I would like to thank netgalley and Sourcebooks Casablanca for a free copy of the book in exchange for an honest review.

This was really enjoyable, I look forward to reading the authors other books.

Fantastic as always. I can rely on KJ Charles to give me a story with depth, heat, flawed characters that you still want to root for, and leave me wanting more. At points you wonder how it can possibly work out for the couple in question and yet it always does, with twists and turns that keep you fully engaged.

This book was a great read that I devoured. I loved the characters and the storyline. I wish I had more to read!

K.J. Charles has once again written an M/M romance that perfectly illustrates the time and place the characters live in while breathing life into Rufus and Luke in a way that you can't look away from their story. They've also upped the spice level significantly from the previous volume in a way that proves that they can definitely show the couple (and the readers) a wonderfully good time.
Rufus inherited the title of Earl of Oxney unexpectedly after his estranged grandfather passed away. He finds his inheritance contested by his greedy uncle and his wife, who are mostly mad because they thought the title was going to them. There also appears to be some contention from a man who claims his mom married Rufus's dad before his mom did, Luke Doomsday, son of the notorious Doomsday smuggling clan.
Rufus is a military man through and through, so he doesn't stand on all the complex and useless rules of society. Luke has spent his life trying to get away from the reputation of the Doomsday clan while also wanting to prove that he's good enough to be a member of the family. They wind up making quite a pair even before they both admit that there's something simmering between them, which gets even hotter once they finally accept that they might be better together.
The plot revolves around a series of questions that need to be resolved, even if most characters don't realize there are questions to answer. The secrets that Luke keeps are many and could prove disastrous to his relationship with Rufus, but opening up about his feelings might just be exactly what frees Luke from his past and lets them find a HEA that's right for them.
It's the second book in a series but you can read it as a standalone with no problem. I do highly recommend the first simply because it's an excellent read, but there's no reason to let not having read it keep you from enjoying this one.

Delightedly happy thanks to NetGalley and Sourcebooks Casablanca for the most excellent romance!

I am just in love with this! These two an Earl and a smuggler acting as a secretary with a secret. They had a slow burn but it built fast and was pretty spicy.
Ok as I'm reading I'm recognizing some names and trying to figure out why things are familiar lol I'm a weirdo. This is the second in a series. The first being The Secret Lives of Country Gentleman which I also enjoyed.
Enjoying the atmosphere and setting. The conflicts, smuggling and legitimacy over the earldom are keeping me interested.
Also the dirty talk is nice between them.

Thank you sourcebookscasa

I don't know what just happened but that was really fun.

The plot is way too complicated for me to type out in full, but basically Rufus is an earl, Luke is challenging his title by saying that the previous earl had a previous marriage. Except... Luke has no interest in the position either. So Rufus hires Luke to be his secretary because he thinks he's hot and one thing leads to another and then BAM you have yourself a romance novel.

It's not the peak of literary genius but sometimes the most damnedest of books can be vaguely intriguing.

I was really surprised to find out that this book has a lot more than just romance. Most interesting, I found, was Luke's backstory. He has some childhood trauma :( that gets resolved :) by Rufus who is somehow more rational than 80% of all characters in romance novels. Wait, make that 99%. It's kind of refreshing, honestly.

Thank you to the publisher and Netgalley for giving me an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review. Final rating: 3.5/5

Note: This is the second book in the series. While it could be read as a standalone I guess, it’s ever so much better to read it after The Secret Lives of Country Gentlemen which introduces the Romney Marsh, the Doomsday gang and Luke and his family.

This book picks up thirteen years after the events of The Secret Lives of Country Gentlemen. Luke, one of the Doomsdays is now a grown man and looking for work as a secretary. He’s back on the marsh and ends up at the home of Major Rufus d’Aumasty who has finally been recognized as the Earl of Oxney. This is not a title he wants, but his awful family has done their best to wrest it from him via treachery. The are furious when Rufus hires a man who is tied to the local smuggling crew but they are hoping that Luke can help them discover the evidence to overturn the awarding of the title to Rufus.

Rufus is in dire need of a secretary. Firstly, he has trouble keeping track of all the issues with the estate. Turns out that the previous Earl had left things in a state, and while the title struggle was going on, the people who had been asking for assistance had received nothing. Building were in disrepair and frankly the whole mood on the estate was sour. Conrad, Rufus’s Uncle cared not. All he wants is to get the earldom. Conrad, his wife and his grown children have al been living on the estate anticipating that they would inherit. Needless to say they are more than a little put out that Rufus has been named the Earl and they are absolutely determined to get it for themselves.

Rufus and Luke work well together. And when Rufus finds Luke up and about in the middle of the night, well they give in to temptation 😉 They had been dancing around each other for some time and it is clear that there is an attraction. Luke only asks that Rufus not ask about his scar. They work together to try to set the estate to rights and fix all that has been neglected for some time. Of course they have to maneuver around the family, keeping their claims at bay.

Things are going well when Conrad and the butler catch Luke someplace he isn’t supposed to be. This forces Rufus to ask Luke some hard questions. When he just refuses to answer, well what choice does Rufus have? He can’t allow this to stand. What really are Luke’s motivation for being at the manor? Who else knows why he is there? Oh what a tangled web we weave . . .

When I saw that this book was going to be about a grown up Luke I could not wait! What on earth would the young Doomsday who had been so abused be like as an educated adult? Sir Gareth took him in and made sure he got an education and then he returns to the Marsh? There is so much going on in this story and it’s absolutely delicious! Luke has grown up. Clearly, though, his past is never far from his mind – or his countenance 😉 What he finds in Rufus is a man of integrity. This is a quality in short supply on the Marsh and certainly in short supply at the manor house. Rufus’s Uncle is going everything in his power to thwart the new Earl in carrying out his duties. It apparently isn’t bad enough that they original legal wrangling took months. Now Conrad is grasping at straws and willing to do ANYTHING to make sure Rufus loses and he wins back what he considers to be his. Sadly this little drama was set up by the previous generations. The lengths that Conrad is willing to go to, however, are far more dangerous than even Rufus realizes. Luke however? He’s not fooled.

Luke and Rufus are perfect for each other. But that doesn’t mean that their path is straight and easy. Luke keeps a lot hidden and his reasons do not become clear until much later in the story. He has forged a relationship with Rufus. When things go sideways though, there are apologies to be made. And a lot of growing up to do. And maybe, just maybe the past will finally be put to rest. For both Luke and Rufus.

The turnaround in this story was a bit headspinning. I really didn’t know where it was going which kept me turning pages as quickly as possible. I love the way the author brought in some little noticed elements of the previous books. I loved seeing Gareth and Joss again. The setting once again becomes another character in the book and series. It’s a fascinating way of like. The Doomsdays and the other residents of the Marsh certainly have a long and stories history. I don’t know if K.J. Charles has any more books planned for this series, but I’m sure anyone who has read these two books would be more than happy to read any new offerings. This was a wonderful and entertaining roller coaster ride with some fabulous surprises, some call outs to the previous story and some engaging and unique characters to provide a delightful story. Highly recommended. I honestly liked it even more than the first book 🙂 Read it. You won’t be disappointed.

Anyone who’s been reading my reviews for any length of time will already know I’m a massive fan of KJ Charles’ work, and for some time, have regarded her as the best author of historical romance writing today. Not only does she imbue her stories with a real sense of time and place, she creates wonderfully complex characters who, while flawed, are easy to root for, fascinating and intricate plots which unfold at just the right pace, and infuses the whole thing with humour, warmth, insight and intelligence. I am quite often left in awe whenever I finish reading one of her books, and she chalks up yet another winner with A Nobleman’s Guide to Seducing a Scoundrel, the second book in her Doomsday Books duology. It’s clever and funny, the romance is heartfelt and beautifully developed, there are villains you can love to hate – and I couldn’t put it down.

We return to Romney Marsh around thirteen years after the events of The Secret Lives of Country Gentlemen, and are thrown into the middle of an acrimonious family dispute between Rufus d’Aumesty, formerly Major d’Aumesty and now, nineteenth Earl of Oxney, and his uncle, who believes himself to be the rightful holder of the title and estate. The previous earl – Rufus’ grandfather – was a vindictive old bastard, who let the land go to wrack and ruin during his last, lengthy illness, and who had allowed his youngest son, Conrad, to believe he was his heir. But the appearance of Rufus – previously thought to have died in battle, and the earl’s grandson by his middle son, Raymond – has put Conrad’s nose out of joint, and he accused Rufus of being illegitimate (he isn’t) of being switched at birth (he wasn’t) and being an imposter who stole a dead man’s identity on the battlefield (he didn’t), leading to a seven-month-long invesigation by the Privileges Committee – which has found Rufus to be the rightful Earl. Despite the committee’s findings, however, Conrad is still determined to oust Rufus and take the title for himself. His latest angle is to insist that Rufus’ father was already married when he wed Rufus’ mother – a suggestion apparently made to Conrad by the son of Raymond’s supposed first wife. Furious – Rufus doesn’t really want to be the sodding earl, and certainly doesn’t want to live in the middle of such hostility – he sends for the son to try to find out what the hell is going on.

Hearing the name ‘Doomsday’ immediately gives Rufus a mental image of someone shady and shabby and sinister, so he’s surprised when the young man standing in front of him proves to be none of those things; he’s smartly dressed and rather attractive – despite the four-inch, jagged scar running down the left side of his face. Luke Doomsday – whom we first met as a scared, mistreated boy of thirteen – explains that his mother left him with the Doomsdays when he was a baby and named his father as Elijah Doomsday before she left the Marsh for good. But when Luke spoke to his ailing grandfather a few years back, he rambled about a secret marriage that took place some thirty years earlier – the marriage of Luke’s mother to the Earl of Oxney’s son. There is no proof, but in order to shut Conrad down once and for all, Rufus employs Luke to track down his mother to find out the truth so he can put this behind him and get on with his new life.

Luke was brought up by Sir Gareth Inglis (TSLoCG), who sent him to school and acted in loco parentis after his horrible father died. Now in his twenties, Luke has made a career as a confidential secretary (and has a slew of good references, including one from a certain Lord Corvin!) and, seeing that Rufus is struggling to make sense of the ledgers and account books after years of mismanagement, suggests to Rufus that what he needs, while he gets to grips with everything, is an excellent secretary, someone who is good at putting things in order and keeping them there. Rufus happily – and gratefully – offers Luke the position, and together they begin to set things to rights, sorting out the finances and arranging to have vital work done on the sorely neglected estate.

The romantic relationship between these two seemingly mismatched characters is incredibly well done. They have terrific chemistry, and I liked them very much, both as individuals and as a couple, and their romance works because they really are the ying to each other’s yang. Their relationship is built on friendship, mutual respect and affection, and their interactions are light-hearted with a hint of subtle teasing (on Luke’s part) that just about toe the line of a master/servant relationship but don’t cross it. (Until they do, of course ;)) For Rufus, accustomed to being obeyed in the army, and now dealing with a bunch of people he doesn’t know but are (mostly) disposed to hate him, Luke’s cheery competence, intelligent conversation and support is like a breath of fresh air that makes him realise just how much he’s needed someone to be on his side.

Luke is a charmer who is as good at reading people as he is at organising whatever needs to be organised. He arrives at Stone Manor with a specific agenda – which isn’t revealed straight away (readers of the previous book will probably work it out, however) – and with no expectation of actually liking the new Earl and wanting to help him deal with the mess he has inherited. But he comes to like Rufus a lot – the man wants to do right by his dependents, he’s generous, big-hearted and has a compassionate nature beneath his outward gruffness and hot temper – and Luke hadn’t banked on being so attracted to him. Which is a bad thing because it will mean that when Rufus does find out the real reason Luke set out to make himself indispensable, Luke is going to have to live with the consequence of Rufus’ hurt and disappointment.

I don’t want to give away too much, but I can’t not talk about the way the author handles the fallout after Luke’s true purpose is revealed, because the eventual reconciliation is so brilliantly orchestrated. There is good grovel, but there is also character growth and acceptance of some painful truths as Luke finally learns to articulate what has driven him to do what he’s done and to accept that perhaps it’s time to let it go, while at the same time admitting what his tendency to self-sabotage has done to himself as well as those he has hurt. Rufus is deeply wounded by Luke’s betrayal; that he’s in love with Luke is not in question, but he has to work out if he can trust – and like – him ever again. It’s tough to read because these two are so obviously in love and so right for each other, but wonderful also, for the compassion and honesty they show each other as they work through it all and come out the other side.

While the story is set in the same locality – Romney Marsh in Kent – as the previous book, the location is less prominent here, as most of the action takes place within the walls of the old, forbidding Stone Manor, giving the whole thing a very Gothic-y feel. Which is very fitting given Luke’s love of Gothic novels (especially the naughty ones!).

It wouldn’t be a KJ Charles book without a villain(s) to boo and hiss at, and I’m pleased to say that they get a very satisfying comeuppance as part of an absolutely cracking finale sequence that had me on the edge of my seat.

A Nobleman’s Guide to Seducing a Scoundrel is, simply, a superb read all around, and I’m sure that, if you’re already a fan of the author’s, you won’t need any further encouragement from me to want to rush out and pick it up. If you haven’t read her before, you can’t go wrong with anything in her backlist, but if you’re intrigued by this title, I’d suggest reading The Secret Lives of Country Gentleman first, just to get up to speed with the backstory.

Easily one of the best books of 2023, this is yet another KJ Charles novel to find a place on my keeper shelf. I’m pretty sure it’ll end up on yours, too.

I just really really love this series!!

These books are so smart, witty, steamy, intriguing, swoony, and heartfelt! I’d happily take a hundred of this series alone!

KJ Charles has become one of my favorite queer historical fiction authors this year, I can’t get enough!

Huge thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for my chance to read this book! I loved it and will be shouting about how much I recommend it to everyone!

Heat Factor: Rufus exerts his droit de seigneur.
Character Chemistry: Rufus is kind and chaotic. Luke is self-centered and organized. Obviously they are perfect for each other.
Plot: Rufus inherited an earldom, and it’s an absolute god-awful mess. Luke is his secretary—with ulterior motives.
Overall: Parts of this book are so wonderful…

I’m going to say this upfront: people in this book are mean to each other. Like, a lot. I have a pretty high tolerance for meanness, and by the midway point, I was really struggling. To be clear, this meanness is not excused in any way. And I can assure, the meanies do eventually get their comeuppance, but there’s quite a bit of escalation before that happens. Poor Rufus, who is straightforward and honest and kind to the depths of his soul, is completely befuddled by how horribly his relatives treat each other. (He doesn’t mind so much how they treat him because he just yells at them for being dicks and then goes about his business. Also, he’s the earl and they’re not.) For those readers who, like Erin, struggle with books where characters are just plain mean, I might suggest giving this one a pass.

Another overall point I’d like to make about this book is that while the love story does stand alone, I strongly recommend reading The Secret Lives of Country Gentlemen first. That story provides background to Luke’s character which is hinted at here, but not discussed in detail, and which, I think, is pivotal to understanding his motivations. Plus, there’s a big mystery introduced in that book which is finally solved at the end of this one!

So, The Nobleman’s Guide. Rufus has just spent the last year in court proving that he is the new Earl of Oxney. The old earl, who was a fucking piece of work, knew about Rufus (and that he was the legitimate son of some scion of the house and therefore was the proper heir), but NEGLECTED TO TELL THE GUY WHO THOUGHT HE WAS THE HEIR. Conrad (the younger son who spent his entire life sucking up to his father the old earl and waiting for him to die already) is PISSED. So when Luke shows up, saying that he might have proof that Rufus’ dad was actually married to his own mother before he married Rufus’ mother, Conrad is delighted at this new chance of disinheriting Rufus. (Never mind the fact that if Luke’s mom was actually married to Rufus’ dad, Luke would actually be the earl despite his actual parentage because of truly arcane inheritance laws. Luke definitely does not want the earldom.) Rufus, for his part, is so over all of this nonsense. So he, naturally, hires Luke to be his secretary; that way Luke can go over the paperwork in the manor and determine if there’s proof of the marriage.

Of course, Luke has other reasons for wandering around Oxley Manor.

As you can see, there is a very twisty, convoluted set up, but then a large chunk of the book is Rufus and Luke hanging around in this horrid, gothic manor with Rufus’ horrid, gothic family. And doing loads of paperwork. And also doing some pining and becoming a team and building bridges with Rufus’ cousins, who are less horrid than they first appear. (Conrad and Mrs. Conrad remain horrid.) This part of the book is really wonderful, maybe because it’s a great mix of competence porn and two characters really supporting and standing up for each other. Well, and Luke feeling guilty for not being honest with Rufus but then justifying it to himself because at least he’s helping Rufus for now.

Naturally, there’s a big blow up when Luke’s dishonest motives are revealed; interestingly, it occurs around the halfway point. This unusual narrative choice means that there’s a lot more space than normal for Luke and Rufus to recover from their fight and for the author to bring the reader along as our protagonists work toward their happy ending. Given the extent of Luke’s dishonesty (and the amount of stuff that Luke has to work through in order to let himself be loved), I’m glad that Charles gave them that space. Bonus—it meant that they had actually begun their reconciliation when the Epic Bad Guy Showdown scene happened.

My final recommendation? If you read The Secret Lives of Country Gentlemen and liked it, pick this one up as well. If you haven’t, start with The Secret Lives and go from there.


I voluntarily read and reviewed a complimentary copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own. We disclose this in accordance with 16 CFR §255.

This review is also available at The Smut Report.

The second in the Doomsday Series, this historical set romance was a lot of fun. I am not the biggest fan of historical romance but I still enjoyed this one a lot. I’ve read quite a bit of historical romance this month. Weird. I liked this book more than the first in the series and it is beneficial to have read the first book as this plot is a continuation of events from the first book.
I liked Luke and Rufus together and they both brought unique personalities to the story. Both books are heavily intertwined with characters from the first having a decent sized role in the second.

This series is fun and not high stakes but still holds intrigue and suspense at times.

*Thank you NetGalley and sourcebooks Casablanca for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Thank you Sourcebook and Netgalley for this advanced copy.

Again!! KJ Charles did it again. This book was hilarious and fun, and romantic. An absolute love

A Nobleman’s Guide to Seducing a Scoundrel is a delightful second entry in the KJ Charles Doomsday series.

It took me few chapters to really start becoming invested in Rufus and Luke, but that is probably 100% a ME problem, not a pacing problem, as I typically read contemporary, so I always overthink at the beginning of historical romances. I love a grumpy MC and Rufus, who is known for his hot-headedness, perfectly fills that role. Luke is the sweet lad from the first book, and I was so happy to see him overcome his abusive past in order to find true love with Rufus. The villains were delightfully over the top and I cheered at the way the author wrote their comeuppance. I felt like I couldn’t trust anyone’s motivations in the book, so it provided enough suspense to keep me guessing.

If you like queer historical romance filled with witty banter and grumpy heroes, this is the book for you!

ARC provided by the publisher through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review

As a person who hates deception plots, this book wasn't exactly starting off on a high note, but ultimately, I really enjoy K.J. Charles' writing and her characters, even when they're making decisions I don't love, are fully realized so that their decisions I don't like still make sense with who they are. Essentially this book follows Rufus after he inherits an earldom and his uncle? cousin? Idk, this annoying man who is some sort of relative of his, has been trying to get the earldom back from Rufus for months. Suddenly, Luke appears and is like, "So there was this story I heard that Rufus's dad married my mum," which would actually make Luke the earl. So cousin/uncle man is like, Woo! I can almost taste the earldom, but Luke becomes fully Team Rufus. Rufus, who has dyslexia, finds himself leaning so much on Luke because the man has a gift when it comes to organizing his books and also helping him deal with his rude af family. I loved the development of their relationship through all of the twists and turns this book takes. I really appreciated how the relationship was tested and liked the way it was resolved, though again, I'm generally not a big fan of deception plots, this one was handled in such a way that I understood.

The audio narration of this book is done quite well for what it's worth, though I really wish two narrators was the standard for romance with dual POVs because I just find it helpful sometimes. (A lot of times, really.) But anyway, it was really nice to see Joss and Gareth again too.

[I received a digital arc for an honest review]

A Nobleman’s Guide to Seducing a Scoundrel by KJ Charles and the newest book in the Doomsdays Books series. Luke Doomsday has taken on the job of secretary for the newly titled Duke of Oxney with an untold agenda. Rufus d’Aumesty needs someone to help him get Stone Manor into shape and help wrangle his wayward family members who want nothing more than to see Rufus stripped of his title and lands. Luke and Rufus find they are great partners in clearing up the family’s affairs as well as in the bedroom. But Luke’s ulterior motive for helping Lord Oxney proves to throw a wrench in their blossoming alliance.

Luke Doomsday has grown up and proven to be a smart and resourceful man. He uses his cleverness to get in the door with Rufus and makes himself indispensable. Luke never intended to get physically intimate with the Duke and finds that bringing feelings into his plan makes following through so much more difficult. He is drawn to Rufus’ need to protect and care for Luke and wants to provide assistance in whatever way possible in return.

Rufus d’Aumesty never wanted his title, he was fine being a soldier and son of a draper. The family thrust upon him as Duke of Oxney only looks out for themselves and lives to cause problems for Rufus and ultimately Luke. Rufus just wants to take care of Luke as he sees the kindness and intelligence behind the wit and sass. Even when Luke isn’t completely honest, Rufus finds it difficult to write him off because he has fallen so hard for the lovely man.

The Doomsdays had me intrigued when we met Joss and Sir Gareth in the first story. Now it is years later and we are seeing the man Luke has grown into. He is a Doomsday for sure and takes a complicated path towards a man who adores him, scars and all. This story is a lovely historical romance with sweet moments between Rufus and Luke as well as mystery and intrigue.

5 stars for Rufus and Luke mixing business with pleasure.

Rufus d’Aumesty has recently become the new Earl of Oxney. He grew up with a much simpler life, as his father was kicked out of the family for marrying a common woman. Rufus knew he would one day inherit the title … but apparently no one told his uncle, Conrad, who believes he should be the next earl and who has been making Rufus’ life miserable for months. Conrad fought against Rufus’ right to the earldom, making up a host of lies about everything from Rufus’ time in the military to the legality of his parents’ marriage. Now, seven months later, the court has finally ruled in Rufus’ favor and that should be the end of it. But Conrad and his wife refuse to let it go, insisting Conrad is the true earl.

The latest “evidence” comes in the form of a young secretary, Luke Doomsday, who reports hearing a story that his mother was the first, lawful wife of Rufus’ father. If true, it would make Rufus’ parents marriage illegal and Rufus an illegitimate heir. Rufus is sure this is all just another story, but he is ethical enough to want to confirm. While the family attempts to find evidence to prove or disprove Luke’s story, Rufus is attempting to take over the mess of affairs that is his earldom. The accounts are in disarray, no one has been caring for their tenants, and Rufus is in over his head. Fortunately, Luke is an excellent secretary and offers to take on the role while they sort out the story with the marriage.

Luke and Rufus hit it off immediately and Rufus finds himself trusting and relying upon Luke in the storm of bad behavior and vitriol that is his family. He also finds himself incredibly attracted to Luke, though determined not to act, given he is the man’s employer. But when Luke shows he is just as interested in Rufus in return, the men start an affair that is thrilling for both of them. However, Luke has a secret and an ulterior motive, one he is determined to keep hidden from Rufus. He hates lying, as he is falling hard for Rufus and Luke finds himself happier than he has ever been. But he is in deep in his lies and it may be too late to come back from them. Now, Rufus will have to decide just what he is able to forgive, while Luke will need to let go of his past for a chance at a real future with Rufus.

The Nobleman’s Guide to Seducing a Scoundrel is the second book in K.J. Charles’ incredible Doomsday series, following the fabulous The Secret Lives of Country Gentlemen. I love the way Charles approaches this second book, jumping us about 13 years into the future when young Luke is now a grown man. Luke plays a pivotal role in the first story and it was so rewarding to see him get his happy ending here in this second book. From a relationship standpoint, this story stands alone well, however I do think this one is much better read as part of the set. First off, this book will reveal some major spoilers from the first story. In addition, Luke is deeply affected by events from his childhood that happen in the first book and, while they are recounted again here, the emotion of seeing it firsthand definitely adds to the story. Also, the world Charles has created here of life on the Marsh and the Doomsday family is so rich and, again, reading the first book will give you more of that flavor. Trust me, this set of books is soooo good. They were both 5-star reads for me, so starting at book one is well worth it.

The conflict here is really two-fold. From a relationship end, we have the conflict between Luke and Rufus and the fact that we know early on that Luke is up to something, we just don’t know what. These two fall hard for one another and they are just such a fun couple. Rufus is a strong, confident man, used to leading men in the military, and he doesn’t stand on much ceremony. So Luke pushes a little and the two are able to banter and tease in a way not typical given their varying stations. They are sexy and fun together and I love how both men lift the other up. Of course, as much as Luke wants to help Rufus as his secretary, and as big a contribution as he makes, he is still lying to Rufus about why he is really there. I thought it was a great choice that we get the reveal and confrontation relatively early on in the book, rather than late in the third act. It gives a lot of time for us to see the after effects of the betrayal and how the men ultimately make their way back to each other.

The second conflict is between Rufus and his absolutely abhorrent family. Conrad is determined to see himself earl, no matter what lies or manipulations he needs to undertake to do it, and his wife is right by his side. They do all they can to turn the staff against Rufus and to make him miserable. They are truly horrible people, arrogant, cruel, and bitter. They are terrible to their children, scathing to anyone they deem beneath them, and they get worse as the story goes on. Rufus gives them beyond reasonable chances to get their act together and they fail time and again. The two conflicts end up sort of tying together with Luke in the middle of it all, and things get intense, exciting, and chilling at times. The ending is very rewarding and pulls all the pieces together well, including elements from Luke’s past.

Charles also does a wonderful job with the character development here and the men’s actions feel really grounded in who they are. Rufus has the patience of a saint with his family and, even as they are terrible time and again, he tries to see their side and put himself in their disappointed shoes. They don’t deserve a bit of it, but he is a genuinely kind man who sees the best side of others. Rufus is honest and straightforward and it is hard for him to see that others may not do him that same courtesy in return. Fortunately, Luke is a Doomsday and, while he may be the most educated of the bunch and work as a secretary, the smugglers blood still runs in him. He helps Rufus and runs interference and figures out the right way to approach people; he knows the angles, and keeps Rufus from being totally run over. We also see very much how Luke’s childhood and his past have come to affect him as an adult. As much as Luke lies to and hurts Rufus, Charles makes it work by very much grounding it all in Luke’s past and then watching him grow from that. Luke figures out how to move forward, how not to let himself get trapped by all his anger and resentment. It is just all done so well and we get such a rewarding end for the men.

This story is such a wonderful follow up to The Secret Lives of Country Gentlemen, which was one of my favorite books this year. I didn’t dare hope that this one would live up to that story, but I truly think Charles has another star in this book. I absolutely loved it and the two stories make a wonderful set. I adore this Doomsday world and would eagerly read on if Charles gives us more stories.

I have seen lots of very positive reviews on KJ Charles' novels so when one became available on NetGalley, set in my home county of Kent, I thought it must be a sign.

Major Rufus d'Aumesty has unexpectedly become the Earl of Oxney, master of the remote Norman built Stone Manor on the edge of Romney Marsh in Kent. He did not grow up as an aristocrat, his mother was a draper's daughter seduced by the local lord of the manor. His cousin Conrad believed that he was to inherit the land and title and has done everything in his power to prevent Rufus from taking his title.

After seven months of wrangling in the Courts, Rufus is declared the rightful heir, only for Conrad to produce another man, Luke Doomsday, who claims his mother was similarly seduced and married by Rufus' father a few months before he married Rufus' mother. Conrad intends this news to render Rufus illegitimate (and therefore ineligible to inherit) not realising that this claim would mean that Luke, rather than Conrad, would inherit.

Luke is a part of the notorious Doomsday family of smugglers, a personal secretary by training, he has his own reasons to be at Stone Manor, wholly unconnected to the issue of who is the Earl, and agrees to act as Rufus' secretary to help him sort out the years of neglect and poor bookkeeping that make running the Manor such a problem.

Despite potentially being the means of disinheriting him, Rufus quickly finds himself relying on the quick-witted and irreverent Luke, which turns into attraction and maybe more, but what will happen when Rufus discovers Luke's real reason for being at the Manor?

I loved this, although we were abruptly thrust into the story at the point where Conrad springs Luke's existence on Rufus (which I initially found a bit jarring), the story soon gets going at a pace. Poor Rufus is dealing with rebellious servants, plotting cousins, a crumbling estate, and he's falling hard for Luke. I am definitely interested in reading more books in this series, and it just goes to show that sometimes all the hype is justified. Oh, and the love scenes are hawt.

I received an ARC from the publisher via NetGalley for an honest review.

Loved this installment just as much as the first - and it was so much fun to see Luke all grown up.

KJ Charles is a master of writing deep, complex characters that make you care for them so much, and Luke and Rufus are no exception. We know Luke from book 1 but he’s now all grown up, becoming employed as a secretary to Rufus, who is a new Earl plagued by inheritance challenges.

The mystery of this book was intriguing and unpredictable, and woven skillfully through the book. It was well-balanced with the romance, and I enjoyed the tension as these two got closer. I enjoyed how they cared for each other in big and small ways, and Rufus’s concern over the power differential was refreshing. I also loved the grovel and the compassion with which it was received.

3.5 stars

Set 13 years after the events of The Secret Lives of Country Gentlemen, Charles returns to Romney Marsh for Luke Doomsday's love story with the newly minted Baron Stone Rufus d'Aumesty. Having really enjoyed the small town politics and romance of the first book, I couldn't wait to dive into this second installment.

This book is a lot more insular than the first, with most of the action taking place at Stone Manor and involving about 10 or so characters squabbling over who is the rightful heir to the barony. The Doomsday smuggling family has gone somewhat straight and while frequently referenced, exists on the fringes of this book. I found myself really missing that family element throughout the book even though Charles included some really wonderful dynamics between Rufus and his cousins. Even the promised Gothic feel from the book's blurb didn't fully satisfy as it mainly manifested in references rather than a true vibe.

What did shine in this book, however, was the romance between Rufus and Luke. Charles definitely didn't let me down with the spice, but I was truly impressed by how they developed an emotional intimacy that persevered in the face of betrayal. Charles' choice to move the third act breakup to the 60% mark in the book really gives their relationship time to heal and grow in a way that was immensely captivating.

KJ Charles at this point is an auto-buy author and while this didn't completely deliver for me, I am so glad that I picked it up!

Thank you to NetGalley and Sourcebooks Casablanca in exchange for a fair and honest review!

It's a total delight to pick up again with the folks in Romney Marsh, this time with Luke Doomsday and Rufus, newly minted (but disputed) earl of Oxney. Loved these characters, loved the flirting, loved the steam, but where was the plot? While Rufus' earldom is disputed by his relatives and Luke comes on as his secretary -- in actual plot, nothing much happens!

An enjoyable read if you just want to spend some time with great characters, but it was too light on actual action for this reader.