5 stars. Enjoyed right from the very start. Two great main LGBTQ+ characters, both equally and strongly drawn, plus lots of great secondary characters, and several nice twists. A very satisfying read, and I strongly recommend it.

Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for a digital ARC of this book in exchange for my honest review. Bought for our library.

DEEPLY excellent. I have a soft spot for Charles even though the last book of hers I tried I couldn't really get through, but now I feel certain that that was just me not vibing with that particular couple type because I had literally zero issue zooming through this book. I was a little worried at first, because usually when a romance has the couple getting together early there's not enough momentum to carry the rest of the book forward, but this baby has momentum in spades.

This is really firing on all cylinders: great characters, great pacing, amazing sense of conflict and tension, and just in general a damn good time to read. I could have done with a bit more to the ending - like that promised conversation between Asa and Gareth!! - but that's really my only major complaint. This is one where I really started dragging it out near the end because I wanted to spend more time with these characters, and I was little bummed to see that the next in the series doesn't have Joss and Gareth as the leads...but I'll probably check it out anyway since I enjoyed this one so much.

An excellent choice for anyone looking for a historical romance, or an entry point into Charles's oeuvre. Highly recommend this one.

This story follow Gareth a young man who just inherited his estranged father fortune and title. When Gareths mother died when he was six his father sent him to his uncle and started a new family having a daughter Celia. Celia who didn’t even know she had a brother is now left penniless and dependent on a brother she didn’t know existed. We follow Gareth as he moves into his father’s house and starts to get to know his sister and father’s former lover. During this time Gareth also meets Kent (fake name)who he had a one night stand with no names exchanged . Gareth finds out there are smugglers in the area and sees some when out for a walk he mentions it to the lieutenant who was trying to catch the French smugglers. Gareth finds out Kent is a smuggler in fact the head of the smugglers.

This was a unique historical romance that I flew through The LGBTQIA+ themes was such a breath of fresh air! I liked the relationship between Joss and Gareth it was cute with the proper Londoner and a country smuggler. I also thought the smugglers were so interesting to follow it’s not a storyline in historical fiction I’ve come across before.I enjoyed this authors writing and hope to pick up the next book in the series soon ! I would like thank netgalley and the publishers for a chance to read this book for an honest review.

"The Secret Lives of Country Gentlemen" by KJ Charles weaves a captivating tale of Sir Gareth Inglis, a newly promoted baronet with a cold exterior, and Joss Doomsday, an overworked smuggler leading the Doomsday clan.

Despite their tumultuous history, the characters' reunion is both suspenseful and tender. Charles skillfully combines elements of M/M historical romance with an intriguing storyline, making it easy for readers to root for the unlikely pairing. As Gareth navigates his newfound title and the treacherous Romney Marsh, he discovers that true love might blossom in the most unexpected places.

This novel seamlessly blends suspense and romance, offering a compelling journey for fans of historical romance.

I’m a recent KJ Charles fan but so far I have LOVED each book I’ve read. This one was no different. The way the characters feel real is so important to me when reading. It has to be believable or I am not interested. This book is a great example of characters who have value and flaws and feel real.

Maybe it’s just that I tried to read it while nursing a newborn, but I could not get into this one and couldn’t finish it. Not for me!

I loved this book so much and I am sorry I didn't read it right when it was released (I somehow accidentally read the ARC of book 2 first)! Highly recommend the author and series!

I enjoyed this book a lot. I did find the beginning to be a bit long, but as it progressed I was invested in all the characters. I look forward to the sequel

The book overall was OK, just not my cup of tea exactly. I really enjoyd the regency setting but the characters themselves and the writing was difficult. I think fans of this authors work should feel at home but for me it was a bit lacking.

I was very excited for this one but I just cannot get into the authors writing style. I’m not even sure if there was a good plot somewhere in there but what I do know is that I did not like the characters and I did not believe their relationship.
I’ve heard really great things about this author so I think I will try just one more of their books but this was just unfortunately not for me.

Undeniably a banger of a book. The humour is immaculate, the vibes are out of this world, the character development is realistic and engrossing. Love.

Liked this story a lot about two men who have a great love story despite their life circumstances and the time they lived in. Both characters were lovable in their own ways and I really rooted for them to be together!

K.J. Charles’s writing is a brilliant tapestry of richly detailed historical settings, complex characters, and sizzling romance. Her prose is sharp and eloquent, and her narratives are imbued with a remarkable depth of emotion and intelligence. I’ve always enjoyed her books and this one is no different.

Special thanks to Netgalley and SOURCEBOOKS Casablanca for providing me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

This was a very entertaining book, but I personally felt like I was immediately thrown into the book with limited setup. In addition, the characters were cute, but they just lacked some sort of *spark and I wasn't really able to attach to them. Overall, I liked this book and would recommend it (but personally I am more excited for the next book in this series).

K.J. Charles is quickly becoming one of my favorite authors. I love her humor and her characters. Her settings are rich and drawn with specificity. The Secret Lives of Country Gentleman was just the delightful, romantic read that I needed!

This is a cute MM regency romance. There are multiple reasons why Garett and Joss shouldn’t be together. I love the support both chars get from loved ones to be who they are and love who they love.

London and Kent meet in a tavern for “their sort of men”. After a blissful week of evening together, life pulls them apart. Who are they really, what will happen when they meet again miles away from the tavern.
The Secret Lives of Country Gentlemen, by K J Charles, spins a great tale of romance, set against class, law, society, and smugglers, all mixed up in historical England. In this book Charles makes brilliant use of dialect, gentlemanly past times, and the blurring of wrong and right. It is a fantastic read for those that love a good gay historical romance.

Opposites attract when self-righteous, upper-class London and plain-spoken, working-class Kent enjoy a splendid week-long affair together... that ends terribly when the two argue. But weeks later, Gareth (London) must travel to Kent after his father dies and he inherits his title. It's not until he testifies against Joss (Kent)'s sister in court that the two reunite, and despite the tense circumstances, the two eventually regain the connection they had against the backdrop of the Kentish marsh. But it's not just beetles the two uncover - it's dangerous secrets.

This romance will leave the reader swinging their feet in joy while also turning the pages out of a desperate need to uncover the mystery of what exactly Sir Gareth's father was up to alongside Gareth and Joss. It's both exciting and romantic, with beautifully described scenery and an interesting cast of characters sure to show up in the author's upcoming works.

I knew I wouldnt really like this book after the first chapter and I was right.
I just didn't find it interesting.

I loved everything about it. This was my first KJ Charles book, and I was impressed with the balancing act of historical romance and the Queer love story. Often Queer historical fiction either overlooks too many historical realities and ends up feeling more like a fantasy, or it slide more into the history and you are forced to confront the ugliness of historical homophobia. This book deftly manages both and then some. Highly recommend.