Excuse me while I try to gather my rather salacious and swoon inducing thoughts about Joss and Gareth's hedonistic and illustrious adventures from The Secret Lives of Country Gentlemen by K.J. Charles. This is my first ever historical romannce, not counting the classics. And definitely my first MM historical romance. I would undoubtedly say it has been a more than delightful experience.

Gareth Inglis suddenly found himself as the heir to his father’s Baronhood and estate..The very father who sent him away to London to his uncle about twenty years back. Romney Marsh is a very unique place. The sea, the sea wall, the marshlands, the insects and .. The naturalist in Gareth is excited. But not so pleased when he faces the man he had a sinful tryst with in London. Josiah "Joss" Doomsday is the gaffer, the king of free traders aka smugglers. When some lowlife come threatening Gareth's family, it appears his life is much more mixed with Joss than he thought.


Gareth had a different mindset before he came to marsh. He had a clean idea of right and wrong. His title put him in the upper society but he never really thought so though he didn't have any idea of the complicated dealings of Marsh. How the people survive here by free trading and that may be criminal activity under King's laws but it is not black and white. He got caught in the middle of the squire, the Preventives, the divisions of smugglers..and initially he faced Joss in a rather hostile situation. The misunderstanding cleared but the suspense of why some criminals after him didn't get solved. They were trying to navigate through the feelings about each other. They have to keep their liason secret. And all these external factors were interfering constantly. Joss the rogue is my favorite indeed. He has a commanding and controlled personality who is respected by the marshmen. But he also has pressure of responsibility on his broad shoulders. The witty grumpy baron is his escape. Gareth has shown a lot of courage in marsh and he was slowly accepted by the people. The main power of this story is the plot. The France England war is mixed very subtly with the woes of common people. The suspense kept me on the edge. I genuinely thought I would be bored stuck in the past but I was fascinated. I also dreaded that the language will be difficult but I dare say the author did a fine job of making it extremely pleasant. Did K.J. Charles made me a new admirer of historical romance?Most possibly yes.


I reviewed an early copy voluntarily from Netgalley and Sourcebooks Casablanca

As always KJ Charles books are a delight. Both MC's feel like real people you'd want to know and the side characters are likewise well developed. (Even the villains). The writing is heartfelt and enough plotty plot to make the story compelling.

All Gareth wants to do with his new Baronet title is walk around town and study bugs and instead everyone is ruining his peace with crime. His plans to neck with the local bad boy are thwarted even before they really get off the ground after his very public arrival.

Turns out his sneaky hookup from before he moved to town (Joss) is the head of the local smugglers ring and Gareth is testifying against a smuggler aka Joss' sister. He very publicly threatens to let some things be known about Gareth's preferences and he's forced to back down.

To be clear, I did not love this plot point at all. I get why it had to be in the book based on the time period but still. Gareth was mortified and terrified and they went far too long without making him feel safe again. Joss does apologize and explain his reasoning and after awhile they have something resembling friendship then more.

I appreciated that these two got angry, needed time to cool off and then actually talked to each other instead of getting upset and storming off. Gareth was very quick to say, please let me sleep on this to figure out where my brain is so we don't get upset with each other and I enjoyed that immensely.

Over time, more people come to threaten Gareth and his household and after a bit of apologizing, Joss helps him to figure out the why and who of it all. They do manage to cobble together something of a life together and I thought the way the book ended was very sweet.

Thank you to Dreamscape Media, Sourcebooks Casablanca, and Netgalley for a copy in exchange for an honest review. My opinions are my own.

The Secret Lives Of Country Gentlemen is a fun historical romp. With romance, smuggling, and find a place you never expected to call home.

I think this may have been my first LGBTQIA+ historical fiction read, and it was for sure my first by this author, who seems to have a decent backlist (always fun to learn). In both cases, I can't imagine this will be my last. I'm already looking forward to the second in this series and I'm also going to look into the author's backlist because this one was fun! Quick, entertaining read where all sorts of drama commences and all along your pulling for love to win. I will say, it's a little more steamy than I tend to like, but I just skipped those pages, easy enough! Highly recommend for those who like a regency romance with a side of high jinks.

I can see how this was a good book and if I were a different person I would probably have liked it! It’s a queer historical romance with a smuggling intrigue sub plot and… I just couldn’t hang? It took me like a week and a half to get through this which is very rare for me but I didn’t dislike any of it. I just need to make better choices of advanced reader copies because if I had spent like an eighth of a second reflecting on what I know about myself I could have predicted this review without reading the book.

Drama, action and romance for the first in book in a planned duet (The Doomsday Books). Historical suspense. POC representation. Newly inheriting a baronet title, along with manor and funds, Sir Gareth gladly leaves London behind and tries to establish a family connection with an unexpected half-sister and follows his neglectful father’s naturalist studies of the surrounding marshlands in order to find some commonality. However, an encounter with smugglers reveals that his last illicit encounter in London was actually with the local hero Josiah Doomsday, who protects his family and locals alongside his job of procuring illegal items. This story includes beautifully written descriptions of the locale, interesting and compelling secondary cast of characters, discussions of historical legalities, politics and the necessity of hiding same sex relationships and the suspense of a secret plot Gareth and Joss must uncover together. I really enjoyed the push and pull of Gareth and Joss in their interactions, which included lust, anger, forgiveness, protectiveness, understanding, companionship and love. Both Gareth and Joss have important and well developed backgrounds, and share their struggles with each other as they build a relationship, after many stumbles and bettering their communication so they can be together. Danger was ever present, personal growth for both Gareth and Joss, and a well deserved HFN, this book was entertaining from beginning to end.

I was able to read this as an ARC thanks to NetGalley.

I can honestly say I was hoping to love this story and I didn't, at all. I didn't like the character development (or lack there of) and I didn't like the writing style (hard to tell who's point of view it was). I did, however, like the plot/story. I thought that was incredibly interesting and just could have been executed better.

Great Regency-era adventure story!😍

4.5🌟 stars
This was so different than I had expected, but in a good way! The adventure and action component was especially strong. The whole concept of dangerous smuggler outlaws roaming the English marshlands took me right back on a nostalgic journey to my first reading of the classic Lorna Doone. For me, this story was just as good, though it did center on same sex couple Joss and Gareth instead of Lorna and her farmer John.

The reading went much quicker than I had anticipated, especially once gentleman Gareth's shady uncle and cousin arrive on the scene and an elusive gold treasure comes into the plot. I liked that it focused on the adventure elements with the medium heat romance as an enhancement. Joss was a great character, bearing such a heavy burden of responsibility for his huge family and their smuggling activities to the extent that he despairs of finding longer-term personal happiness with the man he loves. He's courageous, protective and a wildly romantic lead. I liked Gareth, too; he's got a good emotional backstory and shows courage when it's most needed.

I would definitely read more by the author who really provided an entertaining, action-filled plot.

Thanks to publishers SOURCEBOOKS Casablanca and NetGalley for sharing a complimentary advance copy of the book; this is my voluntary and honest opinion.

Gareth inherits a baronetcy upon the death of his estranged father. When he moves into the manor house, he discovers that the town is a den of smuggling—and his former lover, Joss, is their leader. Gareth gets caught in a web of rivalries that threaten to strangle him. Can Joss help him save himself?

This is a fascinating novel, as much mystery as romance. The author does a great job of dramatizing Gareth's struggles to come to terms with the ethics of the society in which he finds himself, which differ from the ethics of London. The book also examines the internal conflict between self-reliance and community. But it's also got a strong, engaging plot and a steamy, heartwarming love story. You really can't go wrong with a KJ Charles book.

Thanks, NetGalley, for the ARC I received. This is my honest and voluntary review.

I've been looking forward to this book since it was announced and I was thrilled to receive and ARC! It took me a little while to get into this book, but I enjoyed the characters from the get-go. Gareth and Joss are the perfect pair of opposites attract and they bring out the best in one another. They are both a little stubborn and independent in different ways and that's where the main issues come from, but it all works out in the end. We don't see many books set in the Marshes of Kent and it was a joy to delve into this world a little bit. I look forward to reading more in this series and more from this author down the road!

4.5 stars

This was such a beautifully quiet novel. The opposites attract romance between Joss and Gareth was set up so well and I loved how it unfolded through the course of the novel. The complicated Inglis and Doomsday family dynamics as well as the smuggling plot lines kept the action going in this M/M historical romance, but it's the love story between Gareth and Joss that's the heart of this book. I fell in love with them (and the Marsh) and my heart nearly burst from the sweet and tender moments they shared. The book is also wonderfully steamy and those scenes had me blushing and fanning myself.

As happy as I was to see Gareth take charge of his life and stand up for himself, I was also somewhat disturbed by his role in Lionel's ultimate fate. Things also got a smidge too chaotic at the end with everything seeming to happen as all the plot lines came together. No matter what though, I loved that Joss and Gareth's feelings never wavered and that they truly saw and understood the other. The grass at the end had me melting into a puddle of mush and all the heart eyes for that gorgeous ending. This was my first book by KJ Charles and I can't wait to read more!

Tropes: forced proximity, just a fling, touch him and die, class difference, opposites attract, cinnamon roll heroes, small town

CW: death of parent (past), parental abandonment (past), grief, complicated family relationships, physical and emotional child abuse (secondary character, on page), assault, murder, racism, threats of sexual assault and violence

My first book (finally) by KJ Charles, 'The secret life of country gentleman' is an entertaining historical M/M romance between a Joss Doomsday, the charming leader of a smuggling clan, and Sir Gareth Inglis, who recently inherited a title and home in the middle of Romney Marsh - Joss' territory. There's adventure, mystery, and forbidden yet life-changing love.

Sir Gareth stood out to me with regards to how open he was to learning and bettering himself - even if it's with regards to situations that he's either afraid of or doesn't have a favorable opinion about. He remains curious despite what he's been through, and shows courage in ways that are not always so obvious right away.

Joss plays the sunshine part in this romance even though he carries some pretty heavy and dangerous burdens himself. The relationships with his supportive sister and granddad found a special place in my heart. And I adore that his dark skin colour is not part of the plot.

I loved the authentic voices and that KJ used dialects/ phrases of the area while also beautifully painting a wonderful picture of the epic scenery which plays an important role as part of the story.

Tropes: grump & sunshine, lovers to enemies to lovers, forbidden love
Spice: 3/5
Overall rating: 4/5
Publication date: March 7th, 2023

While I would have wished at times for a speedier plot development (but I get that the set pace goes well with the sprawling marsh setting), and more time between Joss and Gareth (I so wanted an epilogue!), this was still an entertaining romance, It will definitely not be my last romance by KJ Charles.

Content guidance:
> mentions of drowning, war time struggles, homophobia, racism
> mentions of past and depictions of current mental and physical harm (including death, assault, and attempted murder) to adults and minors
> explicit sex scenes between consenting men
Special mention goes out to the wonderful cover art that accurately and beautifully depicts scenes of the story.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher Sourcebooks Casablanca for allowing me to read a copy ahead of the publication in exchange for an independent review.

Gareth is a newly established baronet. He moves to his country seat in Kent for the first time and stumbles across a smuggling gang. And it turns out that Joss, the mystery man he met in London, is the leader of the group.

I really enjoyed how well described the smuggling trade was. I learned a great deal and especially enjoyed the Kentish vocabulary included throughout.

Joss is presented as mixed race with his grandfather a former slave from Georgia. However, that is glossed over pretty quickly. I would have liked to know more.

I found this a fun romance with great chemistry. And more, it's a romantic suspense with an interesting mystery. I would have liked a more thorough conclusion and hope the lack is just leaving us room for the sequel. This is the first of the Doomsday Books, and I look forward to more set here.

Thank you to Sourcebooks Casablanca and NetGalley for the advanced reader copy. These opinions are my own.

CW: racism, homophobia

3.5 stars! Thank you to Netgalley and Sourcebooks for an advanced copy of this book in exchange for my honest review :)

The Secret Lives of Country Gentlemen follows Gareth and Joss as they discover themselves and each other in Marshland England. Both characters are charming and easy to enjoy, and I loved their relationship development. I was swooning at some of the easy, romantic dialogue and sweet back and forth between the two, and enjoyed the more exciting/adventurous plot too! Some of the "treasure hunting" elements reminded me of Something Wilder by Christina Lauren, and it was great to read something with a similar vibe. In terms of spice, I'd give this 3 peppers!

Historical fiction generally isn't my favorite, so I think my review is a bit biased against it! But, for anyone that loves it, you'll love this book :)

POSSIBLE SPOILER ALERT??: The only thing I wished for was that they found the money in the end! I wanted Joss and Gareth to have it, but was still overall satisfied with the ending.

Absolutely charming. The Secret Lives of Country Gentlemen had wonderful character development. The two leads had a lot of growing to do to become the men they are at the end. With each chapter, their understanding of each other compares with the reader's understanding of their actions. Their growth logically followed the rich plot development. Yes, it had steamy scenes but they were an important part of the plot and not just something to keep the pages turning. Their forbidden love caused them plenty of fear and worry while also being a driving factor for their actions. It had love, romance, sex, family struggles, and mystery. Thank you NetGalley, KJ Charles, and Sourcebooks Casablanca for the arc.

The Secret Lives of Country Gentlemen was exactly what I was looking for in a fun weekend read. It's definitely sexy, but more importantly the characters feel like real flesh and blood people, with desires and fears and problems I could relate to, even though the setting is long ago and far away. I loved the dialogue between 'London' and "Kent' even more than the excellenty-written sex scenes, and the adventure-mystery plot they get caught up in was an unexpected bonus. I'd definitely recommend this to anyone looking for a fun, fast-paced, gay romance.

I'm not usually one for historical romances, but the description of this one along with the cover caught my eye.

It was a fun read. I didn't enjoy some of the period typical stuff, but that's what you sign up for when you read a book like this. Gareth was enjoyable as a protagonist, but the real winner of the two is Joss. I always gravitate to the more "rough and tumble" part of the pairing and Joss is perfect when it comes to that.

The romance is nice, and while there are miscommunications aplenty they at least act like adults and figure things out. The mystery element is well done, and the action in the third act is fun and rather cinematic feeling.

The supporting characters are a blast, probably my favorite part of the book all together, and this is obviously the first of a series so it sets them up well and I look forward to seeing more of them in the future.

Overall, I took a bit of a gamble and stepped outside of my comfort zone and I'm glad I did!

3.5 stars

I received this book for free, this does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.

<b><i>He smiled, and the dazzling force of it close up rocked Gareth in his seat. “You’re London, then? Nice to meet you, London.”
Gareth smiled back, hopelessly enthralled. “You too, Kent.”</b></i>

After heated eye contact that lead to a week of secret rendezvouses, Gareth is devastated and hurt when “Kent” tells him he's leaving the London area to go back home. With a father that abandoned him to his uncaring uncle after his mother's death when he was six, Gareth leans into that childhood pain and feels unwanted and unloved all over again. Even though Kent is trying to tell him he still wants to meet up when he's in town, Gareth can't hear him and breaks it off with hurtful words.
Two days later, Gareth learns of his father's death and has inherited his Baronet, this has him traveling to Romney Marsh where he discovers his father's mistress, a half-sister, and that he has unwittingly followed Kent.

<b><i>“This is the Marsh,” Catherine had said, and as so often, that was all the explanation there was.</b></i>

<i>The Secret Lives of Country Gentlemen</i> was a more quiet and reflective toned story, even though it had mystery, suspense, and open door scenes. When Gareth gets to the Marsh, his feeling as an outsider is exacerbated as everyone looks at him as “outmarsh”. Catherine, his father's mistress is kind to him but she's also dependent on his generosity as she has no where else to go and his half-sister Cecy is an emotional seventeen year old who swings from wanting to build a relationship with him to angry when he doesn't do exactly as she wants. When Gareth unthinkingly tells someone he saw a group of smugglers, especially a female one, he gets pulled into testifying, trying to get on Cecy's good-side as she is seeing a Revenue officer. Ignoring warnings that informing on the Doomsday smuggling group will make him many Marsh enemies, Gareth thinks he's doing the right thing but when Josiah Doomsday steps into the court room and threatens to tell his own secrets, to save his sister Sophy, who Gareth is testifying he saw, Gareth has to back-down in front of everyone, because Josiah is Kent.

<b><i>“You threatened me,” Sir Gareth said, low and savage. “You used—what we did.” He whispered that last.</b></i>

As you can imagine, Gareth is raging angry, this breaks the fragile bond he was starting to build with Cecy and Josiah used an extremely dangerous and emotional secret against him. The hurt, also from Josiah on how Gareth broke things off, and anger do get talked through and Gareth works through his father abandonment issues. The plot also forces these two to have to work together, so by the half-way point, they're together, if still tentative. With the initial breaking apart and coming together mostly dealt with, Gareth learns that his father was receiving mysterious payments every month from somewhere and with Josiah saying that he had no smuggling deals with the man, men coming into Doomsday territory to frighten and harass Gareth and Cecy, and Gareth's uncle and cousin suddenly wanting to stay at his home with him, they start to investigate together to work out what is going on.

<b><i>“Because you’re a smuggler and I’m a baronet. You’re Joss Doomsday and I’m outmarsh. I informed against your sister and you blackmailed me in public!” One argument might have been convincing; three was the opposite. Three was encouraging, even.
“Eh, details,” Joss said. “You still haven’t given me a good reason.”</b></i>

This had a large cast of characters, the Doomsday family is many and Josiah also has to deal with some family dynamic business, mainly an uncle who feels he should be in charge. A rival, different territory smuggling group, Sweetwater, also comes into play and you have a good amount of moving pieces to keep track of. While I appreciated the detail to naming the places the characters were going, the place names became too many in conjunction with all the characters I was trying to keep track of. I thought it was a sweet, emotional layer to Gareth's character when he takes his father's incomplete naturalist (book cover tie-in!) studying notes and walks the marsh following in his father's footsteps to try and know the man better but it also gets a little lost in all the other moving pieces. Josiah had a few in depth moments, his talk with his granda, but for the most part, his character was on the move a lot and I wanted more settled moments with him.

<b><i>“I missed you so much.” It was a whisper.</b></i>

The last twenty percent brings all the plot threads together, Josiah having to once and for all deal with his uncle, Gareth also dealing with his uncle, and the mystery of the smuggling business Gareth's father was maybe involved in; the seemingly separate threads all weaved together in the end. There was also a quick, and again, I think got lost in the other going-on, character depth moment of Gareth giving us a third act break-up because of emotional growth he needed to do. As I said, a good amount of moving pieces, some economic class and warfare serving country versus community talk, a romance that was a little too quick developed for me, a few, almost got buried in the mix emotional depth moments, but all told with a care to language that really helped set the atmosphere.

Another delightfully romantic, nail-biting, dramatic story of smugglers and family, marshes and moonlight, love and loyalties. I have never been disappointed by K.J. Charles' writing to keep me on the edge of my seat, while also simultaneously fanning myself from the gorgeously written romantic scenes! Loved the setting of this one - I could picture the marsh and its inhabitants, and I love both of the main character's growth throughout the book. Another wonderful queer historical romance that I will be recommending to everyone!