This book is middling great (probably didn't use the Kentish correctly here - sorry). KJ Charles had delivered another novel with complex characters who manage to find each other in a complex world. There are dunnamany smugglers, secrets, horrible family members, found family and of course a few corpses. And was there for all of it. And the language was the icing on the cake. Great book.

Thank you to Sourcebookscasablanca and @netgalley for the review copy of The Secret Lives of country gentlemen. Book one in the Doomsday books series.

Set in 1810, mostly on Romney Marsh in Kent. England is at war with France, smuggling is rife.

Things haven't been going so great for Gareth lately his Uncle gave him the sack from his job for no real reason and he has made a mess of his love life but then the father who abandoned him as a child dies suddenly and Gareth inherits his father's title and property in Kent and he meets his half sister for the first time.

The newly minted Sir Gareth discovers a love of natural history and also that his ex runs the local Doomsday family smuggling operation (awkward). Chaos ensues....

Sir Gareth spends his days wandering around the moor looking for insects but the Sweetwater family, rivals of the Doomsdays assume Sir Gareth is up to something criminal out on the moor and get heavy with Gareth and his teenage sister and soon Gareth and the Doomsday's are at odds with the Sweetwater's and much criminal shenanigans occur.

Content warning for child abuse.

According to Goodreads book two will be published in September and focuses on Luke Doomsday who is a 13 year old in the first book, going through a lot of trauma. I am keen to read about him as an adult.

I've read most of K J Charles's books after seeing the author recommended for those who enjoyed A Marvellous light by Freya Marske. All are historical fiction, some with fantasy elements. I also have enjoyed the Widdershins historical fantasy books by Jordan L Hawk who has also written a novella with K J Charles. A lot of both K J Charles and Jordan l Hawk's books are free on Kobo Plus.

The way that I loved this story..

Y’all.

THE WAY THAT I LOVED THIS STORY!!!

I will be yelling about this one for a while. I was completely captivated from page 1 and I had the hardest time setting it down so I could go about life. Oh, my heart. It’s permanently etched with these two!

Let’s start with the writing, it was truly BEAUTIFUL. I’ve never read a K.J. Charles book until this one and I will definitely be rectifying that! I was blown away at the way the author wove longing, pain, love, humor, hurt, contentment, and literally every other emotion into simple but elegant words. I need my physical copy immediately so I can mark it up!

The plot! I was hooked, absolutely ensnared from page 1! Historical fiction is a genre I enjoy, but by no means is it my go-to. So when I say I couldn’t put this book down all of that credit goes to the author! The pacing was perfect, the mystery engaging, the stakes high.. just the way I like them!

And the characters. THE CHARACTERS!!! I absolutely fell head over heels for Gareth and Joss, our sweet London and Kent. Both so beautifully layered, flawed, and earnest in their affections! I adore watching them grow, challenge one another, and settle into the comfort of being one another’s “person”.

I absolutely loved this one! 5⭐️

Read this if you like:
-historical fiction
-a dashing smuggler that has major Poldark vibes
-a cinnamon roll Sir looking for a family and a quite life where he can study nature
-missing gold and threats from every side
-gay love in a time where it was forbidden
-hilarious family shenanigans
-found family trope
-steamy romance 🔥
-drama, love, blushing, near death experiences, lazy days in dappled sunlight, beetles, and promises made in crumbling churches. 💕

Huge thank you to NetGalley and Sourcebooks Casablanca for the gifted e-ARC! I can’t wait for this one to be on my shelves!

FUN, SPICY AND ENTERTAINING

While I am not as in love with this book as many other readers, I still found it fun and entertaining. Joss and Gareth were a great couple with good chemistry. The first half of the book was The most entertaining in my opinion, the last half was a bit bogged down and too busy for my taste. But if you love MM historical romance, this will be right up your alley.

Thank you NetGalley for the ARC.

Ok, where to start? This story brings a lot of the the trademark flavours of KJ Charles. There is a delightful mystery, a swoony love story, a sparkling cast of surrounding characters and a fully realised historical setting.

Sir Gareth Inglis has recently inherited a Title from his father and has moved from London to Dymchurch (a small town in Romney Marsh) to take up his inheritance. Having met the head of the local Free Trader family, Joss Doomsday, previously (oooo! Secret drama!) Gareth attempt to find a way to settle into his new life, while navigating the distinct culture of the Marsh. Also apparently his father was mixed up in something… because people keep visiting Gareth to ask…. Questions.

So this story plays delightfully with power and geography. Sir Gareth should hold the power as landed gentry, but The Doomsday’s are the people who supply the goods to the area, so they hold the power. Joss should hold the power as head of the family, but his Ma is an absolute force to be reckoned with so he has to negotiate with her. Gareth is the head of his household, but seeks connection about his half sister, Cecilia, and so desperately wants to connect with and support and provide for her. Just love the layers of complexity in all of these relationships.

Sometimes with a mystery/romance you end up with mostly one or mostly the other, but as has been proved time and time again, KJ Charles is a master of getting the balance just right.

Delightful story, fun mystery, left me swoony and happy!!

I LOVED this book so much! It took me a minute to get into it at first because of the odd language, but once I became attached to the characters, which didn't take too long, I was completely hooked. The language of the marsh used by the country folk actually became quite endearing, and by the end, it was one of my favorite things about the book.

I was expecting a cute historical romance, but I didn't anticipate how action-packed the plot would be. It was the perfect blend of romance, mystery, murder, and mayhem. 🏴‍☠️ Despite all the goings on regarding the smuggling shenanigans, the romance never felt like it got lost in the shuffle and actually complemented the mystery really well. I never knew what would happen next and didn't want to stop turning the pages until I was certain all my favorites would be safe.

Every single character in this book oozed personality. Some of them had an awful personality, but they all felt like real people with understandable motivations. I would probably read a book dedicated to each of the supporting characters, to be honest, and I'm happy to see we will be getting another book following a grown up Luke later this year. He was a bit of a brat, but I adored him and really felt like this was only the beginning of his story. So, I'm very excited for the impending follow-up! In general, the family dynamic of the Doomsday clan was a treat to read, even when they were super dysfunctional (AKA most of the time). I did have a hard time keeping track of how they were all related, though, and found myself getting distracted trying to figure it out. In the end, I just gave up and enjoyed the ride. 🤷‍♂️ (EDIT: I feel dumb. I went back and re-read the part of the book that explains how they're all related. It makes perfect sense. I forgot that two Doomsday cousins married, which explains all of the things that didn't make sense to me before.)

As for the main characters, Gareth and Joss, I loved them both. They had a tumultuous relationship to say the least, but they were perfect for each other. Both of them had difficulty opening up and relying on others but for very different reasons. Gareth had abandonment issues and tried to avoid needing to rely on others after being burned time and time again by his horrible family. Joss, on the other hand, took on everyone's problems and believed he had to solve everything himself. This baggage led to misunderstandings and many bumps in the road to happily ever after. They had magnetic chemistry, though, and couldn't stay apart for long. I loved seeing how navigating their differences in the relationship helped each man grow into a more well-rounded person. Gareth learned to be more assertive, and both he and Joss slowly began to lean on each other for support. They had some incredibly steamy moments together, as well, and I absolutely loved seeing Gareth's growing assertiveness play out in the bedroom. 😳 Although, Joss' dominant moments were super hot to read too.

The story explored interesting and timely themes related to queerness, class differences, and the ethics of law. Both of the main characters dealt with living in the closet and routinely being blackmailed because of their relationship. The story illustrated the stress involved with living while hiding such an integral part of oneself, but it also showed how support can come from places we least expect it. The baronet versus country folk dynamic was weaved throughout the entire story, and the argument over whether it is right to go against the law to better serve one's family and community was compellingly presented.

All in all, I loved almost every single thing about this book and am now awaiting the sequel. If you enjoy your gay romance with a side of mystery and roguish adventure, I think you'll probably love this one too. Therefore, I rate this book 4.75 out of 5 stars.

This is a gay historical romance and I was lucky to snag an ARC. I loved the cover so that is pretty much what I went in on. I have never read this author before but I guess suspense goes with her romances. I just like to read cute historical romances so I was not expecting the mystery and violence but I still enjoyed it. Gareth and Joss enjoy a week together in London and then go their separate ways. Gareth ends up moving to Kent to take over the family estate after his father dies and guess who he runs into? Joss. Unfortunately Joss's family is into illegal activity and Gareth wants nothing to do with it, but bad men are coming around harassing him so he has to figure out why. Of course they need to work together to figure out what is going on. I smiled many times with Gareth and Joss.

-"Tell me something. You ever had someone on your side? Really on your side?"

** Thanks to KJ Charles and NetGalley for an eArc of this title! **

4.5 stars rounded up to 5.
This was the sweetest read. I don't know when I've fallen in love with two characters more quickly than I did with Gareth and Joss. I really enjoyed experiencing them navigating their own faults and family dynamics while finding a way to be together. I thought all the characters were super vivid and all of the settings jumped off the page.
Maybe the treasure will turn up in book 2?
Recommend for readers who enjoyed The Wisteria Society of Lady Scoundrels series by India Holton.

4.5 stars

Thank you to Netgalley and Sourcebooks for providing me with an advanced copy in exchange for an honest review.

I absolutely ADORED this book. It took me a little bit to get into which is the only reason this isn’t five stars, but once I was in I was hooked.

I had definitely forgot the summary of this book between requesting it and reading it, and I think that somehow made it infinitely more enjoyable. I started expecting a silly little regency romcom and ended up with this exhilarating tale of mystery and adventure alongside a truly beautiful, thoughtful adult romance.

Gareth and Joss are both such brilliant main characters. They are so vastly different and it seems as though they really shouldn’t work, and yet they do in every way. Their differences end up working in harmony instead of against each other, and both these characters are allowed to learn from each other and grow on the page. I loved seeing these boys talk through their disagreements and grievances and realise when they were in the wrong and apologise and forgive and just…I really dig open communication in romance, okay? It’s so refreshing to see that, and it was so beautifully written in a way that didn’t diminish anyones personal feelings.

The supporting cast in this book is also brilliant. There are so many varied, vibrant, loveable characters in this story who all serve their own unique purpose. KJ Charles managed to add so much depth to even the most minor of characters, and even the deeply unlikeable ones have endless personality.

I also didn’t skip over any of the steamy bits, which is pretty rare for me. There’s a few of these scenes, but they’re so beautifully written that I couldn’t bring myself to skip the way I usually do.

A brilliant book that has me eager to read some of this author’s backlist!

I absolutely loved this book. It has all the elements that I appreciate so much about KJ Charles’ writing: flawed MCs in impossible situations, elaborate how-are-they-getting-out-of-this hijinks, expertly written dialogue, a lovable set of secondary characters, villains you want to punch in the face, and a beautiful and hard-won love story.

This book also has such a strong sense of place. I loved the descriptions of Romney Marsh so much, I *almost* want to go traipsing through the bog to hunt for beetles.

I absolutely loved both Garett and Joss, and the way their relationship evolves over the course of the book as they learn to know and trust each other. I loved the second chance aspect of this book, and how Joss keeps calling Garett London throughout. This book also has possibly the most romantic scene KJ Charles has ever written.

I’m so excited that there will be a second book in this series so that I can revisit the Doomsday clan

The publicity touts Bridgerton as a comparison, I guess because of the TV show, and its diversity. I think the comparison to Poldark is closer to the mark. K.J. Charles seems to be working more in the well-loved path of the likes of Jeffrey Farnol than the silver fork tradition of Georgette Heyer in this m/m mystery romance. Only of course there is far more on-page sex.

I really enjoyed Charles' evocation of the smuggling coast of England at that time. I loved the smuggling family, and I even came to like the isolated, alienated Sir Gareth, abandoned early in life, even before he discovered that he was again an outsider in preferring men.

The villains are despicable, the mystery intriguing, the action quick-paced and the atmosphere, especially the descriptions of the marshes, pulling me right into that insular world. I hope the author comes back to this setting!

I devoured and adored this book. I haven’t read an historical romance I’ve enjoyed as much as this one in years. The setting of Romney Marsh is almost a character itself, and I was fully immersed in the vivid scenery without feeling bogged down by world-building details. The story flowed beautifully with many emotional highs and lows.

The plot becomes a bit overcomplicated in the final act, but the romance is never overshadowed. The suspense was unexpected but welcome.

I would love to see this as a BBC adaptation, because there aren’t enough sweeping historical romances featuring gay characters being represented on the screen either, and this one is handled with care. There is period-specific homophobia and fear of being outed, but there are no forced outings and both men find support from unexpected people in their lives.

I eagerly await the second book in this duology so I can escape again to Romney Marsh with the beetles and newts, the Doomsday family, and Gareth.

Thank you to NetGalley and Sourcebooks for the eARC.

This was so lovely!! I had zero expectations going into it and I honestly loved that it wasn’t just smut- the plot was great and the rest of the characters likeable and interesting. Some of the language was tricky without a glossary haha but still really enjoyed this one.

What a delightful book, the main characters, the settings, the side characters, specially darling Luke.
Gareth was such a sweet guy, I loved him so much, always trying to do the right thing, he just wanted to be loved, enter Joss who didn’t set himself to love Gareth, but you know, you just have to, and he did and he tried to protect him and his family, which wasn’t an easy task, them being smugglers and all, and people looking for missing guineas, a whole mess, but a wonderful delightful mess!

Thank you to Netgalley, the author, and the publisher for allowing me to read and review. The writing itself was good except for a few things where I felt the story and characters weren’t developed well and it seemed as if the writer just wanted to try a shock appeal, and the story wasn’t for me.

Once again, KJ Charles has written my favorite kind of romance. I love how her books are instant comfort reads at this point, while at the same time remaining fresh and new no matter how many I've read. You'd think she'd run out of unique and loveable characters (most of them gold-hearted rogues who aren't particularly morally bothered) with chemistry of the sort that means warmth and comfort and companionship and someone always on your side, in addition to the usual definition. And yet.

I love her wit and sly humor. I don't tend to like must "humorous" books because they tend to rely on steortypes, punching down, bawdy humor, etc. Not so KJ Charles. Her humor is of the witty, sardonic, dry variety and it's just wonderful. Here, I'll give you an example:

----
"I would like to talk about this again, more civilly, to understand your point of view. I don’t know if I’ll agree but I’d rather disagree with more nuance.”


Joss hoped nuance didn’t mean shouting.
----

A lot of the humor in this book comes, as in the example above, from the language barrier of Marshman smuggler vs. educated Londoner. So I guess you have to like clever humor about words. Luckily, I do.

Joss and Gareth are wonderful characters. Really, every character in this book is a wonderful character. They all have such distinct personalities and feel so very real. Their romance feels very natural too, as they work together and learn to trust one another.

I absolutely LOVED everything about this and I had the biggest smile on my face while reading it. I knew I would love it - It's KJ Charles, that's a foregone conclusion - but it always surprises me how much I love it in the end.

The plot was great. Twisty and full of danger and trouble, but also full of quiet moments of companionship and connection. I loved how it ended, too. It was perfect. I will absolutely read the next one as soon as it comes out (and her next book, and the next...) because she's one of my favorite authors at this point. I've preordered the audiobook as I know I will want to revisit this and that's one of my favorite ways to do so.

*Thanks to NetGalley and Sourcebooks Casablanca for providing an early copy for review.

London holds very little in the way of joy for Gareth Inglis—except, that is, for his occasional trysts with a mysterious visitor he refers to as Kent. A misunderstanding between the two leads them to part ways, much to the chagrin of both. But when Gareth’s estranged father dies unexpectedly and Gareth finds himself the baronet of a countryside estate, everything begins to shift. Not only is Kent nearer than expected, but Gareth also finds himself in the middle of a dangerous agreement that puts his own life at risk. Luckily, love has a way of navigating the perils of life, and Gareth slowly works to accept that he is worthy of ongoing affection.

This intriguing novel takes place in early 1800s England, and the customs and dialogue fit clearly into that time and locale. Depending on a character’s upbringing, their accent reflects their station and background, so they are easy to discern even without a specific mention. The narrative alternates between Gareth’s and Kent’s point of view, which offers readers a glimpse into each of their disparate worlds throughout the story. Many colorful characters appear alongside the protagonists, as well, adding layers of intrigue to the plot as alliances are built and broken. Dialogue among these players propels the narrative, and both the context of these interactions and the intensity of them make this book best suited to a mature audience.

Much like heterosexual “bodice rippers,” there are several detailed romantic scenes between Gareth and Kent in this book from the very beginning. While the narrative itself is enjoyable on its own, it often serves more as a filler between these sexual interludes. Because the book takes place in the early nineteenth century, the relationship between Kent and Gareth is one that must remain secret for the sake of propriety. Contrary to heterosexual relationships at the time, the love the two men share for one another often feels smothered and dangerous, and the characters lament their inability to dote on one another publicly. Sweet, steamy, and intriguing, this is an enjoyable story for both mature young adult and older fans of historical romantic fiction with an LGBTQ focus.

This satisfying m/m second'-chance romance matches newly minted baronet Sir Gareth Inglis with Romney Marsh smuggler Joss Doomsday during the Napoleonic Wars. While the two met in a molly house in London before Sir Gareth inherited the title from his barely known father, once Gareth moves to his new estate, he enters an entirely different world and discovers a whole new family--as well as a surprisingly familiar face. But there are deadly secrets on the Marsh that threaten both men. The two main characters seem to be complete opposites, but their strong chemistry and complementary strengths allow them to better deal with their own shortcomings and learn from each other. The vivid descriptions of Romney Marsh and the smuggling gangs existing then only add spice to the story and help to bring the whole thing to life. This is well worth the read.

An interesting story full of twists, turns, fun characters and overall a book I would consider reading time and time again.

My bar for historical works is high and The Secret Lives of Country Gentlemen by KJ Charles sails over it. The fact that I hesitate to pigeon hole this book into by saying it's historical romance and think it could also be historical mystery or historical fiction is telling. The romantic story and mystery coexist beautifully here. The use of vernacular drove home the setting and had me, a voracious reader of historical genres, looks up a few things. I personally love learning something while being entertained by a great story.

The relationship between Gareth and Joss is choppy at first, but you find yourself rooting for them as they find their way. While I was hoping for the romantic plot to be unmarred by the threat of an outing, I realize it's a common trope in stories with same-sex partners set in the past and it tied into the mystery plot. I just sort of wished these two could have their lovely partnership be all about sleuthing.