The Secret Lives of Country Gentlemen by KJ Charles Series: The Doomsday Books #1
Published by Sourcebooks Casablanca on March 7, 2023
Genres: Fiction / LGBTQ+ / Gay, Fiction / Mystery & Detective / Historical, Fiction / Romance / Historical / Regency, Fiction / Romance / LGBTQ+ / Gay
Pages: 352
Format: eBook
Source: ARC
Gothic scandal meets Bridgerton intrigue in this swashbuckling Regency romance from celebrated author KJ Charles.
Abandoned by his father, Gareth Inglis grew up lonely, prickly, and well-used to disappointment. Still, he longs for a connection. When he meets a charming stranger, he falls head over heels—until everything goes wrong and he's left alone again. Then Gareth's father dies, turning the shabby London clerk into Sir Gareth, with a grand house on the remote Romney Marsh and a family he doesn't know.
The Marsh is another world, a strange, empty place notorious for its ruthless gangs of smugglers. And one of them is dangerously familiar...
Joss Doomsday has run the Doomsday smuggling clan since he was a boy. When the new baronet—his old lover—agrees to testify against Joss's sister, Joss acts fast to stop him. Their reunion is anything but happy, yet after the dust settles, neither can stay away. Soon, all Joss and Gareth want is the chance to be together. But the bleak, bare Marsh holds deadly secrets. And when Gareth finds himself threatened from every side, the gentleman and the smuggler must trust one another not just with their hearts, but with their lives.
Readers Rave about KJ Charles:
"KJ Charles is one of the best romance novelists writing today. Historical romance at its finest." —Sarah MacLean, New York Times bestselling author
"Once again KJ Charles has produced an absolute masterpiece!" —Joanna Shupe, USA Today bestselling author
"A romantic, swashbuckling tale from start to finish."—Manda Collins, Bestselling Author of A Lady's Guide to Mischief and Mayhem
K.J. Charles has delivered a delicious tale of adventure, passion, and danger that swept me away from the very first page. Stolen moments with a mystery man quickly change to Barony responsibilities deep in the countryside where Gareth feels even more like an outsider. Or outmarsh as the case may be.
Gareth and Joss were absolutely delightful! It goes without saying, the yearning and passion was delicious, but I truly loved the banter and deep conversations the couple had. Working past the knee-jerk defensive comments to speak plainly about smuggling, the harsh realities of war for the Marsh, and personal histories. Angst-levels were relatively mild for Gareth and Joss’s tale. There is the typical threat of forced-outing and homophobic remarks but K.J. Charles didn’t leave those moments unchallenged.
Gareth’s growth was the strongest. His history coupled with his desire to learn more about his absent father morphing into a hobby that fascinates him and eventually turns into the best euphemism: “Gone beetle hunting.” Joss had his own bit of growth that was just as important. While he makes his living with smuggling, he is struggling with his loyalty and duty to family and balancing it with his own life, love, and happiness. The Doomsdays were a vibrant clan; characters to love and loathe all mixed together.
Side note: I was intrigued by the specifics and how it related to Napoleon.
I’m looking forward to the next Doomsday novel! It will be hard to top my love for Gareth and Joss but I am optimistic. In the meantime, I can feel a backlist binge session coming on. Apologies to my TBR and adult responsibilities!
*I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own. Thank you Sourcebooks Casablanca for my digital review copy!
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