It’s funny-I loved the first book in this series, didn’t really like the second, but again I find myself really having enjoyed The Servant and the Gentleman. I was curious how a fake m/m relationship could work in a historical romance and the setup totally made sense to me. I also enjoyed the opposites attract aspects of the story along with the philosophical thoughts about rich people and how they conduct themselves. Enjoyed revisiting all the characters as well and remain ever curious about Maurice, the jerk.

Thank you Carina Press and NetGalley for the ARC!

This is the first book I've read by Annabelle Greene. It's part of a series but can definitely be read as a standalone.

Mr Hartley is meant to be this evil man. But all he is, is a scared, yet confident gentleman. Especially when you find out why he is so scared of small spaces.
Mr Balfour is a strong headed administrator for beast. And he is a great match for Hartley.

They start this off as a fake relationship and it just grows rather quickly. Not that it was a problem. It made for an interesting read. And seeing how other characters interacted with the two was also nice to see.

Overall it was a decent read.

I was given a copy by NetGalley for an honest review

A surly gentleman and his overworked clerk fake a relationship in this swoonworthy Regency romance from Annabelle Greene.

William Hartley’s wealth and social standing often make up for his short temper, but they can’t cure his claustrophobia. He’d lost hope of finding help for it, until meeting Josiah Balfour. In a moment of panic, Josiah’s presence is a balm to his senses, leaving Hartley calm for the first time in months.
Josiah Balfour knows his place—and it’s not in the bed of a gentleman. As the administrator for the Society of Beasts, he’s responsible for the club’s well-being. When a threat to the Society emerges from an unexpected quarter, it falls to Josiah to deal with it. But Hartley is willing to help, even if it involves posing as a couple to infiltrate a rival club.
Josiah needs Hartley’s prestige to help him save the Society, while Hartley simply needs Josiah. Their relationship might be a sham, but the desire between them is all too real. Stuck in close quarters with everything they love on the line, they discover that everything might just include each other.
This book has a storyline that I can't quite like.
Annabelle Greene is a new author to me and I think I will give her another chance.
I received a complimentary copy of this book from the publisher and NetGalley. This in no way affects my opinion of this book which I read and reviewed voluntarily.

The third in the series Society of Beasts - each of the books features one of the three founders of Regency-era exclusive molly club, in a society where keeping secrets is paramount.

This book features Josiah Balfour, an extremely able administrator for the Society. Balfour is "in charge of everything. Or perhaps responsible for everything was a better way to put it. He had worked diligently over many years to attain this position: chief assistant to the men who helped make London a safer place for gentlemen who loved gentlemen." And Hartley is, well .... "He's Mr. William Hartley and he can do whatever the bloody hell he likes."

When they learn that a new molly club catering to the middle class is being started up in Bath, Hartley and Josiah work together to infiltrate the club as well as starting a sexual relationship that seems somewhat .... odd at the onset. This plot feels somewhat forced as a means of getting Hartley and Josiah together, and their chemistry together is pretty much non-existent.

However as the story progresses, I like how the author opens up the idea that the Society needs to do more to help ALL men who face prosecution and death due to their sexual orientation rather than simply throwing extravagant parties, and uses Hartley and Josiah's relationship as the example for how things can change and compromise works to ensure both parties get what they want, need and deserve. 3.5 stars for "The Servant and the Gentlemen."

Thank you Net Galley for an ARC of The Servant and the Gentleman by Annabelle Greene. This is a third part of a series but can also be read as a Standalone. This is the first M/M romance set in a historical romance. I was so excited to read it, but unfortunately I did not care for it as well as I wanted to. Perhaps if I had background from reading the series, but I did not.

“This was the only lesson love could teach. Here, now, forever, life could be sweet.”

I discovered Annabelle Greene on Twitter as a suggested topic tweet for her (at the time) newly released ‘A Winter’s Earl’, I devoured that book in a few hours and immediately went searching for more, leading to The Society of Beasts series and a similar devouring. The deeply emotional and wonderfully romantic stories have become instant favorites and third addition to the series is no exception! Greene writes with such heart, all her characters feel so real in their complexities and imperfections. The socioeconomic gulf between Hartley and Josiah was portrayed very well without being dramatic for drama’s sake. I understood both characters points of view but appreciated that they both needed to change in various ways to make their happy ever after actually work. Additionally, I especially enjoyed the culmination of Hartley’s story with his fellow heads of the Beasts and the previous events related.

There’s definitely room for more books in the series but if this is to be the last one, ‘The Servant and the Gentleman’ put a bow on a wonderful series. Annabelle Greene has easily become one of my favorite romance authors.

Thank you to NetGalley and Carina Press for the eARC in exchange for an honest review.

4.5 stars

“I know it’s harder for you than for me. I wouldn’t have known that before, but I do. I—I can’t claim to understand the discomfort of it, the fear, but I can tell you in no uncertain terms that what I feel for you is neither ridiculous nor misplaced. It isn’t some frippery that I’ll discard when the season changes, or some perverse thrill that comes from consorting with the lower orders.”

I didn’t know what to expect having never read anything by Annabelle Greene before, but this book utterly charmed me. The Servant and the Gentleman is a beautiful, witty portrayal of love between different classes against the backdrop of a debilitating disorder. It features some of my favorite tropes: class differences, hurt/comfort, fake relationship, opposites attract, slow burn, and forced proximity.

So, what did I love about the book?
First, the exquisite writing and dialogue. Be prepared for writing which invites you to re-read passages. Delightful banter. Description and inner monologue that is lyrical yet purposeful.

Second, how Josiah Balfour and William Hartley could not be more different and complex characters. John is an unassuming administrator of a gentleman’s club for gay men, the Society of Beasts. Hardworking and efficient, he’s devoted to the club and used to blending into the background. Hartley, on the other hand, is a cold, arrogant, founding member of the Beasts. But beneath his mocking manner and sartorial elegance, lies a crippling case of claustrophobia which has taken over his life.

“It had to be him. Of all the men in the society that he could have developed a hidden passion for, it had to be the arrogant, icy snob in front of him. A man whose disregard for anyone lower than himself was so ragingly evident that it left Josiah feeling like a peasant.”

Third, how the same man that Hartley disdains as inferior ends up becoming his savior and lover. Josiah’s and Hartley’s relationship starts off on the most unequal footing. Josiah has secretly been pining after the imperious aristocrat for years. Meanwhile Hartley has never really noticed Josiah given his dismissive attitude towards servants. The gulf between them narrows, however, when Hartley has a panic attack when he is locked in a room with Josiah. Through his touch and words, Josiah is able to reach him in that moment and calm him. This marks the beginning of a shift in their relationship.

“But he hadn’t been humble this morning. He had chastised him in the manner of a schoolmaster, made an uncomfortably cutting comment concerning his involvement—or lack of it—in Beast affairs, and…and…
…and had taken Hartley‘s hands, held them tightly, and dispelled all fear. He had even, in the midst of the chaos, told him that his hands were beautiful.”

Fourth, the sublime and gradual way their relationship unfolds. When a competitor to the Beasts becomes a threat, Josiah and Hartley, pose as a couple and head to the rival’s headquarters in Bath to seek intelligence. The trip allows their undeniable physical attraction to develop into more. It is a lovely slow burn. Something about Hartley makes the usually reticent Josiah lose his deferential manner and call him out on his class bias. Spending time with Josiah not only strengthens his feelings, but it also makes Hartley want to be a better man. He starts examining his behavior from Josiah’s perspective—questioning his own beliefs and tremendous privilege. Their growing emotional connection and intimacy is depicted in a poetic manner. They both grow as individuals as they gain confidence in their relationship and make a conscious decision to be together.

“If he let Josiah lead, then he would follow him to the ends of the earth. There was no denying that, no pushing it away. The man would have his heart in his hands to use as he saw fit.
And it felt good, knowing that. So good that it scared him.”

Fifth, the tangible chemistry between our lovers. The love scenes are both passionate and earthy. Hot and tender.

My only quibble is that the reason behind the pivotal quarrel between Hartley and Lord Maurice is never fully explained.

I have received a complimentary copy from Netgalley and the publisher, and this is my honest review.

Hartley and Josiah Balfour are on opposite ends of the social spectrum. Hartley rules the ton in fashion and style. He is arrogant and doesn't see people below him socially as individuals worthy of his notice. Josiah is the manager of their exclusive club - but definitely falls into the servant realm of the social strata. Until Hartley starts having serious issues managing his claustrophobia he and Josiah exist on wholly different planes.

This book definitely explores what it means to fall in the various socio-economic categories of the time (that still exist today). How do you reconcile a relationship between two people so vastly far apart and how do you navigate that power structure? That part of the book is very well done - and I truly appreciated the work Hartley was doing and continued to do to change his viewpoint. That being said - I did find Hartley hard to like. He redeemed himself a lot - but I did find him very shallow (even with his emotional baggage and trauma to help explain). I liked Josiah as well - but I just wasn't convinced by the end of the book that Hartley was really the right guy for him.

This is a standalone book in the series - but it is definitely part of a series. There were a few times that I felt a little lost - because I started here and didn't read the other books first. What happens in this book is very much tied to the events of the first book. Hartley's trauma plays a major part in how the story plays out - but not understanding it entirely, I felt disconnected from it. So - while I wouldn't say don't read this book without reading the others - I am guessing your experience would be much better if you did.

I received this book through NetGalley, but these opinions are all my own.

The Servant and the Gentleman continues the tales set in the Society of Beasts, this time focusing on William Hartley and Josiah Balfour. I enjoyed the romance between these two, which progressed at a believable pace. The story likewise moved along well. There were references to past events, but there was enough backstory supplied that one could still read this as a standalone story without too much difficulty. Overall, if you enjoy historical MM romance, this series is worth checking out. This particular story gets a solid four stars from me.

Thank you, Carina Press & Carina Adores, for allowing me to read The Servant and the Gentleman early.

Once in a while, I read M/M historical novels, and I requested this one because I think this is comparable to books by K.J. Charles, an author whose books I enjoy reading. I thought this would be a wonderful weekend read, but sadly, it didn’t meet my expectations. I found the story rather dull and Hartley an arrogant prick at first. I liked Joshua, but not enough to enjoy the whole story. Because of my rating I won't publish this review on Goodreads.

The Servant and the Gentleman was an okay read but felt rather generic for an M/M historical. I almost DNFed it because Hartley was such a snob (in my book, someone who doesn't treat the "help" well isn't Hero material), but he started reforming just in time for me to stay with the story. I liked Joshua far more.

This M/M historical romance is so enjoyable and my favorite in the Society of Beasts trilogy. A thoroughly arrogant gentleman meets his match in a servant, and both slowly come to realize they are made for each other. William Hartley suffers badly from claustrophobia from an incident in his past, and he is surprised when Josiah Balfour seems able to help him overcome his panic. They both need to learn from the other to grow and to successfully navigate each other's world. The chemistry between the two is beautifully portrayed, and while their story can stand alone, it is preferable to read the previous two entries first.