A Fashionable Indulgence by K.J. Charles is the start of her new Regency series, The Society of Gentlemen. Harry Vane, son of socialist revolutionaries, has just discovered that he could be the heir to a fortune. But first he has to win over his grandfather, who has big plans for the young man, including marrying his cousin to keep the whole fortune in the family. But first he has to pass muster with society, a not inconsiderable task for a guy who not only has no experience of the upper crust, but had been actively raised to disdain it.

Enter Julius Norreys, a former soldier and current dandy, recruited by Harry’s relatives to outfit him properly and teach him the rules of being an aristocrat. Julius drills him on aristocratic relationships and titles, advises him on fashionable clothing choices and introduces him to the pleasures available to the relatively idle set. It’s all very My Fair Lady. What Harry and Julius did not expect was their strong mutual attraction.

One of the aspects of Charles’ writing I like best is that she doesn’t shy away from the difficulties inherent to love between two men in the various historical periods in which she writes. And yet she manages to give believable resolutions to the dilemmas they face, both social and legal. The relationships she writes about are never going to be exactly what we would hope for such lovely couples (since there are plenty of things they’ll never be able to do together within the strictures of their societies), but their happy endings are both credible and uplifting.

Charles also manages the subplot well, that of a series of raids on Harry’s former employer and friend by the government looking for Radical propaganda. It gives a great deal of context to the story (via history I had no idea of, like the Peterloo Massacre), but also serves as a major point of contention between the lovers provides a very real conflict of interest for Harry. There’s a moment in the story where I really did wonder and worry whether he might give up and go back to his old life. The whole book was completely engrossing, to the point where I was actually able to concentrate on it while my husband was having surgery. (For the record, it wasn’t serious, but it didn’t keep me from being crazy nervous.)

For history buffs and lovers of stories with realistic, believable conflict, I can’t recommend this book highly enough. And it looks as if the rest of the series will be similarly fraught with both political conflict and opposites-attract romances. Another 5 star read from K.J. Charles.

There’s not a lot of eating going on in A Fashionable Indulgence. Just one scene in a French restaurant that doesn’t really mention any specific food.

But that’s okay. Because they do drink. Oh boy do they ever drink. As Harry is feeling out his new role in society, he spends a lot of time in private clubs and attending social functions. And on more than one occasion, he and Julius get pretty disgracefully drunk, both together and apart.

I’m not sure why I thought this need thyme-infused simple syrup, but I’ve been wanting to do something combining lemon and thyme since making this lemon meringue pie in January. It’s a good combination!

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Title: A Fashionable Indulgence
Series: Society of Gentlemen
Author: K. J. Charles
Genre: Historical Romance
Publisher: Loveswept
Release Date: August 11, 2015
Format: ebook
Pages: 251
Source: NetGalley

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