their lives or their freedom to be together is such a burden, and I end up with a feeling of a Damocles’ sword at the end of the book – I end up not reading on, because I am just too worried about all this.
So your review is good to know, Think of England is one of my favorite KJ Charles books!
I can relate to this. There are certain types of books I simply cannot read because they make me anxious. Fortunately, Proper English was lots of fun, and I didn’t find myself worrying about the fate of the central couple.