Reviewed by Sadonna

TITLE:  Public Affair

SERIES: Queens Crescent

AUTHOR:  Kristian Parker

PUBLISHER:  Self-published

LENGTH:  216 pages

RELEASE DATE:  August 16, 2023

BLURB:

London is in the grip of a heatwave, but something else is causing Nihal Varma’s temperature to skyrocket.

The CEO of a PR agency, he’s used to dealing with glamourous and beautiful people. He’s woken up with a lot of them too.

Yet when Carl Carrington, MP and candidate for leader of the opposition, walks into his office, Nihal finds himself a bag of nerves. And that never happens. He soon discovers that not only is Carl stunning to look at, he radiates decency. In Nihal’s world, that’s a very rare commodity.

When Carl insists on working with Nihal only, he’s entranced. Could this MP be interested in a man whose past is…chequered, to say the least? Nihal ‘I don’t do relationships’ Varma really hopes so. Even if getting involved with a client, especially such a high-profile one, is not just crazy. It’s insane.

But for once Nihal is out of control and that makes a man do very strange things…

REVIEW:  

Note:  This is the fourth book in this series.  As such, it does contain major spoilers for the previous books.  That being said it’s not required to have read the previous books although I do recommend them all and they set the stage for a number of the common supporting characters in this story.

I really really enjoyed this story of two more mature characters who both have to overcame their fears and insecurities.  We met Nihal in previous books as he’s a PR guy who has interacted with his other neighbors before.  Carl is a politician who is vying for the opposition leadership. For anyone who follows UK politics, this is a very important position and many times leads to 10 Downing Street.  Carl is an out guy but he’s lived a fairly low key life.  He’s not a partier.  He’s had few relationships and it not a “player” by any means.  Nihal’s past is a bit different.  He’s been burned by his past boyfriend Joe.  And that sleeping dog just won’t lie!  He’s a liar, an addict, a gaslighter, a user, etc.  Joe is Nihal’s gift that keeps on taking.  Nihal almost lost everything because of him.  This is his Achilles’ heel and the thing that holds him back from trying to start something with Carl who he recognizes as a good and decent man immediately.  He also checks every one of Nihal’s buttons.

Nihal oversteps when the other leading opposition leader tries to pull the “family values” card against Carl – intimating that as a single gay man, he’s can’t possibly relate to UK family issues.  So Nihal claims they are in a relationship and that Carl has been protecting him.  But then of course they have to play the parts.  Carl struggles with this, despite his attraction to Nihal.  Nihal really wants to make this work, help Carl win the election and then they can move on if they have to.

A funny thing happens on the way to the election though.  Carl and Nihal fall in love.  Too bad that there are those who would destroy both men for personal gain.  Luckily Carl and Nihal have the kinds of friends and found family who have their backs 🙂

I loved how this all worked out.  The villains got what was coming to them.  The good guys live to fight another day.  There are wonderful cameos from past ccouple in this series.  And of course there is the inimitable Mrs. Whimpole accompanies by the Professor  and Barkin.  I really adore this setting and these characters.  I cannot wait for Simon’s book.  Highly recommended.  This is a really good series with interesting characters and stories.

RATING:

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