Reviews tagging 'Kidnapping'

The Secret Lives of Country Gentlemen by KJ Charles

52 reviews

kers_tin's review against another edition

adventurous emotional hopeful mysterious medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

3.5

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Alcoholism, Child abuse, Confinement, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Homophobia, Panic attacks/disorders, Physical abuse, Racism, Sexual content, Torture, Violence, Kidnapping, Death of parent, Murder, and Classism

readingthroughinfinity's review against another edition

adventurous funny mysterious reflective tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.75

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Homophobia, Violence, Kidnapping, Murder, Outing, and Injury/Injury detail

Minor: Child abuse and Physical abuse

jjjreads's review against another edition

emotional funny informative 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

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Body shaming, Bullying, Child abuse, Death, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Gun violence, Hate crime, Homophobia, Misogyny, Physical abuse, Racial slurs, Racism, Sexual violence, Violence, Kidnapping, Grief, Medical trauma, Stalking, Death of parent, Murder, Outing, Abandonment, Alcohol, Sexual harassment, Injury/Injury detail, and Classism

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. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Child abuse and Abandonment

Moderate: Alcoholism, Body shaming, Confinement, Cursing, Death, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Homophobia, Physical abuse, Sexual content, Violence, Blood, Kidnapping, Murder, Outing, Alcohol, Injury/Injury detail, and Classism

Minor: Gun violence, Racism, Sexism, Sexual assault, Slavery, Grief, Death of parent, Pregnancy, Sexual harassment, Colonisation, and Deportation

loveinpanels's review against another edition

adventurous emotional 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

4.75

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Child abuse, Kidnapping, Death of parent, and Abandonment

Moderate: Alcoholism and Sexism

Minor: Sexual violence and Slavery

bel017's review

adventurous dark emotional

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes

Re-read: I was initially surprised when this open-door romance was chosen for my book club. But the more we went through it together, the more I realised what a good choice it is. It was even better on re-read, with close scrutiny of every chapter. KJ Charles can really write. If you like your adventures smutty (or your smut with a decent adventure) I'd highly recommend it.
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After how Luke was treated here, I'm looking forward to the next book, to make sure he's doing OK. Which, given he'll be the MC in a KJ Charles romance novel I'm sure he will be. But I'm furious at the whole Doomsday family, especially Ma, for turning a blind eye. She should have known, she should have acted.

Other than that awfulness, it was great. I googled images of Romney Marsh and Dymchurch, and it's much prettier than I expected. Probably the photos are all taken in summer and/or by the tourist board, but it looks lush and green--picturesque.
I get the impression Charles had a lot of fun researching this book, with the language and the bugs and the history.
There is all Charles's trademark excellence - the talky dialogue where people listen to each other, the thoughtful and capable MCs (though Gareth says he

wasn't a capable clerk. I'm going to assume his uncle told him that

), the respect and the nuance between not just the MCs but the side characters as well, the explicit sex that is relevant to the plot while not carrying unnecessary emotional weight (or ridiculous euphemisms), the commentary on societal issues, the clear writing and excellent grammar, and an enjoyable story outside of the romance. Basically all those things that ruined me for most other romance writers.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Bullying, Sexual content, and Abandonment

Moderate: Child abuse, Violence, and Kidnapping

Minor: Body horror, Confinement, and Blood

siad's review

adventurous challenging emotional hopeful inspiring 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

4.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Child abuse, Cursing, Death, Sexual content, and Murder

Moderate: Kidnapping

helen's review

4.0

A great sense of time and place, clever plotting, and an interesting cast of characters (it's a shame sophy isn’t getting her own book).

The romance plot was fine, but not one of my favourites from KJC, i.e. my heart wasn't being ripped out of my chest (see Jackdaw and A Seditious Affair).

Although the romance plot is resolved, I was disappointed that

the main mystery won't be until book two (the author talks about this in the cover reveal for book two: https://www.bookpage.com/features/cover-reveal-a-noblemans-guide-to-seducing-a-scoundrel-by-kj-charles/). If I'd known this I might have waited to read them together.

Favourite line: ""I won't lie," Joss went on inaccurately.""

Content warnings from author's website: References to racism. Previously enslaved minor character. Parental neglect and estrangement. Physical and emotional abuse of a child. Threat of sexual assault. Kidnapping, violence, and murder on page. Societal homophobia and threat of blackmail. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Violence

Moderate: Sexual content, Kidnapping, and Murder

elliott_roi's review

4.5

Thank you to Sourcebooks Casablanca and NetGalley for providing an advanced copy of this title in exchange for an honest review.

The Secret Lives of Country Gentlemen is a sweet and spicy tale full of danger, both physical and emotional. I adored all the characters and their complexities, and the mystery kept me engaged throughout.

I went into this book not knowing anything about it except that it was by KJ Charles and I would recommend doing the same. But for those okay with more details, here is my full review:

This book is best described as a historical romance between a baronet with daddy issues and a smuggler with a heart of gold. I loved how immediately Gareth and Joss were drawn to each other, but still taking their time to figure out how to be truly vulnerable and to lean on one another.

KJ Charles always writes the perfect balance of spice, mystery, and truly heartfelt moments. There is also lovely humour woven throughout the story, which I always appreciate, especially to lighten some of the tougher topics.

Fans of historical fiction, mystery, and queer romance will appreciate this well-crafted story about two men trying to find themselves and each other in a world that is harsh and dangerous. I highly recommend The Secret Lives of Country Gentlemen for your next read as you wander the Marsh hunting for beetles (or true love).

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Child abuse, Death, Violence, Kidnapping, and Death of parent

Moderate: Homophobia, Sexual assault, Torture, and Outing

Minor: Infidelity and Pregnancy

craftyhilary's review

emotional hopeful 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

5.0

Gareth and Joss, under pseudonyms, meet in London and pursue a brief but passionate affair with an ugly ending. They meet again, unexpectedly and in unfortunate circumstances, on Romney Marsh. Gareth, abandoned by his father and nominally raised by his unwilling and unkind uncle, has been thrust into the role of country baronet upon his father's untimely death. Joss, who also lost his father young, is clashing with his own uncle and his mother as he manages his family's smuggling operation. 

Both men are complicated, with difficult histories and in challenging circumstances, and have sometimes been less than kind and honest with one another in the past. But in spite of all this, and of their class differences, the two find themselves drawn together. In the midst of the cautious and nuanced relationship building between Gareth and Joss, danger is pursuing them both on the Marsh. Lies, theft, betrayal, and violence surround them, and if they can't trust one another as allies, they may not survive. 

KJ Charles is a master at mixing complex, fascinating plots with believable and equally complex romance. Here she offers up a twisty, dramatic mystery inextricably intertwined with the story of two men reaching out from loneliness to find both love and themselves.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Child abuse

Moderate: Physical abuse and Kidnapping

Minor: Murder