Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

I am a huge fan of queer historical romance, especially queer Regency romance, so this was an instant add to my TBR, and overall, I really enjoyed it. The characters had depth and showed genuine growth (I loved seeing the two main characters start to stand up for themselves and draw boundaries - you love to see it). The romance itself was lovely and believable. There was a lot of spice (it starts right off with it!), if that's your thing, and be forewarned if it's not.

The Secret Lives of Country Gentlemen is a book I’ve been anticipating for a while. I binged it within a day of getting the ARC and, on the whole, enjoyed it. It’s not my favourite book by K. J. Charles (that would still be The Gentle Art of Fortune Hunting), but it’s definitely an enjoyable one.

The story follows Gareth and Joss, one suddenly a baronet after his father’s death and the other a smuggler in Romney Marsh. Back in London, they’d had a fling which had broken off abruptly. Now they’re unexpectedly reunited when Gareth is about to testify against Joss’s sister. In desperation, Joss blackmails Gareth over their relationship and that’s where the plot begins.

As ever, K. J. Charles gives you two characters you will immediately like — yes, even Joss, as he does this to Gareth — and that’s always a good thing in a romance. Reading this, you want Gareth and Joss to reconcile (although maybe less quickly than they did… Could I get some angsty tension please?) and get together. It is a romance after all. That’s done well and believably here too.

This isn’t just a book about the romance though. It also keeps you intrigued with another mystery element. This element complements the romance well, really, since it’s what drives Gareth and Joss together following Joss’s blackmail. It also stood well as an element in its own right — the mystery was compelling and kept me reading alongside the romance.

The reason I didn’t like this quite as much as other K. J. Charles books was that, in all, it felt the tiniest bit bland. The main characters were fleshed out and you could root for them, but the characters around them seemed a little vague and underdeveloped. Perhaps this is understandable — this is, after all, a book about Gareth and Joss, less so the rest — but it didn’t help with the feeling of blandness.

Really, though, that was my only complaint and, on the whole, I enjoyed reading this one. It’s definitely a series where I’ll be keeping an eye out for the next one.

Writing a coherent review without gushing over and over about how much I loved this book will be challenging, but I’ll give it my best shot.

The Secret Lives of Country Gentlemen starts out by introducing London and Kent, two men who meet while frequenting the same pub. They’ve been trysting for a week and relishing their time together in the backroom where they revel in the other’s touch, taste, and closeness. Then their time comes to an end, with a nasty row and the thought that they won’t see each other again.

Sir Gareth Inglis arrives in Romney Marsh to take over his late father’s estate. He knows nothing of the grounds or his father’s business dealings since he hadn’t seen or heard from him since he was six, but this is his chance for a real home and to get to know his half-sister. He doesn’t realize his past and the man he thought he left there are about to rock his seemingly tranquil world.

Joss Doomsday is a smuggler and head of the Doomsday family. He’s known who Gareth was to him for some time, but stayed out of the way and out of sight since they did not leave off on good terms. Then Gareth sees something he shouldn’t have, goes to the authorities and Joss desperately needs to get him to NOT testify against his sister. He’ll do what’s necessary, even though it’s the last thing he wants to do.

My word, but I loved this book so hard. Action, adventure, mystery, tenderness, and romantic love, this book had it all, and I eagerly devoured every word. This is one of those books that you read in the car while sitting at a light, or while waiting at the pick-up line at the grocery store, literally unable to put it down until you get to the HEA.

Joss and Gareth couldn’t be more different in looks, temperament, and stations in life, but they are drawn to each other nonetheless. Both heads of their family and both burdened with difficult relationships, but their life experiences have thought them to deal with them in different ways. Joss either charms or forces his way into the situation to achieve his goals, while Gareth tends to tense up, get angry, and avoid problems. As a reader, I absolutely loved seeing them get to know each other, and themselves, by challenging each other’s assumptions and expectations, talking it out, and choosing to expand their beliefs and do better.

I would be remiss if I didn’t mention that the constant threat of the MCs being outed gave me no small measure of anxiety throughout the book. Joss and Gareth know that they have to be careful, and they do try, but there are outside forces (on both sides) who use their relationship against them for their own gain. I was glad that each instance was dealt with and ultimately ended with them realizing that they had the loving support of several family members.

The main plot arc was highly original and well done. There are several villains here, all working together and Joss and Gareth are caught in the middle. The setting of the marsh, full of country gentry and smugglers just trying to make a living during the hostility with France, was fascinating to me. Throw in some quiet, contemplative walkabouts with our MCs looking for beetles and newts while getting to know each other, then falling quite in love and I was a goner. The HEA for this couple was just about perfect. I can’t wait to read the next book in the series, especially after learning who will be one of the main characters.

Such a fantastic book. I highly recommend.

Love is love, and every kind of love should be celebrated and appreciated. If this is not your thinking, The Secret Lives of Country Gentlemen is probably not for you. There's plenty of graphic "M/M" sex, but the erotic nature of The Secret Lives of Country Gentlemen isn't really the point-the search for love is. Gareth and Joss are both male, but their feelings and experiences are universal. We all want what they're having-a relationship with someone who really gets us and loves us despite the hurdles-and in 19th century England gay couples faced the same stigmas and prejudices that sadly remain two hundred years later. There's a subplot about smugglers prowling the English countryside, which is the perfect metaphor for how Joss and Gareth "operate"-under the cover of darkness- but in search of stolen moments not gold. The Secret Lives of Country Gentlemen is sexy and sensual-and won't be a secret come publication day!

This book has swashbuckling adventure, intrigue, family infighting, and wonderfully original characters.

After years of banishment and estrangement, Gareth assumes his father’s baronetcy and moves from London to Romney Marsh in rural Kent. Once there he runs afoul of the local smuggling culture led by Josiah Doomsday. The very man he had an anonymous liaison with back in London.

Romney Marsh becomes a character itself as so much of life there is dependent on whether you are considered Outmarsh or not. Whether you consider it smuggling or free trading.

Loved the Kentish dialect and the great supporting characters. Asa, Joss’s Granda and Catherine stand out as true supporting characters one would hope to have with their situation in those times. Today, they’d be called allies.

The ending is so romantic. Vows and promises occur spontaneously at a church ruin. Sublime.

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

I requested this book because I loved the description and the cover. I thought it would be humorous and have a sexy slow burn like the Bridgerton stories, as they were listed as a comp.

However, I read the beginning, and I don't think it is for me. There wasn't any humor, and instead of a slow burn, we have a graphic sex scene right away. I'm all for sex scenes, but this felt gratuitous. And Kent is basically described as a guy with a great smile and a great body. There's no real connection.

I make the analogy here with starting books with a chase scene or dangling the main character off of a cliff. We don't know the characters enough yet to care. And that's how I felt about the opening. The reason Gareth was late and in a terrible state of mind was withheld as well, so we don't even have that.

And, although I read a lot of stories set in Regency London, I found myself stumbling over the language.

I really wanted to love this book, so I'm disappointed. I won't post this review online as I don't like to post negative reviews.

CWs: homophobia and blackmail, child abuse.
Rounding up a bit.

Well this was delightful!
I'm used to reading KJ Charle's novellas and short stories so the pacing here (up to around 60%) felt slow, maybe for other KJ fans too. Still, I was excited to read a full length novel.

I loved Joss and Gareth and always felt the push and pull of the two: Joss a smuggler and Gareth an ex-law clerk come baronet. I really liked how Joss felt about and explained his smuggling and how Gareth came to see understand this. And I really empathized with Gareth as 'outmarsh', being an outsider myself where I live. Their respective families were also entertaining and heartwarming (Catherine!).

It took a minute for the plot to really get going for me but that last 25% was so much fun to read, if difficult at times. I enjoyed how everything came together and played out, showing everyone's true colors, and the role the marsh itself played.

Hoping Sophia gets a book next??

Honestly my feelings about this book would be most accurately represented by a GIF of happy muppet flailing. It's just so darn good! In addition to the excellent romance, we get a lot of edge of your seat action and the dry humor I've come to expect from a KJ Charles book. Some notable tropes include be gay do crime, found family, and class difference.

I love the large extended smuggling clan and hope there are many future stories to come. I'm especially interested in what Sophy gets up to. And Catherine deserves a bit of happiness, even if just in a novella.

**Received an eARC via NetGalley**

A big thanks to NetGalley for this eARC in exchange for an honest review.

The Secret Lives of Country Gentlemen starts off with a bang, the kind that happens in the back room of a certain kind of establishment, and continues at a breakneck pace. Once I picked this book up, I couldn't put it down -- I absolutely loved it.

The characters at first seem to have nothing in common. Sir Gareth Inglis is a recently minted Baronet in the wetlands of Southeast England. His father's death brings him from busy London to rural Kent, where he struggles to adapt to the local customs and understand the dialect. He stumbles upon some smugglers and reports them to the authorities, only to realize that Joss Doomsday, head smuggler, has a familiar face.

Nobody says no to Joss Doomsday, until an uptight Baronet from London tries to report his sister to the authorities. He's been running the Doomsday family business since he was a teenager and, despite some family drama, business is good. But seeing Sir Gareth Inglis in court reminds him that there is more to life than just work.

As the two men begin to understand each other, they realize that they both shoulder heavy responsibilities, both have lost their mothers, among other things, and both yearn for some time for themselves and for each other.

It was easy to relate to the drama of a highly interconnected family like the Doomsdays, where every part of life involves dealing with someone you've known since birth. Those relationships can become so complicated and fraught, and the author handles them with insight and delicacy.

The romance was very high stakes, as it could mean the loss of family or titles for both men, but it was one of the most tender and electric connections I have ever read. Reader, you will agree it was worth the risk. I loved how the men spoke frankly to each other. There was flirtation, but not as much banter as some romances. Instead, they deal with hard feelings, difficult situations, and a number of risky ventures to get what they most want in life.

There were also two unexpected bonuses:
1. Learning about the smuggling history of Romney Marsh.
2. Nerdy naturalist descriptions of the insects and wildlife.

Somehow, K.J. Charles makes them into swoon-worthy subjects.

I give it 10/10 stars and recommend it for readers who love romance with a side of adventure and a whole lot of heart.

Historical romance with plenty of action and romance. The romance is man and man, but love is love! I’m not a big fan of man/woman sex scenes that are too graphic so the same applies here. A little more mystery about what’s happening can be more interesting. Other than that, this was a fun read that kept you reading to find out how it all turns out.

I enjoyed this book tremendously. The author does a great job of interweaving local dialect and customs as well as societal mores, especially related to homosexuality. The love story plays out in a charming way which any reader will be able to relate to. The story is engaging and moves very quickly as the main characters do their best to navigate the complications of family responsibilities and relationships at all levels of English society with an overlay of geographical loyalties. The characters were very well developed and I had no trouble quickly becoming invested in their challenges, their joys, and their fears as well as in the kindnesses they displayed. I would highly recommend this.

This absolutely worked for me and some of my favorite things. Found family, finding out where one belongs, and a high stakes mystery that had me biting my nails and yelling at the characters to “hurry up!”

KJ Charles has a wonderful way of writing places that really makes the locations of the book feel real and Romney Marsh stood out to me as perhaps the best example of this. From the beetles to the misty air I was fully immersed in the marshland.

The characters leapt off the page with their complexity and their vulnerability. Joss Doomsday (And the entire doomsday crew really) was a vibrant character of action and seeing him contrasted with the reserved and a more desaturated Gareth Inglis was really rewarding. The way they worked through what they needed from each other and how their lives fit together was wonderful (we love a couple that communicates!).
Also, this is a KJ Charles novel so there is a spot of murder and ass kicking going on as well - the villains in this one made my blood boil so I enjoyed these bits very much.

Absolutely wonderful book, for the best vibes I recommend it for a springtime read.

**ARC received with thanks to Sourcebooks Casablanca and NetGalley**

I’ve read some books set in The Fens, even some with a minor side plot of smuggling, but this was my first smuggler histrom set in the evocatively described Romney Marsh. The Secret Lives of Country Gentlemen is the first instalment in KJ Charles’ duology of Doomsday regency romances in this setting. And my gosh I enjoyed getting to know the newly Baronetted, long unwanted Sir Gareth Inglish and the crown Prince of the Kentish smugglers, Joss Doomsday.

I love how queer histrom author K J Charles structures her stabby, murdery love-stories. Here, we open at a meeting with our protagonists at a London pub, stripped naked from the first pages without knowing anything at all about them besides their assigned names: Kent (Joss) and London (Gareth). Kent is happy to wait with his easy smile and good humour. London is running late, a bit fraught and frantic. From there Charles spins an engaging and highly entertaining story of our lovers to enemies to lovers protagonists and their respective families, whilst they begin to work out who their beloved truly is. Foibles and all. Stripped bare and truly seen *fans self*. Goodness I love me a flawed, principled scoundrel who looks after his own. With fists and knives when needed, with caresses and commands when free to do so.

KJ Charles’ use of language of the period and the dialect typical to the region is just so evocative and to me perfectly sketches a sense of time and a place. If you’re not a language person, fret not: there’s just enough linguistic markers here to lend authenticity but never too much to make anyone trip into a watery dyke. Like bog land, this story is bound to suck the reader in, and move you from an *outmarsh* to a deeper appreciation of the people, the flora and the fauna of this queer and unique landscape. And more than anything root for the main couple who are truly two sides of a gold guinea.

Fancy an afternoon of pond dipping with me? Who knows what we might find.

I was thrilled to see this book offered up as a NetGalley ARC. It will be published in March. I have enjoyed every KJ Charles book I've read - and I've read a lot of them! They are generally historical romances. The history is well researched and a seamless part of the story. The romance might be a slow burn, but eventually burns hot. The books also have a lot of funny scenes. Heart and humor, oh yes, please.

This book had a lot of dark and serious undertones, but still a rollicking good read. I can't wait for more Doomsday novels!

This was my first KJ Charles novel, and I'm interesting in reading more. "The Secret Lives of Country Gentlemen" caught my attention initially by the cover/title, but after reading the synopsis I knew I had to read it. I've only recently started reading romance, none of which being a historical romance. I finally understand the appeal.

I thought Gareth and Joss were both wonderful protagonists. They worked well together and founded their relationship on communication, which isn't an easy thing to do given the time period. Their ability to overcome their differences and differences in opinion was admirable. I am sometimes put off by shifting perspectives, but it was welcomed in this book. The side characters were never given the direct spotlight, but they were all fleshed out and fit into the story perfectly.

I appreciated that this wasn't a romance where the characters are having sex seemingly every chapter. I also appreciated the discussion about class dynamics and the gray area that is the difference between "right" and "wrong".

I could see this making the transition to screen very well, and I would gladly pay for a ticket.

A big thank you to KJ Charles, Sourcebooks Casablanca, and NetGalley for an eARC in exchange for an honest review. The Secret Lives of Country Gentlemen comes out March 7, 2023!

The Secret Lives of Country Gentlemen is a delighful LGBTQ historical romance featuring found family, adventure, smugglers and a many mentions of beatles. After being abandoned by his father when he was younger, Gareth is anything but happy about inheriting his fathers baronetcy. Which involves moving to Rimney Marsh a place full of smugglers who are not very welcoming to outmarsh people and meeting a family he does not know. Really the only good part is that he gets to move away from the uncle that raised him but never loved him. After a couple of months lving on the marsh Gareth steps on the smuggler gangs toes when he decides to testify against a women smuggler who happens to be the sister of a man who Gareth had fallen for in London. Joss has been the leader of the smuggling gang for years, he will do anything to protect his people including acting fast and harshly to stop Gareth from testifying against his sister. Even when the dusts settles after their reunion, will they be able to overcome the struggles that keep being thrown up against them.

I really enjoyed reading this book, it did have a slow beginning for me but once you get into the thick of it the story is fast paced and packed full of adventure and romance. I think one of my favorite parts was watching both main characters develop and grow. Watching Gareth grow a back bone was amazing, especially because his growth had so much to do with defending people who he starts to care for. Watching him find a family after how lonely his childhood turned out was really heartwarming. Joss, I feel like settled into his leadership role and including dealing with unpleasant family members. The only thing I would have loved in addition would have been an epilouge, but even without it I feel like they both got the happy endeing they both fought so hard for. If you are looking for an action packed book that has so much warmth and connection in it The Secret Lives of Country Gentlemen is the book for you.

I wanted to love this book, and I adored the plot and many of the characters. I did not like Sir Gareth and I stopped reading 30% of the way. I didn’t enjoy how he responded or spoke to Joss. Gareth liked to blame others for his troubles, and I just couldn’t find any interest in his story.

I have loved a lot of KJ Charles’ books and I will continue to pick up a KJ Charles book regardless. Always witty repartee and original stories. The main character just didn’t do it for me in this one.

A thoroughly delightful new historical romance from KJ Charles!

When his estranged father dies, Gareth Inglis's life suddenly changes. Inheriting a title and an estate in Kent on the Romney Marsh, the new Sir Gareth is settling into his new title, household, and the community when he unexpectedly reunites with Joss Doomsday - the leader of the Doomsday smuggling clan and with whom Gareth had a brief but intense affair in London. Their reunion is bumpy and they are immediately tangled up in an increasingly suspenseful plot of smuggling, conspiracy, and murder. The book is action packed, but there are lovely, quieter moments between Joss and Gareth as they learn about each other, attempt (and sometimes fail) to trust and be vulnerable with each other. I’ve come to expect swoony, talky, consent positive romantic MCs in Charles’s books and this book did not disappoint. This is not a spoiler, but an example is something Joss initiates with Gareth that at first appears to be a sexy command that definitely curls both their toes. Later in the book, the original intent is revealed and it doesn’t embarrass either of them, but heightens and intensifies their mutual attraction and love for each other. SO. GOOD.

Charles's talent for writing historical fiction is so strong and her depictions of the Kentish countryside with marshes and coastline is marvellous - like a main character in the book. And speaking of other characters, there are quite a few secondary characters, but they are all distinctly written I could easily keep track of the various members of the Doomsday and Sweetwater clans.

I devoured this book and I cannot wait for the next book in the series, with a plea for more on page time with Sophy and Luke Doomsday. And I haven't even written about dung beetles, marshes, and entomology!

Sometimes I’ll get a book that I know I’m going to like a lot and I’m reluctant to read it because then it will have been read. I got my e-arc quite some time ago and was resistant to reading it for weeks. And then I finally opened it yesterday and read with brief breaks for sleep and food. I knew I would love it, I’m so glad I finally read it, and now I’m jealous of everyone who gets to read it for the first time.

The Secret Lives of Country Gentlemen open in London with two lovers meeting for a tryst. They know each other as London and Kent. When Kent announces he has to go home, London reacts badly. They part, never expecting to see each other again.

London is Gareth Inglis. Shortly after the incident at the bar, he finds out his neglectful father has died. He has inherited a baronet title, a house on Romney Marsh (in Kent), money, and a sister who didn’t know he existed. He discovers that his father was even more selfish than he knew, but also that they share a fascination with the plants and insects of the marsh.

The plot really gets rolling when Sir Gareth discovers that his former lover is Joss Doomsday, the head of a smuggling family/gang. After a very unpromising start, the two build a lovely relationship. The work through misunderstandings and the class division between them. The threat of exposure is real, but they also find that there are people in their lives who accept them. There is drama and high stakes aplenty with disgruntled family members, treason, and greed.

I found myself looking up maps and images of Romney Marsh and the beetles Gareth found so fascinating. I started dreaming about I definitely want this one on my physical shelf because the cover is gorgeous.

CW: homophobia, misogyny, assault, murder, physical abuse by parent to child, emotional abuse and neglect by parent, attempted murder of child, torture, threat of rape, threat of hanging, death of parents and family in past.

I received this as an advance reader copy from Sourcebooks Casablanca and NetGalley. My opinions are my own, freely and honestly given.

I really enjoyed this one! I'm normally not a fan of noble/commoner relationships, but Gareth didn't feel like an uppity royal, so it didn't bother me. I found him to be adorable, and Joss was an excellent contrast to him. And I loved the smuggling plot! Having a smuggler as an MC was refreshing, and I loved getting the differing views of upper-class and lower-class men. It was nice to see characters talk through their issues and not just argue and ghost each other. I'd recommend this!

Thanks to Netgalley for providing a free copy in exchange for an honest review!