The follow-up to the delectable The Secret Lives of Country Gentlemen features a familiar face from the first book and an Earl that is unsure of his inheritance. Luke Doomsday is all grown up and has come to Stone Manor at the behest of the uncle of Rufus, the Earl of Oxney, who is looking for a way to prove that his nephew isn’t legitimate. But Luke has ulterior motives for being there, and they all have to do with his past and proving himself to his family.

After loving the first book in this series I wondered how this author would follow it up, I was pleasantly surprised that Luke would get his own HEA. His backstory is such a big part of the first book and I enjoyed seeing him as a grown adult who has somewhat moved beyond Romney Marsh, although emotionally he’s still stuck on the events of his childhood. He is paired with Rufus, an earl who by appearances is an earl in name only, and was raised by his step-father and spent much of his young adulthood in the military. He is a totally different kind of nobleman and he makes for a strong, relatable, honorable protagonist. He has no idea what is going on with the estate, which is in extreme disrepair and is doing his damndest to figure it all out.

Enter Luke and his long-lost mother, who his uncle claims was once married to Rufus’s father, which would make Rufus a bastard and unable to inherit. I won’t get too into that, because it’s intgeral to the plot arc, but suffice it to say Rufus’s uncle is a no-good, terrible person and I hated him. Luke has secrets but does agree to help Rufus by working as a secretary with the goal of straightening out all of the disastrous records and getting the estate back on track. That’s when the good stuff begins as Rufus and Luke begin to work together, become allies, and realize they share an undeniable attraction.

I was mildly confused by all the shenanigans in this family’s history, and if I’m being honest the fact that there was a chance that Luke’s mother really was married to Rufus’s father stayed at the back of my mind. I mean I knew there would be a HEA for this couple and I was all in on their relationship, but yes, that thought lingered. While I do think this book could be read as a stand-alone, I would like to mention that Luke’s backstory, as well as the history of the Marsh, are told in the first book and you will get more out of this story by reading The Secret Lives of Country Gentlemen. Also, it’s fabulous.

The romance between the main characters is well done. Their journey to happily ever after, with all its ups and downs, secrets, and complicated history, is laid out beautifully. I really enjoyed the cameos of Joss and Gareth, and seeing them still going strong so many years later. They’ve made a beautiful found family together. The ending is super dramatic, and kind of unexpected, even though I knew in my heart that something big would be coming to straighten this mess out and finally bring Rufus and Luke together for good.

I remain a K.J. Charles fangirl. I’m hoping for more adventures in this world in the future.

This was gorgeous and sweeping and so romantic. I really enjoyed it The Secret lives of country gentlemen, but I was so excited that KJ Charles was writing a sequel to this involving Luke Doomsday. I was genuinely sobbing at one part - so many themes of accountability, childhood trauma, intervention, passerby effect, and it hit me quite hard. Plus the romance was lovely and earned and strong. I really loved it..

I loved The Secret Lives of Country Gentlemen and was so excited to see that the author was writing a second book in the series. I will admit that I was surprised when I discovered who one of the main characters was though, since he was only a teenager at the end of TSLoCG. A Nobleman's Guide to Seducing a Scoundrel takes place 13 years after TSLoCG and can be read as a standalone, but I think it will be a much richer reading experience if the books are read in order (plus TSLoCG is amazing!)

This was a sweet and tender romance (the handwriting!), but there's also a big mystery and family drama too. The build up and chemistry between Luke and Rufus was so good and their scenes left me fanning myself. They showed how much they cared for the other in all these beautiful tiny ways. I also loved the found (and re-found) family and every character played their role so well. You'll be rooting for Luke, Rufus, Odo and Berengaria, but you'll also be more than ready to see Conrad and Matilda get what's coming to them. Each of the characters were flawed/not perfect and that made me love them even more. They make mistakes and fight, but they also apologize, grovel, and make amends. The pacing in the middle was a bit slow and things came together quickly at the end, but I liked how all the plot points were tied up. I do wish that the epilogue was further down the road, but my heart was 100% happy at the end.

CW: parental abandonment (past), POW (past), grief, rape resulting in pregnancy (secondary character, past), one of the MC's has difficulty reading and is bullied/made fun of for this, family squabbles and fighting, murder (secondary character, past), attempted murder, trapped in a dark and confined space, one of the MC's was abused and assaulted by his father as a child and has a scar on his face

*I voluntarily read an advance review copy of this book*

Welp, I was right when I predicted the next book after The Secret Lives of Country Gentlemen was going to be about Luke Doomsday (see my past review)! And as such, we get cameos of Gareth and Joss.

We also get a bit of grumpy/sunshine as we follow Rufus, who unexpectedly becomes an earl in Romney Marsh, and Luke, who gets hired on as his secretary under false pretenses. The two quickly become allies as Luke helps Rufus manage not only the estate, but the unruly family and staff who don't think he belongs. However, Luke's lies and secrets threaten their newfound friendship and romance.

It took me a bit to get into this one, to be honest, but once it picked up (once Luke entered the story) it picked up quickly and kept me interested. It had all the great trappings of a historical romance: intrigue, peril, a treasure hunt... and it was 🌶 SPICY! Rufus's big heart and willingness to see the best in people made him the most endearing of heroes. Definitely a fun, easy read!

*******
I received this eARC from Netgalley @netgalley, publisher Sourcebooks Casablanca @sourcebookscasa in exchange for an honest review.

A Nobleman's Guide to Seducing a Scoundrel will be released September 19, 2023.

KJ Charles just doesn't miss. This book is a charming follow up to The Secret Lives of Country Gentlemen. I gave that one five stars, as well. I am an absolute sucker for everything that played out between these leads. Absolutely loved it.

PS - I just went back to check and by complete accident, used the same first sentence in this review as I did in my review of its predecessor.

Thank you Netgalley and Sourcebooks for access to this arc.

I read and loved the first book in the Doomsday series, The Secret Lives of Country Gentlemen earlier this year and looked forward with anticipation to the second book (and alas the last from what I can tell) A Nobleman’s Guide to Seducing a Scoundrel. The first book was set in 1810, this one in 1823. While it is possible to read the second book as a stand alone, it does contain spoilers for the first book and the reading experience is richer for knowing the history. Both books are a delight and I recommend reading them both, in order for maximum enjoyment.

Luke Doomsday was mostly called “Goldie” in the first book (to his dismay). The son of Elijah Doomsday, a no-good man who got what he deserved but not before doing much damage, especially to his son, Luke was abused and mistreated in various ways. What’s more, the Doomsdays did not see it, or if they did, they did nothing about it. It took Sir Gareth Inglis to notice and take steps to change Luke’s life. Luke was (and is) very smart. Gareth arranged and funded his education and, after 13-year-old Luke’s face was slashed with a knife by his father, he gave him shelter and a home. Now 26, Luke has returned to Romney Marsh as he’s between secretarial posts. He stays at Tench House with Gareth and hasn’t been back to the Revelation (the Doomsday pub/family hangout). Luke has complicated and not at all positive feelings about the Doomsdays in general.

In book one, there was mention of the local nobility, the D’Aumesty’s, led by the Earl of Oxney. Gareth didn’t think much of them for good reason. Rufus D’Aumesty, formerly a major in the army, is, as it turns out the new earl. Raymond D’Aumesty, second son of the former earl, married a (too young) girl who gave birth to Rufus and then promptly abandoned them. The old earl had disowned Raymond for the the sin of marrying a draper’s daughter and wanted nothing to do with his grandson after Rufus’s mother asked for help. Following the death of Raymond, Rufus’s mother remarried (a draper) and Rufus was raised happily in that family with various half-siblings. Even though the old earl knew full well of Rufus’s existence, he didn’t share it with anyone else. Following the death of the heir, Baldwin, the third son, Conrad, believed the earldom was coming to him. Imagine his great disappointment to find, on the earl’s death, that the new earl was in fact Rufus. Conrad (and his awful wife, Matilda) were determined to be the new earl and countess. Rufus has spent the prior seven months in court proving his claim to the title. Conrad pulled no punches before the Committee for Privileges, asserting that Rufus’s mother was a liar and a whore and that Rufus was therefore illegitimate and unable to inherit. The Committee found in Rufus’s favour but Conrad and Matilda are #notoverit.

Conrad becomes aware that Raymond may have been married already when he married Rufus’s mother. Enter Luke. Luke explains he has no claim on the earldom but that his mother’s father, on his deathbed, asserted that there was a marriage between her and Raymond. Luke was left at the Revelation when he was only a few days old; Louisa Brightling had been raped by Elijah Doomsday. She left the child for the Doomsdays to raise and left, never to be heard from again. If Louise was married to Raymond at the time of Luke’s birth, notwithstanding that he is definitely the biological child of Elijah, he will be the rightful earl. Conrad has an ill-considered scheme in two parts; oust Rufus from the earldom by proving Louisa and Raymond were married and then (somehow) oust Luke from it too such that he, Conrad, will finally take his “rightful” place.

Rufus, who is an honest man, is content for the truth to be the arbiter. He invites Luke to stay at Stone Manor (the family seat) and search for any evidence which may prove the prior marriage.

Luke is meticulous and organised. He’s horrified by the mess the earldom’s books are in. While it is clear early on that Luke has an ulterior motive for wanting access to the manor, he also very quickly likes Rufus and regrets any deception. He determines to help Rufus as much as possible so that when he leaves, he will leave Rufus with something good. Luke takes over from Rufus’s cousin Odo (who is very ill-suited to secretarial work but is an excellent archivist) and begins to sort out all the paperwork. Rufus very quickly comes to rely on him.

Apart from the secretarial assistance Luke gives Rufus, he is also an ally in a house where Rufus has precious few. The servants are mostly #TeamConrad and Conrad and Matilda are constantly making trouble. Rufus is very black-and-white in his thinking and honest to a fault. Luke’s ethics are more… flexible. He’s a Doomsday after all. Luke makes clever suggestions which assist Rufus greatly in managing the estate and his family.

Rufus has what seems to be dyslexia and struggles to read. This is something he’s ashamed of and which Conrad and Matilda use to sneer at him. Luke, who knows what it is like to be sneered at for something he can’t change (his face is badly scarred by the knife his father wielded), notices (because he notices everything) and sets about finding ways to make it easier for Rufus to read.

Luke made things clear. That was what he did.

And, there is a physical attraction too – immediately on Luke’s part and a little later for Rufus. While the term itself is not used, Rufus is demisexual.

Rufus didn’t lust where he didn’t like. But he liked Luke Doomsday so very much, and now lust was flooding him in a way he’d never experienced in his life.

Rufus is big and broad and very shouty – used to bellowing orders in the military and frustrated by the machinations of the D’Aumesty family, upset by the state of the tenant farms and the books. But he’s kind and generous. He gives people second chances. He even gives grace to the Conrads, blaming the old earl for much of how current affairs came to be. He empathises with them being in expectation – for years – of inheriting only to have that hope dashed. He also is fully aware of his position as Luke’s employer and he’s not going to impose on Luke no matter how attracted he is.

He wasn’t going to think about what might happen if Doomsday welcomed his advances, because he wasn’t going to make any. It would be wrong, and stupid, and there were more important things than fucking, although he was having difficulty remembering what they were.

But Luke has other plans and Rufus is helpless against them. They have a frank discussion about power and privilege and Luke is able to convince Rufus he is not being taken advantage of.

I loved Rufus. Not being raised in the nobility, he didn’t look down on others. From his military experience, he well understood the duty of those higher in rank to look after those in their care. He was naturally disposed to in any event. He takes his role as earl seriously but doesn’t fuss about formality. He’s kind and caring and, until Luke comes along, within Stone Manor no-one is doing any taking care of Rufus.

I liked Luke very much too (although I admit to a preference for Rufus – I’m pretty literal myself and not good at subtext). He is wounded and the scars he bears are not all on his face. He is struggling with the events which took place in The Secret Lives of Country Gentlemen and the abuse he suffered even before 1810 at the hands of his father. There is a big part of him who is still a boy who isn’t seen – how could nobody notice how his father abused him?? He’s angry with the Doomsdays and at the same time longs to prove himself to them – he is worthy and better than they are and he’ll show them. He also has a bit of tunnel vision (I related to this myself) which leads him to continue on his planned course despite any number of indicators that it is a bad idea which will hurt others he cares for. Over the course of the book, Luke has to deal with the heavy baggage he’s carrying, face the consequences of his own actions and try to make them right.

I opened the book with little idea of what to expect. I hadn’t even realised the second book takes place 13 years after the events of the first. I was immediately immersed and delighted. There are some horrible characters of course and ones who start off a bit awful but who grow and change but the book itself charmed and engrossed me. There is something about the way the words on the page are put together which was a constant source of pleasure for me; turns of phrase, word pictures. I’ve read many KJ Charles books and am always impressed by how skilled a wordsmith you are. I loved how Rufus played on Luke’s surname in his pet names for him “my end of days”, “my apocalypse”, “end of my world”, “my doomsday”. It spoke of how thoroughly Luke wrecked him in all the best ways.

Rufus and Luke were so well suited to one another, their strengths and flaws complement one another perfectly. They are both, in their own ways, caretakers. I quoted earlier that Rufus realises that Luke makes things clear. “That’s what he does.” But Rufus, in turn, makes things clear for Luke too. What is really important, worth holding onto and what it is time to let go.

There is wonderful humour in the book too. The dryness of it suits me very well.

Rufus had many times heard the phrase ‘he came out swinging’. It generally referred to a boxer’s fists, but there was a lot to be said for an axe.

Basically, I enjoyed everything about this book. Recommended.

Thank you NetGalley for the ARC. This is my honest review.

The much anticipated conclusion to the Doomsday Duology, this book did not disappoint. I don't know that I was expecting it to, I could read anything by KJ Charles and adore it.

But I have to say, this book is definitely in my top beloved books from KJ, right along side the Darling Adventures and Magpie Lord.

Luke Doomsday is the wayward, damaged 13 year old Luke from book one (Joss' nephew) but now all grown up. He's carried the trauma of The Secret Lives of Country Gentlemen, and it has absolutely molded him. He's clever, he's passionate, and has such a depth of character.

Rufus - the new Lord Oxney, is the hot-headed solider I didn't expect for Luke, but also they fit so incredibly well together. We get some of the family turmoil KJ writes so well (rich people really are scummy) military bias, and foul language. But Rufus is also just looking to belong, and his inner himbo is perfection.

The cousins are some of my favorite supporting characters KJ has written. I didn't think she could top the Doomsday family but they really are phenomenally written. Berengaria is amazing, and I wouldn't be sad in the least if someday we got a story for her. *Trying to manifest that*

There is much less Romney Marsh in this book than the first, but we do get Gothic horror romance vibes in a very old castle/manor, which is a lovely alternative.

I won't say too much on the plot or gives things away. It is all you can expect and want from a KJ novel, with mystery, death, comedy, pining, and spicy times. *Romance with a body count*.

So, its really no surprise that I've rated this five stars. 😅 There are so many wonderful tidbits and conversations that I won't spoil that also make this book one of the best. I do recommend reading Secret Lives first, or you will have major spoilers for that book within the first few chapters of this one. But if you're chaotic and don't mind that, this still is a solid stand alone.

It's official: I am a KJ Charles fan.

Despite this being the second in a series and only the most recent in a long list of titles, this was the first title that I've read by this author. So, while I can't speak to how well A Nobleman's Guide works as a followup, I can say that it works beautifully as a stand-alone. It was a delight to read!

At this risk of simply gushing and making very little sense, I'll just share my three favorite things about this book:

1. The protagonists' character development is drastic but believable, particularly when it comes to Luke. It seems like he was never a truly 'bad guy,' just a victim of circumstance trying to do the best he can with what he knows. But once he knows Rufus, the unfortunate Earl of Oxney, Luke finds that he's willing to do what's best for someone else. Turns out that love makes you do selfless things.

2. The setting was perfectly described and truly integral to the story, and it provided a nice twist on the forced proximity trope. Stone Manor was dreary and lonely, a lousy inheritance, a burden. But needs must and all that—good things happen even in miserable heaps, especially when someone who believes in your worth is by your side.

3. The villains are villainy without being over-the-top. We got shown at least some of the motives behind their behavior, and knowing this also fleshed out the MC's backstories and insecurities nicely.

A Nobleman's Guide to Seducing a Scoundrel deserves all the stars I'm allowed to award. I will definitely be suggesting this to my fellow romance readers.

Sublime. A Nobleman’s Guide to Seducing a Scoundrel takes all of the hanging plot threads from the first book, throws in even more drama, and weaves it all into a thrilling and satisfying conclusion.

KJ Charles has created such a wonderful corner of Regency England packed full of interesting characters with realistic motivations and high stakes drama and it was a joy to dive into this world once again.

This book is a sequel that definitely can’t be read as a standalone, so make sure you’ve read The Secret Lives of Country Gentleman first! (I’d also recommend reading the epilogue set between the two books that you can download for free from KJ Charles’ website). It picks up 13 years after the last book, following a grown-up Luke Doomsday and Rufus d’Aumesty, the new Lord Oxney.

I adored Rufus and Luke, they both have such distinct personalities and unique voices that makes them leap off the page. The dynamic between them is excellent and it’s a delight to read how they fall for one another.

The book is so well plotted, dropping hints and subtly setting expectations that get delivered in ways you’d never guess. I loved the first book so much, and somehow I think I loved this one even more.

I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

Great read, with very well-done exploration of Luke’s trauma (that we had seen in book one) and Rufus’ unrelenting grumpy kindness. The mystery plot that ran alongside the romance was developed thoroughly, and linked to the unresolved plots in the first book.
Loved the marshy, gothic atmosphere that hung over the story. Could *technically* be a standalone, but reading the previous book first would add so much to this one. Luke and Rufus’ HEA were definitely well earned, and they had so many tender moments!! (swoons)

Really enjoyed this one! It's a follow-up to Charles' previous book and takes place a decade or so later. Call backs galore for those paying attention, but you can read it as a stand alone (although I think you'd be very tempted to go back and read the previous title afterwards).

"Bridgerton goes Gothic in this sweeping Regency romance by celebrated author K.J. Charles.

Major Rufus d'Aumesty has unexpectedly become the Earl of Oxney, master of a remote Norman manor on the edge of the infamous Romney Marsh. There he's beset on all sides, his position contested both by his greedy uncle and by Luke Doomsday, son of a notorious smuggling clan.

The earl and the smuggler should be natural enemies, but cocksure, enragingly competent Luke is a trained secretary and expert schemer - exactly the sort of man Rufus needs by his side. Before long, Luke becomes an unexpected ally...and the lover Rufus had never hoped to find.

But Luke came to Stone Manor with an ulterior motive, one he's desperate to keep hidden even from the lord he can't resist. As the lies accumulate and family secrets threaten to destroy everything they hold dear, master and man find themselves forced to decide whose side they're really on...and what they're willing to do for love."

An LGBTQ Poldark!

This was such a treat to read. The pacing and plotting were absolute perfection. Occasionally when I read a book it's hard to remember someone actually wrote it, because the way it unfolds is just so seamless and so RIGHT that the idea of an author puzzling over how to fit the pieces together or changing anything about the characters seems impossible. KJ Charles books so often feel like that, like a clever jigsaw puzzle with every piece exactly in it's place, but a jigsaw puzzle that packs an incredible emotional punch and wickedly witty humor. The characters here are so layered and nuanced, so imperfect, and the way we get to know them and their motivations, little by little, as they get to know one another, is so well done. I loved every bit of this and had enormous fun reading it, finding it in turns hot and hilarious and heart wrenching, and never wanting to put it down, even during the moments I dreaded. And I was so very happy to see characters from the first book (and prior books!) making appearances, not only as cute little cameos, but as important characters in this story. I think it's important to go into this one with no spoilers at all, so I'm not going to dwell on the characters or the plot, other than to lavish them in much deserved praise, but it is absolutely necessary to read the first book in the duology before this one. The past is very present for Luke, and it colors the emotional landscape of this book in so many ways.

This gets my highest recommendation. You're bound to miss the characters and have the worst book hangover once you're through, but it's worth it for the glorious fun and feels you'll have while reading (and re-reading) it!

Hands down, one of my favorite reads of 2023! I did enjoy the first book of this series, The Secret Lives of Country Gentlemen, but this one was just so much more in every sense.

A Nobleman's Guide to Seducing a Scoundrel picks up 13 years (ish ?) after the first book and follows Luke, the Doomsday kid with the abusive father from book one, who Sir Gareth Inglis rescued. Luke is now an educated man, a secretary, and while he has been employed outside the marsh, he is now back because of ~reasons~. Back on the marsh, Luke somehow ;) becomes employed by Major Rufus d'Aumesty, the new Earl of Oxney. Rufus is, to put it lightly, having a bit of a hard day, week, month, year, life. With the previous Earl of Oxney, Rufus grandfather, despising everything Rufus stands for, Rufus has not been a part of the d'Aumesty clan with all its nobility and earlness. Instead, Rufus (honestly a beaut of a man) has had a splendid military career fighting the French. However, he is plucked from his ordinary life and blessed with the earldom, which puts him in the line of a new enemy: estranged family. While trying to prove his legitimate birthright and save a crumbling estate, Luke Doomsday enters with his expert secretarial skills, and they combine forces to battle evil and nefarious relatives. However, Luke does have a hidden agenda, and with his own interest in mind, thrown together with everything else, chaos ensues.

This is such a fun read with a tension-filled romance, found family, and mystery. Luke was such a complex character, filled with so much unresolved trauma and anger. Rufus, strong and steadfast, tried his best to be kind to everyone (even the evil relatives), and while his grizzly grumpiness might come across as dismissive and mean, there was so much love in his heart. Luke and Rufus together = chef's kiss! Hot sizzling tension, some spicy spicy, and healthy communication (after some trials and error with some lies sprinkled in, but the groveling makes it worth it!) equals one of the best book couples that I have encountered in a while.

But there is so much more to this book than the romance. The mystery, with all its twists and turns, keeps you guessing, and while you might not expect it, being a secretary for an Earl does *actually* come with some action-packed situations. The family drama is, well, quite dramatic; however, the book shows that sometimes your not-so-nice relative might only need someone to acknowledge them and see them for who they are. While other not-so-nice relatives needs to just cease to exist, to put it nicely.

Thanks to the publisher & Netgalley for the complimentary e-ARC. All opinions provided are my own.

I love how KJ Charles doesn’t shy away from introducing ethical conflicts between her leads & how usually both leads—the righteous one & the scoundrel—realize they have something to learn by the end .

In the case of A Nobleman’s Guide to Seducing a Scoundrel, said scoundrel is helping said nobleman work through his disheveled mess of ledgers & records, all the while deceiving him as to his deeper reasons for being there.

(I love this kind of deception btw bc of the promised grovel that happens later & that scene is so touching in this book.)

That’s the surface plot of this book &—minus one minor-ish element I’m still a bit confused about —it’s great. But where the book really gets to me is in its tender moments, the steam, the way that KJ Charles infuses her characters with nuance & appeal. These leads really come to life in this book, they shine & their HEA is one I was so delighted to watch.

Happiness-inducing & sweet as candy (with a dastardly relative or two thrown in the mix to add a little trouble.)

5⭐️. Out 09/19.

CWs: past parental abandonment; reference to a lead’s mother being raped in past; a lead is a former POW; one lead has difficulty reading & has been made fun of for that & feels ashamed. Attempted murder.

[ID: Jess, a white woman wearing a white dress with blue stripes & brown buttons, holds the ebook over a row of zinnias. In the background is a yard & a couple of tree trunks.]

"A Nobleman's Guide to Seducing a Scoundrel" is a funny beast: a romance novel that gleefully pokes fun at the Gothic novel while also being more than a little straightforwardly Gothic in its own right. That doesn't impede the reader's enjoyment, and there is a lot here to enjoy: Charles continues to be a master at character work, and this book builds on the events of the previous one (reading it isn't an absolute necessity, but it definitely enhances the experience) to create some truly rich arcs. This book also improves on the treatment of the previous one's female characters (a low bar to clear, but hey, props for clearing it all the same!) although they remain, always, in the shadow of the male leads. A big part of this book's conflict hinges on a secret that gets revealed halfway through, which is kept by one of the leads; if having a POV character conceal things from the reader, this might annoy you, but it wasn't a dealbreaker for me.

Also, If you can read the descriptions of Rufus and not picture Russell Crowe circa 1998, you are a stronger soul than I.

Hello reader!

How to begin to describe how much I loved this book??? I’ll try, but I think all you need to know is that it’s incredible!

Alright, let’s talk about KJ Charles’ next novel in The Doomsday Books series. In this second installment, we have military major turned earl Rufus d’Aumesty and the cunningly charming chameleon Luke Doomsday. Book friends, I was so excited that this book picked up Luke’s story. After everything that happened in book one, I desperately wanted to wrap him in a warm hug and needed for him to have his happily ever after.

KJ Charles is hands down the best at character development. Just like I fell head over heals in love with Gareth Inglis and Joss Doomsday, there’s really no surprise that the same thing happened with Luke and Rufus.

Romance readers will be delighted, while wondering, at every turn of the page, what Luke Doomsday is really up to. As the story unfurls, like silky bright petals reaching for the warmth of the sun, the story is filled with yearning, a compassionate and kind MC (Rufus is just an incredible human being), the uncertainty of Rufus and Luke’s relationship towards the end, and of course the best ingredient, all the spice.

Definitely pre-order this one!

Happy Reading ~ Cece

Another excellent romance from KJ Charles, perfect for fans of Bridgerton-style romance and family drama stories. While a sequel it really takes place prior to the first book, but you don't have to have read that book to enjoy this one. A fun read!

Thank you to NetGalley and the Publisher for an ARC in exchange for an honest review!

After a hefty legal fight to secure his rightful place in society, the Earl of Oxney is tired. His estate is a mess, the people who live on his land hate him and blame him for the state of disrepair and his so-called "family" is making is life a living hell. When Luke Doomsday graces his doorstep, bringing about rumors that his uncle is just too prone on using to challenge his title once again, he doesn't know what to think, but he has an idea that ensures Doomsday won't be accused of being paid off by him, and he offers him a position researching the rumours. When Doomsday offers to be his secretary on top, the Earl doesn't know what to think. But Doomsday is good at what he does, he is observant and friendly. And, he's not bad to look at either...

This was so adorable!! And HILARIOUS. I spent so much of this book laughing at their dumbassery, honestly. I loved so many of the characters. They were all different and had their little quirks and it made them so much fun to read about. I loved the mystery element of the whole story, how twisty it was, all without us knowing what was really going on for over half the book. And the DRAMA. It was kind of like those sinking ship reality tv shows except that most of the annoying people manage to redeem themselves. I didn't know who was telling the truth when 90% of the time and it made the whole thing very suspenseful. Combine that with the dramatic backstories and it was a whole explosion of angst. The romance was amazing as well, they had lots of chemistry and I just enjoyed reading about them.

All-in-all, lovers of queer books and historical romance should read this!

So... I have to confess that I had a false start with this one, because it starts with a really despicable character, one of those that make you want to smack them as soon as they open their mouth, and it's not important that you don't know them, that maybe they are right, or whatever... you just have the urge to smack them. And I was so nooooot in the mood for that. But... but this isn't my first book by this author, and I loved all the other books so I took my chances and keep reading. And.... it was pure bliss!
I had an amazing time with this book! Sure, Conrad and his family (in the strictest sense) were despicable, especially him and his sweet wife, the urge to just smack them was strong, really strong and I don't know how Rufus resisted it, because he would have had a ton more reasons than me to smack them, and yet... he carried himself like a Saint.
And Rufus really is a saint! He can be strong-headed and he can be quite frank and almost curt, also quite passionate and prone to shouting, but he is patient, and what it's even more important, he cares. He cares about people, and he tries to do his damn best for everyone. He tries to be just, to be right, and to give chances to people. And this is admirable.
Luke is quite the mess. But he is also cunning and smart, and adorable and witty. Even if he has baggage, and he can be stupid, because trust me, he did some pretty stupid things, his heart is in the right place, and he really is an adorable scoundrel!

I had a really good time with this book, it was funny, sweet, adorable, and sure, it was also annoying in some part, but in a good way, and I devoured it! If you are searching for something light-hearted, that talks about the good in people, and that is also sweet and funny, well... search no