A Nobleman’s Guide to Seducing a Scoundrel by KJ Charles
The Doomsday Books #2

Flat open moorland in 1823 could be a desolate lonely place for some but for others it is a place of intrigue and danger, dysfunctional families and family feuding, messes to clear up, and fertile soil for the growth of potential happily ever after romances for more than one. Great story that kept me awake till almost two this morning – had to finish before I slept last night!

What I liked:
* Rufus: retired major, newly minted earl, in the midst of trying to restore his estate, dealing with evil relatives, in need of someone to assist and perhaps befriend him, caring, kind, short tempered, loud, and lovely, perfect for and with Rufus
* Luke: educated, experienced secretary, loves to create order and be helpful, from a smuggling family, had a difficult childhood, carries baggage and scars from the past, has secrets, a bit of a schemer, perfect for and with Rufus
* The slow burn but then steamy relationship that develops between Rufus and Luke and being able to see the two men as a happy couple
* The way more than one character impacts another in a positive way
* Getting to see and catch up with some of the characters in the previous book
* The setting, plot, pacing, and writing
* That I was drawn in and cared about the outcome
* Being able to hate the bad guys – and be happy when they were dealt with
* Hoping that there will be another book in this series

What I didn’t like:
* Who and what I was meant not to like
* Thinking about inheritance and how ruthless some people can be when trying to achieve their goals

Did I like this book? Yes
Would I read more in this series? Definitely

Thank you to NetGalley and Sourcebooks Casablanca for the ARC – This is my honest review.

5 Stars

✨ Review ✨ A Nobleman's Guide to Seducing a Scoundrel by K.J. Charles; Narrated by Martyn Swain

The Second book in the Doomsday Books series, Luke is now all grown up and we get to see a bit of Gareth and Joss over a decade later (swoon!)

In this one, Luke joins Major Rufus d'Aumesty's household as he's in the process of becoming earl after a long battle to secure his right to the title. Luke serves as his secretary as they deal with unruly family, underserved tenants, and other general chaos.

I found this to be a little slow moving at first, but found it much more engaging as an audiobook. Overall, I enjoyed this one, but not as much as the first in this series -- it just felt a little tedious in the logistics of running a household sometimes in lieu of plot.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ (3.75)
Genre: m/m historical romance
Setting: Romney Marsh, UK
Pub Date: 19 Sep 2023

Thanks to Dreamscape Media, Sourcebooks Casablanca, and #netgalley for the gifted advanced copy/ies of this book!

This is the 2nd book in the Doomsday series by KJ Charles, where we find ourselves back on Romney Marsh, 13 years after The Secret Lives of Country Gentlemen.

I liked the Gothic vibes and creepy old house setting very much, and one thing I usually admire about this author's books is that the mystery subplots are generally as interesting as the romance, and this one was no exception.

The one aspect I struggled with was the epilogue, which seemed to contradict the themes and conclusions that the characters come to at the end.

A swoony drawing room/blue collar LGBTQ historical romance with a mystery included!

Rufus is an unassuming, recently made earl, and Luke comes from a hardscrabble mafia-esque family with a dislike for toffs. Initially on opposite sides, the two come together to thwart Rufus' uncle and make swoon faces at one another. Loved the characters, the romance, the plot, all of it!

I love this series and getting to see more about :Luke was a delight. KJ Charles is such a gifted writer and her sense of place (both on the Marsh and the manor) makes you feel like you're really there. The dynamics between Rufus and Luke are engrossing and I will always wish for more titles in this series.

This is an absolutely delightful read! K.J.Charles is a phenomenal writer that I simply can't get enough of. A Nobleman's Guide to Seducing a Scoundrel is witty, humorous, and deeply romantic.

In this book, we are treated secrets,lies, a treasure hunt, and a sizzling hot romance between Rufus d'Aumesty, the Earl of Oxney, and his secretary Luke Doomsday.

Rufus is a gruff, no nonsense, former major newly the Earl and dealing with his feuding family. Luke is a member of the devious yet charming Doomsday family. Their chemistry is amazing and passionate. I loved everything about this book!

I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are my own.

A nobleman’s guide to seducing a scoundrel is second in a very interesting mm historical romance novel.. The story although could be read as a standalone , as the second in series build on the first story. The hero’s find their way to each other in a very repressed time.

The book starts off slow, with a lot about family squabbles and history that's as dull to the reader as it is to the characters, but the second half picks up as the leads grow closer (Charles excels at writing chemistry and steam). I still struggled, however, as Luke remained closed off from the reader to the very end, even though we spent half the book in his POV. Withholding for its own sake (or because the author can't think how to write it without being blatantly shifty) never endears a book to me. In the end, it's a competent and often quite fun but nevertheless frustrating story.

My thanks to NetGalley and Sourcebooks Casablanca for providing an eARC in exchange for an honest review.

A Nobleman's Guide to Seducing a Scoundrel is the second book in the Doomsday books. Rufus d'Aumesty has come to Norman manor as the unexpected new earl, but will he be able to keep his position when everyone in the household is contesting it, including Luke Doomsday of the smuggling Doomsday clan? What ensues is an enemies to lovers romance between boss and secretary that will make your heart soar - and speed up!

Much like all of KJ Charles other books, there is such great banter held within these pages! This story is full of witty characters, sexy scenes, some BIG romances and a twisting plot that keeps you saying, "Just one more chapter." There is so much emotion, drama and adventure.

The only reason that you may not like this book is if you can't handle a lot of spice. Because this is so spicy! I loved it! The audio particularly made me blush several times in the best of ways. That said, do not listen to this in the car if you are uncomfortable with the word "prick" being blasted from your speakers.

Overall, I adored this book and love this series. It is so creative and fun, while still having such a great plot with highly charged emotions. I can't wait to continue this series and anything else this author writes.

Once again, KJ Charles has proven herself one of the most charming authors in the game. I'll read anything she writes, with gusto.

KJ Charles has written a lot of books, and I've read almost all of them - yet she succeeds in making A Nobleman's Guide to Seducing a Scoundrel. I loved Rufus as a character and I thought he was quite different than Charles' previous main characters. I had already fallen in love with Luke in the first book, so to see him get his HEA in this book was extremely satisfying. The relationship was heartwarming and wonderful. The sex scenes were wonderful. A perfect book.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publishers for providing me with a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review!

Sequel to The Secret Lives of Country Gentlemen, which I absolutely loved. This series has the perfect balance of romance and action. The villains are surprisingly villainous and the conflict high-stakes, but balanced with sweet relationships between the characters. I got slightly annoyed with not knowing what Luke was up to for most of the book, but it was worth it in the end. I enjoyed the historical setting, the marsh, and the old manor house vibes. I loved the dynamic between Luke and Rufus and look forward to seeing where this series will go next!

This was a fun read and I really liked returning to the setting with Luke as one of the main characters! I did, however, feel like there was not enough context given at the beginning to allow readers to position themselves in the plot, and I didn’t think that there ended up being enough reasoning for Luke’s actions because it felt a bit like a letdown when we finally got his explanation. Saying that, I loved the cameos from Gareth and Joss, and I really liked watching Beregaria, Odo and Fulk’s characters grow and come out of their shell; I enjoyed reading A Nobleman’s Guide to Seducing a Scoundrel, but I definitely think that certain elements could have been edited to make it a more compelling and well-rounded story.

Thank you Netgalley and Sourcebooks for the ARC of A Nobleman's Guide to Seducing a Scoundrel.

Loved being able to see Luke's story 13 years later. Getting the little cameo of Garrett and Joss was also great.

The whole story was so well written and I loved the interactions between Rufus and Luke. Luke broke my heart with how his past is described. Rufus's family was super annoying but they did add a lot of good humor to the book.

The spice was so freaking good and both of them definitely know how to dirty talk. This was a definite 5 star book for me.

4.5 / 5

K.J. Charles has perfected her craft and it shows. Earlier this year, I read and loved The Secret Lives of Country Gentlemen. I immediately added A Nobleman's Guide to Seducing a Scoundrel to my TBR as soon as it was announced, and I was not let down one bit.

The Doomsday books inspire such a warm, comforting feeling - they are full of emotion, mystery, and well-written steamy moments. Is "cozy historical mystery with steam" a genre? Let's make it one, because I want MORE, and I think K.J. Charles would be the blueprint of that genre.

I don't want to mention too much for spoiler reasons, but this one felt distinct from the first but still had that nostalgic, atmospheric marshland that I came to love in Country Gentlemen. I hope Charles returns to this setting and the Doomsday family in further books - I will damn well read 'em!

I only knocked off half a star because the intro was a bit jarring - we are absolutely dropped in the midst of a complicated situation, and I needed a few chapters to wrap my head around what was going on. I still loved it though and it certainly felt rewarding as the mystery unfolded!

Thank you to NetGalley, Sourcebooks Casablanca, and KJ Charles for providing me this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

K.J. Charles is a bit of a mixed bag for me. I really liked most of the books I've read, but they sometimes tend to overdo certain tropes or moments of pure kitsch which takes me out of my enjoyment. I've never actually disliked any of her work, though. Which is why I fully expected to like her new series, The Doomsday Books, as well. And lo and behold, I did! The first book in the series, 'The Secret Lives of Country Gentleman', was such fun to read with characters that i grew to love very quickly. "A Nobleman's Guide to Seducing a Scoundrel' hooked me even more when I started it. It, too, plays in the same historical era as its predecessor, and the titular Doomsday family is on page yet again, although not at the centre of the story. One of the two protagonists, Luke, was a child in the first book whose story absolutely broke my heart, and he shines in his own story. Rufus, a big impressive looking yet very sweet actually lord, is completely loveable as well. They work perfectly as love interests.
The book takes a more comedic approach to its side characters as the first one did, with Rufus' family being mere caricatures really, and some of the choices Luke makes later in the book and thoughts that cross his mind are... let's just say, it's the kind of overdramatic overdoing I tend to criticize in Charles' books. But it's always fun, and it's always charming, and I loved getting a tiny glimpse into our book one couple's life as well. I think I might just prefer book 2 to book 1, even. I just really liked the dynamic between the two lovebirds.
So yeah, a fun, quick, spicy and exciting read I can only recommend! 3,5 stars, rounding up to 4.

A Nobleman's Guide to Seducing a Scoundrel is a wonderful follow-up in KJ Charles' The Doomsday series - this time highlighting Luke Doomsday a.k.a. Goldie in the first book. The thirteen years old teenager was all grown up here. And I totally loved the relationship he built with Major Rufus d'Aumesty, the new Earl of Oxney.

Rufus was facing challenges to become the new Earl. His greedy uncle, who thought he should be the heir, had contested his legal status back and forth, right and left. Luke came to Stone Manor with another challenge, to Rufus' mother's marriage to the previous Earl. To make things straight, especially based Luke's birth date could also make him the legal earl, Rufus asked Luke to join forces to find out the truth. In the meantime, Luke could help Rufus as his secretary.

I felt that their relationship bloomed very nicely! They had respect from one another at the start, despite the convoluted beginning. Luke realized early on that Rufus was VERY GENEROUS AND KIND. He had principles, the new (possible) Earl. And Luke admired Rufus for that. While Rufus saw Luke as very competent and observant person, understanding his own challenge with reading, accommodating his needs... Rufus saw Luke as someone who he could rely on.

But Luke had ulterior motive of coming to Stone Manor, and as secret goes usually in books, of course Rufus found out. It was one of the conflict that I thought Charles was MASTER at. The revelation, the asking for forgiveness, the emotion played ... it was DELICIOUS to read. Definitely one of the highlights for me.

I wasn't too happy with the villain though... it felt, well, two dimensionals. I like my villains to be more complex, to be more nuanced. In here, the uncle and aunt were just HORRIBLE PEOPLE. And at times I wanted to slap Rufus for being too considerate to them. Also, that final twist?? Don't know if needed.

But all in all, I was happy with this one and KJ Charles still is one of the most solid authors in this genre!

K.J. Charles is always so consistently good. I was so excited to read the next one in this series, and luckily, she didn't disappoint me. I love the characters in this one, especially Rufus, our new Earl. His no-nonsense, short-fused personality but a truly good man made him an instant favorite. I think he also got the hint he might be demi (even if that was not a word used back then). His chemistry with Luke, the other main character, was off the charts. The plot in this one was not as intriguing as the first, but I still wanted to know what happened next and kept reading. This one was more of a romance than the first, and I loved it.

13 years after the events of the previous Doomsday book, Rufus finds himself the unexpected Earl of Oxney only to have his uncle provide Luke Doomsday as the possible actual Earl. Luke has no desire to become Earl, but is interested in a working as Rufus’s secretary. The two become close while working together while also trying to figure out the inheritance situation as well as some family secrets, and begin a love affair (I should emphasize that the two are not blood relations). Secrets and perceived betrayal tear the two apart before they are able to come back together again.

I really enjoy KJ Charles books, but she writes on a reading level that is higher than I’m used to. For this reason, I really like the audiobooks of this series as they keep me from being bogged down in the large words and high word count. It was very fun to see Gareth and Joss again, and we were introduced to Luke in the previous book as a young kid. I really enjoyed Luke and Rufus together and felt their heat and connection. I also liked Rufus’s ridiculous family (specifically his cousins). The whole cast of characters came together in a way that everyone was very distinct and served their purpose. I am looking forward to the next book in the series should there be one.

As noted above, I did listen to the audiobook and found Martyn Swain to be a great narrator. I could always tell who was speaking to the point that there were times in the begining that I actually thought there were two narrators. I definitely would not have enjoyed the book as much without the audiobook.

Thank you to NetGalley, Sourcebooks Casablanca, and Dreamscape Media for the ARC and ALC in exchange for honest reviews.

Firstly I've got to say that I would not have read this book based on the title alone.

A couple of years ago I read this author's historical fantasy The Charm of magpies series after it was compared to This Marvellous light. I had a free trial month with Kobo Plus and ended up binging through a lot of the authors work as many are on that platform.

All the authors works are historical, queer and usually include elements of crime. Some Include fantasy aspects.

With this particular series, The Doomsday books I had previously read an ARC of the first book The Secret lives of country gentlemen (It had a much less waist coat ripping title). I should mention this particular series has no magical or fantasy aspects.

The series is on an atmospheric marsh and is about a family of smugglers called the Doomsday family. It is set around the time of the Napoleonic Wars and has strong Poldark/Frenchman creek vibes.

This second book is set in the same area of England as the first book, at least a decade later and one of the main characters, Luke Doomsday heavily featured in the first book as a child.

I highly recommend reading the Doomsday book series in publication order as Luke's back story is super important to the plot of book two.


Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for the review copy.