Tag Team Review: The Sugared Game (The Will Darling Adventures #2) by K.J. Charles

It's been two months since Will Darling saw Kim Secretan, and he doesn't expect to see him again. What do a rough and ready soldier-turned-bookseller and a disgraced shady aristocrat have to do with each other anyway? But when Will encounters a face from the past in a disreputable nightclub, Kim turns up, as shifty, unreliable, and irresistible as ever. And before Will knows it, he's been dragged back into Kim's shadowy world of secrets, criminal conspiracies, and underhand dealings. This time, though, things are underhanded even by Kim standards. This time, the danger is too close to home. And if Will and Kim can't find common ground against unseen enemies, they risk losing everything.

Adam - 4 Hearts

Picking up a few months after the end of ‘Slipper Creatures’, the sequel starts with Will and Kim... at odds to put it lightly.

It isn’t Will’s fault of course. Kim, being up to his regular Kim-self, dropped all contact without even a simple goodbye.

When the two reconnect, Will’s suspicious there’s something afoot. And he’s absolutely right!

Kim drags Will right back into his cloak-and-dagger world, and Will finds himself unable to resist the pull - of neither the man, nor the intrigue.

In book 1, I was a bit put off by Will’s sense of entitlement to Kim’s total honesty. In the sequel, there’s no expectation of Kim being completely upfront about what was going on. Will fully expects secrets and half-truths.

And oddly enough, that made the relationship between the two so much more believable. Kim’s approach to the world is messy, but it’s simply who he is. And Will finally understanding, if not necessarily accepting, that was a big step forward.

It also seemed to give Kim the sense of reassurance he needed to begin letting Will in. Kim might be too comfortable always trying to manipulate those around him, but his actions become more understandable once his backstory is explained.

Will and Kim are complete opposites and have a lot of baggage, but their connection is so very obvious and sweet in the rare quiet moments they have together.

It wasn’t difficult at all to root for them, and to believe that they could make a go of it if they’d only get their heads out of their asses!

But that does take a while. Building a relationship takes time and effort regardless, but being in the middle of a conspiracy just makes things even more complicated.

The mystery/plot was thoroughly entertaining and kept me hooked. Many of the questions from the preceding book are answered in a delightfully shocking fashion.

Even better - this time around Will is an active participant. He and Kim make a good team!

Overall, I really enjoyed this follow-up to Will and Kim’s story. Book #2 delivered both the action and the romance that I was looking for. There’s still a fragility to their relationship, so I’m really looking forward to seeing how it all ends in book #3!

R *A Reader Obsessed* - 4 Hearts

This is not a standalone, so please check out Slippery Creatures first.

Although I liked the first installment, this second entry brings more of everything - suspense, action, mystery and intrigue, and thankfully, romance!

Last we saw Will and Kim, they had thwarted the secretive society The Zodiac, and both think they’ve mainly come to an unsaid agreement with the nefarious group to avoid the other and move on. Will and Kim have also moved on by enjoying each other, so much so that Will thinks it’s the start to something very good, but Kim suddenly off and disappears with basically no promises or reassurances.

Two long months pass with nary a word, and Will shouldn’t be bothered. He shouldn't be hurt but nonetheless, he is. Just when Will thinks his life has gone back to the normal tedium of being a bookshop owner, Kim shows up at his door with not much explanation but instead, with a plea for help with his next undercover mission. Not surprisingly, Will’s the sort to never say no to a good cause, and it doesn’t particularly help that he’s bored out of his skull. Pair it with possibly putting a stick in Zodiac again, and Will’s all for watching Kim’s back as Kim tries to get evidence on Zodiac’s mysterious leader. Plus, it’s always a good thing when these two can spend some more quality time together, and it’s quickly understood that despite the separation, their attraction to each other has only intensified.

Assuredly, this was faster paced than the first book. Once the primary dilemma is set in motion, the story pulls the reader along, especially when Kim is still keeping secrets, and Will is damn tired of him doing so. However, what Kim suspects is quite the shocking reveal and again, how the problem unravels and spirals out of control, forcing these two to work in sync was fabulous to witness.

So, if you’re looking for a continued evolution of romance between opposites Will and Kim, with plenty of cultural shoutouts to the roaring 20’s, this MM historical will work a treat. There‘s definitely some complexity here as Will knows there’s a social divide between himself and Kim, and he wonders how he’ll fit, if ever, into Kim’s glamorous life. Will also feels he’s making all the concessions (because he is), and he’s angry and resentful that he’s the only one with his heart on his sleeve with no reciprocity to be seen. One finally gets to see beyond Kim’s indifferent mask that hides a man weighed down by guilt and obligation, his personal demons compelling him to play his cards close to the vest. Kim plays the martyr well, often feeling undeserving of any love or affections, especially from Will. The deeper depths explored between these two was much appreciated, and additional props to the fabulous female cast who hold their own against their male counterparts!

This ends again with the main conflict resolved, making me even more curious as to how Charles will wrap up this trilogy. Will and Kim have made the first few tentative steps towards a commitment, and I look forward to them foiling the bad guys as par for the course, all the while ultimately getting their well deserved and long awaited happy ending!!

A copy provided for an honest review.