The Secret Lives of Country Gentlemen is one of the best historical queer romances I’ve read. It is the story of Sir Gareth and the smuggler Joss Doomsday. Yet the first time they meet, they don’t exchange names. Months later, both are shocked to discover that they are living on the same Marsh. Gareth has come into an inheritance from his estranged and selfish father. Meanwhile, Joss must do all he can to keep his family smuggling ring running smoothly. When Gareth begins receiving threats in regard to his late father’s finances, he must ask the last person he wants for help. Joss and Gareth must work together to escape with their lives and hearts intact.

KJ Charles does queer romance so unbelievably well and incorporates the historical aspect in a genuinely interesting way. The stories of the people who live on the Marsh are both heartbreaking and thrilling. Sir Gareth has no idea what he’s walked into as “outmarsh,” and Joss must be the one to explain the way things are done in this marsh far from London. I devoured this book; I read it in two sittings. I couldn’t put it down! One of my favorite aspects was the found family, especially the Doomsday clan. The Doomsday clan is a diverse, overall inclusive, and simply fascinating family. I’m so excited that we get more stories in this world!!

Gareth and Joss strongly remind me of the relationship of Ed and Stede in Our Flag Means Death- while neither knows much about the other’s world, they find a way to meet in the middle. Gareth is thrust into the nobility from being a humble clerk and he is given room to make mistakes along the way and grow from the experience. Joss has the weight of the world on his shoulders and yet somehow manages to make Gareth a priority. I loved Joss’s protectiveness and Gareth’s sense of justice. Gareth and Joss have one of my favorite dynamics and romances- you won’t be able to look away!

I loved the Secret Lives of Country Gentlemen so much! Gareth and Joss have a beautiful, pining romance that defies expectations. The supporting cast is also excellent, especially Joss’ mother, grandfather, and Sophy. They all feel distinct and hilarious in their own ways. I would recommend this book for fans of Our Flag Means Death, Bridgerton, and readers who enjoy queer historical romance. I can’t wait to read the next book in the series and see what KJ Charles writes next!

The Secret Lives of Country Gentlemen is available March 7, 2023. Thank you so much to KJ Charles, Sourcebooks Casablanca, and Netgalley for a free ARC in exchange for an honest review.

For publisher: My review will be posted on Instagram, Goodreads, Amazon, Storygraph, and Barnes & Noble etc

Genre: MM historical romance
Kent, England 1810

Gareth Inglis has unexpectedly inherited a baronetcy upon the sudden death of his father. This is rather timely, as he’s been fired as a clerk from his uncle’s law practice. Traveling to his new estate in Kent, Gareth learns that the Marsh hides more than a few secrets, including those of Joss Doomsday, leader of a family of smugglers. Despite the impossibility of their love, Gareth and Joss are bound together by both simple joys of watching insect life on the marsh and also the illicit smuggling of goods from France to England during the Napoleonic War.

The tone of this book was just magnificent. Funny and irreverent Joss, who calls Napoleon “Boney” and cares nothing for the politics of countries and everything for the livelihood of his people. Sincere and proper Gareth, who stands up for right and wrong, even as he’s trying to find out where he fits in the scheme of the Marsh. Secret Lives has really well timed humor amidst desperate and illicit plot lines and families scheming against their own.

Secret Lives has a bit of a “first-in-series” feel to it - we meet a lot of characters in a short span, and there are a lot of Marsh/outmarsh politics we’re introduced to. That said, Joss and Gareth’s romance really holds everything together for the novel. A common thread I hear from readers is that they hate miscommunication; I find that miscommunication is one of the most natural conflicts in a romance. What Charles does really well in Secret Lives is allowing Gareth and Joss to enrage each other - sometimes via miscommunication - but then allows them to talk like adults and apologize to one another for the hurt they’ve caused.

This was the first book by KJ Charles I’ve picked up, but I’ll certainly look to read more of her work in the future, and am excited for the next book in this series.

4.5 stars
3 flames

I enjoyed my first KJ Charles book so much more than I was even expecting to! Full of adventure, this steamy, opposites attract, queer (M/M) Regency romance sees Gareth ('London') and Joss ('Kent') sharing a one-night stand in London only to find themselves later become neighbors living in the remote Romney marsh.

I loved this Bridgerton meets Poldark story so much! The fact that it was set outside London was a refreshing change, the way that Gareth becomes a reluctant Baronet after the father who abandoned him dies, the found family of the Doomsday smuggling club. It all worked so well and was highly entertaining from start to finish.

Perfect for fans of Cat Sebastian, Erica Ridley, or Alexis Hall and great on audio narrated by Martyn Swain. Much thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for an early digital and audio copy in exchange for my honest review! This also looks to be the first book in a new series by the author so I'll be eagerly awaiting the next installment.

The Secret Lives of Country Gentlemen drops us into the story quickly setting us up for a charming second chance romance. Gareth Ingles has just inherited a Baronetcy from his estranged father. Having been sent away as a young child after his mother died, he has spent his life wondering why his father didn't want him. But now as he heads to his fathers estate to take over the Baronetcy, he hopes he will be able to connect with his father posthumously. This mean exploring the marshes and exploring the natural habitat and wildlife of the area.
Joss Doomsday comes from a family of smugglers and is the acting family head. When Gareth poses a threat to one of his family members, Joss must use their secret past to stop him. From here on out the story is about their second chance.

As Gareth struggles to find his footing as the new Baronet, secrets involving his fathers past come to light which are a threat to him and his half sister. Gareth is forced to turn to Joss for help. Although the two are in very different classes, the two continue to be drawn to each other. Both are the heads of their families and are trying to do what is best for them. Gareth learns to view the world from a different point of view then his own, and for the first time in his life shares his burdens with someone else.

The story is a mix of quiet moments in nature, and action and fighting. There is a mystery/adventure part of the story in addition to the romance. I found the parts of the story involving smuggling to be a little slow, but I loved how caring and protective Joss was of Gareth throughout. They had a lot of chemistry from the start and I enjoyed them finding their way back to each other.

Thank you NetGalley and Sourcebooks for the advanced reader copy!

My first K.J. Charles book and not my last after finishing this. There was so much going on. Not at all like the romance books I have read recently where there isn't much at stake and predictable. I think I've found the romance genre I can get into. It's a mystery, suspenseful, heartbreaking, and a bit funny. Very entertaining.

Regency romance. We meet a clan of smugglers on Romney Marsh. Joss is the head of this sprawling family, and as with most families, there will always be those who don't choose to support the goals of the family. Sir Gareth is the newcomer, the "outmarsh" person. Abandoned and farmed out to an uncle when he was six, he is back on Romney Marsh upon his father's death and inherits the title of baronet. He discovers a half-sister he knew nothing about. And he becomes acquainted or should we say, re-acquainted, with Joss, who he met in London, in a clandestine out-of-the way tavern catering to the gay community.

Sir Gareth's father kept notebooks dealing with beetles and marsh dwellers. Joss and his family keep on smuggling and out-smarting the British preventers who are determined to put a stop to the smuggling. Joss and Sir Gareth spend time together, searching for the odd beetle and the occasional newt. The sex scenes are graphic; the wanderings through the marshes are delightful.

Thank you to NetGalley and Sourcebooks for the ARC in exchange for an honest review

CW: child abuse, assault, murder, sexual assault, racism, death of a loved one, parental abandonment

I would recommend if you're looking for (SPOILERS)
-m/m historical romance
-small town romance
-opposites attract
-just a hookup

This was a soft and tender romance between a smuggler and an unexpected duke. I love how these two were an anonymous hookup at first, both risking something and in many ways too scared to put themselves fully out there and then finding each other again in their real lives by pure accident.

Gareth and Joss were such wonderful matches for each other, opposites, yet joined in an appreciation and discovery for nature, the countryside. Things were not easy as they tried to figure out how they could fit into each other's lives and also admit what they really want. A touch of mystery and great sexual chemistry this was just a great read.

Steam: 3.5

I received a copy of this book for review from NetGalley. Can KJ Charles write a bad book? Because this one was lovely. Joss and Gareth had a wild ride, and there was just the right amount of romance, action, mystery, adventure, kidnapping, and searching for treasure. Also, beetles. This book made me long to go on a country ramble and look at cool bugs, while holding hands with a handsome rogue, and I feel like that should be my new standard for a book. The pacing was superb, the characters were flawed and human, the chemistry was fire, and I cannot wait to read more from this setting. I hope there are more smugglers and newts in my future.

It's said that opposites attract and there aren't two men more opposite than Gareth Inglis and Joss Doomsday.  Despite the odds and their many differences, they're determined to make it work, for better or for worse.  Even if it might kill one - or both - of them in the end.

Gareth is miserable and unhappy.  His life hasn't turned out how he'd wanted it, even though his aspirations hadn't ever been that grand to begin with.  He's smart, he's kind, and he's very lonely.  Add to that the death of his father, a man he barely knew, and he has a truckload of issues to sort through.  He was very relatable in his distress over wanting to know his father, to do the right thing, but also be with the man that he loves.  Throughout the story, he's conflicted between his wants and his responsibilities, and they act as a driving force to have both.  

Joss is a free trader - that is, a smuggler - which puts him at moral odds with Gareth, the new baronet in Romney Marsh.  It doesn't cool the desire he feels for the man, however.  If anything, it only fans the flames.  Much like Gareth, Joss is forced to balance his family, their business, and his personal life.  He's a very engaging character, one who is making a living off something illegal, but doing it for the right reasons.  

I loved how each man was able to lay themselves bare so that the other could understand them, their lives, and their responsibilities, better.  While there were a few instances of communication breakdown, for the most part, they actually talked to one another.  Of course, there were times when they thought the other wouldn't understand, but in this situation, it worked.  They were from different worlds and things worked very differently in each of their lives.  They make a fantastic couple, very dynamic and fun.  Honestly, I'd love a sequel in the future to see how they're doing.  One maybe detailing Cecilia finding a suitor would be fabulous.  

The Secret Lives of Country Gentlemen was my first K. J. Charles novel, however it will not be my last.  The way the author weaves action and mystery into a heartfelt love story makes me want more.  As much as I love a good romance, when it's coupled with other things I enjoy, especially a mystery of sorts, I'm hooked.

Thank you to NetGalley and Sourcebooks for a copy of this book's eARC!

Summary:
After his father's death, Sir Gareth finds himself the new baronet of his family's property in the remote Romney Marsh. After witnessing a smuggling deal in the middle of the night, Gareth realizes that his past also has roots in the marsh. As his story progresses, you realize that not everything is as it seems, and sometimes family appears in the most unexpected places.

My thoughts:
I wanted to love this book - I really did. The plot was good, I liked the characters, and I'm always a sap for a historical queer romance. Nevertheless, the writing style of this book really was not my cup of tea. Charles' writing finds itself trying desperately to mimic the language of the time period it is depicting to the point where it can become completely unreadable. I know some people like this, and finds that it adds to the literary immersion of the story; sadly, this was not the case for me. If this is an aspect you can look past, I say absolutely go for it - this book had sweet relationships between several characters, both romantic and familial/platonic, and had an interesting enough plot that I found myself wanting to read to the end despite not liking the writing itself. Because of that, I give this book 2.75/5 stars, rounded up to 3 for GoodReads' sake.

I really liked this book. It’s a romance with class differences that takes place in the Marshes of Kent, outside of London, where you’re either Inmarsh or Outmarsh. Joss Doomsday and his family are locals and run a smuggling business. Gareth Isling inherits his father’s estate and baroncy and comes back to discover his uncle & father were running a Regency ponzi scheme. There’s always a mystery and murder plot around the romance in a KJC book, and finding a missing cash of guineas in the marsh is at the center of it all. But it’s also about your relationship to your family and finding your voice and agency within it. And living your life the way you want to.

Joss and his family reminded me of Tommy Shelby and his Peaky Blinders crime family. The scenery reminded me of Poldark, but in 1810. KJC’s historically accurate language creates a unique voice that I love in all of her books. Joss and Gareth’s love story is so sweet amidst the harder themes, and I could have done with a bit more romance and a bit less of the murder plots if I’m being honest.

Finally, I absolutely LOVE the cover art and kept looking at all the details as I was reading.

•• Thanks to NetGalley & Sourcebooks Casablanca for the ARC for a review ••

This is my first KJ Charles book but it definitely won't be my last! Gareth Inglis unexpectedly inherits both a title and land due to his absent father's untimely death. Gareth quickly finds that "The Marsh" where his father's property is, does not follow the usual rules of society and that the smuggling trade is a poorly kept secret in these parts. Joss Doomsday is in charge of the Doomsday smuggling clan that works out of the Marsh. Gareth and Joss soon realize that they know each other - from when they were anonymous lovers. When Gareth finds himself threatened by unknown forces, Joss and Gareth have to join forces to solve the mystery.

I was really sucked into this book and read it in one evening! It's definitely a bit more mystery than it is romance, though the romance is still there. KJ Charles writing is compelling and immersive, even if I didn't always understand what was going on (there are a lot of twists and turns and a LOT of characters!). The ending was very action filled and I couldn't put it down.

I loved both Gareth and Joss's characters - my sweet summer child Gareth looking suspicious but he was really just BEETLE HUNTING - so freaking adorable.

I think if you liked Manda Collin's Ladies Most Scandalous series, you'll definitely enjoy this one!

Thank you to Netgalley and Sourcebooks Casablanca for the eARC in exchange for a review. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

Sweet and Fun. Delightfully Charming as is KJ Charles way with all their characters and stories.

Whilst I found this story to be less exciting than some of the authors previous work, it was still an enjoyable read nonetheless, particularly the first half of the book in which we are thrown instantly into some steamy encounters with the books plot slowly unfolding as you continue

Oddly, given her acclaim in the MM genre, this was my first KJ Charles novel--and I can see why she is so popular. She is one of the best writers in the genre; she conveys a detailed sensory experience of place, and she successfully builds suspense and drives the plot forward. She also gives a great deal of historical detail--she has done her research into Regency England in the marshlands. Her characters are interesting and developed. I will definitely be reading more of her.

Here the trope is opposites attract: Gareth, a simple law clerk, unexpectedly comes into a baronetcy inherited from a father he scarcely knew. Joss is the leader of a family of smugglers. The two initially meet for sex in London and and of course Gareth's new baronetcy is in the same marsh country where Joss' family plies its trade--and the two reconnect. The plot consists of a mystery and resulting violence surrounding a lost fortune in guineas.

Only a few quibbles. I never believed that the relationship was based on much other than sex--they have a good deal of it. When they try to express a deeper attachment, the author resorts to cliches. So while the characters are sympathetic, there is an absence of "feels" The author here gives us action and sex but the romance necessary for the feels is lacking.

Still an excellent read--and you will learn more about beetles than in any other MM romance!

Glad I got to start reading KJ Charles with such an enjoyable title! A lovely and thrilling adventure, wonderful character connections, and a sweet romance. Charles really shows off her writing with this one. Both Gareth and Joss's characters have such unique and inspiring growth and the story is accurate enough to the time period that anything that seems out of place can easily be swept away with suspension of disbelief. I was kind of in awe at how each and every character had not only a role to play in the story but also were so well fleshed out.

The ending scene made me teary-eyed. I will definitely continue reading more of KJ Charles' books!

Regency romances are my weakness and this one delivered! The romance was really well built, Joss and Gareth relationship was sweet (and spicy) and I enjoyed seeing them grow and try to do better for each other. The secondary characters were also great, we get to meet both families and all of them are very well developed. I'd actually love to know more about some of them (Cecy and Ma Doomsday). While the action was entertaining in the beginning I feel it dragged a bit on the second half of the book and I'd prefer the focus stayed on the characters. It also felt a bit unresolved in the end. However, I still really loved this book and I'll be sure to check out the next!

Sir Gareth Inglis inherits his father's estate in the marshland and life changes for him very quickly. He soon becomes unwittingly involved with smugglers and their conflicts, though one smuggler looks quite familiar to him. As their secret trysts become more and more entangled with the mystery of his father's debts and shady dealings, and Sir Gareth's own family emerges from the mists to control his estate, Sir Gareth and his sister fear for their life. Will his handsome smuggler keep them safe and will they be able to share their lives together? This romantic mystery kept me turning pages to find out what would happen next. This is a perfect cozy read for fans of both historical romance and mystery.

I love-love-love-LOVED this book so much! Such a thrilling, mysterious romance right from the first page. The characters were multi-dimensional and their personalities were different enough that the heroes complimented one another perfectly. The naturalist angle brought some real beauty and depth to the writing, and I loved that there was so much going on beyond the love story (although that's not to say the romance itself wasn't spicy and tumultuous). I've recommended it to several friends already!

Thank you so much to NetGalley for giving me the opportunity to read this book early! This book was such a fun and easy read and I loved every second of it. I love the idea of second chance romance and thus the set-up and eventual identity reveal was delightfully tense. Gareth and Joss, of course, had to build up trust with each other once more and I appreciated that it happened over the course of many conversations, rather than just one and all is forgiven. They clearly help each other grow and consider the world in new ways, and those are my favorite kinds of couples. The history of smuggling in Kent was interesting to read about so I was sorry to see it slightly sidelined on behalf of the central mystery, which did include some smuggling but was mostly family drama. I did love, however, how through this mystery, Gareth finally learned to stand up for himself. I loved how most of the characters that found out the true nature of Gareth and Joss’ relationship were supportive and treated them no differently. (Those who did treat them differently and badly saw a karmic ending). This book was equal parts charming, steamy, and just pure fun and I adored it! For anyone who loves couples with banter and great chemistry, do yourself a favor and pick this up!

4.5 / 5

The Secret Lives of Country Gentlemen, put simply, begins with how two men - nicknamed London and Kent - meet in a pub in early 1800s England. What is supposed to be a one time sexual encounter turns into a passionate week long fling… which just as quickly ends sourly. They go their separate ways, never expecting to run into each other again. Our protagonist London - actually named Gareth - is on a stretch of misfortune, and as fate would have it, he finds himself ensnared in a deadly smuggling ring… headed by none other than ‘Kent’ himself.

Both of these men possess completely contrasting morals, and their upbringings couldn't be any more different. By coincidence, or merely inevitability, they become entwined once again when their lives begin spiraling into disorder and lawlessness. At it's heart, this is a story of found family with a tender romance building throughout, and it delivers the hard hitting message that blood relatives can often be our worst enemies.

I truly enjoyed this book. K.J. Charles absolutely immerses you into this setting from beginning to end: from the beautiful descriptions of the sprawling marshes, to the extensive period dialogue that I've come to realize I need in historical romance. Speaking of dialogue: K.J. Charles never shies away from a lengthy scene full of it, and I love that in books. It allows characters to develop and I just adored them all here. Joss, Catherine, Ma Doomsday, and Granpa Doomsday all have my entire heart.

The .5 reduction off the rating is due to the pacing: it starts out strong (favorites material), but seems to titter off around the middle. That is absolutely the only thing I could say I wasn't taken with in this novel. Overall it’s pretty slow burn, so take note of that before diving in.

I can't wait for the sequel/(spin-off?) this fall!

Thank you NetGalley, Sourcebooks Casablanca, and K.J. Charles for sending me this ARC in exchange for an honest review.