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KJ Charles
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Proper English Kindle Edition

by KJ Charles (Author) Format: Kindle Edition
4.4 4.4 out of 5 stars 786 ratings
See all formats and editions
A shooting party at the Earl of Witton’s remote country house is a high treat for champion shot Patricia Merton—until unexpected guests turn the social atmosphere dangerously sour.

That’s not Pat’s biggest problem. She’s visiting her old friend, the Earl’s heir Jimmy Yoxall—but she wants to spend a lot more time with Jimmy’s fiancée. The irrepressible Miss Fenella Carruth, with her laughing eyes and lush curves, is the most glorious woman Pat’s ever met, and it quickly becomes impossible to remember why she needs to stay at arm’s length.

But while the women’s attraction grows, the tensions at Rodington Court get worse. Affairs, secrets, betrayals, and blackmail come to light. And when a body is discovered with a knife between the shoulderblades, it’s going to take Pat and Fen’s combined talents to prevent the murderer destroying all their lives.
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  1. Book 1 of 2
    England World
  2. Print length
    225 pages
  3. Language
    English
  4. Sticky notes
    On Kindle Scribe
  5. Publication date
    May 6, 2019
  6. File size
    2882 KB
  7. Page Flip
    Enabled
  8. Word Wise
    Enabled
  9. Enhanced typesetting
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Editorial Reviews

Review

"A delightful historical romance with just enough mystery thrown in to keep things interesting."--All About Romance
"Proper English is a wonderful Edwardian House Party Murder Mystery and an adorable f/f historical romance. I wore a silly grin the entire time I was reading it and I hope you will, too."--Smart Bitches, Trashy Books

About the Author

KJ Charles is an editor and RITA-nominated author. She lives in London with her husband, two kids, an out-of-control garden and a cat of absolute night. She writes mostly historical queer romance, some paranormal. Smut, skulduggery, and swashbuckling may occur.Follow on Twitter at @kj_charles, join the KJ Charles Chat group on Facebook, or check out kjcharleswriter.com for book info and many posts on reading, writing and editing.

Product details

  • ASIN ‏ : ‎ B07RL3SGV7
  • Publisher ‏ : ‎ KJC Books (May 6, 2019)
  • Publication date ‏ : ‎ May 6, 2019
  • Language ‏ : ‎ English
  • File size ‏ : ‎ 2882 KB
  • Text-to-Speech ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • Screen Reader ‏ : ‎ Supported
  • Enhanced typesetting ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • X-Ray ‏ : ‎ Not Enabled
  • Word Wise ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • Sticky notes ‏ : ‎ On Kindle Scribe
  • Print length ‏ : ‎ 225 pages
  • Customer Reviews:
    4.4 4.4 out of 5 stars 786 ratings

About the author

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KJ Charles

KJ Charles

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KJ Charles is a recovering editor and RITA-nominated author. She lives in London with her husband, two kids, an out-of-control garden and a cat of absolute night. She writes mostly historical: queer romance, paranormal, fantasy, mystery. Shenanigans may occur. High body count.

Customer reviews

4.4 out of 5 stars
4.4 out of 5
786 global ratings

Top reviews from the United States

UltraMeital
5.0 out of 5 stars LOVED this one!
Reviewed in the United States on April 30, 2020
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I Loved this one! The only thing I could complain about would be me taking this long to read it especially after "Think of England" which has our favorite couple Pat and Fen as an established couple (taking place around 2 years after this one). The romance between the women was sweet and endearing and though it was established quite fast I think these two deserved firstly being SEEN, especially by one another. I truly believe this is something both had a lack of even if they were appreciate in their own way it wasn't what they long for.

Patricia Merton is excited about a retreat in her friend Jimmy Yoxall's house in the country where she can enjoy hunting. It's suppose to be a small circle of friends and family that would allow her to unwind and maybe think about her future while doing something she enjoys but also is VERY good at. Don't laugh Pat has the medals to show for her accomplishment in shooting. But when she arrives together with her older brother Bill they are both a bit disappointed to realize the company is going to be larger than they expect with a few people they would gladly do without..

One of the people who wasn't suppose to be there is Miss Fenella Carruth the fiance of her friend Jimmy. Pat actually has nothing against the woman, especially since she shows interest in learning how to shoot. Yet Fen's company doesn't make things MUCH better with Jimmy's sister Anna and her "ill mannered" (or rather pure evil) husband Maurice Haworth and her not so discreet lover Jack Bouvier-Lynes. They are not the only one there.. There is also Victoria Singh a very opinionated vegetarian (the best companion in a hunting gathering..) and Preston Keynes who could be a better shot but not a bad guy really. Including herself, Bill and the older Witton couple (Jimmy and Anna's parents) these are the people to occupy the manor when lies, conspiracies, indiscretions and blackmail concludes in the murder of Maurice Haworth. You would think it would be the best outcome considering no one wanted him around anyway.. But with the terrible weather it's clear the murderer must be among them.

Pat and her new found friend Fen decide to investigate the murder. They have nothing to do and anyhow her betrothal to Jimmy is falling apart with him showing so little regard to her the whole time. He might have other things on his mind. Things Fen (and Pat) couldn't have known but it seems he has made one too many bad decisions and he's not the only one in this house, each for his or her own reasons.

I really enjoyed this one. More than half the book was about Fen and Pat getting closer while Pat tries to be a good friend to both Jimmy and Fen and not disclose anything she shouldn't have and with the truths she learns from Bill it gets even more complicated. Yet there is something between Pat and Fen, something on the one hand almost innocent and on the other so raw and emotional, not in the physical sense (that was quite tame) but on the most basic levels of how both perceive themselves and how other interpret their behavior and mostly how and who they wish they could be. It seems no matter what the answer is, they find it in each other.

HIGHLY RECOMMEND you give this one a go but don't forget to also check out "Think of England". These two interactions only got better!

More @ Ultra Meital Reviews.
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Chelscey
4.0 out of 5 stars a sapphic twist on the Edwardian historical fiction romance with a murder mystery for flavor
Reviewed in the United States on April 9, 2024
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This was my first Edwardian historical fiction romance and I have to say, it was kind of charming. You still have the formal gowns and bodices of regency romances, the demure courtship practices, and the flowery language that makes historical fiction romances so delicious, but there are just enough modern touches (like cars) to give it a bit of a twist. In “Proper English” we follow Pat, who is about to embark on a new adventure with leaving her family home now that her brother is married. With no desire to marry a man, Pat needs to figure out what her new purpose is now that she’s not managing a household estate. She has dreams to open a shooting school for women, or perhaps becoming a lady’s companion, but nothing is grabbing her yet. She hopes that a house party where she can shoot and show off her marksmen skills with her brother, their family friend, and a few others will be just the break she needs to figure out what new direction her life will take. That’s until the house party gets crashed by her friends’ fiancée, and a slew of guests neither she nor her brother were expecting. As Pat’s passions kindle for Fen, a locked door “whodunit” murder mystery threatens to destroy not just her blossoming romance, but her brother and her friends' life as well. You’ll come to this book for the sapphic romance, but stay for the murder mystery, trust me.

If you don’t already like historical romances, this book isn’t going to change your mind on that, sorry to say. But I really enjoyed how the queer romances in this story were handled, even if I could guess everything that was supposedly “hidden” by the main characters. It’s a romance, so the romantic bits weren’t meant to be that secretive the way the murder mystery was, despite how dangerous queer love was during this time period. The romance between Fen and Pat is super cute and sweet and I love how supportive the women were of each other, despite only knowing each other for a few days. But the thing that surprised me the most (in a very pleasant way) was the murder mystery. It felt very much like “Clue” with the main characters trying to figure out who was where and had access to what given that everyone in the house had a motive (and good reason) to do the deed. The romance gets established and set fairly early—no slow burn here!—but the Agatha Christie style mystery more than made up for it.

Which is where things get tricky.

This book is primarily a sapphic historical fiction, but the romance gets set fairly quickly, and there is no satisfying epilogue after which helps establish what happens with Pat after this disastrous house party, let alone her brother and her friend. It seemed like, once Pat and Fen made their plans, the police arrived to clean up and take the murderer away, and that was it. The ending came abruptly for no reason. The book is pretty short; an epilogue would have done wonders to scratch that HEA itch I come to romances to fulfill, not that this didn't have it, but I wanted to see the characters enjoying their lives together after the events of this book. I like murder mysteries though, so even though the romance didn’t overwhelm me with the feels I wanted, I still had fun with the book. I just wish that the two aspects of this story didn’t feel so separate from one another, hence the 4 stars. Still, if you’re looking for a sapphic twist on the Edwardian historical fiction romance with a murder mystery for flavor, give this quick little read a chance!
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Sheila Gallagher
5.0 out of 5 stars Good story
Reviewed in the United States on August 20, 2022
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Pat is going to her friend, Jimmy's, estate to hunt partridge with the men. She does not want to be stuck with a bunch of women so is happy knowing it will be only the men. Unfortunately, the house party has expanded to Jimmy's fiancée, his sister and brother-in-law, and his mother's goddaughter. As they all get to know one another, the women are more comfortable when the men are not around since Jimmy's brother-in-law is nasty to everyone. Pat also discovers Jimmy's fiancée is a lovely young woman who she is attracted to and which he does not seem to notice. Secrets come out during the house party as does murder. Will the truth come out though?

I enjoyed this story. I liked Fen, Jimmy's fiancée, and Pat. They are a good match. Pat shows Fen things about herself that Fen downplays while Fen does the same to Pat. Fen starts out as flighty but we see her show her true colors with Pat's encouragement. I appreciated Pat and her brother Bill being honest with each other also. I think it will make life easier for both of them.

I figured who the murder victim was early. The murderer took me longer, almost needed the explanation as the end. I had someone else pegged as the murderer. I'll never be a detective.

I look forward to more in this series.
One person found this helpful
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Michele
5.0 out of 5 stars Just purely lovely
Reviewed in the United States on May 8, 2023
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This is one of my very favorites. The dynamic between the leads is beautiful, the supporting characters are variously kind, foolish, admirable, or interesting, except for the necessary antagonist(s) who demonstrate appropriate vileness, and are appropriately overcome.

Not recommended for anti-queer bigots, but I imagine any such have already learned to avoid this author; everyone else should have a wonderful time!
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Top reviews from other countries

Rebecca
5.0 out of 5 stars Couldn't put it down
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on June 1, 2023
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This was so wonderful! Engaging right from the start, and full of revelations, as you'd expect from a KJC novel. I'm so glad to have learnt more about Pat and Fen after reading Think of England years ago – they're both great characters. Very compelling, as were the supporting cast. This was a fantastic book!
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Monique S
4.0 out of 5 stars This is a good romance cleverly mixed with an unusual crime/suspense plot.
Reviewed in France on January 5, 2023
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This is a good romance cleverly mixed with an unusual crime/suspense plot. I liked Pat from the start, a no nonsense-get things done kind of woman with a great heart. The way she takes the on first glance silly but adorable Fenella under her wings and then slowly succumbs to the emerging sharp intelligence and her voluptuous feminine curves is absolutely precious.

All the other characters are equally well worked and the plot is great and thoroughly entertaining. The language and grammar are appropriate to the English spoken at the turn of the Victorian to the Edwardian Era.

My only real criticism here is for the title design. Neither the cut of the décolleté and the seams of the dress nor the earrings and the make-up of the model are appropriate for the time period. I reduced one star of the rating here for the manky Title image, just like I did for another one of my top favourite books: After Sunset.
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amiamiprod
4.0 out of 5 stars Enjoyable but Think of England was better
Reviewed in Italy on May 30, 2021
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Lovely read but not at the same level of Think of England. The mystery part was more interesting than the romance, and the crime only happens at 63% of the novel. In any case, very enjoyable.
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Lua
3.0 out of 5 stars Not outstanding, but worth of your time
Reviewed in Brazil on October 28, 2019
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I made the terrible mistake of judging the book by its cover, so I had a nice surprise. I was expecting a narrative with shallow characters focused on solving the murder, but the author made an effort to explain the reasons behind Fen's actions and feelings, which made her relatable.
It was also really nice to see the two main characters connecting becase they genuinely took an interest on each other, and not only over the central mystery. Another positive point is the brief discussions about sexism and racism.
Having said that, the book is not amazingly well written, and some parts are kinda rushed. It's not like reading gay Jane Austen, but it is enough of a good read.
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Lotta
5.0 out of 5 stars Edwardian house party murder mystery with lesbians!
Reviewed in Germany on May 8, 2019
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This is both a delightful romance and a country house, body in the library type murder mystery (but without the pesky racism you often find in Christie *and* with more lesbians). There is a nice wink to Murder on the Orient Express, an exotic dagger and a Bad Person who gets what's coming to them. It's also written in true KJ Charles style, with a great sense of detail and wonderful characterisation.

Patricia Merton, Pat to her friends, is a champion shot and a no-nonsense, capable, straight forward person. She and her other brother, Bill, are travelling to the country home of a mutual friend, Jimmy Yoxall, for partridge shooting. But what was supposed to be a small shooting party turns out to be a much larger house party, with various different family members and guests.

Among them is Fenella Carruth, the loveliest girl Pat has ever seen. Unfortunatly, she's also the fiancée of her host and very good friend Jimmy. Pat's sense of fairness stands against her building attraction to Fen, and it doesn't get better when the women become better aquainted. Fen is pretty, outgoing and fluffy, and an heiress to boot. Most people don't make the effort to take her seriously or look further than the surface, but when Pat does, she is surprised to learn that Fen is much sharper than she makes out to be.

But of course things go awry. As the weather grows stormy, so does the atmosphere in the house, with conflict brewing, and secrets that need to be kept. Before the party is over, one of the guests is dead.

I liked how Pat and Fen complement each other. Both have their insecurities, but see the best in each other. Pat admires Fen’s roundness, femininity and ”outstanding bosom”, and can’t see how she, with her plainer looks, can ever measure up to that. But Fen’s always been judged by her looks and values the fact that Pat takes her seriously.

For the sake of disclosure, I am a fan of the author and got this book as an ARC—which is to say I probably thought a little more about what to write in my review than if I had bought the book on publication day (which I also did), but my feelings and reactions would have been the same.
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