4 stars

This might be my favorite KJC book now! I enjoyed this a lot and can't wait for the next book. Historical romances aren't normally my thing but this one hit the spot. Joss was my favorite and I loved their family.

I picked this up because I love historical romance and am always looking for queer historicals. However, I did end up DNFing at about 5%. I found this first chapter to be dialogue-heavy and very wordy, which is not my favorite style of writing. I think that the premise sounds interesting, but I was not super invested into getting much further in the plot.

Fantastic reading, I adored this book so much, a story full of romance, mystery, action and intrigue, who wouldn’t want to dive right in and devour this, because I did ! A queer regency romance with smugglers count me in , sexy and full of angst/tension this was a wonderful read and I can’t wait to read more from KJ Charles

I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

I have not read a historical book in ages but this one caught my eye immediately because it is also an MM romance. I was intrigued by the premise of a man of the nobility falling for a smuggler. I was also interested in the history of smuggling during this period of time. I got so much more than I came for with this story. The writing was absolutely phenomenal. I was thrilled that each man had such a distinct voice representing their very disparate backgrounds. I was also pleasantly surprised that it was Joss, the smuggler, who was the character who came from a position of strength in this story. Garreth had such a hard life that he never let beat him down. When he came to the marsh to inherit a title with the unexpected death of his estranged father, he wasn’t the man who had the upper hand.

Gareth and Joss met in London and never thought they would see the other again. When Gareth’s father dies and he journeys to the home, he discovers not only a family he never knew but also Joss. There he discovers too that their tiny community is also the source of so many illegal goods smuggled by locals from France with Joss in the heart of all this activity. As the two begin to reacquaint, they each begin to discover more about themselves and also uncover secrets that may have better stayed buried.

This was a story rich in character, plot, scenery, and history. Both Joss and Gareth have many side characters that support the story and it was so much better for it. I loved the attention to historical accuracy and also the representation of not only queer culture during this time period but also that Joss is biracial. The diversity of characters overall in this entire story and also the complex plot that unfolds really made this a read that was impossible to put down. I now have another author on my TBR whose backlist is demanding my attention and I also can not wait for more in this series.

Actual Review: This book was such a romp and I really enjoyed it! If you're here for a dash of #BeGayDoCrimes shenanigans, some general angst about what happens if the world finds out your secret (and then the world is a better place than sometimes it feels), and a very proper sort of man falling for a bit of a scoundrel (I mean, he is a smuggler) then this book is definitely for you. There was a lull in the middle where the pacing just wasn't quite keeping up with my mood reading impulses, but all in all, this one gets a highly recommend from me! (I went with five stars because I think it's a four and a half but it feels so much better than other books I've rated four stars lately.)

Musings on Secret in the Title: There are lots of secrets in this book and while I always struggle a bit with the whole homosexuality had to be kept a secret thing in historical romance, I'm also like... We're literally still living in a society. I thought we'd moved past that and yet... Anyways!!! Setting that aside, there's also the smuggling. And Gareth's dad's secrets, of course. So, yes, I really appreciate the use of Secret in the title.

Narration: Tell me why this narrator sounds like the man who played Hagrid in the movies based on the series by she who shall not be named. But I wound up really enjoying the narration style and this narrator does do different voices for the various characters, which is super necessary for my brain so I was very grateful. I think Martyn Swain was really great though so I am glad to have read a book from him!

2.5 stars

I spent most of The Secret Lives of Country Gentlemen trying to convince myself I was enjoying it. Unfortunately, there are a lot of parts that feel disjointed and don’t come together well in the end.

The Secret Lives of Country Gentlemen is sold as a Regency romance, but it’s missing any elements that would place you in that setting. You can’t just call someone a baronet and drop all pretence of status and manners. There’s no witty banter or societal ladders to climb. There’s intermingling of all classes with barely a second thought, and Joss moves very freely through a society that should be much more difficult for him, even in a small town. I had to keep reminding myself of the time period because Charles most certainly did not. Maybe I was expecting too much Austen or even Klassen, but something was missing from the writing to really place you in this highly regulated society before breaking all the rules. I’m not saying you can’t write smutty Regency fiction; I’m just saying you have to follow at least some of the rules before you break them. (view spoiler)

It’s pretty rare to finish a romance novel and feel cynical about the love story, but I kept thinking how unlikely Joss and Gareth would last as a couple without all of the excitement. Instalove plus adrenaline is fun, but they basically speak different languages, and the only thing holding them together is physical attraction. And I guess convenience since they now live near each other? Not exactly heartwarming pieces of a puzzle coming together.

Omg first scene is a seggs scene! Then we find out how they meet!
Two fellows meet in London and like eachother but then break it off. Only to end up in the country at odds with a whole lot of illegal activities happening.
Sir Gareth's estranged father passed away and left everything to him in his will. And his father's new family is livid.
Meanwhile Joss Doomsday (awesome name I don't care what Gareth says) is smuggling on the coast which is what his family and found family deal in.
I love a good LGBTQ regency! And this one is pretty open door if you like or dislike that. These two have very big personalities and Joss is very strong and confident. He's definitely taking care and protecting his guy. But everything has to stay a secret. Really enjoyed this one! Love a good mystery with adventure and throw in some smuggling. Also, some light entomology.

Thank you sourcebookscasa for the e-ARC for my honest and voluntary review.

This was a super fun queer historical romance. The relationship between Gareth and Joss really grew, changed, and developed throughout the story. Some of the beats were a little off, but the overall arc worked quite well. I liked the setting of the marshlands, with the complexity of the people and their deep connections. I liked the bits of intrigue, which helped keep the plot moving without overwhelming the romance.

I adored this gay historical romance. I loved how well Gareth and Joss balanced each other out and brought out the best in each other. There were a lot of supporting characters and it was a little hard to keep everyone straight, but they added to the richness of the world. The Marsh felt like its own character and Gareth’s efforts to explore and catalogue its ecology was endearing, along with how eager Joss was to show him his home. I’ll admit, the mystery and smuggling subplots lost me a little, but overall I loved this book. 4.5 stars, rounded up.

This was my first KJ Charles book. I don’t read a lot of historical books so this took me a little to get into it, but once I did I loved it! There was romance and mystery and whodunnit and ecology. I was rooting for Joss and Gareth the whole time. “Hearts alive” is a phrase I didn’t know I needed to hear.

Thank you to Netgallery and the publisher for giving me the opportunity to read this book, all opinions are my own.

The Secret Lives of Country Gentleman was not what I expected. And yet, I enjoyed it.

I didn't expect the murder, the suspense, the "where is the gold". I honestly went into this book for the romance, and it didn't disappoint.

Joss and Gareth slowly falling in love with each other, but consistently being able to communicate and also have disagreements and more, was just so good.

The characters were very fleshed out as well even the side characters that might be mentioned once or twice.

I recommend to read this one.

If you enjoyed KJ Charles Will Darling trilogy you will definitely enjoy this one too!
We have Sir Gareth, who is a nobleman, used to being alone because his family is The Worst! Being abandoned at his unloving uncles house as a child he’s not known a lot of love and affection in his life.
Meeting a dark, tall and handsome stranger in a tavern who looks at him like he wants to eat him alive seems to be one of the best things that ever happened to him…until he leaves him too.
But they will meet again, in the most surprising and shocking way possible.

I loved Gareth. He’s a baby girl who needs to be protected at all costs. He’s a little socially awkward and shy and I loved how Joss challenged him, took him seriously and tried to make him happy however he could.
I love me a good enemies to lovers, opposites attract romance and even better if it’s historical fic.
They were really cute together and I loved the character development.

For me the plot was a little too thin and too obvious to be honest. It was a rather short book, but it felt very long.
That’s why it’s only 4 stars for me.
I also wished there was a single loveable female character in this who didn’t depend on any man. I know KJ Charles can do better than this.

This book was WILD 😂.

This book has it all, romance, adventure, mystery, lots of secrets. The biggest secret never actually being revealed which was a little disappointing after reading the whole book 😂.

Joss and Gareth are super cute. Their relationship takes up most of the story until like 70% in and then we start with the dramaaaa! Like there’s some intense scenes woven in early on, and pieces of the larger storyline, but the ending is really where all the action is.

Overall, I thought this was a fun read. A bit spicier than I’d expected 😂. The ending surprised me, cause *spoiler* we never know where the money went and I wanted to know! 💰

I will say, I switched back and forth between ebook and audiobook for this one and I was not a fan of the narrator. Definitely stick to the ebook/physical book if you can.

TLDR: Oh, what a lovely romance! I devoured this in two days.

You really can't ask for more in a romance: the two main characters are fully fleshed out individuals with their own wants and desires; the storyline is super poignant; and the sex scenes are super hot. I was also pleased that 1) Charles doesn't hedge on the difficulties of being gay in Regency England during wartime and 2) the book is mostly set someplace other than London. This book is a lot of fun. Recommended!

There is something about KJ Charles books that doesn't always hit right for me and this book is no exception. It might be the overly complicated language. Or perhaps the complete lack of good dads. Or maybe it's the confusing descriptions of the setting as if we know what the heck any of this stuff is. It's almost as if the book is gatekeeping the reader from fully enjoying the book.

And even if you can get through the gate, the story and the characters aren't worth the effort. I did not believe the two main characters suddenly got over all their bullshit in time for the love declarations. Especially with how snotty, mean, and unwilling to consider other people's positions Gareth was. Use your words and open your heart, dude, and embrace the life of crimes for the hot smuggler!!! Ugh.

The book also had way too much and yet not enough bug and newt content. Lean into the bugs! And the crimes! Not the wandering aimlessly around the marsh being pissed and unreasonable about ridiculous nonsense!!! Get over yourself, Gareth.

rating: 8.5/10
rep: M/M romance, half-black MC

This is a historical romance (English countryside during the Napoleonic Wars) and follows a sweet and well-meaning baronet as he realizes that the man he's been having a romantic fling with is a French goods smuggler. Gareth wants a quiet life being a naturalist and entomologist, but is dragged into his late father's shady affairs with the ride-or-die Doomsday smuggling family.

This book is a lot of fun. It has the simple cozy vibes of a regency romance while also having mystery and action from the smuggler family that Gareth gets dragged into. It's dual pov and has spice.

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

I thoroughly enjoyed this book. Never really read a historical romance before, but I’ve been thinking of trying it out. Then this shows up and I hopped on it. And I’m glad I did!

I just loved Joss, and I really enjoyed Gareth. I loved the action and adventure and the way the storylines wove together. There was a lot going on, but I thought it was interesting enough to make me want to not work for a couple days just to finish it. Haha! I enjoyed this world and I’m excited to see what comes next!

I absolutely loved The Secret Lives of Country Gentlemen. I can’t speak to pacing (I read the book in starts and stops on my phone over the span of a few weeks), but once I was in it, I was very invested. I loved both of the main characters and really enjoyed all the different plot elements; the romance, the mystery, the relationships both characters have with their families and the marsh. I feel like the book balanced all these plot threads really well, and I really enjoyed the story.

Garreth and Joss have very distinct voices, and getting to experience both of their POVs really deepened the story; we didn’t just follow the romance, we got to explore the ways in which these two characters interacted with the world around them, and how they grew and changed over the course of the story. The romance itself was also super wonderful to read. The two characters complimented and pushed each other in a really interesting way, and the way their relationship changed and grew as they got to know each other was really beautiful to watch.

All the characters felt very real and fleshed out, with Joss and Garreth particularly sticking out but both of their families really shone as well. The setting of the Marsh was really beautifully described, and the mystery was really interesting and fun to follow. The book also talks about class differences in a way that I really enjoyed and commented on some things I don't normally see in historical romances, which I loved.

I also loved the climax of this book. I find in lots of instances romance books have a really strong emotional climax, but sometimes fall short on high stakes resolutions to the surrounding plots. Not this book. The climax of this book had me on the edge of my seat and combines all the plot threads of the story in a really tense and satisfying way.

I absolutely loved this story. It had mystery, suspense, complex family dynamics, a really compelling world, and a fantastic romance. I will definitely be buying a finished copy of this book.

I've read a lot of historical romance, and a MM story is certainly a rarity. Secret Lives is my first title by KJ Charles and I thoroughly enjoyed it! Gareth and Joss were great together, but I also loved the roles their extended family members and friends played. Gareth was not only navigating his relationship with Joss, but also his newly discovered sister and aunt. Add in mystery, adventure and suspense and you have an entertaining tale.

Thank you to netgalley and Sourcebooks Casablanca for an ARC. A really delightful historical lgbtq romance. I found the characters really interesting and the setting of the Marsh felt like a third character. KJ Charles also explored some interesting social issues as well between the different social classes of Joss and Gareth. I really liked Luke’s character as well. I found the pacing a little slow in the middle third but loved the ending.