4 Stars

Once again, this series is perfectly scratching the itch left behind from Poldark, but make it bravely and enthusiastically queer and SPICY.

I know Kent and Cornwall are two different areas (but also neighbors-ish), but getting to revisit the smuggling Doomsday family as they search for treasure and reform their past was so fun, you can’t help but think of Ross Poldark.

The setting and atonischere of a giant Norman home with multiple generations of uptight and pro ledges AND SPOILED family members, complete with a secret pagan alter, was such an interesting choice. Gave me all the old gothic literature vibes and was such a different style than the natural world from book one.

The romance between heroes turned from rivals to friends to lovers to OMG DID YOU LIE TO ME FRIM THE BEGINNING back to lovers and it was exquisite. Rufus was the reluctant earl and former solider general. Like was the reformed (maybe) smuggler child who has a past marred by abuse. Seeing them get to the heart of each other was a pleasure to witness.

I hope this isn’t the last book we have in Romney Marsh and I look forward to reading more by this author.

ALSO! If you have a chance to read via audio, I HIGHLY recommend, as the narrator does the voices and accents SO WELL.

Major Rufus d’Aumesty knows battle but he is wholly unprepared for the war within his own family when he unexpectedly inherits an earldom. The d’Aumestys are disasters, to put it kindly, and his uncle is constantly challenging his right to the title. His uncle’s latest scheme involves Luke Doomsday, a member of the famous Romney Marsh Doomsday clan. Except Luke becomes the ally Rufus didn’t know he needed. His secretarial skills are top-notch and Rufus begins to believe that with Luke’s help, Stone Manor may just become what it needs to be. That would be enough, but then there’s also the mutual attraction that drives both men wild. The one fly in the ointment? Luke came to Stone Manor for reasons of his own, and when the truth is revealed it could destroy everything…

Return to the gothic moors of KJ Charles’s Doomsday books, where danger lurks around every corner and love can be found if you’re willing to risk opening your heart. A Nobleman’s Guide to Seducing a Scoundrel is an entertaining adventure with secrets, danger, love, and hope.

Rufus is unprepared to become the Earl of Oxney but he steps up to do his duty nonetheless. Rufus is easy to adore; for all that he’s brash and has a temper he is genuinely caring and kind. He’s got a big heart and a heavy sense of responsibility which makes it hard for him to not give multiple chances to people who don’t deserve it. I loved Rufus and wanted him to be able to claim his place and take care of those around him. Luke is key to that, but he’s also potentially the key to destroying everything. Luke was a bit harder for me to warm up to. He comes to Stone Manor for reasons of his own (though if you’ve read the first Doomsday book you can likely guess) and he has a lot of built up anxiety, resentment, and pain to work through. He frustrates himself at times, which I thought was relatable and interesting.

Luke and Rufus are instantly attracted to one another and it’s easy to see why. They have great chemistry and complement one another perfectly, in bed and out. But Luke’s secrets are of course going to come out. I won’t spoil what happens but I did like how Charles handled it, making her characters confront what Luke did and the cost of it. The happily ever after felt more earned with this obstacle rather than it being there for false drama.

A host of secondary characters fill out the pages of A Nobleman’s Guide to Seducing a Scoundrel. Some of said characters are dastardly to the extreme and some had the chance to learn and grow. I liked watching some of the relationships develop between characters over the course of the story. If you enjoyed The Secret Lives of Country Gentlemen then you’ll like the glimpse into the lives of Joss and Giles thirteen years later. You don’t have to have read that book to enjoy this one, so long as you don’t mind spoilers. But to skip it would be a shame because it is so good.

I really enjoyed A Nobleman’s Guide to Seducing a Scoundrel and hated to put it down. Charles’s writing drew me in, the characters were compelling, and the plot fast-paced. I waffled a bit on how to rate this for a few reasons (and forgive the vagueness as I avoid spoiling the story). There were some twists this story took near the end that felt unwarranted and took away slightly from the ending (for me). All in all, I didn’t love Rufus and Luke’s story like I did Giles and Joss’s, but I was still highly entertained from beginning to end.

4.5

This was gorgeous.
KJ Charles is really one of the best authors out there: her writing, the sheer amount of skill she puts into creating well-rounded, complex, wonderfully flawed and lovable characters, her storytelling and the absolutely compelling plots... Nobody does it like her, especially in this kind of genre.

And "A Nobleman's Guide to Seducing a Scoundrel" is no exception.
I loved this book to bits, even though it took me quite a few more days than usual to finish it (I blame Good Omens *sobbing noises* and my damned summer reading slump).

I've been so excited about Luke's story since he first appeared in "The Secret Lives of Country Gentlemen": what he was put through was horrific, and I really could not wait to see how Adult Luke would turn out to be, how he would deal with it all, and how precisely he would get away with an unexpected, inconvenient romance with the new Earl of Oxney (aka Rufus; aka the most delicious and angry grump to ever grump, with the biggest, most kindest heart, and yes, you can say I loved him quite a bit).

Their romance stole my heart; it develops in an unexpected way, much to their dismay, since it's got a bit of a forbidden, employer/employee, class and age gap, vibe going on, and it's also fueled by fierce chemistry and sexual tension, and an understanding of one another, that was both exciting and sexy, and damned moving, and I adored it.
It's also fraught with miscommunication, a fair bit of misleading and secretive scheming and lying; but all of that kept me hooked. The plot was a mixture of romance and mystery, and I adored every single second of it.

As protagonists, Luke and Rufus are both fleshed out in a very vivid, very realistic way; they felt like real people, like flawed and complex men, and their respective character arcs were absolutely gorgeous to witness.
In some ways, they reminded me of Kim and Will (from the Will Darling Adventures, aka my most favourite book series of all time and my favourite of KJ Charles'), with Luke being all secretive, cunning, a tad vulnerable and a scheming, infuriating schemer; and Rufus, being perfectly, and violently, competent and reliable and good and stubborn.

Needless to say, I loved them to bits and their relationship and the dynamic between them was pretty much addictive: sweet and sexy, moving and heartfelt.

So why am I docking half a star? No spoilers, but there were some things (in the epilogue mainly) that gave me pause, and made their romance feel less romance-y. I don't know, in some ways it was new and different and pretty much realistic, in other ways I wish it had been done differently. I don't want to worry people, because Rufus and Luke are definitely (and unambiguously) HEA, but there was a teeny, tiny, unexpected plot twist at the end that kinda made my enjoyment of their HEA less enjoyable.

I might change my mind when I re-read this, but for now that is what I think (re: people who have read this book, tell me your thoughts please).

Anyway, it was a lovely book, and all the side characters (and even the villains!) were absolutely, masterfully created, and I am still thoroughly obsessed and absolutely in awe with how skilled and how much of a genius KJ Charles is, especially at character building and arcs.

I loved seeing Gareth and Joss again, I loved Luke and Rufus, and I loved this book. If you are new to this author, you can literally start anywhere in her backlist because every single book of hers is a masterpiece. I wholly recommend it.

Also, for longtime fans of KJ Charles: there are easter eggs, and I SCREECHED *nod of approval*

TWs/CWs: child abuse (emotional, physical; mentioned), death, murder, rape (of secondary characters, mentioned).

3.5 stars rounded up

Set several years after the first Doomsday book, this is another gay historical romance following a newly minted Earl who was in the military previously, and a character from the previous book- Luke- who is now a secretary but may have secrets as well.

I seem to be in the minority, but I didn't enjoy this as much as I did the first book in the series, though I was definitely hooked by the end. It could be that I'm more sensitive to serious deception in a relationship and while I do think the author handles the fallout and healing of that deception really well, it's still not my favorite thing in a romance and it took me longer to be really invested in this couple. That said, I did like seeing Luke all grown up and I think this handles the past trauma of both characters really thoughtfully in terms of how it impacts their choices and responses. I also think it's lovely to see how kind Rufus is and how he really doesn't want to hurt anyone unless he has to.

I ADORED book 1 and liked but wasn't in love with this one. You don't technically have to read these in order, but I think you'll be missing context if you don't. I would definitely read more from this author in the future because this was still quite good. The audio narration is done really well too. I received an audio review copy of this book from NetGalley, all opinions are my own.

A perfectly okay novel. There was nothing terrible about it, just nothing really that stood out to me either. But sometimes you need that kind of book!

I loved The Secret Lives of Country Gentlemen, the first in this series. When I saw A Nobleman's Guide to Seducing a Scoundrel come up on NetGalley, I immediately clicked to read. I couldn’t wait to get my hands on more from this series and have also grabbed several from KJ’s backlist. The second book was equally as compelling as the first. Written with thoughtful historic detail, you get to know your characters well in a rich setting amidst an engaging and compelling plot that makes the story impossible to put down. I had the luxury of both reading and listening which allowed me to indulge in the story all day long, switching as needed between the two. Solo narrated by Martyn Swain, he portrays the story with subtle nuance and inflection allowing readers to always know which character is speaking and transporting them to England in the 1800s.

Having inherited an earldom in shambles, Rufus is in desperate need of help when Luke arrives at Stone Manor. He has hostile relatives under his roof, tennents desperate for care, and little experience running an estate after years spent in the army fighting France. Luke, as a competent and thorough secretary, needs a position and being a Doomsday, knows his way around family politics. The perfect solution to both their problems is to join forces, and things eventually heat up between them. When Luke’s true motivations for being at Stone Manor reveal themselves, will Rufus and Luke reach the end of their relationship before things really even had the chance to begin?

I loved their relationship so much. While they complimented each other immensely, they both helped each other by seeing what the other needed when words wouldn’t come. There are so many sweet moments in this story. Rufus is a wonderfully good man and just what Luke needs in his life to move past old hurts. Luke helps Rufus navigate an untenable situation with his family and estate. I loved that I did not see this story go in the direction it did and so I found myself binge reading on the couch on a quiet Sunday afternoon. It was time exceedingly well spent.

The first couple of chapters of this book started off just a bit slow for me - there's some necessary (but complex!) background and relationships that the readers need in order to understand everything that happens but it is quite front loaded in the book.

I really loved Rufus and Luke's relationship even if I didn't fully understand Luke's motivations through most of the book. Their relationship drives the book forward, though there are the classic KJ Charles hijinks and external plots that kept my attention as well! Both characters have flaws but work through them together. Though their attraction to each other is realized relatively early in the book, their love grows slowly and softly and is really quite sweet. I LOVED the scene where Rufus saves Luke and they both confess their love - it was everything I want out of a final scene!

I also loved seeing the dyslexia representation from Rufus and how Luke just quietly helps him in a way that allows Rufus to accept his help.

Thank you to Netgalley and Sourcebooks Casablanca for the eARC. All thoughts and opinions are my own and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

Genre: MM historical romance
Oxney, England, 1823

Rufus d’Aumesty, Earl of Oxney, finds himself in the middle of an inheritance problem: his uncle Conrad laying claim to the title of Oxney, has spent seven months challenging Rufus’s claim to the title in court, only at the last minute to produce evidence that Rufus’s father was already married and therefore could not have married his mother. Rather, Raymond d’Aumesty had married a serving girl, who later had a bastard child by another man, and yet that bastard would still legally be recognized as the heir to the earldom. That bastard: Luke Doomsday, part of the Doomsday smuggling family, now a secretary. Rufus decides to hire Luke - who is not trying to claim the title! - to help him sort the books of the crumbling estate and to try to find what may be truth in this wild rumor.

The second installment in the Doomsday Books takes place thirteen years after the events of The Secret Lives of Country Gentlemen. In that book, Luke is the young boy they call Goldilocks or Goldie. While you don’t have to have read Country Gentlemen first, it might help you understand Luke’s character more, as the events in that book shaped much of his life.

The first part of the book has a lot of setup - my blurb is only a hint at the complexities around the inheritance dispute. There’s also a good deal of talk of estate management while Rufus and Luke start to recognize their attraction to one another. While I enjoy the ins and outs of estate management (my professional brain eats this up), it did feel a bit heavier handed. It’s necessary for the payoff, so when you pick this up, go in knowing it feels slower for the first 30% or so.

Once Luke and Rufus admit attraction, though, the book takes off. Their relationship really helps drive the novel along, and it’s clear they bring out the best in one another. They each care deeply about doing the right thing for the estate. Rufus is likely dyslexic and struggles with reading, so Luke takes on the responsibilities that involve reading. They are both caretaker types in their own ways, and when secrets are revealed it’s difficult for both of them to move beyond betrayal.

This was a lot of fun, with some hijinks, legends of buried treasure, squabbling relatives on all sides, and a romance to swoon over!

Thank you Netgalley and Sourcebooks Casablanca for this ARC!

- I really enjoyed this one, but it was pretty intense!
- I loved Rufus and Luke-how well they work together and how much their POVs showed they cared about each other.
- I loved the descriptions of Stone Manor and Oto’s rambling histories! Plus everything with Pagan! The characters are so odd and convoluted in the best way.
- there’s a lot of references to gothic novels, and parts of this feel very gothic! I wasn’t expecting that after the first one, but I liked it!
- the way the characters dealt with the conflict was so well done. I feel like there’s a lot of books where characters apologize once and briefly, but I really liked how much time was spent dealing with things (this is very vague to avoid spoilers).
- I was not expecting some of the twists at the ending! The pacing and the action picked up towards the end.
- I loved getting to see Joss and Gareth again, especially with the time jump from book one to book two.

I was happy to receive an ARC of this book from Netgalley, because I had enjoyed the first book in the series and the snippet of this book at the end of that book was intriguing. Luke was an interesting character with lots of trauma to reckon with as he grew up and that always has potential for an interesting story.

Trauma can only heal within relationships with other people (Dr. Bruce Perry et al.). Not necessarily within romantic relationships (although that is what a large chunk of romance themed lit is based on) because that way lies codependency and in real life that is a tricky son of a bitch. (PSA: even though you can only heal from trauma within relationships with other people, you cannot make other people responsible for your own healing. I know, that sounds like a contradiction, but it isn’t and that is why romantic relationships aren’t easy. I don’t know why this review makes me want to pontificate on trauma healing, I keep deleting this shit to get to the actual review and it keeps popping back up in different forms, so I guess that is where my brain is at today and you’ll just have to skim it).

Anyway. That is the long way of saying I appreciated that both Luke and Rufus had done a large part of their trauma healing with non-romantic partners and while they were still shaped by what happened to them (like trees that mature in areas with a predominant wind) they started from a relatively healthy place. In contrast, Conrad’s family is a prime example of what can happen when those healing relationships are not available. (Although his kids must have had a relatively normal childhood to make the choices they do as adults. OMFG, just tell me to stop with the amateur psychology!).

This being a romance novel, the trauma healing is a bit rosy and hand-wavey and that is par for the course. But as a romance novel it kind of failed in the sense that I could kind of take or leave the relationship. I wasn’t super invested in it and if they’d ended up as friends I would have been fine with it. YMMV, though. I’m a bit blasé.

As a mystery it had a slower start than usual. Luke’s secret doesn’t even start featuring prominently until a third of the way in, or maybe even later. If you’ve read the first book, you can kind of figure out what the secret is going to be about, but if you start with this one the mystery aspect of it kind of comes as a surprise guest. Not unwelcome, but you have to suddenly set an extra place at the table. Next to Ms Romance and Ms Trauma Healing and Ms Fucked Up Family.

Now, this may sound like I didn’t like it, but that is not true at all. It is a well-crafted story with interesting characters and a satisfying resolution, and it will keep you entertained on a rainy day. And that’s really all I need sometimes. 3.5 stars.

This story is told in first person dual point of view from Rufus and Luke. This is the second book in the Doomsday series, and I recommend that you read The Secret Lives of Country Gentlemen first for a better understanding of the ways of Romney Marsh and the Doomsday clan.

Both characters had interesting backgrounds and personalities that both clashed and complimented. Luke is all grown up with the skills of an excellent secretary, which was exactly what Rufus needed since he just inherited an estate that has fallen victim to negligence due to poor family priorities. As the inheritance has been questioned in court for months, the situation only worsened after the prior Earl’s death due to history of pitting his children against each other. Rufus also had a reading disability that inhibited his attempts to reconcile the paperwork that was poorly kept by the most recent secretary, a member of the family with interests that ran more towards history than accounting.

As the story begins, Rufus is beyond frustrated with both the status of the estate and his squabbling relatives. The family drama at Stone Manor was quite the spectacle and I enjoyed watching Rufus take them in hand, meting out solutions to disgruntled relatives’ dismay. Luke experienced quite a bit of character growth over the course of the novel as he works through his preoccupation with his late father’s actions and motivations and how he wants to move forward with his future.

Excellent installment to the series. I look forward to future books about the residents of Romney Marsh.

Thank you to Netgalley and Sourcebooks Casablanca for a copy provided for an honest review.

"A Nobleman's Guide to Seducing a Scoundrel" by KJ Charles is a delightful Regency romance that skillfully weaves together elements of passion, mystery, and a touch of Gothic ambiance. With its engaging characters, intricate plot, and sizzling romance, this novel delivers a captivating reading experience.

Set in a remote Norman manor on the edge of the infamous Romney Marsh, the story follows Major Rufus d'Aumesty, who unexpectedly becomes the Earl of Oxney. Facing challenges from both his greedy uncle and Luke Doomsday, a member of a notorious smuggling clan, Rufus finds himself in a precarious position. Despite their initial differences, Rufus and Luke form an unexpected alliance, discovering common ground and a deepening attraction that defies societal norms.

KJ Charles masterfully brings the characters to life, infusing them with depth, complexity, and relatable flaws. Rufus and Luke's dynamic is engaging and authentic, as their banter and chemistry gradually evolve into a powerful emotional connection. The development of their relationship is a highlight of the novel, showcasing the author's ability to create compelling and multifaceted characters.

The intricate plot, rife with family secrets and hidden motives, keeps readers guessing and invested in the outcome. The setting, with its atmospheric descriptions of the remote manor and the marshes, adds a layer of intrigue and a touch of the Gothic, enhancing the overall mood of the story.

As with all of KJ Charles' works, the writing is elegant, witty, and engaging. The author's attention to historical detail immerses readers in the Regency era, while her prose captures the nuances of the characters' emotions and the tension of their circumstances.

"A Nobleman's Guide to Seducing a Scoundrel" is a testament to KJ Charles' storytelling prowess and her ability to craft compelling romances set against rich historical backdrops. Fans of Regency romance will appreciate the complex characters, well-paced plot, and the undeniable chemistry between Rufus and Luke. With its blend of passion, intrigue, and humor, this novel is a must-read for anyone seeking an engaging historical romance with a twist.

4.25/5. Releases 9/19/2023.

Vibes: boss/employee, an Heir Hunt, a hero whose love language is hypercompetence, soft romanticism with just the right amount of angst.

After inheriting an earldom, Rufus finds himself in a dispute with his uncle--who brings up another snag in Rufus' inheritance, one Luke Doomsday. Rather than fight Luke, Rufus decides to hire him as his secretary and make him his ally. The allyship thing becomes rather complicated, however--not only because Luke is a part of a famous smuggling family, but because Rufus actually super wants to bone him. And Luke might be up to more than Rufus realizes...

KJ Charles is one of those authors with such a strong, distinct voice. That's consistent here, as is the rich setting and sense of subculture inherent in her Doomsday books. I think I might still prefer The Secret Lives of Country Gentlemen, but that's pure taste (and me being in love with Joss Doomsday). This was a more than worthy followup, and the boss/employee romance that everyone who's uncertain about boss/employee romances should read.

Quick Takes:

--Yes yes Rufus is Luke's boss, and this is something they actually talk about (and, in a very consensual and flirty and normal way) fetishize together. But rest assured, the power dynamics are fully acknowledged and confronted. Like, Rufus initially does feel a bit bad about lusting after his secretary, and he does make it very clear that Luke does not have to do anything he doesn't want to do. (Luke is... significantly less concerned.) I appreciated that.

I also appreciated that Luke points out that an official legal title does not necessarily... peak power... make? Which is a theme throughout this book. Yes, Rufus is an earl, but so many people look down on him despite his title because he is an ex-soldier and isn't able to read very easily, among other things. Yes, Luke is this lower-class guy who's risen up to become a secretary (in part because his cousin Joss Doomsday is absolutely railing a local baronet, bless) but the Doomsdays are also quite powerful in the era. Their power may not be "official", but it has a lot of reach that Rufus and his family can't quite grasp. So that does give Luke a bit more leverage in the relationship, and I found that so different from a lot of historicals that worship the title.

--Going back to reading being a struggle for Rufus... I loved how this was approached by the book. I never got the sense that Rufus needed to learn how to read more easily in order to be seen as a valuable person by anyone who mattered. Anyone who got on Rufus about this issue was an asshole. The main reason why he really "needed" to do anything was because he needed to know what he was looking at re: certain documents related to his responsibilities as earl. The problem was practical, versus being connected to Rufus's intellect in any sense; and it wasn't presented as him being this poor little lost boy, either. It wasn't condescending.

It did give Charles a great opportunity to weave in one of the most touching parts of the novel, however. So much of Rufus and Luke's romance is about the little things that they say and do for each other.

--There's a lot of cozy domesticity in this book? Much of it takes place on this estate that Luke and Rufus are trying to whip back into shape, and they spend so much time working together. You really get this lived in sense of their relationship, despite the fact that they haven't been together all that long.

--In a similar sense, this is one of those books where you just kind of feel like love creeps up on the leads in this very normal way. Like, there aren't a lot of BIG ROMANTICALLY CODED EVENTS (though there are a couple). Luke and Rufus falling in love is woven in throughout the story and in their everyday lives. Like, there isn't some big "omg I love him" moment; you just know that they have truly slipped into love together. It's really lovely and really quietly romantic, and I loved that.

The Sex Stuff:

KJ Charles writes sex in a way that is explicit, sexy, and like... often kind of funny? The sex in this one starts fairly early, which is something I appreciated about Country Gentleman and something I appreciated here. Like, they're definitely into each other by the time they start hooking up, but... they also just really want to throw down, you know? I loved that Rufus and Luke falling in love was aided by this sexual relationship between adults. This is very much one of those books where they're like "OH DON'T WORRY, IT'S JUST SEX, WE WON'T FALL IN LOVE!!!" Which I am trash for.

I really had a good time with this one. KJ Charles is just one of those undeniably strong writers, and I have to just give a blanket recommendation for her books.

Thanks to Netgalley and Sourcebooks Casablanca for providing me with a copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

Oh, what a delightful romp! I really enjoyed the first in the series, "The Secret Lives of Country Gentlemen" and was a little worried that this one wouldn't be as good. However, I think it was actually better, especially if you enjoy musty old mansions in the middle of nowhere with suspicious family members lurking around every corner. A fun missing treasure puzzle, _really_ hot sex scenes, and a lovely romance-what more could you want?

KJ Charles is quickly become a favorite queer author.

Nobleman's Guide followed Luke Doomsday's adulthood romance with the new Earl, Rufus d'Aumesty. Hijinks ensue and miscommunications abound.

I like that Charles changed it up a bit and didn't put the rich peer in as much danger as they did in the first book. The offset of that meant that someone else was put in danger in a strange and unique way.

I'm going to enjoy rereading these two books!

This really was an amazing read!
These characters are amazing and so loveable, I love them together so much. I was cheering them on the entire time.
It reads beautifully as a sequel since the stories connect so well, but as a stand-alone it also holds its own.
I was pleasantly surprised every step of the way with this book and I enjoyed the mystery elements in it and the political intrigue as always.

Let me just start by saying that this is one of those series you need to read in order. The series is also called The Doomsday Books so you need the context from book 1. With that particular note out of the way, let’s get into what A Nobleman’s Guide to Seducing a Scoundrel is about.

This book follows one of the youngest Doomsday children: Luke. We find out that Luke’s mother could have been married to a d’Amuesty which would make Luke an Earl but there’s only one problem. Rufus is already named the Earl and has his meddlesome family, trying to undermine him at every turn.

Of course, Luke and Rufus team up to try and solve the mystery of who is the Earl and to get Rufus’ family off his back. In the meantime, the two begin to fall for each other and K.J. Charles does not disappoint when it comes to the steamy scenes between these two. It’s clear they can’t keep their hands off of each other.

While it did take me some time to get into this book, I eventually fell into the story and couldn’t put it down. Either way, the external plot with Luke was a surprise and honestly, I really enjoyed how everything played out and how it all connected. I didn’t enjoy it as much as the first book, but Luke is such a sweet bean so he deserved to have his story told.

If you’re looking for some queer historical romances, then I don’t think you can go wrong with A Nobleman’s Guide to Seducing a Scoundrel. Plus if you’ve read Book 1, you’ll want to know Luke’s story so I think you’ll be happy. Given all the hype around the release of Red, White & Royal Blue, I think a lot of readers will be on the lookout for more m/m romance books.

I am late to the KJ Charles game but I am officially all in now. I really loved the first book in this series and, as I said in that review, Gareth standing up for young Luke was my favorite part and had me in a puddle. And now we flash forward 13 years and sweet Luke is grown up, an incredibly competent (and handsome) secretary, tied up with lots of issues with his family and how hurt he is by them, and finding himself a possible heir to the title of Earl of Oxney.

Rufus, the current holder of the title of Earl of Oxney, and only just, is a draper’s son, a former army colonel, a quick to anger and curse solid man, and an absolute kind mush puddle in the middle of a man. I loved Rufus so much. He just wanted to do what’s right and make sure everyone was ok, even if they were terrible to him, and oh… his new secretary is ridiculously distracting.

There’s family, there’s our friends the Doomsdays of Romney Marsh, there’s spice, there’s secrets! I had the best time and inhaled this.

🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟

A Nobleman’s Guide is out September 19, 2023.

Thank you to Sourcebooks and NetGalley for the advanced copy in exchange for an honest review. Please give me all the Doomsday books forever.

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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 messs 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 indespensible, 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.

In KJ Charles' second installment of the Doomsday series we pick up 13 years after the events of "The Secret Lives of Country Gentlemen". Luke is now an adult and still reeling from the events of his past. He insinuates himself into the new Lord Orkeny's household in order to try and prove to himself and the Doomsday family that he is more than the broken son of an abhorrent father. This is a sweet, heartfelt story about how finding someone who loves and trusts you implicitly can heal wounds that were long thought to be healed.