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purrson's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
A totally adorable story, and (as an American who’s rarely visited) I loved this new setting in the UK that KJ Charles explores. The foray into local ecology and the period’s expansion of natural sciences gave an interesting context to the setting, which has plenty of atmosphere on its own. The characters were lovable as always—so much so that I couldn’t help reading the teaser chapter of the following book set in the same place, 13 years later.
While I generally prefer to read queer stories written by openly queer authors, I always make exceptions for Charles (who’s ID I don’t know): She’s so good at research that the historical settings ground and enrich the stories she tells so well I can’t help but love them. The period’s contexts of politics, class, various war times or law changes the characters are shaped by or responding to, in all of these different, sometimes insular communities and locations, she says ‘queer people existed here, queer communities were here, queer people deserved to be happy here, here’s how it maybe/could have looked’.
While I generally prefer to read queer stories written by openly queer authors, I always make exceptions for Charles (who’s ID I don’t know): She’s so good at research that the historical settings ground and enrich the stories she tells so well I can’t help but love them. The period’s contexts of politics, class, various war times or law changes the characters are shaped by or responding to, in all of these different, sometimes insular communities and locations, she says ‘queer people existed here, queer communities were here, queer people deserved to be happy here, here’s how it maybe/could have looked’.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Bullying, Classism, and Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Abandonment, Child abuse, and Sexual content
Minor: Medical content, Homophobia, Death, Death of parent, Racism, Violence, Gun violence, Grief, and Murder
mild spoilers of subplots:purplepenning's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
hopeful
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
4.25
An open-door, LGBTQ, Regency romance between a new baronet and the leader of a smuggling operation. High-stakes adventure, high-heat encounters, family support and family betrayal, lovely respectful communication (after requisite miscommunication), marshland entomology, Kentish dialect lessons, thoughtful discussions of the philosophies vs realities of war policies... As always, KJ Charles delivers an emotionally resonate, well-researched, entertaining historical with great diversity rep.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Abandonment and Child abuse
Moderate: Death, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Injury/Injury detail, Kidnapping, Murder, Classism, Cursing, Alcohol, Alcoholism, Blood, Confinement, Homophobia, Outing, Physical abuse, Sexual content, Body shaming, and Violence
Minor: Racism, Sexism, Sexual assault, Sexual harassment, Deportation, Gun violence, Death of parent, Grief, Pregnancy, Slavery, and Colonisation
srm's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.5
Charles hits it out of the park again. Honestly, my rating it 4.5 instead of 5 simply so I don't get boring and repetitive with all her books. Also, the reader was meh.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Blood, Child abuse, Sexual content, Homophobia, Violence, Injury/Injury detail, and Murder
Minor: Torture, Death of parent, Gun violence, Pregnancy, Racism, Alcohol, Classism, and Death
omgvalkyrie's review
adventurous
dark
emotional
hopeful
reflective
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
I’m so upset with myself for taking so long to read the ARC I was provided (Thank you NetGalley & Sourcebooks Casablanca!), mainly because I am absolutely in love with The Secret Lives of Country Gentlemen.
I adored the story of Joss Doomsday & Gareth Inglis on the remote Romney Marsh! Sir Gareth is not only learning what it means to run an estate, but also must provide for his previously unknown family, all while living in an area swarming with a prominent smuggling clan. A clan that just happens to be led by his previous lover, Joss Doomsday. Despite the two being from extremely different backgrounds they experience parallels in their journey, like being thrust to the head of the family quite suddenly and navigating who they can be vs what they assume they should be. They both just want someone who is theirs and their’s alone. Most importantly, they communicate with one another!!!!
I do wish we could have had just a little bit more of the romance plotline. I felt like it was overshadowed at times by the smuggling drama/mystery. And they had such a sweet and lovely romance budding despite the fact it was set against all sorts of deceit and violence.
This was my first KJ Charles and certainly not my last (I’ve already got the next book on pre-order!), and I loved how Charles is able to intertwine the social and political issues of the time (some even ringing true today!) into the story and posed brilliant questions for not only the characters to ponder over but us as the readers too!
-M/M Historical Romance
-Opposites Attract
-Forbidden Romance: Gentleman & his Rogue!
-Found Family
-Mafia-esque..ish (Squint your eyes, you’ll see it!!!)
-"Touch him and you die.”
London & Kent, Gareth & Joss, whatever you decide to call them, are perfection together. They each inspire each to think and to challenge what’s been put in front of them and just want to be on the same side. Their own. They are two sides of a coin and I will forever cherish it.
ARC provided by the publisher via NetGalley. All opinions are honest and my own.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Homophobia, Sexual content, and Violence
Moderate: Classism
Minor: Sexual harassment
skudiklier's review
adventurous
emotional
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
I really enjoyed this! There was more mystery/tension than I was expecting, and the climax was a bit scarier than I was ready for, but if anything that just raised the stakes for the book overall. It was really good and I was fully rooting for their relationship.
Minor spoilers ahead: I felt really bad for Luke, and also the end had me forgetting that they couldn't really get married 🥲🥲🥲
I definitely want to read more by this author! Thank you to Sourcebooks Casablanca and Netgalley for the chance to read and review this ARC.
Minor spoilers ahead:
I definitely want to read more by this author! Thank you to Sourcebooks Casablanca and Netgalley for the chance to read and review this ARC.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Homophobia, Kidnapping, Outing, Classism, Gun violence, Abandonment, Physical abuse, Sexual content, Violence, Child abuse, Cursing, Death, Death of parent, and Murder
Moderate: Grief, Misogyny, Racism, Sexism, War, Blood, Injury/Injury detail, Medical content, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Torture, and Alcohol
Minor: Body shaming, Child death, and Bullying
erynlasbelin's review
adventurous
emotional
mysterious
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Gareth Inglis, unwanted child turned dismissed law clerk, unexpectedly inherits his absent father's title and country estate. Tench House is situated in Romney Marsh, a remote wetland not-so-secretly controlled by smuggling gangs. Much to Gareth's surprise, his local area is under the control of the Doomsday clan, led by none other than his one-time lover.
Joss Doomsday is confident, charming, and eminently reasonable - and on the Marsh, his word is as good as law. But he is eager to avoid Gareth, who once spurned him in a fit of melancholy. At least until Gareth unwittingly puts his sister's freedom at stake. As the dust of this treacherous first encounter settles and the two form an unlikely partnership, peril encroaches on them from all sides.
The Secret Lives of Country Gentlemen is an adventurous Regency romance populated by swashbuckling smugglers as well as prickly high society. It is also somewhat of a naturalist's book; Gareth's explorations out on the Marsh taught me a surprising amount about the great diving beetle. There are stolen fortunes, dangerous missions under cover of night, a lady scandalously wearing trousers, and murders to boot. But the real heart of the book lies in healing trauma and finding love (in partners as well as family). Gareth and Joss are shaped by their experiences, by their loved ones, and by their relationship to one another, and the end of the book finds them better situated for happiness than they've ever been before.
Joss Doomsday is confident, charming, and eminently reasonable - and on the Marsh, his word is as good as law. But he is eager to avoid Gareth, who once spurned him in a fit of melancholy. At least until Gareth unwittingly puts his sister's freedom at stake. As the dust of this treacherous first encounter settles and the two form an unlikely partnership, peril encroaches on them from all sides.
The Secret Lives of Country Gentlemen is an adventurous Regency romance populated by swashbuckling smugglers as well as prickly high society. It is also somewhat of a naturalist's book; Gareth's explorations out on the Marsh taught me a surprising amount about the great diving beetle. There are stolen fortunes, dangerous missions under cover of night, a lady scandalously wearing trousers, and murders to boot. But the real heart of the book lies in healing trauma and finding love (in partners as well as family). Gareth and Joss are shaped by their experiences, by their loved ones, and by their relationship to one another, and the end of the book finds them better situated for happiness than they've ever been before.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Outing, Abandonment, Cursing, Death of parent, and Physical abuse
Moderate: Infidelity, Murder, Grief, Blood, Body shaming, Bullying, Classism, Domestic abuse, Gaslighting, Emotional abuse, Homophobia, Kidnapping, and Violence
Minor: Gun violence, Rape, Confinement, Alcohol, Injury/Injury detail, Sexual assault, and Stalking
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