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A review by _isabel_
Once a Gentleman by Eliot Grayson
emotional
lighthearted
medium-paced
4.5
What a delight!!!!
This second book in the "Love in Portsmouth" (it's a complete standalone though!) was a gorgeous, angst-fueled, so-steamy-it-will-melt-your-pants-off, gem of a romance. I adored it so damn much.
The writing was gorgeous, the setting and the atmosphere were both so vivid you'll feel like you're there with Kit and Andrew and their messy, messy household. And the characters? Absolutely unforgettable. "Once a Gentleman" is packed with everything I usually look for in a romance: a (kinda one-sided) enemies-to-lovers romance, with a great deal of misunderstandings and delicious drama and lots of (kinda one-sided) hate sex that slowly turns into sweet, sweetly yearning (but still HOT, HOT, HOT) love-making; push-and-pull, opposites-attract (with a responsible, put-together but bitter secretary and his messy rake of an employer) and a whole lot of pining and disastrous attempts at winning the other's heart. I loved it so damn much.
Kit and Andrew are both unforgettable protagonists: both of them are messy, flawed (REALLY flawed, realistically flawed) and I couldn't count the sheer amount of mistakes, misunderstandings or snap judgements both of them were guilty of; I wanted to bash their heads together, and then make them kiss themselves senseless. I had the time of my life.
I loved Kit, but Andrew was my favourite: he's a mess; he's an idiot; he doesn't think before he speaks, AND he's a golden-retriever turned rake. Yes, your honour, he's my son!!!
< Andrew had desired Hewlett. He’d respected him. Now, he admired the man, and that—well, it was a bloody disaster, was what it was. He reached for the coffeepot again, this time determined to conquer both it and his headache. He had a great deal of brooding to do, and a secretary to either avoid or follow about like a puppy, he wasn’t yet sure which. >
Although, to be fair, out of them all, Samuel, the murderous, efficient footman, was my favourite. Ruthlessly competent, amoral but loyal, snarky: I adored him, and I can't tell you how many times I cackled out loud because of him. The ridiculously fun subplot about the messy, lazy household was beyond iconic.
Back to Kit and Andrew. Their romance stole my whole heart, and although I kinda wish those last chapters had had a bit more of a resolution (or, I don't know, maybe a smidge of hurt/comfort?! The endless possibilities....), I enjoyed the hell out of this book, start to finish.
I'm looking forward to diving into the rest of Eliot's backlist: I still have quite a few romances to devour of hers, and I'm absolutely certain they'll be as iconic as this one.
This second book in the "Love in Portsmouth" (it's a complete standalone though!) was a gorgeous, angst-fueled, so-steamy-it-will-melt-your-pants-off, gem of a romance. I adored it so damn much.
The writing was gorgeous, the setting and the atmosphere were both so vivid you'll feel like you're there with Kit and Andrew and their messy, messy household. And the characters? Absolutely unforgettable. "Once a Gentleman" is packed with everything I usually look for in a romance: a (kinda one-sided) enemies-to-lovers romance, with a great deal of misunderstandings and delicious drama and lots of (kinda one-sided) hate sex that slowly turns into sweet, sweetly yearning (but still HOT, HOT, HOT) love-making; push-and-pull, opposites-attract (with a responsible, put-together but bitter secretary and his messy rake of an employer) and a whole lot of pining and disastrous attempts at winning the other's heart. I loved it so damn much.
Kit and Andrew are both unforgettable protagonists: both of them are messy, flawed (REALLY flawed, realistically flawed) and I couldn't count the sheer amount of mistakes, misunderstandings or snap judgements both of them were guilty of; I wanted to bash their heads together, and then make them kiss themselves senseless. I had the time of my life.
I loved Kit, but Andrew was my favourite: he's a mess; he's an idiot; he doesn't think before he speaks, AND he's a golden-retriever turned rake. Yes, your honour, he's my son!!!
< Andrew had desired Hewlett. He’d respected him. Now, he admired the man, and that—well, it was a bloody disaster, was what it was. He reached for the coffeepot again, this time determined to conquer both it and his headache. He had a great deal of brooding to do, and a secretary to either avoid or follow about like a puppy, he wasn’t yet sure which. >
Although, to be fair, out of them all, Samuel, the murderous, efficient footman, was my favourite. Ruthlessly competent, amoral but loyal, snarky: I adored him, and I can't tell you how many times I cackled out loud because of him. The ridiculously fun subplot about the messy, lazy household was beyond iconic.
Back to Kit and Andrew. Their romance stole my whole heart, and although I kinda wish those last chapters had had a bit more of a resolution (or, I don't know, maybe a smidge of hurt/comfort?! The endless possibilities....), I enjoyed the hell out of this book, start to finish.
I'm looking forward to diving into the rest of Eliot's backlist: I still have quite a few romances to devour of hers, and I'm absolutely certain they'll be as iconic as this one.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Sexual assault and Injury/Injury detail
Minor: Suicide