As soon as someone likened this book to Poldark, it became an instant must read for me. I really enjoyed it and KJ is becoming one of my go-to aurthors!

As far as I'm concerned, Charles can do no wrong in the world of the queer historical romance. This one was full of just as much tension, chemistry, longing, and banter as always—a total hit.

*KJ Charles' *The Secret Lives of Country Gentlemen* is a delightful historical romance brimming with wit, intrigue, and emotional depth. Set in Regency England, the story follows Daniel, a former soldier, who returns home to find himself entangled with Benedict, a charming and troubled country gentleman. The slow-burn romance between Daniel and Benedict is fraught with tension, vulnerability, and complex emotions, while the mystery and societal challenges they face keep the plot engaging. Charles’ signature sharp writing, complex characters, and immersive historical setting make this novel a standout. *The Secret Lives of Country Gentlemen* is a must-read for fans of LGBTQ+ historical romance with rich character development and high emotional stakes.

Loved this MM second chance historical romance. Gareth and Joss had some great chemistry and banter. This story had lots of action and mystery but was also sweet and spicy. Some of the side characters I loved and some I wanted to yell at but can't wait to read more about the smugglers in the Marsh!

At the start of The Secret Lives of Country Gentlemen, Gareth has just spent a lovely week hooking up with a man from out of town. To keep their anonymity, they go by the pseudonyms "London" and "Kent," a nod to their respective homes. When Kent announces it's time for him to go home, he offers his contact information in case Gareth wants to meet up again when he's back in town. "London," aka Gareth, reacts badly. He can't handle the hope and waiting that will likely only lead to never hearing from this man again. With his back up, Gareth shuts down any attempts to prolong their acquaintance, and the two part on bad terms.

As luck would have it, Gareth ends up in Kent a week later, a newly minted baronet. His estranged father did the unthinkable-- he died and left everything to his son, ignoring the daughter who had all but supplanted Gareth in his life. Gareth shows up at the family home to discover that his half-sister Cecilia did not know of his existence until the will was read. He also finds his father's mistress (and Cecilia's aunt), another woman left unprovided for in his father's wake. Gareth makes an unexpected alliance with the women, kindred spirits in his father's lingering mistreatment of them all, which largely took the form of disinterest.

As Gareth settles into his new home, it comes to his attention that smuggling is an active part of the county's economy. In an attempt to win over his sister, he sort of accidentally ends up admitting to her beaux/officer of the law that he saw a smuggler in the act on his walk one night and then proceeds to dig himself a deeper hole by making the unpopular decision to testify against one of the locally powerful smuggling families.

When Gareth moved to Kent, he did spare a thought for what might happen if he ran into his former paramour, not that it was terribly likely. What he never imagined was "Kent," aka Joss, showing up in court to vouch for his little sister, the accused, and offer a veiled threat in front of the whole community to make Gareth back down. In fact, neither man relishes the reunion or its nature. What follows is a need for both to make amends and, in the aftermath, a wish to continue what they started in London with their proverbial masks off. Things get more complicated when Gareth's family is targeted by a different smuggling operation with veiled threats that Gareth doesn't understand. Meanwhile, Joss is trying to keep his grip on the family business despite some division in the ranks speared by his good-for-nothing uncle and unchallenged by his stubborn mother.

There's so much to love about this romance. What grows between the two men is a lasting connection that helps both thrive. Joss offers to be the first person fully on Gareth's side. He swaggers around with his "I look after my own" family/gang energy, and then he chooses Gareth as his own *swoon.* It feeds nicely into the drama with threats being made against Gareth. It's time for Joss to literally and figuratively throw his weight around. On the other hand, Joss is used to having his way as a family boss and as a type of local royalty, but he's nervous about being an equal to Gareth as an aristocrat (watch out for the explanation for how Gareth's family earned their title, one of many hilarious details in the book). One moment that stands out is when Joss is nervous for Gareth to see his handwriting because it's not very refined 😭😭💔. We learn about Joss' family history as well as Gareth's, and his grandfather, a Black man who escaped enslavement and went on to lead the smuggling operation, still advises Joss in retirement. This grandfather wants his grandson, Joss' cousin, to go to school and have better opportunities, and Gareth is an ideal ally in that quest. There's a lot that develops with that storyline that's hard to read (see content warnings) but which I think is very thoughtfully and carefully handled with an eye for nuance.

Some other highlights include:
1. Joss teaching Gareth Kentish slang
2. Gareth trying his hand at being a naturalist, and Joss showing him around the countryside to find new insects, etc. to observe
3. Joss' sister helping the two find a meeting place that's under the radar
4. Garety laying some clear boundaries and Joss having to adjust his behavior to respect their partnership more fully
5. Some very action-y, life-saving scenes that I am a sucker for

Beyond the romance, which I am obviously in favor of, the book features careful use of historical elements and a generous helping of drama to even out the plot. There are mysteries to uncover, confrontations to organize, and difficult decisions to face down. Side characters sparkle, whether as friends or foes. The characters' queerness is handled gently even while including realistic threats experienced by people in the period living outside the heteronormative structure. It's safe to say that Gareth and Joss' happiness is hard won on all fronts, and I was glued to the page until we safely reached happily ever after. I recommend this to queer readers, to historical romance lovers, and to readers of any stripe who like their romance with a side of action and drama. Thanks to Sourcebooks Casablanca for my copy to read and review!

Few things are juicier than "princess and the scoundrel" stories -- unless it's a "PRINCE and a scoundrel" story. (Okay, yes, Gareth is just a baronet, but it still fits in spirit.) And there's quite a bit of suspense and action amidst all of the blackmail, emotional upheaval, and family dynamics to keep the story rocketing along. You can never go wrong with a Charles romance, which always has just enough spice mixed with the sugar, and I love recommending it to folks who enjoy Bridgerton (but wish it was queerer).

I was really drawn in by the premise of this book but reading it, I just don't think it was for me. There were some moments that I really loved, but others where it felt like the story was dragging.

The Doomsday family was so interesting to read about and I really liked Gareth's found family in Catherine and Cecy. However, I feel like there was just too much going on.

While the romance was definitely there, I feel like it wasn't center stage. The main focus really felt like the smuggling and the search for the lost money.

Cute and fluffy MLM book. Overall enjoyed experiencing the main characters romance and growth with each other.

Adorable MM romance. I enjoyed seeing how their relationship evolved throughout the book. Love everything I read by KJ Charles!

Thank you NetGalley and Sourcebooks Casablanca for this arc!!

4/5 stars!

This was a really great read, perfect for my Bridgerton-obsessed brain right now haha! Give me that Regency romance! All of it!!

I did not enjoy the story at all. A lot of scenes seemed like overly coincidental ways to force the leads in proximity, and the characters spoke and behaved in a kind of juvenile way that I didn't vibe with. The dialogue just didn't feel like the way real people talk and I could not connect with the story at all because of that.

Bridgerton Fan Girls prepare to lose your minds over the new series from KJ Charles called The Doomsday Books. In the book one The Secret Lives of Country Gentlemen, Gareth is looking for a hook up and finds a man with a sexy bod and country accent. The two enjoy a week of bliss and affection with no strings. Gareth is a wounded soul from past betrayals and has trouble trusting in forever. "Kent" is returning home and the two think they will never meet again.

Fate steps in and Gareth inherits his father's title unexpectedly. On moving to the estate, Gareth is shocked to meet "Kent", Joss Doomsday. Can they find a HEA? Of course they do and it everything you would hope for.

I was not in the mood for this when I read it, but I did enjoy it. It has got a lot of great historical romance tropes like wrong timing, misunderstandings, etc etc. It does it so well. Plus standing up for your person.

This is such a sweet story - I really liked the focus on family relationships and building community. I found the characters to be understandable even when they made annoying mistakes, which gave them a lot more leeway than I normally give, and I would be happy to read another book by this author

Love love love. Both books in this biology are great, and I prefer the second one slightly but this one is still a delight.

Enjoyed this! Slightly disappointed I'm not obsessed with it, but still a great read. I am insanely excited for book two and grown up Luke.

This was the perfect LBGTQIA touch to a Bridgerton-esque novel! I love a good regency romance, and this one checked all the boxes for me.

This was my first KJ Charles book and I found it to be highly entertaining and enjoyable!

Read this book if you enjoy:
✨M/M Historical Romance
✨Action and adventure
✨Smuggler gangs
✨Banter
✨Open door spice

I honestly wasn't sure what to expect when I picked up this book aside from M/M historical romance. The smuggling gang lent an excellent sub-plot of action and adventure in the marshes of Kent. I thought the setting was different - being in the country as opposed to the city. And the explanation of smuggling operations was pretty interesting.

The relationship between Joss and Gareth was well crafted and I really enjoyed watching it unfold. There's a large cast of side characters that allowed for multiple sub-plots and plot lines to give the story additional layers. The spice was spicy. I really enjoyed the Doomsday smuggling clan and the way they all interacted with each other. Joss was definitely a swoon-worthy swashbuckling smuggler hero. I also thought there was really great character development with Gareth as he grapples with inheriting a title and his perception of right/wrong.

Thank you to NetGalley for the eARC of this book for me to read.

I always enjoy KJ Charles books, and while this wasn't my favorite of hers, it was still a good read!

K.J. Charles is a fantastic writer. I could see the natural setting of this story, and feel the squish of the ground. If I were in 10th grade English, I’d write about how the marsh was another character. When I think about this book, it’s about the main characters and their families, the naturalist bits, and some of the dramatic action. I struggle to remember the romance. It was there, and important, but it was not white hot and attention grabbing. I’m not sure where Charles is going as an author, but it feels like she’s go one foot out of the romance genre with this one. Obvs, this will not change that I read her new books as soon as I can get my hands on one.

Thanks to NetGalley for the arc a few months ago!