Before The Secret Lives of Country Gentlemen I hadn't really heard of KJ Charles before, but after finishing A Nobleman's Guide to Seducing a Scoundrel I will certainly be on the lookout for more of her books. This is at once a sequel and a stand-alone and on both counts I think it does an excellent job. Having read both books in the series (I'm also very sad that there are in fact only two books in the series), I think there were parts of this book I liked better and parts of the previous book I liked better, but overall this was still a fantastic story. It's fast-paced and spicy, while also being heartfelt and romantic, and it's just wholly a delight. It was great seeing Luke again as a grown man, and while he did some infuriating things from time to time that didn't stop me from enjoying him as a character. I also really liked Rufus, who was just so sweet and good. Were there elements of it that were a little far-fetched? Sure, but for the most part the same could be said of a large majority of romance novels, so if that's something that would bother you you've probably already figured out that the genre might not be for you. Personally I found this book to be a real palate-cleanser from the horror novels I've been reading more of; it's just so dang CUTE. But it's also not all fluff, there's some action and adventure in there, as well as some real heart. There's no doubt that I will be recommending this book and it's predecessor to anyone who will listen when I'm at work, and I'll certainly be eagerly awaiting Charles's next work.

I need more of these people - NOW! Oh these characters make my heart so full.
Rufus finally assumes his inheritance - only to have it questioned again. By Luke Doomsday. Acting as Rufus' secretary, Luke clearly hides other motives for being in the manor. Caught sneaking in the dark, Luke can't help but inflame the passion between him and Rufus. And wow does the world catch on fire.
I was thrilled Luke was a main character - with references to Gareth and Joss, of course.
Everything I could hope for in a sequel - very impatient for the next installment.

Another knockout book from KJ Charles! I loved this duology so much -- the writing was superb, the characters were full-realized, and the romance was outstanding. It was fun to see the Joss and Gareth cameos and loved seeing how Luke grew up after the events of the first book. Rufus and Luke were so good together. I have no notes except I will be forcing everyone to read this book.

Another home run by KJ Charles!

Book 2 of the Doomsday Books is all about Luke Doomsday, the bettermy of the Doomsday clan. Luke has grown from the adorable, smart boy from the first book into a smart man and is now a Professional Confidential Secretary. He is also in a pickle – he might be the new Earl of Oxney, but there is no proof. The current Earl of Oxney, an honest ex-soldier, decides to hire him to help with the books and whew, do sparks fly!

As usual, KJ Charles nails characterization and plot. Our two main leads are dissimilar and yet, at the core, meld so well together. Luke is a vivid, fascinating, bright, and broken character who I rooted for from the beginning. And oh, Rufus! I loved Rufus. Those two just worked so well together.

I loved seeing Gareth and Joss and wished they had shown up more (I am greedy). I also liked the evolution of Rufus’s cousins, especially Fulk and Odo. The little we saw of Berry was much fun.

A huge plus of this book was that the conflict was primarily internal. While there were villains, they were almost incidental to the central conflict between the leads, and that was a refreshing change.

I wouldn't say I liked something that came up in the end (read to find out 😊), and I genuinely am conflicted about how to feel about it. I think it was crucial and should have been discussed between the leads. The conclusion to that point did not satisfy me.

In conclusion, of course I recommend this! Read for a rollicking good time.

Huge thanks to Sourcebooks and NetGalley for the ARC.

I loved this! It was hot and sweet and more than a little funny, all in all a very satisfying read! I haven't read KJ Charles prior to this, but consider me a huge fan!

This book is such a fun follow-up to the first in the series -- fun to see a beloved, feisty character back as a grown-up! The characters are believable and unique, the romance is steamy and swoony and sweet, and the story feels steeped in a time and place that is unfamiliar but so fun to inhabit. I am of course recommending this to all my fellow fans of historical romance, but also intend to run around screaming its praises to those unfamiliar with the genre. Sure to please!

KJ Charles once again delivers a satisfying plotty romance, this one with a bit of a gothic undertone.

Rufus inherits an Earldom in disarray with some hostile relatives scheming against him. Luke has some information that might be of use, and gets hired as a secretary, though he has ulterior motives. Both these men carry baggage and are making their way in a life that is well outside the ways they grew up. I enjoyed their romance, and as is typical in a KJC book, I especially enjoyed their conflicts, they ways they fought, and then worked things out.

The themes that stood out to me here were forgiveness and honesty. I liked the way the book dealt with forgiveness: both forgiving others and forgiving yourself. How some folks have a more naturally kind and forgiving heart, the challenges of being open hearted, and the importance of setting down boundaries when lines are crossed. The importance of forgiving yourself, and how to gain closure under difficult circumstances. How holding onto pain only ends up hurting more than directly addressing things and finding ways to heal. I had a bit of a tougher time with the way honesty was handled in the book - hard to discuss without spoilers.

I mentioned early on that this book has a gothic feel. It takes place in a crumbling drafty manor, a relative died in weird circumstances, another relative is literally called Pagan, etc. I really liked this aspect of the story. This book has a very different sense of place compared to the first book in the series, but like the previous book the location here plays a central role in the feel of the story, and very much felt like it’s own character.

Bonus points for giving us a window into Gareth and Joss from the previous book - I love them a lot. The secondary characters in this book were excellent too. Recommended!

Thank you Sourcebooks and NetGalley for the ARC!

I don’t know who does Brit lit quite like KJ Charles. This book was addictive from the start and I fell in love with these gents so quickly. Rufus and Luke couldn’t be more different, but once they start working together on Rufus’s estate, their chemistry is undeniable. Of course, Luke has an ulterior motive for helping Rufus, or else he just wouldn’t be a Doomsday, right?
This second installment in the Doomsday series is so cozy, cheeky, steamy and captivating.

Well, I'm at least relieved this went better than book one did because I'm still a little traumatized by how badly that went for me. But at the same time.. I did struggle with this one, too. Maybe it's just this series and the author's habit of, in both books, including really horrible domestic situations? Or maybe I'm just extra sensitive to it right now, I don't know, but it's awful and uncomfortable and frustrating to read.

We have something of a time jump (thirteen years, I believe) since the end of book one and while we do see a few familiar faces, the majority of this one is spent away from the Doomsday clan. And instead it's the mystery of the missing money that is the main tie-in here. So if you wanted to know more about that, you'll be happy with this follow-up. If you wanted more Doomsday drama.. welll you'll get a taste but in many ways this is much tamer and rather removed from that.

The first half, despite said issues, was easily the better half and I cruised through the book like a hot knife slices through butter. It was a pretty fun time and I enjoyed the romance, too, which is more than I can say for book one in this series. But even that couldn't quite sustain the entirety because said domestic issues just got more frequent, and louder, and worse, and full disclosure I did do an 80/20 skim for maybe the last 20%. I just wanted to get over the hump of the last few conflicts, see the nasty characters get punished, and move on. And both of those things took us riiiiight about to the very end so yeah. I needed that little burst of help to just push through.

I am hopeful that this means THE SECRET LIVES OF COUNTRY GENTLEMEN really was a fluke but if book three (I assume there'll be more in this series? I could be wrong) continues with the uncomfy aggressive nasty mire I may have to forgo any additional instalments in this world. It's just not for me. But at least there was enough good to not have a repeated low rating. I'll take the win.

A follow-up to The Secret Lives of Country Gentlemen, A Nobleman's Guide to Seducing a Scoundrel *is* a standalone, but reads better having read the first book. There were times I felt like the author was info-dumping and I was glad I had background knowledge as to what was going on already. But it's still a great read!

I like KJ Charles. KJ Charles is great. That said, this was really just a diversion read for me. I wasn't super into the characters and kept putting the book down and picking it up again. Then, at least a week after finishing, I thought "oh, I finished a book and I need to post it on Goodreads...now what was the book I finished again?"

Pleasantly historical, I adored the side characters (especially Odo and Berengia). But I wasn't all that into the main pairing. Even the life-or-death climax, while narratively well-played (very much in line with the series predecessor) wasn't particularly nail-biting. And can I use any more adverbs? Sheesh.

A solid historical m-m romance. It played its role well, and I have no complaints. But I can't in good conscience rate it higher than 3 stars, because I wasn't left swooning.

I loved The Secret Lives of Country Gentlemen by KJ Charles so I was delighted to find out that a sequel was in the works - and I was extra delighted to get my hands on an early review copy. This book was just as good as the first, with the added attraction of cameo appearances of some great characters from book one. Like The Secret Lives, A Nobleman’s Guide is billed as a historical M/M romance, but it is much more.

While this is the second book in the series (I don’t know if there will be any more; it might remain a duology), I think it would work fine as standalone.

The action takes place in 1823, about 13 years after the events of The Secret Lives. Luke Doomsday, a young teen in the first book, is now in his 20s and has been making a living as a private secretary or clerk to some upper-class gents (which is a huge step up in the world for him, as his family is well-known as smugglers). He has come home to the Romney Marsh area of Kent, England, in need of a new position. At the same time, a new Earl of Oxney, Rufus, is now in charge at Stone Manor, having finally (he thinks) proven that he is the true heir entitled to be called Lord Oxney. (His awful uncle Conrad had been fighting his claim for months, because Rufus’ mother wasn’t of noble birth, among other issues.) There’s a lot of machinations about inheritance of titles, but just go with the flow and you’ll be fine. Luke comes into the picture because he has some supposedly relevant information.

Rufus is an interesting character, having left the military (Napoleonic Wars, I assume), where he was an officer. Nevertheless, he has some difficulty reading and sorting through all the disorganized documents he finds, his grandfather having seriously ignored business matters for quite a while as his health declined. (His uncle Conrad and his three live-in cousins hadn’t been much help either, it seems.) Luke finds a way to make himself useful to Rufus, serving as his secretary and getting things running more smoothly. He even helps Rufus with relations with his cousins (who all have unusual names: Odo, Fulk and Berengaria!). There’s something else going on with Luke, however, and that forms the rest of the story.

Along the way, Rufus and Luke find time to start a torrid love affair. Be forewarned: there are some rather spicy scenes. (If you’re listening to the audiobook, I advise using headphones!)

I bounced between the audiobook and the ebook for this title, which was very convenient. The audiobook was again beautifully narrated by Martyn Swain. Unlike the first book, he didn’t have to show off as many different English accents this time, which I missed. I loved how he voiced the local dialect.

Thank you to Sourcebooks Casablanca and NetGalley for the opportunity to read an advance reader copy of this book and to Dreamscape Media and NetGalley for the opportunity to listen to an advance copy of this audiobook. All opinions are my own.

I am greatly enjoying this series by KJ Charles. I listened to the audio version of both books and can't recommend highly enough how much it added to the enjoyment since the narrator did such a great job with a Kent accent. Charles does a great job of giving us good people trying to do the right thing in a world that doesn't always reciprocate.

Story: Rufus has inherited an Earldom despite having grown up as the illegitimate son of a Draper's daughter. The new family resents him and are doing their best to get his legitimacy annulled. The Earldom is in a mess, he lives with a hostile family, and all he wants to do is return to the quiet military career that gave him a home. When the family produce another illegitimate son, one whose mother might have married the deceased heir, Rufus is nonplussed. If they want to give the earldom to Luke Doomsday, they are welcome to it as long as it is legal and correct. The problem is, the 'pretender' is from one of Kent's most notorious family of smugglers - and he might just upend Rufus' life even more.

This is the story of Luke, the 13 year old from the first book who was nicknamed "Goldie" and was maimed by his father after deciding to get an education (with the help of Sir Gareth). It is now 13 years later, Luke got his education and has worked as a secretary to several prominent citizens. Luke has a secret agenda when he presents himself to the Earl - one that starts out with working for the Earl to fix the estate's bookkeeping disaster but with a greater goal underneath. At some point, he will have to decide if he can live with betraying and hurting the Earl in the process.

What I am really liking about this series (and KJ Charles' book in particular) is that they rarely deal with your typical nobility. These are more ordinary people all with their own nuances but who are good at heart. In this case, Rufus is very down-to-Earth and honest to a fault; Luke, on the other hand, has had to survive by being morally grey. His morals are in place even if his ethics may be somewhat questionable.

The maguffin of the two books is a hoard of gold that was stolen by Sir Gareth's relative and is hidden somewhere in Kent. Along the way to searching for the gold, Charles gives us great information about Kent and the people who live there. While the first book had information about the nature aspects of marshlands, this book has a gothic flare that is quite fun but fortunately never gets silly. It's a nod and a wink to the genre rather than an homage.

In all, these are very enjoyable. I am not sure if the series is done with this book 2 but I would greatly welcome more. I listened to the audio version of both books during morning walks or gym workouts and it made the time pass pleasantly. Reviewed from an advance reader/listener copy provided by the publisher.

I loved Luke in The Secret Lives of Country Gentlemen. He was the little guy who had the bad dad. He made friends with Gareth and wanted to go to school and his angry father wasn't having it. Now here he is, all grown. He's a respectable sort and gets pulled into an estate struggle with Rufus and his horrible uncle over an Earldom. He ends up getting hired on to get the estate cleared up by Rufus and spends his time flirting at Rufus and doing a dang good job clearing up years of neglect for the properties and tenants. Of course he has side motives but that's beside the point. I really liked these two together.

I got a huge chuckle out of Rufus mentioning Gareth's hard bound book about beetles that he's never cracked the cover on. I swear the beetles were the third member of that relationship in Book 1. I was thrilled to see Joss and Gareth so happy and settled as background characters.

Thank you to Netgalley for a copy in exchange for an honest review. My opinions are my own.

When Rufus unexpectedly inherits an earldom and a remote Norman castle, his status is challenged by his conniving uncle and by Luke, the scion of infamous smugglers. Though rivals, impeccable secretary Luke becomes Rufus's much-needed ally and surprising lover. But as Luke's covert agenda leads to a web of deceit, their loyalties are tested. How much are they willing to sacrifice for love?

This may be the best book I've read all year (and I've read over 400). It takes place about 12 years after the previous book in the series. While it can be read as a standalone, it's best read back-to-back with the first book, since they complement each other.

It's a long book, but the story itself is such a pleasure to read that I never grew impatient. The main characters are fascinating, with sparks flying between them. The plot is complex and a little spooky at times. It's a magnificent novel.

Thanks, NetGalley, for the ARC I received. This is my honest and voluntary review.

Taking place thirteen years after the first novel, the story follows a Major who is set to a become a Earl and his new secretary who happens to not only be the opposing heir to the earldom but also come from a notorious smuggling clan... who has his own motives for wanting to be in the manor, that's not even taking into account the undeniable chemistry between the both of them. Major Rufus d'Aumesty never really expected to become the Earl of Oxney, but now finds himself fighting for the title against his vile uncle who has done everything to try and deny him the title, including bringing in a potential other heir... by the name of Luke Doomsday, a man from a notorious smuggling clan. Rufus's uncle thought he was bringing in a bastard son that would deny Rufus of his right to become earl, but what he didnt realize that he was bringing in another potential claimer for the title of earl, someone who they believe Rufus's other uncle married a serving girl who had later had a bastard child by another man, making said bastard child still a legal contender to be recognized as the heir to the earldom. Rufus and Luke were meant to be enemies but find that they make rather good friends and Rufus hires Luke to be his secretary while they try and sort out the true heir to be earl, yet Luke has his own reasons for wanting to be at the Oxney manor, and that includes trying to search for something hidden in the manor. The closer Rufus and Luke become the more they can't deny the sexual tension between both of them and the growing feelings, yet Luke's lies and secrets could ruin his chance at a treasure greater than what he could have ever imagined he would find, love. This one was definitely a slower paced one and less plot heavy compared to the first book. This one takes place after the first one and involves the side character in the first book and we still get to see the couple from the first book but now time skipped forward for them. This one is a pretty simple plot and wasn't as interesting if I'm being honest, but it was an overall fun read. It definitely leaned in on the "family drama" in this one and I did love Rufus, he's a lovable grump and the romance was nice. I wish there was a bit more to Luke because we get to see and fall for Rufus, but Luke, was a bit harder to actually like. Overall, it was a nice read and the I did have fun reading it, the family drama was heavy and the trauma healing was nice, the romance itself was slower but sweet overall.

*Thanks Netgalley and SOURCEBOOKS Casablanca, Sourcebooks Casablanca for sending me an arc in exchange for an honest review*

While I did really enjoy book 1 in this series, I had some mixed feelings about the plot, which didn't interest me as much as the romance but which got a lot of attention. In this installment, I found myself caring even less about the plot. To be very honest, I found it extremely boring to read about. This especially made the first half of the book very boring to read, and I almost DNFd. I continued reading for the romance, but even that didn't do much for me, as I wasn't particularly loving the characters. All in all, I ended up enjoying this book a whole lot less. The writing was still good, but it wasn't enough to save my enjoyment.

I received an ARC from the publisher via NetGalley and am voluntarily posting a review. All opinions are my own.
A Nobleman's Guide to Seducing a Scoundrel is the second in KJ Charles’ Doomsday Books series. It works as a standalone, as it’s set thirteen years after the first book, although the setting and familial connections remain constant, and there are some recurring characters.
It’s been a while since I read the first book, and I didn’t remember Luke much from that book, but I was immediately drawn into his character. He went through a lot in his past, and it definitely shapes who he is in the present, and I appreciate how his past trauma continues to reverberate, and him breaking the cycle with an abusive parent and the fruitless chase for their love.
As for Rufus, he makes a great romantic interest, as like Luke, he’s a bit out of place too. He’s the new Earl of Oxney, and ended up getting the title through a convoluted sequence of events of having to prove his legitimacy. And with some questions around Luke also being a potential heir, that makes for an intriguing conflict to both come between them and keep them in each other’s orbit.
Despite some of that convolutedness, I did like the romance at the heart of this. Even amid the conflicts, I love that they came to understand and support each other in such a sweet way.
The pacing is definitely the one real weakness. Given the aforementioned complicated nature of the plot, there’s a lot of setup to start with, but once it picks up, it becomes engaging on both a romance and external plot front.
This is another solid installment in the series, and I’m eager for what comes next. If you enjoy queer historical romance with a dash of suspense, I’d recommend checking this out!

This book was a delight!

It did start a little slow, but once it picked up I could not put it down!!

This book takes place 13 years after the first book, The Secret Lives of Country Gentlemen, and one of the main characters is a side character from the first book. That being said, you can definitely read this as a standalone, but it might be more enjoyable to read in order.

There’s so much to unravel in this book, and honestly that’s what I love to read. The author did an excellent job in setting everything up! These characters were all together adorably smitten with each other, and they had some big emotions with this book.

It was wonderful to be back with the Doomsdays, the way they care for each other is unique but you can plainly see the love.

Gosh, this series is just so good! As someone who doesn’t read a lot of historical romances, this series has my heart. I love the history, the romance, the mystery, the action. It’s all so good.